Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye--an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.
4.5 stars out of 5
The thing I loved most about this book is the time that Goodman took to create a culture that seemed real. She bases it off of Asian culture but it still has its own flavors. You have the upper and lower classes, the prejudice of the unwhole, degradation of woman, the warrior philosophies, and, of course, the reverence of the dragons. Like any real society; it's not perfect. You have the misery and the suffering, the politics and the ambitions of different people... Eon is no exception. Masquerading as a boy is difficult. But it is a small risk to pay to keep her identity as a deformed girl hidden. Eon is strong and determined which is something that I really annoyed about his/her character. Her journey as she strives to become a Dragoneye is expertly played as you really feel for her and her struggles... The other thing I loved about this book is that each character is different. The diverse personalities kept your interest as you came to love one character or hate another. Goodman's personalities weren't bland or just the same like so many other characters in different books I've read... The only thing I seemed to have trouble with were these characters that had the body of one sex but the soul of another. It was very strange and slightly repulsing for me to read about a woman who was actually a man. But besides that slight drawback, the book was an amazing read because... the dragons! Oh! I love dragons and Goodman's version of the Dragons and their Dragoneyes was so refreshing! But, instead of taking my word for it. Just get the book and read it yourself! You'll see what I mean... ;-)
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