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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Good book. It does seem to rush the ending but that is more common in the 70s. Looking forward to finally reading this series.
Dragonsong is a charming book. I actually very much like it, while for the previous Pern books (the Dragonrider ones) leave me a bit cold in comparison. It helps that the book generally sticks to Menolly for a main character, and when the POV switches, there is both good reason for it, and it doesn't last so very long in another person's POV. Menolly is also a character one can't help but cheer on, especially when she's faced in a situation that seems very much hopeless from the beginning.
The plot is fairly tight and woven well. Basically, Menolly is a gifted musician whose talents are snuffed to the point of extinction by her family who does not approve of a girl becoming a Harper (since such things weren't done--yes, it's that type of book). She runs off, finds herself amidst a group of fire lizards (which are like miniature dragons), and manages to bond with some of them. Eventually she finds herself in a new place, and strives to find her own spot within it.
The plot is fairly simple, but it works. Menolly appeals to the reader--she's strong and beaten down, but she never really gives up, even when everything seems to be going against her. The fire lizards are playful and charming and I couldn't help but love them (though that was, uh, really expected of myself). The book had good pacing once you get over the somewhat slow beginning, and it really picked up steam once you hit the fire lizards.
It's definitely not perfect though. Cliches abound and the writing is good, but not great (dare I say mediocre? Heh). The beginning was slow, and I found myself not really connecting to any of the characters except for Menolly. It did make me happy to read, however. About 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
The plot is fairly tight and woven well. Basically, Menolly is a gifted musician whose talents are snuffed to the point of extinction by her family who does not approve of a girl becoming a Harper (since such things weren't done--yes, it's that type of book). She runs off, finds herself amidst a group of fire lizards (which are like miniature dragons), and manages to bond with some of them. Eventually she finds herself in a new place, and strives to find her own spot within it.
The plot is fairly simple, but it works. Menolly appeals to the reader--she's strong and beaten down, but she never really gives up, even when everything seems to be going against her. The fire lizards are playful and charming and I couldn't help but love them (though that was, uh, really expected of myself). The book had good pacing once you get over the somewhat slow beginning, and it really picked up steam once you hit the fire lizards.
It's definitely not perfect though. Cliches abound and the writing is good, but not great (dare I say mediocre? Heh). The beginning was slow, and I found myself not really connecting to any of the characters except for Menolly. It did make me happy to read, however. About 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 7/10
Menolly is the emotional backbone of this story—and thank the egg for her, because without her we’d be stuck with a cast flatter than a Thread-scorched plainscape. Yes, she’s talented and repressed and all things tragic-girl-in-a-patriarchal-nightmare, but she’s also a bit too much of a wish-fulfillment savant. I mean, how many prodigy points can one person rack up before it feels engineered? Everyone else is either cartoonishly cruel (Yanus, I’m looking at your boot-stomping self) or exists solely to validate Menolly’s greatness. The secondary characters barely have time to blink before they start praising her musical genius. It’s less character development, more praise-bombing.
Menolly is the emotional backbone of this story—and thank the egg for her, because without her we’d be stuck with a cast flatter than a Thread-scorched plainscape. Yes, she’s talented and repressed and all things tragic-girl-in-a-patriarchal-nightmare, but she’s also a bit too much of a wish-fulfillment savant. I mean, how many prodigy points can one person rack up before it feels engineered? Everyone else is either cartoonishly cruel (Yanus, I’m looking at your boot-stomping self) or exists solely to validate Menolly’s greatness. The secondary characters barely have time to blink before they start praising her musical genius. It’s less character development, more praise-bombing.
Atmosphere / Setting: 6/10
Pern is… fine. There are dragons, yes, and cool post-apocalyptic vibes, but McCaffrey doesn’t show much of it here. Most of the book takes place in a damp cave with a girl eating seaweed and naming fire lizards like she’s running an Instagram pet account. I got tired of the gray, the rain, the same damn coastal scenery. When the book finally moves to the Weyr, it’s like someone flipped the light switch—but too late. The setting had already done its best to lull me into a stupor. This could’ve been so much more epic, but instead it felt like being stuck on the least exciting island in a world of dragonriders.
Pern is… fine. There are dragons, yes, and cool post-apocalyptic vibes, but McCaffrey doesn’t show much of it here. Most of the book takes place in a damp cave with a girl eating seaweed and naming fire lizards like she’s running an Instagram pet account. I got tired of the gray, the rain, the same damn coastal scenery. When the book finally moves to the Weyr, it’s like someone flipped the light switch—but too late. The setting had already done its best to lull me into a stupor. This could’ve been so much more epic, but instead it felt like being stuck on the least exciting island in a world of dragonriders.
Writing Style: 6/10
McCaffrey’s prose has its lyrical moments, but let’s be real—this book is repetitive. The internal monologues, the over-description of minor tasks (did I really need three pages about gathering grasses?), and the endless hand-wringing over whether Menolly’s music is appropriate got old fast. And the dialogue? Weirdly stilted. Everyone talks like they’re rehearsing for a Harper Hall morality play. The narrative voice can’t decide if it’s deep introspection or Harper-approved exposition dump. Pick a lane.
McCaffrey’s prose has its lyrical moments, but let’s be real—this book is repetitive. The internal monologues, the over-description of minor tasks (did I really need three pages about gathering grasses?), and the endless hand-wringing over whether Menolly’s music is appropriate got old fast. And the dialogue? Weirdly stilted. Everyone talks like they’re rehearsing for a Harper Hall morality play. The narrative voice can’t decide if it’s deep introspection or Harper-approved exposition dump. Pick a lane.
Plot: 5/10
Here’s the thing—Dragonsong doesn’t have a plot so much as it has a very long, emotionally fraught walk to Harper Hall. The stakes are largely internal, which is fine, except when they’re also painfully slow. Half the book is Menolly hiding, feeding lizards, hiding again, writing music, hiding some more, almost dying (but not really), and then finally getting noticed by the one group of people in the entire planet who think girls playing music is acceptable. There’s no twist, no villain (unless you count “the system”), and the story arc is basically “sad musical girl levels up.” It’s a vibe, not a plot.
Here’s the thing—Dragonsong doesn’t have a plot so much as it has a very long, emotionally fraught walk to Harper Hall. The stakes are largely internal, which is fine, except when they’re also painfully slow. Half the book is Menolly hiding, feeding lizards, hiding again, writing music, hiding some more, almost dying (but not really), and then finally getting noticed by the one group of people in the entire planet who think girls playing music is acceptable. There’s no twist, no villain (unless you count “the system”), and the story arc is basically “sad musical girl levels up.” It’s a vibe, not a plot.
Intrigue: 5/10
Let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t a page-turner. It’s a “keep reading because you want to care” kind of book. There are moments of tension, sure: Will she be found? Will Thread eat her face off? But McCaffrey undermines these with pacing that drags harder than a wounded dragon. By the time something exciting happens, you’ve waded through pages of self-doubt, lizard-feeding, and sighing. The only thing that truly hooked me was the moment the fire lizards started humming—and even then, it felt like a reward for surviving the slog.
Let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t a page-turner. It’s a “keep reading because you want to care” kind of book. There are moments of tension, sure: Will she be found? Will Thread eat her face off? But McCaffrey undermines these with pacing that drags harder than a wounded dragon. By the time something exciting happens, you’ve waded through pages of self-doubt, lizard-feeding, and sighing. The only thing that truly hooked me was the moment the fire lizards started humming—and even then, it felt like a reward for surviving the slog.
Logic / Relationships: 7/10
The worldbuilding should be solid—it’s part of a massive series—but here, things get shaky. Pern’s misogyny is well-established, but Menolly being the only girl with this talent who’s been completely shut down feels weirdly convenient. The logic of “no women Harpers allowed” is delivered with a sledgehammer and then conveniently overturned the second Robinton shows up and goes, “But what if… yes?” Relationship-wise, most people exist just to dunk on Menolly or prop her up. There’s not much nuance. Give me one complex emotional relationship, please. Just one.
The worldbuilding should be solid—it’s part of a massive series—but here, things get shaky. Pern’s misogyny is well-established, but Menolly being the only girl with this talent who’s been completely shut down feels weirdly convenient. The logic of “no women Harpers allowed” is delivered with a sledgehammer and then conveniently overturned the second Robinton shows up and goes, “But what if… yes?” Relationship-wise, most people exist just to dunk on Menolly or prop her up. There’s not much nuance. Give me one complex emotional relationship, please. Just one.
Enjoyment: 6/10
Did I enjoy it? In parts. I loved the music, the fire lizards, and the central theme of clawing your way out of a suffocating life through raw talent. But I also got bored. I rolled my eyes a lot. I skimmed the third cave-feeding scene because nothing new was happening. The emotional payoff is sweet, but getting there required slogging through too much repetition and not enough action. Would I reread it? Unlikely. Recommend it? Only to someone already invested in the world of Pern or starved for a female protagonist with a harp and a grudge.
Did I enjoy it? In parts. I loved the music, the fire lizards, and the central theme of clawing your way out of a suffocating life through raw talent. But I also got bored. I rolled my eyes a lot. I skimmed the third cave-feeding scene because nothing new was happening. The emotional payoff is sweet, but getting there required slogging through too much repetition and not enough action. Would I reread it? Unlikely. Recommend it? Only to someone already invested in the world of Pern or starved for a female protagonist with a harp and a grudge.
Final Score: 6.3/10
This book plays a beautiful note—but it hits it over and over again until it echoes into tedium. I wanted to love it. Instead, I tolerated it until the ending finally gave me what I was promised: dragons, music, and a glimmer of freedom.
This book plays a beautiful note—but it hits it over and over again until it echoes into tedium. I wanted to love it. Instead, I tolerated it until the ending finally gave me what I was promised: dragons, music, and a glimmer of freedom.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Dragonsong doesn't feature overt violence or explicit content, but the emotional tone is heavy with repression, isolation, and systemic gender-based control. Menolly’s suffering is often psychological—ostracization, dismissal, and denial of her talents due to her gender. The abuse from her family is more emotional and controlling than physical, but it's persistent and damaging. Anyone sensitive to themes of parental neglect or being silenced for who they are should take note.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Out of all of the Dragonriders of Pern books, these are my favorite. I've read them many times, but they're still a pleasure to re-read. I like the world building that occurs in Anne McCaffrey's other Pern books, but these are fun without being too dense or heavy.
adventurous
hopeful
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:
No