redheadsuperpowers'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this book. Its a slow starter, and set in a late 1800s fantasy version of earth that has dragons. I love that the main character is a ‘Scholarly female’ who meets her match. the lovely descriptions of the dragons, and so called sparklings made it easy to visualize. I love the little bits about interacting with the people she encounters. I love the derision of her lady’s maid through the later parts of the book. The simple period appropriate romance was nice, as I tend to run into sweeping Jane Eyre style shenanigans in books set in this time period. The author also didnt bog down the story with heavy descriptions of every outfit. The main character was all about learning about those dragons, and was written as such throughout the whole story.
The only thing I was not fond of was that its a first person story(which I dislike in general), but its memoir style and the story is good enough for me to ignore it.
The only thing I was not fond of was that its a first person story(which I dislike in general), but its memoir style and the story is good enough for me to ignore it.
brettec's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to the audiobook of this one - highly recommend that over reading. The narrator is great! Love dragons. Love old ladies.
raquelraquel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
3.75
ryn06's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
2.0
While the premise is interesting, I just cannot get into the style of writing. I read, and become almost instantly tired or bored. I have no compassion for the characters, and this is just not my style at all. I will say again, though, that the premise is interesting, but that alone is not enough to hold my attention.
lottenuala's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
npalomares's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
[b:A Natural History of Dragons|12974372|A Natural History of Dragons|Marie Brennan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359770409s/12974372.jpg|18132937] is a fictional memoir of a famous dragon naturalist Lady Isabella Trent, set in a country similar to 19th century England with one distinct difference - in the world Marie Brennan invented dragons exist. Lady Trent describes to us her childhood, what sparked her interest in dragons and her first expedition.
Although I liked Marie Brennan's writing style (which I found similar to the novels of sisters Bronte), the same is not true for personality of Lady Isabella - her tone was condescending, patronizing and too full of self-importance. Isabella admits that she was often accused of being unemotional and explains that with having rational, scientific mind, but I think she took a role of detached quirky scientist to an extreme.
Lady Trent announced in introduction:
"Be warned, then: the collected volumes of this series will contain frozen mountains, fetid swamps, hostile foreigners, hostile fellow countrymen, the occasional hostile family member, bad decisions, misadventures in orienteering, diseases of an unromantic sort, and a plenitude of mud. You continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. "
Sparked by this promise and word 'dragons' in book title, I was expecting a lot of breath-taking adventures and kick-ass heroine, female version of Indiana Jones. Sadly, this is not what [b:A Natural History of Dragons|12974372|A Natural History of Dragons|Marie Brennan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359770409s/12974372.jpg|18132937] is about. The study of dragons is full of problems that most of the time have nothing to do with dragons. Going to the reclusive secluded village in the mountains on an expedition and looking for dragons in the unfriendly landscape is certainly adventure for a gently-bred lady but for a fantasy-loving bookworm that devoured Anne McCaffrey's [b:Dragonflight|61975|Dragonflight (Pern, #1)|Anne McCaffrey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320425845s/61975.jpg|2467422] - well, not so much.
Wolf Drake, Desert Drake & Zhagrit Mat by Todd Lockwood
The best part of [b:A Natural History of Dragons|12974372|A Natural History of Dragons|Marie Brennan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359770409s/12974372.jpg|18132937] to me were wonderful illustrations by Todd Lockwood. Lady Trent hinted a couple of times that there will be future volumes of her memoirs and although I did not enjoy this particular volume very much, I may read the next book in series when it is published. I liked Marie Brennan's writing style and I will give her another chance. Also admiring more beautiful pictures by Todd Lockwood is a bonus. ;)
My rating: 3 stars
I recommend this book to fans of: fictional (or real) historical memoirs about female scientist that are ahead of their time or to dragons lovers who will be content that dragons are only side characters in the story and not much smarter than any other wild animal.
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
Although I liked Marie Brennan's writing style (which I found similar to the novels of sisters Bronte), the same is not true for personality of Lady Isabella - her tone was condescending, patronizing and too full of self-importance. Isabella admits that she was often accused of being unemotional and explains that with having rational, scientific mind, but I think she took a role of detached quirky scientist to an extreme.
Lady Trent announced in introduction:
"Be warned, then: the collected volumes of this series will contain frozen mountains, fetid swamps, hostile foreigners, hostile fellow countrymen, the occasional hostile family member, bad decisions, misadventures in orienteering, diseases of an unromantic sort, and a plenitude of mud. You continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. "
Sparked by this promise and word 'dragons' in book title, I was expecting a lot of breath-taking adventures and kick-ass heroine, female version of Indiana Jones. Sadly, this is not what [b:A Natural History of Dragons|12974372|A Natural History of Dragons|Marie Brennan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359770409s/12974372.jpg|18132937] is about. The study of dragons is full of problems that most of the time have nothing to do with dragons. Going to the reclusive secluded village in the mountains on an expedition and looking for dragons in the unfriendly landscape is certainly adventure for a gently-bred lady but for a fantasy-loving bookworm that devoured Anne McCaffrey's [b:Dragonflight|61975|Dragonflight (Pern, #1)|Anne McCaffrey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320425845s/61975.jpg|2467422] - well, not so much.
Wolf Drake, Desert Drake & Zhagrit Mat by Todd Lockwood
The best part of [b:A Natural History of Dragons|12974372|A Natural History of Dragons|Marie Brennan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359770409s/12974372.jpg|18132937] to me were wonderful illustrations by Todd Lockwood. Lady Trent hinted a couple of times that there will be future volumes of her memoirs and although I did not enjoy this particular volume very much, I may read the next book in series when it is published. I liked Marie Brennan's writing style and I will give her another chance. Also admiring more beautiful pictures by Todd Lockwood is a bonus. ;)
My rating: 3 stars
I recommend this book to fans of: fictional (or real) historical memoirs about female scientist that are ahead of their time or to dragons lovers who will be content that dragons are only side characters in the story and not much smarter than any other wild animal.
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.