Mistress of Dragons is an expertly paced narrative, generating suspense in the unfolding of Maristara's secrets (most of which, by book's end, remain mysterious). While many of the characters feel like off-the-shelf D&D, some have more depth -- Draconas, his dragon nature at war with his human form, struggling with his reluctant admiration for the humans whose lives he has disrupted; Bellona, leader of the female warriors who guard Maristara's temple, who must choose between her love for Melisande and the sacred service to which she has pledged her life. The dragon lore is interesting, as is the prickly interaction between the members of the Dragon Parliament, and the uneasy relationship between dragons and the rest of the world. And the story takes an unexpected turn toward the end, offering strong possibilities for upcoming books in the series. While connoisseurs of unconventional fantasy won't find a lot to challenge them here, fans of Weis's collaborative work should enjoy this new novel.