Eona by Alison Goodman
Book Stats:
Reading level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Hardcover: 637 pages
Publisher: Viking by Penguin Group
Release date: April 19, 2011
Series: Eon #2
Source: Library
Reviewed by: Lili
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository
Finally able to embrace her true identity, Eona has already won a massive personal victory. However, a major battle still rages for control of the empire. After slaughtering his own family, High Lord Sethon has seized the throne. Left unstopped, his relentless ambition would leave the whole country in ruins.
Although she is new to her powers, Eona is now the resistance's only hope. She must learn to harness the mysterious strength of her Mirror Dragon if Emperor Kygo is to claim back his kingdom. Yet knowledge comes at a price. Who can she trust, and how long can she resist the terrible truth of her ancestor's prophecy?
In the second book of the stunning Dragoneye duology, Eona's quest for self-discovery leads her on a perilous and devastating journey in which ties of love, loyalty and legend are shaken to the core.
EONA is the perfect ending to Eon’s story. Full of non-stop action, betrayals, and plot twists that do not disappoint, it’ll be even harder to put this book down despite its longer length. All pacing problems and over-informed instances that were scattered throughout EON were corrected beautifully to make this book flow expertly. Goodman’s writing definitely improved in her second novel.
We meet very few new characters in this second novel, but the characterization for the characters (both old and new) is taken to a whole new level. We are forced to question where loyalties lie and what a character’s true intentions truly are. Nobody can be trusted, but everyone wants to trust and some will make the mistake of trusting the wrong person, jeopardizing their lives and the lives of those that are most important to them. In this now war-riddled world, something is always happening, and Eon and her closest allies are forced to run for their lives as they try to escape both the evil High Lord Sethon and the evils of the past that keep unearthing themselves.
As High Lord Sethon prepares to conquer the country to assert his power as forced Emperor, Eona must fight to save the rightful heir to the throne and Pearl Emperor—Kygo. With her identity revealed and her ever-growing power, she is finding it harder and harder to survive. Most importantly, her lack of training is going noticed by all and she may be forced to look for a teacher in the most unexpected and most unlikable of people to save the crumpling world around her. But first, she must save the Dragons. Even more dragon lore is woven into this story, making it incredibly easy to immerse yourself in Eona’s world and her special spirit world where the struggles of the Dragons are becoming more pronounced with every passing day. It is up to her to save them before it is too late. If she fails, they’ll be destroyed forever.
Because of all of this, you begin to learn a lot about Eona. While you connect with her in EON and will love her just as much in EONA, you begin to learn a lot through her in this novel. You begin to understand that trust is not something that can be bestowed onto everyone, just as you learn the true importance of distinguishing between good and evil. The epic conclusion to Eon’s story is riddled with morals and important life lessons that'll truly sink in as you read.
With Eona’s true gender revealed, the gateway to romance is now opened. And it’ll bring the most unlikely of suitors. Unfortunately, her worries over what others think and her inability to make romantic decision may take away from the plot at times. Even then, it is almost a welcomed distraction because the romance begins to build into some really interesting plot twists that’ll inevitably leave you wanting more.
Be cautioned, you cannot pick this book up unless you are willing to lose sleep. With such great length, you will read late into the night to finish it because you are so engrossed in Eona’s story. But also know, every minute of lost sleep will be worth it in the end. This is a tale that’ll stay on your mind weeks after you complete it.
