Joanne Bertin

Joanne Bertin is an American fantasy author born in 1953, primarily known for her Dragonlord trilogy and dragon-themed fiction. She has worked as both an author and librarian, publishing her works while maintaining a career in libraries spanning over two decades. Her literary career began in 1995 with the short story "Dragonlord's Justice" in a dragon anthology. She went on to write the Dragonlord trilogy, consisting of "The Last Dragonlord" (1998), "Dragon and Phoenix" (1999), and "Bard's Oath" (2012). Before becoming an author, Bertin worked in various fields, including comic book coloring, factory work, and as an assistant goatherd. Born in Manhattan, she spent most of her life in Connecticut, where she balanced her writing career with her library work. The Dragonlord series explores a world where certain individuals can transform into dragons, serving as peacekeepers and mediators in their realm. These books represent her main body of published work and established her presence in the fantasy genre.

Readers connect with Bertin's unique take on dragon-shifter mythology and her character development. Reviews note the blend of romance, political intrigue, and fantasy elements in her Dragonlord series. Readers appreciated: - Complex relationships between characters - Original dragon transformation mechanics - Balance of action and political plotting - Detailed worldbuilding without overwhelming exposition Common criticisms: - Long gaps between book releases - Pacing issues in later books - Some romance elements feel forced - Third book didn't meet expectations after the wait Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - The Last Dragonlord: 3.9/5 (4,800+ ratings) - Dragon and Phoenix: 3.8/5 (2,400+ ratings) - Bard's Oath: 3.4/5 (800+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.2/5 across all books, with readers frequently mentioning they reread the first two books multiple times. Several reviewers note the series "started strong but lost momentum" with the final installment.

The Last Dragonlord (1998) A fantasy novel following Linden Rathan, a shapeshifting Dragonlord who must investigate a noble's suspicious death while navigating political tensions and personal relationships.

Dragon and Phoenix (1999) The second book in the Dragonlord series features Dragonlord Linden Rathan's journey to a distant empire where he encounters assassination plots and cultural conflicts.

Bard's Oath (2012) The final installment of the Dragonlord trilogy centers on a vengeful bard's plot against the Dragonlords and the magical consequences that threaten their world.

Mercedes Lackey writes about individuals with magical bonds to horse-like companions who serve as peacekeepers in their realm. Her Valdemar series features similar themes of dual-natured beings and magical partnerships as found in Bertin's work.

Anne McCaffrey created the Pern series where humans bond with dragons to protect their world. Her focus on dragon-human relationships and political intrigue parallels key elements in the Dragonlord series.

Robin Hobb developed the Realm of the Elderlings series featuring dragons and human relationships across multiple connected series. Her work centers on transformation themes and complex political situations similar to Bertin's dragon-human dynamics.

Naomi Novik writes about dragons integrated into historical settings with her Temeraire series. Her work explores dragon-human partnerships and diplomatic relations in ways that echo Bertin's peacekeeping dragonlords.

Jane Yolen has written multiple works featuring dragons including the Pit Dragon Chronicles. Her dragon-focused stories deal with bonds between humans and dragons while exploring themes of responsibility and duty.