Eon by Alison Goodman ★★★☆☆

Dragons, Emperors and Girls in Disguise, Oh My!

Fiction -YA - Epic Fantasy

Reading level: Ages 12 and up

531 pages

Original Title: The Two Pearls of Wisdom

Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Eon #1

Literary awards:  Victorian Premier's Literary Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction Prize (2009), James Tiptree Jr. Award Nominee (2008), TAYSHAS High School Reading List (2010), Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel & Nominee for Young Adult Novel (2008), ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2009) Bank Street College Best Book of the Year (2009)

Crippled Eon is in training to become a candidate for the Rat Dragon’s apprentice; one of the greatest honors in the kingdom.  Gifted with rare full dragon sight Eon can see each of the dragons, except of course the Mirror Dragon who has been missing for 500 years.  On the day of choosing no one in the kingdom expects the “cursed cripple” to be chosen, but Eon has another reason for thinking he might not be chosen, Eon is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl.  Females cannot take part in the Dragonseye ceremonies, on pain of death.  When the Mirror Dragon resurfaces and chooses Eona everything in her life is thrown into chaos.  Plunged into a dangerous world she doesn’t understand and unable to call upon her dragon, Eona must carefully navigate the twists and turns of the palace for the sake of her allies and the Prince Kygo, otherwise much more than her life will be lost.

I purchased this book without knowing practically anything about it on the recommendation of a very enthusiastic store employee during a book buying frenzy.  So when I started to read it I only knew the very basics without my usual research and couldn’t help, but be concerned.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised.  The mythology is very well developed and thought out.  Goodman even managed to nicely mix the mythological elements with the political intrigue.  Her characters are charismatic, multi-dimensional, and each one has their very own agenda.  The story is rather complex with a large host of characters interacting and contributing so you do really have to pay attention.  I would not call this book a light, easy read, but it is worth the effort to keep everything straight.

This book is very interesting and did a good enough job pulling me in that I am now in search of “Eona”, the next one in the series.  The recommended reading age says 12 and up, but personally I think a little older would be better, at least 13 or 14, so the reader can fully grasp the content.

ISBN-13: 978-0142417119