Dragons, magic, a plague of curse beasts that scourge the land. This is a great book and the narrator did an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life. I really enjoyed how dragons were portrayed throughout the book. I feel like there was a very unique look at developing a bond between a dragon and rider rather than one being intrinsically already there. The voice of the dragons was also a great touch - especially how they developed.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* really liked this book from the start, it was
a pretty long but it ended out being really good, would read more for the series.

Ascendant follows Holt Cook, a young man who serves in a kitchen and is fascinated by Dragon Riders and dragons. When Holt saves a damaged dragon egg, he becomes responsible for and bonded to the baby dragon. Ash is a blind dragon and shunned by other dragons and Dragon Riders. But Holt and Ash have an incredible bond and powers, powers that will help them and their allies fight against the Scourge.

This book was so good! It had amazing world building, and I loved the characters. I loved the relationship between Holt and Ash, and Ash was the cutest animal companion ever. Talia and Brode were also great characters, and Brode especially was such a great role model. So much of the book is Holt learning about being a dragon rider and the group traveling, but it kept your attention and had a great pace. I liked the multiple points of view and the hints of foreshadowing throughout. This was a great dragon book and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Genre: High Fantasy/Coming-of-Age/Young Adult
Rating: 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Portal Books, Book Fluent, Michael R. Miller, and Peter Kenny (narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to Ascendant: Songs of Chaos Book One in exchange for an honest review.

When I was younger, I sought any and all books I could find about dragons. I came across the Dragon Riders of Pern series, older, but a classic, and not long after, Eragon was a new release. Eragon was my favorite book when I was ten years old, and the following books in the series were not yet out. I didn't know what to do with myself. Always I seek the "next Eragon." Ascendant is an excellent blend with the political and system aspects of Pern, but the feel of Eragon as a rider and epic adventure.

I would like to highlight the narrator of the audiobook, Peter Kenny, who I am familiar with as he did the audio narrations of the English translations of The Witcher novels. His voice and voice acting are perfect for a high fantasy book with dragons and undead, among other interesting creatures. He really brought the story to life and even narrates the female chapters near the end with high quality fantasy elegance.

Holt Cook is just that: a local kitchen boy. Only those chosen by the Order can become dragon riders, and that certainly isn't Holt. When he learns a nasty secret, that the dragons weed out the weak of their kind while still in their eggs, Holt makes his way to a white egg, learning the hatchling within is blind. Just because the dragon is blind does not mean he will be weak.

Holt takes the egg, expectedly bonding with the dragon and becoming his rider. Named Ash for his pale white-gray coloring, Holt finds his bond with the dragon goes beyond normal. As he learns from princess Talia and her dragon, Pyra, they discover Ash and Holt grow together at an exceeding rate.

Holt's training brings him to an adventure he didn't expect in a world controlled by the Order and ravaged by the Scourge, hordes of undead roaming the land.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book. It has the hero's journey feel with Holt's call to adventure with his new dragon friend. The reader gets to know Holt, Ash, Talia, and Pyra, how the world is constructed, and how the bond between rider and dragon develops. I enjoyed the rest of the story as well, though the adventure and the dastardly villains were just not quite as interesting as the set up (which is usually my reception to most books). 

Songs of Chaos seems like a very promising fantasy series, if book one is any indication. This series is full of epic fantasy tropes woven in a great way, and I look forward to what Miller will bring us with the next installment.

This is a story that hits the classic beats of a Dragon Rider fantasy. Holt Cook is an everyman, until he steals a dragon egg and joins the war against the zombie army.

Here is my video review: https://youtu.be/bqJ33eMl384?t=464

When I started the book, I was intrigued by the premise of a blind dragon. I was expecting this to play an important and interesting role in the story, and in some way change the way that the story played out.
However, I was disappointed. If what makes a story interesting is emotional conflict, this story was boring. Oftentimes, giving a character a handicap can create more interesting conflict, but you could take the dragon’s blindness out of the story and it would remain relatively unchanged.

The more I read this book, the more I felt like I was starving for emotional moments. This book again and again prioritized explaining the lore of the world. Instead of getting to grieve for losses, we move on quickly to defining a new magical ability or a political flashback. If you love worldbuilding, you might love this book. But if you love a character arc more, you may be very disappointed.

AUDIOBOOK: This was a very well narrated audiobook. Every character was voiced differently. When there was the occasional song, the narrator actually sung it (something I’ve never heard in an audiobook before)! I have no complaints about the performance of this audiobook, it was fantastic.

Thanks to Books Fluent and Netgalley for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

I read this book when i came out at first and I abosolutley love it.

The Book was really good if not great but it have potential for a good story Idk if it will be epic as some other fantasy but there is something in this story. Right know from just one book I love Holt and Ash And Talia And Pyra also there is a wholesomeness to the dragon relation i found in par with Eragon(The Inheritance Cycle series). Mostly that the every dragon in this story have character .The other dragons in Inheritance cycle was somewhat blank and Idk some sort of character was missing except for Saphira and the Masters dragon that thought Saphira and the some dragons they found in the vault. I think i like this first book more than Eragon.


TO be short this is one of my all time fav books, and I only have a few all time fav as it is sooo that's that

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It definitely gave me Eragon and some Dragon Riders of Pern vibes. I enjoyed reading this. I read some and then also listened to the audiobook. Definitely a good read if you enjoy Dragons. The narration is great.

If you are looking for a fast paced book that combines all of the greatest parts of Eragon and all the great dragon books, this book is for you. What does make this book fun is it is all of your favorite type dragon stories rolled into one. Lets call it a comfort Dragon book.

I was a little taken aback by how long the book was but honestly by the time I started it I was engrossed in the story that was well told, descriptive, and just a great adventure!

A delightfully polite but action-packed romp filled to the brim with super fun character dynamics, creeptastic villains, and...oh yeah, dragons! Holt, our primary protagonist, rescues a scarred egg that has been rejected from the flight as defective. The egg is meant to be destroyed, but Holt can't bring himself to just let it go and secrets it away. His socioeconomic standing prohibits him from being a dragon rider (Cooks, as he is Holt Cook, must always be cooks), but with this stolen egg he rewrites his fate. The egg soon hatches and Ash, the first blind dragon Holt has even seen, arrives to steal the show. The two of them must survive an incumbent attack on their city, flee to the nation's capital with critical enemy information, and overcome the many prejudices of the people and dragons around them.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the audiobook to review on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the relationship that the main character Holt, has with the blind dragon Ash, but outside of those two I thought this book could have used better characterization. I felt like I could predict where every character arc that was introduced, outside of Holt and Ash, would end up. For example I correctly predicted the story arc of the Holts Father, the tutor character, the princess character Talia, her evil relatives, the wandering nature spirit? This book reminded me of Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan, which means I just think its super generic fantasy.

Even with such a cool premise of a blind dragon awakening a new type of magic this whole book just felt like I have seen its like before. I think my biggest criticism is that the author just chose way too many common tropes for my liking which made the plot and characters super predictable. Nonetheless I liked the ending and Holt and Ash enough to maybe check out the next book.

I really enjoyed this book. Was there anything new in it? No. There were talking dragons and riders and a mentor figure who helps train them on the run. But strangely, the tried and true tropes were a comfort. It was nice to settling into a story that, while the plot was different, there were familiar beats.
The audiobook was awesome. It was the same narrator who did The Witcher series and he was fantastic. I would highly recommend this book!

This book reminds me a lot of a mix between Eragon and Robin Hobb's Assassin apprentice but with dragons. A classic fantasy coming of age trope featuring an unexpected protagonist/hero. Really enjoyed. Loved that Ash the dragon is also imperfect - provides a whole extra layer.
The narrator was amazing, and his voice was perfect for the story!

Thank you to @netgalley and publisher for a copy of the audiobook.

Ascendant (Songs of Chaos #1)
Michael R. Miller
Author Michael R. Miller introduces readers to a world filled with dragons and dragon riders. The dragons have a unique magic, and their riders are able to manipulate this magic. The dragon riders are part of an order and must renounce all other fidelities even their own families. They are considered of the highest regard; they protect the people from the Scourge (like a plaque that has the undead destroying everything in its path.) The lead character is sixteen-year-old Holt Cook. He is considered a commoner; his father is a cook and soon he will begin his apprenticeship as a cook (Pot Boy.) Holt dreams of being a dragon rider.
Holt Cook rescued a dragon egg. The egg was destined to be destroyed because the dragon within was blind. Dragons do not allow weakness and slaughter any young they regard as damaged. Holt took pity on the unhatched dragon and pledged to safeguard it. If the dragons discover (Ash) the young dragon’s weakness, they will destroy him and if they discover what Holt has done there will be consequences.
Hordes of zombies like creatures are expanding across the land, spreading the Scourge and destroying everything in their path. The creatures slaughtered the dragon riders who were betrayed by one of their own. The only dragon riders left are a young princess and an older rider whose dragon has died. While they are stunned that Holt recused and protected a blind dragon; they witness the special bond between Holt and his dragon. There is no time waste they must warn everyone about the Scourge. Holt reaches out to his dragon and together they turn the tide.
This is book 1 in a new series titled Songs of Chaos; it stands well alone, but I look forward to the next installment. This is a fast paced read. I love the character of Holt Cook; he has such depth. He is kindhearted although not necessarily the sharpest tack in the box. The relationship between Holt and Ash is endearing. This tale subtly deals with several issues including cast (how society places people in stations), betrayal, and political deceptions. Author Michael R. Miller is a master at world building and has created a delightful world filled with dragons. The action is high octane with sword play, and sorcery. I enjoy dragon fantasy tales, and this hit the spot.

Ascendant

Ok Folks, I’m only going to say this once, is this book Tropey
Yes.. not that we got that out of the way.
Here’s the deal!
Should you read it 👀YES 👍
Why ? You say!
Well…because you’ll be doing a disservice to yourself!!
There I said it!
Promises or lies
This is as story about a young boy name Holt Cook… and he is going to do the most humane thing anyone can do, for a unborn Dragon… what !!!!… I can’t tell you that….
This journey is full of good, bad and banishment…... but you’ll be cheering him on.. For every page!
All I can say..
I give it 4.5 🌟

Holt is a young cook in training who comes from a long lineage of cooks, who never saw his future other than following in his father footsteps. However he dreamt about living beyond his lowly class, and being an esteemed dragon rider. One day he had a chance to rescue a dragon's egg from being destroyed as it was deemed flawed and therefore weak in the eyes of the dragons. Holt hides the egg, and it hatches to a blind dragon he calls Ash. But before he could set it free the Scourge, a plague that has blighted the land and people for years suddenly uprises again, leading everyone in the kingdom to flea for their lives. This starts Holt on a journey as a dragon rider, to a special dragon which has unforeseen magical powers, and a quest filled with mystery & danger.

A brilliant and very well written book, I really enjoyed it. The author has quite a unique take on the dragon/dragon rider relationship which was very symbiotic in nature. I liked the development of the characters and their conflicting relationship dynamics which were threaded with distinctive classism and disablism. I loved that the overall message of this book is that any person or being, is worthy and capable of achieving their goals despite projected views about their class or disabilities. The narrator also did great job with this audiobook. Looking forward to reading more from Michael R. Miller.

Thank you to the Monolith Books publisher and NetGalley for the electronic audio review copy of this wonderful book. I really enjoyed this amazing dragon story, reminiscent of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, about overcoming adversity and following one’s dreams. Great characters, fast pace, cool magic, interesting world building, and lots of wonderful writing made it very difficult to return to the real world. It’s been a while since I read a good dragon story, and this is an amazing start to a very promising series. Can’t wait to listen to/read book 2!

“Ascendant” by Michael R. Miller is one of the best dragon books out there and if you still haven’t read it, I suggest you do so immediately!

As soon as the story started unfolding, I fell in love with it! A young boy, a servant that is, destined to be in the kitchens or serving in the Order Hall of the Crag, following his family’s occupation through the ages, makes his own destiny and becomes one of those he always admired. A dragon rider!

Holt Cook was always looking up to the powerful dragon riders and the beautiful magical dragons. He never expected to find himself so close to one of them, until he actually did. That day he was serving the dragon that was inspecting all the new dragon eggs, deciding which would get to hatch, and which wouldn’t. Holt, like everyone else in the kingdom, apart from the dragon riders, had no idea about this hatching selection. He thought all eggs were allowed to hatch. But you see, dragons, powerful and magical creatures as they are, do not tolerate weakness. So, using their magic they inspect all eggs and if they find a flaw, that egg is destroyed. When Holt himself is requested to destroy such an egg, he cannot find the heart to do it. He saves the egg instead and hides it away, until he is able to let it go free in the wilderness. But before he manages to do so, the egg hatches and a blind dragon rises. Holt is determined to save the dragon, no matter what and the two of them create a bond stronger than anything else.

“If you love with your eyes, death is forever. If you love with your heart, there is no such thing as parting.”
― Michael R. Miller, Ascendant

Danger is near though. The dragons and their riders are the ones fighting the Scourge, undead hordes that roam the land spreading the blight and bringing darkness and destruction on their path. But that’s not all Holt and his dragon have to face. They need to survive as everyone else, but they have to do it as the Order is betrayed and dragon riders are slaughtered.

I loved how the story evolved and the dynamics between the characters, people and dragons alike! I loved the bond between dragons and riders, as well as the friendship and respect that built up during an unexpected journey the main characters were forced to make. There are so many positive messages in the book.

“My eyes for your eyes.
Your skin for my skin.
My world for your world.”
― Michael R. Miller, Ascendant

The narrator really added to the whole experience, by differentiating the tones on every human as well as every dragon. I actually liked the sound of the dragon voice. It couldn’t be human like so I really appreciated that the narrator made the effort to colour his voice differently.

Thanks to NetGalley and Books Fluent for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.

Ascendant (Songs of Chaos #1)
by Michael R. Miller

A masterful world created with Dragons, magic, and destiny. The Story of finding your place in a world that has many rules, and oppression of those lower. A frightening swarm of monsters, spun by powers and violence, corrupted by illness, and plague. The story shows unsurmountable barriers for our hero. This is a great book for teaching young adults not only that rules need to have reasons, and that facing them may bring many questions about them and how they are implemented. Bullies should be faced with direction and restraint. Finding mysteries that need to be brought to light.
The audible book is wonderful, the reader amazing, and his voices captivating. He brings life to the text.

This story was fantastic and reminded me in some ways of one of my favorite books - Joust by Mercedes Lackey. I loved the story of someone of the lower class getting a dragon. I really enjoyed listening to this. It moved along at a great pace, had well developed characters and the world building was fantastic. The narrator did a great job. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great dragon story.

Really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing and will definitely recommend it to my friends and purchase a copy for myself.