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tigerlilliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
This is an enchanting look at fairy tale retellings. I have never heard of a pied piper retelling and loved how they have made this something completely unique.
The pied piper of Hamelin is a disgraced villain of the pied pipers, who are in fact a huge organisation. Our story follows that of Patch, a runaway piper who has started playing illegal songs, is found and placed into prison for hundreds of years… however, is he? This story is a great adventure with a trio of u likely characters becoming friends and trying to solve multiple mysteries. A cursed rat, wren and dracogriffin join our piper Patch as he runs from his past and uncovers terrible secrets.
This was a fun and enjoyable book and the ending has definitely left me needing to know more. The waits and turns have been unexpected too. Maybe I’m not in the right mood for the book today, so didn’t give it a higher rating. But it definitely was an adventure story that leaves you wanting to find out more. I liked that it’s based around the pipers and there is not just one linear arc. I do wish there was a bit more setting desorption. Despite the book feeling quite slow, there was often times that it felt like the characters were just jumping from one thing to another too.
This is an enchanting look at fairy tale retellings. I have never heard of a pied piper retelling and loved how they have made this something completely unique.
The pied piper of Hamelin is a disgraced villain of the pied pipers, who are in fact a huge organisation. Our story follows that of Patch, a runaway piper who has started playing illegal songs, is found and placed into prison for hundreds of years… however, is he? This story is a great adventure with a trio of u likely characters becoming friends and trying to solve multiple mysteries. A cursed rat, wren and dracogriffin join our piper Patch as he runs from his past and uncovers terrible secrets.
This was a fun and enjoyable book and the ending has definitely left me needing to know more. The waits and turns have been unexpected too. Maybe I’m not in the right mood for the book today, so didn’t give it a higher rating. But it definitely was an adventure story that leaves you wanting to find out more. I liked that it’s based around the pipers and there is not just one linear arc. I do wish there was a bit more setting desorption. Despite the book feeling quite slow, there was often times that it felt like the characters were just jumping from one thing to another too.
amysreading_nook's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly if this wasn't a middle grade i'd probably have rated it 1* because the amount of times I considered DNF'ing it. I read the first half of the book completely and just wasn't hooked by it; so when it came to the second half I definitely just started skimming it because it just wasn't interesting to me. The plot seemed all over the place; every time one thing happened it went off somewhere else and just made no actual sense. I know it's a middle grade read but still, it was just too bizarre.
my_bookish_romance's review against another edition
4.0
A great middle grade full of magic and wonder. A young piper, a girl cursed to be a rat, and a dracogriff meet and might end up saving the world, who knows.
I feel like it didn’t shy away from some darker themes, which I rather enjoyed.
I read it in one sitting. only stopping to eat, that’s saying something.
I feel like it didn’t shy away from some darker themes, which I rather enjoyed.
I read it in one sitting. only stopping to eat, that’s saying something.
sphynxreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Super fun quest-style adventure! I absolutely LOVE the music-based magic system here and how this is an expansion of the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelyn. Lots of cool plot twists and turns. The characters are absolutely endearing as well. Things got unexpectedly dark in some parts and the plot was meandering at times, but overall I really enjoyed this book! Looking forward to reading the next one!
notyourhijabi's review against another edition
4.0
Received in exchange for an honest review from Usborne Publishing UK.
It's not often that I come across a MG book that I feel I absolutely *must* read, but when I checked out the synopsis for A Darkness of Dragons, it was a no-brainer. I needed this book, and I needed it ASAP! Based on a story that's not often seen in retellings, this book takes the best things of Pied Pier of Hamelin and adds even better to it- like dragons that coexist with humans, for example!
Our main character, Patch Brightwater, is an apprentice Piper, who attempts to help a village infested with rats - the catch? He uses a song that has been banned. This lands him deep in the dungeons of Tiviscan, where he now has to spend the unforeseeable future locked up in. However, he makes friends with a rat called Wren- well, a human cursed to live as a rat- and realizes he's locked up next to the original Hamelin Piper. The wicked one that led all those children (of humans and dragons alike) in a trance so they were never found again.
When Patch realizes he has to quite literally save the world from the Hamelyn Piper who, in case you didn't realize already, is the villain here, he embarks on an epic journey, making interesting new friends along the way. What follows is an absolutely enthralling journey, full of dark magic, musical spells and fun characters- who are, incidentally, my most favourite part of the book. Be it Patch or Wren or their friendship, it all warmed my heart, and this was one quest I was fully on board with.
The author did a fantastic job with the world-building and definitely succeeded in keeping me hooked all throughout the course of the story- twists, turns and all! Would I recommend this gem of a story? You bet I would! Pick this one up for a fun ride as the author takes you on an exhilarating adventure through dungeons to mountain peaks, with some of the most memorable characters ever.
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Enjoy factor: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
It's not often that I come across a MG book that I feel I absolutely *must* read, but when I checked out the synopsis for A Darkness of Dragons, it was a no-brainer. I needed this book, and I needed it ASAP! Based on a story that's not often seen in retellings, this book takes the best things of Pied Pier of Hamelin and adds even better to it- like dragons that coexist with humans, for example!
Our main character, Patch Brightwater, is an apprentice Piper, who attempts to help a village infested with rats - the catch? He uses a song that has been banned. This lands him deep in the dungeons of Tiviscan, where he now has to spend the unforeseeable future locked up in. However, he makes friends with a rat called Wren- well, a human cursed to live as a rat- and realizes he's locked up next to the original Hamelin Piper. The wicked one that led all those children (of humans and dragons alike) in a trance so they were never found again.
When Patch realizes he has to quite literally save the world from the Hamelyn Piper who, in case you didn't realize already, is the villain here, he embarks on an epic journey, making interesting new friends along the way. What follows is an absolutely enthralling journey, full of dark magic, musical spells and fun characters- who are, incidentally, my most favourite part of the book. Be it Patch or Wren or their friendship, it all warmed my heart, and this was one quest I was fully on board with.
The author did a fantastic job with the world-building and definitely succeeded in keeping me hooked all throughout the course of the story- twists, turns and all! Would I recommend this gem of a story? You bet I would! Pick this one up for a fun ride as the author takes you on an exhilarating adventure through dungeons to mountain peaks, with some of the most memorable characters ever.
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Enjoy factor: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
teri_b's review against another edition
5.0
This books holds it all, music and magic and dragons and the beginning of a retelling of the piper of hamelyn.
Absolutely, loved reading about our three main characters and how they grow each by themselves but also together as a group of friends.
Now, I am looking forward how the story will continue in 2021, the next instalment of this series is out in January 2021.
Absolutely, loved reading about our three main characters and how they grow each by themselves but also together as a group of friends.
Now, I am looking forward how the story will continue in 2021, the next instalment of this series is out in January 2021.
ellaliest's review against another edition
5.0
Ein verurteilter Pfeifer, eine verzauberte Maus und ein verwundeter Drachengreif gemeinsam auf den Spuren des sagenumwobenen Rattenfängers von Hameln.
"Die Dunkelheit der Drachen" ist eine fabelhafte Fantasy-Geschichte voller Magie, Zauberer und Drachen.
Die Geschichte beginnt mit unserem Protagonisten Flick Klarwasser, einem sehr ambitionierten und klugen Jungen, der gerne Pfeifer werden möchte. Er kann die Musik aus seiner Pfeife so nutzen, dass er damit magische Zaubersprüche erschafft, die sowohl Mensch und Tier, als auch Flora, Fauna oder das Wetter beeinflussen können. Aber als er versucht, einem Dorf mit einem Rattenproblem zu helfen, geht alles schief und er landet kurzerhand im Gefängnis der Pfeife-Akademie, weil er mehrfach ein verbotenes Lied gespielt hat! Im Gefängnis beginnt das Abenteuer erst so richtig, denn plötzlich greifen die Drachen die Kerker der Burg an und Flick befindet sich schnell in einem Zwiespalt zwischen schnell entkommen und dem Mysterium des sagenumwobenen Rattenfänger von Hameln, das es zu lösen gilt.
Das Buch nimmt ab hier schnell an Fahrt auf und wird sehr dynamisch und auch im einiges spannender. Wir haben hier ein tolles, verrücktes Trio auf der Suche nach Antworten zu so vielen Fragen. Dabei begegnen sie so einigen mysteriösen Charakteren, die ihnen helfen den wahren Grund des Verschwindens der Menschenkinder und Drachenkindern zu lüften.
FAZIT: Alles in allem war es super unterhaltsame Reise durch eine magische Welt, verknüpft mit einer bekannten Geschichte, die wirklich toll in die Suche integriert wurde.
* Ich habe das Buch auf Vorablesen gewonnen.
"Die Dunkelheit der Drachen" ist eine fabelhafte Fantasy-Geschichte voller Magie, Zauberer und Drachen.
Die Geschichte beginnt mit unserem Protagonisten Flick Klarwasser, einem sehr ambitionierten und klugen Jungen, der gerne Pfeifer werden möchte. Er kann die Musik aus seiner Pfeife so nutzen, dass er damit magische Zaubersprüche erschafft, die sowohl Mensch und Tier, als auch Flora, Fauna oder das Wetter beeinflussen können. Aber als er versucht, einem Dorf mit einem Rattenproblem zu helfen, geht alles schief und er landet kurzerhand im Gefängnis der Pfeife-Akademie, weil er mehrfach ein verbotenes Lied gespielt hat! Im Gefängnis beginnt das Abenteuer erst so richtig, denn plötzlich greifen die Drachen die Kerker der Burg an und Flick befindet sich schnell in einem Zwiespalt zwischen schnell entkommen und dem Mysterium des sagenumwobenen Rattenfänger von Hameln, das es zu lösen gilt.
Das Buch nimmt ab hier schnell an Fahrt auf und wird sehr dynamisch und auch im einiges spannender. Wir haben hier ein tolles, verrücktes Trio auf der Suche nach Antworten zu so vielen Fragen. Dabei begegnen sie so einigen mysteriösen Charakteren, die ihnen helfen den wahren Grund des Verschwindens der Menschenkinder und Drachenkindern zu lüften.
FAZIT: Alles in allem war es super unterhaltsame Reise durch eine magische Welt, verknüpft mit einer bekannten Geschichte, die wirklich toll in die Suche integriert wurde.
* Ich habe das Buch auf Vorablesen gewonnen.
pavi_fictionalworm's review against another edition
4.0
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: An ARC was provided via USBorne YA in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
There are times when all you want to do is go back to the uncomplicated reading and stories of our childhood – and I couldn’t believe that I found exactly that and oh so much more in A Darkness of Dragons by S.A. Patrick.
Based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin; this book, the first in a series; begins with Patch Brightwater, an apprentice Piper who tries to help a village overrun with rats but he does so by using a song that has been banned.
This ends up with him the dungeons of Tiviscan with absolutely no hopes of escaping – when he makes a new friend with a human who has been cursed to live as a rat aka Wren – and is locked up next to the infamous Hamelin Piper – who led the children of humans and dragons alike & no one has ever been able to find them.
Oh did I forget to mention that this retelling of Pied Piper also has dragons living in an uneasy truce with the humans? Oh yes! Does this make this retelling a thousand times better than any other retelling? HECK YASS!!
When the dragons break the uneasy truce by attacking the dungeons to free the Piper to find out what he has done to dragon children – it means that Patch (and Wren) are able to escape their prison. While they are on the run, they encounter a half dragon, half griffin; A DRACOGRIFF– and that means its adventure time!
I adored everything about this retelling – first let’s say kudos to the author for picking up a fairytale that is not in the mainstream for retelling & second, the writing style of the author just sucks you in – case in point, I am 27 years old; and I read this middle grade book in like 2 days of starting it :D
And the twists and turns just kept coming; and I am so freaking excited to see where the author takes Patch and his friends to!
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birdbrainbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was so much fun!! I loved the characters and thought the world building was done extremely well, really placing you into the story immediately without bogging you down. Some parts definitely darker than I expected for middle grade but I liked that about it. Definitely interested in more if it’s a series!
nad_tm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I went into this book completely blind. I admit I bought this out of impulse during one of my book hauls simply because I liked the cover. I did not know it was a retelling, but it was a pleasant surprise because I love retellings. And this retelling was done super well!
The book follows the story of a young Piper and ... well, anything more I say will be sort of spoilers. I loved the worldbuilding - the kingdom, the social system, dragons! The characters were delightful, especially with my favourite found-family trope: the family of a young boy who gets caught in some unpleasant circumstances, a rat, and a dragoncriff who loves stitching.
Knowing it was a children's book, I did not expect such complexity of the plot. I'm not sure how I felt about so many different plotlines one after another. It wasn't difficult to follow, but I would have preferred not being whipped over to the next turmoil before I was able to completely be invested in the previous one. I do admit that this is better than dragging them over several books.
Another thing that felt sort of icky was that although the entire book was from Patch's perspective, there were moments when the POV abruptly shifted to Wren for just a few paragraphs. Not a big deal for sure, but gave me severe whiplash.
Other than that, it was very fun to read. The ending was weirdly satisfying - the whole plot wasn't resolved, but it was cut off at a perfect place, if that makes any sense. I'm sure the sequel will be just as enjoyable!
The book follows the story of a young Piper and ... well, anything more I say will be sort of spoilers. I loved the worldbuilding - the kingdom, the social system, dragons! The characters were delightful, especially with my favourite found-family trope: the family of a young boy who gets caught in some unpleasant circumstances, a rat, and a dragoncriff who loves stitching.
Knowing it was a children's book, I did not expect such complexity of the plot. I'm not sure how I felt about so many different plotlines one after another. It wasn't difficult to follow, but I would have preferred not being whipped over to the next turmoil before I was able to completely be invested in the previous one. I do admit that this is better than dragging them over several books.
Another thing that felt sort of icky was that although the entire book was from Patch's perspective, there were moments when the POV abruptly shifted to Wren for just a few paragraphs. Not a big deal for sure, but gave me severe whiplash.
Other than that, it was very fun to read. The ending was weirdly satisfying - the whole plot wasn't resolved, but it was cut off at a perfect place, if that makes any sense. I'm sure the sequel will be just as enjoyable!