Review: Zephyr’s Flight by Ray Strong

An enchanting tale of epic ambition and destinies that change the world, Zephyr’s Flight: The Dragons’ War by Ray Strong is a female-driven YA adventure and a compelling first chapter in a promising saga.

Astria, a young girl with an uncanny affinity for dragons, dreams to ride them someday and become one of the legendary protectors of her people, just like her missing father. Since he disappeared in service as a Dragon Rider, the chance to train and prove herself has been nearly impossible, but sometimes the wandering dragons of the realm can choose their own partner.

When Astria encounters and saves the life of Zephyr, a wounded and grounded dragon, an unshakeable bond is formed, no matter what the Council of Elders or her mother has to say on the matter. Her unique connection with these mythic companions hints at a much deeper significance and a grander destiny, something that the ruling powers fear because they do not understand.

The local Oracles have warned that something is rising to threaten the power of the realm, to test the elemental warriors of Juro – the dragons. However, the Seers fears are dismissed, as are their prophecies about the second coming of one who can speak with dragons, a rebirth of Aeterna, and with it, a return of The Darkness. As barbaric violence creeps back into their protected valley, Astria finally takes flight, only to be cast out from her home as a rogue and a rebel. Surviving in the Wild with Zephyr at her side is liberating, but lonely, and her heart gazes northward, eager to finally find her father, and the truth about why the wild dragons have disappeared.

Beneath the fantastical layers of this imaginative realm, the core of this story is timeless and relatable; Astria is a mysteriously gifted young protagonist thrust into extraordinary circumstances and a conflict only she can solve. Her relationship with her mother, Skye, is also complex and touchingly developed, while her bond with Fynn is peppered with the foolish fumbles of youthful romance that ring true in any setting, and her friendship with Yana is unwavering and relatable, with each supporting character being believable and critical in their contribution to Astria’s development.

Broad-brush empowerment nodding to a female lead has become common in such paradigm-shifting times, but Strong delves past the surface, exploring concepts of abandonment, emotional trauma, and the bitterness of loss and resentment that can sometimes cloud judgment. The story deftly explores themes of isolationism and othering, as well as the danger of ignoring uncomfortable truths and doubting the hasty wisdom of youth, all within a rich and vivid world where the skies are filled with dragons.

The technical elements of the novel are strong, with tight, evocative descriptions and gradual exposition spread evenly across the narrative. Strong does lean into a few easy crutches within the prose, namely glimpses into Astria’s inner monologue, often in the form of rhetorical questions that reveal her current dilemma or plight, which are a bit too leading. That aside, the text is carefully edited and flows at an addictive pace, fully drawing readers into the stakes and energy of this sweeping story.

A classic coming-of-age adventure in an expansive fantasy realm, this archetypal clash of good and evil makes for an unpredictable and exhilarating read.