The Dragon Business Review

Now this the story all about how this King had a life before he got his crown, I’d like to take a minute just sit right there as I tell you a little story about his big dragon scare.
Wait a minute, what?
Could this be the D&D-esque fantasy novel from Kevin J. Anderson that I’ve been hoping for?

I don’t think I’ve read something that fit that bill from him before.
I mean, sure, I’ve read Spine Of The Dragon, but that’s more of a Game Of Thrones sprawling story following multiple characters and multiple points of view.
This is, quite literally, the story of an adventuring party and their exploits.

Is it all I’ve been wanting?
The time has come to find out!

As always, gang, this is what has come to be known as your official ***SPOILER ALERT***

King Cullin, ruler of his land, father of the pampered Prince Maurice, a gullible as hell kid lacking any sort of experience in life, are having trouble connecting.
In hopes of smarting his son up to the ways of the world, King Cullin takes the boy incognito to the local tavern to regale his heir with a tale of his pre-crown life as a slayer of dragons!

Now, one of the biggest strengths of this book also happens to be 1 of it’s 2 major flaws.
It starts off with Cullin as King, taking Maurice to a tavern to bond.
Cullin introduces Maurice to one of his oldest friends, pub owner Reeger.
Then Cullin jumps back in time and spins a tale from his youth.
I love the “modern day” portions, every time they would crop up again it was a joy!
I really wish there were a few more, it’s a great way to gauge Maurice’s interest in the story as well as play around in the bar and world as the story unfolds.
But on the other hand it cuts off 2/3rds of the suspense at the knees knowing both Cullin and Reeger are never in any real danger.
It makes me wonder if holding off on revealing Reeger as the bar owner until the very end would have helped in that regard?

As for my other major, glaring, mega, unforgivable, unmissable flaw: This book was initially released in 2014.
7 long years have passed us by, the world has dramatically changed in so many ways.
Yet, 1 thing has remained unchanged.
No sequel to this book has been released!
That is a damn shame.
So many future stories are hinted at, alluded to, and flat out set up.
Hell, I don’t even know where to start!
King Cullin telling Maurice more stories of his past would definitely rock.
Or you lean into that framing device for a full novel and have the King, still struggling to get through to the Prince, take him out into the world to show him the far reaches of the Kingdom.

I know KJA has a full plate with a multitude of Dune projects, but projects like this are so exciting, gang!
It’s not comedy in the vein of Dan Shamble, it’s a grubbier, more grounded style that scratches a slightly similar but noticeably different itch.
This, 100%, is the type of thing I’ve wanted from Anderson but didn’t know it existed until the last year or 2.
I believe he has an official D&D story or 2, as well as the Gamearth/HexWorld trilogy, and I want all of them.
This is a style of storytelling I’ve really grown to love these last few years and I want all that my favorite author has done in the genre.
So, my point is, if you get the chance to peep it, don’t pass this one up, gang!

Let us know what you think of this review in the comments below or share this post on Twitter with the Hashtag #TNBBookReview.

Special thanks to @ACFerrell1976 for her continued editorial assistance.

Additional thanks to @Mattcbert.

Be sure to check out the @LibrisArcana site at LibrisArcana.com for all kinds of exclusive dice sets, subscriptions, and other fun RPG goodies.

For more great Nerd Blitz content, head over to Patreon.com/NerdBlitzPod or TSDJAProductions.bandcamp.com

And finally, given the state of the world, do what you can to leave it a little bit better than you found it.
As difficult as that may be currently, it can have an impact far greater than you know.
Until next time, stay safe out there, gang.