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una_macchia's review
3.0
I really enjoyed some aspects of this story, but it was almost a DNF. Our hero, George, is a professional wrestler at something of a low ebb -- he's recently recovered from an injury, but he's dealing with some awful publicity as two boys attempted his signature move and their parents blamed him for their injuries. So even though his notoriety has actually been a draw for the company he works for, he's not feeling great about his career. His New Agey sister (a fun side character I would have liked to see more of, along with her 5-year-old daughter) gets him to do guided hypnosis with her in an attempt to help him sort himself out, and he ends up in what he believes is a sort of simulation created by his subconscious mind. He meets a woman there who explains that she summoned him to slay the dragon that her village has been sacrificing sheep and, of course, virgins to for decades.
Meanwhile, the heroine, Alizon, was one of those sacrificed virgins -- 12 years ago. She managed to save herself, keep the dragon under control, and figure out a way for her and the subsequent human sacrifices (there's another one each year) to earn a living in hiding on the island where they've been sent. She's taught them how to make tapestries, got the shepherd on the island to establish trade with French buyers, and extorted more and more sheep from the villagers "for the dragon" in an attempt to get revenge on them. She's not happy about a strange man showing up to potentially expose them all to the villagers, and as she comes to realize he actually has a real chance against the dragon, she's not happy about that either because if the dragon is killed, she won't be able to justify keeping all the other virgins secluded with her anymore. Twisted as it is, she relies on the dragon to hold her world together.
I'm a very casual/occasional viewer of pro wrestling, but I think it's interesting because it's basically soap operas performed by acrobats. There are "storylines" that go with all kinds of sports (like, the underdog vs the established champion, etc), but the performative/theatrical elements are integral in wrestling in a unique way. So I loved all the bits where George thinks about his wrestling career and uses that experience to make decisions in the medieval world. I also enjoyed his attempts at analyzing his "simulation" and thinking about how he would do things if he "reset" like in a video game.
The romance worked less well for me mostly because, while I appreciated where Alizon was coming from on an intellectual level, I found her POV really frustrating to get through for most of the book. I think that's because she spends a lot of time sort of zealously denying her obvious desires to herself (I would have preferred if, instead of being all "of course I have no sexual interest in this man," she had acknowledged that she was attracted to him but that didn't mean she had to act on it) and justifying her shittier actions in self-pitying ways. From George's perspective I could understand why he was into her, but then when it switched back to Alizon I was just like, ugh, this again. I guess I felt like the admirable traits that he sees in her -- she's a survivor, she's strong and clever and loyal to the girls/women in her care -- show more clearly from the outside than in her internal monologue. That said, I did enjoy the final confrontation between George and Alizon and then when she.
Meanwhile, the heroine, Alizon, was one of those sacrificed virgins -- 12 years ago. She managed to save herself, keep the dragon under control, and figure out a way for her and the subsequent human sacrifices (there's another one each year) to earn a living in hiding on the island where they've been sent. She's taught them how to make tapestries, got the shepherd on the island to establish trade with French buyers, and extorted more and more sheep from the villagers "for the dragon" in an attempt to get revenge on them. She's not happy about a strange man showing up to potentially expose them all to the villagers, and as she comes to realize he actually has a real chance against the dragon, she's not happy about that either because if the dragon is killed, she won't be able to justify keeping all the other virgins secluded with her anymore. Twisted as it is, she relies on the dragon to hold her world together.
I'm a very casual/occasional viewer of pro wrestling, but I think it's interesting because it's basically soap operas performed by acrobats. There are "storylines" that go with all kinds of sports (like, the underdog vs the established champion, etc), but the performative/theatrical elements are integral in wrestling in a unique way. So I loved all the bits where George thinks about his wrestling career and uses that experience to make decisions in the medieval world. I also enjoyed his attempts at analyzing his "simulation" and thinking about how he would do things if he "reset" like in a video game.
The romance worked less well for me mostly because, while I appreciated where Alizon was coming from on an intellectual level, I found her POV really frustrating to get through for most of the book. I think that's because she spends a lot of time sort of zealously denying her obvious desires to herself (I would have preferred if, instead of being all "of course I have no sexual interest in this man," she had acknowledged that she was attracted to him but that didn't mean she had to act on it) and justifying her shittier actions in self-pitying ways. From George's perspective I could understand why he was into her, but then when it switched back to Alizon I was just like, ugh, this again. I guess I felt like the admirable traits that he sees in her -- she's a survivor, she's strong and clever and loyal to the girls/women in her care -- show more clearly from the outside than in her internal monologue. That said, I did enjoy the final confrontation between George and Alizon and then when she
Spoiler
slays the dragon herselfjupton720's review
3.0
It started as a joke with friends when I saw it at Goodwill...then I bought it...and then I read it. It was really funny and well written. I was surprised.
lauriereadslohf's review
5.0
This is a romantic time-travel/fantasy that starts out in the middle ages in a small village filled with superstitious weaklings who sacrifice one of their virgin daughters to the local dragon once a year (because they’re apparently too lame to face him down).
When the story begins Alizon, a 14 yr old virgin, is desperately trying to rid herself of her virginity with a loathsome and clueless boy to avoid being the dragon’s next dinner. The scene is quite funny, Alizon is mouthy and strong willed.
George, the hero of the story, lives in modern times. He’s a professional wrestler for a foundation similar to the WWE (or whatever they’re calling themselves these days) and is sent back to medieval times by his new age sister. He is a very likable character with heart, self-doubt and a conscience.
This book is fabulous and a definite recommend.
When the story begins Alizon, a 14 yr old virgin, is desperately trying to rid herself of her virginity with a loathsome and clueless boy to avoid being the dragon’s next dinner. The scene is quite funny, Alizon is mouthy and strong willed.
George, the hero of the story, lives in modern times. He’s a professional wrestler for a foundation similar to the WWE (or whatever they’re calling themselves these days) and is sent back to medieval times by his new age sister. He is a very likable character with heart, self-doubt and a conscience.
This book is fabulous and a definite recommend.
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