How to Slay a Dragon (The Journals of Myrth, #1) by Bill Allen

Feb 26, 2012 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dragons, netgalley, ya, otherwhere

This is a young adult novel I was granted access to by Netgalley – my thanks.

It's a classic idea: a much-bullied 12-year-old boy is whisked off from his down-trodden life to another world, where he can become a hero. Greg Hart is just that boy – and Myrrth is just that other world. He abruptly finds himself in the middle of a ring of wizards who have gone searching for him through the worlds. Well – searching for the mighty Greghart, prophesied to slay the dragon who will take the princess. Gre...more This is a young adult novel I was granted access to by Netgalley – my thanks.

It's a classic idea: a much-bullied 12-year-old boy is whisked off from his down-trodden life to another world, where he can become a hero. Greg Hart is just that boy – and Myrrth is just that other world. He abruptly finds himself in the middle of a ring of wizards who have gone searching for him through the worlds. Well – searching for the mighty Greghart, prophesied to slay the dragon who will take the princess. Greg protests futilely that he would have trouble slaying a dragonfly, much less a dragon ("He'd be lucky to win a fight against one of the smaller girls at school") – particularly when he realizes there's a local bonafide dragonslayer called Greatheart – but no one listens: they are certain that the prophecy clearly points to him, and prophecies guide everyone's lives on Myrrth, and therefore a-slaying he will go.

It's a clever and fun twist on the idea. I had two problems with the writing: Greg was constantly "almost scream"ing or "nearly scream"ing or straight out screaming – and when it wasn't screaming it was shrieking. The other fingernails-on-a-blackboard thing was a misuse of language, an incorrect past tense used constantly. It's actually a sort of a spoiler to be more specific; the blunder is necessary. But really irritating.

If you find puns intolerable, this is not the book (or series) for you; from chapter headings on through puns abound. My favorites herein are the names of the dragons, Ruuan being the one Greg is expected to take out. It does wear a little thin after a while, but might be fun for its actual target audience.

I liked Greg (mostly) and the other characters (mostly – and especially Ruuan), and while I found it a little irritating that there were some mysteries left mysterious (who Nathan is, exactly, for example) it is understandable in light of plans for a series. It's a good foundation - and with one of my favorite covers of the year so far.(less)

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Mar 09, 2011 Reading Vacation's Mom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Greg and I have something in common. We are both small for our age. It is not something that I let get in my way, and neither does Greg. When he is named by a prophecy to be the one to slay Ruuan the dragon,

Greg must face his fears and do the right thing. It's a matter of knowing what the right thing is that makes this story so interesting. Greg grows in confidence and he learns that he has much more to offer than he ever thought possible.

I enjoyed reading about Greg’s adventures in Myrth – a my...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Denae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-reality-fantasy, dragons

Wow. Very funny, witty, sarcastic, the works. And yet it didn't come across as negative at all.
Greg Hart is bright but not nerdy, small but not teeny, and the only thing he's really good at is being a coward. Runny away. Then another world's prophecy names him as the one to slay (ha) a 300 foot dragon and rescue the princess and face the ogre and lead the army and trick the witch. But at least he has a Lucky companion, a stick-wielding martial arts master, and a sleep-inducing shadowcat (Rake is...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Maxine McLister rated it 3 of 5 stars

Twelve-year-old Greg Hart is a great hero, able to defeat any and all monsters and all-round bad guys while still making it home for dinner - at least in the stories he writes. In real life, he is the constant target of bullies, beaten up on a daily basis. One day, as he is running from one such bully, Greg finds himself pulled into a different world called Myrth where he discovers that, according to prophesy, he will slay a dragon and save the princess.

Greg tries to convince everyone the prophe...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Kristina Cardoza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Summary
How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen is a fun, action-packed fantasy you'll definitely love! Greg Hart, besides the fact that he's one of the scrawniest boys at his school, is a normal boy in a normal world with a normal life.

...Until now.

Greg is being taken to the fantasy world of Myrth, and if it isn't bad enough being on a medieval planet with ogres, trolls, and witches, he is named in a prophecy (as Greghart, though, not Greg Hart) and it is foretold that he is to slay a dragon to save...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, historical, science-fiction-fantasy, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...

Greg Hart has an active imagination for a boy. He’s not particularly athletic or exceptionally smart. He writes in his journal and creates exciting fantasies where he's the “hero” in some imaginary adventure. He sure never expected to transport from his world to another and find himself ACTUALLY facing a death-defying adventure!

This author has created a very challenging course for his young character who keeps protesting he’s no hero....more Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...

Greg Hart has an active imagination for a boy. He’s not particularly athletic or exceptionally smart. He writes in his journal and creates exciting fantasies where he's the “hero” in some imaginary adventure. He sure never expected to transport from his world to another and find himself ACTUALLY facing a death-defying adventure!

This author has created a very challenging course for his young character who keeps protesting he’s no hero. He takes an ordinary school kid and plops him in another world where witches and dragons and strange creatures live. His assignment: To slay the dragon and save the princess. There’s nowhere to run and if he hides in the wrong place; something might eat him.

Mr. Allen grabs your attention at the very first chapter and keeps Greg running all throughout the book. Young adults reading this will find it easy to stay connected to the characters and interested in what might turn up next in the woods. The author has a very creative writing style. Some creatures are merely odd, some will eat you, and some will kill you just for fun. It’s good that Greg has some friends with him or he’d never make it through.

One aspect I really liked about this story is how the author takes a young man with no self-confidence to speak of on an adventure that helps him grow up and understand he has skills he had never identified as being important. The author also plays word games in the story. How Greg slays the dragon is amazing. This ending will suprise with it's cleverness!

This is a very good adventure that younger readers can enjoy. You might want to use it as a read-aloud book because they may not recognize some of the “punny” jokes included. There is also some violence and danger included in the story which makes it exciting and could be discussed if the child has any questions.

This was Greg’s first adventure and it appears he will be returning to Mryth. This series put me in mind of the Magic Tree House stories. Why not grab a copy of How to Slay a Dragon and then watch for the future books. Greg is an fantastic character you’ll want to follow.(less)

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Jan 23, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen tells the story of Greg Hart a small boy with an overactive imagination who is pulled into a real adventure in a different realm. Greg is told that he is Greghart the dragon slayer and that there is a prophecy that he is to slay the dragon and save the princess. Greg and his new friend Lucky go on an adventure after adventure until finally meeting the dragon in his lair.

This is a fantastic fantasy novel that is filled with adventure (and difficult vocabulary w...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen
4 stars
How to Slay a Dragon is a fun ride. It is quite the adventure that Greg Hart finds him self in. Greg is a hero in his stories that he writes but in school he is picked on by bullies. One day he was running from the bullies and all of a sudden he is somewhere else Myrth.
King Peter of Myrth had his magicians bring him for they believed he was the hero who was prophicied would slay the dragon and rescue the princess. They all really belived this boy could s...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Book Bunny rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the Book Bunny's own review site: HoorayforYa.com

One of the best things on a quiet Friday night to yourself is the opportunity to cuddle with a good book. Last night, I made use of the new Kindle Lending Library to borrow How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen (Bell Bridge, 2011). Even though I can only borrow one book a month on my one month free trial of Amazon Prime (Surprise! That’s how they get you!) I definitely plan on buying upcoming books in this series (again, they got me!).

I’m not su...more From the Book Bunny's own review site: HoorayforYa.com

One of the best things on a quiet Friday night to yourself is the opportunity to cuddle with a good book. Last night, I made use of the new Kindle Lending Library to borrow How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen (Bell Bridge, 2011). Even though I can only borrow one book a month on my one month free trial of Amazon Prime (Surprise! That’s how they get you!) I definitely plan on buying upcoming books in this series (again, they got me!).

I’m not sure why I’ve been drifting more to elevated middle-grade books these days, but I like what I read. Allen’s book quickly transports readers into the tree house of seventh-grader Greg Hart – a short, gangly boy who spends his time writing fantastical adventures, constantly gets picked on by bullies like Manny Malice, and is invisible to all female cuteness. Just as he’s about to be pounded on by his arch nemesis – WHOOSH! – Greg is teleported via magic to a fantasy land called Myrth that is like something out of his own journal of adventures. This book is full of a great deal of WHOOSHes. And it moves quick. All of a sudden, Greg finds out he’s the famed Greghart from a mysterious prophecy that claims he’s out to slay a dragon. There’s just one problem – Greg Hart is actually two words and he’s never slain a dragon before. With much pushing and prodding, Greg is coerced into his predicted journey and meets a molten lava path, shrieking shrubbery, witches, shadowcats, a bollywomp, spirelings, and yes, a 300-foot dragon.

It’s a fast trip through Myrth, and there’s hardly time to stop and check out the scenery, but Allen’s imagination runs wild with the characters and the fun plot. Probably the best part is the wordplay. Greghart vs Greatheart, Earth vs Myrth, Simon Sez, and almost every chapter uses the word “Hart” (Hart of the Matter, Reunion of the Hart). There’s lots of light sarcasm, which makes the book fun and keeps it moving quickly (WHOOSH!) and makes it the perfect choice for reluctant (and dorky mid-20s) readers.(less)

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Nov 14, 2011 Kate Olesin rated it 4 of 5 stars

My HoorayforYA.com review:
One of the best things on a quiet Friday night to yourself is the opportunity to cuddle with a good book. Last night, I made use of the new Kindle Lending Library to borrow How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen (Bell Bridge, 2011). Even though I can only borrow one book a month on my one month free trial of Amazon Prime (Surprise! That’s how they get you!) I definitely plan on buying upcoming books in this series (again, they got me!).

I’m not sure why I’ve been drifting mo...more My HoorayforYA.com review:
One of the best things on a quiet Friday night to yourself is the opportunity to cuddle with a good book. Last night, I made use of the new Kindle Lending Library to borrow How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen (Bell Bridge, 2011). Even though I can only borrow one book a month on my one month free trial of Amazon Prime (Surprise! That’s how they get you!) I definitely plan on buying upcoming books in this series (again, they got me!).

I’m not sure why I’ve been drifting more to elevated middle-grade books these days, but I like what I read. Allen’s book quickly transports readers into the tree house of seventh-grader Greg Hart – a short, gangly boy who spends his time writing fantastical adventures, constantly gets picked on by bullies like Manny Malice, and is invisible to all female cuteness. Just as he’s about to be pounded on by his arch nemesis – WHOOSH! – Greg is teleported via magic to a fantasy land called Myrth that is like something out of his own journal of adventures. This book is full of a great deal of WHOOSHes. And it moves quick. All of a sudden, Greg finds out he’s the famed Greghart from a mysterious prophecy that claims he’s out to slay a dragon. There’s just one problem – Greg Hart is actually two words and he’s never slain a dragon before. With much pushing and prodding, Greg is coerced into his predicted journey and meets a molten lava path, shrieking shrubbery, witches, shadowcats, a bollywomp, spirelings, and yes, a 300-foot dragon.

It’s a fast trip through Myrth, and there’s hardly time to stop and check out the scenery, but Allen’s imagination runs wild with the characters and the fun plot. Probably the best part is the wordplay. Greghart vs Greatheart, Earth vs Myrth, Simon Sez, and almost every chapter uses the word “Hart” (Hart of the Matter, Reunion of the Hart). There’s lots of light sarcasm, which makes the book fun and keeps it moving quickly (WHOOSH!) and makes it the perfect choice for reluctant (and dorky mid-20s) readers.(less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are so many fantasy books out there in the market today, that it’s very, very rare to get your hands on one that is so different from the rest - with so many fun characters and a truly exciting plot - that when it does happen, readers should flock to their bookstores. …And Bill Allen has most definitely begun a series that is completely unique and absolutely “flock-inducing.”

Greg Hart is the main character of this wonderful story. Greg is a young man who has to look forward to beginning j...more There are so many fantasy books out there in the market today, that it’s very, very rare to get your hands on one that is so different from the rest - with so many fun characters and a truly exciting plot - that when it does happen, readers should flock to their bookstores. …And Bill Allen has most definitely begun a series that is completely unique and absolutely “flock-inducing.”

Greg Hart is the main character of this wonderful story. Greg is a young man who has to look forward to beginning junior high tomorrow, and he’s not all that happy about it. In fact, there is a bully at Greg Hart’s school who just loves making his life miserable. What Greg is very good at, however, is imagining. Carrying around a journal with him, Greg Hart puts together truly fantastical stories that take him into other worlds where he is the hero who saves the Princess and the Realm, and it’s really exhausting imagining you’re a hero all the time.

While he’s writing in his journal, Greg hears the voice of the bully coming through the woods, walking with the girl he dreams about named Kristin. What Greg doesn’t want to do is look like an idiot or be teased in front of the prettiest girl in school, so he takes off - running through the woods to get out of the bully’s reach. What happens next is something Greg was never counting on.

Through a portal he goes, and Greg Hart ends up in the Kingdom of Myrth, headed by King Peter Pendegrass. He’s a very amiable king, but he was waiting for a long time for the hero of the prophecy to arrive and he is so happy when Greg lands in his realm. A hysterical assistant to the King named Lucky takes Greg aside and tells him all about the prophecy that one day a hero by the name of Greghart will come and slay the mighty dragon, Ruuan. Of course, Greg knows that they’ve made a mistake and TRIES to tell them so but…no deal. Everyone in the realm believes wholeheartedly that Greg Hart is Greghart.

The quest for the dragon involves a mysterious amulet, a Wiccan woman by the name of Witch Hazel, monkey dogs, trees that move, and a family of dragon-slayers that Greg desperately wants on his side. Every part of this story is extremely satisfying. The dialogue is hysterical, and watching Greg Hart battle his way through the death-defying tasks is a plot worth reading!

A fantasy novel that FINALLY stands out from the pack! Bill Allen has done an incredible job of bringing the land of Myrth to life, leaving the reader truly excited about the next great adventure.
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Oct 19, 2012 Jeanne E rated it 4 of 5 stars

Such an enjoyable Read! Bill Allen has created a world and cast of characters you will want to revisit, and you can since this is the first in the Journals of Myrth.

Greg Hart, a scrawny twelve year old, spends a lot of time daydreaming and writing stories in his journal. In his stories he is the champion, the savior of kingdoms, killer of monsters and rescuer of damsels in distress.
Today, Greg’s daydreams are rudely interrupted by the school bully, Manny Malistino, AKA, Manny Malice. In an att...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade

For Greg Hart, fantasies are a part of life. His journal is a place to share the person that he wishes he was. A hero. A strong, quick and brave character who slays vicious baddies with one hand tied behind his back (and of course always gets the girl in the end). Little does poor Greg know that he is destined to set off on a actual dangerous quest! In this story Greg really is the hero, and one false move will land him on the dragon's lunch menu.

I honestly loved Greg as a character, and I know...more For Greg Hart, fantasies are a part of life. His journal is a place to share the person that he wishes he was. A hero. A strong, quick and brave character who slays vicious baddies with one hand tied behind his back (and of course always gets the girl in the end). Little does poor Greg know that he is destined to set off on a actual dangerous quest! In this story Greg really is the hero, and one false move will land him on the dragon's lunch menu.

I honestly loved Greg as a character, and I know that the reading group this book is aimed at will as well. He is funny, honest, and downright noble at times. Beneath the scrawny boy that everyone sees on the outside beats the heart of a hero. Greg has a quick wit that made me laugh out loud more than once. I adored how the author allowed his character to have doubts and fears. Greg isn't certain the prophecy is about him, and he's willing to (loudly) voice that to anyone who will listen. Still, he knows that a princess' life is at stake. Despite his fears, off he goes on an epic adventure.

Bill Allen weaves a story that will have you glued to your seat, with your eyes in the book, from page one. Trolls, dragons, witches, you name it and you'll probably find it in this fast moving story. The trials that Greg faces are too much fun! (Well maybe not for him, but definitely for the reader.) You get to follow him as he grows and changes, and by the time the end of the story comes it is almost heartbreaking. I know I'm definitely looking forward to more of Greg's adventures.

The last thing I want to mention, because it amused me so greatly, is the word play that is present in this book! How to Slay a Dragon is peppered with puns, jokes, and just plain silliness. I am not afraid to admit that I giggled. A lot. There are some parts of this story that are just so absurd that you have to! Fans of fantasy stories will love this. I'd absolutely recommend this to upper middle grade readers as well. They might not get all the puns, but I guarantee they'll fall in love with Greg.

Long story short? Get a copy. How to Slay a Dragon is a great addition to any adventure lover's shelf.
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Feb 27, 2012 Marthita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cute-cover, fantasy, magic, male-protagonist, netgalley, warlocks-and-witches

When I first started reading this book I was kind of lost, if I must be honest... It starts like any other book, introducing the main character, Greg, writing in his journal all his "adventures" fighting against giants and trolls, but the truth is that Greg is just a normal and small (very small for his age) 12 year old boy that lives on Earth and his greatest ability is to out run the bullies... But then, he's transport to the world of Myrth and what kept me wondering for almost five chapters w...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This is a light, humorous book that kids through adults who prefer to read fantasy will enjoy. The reader follows young Greg Hart on his journey to fullfill a prophecy that he doesn't believe in. The characters are distinctive, funny, and easy to relate to. One of the princesses in this book is spunky, bold, and smart. This is a nice change given all the meek, weak princess charaters that abound in youth fiction.

Allen does a great job of wrapping up the major plot points in this story while sti...more

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Apr 27, 2011 La-Tessa Montgomery rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, childrens

Rating: 4.5

"How to Slay a Dragon" is the story of 12 yr old Greg Hart and his adventures on the planet Mryth--which he is transported to by the King's magicians to slay a dragon & rescue the princess, thus fulfuilling the prophecy. The only problem is Greg is a self proclaimed scrawny kid who's convinced the prophecy is wrong. In a world where everyone believes whole heartedly in the truth of prophecies, Greg finds pushed along the path towards his dragon slaying journey. Will Greg figure ou...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Kat rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Greg held his breath as they passed and silently congratulated himself for not screaming, even if his ability to keep quiet was largely due to the tightness of the hand Nathan clamped over his mouth. In moments the danger was gone.”

Scrawny, scared, twelve-year-old Greg Hart likes to write in his journals about grand adventures. In real life, he is more likely to be seen running at top speed from a bully than fighting one. One day much like any other, he is running away from one of his main torm...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Anh Ngoc rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started reading this book in a bored/down mood, and it lightened me up pretty well.

It was pretty cute at the start, Greg Hart was funny, cute, and the way he thought made me giggle quite a number of times :)
The story was quite interesting and caught my attention until half of the book (when i had to stop for a while) and i lost interest in it and could not get started again finding the story was being dragged a bit too long...

In the end, i started reading the book again, wanting to finish it,...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Wendy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Ugh. We got this as a family read-aloud. Even the teens love to curl up in the living room while Dad reads to us. This seemed to have so much going for it - dragons, "epic" story with reluctant, ordinary hero. But it proved to be so slo-o-ow in plot, with a predictable storyline and annoying characters. The characters are where this book lost our interest. We did not finish the book. With other books, the children would beg dad for another chapter and eagerly ask for the next installment. With t...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Slayermel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who has children that enjoy adventure stories

Shelves: 21st-century, childrens, ebook, fantasy, fiction, kobo, male-authors, my-ebooks, own, young-adult, 2012, series, witches-wizards

This was a very interesting story; it’s about a young boy named Greg who is the kid the bullies pick on at school. He has become an expert at running away, that is until one day he is sucked into a portal that transfers him to Myrth where everyone calls him GregHart the Dragon slayer. It would appear that the people of Myrth live their lives believing in prophecy and Greg is at the centre of their current one. He is supposed to save the princess from the dragon Ruuan. Greg is understandably conc...more

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Jul 25, 2012 MarsianMan added it

Magicians from Myrth have pulled Great Hart to their world so that he can slay a dragon in accord with the prophecy. The only problem is that Greg is 12 and has no knowledge of how to slay dragons.

The book was an interesting journey running around Myrth getting the different items needed to slay the dragon. It was an amusing book and a lot longer than I expected in the children's / YA category. This book would have been better served by cutting out a bit of the satirical dialogue; some of the sc...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book even though it is probably aimed for younger readers (preteen or younger, I would guess).

Humorous, with a few jokes sprinkled throughout that may only be caught by advanced readers, the book was mostly lighthearted throughout. It kind of reminded me of Monty Python, with its play on words. The story moves at a good pace, and only has a handful of characters, mostly focusing on Greg (or Greghart), Lucky, and Nathan.

I liked the various situations Greg found himse...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

While running away from a bully, 12-year-old Greg Hart falls through a wormhole and lands in Myrth. A group of magicians have summoned him as the hero of prophecy to slay Ruuan, a very large dragon who is going to eat the princess. Accompanied by Lucky—the luckiest person in Myrth, Greg is convinced that the prophecy has him confused with a real dragonslayer named Greatheart. So he goes through the motions, sure that he won’t be facing Ruuan in the foretold battle.
• No language or sexual issues
•...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Mary Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was good. My main complaint was that there was a lot of repetition in conversations among the main characters. I think we got it already that Greg didn't believe that the prophesy was about him. I do understand that reiterating things does help get the point across to younger readers, but, really enough already! Otherwise, the story was fun. I think that this is another good one for 4th grade and up, though I'm sure mature and high reading level 3rd graders would also enjoy it. I liked it e...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Aaron Ash rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

This was a decent adolescent read in the line of magical children's books such as the Artemis Fowl series. It was fairly interesting, moved well, and obviously easy to read.
I didn't enjoy it enough to be interested in reading the rest of the series. It touched the themes of predestination and luck, but without any background or exploration of higher powers. It was hard to care much about any of the characters, but perhaps it was meant to keep us in the dark until the story unfolds in future boo...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Beverly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This adorable twist on 'slaying' a dragon is quite charming and humorous. The tone is rather light and the author engages in quite a bit of word play to help keep the reader at ease. It is not a book to be read in one sitting, but to keep coming back to in an effort to savor it.

My own quibble with it has to do with the eBook edition, where there were strange paragraph spacings where there shouldn't be. I'm not certain if this holds over to the print edition, but the gaps made it a little disori...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Michelle Isenhoff rated it 5 of 5 stars

I happened onto this book during a free promo and approached it very cautiously. You see, about five percent of the books I find for free do I actually finish—or even get beyond page fifteen. This one looked cute, however, and I was impressed with the sample text, so I settled in for a longer read. It ended up being a wonderful surprise!

Within, Greg Hart is about to start seventh grade, and he’s not really looking forward to it. True, he is the fastest kid in his class, but that’s mainly because...more I happened onto this book during a free promo and approached it very cautiously. You see, about five percent of the books I find for free do I actually finish—or even get beyond page fifteen. This one looked cute, however, and I was impressed with the sample text, so I settled in for a longer read. It ended up being a wonderful surprise!

Within, Greg Hart is about to start seventh grade, and he’s not really looking forward to it. True, he is the fastest kid in his class, but that’s mainly because he’s had so much practice fleeing dangers like Manny Malice. And he’s got a great imagination. His journal is filled with the feats of daring he’s accomplished in his own mind. That’s why he thinks he’s dreaming again when he’s sucked into the land of Myrth.

In Myrth, the people live by prophecy. Seriously, it’s almost law that prophecies MUST BE FULFILLED, and the people do everything in their power to see it done. So when Greg Hart finds out he’s the fabled Greghart of prophecy, the Greghart destined to slay the dragon Ruuan and rescue the princess, he’s notably alarmed. But he’s forced into action, accompanied by a young man by the name of Lucky. (“Oh, and I’m Lucky,” the boy in orange added quickly. Greg stared at him dumbly. “Good for you.” “No, I mean my name is Lucky. Short for Luke.” “Actually, it’s longer,” Greg said.)

On their journey, they meet a variety of quirky characters: Melvin, spiteful little brother to the legendary dragon-slayer, Marvin; feisty Princess Pricilla, who insists on being called Sasha and sets out to slay the dragon herself; and Bart the Bard, who has an annoying habit of singing ballads of death and destruction just before Greg heads into danger. Together they’re attacked by a bollywomp, chased by falchions, and march to battle against a valley full of “razor teeth” —with Greg protesting all the way. Oddly enough, things do work out, just not at all in the way you’d expect it to.

My reaction? Sweet! (As in, I totally loved it!) This book has great characters and great action and adventure. I wasn’t quite as impressed with the settings. (I felt a little bit like I was walking around on a map.) But this is truly one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Not just turn-up-the-corner-of-your-smile funny, but big-toothy-grin funny, and sometimes even crack-up-out-loud funny. It’s not the type of book you’d want to break open, say, in a crowd of strangers, or during a funeral, or when your teacher’s lecturing. But it’s great for most other times.

Here are a few more of my favorite quotes:

His name was Manny Malistino, only everyone called him Manny Malice, or better yet, Sir, if they thought he might be listening.

Better a live coward than a dead hero, he’d (Greg) always believed.

“Get some sleep.” Yes, of course. Wouldn’t want to be tired when I’m killed by the witch.

“Now, would you prefer to be roasted, mauled, or eaten?” If ever there was a question that deserved to be rhetorical… “Are there any other choices?”

The action, humor and word plays will appeal to the middle school crowd, though there’s absolutely nothing to prevent younger ones from reading. Language and content are perfectly clean. I’d highly recommend it for ages 10+. (less)

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Apr 05, 2013 The Cheap Reader rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-kindle, fantasy, freebie, series-abandoned

I don’t mind when stories have similar story lines as long as each story is new and interesting. Unfortunately How To Slay A Dragon‘s story was a bit boring. It’s a pretty typical set up: our protagonist is ripped from his normal life and thrown into a new world. In this new world, he’s the one who has to save the world even though he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Surprise! He learns a lot in this new world and is the hero everyone thought he would be.

I don’t mean to say the story is bad because...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Gmr rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all ages

Recommended to Gmr by: Bell Bridge Books

Have you ever heard it's all in what you say...or rather how it's perceived? Mistaken meanings happen EVERY DAY. Online, in person, in text , on the phone, you name it and someone has mistaken the meaning of what someone has said for something completely different...for better or worse. Such is the case here for our young "hero" (champion or sandwich?), Greg Hart of Earth who apparently is the long sought champion-to-be of Myrth in lieu of another by a similar name that happens to fight dragons...more Have you ever heard it's all in what you say...or rather how it's perceived? Mistaken meanings happen EVERY DAY. Online, in person, in text , on the phone, you name it and someone has mistaken the meaning of what someone has said for something completely different...for better or worse. Such is the case here for our young "hero" (champion or sandwich?), Greg Hart of Earth who apparently is the long sought champion-to-be of Myrth in lieu of another by a similar name that happens to fight dragons every other day. (Are you with me so far? Good.) Hmm...interesting coincidence? I don't know....the circumstances under which the prophecy was obtained are rather sketchy to say the least but then again stranger (odd or person?) things have happened.

Massively fun word play is the name of the game and it runs amuck throughout the story. Hear and their...or rather HERE and THERE you can find it on almost everyone page; a cornucopia of English class fun if I do say so myself. I can certainly see this working in a classroom setting as a great learning assignment to illustrate proper word usage. But anywho, aside from the nerdy wordy fun, there is the adventure itself.

Greg Hart (or is that Greghart as all the people of Myrth believe his name to be?) is a likable character, as is Lucky, Priscilla, and a slue of other friendly types met along the way. Even the not-quite-as-friendly (or helpful) ones are great...like the Witch Hazel (ha, get it?!) and Simon Sezxqrthm (Simon Sez for short....ha!)....each adding a little something special to the story in their own way of course. Every one he encounters on his journey brings a little mischief to the overall prophecy as it unfolds before their eyes and you can guarantee that while being engrossed in thoughts of just what might happen next (and laughing at all the "inside" jokes you uncover), you'll be taken by surprise as the unseen path is followed. It's not a book that leaves its potential outcomes wide open for you to gawk and stare at, no sir. You have selectively pick it out of the proverbial haystack, or merely let it run its course and hold on tight....me, I prefer the second method here.

In short (length not height), a wordy adventure into the realm of fantasy steeped with enough action to draw you in and enough word play to keep you thinking (and laughing) along the way. I for one thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the land of Myrth and can not wait for our next chance to visit them once again. (less)

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Mar 18, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love daydreaming about being something I thought I would or could never be: a rockstar, a famous actor, an astronaut, a circus performer, and a hero. We all have had that fantasy where we believe we know exactly how we would act if we were placed in a situation where our fantasies became reality. Greg Hart....poor, poor Greg Hart had no idea that he would not have to just fantasize about what he would do, but he would have to face the most challenging of all the popular fantasies.

Greg Hart is...more I love daydreaming about being something I thought I would or could never be: a rockstar, a famous actor, an astronaut, a circus performer, and a hero. We all have had that fantasy where we believe we know exactly how we would act if we were placed in a situation where our fantasies became reality. Greg Hart....poor, poor Greg Hart had no idea that he would not have to just fantasize about what he would do, but he would have to face the most challenging of all the popular fantasies.

Greg Hart is a small, well, better say scrawny middle school kid who is always being picked last, beat up, and ignored. He spends his free time writing about exciting adventures in which he defeats trolls and rescues fair maidens in distress. Not only is he not able escape a bully who invades his tree house, but he is also unable to escape a spell that transports Greg into the land of Myrth.

Greg Hart soon learns that the people of Myrth have been waiting in anticipation for his arrival. He is a great hero to these people, everyone knows of Greg and his wonderful deeds and all of the wondrous things Greg has accomplished. The only problem is, Greg has not done any of these things yet. He is given a king's treatment and fanfare befitting a glorious hero, but only because a prophecy stated at Greghart from Earth would be slaying a dragon and saving the princess from a horrible fate.

Accompanied by Lucky, the luckiest person on Myrth, Greg is sent out on this mission that the entire already expects to be a success because the prophecy said so and prophecies are never wrong. Facing trolls, evil witches, 300 foot tall dragons should be a piece of cake right? With the prophecy on his side and the luckiest person alive, how could anything possibly go wrong? Well, add in the fact Greg doesn't believe in this prophecy any more than he can skin a monkeydog and prophecies don't seem quite as obtainable as one would think.

Oh yea, the prophecy was made by a man who appears to have lived longer than the mountains on Myrth and who can only be understood by his wife who is almost completely deaf.....one more thing, the scribe who copied the prophecy is a drunk with atrocious handwriting. I'm all for an adventure with me as the cookable hero...wouldn't you be??

How to Slay a Dragon has a ton of sarcasm in it, something I just happen to be very fond of. You do not go more than a couple of pages without Greg making some sort of remark or humor being thrown in at some point. The humor can be enjoyed by young and old(er) alike. There always seems to be a twist and turn thrown in there as well. The story line seemed to drag for me in several places and I had a hard time keeping from putting the book down and getting a few other things done before returning to the book. Many YA books have a story line that can be engrossing for younger audiences as well as adult readers. This book, I believe, was geared more towards younger readers only. The story is a cute one, but not complex enough to grip an older crowd.

The lessons that are taught in this book I believe are strong ones: never give up hope and only you are in charge of your own fate. Greg had an entire planet pushing him to be one thing and to go down a certain path. Greg knew that life and that path was not for him, and he went against the popular ideas and made his own way. Kudos to Greg for knowing who he was and being the best darn Greg he could be!(less)

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How to Slay a Dragon (The Journals of Myrth #1)

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