Written by Michael Lomonte
Ah, dragons. Sometimes presented as terrifying beasts, other times presented as majestic creatures, sometimes presented as a little bit of both. Regardless of how stories present them, they’re an element that permeates much fiction. With the title of Forged in Dragons’ Breath, Michael Lomonte’s debut novel is one such book that delights in these creatures. To say how terrifying or majestic they may be in this novel would be to spoil the fun, but if you’re a fan of dragons (and let’s face it; who isn’t a fan of dragons?), you’ll no doubt love their inclusion here.
At 561 pages in paperback (or an estimated 647 pages on Kindle), to call Forged in Dragons’ Breath a light read would be a misnomer. While dragons certainly play a part in the story, there is far more to it. At the centre of the book lies the Orb of Power and the Scepter of Might, magical MacGuffins that once combined, will grant their wielder the ultimate power and dominion over the world. This book is an epic fantasy, a broad and sweeping tale set across the book’s world while focusing on a battle of good versus evil. While questing over magical artefacts isn’t new to Forged in Dragons’ Breath, the story will entertain anyone who enjoyed reading about the nine rings of power in The Lord of the Rings and its sequels.
The plot is well thought out and includes plenty of twists and turns that will thrill and entertain the reader. I often found myself pleasantly surprised by the turns the story takes. These twists aren’t telegraphed, but they don’t come out of left field either; they are fitting moments that service the broader story. The overarching story is incredibly entertaining, however it does take a while to get moving. This results in the first act moving slowly, with the pacing drawing it out. While this is largely thanks to the number of characters and the amount of worldbuilding, it does mean the first couple of hundred pages move slower than I would have liked. As the book continues, however, the pacing increases, and the book moves at a swift pace, bringing its elements together as it builds towards a wonderful finale.
Like many epic fantasies before it—and I’m certain many epic fantasies after it—the page count isn’t only used by the book’s plot. A not insubstantial portion is taken up by the aforementioned worldbuilding. Some form of worldbuilding is necessary in all novels, and this is even more important in fantasy stories set in worlds that flow from the author’s imagination. Lomonte’s imagination is on fine display throughout the book, with him crafting a world that draws the reader in. It feels entirely lived in and—despite the tale’s fantastical nature—believable. It’s a world full of magic and quests, and yet it feels grounded.
The other element that adds to Forged in Dragons’ Breath’s page count—and, once again, this is true of many other epic fantasies, The Lord of the Rings included—is its prose. As the book is set within a fantastical land the reader has never set foot in, the prose serves to describe the world in great detail, ensuring the reader can visualise the world, then immersing them in it. While the prose lacks brevity, it is written clearly, so it’s easy to follow. As easy as following it is, however, by virtue of the amount of text describing the world, it remains a heavy read that takes a while to make your way through. Throughout the book, the prose feels inconsistent. While it often hooks the reader by capturing the world, characters and events in vivid detail, at other times it feels as though it’s merely describing them. In these instances, the language Lomonte uses feels a little more simplistic than I would prefer, but it helps these sections read clearly.
As heavy as the novel’s prose is, it is light on dialogue. There isn’t a great deal of back and forth between the characters, or banter. Instead, the dialogue serves its purpose of conveying what needs to be conveyed, while the prose does the rest. While more dialogue might suit some readers, particularly to break up the amount of prose, the relative lack of detailed conversations serves the book. When characters speak, it’s because the story needs them to, and these moments are more effective for it. Forged in Dragons’ Breath features a broad cast of characters, and the author has worked within the limitations this presents to ensure they all sound unique. The dialogue flows naturally, and all the characters sound like real people.
Not only do the characters sound like real people, they feel it. Although the book features many of them—including multiple point of view characters—no character is lacking. The point of view characters all have depth and are written in a way that keeps the reader invested in their narrative arcs. While the point of view characters certainly have more depth than minor characters, those with smaller parts to play still feel like living, breathing people. The characters don’t fall into cliche; they add layers to the book’s journey.
Although Forged in Dragons’ Breath isn’t billed as the first part of a series, it certainly feels like there’s more story to be told. It comes to a satisfying conclusion, and readers needn’t be wary of reading a book that only tells the first part of the story. There is scope to continue the characters’ adventures in future stories, and I would like to see Lomonte use the door he left open to tell those stories.
Forged in Dragons’ Breath is sure to entice epic fantasy fans. Quests for magical items aren’t unique, but its presentation entertains, showing why it’s a well-worn trope. While I would have liked some of the prose to add more flourish and the early chapters to move more quickly, it remains a great example of what the genre has to offer.
Favourite Passage
Just a trace of orange topped the peaks to her west. Maryna was acutely aware of the presence of another now, one like her, but not like her. She gazed into the darkening sky above. Every thirty seconds or so, she would catch but a glimpse, a quick-moving sparkle contrasting the violet sky. Looking down toward the gorge, she could see the shadow of the one called The Red. He was circling, slowly, deliberately, as if on the hunt. The being who was the cause of this silhouette was somewhere in proximity, but her limited view of the sky between the cli”s above her did not allow for her to pinpoint his location.
She fretted some, wondering how best to confront this being. She felt not afraid, but aware that she may be in danger. Despite this, she tried to envision how she might be of help to Kheldour, to somehow pull The Red away from the mountains so that Kheldour would be safe. She was frustrated that she did not know where Kheldour was and wished she had more time. So that I can warn him, or somehow, save him!
Forged in Dragons’ Breath, Chapter 56: “A Challenge at the Gorge”
Forged in Dragons’ Breath was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
Forged in Dragons’ Breath will be available in both paperback and Kindle forms, exclusive to Amazon, from 12 September, 2023.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
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Forged In Dragons’ Breath
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