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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
Format: Advanced Reader Copy
BOOK DESCRIPTION
1300 years before the events of A Memory of Song, dragons ruled the skies.
Life Will End For All
Captain Dravien Tarbet of the Lovasi army has spent most of his life fighting the people of Esher on their own soil, only to have all attempts at victory snuffed out by the Draku King, Kassius Esterbraun, and his dragons.
Finally, after seven years on foreign soil, Dravien has returned home, though now he is heartbroken and more alone than ever. But when the Esheri army turns the table and crosses the Old Sea, with their dragons in tow, to make an invasion of their own upon the country of Lovas, Dravien is sent into the field to meet them in battle. There, he is badly injured and left to die. When he awakes, he finds himself in the enemy’s camp, under the care of a strange cult of Draku witches who call themselves the Ul Vosh Aris.
After being nursed back to health in strange, and unusual ways, Dravien is shown a life of peace and meaning that he never thought possible. But when the true reason that this cult of Draku has kept him alive is revealed, Dravien Tarbet is forced to make a decision between fighting for what he has always known, and fighting for what he has come to believe in.
With Sunrise Comes Fire
With Sunfall Comes Ash
MY REVIEW
If you’ve been following me recently, then you’ll know that Palmer is becoming a favorite read of mine, because his prose, world building and character building always stand out. Being able to join the ARC team has made it even better for me to jump into his stories as soon as possible.
His newest prelude, A Dance in the Dust, is a bit more than a typical prelude though, which is supposed to be a novella story in-between the main story novels. It’s not a novella, I feel like it’s bordering the size of A Memory of Song, the first book in The Last Ballad series. With that said, A Dance in the Dust is like the tango, you feel the intensity and passion of the push and pull of inner struggles and a literal fighting style. It truly is a bold step that Palmer lands with precision.
Palmer has said that this story is “The Last Samurai meets Dark Souls if the samurai were of a different unique culture and also dragon tamers who are fighting the Roman Empire. With magic.” While I can’t exactly pinpoint the Dark Souls part, never playing the game, but I can definitely see The Last Samurai, the film starring Tom Cruise, very clearly.
“Fight and ask them to fight alongside you. Sing a song worth hearing. That is how you will win their hearts. Break the chains that bind you, and incite others to do the same.”
With that said, there is another story that I felt like hit the mark even more. A story that you could say actually inspired The Last Samurai itself, and actually matches up closely with the title of Palmer’s story, A Dance in the Dust. That is 90’s classic starring Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves, a film that is also inspired by a novel. Instead of Dances with Wolves, it’s more Dances with Dragons, because there are dragons, yes, Palmer FINALLY gives us DRAGONS! Two others that I felt this story was similar to, and more recent ones that I think people could relate to are James Cameron’s Avatar and Shogun the tv show starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis and the novel by James Clavell.
He uses the enemy to ally trope in the best possible way. The evolution of Dravien from loyal soldier to someone who truly belongs with the draku is handled perfectly. Palmer blends thoughtful cultural and philosophical moments with intense sparring and militaristic action, all while exploring facing inner demons and realizing there are always two sides to every conflict. One thing I couldn’t help but see, was that Dravien reminded me of Othrun from P.L. Stuart’s Drowned Kingdom saga, both flawed characters who were taught one thing and had to unlearn while living among those he was taught to hate.
The best thing I can say to readers is this, if you haven’t started A Memory of Song series yet, you absolutely should. It’s a fantastic series and Palmer just continues to grow and improve on his skills as an author. A Dance in the Dust is wonderful story-telling about facing inner demons and seeing the world through new eyes.
Wolfmantula.com 