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jkrue's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
orsuros's review against another edition
4.0
A great fantasy coming of age story. There are plenty of highs and lows that show how much the main character develops.
rhrie38's review against another edition
The assault seen was handled poorly, also it just felt like absolutely nothing was happening
mathmatical's review against another edition
2.0
1.5. Wow this book REEKED. For a story about a girl training to be a dragon rider there sure wasn’t a lot of training or dragons until the second half. It just felt there was no urgency, too long between action sequence, characters are forgettable and it’s biggest issue, the dialogue. It feels characters aren’t talking like they’re having a conversation, they’re talking just to dump lore about the setting. Everything feels so impersonal between characters to the point where things feel like they’re being said just to move the plot forward, not because it’s what the character would said. Just a general lack of antagonist force so everything feels like it’s going no where until around 300 pages. I can’t like or recommend a book that takes 300 pages before I feel any tension or reason to care about the cast. Would pass on this one, it’s just not worth the read.
bookishblondegirl's review against another edition
3.0
I’m quite conflicted because while I really enjoyed the plot and liked the main character, there was also slut-shaming and victim blaming in this that felt out of place and extremely unnecessary to the plot
cinnabon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
waclements7's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this -- it's the first book I've read by this author and I am so glad he has more dragon books!
Ileth is a good character -- she's smart and resourceful, and also a bit unlucky. But it always works out in the end. This really kept my attention and the characters are well developed, from the dragons to the secondary characters. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Highly recommended for fans of dragon books and gutsy female leads.
Ileth is a good character -- she's smart and resourceful, and also a bit unlucky. But it always works out in the end. This really kept my attention and the characters are well developed, from the dragons to the secondary characters. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Highly recommended for fans of dragon books and gutsy female leads.
justjoel's review against another edition
2.0
This was just okay.
While I liked the main character, there were enough irritating things about her to put me on the fence about continuing to read more of the series.
It often felt like this wasn't a cohesive story, but a novel made up of smaller short stories that were joined together to appear cohesive. There were a few minor discrepancies that might be explained if this is truly what happened. Either way, it felt like Ileth never really learned anything about her own behavior. She would repeat the same mistakes without any indication that she realized what the consequences might be. And there always seemed to be a miraculous coincidence in the wings to bail her out of trouble should it get too close.
I found these things irritating enough that I probably won't continue the series. If I do, it'll only be borrowing the remainder through the library, as I think I'd kick myself for buying these.
2 out of 5 stars.
While I liked the main character, there were enough irritating things about her to put me on the fence about continuing to read more of the series.
It often felt like this wasn't a cohesive story, but a novel made up of smaller short stories that were joined together to appear cohesive. There were a few minor discrepancies that might be explained if this is truly what happened. Either way, it felt like Ileth never really learned anything about her own behavior. She would repeat the same mistakes without any indication that she realized what the consequences might be. And there always seemed to be a miraculous coincidence in the wings to bail her out of trouble should it get too close.
I found these things irritating enough that I probably won't continue the series. If I do, it'll only be borrowing the remainder through the library, as I think I'd kick myself for buying these.
2 out of 5 stars.
blok_sera_szwajcarskiego's review against another edition
4.0
[FIRST TIME RATING AND REVIEW] 4,25⭐
Okay, I will admit, this rating has a little trust credit in it. "Novice Dragoneer" is written in absolutely astonishing way, from beautiful language, through amazing world-building to probably the best character development I have ever seen. This is not a next story about academic adventures of chosen one, absolutely - it's slow and leveling journey, where main character learns how to be confident and strong. There are no magical powers that makes her better, there are no prophecies nor plot twists that would put her higher than the rest of characters. No, there is just character development, the brilliant and touching one.
The trust credit is that unfortunately the language used here was really advanced. Astonishing, but hard to read for not-native speaker. I feel like I missed so many things because of it. Maybe I will come back to this story later, if it will ever be translated or when my language will be better. But this is the only "bad" thing I can say about "Novice Dragoneer". In every other aspect it is marvelous book and I adore it.
[SECOND TIME RATING AND REVIEW] 3,75–4⭐
I wasn't planning on rereading this book so soon (if you can name a year and a half "soon"), but everytime I looked upon my bookshelf it stared at me back. I absolutely didn't remember anything, besides that language in which it was written was... troubling.
Oh, and that there are dragons.
From the first reading I remembered feeling of enchantment. Not understanding what's happening, but feeling emotions behind the plot. So this time I put weight on focusing what am I reading and what's happening.
The story itself is still interesting, and Ileth's character development is something that makes the foundation of "Novice Dragoneer" solid. I very much liked that she is no chosen one, she does not have any awakened powers discovered during training nor happens to be a daughter of the Very Important Person™. She's there to be around dragons, and it doesn't matter what role she has to play to achieve thay. She accepts what fate gives her, and that's a great way to make her character.
The language is what made this adventure hard. Oh, how many times I wished it was translated into Polish, because gods dammit I really thought I would never get to an end. It's stylised and poignant, which aren't disadvantages, yet they are not helping, either. I don't think I will ever have strength in myself to go through this for the third time.
It's definitely a solid book about dragons, not the typical academy-type of fantasy – despite looking like one. Am I astonished like after the first time? Not really. Probably because I caught myself at remembering a lot more actions than I gave myself credit in the first place. Or perhaps because this story enchants only the new comers. But I'm pretty happy because of this reread, as now I can consciously talk about it.
Okay, I will admit, this rating has a little trust credit in it. "Novice Dragoneer" is written in absolutely astonishing way, from beautiful language, through amazing world-building to probably the best character development I have ever seen. This is not a next story about academic adventures of chosen one, absolutely - it's slow and leveling journey, where main character learns how to be confident and strong. There are no magical powers that makes her better, there are no prophecies nor plot twists that would put her higher than the rest of characters. No, there is just character development, the brilliant and touching one.
The trust credit is that unfortunately the language used here was really advanced. Astonishing, but hard to read for not-native speaker. I feel like I missed so many things because of it. Maybe I will come back to this story later, if it will ever be translated or when my language will be better. But this is the only "bad" thing I can say about "Novice Dragoneer". In every other aspect it is marvelous book and I adore it.
[SECOND TIME RATING AND REVIEW] 3,75–4⭐
I wasn't planning on rereading this book so soon (if you can name a year and a half "soon"), but everytime I looked upon my bookshelf it stared at me back. I absolutely didn't remember anything, besides that language in which it was written was... troubling.
Oh, and that there are dragons.
From the first reading I remembered feeling of enchantment. Not understanding what's happening, but feeling emotions behind the plot. So this time I put weight on focusing what am I reading and what's happening.
The story itself is still interesting, and Ileth's character development is something that makes the foundation of "Novice Dragoneer" solid. I very much liked that she is no chosen one, she does not have any awakened powers discovered during training nor happens to be a daughter of the Very Important Person™. She's there to be around dragons, and it doesn't matter what role she has to play to achieve thay. She accepts what fate gives her, and that's a great way to make her character.
The language is what made this adventure hard. Oh, how many times I wished it was translated into Polish, because gods dammit I really thought I would never get to an end. It's stylised and poignant, which aren't disadvantages, yet they are not helping, either. I don't think I will ever have strength in myself to go through this for the third time.
It's definitely a solid book about dragons, not the typical academy-type of fantasy – despite looking like one. Am I astonished like after the first time? Not really. Probably because I caught myself at remembering a lot more actions than I gave myself credit in the first place. Or perhaps because this story enchants only the new comers. But I'm pretty happy because of this reread, as now I can consciously talk about it.