Dragonsbane

By: Barbara Hambly

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

When the Black Dragon seized the Deep of Ylferdun, young Gareth braved the far Winterlands to find John Aversin, Dragonsbane - the only living man ever to slay a dragon. In return for the promise of the King to send help to the Winterlands, Aversin agreed to attempt the nearly impossible feat again.

With them, to guard them on the haunted trip south, went Jenny Waynest, a half-taught sorceress and mother of Aversin's sons.

But at the decadent Court, nothing was as expected. Rebellion threatened the land. Zyerne, a sorceress of seemingly unlimited power, held the King under an evil spell, and he refused to see them. Meantime, the dragon fed well on the knights who had challenged him.

In the end, Aversin, Jenny, and Gareth had to steal away at night to challenge Morkeleb, largest and wisest of dragons.

But that was only the beginning of the perils they must face.

©1985 Barbara Hambly (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

A masterful and beautiful composition

With a similar composition as Marion Zimmer Bradley comes a story enfolding a dragons heart in human love and the seeking of power.

Absolute Love

This book is such a gem. Pure poetry and beautifully delivered. I looked forward to listening and hearing how Barbara Hambly skillfully intertwined and developed each character.

A really great story, well written, great characters

I first read this book over 10 years ago and really liked it. I still do. I enjoy Hambly’s prose and the way she uses it to vividly color her world. Her main characters, especially, are well developed, interesting, and refreshingly mature. I’m really glad I picked this up on audible, it was worth the credit!

Wonderful visuals and feelings

I liked the visuals in the telling of the story. As well as the in-depth descriptions of the humans, gnomes, and dragons.

I found I could not put the book down. The story had an arc that kept you curious about the next step.

Thoughts I was thinking about while hearing the book:
I found descriptions of the seeking of magic to be similar to that of other human professions where seeking more knowledge is necessary to advancement. The temperament of the teacher frequently tempers the attitude of the student.

A YA Novel for Thirty-Somethings (no spoilers)

The main character, Jenny, is so utterly relatable. She knows her strengths, her faults, and her weaknesses. The other characters are wonderful, particularly her husband. Their bond made me laugh and gave me so much joy in the little ways that a well established couple can. We need more happy old couples in the world.
First time reading this author or hearing from this narrator: both have been added to my reading list. Truly fantastic, I would highly recommend both to anyone who loves fantasy.

A story with depth and great characters

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This has been one of the most enjoyable listens I have had in several years. The characters are fresh, free from typical tropes and the reactions to conflict are believable.

What did you like best about this story?

This has been one of the most enjoyable listens I have had in several years. The characters are fresh, free from typical tropes and the reactions to conflict are believable.

Which scene was your favorite?

It was a three act play and every act was detailed.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Loved the descriptions, the actions, and the characters. Wow. This was a great discovery.

Awesome Book

This book was in my father's library for years but I had never gotten around to reading it. Well, I had been missing out. This had a great story that kept me guessing throughout. The twists and turns never seemed unreasonable, just more creative than my own expectations.

Meh - Slow Story But Enjoyable

A more than slightly neurotic witch who spends most of the book in her head, rehashing the same events that result in anxiety, worry, envy, anger, frustration, fear, and guilt. The narrator does a good job and that salvages the story from being insufferable.

The overall story is good but pacing is very slow because the scenes that move the plot forward are short and far between and the time spent in the main character's head, where she replay's the same events, make up the majority of the book.

I can't recommend it but I did enjoy it and don't regret listening to it. Check it out if you want to feel better about yourself because you'll realize that at least you're not as conflicted as this character.

great book and narrator

the book is rath
er short but it is a good listen none the less.very nice detailing

smart

a lot of epic fantasy will leave you with yearning for another answer. at last one author showed how to do it right.