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A review by katykelly
A Darkness of Dragons by S.A. Patrick
4.0
Enthralling spin on the Pied Piper traditional tale, memorable characters.
4.5 stars. I took great delight in this story. A completely fresh look at a story 'around' the Pied Piper legend, it fleshed out a world in which Pipers can use their training and power with music to rid towns of rats, help influence battles by affecting confidence, even heal.
Young Patch Brightwater meets a rat, really an enchanted girl called Wren, when ridding a village of its infestation with his pipe. Ending up in prison, he becomes a neighbour to the Pied Piper... Their adventures are only just getting started - dragons, dracogriffs, sorcerers and a very absorbing story set in a world that feels a little Middle Ages / Middle Earth.
I was really quite impressed with the world of Patch, Wren and Barver (a dracogriff). Each makes a great lead character, any of them could have been a protagonist. Wren, being a rat, cannot talk, but manages to convey her personality through a form of sign language. Her female perspective is included, and her backstory and character make this unlike a typical fairy tale.
The idea of a universe in which the music of a pipe can magically effect events was wonderfully conveyed too, and the notion to create a story around the periphery of the Pied Piper is inspiring, in my opinion.
A fast-moving and mature fairy tale, quite dark in places, and I'll be looking out for the next in the series.
One for ages 9-12 in particular. Fans of magical stories will likely become engrossed in Patch's world.
4.5 stars. I took great delight in this story. A completely fresh look at a story 'around' the Pied Piper legend, it fleshed out a world in which Pipers can use their training and power with music to rid towns of rats, help influence battles by affecting confidence, even heal.
Young Patch Brightwater meets a rat, really an enchanted girl called Wren, when ridding a village of its infestation with his pipe. Ending up in prison, he becomes a neighbour to the Pied Piper... Their adventures are only just getting started - dragons, dracogriffs, sorcerers and a very absorbing story set in a world that feels a little Middle Ages / Middle Earth.
I was really quite impressed with the world of Patch, Wren and Barver (a dracogriff). Each makes a great lead character, any of them could have been a protagonist. Wren, being a rat, cannot talk, but manages to convey her personality through a form of sign language. Her female perspective is included, and her backstory and character make this unlike a typical fairy tale.
The idea of a universe in which the music of a pipe can magically effect events was wonderfully conveyed too, and the notion to create a story around the periphery of the Pied Piper is inspiring, in my opinion.
A fast-moving and mature fairy tale, quite dark in places, and I'll be looking out for the next in the series.
One for ages 9-12 in particular. Fans of magical stories will likely become engrossed in Patch's world.