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enoughread's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
story_singer_101's review against another edition
4.0
Handbook for Dragon Slayers follows Princess Tilda as she struggles to come to terms with her crippled foot and her role as princess of Alder Brook. Author Merrie Haskell paints Tilda with a sympathetic hand so that the reader understands Tilda's frustrations without getting to annoyed at the princess' faults. I enjoyed watching Tilda grow into a more mature character as the story progressed, I was pleasantly surprised by the story's themes of responsibility and duty, and I appreciated the story's use of Medieval government and olde faerie lore. On the whole, Handbook for Dragon Slayers is a fun and easy summer read for Medieval fantasy lovers.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed following Tilda on her journey. I liked the emphasis on the multi-faceted relationships she has with both Judith and Parz. Some good messages hidden in a fun fantasy romp with dragons and magic.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable, and with a lovely heroine, but not a patch on [b:The Princess Curse|9588207|The Princess Curse|Merrie Haskell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1299897431s/9588207.jpg|14475179]
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I was super excited to win a copy of Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell in a Goodreads giveaway. I had reservations about Haskell's The Princess Curse (my thoughts), but I liked her writing so much I was eager to try another of her books. Handbook for Dragon Slayers is a great tale of adventure, friendship, and discovering who you are.
Tilda is not the typical heroine of a princess story, even a rebellious princess story. She is not longing for adventure, she wants to be left alone to write books. She has a foot deformity that causes her to limp and leaves her feeling self conscious all the time. She has built up walls to keep her emotions safe and her heart from being hurt. As a result she doesn't always understand the motivations and actions of the people closest to her. She is a sympathetic and likable character and I admire her ambitions, if not all of her choices. I do love how her choices lead her to see herself in new ways and therefore make better choices for her and her people.
As the title would suggest there are dragons in this story and some interesting twists involving them as well. There is nothing new or special about the treatment of dragons, it is simply perfect in its dragony ways. The Wild Hunt and the villain desperate to ensnare a wish from them gave a sinister creepy element to the plot that struck just the right tone. Trying to piece everything together and see what would happen next made for an engrossing read.
Friendship plays a big part in Tilda's journey, her learning how to be a friend and accept friendship. She has two wonderful, though often misguided, companions and both are important to her character's development and contribute in their own ways to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed Haskell's treatment of this theme and how she resolved one particular problem through the power of friendship and left romance out of it.
This is a wonderful read for anyone who loves stories of adventure, friendship, discovery, and dragons.
I read an ARC won from Harper Children's in a Goodreads giveaway. The Handbook for Dragon Slayers is on sale May 28.
I was super excited to win a copy of Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell in a Goodreads giveaway. I had reservations about Haskell's The Princess Curse (my thoughts), but I liked her writing so much I was eager to try another of her books. Handbook for Dragon Slayers is a great tale of adventure, friendship, and discovering who you are.
Tilda is not the typical heroine of a princess story, even a rebellious princess story. She is not longing for adventure, she wants to be left alone to write books. She has a foot deformity that causes her to limp and leaves her feeling self conscious all the time. She has built up walls to keep her emotions safe and her heart from being hurt. As a result she doesn't always understand the motivations and actions of the people closest to her. She is a sympathetic and likable character and I admire her ambitions, if not all of her choices. I do love how her choices lead her to see herself in new ways and therefore make better choices for her and her people.
As the title would suggest there are dragons in this story and some interesting twists involving them as well. There is nothing new or special about the treatment of dragons, it is simply perfect in its dragony ways. The Wild Hunt and the villain desperate to ensnare a wish from them gave a sinister creepy element to the plot that struck just the right tone. Trying to piece everything together and see what would happen next made for an engrossing read.
Friendship plays a big part in Tilda's journey, her learning how to be a friend and accept friendship. She has two wonderful, though often misguided, companions and both are important to her character's development and contribute in their own ways to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed Haskell's treatment of this theme and how she resolved one particular problem through the power of friendship and left romance out of it.
This is a wonderful read for anyone who loves stories of adventure, friendship, discovery, and dragons.
I read an ARC won from Harper Children's in a Goodreads giveaway. The Handbook for Dragon Slayers is on sale May 28.
fallingletters's review against another edition
4.0
Brief thoughts originally published 27 June 2017 at Falling Letters.
First book I read by Merrie Haskell, though I have already read another!
This book received a positive own voices review at Disability in Kid Lit, which led me to select it for the March topic of 2017 Diverse Reads. Aimee Louw writes far more eloquently about Tilda’s club foot than I could, so be sure to check out her post. I especially agree with her observation that the “dichotomy between the desire to improve or better oneself and the perceived need to overcompensate for the lower expectations placed on oneself because of disability was portrayed exceptionally well.”
One aspect of the book I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did was the setting. Handbook for Dragonslayers takes place in a more realistic medieval setting than I’ve encountered in most children’s literature. The presence of religion plays a significant role in that. I love that Tilda wanted to join a cloister so she could copy books. The concept of sin influences Tilda’s actions; she celebrates Christmas Day. Other details that added realism for me included Tilda’s duties as a princess and the design of the castle.
I found it a little heartbreaking that part of the reason Tilda wants to become a grand writer is to disprove the cruel things people believe about her. I don’t have the direct quote, but there was a line about how Tilda wanted to be free of people who thought they knew her (pg. 52). That’s a feeling I think many readers have experienced at one time or the other. It gives able-bodied readers like myself a better insight into what Tilda experiences.
Although not much else about the plot or characters stands out for me now, fans of the genre will likely enjoy Handbook for Dragon Slayers (as long as they don’t expect too much of the dragons!).
First book I read by Merrie Haskell, though I have already read another!
This book received a positive own voices review at Disability in Kid Lit, which led me to select it for the March topic of 2017 Diverse Reads. Aimee Louw writes far more eloquently about Tilda’s club foot than I could, so be sure to check out her post. I especially agree with her observation that the “dichotomy between the desire to improve or better oneself and the perceived need to overcompensate for the lower expectations placed on oneself because of disability was portrayed exceptionally well.”
One aspect of the book I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did was the setting. Handbook for Dragonslayers takes place in a more realistic medieval setting than I’ve encountered in most children’s literature. The presence of religion plays a significant role in that. I love that Tilda wanted to join a cloister so she could copy books. The concept of sin influences Tilda’s actions; she celebrates Christmas Day. Other details that added realism for me included Tilda’s duties as a princess and the design of the castle.
I found it a little heartbreaking that part of the reason Tilda wants to become a grand writer is to disprove the cruel things people believe about her. I don’t have the direct quote, but there was a line about how Tilda wanted to be free of people who thought they knew her (pg. 52). That’s a feeling I think many readers have experienced at one time or the other. It gives able-bodied readers like myself a better insight into what Tilda experiences.
Although not much else about the plot or characters stands out for me now, fans of the genre will likely enjoy Handbook for Dragon Slayers (as long as they don’t expect too much of the dragons!).
bookish_whispers's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads' First Reads Giveaway.
The book follows the adventure of Tilda, a clubfooted Princess, who is kidnapped by her cousin so he can have her land, Alder Brook. Despite the book being written for a much younger reader, I got pulled into the story. Haskell's plot moves along very quickly and there is no shortage of adventure or daring rescuses. I liked the way that her clubfoot was handled to the point the story was not about her overcoming a disability, she had already done so long before this book was written. This journey was about something else for Tilda. I feel it's the perfect story for young girls about responsibility and the difference between what you want and what you need. I'll not only be getting copies "nieces" but recommending this friends with kids of their own.
The book follows the adventure of Tilda, a clubfooted Princess, who is kidnapped by her cousin so he can have her land, Alder Brook. Despite the book being written for a much younger reader, I got pulled into the story. Haskell's plot moves along very quickly and there is no shortage of adventure or daring rescuses. I liked the way that her clubfoot was handled to the point the story was not about her overcoming a disability, she had already done so long before this book was written. This journey was about something else for Tilda. I feel it's the perfect story for young girls about responsibility and the difference between what you want and what you need. I'll not only be getting copies "nieces" but recommending this friends with kids of their own.
booksnorkel's review against another edition
4.0
What a strong and powerful book. Well done and interesting. For girls and boys this is a story about a princess who is forced into doing more than anyone, including herself, thought that she could do. She has to learn to work with her disability, and not use it as a crutch to hide behind, though when your whole life is about how you can’t do things, it’s hard to see yourself being able to do them.
Great read aloud for fourth grade on up, a strong 5/6th grade reader would enjoy this as well.
Great read aloud for fourth grade on up, a strong 5/6th grade reader would enjoy this as well.
deduvick's review against another edition
3.0
A little more disjointed than The Princess Curse - some of the elements seemed forced/thrown together instead of developing organically. Still a cute, fun read that I would recommend to younger girls!
melaniipon's review against another edition
4.0
I finished this book withing a month. I'm not sure if that means it was awesome or I was just determined. It WAS a good book. Merrie Haskell has the talent to create likeable protagonists, like she did with Reveka in the Princess Curse.
The only reason this got 4 stars instead of 5 is because my silly little brain kept telling me she should have used another world because the notion of dragons back in the day messed with me. It is historical fantasy, but I've always had trouble putting the real world separate from an alternate real world. ._.
((It's what stops me from writing an urban fantasy one day, honestly)).
The only reason this got 4 stars instead of 5 is because my silly little brain kept telling me she should have used another world because the notion of dragons back in the day messed with me. It is historical fantasy, but I've always had trouble putting the real world separate from an alternate real world. ._.
((It's what stops me from writing an urban fantasy one day, honestly)).