There is also his eldest sister, Berend, a lady now having married another dragon noble named Daverak (the Illustrious Daverak). Penn himself is titled ‘the Blessed Penn Agornin’ due to him being a Parson.

Dragon society is not unlike that of a Victorian English one, there are classes, titles and a very set structure for what is considered proper. His son, Penn (or the Blessed Penn), awaiting his final moments. We start the story at an ending, the death of Bon Agornin. Granted I have a lot of them unread on my shelves but I picked this up for a particular mood and I really enjoyed the intricate, detailed stories of dragon siblings trying to handle both their fathers life and the society they live in. I not only love these kind of fantasy stories but I have such a hankering for more dragon stories as well. Tooth and Claw has been on my radar for a while and so has the author as a result, Jo Walton. Full of fiery wit, this is a novel unlike any other. Here is a Victorian story of political intrigue, family ties and political intrigue, set in a world of dragons – a world, quite literally, red in tooth and claw. While one daughter is caught between loyalty to her family by blood and her family by marriage, another daughter follows her heart – only to discover the great cost of true love… While the youngest son seeks greedy remuneration through the courts of law, the eldest son – a dragon of the cloth – agonises over his father’s deathbed confession. But even as Bon’s last remains are polished off, his sons and daughters must all jostle for a position in the new hierarchy. Tooth and Claw I picked up when I realised fantasy of manners was one I had been enjoying and glad to say I really enjoyed this one too.Ī tale of love, money and family conflict – and everyone in the tale is a dragon, red in tooth and claw.Ī family of dragons gathers on the occasion of the death of their father, the elder Bon Agornin. I’m very much a mood reader at heart but I do know I go through certain sub genres in cycles. So over this year, I’ve been taking note of my reading tastes and particular trends I go through. ****Trigger warnings for death of a parent, mentions of rape and sexual abuse, child abandonment, cannibalism (dragons eating dragons), estrangement and death of an infant**** Wits I may have, but claws I am without, and while hands are useful for writing and fine work they are no use in a battle.’ You can make your way by your own wits and claws, while I must always be dependent on some male to protect me. ‘I don’t think you realize how different it is for me than for you.

Tooth and claw walton