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dragononashelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
beaundarrows's review against another edition
4.0
While this one was very interesting, some of the scientific stuff seemed like it was there just to make a point of itself. By which I mean it was mostly unnecessary and way too technical. It's like Anne and Todd were trying to prove exactly how in depth their knowledge of this world is: they've gone so far as to figure out dragon genetics, down to their own version of DNA. I get that these dragons are biological creations - that's part of the awesomeness of the world of Pern. I just don't know if all that jargon was strictly required in order to tell the story Todd wanted to tell.
Either way, these books will be the death of me. Most likely I'll have a salt deficiency from all the crying. So many moving and heartbreaking scenes. But joyful scenes also.
4 out of 5.
Either way, these books will be the death of me. Most likely I'll have a salt deficiency from all the crying. So many moving and heartbreaking scenes. But joyful scenes also.
4 out of 5.
nursemyrtle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.75
kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
It's 507 AL, 507 years after landing, and Thread is expected soon. It parallels Dragon's Fire and Dragon's Kin.
My Take
Interesting for its insight into responsible creation but, again, no subtlety, no passion. Simply a recitation of facts with allusions which never enlighten us. There is an interesting implication about Ted Tubberman and we meet his grandson, Tieran.
There are hints made about dementia, but McCaffrey doesn't do anything with it. No depth. Still no passion.
On page 220, McCaffrey has Emorra intuit that the beads on Gren's harness had not yet been made. On practically no evidence, Emorra determines that Gren is here from 400 years in the future. No development, no tension. On page 258, the dragons are so sick and they're dying right and left, yet McCaffrey doesn't build on this. I barely cried. In fact, my mind kept wandering thinking about reading another book, any other book. It was almost like reading a dry history book.
As part of the frantic search to discover what is killing the dragons (I use the word "frantic" to attempt to instill some sense of drama . . . at least in the review), Kindan, Lorana, and friends discover something which will help save Pern.
As an example of not paying attention, McCaffrey has established that Lorana must be back at the Weyr to feed her queen in a hour. By page 273, Lorana and company have been reading through the Records for hours with no hint or suggestion that Lorana is supposed to be back at the Weyr taking care of her beloved dragon. I thought the new wyerlings were so amazingly attached to their dragons?? Their every thought was of them? Even when McCaffrey kills off dragons of riders we have somehow managed to find some empathy for, he doesn't press how horrible this is. It could almost be the day after Christmas and we have to wait til next year to get more prezzies.
This side of the story we learn the details of Kindan and Lorana falling in love.
McCaffrey makes Tullea, one of the queen riders at Benden, such a bitch but he doesn't delve into it. It's all on the surface.
I am so irritated with McCaffrey writing these three stories as separate books. He's stretched out the pages to make the reader feel they're getting a deal but once you read through you realize how you've been cheated.
We do finally learn how it happened that that young dragonrider and his dragon ended up encased in solid rock at Benden Weyr. One of the very, very few dramatic bits of writing that worked. And it so wasn't worth it!
Again, no build up, no drama in the conclusions Emorra, Tieran, M'hall, and Seamus come to in deciding how to build the instant learning room. Such a bore.
The Story
Half the story is of Wind Blossom's last years on Pern, 50 years after landing to 59 AL, struggling to find a cure for the dragons and fire lizards in which we learn the true reason for her attitude toward her students and child while the other half of the story takes place in the weyrs as dragons sicken and die.
The Characters
All the characters from Dragon's Fire and Dragon's Kin appear playing their parts in various degrees with references to their adventures in these two stories.
In the Wind Blossom half . . .
. . . we learn of Sean O'Connell's death, the reasoning behind the creation of the watch-whers, and a hint as to a purpose behind Ted Tubberman's activities. Tieran is his grandson. Wind Blossom and her mother, Kitty Ping, bioengineered the dragons. Emorra is Wind Blossom's daughter.
In the current-day half of the story . . .
. . . Lorana is taken on as a pet project by J'trel and his dragon, Talith, after losing his partner, K'nad. Lorana has lost her father in a beast handling accident, and since they had lost all the rest of her family during the plague 12 years ago, Lorana has no one. But J'trel is taken by her incredible drawing ability and helps her begin her dream of sketching all the animal life of Pern. Along the way, J'trel learns Lorana's secret.
We get a brief glimpse of Cisca, Weyrwoman for Fort, and K'lior deciding to send their wounded and weyrlings back in time to Igen to recover and be ready to meet Thread in three days even though another of the books covers this more thoroughly. I guess this "glimpse" helps tie Dragonsblood in with the other . . . yawn . . . oops, sorry, snort . . .
It's been ten Turns since Kindan met M'tal at Camp Natalon and he's harpering at Benden Weyr. Nuella's brother, Dalor, and Renna, his secret childhood sweetheart, are together now.
The Weyrleaders are K'lior of Fort, C'rion of Ista, M'tal of Benden, D'vin of High Reaches, and D'gan of Telgar after having moved there from Igen when plague and drought made it uninhabitable and their last queen died. Tullea is one of the queen riders at Benden.
The Cover and Title
The Wind Rider heeling through the waves as a blue dragon confronts the ship. Lovely cover with a fleeting connection to the story.
The title is perfect as it is the Dragonsblood that proves critical.
My Take
Interesting for its insight into responsible creation but, again, no subtlety, no passion. Simply a recitation of facts with allusions which never enlighten us. There is an interesting implication about Ted Tubberman and we meet his grandson, Tieran.
There are hints made about dementia, but McCaffrey doesn't do anything with it. No depth. Still no passion.
On page 220, McCaffrey has Emorra intuit that the beads on Gren's harness had not yet been made. On practically no evidence, Emorra determines that Gren is here from 400 years in the future. No development, no tension. On page 258, the dragons are so sick and they're dying right and left, yet McCaffrey doesn't build on this. I barely cried. In fact, my mind kept wandering thinking about reading another book, any other book. It was almost like reading a dry history book.
As part of the frantic search to discover what is killing the dragons (I use the word "frantic" to attempt to instill some sense of drama . . . at least in the review), Kindan, Lorana, and friends discover something which will help save Pern.
As an example of not paying attention, McCaffrey has established that Lorana must be back at the Weyr to feed her queen in a hour. By page 273, Lorana and company have been reading through the Records for hours with no hint or suggestion that Lorana is supposed to be back at the Weyr taking care of her beloved dragon. I thought the new wyerlings were so amazingly attached to their dragons?? Their every thought was of them? Even when McCaffrey kills off dragons of riders we have somehow managed to find some empathy for, he doesn't press how horrible this is. It could almost be the day after Christmas and we have to wait til next year to get more prezzies.
This side of the story we learn the details of Kindan and Lorana falling in love.
McCaffrey makes Tullea, one of the queen riders at Benden, such a bitch but he doesn't delve into it. It's all on the surface.
I am so irritated with McCaffrey writing these three stories as separate books. He's stretched out the pages to make the reader feel they're getting a deal but once you read through you realize how you've been cheated.
We do finally learn how it happened that that young dragonrider and his dragon ended up encased in solid rock at Benden Weyr. One of the very, very few dramatic bits of writing that worked. And it so wasn't worth it!
Again, no build up, no drama in the conclusions Emorra, Tieran, M'hall, and Seamus come to in deciding how to build the instant learning room. Such a bore.
The Story
Half the story is of Wind Blossom's last years on Pern, 50 years after landing to 59 AL, struggling to find a cure for the dragons and fire lizards in which we learn the true reason for her attitude toward her students and child while the other half of the story takes place in the weyrs as dragons sicken and die.
The Characters
All the characters from Dragon's Fire and Dragon's Kin appear playing their parts in various degrees with references to their adventures in these two stories.
In the Wind Blossom half . . .
. . . we learn of Sean O'Connell's death, the reasoning behind the creation of the watch-whers, and a hint as to a purpose behind Ted Tubberman's activities. Tieran is his grandson. Wind Blossom and her mother, Kitty Ping, bioengineered the dragons. Emorra is Wind Blossom's daughter.
In the current-day half of the story . . .
. . . Lorana is taken on as a pet project by J'trel and his dragon, Talith, after losing his partner, K'nad. Lorana has lost her father in a beast handling accident, and since they had lost all the rest of her family during the plague 12 years ago, Lorana has no one. But J'trel is taken by her incredible drawing ability and helps her begin her dream of sketching all the animal life of Pern. Along the way, J'trel learns Lorana's secret.
We get a brief glimpse of Cisca, Weyrwoman for Fort, and K'lior deciding to send their wounded and weyrlings back in time to Igen to recover and be ready to meet Thread in three days even though another of the books covers this more thoroughly. I guess this "glimpse" helps tie Dragonsblood in with the other . . . yawn . . . oops, sorry, snort . . .
It's been ten Turns since Kindan met M'tal at Camp Natalon and he's harpering at Benden Weyr. Nuella's brother, Dalor, and Renna, his secret childhood sweetheart, are together now.
The Weyrleaders are K'lior of Fort, C'rion of Ista, M'tal of Benden, D'vin of High Reaches, and D'gan of Telgar after having moved there from Igen when plague and drought made it uninhabitable and their last queen died. Tullea is one of the queen riders at Benden.
The Cover and Title
The Wind Rider heeling through the waves as a blue dragon confronts the ship. Lovely cover with a fleeting connection to the story.
The title is perfect as it is the Dragonsblood that proves critical.
imakandiway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
tamcait's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jklbookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
This did a pretty good job of feeling like a Pern book to me ... at least like one of the later ones. It ended up being a curious choice of "comfort read" during the COVID-19 pandemic, since I didn't know it was about a dragon plague. The main complaint I have is that it really needs a cast of characters at the front of the book to help keep track of everyone, especially since you have action occuring in two different timeframes - at the end of the first pass, and at the beginning of the third, as well as in several different weyrs in the later timeframe. Two or three characters in each timeframe are well-developed and interesting. At least one plot-point revealed towards the end was pretty easy to guess about halfway through, and I wish they'd had a bit more after the resolution at the end of the book, but all in all a very enjoyable bit of mind candy.
mikime's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great novel telling of a tragic period in Pern, in which lots of dragons get sick and die and noone knows why and what to do... until somehow the ancient past seems to come to the rescue. Past and future events alternatively unfold to reveal a story of collaboration and legacy bridging centuries centuries and generations to save the most precious creatures in Pern and the planet itself.
linebreak's review against another edition
4.0
Todd does well in his mother’s world—the book is well written and in my opinion, fits into the series excellently. However, I have to warn you that reading this book hurt me at every turn. As someone who has yearned for the magic of Impression since I was a child and my dad told me kid-friendly versions of these stories, “witnessing” a plague sweep through the dragons of Pern had me feeling heartbroken even when not actively reading the book. My days were filled with sorrow for characters and creatures that do not exist.
I have to applaud Todd for how well he plucked the heartstrings of his audience, but I also couldn’t wait to be done with it so I could maybe stop feeling like I’d lost my own dragon.
I have to applaud Todd for how well he plucked the heartstrings of his audience, but I also couldn’t wait to be done with it so I could maybe stop feeling like I’d lost my own dragon.