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Heart's Blood (The Pit Dragon Chronicles #2)
by
Jane Yolen
Jakkin risks everything--his freedom, his dragon, even his life--to rescue his beloved in this stirring sequel to Dragon’s Blood. “Eloquent . . . rich in symbolism.”--The Horn Book
Paperback, 338 pages
Published
December 15th 1996
by Graphia
(first published 1984)
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Book 2 expands upon the world of Austar 5. The characters spend more time traveling to new locations not explored in book 2. Jakkin, the story's hero, spends most of the time fighting with himself in his new role as dragon master; feeling unworthy to the task. The book introduces a couple of new characters, with most of them making only 1 or 2 appearances. The exception being Golden, the senator.
Book 2, like Book 1, is a quick read, however, it is not as good as the first 1. It was easier to put...more
Book 2, like Book 1, is a quick read, however, it is not as good as the first 1. It was easier to put...more
New worlds unfold in book 2 as we follow Jakkin to the capital city of Austar and then into the stews, from a wealthy politician's house to a back-alley bar. The politics of Austar are a bit confusing; are we supposed to root for the rebels? the federation? the Austarians? I think Yolen purposefully makes it unclear so we understand Jakkin's confusion as well; she may also be showing that no one party has completely pure motives. The ending surprised me. There's also an unexpected way to survive...more
Mar 13, 2013
Andrew Suzanne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-and-loved
The second of Jane Yolen's pit dragon chronicles dabbles in political intrigue, cloak-and-dagger, and the 'bigger picture'. Things don't unfold quite as smoothly as the first of the series, but it's no less imaginative or compelling. Jakkin must serve an undercover rebel sympathizer as a means to discovering the fate of Akki, the girl he cares greatly for. The plot and final outcome of this story is harrowing and emotional; guaranteed to move you.
If you enjoy a sci-fi adventure involving the car...more
If you enjoy a sci-fi adventure involving the car...more
I would have given this 2 1/2 stars. Heart's Blood continues the story of Dragon's Blood. Here the story becomes involved in the politics of the planet, and Jakkin's relationship with his dragon and Akki develops. Although still imaginative, I found the story a bit clumsy and the dialogue often choppy, or out of character. I found myself thinking, 'would he really have said all that or that way?'Also, I did not like many of the plot choices. I did not like the ending which was too abrupt and rat...more
It’s been so long since I read this book but I wanted to jot down a potent reaction that has stayed with me from reading it. This story falls into that category of sequel in which the author trades on the well-being of several established characters to up the ante on drama. It reminds me of the second of two made-for-TV Ewok adventures which as I remember was a real downer. Sequels often head in this melancholy direction. In so doing they remind us that to the extent part one ended with a “Happi...more
This is the second book to Jane Yolen's series of dragon taming. This book captivates the reader at the start-reminding the readers that Jakkin has accomplished his goal to become a dragon master. As a dragon master, people start to treat him like a real master. Later on, he would meet Akkin who travels with him to learn and survive from all the mythical and treacherous dangers approaching them. Jakkin with his dragon, Heart Blood, travels over boulders to ultimately strengthen his dragons' atta...more
This one was a little harder to get into than the first one. There's a lot of political machinations going on, and some undercover work, maybe a double-agent or two. It was hard to understand who was doing what and why, but I still LOVED anything that had to do with the care and feeding of dragons.
This was probably the first book I read as a young adult that had a happy-but-kinda-sad ending. I tend to think of this book as mostly just a bridge between the first and last of the series.
This was probably the first book I read as a young adult that had a happy-but-kinda-sad ending. I tend to think of this book as mostly just a bridge between the first and last of the series.
I hate blood sports, and yet I love Jane Yolen. What's a reader to do? Well, I read the first in the Pit Dragon Trilogy (a fourth is on the way), and sadly put away the other two which I had already bought. I loved the dragons too much to fear for their lives every time they fought. And there was something a bit worrying about the bonding Jakkin has with his dragons. He fights their fights in his mind (literally), and so the bloodiness became even more disturbing to me.
i waffled between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. on the one hand, the politics are clumsily introduced into the series & handled a bit awkwardly. on the other hand, the motivations for the various characters are compelling. but what ultimately tipped it for me with this one was the end. i honestly had a hard time finishing the book because it upset me greatly. and if i cared that much, i should go with the higher score, cause that's a mark of successful writing.
Great book with a pretty clean story over all. I really enjoyed the new (to me) look on dragons. In this series, dragons are viewed almost like horses and instead of races and different competitions, they are used for fighting. Over all I really enjoyed it and as I went through the books I found them more difficult to put down. I would definately reccommend these to anyone who loves dragons and a good story.
Quote from WORD for Teens:
I enjoyed the plot line of this book just as much as in Dragon's Blood, but the relationship between Jakkin and Akki wasn't very believable - the love for dragon and master between Jakkin and Heart's Blood was something much, much more believable...
To read the full review, click here.
I enjoyed the plot line of this book just as much as in Dragon's Blood, but the relationship between Jakkin and Akki wasn't very believable - the love for dragon and master between Jakkin and Heart's Blood was something much, much more believable...
To read the full review, click here.
Skimmed a lot of this book... I had a difficult time liking the main character as he is growing up. He is both near sighted without maturity and overall annoying character. I had hopes that he would have grown out of his childish phase of being so obsessed about being "a man" but was disappointed.
Right I remember now. I have the omnibus edition of this trilogy. I read s few chapters of this one before I remembered it because it was not my favorite. His dragon has babies and then he runs off to save the girl interest from the underground. The books on either side are better.
This was a very good book, but why did it have to end like THAT? now I have to wait for the next one to be available... i really enjoyed everything that happened, like when they were captured. Too bad for some of the characters; but overall, thumbs up (times 2)!
okay, so this one was a little bit better. lots of chasing down kidnappers and dragon fights in the arena. i, personally, like the arena fights for some reason. :) i hope the last book, a sending of dragons, is better. the back seems to be very interesting...
Feb 25, 2010
Magila
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-middle-readers,
middle-reader
3.5 stars rounded up. no need to thank me jane, your undying admiration is enough. not as good as the first book, but the story picks up where the first left off. a worthy second piece to this dragon world puzzle.
Well, you can't read this without reading the third one. This was darker than the first one and I honestly had no memory of it from middle school...but it was generally clean and diverting nonetheless.
Really enjoyed this book. I loved the Eragon series and borrowed this from a kid. Fun. Not my favorite of all time but definitely a good, quick read.
Like its prequel, this book had a very original setting. I though this story explored the settings potential more, but the story was very anti-climactic.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Every book in this series has made me cry at some point...the author is great at putting intense emotions into her fantasy characters.
sequel to dragon's blood. not very much different from the previous book. A bit of a letdown in a sense, but still a good read.
I also read this book with my sister and again, loved every second of it. Jane Yolen has a great imagination.
I thought the ending of this one was sad. I also thought Erikksin or whatever his name was was extremely irritating.
This is a fantasy book about a boy who becomes a man by learning about life and dragons. A light read but enchanting book.
Feb 11, 2009
Becky
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
dragon fans
Shelves:
fantasy-science-fiction
An enjoyable sequel, but with too much politics. I thought the twist at the end quite good.
This book is an amazing book for dragon lovers. It is an great sequel to Dragon's Blood.
With what I'm discovering is Yolen's style, she brings you along in the book until you are running for your life at the end. Still enjoying these Pit Dragon Chronicles, and will continue reading the series.
Probably only deserves 3.5 stars, but the ending made me actually want to read the next book -- something that, up until then, I hadn't been planning to do.
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Yolen was born at Beth Israel Hospital, the first child of Isabel Berlin and Will Hyatt Yolen. She and her family moved to California when she was young but returned to New York a few years later. After her younger brother was born, her father joined the army and served on the European front during WWII. Yolen spent her childhood taking piano lessons, ballet dancing and writing a neighborhood news...more
More about Jane Yolen...
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