Song of the Beast - Carol Berg Book Review

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Review Summary

Roc, May 2003, 6.99, 480 pp.
ISBN: 0451459237

The world has never known a musician as powerful as Aidan MacAllister, a man whose voice can make grown men weep. He is the cousin of the king of Elyria a powerful ruler who has conquered many nations and made it part of his empire. He couldn't have done it without the help of the Ridemark clan who control the bloodstones that make the dragons obey them and turn them into a fierce fighting machine. Aidan is not interested in wars only music and travels the world giving his songs to who ever wants to listen.

At twenty-one the king ordered Aidan thrown into the prison of Mazadine where he was tortured until he broke. He stayed there for seventeen years and when he was released, he found out the reason for his imprisonment was that he disturbed the dragons. The long-lived, gender neutral race of the Elhim look upon him as their savior because only he can free the dragons in thrall to humans and right a wrong the Elhim committed against these glorious creatures. Aidan will do his best to succeed on his quest but there are many obstacles in his path, many of them deadly.

Fans of “THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN” series by Anne McCaffrey will love this novel and will care more for the dragons than they do for any other character except Aidan,. Carol Berg has written a brilliant and colorful epic fantasy placed in a world that is highly creative and imaginative. Although this is a stand-alone book, this reviewer hopes that there will be more tales written about this wondrous world.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Song of the Beast

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Adversaries are… - dragon buddy
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
GIANT monster(s) Yes
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - physically sick

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Song of the Beast
Mistress of Dragons by Margaret Weis
Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Dragon's Treasure by Elizabeth A. Lynn
Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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