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Apr 19, 2009

Janet rated it:

What an exciting debut novel from VCFA student Mikki Knudsen! This enticing middle grade fantasy is told in alternating points of view (girl and boy), making for a page-turning read for teens of either sex. I don’t wish to spoil the multiple surprises within, but Knudsen has created a unique world and an action-packed adventure. Wonderful descriptive language and strong and engaging characters complete the package.

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Nov 29, 2011

Michelle rated it:

This was an average book, nothing to make it stand out in my mind. We have the standard plot of warring kingdoms marrying a son and a daughter to end the war. We have someone who does not want to see the war end, concoting an evil plot, and two teenagers discovering the plot and trying to solve it. There were elements that should have made it stand out, like the dragon, but they didn't succeed. Since dragon is in the title I thought he would be a large part of the story. It wasn't. That wa More...

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Jun 08, 2011

Charlyn rated it:

This book is a romp--adventure, romance, and humor blended into a tale that will appeal to both boys and girls. Calen is a mage's apprentice who appears to be not the best student. Then one of his side trips on an errand takes him high into the castle where he meets Princess Meglynne who has come for the same reason as Calen--to watch the arrival of the prince coming to wed Meg's sister and unite two warring kingdoms. Because of this accidental meeting, Meg entrusts Calen with a secret s More...

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Oct 08, 2009

Eva rated it:

This was a perfectly adequate fantasy, and kids who enjoyed Angie Sage's Septimus Heap books (which this reminded me a bit of, what with friendship of young mages and princesses) will certainly like this book. I enjoyed it myself, but only in the mildest of ways. It is written in a straightforward style that is perfect for kids who are new to fantasy but doesn't do much to transport the reader into another world. The dialogue is uninspired and doesn't allow the reader much insight into Calen and More...

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Jul 24, 2009

Shel added it

Knudsen, M. (2009). The Dragon of Trelian. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

9780763634551

Calen, a mage’s apprentice, befriends the witty and tough Princess Meg of Trelian just when her older sister is marrying the prince of Kragnir to make peace after a century of war. Meg, without thinking, decides to let Calen in on a HUGE secret--a secret that has scales and will soon learn to fly and breath fire. As the two young teens form a friendship around More...

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Jun 11, 2009

Jill rated it:

Review by Jill Williamson

Calen, a mage’s assistant, just wants to see the royal procession as it approaches, and he’s not the only one. Princess Meglynne had the same idea. The two become friends, and Meg asks Calen to meet her again. She wants to share a secret with him. When they meet again, Meg shows Calen her dragon and begs him to help her learn more about the rare creatures. What calen discovers horrifies him: Meg and the dragon are linked. Should one be killed, the other will More...

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May 29, 2009

Amydeanne rated it:

I'm sure some might enjoy this, I hard a hard time getting past the first two chapters.. or three... or four... over two weeks I've put this book down over and over again. It didn't capture me or keep me interested.

As Mr. C says, "A slow start, but a happy ending -- sets you up for the next book."

I don't like writing bad reviews, but I do need to honest, and honestly I just couldn't get into this one. Perhaps a book others will enjoy, but it won't be on my top lis More...

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Apr 08, 2009

A. rated it:

Review is based on an ARC.

About halfway through the book, I had to stop reading to do laundry. Walking to the laundry room, I caught myself thinking, "How is it so good?" Then my boss called and I was interrupted from my chore for a while. Upon returning to the laundry, I realized that all I could think about was what was happening in the story and what would happen next.

I'd like to congratulate Michelle Knudson on writing an engaging, fast-paced fantasy that is More...

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Dec 30, 2009

Abby rated it:

Calen, a mage's apprentice, and Princess Meglynne form a friendship when Meg shares her secret. Together they must protect the Kingdom of Trelian from an evil plot, but the future has never seemed more uncertain.
The perfect mix of familiar fantasy elements and new twists to keep things interesting. I'd hand this to any fan of Eragon, Septimus Heap, or Dealing with Dragons.

Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/0...

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Aug 04, 2010

R rated it:

I really loved this book. Maybe because, as some other blogger pointed out, it's more about relationships than it is about action? And we all know my favorite Library of Congress Cataloguing-In-Publication Data category is Interpersonal Relations.
But I also like the playfulness, the inventiveness, and the humor. Because it made me laugh. And to quote Roger Rabbit: "A laugh can be a very powerful thing."

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Jan 16, 2010

Treasa rated it:

Princess Meglynne has a great secret - a baby dragon that she has been taking care of in the woods. When she meets the castle's mage apprentice, for the first time she wants to tell someone her secret. Thus begins a friendship between Meg and Calen that will get both of them through the many hard times ahead. The kingdom of Trelian is in great danger, and it is up to the two friends, with a little help from the dragon, to save everyone.

It took me a little while to get into this book. More...

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Jun 19, 2010

Givenpreciousjules rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Apr 01, 2009

Jackie rated it:

Princess Meglynne, 14, has a secret...a big one. The kingdom of Trelian has not seen a dragon in ages, but Meg has befriended one and kept him hidden as best she can...until now. Calen, the new mage's apprentice seems to be the one she can trust with her hidden discovery. Calen is cautious of Jakl and senses a powerful link between Meg and the dragon. Calen is training under Selek, a powerful and unemotional mage, who doesn't seem to completely trust in Calen's ability or dedication. When Calen More...

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Nov 07, 2011

Silver-stag rated it:

Such a good book! Left me wanting more and more, can't wait until the sequel. Found it hard to find great books after reading Harry Potter for most of my life, but this is definitely one of them.. Recommend!

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Sep 01, 2009

Phillip rated it:

The Dragon Of Trelian is a splendid return to the traditions of fairy tales and legend. Michelle Knudsen demonstrates a respectful treatment of these traditions fleshing them out with some intriguing innovations. She tells a story of a magician's apprentice and a princess (though not the eldest daughter) and their adventures in the midst of intrigues underlying a treatied marriage. Knudsen approach to the traditions of magic are well thought out. Her characters reactions are real and demonst More...

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Jul 23, 2009

Miss Clark rated it:

Dragons. Princesses. Magic. True friendship. All that good stuff, plus add in a murder plot, an evil mage trapped in-between planes of existence and untrustworthy suitors, not to mention the two kingdoms on the brink of a peace after centuries of war. Sadly, the evil mage is vague, Sen Eva escapes and it really and truly needs a sequel. Loved Calen and Meglynne and Serek and Jakyl and pretty much all the characters. It felt like a great fantasy story, a bit heavy on Meg's crush on Willem though, More...

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Dec 13, 2009

Phoebe rated it:

This lightweight fantasy will be perfect for upper elementary school readers, but teens and adults may not find much to chew on. Princess Meg and the apprentice mage become partners in crime the day they overhear a terrible secret, and it's up to them to stop a murder plot that will take place following Princess Meg's sister's wedding. Knudsen herself confesses to adding all of her favorite fantasy elements, including dragons, which is a fine thing, but the plot itself is so predictable that t More...

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Jun 01, 2010

William rated it:

A great, solid fantasy novel that left me hoping for a sequel. When princess Meg meets Calen, the sorcerer's apprentice, and tells him her secret (a dragon!) they being a series of adventures which leads them discovery of a plot threatening to lead their kingdom to war.
The beginning of the book is a bit slow, and until I got about 50 pages in I wasn't hooked. Once the action starts to pick up though, the story gets very interesting and the characters start to take on a bit more depth a More...

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Aug 28, 2010

Margo rated it:

I try to avoid spoilers at all costs, but just a warning: I love to quote excerpts of my favorite parts!

I recommend this book for many reasons, but the character of the master mage, Serek, is a big one - I think he has potential to be one of the great fantasy mages, just a step below Gandalf and Dumbledore - if this book turns into a series. Here's just a snippet that gives you an idea of his sarcastic character, and his cool sidekick, a gyrcat:

“What exactly are you doin

More...

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Aug 07, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

You're going to laugh when you hear me say this, but I'm just going to come out and ask anyway: Where did all the fantasy go? I know that in this day and age of vampires, zombies, and zombie vampires (subgenre) that sounds weird, but when it comes to fantasy for the kids, not teens, it isn't like it used to be. In the heyday of Harry Potter you couldn't spit over your left shoulder without hitting some new wizardy/magicish wonder romp of fun and frolic. These days fantasy keeps coming out, but i More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Crowinator rated it:

Young Calen is a mage-in-training in the kingdom of Trelian, newly apprenticed to the stern master magician, Serek. Meglynne is a middle princess with a reputation for impulsive, un-princessy behavior; her older sister has always been her best friend, but soon her sister will be gone, married to a prince from the neighboring kingdom, thus ending a long-standing war. These two lonely children meet when they both sneak away from their duties to spy on the prince's procession, and they quickly stri More...

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Jan 10, 2010

Linda rated it:

I really enjoyed the characters in this lively romantic fantasy. The plot was fun--anything with a dragon can't be all bad. The young princess has a secret bond with a dragon. She decides to share this secret with the mage's apprentice, whom she's accidentally met just before the wedding of her older sister to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Of course there are treasonous villains to defeat and limited time. It's a great romp with magic and friendship and action in lovely balance. I More...

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Jul 26, 2010

Tracey rated it:

DCF book. The first 100 pages were a little slow - the author was setting up the characters. The action was great after page 100, however, the story was more about friendship and the traditional "good vs evil" found in a fantasy novel rather than the dragon I found the book to go from slow to "couldn't put it down" back to slow again. The pace kept see-sawing back and forth throughout the entire book. The cover was deceiving too since I kept waiting for that part to happe More...

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Jan 31, 2012

JiEun rated it:

'The Dragon of Trelian' was a nice book to read. However, personally I think it wasn't a very good or fascinating. I think it must have been interesting to some readers and for the others, it might have been hard to read since they have no interest. In my opinion, the readers were pretty much able to guess what would happen next. What I thought was that there was no 'big climax' in the book.

Overall, I think it was an average book and I also think it would be more interesting to youn More...

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May 03, 2009

Kari rated it:

Middle grade fantasy dream-come-true: a girl, her dragon, and a nice guy to hang out with. Through the alternating viewpoints of Meg and Calen - a princess and a mage's apprentice - the story is a wild adventure of betrayal, magic, murder, and budding romance. Meg is an extremely likable and strong female character with a breathless quality, who sometimes has more inside of her than she can put a lid on, which makes for wonderful, subtle humor.

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Aug 16, 2009

Tracie rated it:

Excellent! The story of Princess Meg and mage-in-training Calen who discover a wicked plot to kill members of the royal family and prolong a war between theirs and a neighboring kingdom. The two form an extraordinary friendship and find that working together as well as trusting themselves bring them strength and abilities beyond what they thought possible. The dragon is pretty awesome too.

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Oct 10, 2009

Sarah rated it:

The book was a slow start and the characters spent altogether too much time debating various courses of action, but once they started doing things the adventure was exciting. The dragon telepathy felt a bit cliché, and I was both horrified and delighted to find that every single major character manages to faint at least once over the course of the novel, but the story was engaging even so.

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Apr 06, 2009

Cindy rated it:

Calen, an apprentice mage, and Meglynne, the third princess of Trelian, seem to have little to draw them together. But the two make a firm friendship in the face of an unspecified threat to the kingdom. The two of them, plus the dragon of the title, embark on a dangerous quest to save Meg's sister from death and prevent a war.

I liked Meg as a character and was intrigued by her link with the dragon, Jakl. It was also a nice twist that she is the impulsive, passionate one while Calen w More...

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May 06, 2009

Roberta rated it:

Great story that doesn't preach. The hero and heroine must learn to trust each other to continue on the journey. When information is found they also learn not to rush. The author does this by having her characters say "no not now, I believe you, but this is why I say no". Of course there is more and it is all good.

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Jan 06, 2010

Katy rated it:

Tired, cliche-filled, and pedestrian. The only thing admirable was the set of stones the author had to rip off Rowling so transparently (our Young Wizard Hero hates his potions homework!) No, I take that back: it's never a smart idea to remind your readers of a better book while reading your crappy one.

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