The Dragon Scourge

Read as part of the Action Fantasy Book Club.

An interesting concept underpins this - the grooming of someone as a sacrifice. In the world of Dragon Strife, dragons have overthrown the gods. Each dragon has taken a territory and in return for a 15 year old virgin as a sacrifice every 5 years they look after that town. What if you are brought up as that sacrifice - given everything you could want but knowing that you will die by the time you turn 15. The grooming is at the heart of the start of the story. The grim acceptance that ‘if it isn't me then someone else will have to die' gives an uncomfortable undertone to the start of the book. There is a sense of othering as well which adds to the discomfort.

Russell Nohelty does a good job of riding the line with the uncomfortable undertones. The MC is likeable, her motivations believable and the sense of resignation tangible. It is a good question that is being asked and it is dealt with just the right amount of pathos.

The story changes up somewhat in the second half once we have entered the dragons lair. Whilst I can appreciate the anger and betrayal that underlies the action here, I found some of the characters actions more questionable. That being said this was a fun start to a series. I will have to dig a bit further and see where it is going as the world that has been set up is an intriguing one.