Eon (Dragoneye, #1)

by Alison Goodman

Previously published as 'Two Pearls of Wisdom' EON will bring this critically-acclaimed story to a new, younger audience. Under the harsh regime of an ambitious master, candidate Eon is training to become a Dragoneye - a powerful lord able to master wind and water to protect the land. But Eon also harbours a desperate secret - Eon is, in fact, Eona, a young woman who has endured years of disguise as a boy for the chance to practise the Dragoneye's art. In a world where women are only hidden wives or servants, Eona's dangerous deception is punishable by death. Still in disguise, Eona's unprecedented talent thrusts her into the centre of a lethal struggle for the Imperial throne. Summoned by the Emperor to the opulent and teacherous court, Eona must learn to trust her power and find the strength to face a vicious enemy who would seize her magic and her life. Inspired by the rich myths and traditions of Ancient China, this is a fast-paced, exhilarating page-turner that shimmers with energy dragons, and dazzles with deadly intrigue and breathtaking swordplay.

• ISBN10: 1743095880
• ISBN13: 9781743095881
• Publish Date: 1 November 2011 (first published 1 January 1999)
• Publish Status: Permanently Withdrawn
• Out of Print: 26 July 2021
• Publish Country: AU
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[KitsuneBae]

Awesome. I didn't mind the slow beginning because once you're through that, it's just WOW!

Review at Miss Book Reviews.

*3.5 stars*

Eon is a great fantasy read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I was taken along for the ride and drawn in to Eon’s world.

The Dragon’s and Dragoneyes were so fascinating, I found this entire world interesting. The way the world was written kept making me forget that this didn’t actually happen in ancient Japan, that this wasn’t real. This is a Japanese fantasy done right, the culture didn’t feel forced, Japanese words weren’t thrown in haphazardly and it made sense and clicked. Everything felt natural.

I had a lot of fun reading this book, watching Eon learn to be a lord, watching her grow and come to terms with the fact that she is Eona. The only thing is I really wanted to enjoy this more, but I just didn’t. I felt like I could have really, really loved this story but there was something missing from making me feel that.

Regardless I am very excited to read the sequel, I am dying to see what happens next to Eon and to the world.

Eon is a fun, entertaining fantasy that has you turning the pages and wanting to know more.

Miss J
xx

[ladygrey]

ugh.

I mean, I liked the story. a lot. It's a really different world and it's interesting with the dragons and the characters are all really well developed.

But I can't get over how infuriating this book is. Eon spends 200 pages being so ridiculously stupid it drove me crazy. Because the answer was so obvious. And it wasn't like Twilight where she just didn't see the obvious answer, she kept making choices that were more and more stupid and my knowing how bad those choices were just made it terrible. And, yes, years of conditioning and cultural rules, I know. It doesn't matter when I wanted to stop reading and I wanted to punch her in the face but she's fictional so that wouldn't work very well. Eventually it turned around like I knew it would and the story actually became more interesting again after that. But that second act was really long.

Also, there's way too much description for my tastes. Some people like a very vividly evoked setting. I like people and emotions and relationships. So the fact that every single room they walk into is described, what every single person who walks into the story is wearing, just broke into the story.

Those are my two major criticisms. It was a hard book for me to read. But the story was enough to overcome that. Because the first act (before she starts ignoring the obvious and reacting without thinking!) was good. I really liked the bit about how Eona became Eon.

But most of all I learned how not to be watched. ... that look of temporary possession that some men gave... And even at twelve years old, the knowledge of it was already in the way I moved my head, my hands, my shoulders. ... I had to stop being alert to the turn of a man's head toward me. Stop glancing up to meet his gaze in fleeting connection. Stop falsely veiling my eyes from his momentary interest.
Every woman knows that and I loved the way she expresses it and weaves it into Eon's character.

And the third act was interesting as well, full of action and horrors and (of course) too much description but also revelation and the unexpected. I liked who she was in the end quite a bit which makes it easier to look forward to the sequel.

Alright, let me just go ahead and get this out of the way:

If you don't like political intrigue, don't read this.

Oh, so you read the synopsis and thought this would be an action book? Yeah, me too. LIES AND SLANDER! Ok, well maybe not slander, but definitely lies. I actually liked the book because I love myself some political intrigue, but even for me it dragged in some places so if that's not your thing, I'm not sure you'd enjoy it.

Now don't get me wrong, there is action. Just not till the last 100 pages. But when that action comes, it comes. It's like "BAM!", it's action time! And so it's pretty awesome. However, this book is looooong. And normally I'm all for long books, but this one dragged a bit.

However, the creativity and just pure awesomeness of the plot made it so worth it. No lie. This world is just amazing! It's so intricate and mind-blowingly well-done! This girl thought of everything. Even down to all the rituals. Now that is where it dragged a bit, but she definitely gets brownie points for thoroughly thinking through the world.

And A+ for girl power. Personally, I didn't really care for Eon(a) for some of the book. And, to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about her at the end (grant it, I am writing this thing about 2 1/2 months after reading it :P) But her growth? Amazing. She learns that she can be a woman and still kick butt. She learns to love herself for who she is, female and awesome dragoneye.

Overall:

The synopsis promised action, but didn't live up to it. Yeah, action finally comes at the end and its really awesome and all, but unless you can get through 400+ pages of political intrigue and whining, you won't like it. However, the creativity of the world makes it all worthwhile! Honestly mind-blowing in its intricacy. I had a love/hate relationship with Eon(a) but her growth is amazing. And this book definitely brings up some interesting topics on sexism, feminism, ect. so it's a very thought-provoking book. If you're into that kind of thing, jump right in!


All the best ♥
Mackenzie

Originally posted on Oh, For the Love of Books!

[elvinagb]

I just finished this and want to go get the sequel "Eona" right now! This book has it all, hidden identity, magical study, sword play, politics, intrigue, struggles for power and Dragon magic.