The Dragon's Tooth (Ashtown Burials, #1)

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The Dragon's Tooth (Ashtown Burials #1)

by N.D. Wilson (Goodreads Author)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 941 ratings · 229 reviews

For two years, Cyrus and Antigone Smith have run a sagging roadside motel with their older brother, Daniel. Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man with bone tattoos arrives, demanding a specific room.

Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oa...more

Hardcover, 485 pages

Published August 23rd 2011 by Random House Books for Young Readers

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Oct 13, 2012 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-recommend-to-students

I've said this before, but N. D. Wilson reminds me in some ways of C. S. Lewis. Both have a sense of magic and wonder in their stories. Both show that this world is infused with meaning, with a battle between good and evil. And both write stories in which characters must learn what it means to show virtue and courage.

But at the same time, Wilson's stories are very different from Lewis's. Wilson includes a lot more action and a lot less preachiness--the story tends to do the talking more than mo...more I've said this before, but N. D. Wilson reminds me in some ways of C. S. Lewis. Both have a sense of magic and wonder in their stories. Both show that this world is infused with meaning, with a battle between good and evil. And both write stories in which characters must learn what it means to show virtue and courage.

But at the same time, Wilson's stories are very different from Lewis's. Wilson includes a lot more action and a lot less preachiness--the story tends to do the talking more than moralizing characters in the story. And Wilson's target audience is a little more mature than Lewis's, although he's still aiming for kids.

The Dragon's Tooth is nothing like the 100 Cupboards series, but I found it more exciting. It has more action, and I am simply fascinated by stories about secret organizations that have been around for centuries protecting the world.

As I read, I was reminded of National Treasure (secret underground/hidden passageways, secret organizations entwined with history, etc.), Harry Potter (Cyrus and Antigone, the main characters, become part of a school that is similar to Hogwarts in some ways), and even a couple of Pixar movies (Up, in some aspects of its WW1 era explorer/adventure culture, and Ratatouille, since there's a crazy woman in a pink bathrobe with a shotgun at the beginning of the story).

Finally, I think I see the influence of C. S. Lewis--particularly his sci-fi novel That Hideous Strength. There's an evil, supernaturally powerful Weston-like scientist who does nasty experiments on people and animals, and there's a scene near the end of the book in which I think Wilson may be consciously alluding to one of the final scenes of That Hideous Strength.

As in the 100 Cupboards series, the story gains depth as we continue to read. I love how Wilson gives us deeper and deeper levels of the background as the story unfolds, and how he connects his story to history and legend (as in National Treasure, we find out that several members of the secret organization were people that all of us learned about in history class).

Finally, I really enjoyed this book because it's set in Wisconsin. It begins in Oconomowoc, which is a town fifteen minutes from where I live and a place where I take my family all the time. So it was fun for me to imagine the book's action happening right around the corner from here.

This was a great book for me to read for no other reason than to enjoy a good story. I look forward to the next book in the series. (less)

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Oct 11, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-lit, novels

Read August 29th, 2011 and again in fall 2012.

It was like a Bourne movie meets Goonies. I could barely take a breath. People who love that will love this book, it was one of the busiest books I've read. I prefer slower character development between the action , but of course, that's a preference. It reads like a movie script at times, which doesn't always work.

I think Wilson owns this genre. It wasn't anything like 100 cupboards (which I have read through twice), but just as good, and that s...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Charlyn Trussell rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Grades 5 and up

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, fiction, horror, magic, series, strong-male-character, strong-female-character

Running a dumpy roadside motel called the The Archer with his brother Dan and sister Antigone, Cyrus lives in his own world, cutting school when necessary and setting up his room in the Archer just for himself. The mother, who appears to be in a coma, is hospitalized nearby and the father is dead. When a rough character named Billy Bones shows up and demands to stay in Cyrus’ room, everything in the children’s life changes very quickly. Mrs. Eldridge, a permanent inhabitant at the motel, leaves;...more Running a dumpy roadside motel called the The Archer with his brother Dan and sister Antigone, Cyrus lives in his own world, cutting school when necessary and setting up his room in the Archer just for himself. The mother, who appears to be in a coma, is hospitalized nearby and the father is dead. When a rough character named Billy Bones shows up and demands to stay in Cyrus’ room, everything in the children’s life changes very quickly. Mrs. Eldridge, a permanent inhabitant at the motel, leaves; the stranger is killed in a strange attack on the hotel; and Dan disappears. Cyrus is the recipient of items from the stranger, items which he must hide: keys, a tooth, and a serpent who winds itself before putting its tail in its mouth. After he and his sister are quickly sworn into the Order of Brendan, Bones’ lawyer, Horace Lawney, spirits the children away to Ashtown, the fortress of the Order of Brendan.

Because of the sorrow and horror the children have already faced, one would hope that their life would become better after this rescue. It does not. Citizens of Ashtown fear and despise Antigone and Cyrus and place huge obstacles in their mission to find and rescue Dan and to finish the accomplishments to become true members of the Order. Unaccepted and unaware of the powers they possess, the children move into the Polygon, a mostly uninhabitable area, with Nolan. They quickly learn that they are part of a conflict for control of the Order and it is Phoenix who is responsible for Billy's death and the disappearance of Dan. They must master all the skills necessary to remain in the Order while protecting the objects Billy Bones placed in Cyrus’ keeping.

The story is a mixture of modern life, horrible evil, and ancient magic. The lure of power and immortality is irresistible to some and Cyrus and Antigone must choose their friends carefully while they search for Dan and try to protect Ashtown from Phoenix. Those readers who expect complete denouement in this action-filled adventure will be unsatisfied; this IS the first book in a series and Antigone and Cyrus’ mission has only just begun.
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Jul 18, 2012 Kat Heckenbach rated it 5 of 5 stars

I admit, I almost gave up on this book after the first few chapters. NOT because the writing was bad, but because it jumped around too much, reminding me of watching my son play video games on the computer. And it had one of my pet peeves: a false sense of tension created by characters talking in circles and riddles.

BUT.

A friend encouraged me to keep going. I am so glad I listened to her.

Only a little farther than the point where I nearly gave up, questions started getting answers. The situation...more

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May 14, 2012 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grades

As with Wilson's 100 Cupboards trilogy, you have an average and completely unsuspecting middle school boy and his able-bodied female relative (in this case, a sister) plunged headlong into a different world smack dab in the middle of a battle between good and evil. This battle has been furthered by the unwitting actions of said boy, and he must sink or swim, learning the rules of the game as it were as he struggles to survive. And, as with that one--or even more so, you finish the book desperate...more

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May 09, 2012 Louise Bendall rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Smith kids, Dan, Cyrus & Antigone, have lived together in a run-down motel ever since a mysterious incident that left their father dead and their mother in a coma. There is only one guest at the motel, a cantankerous elderly woman named Mrs. Eldridge who likes her waffles prepared just so, until Billy Skelton shows up, covered in tattoos, clouded in mystery, and demanding to stay in room #111. Bad guys with flame guns follow, and soon the motel is in flames, Dan is missing, and Billy is...more

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May 09, 2012 Shannon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, supernatural

Two years ago the Smith father died in an accident off the coast of their Northern California home. Since then, Dan, Cyrus and Antigone have been living in an old motel in Wisconsin, visiting their mother in a nearby institution. One day an odd man shows up at the motel, gives Cyrus a set of keys and is killed later that night. Dan is kidnapped. Cyrus and Antigone are ushered into the world of The Order of Brendan, a community of adventurers that has been around for centuries. This is the basic...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Rosanne Lortz rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Dragon’s Tooth, by N. D. Wilson was released about six months ago with much fanfare and excitement. I had enjoyed a couple of Wilson’s other children’s books, Leepike Ridge and The 100 Cupboards, but my disappointment with books 2 and 3 in the 100 Cupboards series made me reluctant to attempt The Dragon’s Tooth. When the fanfare subsided, I pretty much forgot that the book existed. Earlier this month, however, my six-year-old nephew proudly showed it off to me as the longest book he’s ever r...more The Dragon’s Tooth, by N. D. Wilson was released about six months ago with much fanfare and excitement. I had enjoyed a couple of Wilson’s other children’s books, Leepike Ridge and The 100 Cupboards, but my disappointment with books 2 and 3 in the 100 Cupboards series made me reluctant to attempt The Dragon’s Tooth. When the fanfare subsided, I pretty much forgot that the book existed. Earlier this month, however, my six-year-old nephew proudly showed it off to me as the longest book he’s ever read. I decided to place it on hold at the library and give it a whirl.

Twelve-year-old Cyrus Smith lives in a dilapidated old motel with his older sister Antigone and older brother Dan. With their father dead for several years and their mother in a coma, the Smith children are forced to fend for themselves. For Cyrus, life consists of mundane things like skipping school, collecting old tires, and eating waffles. But when a strange guest named William Skelton checks in at the motel and demands to receive Room 111, life for the Smith children takes a radical change.

As the motel goes up in flames around them, Cyrus and Antigone find themselves initiates in a secret society known as the Order of Brendan with a bloodthirsty villain named Maximillien Robespierre on their trail. The children flee to Ashtown, a secret city housing the Order of Brendan, bringing with them a set of magical keys, an invisible snake named Patricia, and a shiny black shard said to be a piece of a dragon’s tooth. The adventure only gets wilder from there with venomous whip spiders, dragonfly surveillance cameras, friendly bull sharks, and immortal enemies. The book is a thrilling page-turner full of allusions to history and literature, a sort of Treasure Island of Dr. Moreau. (And no, I’m not going to explain that. You’ll have to read it see what I mean.) The only disappointment I had after finishing it is that the next book of the series hasn’t yet been published. I can wait. But not very patiently.(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Stephanie Jobe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes, yes, yes and yes. Next semester especially I should have time to read, after they’ve all come out of course but I’m glad this one was on the top of my list. Why was it on the top? Well I’d heard about the 100 Cupboards books and was curious. The title and this amazing cover that becomes eve more amazing when you realize just how accurate it is. Aaron Becker props to you. There are so many things that are simply amazing in this book. I’ll admit Antigone does drive me a little nutty sometimes...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Cyrus lives in a run down motor lodge that he runs with the help of his older sister and brother because his mother is in a hospital and his father is dead. This is bad enough, but after Billy Bones appears and claims that Cyrus is the new caretaker of artifacts that will help save the world, the motel burns down and the siblings are sent on a long journey to save the world against the forces of evil. They have a lot of help from the Order of Brendan (in which their parents were involved) and th...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This is 100% juvenile fiction, but I thought it was very good for that level. I think the writing quality is better than that of the Hunger Games, but there is less drama, melodrama, and mature themes in the plot, so don't expect it to be on the same comparison level (I think the Hunger Games is between groups). There is a general (GENERAL!)concept that is found in both National Treasure and Harry Potter. I'm trying to use comparisons to give you an idea of what it is like to get you all interes...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, for_fun, kids_books

The Dragon’s Tooth by N.D. Wilson is action packed. When I say packed, I mean it! This book has a few intro chapters explaining the Smith family, the run-down hotel they live in and how the three children are on their own because their father drowned and their mother is in the hospital. After a creepy man named Billy Bones checks into their hotel, everything changes and the book takes you on a marathon (action) sprint to the end. (Keep in mind, this book isn’t a quick read, its nearly 500 pages...more The Dragon’s Tooth by N.D. Wilson is action packed. When I say packed, I mean it! This book has a few intro chapters explaining the Smith family, the run-down hotel they live in and how the three children are on their own because their father drowned and their mother is in the hospital. After a creepy man named Billy Bones checks into their hotel, everything changes and the book takes you on a marathon (action) sprint to the end. (Keep in mind, this book isn’t a quick read, its nearly 500 pages of quick-paced drama.)

I will definitely pick up the following books in this series, as the story following Cyrus and Antigone as they join the Order of Brendan (along with many famous figures from history) to fight against evil and Mr. Ashes/Dr. Phoenix. There are some great characters in this book- Cyrus, Antigone, Nolan, Rupert and even Eleanor… and then there is a whole host of almost great characters that I wanted to like, but just didn’t feel like I got enough background on them to truly care about their relationships or keep them straight. (Jax, Diana, Oliver, Dennis to name a few) I know it would be hard to strike the magical balance between just enough action meeting just enough interaction between the characters, especially when the book is already as long as it is.

Spoiler altert!: This book was close to the right mix, but I was super disappointed when, after massive amounts of action, the book fades to black and comes back in having skipped over all of the training Cyrus and Antigone go through. I want to feel like I am growing with them, and was bummed to have missed that chance to get to know their teachers and follow their training progress (especially since it is in fun things like sword-play, deep sea diving, aeronautics, etc.)

Yes, I know this is a book meant for middle-readers with less of an attention span, and yes, I am a 30 year old… but I felt similarly with Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series. I loved the plot line in that story as well, but it was missing the relationships and descriptions needed to make it truly “stick” in my mind over other books and characters I have read. Don’t misunderstand, N.D. Wilson is fantastic at writing about people and relationships (see his other books, especially Leepike Ridge) I am hoping that this is just the intro, and the upcoming books will develop the people/relationships further.
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Sep 10, 2011 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an exciting book. I have read N.D. Wilson's previous books and I really enjoyed them, so I was anxious to read this new book. A group of 3 children are living in a run down motel. Their mother is in a hospital and we find out that their father died while helping someone. The youngest one is left behind as the two older siblings go to visit their mother. While he is there alone, a strange man comes to visit. The one woman who lives at the motel, comes out with a gun and tries to get rid o...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Lucas Haugen rated it 4 of 5 stars

(Warning Spoilers) I attempted to read this book during the insanity of the start of my last semester of high school, thus this book became the shortest book that ever took me long to read. Even this review took longer to write then I'd like to admit, although that's in part due to attempting to write a review for a book I enjoyed so much, and constant dawdlings and revisions. This book attempts to take the magic of Harry Potter and Narnia and bring it to america, and it succeeds. Unlike Rick Ri...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Karen Keyte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-boys-adventure-mystery, teen-fantasy-scifi, teen-girls-adventure-mystery, tween, tween-boys

“Please declare aloud: I hereby undertake to tread the world, to garden the wild, and to saddle the seas, as did my brother Brendan. I will not turn away from shades in fear, nor avert my eyes from light. I shall do as my Keeper requires, and keep no secret from a Sage. May the stars guide me, and my strength preserve me. And I will not smoke in the library.” - Oath of the Order of Brendan, translation approved, 1946.

Cyrus Lawrence Smith, a nearly too tall boy of almost thirteen, is absolutely,...more
“Please declare aloud: I hereby undertake to tread the world, to garden the wild, and to saddle the seas, as did my brother Brendan. I will not turn away from shades in fear, nor avert my eyes from light. I shall do as my Keeper requires, and keep no secret from a Sage. May the stars guide me, and my strength preserve me. And I will not smoke in the library.” - Oath of the Order of Brendan, translation approved, 1946.

Cyrus Lawrence Smith, a nearly too tall boy of almost thirteen, is absolutely, positively convinced that his life cannot get any worse. Two years ago - well, two years ago Cy’s life was perfect. The Smith family - Cyrus, his sister Antigone, his older brother Daniel, and his wonderful, vibrant parents - all lived quite happily on the coast in northern California. That was before everything went horribly, tragically wrong. Cyrus’s father died - drowned at sea - and his mother fell into a coma from which she may never awaken. Dan, who used to be laid-back and happily-go-lucky, has had to take on all of the stress and worry of keeping their dwindling family afloat and together. The house in California is long gone, sold to help pay the bills. For the past two years, the three remaining Smiths have lived in the decrepit Archer, a once grand example of the roadside motel slouching by the highway on the outskirts of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

So yeah, Cyrus’s life has been pretty tough lately, but it was never out and out bizarre before the last 48 hours. It all started when Billy ‘Bones’ Skelton, a walking definition of ‘crazy old man’ as far as Cyrus can tell, called the Archer and demanded a specific room for the night. Any type of paying guest is strange enough, but no one has ever wanted to stay in one particular room. That phone call set off a chain of events that has seen Cyrus nearly electrocuted, the Archer burned down and Dan kidnapped by the insanely evil henchman of a malevolent criminal who sometimes calls himself Dr. Phoenix and sometimes, Mr. Ashes. Now Cyrus and Antigone have pledged themselves to the Order of Brendan, an obscure and ancient society of explorers who keep the world’s secrets and beat back evil wherever they find it. The O of B is the Smiths’ only hope of rescuing their brother, but it’s obvious that not every member is ready to welcome Cyrus and Antigone into their ranks. They’ll have to work very hard just to avoid being tossed out on their ears while they determine just what, exactly, is going on.

It’s not easy to find an original work of fantasy that successfully combines the world we know with the world of myth and legend. Mr. Wilson has done that with The Dragon’s Tooth and he’s done so in a particularly vivid and inventive way. The Ashtown Estate of the Order of Brendan is as much a character in this novel as any of the people Cyrus and Antigone meet and Mr. Wilson gives this institution a personality that is both grand and forbidding. The myth-building is perfectly executed here. The reader learns things about the O of B along with Cyrus and Antigone and, also along with them, finds confusion turning to wonder and fear morphing into a determination to set things right.

All of the characters are multi-faceted and interesting but it is Cyrus Smith, along with his sister, that makes The Dragon’s Tooth work on every level. He ties the fantastical to the real and gives the reader a stake in the outcome of Dan’s kidnapping. The story is full of action and conflict, heroes, villains and those that are a little bit of both, and it is up to Cyrus and Antigone to figure out who will help them and who is working to see them fail. The Dragon’s Tooth is the first book in the new Ashtown Burials series but, unlike so many other series starters, it is also a fully realized, richly entertaining novel on its own. Fantasy fans are sure to love it and those who haven’t liked the genre before may find themselves pulled into Cyrus’s story.

As a final note, I ought to add that the Advanced Readers’ Copy I had said this book was designated for readers 8-12. I’m sure there are 8-year-olds out there who can handle the darkness, danger and violence of the story, but parents should be aware that The Dragon’s Tooth may be a bit intense for younger readers.(less)

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Jul 30, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Young Cyrus and Antigone have spent nearly the last two years managing a rundown motel in the middle of nowhere, just to stay afloat with their brother Daniel. It's a boring, hard life until a strange tattooed man appears and Daniel goes missing. Then the motel is set on fire, and suddenly, Cyrus and Antigone are forced out of their comfort zones and into a new life where they work closely with a secret organization that's sworn to protect the world's deepest secrets and most mysterious relics....more

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Jan 23, 2012 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got an advanced reading copy of this book to review through Amazon Vine. The book starts out a bit slow but ends up being a solid and engaging middle grade adventure and fantasy read.

Cyrus, Antigone, and Dan Smith live in a rundown motel that they barely make a living running. When an old tattooed man shows up demanding to stay in a certain room things start changing fast. Within hours of the man's arrival the motel is burnt to the ground, Dan is missing, and Cyrus and Antigone are whisked awa...more I got an advanced reading copy of this book to review through Amazon Vine. The book starts out a bit slow but ends up being a solid and engaging middle grade adventure and fantasy read.

Cyrus, Antigone, and Dan Smith live in a rundown motel that they barely make a living running. When an old tattooed man shows up demanding to stay in a certain room things start changing fast. Within hours of the man's arrival the motel is burnt to the ground, Dan is missing, and Cyrus and Antigone are whisked away to the Order of Brendan.

I thought the book started a bit slow, but as it progressed it picked up pace quickly and introduced the reader to an adventurous and fantastical, if grungy, world. I liked that the book followed both Antigone and Cyrus; it made the book easy for both boys and girls to relate to and engage with.

The Order of Brendan is an order the kids' parents belonged to and an Order that doesn't like the Smith children much because of things that their past relations have done. Cyrus and Antigone are faced with with a lot of hatred from the moment they arrive at the Order of Brendan. They find help in unexpected places though and discover the secrets behind the keys and tooth that the old tattooed man left with Cyrus.

In their exploration of the halls and corridors of the Order of Brendan they find adventure and surprises at every turn. They also find some nifty magical items and meet some fascinating people. Soon though they are on a run for their lives as a very evil man seeks possession of the tooth that Cyrus was given.

Cyrus and Antigone were wonderful characters I enjoyed reading about them and enjoyed the stoicism with which they accepted all of the horrible situations they were put in. They always tried to make the best of things and persevere; they supported each other with bravery and determination.

I loved the Order of the Brenden and all of the secrets that were in its halls. There is a ton of adventure in this book. There are also traitors, spies, and some scary bits...so only for middle grade or older. I should mention the book takes place in a lot of creepy and gross settings. From the moldy and bug infested motel the characters start in, to the water-logged stone halls with scuttling Whip Spiders that they are forced to sleep in at the Order of Brendan; there is a lot of yucky in this book. I found myself wondering how they could ever sleep in those conditions and got a little itchy from time to time. Still, the descriptions were wonderful and really made the settings come alive.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was an excellent middle grade adventure fantasy and I enjoyed the world and the characters. You never knew what crazy character you would run into next or what fantastic magical thing you would find around the corner. I highly recommend this to fans of middle grade fantasy. If you enjoyed Fablehaven by Brandon Mull or The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens you should definitely give this book a try.
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Dec 23, 2011 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

When at Kings Cross Station in London, I eagerly sought out Platform 9 3/4, which they had dutifully installed in a wall niche. Wilson's desire to provide children of this country fiction that is grounded here is an interesting goal, and it is entirely possible kids in Wisconsin are happy to have so much excitement occur right in their own backyards.

We meet the three siblings, barely treading water at a dilapidated hotel, which is a REAL location (Wilson has it on his website) just long enough...more When at Kings Cross Station in London, I eagerly sought out Platform 9 3/4, which they had dutifully installed in a wall niche. Wilson's desire to provide children of this country fiction that is grounded here is an interesting goal, and it is entirely possible kids in Wisconsin are happy to have so much excitement occur right in their own backyards.

We meet the three siblings, barely treading water at a dilapidated hotel, which is a REAL location (Wilson has it on his website) just long enough to feel how depressing things have gotten since Dad disappeared in the ocean, and Mom disappeared into a coma. Cue the Potter similarities, including Cyrus' dark hair and sister Antigone's euphonious name to Herminone, although we must cut some slack over the orphaned status since that is standard fodder for this genre. Enter the supernatural stranger who hands over mysterious objects and unsuspected birthrights, and yes, we find out the dappy old woman at the hotel is in fact of a Mrs. Figg nature, an initiate in a secret society that, of course has a huge school filled with antiquities by a large lake. Yet, since this is an American tale, the mysterious people with unusual, somewhat magical properties do not wield wands; they all tote guns of various flavors from the functional to the fantastic, and this gun play begins almost immediately.

When the younger siblings do find themselves at a very exclusive and secretive school, prime directive of exploration is augmented by a rigorous education that includes ancient and modern languages, learning to fly, learning to sail, and various other ways to defend oneself or attack others. The very American notion of testing oneself is institutionalized and encouraged, contrary to the random chance elements of British tales, particularly those written after World War II by authors still struggling to understand why they were still alive. This encouragement of education and pushing oneself to learn and grow is exciting and hopefully encouraging to young readers who would fashion themselves after imagined and real people who are purported to be members of the group.

Still, the story is gripping while the storytelling seldom is. The book is not filled with passages that are linguistically epic or descriptively beautiful, but the characters are intriguing and you will want to know how the tale goes, including the next book, but the story so strongly feels like a screenplay in a hopeful early form, you may be able to wait for the movie if you don't want to bother pushing yourself to read this hefty tome. (less)

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Sep 03, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ncbla

This fast-paced title--the first in a series--follows two siblings, Cyrus and Antigone--on an eventful few days. Having moved to a rundown motel with their older brother Daniel after the death of their father, they've watched their mother waste away and the motel bring in less and less money. The arrival of an odd elderly man heralds changes in their lives. Daniel is kidnapped, and the motel burns. Cyrus receives a set of keys and the tooth of a dragon, and they head off on an adventure to try t...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished this last night and enjoyed every minute of its twists and turns. I love that Cyrus and Antigone share main charactership, which to my mind, makes it a compelling read for either boys or girls. It's slightly leaning toward Cyrus being the main character, but that was fine with me. I like that Antigone is a strong female character who doesn't look for the other male characters to solve her problems, but is okay striking out on her own. At the same time, she is strongly bonded to her br...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Krista Stevens rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: boys, young-adult, fantasy

I think I was a third into this book before I realized, sadly, that there are no dragons in this book. Sigh. The title is a bit of a disappointment. I like dragons. I wanted to read about one. Anyway - still a very riveting story. (And, despite the misleading cover, this story is set in present time). Cyrus and his sister must enter another world (kind of) to solve the mystery of their comatose mother, missing brother, and dead father - but time is running out. My favorite part of this story (be...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://collectedmiscellany.com/2011/0...

There is always a certain amount of excitement mixed with nervousness when a favorite author starts a new series. What if I don’t like it, or worse, what if it isn’t any good?

It is with just such excitement and a tinge of nervousness that I approached The Dragon’s Tooth N.D. Wilson’s first book in a new series called Ashtown Burials. The publisher was kind enough to send me a copy, so I dived in and read it in a couple of days. The excitement stayed and th...more http://collectedmiscellany.com/2011/0...

There is always a certain amount of excitement mixed with nervousness when a favorite author starts a new series. What if I don’t like it, or worse, what if it isn’t any good?

It is with just such excitement and a tinge of nervousness that I approached The Dragon’s Tooth N.D. Wilson’s first book in a new series called Ashtown Burials. The publisher was kind enough to send me a copy, so I dived in and read it in a couple of days. The excitement stayed and the nervousness went away. It was a fast paced, imaginative and action packed adventure.

Wilson’s 100 Cupboards series started slowly and involved world building and a more literary style – at least in my opinion. The pace felt slower and the descriptions and detail more complex and layered. Dragon’s Tooth, in contrast, starts off with a bang – shotgun blasts bring the first chapter to a close – and the break neck pace basically continues for the rest of the book.

That is not to say there isn’t complexity and vivid descriptions, but Wilson fills in a complex fantasy backstory as the plot rockets forward rather than setting the scene and then launching the adventure. As the action happens readers begin to get a glimpse into what has brought Cyrus and Antigone to this point and how their family history has led them to this seemingly impossible scenario. Chapters give you a chance to catch your breath but you want to immediately plunge back in and find out what will happen next. Of course, you race to the end only to be faced with the unanswered questions and the inevitable wait for the next book in the series.

As usual with fantasy adventures, there is a certain suspension of disbelief required. And this is not a systematic interlocking magical system or world where all the pieces fit together and the challenge is simply understanding the logic behind it all. Rather this is a case of ancient mysteries and secrets breaking into the everyday lives There are differing versions of events and crisscrossing loyalties. The history is murky and contentious. It is a mix of mythology and conspiracy theory. Supernatural, or extra-natural, elements are added in as well.

The Smith siblings are dropped into this unknowing and unprepared. Everyone has strong opinions about them and their family even as they are just trying to get their head around what has happened; and how much of what they believed and thought was wrong. But the desperation of running for your life and having few, if any, options, pushes them forward. And of course the powerful gifts Cyrus received at the start of the adventure provide the necessary tools for their survival and the source of their danger.

As noted, this is really an action adventure. There is lots of action and the pace is fast and furious – speeding up the closer you get to the end. But Wilson does a great job filling in details even as he keeps up the pace and adds exciting new side adventures and characters (mythological and human). Characters are added and developed as the plot progresses and you begin to get a better understanding of the world Cyrus and Antigone have entered. As the adventure plays out you also get a better sense of the central characters personalities, background and style.

And of course, the adventure ultimately comes down to a battle between good and evil. The central characters must persevere and find a way to use the weapons they have to fight off what seem like impossible enemies. We find out more about the cause of all the death and destruction and his plans for conquest. At the start Cyrus and Antigone felt like they were alone in the world without hope but by the end they realize they have friends and allies; and, at least for now, they have brought their family back together. The ending, however, foreshadows more darkness and trial for the odd group of polygoners.

But that just means more action and adventure for readers. And so N.D. Wilson fans around the globe mutter to themselves “Hurry up and write!”(less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Kerriann C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book about a week ago, and I couldn't think of how to write this review. Gosh, where do I start? Everything in this book was just plan amazing. I felt like I was wrapped up into their world, and when the action started coming out of nowhere, I felt like was fighting Maxi and Phoenix myself along with Cryus and Antigone. I swear, if I wasn't in school when I read it, I would have been screaming, crying and of course, the good old throwing the book at the wall across the room. I h...more

I finished this book about a week ago, and I couldn't think of how to write this review. Gosh, where do I start? Everything in this book was just plan amazing. I felt like I was wrapped up into their world, and when the action started coming out of nowhere, I felt like was fighting Maxi and Phoenix myself along with Cryus and Antigone. I swear, if I wasn't in school when I read it, I would have been screaming, crying and of course, the good old throwing the book at the wall across the room. I had so many emotions while reading it. I was reading it sometimes before class started, and I was so lost in it that I didn't even realize that class had started until I saw the teacher in the front of the room out of the corner of my eye. Also, when Nolan's background was explained, I don't really know how I was feeling because you...Well, for me anyway, I got this strange attachment to Nolan. And on a side note, did anyone else notice that William Skelton said "Trust. Nolan." on page 66 and then we met Nolan on page 166? Was that just me? Probably. -_- Anyway, N.D Wilson didn't sugarcoat anything. Just because Antigone and Cryus were pretty young in age didn't mean that Rupert Greeves was going to talk sweetly and gently told them easily, apologizing multiple times. Trust me, way to many books have that kind of adult when in the presence of a pre-teen or child. Rupert and all the others, Diana, Gunner, everyone. Even Maxi and Phoenix just told it plain out. Phoenix told them straight-forwardly "This is what I want. You don't give it to me, then I kill you and everything you love. The end." and that's what I strangely liked about him. I don't usually like villains, especially villains like Phoenix. His sick, twisted, demented, mad scientist personality and his actions with horribly and disgusting to the extreme, yes...BUT his messed up mindset is was made him so intriguing and dark. I felt his eyes staring at me ever since Wilson described the creepy, yet stunning sharp crystal like eyes. They were terrifying, yet beautiful at them same time. I felt like if I started to hate him or something, that he would come up behind me, his hands grazing my shoulder, ready for a new lab rat. I feared him. I didn't hate him, I feared him. He gave me the chills whenever he started with his experiments; either memories of the disturbing, bone-chilling past or conducting them right here in the present stage. Okay, okay, I am getting way off topic. On too Cryus and Antigone. Cyrus 'Cy' Smith was awesome. I loved how he did whatever the hell he wanted, because what does he have to lose right? He has no friends, lives in a (practically rubble) run-down motel with his bossy (nagging) sister Antigone 'Tigs' Smith, their quiet, yet extremely protective eldest brother Daniel 'Dan' Smith and last, their only client. A grouchy old women who apparently knew their sick mother (She's in a coma) and their late father. Aside from all that, their lives were pretty normal and peaceful. Then the brilliant William Skelton shows up out of the blue, demanding room 111; in other words, Cryus's room. He gave Cryus these strange keys and a stealth with a strange stone, that was shaped like a large tooth that looked more then ancient. Less then 24 hours later, Skelton is dead, the motel was burning to nothing and Daniel is missing. Now, I love Cryus to death! He is awesome! He's not perfect, neither is anyone in the series though. He is selfish in different, yet both directions. He is tempted to just give them enemies the the tooth,and save his brother. Yet, on the other hand, he is tempted to keep the tooth, face the possibility if losing his brother forever, and try to save The Order of Brendon. Also, his determination to keep Antigne alive and safe was amazing. He was ready to die in the zoo because he couldn't see Antigone. He tried to lure the bad guys away from Antigone, so she was safe. He always made her go first when escaping. He loved his sister, and he didn't want her to disappear like their brother or worse die. Now Antigone. She was the perfect main heroine. She was bossy, intelligent, a trouble-maker and a fighter, but those are just some of her pros. She has her cons like everyone else. And yes, bossy is a pro in her situation. Anyway, she was scared of everything, a bookworm (in her case wasn't very good because she needed to pass physical tests too) and not trusting a lot. Skelton told them to trust Nolan, but I think she didn't trust him until the insane fight with Maxi. This is getting really long, and if I start talking about Nolan or Rupert, I will never shut up. As you can obviously tell, I loved this book to death. It's pulled me into a real life place, but also into a situation no one could possibly imagine. It's was twisted and disturbing, horrifying and bone-chilling, loving and heart-warming, fast-paced with action within every crevice, the whole package. You have to read it this series! Okay, I'll shut up now. Thank you if you read this entire thing, and sorry for my boring rambles about the characters. (less)

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May 21, 2012 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've enjoyed all of Wilson's offerings, to varying degrees, thus far, and this one lived up to expectations as well. This certainly qualifies as thoughtful, implicitly Christian fiction for children. It begins with (prepare for a shock) a family of semi-orphans, with a dead father and semi-comatose mother. The orphans find that they are actually heirs to a position in a powerful secret organization, and also enemies of a super-villain. This is all somewhat generically predictable, but Wilson ad...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Samantha Boyette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

The Dragon's Tooth was way better than I expected it to be. It falls into that category of books that try to fill the void that Harry Potter left. Books in that category run the gambit from totally awful to pretty damn good. This one falls to the pretty damn good end.

After the death of their father, Cyrus Smith and his siblings run the archer motel. Their mother is in a coma, leaving Cyrus's older brother Dan in charge of Cyrus and Antigone. They're getting along, but just barely. When a myster...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

Within the first few pages of this book I knew that Wilson has a wonderful way with words and capturing moments in time. Still days after finishing the book I recall one thing that the main character, Cyrus, does that is just so “him” it gives me goosebumps that it was written about. Now that might sound silly, mostly because I don’t want to tell you what that one thing is (it wouldn’t ruin the story for you or anything, it’s just a character trait that I now ad...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Pkelsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

You can read other reviews for the plot summary. What continues to impress me about the author's style is his depiction of grunge. I have read the 100 Cupboards trilogy and, like this book, the environments are crafted with such rich detail to the grime of real life.

However, different to 100 Cupboards, there is no real main character. This made it slightly difficult to empathize with the characters since they each got some airtime but not as much development over the course of the novel. Instead...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Shawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya-fiction, read-aloud

I just started reading this book to the kids. After reading only two chapters they didn't want me to stop. Too bad ... time to get to work.

Reading this out loud to the kids, again in order to refresh our minds before we dive into The Drowned Vault.

Just as good a read the second time as was the first.

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Jun 22, 2012 Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The Dragon's Tooth is a fantastic book written by a wonderful writer! Now, I'm a big fan of N.D. Wilson, (i've read his 100 cupboards series multiple times) and I'm absolutely in love with the way he writes! It's so graceful and clever, with little beautiful words that really paint a vivd picture and his dialogue breathes life into his characters. His characters are also so real and alive, with actual human feelings and real human thoughts. (plus they have the coolest names) And the plot is amaz...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Bess Auer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I actually enjoyed this book more than the three stars show. It has a very good storyline and is a perfect mix of adventure and fantasy. I really like the idea of a secret order of explorers and there being mysterious "other worldly" things to be found! However, it was a bit difficult to get "hooked" and I was tempted to put the book down before I finally got into it. The descriptions are hard to follow. I'm a reader who needs to be able to easily picture things in my mind, and I feel like N.D....more

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Quotes from The Dragon's Tooth

“Cyrus walked straight to the tallest crack of light, a seam between two doors. They were locked, but they were also thin and old, and they bent a little with pressure from his shoulder.

He backed up.

"Try one of Skelton's keys," said Antigone. "Is there a keyhole?"

"Nope." Cyrus threw himself against the doors. Wood popped, but he bounced back. "I can break it."

"You mean a rib? Maybe your shoulder?" Antigone adjusted her grip, propping Horace in front of her.

"There's just one little bolt," said Cyrus. "And it's set in old wood." He paused. What was he hearing? Voices. Shouting. "You hear that?" he asked.

Antigone nodded. "They don't sound happy."

This time, Cyrus used his foot. The wood splintered, and the two doors wobbled open onto a world of emerald and sunlight.” — 4 people liked it

“Cyrus squinted through the rain at the old man, at the truck, at the crackling Golden Lady. What was going on? None of this seemed real. But it was. The rain on his skin. The soggy waffle and drooping napkins. The smell of gunpowder.” — 3 people liked it

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The Dragon's Tooth (Ashtown Burials #1)

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