Sorrow of the Dragon Gods, by Pam McElprang
In a world torn asunder by the wars of demon gods and dragon gods for control over the realms, one girl must find her path among the seraphim of legends or risk destroying everything she loves.
For millennia, mortals have been bound by the covenant of the dragon gods, worshiping the creatures to gain access to the fount of magic deep within the realm. Journey through the kingdoms of light and dark as Cauri discovers the truth about her past and struggles to save the land of Solace from the encroaching darkness.
SORROW OF THE DRAGON GODS, 2ND EDITION is a young adult fantasy adventure where dragon gods rule the realm, seraphim conjure ancient prophecy, and witches and wizards fight for control over their magic.
For millennia, mortals have been bound by the covenant of the dragon gods, worshiping the creatures to gain access to the fount of magic deep within the realm. Journey through the kingdoms of light and dark as Cauri discovers the truth about her past and struggles to save the land of Solace from the encroaching darkness.
SORROW OF THE DRAGON GODS, 2ND EDITION is a young adult fantasy adventure where dragon gods rule the realm, seraphim conjure ancient prophecy, and witches and wizards fight for control over their magic.
Read the first three chapters of Sorrow of the Dragon Gods on Wattpad!
History of Guild Magic
Cauri remembered once, asking the Arch Cleric Brogan how the split between the guilds had come to be. Brogan had taken Cauri up into his lap and described the land of Aiden as a realm in chaos after the spiritual war that had pitted wizards against the dragon gods about two hundred years ago. The wizards had come to recognize that the dragon gods were only powerful due to the pooled magic of the followers within their realms of influence. And to ensure their everlasting strength and command of magic, the dragon gods had to maintain that influence. This group of wizards were furious at being used by the dragon gods and demanded full access to their magic. It was time for the old religion to make concessions.
Cauri could feel both forms of the magic within her and could readily understand why the wizards wanted more freedom. But, as the Arch Cleric had explained, magic couldn’t work that way without causing greater chaos. He told Cauri that there was once a great wizard called Montague who sought to introduce spell casters to a new method of magic: spells called forth from the elements. By doing so, Montague renounced the dragon gods and his magic, once used for healing and defense, was stripped from him. He could call upon no spells, but knew there must exist some source for power other than offering fealty to the dragon gods. He became shamed, and those who followed Montague were lost with him. Cauri had felt sorrow for those wizards, banished from their people because they chose to fight for what they believed in and knew they should have access to.
She understood why Montague made his choice. At the time though, she had questioned Brogan, asking what had become of Montague and his followers. Brogan had explained that one lonely night while the once-wizards camped in the wilds near the Tao Xannon Ruins, Montague had discovered that he still held magic within him; he just could not directly access it. While they cooked around the campfire, he asked the other once-wizards if they, too, sensed their powers. At first reluctant, they responded that it was faint, but present. The discovery revived their morale. Stronger when joined, they held hands around the fire and used the innate spark of life to tap into their power once again. Montague realized that so connected, he and his once-wizards could use nature; for nature itself was a living force, a force that he believed was much more powerful than the dragon gods. Montague stared into the fire and visualized the force, visualized he could utilize magic without swearing a covenant to any god.
The dragon gods, he understood, had very different magic than what was available for mere mortals; but that power was, at its core, still accessible by all—otherwise the dragon gods wouldn’t be dependent on their spheres of influence to maintain their power. Brogan explained that it was weeks of focusing upon the fire with the once-wizards before Montague conjured a blast of flame into his hand. It was so unexpected that he flinched, setting another once-wizard on fire. It was all they could do to smother the flames and save him from a grisly death.
But Montague had found the source. Months and years passed as Montague taught his once-wizards how to access their powers. As a group, they found more ways to use nature. They could turn water into ice, throw a flaming fireball, or even conjure elemental golems to fight in combat for them. As they grew more confident, Montague gathered new members into his growing guild.
Brogan had taken Cauri from his lap, then, and pointed a finger at her nose. “These heathens are now respected within Aiden,” he had said gravely. “But fealty to the dragon gods is more important. Without the dragon gods, magic would cease to exist.”
Cauri could feel both forms of the magic within her and could readily understand why the wizards wanted more freedom. But, as the Arch Cleric had explained, magic couldn’t work that way without causing greater chaos. He told Cauri that there was once a great wizard called Montague who sought to introduce spell casters to a new method of magic: spells called forth from the elements. By doing so, Montague renounced the dragon gods and his magic, once used for healing and defense, was stripped from him. He could call upon no spells, but knew there must exist some source for power other than offering fealty to the dragon gods. He became shamed, and those who followed Montague were lost with him. Cauri had felt sorrow for those wizards, banished from their people because they chose to fight for what they believed in and knew they should have access to.
She understood why Montague made his choice. At the time though, she had questioned Brogan, asking what had become of Montague and his followers. Brogan had explained that one lonely night while the once-wizards camped in the wilds near the Tao Xannon Ruins, Montague had discovered that he still held magic within him; he just could not directly access it. While they cooked around the campfire, he asked the other once-wizards if they, too, sensed their powers. At first reluctant, they responded that it was faint, but present. The discovery revived their morale. Stronger when joined, they held hands around the fire and used the innate spark of life to tap into their power once again. Montague realized that so connected, he and his once-wizards could use nature; for nature itself was a living force, a force that he believed was much more powerful than the dragon gods. Montague stared into the fire and visualized the force, visualized he could utilize magic without swearing a covenant to any god.
The dragon gods, he understood, had very different magic than what was available for mere mortals; but that power was, at its core, still accessible by all—otherwise the dragon gods wouldn’t be dependent on their spheres of influence to maintain their power. Brogan explained that it was weeks of focusing upon the fire with the once-wizards before Montague conjured a blast of flame into his hand. It was so unexpected that he flinched, setting another once-wizard on fire. It was all they could do to smother the flames and save him from a grisly death.
But Montague had found the source. Months and years passed as Montague taught his once-wizards how to access their powers. As a group, they found more ways to use nature. They could turn water into ice, throw a flaming fireball, or even conjure elemental golems to fight in combat for them. As they grew more confident, Montague gathered new members into his growing guild.
Brogan had taken Cauri from his lap, then, and pointed a finger at her nose. “These heathens are now respected within Aiden,” he had said gravely. “But fealty to the dragon gods is more important. Without the dragon gods, magic would cease to exist.”