Hey Jared,

I picked this up in an airport for something to read in flight. There wasn’t much to choose from and this was the best there. Both Lisa and I have read this and we agree that it’s an odd one. Somewhere between Middle-Grade and YA but lacking in the strengths of either one.

Title: Starlighter
Series: Dragons of Starlight; Book 1
Author: Bryan Davis
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Teen/YA
ROTS Setting: UU, Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Jason Masters doubted the myths that told of people taken through a portal to another realm and enslaved by dragons. But when he receives a cryptic message from his missing brother, he must uncover the truth and find the portal before it’s too late. At the same time, Koren, a slave in the dragons’ realm, discovers she has a gift that could either save or help doom her people. As Jason and Koren work to rescue the enslaved humans, a mystic prophecy surrounding a black egg may make all their efforts futile.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for teens.

Honestly this book is sort of just, meh.

I had a really hard time at the beginning. The setting is the weakest part of the whole book. Inconsistencies, a lack of any sort of society description, a contradictory culture, and that’s just with the human world. The dragon world suffered from many of the same issues but since they’re dragons it felt foreign and intriguing.

The plot suffered from coincidences and some things happening too perfectly. The latter half much less so as it built momentum. The characters felt too perfect for the role so they were basically just the role which left them feeling pretty flat. The fluttering attempts at romance were laughably horrible and yet tragically cliche. Sort of like elementary school romance.

I didn’t really care for the dragons. They were too nebulous instead of mysterious and far too human-like for my taste.

How would I rate the whole thing? It was OK. I wouldn’t say “good” but there were some enjoyable parts and I don’t feel like I wasted my time. However, I won’t be reading more in this particular series. I do want to read some of Mr. Davis’s newer work to see if he’s improved though. There’s potential there, but it’s still in the fanfic stage with this book.

Robert

Links

• Bryan Davis’s Official Website