Cin - The Millennial Dragon

The Story of Cinnamon the Dragon (re-imagined)

Fiction - Fantasy - General
225 Pages
Reviewed on 08/03/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Cin - The Millennial Dragon: The Story of Cinnamon the Dragon (re-imagined) by John Duane Conley is an action-packed fantasy novel about a dragon and the great kingdom of Northspire. The story unfolds with Prince Victor of Northspire and his friend and personal bodyguard Aaron being ambushed by bandits on their way home from a diplomatic mission. Prince Victor eventually marries the beautiful Commelina and before long, their daughter Kira is born, and they ascend to the throne. Later, when all the Elder Mages request the king’s presence for an urgent matter, life in the kingdom will not be the same again. What follows is a journey into a magical world where a dragon is born every thousand years to fulfill her destiny of protecting a kingdom from total destruction.

Aside from the fact that the setting in John Duane Conley’s Cin - The Millennial Dragon is pleasantly unique, the pacing of the novel is amazing. There is simply no let-up in the twists and turns of the plot and each of the scenes is vital to the story. The non-stop action, notwithstanding, sustains the focus on various characters, and this in itself is quite a literary achievement. This is a narrative of friendship, love, loss, and bravery and it is quite inspiring. As the kingdom of Northspire is threatened with oblivion, everyone’s courage will be pushed to limits they haven’t known before. And in spite of this, Cinnamon is one of those dragons that is more adorable than fearsome. Highly recommended for readers of all ages!

Pikasho Deka

Cin - The Millennial Dragon: The Story of Cinnamon the Dragon (re-imagined) is a young adult fantasy novel by John Duane Conley. In the distant planet of Azura lies the continent of Northspire ruled by a benevolent king. When Prince Victor Vindicato gets married to the beautiful Commelina Antoinette of Evedfal, he also assumes his father's responsibilities. Queen Commelina soon gives birth to a healthy girl named Kira. Now a teenager, Kira finds herself guarding a priceless dragon egg. After it hatches, Kira becomes the companion of a fierce dragon whom she names Cinnamon (Cin). Meanwhile, the loss of a hunting party in the Southern Forest to a beast from hell and her minions has the kingdom in a state of panic. It is now up to Cin and Kira to find a way and stop the Hell Queen before she annihilates everything.

If you love to read fantasy stories about beautiful queens, ferocious dragons, and brave warriors, Cin: The Millennial Dragon is just the book for you. John Duane Conley builds a magnificent world full of magic and lore that draws you to a place unlike anything you may have seen before. The backstory about the three continents alongside the mesmerizing illustrations and the complementary maps add another layer to the world, making it feel lived-in and brimming with life. Each character has a distinct personality and is well-developed enough to nurture interest amongst readers. Kira and Cin's relationship feels genuine, and it was one of the best aspects of the book for me. I recommend this book to anyone who savors fantasy tales.

Kimberlee J Benart

Cin - The Millennial Dragon: The Story of Cinnamon the Dragon (re-imagined) by John Duane Conley is an action-filled fantasy tale about a dragon and the humans she is born to protect. Set in a world called Azura, it follows the adventures of Prince (later King) Victor and his daughter Princess Kira; the friendships between them and their closest companions, Aaron and Alysha; the romance and marriage of Victor and (later Queen) Commelina, Kira’s mother; and the special relationship between Kira and the millennial dragon Cin (short for Cinnamon) who is placed in her care from "egghood" to adolescence, when she’ll fulfill her destiny to face the evil that threatens humanity. Twenty-five original art pieces and two additional illustrations add to the reader’s enjoyment of the story.

Based on a previous book about Cinnamon the Dragon and described by author John Duane Conley as “an expanded story with mature themes, written for a wider audience,” Cin - The Millennial Dragon more than meets the mark. Appealing to young adult and adult readers alike, it’s jam-packed full of well-drawn characters, descriptive world building, military action, family dynamics, heroism, and sacrifice. Layered throughout are observations about human relationships, love, friendship, duty, life, and death which give it a philosophical underpinning. Although Azura is a medieval-like world, I appreciated the equal roles men and women played in placing themselves in harm’s way and facing death to defend their kingdom. Will Cin succeed in her mission? Will the Azurians survive this millennial threat? An entertaining tale which I greatly enjoyed reading.

Astrid Iustulin

Kira is the daughter of King Victor and Queen Commelina and lives on Azura, the Blue Planet. Orphaned by her mother when she was still very young, Kira becomes the Royal Guardian of the Dragon when a dragon egg is brought to court (even though for over a millennium, everyone but the Elders considered dragons a legend). When the dragon is born, Kira names her Cinnamon, later known as Cin. Meanwhile, on an island far south, another egg is hit by various lightning bolts, but what it contains is evil - the Hell Queen. It will soon be Cin's job to protect Kira and her people from this fearsome creature. Who will win? John Duane Conley will tell you about it in Cin - The Millennial Dragon.

Cin - The Millennial Dragon tells a wonderful story, with great characters like Kira, incredible creatures like Cin and the Hell Queen, and a fabulous setting. John Duane Conley has a way of representing this world that will make readers love both the descriptive parts (such as how Kira's world is and how it is ruled) and the epic battle scenes. In my opinion, how he describes the birth of the Hell Queen is among the finest things in the book. Also, Cin's portrayal is memorable, especially considering her decision (and the reasons that led to that decision) at the end of the book. I recommend Cin - The Millennial Dragon to anyone who loves adventures that take place in fantastic locations. This book is for you.

Essien Asian

In Cin - The Millenial Dragon, a novel by John Duane Conley, the people of the kingdom of Northspire have lived in peace without any reason to fear for years. Once the center of a great kingdom spanning three continents, evolution has reduced both the size and the influence of the royal family of Northspire from the position of the only royal house on the planet of Azuria to one among a trio. As the night of the comet approaches, it brings both good tidings and mystery to the people. Mages predict a lot of things but are silent on what will come. At the same time a new threat is born, a dark, formless menace that swallows all in its path. King Victor Vindicato III has his loyal troops and Cinnamon the Dragon ready to defend his people. Will these be enough to save his kingdom from almost certain doom?

Cin - The Millenial Dragon: The Story of Cinnamon the Dragon is a fantasy adventure story for all ages. The story is exciting albeit not beyond what you would expect from a story in a similar genre. However, what it lacks in twists, it more than makes up for in the detail that goes into the backstory. The origins of the kingdom of Northspire right up to the split of the continents are explained in detail and the royal lineage is also not left out of the specifics. This is not just a story about love, war, and survival but about something deeper; understanding yourself in a bid to better understand your enemy. An interesting story with an unusual hero. I enjoyed it.

K. Dill

A good story and illustrations