In the Labyrinth of Drakes (#4)
In the Labyrinth of Drakes, the thrilling new book in the acclaimed fantasy series from Marie Brennan, the glamorous Lady Trent takes her adventurous explorations to the deserts of Akhia.
Even those who take no interest in the field of dragon naturalism have heard of Lady Trent’s expedition to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia. Her discoveries there are the stuff of romantic legend, catapulting her from scholarly obscurity to worldwide fame. The details of her personal life during that time are hardly less private, having provided fodder for gossips in several countries.
As is so often the case in the career of this illustrious woman, the public story is far from complete. In this, the fourth volume of her memoirs, Lady Trent relates how she acquired her position with the Royal Scirling Army; how foreign saboteurs imperiled both her work and her well-being; and how her determined pursuit of knowledge took her into the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth of Drakes, where the chance action of a dragon set the stage for her greatest achievement yet.
Reviews
“[A] solid fourth book of the Lady Trent series [...] It’s a time of changes for the main character, but this mix of scientific and fantastic creatures remains in fine form.”
“It is a pleasure to go on another adventure with Lady Trent.”Library Journal
“The locations are so clearly described and so reminiscent of actual awe-inspiring places, that the book is a joy to read. The scene setting almost makes the reader into part of the story—casting you as the reader back home in her own land who the book is written for, and so putting you into the world as you read it. It’s a clever, exciting, informative book, sure of its characters and its world, and striking out in new directions further into that world in every chapter. May all of them be as fun to read as this one!”
“This is the fourth of the Lady Trent memoirs, and it’s only fair to note that I’ve been in love — platonic love, but deeply felt — with Dame Isabella (as she is at the beginning of In the Labyrinth of Drakes) since the first chapters of A Natural History of Dragons. The wry, retrospective quality of the first-person narrative and the quasi-Victorian style has an enormous appeal, and so too does the fact that at their heart, these are novels about science, about the love of discovery and the joy and struggle of intellectual work […] Isabella’s inimitable voice and striking character makes Labyrinth of Drakes practically a perfect read: equal parts soothing and stimulating. Personally, I could read about Isabella’s adventures forever, and I hope there are many more Memoirs to come.”
“Once again, the work is a delight. Its most appealing aspect isn’t the genre-bending riffs on genuine events so much as the level-headed outlook that people like Lady Trent bring to both fantasy and romance.”Locus
“I adore this series for its world building, fascinating characters, strong narrative voice and sense of adventure, and for the dragons of course. Special mention goes to the cover and interior art, which is by Todd Lockwood. The books would be worth purchasing for the covers alone. They fully cement Isabella’s role as a skilled artist and meticulous naturalist in the Victorian style.”
“If you’re not reading this series yet, you should be! My love for it just grows and grows, and indeed I think In the Labyrinth of Drakes may be my favorite Memoir by Lady Trent installment yet! So many questions that I had are finally answered, and there are plenty of other major reveals for readers who have been following our protagonist on her adventures. I promise you, this is one book you do not want to miss [...] I just love this series! Marie Brennan gives Isabella a voice that is so fresh and authentic that this is one of the few fantasy series that truly makes me feel like I am transported to another world. I highly, highly recommended these books; it is an experience like no other. 5/5 Stars.”
“The strength of In the Labyrinth of Drakes, and of the series as a whole, is the first-person narration of Lady Trent herself, which is always sharply, thrillingly intelligent and also wonderfully, variously wry, self-deprecating, angry, introspective, oblivious, awed, indignant, and the list goes on. In short, she is an entire personality vividly, compellingly portrayed in all its human complexity.”
“I honestly can’t get enough of this series. Brennan has reached down inside of me, torn out my inner most fantasies, and brought them to life.”
“Isabella is as witty as ever and the realistic science and character development make it seem so believable. I can’t forgo mentioning Marie Brennan’s lovely writing either, I had difficulty putting this down and ended up reading most of it in one sitting.”