Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett - Havemercy

This stunning epic fantasy debut introduces two exciting new authors—and a world brimming with natural and man-made wonders, extraordinary events, and a crisis that will test the mettle of men, the boundaries of magic, and the heart and soul of a kingdom.
Thanks to its elite Dragon Corps, the capital city of Volstov has all but won the hundred years’ war with its neighboring enemy, the Ke-Han. The renegade airmen who fly the corps’s mechanical, magic-fueled dragons are Volstov’s greatest weapon. But now one of its members is at the center of a scandal that may turn the tide of victory. To counter the threat, four ill-assorted heroes must converge to save their kingdom: an exiled magician, a naive country boy, a young student—and the unpredictable ace who flies the city’s fiercest dragon, Havemercy. But on the eve of battle, these courageous men will face something that could make the most formidable of warriors hesitate, the most powerful of magicians weak, and the most unlikely of men allies in their quest to rise against it.

Comment: I had this book in the shelf for many years, another one of the "collection" I hoarded thinking that if I were to like the first book of a series, then I'd have plenty to be entertained with for a long time, of course not bearing in mind that taste and interest vary with the years...

In this fantasy world, people rely on a small but powerful army of metal dragons and those who ride them to protect the kingdom. Now that the war against their neighbors is practically won, what will happen to these specific riders, what will they do if the danger no longer requires their services? At the same time, a diplomatic problem demands something to be done and the king orders one of the magicians into exile. However, what will happen when the help of that same magician is necessary? And what about the metal dragons, such as Havemercy, are they going to be in war missions again?

After years in the shelf and my attention wandering into other types of books, I thought this would be another failed experience, as it happened to several of the books I've collected and which I've been reading for the past years. Yes, some were positive surprises after all, but most weren't. That is why I was positively amazed by how much I enjoyed reading this one, especially since it was more about the characters than the world they live in or even the supposed war against their enemies.

In this fantasy novel we meet four main characters, all very different from one another, who must somehow unite efforts to battle enemy forces that might destroy their country. The issue is on how to make them able to work together, especially since they only get to know each other after a while. The story is told in first person, in alternated chapters from the four protagonists: reckless rider Rook, experienced magician Ryston, shy student Hal and quiet teacher Thom. To be fair, they only really all meet closer to the end, and for the most part Hal and Ryston interact in a specific environment, and Thom and Rook in another.

Of them all, my favorite character was Thom, an academic who is suggested, well kind of given an impossible choice actually, to teach manners to the riders and I of course his task isn't an easy one. I actually found the idea interesting from the academic POV, to see the interactions of the team, what makes a team, is there a way they work together more specifically done than what seems and so on. His job is proven difficult because of Rook, a brash and too confident rider, who feels his life is only good for the job he does. The dynamics reminded me of any school environment, which, of course, include pranks and some bullying and like in the movies, resigned cooperation when necessary.

It's unclear of Thom and Rook will be a couple - for those who like enemies to lovers, the idea is a seductive one - but to explain why I say this would require spoilers... let it be said that the authors were probably a little manipulative in how they presented this dynamic. As for Ryston and Hal, it's obvious they will be a couple for real, and Ryston being older and experienced is quite responsible in trying to help Hal, and in not causing his problems. When the plot gets to a point where Hal can travel with Ryston, he does, but nothing happens between them while other worries are being dealt with.

I was quite glad there was so much attention to characterization, and the slow development of them before any real action takes place... but I can see why this story would feel too slow for many readers. I also liked the originality of magic and alchemy making it possible to create metal dragons, which are used in battle and must be controlled by a special raider, with whom there's a connection. The title references one of those dragons, which can function because part of the magician's soul and magic powers them. Perhaps it's a bit disappointing that the dragons aren't as protagonists as the cover made it seem, though...

The plot seems to be rather simplistic as well, since most time we are spending with the POV of the protagonists. When something plot related finally happens the book is almost finished and the so called important tasks/missions the characters were preparing for during the majority of the story end up happening in, like, three or four chapters. It was a little... surprising, but to me not terribly negative, since I did like spending time with the protagonists instead of reading about lengthy war/battle scenes! Always think about the positive, I'd say!

I was happy enough with the way the book ends, save for a fact about the riders which I think didn't have to happen that way. I see there are three more books in the series and by the blurbs, perhaps I would not mind reading them, but not right away. Or perhaps I'll keep my poritive memories of this one for what it is and will not spoils them in case the others aren't as captivating to me.

I know this story could have been done better, but as a first attempt with the authors' work, it was good enough for me and I consider this a good read.

Grade: 8/10