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silverhawk3799's review
3.0
Eagerly waited for the next book from Pern. When I cracked the cover I read that Anne McCaffrey had died. In past books it she had the better flow of story and character development over Todd. I'm happy that he'll continue the series, but he just doesn't have the same connection and ability to speak for the characters.
What I've noticed most about this series is that the books don't really stand alone. In Anne's other books set in Pern, I could pick up any book without feeling lost or that major plot is escaping me. Sky Dragons was well written and enjoyable, but it is necessary that you read (and remember) all parts of the prior books in this immediate timeline.
Overall enjoyed the book, but had I started with this series, I doubt that I would've fallen as much in love with them as I did with Anne's other books in the story.
What I've noticed most about this series is that the books don't really stand alone. In Anne's other books set in Pern, I could pick up any book without feeling lost or that major plot is escaping me. Sky Dragons was well written and enjoyable, but it is necessary that you read (and remember) all parts of the prior books in this immediate timeline.
Overall enjoyed the book, but had I started with this series, I doubt that I would've fallen as much in love with them as I did with Anne's other books in the story.
mikaiten's review
2.0
This book was hard to follow with all the various names that are similar. I also didn't feel connected to any of the characters, which is very different from the rest of the series, where I always became attached to certain key characters. It took many chapters before I started to feel like I knew the characters enough to properly enjoy the book.
In previous Pern books there was often a short recap of what had happened, so that after a year or more since the last book we could easily follow along with the story. Once I realized who the characters were this time, and could somewhat remember what had happened to them in the previous books, I wasn't quite so confused.
Overall, I just wasn't that happy with this book. There wasn't really a plot, other than having the dragons and people grow up. In older Pern books, the characters always had a mystery to solve, or a disaster to avert, and in the process they grew. There was only one small part of this book that I thought had more to it, and even that was forgotten after part 2.
In previous Pern books there was often a short recap of what had happened, so that after a year or more since the last book we could easily follow along with the story. Once I realized who the characters were this time, and could somewhat remember what had happened to them in the previous books, I wasn't quite so confused.
Overall, I just wasn't that happy with this book. There wasn't really a plot, other than having the dragons and people grow up. In older Pern books, the characters always had a mystery to solve, or a disaster to avert, and in the process they grew. There was only one small part of this book that I thought had more to it, and even that was forgotten after part 2.
nattyg's review
3.0
While good and I'm glad I read it, I still couldn't help feeling that this was a plot/concept that didn't need to be stretched out into three books. While I enjoyed looking at the same "happening" from a different perspective, it could have easily been shorter. Some things felt like they were used as filler to keep the book at a certain length.
ctiner7's review against another edition
2.0
This one took me about a week to read. I was a little bit excited because I'd heard a lot about the author, and I have read one of her books (by herself without Todd McCaffrey) in the past. I was a bit disappointed by this book. It seemed kind of--scattered. It jumps from scene to scene, sometimes too quickly, and without explaining enough. Also, please keep in mind that the only book I have read that is connected to this one is [b:Dragonsong|28541|Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1)|Anne McCaffrey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298419242s/28541.jpg|1171182], so I do not know much about the entire story. I do know that the writing was not as good, and it seems that since [a:Anne McCaffrey|26|Anne McCaffrey|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1323715139p2/26.jpg]has began writing WITH Todd McCaffrey that the books have gone a little downhill. It is a sad end to the series if this is in fact the last one.
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
kmg365's review
3.0
Well, whaddaya know? After I complained bitterly about the last three Pern novels, I fully expected to dislike this one as well. But I didn’t! And it wasn’t all due to sentiment generated by the fact that it’s the last Pern book that Anne herself will have a hand in.
I think I figured it out-- Fiona only makes a brief cameo in this book. Therefore, I was able to understand what was happening, and when. When Fiona did show up, near the end of the book, sure enough, things started to get confusing again: Xhinna is no longer a wingleader. No, wait-- she is. No-- she’s definitely not. Hang on a bit-- she is. She really, really is.
I’ve decided that Fiona is the literary equivalent of a wormhole. Any plots involving her become grossly convoluted, and the reader is spit out on the other side of the galaxy, battered and bewildered.
Not the best Pern title in the series, but far from the worst.
I think I figured it out-- Fiona only makes a brief cameo in this book. Therefore, I was able to understand what was happening, and when. When Fiona did show up, near the end of the book, sure enough, things started to get confusing again: Xhinna is no longer a wingleader. No, wait-- she is. No-- she’s definitely not. Hang on a bit-- she is. She really, really is.
I’ve decided that Fiona is the literary equivalent of a wormhole. Any plots involving her become grossly convoluted, and the reader is spit out on the other side of the galaxy, battered and bewildered.
Not the best Pern title in the series, but far from the worst.
taleisin's review against another edition
3.0
I was wary of reading this book. I had not been a great fan of the continuation of the Pern saga once Anne started sharing credit with her son, Todd. Sky Dragons was the last book touched by the great author before her death so I wanted to give it a read. A paperback sale decided the rest.
In the end, this book really surprised me. The main character, Xhinna, was in equal parts strong and soft and was someone I could totally get behind. Essentially this is a survival story. Xhinna and company find themselves in a strange land trying to survive and breed more dragons to help save the world they know. It is a place where the traditions of Pern are examined and, in many cases, thrown away.
In the end, this book really surprised me. The main character, Xhinna, was in equal parts strong and soft and was someone I could totally get behind. Essentially this is a survival story. Xhinna and company find themselves in a strange land trying to survive and breed more dragons to help save the world they know. It is a place where the traditions of Pern are examined and, in many cases, thrown away.
fantasy_with_me's review against another edition
2.0
I've enjoyed his other books despite poor reviews. I've grown used to Fiona's unique antics. But this book is suddenly all females, all very similar personalities, and it turned Xhinna into a cheap grumpy copy of Fiona. Way too many characters, way too many similar names, all thrown at you. You dont have time to connect with anyone so none of them have a true impact before theyre never mentioned again. The story telling is vague at best. It's forced in the beginning, and Xhinna just feels awkward, then the second part is just sheer confusion. Multiple times, the author swapped the color of a dragon (swapped brown and bronze, and called a green a Queen, not to be confused with Green Queens). And don't get me started on the lax rules of time travel... supposedly it's this big thing, but everyone does it to excess all the time and none of these people suffer like they did the past 4 books, from being in multiple places at once?
And there's a character that does something horrible, that could itself be an arc spanning 3 books and redemption, and it's all crammed into this book. The events at the end should be a big climax.... and it's a single page after thought????
I was excited to have a story told from not-a-gold-rider's POV.... disappointed in this one.
And there's a character that does something horrible, that could itself be an arc spanning 3 books and redemption, and it's all crammed into this book. The events at the end should be a big climax.... and it's a single page after thought????
I was excited to have a story told from not-a-gold-rider's POV.... disappointed in this one.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish