Julie Kagawa (2016)
Goodreads Rating
4.06/ 5(7,348 reviews)
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9 min
Book Length
12 Minutes
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A young woman torn between loyalty to her dragon allies and the dangerous secrets of her past must fight for survival as a powerful new order threatens to consume both dragons and humans.
Ask anything about Soldier and get instant answers grounded in the summary.
After the last book, Ember Hill, a rogue dragon, and Riley, her mentor, are hiding in an abandoned warehouse. They are planning their next moves against Talon, a powerful dragon organization. Ember struggles with leaving Talon, being separated from her twin brother, Dante, and her lingering feelings for Garret, a former St. George soldier. Meanwhile, Garret, disavowed by St. George, travels to the United Kingdom. He plans to infiltrate his former brotherhood, the Order of St. George, to find secrets that could help Ember and Riley, or expose new dangers.
Garret successfully infiltrates a St. George base in the UK, using his knowledge of their procedures and his past reputation. He quickly finds the Order in disarray, suffering from recent losses and internal power struggles. He observes their training, strategies, and their growing desperation against Talon. Garret learns of a new, radical group within St. George that wants more extreme measures against dragons. He gathers information, trying to identify key figures and weaknesses, all while maintaining his cover and avoiding suspicion from former comrades who would execute him as a traitor.
Back in their hideout, Riley pushes Ember to improve her dragon abilities, especially her control over fire and transformation. Ember, however, is restless and frustrated by their inaction. She wants to fight Talon and find Dante, but Riley insists on patience and strategy. Ember practices transforming, flying, and using her fire, often pushing her limits. Her human instincts and emotions, especially her concern for Garret, often conflict with her dragon nature. Riley reminds her of her power and responsibility, preparing her for the upcoming fight.
Unknown to Ember, her twin brother, Dante, is quickly rising in Talon. The Elder Wyrm, Talon's leader, is impressed by Dante's loyalty and strategic mind and takes a personal interest in him. Dante is prepared for a leadership role, given access to secret information, and trusted with important responsibilities. He believes in Talon's goal of dragon dominance and sees Ember's defection as a betrayal. His commitment to Talon grows, making him a strong opponent, even as he secretly deals with his lingering connection to his twin sister, a bond he tries to suppress.
Garret's spying uncovers a shocking secret: a hidden alliance, or at least communication, exists between certain groups within Talon and the Order of St. George. He learns that the conflict between dragons and dragonslayers is not as simple as it seems, and that some within both organizations are manipulating the war for their own benefit. This discovery shatters his understanding of the world and the clear lines between good and evil. He realizes the true extent of the danger, understanding that both sides are being manipulated, and that Ember is caught in a much larger web of lies.
The Elder Wyrm reveals a new, ambitious plan to Talon's inner circle, including Dante. This plan involves not just staying hidden, but actively taking control over humans and other dragon groups. The Elder Wyrm believes the time for subtlety is over and that dragons must claim their place as dominant predators. This strategy includes aggressive expansion, controlling human populations, and eliminating any dragons who resist Talon's authority. Dante, initially hesitant about the extreme measures, eventually agrees with the Elder Wyrm's vision, convinced it is the only way for dragons to survive.
Having gathered important information, Garret realizes his cover is about to be exposed. He makes a daring escape from the St. George compound, fighting former comrades who now see him as an enemy. He evades capture, getting injured in the process, and immediately sets out to find Ember and Riley. He understands the urgency of the situation and the great danger they are all in. His main goal is to deliver the information he has uncovered about the Talon-St. George connections and the Elder Wyrm's true intentions, hoping it will give them an advantage in the coming war.
Garret, injured but determined, eventually finds Ember and Riley. The reunion is tense. Riley is very suspicious of Garret, a former dragonslayer, but Ember's trust in him, though fragile, remains. Garret shares all the information he has gathered: the secret dealings between Talon and St. George, the Elder Wyrm's new agenda, and the immediate threat to all rogue dragons and potentially humanity. The seriousness of his revelations forces Riley to accept the need for an alliance, however uncomfortable. They realize they must work together, despite their past, to fight the growing threat of Talon and the corrupt elements within St. George.
Talon begins its new, aggressive strategy, launching a series of calculated attacks to gain power and eliminate resistance. One attack targets a known rogue dragon sanctuary, leading Ember, Riley, and Garret into direct conflict. During the chaos, Ember confronts Dante. The meeting is emotional and violent, showing their different paths and beliefs. Dante, now a hardened Talon leader, tries to force Ember to return, while Ember fights to protect her freedom and her allies. The battle is a brutal display of dragon power and the deep personal rift between the siblings.
Despite Talon's fierce attack and Dante's personal assault, Ember, Riley, and Garret manage to escape, though with significant losses and injuries to their allies. The confrontation with Dante leaves Ember deeply shaken, reinforcing the reality of their opposing roles. They retreat to rethink their strategy, understanding that Talon's power is even greater than they expected. While the immediate battle is over, the war is far from won. However, the information Garret provided, combined with their understanding of Talon's new tactics, gives them some hope. They now know the true nature of their enemy and the complex forces at play, allowing them to prepare for future battles.
The Protagonist
Ember grows in confidence and control over her dragon powers, embracing her role as a leader in the resistance while grappling with the emotional weight of her choices.
The Supporting
Garret fully sheds his St. George conditioning, becoming a true rogue and an indispensable ally, his loyalty to Ember solidifying into unwavering commitment.
The Supporting
Riley, while still cautious, grows to trust Garret, recognizing the necessity of unexpected alliances to combat a greater threat.
The Antagonist
Dante fully embraces his role as a Talon leader, becoming a hardened antagonist while suppressing his fraternal bond, making him a formidable and tragic opponent.
The Antagonist
The Elder Wyrm consolidates his power and reveals a more aggressive, expansionist plan for Talon, escalating the conflict.
The Supporting
Roth's influence within St. George grows as the Order becomes more desperate, solidifying his role as a key antagonist for Garret.
The Supporting
Cobalt remains a loyal and steady presence, reinforcing the strength of the'rogue' community and the importance of chosen family.
This theme looks at the sacrifices and challenges of choosing personal freedom over safety. Ember's choice to leave Talon has a huge cost: losing her twin brother, constant threats, and the emotional burden of her decisions. Garret also pays a high price for leaving St. George, becoming an outcast. The story asks if the dangers and loneliness of freedom are worth the independence it provides, showing the courage needed to make one's own way.
“"Freedom isn't free. It comes with a price. And for us, that price is everything."”
Identity is a main theme, especially for Ember, who struggles with her dual human and dragon nature and where she belongs. She is neither fully human nor fully dragon, and her loyalty is tested between her instincts, her heart, and her chosen family. Garret also faces an identity crisis, shedding his St. George training to find a new purpose. The theme explores how people define themselves outside of society's expectations and inherited loyalties, and the search for a community that accepts who they truly are.
“"I was a soldier, a weapon against the darkness. Now, I'm just... me. And I don't know what that means anymore."”
The book breaks down simple ideas of good and evil, showing the moral complexities within both Talon and St. George. Garret's discoveries reveal corruption and self-serving interests within the supposedly righteous Order of St. George, while Ember sees that not all dragons within Talon are evil, even if their methods are. This theme makes characters and readers question assumptions, showing that true morality is complex and often comes from individual choices rather than group affiliations, blurring the lines between hero and villain.
“"They tell us dragons are evil. They tell us humans are weak. But the truth is, evil and weakness exist on both sides."”
The theme of family, both biological and chosen, and the complexities of loyalty are deeply explored. Ember's painful separation from Dante, her twin brother, is a major emotional part of the story, as their bond is tested by their opposing loyalties to Talon and freedom. Conversely, Ember's loyalty to Riley and Garret shows the strength of chosen family and alliances formed through shared goals. The story examines the impact of family ties, how they can both connect and break, and the difficult decisions made when loyalties conflict.
“"He's my brother. But he chose them. And I chose freedom."”
Garret's solo mission to spy on St. George.
Garret's dangerous mission to infiltrate the Order of St. George serves as a crucial plot device. It allows the narrative to reveal the internal workings, secrets, and corruptions within St. George from an insider's perspective, without Ember or Riley having to directly engage. This device provides vital intelligence that shifts the understanding of the entire conflict, exposing the hidden alliances and manipulations. It also heightens tension and puts Garret in constant peril, driving much of his personal storyline and character development while creating suspense for his eventual reunion with Ember.
The secrets Garret uncovers about Talon and St. George.
The 'MacGuffin' in 'Soldier' is the critical intelligence Garret uncovers regarding the secret dealings and potential alliances between factions of Talon and St. George, as well as the Elder Wyrm's true, more aggressive plans. This information is not an object, but a vital piece of knowledge that drives the plot forward. It motivates Garret's perilous escape, compels Riley to consider an alliance with Garret, and fundamentally alters Ember's understanding of the war, providing the impetus for their future actions and strategy against both organizations.
The lingering, painful connection between Ember and Dante.
The lingering, often painful, telepathic and emotional bond between Ember and her twin brother, Dante, serves as a significant plot device. Even though they are on opposing sides, this connection provides glimpses into Dante's state of mind and his ascent within Talon, adding a personal, tragic dimension to the conflict. It also creates emotional stakes for Ember, as she constantly feels her brother's presence and the growing chasm between them. This device heightens the personal drama during their confrontations and underscores the theme of loyalty and the sacrifices of freedom.
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Julie Kagawa is an author known for her contributions to young adult fiction, particularly in the fantasy genre. Her notable works include "The Iron King," "The Iron Daughter," "The Iron Queen," "The Iron Knight," and "The Immortal Rules," which explore themes of magic, adventure, and identity. Kagawa's storytelling often features strong characters and richly imagined worlds.
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