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dannyphantomsg1's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.25
libwinnie's review against another edition
3.0
This book really grabbed me at the start with some great characters and world-building, but then I got lost. Too many different groups of characters with too many different motivations and I got confused.
cosy_novel_niche's review against another edition
I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator (listened to the audiobook).
The story is easy and very predictable, but it was lovely to see some different magical creatures. I would have loved more world-building
The story is easy and very predictable, but it was lovely to see some different magical creatures. I would have loved more world-building
annalisenak97's review against another edition
2.0
Either I am not used to reading children's books, or this was written by an AI. Really nothing about this book made sense-- the plot stopped and started, the characters entered and exited suddenly and none of them really seemed to matter much, and the development of Koko's magic flared to life when it was convenient. Also, the intensity and honestly graphic nature of the plot did not match up with the vocab/reading level of the writing. The fighting scenes were kind of gratuitous which I didn't expect. The humor was stilted and mostly centered around Jiho not understanding the jokes and idioms of other cultures, which at best is a cop out for humorous content. The one redeeming quality was the worldbuilding/premise, which is incredibly unique and has a mythological feel.
annmaries's review against another edition
4.0
This is obviously meant for a young audience, and the author's prose style wasn't one I particularly enjoyed. But I love the fantasy world she creates, and it was especially fun to explore one based on a historical Korean peninsula rather than one based on England or another European country. (Albeit one where there do seem to be in-world Europeans? At least, some of the tertiary characters have blue eyes and blond hair and speak some language other than the Korean-analogue in the story.)
I think this would be a really fun family read-aloud!
I think this would be a really fun family read-aloud!
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
I never really got into this one. Maybe because it was short or maybe because I just have super high standards after reading years of excellent middle grade books. It was good, but probably not very memorable long term.
fallingletters's review against another edition
4.0
Brief thoughts originally published 29 December 2020 at Falling Letters.
The first thing that stood out about this book to me is that it’s set in an uncommon time period for this kind of (secondary world middle grade) fantasy. Joson, the Korean analogue kingdom where the story takes place, seems medieval while other kingdoms have computers and assault rifles. Joson still has magic, though, while those kingdoms do not. The conflict begins when another country wants to destroy the massive magical forest at the center of Joson to take advantage of its resources.
Anyone who’s watched a Studio Ghibli film will recognize similarities between their stories and The Dragon Egg Princess. Indeed, even the April 2018 rights report makes that comparison. The main commonalities are the characters of the hero and heroine, the pseudo-historical East Asian fantasy setting, and the environmental messaging. Definitely hand this book to kids who enjoy those films.
The princess (who is at least 13 years old) reads really juvenile to me. She’s kind-hearted but extremely naïve, stubborn and silly. Maybe that can be attributed to being cut off from human society for five years? Seems a stretch to me… she does read more like a young child than a younger teenager.
It took me awhile to settle into the prose. It feels scripted, but if I’m being generous, in a sort of legendary way, like you might experience when someone tells you an old tale. There’s a lot of describing actions rather than eliciting emotions. While I don’t prefer this style, I imagine it makes an epic fantasy story accessible to younger readers or those who haven’t read a lot in this genre.
The first thing that stood out about this book to me is that it’s set in an uncommon time period for this kind of (secondary world middle grade) fantasy. Joson, the Korean analogue kingdom where the story takes place, seems medieval while other kingdoms have computers and assault rifles. Joson still has magic, though, while those kingdoms do not. The conflict begins when another country wants to destroy the massive magical forest at the center of Joson to take advantage of its resources.
Anyone who’s watched a Studio Ghibli film will recognize similarities between their stories and The Dragon Egg Princess. Indeed, even the April 2018 rights report makes that comparison. The main commonalities are the characters of the hero and heroine, the pseudo-historical East Asian fantasy setting, and the environmental messaging. Definitely hand this book to kids who enjoy those films.
The princess (who is at least 13 years old) reads really juvenile to me. She’s kind-hearted but extremely naïve, stubborn and silly. Maybe that can be attributed to being cut off from human society for five years? Seems a stretch to me… she does read more like a young child than a younger teenager.
It took me awhile to settle into the prose. It feels scripted, but if I’m being generous, in a sort of legendary way, like you might experience when someone tells you an old tale. There’s a lot of describing actions rather than eliciting emotions. While I don’t prefer this style, I imagine it makes an epic fantasy story accessible to younger readers or those who haven’t read a lot in this genre.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
What if your physical presence nullified magic? Jiho's family have traditionally been rangers, where they work alone in the enchanted forest.
Micah is the leader of her Clan before her time - after her mother's untimely death. Micah blame's the clan's magic moonstone.
Jiho and Micah must work with the Dragon Egg Princess to save their world.
Read this aloud with my kid and we both really enjoyed it. I liked the interesting mix of tech with fantasy stuff, and really dug the characters. I always dig the vilification of deforestation. My kid was riveted.
Also took it out to middle schools in late 2023, and those kids were into it too!
Micah is the leader of her Clan before her time - after her mother's untimely death. Micah blame's the clan's magic moonstone.
Jiho and Micah must work with the Dragon Egg Princess to save their world.
Read this aloud with my kid and we both really enjoyed it. I liked the interesting mix of tech with fantasy stuff, and really dug the characters. I always dig the vilification of deforestation. My kid was riveted.
Also took it out to middle schools in late 2023, and those kids were into it too!