Title: Dragon's Guardian
Author: Ava Richardson
Series: Alveria Dragon's Akademy, Reign of Chaos #1
Genre: Fantasy/Dragons
Publisher: Relay Publishing
Publication Date: April 29th, 2020
Edition: Kindle Edition
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon US
Synopsis:
If she can’t bond with a dragon she’ll be expelled for good…
After three unsuccessful terms at Alveria’s Dragon Akademy, seventeen-year-old tamer trainee, Mari Asadottier, has one last shot to bond with a dragon. If she fails, she’ll be barred from her dream of joining the Dragon Guard.
Normal life is impossible for Prince Kai Afkarr-Younger who has been stuck in his dragon form for two years. Unable to shift, he fears his draconian instincts could overwhelm him. Could he lose control of his magic as well?
Meanwhile, a sickness is spreading through the land and new monsters are terrorizing Alveria. Mari and Kai might be the only people who can stop it. But a secret connection to the beasts could tear Mari and Kai apart. If the Alverian council finds out, their bond could be forcibly broken, but if they can’t stop the sickness it could already be too late. Can they save their bond and stop Alveria from falling into chaos?
I think the Alveria Dragon Akadaemy is my series' for Richardson's books. Her books from the Torvald Kingdoms series' are also really good. I think I'm just a big sucker for the Magic School trope.
I really like how all her characters are true underdogs, in the sense, they all struggle believing in themselves but are always very supportive of those around them. Kai is a prince, but he's been stuck in his Dragon form for three years and struggles to control his magic to a point no other dragon has before. Mari, while she has a unique magical power, has been unable to bond with any dragons during her time at the Academy.
I feel like I should've read the second book in the previous series for Dragon Akademy since this one chronologically takes place after, and I have missed when and how Tyr became a God. That aside, I really do love how this set of series' uses Norse mythology in crafting the world.
I really liked Mari as a character. She's still a bit more of a mystery than Kai is, since her magic seems to be so unique and specific. But I still appreciate her headstrong attitude, and how supportive she is for the ones she cares about.
Kai is also a great character, while less of a mystery in some way than Mari. His condition is interesting. His struggle with his dragon form might have a direct relation to the antagonist. Considering the time frame of events.
I was surprised at who the antagonist was, the person I was suspicious of wasn't the one who ended up being the villain, he's still a jerk and a threat, just in a different way.
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