The Dragons at War

I’ll admit, I approached *The Dragons at War* skeptical of yet another dragon-centric fantasy, but Weis’s editorial hand ensures this isn’t just *how to train your wyrm*. The anthology’s strength lies in its psychological depth—these aren’t mindless beasts, but schemers with centuries-long grudges and a knack for rhetorical warfare. Guimont’s narration is the secret weapon here; he doesn’t just *read* the dialogue, he *embodies* it. His performance during the ‘Council of the Dragons’ chapter is particularly chilling, with each species’ voice distinct enough that you could blindfold yourself and still know a brass dragon’s smugness from a black’s sibilant malice. That said, the pacing isn’t perfect. The middle act sags slightly under the weight of lore dumps—necessary for Krynn veterans, perhaps, but casual listeners might find themselves rewinding to parse the political alliances. And while the lack of battle scenes keeps the focus on intrigue, I wished for at least one set-piece where the dragons *actually* go to war, not just threaten to. Still, the final story, ‘The Measure of a Dragon,’ is worth the price alone: a brutal, poetic takedown of divine arrogance that left me staring at my headphones in stunned silence. If you love your fantasy with fangs and a side of Machiavellian cynicism, this is your audiobook. Just don’t expect any heroes—only survivors.