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Valley of the Dragons #3
Dragons of the Watch
Trapped in a forgotten city, bound by secrets, Ellie and Bealomondore must enlist the dragons of the watch to find freedom.Ellie knows exactly where she is going. She just wants to experience the pomp and circumstance of a royal wedding, then settle into a simple life with a country husband.With too many choices, Bealomondore’s future is a tangle of possibilities. He is respected, well-known, and admired among the elite of Chiril, but Wulder demands he narrow his focus and follow his Creator, one step at a time.Both Ellie and Bealomondore’s plans are thwarted when they find themselves lost in an isolated city. As they discern the needs of a group of wild children and a very old man, clues began to surface and a bigger picture is revealed. With the help of the dragons of the watch, can the two tumanhofers find the way out—and perhaps discover their connection to something greater than themselves? From the Trade Paperback edition.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2011
About the author
Donita K. Paul
22 books1,078 followersI am an author of Christian Fantasy. My first 7 books were Christian Romance, but I came over to the Dark Side when I heard there were cookies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 1, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up. I had mixed feelings on this one. Overall I enjoyed it. I was not a fan of Tak driving the plot for the first bit of the story, but it got much better. I'm impressed by how much story was told with such a limited setting, as opposed to Paul's other books in this story world where the characters go on adventures around the country.
October 25, 2014
3.65 stars.
So, here's the thing about Dragons of the Watch: it's a good book for what it is, which is a fantasy romance with a bit of adventure thrown in. The rest of Ms. Paul's books? Fantasy adventure with a good bit of romance thrown in. So that's a difference. As for the story itself, it's good, though it gets wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste. Also, while I do quite love the soulmate telepathy trope, I like there to be a semi-logical reason behind it. With Kale and Bardon, it made sense — she's a wizard, he's half emerlindian, so it's quite reasonable that he'd have some kind of weak or latent mindspeaking ability and it's not unreasonable that Kale should be the key that unlocks that ability. I can accept that. But in the case of Ellie — why does she randomly have the latent ability to communicate with dragons and mindspeak exclusively with Bealomondore? There's no good reason, and it annoys me immensely. So, yeah. If you go into the book expecting a fantasy romance with a bit of adventure, a touch of mystery, and a distinct lack of wizards actually doing things with the main characters (for most of the plot, anyway), then you'll be good. Otherwise, you'll be either disappointed or pleasantly surprised. (Hey, I don't know what you like. But now you know what to expect.) And, I mean, for what it's worth, I still stayed up past midnight reading this, so . . . yeah.
So, here's the thing about Dragons of the Watch: it's a good book for what it is, which is a fantasy romance with a bit of adventure thrown in. The rest of Ms. Paul's books? Fantasy adventure with a good bit of romance thrown in. So that's a difference. As for the story itself, it's good, though it gets wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste. Also, while I do quite love the soulmate telepathy trope, I like there to be a semi-logical reason behind it. With Kale and Bardon, it made sense — she's a wizard, he's half emerlindian, so it's quite reasonable that he'd have some kind of weak or latent mindspeaking ability and it's not unreasonable that Kale should be the key that unlocks that ability. I can accept that. But in the case of Ellie — why does she randomly have the latent ability to communicate with dragons and mindspeak exclusively with Bealomondore? There's no good reason, and it annoys me immensely. So, yeah. If you go into the book expecting a fantasy romance with a bit of adventure, a touch of mystery, and a distinct lack of wizards actually doing things with the main characters (for most of the plot, anyway), then you'll be good. Otherwise, you'll be either disappointed or pleasantly surprised. (Hey, I don't know what you like. But now you know what to expect.) And, I mean, for what it's worth, I still stayed up past midnight reading this, so . . . yeah.
March 4, 2023
ehhhh I liked it more than book 2, but it's so strange to me. sure, Bealomondore was my favorite part of book 2, but I thought Tipper is the main character of the trilogy? and she's not even here? at all? her wedding is what kicks off the whole adventure and we don't even get to see it? it's so strange.
I like Ellie fine, though some of her thoughts on children aren't my personal favorite. the relationship between Ellie and Bealomondore was very cute. Tak is my favorite.
it really didn't feel like the end of the trilogy, it felt like a side character spin-off. which, while fun in its own way, did not wrap-up the actual story to my satisfaction. so yeah, 3 stars.
I like Ellie fine, though some of her thoughts on children aren't my personal favorite. the relationship between Ellie and Bealomondore was very cute. Tak is my favorite.
it really didn't feel like the end of the trilogy, it felt like a side character spin-off. which, while fun in its own way, did not wrap-up the actual story to my satisfaction. so yeah, 3 stars.
May 18, 2017
I confess I had this thing sitting on my shelf for two weeks before I cracked it open. I didn't get into it because I discovered it wasn't about Tipper anymore!? Tipper is the main character in the two previous books. I really wanted to see her get married and have some adventures after that with her Prince Jayrus, but it did not happen. Instead it's about Ellie, who meets and teams up with Bealomondore (a friend of Tipper's). (They are both tumanhoffers, though that won't mean anything to you unless you've read any of these books. It's basically a race of short, broad people :D) So I didn't read this until the very day I had to return it, when I flew through this a 50-chapter book in four hours. I'm still impressed with myself here, because I was doing a lot of other things at the same time! xD Anyway. It turned out a lot better than I expected, actually. I mean who doesn't want to read about people trapped in a lost city, mind-speaking dragons, orphaned six-year-old hooligans bigger than the main characters, and grumpy librarians and wizards? I found it quite unique and interesting. Also Bealomondore and Ellie were really adorable together - and you don't hear me say that often. Maybe it has something to do with me having a thing for people of small races? Like, I automatically think they're cute? Whatever. It was like watching one of your dear friends (Bealomondore) get married. See, usually you think of the love interest character as the love interest character. But in this case, Bealomondore was so much more because I already knew him so well from the previous two books. The only disappointment was I didn't get to see Tipper's wedding at all *cries* and I was waiting for it for the entire book! (Let's be honest here, I was waiting for it for the entire three books of the series). But otherwise, it was quite excellent.
July 14, 2012
Ellie, on her way to the coronation of Princess Tipper and the marriage of the Princess to Paladin finds herself lost and afraid in a city of giants. The city is empty it seems, except for a large group of unruly 6 year olds who threaten to eat her. When Ellie discovers she is not the only adult who is lost and fearful she is relieved but can she and her new ally find their way out of this dangerous and large scale city. Bealomondore has been stuck here for two months but he has learned a great deal about the city and how to avoid the monstrous children. He has also found the only other adult but he is uncooperative. The "Old One" lives in the library and is quite uncooperative. In order to solve this puzzle Ellie, Bealomondore and the "Old One" must learn to get along and then teach the unruly children to do so also. A fun read with themes of forgiveness and love for one another.
February 14, 2012
Definitely my favorite of the trilogy. Bealomondore has always been my favorite character, and I've always been itching for him to get a proper lady friend who's awesome enough to do him justice. An lo and behold, I meet Ellie!
Ellie is a sweet, determined little tumanhofer who gets trapped in a giant bottle encompassing a giant city of eternally six-year-olds. There she meets Bealomondore, and together they have to tame the children and escape. The idea itself is more original than the other two books, and it focused on my favorite character, so of course I enjoyed it more. But it's still not amazing, and often I sit for a while thinking of better ways to write it. It'll never be a favorite, but it's an enjoyable fantasy adventure with a Christian base.
Ellie is a sweet, determined little tumanhofer who gets trapped in a giant bottle encompassing a giant city of eternally six-year-olds. There she meets Bealomondore, and together they have to tame the children and escape. The idea itself is more original than the other two books, and it focused on my favorite character, so of course I enjoyed it more. But it's still not amazing, and often I sit for a while thinking of better ways to write it. It'll never be a favorite, but it's an enjoyable fantasy adventure with a Christian base.
March 3, 2012
Dragons of the Watch, by Donita K. Paul, Waterbrook Press, 2011, 400 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1400073412, $13.99
Paul continues her exceptional Christian allegorical fantasy series with Dragons of the Watch. In this book she introduces, Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl, a farmer’s daughter affectionately known as Ellie, who is also a member of the hobbit-sized tumanahofer race.
Readers journey with Ellie, her Aunt Tiffenbeth and Uncle Stemikenjon to the exciting royal wedding and coronation of Princess Tipper and Prince Tayrus in Ragar. However, their trip is interrupted when Ellie sees her beloved pet goat on a nearby hillside and climbs down from the carriage to take him home…Full Review:
http://tinyurl.com/78hufsp
June 23, 2019
I enjoyed the newest characters, however I was disappointed by the book only being about Ellie and Bealmondore. On top of it all they were supposed to go to the wedding, and we didn't even get a description of it! Reading this book it seemed like some of the pieces were missing, especially at the end of the book. I feel as if this trilogy was supposed to have at least one more book. I honestly wish some of the events had happened differently or not all. This is probably one of my least favorite books by Donita K. Paul. Although the Realm Walkers series is somewhat lacking as well.
October 15, 2017
Since this is the last book in the Valley of the Dragons series, I wish it had gone just a bit farther showing us what happens to the children. I was a bit thrown off when the book started with a new character, but I quickly fell in love with Ellie. Overall, another wonderful story from Ms. Paul.
November 25, 2023
This was my favorite of the trilogy. The premise is so fresh and engaging, and I was encouraged Wulder’s engagement and the way he worked everything together behind the scenes for the good of all involved. Definitely enjoyed it.
April 21, 2019
A fun read
I enjoyed this book very much and cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series. I love fantasy and this one weaves just enough to keep you intreaged
I enjoyed this book very much and cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series. I love fantasy and this one weaves just enough to keep you intreaged
October 28, 2020
One of my favorites, for more reasons than I can count.
Want to Read
June 30, 2025SM
September 4, 2012
Dragons Of The Watch is the final (I think) book in the Chiril Chronicles by Donita Paul. To date it's my favorite by this talented author who specializes in the "cozy fantasy." Written for all ages, the books have a decided lean toward young adult, and this one is no exception. But enough with the introduction. On to the review.
The Story. In the imaginary world where Wulder is the One Supreme Being, Creator of all, seven high and seven low races people the various continents. In Chiril, however, there are few urohms--gentle giants reaching as tall as fourteen feet.
When Princess Tipper sends out invitations to her wedding to all citizens of Chiril, a young tumanhofer country girl named Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl (she goes by Ellie) wants to attend in the worst way. Her aunt agrees to take her, but as the trip begins, Ellie must corral one of the family goats, her favorite. Her aunt instructs her to meet up with their carriage after she takes care of her responsibility.
After capturing her pet amid inclement weather, Ellie gets turned around in the fog. She heads toward a shaft of light and walks, or is pushed by her goat, through a shiny surface. When she turns to look for the trail, she can no longer see the countryside she left. Instead, she is in an enclosed city founded by urohms from another part of the world. Now she is the only tumanhofer, and perhaps the only person, in a place built for giants. Or is she?
That's really just the set up. The story is all about what happens in Rumbard City, and it's good, oh, so good. But I don't want to give any spoiler.
Strengths. As always, Donita's strength is her characters. I was very quickly caring for Ellie, longing with her to attend the wedding, exasperated at the delay she faced, fearing as she did that she might miss it all, that she might never see her home again.
Ellie, it turns out, had never heard of Wulder, but she isn't an ugly, mean-spirited, or unkind girl. Just the opposite. She is pleasant, wise (though she thinks herself quite unsophisticated and therefore the target of mockery), industrious, and compassionate.
The other characters are either equally likable, or they are interesting. In other words none in the entire cast drags the story down or makes it uninteresting.
The plot is quite good, too. Ellie has a clear goal, but when there seems to be no way out, she makes new plans and works to carry them out. The story, therefore, moves forward at a good pace, and I found myself cheering for Ellie to succeed.
There are lots and lots of good thematic threads in the story, all placed very naturally, rising from the circumstances and the character needs. I'll add that I think in the current climate in Western society, these truths are especially important. I'll give you a hint--they center on child-rearing.
The story is light and fun. There is definitely conflict, and the obstacles seem believably difficult and/or scary, yet there is an undercurrent of humor and joy and hope. It's hard to imagine that tragedy will strike, though it threatens in such a believable way, I had to remind myself a time or two, This is a cozy fantasy. A cozy!
I'm a fan of twists and there is one significant twist toward the end that I didn't see coming at all. It added another layer of tension to the story and provided a perfect set-up for the climax and resolution.
Weaknesses. Toward the end I thought there was a plot point that could have been developed more. Late in the story the characters discover an underground system of tunnels that connected to an ancient, abandoned city. However, the reader was not privy to the first efforts to explore this area. Instead, through narrative one character discloses that there have been daily trips searching out the tunnels.
Soon after, the reader does enter the tunnels with the main characters, but all that happens there could just as easily have taken place in Rumbard City proper. Furthermore, I don't recall any explanation of how the underground city came to be or what its connection was with the urohms who lived above.
I found one element in the story to be predictable, but it fit well with the cozy fantasy genre--where danger is an arm's length away instead of in your face--so I didn't mind the way this particular event played out. Others might think it was too obvious.
Recommendation. Dragons Of The Watch is a must read for fans of Donita Paul. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a light fantasy--not light-weight in substance, but not dark or filled with angst. It's an uplifting story, a book I looked forward to pulling out when I had time to read.
Originally posted at A Christian Worldview of Fiction
The Story. In the imaginary world where Wulder is the One Supreme Being, Creator of all, seven high and seven low races people the various continents. In Chiril, however, there are few urohms--gentle giants reaching as tall as fourteen feet.
When Princess Tipper sends out invitations to her wedding to all citizens of Chiril, a young tumanhofer country girl named Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl (she goes by Ellie) wants to attend in the worst way. Her aunt agrees to take her, but as the trip begins, Ellie must corral one of the family goats, her favorite. Her aunt instructs her to meet up with their carriage after she takes care of her responsibility.
After capturing her pet amid inclement weather, Ellie gets turned around in the fog. She heads toward a shaft of light and walks, or is pushed by her goat, through a shiny surface. When she turns to look for the trail, she can no longer see the countryside she left. Instead, she is in an enclosed city founded by urohms from another part of the world. Now she is the only tumanhofer, and perhaps the only person, in a place built for giants. Or is she?
That's really just the set up. The story is all about what happens in Rumbard City, and it's good, oh, so good. But I don't want to give any spoiler.
Strengths. As always, Donita's strength is her characters. I was very quickly caring for Ellie, longing with her to attend the wedding, exasperated at the delay she faced, fearing as she did that she might miss it all, that she might never see her home again.
Ellie, it turns out, had never heard of Wulder, but she isn't an ugly, mean-spirited, or unkind girl. Just the opposite. She is pleasant, wise (though she thinks herself quite unsophisticated and therefore the target of mockery), industrious, and compassionate.
The other characters are either equally likable, or they are interesting. In other words none in the entire cast drags the story down or makes it uninteresting.
The plot is quite good, too. Ellie has a clear goal, but when there seems to be no way out, she makes new plans and works to carry them out. The story, therefore, moves forward at a good pace, and I found myself cheering for Ellie to succeed.
There are lots and lots of good thematic threads in the story, all placed very naturally, rising from the circumstances and the character needs. I'll add that I think in the current climate in Western society, these truths are especially important. I'll give you a hint--they center on child-rearing.
The story is light and fun. There is definitely conflict, and the obstacles seem believably difficult and/or scary, yet there is an undercurrent of humor and joy and hope. It's hard to imagine that tragedy will strike, though it threatens in such a believable way, I had to remind myself a time or two, This is a cozy fantasy. A cozy!
I'm a fan of twists and there is one significant twist toward the end that I didn't see coming at all. It added another layer of tension to the story and provided a perfect set-up for the climax and resolution.
Weaknesses. Toward the end I thought there was a plot point that could have been developed more. Late in the story the characters discover an underground system of tunnels that connected to an ancient, abandoned city. However, the reader was not privy to the first efforts to explore this area. Instead, through narrative one character discloses that there have been daily trips searching out the tunnels.
Soon after, the reader does enter the tunnels with the main characters, but all that happens there could just as easily have taken place in Rumbard City proper. Furthermore, I don't recall any explanation of how the underground city came to be or what its connection was with the urohms who lived above.
I found one element in the story to be predictable, but it fit well with the cozy fantasy genre--where danger is an arm's length away instead of in your face--so I didn't mind the way this particular event played out. Others might think it was too obvious.
Recommendation. Dragons Of The Watch is a must read for fans of Donita Paul. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a light fantasy--not light-weight in substance, but not dark or filled with angst. It's an uplifting story, a book I looked forward to pulling out when I had time to read.
Originally posted at A Christian Worldview of Fiction
February 2, 2014
*Dragons of the Watch*, the latest book in *The Chiril Chronicles* by Donita K. Paul, is by far my favorite so far. To start out, my favorite character, Graddapotmorphit Bealomondore, is one of the two main protagonists. This really pleased me, given how the first two books lacked a really good plot and focus for the character.
To make clear, the first two books made Bealomondore one of the main characters, and he was in most of the adventurous and dangerous scenes, but not in a way that furthered his own story. Even his character development in the second book was more about how it supported the main plot of his friends Princess Tipper and the Paladin Jayrus. This book corrects that. Here Bealomondore takes center stage.
Our favorite Tumanhofer winds up in a lost city, whose inhabitants he must save from the plight that their rebellion against Wulder (God) has landed them in. In this strange metropolis, he is joined by a young fellow Tumanhofer, a girl named Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl, or Ellie, for short.
The sweet thing of the tale is that the two very markedly different characters fall in love. Well-educated, upper-class, war hero, artist, and veteran Bealomondore on the one hand, and educated for a farm girl (meaning far less than Bealomondore), rustic, hard-working, very isolated, but naturally kind-hearted Ellie on the other hand. When the two of them interact, the sparks fly, but in a good way.
To a degree, the feel of the romance between the two reminds me of the author's other book *Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball*. The sense of magic, wonder, and Providential timing in a romance were truly special to behold, both in the Christmas book and in this one.
The story delves into some strange ideas. I can't tell if the references are to a time in their history similar to our own, or to our world. I got lost on that point, but it's not a major plot thread, so that makes little difference, really.
Now for the other important part, the Dragons. Det and Laddin are back, and join other dragons who are also trapped in the enchanted lost city. They each have his or her own name and personality. This is another great thing about Paul's books. She doesn't make them pets, but explains their thoughts. To make a comparison of sorts, in too many Star Wars books, Chewbacca is portrayed like a family pet. His growls are for laughs. Here, the creatures who can't speak the “regular” language, still can speak, and are taken *very* seriously. They are fully-fleshed out characters. Indeed, speaking to them is a gift of Wulder to His children.
There are some wonderful lessons about pride, and love, but also trusting in God while being prepared. These lessons are not in your face, but very subtle, and all the easier to accept for it. There is also a wonderful conversion scene, but instead of hitting us over the head as some authors do when penning such scenes, Paul does it quietly. We see not the prayer or such that you see in most books. Instead, we view the thought process of the character as they finally “find” Wulder, or rather Wulder brings them to Himself.
All in all, a great fantasy novel, for both Christian and secular audiences, with wonderful little gems and nuggets for the attentive reader.
The best in the series so far, and Highly Recommended.
To make clear, the first two books made Bealomondore one of the main characters, and he was in most of the adventurous and dangerous scenes, but not in a way that furthered his own story. Even his character development in the second book was more about how it supported the main plot of his friends Princess Tipper and the Paladin Jayrus. This book corrects that. Here Bealomondore takes center stage.
Our favorite Tumanhofer winds up in a lost city, whose inhabitants he must save from the plight that their rebellion against Wulder (God) has landed them in. In this strange metropolis, he is joined by a young fellow Tumanhofer, a girl named Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl, or Ellie, for short.
The sweet thing of the tale is that the two very markedly different characters fall in love. Well-educated, upper-class, war hero, artist, and veteran Bealomondore on the one hand, and educated for a farm girl (meaning far less than Bealomondore), rustic, hard-working, very isolated, but naturally kind-hearted Ellie on the other hand. When the two of them interact, the sparks fly, but in a good way.
To a degree, the feel of the romance between the two reminds me of the author's other book *Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball*. The sense of magic, wonder, and Providential timing in a romance were truly special to behold, both in the Christmas book and in this one.
The story delves into some strange ideas. I can't tell if the references are to a time in their history similar to our own, or to our world. I got lost on that point, but it's not a major plot thread, so that makes little difference, really.
Now for the other important part, the Dragons. Det and Laddin are back, and join other dragons who are also trapped in the enchanted lost city. They each have his or her own name and personality. This is another great thing about Paul's books. She doesn't make them pets, but explains their thoughts. To make a comparison of sorts, in too many Star Wars books, Chewbacca is portrayed like a family pet. His growls are for laughs. Here, the creatures who can't speak the “regular” language, still can speak, and are taken *very* seriously. They are fully-fleshed out characters. Indeed, speaking to them is a gift of Wulder to His children.
There are some wonderful lessons about pride, and love, but also trusting in God while being prepared. These lessons are not in your face, but very subtle, and all the easier to accept for it. There is also a wonderful conversion scene, but instead of hitting us over the head as some authors do when penning such scenes, Paul does it quietly. We see not the prayer or such that you see in most books. Instead, we view the thought process of the character as they finally “find” Wulder, or rather Wulder brings them to Himself.
All in all, a great fantasy novel, for both Christian and secular audiences, with wonderful little gems and nuggets for the attentive reader.
The best in the series so far, and Highly Recommended.
March 2, 2014
2.5
Weird setting, unusual plot, okay pacing, strong character development (they had to make some tough choices), and unsatisfying denouement.
Some things weren't explained (why did the Tumanhofers shrink in the bottle?, and why would breaking the bottle be so different than opening it?). I think I would've been confused about Wulder and Paladin and dragons and magic if I hadn't read other books of DKP.
Best part? The characters were not idiots. Too many times in too many books, characters act like idiots. Sure, Ellie was too nice to the hooligans, but it fit her personality.
Worst part? The plot acted like a mystery and a quest but the conflict had to do with gigantic children and being stuck in a bottle. I wanted actual bad guys (I'm picky like that, I guess) and a clearer sense of what the characters were supposed to be doing (they kept trying things but never knew what would work). Oh, and the end was disappointing because .
Weird setting, unusual plot, okay pacing, strong character development (they had to make some tough choices), and unsatisfying denouement.
Some things weren't explained (why did the Tumanhofers shrink in the bottle?, and why would breaking the bottle be so different than opening it?). I think I would've been confused about Wulder and Paladin and dragons and magic if I hadn't read other books of DKP.
Best part? The characters were not idiots. Too many times in too many books, characters act like idiots. Sure, Ellie was too nice to the hooligans, but it fit her personality.
Worst part? The plot acted like a mystery and a quest but the conflict had to do with gigantic children and being stuck in a bottle. I wanted actual bad guys (I'm picky like that, I guess) and a clearer sense of what the characters were supposed to be doing (they kept trying things but never knew what would work). Oh, and the end was disappointing because .
July 8, 2012
Give it 4.5 stars. I really liked this book. I like real romance, where the couple show their love for each other in their acts of service and compassion. The author did a great job showing us a developing and deep love between Ellie and Bealomondore.
I also like the Christian theme which reminded me a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia (a big favorite of mine). However, the author wasn't as subtle about her message. It is a great message and made me look up her biography and want to read more of her books. I especially enjoyed her use of a fiction tale to explain God's love for us and his interactions with us through personal revelation and through his servants.
I also liked the fact that the romance was an integral part of the story, but not the whole story. Ellie and Bealomondore are magically trapped in the city of Rumbard with a group of wild giant children who threaten to capture them and eat them. Ellie and Bealomondore are desperate to escape and the dragons of the watch are happy to help.
I also like the Christian theme which reminded me a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia (a big favorite of mine). However, the author wasn't as subtle about her message. It is a great message and made me look up her biography and want to read more of her books. I especially enjoyed her use of a fiction tale to explain God's love for us and his interactions with us through personal revelation and through his servants.
I also liked the fact that the romance was an integral part of the story, but not the whole story. Ellie and Bealomondore are magically trapped in the city of Rumbard with a group of wild giant children who threaten to capture them and eat them. Ellie and Bealomondore are desperate to escape and the dragons of the watch are happy to help.
April 3, 2013
Whew, this one was hard to get through.
Bealomondore and Ellie were great characters, but didn't really do well as main characters. I much preferred Bealomondore as secondary character. They're trapped in a city in a bottle for most of the book, being stalked by giant children, unsure how to break the spell. They don't have a lot of information and while they do have a vague plan of civilizing the children and finding the wizard, there's not a lot of action. There's a lot of walking around and flirting and baking.
The original Dragonspell series is just better than the Dragons of the Valley series, much as it pains me to say that. Tipper and the prince aren't as compelling as Kale and Bardon, and the adventures just aren't as interesting.
Bealomondore and Ellie were great characters, but didn't really do well as main characters. I much preferred Bealomondore as secondary character. They're trapped in a city in a bottle for most of the book, being stalked by giant children, unsure how to break the spell. They don't have a lot of information and while they do have a vague plan of civilizing the children and finding the wizard, there's not a lot of action. There's a lot of walking around and flirting and baking.
The original Dragonspell series is just better than the Dragons of the Valley series, much as it pains me to say that. Tipper and the prince aren't as compelling as Kale and Bardon, and the adventures just aren't as interesting.
June 18, 2018
Dragons of the Watch is the third and final book in the Chiril Chronicles series. The whole series is a prequel to Donita K. Paul's DragonKeeper Chronicles.
This book is okay. My biggest issue with it is that it completely abandons Tipper, the main character of the first two books. She doesn't even have one line of dialogue. Instead, a brand new character--Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl--is introduced. I'm very fond of Ellie, but I'm not a fan of the "introduce a new character so I can make a trilogy" scheme. Also, there's too much romance for a children's book. I don't mind a little, but we don't need to know how Ellie feels and delve into her mind about her romantic daydreams. The story is also very slow; I feel like it could have been cut in half and we wouldn't have missed much.
That being said, it is an okay book. The story, though slow, has some redeeming points. It was good to see Bealomondore back. Overall, it's good for the series; I just wish it could have been done differently.
This book is okay. My biggest issue with it is that it completely abandons Tipper, the main character of the first two books. She doesn't even have one line of dialogue. Instead, a brand new character--Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl--is introduced. I'm very fond of Ellie, but I'm not a fan of the "introduce a new character so I can make a trilogy" scheme. Also, there's too much romance for a children's book. I don't mind a little, but we don't need to know how Ellie feels and delve into her mind about her romantic daydreams. The story is also very slow; I feel like it could have been cut in half and we wouldn't have missed much.
That being said, it is an okay book. The story, though slow, has some redeeming points. It was good to see Bealomondore back. Overall, it's good for the series; I just wish it could have been done differently.
October 4, 2011
(Disclaimer: I received this book free from goodreads.)
I really enjoyed the world that Donita Paul built for "Dragons of the Watch." Its apparent that this is a sequel series based on the content and the characters reference, but it never distracts you from the story being told.
Ellie (who as far as I know is a new character in Paul's works) is interesting and compelling. She is far from the accidental heroine you usually find in female protagonists. The different take on Dragons is also a nice change of pace. The message for young readers of forgiveness, acceptance, responsibility and love make this a must read for families.
The story is not large in scope, the setting is self contained and the whole adventure is not as epic as other fantasy tales. Time and distance are compressed which is a welcome respite from other epic fantasy adventures. The writing is clear and flows well.
I really enjoyed the world that Donita Paul built for "Dragons of the Watch." Its apparent that this is a sequel series based on the content and the characters reference, but it never distracts you from the story being told.
Ellie (who as far as I know is a new character in Paul's works) is interesting and compelling. She is far from the accidental heroine you usually find in female protagonists. The different take on Dragons is also a nice change of pace. The message for young readers of forgiveness, acceptance, responsibility and love make this a must read for families.
The story is not large in scope, the setting is self contained and the whole adventure is not as epic as other fantasy tales. Time and distance are compressed which is a welcome respite from other epic fantasy adventures. The writing is clear and flows well.
June 19, 2014
Just not quite the same as the Amara books. It seems so random.
This book had very much a "Oz" feel to it: a young girl starts out on a journey to see the marriage of the princess, accompanied by her pet goat. While going she accidentally tumbles into a city that has been bottled up and is inhabited almost entirely by unruly perpetual 6-year-olds with no one to train them or love them. Along with another trapped individual (whom she quickly and sappily falls in love with, lots of kissing folks) they work to show love to the children, read stories to them, feed them daggarts, and discover that all they have to do to release the city is find a bottle of memories and uncork it.
I almost expected the goat to start talking. I'd place it in the same fanciful (and somewhat random) category as the Oz books. It was enjoyable, but not great.
Not to mention that the "Dragons of the Watch" hardly figure in the book at all :/
This book had very much a "Oz" feel to it: a young girl starts out on a journey to see the marriage of the princess, accompanied by her pet goat. While going she accidentally tumbles into a city that has been bottled up and is inhabited almost entirely by unruly perpetual 6-year-olds with no one to train them or love them. Along with another trapped individual (whom she quickly and sappily falls in love with, lots of kissing folks) they work to show love to the children, read stories to them, feed them daggarts, and discover that all they have to do to release the city is find a bottle of memories and uncork it.
I almost expected the goat to start talking. I'd place it in the same fanciful (and somewhat random) category as the Oz books. It was enjoyable, but not great.
Not to mention that the "Dragons of the Watch" hardly figure in the book at all :/
June 8, 2011
Ellicinderpart (I'm not kidding) wants nothing more from her simple country life than to attend the Royal wedding ball in Regar. So by the end of the first page the reader thinks they can see where this is all heading and they are near to tears crying, "Why Ms. Paul? Why would you ruin all of your original world building by rewriting Cinderella?"
But after a fearful cry you can keep reading safe in this knoweldge that I give unto you. This is not another Cinderella story. It is indeed another amazing fantasy tale from the world of Chiril involving Minor Dragons, Tumanhofers, Urohms, Wizards and a Goat.
Out of all of the books in the Chiril and Dragon Keeper Chronicles this one is the most stand alone story line. Though just for the sake of learning more about Ms. Paul's wonderful and complex world I still recommend reading them in order.
But after a fearful cry you can keep reading safe in this knoweldge that I give unto you. This is not another Cinderella story. It is indeed another amazing fantasy tale from the world of Chiril involving Minor Dragons, Tumanhofers, Urohms, Wizards and a Goat.
Out of all of the books in the Chiril and Dragon Keeper Chronicles this one is the most stand alone story line. Though just for the sake of learning more about Ms. Paul's wonderful and complex world I still recommend reading them in order.
April 3, 2013
This book gets five stars for creative plot and Donita K Paul's beautiful writing style. Despite the limited number of characters throughout most of this book, Paul spun a wonderful tale and alternated some between the two main characters' perspectives. I like how she decided to continue the trilogy with Bealomondore, a more minor character, rather than Tipper, who dominated the first two books (though I did love Tipper :) ).
However, I only gave four stars because the ending was rather disappointing. It was almost as if Paul had a set number of pages to work with, and suddenly realized that she was running out of space, because the last 1/8th of the book was a bit rushed. So much happened between the lines (and between the last chapter and the epilogue) that an entire fourth book could easily have been written. Overall, though, a great read!
However, I only gave four stars because the ending was rather disappointing. It was almost as if Paul had a set number of pages to work with, and suddenly realized that she was running out of space, because the last 1/8th of the book was a bit rushed. So much happened between the lines (and between the last chapter and the epilogue) that an entire fourth book could easily have been written. Overall, though, a great read!
October 3, 2011
Dragons of the Watch was an amazing story of adventure, danger, and love. Donita K. Paul created a magical atmosphere with whimsical characters that brought the book to life. Ellie and Bealomondore along with the dragons of the watch get trapped in a bottle city where 6 year old children run wild. They must use wit and love to escape the bottle and save the children.
It would be an amazing read for children because it actually teaches a lesson. The message that I understood is: Children need adults to love, care, and provide for them. They all have a pure heart. Recommended.
It would be an amazing read for children because it actually teaches a lesson. The message that I understood is: Children need adults to love, care, and provide for them. They all have a pure heart. Recommended.
November 11, 2011
Haha I was pleasantly surprised by this book!! The first two of these series annoyed me and I barely finished them. I hated how they talked super formal and seemingly had no feelings. In this one the characters seemed real and fun!!! The romance was sweet and believable. It reminded me of Paul's earlier books (The first three of the DragonKeeper series) and I loved it.
This is the writing Paul does that I love!! I hope the rest of her book are like this one.
This is the writing Paul does that I love!! I hope the rest of her book are like this one.
January 1, 2012
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
February 21, 2012
Donita K. Paul has done it again. I own another one of her books (DragonQuest) and both are splendid. This book captivated me from beginning to end, weaving laughter, anger, sadness, and a longing for more. There are plenty of twists and turns that always kept me guessing. If you're a dragon lover or even loved the books the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, then this is the book for you.
May 20, 2016
I remember receiving this book on a Saturday and finishing it that very Sunday. It was one of my first romance-included books and I still struggle to find another book that exceeds the standard this one brought into my life. Exceptional well written and perfect for someone who wishes to explore the Fantasy genre.
January 3, 2012
This book was as well or better written than her previous books, but I think Paul's lost her exuberance that was 'between the lines' in her earlier books. Or maybe I'm just peeved because Fenworth doesn't come into the storyline until almost the end.
January 3, 2013
Amazing imagination! My little sister read it and says it doesn't really make much sense in the beginning. My opinion of that it a bit different, though i have to say that the beginning made me want to skip a lot of pages. Sorry, Donita K. Paul.
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