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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In this elegant, compelling fantasy from the prolific author of the Valdemar series (Arrows Fall, etc.), Lackey combines meticulously detailed dragon lore with emotionally intense, realistic human characters. In the arid desert country of Tia, the Altan serf Vetch has to scramble after whatever crumbs are left over after the servants, the slaves and the animals have been fed, while doing the work of three or four full-grown boys. Being hungry is hard enough to take at the best of times, but being a hungry, growing boy, sorely overworked during the dry season when even the beasts of burden are sheltered against the cruel sun, is intolerable. By chance (or the will of the gods), this dreadful situation comes to the notice of one who can change it. Jouster Ari, a dragon rider and a warrior of the Great King of Tia, dislikes cruelty to animals, men and even to mere serfs. In a neat turn of events, Vetch becomes Ari's dragon boy and the caretaker of Ari's dragon, Kashet. What follows is a detailed look at the lives of Tia's dragons, their dragon riders and those who care for them. This uplifting tale, which contains a valuable lesson or two on the virtues of hard work, is a must-read for dragon lovers in particular and for fantasy fans in general.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Hunger, anger, and hatred are constants for young Vetch, rendered a brutally mistreated and overworked serf by the Tian conquest of his homeland. But everything improves when a Tian jouster requisitions Vetch to become the first serf ever to be a dragon boy. His training is intense, and his duty clear-cut: to tend his jouster, Ari, and his dragon, Kashet. He discovers that, because Ari himself had hatched Kashet, the dragon is different from others that have been captured live in the wild and must be drugged to be made tractable. Vetch finds he really likes and understands dragons, and soon he becomes the best dragon boy of all. He still harbors anger, however, toward the Tian invasion. Could he, perhaps, hatch a dragon, and then escape to help his people? In Vetch's world, Lackey gives us a wonderfully visualized society, similar in terrain, climate, religion, and the differing circumstances of slave, serf, and free person to ancient Egypt. Moreover, she fills the book with well-limned characterizations and convincing, detailed dragon lore to make up a whole in which Vetch's coming-of-age becomes an integral part. Fans of McCaffrey's Pern will love it, but they won't be the only ones who do. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bright Beginning In a New Series!!,
By
This review is from: The Dragon Jousters #1 Joust (Mass Market Paperback)
Huzzah for Mercedes Lackey!! Joust is a cracking good beginning to a new series from this established fantasy writer. In it she takes on a new world *a great adaptation of Ancient Egyptian blended with her own ideas* and focuses on the great war between two nations: Tia and Alta. The book's protagonist, Vetch, is a young Altan serf who is taken from his master and made to serve the Tian Jousters, soldiers who ride great dragons into aerial combat against Alta. Vetch's new master, Jouster Ari, is the only dragon soldier in either country to have hatched and raised his own dragon. During his time with Ari, Vetch comes to appreciate the strength and beauty of the dragons and manages to steal an egg to raise on his own. He also learns that not all Tians are the "Great Enemy" of Alta and must come to terms with what his life will have to be once his dragon hatches. Lackey shines with this new series and with fresh material and characters I cannot wait to see what further adventures Vetch has in store for him. Buy This Book!!!
4.0 out of 5 stars
I had hoped for better..,
By Jenna (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Dragon Jousters #1 Joust (Mass Market Paperback)
but this was good enough.As a fan of Mercedes Lackey, I was slightly disappointed with this book. Slightly is the key word- it still earns four stars [if there were half stars, it would have been given three and a half]. I love the way this author writes, it's easy to get into and her books often seem to come to life. This book, however, isn't the same. The story wasn't as intriguing as I'm used to, so it took a little longer to finish it. At the end, I just had a feeling of, "this is it? This is what she was building up to?". If you're a fan of Lackey, the book is worth picking up and adding to your collection. If this is where you're starting.. I hope it doesn't turn anyone away. There are better books [such as Take a Thief] that would keep you with her.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great dragon story,
By Heather (Ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Dragon Jousters #1 Joust (Mass Market Paperback)
Joust is the first book I have read by Mercedes Lackey. If you like dragon stories, you'll love this one. The cover art initially attracted me to the book. The story kept me reading. Vetch, a young abused serf turned dragon boy, takes care of a jouster and his dragon and during that time, learns a lot about dragons. Ari, the jouster, hatched Kashet the dragon from an egg and tamed him from birth. Now Vetch wants to do the same thing. He gets his chance when he steals an egg from Coresan, another dragon in the jousters' compound. Much of the story revolves around how Vetch pulls off taking care of the egg and later raising his dragon without anyone knowing.
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