Review: The Shadow of Black Wings The Shadow of Black Wings (The Year of the Dragon, Book 1) by James Calbraith F...

Review: The Shadow of Black Wings

The Shadow of Black Wings
(The Year of the Dragon, Book 1)
by James Calbraith
File Size: 574 KB
Print Length: 340 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 8393552915
ASIN: B008FS5RPC

(Barry’s score 4 1/2 stars out of 5)

My thoughts:

Let me first admit my bias, I love steampunk. “The Shadow of Black Wings” has a healthy dose of steampunk merged with dragons and magic. Needless to say, I was hooked. Having said that, I think those of you who enjoy a good story will like the book.

The pace of the book is fast, and the multiculturalism of the story is superb. I liked the Japanese world-building. So very often magic can create problems in a story, but the magic in this novel fits well.
Great first novel from James Calbraith. I give The Shadow of Black Wings a solid 4 1/2 stars out of 5 and highly recommend it to the steampunk fans.

Product description:

It is the Sixteenth Year of Queen Victoria. In the powerful empire of Dracaland, Bran, a young dragon rider, joins his father on a military expedition to the mysterious lands of the Orient. In the reclusive Yamato, Sato, a tomboy samurai girl, strives to prove her right to inherit her father’s school of western magic. Nagomi, a timid shrine apprentice, is haunted by the visions of dark future she must keep secret even from her best friend.

They don’t know it yet, but their paths will cross… And when they do, nothing will ever be the same again.

Welcome to The Shadow of Black Wings, a steam-powered romp across the land of dragons, wizards and samurai. It’s big, it’s fast, it’s been compared to Tolkien in terms of world-building, it has strong female characters and lots of carefully researched detail. You will meet the Royal Marines sailing mighty ironclads and Chinese walking machines; mysterious warlords and crazy inventors; you will discover dark prophecies, family secrets and blood-thirsty demons. And all that in just the first volume!

---

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from James Calbraith. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”