rubiscodisco's review against another edition
3.0
I would never have thought "19th century England, but with dragons" would be such a prolific subgenre of faux-historical fantasy fiction, but I have so far read three series with this or a similar premise: This present series, the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, and The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb. Given their similarities, however, I cannot review this book except as a comparison against the other two.
Admittedly, I like a little more magic in my fantasy than just dragons and nothing else, so on that score I am bound to favor The Rain Wild Chronicles over the other two. But my bias nonwithstanding, I feel like Marie Brennan falls short in the epic-ness of scale that I would like in her worldbuilding. While she did make a good attempt at it, it lacked a sense of mystery and depth that Robin Hobb pulled off. With Temeraire, Novik at least had the advantage of using real world nations and history, so the reader already has vivid associations to cultures and places referred to on the page.
The book wasn't bad at all though. Very light, if a little simplistic, and not without some interesting themes. The tension between class privilege versus male privilege, as symbolized by the rivalry between two important characters, was where the author was doing her best work.
All in all though, while this book was a nice enough read, there is such a ready comparison between better works that this one feels like a quaint, charming pencil sketch to Robin Hobb's vivid, leap-off-the-page watercolours.
Admittedly, I like a little more magic in my fantasy than just dragons and nothing else, so on that score I am bound to favor The Rain Wild Chronicles over the other two. But my bias nonwithstanding, I feel like Marie Brennan falls short in the epic-ness of scale that I would like in her worldbuilding. While she did make a good attempt at it, it lacked a sense of mystery and depth that Robin Hobb pulled off. With Temeraire, Novik at least had the advantage of using real world nations and history, so the reader already has vivid associations to cultures and places referred to on the page.
The book wasn't bad at all though. Very light, if a little simplistic, and not without some interesting themes. The tension between class privilege versus male privilege, as symbolized by the rivalry between two important characters, was where the author was doing her best work.
All in all though, while this book was a nice enough read, there is such a ready comparison between better works that this one feels like a quaint, charming pencil sketch to Robin Hobb's vivid, leap-off-the-page watercolours.
maria_ionela's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 stars
I was initially drawn to The Memoirs of Lady Trent series due to Merphy Napier bringing it to my attention via YouTube. It sounded like something I would enjoy, so I mentally bookmarked the title and added it to my (figurative) list of books to look out for when visiting the library. But one little fact intensified my curiosity surrounding the book - this "Lady Trent" was actually named Isabella [last name redacted due to spoiler reasons]. Safe to say after I learned this, my passive interest in acquiring and reading A Natural History of Dragons well and truly sky rocketed and I started to frantically search for any way I could get my hands on this book.
But when I finally obtained a copy of the book, I kept forgetting the main character's name was the same as mine because it is told in first person. It was always "I" this "I" that, not really much "Isabella". This didn't really affect my enjoyment (why should it) but I just find it funny that half the reason I started the book was out of my mind more than it was in it while I was reading.
I made it about a quarter of the way through before I caved and got the audiobook. I mean, how could I not? It was narrated by Kate Reading, for goodness sake. It is amazing I lasted as long as I did before I gave in. The first thing that hit me was how weird it was hearing Kate Reading say my name. Like, I know she wasn't talking about me Isabella, but it felt strange all the same. It comes as no surprise to me, though, that the audio amplified my enjoyment of the book.
It did have a small feeling of colonisation. And to me, being born and currently living in a country that was a former British colony, and being descended (kind of) from such colonisers… it was a little unnerving. I suppose it was dealt with as well as it could have been, the only POV being from one of these pseudo-Europeans and all. I don't know, maybe I am hypersensitive to the issue due to the racial climate in my own country.
All in all, really good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will I be reading the sequel? Mmmm, probably. Kate Reading does all the audios, so that is kind of swaying my decision. I don't have any ebooks or physical copies for the rest of the series, so I will have to do audio only, which is not my preferred reading experience, but I can hardly complain.
I was initially drawn to The Memoirs of Lady Trent series due to Merphy Napier bringing it to my attention via YouTube. It sounded like something I would enjoy, so I mentally bookmarked the title and added it to my (figurative) list of books to look out for when visiting the library. But one little fact intensified my curiosity surrounding the book - this "Lady Trent" was actually named Isabella [last name redacted due to spoiler reasons]. Safe to say after I learned this, my passive interest in acquiring and reading A Natural History of Dragons well and truly sky rocketed and I started to frantically search for any way I could get my hands on this book.
But when I finally obtained a copy of the book, I kept forgetting the main character's name was the same as mine because it is told in first person. It was always "I" this "I" that, not really much "Isabella". This didn't really affect my enjoyment (why should it) but I just find it funny that half the reason I started the book was out of my mind more than it was in it while I was reading.
I made it about a quarter of the way through before I caved and got the audiobook. I mean, how could I not? It was narrated by Kate Reading, for goodness sake. It is amazing I lasted as long as I did before I gave in. The first thing that hit me was how weird it was hearing Kate Reading say my name. Like, I know she wasn't talking about me Isabella, but it felt strange all the same. It comes as no surprise to me, though, that the audio amplified my enjoyment of the book.
It did have a small feeling of colonisation. And to me, being born and currently living in a country that was a former British colony, and being descended (kind of) from such colonisers… it was a little unnerving. I suppose it was dealt with as well as it could have been, the only POV being from one of these pseudo-Europeans and all. I don't know, maybe I am hypersensitive to the issue due to the racial climate in my own country.
All in all, really good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will I be reading the sequel? Mmmm, probably. Kate Reading does all the audios, so that is kind of swaying my decision. I don't have any ebooks or physical copies for the rest of the series, so I will have to do audio only, which is not my preferred reading experience, but I can hardly complain.
mollyxmiller's review against another edition
4.0
My review is at my blog: https://mollyrmiller.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/a-natural-history-of-dragons-by-marie-brennan/
torilaird's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jeffers_98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this was slower paced than I'd initially imagined it would be, but I enjoyed it and how the author built the world through the medium of a memoir
nofys's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage and Grief
acourtofbooksandsnacks's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75