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beth123108's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
vendea's review
3.0
The problem with "Christian" fiction is that too often it tries too hard to be Christian, to the exclusion of being well-written fiction. The Chronicles of Narnia were definitely good fiction first. This seems to be hitting me over the head with the Christian-ness. Even that wouldn't have made me dislike it so much if the characters had been better at talking, the plot had move a little faster, and there hadn't been so many unexplained, nick-of-time rescues (supernatural or otherwise). It's enjoyable, but not worth going out of your way to read.
qu33nofbookz's review
2.0
The idea for this story is great but the actual execution of the writing leaves much to be desired with this fantasy story.
This book is listed as young adult fiction but I'd call it middle grade or lower. Also it's christian fiction but it feels like the christian part was thrown in as a last resort and it doesn't mix with the story at all, it reads like an after thought and disrupts the flow of the story with it's in your face/down your throat chunky bits. The author clearly also has no grasp of the public school system. The tone of the writing is either brain numbing or childish (see middle grade reading) with lots of repetitive actions and dialogue to explain something that just happened a second time. The way the characters talk and interact doesn't ring true at all to real people and their conversations and inner thoughts are cringe worthy. The timeline felt in depute and hard to pin down with the way people acted and talked making you think it was the 90's (although it was published in 2004) or in the 50's-60's. The characters actions and speech don't ring true.
Billy Bannister has extremely hot breath and it's only getting worse. He gets picked on because of it but doesn't tell his parents. One day at school he sets off the sprinkler system and gets suspended even after the new girl at school, Bonnie comes to his aid. On top of that someone creepy is nosing around his family. When he gets home that day Billy's father tells him that he's a dragon in human form and that Billy is a half breed, that is why his breath is so hot. Billy manages to get his suspension revoked with the help of a teacher. Later he comes to the rescue of Bonnie who is being attacked by the principal of the school and it's revealed she has wings. She is a half dragon too and the principal is a dragon slayer who has been looking for her, Billy and his father to kill them. Bonnie flies Billy home where they get his mom and hurry to the airport where Billy's father works. Along the way they are attacked and their house is burned down. At the airport they all get on Billy's father's plane and leave. Billy's dad tells them all his history and the history of the dragons. When he's done the dragon slayer comes out of hiding in the back of the plane and shoots Billy's father, damages the plane so it will crash and jumps out with Bonnie. Billy and his mom parachute out and Bonnie gets away from the dragon slayer but is injured. Stranded on a mountain the dragon slayer looks for Billy and Bonnie to kill them. Meanwhile Billy's friend and his helpful teacher are looking for them knowing their secret and trying to help them get away from the dragon slayer.
Billy, his mother, and Bonnie are found by the teacher and Billy's friend and they go back home to police protection saying that the dragon slayer is mentally ill and that is why he wanted them dead. Billy's dad is alive and a dragon again and in hiding. Billy goes to see him and they talk of a prophecy and how Billy and Bonnie are involved. Billy later gets a note that the dragon slayer has Bonnie and wants to meet. Bonnie is in hiding so everyone thinks the dragon slayer has her. Billy goes to meet him and Billy's father shows up to help Billy fight the dragon slayer. Bonnie out of hiding follows them. With the power of her prayer they defeat the dragon slayer. Billy and Bonnie are hurt but it's Billy's friend and teacher to the rescue again. Later Billy id getting well and Bonnie will live with Billy's friends family and Billy's dad, still a dragon will have to live in hiding.
The end until the next book.
This book is listed as young adult fiction but I'd call it middle grade or lower. Also it's christian fiction but it feels like the christian part was thrown in as a last resort and it doesn't mix with the story at all, it reads like an after thought and disrupts the flow of the story with it's in your face/down your throat chunky bits. The author clearly also has no grasp of the public school system. The tone of the writing is either brain numbing or childish (see middle grade reading) with lots of repetitive actions and dialogue to explain something that just happened a second time. The way the characters talk and interact doesn't ring true at all to real people and their conversations and inner thoughts are cringe worthy. The timeline felt in depute and hard to pin down with the way people acted and talked making you think it was the 90's (although it was published in 2004) or in the 50's-60's. The characters actions and speech don't ring true.
Billy Bannister has extremely hot breath and it's only getting worse. He gets picked on because of it but doesn't tell his parents. One day at school he sets off the sprinkler system and gets suspended even after the new girl at school, Bonnie comes to his aid. On top of that someone creepy is nosing around his family. When he gets home that day Billy's father tells him that he's a dragon in human form and that Billy is a half breed, that is why his breath is so hot. Billy manages to get his suspension revoked with the help of a teacher. Later he comes to the rescue of Bonnie who is being attacked by the principal of the school and it's revealed she has wings. She is a half dragon too and the principal is a dragon slayer who has been looking for her, Billy and his father to kill them. Bonnie flies Billy home where they get his mom and hurry to the airport where Billy's father works. Along the way they are attacked and their house is burned down. At the airport they all get on Billy's father's plane and leave. Billy's dad tells them all his history and the history of the dragons. When he's done the dragon slayer comes out of hiding in the back of the plane and shoots Billy's father, damages the plane so it will crash and jumps out with Bonnie. Billy and his mom parachute out and Bonnie gets away from the dragon slayer but is injured. Stranded on a mountain the dragon slayer looks for Billy and Bonnie to kill them. Meanwhile Billy's friend and his helpful teacher are looking for them knowing their secret and trying to help them get away from the dragon slayer.
Billy, his mother, and Bonnie are found by the teacher and Billy's friend and they go back home to police protection saying that the dragon slayer is mentally ill and that is why he wanted them dead. Billy's dad is alive and a dragon again and in hiding. Billy goes to see him and they talk of a prophecy and how Billy and Bonnie are involved. Billy later gets a note that the dragon slayer has Bonnie and wants to meet. Bonnie is in hiding so everyone thinks the dragon slayer has her. Billy goes to meet him and Billy's father shows up to help Billy fight the dragon slayer. Bonnie out of hiding follows them. With the power of her prayer they defeat the dragon slayer. Billy and Bonnie are hurt but it's Billy's friend and teacher to the rescue again. Later Billy id getting well and Bonnie will live with Billy's friends family and Billy's dad, still a dragon will have to live in hiding.
The end until the next book.
solafide's review
2.0
2.5 STARS
Not a huge fan of King Arthur retellings.
If you are a fan of King Arthur and or christian fantasy, I recommend!
((read this book bc my sister wanted me to, it's not a book I would pick up on my own))
Language: non-existent
Romance: holding hands
Violence: some blood, fighting with a sword, investigating deaths
Not a huge fan of King Arthur retellings.
If you are a fan of King Arthur and or christian fantasy, I recommend!
((read this book bc my sister wanted me to, it's not a book I would pick up on my own))
Language: non-existent
Romance: holding hands
Violence: some blood, fighting with a sword, investigating deaths
ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
It honestly surprised me when I found this was available for an ARC. Mostly because it originally came out back in 2004. So, yeah I was a little confused but still excited to jump into this book nonetheless. The book was pretty enjoyable and easy to follow along with. The characters themselves were also pretty likable. Out of them all, I don't necessarily think I have a favorite but the day is young and I'm only at book one in the series.
The adventure was jam packed with action but I stayed for the comedic relief. It was refreshing and lots of fun to listen to. I think overall, Raising Dragons was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, anything with dragons will make me happy and if I cross paths with the sequel, I wouldn't mind diving into that one either.
In the end, I'm glad that I randomly came across this and got the chance to dive into it.
It honestly surprised me when I found this was available for an ARC. Mostly because it originally came out back in 2004. So, yeah I was a little confused but still excited to jump into this book nonetheless. The book was pretty enjoyable and easy to follow along with. The characters themselves were also pretty likable. Out of them all, I don't necessarily think I have a favorite but the day is young and I'm only at book one in the series.
The adventure was jam packed with action but I stayed for the comedic relief. It was refreshing and lots of fun to listen to. I think overall, Raising Dragons was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, anything with dragons will make me happy and if I cross paths with the sequel, I wouldn't mind diving into that one either.
In the end, I'm glad that I randomly came across this and got the chance to dive into it.
fantasybooklover18's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
saraemmapope's review
2.0
Throughout this book I was constantly thinking “this SHOULD be interesting.” The idea for this book had so much potential, but the execution didn’t do it justice. The writing felt amateur. Moments that were meant to be heartwarming often felt cheesy and action-packed moments were too often interrupted by needless description. It was a bouncy ride of being drawn in and bored. I likely will not be continuing this series.
heathyfox's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0