Gus Alston

I was recommended this book series through Amazon’s recommendation system, and I’m incredibly glad I ended up purchasing Ascendant. It’s got an incredibly well-written set of characters to go along with an enthralling story - adding innovative twists to augment the classic dragon rider story. I cannot complement Michael Miller’s character development enough. Every character feels genuine - their actions align with their motivations and experiences. Holt and Ash struggle through a world that challenges their bond’s existence in a way that feels truthful and realistic. What really makes this book stick out to me is how Miller explores the mental side of each character’s struggles. Blindness for a flying creature is a debilitating disability, and this dynamic is explored heavily Talia struggles with the pressures placed upon her as both a princess and a dragon rider. Fulfilling such extreme demands builds a tense personality, and that too is explored in this book series. The story itself I will withhold, because this is a book best experienced fully blind. But I will say you absolutely CANNOT call this book boring. If dragon rider books are at all of any interest to you, this will become one of your favorite reads. Even having finished the published portion of the series, I find myself returning to reread it again and again. Opening these pages and engrossing yourself in the adventures of Holt, Ash, Talia, and co feels like returning home.