EON
by Alison Goodman

Summary
Eon knows that being chosen as the next Dragoneye Apprentice is his only chance to save himself and the rest of his masters’ servants from a life of slavery and torture. But Eon also has a terrible secret that could ruin everything… he is actually Eona, a 16-year-old girl who has disguised herself as a young boy because it is forbidden for females to practice Dragon magic.  A surprising turn of events finds Eon thrust into a dangerous world of political scheming and unrest, which far exceeds his experience. As his allies fall, and his enemies continue to gain power, Eon battles against the odds in an effort to save the nation from being dominated by evil.

Review
EON is an exciting and powerful tale filled with beautiful imagery, and plenty of action. The pace did lag just a bit towards the middle, but the ending was rewarding enough to make up for it.  The rich and layered universe in which Eon takes place is skilfully crafted in such a way that the reader will become absorbed in the surroundings as much as the story. The characters are well rounded and multi-dimensional, with both strengths and weaknesses. And Eon(a) is a strong female heroine, who fights against the odds to make things better for others, which is my favorite kind of protagonist!  My one complaint with the story was that a major question for the characters was painfully obvious to me, and I found myself wanting to shout at them so they’d clue in. While this issue was somewhat frustrating, the fact that Eon(a) was young, overwhelmed and had so much on her plate balanced out her shortsightedness.

Verdict
Well-written and original, EON is a great start to this promising fantasy series. I loved it and am eagerly awaiting the sequel, which is due out in the spring.

If you’d like to read an excerpt from Eon, visit http://www.eonbook.com/

*I received this book for review from the publisher.