Dragons─the name strikes fear and excitement in our hearts. But Embergold by Rachelle Nelson redefines dragons in unexpected ways.
This story explores compassion, self-sacrifice, mystery, and faith. The same values I cherish and seek to explore in my own novels.
Let’s dig into the review. SPOILER ALERT.
Characters
I loved how Rachelle Nelson used evolving symbols throughout the story─particularly Gilde’s home shifting from a damp and dreary swamp, to a mysterious mountain castle.
In both cases, the environment as a prison, mirrors Gilde’s inner struggle. She longs to escape─and with her weak heart, she seeks healing.
Like Gilde, I’ve faced health challenges that have shaped my life, and it made her character arc especially meaningful.
The dragon, Vill, also undergoes a powerful metamorphosis: from feared monster, to animal companion, and finally to a man. I loved how his humanity was expressed through his suffering.
His fight against the Fire’s curse, an inner demon that torments him, parallels the struggles of my own protagonist, Pepper Slyhart, and her Dragynsoul curse.
It’s a universal theme: confronting the darkness within ourselves.
Life and Death
The symbol of water as death also surprised me. For Gilde, the swamp is something she abhors. For Vill, water brings pain and even death.
The Fire is water’s antithesis, like a conflict between life and death. Yet, by the end of the story, a water god saves both protagonists and vanquishes the Fire.
Gildes ponders the water god and its role in her journey. Slowly, she begins to trust the water─as if it had been on her side all along, waiting to be acknowledged, not feared or shunned.
Just as we humans often turn from God, only to later see Him as Savior.
This reminds me of how faith in God works: unseen, but ever present, waiting for us to reach out.
As Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And Psalm 68:20, “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”
The lore on alchemy and wizards was intriuiging─and it brought up the same theme: life versus death.
The alchemist, Gilde’s father turned antagonist, seeks to cheat death at any cost. Ruthless and obsessed, he wants the Fire for himself. In contrast, Gilde longs for life and healing─to trust again as she rediscovers her faith.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding was compelling, though I felt it could have gone deeper. I didn’t fully understand the magic system, and I would have loved to see more demonstrations of the world’s lore and magic in acton.
Gilde’s healing magic at the end─that she had a Spark─surprised me. I couldn’t piece it together as well as I would have liked, which left the final battle a bit confusing.
A bit more clarity would have made it more satisfying.
- Characterization
- Worldbuilding
- Themes
- Overall
Embergold was a fantastic read, with deep-reaching themes and strong characterization. While the worldbuilding was engaging, it felt a little sparse at times─a bit more lore or explanation would have enriched the experience. Overall, it’s a worthwhile read with a heartfelt, satisfying ending.
