A Dragon at World's End

by Christopher Rowley

Reviewed by Coral

While their friends back in Argonath mourn for them, Relkin and Bazil struggle to survive the horrors of the dark continent of Eigo. Stumbling across an unconscious girl, they nurse her back to health, learning that her people, the Ardu, are victims of constant slaver raids. Though Relkin and Bazil pledge themselves to protecting the Ardu people from these raids, the Ardu are distrustful. This distrust leads to Relkin's capture by the slavers.

Now, sold on the slave markets of Mirchaz, Relkin must find a way to survive, as Bazil struggles to reach his dragonboy in time.

I'm going to start off mentioning, yet again, that I don't really need details about Bazil's romantic relations  with his wild dragoness.

After a much needed break from Relkin's love life last book, we're not so lucky this time round, as Relkin celebrates life by cheating on his fiancée. Same old, what she doesn't know won't hurt her mentality. Some things you don't have to tell your beloved, he rationalizes. Sure, because if she knew you'd seriously considered shaking up and procreating with another woman not even Bazil would be able to save you. As it stands, Relkin is dead to me.

Yet again Relkin finds himself a prisoner in enemy hands. And, once again, he manages to find a sort of  mercy/kindness that spares him the horrors others in his place suffer, again finding allies in enemy ranks. You can't use the same basic plot construct across five books and except it to be realistically believable instead of annoyingly boring.

I'd just like to add, that the "jealous rage fathers of beautiful daughters suffer" line is creepy. I mean, to use "jealous rage" instead of "protective rage" has all sorts of icky undertones. Ew.

Grade: D