Dragon Spawn (A Novel of the Lupi Book 13)

This book at turns entertained me and frustrated me. I have always enjoyed this series and I really love the characters - I find them to be rich, well developed and very likable. However, this series also has a tendency to dump a lot of information and go into details about how things work until I'm fighting not to skim.I love the way that both Lily and Rule have grown individually and together throughout the series. I also love some of the other characters including Cullen, Cynnia, Grandmother, Toby, and Benedict. I'm a little frustrated that we are on book 13 and the build up for the big war is still just that build up.A lot happens in this book although it really doesn't move very far forward in the overall plot. There are 3 big things that happen although one of them gets most of the page time. In this book Rule is challenged by a dominant for the Leidolf mantle. This doesn't get much page time and no resolution at the end of the book. Secondly, a bomb goes off in the FBI headquarters and several dragons are attacked by missiles. Again not a lot of page time but some interesting things happen as a result of these attacks. Finally, the issue that takes up most of the book, Tome Weng is alive and with the help of "she who will not be named" is kidnapping the heirs of the different packs. This includes Toby and also Ryder who is the only female werewolf even though she isn't a heir. The kidnapping of the children is a very emotional part of the book and leads the characters on a journey to rescue them. However, this book ends on a huge cliffhanger. I'm not even sure I'd call it a cliffhanger - it basically just ends half way through the story. There really is no resolution for anything in this book and so I found myself a bit frustrated at the end.

(4.5 out of 5 rating)Dragon Spawn by Eileen Wilks is the 13th book in her World of the Lupi series. This series is still going strong and the world building is truly astonishing.Dragon Spawn is roller coaster ride of a read. This series is one of my favorites and I always start to get nervous when one of my favorite series is pushing over 10 publications. I start worrying about things like (because these things HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES):Q: Will the author lose her way?A: SHE DIDN’TQ: Is the story going to start failing to hold the high standards of the prior books?A: NOPE. STILL AWESOME.Q: Are characters going to start losing their minds and having personality changes for no freakin’ good reason at all?A: NOPE. STILL AWESOME.I am happy to report that this series truly just becomes more amazing. The world building is zenith. I am a huge fan of strong world building in Urban Fantasy, but Wilks is truly paramount in my book.This installment has all of our favorite characters in an uproar. Rule is being death challenged. Lilly has to return to Hell. Cynna is exploding-heads mad. Everyone is coming together in an attempt to overcome the great evil B#@%&. Just wow. Within all of the amazing dialog and drama, we still are fed more crumbs, and some bit bites, of knowledge about creatures and family that have been a bit mysterious in the past. Wilks is slowing providing us with puzzle pieces to the overall picture.The evolution and growth of the relationships in this series stands out in a very distinct way. No one is “perfect”, everything is not “wonderful”; yet all of the characters continue to grow, not only individually, but also in their friendships and family or pack dynamics. Wilks creates characters with so much depth and realism, It is hard to believe we are not looking into another world where these are real flawed and fabulous people.This book is clearly a pretty big arc in the overall story and she leaves us with a cliffhanger. *gasp* Although, I am typically not a huge “fan” of cliffhangers, it fit the book and left my mouth watering for more. Mission accomplished!If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy and haven’t picked up this series, you are really missing out. READ IT.

It's true the story ends in a cliff hanger which I hate as much as the next reader. Aside from that I enjoyed the book. I'm a big fan of the characters; there is a major crisis on which hangs the plot. But as others have put in their reviews, everything is left hanging, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 4. It did occur to me that the author may be wrapping up the series. For 13 books the Great Enemy has been trying to get a foothold on Earth: trying to recruit followers, trying to hurt the lupi however she can without actually being on Earth. And now in this book all of these minor skirmishes are left behind. Suddenly, she is attacking in a major way on many fronts and has some plot involving the kidnapped children of the clans. It's open warfare instead of trying to build a base from which to attack. This could be the war that the lupi have been preparing for and the final battle between the two sides. From another perspective, it is hard to sustain a series for so long. There are only so many stories that can be told, and eventually an author will have new ideas they want to explore. With the author upping the ante in the conflict, it makes me wonder if the series may be coming to an end. If so, I will miss Lily Yu and Rule, Cullen and especially Grandmother. But I think it's better to end the story well than drag it out until even the most loyal readers have to abandon it because the quality has fallen so far. Whether this is the case or not we'll have to wait for the next book to get any of the answers we want.

I've read the other reviews so had an idea what to expect as regards to feeling that the book is unfinished but it nevertheless comes as a shock when the book does indeed suddenly end. In trying to find a comparison I could compare it to the Titanic hitting the iceberg, starting to sink and the film ends. The problem is that the book is at such an exciting, intricate life-or-death point that you are left almost stunned, turning the pages looking for more. I can only hope that Dragon Spawn Part II comes out quickly in 2017.On the plus side it is always good to meet the well developed characters and go on a journey (literally) with them. Lily and Rule are our main characters again, but Cullen and Cynna, grandmother, Benedict and Gan all have strong presences. It's good to see Toby developing and to visit Dis again. I'm looking forward to the outcome of all the things that have been set up in this book in the next one which is actually called Dragon Blood.

Honestly, this book didn't work for me. All the things mentioned in the synopsis happened and there's some interesting info about dragons. BUT ... it all leads nowhere. Zero resolution, you have to read the next book to find out. It's essentially part 1 of a 2 part book, I find that annoying and, frankly, dishonest on the part of the author and publisher, especially as there was a lot of excess verbiage that didn't really move the book forward and could have been cut out.It seriously makes me question whether I will buy another book in this series.

As others have said the ending was a bit of a surprise. Seeming to just cut off with no reason. That being said I think the other reviewers are being a bit harsh. The book is well written and the pace and style is consistent with the rest of the series. Please don't be put off. If you love the Lupi series you will love this book but be prepared for the sudden stop at the end!

I feel this book is essential but we the readers have been ripped off. Even in e-books, these are not cheap and this is short and half a book. I expect better of you Eileen. But then from the poor ratings I guess you already know this was a gamble that has not paid off. Bad form.

I purchased what I thought was a story, not half a story. Nothing was resolved, I don't know what's happened to most of the characters, or why. Reading is my form of entertainment, all I felt when I finished this was frustrated and annoyed. I usually love this author. She's really let her readers down. Next time finish the book.