Mistress of dragons

The laws established by the Parliament of Dragons, an ancient and secret institution composed of the elder from each of the 12 houses of dragons, forbid interference with human affairs and the taking of human life. Humanity, however, knows nothing of this and lives in fear of dragons. In the mountains overlooking the city of Seth stands a monastery in which live the Mistress of Dragons and her priestesses, defended by fierce female warriors. Draconas, a dragon who has shape-changed into human form to walk among humans and keep an eye on their doings, is charged by the parliament to deal with a renegade dragon, who has broken the laws and established herself as ruler of Seth, with the further intent of conquering the world. With his dragon and human personas often in conflict with each other, Draconas is a particularly well-developed character, flexible enough to bend the laws to carry out his mission. Full of intrigue, magic, and violence, this first book of Dragonvald--a projected trilogy chronicling the battle to preserve the uneasy relationship between dragons and humans--launches the project powerfully. Weis has brilliantly conceived a world viable for both dragons and humans. --Sally Estes

Best known for her successful partnership with Tracy Hickman (Dragons of the Vanished Moon, etc.), Weiss launches a new series on her own that's sure to please high fantasy fans. In the world of Dragonvald, an ancient race of dragons with its own parliament has kept apart from the race of men and refrained from meddling in their affairs. Since a renegade dragon, Maristara, seized the human realm of Seth three centuries earlier, an Amazonian order of priestesses with magical powers and the Mistress of Dragons have kept the peace. But evidence that Maristara and a partner-in-crime have indulged in their taste for human flesh means renewed trouble. Draconas, who can change into a man, sets forth into human territory to resolve the problem. The ensuing conflicts and complications, as Draconas learns the true identity of the Mistress of Dragons, will keep readers turning the pages. A cliffhanger ending, involving the birth of a part-dragon human baby, will leave them eager for the next installment. Author tour. (May 28) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Weis abandons her uncompleted Sovereign Stone Trilogy (Guardians of the Lost, 2001, with Tracy Hickman) to kick off a new solo effort. The fair virgin Melisande, at 28, is High Priestess in the monastery of the Amazonian order, overlooking and protecting the people of the valley of Seth. Fresh virgin warriors for the order are produced by nine members--called cows--who are kept aside for giving birth (male babies supposedly are given to needy folk in the valley). Her lover is dark-haired Bellona, chief warrior, and her chief enemy in the order is Lucretta, jealous that the current Mistress of Dragons--70, white-haired, and bent--has chosen Melisande to replace her when she dies. As Melisande conducts her morning rites at the Chamber of the Eye, she sees a lone male dragon approaching and alerts the warriors, but the Mistress of Dragons, leading her priestesses in magic spells against the dragon, suddenly collapses, although the marauder is driven off. Centuries before, the Dragon Wars with humans ended and the Parliament of Dragons formed, ruling that dragons must keep from human affairs. Maristara, however, took over Seth and rules there, teaching the humans dragon magic. The only human form to attend the Parliament is Draconas, a warrior male who, as the Parliament's servant but actually a dragon himself, can think in images along with the dragons. It's suggested that Draconas be sent to Seth to abduct the Mistress of Dragons and bring her back to help find a way of overcoming Maristara. Draconas hoodwinks Edward, King of Ramsgate, to accompany him to Seth. Draconas and Edward repulse hired assassins on the road, but Draconas determines that Maristara is trafficking in the male babies of the "cows" and has left a door open in Seth's magic shield. The bang-up climax finds Melisande giving birth to twins, one wholly human, one half-dragon, as the pot boils for volume two. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

/*Starred Review*/ The laws established by the Parliament of Dragons, an ancient and secret institution composed of the elder from each of the 12 houses of dragons, forbid interference with human affairs and the taking of human life. Humanity, however, knows nothing of this and lives in fear of dragons. In the mountains overlooking the city of Seth stands a monastery in which live the Mistress of Dragons and her priestesses, defended by fierce female warriors. Draconas, a dragon who has shape-changed into human form to walk among humans and keep an eye on their doings, is charged by the parliament to deal with a renegade dragon, who has broken the laws and established herself as ruler of Seth, with the further intent of conquering the world. With his dragon and human personas often in conflict with each other, Draconas is a particularly well-developed character, flexible enough to bend the laws to carry out his mission. Full of intrigue, magic, and violence, this first book of Dragonvald--a projected trilogy chronicling the battle to preserve the uneasy relationship between dragons and humans--launches the project powerfully. Weis has brilliantly conceived a world viable for both dragons and humans. ((Reviewed April 15, 2003)) Copyright 2003 Booklist Reviews

Best known for her successful partnership with Tracy Hickman (Dragons of the Vanished Moon, etc.), Weiss launches a new series on her own that's sure to please high fantasy fans. In the world of Dragonvald, an ancient race of dragons with its own parliament has kept apart from the race of men and refrained from meddling in their affairs. Since a renegade dragon, Maristara, seized the human realm of Seth three centuries earlier, an Amazonian order of priestesses with magical powers and the Mistress of Dragons have kept the peace. But evidence that Maristara and a partner-in-crime have indulged in their taste for human flesh means renewed trouble. Draconas, who can change into a man, sets forth into human territory to resolve the problem. The ensuing conflicts and complications, as Draconas learns the true identity of the Mistress of Dragons, will keep readers turning the pages. A cliffhanger ending, involving the birth of a part-dragon human baby, will leave them eager for the next installment. Author tour. (May 28) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.