This is yet another wonderful story from Ava.

The characters continue to get stronger from the first book in the Trilogy and the plot moves along at a fast pace.

Highly enjoyable and an easy read.

Cannot wait to read more.

ava richardsons dragon books are a delight. seriously. vivid settings, great world building, good characters and engaging plots. love her

After reading Dragon Called, I was curious to read on about Dayie and her dragon. But since my To Read Pile was getting bigger, this story had to wait. So, when I started with Dragon Magic, it took me some chapters to get back into the story. I would recommend that you read all three parts in the correct order.
In this part Dayie leaves with her dragon to find a sorcerer who is rumoured to be able to help Dayie in mastering her abilities and to teach how to fight the Water Wraiths.
In a journey full of adventures, Dayie learns more of the different people and their history with the dragons. Can she convince everyone to trust her and her dragon? A gripping tale on belonging, family and trust. Three out of five stars and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

The second book in the series sees Dayie continue to develop and grow stronger as she continues to battle with Deadweed. An excellent book for the target marked of Young Adult.

After being uncertain about the first book in the Deadweed trilogy by Ava Richardson, I was pleasantly surprised by the second, Dragon Magic.

This young adult, fantasy book is the second in the trilogy, following the adventures and learning curve that previous-slave Dayie and her fast-growing dragon, Zarr, must undertake if they want to help save both their friends and the land from the suffocating grip of the deadweed plant.

The pacing this time was much stronger than the previous book. There wasn’t the scene setting and character development, but instead we enter the book in a fight against the deadweed, with dragons and riders both struggling to understand not only their enemy, but themselves and how they might bond together.

Dayie continues the main narrator but I found it easier to connect to her character this time. Previously, Dayie was over-confident in her skills and could come across as arrogant and self-righteous. While there are still moments where she reacts in nonsensical ways (suddenly believing everyone is against her because she is a girl, despite there being no evidence this is the case rather than her lack of experience), she also accepts how little she knows about her own magic.

Dayie goes on a journey – both literally and metaphorically – this time. She pushes herself and starts to learn more about who she is and what she can do. It made her far more than just a girl fortunate enough to be bonded to a dragon. There are still irritating moments, but her motives were easier to understand: she cares about the South, not just proving herself.

I was right thinking Akeem had a bigger role to play. You discover his true lineage and understand what drives him. While seeming to brim with confidence, you see his vulnerabilities and his helplessness at not being able to protect his people. He also has a deep bond with his own dragon and the warmth and love portrayed between the two of them shows a relationship much further along than Dayie’s own with Zarr.

The threat is stronger this time: deadweed is moving faster than anyone can stop it. It is accompanied by Water Wraiths; soldiers formed from moisture, paving the way for the plant to grow. With there seeming to be a consciousness behind the enemy, the battles become personal and the sense of danger increases.

The heightened sense of peril gives the characters a chance to grow and develop. While there isn’t nearly as much of the secondary characters, you see them start to connect with the dragons. The relationships with the leaders of the kingdom also hints towards an alliance and a stronger union by the end of the trilogy, with this starting to show that this is possible.

While I still believe these are books that are aimed at a younger audience, I could engage with this second book a lot easier than the first. I genuinely felt invested in the characters, and look forward to the next one.

Its always a good thing when the second book in a series is just as interesting and engaging as the first. It follows on nicely, adding to the world and plot as the characters continue to grow and develop.

I was more than ready to read this after having enjoyed its prequel so much. Such an amazing continuation this is to the first book that looking forward to the third and last of this trilogy is a given!

The story begins with Dayie taking over training duties in the Training Hall at Dagfan. There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done when it comes to the south's horrifying methods of dragon training. Seeing that, she has made it a point to go for change even with Chief Talal's hesitancy and the Southern Lords' most probable rejection. In the meantime, the Deadweeds are still a major problem that Akeem feels Dagfan cannot solve alone. As such, he has come up with a plan: form an alliance with the Wild Company. Akeem returns to the Binshee with Dayie, only to see that someone has challenged his right for the throne. But even that seems pretty mundane a problem compared to the Water Wraiths. With an ever-growing menace, will the dragon riders settle their differences and come together to fight?

Once again, the bond between Zarr and Dayie is a wonderful thing to read about. The growth from acting as a servant with a low level of confidence, to someone who is able to be her own kind of dragon rider, is apparent in this book, and I love it. Dayie's magic, too, takes up more of the spotlight, and it's always a wonder to discover what the author has included within this fantasy trilogy — even if it is a form that is commonly used. Magic, in any form, no matter how original, is always a fun subject to read about for me.

Akeem, too, has made a lot more appearance in this one, but has since lost a placement in my heart. A little. It is also because of him that there is a lot of testosterone in this installment, and I didn't like it. I expected more from him. But in his defense, he did grow up with people he loved leaving him; he also took over his father's place as prince from such a young age. It is, perhaps, because of his background that made him the way he is, and I can't fault him for it. I just hope he improves in the next book. With Aida by his side, and Dayie, there is a good chance that he may come out to be a better, more mature person.

Even so, I salute the author for being able to write a book like this, one that is so full of action from beginning to the end. It is nerve-racking to constantly have to go through battle after battle with the dragons and their bonded, not knowing how the events will turn out. I am, however, beginning to wonder if there will be any romance at all. It seems to me that Dayie and Akeem are only friends, even if they care about each other a lot. It hardly matters when the storyline is so interesting, but it didn't hurt to hope. Right?

2nd book I've read in this series and it's just as good as the first. Story flows naturally, real progression to the characters, looking forward to the next book in the series.

This novel was a great continuation to the first novel in the Deadweed series. It continues with Dayie and Akeem trying to find a way to unite the Wild dragons and the Training Hall dragons. However, both training styles are different and it becomes difficult to change their views on the partnership between dragon riders and dragons. Akeem needs to return home and invites Dayie and her dragon, Zara, to come with him and Aida. Dayie does not feel welcome though, being an outsider and accused of being a witch. Her magic stopped the deadweed, but it was only a temporary solution. Water wraiths have joined with the deadweeds, causing much destruction. Dayie’s magic seems to be weakening and she needs to find out why. They need to discover who is behind all this leads to Dayie uncovering a little bit of her origins. We see Akeem’s struggles as well as his stubbornness as he tries to save the south. Dayie and Akeem need to bring many together to stop the plague that threatens to destroy everything.

I love dragon tales and this series in the second one by the author that I am loving. Here Dayie keeps getting stronger and embracing her abilities as this story progresses.
I love how she creates such vulnerability cloaked in strength with her female heroines and with Dayie, you can't help but love that inasmuch as she has her doubts, it does not stop her from wanting to get up and keep fighting.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.