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joabroda's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this story(written as memoir) of Lady Trent ( Isabella) and her very first foray to study dragons in the wild.
Isabella recollects her beginnings as a "misfit" in a world where women are expected to be demure. spend their life weaving or stitching and basically be arm candy for their husband. When the time comes for Isabella to be put on display, in hopes a finding a husband, she is most fortunate to find a man who can be her friend and one who most importantly allows her to read and express opinions.
After wedding, Isabella convinces her husband to take her along as he heads out on a expedition to study Dragons. Isabella has been interested in the subject since she was a child and longs to see a Dragon up close and draw and study them.
Their adventure into the wilds turns into upset when mishaps and missed connections interfere. There is the mystery of their missing guide and then the unthinkable, attacks upon persons by the dragons.
Brennan's characters and writing are marvelous. If you can suspend the disbelief in dragons the book is a wonderful memoir of a strong, independent woman. I loved it!
Isabella recollects her beginnings as a "misfit" in a world where women are expected to be demure. spend their life weaving or stitching and basically be arm candy for their husband. When the time comes for Isabella to be put on display, in hopes a finding a husband, she is most fortunate to find a man who can be her friend and one who most importantly allows her to read and express opinions.
After wedding, Isabella convinces her husband to take her along as he heads out on a expedition to study Dragons. Isabella has been interested in the subject since she was a child and longs to see a Dragon up close and draw and study them.
Their adventure into the wilds turns into upset when mishaps and missed connections interfere. There is the mystery of their missing guide and then the unthinkable, attacks upon persons by the dragons.
Brennan's characters and writing are marvelous. If you can suspend the disbelief in dragons the book is a wonderful memoir of a strong, independent woman. I loved it!
mishka_'s review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
a_leo_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Wow
This novel was absolutely incredible.
The author had such a powerful and beautiful way of writing!
And the narrator of the audio book did an excellent job.
Wow
This novel was absolutely incredible.
The author had such a powerful and beautiful way of writing!
And the narrator of the audio book did an excellent job.
Wow
victoriacampbell28's review
adventurous
informative
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? No
4.0
raechsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-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
4.0
A world where there are dragons and a young woman's fascination with them. At the same time, the woman finds herself drawn to science and not the "normal" womanly hobbies. The book follows her journey of inspecting the world, especially the travel to see real dragons.
sdloomer's review
3.0
--3/5 stars--
Solid. The perfect word to end this book on! Before I continue, three out of five stars absolutely does not mean anything bad. It means precisely what Goodreads says it does: I liked it.
To begin with, I found the writing style incredibly charming, with just the right amount of historical fiction-y sass: jokes and jabs at Society, clothing, and what the hell is considered "proper". I can't exactly say anything more on it because I'm not much more familiar with historical fiction (as a proper genre. Although this is more fantasy, it's clearly written as a memoir with implications that the reader is already familiar with the world.)
I would like to point out that this is, first and foremost, a memoir. Which I anticipated, so I did not begin this with the expectation of reading something similar to Eragon. Lady Trent takes us on a severely personal journey of her life, and dragons just so happen to play a major part in it--not the other way around. It began slowly, as most memoirs do, with the introduction of family and persons of interest who eventually grew to be more influential in her quest to become a scholar, and slowly eased us into her first adventure, after which she had no doubt that studying dragons was going to be her lifelong pursuit. I've noticed a lot of reviewers stating that this book was "too slow", but I would implore them to remember that this is a history of someone's life. Not every instant is going to be filled with action and intensity.
But why the three stars? I had no qualms with this book, no complaints (with some minor exceptions that had to do with the end), and nothing that irritated me enough to stop reading. It was that Lady Trent is sometimes an idiot, for lack of a better word. While in reality, I understand that sometimes bad decisions fuel the plot along, some of the actions Lady Trent takes are downright...??? I am astounded she didn't die by the middle of the book, but I suppose that would have left readers extremely unsatisfied. I am also aware that she is only nineteen years old at the time of the adventure, but she managed to display incredible maturity during most of the book--which led me to believe that she wasn't like most nineteen-year-olds. But I suppose everyone has their off days.
Regardless, I did enjoy reading this, even if it did take me two weeks to do it (blame adulting), and I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
Solid. The perfect word to end this book on! Before I continue, three out of five stars absolutely does not mean anything bad. It means precisely what Goodreads says it does: I liked it.
To begin with, I found the writing style incredibly charming, with just the right amount of historical fiction-y sass: jokes and jabs at Society, clothing, and what the hell is considered "proper". I can't exactly say anything more on it because I'm not much more familiar with historical fiction (as a proper genre. Although this is more fantasy, it's clearly written as a memoir with implications that the reader is already familiar with the world.)
I would like to point out that this is, first and foremost, a memoir. Which I anticipated, so I did not begin this with the expectation of reading something similar to Eragon. Lady Trent takes us on a severely personal journey of her life, and dragons just so happen to play a major part in it--not the other way around. It began slowly, as most memoirs do, with the introduction of family and persons of interest who eventually grew to be more influential in her quest to become a scholar, and slowly eased us into her first adventure, after which she had no doubt that studying dragons was going to be her lifelong pursuit. I've noticed a lot of reviewers stating that this book was "too slow", but I would implore them to remember that this is a history of someone's life. Not every instant is going to be filled with action and intensity.
But why the three stars? I had no qualms with this book, no complaints (with some minor exceptions that had to do with the end), and nothing that irritated me enough to stop reading. It was that Lady Trent is sometimes an idiot, for lack of a better word. While in reality, I understand that sometimes bad decisions fuel the plot along, some of the actions Lady Trent takes are downright...??? I am astounded she didn't die by the middle of the book, but I suppose that would have left readers extremely unsatisfied. I am also aware that she is only nineteen years old at the time of the adventure, but she managed to display incredible maturity during most of the book--which led me to believe that she wasn't like most nineteen-year-olds. But I suppose everyone has their off days.
Regardless, I did enjoy reading this, even if it did take me two weeks to do it (blame adulting), and I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
mayah's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
4.0
kcrawfish's review
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable, this book is a memoir in an old, Victorian Era hand (old-feeling writing is something I love as a fan of Austen, Stoker, and the Brontes). A well know dragonologist looks back over her sordid career as a scientist, beginning at the beginning, with her childhood and first foray into the field.
Iron, steam, matchmaking, horseback, drawings, journals, stolen books, and anatomy lend this fantastical read a grounded feel, and this is simply the first taste, a set up for the exciting career and adventures to follow.
Our protagonist is plucky and likable, and she is brave enough to ask for what she wants and go out to seize it. She has a loving husband in this book and a strong supporting cast of characters to delve into the mystery. I enjoyed watching the tale untangle. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Iron, steam, matchmaking, horseback, drawings, journals, stolen books, and anatomy lend this fantastical read a grounded feel, and this is simply the first taste, a set up for the exciting career and adventures to follow.
Our protagonist is plucky and likable, and she is brave enough to ask for what she wants and go out to seize it. She has a loving husband in this book and a strong supporting cast of characters to delve into the mystery. I enjoyed watching the tale untangle. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
antobb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
wedgelovespizza's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0