A Book Review: The Rage of Dragons (The Burning, #1) by Evan Winter
First Impressions:
Evan Winter's debut novel, The Rage of Dragons, is an African inspired tribal fantasy that stands out with the unique flavor it brings to the genre. In the simplest words possible, this book was absolute fire. This story had me invested right from the prologue - everything from the plot to the characters is so dramatic and compelling. Tau Tafari, the main character, is both sympathetic and infuriating. There were so many times when I wanted to smack him over the head for being so singularly focused on revenge that he couldn’t see any of the complexity and nuance in his situation. His tunnel vision is blinding and often (always) clouds his judgment, but it does make for an intense read.
This book is action packed. There are A LOT of fighting scenes. Like, so many. I hope that is your thing. As a result, I found the book to be pretty fast-paced with only minimal sacrifice to the plot and character work.
Points deducted for the noticeable lack of dragons though.
Minor spoilers from this point on!
At its heart, this is a story that explores themes of power, revenge and identity. As mentioned earlier, it takes place in a world that is analogous to ancient Africa - which is a refreshing change of scenery in epic fantasy as many settings are more medieval European in their style. In the prologue, we learn that Tau’s people, the Omehi, fled their homeland of Osante 186 years prior to the start of the main story to escape an event known as “the Cull”. In their escape, they discovered the land of Xidda, and they ruthlessly invaded its native population (subduing them with dragons) and took over the peninsula. Since then, they have been in an “endless war” with the “savage” Xiddeen who are attempting to take back control of their land.
Set to the back drop of this war, is Tau’s journey for vengeance. At the start of the story, his life is upended by a tragic turn of events that leave him with a one-track mind for revenge. As a result, he makes his way into an elite fighting school that trains soldiers for the war with the Xiddeen. In this way, we see our main character go from a virtual nobody to a demon-like fighting machine. Like, he literally, but secretly, fights demons in the underworld to gain an edge over his competitors. I thought this development in the story was so wild and unique.
The supporting characters, from Tau's mentor, the other boys in his fighting scale, to his enemies, are all well-developed and contribute significantly to the narrative. In fact, they really help balance the tale of Tau’s lust for revenge, and they serve as a means for Winter to call out Tau’s many careless and stupid choices he makes in the name of vengeance.
Another notable force in this novel is its powerful portrayal of the caste-like societal structure of the Omehi, which adds depth and an additional layer of conflict to the narrative. In fact, the magic system in this world is heavily tied to the hierarchy of this society. Only women are able to wield actual magic, and men, of the higher classes and nobility, are able to act as conduits of their magic. Our main character comes from the lower caste of society and as a result, is virtually unremarkable in his physical ability and inherent skill. Yet, through hard work and dedication, he is able to rise above his peers at their training school. That is perhaps one of the elements I really enjoyed about this story - our protagonist is not “the chosen one” who happens to be good at every new thing he tries. He has to put in the work and overcome oppression and inequality to excel.
Sprinkled throughout the story, we see characters reflect on the cost of war. I thought this was a brilliant addition on the part of Winter as this a topic not often explored in fantasy novels despite, you know, all the fighting they do. It’s rare to see a faction in a fantasy world go, “You know, the cost is too high. We can’t keep fighting. We won’t win. I would rather be alive than dead. Let’s make peace, even if it means compromise.” What a novel idea.
Perhaps my only gripe with this book (aside from the no dragons) is how little character development we see from Tau. His emotional depth is basically the same at the end of the novel as it is after the catalyst that sparks his arc. I would have liked to see more reflection and internal conflict from him, but with the way the book ends, I am hoping we will see more growth from him in book two.
Conclusion:
No doubt, the The Rage of Dragons is a standout debut entry by Evan Winter. He has created an epic world with a gripping story that combines rich cultural elements, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes. I especially enjoyed the novel’s exploration of personal and societal conflict, and what it means to be human. Book one sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating, action-packed series.
