asipofcozy's review against another edition
- 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
One would think with a title like that, we would get tons of dragon information, world building, and interesting insight into dragons. We maybe get a discussion on dragons every 100 pages or so and it is glossed over. There isn't any description as to why there are dragons, where they came from, why they do what they do. And granted we are learning with our main character Isabella it's still glossed over to get to the "interesting" parts. There are conversations that are had but we aren't privy to, which would have made this book interesting.
Our characters were dreadfully boring. I thought I would like Isabella, our main character, she sets herself apart from society, breaks the social chains and strives to be herself. However, she is at times was naive, aloof, and just unlikeable. This book takes place in the equivalence of our 19th century and one would think she would act sophisticated, she acts like a 19 year old from the 21st century (not a bad thing, just quite immature).
The plot is also less on dragons, learning about dragons, or dragons in general and more of the mystery of why are dragons attacking (still very little on this) and why is x,y,z person missing. At times I felt like Isabella was recounting her adventures as a detective rather than a scientist.
I think some people may like this book, and there were interesting aspects; however, the title and description is quite deceiving when we aren't given the depth of dragons as one would think. Also, I at times just didn't care, I skimmed multiple pages and chapters and still knew what was taking place because so little happened.
Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, and Death
leighkayne's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, and Animal death
kbz_22's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Minor: Death, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Gore, and Miscarriage
annaplatypus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One thing I disliked about the book was that one of the most loveable characters
Spoiler
dies in the end.Spoiler
main character deathModerate: Animal death
Minor: Death
Early in the book there's a somewhat graphic description of the killing & dissection of a bird. Other than that there are brief descriptions of death, mostly through a scientific lens.proudtobeabookaholic's review
- 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
"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!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Miscarriage
readandfindout's review against another edition
4.0
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Death, Animal death, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Classism, and Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy
mnstarr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Miscarriage
brooklvk's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Spoiler
The ending with her husband made me soo sad! I was so invested in the romance!! So sad! but I am still finishing the series of course.Minor: Pregnancy, Animal death, Death, and Miscarriage
I would highly recommend this book to anyone 12+ - good for youth as well as adults. I love it!crunchylettuce's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Death
Minor: Miscarriage and Fire/Fire injury
madzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
However, Brennan creates a nicely written plot with a good twist at the end. Throughout, I got bored with the lack of details. Although seemingly purposeful due to attempting to draw in scientific writing, it leaves me again wanting more and never really feeling like part of the story. Perhaps more of a success is her incorporation of Victorian writing, which echoes history while still being accessible to modern audiences, as well as less pretentious. Occasionally, I felt the sentence variety was lacking, especially in action scenes. Lady Trent herself is an intriguing character, who did leave me feeling for her by the end of the novel. Overall, I felt like the book stayed in the middle ground, perhaps rising above for other readers, especially those more interested in scientific explanations and writings over story flow and details.
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Classism, Grief, and Miscarriage