storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
4.0
Star Rating: 3.75
I became a fan of Heather Fawcett after reading her Even the Darkest Stars YA duology and was thus eager to try her MG debut. While I found the beginning slow, particularly for a MG, the story itself is still delightful and has most of the hallmarks of a MG Fantasy, as well as the aspects I loved about her YA duology!
Ember, a dragon stuck in the body of a girl, is a heroine that I don't see a lot of in the MG I've read before. She's a bit unlikable at times, and very much treats her peers as something more to observe than anyone to actually establish relationships with. However, with how she was raised and the added barrier of actually being a different species beneath her skin, this makes perfect sense and I'm certain that this will strike home with middle grade audiences that have difficulty fitting into what they consider the mold of "normal". The story really takes off once Ember embarks on her mission during the Winterglass Hunt, as does her personal growth and development!
One of the strong hallmarks of this story, like Fawcett's previous works, is her clear knowledge of arctic terrain. Fawcett paints a vivid picture of these freezing landscapes, and it truly heightens the tension and danger of exploring them! She also does a wonderful job of creating a world that is simultaneously like our own historically, yet also a distinct alternate where all things magical are possible. The dichotomy of science and magic is a running theme for this world and it adds a level of friction to everything to have these two forces existing in tandem and opposition.
An interesting wintery read for middle grade audiences looking for righteous adventure!
I became a fan of Heather Fawcett after reading her Even the Darkest Stars YA duology and was thus eager to try her MG debut. While I found the beginning slow, particularly for a MG, the story itself is still delightful and has most of the hallmarks of a MG Fantasy, as well as the aspects I loved about her YA duology!
Ember, a dragon stuck in the body of a girl, is a heroine that I don't see a lot of in the MG I've read before. She's a bit unlikable at times, and very much treats her peers as something more to observe than anyone to actually establish relationships with. However, with how she was raised and the added barrier of actually being a different species beneath her skin, this makes perfect sense and I'm certain that this will strike home with middle grade audiences that have difficulty fitting into what they consider the mold of "normal". The story really takes off once Ember embarks on her mission during the Winterglass Hunt, as does her personal growth and development!
One of the strong hallmarks of this story, like Fawcett's previous works, is her clear knowledge of arctic terrain. Fawcett paints a vivid picture of these freezing landscapes, and it truly heightens the tension and danger of exploring them! She also does a wonderful job of creating a world that is simultaneously like our own historically, yet also a distinct alternate where all things magical are possible. The dichotomy of science and magic is a running theme for this world and it adds a level of friction to everything to have these two forces existing in tandem and opposition.
An interesting wintery read for middle grade audiences looking for righteous adventure!
aelumi's review against another edition
3.0
ever on the verge of finding something worth saying, this magical tale is heavily hindered by its increasingly relentless need for action. just let them chill for 2 seconds
marylee's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katwritesandreads7's review against another edition
I just just interest. Listening to this on audio isn't the best. I really recommend a physical copy
halcyon_rising's review against another edition
4.0
Als je de synopsis van het boek leest, merk je het al: dit boek is één lang avontuur vol met spannende momenten waarbij je tot de allerlaatste pagina op het tipje van je stoel zal zitten. Of je zetel, natuurlijk. ;)
En hoe.
Ik zou dit boek zeker aanraden aan mensen die graag meer boeken willen lezen over draken, en dat in een middlegrade setting.
Veel leesgenot!
Spoiler
Ember werd als baby vuurdraakje gevonden door een tovenaar stormmagiër, die haar omtoverde in een mensenkind. Wel, ongeveer dan toch. Ze heeft zichzelf de laatste tijd - dat is twaalf jaar later - niet zo goed in de hand, want ze barst af en toe in vlammen uit. Ember wil haar vader beschermen tegen zichzelf, en besluit dan maar naar Antarctica te verhuizen, waar er nauwelijks zonneschijn is om haar in brand te steken. Haar tante doet daar onderzoek naar ijsdraken. Maar zij is niet de enige persoon die geïnteresseerd is in die draken, want er hangen drakenjagers op de Zuidpool rond die op jacht zijn naar de ultieme trofee: een hartschub die veel geld waard is. Alle vuurdraken zijn al vermoord voor het kostbare item, en nu, als het van de jagers afhangt, is het de beurt aan de ijsdraken. Ember, met hulp van haar merkwaardige vrienden, zweert er echter een stokje voor te steken.En hoe.
Ik zou dit boek zeker aanraden aan mensen die graag meer boeken willen lezen over draken, en dat in een middlegrade setting.
Veel leesgenot!
libraryrabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
spilledsunbeams's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marineb09's review against another edition
4.0
I love Heather Fawcett's writing, I fell in love with her with her first series : Even the darkest star <3
I wanted to devour this one ; challenge completed ;)
Really cure middle grade story about Fire dragons, Ice dragons, friendship, father-daughter relationship, finding who you are ...
Easy to fell for it <3 Now it's your turn !
I wanted to devour this one ; challenge completed ;)
Really cure middle grade story about Fire dragons, Ice dragons, friendship, father-daughter relationship, finding who you are ...
Easy to fell for it <3 Now it's your turn !
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
"We do not like to kill, human child. Unless it is unavoidable. It goes against our code. Killing is the business of your kind."
I have long loved any kind of dragon story, and a five star review from Booktuber Emma convinced me to give this one a try. I also enjoy finding stories that turn the old human good dragon bad trope on its head. This one does it in a blend of fake science and fake history that make it riveting all the way through. In this story magic and science work together and it is set in the late days of the Victorian Era. We follow Ember, an orphaned fire dragon, who was rescued and transformed into a human child by a young sorcerer who claims her as his child. As she grows, Ember is constantly getting into trouble for suddenly igniting herself and others. To save her from prying eyes, her father sends her to visit his sister, a scientist working in Antarctica (in the history of this universe, Antarctica is part of the British Empire). He figures randomly starting fires won't be as big an issue in the snow. But no sooner does she arrived than she discovered the existence of a species of ice dragons which noblemen, headed by the evil Prince Cronus and his unpleasant son Gideon, hunt periodically in order to harvest their precious scales. Along with two new friends, Nisha and Moss, Ember determines to join the hunt and sabotage it. But there is more than one group at work. Critiques of colonialism and the consumerist treatment of animals. I won't go any further in to spoiler territory but a shocking twist at the end reveals the true monster and paints dragons in a light similar to Native Americans or other indigenous cultures around the world. But I cannot recommend it enough and I hope the author will write a sequel!
I have long loved any kind of dragon story, and a five star review from Booktuber Emma convinced me to give this one a try. I also enjoy finding stories that turn the old human good dragon bad trope on its head. This one does it in a blend of fake science and fake history that make it riveting all the way through. In this story magic and science work together and it is set in the late days of the Victorian Era. We follow Ember, an orphaned fire dragon, who was rescued and transformed into a human child by a young sorcerer who claims her as his child. As she grows, Ember is constantly getting into trouble for suddenly igniting herself and others. To save her from prying eyes, her father sends her to visit his sister, a scientist working in Antarctica (in the history of this universe, Antarctica is part of the British Empire). He figures randomly starting fires won't be as big an issue in the snow. But no sooner does she arrived than she discovered the existence of a species of ice dragons which noblemen, headed by the evil Prince Cronus and his unpleasant son Gideon, hunt periodically in order to harvest their precious scales. Along with two new friends, Nisha and Moss, Ember determines to join the hunt and sabotage it. But there is more than one group at work. Critiques of colonialism and the consumerist treatment of animals. I won't go any further in to spoiler territory but a shocking twist at the end reveals the true monster and paints dragons in a light similar to Native Americans or other indigenous cultures around the world. But I cannot recommend it enough and I hope the author will write a sequel!