Dragon Blood Collection

Book 1- Balances on the Blades Edge by Lindsay Buroker

I am desperate to not give too much away and spoil it. So i have only covered the techniques and my opinions, rather than the plot. In a different but familiar world, Sardelle and Ridge are two unlikely characters to be thirst upon each other. Partly because Sardelle herself is over 3 centuries old. Ridge is a playful and determined pilot helping his men fight off the enemy. But after an altercation with the wrong side of politics, he is 'promoted' too general of the icy wasteland and miners where they have cut through a mountain to find crystals. The book is very well written. Every word used is precise and is meant to be there. There hasn't been a moment where I've had to re-read a sentence because it doesn't make sense. Following the characters, seeing the battle between the miners and their soldiers. The rift between the soldiers and their general was repaired by Ridge's fast thinking and reading the situations it was a brilliant touch, a parallel to his piloting days before. There is no one true hero in the book as it swaps between Ridge and Sardelle, it's easy to see them both struggling through what they want and what they must do. Even if it means leaving each other. Ridge at first was sceptical of the woman, and rightly so after she was found in the middle of a mountain, without a number or any papers to shed any light on her arrival. Although she hadn't been there on purpose and she wasn't a threat, as the reader I could feel myself getting more and more annoyed at Ridge because he was judging and not giving her a chance. Again, this elicits brilliant emotion between reader and characters. There wasn't a time where i preferred one over the other either. This is a brilliant technique to use and it is done well. It is really difficult not to give the opposing character information they haven't previously known about the other. The writer almost has to forget everything they know about Sardelle to write Ridge's dialogue and thoughts without giving anything away and vice versa. I'm not usually one for romance but it was a really nice addition for the characters. It didn't feel forced and it wasn't there just to score points for emotional back and forth for the reader. The reader can feel the tension and the chemistry between them. Which is a brilliant ability, an ability every aspirating writer should harness and use for their advantage. But is does come with practice and it shines a light on the writer as it proves they know everything about their characters. The addition of magic to a dreary cold world is a perfect pairing. It gives the soldiers and the miners something to really fear and that isn't missed. The tension, death, and the finger pointing manages to pull the whole book together. I know by seeing the chaos unfold the writer had researched everything they needed and put a lot of effort into the words they chose in their description. It isn't bland, or boring. All the way through it is serious but there is an element of comedy, I have chuckled and laughed all the way through the book. I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magic, romance, action and comedy. As all four are suitable and at a perfect balance all the way through. Thank you. Happy reading!