★ 06/01/2019
Almost 200 years ago, the Omehi fled the Cull for a new peninsula, where they battled those already living there, the Xiddeen, with their Guardians—dragons—to take control. Now, the war continues. The Omehi are strictly divided by class, with Commons, Nobles, plus the treasured and powerful Gifted. One Common boy, Tau Tafari, loses his father when he is killed because of Tau's victory against a Noble in a fight. Tau vows revenge on those who caused his father's death and begins training as a Common soldier, an Ihashe. To become better than his skilled opponents, Tau uses every piece of knowledge, determination, and hatred to forge a path to the feet of his father's killers, even as he faces changes to his world, his culture, and the unending war that has shaped the Omehi and their power. Tau is a near-unsympathetic protagonist, as his single-minded vendetta affects those around him, but readers will be mesmerized by the worldbuilding, class barriers, and magic that shape the story into a powerful tale. VERDICT Winter's debut will draw strong comparisons to George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson, and the strong African influences and ties create a singular, exciting epic with intriguing characters and culture. Readers will be clamoring for the next installment.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
"Expertly structured with a keen eye for action and character, The Rage of Dragons is a captivating epic heroic fantasy from a major new talent."—Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song
"It may be cliche to say a book was impossible to put down, but well, dang it, this book was impossible to put down!... a rip-roaring good story."—Rick Riordan
"People ask the last book I couldn't put down, and I tell them The Rage of Dragons. The tension rises with every page until you fear it will break you in two."—Peter V. Brett, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Warded Man
"Winter's stunning debut fantasy epic is rich in complex characters and a well-wrought world with both European and African influences. ... This impressive series launch holds tremendous promise."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A unique military fantasy....The fast-paced action will have readers eager to follow Tau into the next book of this captivating epic."—Booklist (starred review)
"A refreshingly brutal and imaginative tale of survival and revenge. Evan Winter's battles are visceral, bloody masterpieces, and Tau's climb from exiled Lesser to legendary warrior is earned in a way few writers could hope to match."—David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance Series
"The Rage of Dragons takes the best parts of epic fantasy and sets them in a refreshing and inventive new world, a gripping tale that makes clear the true cost of war and colonialism with one of the most enthralling hero's journeys I've read."—S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass
"Winter's debut will draw strong comparisons to George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson, and the strong African influences and ties create a singular, exciting epic with intriguing characters and culture. Readers will be clamoring for the next installment."—Library Journal (starred review)
"Compelling, expansive and rich. Winter has created an exciting and immersive world of magic, vengeance and wonder"—Micah Yongo, author of Lost Gods
"A Xhosa-inspired world complete with magic, dragons, demons and curses, The Rage of Dragons takes classic fantasy and imbues it with a fresh and exciting twist."—Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
"Wow. This book hits the ground with stunning action and danger, and it barely lets up as the pages fly by. I loved the African-influence culture, the unique use of dragons and demons, the complex martial and class hierarchy, and it has a magic system unlike anything I've seen before. What a terrific set up for a series!"—David Anthony Durham, author of The Acacia Trilogy
"Intense, inventive and action-packed from beginning to end - a relentlessly gripping, brilliant read."—James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost
"The Rage of Dragons is an uncompromisingly brutal fantasy in a unique, fascinating world I want to see a lot more of. Fans of Anthony Ryan's Blood Song will love this."—Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names
"Canada's answer to George R. R. Martin... A vividly drawn, instantly gripping saga."—Globe and Mail
With his signature deep baritone, narrator Prentice Onayemi delivers a spectacular performance of this epic fantasy focused on revenge. Tau was born without any gifts, but he doesn’t let his common lineage stop him from becoming the greatest swordsman the Omehi have ever seen. Onayemi’s depiction of Tau accurately reflects his development; his soft voice hardens and deepens over time as he builds his confidence and sets his goals. Onayemi employs a full range of pitches, pacing, and African accents to paint vivid pictures of multiple characters. While his neutral tone for the fight scenes breaks immersion in the story, the more emotional moments are sincere and compelling A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
With his signature deep baritone, narrator Prentice Onayemi delivers a spectacular performance of this epic fantasy focused on revenge. Tau was born without any gifts, but he doesn’t let his common lineage stop him from becoming the greatest swordsman the Omehi have ever seen. Onayemi’s depiction of Tau accurately reflects his development; his soft voice hardens and deepens over time as he builds his confidence and sets his goals. Onayemi employs a full range of pitches, pacing, and African accents to paint vivid pictures of multiple characters. While his neutral tone for the fight scenes breaks immersion in the story, the more emotional moments are sincere and compelling A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
2019-04-28
The swords-and-sorcery genre deepens its presence on the African continent with this rough, tough page-turner replete with demons, dragons, and really bad dreams.
To the grand parade of brooding swashbucklers and formidable warriors striding along the thoroughfares of epic fantasy, one can now add the name of Tau Solarin. As this saga opens, Tau is a novice swordsman who hails from a rural village called Fief Kerem in a coastal corner of a mythic ancient Africa where the Omehi, or Chosen, people live in ongoing, centurieslong conflict against the Hedeni. Among the Omehi, caste divisions are strictly defined and often brutally enforced. And young Tau, who refers to himself as "High Common," is still considered a "Lesser" even by friends who are placed in the higher "Noble" stratum. Even after Nobles and Lessers band together to fight Hedeni marauders and dragons, they battle among themselves for status and honor. And when Tau's father steps in to fight in his son's place and is killed under a Noble's command, Tau vows revenge on all who abetted the murder. Exiled from Kerem, Tau finds his way into a military academy, where his physical prowess and intense diligence soon separate him from other recruits. In the midst of his training, Tau reconnects with his childhood love, Zuri, now among the so-called "Gifted" caste of mystic warriors who help Omehi soldiers fight the Hedeni. What Tau learns from her about magic enhances his considerable virtuosity in combat. The further Tau gets into his warrior identity, the more chaotic and complicated the world around him becomes. Gradually his burning desire for vengeance is all but overpowered by a nascent yearning to bring lasting peace to his battle-scarred land. Winter's debut novel, already a self-published cult sensation among fantasy fans, is rife with vividly orchestrated battle sequences, whether the fights are between two people or vast armies. And the action is unrelenting, at times even overpowering. Sometimes you wish Tau and his comrades would take longer breaks between both mock and real battles. The relative novelty of this saga's African setting will draw comparisons with Marlon James' Black Leopard, Red Wolf, though Winter's novel is less stylistically ambitious and more formulaic.
Hardcore fantasy fans will find this an absorbing, fast-paced table-setter.