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bluepazookie's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
It was hardly about dragons at all đŠ it was mostly about the expedition itself, where almost every time a dragon was depicted it was being fought off by people. Was hoping for a more dragon focused book, but I may still read the next.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Death
euphemiajo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Gun violence, Murder, Sexism, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Alcohol
snerp_reads's review against another edition
Stopped reading after some weird choices for the portrayal of Vystrana that left a bad taste in my mouth. None of the other reviews on here mentioned this, but the entire crafting of their fictional religion was pretty obviously antisemitic. It took me a few pages to catch onto it, but it's very obvious that the Vystrana religion was based on Judaism. The religion of Vystrana in the book was portrayed as backwards, savage, and more superstitious and sexist than the main character's religion.
I made the connection that she had based their religion off of Judaism when I came across two main details in the book; the specific detail that the villagers use graggers to symbolize their disapproval of her arrival, and a ritual the villagers have of fully submerging themselves in "living waters" (it was straight up just a mikvah).The villagers were then written forcing the main character to take part in the submersion in front of everyone watching, and she even briefly thought they were going to rob or kill her at this point.
I wish authors would quit dragging in their own antisemitism into otherwise perfectly fine books.
I made the connection that she had based their religion off of Judaism when I came across two main details in the book; the specific detail that the villagers use graggers to symbolize their disapproval of her arrival, and a ritual the villagers have of fully submerging themselves in "living waters" (it was straight up just a mikvah).
I wish authors would quit dragging in their own antisemitism into otherwise perfectly fine books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Gore, Kidnapping, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Antisemitism
bitter_critter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Religious bigotry
star_charter152's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Miscarriage
mothmania's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Colonisation, Gore, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Classism, Drug use, and Pregnancy
artemis_growl's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.0
Moods:
â¨Historical Fantasy Fiction
â¨English Victorian Age
â¨Dragons
â¨Adventure
â¨Audiobook
â¨Stubborn Smart FMC
đśď¸- alludes to/fade to black
Trigger warning:
Death/Violence, animal violence
Setting:
The world/setting was very similar to British Victorian age times. The conversations, the audiobook, all of it felt very period historical British book/movie.
Overall spoiler free impression review:
The book is from the POV of âLady Trentâ or as she is known in this book, Isabella Camherst. Sheâs gives off well to-do privileged lady from Victorian Age times. The book starts in the POV of now older Lady Trent who is retired from her adventures and she is retelling her life story and how she became interested in the study of dragons. If a TV series of this book is ever made i just want Maggie Smith narrating as Old Lady Trent.
The focus is all on Isabella, her character, personality, how she becomes involved in her adventures because of her love for dragons. The dragons feel more like a secondary thing. She has all the spunk of Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility but the logical mind of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
I will say, if historical novels arenât your thing then you probably wonât like this. The fantasy element is limited to the dragons and everything else is very ordinary. Itâs as if Charles Darwin was a Victorian age lady who decided to write books about her adventures and thereâs dragons. Isabella is a stubborn, young, smart woman, who doesnât fit in with society. She wants to be a scholar, to research, go on adventures, study dragons. She dissects animals and wants to learn about them. Yet, sheâs constrained by the societal restrictions and expectations of what a woman is supposed to be in Victorian age British society. Sheâs expected only to learn how do things like draw, play music, be interested in clothes, getting married, having children, and whatever else it is that well to-do British ladies from Victorian age are supposed to be interested in. I personally enjoy historical novels so I had a blast listening to the audiobook. I finished it in just a couple of days. My one annoyance with the book, and this is a minor thing I am nitpicking onâŚ.the chapter titles, they were like chapter descriptions and gave a little bit of a spoiler, more like at the end of a TV show you see a âOn next weekâs episode ofâŚâ I donât know why I found that annoying.
I will say, if historical novels arenât your thing then you probably wonât like this. The fantasy element is limited to the dragons and everything else is very ordinary. Itâs as if Charles Darwin was a Victorian age lady who decided to write books about her adventures and thereâs dragons. Isabella is a stubborn, young, smart woman, who doesnât fit in with society. She wants to be a scholar, to research, go on adventures, study dragons. She dissects animals and wants to learn about them. Yet, sheâs constrained by the societal restrictions and expectations of what a woman is supposed to be in Victorian age British society. Sheâs expected only to learn how do things like draw, play music, be interested in clothes, getting married, having children, and whatever else it is that well to-do British ladies from Victorian age are supposed to be interested in. I personally enjoy historical novels so I had a blast listening to the audiobook. I finished it in just a couple of days. My one annoyance with the book, and this is a minor thing I am nitpicking onâŚ.the chapter titles, they were like chapter descriptions and gave a little bit of a spoiler, more like at the end of a TV show you see a âOn next weekâs episode ofâŚâ I donât know why I found that annoying.
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Spoiler Ridden Review:
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Spoiler Ridden Review:
Again, I really enjoyed this book, other than the chapter titles and maybe wish there was more development of the side characters, I breezed through his book. I really liked Isabellaâs relationship with her husband, Jacob. Iâm devastated he died in the first book. I want more of him. Wish I could have seen how their relationship matured and developed. He was so good for her. It was charming how much he loved her and defended her interest as her own person. I liked the tension between Mr. Wilker and Isabella. I liked the old Earl guy and I hope to see more of his grand daughter in the next books. I really enjoyed how the writing was in the style of a historical drama and the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job. Canât wait for the next books!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Death
literarypenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
A Natural History of Dragons is a story taking place in the Victorian Era where we follow a woman named Isabella. Isabella is a feisty young woman who develops a love for dragons & a want to learn more about them. Because of the times she has grown up in, Isabella can't pursue her desire to learn about dragons but an opportunity comes her way. When an expedition by a wealthy man to a foreign county to study dragons with a small group of researchers she jumps at the chance to finally fulfill her dream at last.
The first thing I want to say is how much I enjoyed how the dragons were weaved into the environment and how other people's knowledge about them is constantly evolving the more they learn about them. It was nice to see a fantasy creature implemented like this into a story. The only thing I thought was that the plot did get a little out there towards the end. It didn't deter me though and still enjoyed the story!
I loved Isabella as a character and how she evolved into a stronger person by the end of the book. How she went through so much but she made it through it all even a horrific tragedy that I hope won't change the feeling of the rest of the series as it goes on. I might read the others sometime in the future but this still was a very good read and I recommend it!
The first thing I want to say is how much I enjoyed how the dragons were weaved into the environment and how other people's knowledge about them is constantly evolving the more they learn about them. It was nice to see a fantasy creature implemented like this into a story. The only thing I thought was that the plot did get a little out there towards the end. It didn't deter me though and still enjoyed the story!
I loved Isabella as a character and how she evolved into a stronger person by the end of the book. How she went through so much but she made it through it all even a horrific tragedy that I hope won't change the feeling of the rest of the series as it goes on. I might read the others sometime in the future but this still was a very good read and I recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy
marimoisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
A fantastical story about the life of an intelligent woman who studies dragons, stays true to who she is, and follows her passions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Death
latenightnormie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
In general, I enjoyed the pacing of the book. It read like a autobiography but with Lady Trent's reflective musings throughout the telling of the story. The world building is solid though not terribly in-depth when not in use for the plot. All in all, I'll be reading the next book in the because series.