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kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
It's 491 AL, 491 years after landing, and sixteen years before Thread is scheduled to return to Pern with the primary action taking place at Natalon's mine. It parallels Dragonsblood and Dragon's Fire.
Sorry . . . I just have no enthusiasm about this book and it shows in the review . . . The only reason I'm giving it a 2 is . . . it's Pern.
My Take
I am so disappointed with the writing in this story. There is no subtlety, no buildup. It's more like he's leaping from one point in the outline to the next. Sometimes McCaffrey fills in a bit of the points . . . sometimes, not often. There's no passion.
On page 33, Master Zist has just arrived, no introduction, and just like that Kindan knows this is the same boogeyman that Harper Jofri has told them of???
It's also the day of Silstra's wedding, and Zist has decided that Kaylek's voice isn't up to singing for the wedding and dragoons Kindan into it instead. Then wonder of wonders, Zist is angry because Kindan isn't going to be perfect. I guess this might be a reasonable annoyance if Kindan had ever been trained in singing . . .
Nuella is central to changing perceptions of the watch-whers.
The Story
The focus in this story is on the watch-whers. Most people despise them and feel they're useless. Silstra marries Terregar. Kindan rescues Natalon's family when something blocks the chimney in his hold. In Dragon's Kin, the people who have the authority to change this attitude learn of their true value when Kisk rescues miners.
The Characters
Kindan is the youngest in his family and after the tragedy, Master Zist takes him in and starts his training to become a harper.
Danil is Kindan's father and the WherHandler for Dask. Silstra is Kindan's sister and she marries Terregar. It's for their wedding that Dask performs his light show.
No one knows of Nuella's existence. She's blind and Master Natalon is terrified that she will impact badly on her siblings' chances of marriage let alone his subordinates wondering if he's capable of leading.
Master Zist and Kindan get a lift from Weyrleader M'tal and his dragon, Gaminth, when they go to fetch an egg from the watch-wher's clutch.
Zenor is a contemporary of Kindan and Nuella's. And secretly in love with Nuella. Tarik is Natalon's uncle and appears to be extremely disgruntled. Aleesa is a WherMaster and bonded with the last surviving queen watch-wher in Pern. Trader Tarri leads trading caravans to Natalon's Camp. Weyrleader D'gan of Telgar Weyr is another of the villains in this story.
The Cover and Title
It looks like Chinese mountains made of clouds with a central vertical panel of a watch-wher's egg opening in a nest of straw.
The title, Dragon's Kin is certainly appropriate.
Sorry . . . I just have no enthusiasm about this book and it shows in the review . . . The only reason I'm giving it a 2 is . . . it's Pern.
My Take
I am so disappointed with the writing in this story. There is no subtlety, no buildup. It's more like he's leaping from one point in the outline to the next. Sometimes McCaffrey fills in a bit of the points . . . sometimes, not often. There's no passion.
On page 33, Master Zist has just arrived, no introduction, and just like that Kindan knows this is the same boogeyman that Harper Jofri has told them of???
It's also the day of Silstra's wedding, and Zist has decided that Kaylek's voice isn't up to singing for the wedding and dragoons Kindan into it instead. Then wonder of wonders, Zist is angry because Kindan isn't going to be perfect. I guess this might be a reasonable annoyance if Kindan had ever been trained in singing . . .
Nuella is central to changing perceptions of the watch-whers.
The Story
The focus in this story is on the watch-whers. Most people despise them and feel they're useless. Silstra marries Terregar. Kindan rescues Natalon's family when something blocks the chimney in his hold. In Dragon's Kin, the people who have the authority to change this attitude learn of their true value when Kisk rescues miners.
The Characters
Kindan is the youngest in his family and after the tragedy, Master Zist takes him in and starts his training to become a harper.
Danil is Kindan's father and the WherHandler for Dask. Silstra is Kindan's sister and she marries Terregar. It's for their wedding that Dask performs his light show.
No one knows of Nuella's existence. She's blind and Master Natalon is terrified that she will impact badly on her siblings' chances of marriage let alone his subordinates wondering if he's capable of leading.
Master Zist and Kindan get a lift from Weyrleader M'tal and his dragon, Gaminth, when they go to fetch an egg from the watch-wher's clutch.
Zenor is a contemporary of Kindan and Nuella's. And secretly in love with Nuella. Tarik is Natalon's uncle and appears to be extremely disgruntled. Aleesa is a WherMaster and bonded with the last surviving queen watch-wher in Pern. Trader Tarri leads trading caravans to Natalon's Camp. Weyrleader D'gan of Telgar Weyr is another of the villains in this story.
The Cover and Title
It looks like Chinese mountains made of clouds with a central vertical panel of a watch-wher's egg opening in a nest of straw.
The title, Dragon's Kin is certainly appropriate.
imakandiway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
chlojewell's review against another edition
3.0
a sweet cozy little tale with way too much detail about how the camp is set up
orsuros's review against another edition
4.0
A good entry in the Pern series. It does much of what many of the good Pern books do by exploring the life of a few individuals and a community. I feel like the villain in this one was a little flatter than what you'll get in some of the other Pern books.
birdloveranne's review against another edition
5.0
This story was wonderful!!! I listened to the audio narrated by one of my favorites, Dick Hill. It was so wonderful to visit Pern again.
beccak24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-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
meredithrlyons's review against another edition
3.0
From what I've read, this is Todd McCaffrey's first joint effort with Anne at creating this world. I do feel that there is potential for him to grow, so I will probably read other books. I liked the characters and the story and I did enjoy reading it, but often the pacing was a bit clunky. In some spots, I felt like things resolved way too quickly, especially near the end.
Still, I loved learning more about the watch weirs and I always enjoy stories about different generations from passes/intervals prior to the Lessa/F'lar years.
Still, I loved learning more about the watch weirs and I always enjoy stories about different generations from passes/intervals prior to the Lessa/F'lar years.
taxideadaisy's review against another edition
3.0
It was OK. I wouldn't recommend it as a first or one of the first Pern books one reads. I was a fairly big fan of Anne McCaffrey a couple of decades ago, especially the Pern books. Saw this used recently and thought it might be fun to read a book about watch-whers and their people. It did fulfill that goal, plus some of the Pernese mining culture stuff was interesting.
It seemed like a slow starter, and I thought there were usually more visuals in Pern books. Overall I'm glad I read it, but very glad that I got it cheaply as a used paperback.
It seemed like a slow starter, and I thought there were usually more visuals in Pern books. Overall I'm glad I read it, but very glad that I got it cheaply as a used paperback.
dragononashelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25