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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The beginning of this is a little slow, but once it picks up, it's difficult to put down! The artwork in this is absolutely lovely, bringing to life this magical world of dragons. Grace's adventures with her friends will definitely catch the attention of middle grade readers, especially middle grade readers who love dragons!
The core group of friends was also really fun to read about. The don't start out as friends at the beginning, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. They have a good balance that just makes them a joy to read about. Plus, Nate the dragon is a bonus addition! Pet dragons would honestly be the best.
At times, I do wish some of the world was a little more fleshed out or more details were provided for clarity. But this is a first in a series, so there's definitely more to come!
The core group of friends was also really fun to read about. The don't start out as friends at the beginning, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. They have a good balance that just makes them a joy to read about. Plus, Nate the dragon is a bonus addition! Pet dragons would honestly be the best.
At times, I do wish some of the world was a little more fleshed out or more details were provided for clarity. But this is a first in a series, so there's definitely more to come!
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment
destdest's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
The artwork is snazzy (it’s giving me Webtoon energy lol), but in the first few pages there’s a lot going on story-wise. Grace feels alienated due to her mixed ancestry (Chinese dad, white mom), and her dad tries to cheer her up with surfing. Jump forward three years later, Grace’s going to an international school in Hong Kong. There are some cliché beats, a la wise, old person gifts MC with a magical item/creature, but it works. Tropes aren’t inherently bad, but it’s how you use them.
As always, I love dragons (Eastern or Western), and I think kids will probably enjoy this one.
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer
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