Title: The Warrior & The Dragon
Author: Rusty Reece
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1663269102
Pages: 354
Genre: Sword & Sorcery Fantasy / Epic Fantasy
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
Often in life, people have a goal or mission which becomes their north star. It is the driving force that helps them determine their path in life and make the decisions which will keep them on that path. Yet often, new obstacles or important goals will reveal themselves which can put their dreams in jeopardy, and it is up to that person to ask if this new path is worth veering off the path they know, or if they need to double their efforts to focus on staying their course.
This is the driving theme behind Rusty Reece’s The Warrior & The Dragon. The fantasy driven narrative follows Jason, a man weary from war, who is tasked with delivering a magical artifact to a local man in the town of Smoky Springs. While Jason hopes to find some peace during his time in the town, a powerful necromancer targets him and the artifact he is tasked with protecting. This mission drives him to discover a destiny he never knew he had, and a power that would change his world forever. When the townspeople come under threat, he must decide if he can move on with his life, or if he owes it to the innocents to once again fight and protect those people.
A truly imaginative and compelling story, the author’s world-building skills were superb, and the action-driven narrative was balanced perfectly with the mythology and magic-based system that has driven this system. The world-building aspect that stood out was the author’s unique take on the shape-shifter mythos, dubbed “two-skin,” which comprises individuals who harbor both human and animal aspects of themselves. The discovery of this power by the protagonist and his unique animal that makes him outlier to the rest of the world adds tension and drama keeping the readers invested in this narrative.
Readers who enjoy fantasy fiction, especially epic fantasy much in the vein of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series employs a sword & sorcery style of storytelling, and will absolutely love this world and the story Rusty Reece has developed. The harrowing dangers that the protagonist faces, the unique creatures and magic, and the character development is dynamic and out of this world. The bond between Jason and Akela was a major driving force in Jason’s personal journey, and the way he takes on helping the townspeople train to fight their upcoming battles was inspiring and enthralling to see come to life on the pages. The Warrior & The Dragon is a gripping fantasy adventure about courage, sacrifice, and the thin line between monster and man.
