Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

I know its just the end of January and I havent read a lot of 2009 books yet, but Eon: Dragoneye Reborn will undoubtedly be on my Top 10 list.  Its got all the elements of a great book:  characters you love and characters you hate, action, suspense, fantasy and a cliffhanger ending setting you up for the sequel:  Eona:  The Last Dragoneye.

Im merely going to set the stage of this book for you.  You deserve to enjoy the book unencumbered by my interpretation, etc.

Although Alison Goodman (author of Singing the Dogstar Blues, another great book) doesnt specify where the story takes place, you guess early on that it is in feudal China or Japan.  The Chinese zodiac is a 12 year cycle, each year being named after one of the original 12 animals.  Eon follows the same cycle.  Every 12 years one of the 12 animal dragons is ascendant and along with that, a Dragoneye, who can draw on the power of that dragon.  (Note:  there hasnt been a Dragon Dragon (or Mirror Dragon) ascendant in 500 years.)  Boys apprentice for 12 years to become a Dragoneye and each time an apprentice ascends as Dragoneye, a new apprentice is chosen from 12 male trainees.    

The Emperor is weak and his eldest son, Prince Kygo, is heir to the throne.  Prince Kygo is a peace loving man like his father.  This year, Lord Ido, a vicious, power-hungry man, is the ascendant Rat Dragoneye.  Lord Ido has allied himself with the Kings second son, High Lord Sethon, a man similar in thought.

Eon is a trainee for Rat Dragoneye apprentice.  However, unbeknownst to everyone except her master, Eon is actually a 16 year old girl.  Each day for training, she tapes her body so that she looks less girlish.  If the emperor knew of this deception, Eon and her master would be put to death.

It is the day of ascendancy in which Lord Ido will ascend to Rat Dragoneye and the Rat Dragon must choose a new apprentice.  It is a day of great ritual and ceremony.  Eon doubts her chances of success are great.  After a day of exhibition, the Rat Dragon appears to choose his apprentice.  Who will it choose and what is in store for the chosen one?

I cant rave enough about Eon:  Dragoneye Reborn.  It will interest both boys and girls.  The characters are extraordinary.  The action is non-stop.  The suspense is chilling.  The writing superb.  I read the last 200 pages almost non-stop.  If you dont find a copy of this book in your library, have them order it immediately.