Bout of Books 10.0

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Happy Monday!  

So just recently I decided to participate in the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon! I posted up a video up on my channel stating the books that I plan to read. If you haven’t checked it out, please do!

In this post I will be sharing my plans/objectives for the Read-a-thon. As the official blurb indicates, the read-a-thon runs for a full week. So this is how I’ll be tackling the read-a-thon: 

My Goals: 

• Read a book in a day. I have yet to check this off my bookish bucket list. So hopefully one of the books that I’ve mentioned will be the book that I read in a day. 
• Read at least 250 pages a day. The books I selected are more than 300 pages. Hopefully I can do this. 
• Finish more than 1 book. This is actually also on my bookish bucket list. Normally, I would read 1 book per week. But since this is a Read-a-Thon, and I’m trying to cross things off my bucket list. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. 

My Book Selection: 

Eona by Alison Goodman  I’ve already started reading this book. So I’m expecting to finish this during the Read-a-Thon. I have about 399 pages left on this book. 

The Thing You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor  

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo 

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien 

I plan on posting on Goodreads (if it’s not down) and Twitter. I also will try to post on this blog my progress, just to maybe give myself a break from the reading. I will definitely post a wrap-up post that will state my overall progress. I’m so excited guys!

Book Review: Eon by Alison Goodman

Title: Eon 

Author: Alison Gooman

Series: Eon Duology (Book #1)

Pages: 531

Publication Date:  2010 Published by Firebird Books

Genre: Fantasy

Source & Format: Purchased paperback from Barnes and Noble 

For years, Eon’s life has been focused on magical study and sword-word, with one goal: that he be chosen as a Dragoneye, an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. 

But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old-boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; the penalty is death.

When Eona’s secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a struggle for the Imperial throne. Eona must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic… her life. (Synopsis from the back of the book) 

Review: 

Every New Year’s Day twelve boys born twelve year’s ago compete to become the next Dragoneye. Eon, although crippled, tries his luck as a candidate. When a boy is chosen by a dragon to become the next apprentice, who will eventually become a Dragoneye. They take on the responsibility of protecting the people of their land as well as inherit some riches. As Eon competes for a better life, he hides a life threatening secret — he is actually a sixteen year old girl, name Eona. Women as Dragoneyes was unheard of. 

From the Primer Scrolls of Jion Tzu

“Women have no place in the world of the dragon magic. It is said they bring corruption to the art and do not have the physical strength or depth of character needed to commune with an energy dragon. It is also thought that the female eye, too practiced in gazing at itself, cannot see the truth of the energy world” Page 2

Little do they know. Eona, a female, has more depth of character than they think. Not only can she see the energy of the ascendant dragon, but she can see all twelve. This and only this is her and her masters only reason for risking everything to become the next apprentice Dragoneye. Even if she fails, and the ascendent dragon does not chose her. Her faith will be to go back to her old life in the salt mines. Which is a fate worse than death in her eyes. 

Come choosing day, Eona does not get chosen by the ascendant dragon, but by the most honored Mirror Dragon — long lost for five hundred years. Because of this new found miracle, of the Mirror Dragon coming back. The Emperor and Dragoneye council took it as a sign and proclaimed Eon to become coascendant Dragoneye with the ever so evil Lord Ido. Turns out there has been rumors of people making plans to dethrone the Emperor. Now the Emperor is banking on Eon’s help, to help keep power on his side. With so much people relying on her, a new problem arises and her lies adds more weight to her shoulders. She wonders what she got herself into. 

I picked up this book because the synopsis reminded me of Mulan. A girl masquerading to be a boy. I loved Mulan and was like YES! “you’ll bring honor to us all”  It sorta has other “Mulan” elements as well, where the women are treated differently from men. But the book explores so much more. In this book you get all types of different personalities. Everyone playing a part. Some even secretly teaching you lessons about one’s true value, the power of love, and being true to thy self. The characters that really teach you this are Lady Dela, Ryko, and Eona. Lady Dela is a “contraire” and is actually a man, but truly believes in his heart that he is really a she. Lady Dela’s bodyguard Ryko is a man, who knows and believes he is a man, but is in love with Lady Dela (another man). And with Eona who struggles to accept that being a girl comes with great power. 

The world building was understandable and believable. I did not want to live in this time when girls were treated so lowly. But I did however wanted to see this world for myself. My favorite scene out of the whole entire book was the the “Choosing” Ceremony. I wanted to watch Eona battle that cheater Armsmaster. I wanted to see the Rat Dragon, and Mirror Dragon appear and choose Dillon and Eona. I wanted to wonder into the library and moon garden of Eona’s Master, and the library in the Imperial palace. I want to see each of the Dragoneye’s quarters and see how each one is decorated to honor it’s Dragon. I however would not look forward to see the golden pearl sewn into the throat of Prince Kygo. Every time it was mentioned I cringed. I don’t know about you, but it made me uncomfortable reading about it. 

Overall thoughts: I truly recommend you try this book out. I really can’t think of any complaints that I might have with this book. Eona was human. She was scared when she has the right to be. All her actions and feels are probably what I would've done and felt myself. I would be too scared to tell anyone my problems, and I would take the necessary risks. If I truly believed it would help. The world was beautiful. The ending will leave you wanting more, but at the same time will not disappoint. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Favorite Quotes: “I found power in accepting the truth of who I am. It may not be a truth that others can accept, but I cannot live any other way. How would it be to live a lie every minute of your life? I don’t think I could do it” Lady Dela Page 245