Author: Jo Walton
Published: 2003
Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Tooth and Claw is a very unique fantasy where the characters are all dragons. The story starts with the death of Bon Agornin, a wealthy and titled dragon, who left specific instructions regarding the disposal of his wealth (including his body) upon his death. The five surviving siblings each have their own problems to deal with after their loss and the subsequent actions of a powerful and wealthier brother-in-law. In this structured, class-based society, each dragon needs to navigate societal norms well or get eaten. Hey, they are dragons after all! Courtroom dramas, bribery, selfishness, greed, subservience, and love shape the lives of each traumatized family member as they navigate a life that is nothing like they expected to live. One son sues his brother-in-law for his stolen inheritance throwing chaos into the lives of his siblings. Two sisters, clutch mates, are torn apart and vow to be reunited while another tries to survive her brutal and uncaring husband. The other son agonizes over the ramifications of his actions at his father’s deathbed meant to ease his passing. Jo Walton has authored an extraordinary novel that leaves you breathless and so involved it is easy to forget you are not reading a tale set in Edwardian England. Except for, well, the teeth and claws.

My Take:

This has become one of my favorite novels of all time. Once you get past the idea of a funeral consisting of the consumption of the deceased by their loved ones, you will be transported to a completely different place and time. You will love and hate, hope and despair, laugh and fret, all at the same time. The author at times pulls you out of the story by talking directly as narrator to the reader, which is usually off-putting, but in this case, it adds to the surreal situations you are experiencing through her dragon characters. Throughout the book, she labels the chapters with cryptic titles, usually a first, second, third, etc proposal or confession. Towards the end, she starts the chapter, “The narrator is forced to confess to having lost count of both proposals and confessions.” A clever line that caused me to burst out laughing because I felt the same way! I can hear Jane Austen’s dry humor ringing in my ears. The only negative thought I have is that I have no idea what the dragons looked like other than…being dragons. I couldn’t really picture them in my head.

If you are looking for a clean, witty tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is it. Do NOT miss this one! It has the added benefit of no fluff, making it a fast-paced and quick read.