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Voices of Dragons

by Carrie Vaughn (Goodreads Author)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 2,434 ratings · 334 reviews

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly save...more

Hardcover, 309 pages

Published March 16th 2010 by HarperTeen (first published March 1st 2010)

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Apr 19, 2011 Liv rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA urban fantasy lovers, dragon lovers, and anyone who likes Carrie Vaughn's work

Shelves: classic-fantasy

I give this book a 3.5-star rating...

I read numerous YA urban fantasy/paranormal novels in the past and I was often disappointed by the lack of characterization and depth, uninteresting plot etc. So I did not have high expectations going into Voices of Dragons. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised by the fact that this book engaged me enough that I stayed up an extra hour late into the night just so I could finish it. Carrie Vaughn definitely has a way with her writing to capture her audien...more I give this book a 3.5-star rating...

I read numerous YA urban fantasy/paranormal novels in the past and I was often disappointed by the lack of characterization and depth, uninteresting plot etc. So I did not have high expectations going into Voices of Dragons. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised by the fact that this book engaged me enough that I stayed up an extra hour late into the night just so I could finish it. Carrie Vaughn definitely has a way with her writing to capture her audience's attention (as with her other Kitty Norville novels, which I adore).

The plot was quite simple and straight forward. This novel protrayed a world where humans and dragons co-existed, but lived in separate and distinct territories. The female protagonist, Kay, was a normal teenage girl who loved outdoor life and happened to venture into the dragon territory by accident and befriended a dragon. The story progressed and due to one reason after another, humans and dragons started a war (again) after years of peace.

At some points in the story, I thought the plot was a little slow, but I still enjoyed the story building and the teenage actions that go on in Kay's life. Kay was no perfect teenager at all - she had her hangups, doubts, rebellious moments, and normal teenager issues. However, she was mature enough to know that it was sometimes okay to be different. Her innocent friend-love relationship with Jon was very cute and I would like to commend the author on the fact that Kay was described as a teenager who took a cautious approach to relationship. Authors who often write about teenage girls who think about nothing value-adding to life other than boys and how hot they are simply drive me CRAZY. Thankfully, Kay was a character with more depth than that. She cared about her parents, her friends, dragons (who were supposed to be enemies), and the world in general. When she found a cause worth fighting for, she persisted and followed it through even though she was only a small fish in the waters and there were bigger sharks out there.

The only reason why I didn't give it a 4-star rating was that I was a little disappointed with the ending - it felt like it was unfinished and I simply hated being left feeling "hanging". I was almost expecting an epilogue of some sort that would summarize the things that may transpire after the end but it wasn't there. I certainly hope that there will be a sequel of some sort to this installment.(less)

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Jan 01, 2011 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Exciting premise, but Ms Vaughn skipped some basics. Her world building is excellent, but a lot of the description could have been left in the computer as part of her research/development. Add in that she's forgotten a basic premise of successful white space and it slowed down.

Further, I agree that the plot line, while adequate, was lacking in the stunning quality that I expected from Ms Vaughn and her editors. YA doesn't mean the plot can be simplified and pared down with few layers.

I loved th...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Leanne Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: please-release-it-in-the-uk, alternative-dystopian-realities, book-i-had-to-order-from-amazon, fantasy-sci-fi-paranormal, didnt-see-that-coming, prettiful-covers, read-2010, young-adult, yellow-brown-orange, dragons

In a world filled with Vampires, Werewolves and ghosts i'm always really, really happy to find a book that has a completely different subject matter while still being utterly compelling.
I am well aware that this is by no way the first book in which a human befirends a dragon but it is the first i've read set in the modern world and i was absolutely astounded.

Kay is a seventeen year old girl who loves to climb/hike and all that other dangerous out-doorsy stuff. On one lone hiking trip she she has...more In a world filled with Vampires, Werewolves and ghosts i'm always really, really happy to find a book that has a completely different subject matter while still being utterly compelling.
I am well aware that this is by no way the first book in which a human befirends a dragon but it is the first i've read set in the modern world and i was absolutely astounded.

Kay is a seventeen year old girl who loves to climb/hike and all that other dangerous out-doorsy stuff. On one lone hiking trip she she has an accident and is rescued by a young dragon called Artegal (who is a sweety i might add).
What starts is a budding and beautiful friendship that defies everything she has ever been taught. Are dragons really as terrifying as people made out? Can they really be held responsible for the last dragon/human war?
Just as Kay begins to learn more however, other people seem to have grown tired of the truce and events occur that threaten not only their growing friendship, but the rest of the world.

I have to say the plot was genius, and it took so many twists and turns and drew off several old myths and legends from the past. Despite the mythical subject matter, the story is told with such realism i found it easy to believe that their could be some truth in it.
There was even some elements from WW2 drawn in, with the idea that the atomic bombs woke the dragons from deep slumber, which i found fascinating.

The characters were amazing as well. I loved Kay and Artegal and how their relationship developed. Kay was a different sort of girl, she didn't follow the crown and didn't listen to advice most of the time (and in this case it turns out to be a good thing).
I wasn't too keen on her friend Tam purely because she sends the wrong message out to girls with this one quote "Seventeen is way to old to still be a Virgin"...Excuse me? No it ain't. At first i was a bit worried by this but then i realied that this became a major part of the plot and it was a clever way of introducing the subject. (You'll see what i mean when you read it!) Ultimately, lets just say being a Virgin is most definately not a bad thing. Tam did however grow on me in the end, she turned out to be a loyal friend despite the obnoxious attitude.

There were some events in this that did make me gasp and want to cry as well. And i have to admit it was completely unpredictable and the ending will really make you hope there's a sequel. I LOVE DRAGONS!!! :-D(less)

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Mar 25, 2010 Nancy O'Toole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Kay has never seen a dragon before, despite the fact that she lives close to the border that separates human from dragon territory. That is until the day she slips and falls into a river while rock climbing, washing her across the border. Kay is rescued by a dragon named Artegal. At first Kay is terrified, but as the two begin to talk they become friends. Then a military plane goes down in in dragon territory, sparking a war between the two races. Will Kay and Artegal's friendship be enough to s...more Kay has never seen a dragon before, despite the fact that she lives close to the border that separates human from dragon territory. That is until the day she slips and falls into a river while rock climbing, washing her across the border. Kay is rescued by a dragon named Artegal. At first Kay is terrified, but as the two begin to talk they become friends. Then a military plane goes down in in dragon territory, sparking a war between the two races. Will Kay and Artegal's friendship be enough to stop a war, or are they too powerless to do anything?

It seems like no matter where I turn nowadays, another adult author is crossing the border to YA. When I heard that Carrie Vaughn was writing her first teen novel, Voices of Dragons, I was really excited. The premise is admittedly far form unique, especially with the Dreamworks film “How to Train Your Dragon” also being released this month. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for these types of books, but the lack of originality really didn't bother me. I loved watching the growing friendship between Kay and Artegal, and learning about their world. Where the book really comes alive is in the scenes of flight, where Kay uses her hiking equipment to create a harness so she can ride Artegal. Vaughn does such a fantastic job of describing the movement of the dragon's body and the experience of soaring through the air that I began to wonder if she was writing from first hand experience, impossible as that is.

Where the book falters at first is in characterization. At the beginning of the book, I felt as if there was a wall between me and the characters, especially as they deal with everyday teenager stuff like finding a dress for homecoming. As we are drawn deeper into the story, this became less of an issue. I was a little iffy on the romantic plotline between Kay and Jon first, but I think that's okay because Kay's not too sure about how she feels either. Oftentimes in YA lit, we see a teenage girl completely throwing herself into a relationship, body and soul, at the mere drop of a hat. Not all teenagers develop emotionally at this speed, so it was nice to see Vaughn paint a different type of courtship, marked by awkwardness and confusion as Kay tries to decide if she's ready for a relationship, and what a romantic relationship really means.

One of the things that surprised me about Voices of Dragons is how clean it is. That's not to say that Vaughn's adult books are endless orgies with a side of gore and violence, but Dragons is free of any heavy swearing, and glosses over much of the violence. The subject of sex is brought up but not explored graphically. This makes this book stand out a bit from a lot of YA out there these days. In fact, the books clean nature, combined with the fact that the teenagers use little slang, and we don't get too many references to technology (save for cellphones), often made the book feel a lot older than it is. This of course was not a bad thing, in fact it made me feel a little nostalgic as it reminded me of the books I read at twelve to fourteen. A teenage audience should still be able to relate to the story, especially the scenes that criticize the media's tendency to hype up current events.

Although Voice of Dragons is at times awkward and is not quite as engaging as Vaughn's adult novels, it's still a worthy debut into the YA scene. It doesn't necessarily end of a cliffhanger, there's still plenty of story left to tell by the end. If Vaughn decides to publish a sequel, I will be sure to pick it up.(less)

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May 20, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Voices of Dragons" is a young adult contemporary fantasy...an alternate history where dragons return from their hiding deep below the surface of the earth at the end of WWII. I found the "history" and the interactions with the dragons to be interesting.

The other focus of the book was Kay's relationship with her boyfriend. She doesn't want things to change between them, but her female best friend is pressuring her to have sex because "everyone is," "it's great," and "how will you feel if you die...more "Voices of Dragons" is a young adult contemporary fantasy...an alternate history where dragons return from their hiding deep below the surface of the earth at the end of WWII. I found the "history" and the interactions with the dragons to be interesting.

The other focus of the book was Kay's relationship with her boyfriend. She doesn't want things to change between them, but her female best friend is pressuring her to have sex because "everyone is," "it's great," and "how will you feel if you die a virgin?" Kay's not sure if those are good enough reasons. How can she know when the time is right beyond listening to her hormones or the pressure of her friends? Kay's boyfriend is struggling with the same pressure and confusion, so he doesn't pressure her. He's a really great guy who shares her interests in the outdoors and genuinely cares about her.

Unfortunately, she never did figure out an answer. As she and her boyfriend get more an more physical, it looks like "hormones" will be the answer. But then Kay learns that dragons don't care if you're a virgin or not (which is a relief to her, though I'm not sure in what way) and gets so caught up in saving the world that there is no time for sex.

The ending is likewise unresolved concerning the dragons. Kay and her dragon friend decide to do whatever they can to stop the dragon-human war, even if the impact of their actions is small. I like how coming to this decision was handled in a realistic way. But we never do find out if their actions made any difference. So much is left unresolved. I realize an author doesn't want to say, "Sorry, kiddos, a dramatic, noble sacrifice probably didn't stop things." Or maybe they thought selfless, heroic fantasy wouldn't sell in today's market so they didn't want to end too positive. Let's just say I'm disappointed there wasn't an epilogue if there wasn't going to be a sequel.

There were no sex scenes. There was some swearing and explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book because I like selfless, heroic fantasy, and at least the heroine dared to question the social pressure to have sex. (less)

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May 10, 2012 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

In an alternate version of earth, a fragile peace has been kept between the humans and the dragons for over fifty years. The dragons have claim to the northern and mountainous regions of the planet, and their territory is banned to all humans. Kay knows all of this – her father enforces the border near her home, but she still insists on climbing the mountains close to the border of Dragon. During one of these climbs, Kay slips and is rescued by a young dragon, Artegal. Forging a forbidden friend...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Kiirsi Hellewell rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book has a fresh and interesting setting/world, which I really would have liked to explore better. (Humans live in a totally modern world just like ours, but dragons live on the other side of a border. No one has contact with the dragons.)

The first 2/3 of the book, unfortunately, pretty much nothing happens. Heroine visits a dragon, goes to school (where her best friend pushes and nags her in every conversation to "go farther" romantically with main character's love interest), hides secrets...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-5-stars

Plot: 5 Stars
I absolutely love the world that Vaughn created in this novel. A cold war between dragons and people, complete with a border that is watched over by both sides. What more could you ask for? Each side finds the other mysterious, which has led to some fear. As much as I didn't think the government would play such a role in the novel, it really worked and made it feel real, which is tough considering the dragons.

Pace: 5 Stars
This is one of those rare books that I just couldn't put dow...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Katie Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book: Voices of Dragons
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Page #: 309
Star #: 4

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn was a fun read. A seventeen year old girl had an accident while climbing one day and was thrown across an important border; the one keeping peace between dragons and humans. Ironically, a dragon on the other side rescued her. A friendship was formed. Unfortunately, a war had been rising for years and the pair are stuck in the middle of it with government officials, flaming fires, death, and chaos....more Book: Voices of Dragons
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Page #: 309
Star #: 4

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn was a fun read. A seventeen year old girl had an accident while climbing one day and was thrown across an important border; the one keeping peace between dragons and humans. Ironically, a dragon on the other side rescued her. A friendship was formed. Unfortunately, a war had been rising for years and the pair are stuck in the middle of it with government officials, flaming fires, death, and chaos. Add in a twist of love, attachment, and friendship, and you have an interesting book.

I felt the book earned four stars instead of five because although it had a captivating storyline, there were several mistakes.

One of these mistakes was at the beginning of the book. The author, Carrie Vaughn, started MANY sentences with "she". A huge turn off, but after pushing through it, she seemed to settle back into an okay range of overusing words. For an extreme grammar nazi, I would not suggest this book. On the other hand, if you have the ability to overlook those details and become enveloped inside of a story, I recommend this book.

Also, on the topic of grammar, Carrie Vaughn put several things as singulars instead of plural as they should have been. These were mainly centered around simple things such as eyes or arms. A common mistake and easily overlooked.

Another mistake was the history. I feel as though Carrie Vaughn should have spread the history throughout the book more, instead of one giant section on it which intimidates the readers and, frankly, tempts them to skip it all together.

The end was disappointing and a cliffhanger. Definitely leading into another book. I feel as though it could have been wrapped up better for people who don't wish to read the second book or don't have immediate access to the sequel.

The book was captivating to a certain point. The action scenes were exhilarating and left the reader on the edge of their seat. You could imagine some things if you used your imagination while reading. Characters were filled out well. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in dragons, paranormal, etc. (less)

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Oct 12, 2011 ReD rated it 4 of 5 stars

For the original review at Wanna-be-Bitten

There are some books that grab me by the shoulders and say, "Remember. Don't you remember?" These books make me think back to restless Christmas nights, where I wondered how I could fall asleep when magic was going to happen. The joy of waking up and discovering my entire yard was covered in snow. Possibilities, these books tell me. Remember when there were possibilities?

There's a bag of young-adult romance novels in the corner of the computer room, len...more

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Jun 29, 2011 P.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kay lives in Silver River, Montana where her father is the county sheriff and her mother works for the FBBE (Federal Bureau of Border Enforcement). Mom's job is to prosecute anyone who crosses over into Dragon, the land to the north that is the sanctuary of dragons. Sixty years ago a terrible war was fought until both humans and dragons agreed to a peace. One day, Kay is looking for some meaning to life when she inadvertently falls into a river on the border where she is fished out by a teenage...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Vaughn starts with the premise that dragons are real and that at one time humans formed a treaty with dragons so that both would stay on their own lands. Kay lives on the border of Dragon and one day when hiking, she falls and ends up on the other side of the border. Where she meets a dragon. It's not as implausible as I'm describing it. It turns out that dragons have art and language etc. The one she meets happens to speak English. He was trained by one of the dragons who negotiated the origina...more

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May 31, 2011 Libby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult-fiction

Voices of Dragons takes place in an alternate present. Much is the same, but in Vaughn's book dragons resurfaced after the nuclear explosions in WWII. After yet another war, this time between dragons and humans, an unstable peace is formed and dragons are living in several far northern reaches of the world. Kay Wyatt, looking for adventure, goes mountain climbing near the border of Dragon in northern Montana. When she is saved from a near fatal accident by a dragon, they develop an illegal frien...more

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Mar 31, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: christine, fantasy, young-adult

Oh, Carrie Vaughn. I feel like I’m just learning about you, even though I’ve read everything you’ve ever written (as of Monday, anyway).

This is her first YA book and I thought it was a good choice. (Her second YA book, Steel, just came out.)

I found Kay to be a risk-taker, a leader. A girl you don’t typically see starring in a YA book because of how outdoorsy she is. She’s a tomboy.

Of course, this isn’t a romance, which might explain why the female lead is different from many other books I’ve rea...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have read all of Vaughn's adult Kitty Norville series, when I saw she has written a young adult novel I was excited to read it. This is her debut young adult novel and it is a very good book.

During World War II the bombs that were dropped awoke the dragons and a great war ensued. Finally a treaty was signed giving humans and dragons separate territories. Kay lives in this world sixty years later; humans and dragons have had no contact and her home town is on the border of Dragon territory. The...more I have read all of Vaughn's adult Kitty Norville series, when I saw she has written a young adult novel I was excited to read it. This is her debut young adult novel and it is a very good book.

During World War II the bombs that were dropped awoke the dragons and a great war ensued. Finally a treaty was signed giving humans and dragons separate territories. Kay lives in this world sixty years later; humans and dragons have had no contact and her home town is on the border of Dragon territory. Then one day while out rock-climbing she falls and lands in a river and is washed up on the Dragon side. There she meets a dragon, Artegal, who is as curious about her as she is about him. They become friends. But then things go wrong. A human plane crashes in Dragon territory, and it may not have been an accident. Are the humans trying to start a war with Dragonkind? Can Kay and Artegal do anything to influence both races?

There are some really cool things about this book. The characterization is excellent; the characters are likable and engaging. Kay and Artegal are the highlight characters, but the side characters are all well done. The history behind the Dragons is very well done, believable and creative. Vaughn is an excellent writer, and as with her adult novels, the writing is easy to read, engaging, and personable. There is a lot of action and a lot of thought that went into the story. I also can't help but wonder if the story is a bit political given the whole war theme.

There are a couple things that bugged me. First and foremost was the ending. I guess it ended okay, but it took so much of the story to set up the relationship between Kay and Artegal that their journey felt rushed. Then the ending leaves things wide open. I wanted to know what Kay and Artgel did when they reached their destination. On her blog Vaughn mentions that she has an idea for a sequel book, but that plans for the book are not in the near future. So, for now, we will not get any further story about Kay and Artegel.

The other thing that bothered me was how much time was spent angsting over sex. As an adult I thought it was silly how much time Kay spent debating whether or not she wanted to have sex with her boyfriend. I also thought the pressure her girlfriend put on her to have sex was silly. Then I tried to think back to high school/college and I realized that back then we did spend a lot of time talking about sex. And, for me and others, whether or not to have sex was a huge decision. I remember going through many of the thought processes that Kay went through. So, in a way it is good that this was discussed throughout the book. I liked that Kay had morals and was resistant to peer pressure in this area; it's a good example for young adults. But, adults reading the book should be warned, quite a bit of the book is devoted to Kay's struggle about whether or not to have sex...as an adult I found these parts kind of boring.

Overall this was a great read, I loved the characters and the story. I was disappointed that the set-up took so long and that the story ended abruptly. I also rolled my eyes a few times over how much discussion was devoted to decisions around sex; but as a young adult I would've found this content interesting. I am hoping that Vaughn writes a sequel to this because I really want to know more about what happens to Kay and Artegal. Vaughn continues to be an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. (less)

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Dec 03, 2010 A Canadian Girl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: harpercollins, 2010, 4-stars

Having read some of the books from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series, I decided to read her YA debut, Voices of Dragons. The story doesn’t involve vampires or werewolves, and so it was refreshing in that regard. However, the plot seems to proceed pretty slowly, especially at the beginning.

The greatest strength of the novel lies in how seamlessly Vaughn creates a modern world in which it’s possible for dragons to exist. The re-emergence of the dragons is interwoven with humanity’s history rea...more

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Nov 10, 2010 minervasowl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-children-s

I wish that there were a three and a half star rating option.

Since I read a lot of books in a similar vein with similar storylines, challenges, themes and characters, I am always looking for an author to surprise me and draw me in with a different twist or take on familiar elements.

Voices of Dragons is a little more serious and a little less whimsical than a lot of the teen urban fantasy type books I have read.

The setting is completely contemporary and modern. The only thing that isn't "normal"...more I wish that there were a three and a half star rating option.

Since I read a lot of books in a similar vein with similar storylines, challenges, themes and characters, I am always looking for an author to surprise me and draw me in with a different twist or take on familiar elements.

Voices of Dragons is a little more serious and a little less whimsical than a lot of the teen urban fantasy type books I have read.

The setting is completely contemporary and modern. The only thing that isn't "normal" is the fact that there are dragons in the world, which is a bit jarring. It takes some getting used to that there is only one thing "out of place," only one magical element -- as opposed to, say, having a character discover that there is an entire magical world.

The dragons are not so much considered magical as large, powerful, intelligent, virtually eternal creatures whose fire breathing capability enables them to have extremely destructive potential. They are relegated behind borders negotiated sixty years ago, after the dragons took issue with the disturbance caused by the testing and detonating of atomic bombs during World War II. Neither human nor dragon is allowed to cross the borders. There is no contact, no communication. It is forbidden and illegal. As a friend pointed out to me, it has a very Cold War feel to it.

One day, Kay accidentally crosses the border when she slips and falls into a river while cooling off after a hike. A dragon not only saves her life rather than letting her die or eating her himself but also asks her to come back again and visit. He wants to practice his English. He is curious. He wants to learn. And so does Kay.

As the fragile and unlikely friendship grows, the larger situation becomes more unstable. The military can't leave well enough alone and begins testing the border ... in order to test new weapons. As the situation escalates, Kay and her dragon friend must make some extremely difficult (and courageous) choices.

The lessons about choosing education, communication and cooperation over suspicion, hostility and provocation are well taught, as is the importance of doing something for the greater good and the longer term, rather than focusing on the moment and the individual.(less)

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Jun 30, 2010 Julia Fitri rated it 2 of 5 stars

Kay lives in a world where Dragons and Humans live peacefully side by side...as long as they stay on their side of the border. As long as Kay can remember which wasn't so long since she's a teenager, Dragons are dangerous, unable to talk and is expected to attack anytime.

One day, she went rock climbing, got into an accident and fell into a river at the wrong side of the border. But she was saved...by a dragon. She realized that everything they were taught about dragons was wrong.

Anyway, they bec...more

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May 07, 2010 Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ever since I was a little girl I have been in love with dragons. It started with my father reading me The Hobbit and singing to me Puff The Magic Dragon, it continued as a teenager with The Dragon Nimbus series by Irene Radford, made permanent by a dragon tattoo on my hip when I was a teenager, and renewed two days ago by Carrie Vaughs new young adult novel, The Voices of Dragons.

In this novel the young protagonist Kay Wyatt lives in a world living exactly like our own except one dragon sized de...more

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Mar 20, 2010 Heather Tisdale rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Mar 17, 2010 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-blog, books-owned, book-type-hardcover

When I first heard about Voices of Dragons, I had no idea it was a young adult urban fantasy. Actually I had no idea what it was about at all, but Dragons are a surefire way to get my attention at least. As I heard more about it, I was a little skeptical over the premise. It truly did sound like a Romeo & Juliet set-up but with a Dragon and a girl. The book more then exceeded my expectations however.

There was something very real about the situation to me, or perhaps the reactions of the char...more When I first heard about Voices of Dragons, I had no idea it was a young adult urban fantasy. Actually I had no idea what it was about at all, but Dragons are a surefire way to get my attention at least. As I heard more about it, I was a little skeptical over the premise. It truly did sound like a Romeo & Juliet set-up but with a Dragon and a girl. The book more then exceeded my expectations however.

There was something very real about the situation to me, or perhaps the reactions of the characters. Kay is described early on, through actions and her own self-evaluation, as being prone to doing reckless things for adventure. Throughout the book she does just that; climbing cliffs without lines (or a climbing buddy), choosing to continue to meet with Artegal and then enthusiastically agreeing that they should try flying. Truly the two of them were a matched set--neither seemed overly afraid of the consequences, could only see the adventure of it.

The relationships with her human friends and family were a little more strained. Aside from keeping the monumental secret that was Artegal, Kay was also neck deep in the terrifying ritual of High School dating. On the one hand her best friend Tam was deep certain that if Kay just let it happen it would be the best thing ever. After all it was for her, so why wouldn't it be for everyone else? On the other hand Kay's uncertain feelings for her other best friend Jon wavered back and forth, plaguing her with doubts and 'what ifs'. Her time with Artegal gave her a peace and serenity, despite the danger, that she desperately needed.

When the tensions began they happened fast and then kept going. I was worried about an unexpected death creating friction between Artegal and Kay, but there wasn't any. Kay was an amazingly mature girl, able to see beyond anger and fear, able to understand because of her friendship with Artegal. The last third of the book felt rushed however, as Vaughn tried to cram as much into the space as possible to wrap up the story on a satisfactory point. The military came off as being brash, aggressive and bloodthirsty honestly and I felt nothing but sympathy for the dragons' side of the conflict. I don't think enough information was provided to really support the military's aggressive stance.

The twist at the end, regarding an old wives' tale about virgins and dragons, was amusing to see played out. It was clever of them to think of it and their escape promised a continuing story I'd be most eager to read. And for the record it was downright refreshing to read a paranormal/urban fantasy novel (mainstream or young adult) that featured two characters building a true bond of friendship that was the strongest factor.(less)

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Feb 16, 2010 Arya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn 4 of 5 stars.

Voices of Dragons is a tale of pointless rivalry and self-sacrifice.
Sixty years prior a war between dragons and humans erupted. The dragons came out of hiding during WWII when the vibrations from bombs frightened them. Feeling as though they were under attack they waged war against the humans. Realizing that the dragons and humans were too well-matched, the two races formed a treaty, setting off certain land for the dragons.
When seventeen year old...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

A colleague of mine gave me this book back in May and told me I would enjoy it, I gratefully accepted it and put it to one side and promptly forgot about it. I renewed it so many times at the library and even had to dig it out when someone else requested it. I didn't want to give up on it so I requested it back after but still didn't read it. I checked by books on Saturday and realised this had another request on it plus it was a week late back (as staff I don't get fines but I do get told off)...more

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May 03, 2011 Kerri rated it 4 of 5 stars

'Voices of Dragons' was such a pleasant surprise. When I read the book cover I was skeptical - a story about dragons? It would be so simple for it to come off silly.. but it didn't. Carrie Vaughn's writing style made the story flow and built a believable modern world with dragons. The story was actually exciting.

Kay Wyatt lives in a small town that is located right at the border that separates the human world from the land designated for the dragons. One day Kay ventures out to go rock climbing...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of independent, strong-minded young women

Shelves: fantasy, ya

When humanity started using atomic weapons, we got a big surprise. The detonations not only killed humans--they also awakened dragons slumbering beneath the earth. A vicious war ensued between the astounded humans and the enraged dragons. On the cusp of mutually-assured destruction, both species managed to come together long enough to agree to a treaty.

Decades later, emotions against the dragons are running high. It's been long enough since their arrival that people have started to forget why t...more When humanity started using atomic weapons, we got a big surprise. The detonations not only killed humans--they also awakened dragons slumbering beneath the earth. A vicious war ensued between the astounded humans and the enraged dragons. On the cusp of mutually-assured destruction, both species managed to come together long enough to agree to a treaty.

Decades later, emotions against the dragons are running high. It's been long enough since their arrival that people have started to forget why they needed a truce with the dragons, and some agitate to wipe them out. Kay, a 17 year old rock climber, lives right on the border of dragon territory. One day, she falls into the stream between the territories, and is only saved by the assistance of a small juvenile dragon. She's astonished when she realizes what saved her--she's even more astounded when he talks to her in English. He is one of the last dragons to learn the language, and wishes to practice it with her. They progress from language lessons to flying together.

Their peaceful time together is cut short by the human military, which tries to start a war. As fires rage around them, and the death count of the war escalates, Kay and Artegal decide to make one last ditch effort to start negotations between the two sides.

Kay is that rare creature, a fictional teenager who respects her parents, does her chores, and actually practices and works to be good at something. She talks about needing to keep her callouses tough to climb, and the difficulties of perfecting a dragon harness. Her relationship with her best friend-turned-boyfriend is great as well: they're both tentative and unsure about romance and sexuality, but also drawn to each other. It reads as very natural, genuine, and sweet. Their romance doesn't overpower their friendship or Kay's other relationships, either. And the descriptions of flight are so incredible that I found myself jacking up my elliptical pace just to keep up with the heady rush.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the tale of a girl fully realizing her strength and responsibility in a slightly fantastical world...just what we need more of. I'd highly recommend this to teens and adults alike.(less)

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Apr 27, 2010 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. To me, this is everything good YA should be. It's well written, thoughtful, and the heroine isn't 'whiney.' The plot flows fast, its action packed and serious without turning over into the world of 'adult.' Although the adults are doing lots of bad things around them.

Kay is a typical teenager. Her best friend has become sexually active with her boyfriend and Kay is feeling the pressure to hook up with her bestfriend/sort of boyfriend Jon. They go to high school. Sometimes she drives too fast an...more

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Apr 28, 2010 Tiffiane rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. Carrie Vaughn's first shot at YA and I think she did a great job.

Kay is really cute, and yet brave all at the same time. I guess as the Sheriff's daughter, she has to be. Her budding relationship with Jon was really cute and honest, and her best friend Tam was by her side through thick and thin. You can't help but love the 3 of them.

At first, I was thinking this was going to be just a "feel good" easy sort of read, but then when the Dragons and Humans started fightin...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Natasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

An enjoyable tale of dragons and one teenager who tries to change the world.

I love dragons. I haven't read a book about dragons in a while so it was nice to read a book focused on dragons. This book brings back memories of The Dragonriders of Pern series. I wish dragons were real. I liked how that while this was a young adult book, the focus was actually on the paranormal/fantasy creatures. The setting was not merely an excuse for romance, true wuv, and triangles. I really did like the romance...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Annmarie Ager rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m a sucker for a good dragon book and what stood out in this book was that it was based in our world but across the border there are dragons. People are not aloud to cross into dragon land and the dragons are not aloud to cross into human land. It’s a great start to the story.

The story was fast into the action and Kay was a really nice character and I really enjoyed the book but I was shocked to learn this was a stand alone (NO!!) And not the start of an ongoing series (disappointed face).

The...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm always on the lookout for books that deal with dragons whether it be medieval or modern times. From the first page, I was hooked to this story and found it hard to put down. The concept of dragons sharing a border with humans in a modern day world is a fascinating concept and I believe Vaughn nailed it. Kay is your typical teenager trying to find her way in the world while also wishing to not be treated differently just because her father is the sheriff. She stumbles across Artegal and at fi...more

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About Carrie Vaughn

Vaughn was born into a military family and has lived all over the U.S. She received a BA from Occidental College, after which she went on to work too many jobs to count until she went back to school to receive her MA from University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently lives in Boulder, CO.

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Books by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, #1)

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, #4)

Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty Norville, #2)

Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, #3)

Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, #7)

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“One inch at a time, that was how her father had taught her. You can't do anything but worry about the few inches right in front of you.” — 9 people liked it

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