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A review by itskoo
The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen
3.0
**I was provided a copy of the book through Netgalley for an honest review.**
When things start to go missing in the small village of Ynys, local knight Violet must venture to meet the dragon living nearby to retrieve the items. The dragon, being of a good temper, is usually more than willing to return the items upon Violet’s requests. When the baker goes missing, Violet’s first inclination is to seek out the dragon. But, when the baker is still nowhere to be found, it is up to Violet, the dragon, and the baker’s wife to figure out what has become of the baker, leading them on an adventure beyond the borders of the village where they meet new people and other creatures.
Snap the dragon is the standout character in this novella. He talks and has a rather good disposition--he’s never once tried to eat Sir Violet. He likes shiny and sparkly things, which is why things often go missing. More importantly, the things he says are amusing. One of my favorite lines is a poke at the village and the mayor, “I suppose that in a place like your village, that chain really is the only perk of being mayor. Far be it from me to take that joy away.” I would greatly enjoy conversing with Snap. He would be wonderful company and I would come out of it alive.
Dealing with strangers and a dragon that hoard only serves as surface-level concerns. There are multiple layers revealed when the baker goes missing and Violet, Snap, and Holly go on their search. At the heart of this fairytale is acceptance, from those around you and yourself. It’s about individuals trying to fit in by their own standards, rather than the standards of others. It’s also about listening, being able to see beyond your worries or interests so you can better understand those around you, to hear what they say and what they do not say…because what they are unable to vocalize may be just as important if not more so.
The book has LGBTQIA+ representation along with ARO-ACE representation, which is not as common as it should be. It is an enjoyable read—I also really liked the narration—that actively encourages readers to ponder the lessons it imparts for far longer than the nearly 100 pages that it makes up.
When things start to go missing in the small village of Ynys, local knight Violet must venture to meet the dragon living nearby to retrieve the items. The dragon, being of a good temper, is usually more than willing to return the items upon Violet’s requests. When the baker goes missing, Violet’s first inclination is to seek out the dragon. But, when the baker is still nowhere to be found, it is up to Violet, the dragon, and the baker’s wife to figure out what has become of the baker, leading them on an adventure beyond the borders of the village where they meet new people and other creatures.
Snap the dragon is the standout character in this novella. He talks and has a rather good disposition--he’s never once tried to eat Sir Violet. He likes shiny and sparkly things, which is why things often go missing. More importantly, the things he says are amusing. One of my favorite lines is a poke at the village and the mayor, “I suppose that in a place like your village, that chain really is the only perk of being mayor. Far be it from me to take that joy away.” I would greatly enjoy conversing with Snap. He would be wonderful company and I would come out of it alive.
Dealing with strangers and a dragon that hoard only serves as surface-level concerns. There are multiple layers revealed when the baker goes missing and Violet, Snap, and Holly go on their search. At the heart of this fairytale is acceptance, from those around you and yourself. It’s about individuals trying to fit in by their own standards, rather than the standards of others. It’s also about listening, being able to see beyond your worries or interests so you can better understand those around you, to hear what they say and what they do not say…because what they are unable to vocalize may be just as important if not more so.
The book has LGBTQIA+ representation along with ARO-ACE representation, which is not as common as it should be. It is an enjoyable read—I also really liked the narration—that actively encourages readers to ponder the lessons it imparts for far longer than the nearly 100 pages that it makes up.