My Experience with Patterns in the Dark by Lindsay Buroker

After three books in a series, you might expect an author to begin to meander or lose the thread of their story. It’s not something you want to see, but it happens often enough that it’s a concern. In Patterns in the Dark, book 4 of the Dragon Blood series, Lindsay Buroker doesn’t slow. Quite the contrary. She slams on the gas pedal!

Review

Continuing the… erm… pattern of the previous three novels, we’re again focused on Cas and Tolemek. While I still prefer Sardelle and Zirkander as the focus of these stories, I actually enjoyed this one more than the first time we were focused on this couple. As if the author could sense that the reader was less comfortable with them, she addressed it head-on, and I think it worked out brilliantly.

Aside from the… uh… pattern of the previous novels, having Tolemek and Cas as the primary characters was critical for the direction of the plot. Tolemek’s fear for his captured sister and Cas’s worry that she might have divided loyalties made the conflict richer.

But remember what I said about slamming on the gas pedal? The pacing in this story is fast. As soon as you think it’s okay to take a break from the book, Buroker hits you with another exhilarating adventure sequence. Even more than Deathmaker, this novel has the brisk efficiency of an action/adventure movie, and there’s not a boring moment to be found. I do prefer a slower pace in my fantasy, but I can’t say that it felt wrong. 

Is Patterns in the Dark Worth Reading?

When I started this novel, I wondered if it would be the final one I’d read in the series. But Buroker has a way of making sure you keep going while still delivering a satisfactory experience with the story at hand. If you haven’t tried the Dragon Blood series yet, and you’re looking for a steampunk fantasy adventure series with a fair amount of romance, give it a shot!

And if you’re looking for a new epic fantasy world to dive into, you’ll definitely want to check out The Continua Chronicles.

And your first adventure is free!