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A review by cacia
Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis
1.0
When I first read this story in sixth or seventh grade, I found it riveting. It was my first taste of fantasy fiction, and I could hardly put the book down. Revisiting it now that I have some life experience and know what good writing actually is, this is terrible. If I need to give someone an example of bad writing that actually got published, this is what I point them to. (What is even more appalling is that his publication has led to Mr. Davis teaching writing at seminars.) I simply cannot rate this book highly just for nostalgia or for my initial enthusiasm — it really is dreadful.
It’s a pity that I can no longer appreciate this series, because through it and the message board associated with it I met many friends, discovered the fantasy genre, learned about NaNoWriMo, and was encouraged to read the gem that is [b:The Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566425108l/33._SX50_.jpg|3462456].
My life was indeed enriched by this series, yet not because of the books but because of the community I found through them. The test of time can be a harsh one: I have matured and these books have not. They grow more cringe-inducing with each passing year. Now, I have traded in this series at the used book store in exchange for [b:The Odyssey|1381|The Odyssey|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390173285l/1381._SY75_.jpg|3356006], [b:The Aeneid|12916|The Aeneid|Virgil|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924668l/12916._SY75_.jpg|288738], [b:The Divine Comedy I: Hell|19152|The Divine Comedy I Hell|Dante Alighieri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435940148l/19152._SY75_.jpg|2377563], and [b:Hamlet|1433|Hamlet|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309282405l/1433._SY75_.jpg|1885548], four books I shall carry with me for the rest of my life.
It’s a pity that I can no longer appreciate this series, because through it and the message board associated with it I met many friends, discovered the fantasy genre, learned about NaNoWriMo, and was encouraged to read the gem that is [b:The Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566425108l/33._SX50_.jpg|3462456].
My life was indeed enriched by this series, yet not because of the books but because of the community I found through them. The test of time can be a harsh one: I have matured and these books have not. They grow more cringe-inducing with each passing year. Now, I have traded in this series at the used book store in exchange for [b:The Odyssey|1381|The Odyssey|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390173285l/1381._SY75_.jpg|3356006], [b:The Aeneid|12916|The Aeneid|Virgil|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924668l/12916._SY75_.jpg|288738], [b:The Divine Comedy I: Hell|19152|The Divine Comedy I Hell|Dante Alighieri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435940148l/19152._SY75_.jpg|2377563], and [b:Hamlet|1433|Hamlet|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309282405l/1433._SY75_.jpg|1885548], four books I shall carry with me for the rest of my life.