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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I picked this up, read half of it, sat it down, and promptly forgot about it. Oooooops!
It wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away either? I'm curious to see if my other Jane Yolen books are written similarly. I'm not sure if I will continue the series yet or not but I wouldn't mind to see where it goes!
It wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away either? I'm curious to see if my other Jane Yolen books are written similarly. I'm not sure if I will continue the series yet or not but I wouldn't mind to see where it goes!
This book had a profound effect on my early love of reading and fantasy, so I have to give it 5 stars even though I barely remember the contents. I do remember the sense of wonder filling my young heart.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not bad, but it's kind of boring to me. I like some of the ideas presented, but it's definitely a children's book in the way the concepts are presented. Mindbogglingly slow as well.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I feel like if you like dragons, then this book is fine.
If you do not like dragons, you will not like this book.
The entire story felt very tropey. I did not enjoy the main character or any of the supporting characters. The plot is very fast paced to a point it almost feels rushed. The ending also feels rushed. When I finished this book I had to download additional copies to make sure I was not missing part of the ending.
I'm not sure why there is a time skip at the end of the book here, instead of in the beginning of the next book.
Normally I do not have a problem with fantasy jargon in book, but a lot of this jargon was introduced fast and with no explanation.
I think that the setting and the premise are interesting, but the execution is lacking.
If you do not like dragons, you will not like this book.
The entire story felt very tropey. I did not enjoy the main character or any of the supporting characters. The plot is very fast paced to a point it almost feels rushed. The ending also feels rushed. When I finished this book I had to download additional copies to make sure I was not missing part of the ending.
I'm not sure why there is a time skip at the end of the book here, instead of in the beginning of the next book.
Normally I do not have a problem with fantasy jargon in book, but a lot of this jargon was introduced fast and with no explanation.
I think that the setting and the premise are interesting, but the execution is lacking.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship
This was a reread, and I have to admit that I didn't remember much about my first read. What I got was a fairly short read in a sci-fi fantasy setting very reminiscent of Pern, to be honest, about a boy training a dragon Pokemon-style. I think I enjoyed it more on my first go, but I'm sure that the ages of the protagonists compared to my own age now is a significant factor. They're very young, and they act it, which technically is good but can also be grating because teen boys are bad.
I found especially that I had a hard time deciding what I felt of Akki because of their shitty, teen-boy treatment of her. I think she was actually kind of a badass, but that Jakkin and Slakk particularly talk about her in bad, objectifying ways that make it more work for a reader to perceive and appreciate her nuance.
Another weird kind of thing was the juxtaposition of Jakkin's love for his dragon and his certainty that it be a fighting dragon. He's positively maternal to his sweet dragonling, and that's very good and refreshing to see earnestly in a teen boy character, but that unexpected softness is soured by his insistence that this dragon be used for violence. In some ways, I think it limits the narrative.
Then I have two small complaints. The anti-weed message was overwhelming and absolutely unnecessary. Likkarn being the absolute worst and constantly connected to weed was just... tired. My second complaint is with the audiobook. The narration and Jakkin weren't bad, but this reader has some bad voices that were hard to listen to.
I found especially that I had a hard time deciding what I felt of Akki because of their shitty, teen-boy treatment of her. I think she was actually kind of a badass, but that Jakkin and Slakk particularly talk about her in bad, objectifying ways that make it more work for a reader to perceive and appreciate her nuance.
Another weird kind of thing was the juxtaposition of Jakkin's love for his dragon and his certainty that it be a fighting dragon. He's positively maternal to his sweet dragonling, and that's very good and refreshing to see earnestly in a teen boy character, but that unexpected softness is soured by his insistence that this dragon be used for violence. In some ways, I think it limits the narrative.
Then I have two small complaints. The anti-weed message was overwhelming and absolutely unnecessary. Likkarn being the absolute worst and constantly connected to weed was just... tired. My second complaint is with the audiobook. The narration and Jakkin weren't bad, but this reader has some bad voices that were hard to listen to.
An enjoyable read, i look forward to seeing how the characters develop :)
I read this book as a child and I absolutely completely adored it. Going back as an adult I noticed a few things that made me bring down the rating. And trust me if we included book two of the series it'd be even lower. The only reason this is at 4 stars is because I really really liked the experience of reading this particular book, and this book does not reflect my opinion of the entire series.
Jakkin is very arrogant for a slave (bondsman? the specifics of his 'place' were a little iffy, as though Yolen didn't want to outright have slavery in her book). Also, though I love his dragon, how cliché is 'I choose the runt!'
Jakkin is very arrogant for a slave (bondsman? the specifics of his 'place' were a little iffy, as though Yolen didn't want to outright have slavery in her book). Also, though I love his dragon, how cliché is 'I choose the runt!'
I remember reading these growing up and being absolutely hooked. It's definitely a product of it's time which made it so much more interesting to me. It felt like I was reading a Kings Quest game.
I don't remember which book in the series it was in, but there was a point where the protagonist is speaking to a dragon about morality akin to:
"All dragons are evil"
"That can't possibly be true of a whole species. All humans are not one thing. "
Then I think the dragon ends up being evil anyways...I'm due for a reread!
I don't remember which book in the series it was in, but there was a point where the protagonist is speaking to a dragon about morality akin to:
"All dragons are evil"
"That can't possibly be true of a whole species. All humans are not one thing. "
Then I think the dragon ends up being evil anyways...I'm due for a reread!
Fun! Part of my "BFF Bookclub" -- one of the books my friend Meghan recommended to me.
A bit Pern-esque, but still creative and interesting!
A bit Pern-esque, but still creative and interesting!