Dragon Venom

Watt-Evans could have gone the route of Robert Jordan and dragged this story out over several books, dropping small plot advancements every so often. Instead, he runs with it. The world as you've known it in the first two books becomes much more complex, and many things that previously had to be taken on word are explained. Plot progresses at a rapid pace through most of the book, with surprises coming often, keeping it a page-turner. This has been one of my favorite fantasy series, alongside Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy and Melanie Rawn's Dragon Star/Prince trilogies.

Dragon Venom is the third novel in the Obsidian Chronicles, following Dragon Society. In the previous volume, the Aritheians were successful in curing Lady Rime of her venom contaminated blood; she was no longer a dragonheart. When the dragon spawn was killed, the parent Dragon felt it and came to take vengeance on Arlian. Toribor volunteered to lure the dragon within range of the newfangled spear-thrower and was enveloped in the dragon's venom, but Arlian triggered the machine and hit the dragon with four obsidian-headed spears, yet did not kill it. He then leaped on the dragon and, hanging by one hand, shoved a spear in deeper until it penetrated the heart.In this novel, Arlian has been appointed as the Duke's warlord and for the past fourteen years has been searching out and killing dragons in their lairs during the winter, when they are asleep and dormant. After cleaning out yet another lair, Arlian decides to return to Manfort for a while. Releasing the campfollowers at Crackstone, leaving most of his men in Ethinior, and sending Rolinor on ahead to Manfort, Arlian and Black return home together.In Manfort, Arlian learns from Isein of disturbances along the southern border. After a good night's sleep, Arlian sends word of his return to the Duke. He visits the Old Palace and Lady Rime while he awaits word from the Duke, but becomes impatient after three days and drops in on the Duke unsummoned.The Duke informs Arlian that the Southern borders have suffered encroachments of wild magic and suggests that the death of so many dragons may have led to a weakening of the barrier to such magic. Arlian has to agree, especially after a messenger from the Dragon Society confirms this news and offers a truce with the dragons. Under the circumstances, he promises to not kill any more dragons without the Duke's permission. However, he wonders how the dragons have fended off the wild magic and determines to travel south to find some answers.In this story, Arlian learns even more about magic of all kinds. He meets magicians, wizards and the thing in Tirikindaro. Then he performs some experiments with dragon venom.This volume satisfactorily concludes the story arc, although it leaves open the possibilities of future sequels. The author does still have some fascinating magical concepts to play with and a whole new cast of characters being born. Oh, the possibilities!Highly recommended for Watt-Evans fans and for anyone else who enjoys stories of magic, dragons and heroes with a slightly different slant.

I wasn't familiar with the author's work when I read Dragon Weather (first book in this trilogy), but now that I've finished this series I'll be seeking out more of his books. This is an exciting, challenging story.Each book builds until you find yourself reading compulsively. Everything here is top-notch: characters, setting, moral dilemnas, plot.Buy it. You won't regret it. Do it right now. Click the button. Buy it.

LWE delivers, big time. I was curious as to how he'd wrap up this series, and LWE catches me off guard with a suprising little twist. Lots of morality issues here, but the most important aspect in this series, namely, the quality, was stellar. Obsidian is a great character--easily one of LWE's best (although Gar from Lords of DUS was quite good), and Obsidian does not disappoint this book either. Bravo.

Dragon Venom is the third and final volume of the story which Lawrence Watt-Evans began with Dragon Weather and The Dragon Society. Although it begins a trifle slowly for my taste, the pace picks up until the last third is a page turner that I could not put down.I complained that Arlian relied far too much on luck and allowed events to move him in the earlier work, but the older (and wiser) Arlian in Dragon Venom takes control of his life and the life of human society.The solutions to the problems besieging the Lands of Man are complex and Arlian?s journey (literal and figurative) to find those answers is enthralling. Arlian and many of the others are three dimensional characters that don't always do what we might wish, but are true to themselves and the story.This story could easily be read and enjoyed without reading the preceding novels, but you will want to read the earlier 2/3s and savor the whole story.