Dragon Trials

Return of the Darkening, Volume 1

By: Ava Richardson

Narrated by: Tiffany Williams

Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

High-born Agathea Flamma intends to bring honor to her family by following in her brothers' footsteps and taking her rightful place as a Dragon Rider. With her only other option being marriage, Thea will not accept failure. She's not thrilled at her awkward, scruffy partner, Seb, but their dragon has chosen, and now the unlikely duo must learn to work as a team. Seventeen-year-old Sebastian has long been ashamed of his drunken father and poor upbringing, but then he's chosen to train as a Dragon Rider at the prestigious academy. Thrust into a world where he doesn't fit in, Seb finds a connection with his dragon that is even more powerful than he imagined. Soon, he's doing all he can to succeed and not embarrass his new partner, Thea. When Seb hears rumors that an old danger is reemerging, he and Thea begin to investigate. Armed only with their determination and the dragon they both ride, Thea and Seb may be the only defense against the Darkening that threatens to sweep the land. Together, they will have to learn to work together to save their kingdom...or die trying.

©2015 Ava Richardson (P)2016 Ava Richardson

Dragon trials

Any additional comments?

Dragon Trials by Ava Richardson will appeal to the younger end of YA readers. Enjoyable YA fantasy. Might make a good gift for a young reader who likes dragons, adventure, and a slow-growing friendship.

Really original take on Dragon Riders!

When I saw this book, I thought, oh, another dragon riders book. You know, Anne McCaffrey has spawned a legion of imitators over the years. however, this is not one of those. It is its own vision, where a poor young man can be chosen by a Dragon to be one of its 2 riders, when usually only nobles are chosen. It has a deep plot, with an ancient evil rising. It has conflicted characters, with flaws and predujudices that have real consequences. The Dragons are interesting, in that they are smarter than their riders give them credit for. It is a great world the author has created, with a dark power rising that threatens their entire kingdom and way of life.
As far as narration, it was good, with just a few of the voices falling a little flat. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys character driven fantasy. And Dragons.

I voluntarily recieved a review copy of this audiobook from the Author, Narrator or Publisher through AudiobookBoom.

Holy Cow!

Welcome the the Dragon Trials! READ IT. (or in my case, listen) You will not be disappointed at all. If Dragons are your thing, this is a must. If you want entitled bitches, this is your book. If you want struggling to fit in, this is your book. If you just want a great story, this is your book.

It is a story of history and preservation. The Darkening is starting to show its face again in a land that has been peaceful for centuries. 2 naive and novice Dragon Riders go to seek it out and see what is happening to their country.

The rest of the story, you will have to find out for yourself.

The narration was excellent and keep you involved all the way.

5 stars for this one. Very entertaining.

"This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

Wonderful tale of dragons

It was a nice story. The heroine had some growing up to do. I wish all stories could have a perfect start with the characters, but this story was more true to real life; at least that part of it anyway.

Life humbles us, and if we are lucky, it teaches us and changes us for the better.

The story was very well developed. I enjoyed reading it, even though I feel like the target audience is probably middle school to teens.

Non-romance dragon novel

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

I enjoyed the narrator, though it was sometimes difficult to tell whether we were in Sebastian's perspective or Thea's perspective. Since they alternate every chapter, it's pretty quick to adjust.

While the ending isn't a cliff hanger, I was a little disappointed. Despite gathering an entire army, there was almost no action beyond a few minutes from a child. I also didn't like how the entire kingdom seemed to ignore the signs of danger, and I didn't think the author explained it. You'd expect safeguards in place to recognize the problem, at least.

The rest of the story is a coming-of-age tale. We start with the unlikeable Thea and watch her grow as a team-mate and a person. She starts off selfish and always worrying about her career, then by the end she puts her team in front of her career. I didn't really like the kiss scene since it felt somewhat out of place. I would have preferred they stay platonic without any romance concerns, but I guess the sequels will focus more on their relationship. I was glad this didn't turn out to be another cheesy romance. I'm not sure how I felt about switching between Thea and Sebastian's perspective. I think I would have liked it better if we could follow Thea the whole time instead of shifting focus to Sebastian so often.

great book

I have always been fascinated with dragon's so I absolutely enjoyed this book. the narrator was very good I received this book free from the author, publisher and or narrator for a honest and unbiased opinion via audio book boom.com

Fun, lighthearted fantasy read

If you could sum up Dragon Trials in three words, what would they be?

"Prepare for war".

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the fact that it is a lighter take on the fantasy genre, while retaining enough depth to keep the reader interested and looking forward to the next chapter. Also being an animal lover, I naturally took a liking to the dragons in the story and their interactions with their riders and caregivers.

Which character – as performed by Tiffany Williams – was your favorite?

I think that Agathea was my favorite performance. While none of the character's motivations run terribly deep, the narrator makes the most of Agathea by really bringing out her internal conflict of living up to her family's name and history vs. what she feels to be right. The narrator does a good job capturing the anger in the character in the early stages of the book as well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't have any extreme reactions, but the book did have me smiling a good bit. Almost every interaction between the main characters and their dragon was interesting and fun. The main antagonists, while simple, did provide enough opposition to make me actively dislike them.

Any additional comments?

In a genre that can sometimes be very intimidating (especially for newer readers) because so many titles are parts of a larger or very much more complicated story, Dragon Trials stands apart in being very accessible to the reader. This would make a good stand-alone read, or a good gateway into the fantasy world for those looking to try the genre for the first time. The plot moves quickly and without dead spots, the characters are easy to like, and the book ends on a good "neutral" ground between cliffhanger and definite conclusion. Overall a fun read, and a good intro into what appears to be a promising series. Looking forward to the next one!

==This audiobook was provided to me free of charge in return for an unbiased, honest review via Audiobook Boom.==

A Soaring Adventure

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

Yes. I loved everything about it. I can't wait for the next segment.

Author Ava Richardson created such a wonderful world of fantasy and mystery. Her characters were believable. I am looking forward to reading/listening to more.

What other book might you compare Dragon Trials to and why?

Dragon Spell by Donita K Paul

Have you listened to any of Tiffany Williams’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. Ms. Williams created a fabulous production. I enjoyed her narration. Superb storytelling. I hope she produces the entire saga.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy via audiobook boom in exchange for an unbiased review

Wow

Loved this story. Two unlikely people will help to save their world. Thea is determined to follow in her brothers footsteps and become a dragon rider. Seb is a young man who wants out of the poor upbringing that he has. Dragons are released every four years to choose their riders and these two are chosen by the same dragon. The three of them must work together to become a cohesive unit. Through guts, strong will and determination they become the best and are the only ones who believe the rumors that something terrible is about to happen. They use the same skill set they had in the academy to pursue and conquer this danger.
The narration added to the story. I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review via audiobook boom. This is worth a credit because it is so well written and engaging.

Fantasy Teen book that will thrill and delight!

Any additional comments?

Dragon Trials: Return of the Darkening, Volume 1
Written by: Ava Richardson
Narrated by: Tiffany Williams
This is a fun teen fantasy novel centered around dragons and hopeful teens. These teens want to be picked to be dragon riders. The choosing happens every 5 years. It follows a very rich girl and a poor boy. Very few of each are ever picked. They are teamed up and it is not only the story of how they learn to be dragon riders but the interaction with the dragon, bullying from other riders, getting to know each other, and more. A fun, fantasy, and every kids dream to ride a dragon! At least I always wanted a dragon and not a pony!
The narrator is perfect for this book. She is able to perform all the multitude of voices without fault. Wonderful job.