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mal_eficent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Dragonquest should have a leg up on Dragonflight by virtue of not being three short stories smashed together - but this has always been the disappointing book of the first trilogy for me.
Originally I put it down to the pacing and plot being much 'drier' and the more obvious science fiction elements. On a reread I think it's mostly the men. F'nor and F'lar are such misogynistic dicks. I can appreciate parts of their character–and do enjoy them as characters–but their constant snide comments about women is infuriating. They focus how attractive they are or are just baffled by women existing and doing jobs–and the other men riders are no better. Not understanding a large chunk of how the world around you works is not a masculine flex.
Outside of that, this is a very politically driven story, with great world building that's grounded in the perspective of the characters. It doesn't feel like people have no agency in the plot and there is enough going on that it's not just a story following people along their daily lives on an alien planet (as the Harper Hall Trilogy does). Kylara is always one of my favourite Pern characters and she's used to great effect here.
Originally I put it down to the pacing and plot being much 'drier' and the more obvious science fiction elements. On a reread I think it's mostly the men. F'nor and F'lar are such misogynistic dicks. I can appreciate parts of their character–and do enjoy them as characters–but their constant snide comments about women is infuriating. They focus how attractive they are or are just baffled by women existing and doing jobs–and the other men riders are no better. Not understanding a large chunk of how the world around you works is not a masculine flex.
Outside of that, this is a very politically driven story, with great world building that's grounded in the perspective of the characters. It doesn't feel like people have no agency in the plot and there is enough going on that it's not just a story following people along their daily lives on an alien planet (as the Harper Hall Trilogy does). Kylara is always one of my favourite Pern characters and she's used to great effect here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse