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A Dragon's Guide to Destiny #1
The Dragon Who Didn't Fly
A cunning opportunist incites the people of Oasis to kill the resident dragon so that he can convert Druid's swamp into suburban housing. The would-be dragonslayer also plans to have the Guardian of Oasis assassinated and assume power. Unless the dragon unites with a criminally adorable kitten and a human whose psychic gifts could earn her a stay on the Ward for the Chronically Crazy, Oasis is finished.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2011
79 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Barrett
16 books16 followersAs a child, C. M. (Connie) Barrett was enchanted by her grandmother's stories about life in Ireland: the challenges of rural life, the dangers of civil war, and the wee folk who were often invisible but capable of causing much trouble if not treated well. As a result, reality and fantasy merged for her, and it's probably her grandmother's fault that she became a fantasy writer.
Her first book was an illustrated volume of retold Greek and Roman myths that she wrote for her brother. Her first public recognition for writing came in eighth grade, when she was an award for a Good Posture Awareness Day slogan.
Since then, she had many articles, short stories, and reviews published. Sometimes she even got paid.
Because Connie was busy doing other things (working as a typographer, counselor, running a metaphysical store in Greenwich Village) writing took a back seat until early 2011 when self-publishing movement began to take off. Over the next 18 months, she published the first three volumes of A Dragon's Guide to Destiny, a literary novel, and two holistic books.
Most of her books have cats in them. Because she has to spend so much time thinking like one in order to write A Dragon's Guide to Destiny, and to survive in a home run by feline overlords (currently ladies), she sometimes forgets that she's human. The cats encourage this until it's time for a run to the pet store.
Because she continues to be comfortable merging reality and fantasy, she didn't mind the fictional cat, Tara (a main character in the Dragon's Guide Series) dictating a book of advice to cats. Cats in Charge: A Guide to the Training and Education of Humans should be published in April 2013, if the cat stops making corrections.
Connie is also working on the fourth book of A Dragon's Guide to Destiny and a new series, Dystopia in Drag.
Series: A Dragon's Guide to Destiny
Big Dragons Don't Cry
Dance with Clouds
House of the Moon
Literary Fiction
Gone to Flowers (Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll)
Nonfiction
Animals Have Feelings, Too: Bach Flower Remedies for Cats and Dogs
Renew Your Life the Natural Way: Balance Your Chakras with Crystals and Essences
Her first book was an illustrated volume of retold Greek and Roman myths that she wrote for her brother. Her first public recognition for writing came in eighth grade, when she was an award for a Good Posture Awareness Day slogan.
Since then, she had many articles, short stories, and reviews published. Sometimes she even got paid.
Because Connie was busy doing other things (working as a typographer, counselor, running a metaphysical store in Greenwich Village) writing took a back seat until early 2011 when self-publishing movement began to take off. Over the next 18 months, she published the first three volumes of A Dragon's Guide to Destiny, a literary novel, and two holistic books.
Most of her books have cats in them. Because she has to spend so much time thinking like one in order to write A Dragon's Guide to Destiny, and to survive in a home run by feline overlords (currently ladies), she sometimes forgets that she's human. The cats encourage this until it's time for a run to the pet store.
Because she continues to be comfortable merging reality and fantasy, she didn't mind the fictional cat, Tara (a main character in the Dragon's Guide Series) dictating a book of advice to cats. Cats in Charge: A Guide to the Training and Education of Humans should be published in April 2013, if the cat stops making corrections.
Connie is also working on the fourth book of A Dragon's Guide to Destiny and a new series, Dystopia in Drag.
Series: A Dragon's Guide to Destiny
Big Dragons Don't Cry
Dance with Clouds
House of the Moon
Literary Fiction
Gone to Flowers (Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll)
Nonfiction
Animals Have Feelings, Too: Bach Flower Remedies for Cats and Dogs
Renew Your Life the Natural Way: Balance Your Chakras with Crystals and Essences
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 25, 2011
The title of this book is mildly misleading. I expected a very humorous book, and it also had a more serious & occasionally tense storyline. The book is constructed around three interwoven narratives. One is the story of Druid, a depressed water dragon left alone in the swamps without the company of any other dragons. The second is the story of a group of cats, principally Tara, destined to save the world - even though she is only a pint-sized kitten. The third is the human angle, following a feeling young woman and her artistic lover through the difficulties of a rather deranged, emotion-suppressing society.
The agenda of the story is clear: it makes some salient points about the destructiveness of human societies and the need to change our way of thinking. Some books could become leaden with such a heavy core message, and this one does come a little close to belabouring this point. However, it is written with a light, entertaining style and leavened with sufficient humour to avoid this.
The characters are engaging and largely loveable, and I liked the resolution to the story. I'd have liked to hear more about the final fate of characters such as Phileas - is he allowed to marry and have a normal life now? - and Serazina & Berto. However, perhaps this is coming up in a sequel!
This book also stands out from the crowd in the quality of the writing, editing and proofreading. I will recommend it to others & hope a sequel emerges fairly soon.
The agenda of the story is clear: it makes some salient points about the destructiveness of human societies and the need to change our way of thinking. Some books could become leaden with such a heavy core message, and this one does come a little close to belabouring this point. However, it is written with a light, entertaining style and leavened with sufficient humour to avoid this.
The characters are engaging and largely loveable, and I liked the resolution to the story. I'd have liked to hear more about the final fate of characters such as Phileas - is he allowed to marry and have a normal life now? - and Serazina & Berto. However, perhaps this is coming up in a sequel!
This book also stands out from the crowd in the quality of the writing, editing and proofreading. I will recommend it to others & hope a sequel emerges fairly soon.
February 2, 2022
Note: I have the more recent “The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly” edition but Goodreads and Kindle decided to link the rather earlier one.
April 19, 2018
not kindle unlimited, one of my freebie day books or something, says to suggested read the prequel first but haven't, though have it from freebie day so maybe next.
He Must Fly to Save His World
After naming Druid the Dragon of Destiny, his parents abandoned him in a swamp, and he bitterly vowed to never fly again.
Now his destiny is looking a lot like death. Malvern Frost, a cunning and malicious opportunist, wants to destroy the swamp and turn it into real estate. Only the dragon’s presence prevents him from realizing his dream of wealth and power.
Exploiting a centuries-old fear of the allegedly vicious creature few have seen, the would-be tycoon tries to ignite the humans’ terror into murderous rage. Enthusiasm for killing the dragon builds, and Frost realizes that with his rising popularity, he could topple the current government and establish himself as dictator.
Druid needs allies, but those he meets—a kitten who hasn’t learned diplomacy and a young woman who’s afraid to reveal her psychic gifts—don’t know how to save him from death and the nation from tyranny. They must overcome communication difficulties, mutual mistrust, and delusions of human superiority before it’s too late. And Druid must abandon his vow and fly.
What makes the Dragon’s Guide to Destiny series special?
I wanted to write the kinds of books that I like to read. My childhood love for mythology turned into a love for fantasy fiction. I particularly enjoy reading and writing those stories that transplant the essential human issues to other worlds, thus giving us a different way to view them.
In The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly, people believe that the dragon is a rabid killer who hungers for human flesh. They think he breathes fire, a misconception that creates a near-fatal misunderstanding. In truth, he’s a peaceful, water-breathing dragon who puts out fires.
When I recently re-read The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly, I was surprised that some of the subplots seemed to foreshadow the present. Where did this unscrupulous but crafty real estate mogul and would-be dictator come from? One reviewer called the book a cautionary tale. This was perhaps truer than he knew. It didn’t take any psychic ability to write about the condition of the environment and nature and the need to recognize that we humans share the planet with other species whose right to thrive is as great as ours. I do not get heavy-handed about this, though. I’m as tired of lectures as you probably are. I want the books I read to entertain me and have humorous elements. The same is true of the fantasies I write. I want to enjoy writing them and for you to enjoy reading them. Inspiration is optional.
In what order should the books be read?
The Snake Charmer’s Daughter (prequel)
Book 1: The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly
Book 2: Dance with Clouds
Book 3: House of the Moon
Book 4: Book of Sorrows
Book 5: The Rainbow Dragon
A Dragon's Guide to Destiny Series
The Snake Charmer’s Daughter: A Prequel
The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly: Book 1 (The Water Dragon Quest)
Dance with Clouds: Book 2 (The Air Dragon Quest)
House of the Moon: Book 3 (The Fire Dragon Quest)
Book of Sorrows: Book 4 (The Earth Dragon Quest)
He Must Fly to Save His World
After naming Druid the Dragon of Destiny, his parents abandoned him in a swamp, and he bitterly vowed to never fly again.
Now his destiny is looking a lot like death. Malvern Frost, a cunning and malicious opportunist, wants to destroy the swamp and turn it into real estate. Only the dragon’s presence prevents him from realizing his dream of wealth and power.
Exploiting a centuries-old fear of the allegedly vicious creature few have seen, the would-be tycoon tries to ignite the humans’ terror into murderous rage. Enthusiasm for killing the dragon builds, and Frost realizes that with his rising popularity, he could topple the current government and establish himself as dictator.
Druid needs allies, but those he meets—a kitten who hasn’t learned diplomacy and a young woman who’s afraid to reveal her psychic gifts—don’t know how to save him from death and the nation from tyranny. They must overcome communication difficulties, mutual mistrust, and delusions of human superiority before it’s too late. And Druid must abandon his vow and fly.
What makes the Dragon’s Guide to Destiny series special?
I wanted to write the kinds of books that I like to read. My childhood love for mythology turned into a love for fantasy fiction. I particularly enjoy reading and writing those stories that transplant the essential human issues to other worlds, thus giving us a different way to view them.
In The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly, people believe that the dragon is a rabid killer who hungers for human flesh. They think he breathes fire, a misconception that creates a near-fatal misunderstanding. In truth, he’s a peaceful, water-breathing dragon who puts out fires.
When I recently re-read The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly, I was surprised that some of the subplots seemed to foreshadow the present. Where did this unscrupulous but crafty real estate mogul and would-be dictator come from? One reviewer called the book a cautionary tale. This was perhaps truer than he knew. It didn’t take any psychic ability to write about the condition of the environment and nature and the need to recognize that we humans share the planet with other species whose right to thrive is as great as ours. I do not get heavy-handed about this, though. I’m as tired of lectures as you probably are. I want the books I read to entertain me and have humorous elements. The same is true of the fantasies I write. I want to enjoy writing them and for you to enjoy reading them. Inspiration is optional.
In what order should the books be read?
The Snake Charmer’s Daughter (prequel)
Book 1: The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly
Book 2: Dance with Clouds
Book 3: House of the Moon
Book 4: Book of Sorrows
Book 5: The Rainbow Dragon
A Dragon's Guide to Destiny Series
The Snake Charmer’s Daughter: A Prequel
The Dragon Who Didn’t Fly: Book 1 (The Water Dragon Quest)
Dance with Clouds: Book 2 (The Air Dragon Quest)
House of the Moon: Book 3 (The Fire Dragon Quest)
Book of Sorrows: Book 4 (The Earth Dragon Quest)
July 6, 2017
I wouldn’t have normally read a book I thought was about a dragon, but too many people recommended this book for me to ignore. I’m so pleased to have read it. It’s entertaining, set in a wonderfully scenic fantasy world, and has lovable characters including Druid, the depressed dragon who rises to the occasion to become a hero. There’s also an array of savvy cats, (there are many laugh-out-loud moments between them), and a young woman and her artistic lover.
There is plenty of adventure and mystery to keep the reader thoroughly entertained, but the highlight for me was the core message. I applaud how the author has interwoven valuable lessons told from the perspective of animals and humans about understanding and interacting with the natural world.
Light-hearted, well-written, fast-paced, and rich in emotion and insight. Will the characters join together to save the world? I highly recommend you read the book to find out.
There is plenty of adventure and mystery to keep the reader thoroughly entertained, but the highlight for me was the core message. I applaud how the author has interwoven valuable lessons told from the perspective of animals and humans about understanding and interacting with the natural world.
Light-hearted, well-written, fast-paced, and rich in emotion and insight. Will the characters join together to save the world? I highly recommend you read the book to find out.
October 20, 2017
The Dragon Who Wouldn't Fly by C. M. Barrett is an enchanting original fantasy suitable for adult and YA readers. I loved the quest, the idea that emotions are as important as logic, and that an individual only has to listen to hear nature and feel love's presence.
There are three major characters: Druid the dragon who must overcome his feelings of abandonment and find his destiny; Tara the kitten who is on a quest to save the world, and a young woman who must accept her psychic abilities so she can help Tara and Druid.
Full of positive themes, the book is uplifting. But, the story is not all rosy and reflects mankind's destructive nature towards the environment. At least in this book, it is not too late to change the growing destruction.
This is the first book in the "Dragon's Guide to Destiny" series. To date, there are four more books in the series. I hope they are all as entertaining, well-written, and intriguing as the first book,
There are three major characters: Druid the dragon who must overcome his feelings of abandonment and find his destiny; Tara the kitten who is on a quest to save the world, and a young woman who must accept her psychic abilities so she can help Tara and Druid.
Full of positive themes, the book is uplifting. But, the story is not all rosy and reflects mankind's destructive nature towards the environment. At least in this book, it is not too late to change the growing destruction.
This is the first book in the "Dragon's Guide to Destiny" series. To date, there are four more books in the series. I hope they are all as entertaining, well-written, and intriguing as the first book,
October 16, 2017
I was given this advanced readers copy for the purpose of submitting an honest review.
I was almost ready to stop reading after the 3rd chapter because the story was pretty strange 11and i was giving up hope that it would ever come together seamlessly. I am very glad i kept reading. It turned into a delightful story and was very well written. A few typo errors but not too distracting. Good job!
I was almost ready to stop reading after the 3rd chapter because the story was pretty strange 11and i was giving up hope that it would ever come together seamlessly. I am very glad i kept reading. It turned into a delightful story and was very well written. A few typo errors but not too distracting. Good job!
January 25, 2019
This was a nice surprise. Very confusing at the beginning, and it came together as a nicely woven fantastical tale. It doesn't have much action, most of it is about abstract mind powers and the themes are belief, reason vs emotions, love and devotion.
January 16, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I look forward to reading more in this series. It is worth a five star review. It is comparable to other Dragon books I have read.
Sharon Wadeson
Sharon Wadeson
December 18, 2023
I made it thru one book in this series but you can have the rest!!!
A good teenager book perhaps but not for an adult. It was a waste of my reading time so you can have this one!
A good teenager book perhaps but not for an adult. It was a waste of my reading time so you can have this one!
September 1, 2011
A first reads win!
This was an interesting book. At the begining I almost stopped reading it though. The begining of the book starts with many of the main characters talkign about sex. You get to hear cats talking about it, dragons talking about it, people talking about it... The only reason I kept going was it wasn't graphic. Overall, the message was more about allowing emotions and logic and submitting yourself to a higher power. The end of the book was the best part for me, partially because of this.
Overall, the characters were fairly developed and interesting. The story was at times difficult to follow but interesting in the whole. The viewpoint of the cats was interesting at least. The depressed dragon was, well, depressing.
Overall it was worth the read but I don't know that I would read it again.
This was an interesting book. At the begining I almost stopped reading it though. The begining of the book starts with many of the main characters talkign about sex. You get to hear cats talking about it, dragons talking about it, people talking about it... The only reason I kept going was it wasn't graphic. Overall, the message was more about allowing emotions and logic and submitting yourself to a higher power. The end of the book was the best part for me, partially because of this.
Overall, the characters were fairly developed and interesting. The story was at times difficult to follow but interesting in the whole. The viewpoint of the cats was interesting at least. The depressed dragon was, well, depressing.
Overall it was worth the read but I don't know that I would read it again.
September 11, 2012
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED, IT IS WORTH READING.
September 10, 2015
Couldn't really get into the book. Hopefully later on I
will be able to because I have the series. Sorry to
the author. Maybe later I will give a better review,
after reading the series.
will be able to because I have the series. Sorry to
the author. Maybe later I will give a better review,
after reading the series.
Read
December 22, 2018Great take
I love the story and the assortment of characters. Not to mention the author's take on how animals and nature itself communicate. Can't wait to read more of the series.
I love the story and the assortment of characters. Not to mention the author's take on how animals and nature itself communicate. Can't wait to read more of the series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews