Rise of the Dragon Star: Book I of the Dragon Star Saga

I love Jess E. Owen’s previous series, but when I see too many reviews giving hardly any critiques of a book, it annoys me. Especially on Amazon. So, I giving my review.This new book isn’t as richly descriptive as the first series or as fantastical. The antagonists and conflicts are not as suspenseful either. I am disappointed to say that I have experienced something similar to this with the Warrior Cat series. Things became repetitive and predictable. I find, sometimes, it is only when an author writes an entirely new saga that there is creativity and life again.Are the new protagonists as interesting as the old ones? Nope. Eyvindr seems to be defined by his fierce love/protection of his uncle, the royal heirs, and his mother. And maybe some denial about his love interest in the princess, but not much else. Ren is a lot more defined and experiences character-building challenges well, but her passion for the study of the earth and mysteries hasn’t sold me on grand adventures and intrigue. Is it a unique and new drive for a protagonist in a high-fantasy novel? Yeah. However, Jess will really have to get creative to build adventures nearly as exciting as the Summer King Chronicles in this new saga. I tune out like the other characters in the book when Ren starts day-dreaming about how and when a stone was formed.Also, I disagree that this book is easy for new readers who haven’t read the previous books. There are too many characters with back stories from the previous series that unless you have recently read the old series, you will get the barest exposition and be left feeling a bit confused and frustrated.I feel I should point out there is same-sex representation in this novel. It was nicely done in my opinion. Not that it influenced the quality of the story. However, I know some parents would like to know this before they let their children read some books. This though leads me to two other related points.There needs to be consistency. It’s hard to believe that the gryphons are fine with the two prominent guards in a same-sex relationship but have issue that another gryphon has a close friendship with a wolf and sometimes imitates them. Especially when their king, Rashard, has a close relationship with wolves as well. Unless of course, that was the point. To highlight the hypocrisy in a society.My small soapbox: Virtue-signaling/diversity listing. Diversity is amazing, but story must always come first for everything to work seamlessly. So, when I see diversity or virtue-signaling in books nowadays, it really ought to be important to the story’s progression and not because it is just there to meet a checklist. Because it comes across to me as less than genuine.For example, the gryphon with social behaviour that is similar to someone on an autistic spectrum actually worked to the story. The same-sex relationship didn’t change story, but it was done well. But then don’t write that one of those same-sex characters also experiences Post Traumatic Stress Disorder too. Come on! It becomes obvious to be the virtue-signaling list seen all too often in current media. I thought Jess would be able to do something like this cleverly or not at all. Soapbox over.In the end, it was an interesting and well-constructed story, but it honestly left me longing to re-read the Summer King Chronicles for grander adventures.

Found my way to this author from Warriors. If you like that type of fiction, I really recommend this and the Summer King saga. I really enjoyed this book. The Summer King series was great, but honestly this book has been even better in my opinion. I find myself really able to connect with the main character and her feelings, and the setup for the books to come is exciting and promising. Bummed I have to wait!Only real issue is that editing could be a bit tighter - spotted more errors than I usually do in a book, but honestly it's not the worst and I'm able to ignore it easy enough. The story is worth it.

Lots of fun, it's fun getting to know a new cast of characters in this world and seeing how it's changed since the Summer King Chronicles. I love Ren and seeing her make the decision to grow in the face of trials. Looking forward to the following books!

Jess E. One is a great author and her gryphon stories are always a delight to read. The characters are well developed and she makes you want to get invested in them. The first series of books - The Summer King were long but so good and it was good to have a story that felt complete with every book. This one stops abruptly. Authors sell more books this way in a series. Kind of a bummer. Not sure if I’ll read the next installment….

A great story for current fans as well as new readers to the Summer King world! Ren is a great gryfon to follow. Passionate about what she loves but lacking the confidence to speak up about it. Especially when others don't always understand her love for rocks, minerals, and gemstones.Ren is a kind and caring gryfon and her relationship with Halla and their support of one another is so heartwarming to see. The mystery of the book is an interesting one as well and I was curious to see how it turned out as well as seeing how Ren grew as a character.I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to see what happens to them next!

Finished this book in a single sitting.The world building is top notch and feels very immersive. The aerial point of view gives a stunningly beautiful experience over canyons, gorges, pine forests and sea. I literally felt like a gryphon while reading this.I felt so much empathy for the misfit main character, Ren, who is initially mocked for her scientific spirit and her passion in geology. The gryphon ecology is very believable and the author seems to have taken the time to research real world wildlife.The prose is so very good. This is a standalone book for all practical purposes, even if it is intended to be part of a later series.

Wonderful and impossible to put down. Jess Owen's writing is so rich and immersive - she draws you right into the world and lets you see, hear, smell, and feel everything that the characters are. It's truly a world worth spending time in; you really feel like you're there. Her characters have so much depth, as well; each one, even minor characters, stands on their own as real individuals with goals and dreams, and I'm sure we'll get to see even more of their nuanced relationships as this saga unfolds! Jess's writing has so much heart, movement, and life. My review really isn't even doing it justice - it's worth your time!

Another wonderful gryfon book by the skilled Jess! It was so wonderful to visit this world again. Ren is a gryf after my own heart, I love her and her endless curiosity. I eagerly await the next installment of this new prophecy.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I took a break from another series to try this one; but I'm so glad I did. I couldn't put it down. Very well paced with a wonderful cast of characters. I look forward to more.

Jess E Owens books are always enjoyable, and this is no exception! A great coming of age story set in her Summer King series.