TL;DR: An Anthony Trollope/Jane Austen cross, but with dragons (!), Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton is a unique and enjoyable read.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A family rocked by the death of their father. A selfish greedy brother-in-law. Two young girls looking for stability and marriage in a society filled with rules. A lawsuit. And a parson or two. It sounds like an Anthony Trollope novel, except every single one of them are dragons. They wear hats, eat bloody meat (and their own kind), sleep on gold, and fly (unless you’re a servant or a parson).
I picked up this book after having read and enjoyed Jo Walton’s Or What You Will. Tooth and Claw was the only book of hers available in the bookstore and as soon as I saw it was based on an Anthony Trollope novel, I snagged it and read it. It is good. Really good. I don’t know else to sum it up except to say, if you like Anthony Trollope or Jane Austen, and dragons (can’t forget the dragons), then you’ll love this book. For all that and more, I’ve rated it 5 stars.
The Plot
Bon Agornin’s death sets off a massive chain of events that drive the book forward. His young daughters, Haner and Serenda, are split between their brother Penn, a parson, and their brother-in-law Ilustrious Daverack. But something occurs after Bon Agornin dies that causes discord, a lawsuit, and a lot of other things besides.
Haner goes to live with the selfish Illustrious Daverak. Her sister, Berenda, has also fallen to the dark side of eating whatever dragonkins she wants and doesn’t seem the harm in binding the servants wings so tightly, they develop sores under their wings.
Serenda goes to live with her brother Penn and his wife Felin. While the house is small, it is at least comfortable. Except for Exalt Berandi, a snobby, stuck on the proper behavior rich woman of high station. Everyone manages the Exalt, including her son Sher.
Avan, the other brother, is so offended by what happens at his father’s death, that he brings a lawsuit against Daverak. And there sets up some of the conflict in this book.
Honestly, if I typed out the plot, there’d be so many spoilers you’d not want to read the book and I really want you to read this book.
What I liked & liked less
I loved how Walton took the world of Austen and Trollope – the Victorian novel – and gave it a gruesome twist. The dragons have etiquette, hierarchies, religion, and wear little hats on their heads (nothing else). They also fight to the death, eat each other for strength and sustenance, and face social issues such as religion, treatment of servants, dishonored maidens, and politics.
The characters are well-rounded, have flaws, egos, and make some good and bad choices. I rooted for Avan, even if he was hasty and reckless, wanted to see Penn loosen up a bit, loved the different romantic choices offered Haner and Serenda, and cheered for Daverak to fail.
The prose fits the era the author is copying, although there were a few times where I felt the narrator became more prominent than I would’ve liked (she broke the POV too much for me). However, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story and the adventures the family have.
I would’ve loved a bit more depth and understanding of the Yarges, the general antagonists of dragonkind. I also would’ve liked more of Avan’s thoughts and feelings to be presented, but with as many characters as the book has, I understand why that wasn’t possible.
To Sum Up (Too Late!)
If you love books about family, society, and politics based on the 1700 and 1800s, you’ll love Tooth and Claw. If you enjoy Jane Austen or Anthony Trollope books, you’ll also love it. If you like a good story with dragons, you’ll like the book, but only if you don’t mind the English manners and rural life wrapping in which it comes. It’s a lovely book and one I will read again. For that and more, I’ve given it 5 stars.
About the Author
Jo Walton writes science fiction and fantasy novels and reads a lot and eats great food. It worries her slightly that this is so exactly what she always wanted to do when she grew up. She comes from Wales, but lives in Montreal.
If you wish to purchase this book, pick your vendor of choice here, or just cave to the man and get it from Amazon here.
Originally published on Feedium. This fills in the Non-Human Protagonist square on my Fantasy Bingo 2022 card.