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greenhearted101's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars
What an absolutely wonderful read, I am so happy! I had read The Princess Curse prior to this and loved it very much, and I was really excited to read this book and hoping to love it also; and I did! This book is such a enjoyable read and so easy to just devour quickly. Fun adventure while being different and creative, just as the twist she have her other book also. The characters are so endearing and lovable and I loved seeing Tilda's transformation and growth. I really hope that the future sees a second part of this book, I feel it would be fantastic. Excellent book, absolutely recommended for lovers of fantasy and dragons
What an absolutely wonderful read, I am so happy! I had read The Princess Curse prior to this and loved it very much, and I was really excited to read this book and hoping to love it also; and I did! This book is such a enjoyable read and so easy to just devour quickly. Fun adventure while being different and creative, just as the twist she have her other book also. The characters are so endearing and lovable and I loved seeing Tilda's transformation and growth. I really hope that the future sees a second part of this book, I feel it would be fantastic. Excellent book, absolutely recommended for lovers of fantasy and dragons
thealien_em's review against another edition
5.0
I always thought dragons were good, and this book shows the truth about them! I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers!!! Full of suspense and action, this is a Must Read for all ages.
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I liked Handbook for Dragon Slayers, and I'm sure that I would've liked it much more if I had read it when I was in elementary school, in its target audience. The tale is a fairly simple adventure story, and I wish that the characters had been developed more in depth, but I liked the fact that the story was about about a girl realizing that although she has troubles and difficulties, she also basically has a good life. It was also refreshing to read a story about main character who has a physical disability who realizes that, even if she has some limitations, she can still experience exhilarating adventures and feel free. I think that Handbook for Dragon Slayers is a very positive book for young girls about self-esteem, perspective, and having acceptance/understanding for, and gaining acceptance/understanding from, those who are different than you.
snazel's review against another edition
4.0
I love Tilda, and the Dragon, and Judith, and even Horrible. Not as much of a favourite as Princess Curse, but Merrie is definitely an auto-buy author.
aphelia88's review against another edition
4.0
(Edit: I just read some other reviews and this is a MG - Middle Grade? - book instead of YA, which explains the ages. I wasn't aware of this category before.)
This is a cute, light YA read. Matilda is a Princess after my own heart - all she wants to do is have the peace and quiet of a Scriptorium to write a book of her own, like the ones she loves to read. Born to a minor kingdom, her family is not wealthy and struggles to keep their lands a freehold.
Tilda was born with a lame foot that makes it difficult to walk; she needs to use crutches and is in constant pain. The villagers mock and fear her deformity, and call her cursed. As a result, she feels isolated from her people and is lonely. When her crush Parzifal is about to lose his position as apprentice to a renowned dragon slayer, Tilda, Parz and Tilda's only friend and handmaiden Judith set off on a hare-brained quest to slay a dragon of their own and redeem Parz's place.
What Tilda cannot bring herself to tell her friends is that she's really running away from home. They meet the Wild Hunt and earn the loyalty of some incredibly special horses (my favourite part!). Along the way, they learn a lot about friendship, loyalty, betrayal and responsibility.
They also slowly learn that dragons might not be as evil as they had been taught. Spoiler:.
The only issues I had were that Matilda is supposed to be 13, but the actions and stories are more suited to a 15 or 16 year old. Also, she is bright and intelligent and could have used her considerable wits more often
I would have loved to have read this book when I was younger 😊
This is a cute, light YA read. Matilda is a Princess after my own heart - all she wants to do is have the peace and quiet of a Scriptorium to write a book of her own, like the ones she loves to read. Born to a minor kingdom, her family is not wealthy and struggles to keep their lands a freehold.
Tilda was born with a lame foot that makes it difficult to walk; she needs to use crutches and is in constant pain. The villagers mock and fear her deformity, and call her cursed. As a result, she feels isolated from her people and is lonely. When her crush Parzifal is about to lose his position as apprentice to a renowned dragon slayer, Tilda, Parz and Tilda's only friend and handmaiden Judith set off on a hare-brained quest to slay a dragon of their own and redeem Parz's place.
What Tilda cannot bring herself to tell her friends is that she's really running away from home. They meet the Wild Hunt and earn the loyalty of some incredibly special horses (my favourite part!). Along the way, they learn a lot about friendship, loyalty, betrayal and responsibility.
They also slowly learn that dragons might not be as evil as they had been taught. Spoiler:
Spoiler
in a masterful stroke, Tilda shifts into a dragon and finds herself understanding them in a way no human ever had before. This finally gives her the subject for her book, and an empathy for othersThe only issues I had were that Matilda is supposed to be 13, but the actions and stories are more suited to a 15 or 16 year old. Also, she is bright and intelligent and could have used her considerable wits more often
Spoiler
most especially when she is being kidnapped by the laughably ineffective villain who would usurp her kingdom - why on earth didn't she push him over the side of the boat?I would have loved to have read this book when I was younger 😊
jenn_geeks_out's review against another edition
4.0
As with her previous book, I'm extremely impressed with the details of the region and period that Merrie Haskell included in the book. They're such an organic part of the story that the references don't seem forced. All in all, this was a very entertaining kid's read.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book because of the character, Tilda. She is a smart girl, and a princess. Tilda was born with the condition of being splayfooted (I looked it up several times and I'm still having trouble imagining it. It's not quite a club foot, but the positioning of the foot seems to be very painful, esp when walking). Her disability is a curse, yet also helps her learn a lesson. It is part of who she is, however, it has created issues for her, not only physical, but also mental - people crossing themselves when they see her, talking about her behind her back, making people think she might not be as capable. I thought the author did a good job writing in the disability and making it a part of who Tilda is, but not defining her.
The story takes place in the time of castles and dragons. The author used some specific terminology that at times confused me, or at the very least I had to use my context clues to help me figure out. I think the vocabulary could lose some young readers, so it's better fitted for mature 4th gr and up.
The story takes place in the time of castles and dragons. The author used some specific terminology that at times confused me, or at the very least I had to use my context clues to help me figure out. I think the vocabulary could lose some young readers, so it's better fitted for mature 4th gr and up.
sophie020's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Merrie Haskell never fails to write the best fairy tales.
stenaros's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
Great middle reader of a girl (who happens to be a princess) finding her way in the world despite her limitations. Good setting of somewhat medieval Europe (but with dragons.) I've already recommended to a smart fifth grader who keeps reading YA books I think she would appreciate more in three or four years. It would also make a nice companion to Amy Timberlake's One Came Home.
Great middle reader of a girl (who happens to be a princess) finding her way in the world despite her limitations. Good setting of somewhat medieval Europe (but with dragons.) I've already recommended to a smart fifth grader who keeps reading YA books I think she would appreciate more in three or four years. It would also make a nice companion to Amy Timberlake's One Came Home.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
When I've caught up with the library's new arrivals, I start pulling titles from the shelves, and inevitably discover some "oldies but goodies."
This story features a girl who goes on a hunt with dragon slayers, only to be turned into a dragon, for a short time.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
This story features a girl who goes on a hunt with dragon slayers, only to be turned into a dragon, for a short time.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/