Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love-and his potentially lethal kisses. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Witty and funny, with well-rounded characters who face complex inner moral issues.Īfter praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic. Vespir’s lesbian identity is neatly and naturally woven into her character. Most characters are cued as white blonde hair and blue eyes are valorized. Cluess’ dragons have unique personalities and voices of their own, becoming as central to the story as their human riders. Multiple perspectives create depth in this complex fantasy world with flawed human characters who have murder, destruction, thievery, and cowardice in their backgrounds. During the stages of the Emperor’s Trial-the Hunt, the Game, the Race, and the Truth-each competitor faces their own personal weaknesses. However, this time outsiders are called to compete: Chara and her rider, Emilia, youngest daughter of House Aurun, who holds the magic of chaos Tyche and her rider, Lucian, reformed warrior of House Sabel Karina and her rider, Vespir, the lowborn, lesbian servant girl and dragon handler of House Pentri Dog and his rider, Ajax, the wily illegitimate son of House Tiber and Minerva and her rider, Julia, who are challenged by Hyperia, who believes the throne is her birthright, and her feral dragon, Aufidius.

Traditionally, the oldest child from each of the five Houses and his or her dragon compete for the throne.

In a world dominated by order, chaos threatens to upend tradition when unlikely competitors are chosen to fight for the throne.Įmperor Erasmus is dead, leaving the Great Dragon to decide the future of the Etrusian Empire.

House of dragons jessica cluess