Master of Dragons (Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Excellent conclusion to a great series

Margaret Weis Does it again

The ending really makes up for the middle

ENTERTAINING

A powerful fantasy
Master of Dragons (Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 3)
Margaret Weis
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Weis, Margaret | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Mistress of Dragons

Amber and Iron (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, Vol. 2)

Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (Dragonlance: The Lost Chronicles, Vol. 1)

Amber and Ashes (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, Vol. 1)

Mystic Empire: Book Three of the Bronze Canticles (The Bronze Canticles)

ASIN: 0765304708
Release Date: 2005-10-20

Book Description

They were both the offspring of Dragon magic, one raised in court, the other in hiding....but the link that exists between them will not be broken by mere distance, and the duality of their origin will unlock new hope for a return to peace and safety. Now two renegade dragons have hatched a plan to enslave all mankindan act in direct contravention to all the precepts of the Dragon parliament. With an army of crazed demi-human/ dragons, they threaten the world order. It is up to the two brothers (separate and together) and Draconas, the special emissary of the Parliament, to restore the status quo between Dragonkind and mankind, even if by doing so, Dragonkind seals its own eventual doom.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent conclusion to a great series.......2006-03-23

I really enjoyed the entire series and this book was no exception.

The book had a little bit of something for everyone. Lots of action, with well thought-out battles and suspensefukl turns of events.

There was suspense, politics and intrique. Lots of good stuff :)

But what really made this series interesting were the characters. The main characters were well-thought-out and developed as the story progressed. Plus they weren't the usual invincible heroes that are found in many of today's fantasy books. Instead, they faced real struggles and often needed outside help to overcome the odds. The characters often doubted themselves and what they should do. This made the story more interesting to me. Plus, the emotions of the characters felt real to me.

Add to this some really interesting villians and an interesting story-line and you get a really good novel. A fun and interesting read.

My only real complaint is that in a few places the action seemed a little rushed. But overall this did not detract from the quality of the narrative.

One word of warning - This is the final book of a trilogy and you will be lost if you don't read the first 2 books, but both of those were very good books as well.

Margaret Weis Does it again.......2006-03-12

This series has quickly become one of my favorites. Her writting is intense and makes for great story-telling. Highly recomended.

The ending really makes up for the middle.......2006-03-09

Master of Dragons is the final book in the Dragonvarld trilogy by Margaret Weis, and like so many other trilogies that are up and down from the beginning to the end, Weis completes the series in a positive manner after a true stinker of a second book. I really disliked Dragon's Son, but the third book definitely made up for it. It still suffered from some of the same problems, but ultimately it overcomes those deficiencies to make a somewhat thrilling conclusion.

The twin sons of Melisande, kept apart for so many years, have come together in DragonKeep, the hidden stronghold where sinister dragon-human breeding experiments are being done in order to establish dragon dominance over the human populace. It seems some of the dragons are threatened by some of the weaponry that humans are developing, weapons that could actually kill a dragon. Thus, the non-interference law of the dragons is being subverted by three dragons: Grald, Maristara, and Anora. An army is being raised, magic-wielding and unstoppable. Young Ven, the son of the dragon, is introduced to his many brethren, all fathered by Grald on various human females, and he is as repulsed as most normal humans are at him. Meanwhile, Marcus (Melisande's son by King Edward) and Evelina escape back to his home, to warn of the imminent danger. But will they be too late? And will even Draconas' help, he who is the dragon walker, be enough to stem the tide? The Parliament of Dragons is divided, and the cost of that might be the wiping out of humanity.

Weis really redeems herself with Master of Dragons. Yes, Evelina's still annoying (and more on her later), but Marcus is a much stronger character here than he was in the second book. We don't see a lot of Ven, so he wasn't as irritating either. In fact, the characterization all around was pretty good, with Draconas (as always) being the best and most fascinating. It truly helps this book that he is featured a lot more than he was before. He has walked among humans for many years, and he has a grudging affection for them, even as they get on his nerves. He spends some time hiding in DragonKeep as a little girl as he is being hunted by Grald and his minions. He ends up being sheltered by a nice couple whose daughter has been given to the dragon (though, as far as they know, she is thoroughly happy there, not knowing the evil truth). He feels a lot of sympathy for them, especially after he discovers the truth of what happened to their daughter.

There is one characterization issue that continued to bother me, but it wasn't the mishandling of the character that was the problem. There are characters that you love to hate, and those that you just wish you could reach through the page and rip them out of it so you never have to interact with them again while you are reading. Evelina is one of those characters. She's a scheming harpy, only looks out for herself, and unwittingly saves the day at the end, but her conniving just became abrasive to read about. It didn't help that Weis figuratively puts her in the reader's face, with many asides talking about her schemes (either through narration or Evelina's thoughts). I'm glad that she avoids a last minute redemption for her, however, as that would have truly grated and made the rest of the story virtually worthless.

The plot was a lot more interesting this time around, too. We finally see the culmination of the dragons' plans, and we see a lot of interesting interaction among the various dragons of the Parliament. Since I cared about the characters more this time, the action was actually quite tense. I was actually affected when Grald was threatening to fulfill his threats to take over Ven and use his body to lead the Dragon warriors to victory. I hated Evelina, I didn't want to see Marcus get hurt by her. Ok, I wouldn't have minded if a dragon swooped down and bit Evelina in two, but they can't all be winners. Overall, though, the plotting and the characters were quite well done. I didn't even mind the "how convenient" way that Evelina unwittingly saved everything, though I did roll my eyes a bit.

Weis' prose gives the action scenes a quite vivid feel, and I was almost able to see the dragons swooping around fighting each other. The final battle between Draconas and the last remaining dragon conspirator was breathtaking. Even more effective was the rescue of Marcus from the dragon army. While the characters involved (with the exception of Marcus) weren't anybody we had been introduced too, Weis gives them just enough depth that the inevitable result feels like it matters.

If it weren't for Evelina and Weis inability to make me even like to read about her (since we're obviously not supposed to like her), this book would easily be a 5-star conclusion to a great trilogy. Her ability to bring together all the myriad pieces that she's introduced in the first two books is very good. That, combined with the characterization that I did like, and plotting which made sense, makes this an enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what Weis has up her sleeve next.

David Roy

ENTERTAINING.......2006-02-20

I FOUND THE ENTIRE TRILOGY VERY ENTERTAINING
AND ENJOYED THE FINALE- "MASTER OF DRAGONS".
I FOUND MYSELF THOROUGHLY WRAPPED UP IN THE
CHARACTERS & OF COURSE- WITH THE WRAP UP & HAPPY
ENDING.

A powerful fantasy.......2006-01-10

Margaret Weis' Master Of Dragons receives Suzanne Toren's vivid reading as it concludes Weiss' Dragonvarld trilogy, a story of politics, war and struggle. Familiarity with the prior books is recommended for a smooth continuation of a powerful story of violence, betrayal, and a divided kingdom which incites war and outlaw dragons. A powerful fantasy.

Average customer rating:

Not as good as Bartimaeus
An Alan Garner novel
Another Wonderful Book by Stroud
The beginning
Ok read

Buried Fire
Jonathan Stroud
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786851945

Book Description

Deep in the English countryside, the unearthing of an ancient Celtic cross awakens an imprisoned dragon and unleashes a smoldering evil. Less than a mile away, 13-year-old Michael McIntyre falls asleep on a lush green hill, and wakes up with frightening and sinister new abilities. Michael possesses the four gifts of the dragon-and he's not the only one, nor is he the most powerful. The others, whose identities will be slowly revealed, offer Michael powers beyond his wildest dreams if he will keep their secret safe. Now he must choose: give up these astonishing but devastating new abilities and help his family and friends banish the evil that lies beneath their fragile earth, or join the others in their crusade to protect their gifts and set the dragon free - a choice that may well destroy everyone Michael loves. Those with power will stop at nothing to keep its secret, while those without it need Michael's protection to survive. Buried Fire combines elements of fantasy and mythology in a spellbinding tale of good versus evil.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as Bartimaeus.......2007-08-16

Overall the story was interesting, but it felt a bit rushed and was strictly a children's story. I had previously read the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and loved them, so my expectations were high. I found the end very disappointing. There was no mystery, everything seemed so final and back to normal.

An Alan Garner novel.......2007-07-22

Forget Bartimaeus. This is not a Bartimaeus novel. This is England, its henges, mounds and burrows, with landmarks left from an earlier age, and the people that live there carry their secrets just as the landscape. This is, at its heart, an Alan Garner novel. In the confines of a small village, a drama is going to be played out, not for the first time, but it may be, with luck, the last time. A dragon sleeps in a mound near the village, sealed in its underneath cave by a 6th century saint. Its dreams change the villagers, in the past, but more rapidly now since the new vicar has unburied - and broken - a strange cross beneath the village church. Will the dragon awaken? Will two boys, with strange new powers inherited from the dragon's dreaming, play a role, either way? I loved the setting, the storyline, the distanced description. It was as if Alan Garner had written a new book, after Red Shift, the Moon of Gomrath or the Owl Service. Thank you, Jonathan Stroud.

Another Wonderful Book by Stroud.......2006-07-01

The Buried Fire teaches us a leason of arrogance and power. When Tom Aubrey digs up a Celctic Cross with one arm in the dirt on the Church Ground an evil is awakened. While on the same day Michael MacIntyre had been sleeping on the Wirrim Hill. When woken up everywhere hurts, mostly his eyes. At first he thinks it's Sunstroke and tries to hurry back home, but when he sees a man and woman with sheep heads he thinks he's going mad. Finally when he's in bed and has woken up on the next morning he hits the truth: Something had happened and he can see what people really are.(example: if someone is a tattletail and a rattter he'll see a rat with swirling colors)
His Brother Stephen thinks he is mad so Michael takes him to the exact place where it happened ,Wirrim Hill. So it is on the same day that someone stole the remaining arm of the Celctic cross that Stephen also has the sight. Then as the story goes on Michael and Stephen realize there are 4 powers, sight, fire, flight, and reading minds all of with belong to the dragon. There are also more people with the powers who's identities are revealed and they kidnap Michael.

Then Michael is stuck with a choice, help the others and realese the dragon to avoid the mind live death or help his family to destroy the dragon and all it's evil.

Stroud has again put an amazing plot into literature. It certainly helps with the book that Tom reads so that we understand what that folklorist thought. The others are very evil so it darkens the plot a bit. The end is very arupt. Maybe next time put a couple of more chapters to round it out Stroud.
Still all in all The Buried Fire is a spinning fantasy adventure in which Stroud has put an excelent plot and all fit charecters.

The beginning.......2006-02-28

I can see portions of his later works in this earlier one. A good read for all that it's a bit rough. Enjoyed it immensely.

**A book I would also recommend is The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. This, the first installment of The Morcyth Saga is a great beginning for a new author. Battles, magic, gods, secret passages and intrigue, all the elements of a classic epic fantasy! Any fantasy reader will enjoy it.

Ok read.......2006-01-30

Expected it to have a better ending but was disappointed with the sudden kill to the whole story.
Still prefer the Bartimaeus Trilogy.

Average customer rating:

You had me at, "Dragon shirt, please."
an adorable book/series
My Daughter's Favorite
Adorable New Max and Ruby Book
A book....

Max's Dragon Shirt (Max and Ruby)

Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140567275

Book Description

Max's old blue overalls are disgusting, and Ruby has exactly enough money to buy him a new pair of pants. But what Max really wants is a ferocious, green dragon shirt. When the two get separated in the clothing store, the antics begin. Children will cheer as Max unwittingly outwits his bossy, older sister once again.

"Another gleeful romp with a pair of unforgettable hares."--Publishers Weekly

Awards:
( An ALA Notable Book
( A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Customer Reviews:

You had me at, "Dragon shirt, please.".......2007-06-22

My husband, son, and I enjoy Max and Ruby stories. When we read the first page of this story, when Ruby comments that Max's pants are "disgusting", all of us laughed. We were hooked.

Rosemary Wells has done a great job with giving her characters such distinct voices without using a lot of text or explanation. This is a short, light-hearted read as are Wells' other Max and Ruby stories.

an adorable book/series.......2006-07-06

I love reading Max's dragon shirt to my son, Maxwell. We loved that all these books have his name in them! They are cute and fun, and I enjoy reading them too!

My Daughter's Favorite.......2006-06-26

This is another cute story by Rosemary Wells. As expected my daughter who's a huge Max and Ruby fan likes it, but I was surprised when it became he favorite book and is read every night.

Adorable New Max and Ruby Book.......2004-10-29

At the request of their Mother, Ruby decides to take young Max to the mall to buy him a new pair of pants. However, Ruby quickly stumbles upon a collection of beautiful dresses that she just has to try on. So she heads to the dressing room, young Max in tow. But while she's trying on dresses, unbeknownst to her, Max has wandered out of the dressing rooms and into the Boys Department, where he finds a fantastic green t-shirt with a picture of a fire-breathing dragon on the front. He wants it more than anything, yet Ruby insists that there is not enough money for both new pants for him, and a new shirt. But since Ruby is trying dresses on, Max sees no harm in trying the t-shirt on himself. Soon Max is picked up by two police officers, wearing the dragon shirt, which is now covered in ice cream, and big sis Ruby has no choice but to purchase the shirt for the little rascal.

I have seen the MAX AND RUBY television show on Nickelodeon on numerous occasions and had found it extremely cute, but had never read one of the books. So when I came across MAX'S DRAGON SHIRT, I decided to check it out, and I am happy to say that it was utterly adorable. Rosemary Wells captures the essence of how young children think when they are in department stores with her wonderful prose, while her illustrations show the numerous cute expressions that cross their face as they experience something new. This is an adorable new children's book that will be quickly loved by both parents and their young children. Especially if those children are fans of the MAX AND RUBY television show.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

A book...........2004-01-18

...that I don't get tired of reading to my 4 year old daughter at bedtime. It's a fun, cute book and I just love Max and Ruby.

The Dragon's Son (Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Narration Can't Save Mediocre Story
Weis does it again
Excellent read!! A bit confused though...
Adult Son Loves Dragons Book!
the dragon of doom!

The Dragon's Son (Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 2)
Margaret Weis
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0765304694

Book Description

In Mistress of Dragons we were introduced to a world where political deception, greed, and avarice have lead to a violation of the "hands off" policy of the Parliament of Dragons concerning the affairs of men. Indeed that violation threatens more than policy and order it threatens the peaceful existence of the human race.Man's only hope and his greatest threat isThe Dragon's SonTwins born out of violence and raised apart.Ven (short for Vengeance) is raised in seclusion under the watchful eye of his deceased mother's Amazonian lover. He is a child whose appearance belies his heritage - half-man/ half-dragon.Marcus is raised in a court, and given all of the protections and breeding that would entail. He appears to be completely human, yet his psychic link with the brother he has never known betrays the dragon magic that lies within him.It is up to the dragon emissary who passes himself off as a man, Draconas, to protect them both before the internecine struggle destroys the Parliament of Dragons and brings an oppressive reign of fire down upon all mortal men.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Narration Can't Save Mediocre Story.......2006-03-22

In reviewing the audio version of The Dragon's Son, I have to divide my review into The Story and Narration.

The Narration
The narration gets a split decision. The narrators of this tale, Gabrielle De Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki are both wonderful. I favored Rudnicki's rich voice over De Cuir's narration, but I would listen to De Cuir on other recordings if she were the narrator. Individually, there were wonderful. As a duet, the result was not so great. I have no objection to men reading women's' part or the other way around, but the swapping of narrators here had little to do with gender role. In fact I could see no reason why narrators were changed at all. There seemed to be no logical reason for changing narrators in the middle of a chapter. No insights were gained and the "person" of the story did not change from one narrator to the other. For me, this was the worst part of the narrative.

Allowing for the random changes of narrator, I though the narration was excellent. You knew instantly which character was speaking by the small inflections, and sometime not so small changes, in the narrators voice. Both De Cuir and Rudnicki's voices flowed smoothly, allowing the listener to really get into the story. . . until there was a change of narrator. OK, I've beaten that horse for the last time.

The Story
Overall, I found the story uninspiring and not too original. There were no surprises for me in the plot. Everything was told according to the formula. This is a classic tale of brothers raised independently of each other by separate foster parents, yet suspecting they are not alone. Throw in a good family, a struggling foster mother, a councilor privy to the secret and a bad real father and a good real mother killed at the birth of her children, and this story has been told many times over. This telling was entertaining; I did not quit listening, although most of the credit for that goes to the narrators.

To the author's credit, I do not feel I missed anything by coming in on book two of the trilogy. There is enough groundwork and flashback that the story stands on its own. Will I get volume three? I doubt it. There was not enough tension in the conclusion to make me want to see where this tale is going. Not even a chance to listen to these two wonderful narrators could coax me back to this fantasy world.

Weis does it again.......2005-08-16

After finishing Mistress of Dragon the first book in this trilogy I was eagerly awaiting the second book. When I finished it I had to sit back and just say "Wow!"

Witht he second installment of the Dragonvarld Trilogy, Weis adds to her legacy as one of the best fantasy writers in the genre. She advances her story at such a fast pace you feel almost like you are part of it, truly a great feel when reading a book.

The setting of this book is by Weis' own design and as such there are no limitations to it, which she does - she pushes the envelope of both her characters as well as the setting and this creates a fantastic read that I'm sure most fans will enjoy.

It's important to note that you really need to read the first book in this trilogy before attempting this one - otherwise you will miss some things thatw ill prove important later.

I am eagerly awaiting the third book in this trilogy. It's sure to rank up there as one of my favorites.

Excellent read!! A bit confused though..........2005-08-08

This book was an excellent read! I loved how Margaret Weis, took us along the path of the twins, to see how each had been living. I am slightly confused by the new book coming out though, titled "Master of Dragons". According to the synopsis here on Amazon, it is this book, the second book, but re-published under a different title. Is that right? Or is that to be the third book, and the synopsis is wrong? Maragaret Weis, if you're out there and reading this, let us know! :)

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, I can't wait to find out what happens to the brothers. If you're looking for a new series to read, this is it. I found the story line in this book spellbinding, not only the way the brothers came into the world, but how each was raised, because this affected their lives dramatically. Ven is angry and frustrated, and Bellona did not help that in his raising. Draconas is a fascinating character too, and I'd love to hear more about him.

I will warn this though. While this book, this series, is excellent, it is not meant for children. I, as a mother, would not want my son reading these, that is. I do not want to spoil the plot,but there are events that take place that are not desirable for children to read about.

With that said, if you are looking for a new adventure,a new world to discover the mysteries of, and vivid new characters that you both love and pity, this is the series to read. :)

Adult Son Loves Dragons Book!.......2005-07-21

I personally have not read this book, but bought it for my adult son's birthday. He is really enjoying it. If you have an older child that enjoys reading fantasies and about dragons, they should enjoy this book!

the dragon of doom!.......2005-06-04

this is a completely awsome book that i could never put down. so far this is the best book in the series. but weis seems to forget that there were two sons and that she barley ever talked about marcus "the seeminly normal child of the two" but the blood of the dragon is in his blood so that makes him have magic powers so read this book and follow along an epic adventure of romance, action, adventure, and plenty of other things in this book.

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Weirdly beautiful, strangely compelling
Yay! Search over!
"We be of one blood, ye and I"
Please read this book :)

Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls
Jane Lindskold
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765314819
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Book Description

Cutbacks have forced Sarah out of the asylum in which she was raisedand into a strange new place where the Head Wolf rules the beautiful and the doomed. But Sarah can never truly assimilate, for she possesses wild talents. Walls tell her their secrets. Safes tell her their combinations. And a favorite toy dragon whispers dire warnings about those who would exploit her for their own malevolent purposes. Theres no place Sarah can hide, from her pursuers or from her past.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-08-05

Apparently I am in the minority of disliking this book, but here my honest review of it regardless.

This book was such a disappointment to me. At first glance - the premise of the plot seems really intriguing. A 30 year old woman named Sarah lives in a Home for mentally handicapped people. (she is autistic) However, she can communicate by repeating quotes from literature. She carries with her a two-headed toy dragon that is named Betwixt and Between. Sarah has an unusual gift - she can talk with her dragon, and is able to communicate with other inanimate objects. When budgets are cut, Sarah is more or less kicked out of the Home to wonder the streets alone. This is where the story becomes disappointing for me. Sarah is found by Abalone, a shirtless young girl with a wolfhead tattoo between her breasts - and takes her to "the jungle" to meet the "head wolf" and learn the "jungle laws." Sarah becomes a part of this underground society where Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" is the basis of how they rule.

As a reader I was not interested in the story of the "the jungle" and the people in it. I am interested in Sarah, in her gift, in her unique ability to communicate. Unfortunately, the author does not explore that very much. The book had an amazing idea but it just fell flat. I kept reading because it was compelling - however, I ended up exchanging the book for something else, cause quite frankly, I was so disappointed in it.

Perhaps you may enjoy the story of the "headwolf" and `the jungle' - I however could care less. This book didn't seem to have depth or heart to it. Just an interesting little premise that wasn't nurtured into a proper story.

Weirdly beautiful, strangely compelling.......2007-02-06

The sheer creativity of this book just blows my mind. It dances around genre, at turns resembling science fiction, fantasy, and cyberpunk, and ultimately transcends them all. The idea of a gang of streetkids - thieves, thugs and prostitutes - who draw their pride and identity from Kipling's Jungle Book is such an amazingly bizarre concept, but when encountered it seems completely natural - or at least no stranger than anything else in the world seen through our protagonist's eyes.

Sarah is, as she flatly states in the first chapter, insane. Not stupid - she's highly intelligent. But with a mild form of autism that manifests as the inability to speak in her own words. Instead, she must rely on an (impressive) array of quotes drawn primarily from classic literature (most of the ones I recognized came from Shakespeare and the Bible, but I'm sure there were others I missed.) She can communicate, with those who have the desire and the patience to listen, but her frustration with her own inability to form her own sentences and with the tendency of others, even her friends, to unconsciously underestimate her because of that, is palpable.

The book opens with Sarah's expulsion from the Home, the asylum in which she has spent her entire adult life. For the first time in her life, she's forced to interact with the completely unfamiliar real world, without anyone to take care of her or tell her what to do, equipped with one change of clothes, enough money to feed her for maybe a week, and some skill in the kind of manual labor that's been done by machines for years.

And one thing more: Betwixt and Between, a two-headed rubber dragon that speaks to Sarah, and that no one else can hear.

Sarah is found and adopted by the Pack, brought to live in the Jungle. It's not an idyllic existence, this world of graceful ritual and merciless justice, of children earning their living by prostitution, but it has a savage grandeur to it. Sarah finds a home there, under the watchful eyes of her Baloo, the thief Abalone, and of the mad, frightening, loving Head Wolf. But then word reaches her that the Home wants her back - just her.

Why can't Sarah talk? Does it have anything to do with the fact that she can hear inanimate objects talking? Why can't she remember anything but the fuzziest memories of her childhood - and why are her dragons so reluctant to discuss it with her? Why would an asylum short on funds go to such effort and expense to find one autistic woman? And how far will Sarah go to find out the answers?

And more importantly, when push comes to shove, will her newfound Pack stand with her, or will they turn on the strangest, most troublesome of their Wolves?

It's a beautiful story, beautifully written. I usually hate stories told in the present tense, but from Sarah's first-person perspective it sets an interesting mood, at once keenly observant and somewhat detached. The language of Sarah's quotes and of the Jungle Book sayings adopted by the Pack lends an otherworldly feel to the story.

Yay! Search over!.......2006-12-23

I read this book when I was in middle school and have looked for it a couple of times since. It has an interesting premise, the writing is superb and the characters are interesting. All in all a beautiful read but lacking in substance. I wanted more depth on the society that Sarah finds herself in and a more thought provoking foundation to the book. This will always have a special place on my bookcase however because it was the first book I read that dealt with mental illness not as a destructive force but a trade off or just a different way of being.

"We be of one blood, ye and I".......2006-09-06

Have you ever read a book that was so good that, as soon as you finish it, you actually find yourself missing the characters as if they were real people? That's how I feel about Sarah, Betwixt and Between, and Abalone. Jane Lindskold is right up there with Roger Zelazny, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, and Robin McKinley as my favorite fantasists. Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls is her 1994 debut novel and one which I have read over and over, much like the works of the other above-mentioned authors. Believe me, I'm so glad this book has been newly republished (thank you, Orb Books); my old copy is in tatters. The mood-setting black and white art on the cover (check out the back cover for a more detailed version) is very evocative and should, hopefully, lure in the casual reader; with respect to Rowena Morrill, Patrick Arrasmith's cover art here improves on the original Avon Books publication.

Set in the very near future, Lindskold's rookie effort tells the story of 30-year-old Sarah, an autistic girl who cannot form her own words and must thus speak by repeating literary quotes (Shakespeare, Bacon, the Bible, etc.). She is often seen conversing with her rubber dragon with two heads, whom she calls Betwixt and Between. But what people don't realize is that the dragon talks back to her. In fact, inanimate objects talk to her and tell her things.

When the mental home in which Sarah resides suffers budget cuts, she is forced out into the streets. She is found by a young hacker girl named Abalone, who takes her to her street gang, the Pack, which is run by the insane, strict yet fair Head Wolf. Adopted by the Pack, Sarah is placed under Abalone's care, who soon has Sarah helping her run automobile scams.

Everything is gravy until Abalone finds out that the Home wants Sarah back. Abalone and Sarah investigate and discover something nefarious behind the Home's surface good intentions. Before too long, Sarah and the rest of the Pack find themselves in terrifying danger, as amoral and powerful forces, somehow tied in to Sarah's enigmatic past, attempt to gain control of Sarah by any means. Sarah, with the help of the ferocious Pack and her faithful, invaluable rubber dragon, must attempt to use her powers to save herself and her friends.

The first 76 pages reads in an almost idyllic manner. Don't get me wrong, these opening pages are great reading, and things are going on, but there isn't that "oomph" that propels the story forward. Until, of course, we get to Pack member Peep's revelation to Sarah that the Home was looking for her, and then you could feel the author step on the gas pedal. From there on, the pace increases and the book becomes more action packed. But, still, Lindskold, narrating thru Sarah's voice, maintains clarity in the tale. It's wonderful story-telling.

I gotta admit: when I first read the book years ago, 75% of Sarah's quotes went over my head; I wasn't much of a Shakespeare guy. Nevertheless, the drive and magic of the book were such that my ignorance never got in the way of my enjoyment. Even though this was her first book, Lindskold already knew how to write fleshed-out characters. Sarah, Abalone, Professor Isabella and the other lesser characters (Head Wolf, Peep...) will make you care about them and draw you into their personal story arcs. Even Betwixt and Between - and, later, Athena the robot owl - seemed to be real people to me.

Not only does the book give us an insight into the world of the high-level autistic, it also unveils the fascinating infrastructure and interpersonal dynamics of the Pack, a street gang which survives by harsh rules, yet whose members are brave, protective, and steadfastly loyal. Throughout the book Pack members resolutely state their credo: "We be of one blood, ye and I." You can't ask more from friends. Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls is one of the best first novels I've ever read, and, from this, you can tell why Jane Lindskold is considered to be one of the best fantasy writers out there.

Please read this book :).......2004-06-05

Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls has been my favorite book for years. I was enticed by the cover picture when I saw it, thought the plotline seemed interesting, and was blown away by the book. I've read it a good twenty times now, and refuse to lend it out--except to my fiance before we lived together, and I nagged him for days to finish it because I wanted it back to read again! It's a very comfortable read that sucks you in so you can't put it down. I wish I lived in the Jungle, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is even remotely intrigued by the blurb on the back cover... because my expectations were vastly exceeded when I actually read the book.

Never Trust a Troll! #18 (Dragon Slayers' Academy)

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Never Trust a Troll! #18 (Dragon Slayers' Academy)
Kate McMullan
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448443937
Release Date: 2006-11-02

Book Description

After spending the summer at spooky Camp Dragononka, Wiglaf and his pals are back at DSA. They're no longer the youngest lads and lasses—now they're in Class II, and they are expected to show new students the ropes. Wiglaf not only has to put up with his wild and crazy little brother Dudwin, but also with his Class I "Little Buddy," who turns out to be a not-so-little troll! Wiglaf wants to be a good "Big Buddy," but it's not easy when the troll is always playing jokes on him. And what about the fire-breathing dragon that the troll swears is in the woods outside DSA? Is it really there? Or is this just another one of the troll's great big fibs?

Brother of the Dragon (The Barbarians, Volume Two)

Average customer rating:

Good follow up but not great.
Amazing
Elaborate and ironic.
Interesting...

Brother of the Dragon (The Barbarians, Volume Two)
Paul B. Thompson , and Tonya C. Cook
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 078691873X
Release Date: 2001-08-01

Book Description

On the ancient plains of Krynn arise new perils.

The village of Yala-tene is flourishing. Twelve years of peace and plenty have allowed the little settlement to grow into a thriving town. But its peace is threatened--from within by an ambitious priest of the dragon cult, and from without by a savage horde of warriors, bent on conquest. Against this array of evil, Chief Amero and the bronze dragon Duranix strive to hold the fragile threads of civilization together.

Best-selling writing team Thompson and Cook return to the world of Dragonlance in the second book of the epic Barbarians trilogy.

Customer Reviews:

Good follow up but not great........2006-04-04

I absolutely loved the first book in this series "The Children of the Plains" and my excitement carried on over to this book. Therefore, I don't know if I am being too harsh on second novel in the series because it didn't match my expectation due to my opinion of the first, or if I am attributing more credit to it because of its relationship to the first. However, two things need to be touched upon that set it apart from the first book, and both issues being negative. First, the story took on a two tiered storyline, following two stories at once like the first book, but this time Amero has already settled and his conflict didn't seem to arise until much later and Beramun was not nearly as exciting as Nianki. In fact, she was kind of like a poor man's Nianki. Although heroic, she just didn't match up to the heroine of volume one. Second was the emotional decisions of Tiphan. The death of his acolytes and his father and his reaction towards them, separated himself from humanity almost entirely. The human tone was the strength of the first story, every character was identifable. With that said, this story did have many redeemable features. The character development of "sub-plot" characters was a welcomed addition. From Lyopi to Mara to Konza each character was given a heartbeat and a drive, something that can be lost, especially in a book that features dragons. With Amero being my favorite character out of the siblings, it was unexpected how badly I would miss Nianki's presence in this book. If a 3.5 score could be given that would be the score for this book, but the strength of its predecessor urges me to rate it a 4 star book rather than a 3.

Amazing.......2002-03-17

It had been so long since I had read Dragons of a Fallen Sun that I had almost entirely forgotten about it, when I finally bought this book. I was glued to the book the moment I started reading it.

Weis and Hickman are truly amazing... I've said it a million times and I'm sure I'll say it again.

Elaborate and ironic........2001-08-23

Most definitely worth your time, although compared to the original Dragonlance it does not measure up. If you are into fantasy, then this has everything to offer. Not the best idea to read this novel as a first fantasy book. I recommend it to anyone who has read Dragonlance or loves these kind of non-stop action stories.

Interesting..........2001-08-23

Very provocative!! I loved the characters but I think the world needs to be a bit more original... The adventure the characters embarked upon were interesting as well. The main character needed to develop a better personality, although some of the situations were very humorous. As far as being a Dragonlance book, it didn't match up, but different authors can change a novel drastically. I did like the cover design, though!

Average customer rating:

a kid's review
The Dragon of Lonely Island
Best Book
Best Book
A GREAT BOOK!

The Dragon of Lonely Island
Rebecca Rupp
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0763604089
Release Date: 1998-10-07

Book Description

A beguiling fantasy about the vacation of a lifetime.

Hannah, Zachary, and Sarah Emily are spending the summer at their Great Aunt Mehitabel's house on faraway Lonely Island. There, in a cave hidden high above the ocean, they discover a fabulous creature: a glittering three-headed dragon with a kind heart, an unpredictable temper, and a memory that spans 20,000 years. Transported by the magic of the dragon's stories, the children meet Mei-lan, a young girl in ancient China who is called upon to save her village from great danger. They sail the seas in a 19-century ship with cabin boy Jamie Prichett. And, in more recent times, with Hitty and her brother Will, they survive a frightening plane crash on a desert island. In a novel as mysterious and spellbinding as the dragon's stories, Rebecca Rupp explore what three children from the present learn from the past—and from an unlikely, but wise and generous friend.

Customer Reviews:

a kid's review.......2007-08-15

This is a very interesting fiction story about three kids who go to an
island and explore it, then they find a three-headed dragon. I like it a
lot! It is very intriguing.

The Dragon of Lonely Island.......2007-05-06

This is from my son:

I give this book five stars because the kids use their imagination. I enjoyed the adventure on the island and the mysterious key that unlocks the secret room. I would like to visit the kind-hearted golden dragon's island because of the magical dragon's stories. All the childeren seemed to have learned lessons from the stories. My favorite scene was the silver-eyed story. Find out why...

Best Book.......2006-02-16

The three Davis children Have to go to lonely island. Where thay find a cave and they find a great big dragon! They visit the dragon alot. Each time they meet a new dragon. It is a three headed dragon and each time they go to the cave they meet a new head and each head tells them a story. I give this 5 stars because I love dragons and the writer did a good job of writing this story. I love this book and I hope you will to.

A GREAT BOOK!.......2005-10-11

This book is about three kids that go to thier aunts house with thier mother. There, they find a dragon that has been in a cave. You will have to see what happens when the kids and the dragon go face to face.
I loved this book.I hope you will like it to.

Average customer rating:

lacks focus
Frustrating...
Dragon's treasure
Medieval fantasy
Great Book, but not for everyone

Dragon's Treasure
Elizabeth A. Lynn
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0441011969

Book Description

With Dragon's Winter, two-time World Fantasy Award-winner Elizabeth A. Lynn made "a triumphant return"* to the fantasy realm after over a decade. Now, she returns to her imaginative medieval world-where a fearsome dragon lord struggles between ruling with might and ruling with justice.

Customer Reviews:

lacks focus.......2007-03-14

"Dragon's Treasure" is a meandering tale of . . . of . . . well, that is the problem. The tale starts with a young lady having an affair with a Lord, who can shape change into a dragon. Discovering she becomes pregnant, she dumps him to run off and marry someone else, fearing he will murder their child. By the next chapter, she is dead and her son born & grown to a bandit leader. His half sister lives with him & the grandfather & a bandit gang, who attack the wrong person and draw the wrath of the current Lord (another dragon shape changer), who burns down the whole nearby area, killing many of his own soldiers and almost none of the bandits. This doesn't offend anyone -- one of the few strong points of the book; if Global Warming turns out to be a hoax like the Coming Ice Age was, don't expect the politicians to appologise. The half sister goes off to live in poverty, interacting with her poor neighbors, and really doing nothing in particular (at great length) for the rest of the book. Her brother goes off to be a bandit elsewhere, committing atrocities. The dragon Lord goes flying. And so on.

This book wanders without focus. It is like walking in the woods on game trails. Every now and then, you notice that your path has quite disappeared. Then you find another, sure it is the real trail, but no, it too fades away. The writing is uninspired; the characters lifeless; and the plot non-existant.

Lynn's early books were quite well written. Try one of them instead.

Frustrating..........2007-01-09

Although Dragon's Treasure showed a great deal of promise, and the third book might be worth the read, it fell short in a great many places for me. Pro's were 1) not an overly long read; 2) character building was very real; 3) beautiful writing style I enjoyed. Con's: 1) No single main character. The story, told from the perspectives of a few instead of many would of been more effective. 2) Random violence that, although building depth in characters, was yucky to read through. 3) The sexual relationship between the Dragon Lord and his male singer was weird for me. I was in no way prepared when it cropped up in the middle.

Dragon's treasure.......2007-01-05

not a bad second part of a story. but lacked the excitement of the first.

Medieval fantasy.......2006-11-04

If you like grand adventures where you are transported to a different place with magic and dragons, this might be a book for you. Elizabeth Lynn writes with a wonderful style, full of vivid images and violence manageable for the delicate minded. This book is the sequel of Dragon's Winter, which I recommend you read first. The first book is a grand adventure about the stealing of something of great value to the dragon lord -taken by an evil wizard and guarded by orc-type creatures. Dragon's Treasure is mostly about the life surrounding the dragon lord's land: its bandits, its soldiers, the young wolf-boy and a sweet herbalist who is in love with the dragon lord. It is a music-filled land, whose lord is good and fair. The tension throughout the book has to do with the dragon lord's exacting justice as well as his potential explosive temper -not good for a dragon! It's a book of adventure and romance. Enter the world of Elizabeth Lynn; she weaves wonderful tales.

Great Book, but not for everyone.......2006-01-18

Dragon's Treasure is probably one of my all-time favorite fantasy books, but it's definitely not for everyone. Readers who want their blood and gore, high packed action sequences, and cookie-cutter plot will probably not like this book. It's far different from Lynn's first novel in the series: Dragon's Winter. There's no excessively evil bad guy, a huge war, or any real violence. Instead, the book concentrates on character development, relationships, and the complexities of daily life for both royalty and servants alike. Lynn's unique simplistic writing style makes it a fascinating read nonetheless, and it does a great job in setting readers up for the next book in the series - which will hopefully come soon. Overall, I preferred Dragon's Treasure over Dragon's Winter, but highly recommend both.

Average customer rating:

SIMPLY A GOOD BOOK AND A GOOD STORY.
Great fun for the family!
As a Grandmother and Teacher, I highly recommend "If I had a Dragon"!!

If I Had a Dragon
Amanda Ellery
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416909249

Book Description

Morton's brother is too little to be any fun -- but if he were a dragon, playtime would be great...wouldn't it?

Customer Reviews:

SIMPLY A GOOD BOOK AND A GOOD STORY........2007-05-07

I liked the text, the message and the illustrations in this one. It is in English with Hispanic text corresponding with the English, a trend of late I find quite encouraging. This is the story of a little boy to imagines what it would be like to have a dragon as a friend and someone to hang out with. The room for the imagination to run here is endless. This is a good one to not only read with your child, but if you are a teacher, it is a great class read. I have read this one to several of my classes and the kids all seem to enjoy it, which, if you think about it, is a pretty good indorsement for a kids book. Highly recommend this one.

Great fun for the family!.......2006-10-29

"If I Had a Dragon" is great fun for the whole family. My sons have read it every night since we received it and laugh every time. The illustrations are top notch and I hope to see more books from the authors very soon. Highly recommended!

As a Grandmother and Teacher, I highly recommend "If I had a Dragon"!!.......2006-06-13

"If I had a Dragon" is a humorous and imaginative story that is easily understood and enjoyed by children. The vivid, colorful illustrations tell the story (perfect for the rather short attention spans of young children). The story is sweet and funny, while delivering a valuable lesson. The illustrations are expressive and full of the action and humor that young children love. The large type and few words per page are perfect for the "bedtime story" and also for the beginning reader. I loved the way a short, and sweet lesson about sibling relationships is conveyed in a humorous and yet easily understandable way. This is a terrific book that will be enjoyed by both children and the adults who read to them. As a teacher, I can imagine many "spin-off" learning activities including both character building and creative writing activities. It is the perfect set-up to introduce "if---then" concepts (predictability). Buy this book for your own children, grandchildren, your school class or the perfect gift for any child's special occasion or just because... I would recommend this book for children ages 2 to 7 or 8. Teachers target would be KG.- 1st.

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