Dragon Champion by E.E. Knight
Dragon Champion, the first Age of Fire novel, begins with a newborn whose initial impressions of the world are artfully depicted, but the fact that this newborn is a dragon makes it even more fun. E.E. Knight’s story follows the life and growth of a young dragon through interesting and perilous adventures.
Knight’s world-building is creative; he mixes races, geography, and geo-politics to create a vibrant background. The story takes on an almost scientific tone at times as Knight explains some of the aspects of dragonkind in a way that makes sense to human readers. A good example of this is an explanation of why a dragon is able to breathe fire.
My favorite part of the story had to do with Knight’s depiction of the main bad guy. This is not your stereotypical wizard who is trying to destroy the world simply to be all-powerful. What the reader gets to sort through are the varying motivations that several groups are coping with and how perspective can strongly impact one’s outlook on what is right and wrong.
Dragon Champion was fairly well-paced and not too graphic or vulgar for a reader over the age of 13. Covering a mere 369 pages, this is not one of the spine shattering bruisers that have become so common. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Dragon Avenger, because Dragon Champion left plenty of room for further adventure.
Age of Fire — (2005-2013) Young adult. Publisher: After escaping those who killed his siblings, Young Auron, a rare, defenseless gray dragon, fears he might be the last of his breed. Armed with nothing but his claws and a boundless determination to survive, he sets off in search of his kind. But to find other dragons — or, at least, find out who’s killing them off — Auron will have to search a world of mercenary elves, vicious humans, and dangers of all kinds. Finding allies in the strangest places — and himself along the way — Auron is on the trek of a lifetime.
i am reading “Dragon Champion.” I’m confused by thE fact that Auron is alternately described as having scales and being scaleless. Am I missing something?