Synopses & Reviews
Read Alison Goodman's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community.
Eon--the award-winning crossover fantasy that soars!
Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye-an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.
Review
“Fisher creates a world of danger and suspense that will keep readers ensnared.”–
BookPage
“Fisher scores a resounding success in this beautifully imagined science fantasy… Complex and inventive with numerous and rewarding mysteries.”–The San Francisco Examiner
“TOP PICK! Readers will be left anxiously awaiting a sequel.”–Romantic Times
“Fisher’s characters are emotionally resonant, flawed, determined, and plagued by metaphysical questions... With some well-timed shocking twists and a killer ending, this is a must have.”–Booklist
“Fisher’s dystopic future, in which technology and decay coexist in a dazzling kaleidoscope of images and time periods, is brilliantly realized… Elegant, gritty, often surprising.”–The Horn Book
“Fisher scores a resounding success in this beautifully imagined science fantasy.”–Publishers Weekly
“By delving into the philosophy of imprisonment and the development of society; discussing how history informs the present; and exploring self-awareness and sentience in nonhuman characters, Incarceron becomes something of a tour de force.”–School Library Journal
“A far-future thriller combines riveting adventure and masterful world-building with profound undertones… Like the finest chocolate, a rich confection of darkness, subtlety and depth, bittersweet and absolutely satisfying.”–Kirkus Reviews
“An imaginative adventure unlike any other. There's a dark sophistication to it that sets it apart and makes it a delicious read.”–Deseret News
Review
"The author's plotting is elaborate, smart and capable of taking the audience by surprise. Enthralled readers will be hard-pressed to wait for the story's second half."—
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A mesmerizing story, a world so richly imagined that it feels real. No detail is overlooked, from the smallest sensory description to the fascinating mythos of the elemental dragons. Entangled politics and fierce battle scenes provide a pulse-quickening pace, while the intriguing characters add interest and depth. Readers will clamor for the sequel."—Booklist, starred review
"Fast-paced excitement carries Eon through this tension-packed adventure, where victory can only come with self-knowledge. This adventure, filled with intrigue, friendships, combat and magical allies, is a winner."—Kirkus Reviews
"A refreshing change from the generic. This intelligent, vividly written tale grips from the first page."—The Times, London
"Alison Goodman has created a wonderfully well-rounded story in this, the first of a duology set in a faux Asian world. [Eon] deftly straddles the young adult and adult market. This coming of age story sports enough action and intrigue to keep the reader galloping along through Eona's trials and tribulations."—Courier Mail, Australia
"Fans of Tamora Pierce and Garth Nix will be riveted by this fast-paced gender-bending fantasy. Goodman's rousing mix of swordplay, magic, adventure, and Asian astrology is inventive and enthralling."—Parents Express
"Goodman has produced an action-packed, well-plotted and acutely imagined fantasy that draws on the popularity of such films as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Anyone who enjoys kung-fu movies will devour this book."—The Age, Australia
"Eon walks the tightrope between adult and child with consummate skill, immersing you in the atmosphere one minute and exciting you with intrigue and thrills the next, while all the time making Eon constantly reassess who are her allies and enemies right through to the cliffhanger finale. If part one of this story is anything to go by, part two is going to be a cracker, and I for one, cannot wait for it."—Sci-Fi London
"The girl-in-disguise plot gets interesting added twists and the blended Asian atmosphere adds plenty of color, combining to make an entertaining adventure."—LOCUS Magazine
"This complex, richly envisioned tale will appeal to fantasy lovers of all ages. Incorporating elements of the hero’s quest with closely guarded secrets, ancient texts, mythical beasts and compellingly realistic political machinations, Goodman has created a gem. The action carries readers on a wild ride as Eon attempts to balance doing what is right with keeping herself alive against mounting odds. A richly developed historical and cultural background combined with turbulent current affairs makes this is more then a coming of age tale, this is fantasy writing at its best."—Monsters and Critics
"I loved this book. You will be drawn into Eon's struggle from the first page. The story contains an epic battle of good versus evil with the fate of the kingdom depending on an unlikely and unprepared hero that you can't help but love. This is a super young adult offering that other ages will love as well."—Armchair Interviews
"An intensely compelling read. Based off of Chinese and Japanese myths and legends, it is an exhilarating blend of mystery, suspense, and foreign culture and habits that will engross and entertain readers to no end. The ending is heart stopping, and the complete cliff hanger will most certainly leave readers yearning for the conclusion of this smart and drama filled duet in the next book--whose title is too much a spoiler to reveal yet, but hopes to be just as riveting and breathtaking."—The Compulsive Reader
"Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a richly detailed fantasy that will appeal to anyone who loves stories of exotic lands, court intrigue, interesting characters, power struggles, secrets, and personal heroism."—Wands and Worlds Review
Review
-
Eon is wonderful, with its whirlwind of gender exploration, imperial ambition, dragon lore and dissection of nature versus nurture.+ -
Los Angeles Times-Includes plenty of exciting sword fights and plot reversals, and the dragons themselves, which only mystics of Eon+s ability can see, are beautifully described.+ -New York Times
-This mesmerizing story begins where most novels end: in a tension-filled climactic event . . . A world so richly imagined that it feels real.+ -Booklist, starred review
Review
"A wild, energetic novel that proves girls CAN be warriors while still being true to themselves."
Review
"Packs a great deal...An intriguing story with a capable heroine."
Review
"A gripping debut embraces the trend toward gritty grimdark fantasy....Every character is complex and multilayered...[A] portrayal of believable characters struggling with realistic conflicts affecting every level of society."
Review
"[Renee is] an imperfect but admirably courageous, principled, and evolving heroine....The world she struggles through is filled with war, crime, and politics, intertwining to create a complex but intriguing plot. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore should pick up Cadet."
Review
"Full of action and intrigue, kidnapping and heroism, spiced with a touch of fantasy and romance. This is a fully realized, highly detailed medieval world with a surprisingly nuanced and balanced cast of characters. . . . [Renee] is a strong female character determined to do what's right in a world where no one is completely black or white."
Synopsis
From childhood, Aerin had been haunted by the story of her mother - a "witchwoman" who enspelled the king and then died in childbirth, leaving behind a newborn daughter and an heirless land. Left to her own devices, Aerin grew up wild, doing her best to live up to her reputation as the disappointment of the realm. But little did the young princess know the long-dormant powers of her mother would wield their own destiny, and leave Aerin with a duty to her scornful homeland that she couldn't refuse.
Synopsis
A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer. Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.
And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.
Synopsis
Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime. Meliara is summoned to live at the royal palace, where friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting-with wits and words and secret alliances.
In war, at least, she knew in whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one.
The Firebird edition of Crown Duel combines the hardcover editions of Crown Duel and Court Duel-and features a never-before-published story by Sherwood Smith!
Synopsis
Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . .
Synopsis
Although she is the daughter of Damar's king, Aerin has never been accepted as full royalty. Both in and out of the royal court, people whisper the story of her mother, the witchwoman, who was said to have enspelled the king into marrying her to get an heir to rule Damar-then died of despair when she found she had borne a daughter instead of a son. But none of them, not even Aerin herself, can predict her future-for she is to be the true hero who will wield the power of the Blue Sword...
Synopsis
Action—a stunning magic system—swordplay galore!
Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he’ll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragoneye, the human link to an energy dragon’s power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon’s affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. As tension builds and Eon’s desperate lie comes to light, readers won’t be able to stop turning the pages …
Synopsis
Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller. There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.
Synopsis
A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer. Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.
And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.
Synopsis
Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . .
Synopsis
Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller. There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.
About the Author
Robin McKinley has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for
The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for
The Blue Sword. Her other books include
Sunshine; the
New York Times bestseller
Spindle's End; two novel-length retellings of the fairy tale
Beauty and the Beast,
Beauty and Rose Daughter; and a retelling of the
Robin Hood legend,
The Outlaws of Sherwood. She lives with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson.