Drakon: The Sieve - Ida's BookWyrm

Paperback, 232 pages

Published Sept. 13, 2016 by C.A. Caskabel.

ISBN:: 978-1-5334-7678-4

(1 review)

“I am here to redeem the lives of my wife and daughter. I’ve brought the offering.” Da-Ren, an infidel barbarian, arrives at the Castlemonastery, his only offering a jar of honey. Baagh, the Cross Sorcerer, follows him there under orders of the Emperor, demanding from the monks to transcribe the warrior’s story.

Book I chronicles Da-Ren’s early years, growing up in a tribe of archer riders and pagan witches, camped north of the Blackvein River. He enters the Sieve, the forty-day initiation trial that determines the fate of every boy and girl. Many of his comrades will fall, the strong will join the warriors, and an elite few will be marked for leadership. Da-Ren learns to endure the elements, to obey the Truths, to keep standing when all hope is lost. He swallows the legends of the Ouna-Ma witches, learns to hate all other tribes, and conquers fear.

And yet …

“I am here to redeem the lives of my wife and daughter. I’ve brought the offering.” Da-Ren, an infidel barbarian, arrives at the Castlemonastery, his only offering a jar of honey. Baagh, the Cross Sorcerer, follows him there under orders of the Emperor, demanding from the monks to transcribe the warrior’s story.

Book I chronicles Da-Ren’s early years, growing up in a tribe of archer riders and pagan witches, camped north of the Blackvein River. He enters the Sieve, the forty-day initiation trial that determines the fate of every boy and girl. Many of his comrades will fall, the strong will join the warriors, and an elite few will be marked for leadership. Da-Ren learns to endure the elements, to obey the Truths, to keep standing when all hope is lost. He swallows the legends of the Ouna-Ma witches, learns to hate all other tribes, and conquers fear.

And yet there is one trial that will bring him to his knees. The Goddess’s favorite daughter. “Brown-haired, brown-eyed. Brown was the first color of the day.” The journey begins for the man who will become the First Blade of the Devil. A brutal, poetic, first-person narrative of war, death, and love.

South of the Blackvein River, a young Sarah survives the horror of the barbaric raids and devotes her life on acquiring knowledge and wisdom. She will talk to the witches, the priests and the rag dolls, she will learn the tales and the songspells, she will give birth and demand death. Revenge is her only mission. Not even ten thousand warriors will be able to stand against her when she delivers a revenge of wine and song.

1 edition

Daniel Andrlik reviewed Drakon: The Sieve by C.A. Caskabel

I may not have finished this if I hadn’t already promised to write a review.

2 stars

Content warning Spoiler included but are marked clearly

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So, I don’t know what to say here, guys. I may not have finished this if I hadn’t already promised to write a review. There were several times when I thought I should just set it aside and mark it as DNF, but I feel obligated to write since I was sent a promotional copy.

This book isn’t terrible, but it’s not what I would call good either. I am genuinely puzzled at the high scoring reviews here.

Many of the other reviewers are remarking about having read it in the original Greek, so maybe the issue is the translation, as I found the prose to be more journeyman as opposed to the "poetic" narrative that was advertised. I found the purple language strained, and elements used for shock value rather silly and over the top, as were the publisher’s multiple warnings about how it’s “unsuitable for children or young readers.” The warning is true, but no more true than for any other grimdark novel. I think the concern is that physically it is a short book, and the print edition is set in a very large type, so at least it print it could be mistaken as a young adult novel.

There is some good world building here around the tribal culture that the protagonist originates. Their politics, mystics, and warrior cultures are a good base to build upon. There are hints of future plot lines surrounding superstition, racism, and oppression. Hence the second star.

====== There be spoilers ahead ======

The protagonist doesn’t do things in this book. They are a participant, but they don’t take action. They endure, but the sequence of events in their trials are so repetitive that there isn’t much tension. Stand in the cold without clothes all day for a month and a half. If you fall down you are punished or killed. If you stay standing you get meat and story time. Without the broader context of the story this doesn’t come across as important to the reader.

The framing story of the monks recording his tale seems to lack punch too. It’s intended to tease what’s ahead, but the protagonist doesn’t come across as compelling enough in his future self to justify the interest in his life story.

It didn't feel like the character advanced at all. There didn't seem to be a character arc for them within the scope of this first volume, and the one true motivating force besides survival has to do with one of the female secondary characters who is "fridged" about halfway through the story. Not a promising start.

====== End Spoilers ======

I think what it comes down to is that this may not have been structured correctly, and that Book 1 doesn’t stand on its own. That’s a shame as I’m sure that the other reviewers who have read the whole series in the original Greek are probably correct that there’s something worth experiencing here, but I won’t be reading on.

Another note: I wish the publisher had disclosed that the author was the founder and CEO of the publishing house at the time of distribution.