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claireviolet's review against another edition
2.0
i think i was expecting something else when i picked this up. this is an excellent fantasy victorian travelogue. but it didn’t occur to me that lady trent’s memoir was going to span all five of the books so i found the pace bizarrely slow before i figured out what was going on. i unfortunately didn’t really click with any of the characters, but i did love the dragons.
audiobook was very charming, i think it helped me acclimatize to isabella’s very strong voice.
audiobook was very charming, i think it helped me acclimatize to isabella’s very strong voice.
juliaureads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is less a book about dragons and more about being a female researcher in the approximation of Regency/Victorian times. I was told not to expect a ton of dragons, so I wasn’t disappointed, but I could see that being an issue. The drawings are a fantastic addition
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this more than I expected when I realized the story was told with a posh British formality style (not sure of how to better describe that) that I find off putting. It was interesting while I was reading it, but it lagged in the middle two sections. I struggled to return to the story in parts 2 and 3 and did so only because I was reading with a group.
I was, however, very moved by part 4. I wished throughout that the story focused more on dragons. While I enjoyed Lady Trent's youth, I really was there for the dragons.
I don't need to return to this series, but it will appeal to people who liked Johnathan Strange.
I was, however, very moved by part 4. I wished throughout that the story focused more on dragons. While I enjoyed Lady Trent's youth, I really was there for the dragons.
I don't need to return to this series, but it will appeal to people who liked Johnathan Strange.
tanadeet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Wonderfully written! Gorillas in the Mist / Born Free vibes meet dragons, all tied together in a memoir-style package. I enjoyed the wit, the adventure, the mystery and of course, Lady Trent's story telling. I listened to the Audible book and five stars for the narration, Kate Reading just gave it that extra magic 🪄
tomasthanes's review against another edition
4.0
Take a dash of Elizabeth Bennett (a woman slightly more intelligent and outspoken than was accepted of women in her time), then add a tad or two of scientific curiosity followed by more than a generous smidgen of interest in natural history, and then add a drop of resonant history (the elephant's graveyard from the 1932 movie Tarzan the Ape Man), then a large dollop of fascination with dragons. Mix this thoroughly in an alternate universe and you might get something close to Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons, a completely enjoyable book to read (not that the characters in the novel enjoyed their expedition to Vystrana). Highly recommended.
katiemac620's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
thebogbody's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
allie_rose's review against another edition
4.25
Entertaining romp—I really liked the mystery! More about academia and human exploration than dragons per se but still a good fantasy book
shauna845's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It took me a little while to get into the different style of writing for this book, as it's written as a memoir, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it, though would have loved to see more dragons. Also really liked the touch of the little drawings in the book too, I thought that made it more authentically feel like a memoir. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series too, to follow Lady Trent's adventures.