The Dragons of Deepwood Fen by Bradley P. Beaulieu

Source: Netgalley! Many thanks to the publisher
TL;DR: While an absolute banger of an idea (and cover), the pacing on this made it a miss for me

Plot: A complicated net of PoVs following the politics and scheming of the native folks called Kin, and the empire that rules them. Add dragons.
Characters: The most disappointing part. Because of the exceptionally slow pace and head hoping I truly didn’t connect
Setting: Loved this, a big dense forest where dragons dwelled? Yes please.
Magic: Everything seemed to be either druidic or based on dragons and their parts. Fascinating ideas!

Thoughts:

The Dragons of Deepwood Fen has one of the most striking covers I’ve seen in a hot minute (particularly from traditional publishers). It leads one to believe the insides to be focused on dragons and flights, maybe fights and action. That… is a little big, maybe a lot, incorrect. The story follows several point of views, 8 in total at various points in the book as we follow the politics and scheming of two groups and those caught between them.

The Empire has ruled the Holt for quite some time, using it’s greater forces and it’s radiant dragons and magic. The Holt is inhabited by the Kin, the native folk who bond to the umbral dragons. On and off these groups have warred and sought piece and this follows another one of these fights. We get everyone’s point of view on it too. From who I would arguably call our main character and his Robin Hood style ways, to some very powerful folks in the Empire itself.

Unfortunately this means this book moves at a glacial pace. Genuinely one of the slowest books I’ve picked up in a hot minute. At first I was excited! I love multiple points of views and I can get behind a political read. Except here it just didn’t connect. There were simply too many characters who were too widely spread. Perhaps if the chapters for each had been shorter it would have felt quicker but I was left feeling like I was watching the events through a foggy glass.

I can’t say I hated the book, I really loved some of the ideas. The magic, the rendering of dragon parts for tonics and dusts to have abilities, and the dragon singing. But I was so very, very bored at times. I can say if you like very slow builds with lots of characters, this is for you. If not, maybe skip.

2.5 Flying Lynxes