Stephen Deas. The Adamantine Palace. London, Gollancz, 2009.

Dragons once preyed upon humans. Now, their savage instincts are subdued by the daily ingestion of an alchemical potion. Thus reduced, they're bred as mounts for the military, and have become, "highly valued tokens in the diplomatic power plays that underpin the rule of the competing aristocratic houses." That is, until Queen Shezira's "perfect white" goes missing, and the elixir wears off. Suddenly, "the dragon can think."

Mr Deas has, in my opinion, created the most terrifyingly natural and malign dragons to have ever graced the page. Being aware furthermore that hard core fans are always avid for more detail concerning their favourite beasts, he has divided his book into four sections. Each commences with a title piece which chronicles the protocols and payments involved in acquiring a dragon. An appealing bonus.

However, the creatures themselves, with the exception of Snow, Ash, and towards the book's conclusion, Silence, do tend to lack individual definition.

The prologue, a pithy introduction to the workings of Prince Jehal's psyche, ends in regicide. It is symptomatic of the duplicitous gyrations engaged in by the story's opposing factions. Alliances alter and change shape as easily as desert dunes when the Khamsin blows, as each bloc strives to ensure a favourable outcome to a host of ongoing intrigues.

Short, information-packed chapters accentuate the book's headlong pace. Non stop action makes for an edgy and stirring read, although characters are not terribly well rounded. I found Jehal in particular quite bland. Nevertheless, the dialectics which expose their Machiavellian rationales, and ruthless natures, are artful if unsubtle.

"Yes, I have been poisoning you. You've got two very fine poisons in you already, in fact," Jehal informs a paralysed Hyram.

The world which the writer has fabricated is unfortunately, less than robust. He has concentrated his attentions upon the dragons, characters, and palaces, to the almost total exclusion of everything else. The reader is given only the haziest idea of the backdrop, or setting. Several areas, the Taiytakei, the alchemists, and blood magic, to name a few, need building up. Some historical detail would not go amiss either. Easy to read genealogical tables of the various Royal Houses are located subsequent to the dedication.

Over all, Stephen Deas' debut novel is an enjoyable addition to contemporary fantasy fiction. Its sequel, King Of The Crags, is due for release in 2010

Jan's stories of her years in side-show alley, All the Fun of the Fair, is available for $20, (includes postage), at PO Box 1127, Nedlands. WA.6909.