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Reviews of the ZYGRADON CHRONICLES

Review of ZYGRADON:

Zygradon is a fantasy of epic proportions. Amazing in its creativity and imagination, readers will find themselves captivated by this group of children as the go forth and perform miracles. No one knows for sure what role each will take in the beginning but as they grow their strengths and personalities develop along with their loyalties. Excitement and surprises are in store for the readers as this story progresses. This is a time coming upon war and many changes are taking place. When anything is possible because of magic the battles will be hard to fight and readers can look forward to many thrills. Emotionally stirring this story takes us from the moment of birth for these children into their young adulthood. They will make many friends and enemies along the way. They will lose people they love. People the readers will come to care for will die leaving the readers in tears. Young love begins to blossom as they notice each other for the first time. This will cause problems for some and danger for others. Readers will be anxious to watch and see how each relationship develops. This is a story that will have readers anxiously awaiting the next installment in this story that will become a legend. Fast moving it holds the readers attention with never a slow point. It is a well used theme of good versus evil but the story is an original and will totally enthrall the readers. I highly encourage readers to begin this magical journey with Zygradon by Michelle Levigne.

The Romance Studio ** 5 hearts ** Reviewed by Anita

Review on MY SHELF: for Three Drops of Blood

      Michelle L. Levigne continues her Zygradon saga in Three Drops of Blood, the third book in the series. When this series began, I was under the assumption that it would be a trilogy. That would mean that Three Drops of Blood would put a capstone on this world and its heroic—and not so heroic—characters. Fans of Zygradon, take heart. The tale is not done yet.

Three Drops of Blood begins with a prophesy, not all of which unfolds in this volume, but the roots of more intrigue are planted deeply here. This book details the lives of Meghianna and Megassa, daughters of Efin, the Warhawk, the supreme leader over this world—or at least the part of the world that isn't in conflict with him and those like him who can wield imbrose, an in-born magical ability.

Meghianna, Efrin's legal heir, is also the new Queen of Snows, the most powerful imbrose user in the land. She and Mrillis, an ancient enchanter, stand on either side of Efin, aiding him as he tries to bring peace to the land, while ridding it of star metal that has fallen from the sky and can poison not only the ground but living things as well unless it is transmuted or tamed.

Megassa, Efin's illegitimate daughter born of a woman with links to dark magic, has her imbrose bound just enough so that she can become one of the Warhawk's Valors, something like knights or royal guards. Readers watch these young children grow into powerful women who wait for the prophesy to unfold that tells of their brother, the third drop of blood, who is yet to be born. But the Warhawk has enemies as well as a court deep in jealousies that strain Efrin's rule but also hit too close to home.

I felt that Three Drops of Blood was the best book in the series so far. Braenlicach, the second book (also reviewed on Myshelf), was a necessary book in the Zygradon Chronicles, as it tried to document a very long history of key characters. Three Drops of Blood, in contrast, concentrated on a piece of the story, a piece of the prophesy, and allowed the author to tell a tale, rather than relate a history.

Three Drops of Blood has intrigue, magic, duty, romance, and insights into the personal lives of this royal family.

And, rest assured, the Zygradon story is not finished yet.

  Michelle L. Levigne's fantasy of a world tainted by starmetal (substances which fall toward the planet in meteor-like showers), and the struggles between three races continues in Braenlicach, the second book in the series. Tensions still are present between the Rey'kil, who have mental and magical powers and the ability to work the alien starmetal, their allies the Noveni, and the warring Encindi who birthed the Nameless One who sought to destroy all Rey'kil. This evil was thought destroyed in the first book, Zygradon (also reviewed on Myshelf.com), when the two young heroes Mrllis and Ceera, along with twelve other adepts, developed their abilities to such a degree they forged the mysterious healing bowl made of starmetal called the Zygradon. In Braenlicach, Mrllis and Ceera are grown and married, trying to raise a family of their own. Into this serenity comes more evil rooted in the Nameless One through a series of dastardly plots over a long period of time. To combat this, Mrllis and Ceera and the original forgers of the Zygradon gather another group, including three orphan offspring of the Nameless One who had seemed to prove their loyalty to the Rey'kil and their alliance, to forge a new weapon, the Braenlicach, a sword of great power.

Braenlicach is an ambitious book because it covers several decades, enough time that Mrllis and Ceera become grandparents.  Because of the amount of plotting by the bad guys and events in those years, sometimes the book reads less like a novel than a chronicle of the history of the Rey'kil. The action scenes, nonetheless, are well-paced, and the endearing romance between Mrllis and his lady Ceera, the ruling Queen of Snows, fleshes out the two main characters and gives them a depth readers can really enjoy. These elements keep readers turning through the complex plot of this book. Unfortunately, there is little time to develop many of the other characters because of the length of time and the events covered in this book.

Though I found Braenlicach to be a bit rushed and not quite as satisfying as Zygradon, it is a necessary part of the unfolding chronicle of the Rey'kil. Levigne also sets up the next book in the series so fans will certainly want to grab that one when it is published to find out how the rest of the story unfolds.

Review by: Janie Franz * MyShelf.Com