The Dragon Ring * Melody's Review

Title: The Dragon Ring (Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Book 1)

Author: C. Craig Coleman

Publisher: C. Craig Coleman

ASIN: B00MRGW1TI

Pages: 373

This coming of age, epic fantasy occurs at the twilight of primal beings and the emergence of man. Wizards, witches, elves, dwarves, trolls, ogres, orcs, dragons, and new fantastic creatures still interact with men in this classic struggle between good and evil. 
The Dragon Ring opens in a politically charged kingdom on the Powterosian continent. The reigning queen has recently ascended the throne at the insistence of the nobility who forced her corrupt brother to abdicate. The former queen, a soulless upstart, ruthlessly schemed to attain power and position. The sudden loss of status has unhinged her. She's resorted to witchcraft to destroy her sister-in-law and the royal family to regain the throne. Caught in the middle are the royal children including young Prince Saxthor, the second son and spare heir. 
The unexpected discovery of Saxthor's unique powers aggravates the political conflict. The witch feels threatened and attempts to kill Saxthor shattering his carefree world. His mentor wizard sends Prince Saxthor racing into exile that he might survive to grow into his mysterious powers. But he’s followed. 
The witch also has a co-conspirator, a ruthless warlock. He’s using her for an end she’s unaware of. The sorcerers draw in the ultimate personification of power, dragons, bending them to good or evil in the conflict for ultimate control. Only Saxthor can alter the looming war’s outcome. 
Can Saxthor survive his pursuers' attacks? Will he overcome his own doubts and rebuild lost confidence? Will his character develop and restore his self-assurance sufficient to face his worst fear? He will need exceptional character to control his unique gifts without succumbing to them. This epic provides fantasy entertainment atop undercurrents of political and psychological depth. 

 I grew up in a small town, Kinston, in Eastern North Carolina in the golden age of youth. I say golden age, because kids dashed out the door on Saturday morning, took to bicycles, and explored the world around them unrestrained only returning home for dinner in the late afternoon. I scampered over fields and swampy low grounds, investigated and collected anything that moved and half the flora I came across. That gave me the knowledge of the natural world that backgrounds my epic.

I studied mythology and developed my own language that has served me through life. My most prized names took form in the characters and places of my books all these decades later.

I went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I graduated with a BA degree in Ancient and European History. An elective course on castle and cathedral fired up a love of medieval architecture. Little did I know political histories, biographies, art, and architecture would again arise in the fortresses and palaces in my books.

I served my country in the Vietnam War, repairing the display computers on the Air Force's F111 aircraft, though not in Vietnam. Then I audited agriculture courses at NC State University for a year before returning to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduating with a MBA, Masters of Business Administration.

A long career in the textile industry working in materials inventory, computer systems development, and finally, manufacturing operations ended abruptly due to a corporate buyout. The imploding industry left little economic opportunity. I found myself looking 'outside the box' for future options. A seed suggestion to write down some of my stories, planted by a doctor of literature in my youth, germinated. I decided to write a fantasy story. I had no inkling it would lead me on the greatest adventure of my life. Though I didn't know the stern mandates of creative writing before I started, I learned backwards by rewriting my epic over the years correcting the point of view, show don't tell, 'ly' adverb, passive voice, etc. issues until at last I have the story down pat.

My greatest supporter and companion through the years of writing this epic was my little silky terrier, Miss Delia. She passed away after sixteen years just prior to my publishing my first of the four books. This epic is dedicated first and foremost to that precious little girl.

  I stepped out of my comfort zone read for this one.  I must admit it took me a bit of time to get into the story, because I don’t read fantasy very often.  The story finally grabbed me after a few chapters and I started to get a grip on the characters and the names.  It’s a wonderfully written story of greed, and heroism. 

C. Craig Coleman wove this wonderful fantasy and the story moves along quickly.  Once engaged in the story it kept me turning pages and holding my breath to read the outcome.  I will probably keep this one on the kindle and reread it on a rainy day.  I look forward to the next book in the series.