si0bhan's review
3.0
Since the start of the month (we’re nine days in at the time of me writing this review), I have read ten books. However, only one of them has managed to pull a four-star rating from me – the other nine have been one-star, two-star, and three-star ratings. I’m starting to believe I’m in a bit of a reading funk. I’m going to blame this funk on the reason why I decided to round this rating down instead of up. By this point in the Dragon School series, it is clear I’m enjoying the stories. However, my reading funk had me hoping for more from this one than I was given.
Dragon School: First Flight, book one, sucked me completely into the world – it was so much more than I’d expected, and I couldn’t wait to get more. Dragon School: Initiate, book two, sucked me in even deeper – it showed me there was more to the story than I’d originally thought, ensuring I would pick up the next. Dragon School: The Dark Prince, book three, was a very important book in the series – it may not have been my favourite book, but it was vital to the overall story. Dragon School: The Ruby Isles, book four, continues to move things forward in a wonderful way – it may not be my favourite of the stories, but it is another important addition. Dragon School: Sword, book five, was another brilliant read, adding more to the series – it was also the book that reminded me why I was following the series in the first place, pulling me back in after a short hiatus.
Dragon School: Dusk Covenant, book six, added plenty of new twists – more than enough to ensure I remained ensnared with the story. Dragon School: First Message, book seven, brought even more to the table – more was added to the storyline, plenty of things leaving me curious as to what would come next. Dragon School: Warring Promises, book eight, left on a serious cliff-hanger – all the books leave on a cliff-hanger, but this was probably the biggest of them all. Dragon School: Prince of Dragons, book nine, was one of my least favourites in the series, but it continued to move things forward for us.
Dragon School: Dark Night, book ten, was one of my favourites in the series, increasing the level of intensity and leaving us with so many expectations. Dragon School: Bright Hopes, book eleven, was a pivotal book in the series, giving us so many new twists and making so many promises for the future. Dragon School: Mark of Loyalty, book twelve, blew all the prior books out of the water, earning it the label as my favourite in the series. Dragon School: Dire Quests, book thirteen, didn’t quite live up to the potential, but I did give it a rounded up three-point-five-star rating. Dragon School: Ancient Allies, book fourteen, was another rounded up rating. Dragon School: Pipe of Wings, book fifteen, was my least favourite, one I was unable to round up despite my desire to do so. Dragon School: Dragon Piper came close to being rounded up, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so – yes, it was more enjoyable than Pipe of Wings, but it wasn’t quite to the same standard as the rest of the series.
I found myself hoping for a little bit more from Dragon School: Dragon Piper than I was given. It had the usual Dragon School fun – plenty of action, the story moved forward, some twists were thrown in, and we’re left curious as to how everything comes together – yet I found myself expecting more intensity from the story, especially with how close we are to the ending. Things were really explosive at the start of the series, yet as we’re reaching a conclusion the events don’t quite seem to be packing the same punch. Things are still fun, but they’re not as intense as I’d hoped they would be. Perhaps the high early on was too high, making it difficult for things to get much higher. I hope such is not the case, though, as the series continues to offer plenty of promise for how everything will come together.
Although Dragon School: Dragon Piper was not my favourite in the series, it’s certainly an enjoyable read. If you’ve followed the series this far, you need to see how everything comes together.
Dragon School: First Flight, book one, sucked me completely into the world – it was so much more than I’d expected, and I couldn’t wait to get more. Dragon School: Initiate, book two, sucked me in even deeper – it showed me there was more to the story than I’d originally thought, ensuring I would pick up the next. Dragon School: The Dark Prince, book three, was a very important book in the series – it may not have been my favourite book, but it was vital to the overall story. Dragon School: The Ruby Isles, book four, continues to move things forward in a wonderful way – it may not be my favourite of the stories, but it is another important addition. Dragon School: Sword, book five, was another brilliant read, adding more to the series – it was also the book that reminded me why I was following the series in the first place, pulling me back in after a short hiatus.
Dragon School: Dusk Covenant, book six, added plenty of new twists – more than enough to ensure I remained ensnared with the story. Dragon School: First Message, book seven, brought even more to the table – more was added to the storyline, plenty of things leaving me curious as to what would come next. Dragon School: Warring Promises, book eight, left on a serious cliff-hanger – all the books leave on a cliff-hanger, but this was probably the biggest of them all. Dragon School: Prince of Dragons, book nine, was one of my least favourites in the series, but it continued to move things forward for us.
Dragon School: Dark Night, book ten, was one of my favourites in the series, increasing the level of intensity and leaving us with so many expectations. Dragon School: Bright Hopes, book eleven, was a pivotal book in the series, giving us so many new twists and making so many promises for the future. Dragon School: Mark of Loyalty, book twelve, blew all the prior books out of the water, earning it the label as my favourite in the series. Dragon School: Dire Quests, book thirteen, didn’t quite live up to the potential, but I did give it a rounded up three-point-five-star rating. Dragon School: Ancient Allies, book fourteen, was another rounded up rating. Dragon School: Pipe of Wings, book fifteen, was my least favourite, one I was unable to round up despite my desire to do so. Dragon School: Dragon Piper came close to being rounded up, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so – yes, it was more enjoyable than Pipe of Wings, but it wasn’t quite to the same standard as the rest of the series.
I found myself hoping for a little bit more from Dragon School: Dragon Piper than I was given. It had the usual Dragon School fun – plenty of action, the story moved forward, some twists were thrown in, and we’re left curious as to how everything comes together – yet I found myself expecting more intensity from the story, especially with how close we are to the ending. Things were really explosive at the start of the series, yet as we’re reaching a conclusion the events don’t quite seem to be packing the same punch. Things are still fun, but they’re not as intense as I’d hoped they would be. Perhaps the high early on was too high, making it difficult for things to get much higher. I hope such is not the case, though, as the series continues to offer plenty of promise for how everything will come together.
Although Dragon School: Dragon Piper was not my favourite in the series, it’s certainly an enjoyable read. If you’ve followed the series this far, you need to see how everything comes together.
novelbloglover's review
4.0
Book Review
Title: Dragon Piper (Dragon School #16)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Review: After the ending of Pipe of Wings we re-join Amel in the aftermath of using the mysterious pipe to summon dragons, but she has also gravely injured her good leg in the process, leaving her all but lame. Amel has also been sick with a fever for days so others have had to deal with the dragons and the refugees fleeing from the war and Amel is trying to figure out what her next move is given her current situation. As her fever breaks and she recovers her strength, Ephretti asks Amel to accompany her and Dax to Vanika, with all these dragons they might be able to take back the sky city which is currently under the control of the Dusk Covenant.
As they begin journeying towards Vanika instead of south, we learn it is because if they retake the city, they will have access to the warrens which would get them south a lot faster than flying. However, Amel is still learning how to use the pipes which seem much stronger when an actual tune is played on it and Amel is having to learn on the go, how to use it correctly. By the time they reach the outskirts of the sky city, the Baojang army isn’t far behind them and they have to form a plan quickly to figure out what is actually going on in the city before they attack as they don’t want to harm any innocent people that might still be there. In order, to do that they have to figure out where their enemy is based before they attack, however, Amel is still plagued by visions and she sees Hubric at a city not far away from them and she knows Savette is still in Dominion City and she needs to get there as soon as she can.
Ephretti ends up kidnapping a boy from the city named Tor and Amel works out he has lived in Vanika most of his life and agrees to protect his loved ones and friends in return for the information they want about the sky city and the enemies hiding within and Tor agrees to the arrangement. The night before they plan to attack the city Amel is awoken by Tor trying to escape but he is stopped by Hubric. Amel is glad to be reunited with her mentor and immediately begins filling him in on everything that has happened since they parted way so long ago, even if it wasn’t that long ago. Hubric notices how much Amel has grown as a dragon rider in the time they have been apart and asks her to fill him in on their plan to retake Vanika, although like Amel he is not happy about the possibility of going through the warrens again.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, the plan to take back Vanika goes ahead, however, very quickly things start to go wrong. Amel realises that there has been little rain in the sky city and the timber that supports every building is quickly alit and the city ablaze. Amel tries her hardest to temper the flames while dragons work on rescuing people and creating a safe path out of the city. In her search for survivors Amel is attacked and almost killed by some Dusk Covenant agents but is saved by Tor. Together after rescuing everyone, Ephretti dives back into the city and it seems to her death but as it starts to rain and the fire dampen, Amel witnesses Ephretti’s return making her thing of a prophecy referring to someone twice dead which is obviously Ephretti. However, Jalla decides to arrive at this time and is furious with her slave although Amel refuses to bend to that position any longer since Hubric declared her a full dragon rider, but Jalla does want the pipe back even if she can’t use it and I have a feeling that Amel isn’t going to hand it over that easily. Overall, the pacing of Dragon Piper was a little slow for me and the appearance of Jalla at the end really put me off, because I hate her. However, this is the last book in the series that I read previously so the rest is uncharted territory for me.
Title: Dragon Piper (Dragon School #16)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Review: After the ending of Pipe of Wings we re-join Amel in the aftermath of using the mysterious pipe to summon dragons, but she has also gravely injured her good leg in the process, leaving her all but lame. Amel has also been sick with a fever for days so others have had to deal with the dragons and the refugees fleeing from the war and Amel is trying to figure out what her next move is given her current situation. As her fever breaks and she recovers her strength, Ephretti asks Amel to accompany her and Dax to Vanika, with all these dragons they might be able to take back the sky city which is currently under the control of the Dusk Covenant.
As they begin journeying towards Vanika instead of south, we learn it is because if they retake the city, they will have access to the warrens which would get them south a lot faster than flying. However, Amel is still learning how to use the pipes which seem much stronger when an actual tune is played on it and Amel is having to learn on the go, how to use it correctly. By the time they reach the outskirts of the sky city, the Baojang army isn’t far behind them and they have to form a plan quickly to figure out what is actually going on in the city before they attack as they don’t want to harm any innocent people that might still be there. In order, to do that they have to figure out where their enemy is based before they attack, however, Amel is still plagued by visions and she sees Hubric at a city not far away from them and she knows Savette is still in Dominion City and she needs to get there as soon as she can.
Ephretti ends up kidnapping a boy from the city named Tor and Amel works out he has lived in Vanika most of his life and agrees to protect his loved ones and friends in return for the information they want about the sky city and the enemies hiding within and Tor agrees to the arrangement. The night before they plan to attack the city Amel is awoken by Tor trying to escape but he is stopped by Hubric. Amel is glad to be reunited with her mentor and immediately begins filling him in on everything that has happened since they parted way so long ago, even if it wasn’t that long ago. Hubric notices how much Amel has grown as a dragon rider in the time they have been apart and asks her to fill him in on their plan to retake Vanika, although like Amel he is not happy about the possibility of going through the warrens again.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, the plan to take back Vanika goes ahead, however, very quickly things start to go wrong. Amel realises that there has been little rain in the sky city and the timber that supports every building is quickly alit and the city ablaze. Amel tries her hardest to temper the flames while dragons work on rescuing people and creating a safe path out of the city. In her search for survivors Amel is attacked and almost killed by some Dusk Covenant agents but is saved by Tor. Together after rescuing everyone, Ephretti dives back into the city and it seems to her death but as it starts to rain and the fire dampen, Amel witnesses Ephretti’s return making her thing of a prophecy referring to someone twice dead which is obviously Ephretti. However, Jalla decides to arrive at this time and is furious with her slave although Amel refuses to bend to that position any longer since Hubric declared her a full dragon rider, but Jalla does want the pipe back even if she can’t use it and I have a feeling that Amel isn’t going to hand it over that easily. Overall, the pacing of Dragon Piper was a little slow for me and the appearance of Jalla at the end really put me off, because I hate her. However, this is the last book in the series that I read previously so the rest is uncharted territory for me.
kixfan's review
5.0
Each book gets better and better. What a great tale is being told in these novellas!
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
5.0
The book had a calm start, but it turned out that it was a calm before a storm. And what kind of storm! I really loved the entire finale of the book, and especially because it's unlike all those usual heroic tales we read too much about these days. I don't want to spoil too much, but I like it when characters in books are human, make mistakes, mess up and then have to find the courage and willpower to somehow make up for it again.
When writing these reviews I feel a little like a broken record, but I really love Raolcon, his view on the world and his way of expressing himself. And most of all I love his love for Amel and their friendship and interaction. They're in so many ways equals, always having each other's back and helping the other out when needed. Their friendship is clearly the most important ship in this series.
I feel that we've started the straight line towards the series finale. And I'm really excited to read it all!
When writing these reviews I feel a little like a broken record, but I really love Raolcon, his view on the world and his way of expressing himself. And most of all I love his love for Amel and their friendship and interaction. They're in so many ways equals, always having each other's back and helping the other out when needed. Their friendship is clearly the most important ship in this series.
I feel that we've started the straight line towards the series finale. And I'm really excited to read it all!
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