Book Review: Maiden of the Lux by Jada Fisher, Book 2 of the Dragon Guard

Maiden of the Lux by Jada Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book of the series. It is set in an embattled city-state, surrounded by a bleak and hostile world, only protected by the shield of The Lux. Ten, the protagonist, is a servant girl, living in a society which is highly caste driven and dominated by the Great Houses, who are above both the servant class and the freemen class. From The Great Houses, the elites of society; religious, political, and the dragon riders who protect the city from the evils that lie outside the shield of The Lux.

In the first book, Ten tricks the Great House she works in and enters the qualification process to become a dragon rider. And she eventually makes it, with the blessing of her House lords and her family (also servants). And this despite the open hostility of those who wish to enforce the caste/social class distinctions of the state. This is not a surprise, as this type of story is the American conceit, that it is a meritocracy, and the dragon riders as a whole support her ascending by her merit.

This book is about what happens now that Ten is a probationary dragon rider, with its promise of entering the top rung of society based on merit (passing the tests and being accepted by a dragon). But here is where the traditional society hits back. And as being a dragon rider is by meritocracy, the conservative elements of society have to fight back in the shadows. The naive Ten has allies in her fellow new dragon riders, and through demonstration of bravery in battle, some current dragon riders. But the opposition is in the form of back stabbing, obstacles placed in the way of progress, gaslighting, and overt hostility.

Fantasy and science fiction have its power in that they can create a world and society that is not our own, but because people are people, has parallels. Here is a story of one who is rising above where she started, based on effort, determination, and hard won skill. It is recognized by the defenders of the realm, which maintains the meritocracy and offers the chance for her to demonstrate her worth, and she is not found wanting. But when she gets there, like many in our real society with similar stories, she finds that for every step forwards, there are those who will drag her down and put obstacles in her way, because they don't want a living story of someone rising to take their place and serve the society they are the elites of. Even those who would rather noone rises, because they did not.

This book really needs to be read following the first. The first book invests you in the characters (others beside Ten develop naturally), and build up hope and have you root for Ten and her drive and determination. This book will continue the stories of drive and determination, but, like many such stories in real life, includes a gut punch that you would not expect in a YA novel.

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