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Review of the German edition – English translation

🔗 Read the original review (German)

Review:
The Magical Legacy of the Ryūjin
Published on June 16, 2016 by Lordbreakingham

Humans – Dragons – Ryūjin

Review Summary:
After accidentally overhearing the court wizard Mortemani scheming to let Pure Magic dominate over the Old Magic, the emperor’s niece flees with her baby. But before she can escape completely, the wizard curses her. With no other option, she leaves her infant son as a foundling at the gates of a distant castle.

Seventeen years later, that child — Rob — has grown into a young man working as a stable boy at Castle Skargness. A major festival is approaching, where the lord’s son is expected to bond with a young dragon and become a Dragon Mage, strengthening the fading tradition of Old Magic. Dragons are rare, and new Dragon Mages are urgently needed to hold off the rising power of Pure Magic.

The legendary Ryūjin — ancient beings who could shift between dragon and human form — have long been believed extinct, if they ever existed at all. When the bonding ceremony finally begins, something goes terribly wrong.

Meanwhile, in 2055 Vancouver, Mi Lou works as a system specialist. As a child, she received implants that let her connect her brain directly to computers. Her father, living in Italy, is researching advanced versions of these implants. When he uncovers the sinister intentions of his clients, he’s murdered.

Mi Lou travels to Italy to settle his affairs and is targeted by the same killers. Fortunately, her grandfather trained her in martial arts. During a fight for her life against a cyber-enhanced assassin, she and her enemy are suddenly transported to another world.

The Magical Legacy of the Ryūjin is the first installment of the Ryūjin Saga. As the plot summary suggests, it’s a blend of fantasy and science fiction. In this volume, however, fantasy clearly dominates, with just a dash of sci-fi flavor.

So how does a medieval fantasy world mix with bionic implants? Quite well, actually. Though the exact link between the two worlds remains unclear in this volume, it’s clear that Mi Lou plays a pivotal role in it all.

With his debut novel, Stephan Lethaus presents a compelling story idea that leaves readers eager for more. He manages to avoid plot inconsistencies, and while some questions remain unanswered — such as what became of Rob’s mother, who was his father, and what deeper secrets the saga holds — these are likely to be explored in future installments.

Conclusion:
This book marks the beginning of an intriguing fantasy tale with a sci-fi twist — a promising start that invites curiosity for what’s to come.

Review of the German edition – English translation

My Opinion:
The blurb is very detailed and provides an excellent summary of the story, so I won’t go further into the plot here. The author takes us to Skaiyles, a world where magic and dragons still exist. This is the story of Rob, Mi Lou, and the dragon Fuku, who must embark on a perilous and adventurous journey to save their land.

The story drops us right into the action as we get to know the different characters. There’s Rob, a stable boy chosen by the dragon Fuku Riu to become his Dragon Mage. Then there’s Mi Lou, who comes from our world — the year 2055. Their fates are intertwined, and together, they must face their destiny.

Each of the three has a distinct personality:
– Fuku is cheeky and always up to mischief.
– Rob is kind, hardworking, honest, and just a bit naïve and insecure. As a foundling, his true identity remains a mystery — though readers are given some clues early on.
– Mi Lou is a confident young woman who had no idea this other world even existed.

Together, they form an entertaining team that readers will enjoy following on their adventures.

There’s no romance in the book, although I got the impression that Rob might have a crush on Mi Lou. We’ll see if something develops in later volumes.

All in all, this book receives a strong reading recommendation from me — with full marks!

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