Set in an alternative Egyptian world, 'Joust' follows the journey of Vetch, a young serf who is rescued by a dragon rider, Ari, from his cruel master. As Vetch navigates his new life as a dragon boy, he grapples with questions of loyalty, identity, and the desire for freedom. The story delves into themes of slavery, dragon lore, and the complexities of societal hierarchies, all while showcasing Mercedes Lackey's skill in world-building and character development.

Characters:

The characters are well-drawn, particularly Vetch, who evolves from a fearful serf to a more empowered individual, supported by a cast that adds to the story's emotional depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is clear and engaging, balancing emotional depth with effective world-building while avoiding excessive detail.

Plot/Storyline:

The story focuses on Vetch, a serf who is rescued from oppression and becomes a dragon boy, navigating his identity and the complexities of loyalty and freedom in a war-torn society.

Setting:

The setting draws heavily from ancient Egyptian culture, incorporating unique dragon lore and a societal structure that emphasizes class divisions.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow, focusing on extensive world-building and character development, which may frustrate some readers but is appreciated by others for its depth.

THE hot wind out of the desert withered everything in its path—including anyone so foolish as to be out in the sun at midday. It carried reddish dust and sand on its wings, and used both to scour what...

Notes:

Joust is the first book in the Dragon Jousters series by Mercedes Lackey.

The story is set in a fantasy version of ancient Egypt.

Vetch, the main character, starts as a serf and is transformed by becoming a dragon boy.

Dragons in this world are treated as beasts of war and are often drugged for control.

The bond between Vetch and his dragon, Kashet, is unique as Kashet was raised from a hatchling.

The book explores themes of oppression, freedom, and the deep connections between humans and dragons.

Mercedes Lackey's writing style is accessible and blends world-building with narrative.

Some readers find the pacing slow due to extensive character development.

A key subplot involves the complexities of war and tradition between cultures.

The series contains four books, all of which are available.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for medium violence and themes of slavery and oppression are applicable.

From The Publisher:

National best-selling fantasy author Mercedes Lackey creates a vivid, dynamic fusion of the cultures of ancient Egypt and legendary Atlantis with the most exciting and believable portrayal of dragons ever imagined. The first book in this thrilling new series introduces us to a young slave who dreams of becoming a jouster-one of the few warriors who can actually ride a flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon…

Ratings (11)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (24):

Read It (12)
Want To Read (6)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (5)

1 comment(s)

shebephoebe

1 week

Thirty minutes. Thirty long, plodding minutes (with a subpar narrator to boot), and what happens?

This little serving boy walks from the well to the garden.

Thirty minutes dumping information about the world and the main character's background and his master and the world and crocodiles and how hungry he was and how sweaty he was and how heavy the bucket of water he was carrying was.

Not even dragons could save this one.

What can you read after
Joust?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the best-selling Heralds of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator. She lives in Oklahoma with…

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Joust

Mercedes Lackey

Book 1 in the series:Dragon Jousters