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literarypenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
A Natural History of Dragons is a story taking place in the Victorian Era where we follow a woman named Isabella. Isabella is a feisty young woman who develops a love for dragons & a want to learn more about them. Because of the times she has grown up in, Isabella can't pursue her desire to learn about dragons but an opportunity comes her way. When an expedition by a wealthy man to a foreign county to study dragons with a small group of researchers she jumps at the chance to finally fulfill her dream at last.
The first thing I want to say is how much I enjoyed how the dragons were weaved into the environment and how other people's knowledge about them is constantly evolving the more they learn about them. It was nice to see a fantasy creature implemented like this into a story. The only thing I thought was that the plot did get a little out there towards the end. It didn't deter me though and still enjoyed the story!
I loved Isabella as a character and how she evolved into a stronger person by the end of the book. How she went through so much but she made it through it all even a horrific tragedy that I hope won't change the feeling of the rest of the series as it goes on. I might read the others sometime in the future but this still was a very good read and I recommend it!
The first thing I want to say is how much I enjoyed how the dragons were weaved into the environment and how other people's knowledge about them is constantly evolving the more they learn about them. It was nice to see a fantasy creature implemented like this into a story. The only thing I thought was that the plot did get a little out there towards the end. It didn't deter me though and still enjoyed the story!
I loved Isabella as a character and how she evolved into a stronger person by the end of the book. How she went through so much but she made it through it all even a horrific tragedy that I hope won't change the feeling of the rest of the series as it goes on. I might read the others sometime in the future but this still was a very good read and I recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy
latenightnormie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Blood
In general, I enjoyed the pacing of the book. It read like a autobiography but with Lady Trent's reflective musings throughout the telling of the story. The world building is solid though not terribly in-depth when not in use for the plot. All in all, I'll be reading the next book in the because series.judassilver's review against another edition
This book did a couple things I didn't enjoy: the retrospective interjection of the narrator recalling past events (the "I may be old now..." or "though I didn't know it then" type) and the fantasy names for what is very clearly our modern world. Call an England an England, please, not "Scirland". Also please note that the memoir part of the title weighs much more heavily than the dragon part, this is very much the story of an upper class woman struggling to foster science minded interests in a world of Victorian sensibilities. Set your expectations accordingly. (Most of the dragons featured are dead, suffering captivity, or being hunted. The MC also has some very classist and colonialist beliefs). This book (and series) is well written and definitely has an audience, I just bounced hard off it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Injury/Injury detail
booklovingbabe's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Miscarriage
lunep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Colonisation
applekettle's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage and Grief
leighkayne's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Miscarriage
kbz_22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
I just finished "A Natural History of Dragons" by Marie Brennan, and I couldn't wait to tell you about it. It's seriously a gem.
This book was like a nostalgia trip for me. It reached into my childhood dreams/fantasies and brought them to life. It's magical in that way.
The characters, especially Lady Trent, just got me right in the feels. Through her, I got to live this life of adventure, curiosity, and pure intellectual passion. She's witty, determined, and her thirst for knowledge is something I really admired.
But here's the coolest part - the format of the book. It's like reading a personal journal mixed with a textbook, and it even has these charming illustrations and chapter overviews. You feel like you're right there with Lady Trent on her scientific quests.
Marie Brennan's storytelling is top-notch. I couldn't put it down, seriously. It's not just a book; it's this incredible journey into a world of wonder and discovery. If you ever want to rekindle that sense of awe and adventure, this one's a must-read.
This book was like a nostalgia trip for me. It reached into my childhood dreams/fantasies and brought them to life. It's magical in that way.
The characters, especially Lady Trent, just got me right in the feels. Through her, I got to live this life of adventure, curiosity, and pure intellectual passion. She's witty, determined, and her thirst for knowledge is something I really admired.
But here's the coolest part - the format of the book. It's like reading a personal journal mixed with a textbook, and it even has these charming illustrations and chapter overviews. You feel like you're right there with Lady Trent on her scientific quests.
Marie Brennan's storytelling is top-notch. I couldn't put it down, seriously. It's not just a book; it's this incredible journey into a world of wonder and discovery. If you ever want to rekindle that sense of awe and adventure, this one's a must-read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, Murder, and Classism
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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
4.0
By now the whole world knows about Lady Trent, the famous dragon naturalist. For the first time ever we get the story with her own words, from her being a bookish young woman with a passion for natural history - dragons in particular - to her first expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana.
"You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart - no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments - even at the risk of one's life - is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten..."
I've been wanting to read this series for a long time, and the first book did not disappoint! The only thing I really knew was that it was about the study of dragons, and I was pleasantly surprised that the main character Isabella (later known as Lady Trent) was a stubborn, brave and - for her time - unconventional woman. The book takes place in a fantasy world, but remains faithful to the Victorian Age, with all the restrictions women faced at that time. That Isabella despite this manages to get her way with her purpose of studying dragons is quite impressive. Luckily she's got an extraordinarily supportive husband, who understands her passion and determination (we do love those, don't we?!).
The narrator is really good and perfect for the story. To be able to keep all the men's names apart I probably should have read instead of listening, but I believe that Kate Reading brings something extra with her narration so I'll keep listening!
"You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart - no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments - even at the risk of one's life - is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten..."
I've been wanting to read this series for a long time, and the first book did not disappoint! The only thing I really knew was that it was about the study of dragons, and I was pleasantly surprised that the main character Isabella (later known as Lady Trent) was a stubborn, brave and - for her time - unconventional woman. The book takes place in a fantasy world, but remains faithful to the Victorian Age, with all the restrictions women faced at that time. That Isabella despite this manages to get her way with her purpose of studying dragons is quite impressive. Luckily she's got an extraordinarily supportive husband, who understands her passion and determination (we do love those, don't we?!).
The narrator is really good and perfect for the story. To be able to keep all the men's names apart I probably should have read instead of listening, but I believe that Kate Reading brings something extra with her narration so I'll keep listening!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage