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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I didn't realize going in that The Ice Dragon was a re-release of a children's book GRRM wrote in 1980. I have no idea what the illustrations were like in the original version, but Luis Royo's art for this 2014 version is beautiful.
I will also admit that I got distracted while reading because it's been marketed as taking place in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire (a claim I believed as Ice Dragons have been mentioned in the books). But. I don't think it does take place in the same world. Granted, it could very well take place in some location other than Westeros, meaning my inability to identify where all of this was happening could be explained (GRRM pretty much focuses exclusively on Westeros and to a lesser extent, Essos in the ASOIAF books). But then there's the fact that in this book winter and summer happen once a year, just like they do in our world, and not like in ASOIAF, where winters and summers can last years, even decades. Brief googling also tells me that Martin hasn't ever confirmed it takes place in the same world; only publishers have claimed that it does. If it does take place in Westeros, etc., then it must take place a long, long, long time before the events of the main series, for things to have changed that much.
Anyway, once I got past that distraction, I really enjoyed this little book. As previously mentioned, it was gorgeous. It was also a satisfying read, if a bit more sad than I was expecting.
I will also admit that I got distracted while reading because it's been marketed as taking place in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire (a claim I believed as Ice Dragons have been mentioned in the books). But. I don't think it does take place in the same world. Granted, it could very well take place in some location other than Westeros, meaning my inability to identify where all of this was happening could be explained (GRRM pretty much focuses exclusively on Westeros and to a lesser extent, Essos in the ASOIAF books). But then there's the fact that in this book winter and summer happen once a year, just like they do in our world, and not like in ASOIAF, where winters and summers can last years, even decades. Brief googling also tells me that Martin hasn't ever confirmed it takes place in the same world; only publishers have claimed that it does. If it does take place in Westeros, etc., then it must take place a long, long, long time before the events of the main series, for things to have changed that much.
Anyway, once I got past that distraction, I really enjoyed this little book. As previously mentioned, it was gorgeous. It was also a satisfying read, if a bit more sad than I was expecting.
"[...] when they left the house that night, there was no ice dragon to be seen. Only the huge dark corpses of three war dragons and the smaller bodies of three dragonriders in black and orange. And a pond that had never been there before, a small quiet pool where the water was very cold."
Was this tale an inspiration for the Others or what?
Was this tale an inspiration for the Others or what?
I picked this up because I was interested in George R.R. Martin's writing, but am too daunted to read the Game of Thrones series.
I read the book in one sitting, and it was a nice, easy read. The story was captivating enough for me to want to keep reading through it. I liked the main character's characterization a lot. She was very interesting to read about, and also dragons are cool.
As far as reading this and considering it as being "for kids" goes, I think the story would keep a kid entranced. There was an awful lot of gore for a kid's book in my opinion but I can definitely see the right kind of person loving it or just reading it and not thinking much about the death. The ending was a bit meh, for myself, but maybe a kid would react differently.
I read the book in one sitting, and it was a nice, easy read. The story was captivating enough for me to want to keep reading through it. I liked the main character's characterization a lot. She was very interesting to read about, and also dragons are cool.
As far as reading this and considering it as being "for kids" goes, I think the story would keep a kid entranced. There was an awful lot of gore for a kid's book in my opinion but I can definitely see the right kind of person loving it or just reading it and not thinking much about the death. The ending was a bit meh, for myself, but maybe a kid would react differently.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not sure a black and white concept of war is a good theme for children? Or the passing mention of being beaten by one's father? Or the idea that being different is bad?
Beautiful illustrations, but this one fell flat for me. I wouldn't ever read this to a child. Not sure I would ever read this to anyone.
Beautiful illustrations, but this one fell flat for me. I wouldn't ever read this to a child. Not sure I would ever read this to anyone.