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eriadorella's review
5.0
i was so obsessed with this book i had it memorised and i used to copy all the drawings and learned how to speak and write to dragons
woolfardis's review
4.0
vovochka's review
5.0
Maybe I’m childish at heart but this is probably the coolest book I’ve ever laid eyes on.
dilan11's review
3.0
This book is visually appealing. With its charts and diagrams and sidenotes, it reminds me of an artist's story board, although perhaps some might think it gimmicky. I think it might especially appeal to a reluctant reader, although the vocabulary is mock pretentious and certainly too difficult for any grade school kid.
andrez's review
5.0
I read this book over and over as a little girl. I loved it. It made me obsess with dragons for a long time, kind of made me wish they were real. If I found this book again, I'd revisit every single species, remember every little detail.
riverwise's review
4.0
It was very good - though not really a book you'd read from start to finish in one go (like me). But being perfectly honest, I was totally IN WONDER while reading.
northwyrm's review
informative
medium-paced
4.75
REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
Quick notes for new readers :
Dragonology is a series of fictional books written in a non-fiction style. They do not need to be read in order, but each installment gets more and more information (although some of this information contradicts information from previous books, mostly dragon colours). The Comprehensive Compendium is the crown of the series, the most recent installment of the main books, it is more text-heavy and information-packed than it's predecessors.
This book/the world of Dragonology:
'Dragonology' is a scientific look at dragons through the perspective of 19th century gentleman scientists, specifically Doctor Ernest Drake, the founding father of Dragonology. These dragons are usually based strongly on mythology, with European dragons resembling dragons in European heraldry, wyverns being based on medieval scholars ideas of what lives in Africa, some lovely dragons in China, Korea, Japan and Indonesia... Sometimes the dragons take a huge departure from mythology, however. Instead of the Aboriginal rainbow serpent in Australia there is the Marsupial Dragon, which is pretty much a scaly kangaroo. This is not a good book for learning serious dragon mythology (see recommendations for that further down!)
It is an excellent book for fun world building, cool art, and loving dragons. If you love dragons and want to have a really awesome book about them, The Comprehensive Compendium is a book to own! It's a thick volume, clothbound in red, and it makes you feel scholarly and important when you get lost in the pages.
Very fun book!
It is an excellent book for fun world building, cool art, and loving dragons. If you love dragons and want to have a really awesome book about them, The Comprehensive Compendium is a book to own! It's a thick volume, clothbound in red, and it makes you feel scholarly and important when you get lost in the pages.
Very fun book!
Dragonology books (main series):
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons - ironically the most incomplete book, but with lots of illustrations (big watercolours by Helen Ward - in later books most of the art are pencil sketches by Douglas Carrell). Also the most tactile book with 'samples' of dragon skin and scales throughout.
Dragonology: Working With Dragons (I think it might go by 'The Dragonology Handbook' in other countries?) - is text heavy and interaction heavy (the book gives the reader 'homework', and promises if they complete all the activities they may become a Dragonologist). This book adds new dragons to the series, and also has myths and legends in it - the Lambton Worm (British mythology) and the Four Dragon Kings (Chinese mythology). A lot of illustrations are re-used from the Complete Book of Dragons, but there are many new ones!
Dragonology: The Field Guide - this book adds more dragons to the series and talks about dragon evolution and a few species of extinct dragons. It also has cardboard cutouts of all the dragons that you can make into small models to decorate your room! It is nearly entirely illustrated by Douglas Carrell.
Dragonology: The Comprehensive Compendium - no interactivity (no models or tactile surfaces or 'write your name here'), therefore feels like a more grown-up book. There are a few coloured illustrations but for the most part it's black-and-white illustrations and lots of text, and many new dragons are added.
In the same world as Dragonology:
The Dragonology Chronicles - a series of novels set in the world of Dragonology, where two children are pupils of Ernest Drake himself and they want to save some dragons (The Dragon's Eye, The Dragon Diary, The Dragon's Apprentice, The Dragon's Prophecy)
Dragonology pocket adventures - choose your own adventure books the size of a CD case (The Iceland Wyrm, The Dragon's Star, The Dragon's Dance, The Winged Serpent)
Dragonology: Working With Dragons (I think it might go by 'The Dragonology Handbook' in other countries?) - is text heavy and interaction heavy (the book gives the reader 'homework', and promises if they complete all the activities they may become a Dragonologist). This book adds new dragons to the series, and also has myths and legends in it - the Lambton Worm (British mythology) and the Four Dragon Kings (Chinese mythology). A lot of illustrations are re-used from the Complete Book of Dragons, but there are many new ones!
Dragonology: The Field Guide - this book adds more dragons to the series and talks about dragon evolution and a few species of extinct dragons. It also has cardboard cutouts of all the dragons that you can make into small models to decorate your room! It is nearly entirely illustrated by Douglas Carrell.
Dragonology: The Comprehensive Compendium - no interactivity (no models or tactile surfaces or 'write your name here'), therefore feels like a more grown-up book. There are a few coloured illustrations but for the most part it's black-and-white illustrations and lots of text, and many new dragons are added.
In the same world as Dragonology:
The Dragonology Chronicles - a series of novels set in the world of Dragonology, where two children are pupils of Ernest Drake himself and they want to save some dragons (The Dragon's Eye, The Dragon Diary, The Dragon's Apprentice, The Dragon's Prophecy)
Dragonology pocket adventures - choose your own adventure books the size of a CD case (The Iceland Wyrm, The Dragon's Star, The Dragon's Dance, The Winged Serpent)
Books with a similar vibe:
The Dracopedia series by William O'Connor (very similar premise, but with a focus on art in the first two books, also might be the more 'adult' of the two series as it doesn't have the interactive elements)
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (more mythical animals than just dragons, 20th century rather than 19th century vibe)
How To Raise and Keep a Dragon by Joseph Nigg (the illustrations don't have the 'fantasy science' vibe BUT the information is all very mythology-based AND its super practical dragon advice!)
The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan - adult books about a Victorian lady studying dragons, if you grew up with Dragonology and want to move onto something else, pick up book one 'A Natural History of Dragons'.
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (more mythical animals than just dragons, 20th century rather than 19th century vibe)
How To Raise and Keep a Dragon by Joseph Nigg (the illustrations don't have the 'fantasy science' vibe BUT the information is all very mythology-based AND its super practical dragon advice!)
The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan - adult books about a Victorian lady studying dragons, if you grew up with Dragonology and want to move onto something else, pick up book one 'A Natural History of Dragons'.
Factual Books on Dragons:
If you picked up Dragonology expecting insights on anthropology and cultures of serpent-worship you might find yourself wanting so here are some good choices for dragon study:
A Little History of Dragons by Joyce Hargreaves
A Natural History of Dragons by Karl Shuker
Giants, Monsters and Dragons by Carol Rose
A Little History of Dragons by Joyce Hargreaves
A Natural History of Dragons by Karl Shuker
Giants, Monsters and Dragons by Carol Rose
More...