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merenguita's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Looooved it!!!
This is the fantasy femenist icon i needed!
Also ;-;Jacob
This is the fantasy femenist icon i needed!
Also ;-;
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Death
ashe_al's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was an enjoyable read, definitely. I liked the way it really felt like I was reading a memoir of a female dragon researcher 'back in the day'. This was what I needed to read when I started it, but towards the third part it started dragging in narrative for me. Picked it up on a train ride again and the ending was alright. I think midway through it was more of a 4/5 and as it got to the third part I just lost interest. I can't tell if it was the writing or just myself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death
booklovingbabe's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Miscarriage
annasusan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
But on a more serious note, just very dull, it is clearly inspired by Margaret Fountaine's adapted diaries, 'Love Among the Butterflies', and I would recommend you read that. Weirdly, Fountaine has a way more feminist start - she became independently wealthy when her father died so didn't need a husband to tag along - trying to avoid the class issue isn't a valid excuse because she was still upper class.
Structurally, this divides a memoir into a series format with an adventure per book, versus an adventure per chapter, and that just doesn't work.
There's about as much examination of natural history's colonialism as in Fountaine's work, that is to say none. I think the choice to set it in fantasy-Siberia was an attempt to avoid it at least in this first book (I cannot comment on the sequels), despite the fact the Indigenous peoples of Siberia have similar histories of colonial oppression. I think the author intended the locals to be poor white Russians, as there would certainly be some, undertones, if one were to read them as Indigenous people.
If you liked the setting and want a cool old timey lady who acknowledges colonialism, Ethel Lindgren's story is pretty cool; she was an anthropologist and refused to publish her PhD thesis on Indigenous Siberian religion due to the Soviet crackdowns on religion at the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Xenophobia
Moderate: Murder and Death
lunep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Animal death, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism, Body horror, Death of parent, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Violence, Death, Rape, Colonisation, Cursing, and Alcohol
randi_jo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Hello. I came for the dragons and was not emotionally prepared to have my heart carved from my chest, sent to hell, then resurrected within 350 pages. Thanks for that. The dragons are cool, too tho.
In all, I really like how it's written in the perspective an actual memoir, and that it preludes to things that happen in much later volumes, showing that there is a plan and forethought into how everything fits together. The dragons are treated as wild animals and aren't some manic pixie girl fantasy where they bond with MC and she's so special. Rather she's just an intrepid lady in regency era society who's trying to break a mold and I LIVE for it.
Sad I'm just now getting around to this series but also THANK GOD because I don't think I can handle waiting long to pick up the next installment lol.
In all, I really like how it's written in the perspective an actual memoir, and that it preludes to things that happen in much later volumes, showing that there is a plan and forethought into how everything fits together. The dragons are treated as wild animals and aren't some manic pixie girl fantasy where they bond with MC and she's so special. Rather she's just an intrepid lady in regency era society who's trying to break a mold and I LIVE for it.
Sad I'm just now getting around to this series but also THANK GOD because I don't think I can handle waiting long to pick up the next installment lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
asipofcozy's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
When I have to skim the last 100 pages to get to the ending...that definitely lets me know there is a problem. And the problem was, I was extremely bored with A Natural History of Dragaons.
One would think with a title like that, we would get tons of dragon information, world building, and interesting insight into dragons. We maybe get a discussion on dragons every 100 pages or so and it is glossed over. There isn't any description as to why there are dragons, where they came from, why they do what they do. And granted we are learning with our main character Isabella it's still glossed over to get to the "interesting" parts. There are conversations that are had but we aren't privy to, which would have made this book interesting.
Our characters were dreadfully boring. I thought I would like Isabella, our main character, she sets herself apart from society, breaks the social chains and strives to be herself. However, she is at times was naive, aloof, and just unlikeable. This book takes place in the equivalence of our 19th century and one would think she would act sophisticated, she acts like a 19 year old from the 21st century (not a bad thing, just quite immature).
The plot is also less on dragons, learning about dragons, or dragons in general and more of the mystery of why are dragons attacking (still very little on this) and why is x,y,z person missing. At times I felt like Isabella was recounting her adventures as a detective rather than a scientist.
I think some people may like this book, and there were interesting aspects; however, the title and description is quite deceiving when we aren't given the depth of dragons as one would think. Also, I at times just didn't care, I skimmed multiple pages and chapters and still knew what was taking place because so little happened.
One would think with a title like that, we would get tons of dragon information, world building, and interesting insight into dragons. We maybe get a discussion on dragons every 100 pages or so and it is glossed over. There isn't any description as to why there are dragons, where they came from, why they do what they do. And granted we are learning with our main character Isabella it's still glossed over to get to the "interesting" parts. There are conversations that are had but we aren't privy to, which would have made this book interesting.
Our characters were dreadfully boring. I thought I would like Isabella, our main character, she sets herself apart from society, breaks the social chains and strives to be herself. However, she is at times was naive, aloof, and just unlikeable. This book takes place in the equivalence of our 19th century and one would think she would act sophisticated, she acts like a 19 year old from the 21st century (not a bad thing, just quite immature).
The plot is also less on dragons, learning about dragons, or dragons in general and more of the mystery of why are dragons attacking (still very little on this) and why is x,y,z person missing. At times I felt like Isabella was recounting her adventures as a detective rather than a scientist.
I think some people may like this book, and there were interesting aspects; however, the title and description is quite deceiving when we aren't given the depth of dragons as one would think. Also, I at times just didn't care, I skimmed multiple pages and chapters and still knew what was taking place because so little happened.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, Murder, and Death
leighkayne's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, and Animal death
kbz_22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
I just finished "A Natural History of Dragons" by Marie Brennan, and I couldn't wait to tell you about it. It's seriously a gem.
This book was like a nostalgia trip for me. It reached into my childhood dreams/fantasies and brought them to life. It's magical in that way.
The characters, especially Lady Trent, just got me right in the feels. Through her, I got to live this life of adventure, curiosity, and pure intellectual passion. She's witty, determined, and her thirst for knowledge is something I really admired.
But here's the coolest part - the format of the book. It's like reading a personal journal mixed with a textbook, and it even has these charming illustrations and chapter overviews. You feel like you're right there with Lady Trent on her scientific quests.
Marie Brennan's storytelling is top-notch. I couldn't put it down, seriously. It's not just a book; it's this incredible journey into a world of wonder and discovery. If you ever want to rekindle that sense of awe and adventure, this one's a must-read.
This book was like a nostalgia trip for me. It reached into my childhood dreams/fantasies and brought them to life. It's magical in that way.
The characters, especially Lady Trent, just got me right in the feels. Through her, I got to live this life of adventure, curiosity, and pure intellectual passion. She's witty, determined, and her thirst for knowledge is something I really admired.
But here's the coolest part - the format of the book. It's like reading a personal journal mixed with a textbook, and it even has these charming illustrations and chapter overviews. You feel like you're right there with Lady Trent on her scientific quests.
Marie Brennan's storytelling is top-notch. I couldn't put it down, seriously. It's not just a book; it's this incredible journey into a world of wonder and discovery. If you ever want to rekindle that sense of awe and adventure, this one's a must-read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Gore, and Miscarriage
annaplatypus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really liked it! The fantasy-memoir genre is so unique, and normally I am not a memoir enjoyer, but it works in this format; the world was very immersive.
One thing I disliked about the book was that one of the most loveable charactersdies in the end. I generally dislike main character death , especially when thrown in at the very end. It felt a bit unnecessary, but I guess the author had a particular vision for the sequels.
One thing I disliked about the book was that one of the most loveable characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death
Early in the book there's a somewhat graphic description of the killing & dissection of a bird. Other than that there are brief descriptions of death, mostly through a scientific lens.