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Dragon's Bait
Fifteen-year-old Alys is not a witch. But that doesn't matter—the villagers think she is and have staked her out on a hillside as a sacrifice to the local dragon. It's late, it's cold, and it's raining, and Alys can think of only one thing—revenge. But first she's got to escape, and even if she does, how can one girl possibly take on an entire town alone? Then the dragon arrives—a dragon that could quite possibly be the perfect ally. . . .
196 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
106 people are currently reading
7835 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Vande Velde
51 books994 followersVivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
November 14, 2008
I wish there was a sequel.
October 11, 2011
Looking back at this, it seems that Twilight has been an exceptionally bad influence on teenage fantasy. Dragon's Bait fits many of the parameters of paranormal romance, which is notoriously bad, but it's also a coming-of-age story. And that's much better than any gorgeous, powerful piece of arm candy making up most of the plot.
Though there is Selendrile. He's a dragon who can change into human form - and an exceptionally good-looking human form - and is given plot-related reasons to travel with the heroine, Alys, and come into intimate situations with her. But it's so much more than that, at the same time.
See, Alys is a witch. Or rather, she's been accused of being a witch, and in the medieval setting of the book, you're guilty from the moment someone claims they've seen you dancing naked. (On the other hand, +1 for no high school settings or dystopias.) Selendrile is a dragon that sees her set out for him to devour. Except he's not that interested in eating her.
What I love about this story is that it deals with more than typical romance scenarios based on nothing more than how hot the hero is. The morality of revenge is even more important than that. For example, is it wrong to want revenge? To act on that want? These are very basic philosophical questions, but the way they're dealt with here...
Furthermore, even when Alys succeeds in getting Selendrile to agree to help her with her revenge, it's never just a matter of him burning down a few buildings or eating some cows. She has to plot on how to make her revenge as fitting as possible. And the consequences of what she does adds to the question of whether or not she was right. She suffers for her actions, something that typical Vampire Academy style protagonists never seem to do. And she learns and grows throughout the book.
Turning back to Selendrile, it's fairly clear that he's an example of Blue and Orange Morality. He's not a "good" person deep down and there is no undying love between him and Alys. He does horrible things to Alys' enemies, more for the fun of it than anything else. Personally, I think their interaction is more like that of friends, of two lonely people surrounded by prejudice (from which neither of them are entirely exempt) than of lovers. It's believable characterization, because they are two entirely different species, and a few days of adventures won't change everything - and again, wildly different from most fantasy YA novels nowadays.
So in conclusion, I loved this book. It's quick-paced, well-plotted, intelligent, and it's not a trilogy. More than that, I still remember the main characters' names and the plot even though it's been some years since I've read it.
Though there is Selendrile. He's a dragon who can change into human form - and an exceptionally good-looking human form - and is given plot-related reasons to travel with the heroine, Alys, and come into intimate situations with her. But it's so much more than that, at the same time.
See, Alys is a witch. Or rather, she's been accused of being a witch, and in the medieval setting of the book, you're guilty from the moment someone claims they've seen you dancing naked. (On the other hand, +1 for no high school settings or dystopias.) Selendrile is a dragon that sees her set out for him to devour. Except he's not that interested in eating her.
What I love about this story is that it deals with more than typical romance scenarios based on nothing more than how hot the hero is. The morality of revenge is even more important than that. For example, is it wrong to want revenge? To act on that want? These are very basic philosophical questions, but the way they're dealt with here...
Furthermore, even when Alys succeeds in getting Selendrile to agree to help her with her revenge, it's never just a matter of him burning down a few buildings or eating some cows. She has to plot on how to make her revenge as fitting as possible. And the consequences of what she does adds to the question of whether or not she was right. She suffers for her actions, something that typical Vampire Academy style protagonists never seem to do. And she learns and grows throughout the book.
Turning back to Selendrile, it's fairly clear that he's an example of Blue and Orange Morality. He's not a "good" person deep down and there is no undying love between him and Alys. He does horrible things to Alys' enemies, more for the fun of it than anything else. Personally, I think their interaction is more like that of friends, of two lonely people surrounded by prejudice (from which neither of them are entirely exempt) than of lovers. It's believable characterization, because they are two entirely different species, and a few days of adventures won't change everything - and again, wildly different from most fantasy YA novels nowadays.
So in conclusion, I loved this book. It's quick-paced, well-plotted, intelligent, and it's not a trilogy. More than that, I still remember the main characters' names and the plot even though it's been some years since I've read it.
Read
November 9, 2012Oh book, why you make me so torn?
I first heard about Dragon’s Bait through this piece on Entertainment Weekly about unmissable teen reads. And because it was an older title and because the Publishers Weekly review (which I sought after I read the EW article) said it is a “thoughtful mainstream fantasy with a gently feminist slant”, I decided I needed to read it soon.
Basically, the story follows a young girl, fifteen-year-old Alys, as she is accused of being a witch by her neighbours and summarily convicted in an unfair trial by the visiting Inquisitor. She loses everything and worst of all, Alys’ sick father dies in front of her eyes as she is dragged away to be sacrificed to the local dragon.
Alys thinks she is all but dead when, to her surprise, the dragon – who shape-shifts into a hot young man (obviously) called Selendrile– does not kill her. Instead, he listens to her story and offers to help her to avenge herself.
And you know, I can totally see where both EW and PW are coming from but at the same time…no, not really?
On the one hand we have a quick story with a fairytale vibe. Plus, Alys is a great heroine. Her voice is engaging, ironic and questioning. Her father has been teaching her to work on his workshop against the mores of their time where women don’t actually work at all and she loves the feeling of being useful.
Then when she is taken to be sacrificed to the dragon, she wonders why is it that only maidens are always the ones to be sacrificed? And the dragon-boy brings to her attention that dragons don’t actually make those demands at all as they couldn’t care less who they eat. Those choices are made by the men who rule the towns and who perceive maidens (young unmarried girls with no profession) as worthless. This could actually be taken as really cool meta-textual observation about the way we have chosen to write these stories about dragons and maidens over time.
On the other hand, there is very little character development when it comes to the secondary characters, very little thought about character-motivation and a confusing world-building that is both historical and fantastical but doesn’t really care about pesky historical details or in presenting a carefully constructed fantasy world.
Not to mention that there is a fairly heavy-handed, shallow moral lesson about revenge and how bad it is. And if yes, Alys’ arc is interesting in the way that allows Alys to take control of her own acts by becoming less and less reliant on the dragon’s help and coming up with her own plans, it is also incredibly frustrating how it plays out. Because in the end, Alys is still rescued by dragon-boy after deciding that her feelings of revenge are so bad she decides that the right course of action is to take the blame for EVERYTHING bad that has EVER happened in the village and I am like: WHY. It is such an out-of-character thing to do, all the more so because after she is rescued, those guilty feelings are never addressed again?
And then we have the romance between Alys and Selendrile. And at first it is great to see addressed the inevitable allure of the not-so-human, dark, older hot guy at the same time that showed Alys mistrusting him and fearing him for the monster that he is. And for the greatest part of the novel – till the very end – Alys is very unsure about his true feelings and fears he will EAT/KILL HER eventually. But then they end up together anyway in the most abrupt ending of ALL TIMES in which Alys ends up FOLLOWING him because she has NO OTHER CHOICE, even though he possibly EATS PEOPLE and doesn’t really show his emotions toward her except when it comes to mocking her humanity. He is very good at THAT.
And I am like: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
And in a way, this is a really interesting choice and it points out to a darkness and to the fact that Alys wants to be with this creature but because it is so abrupt, this choice goes unquestioned and unchallenged for its clearly problematic aspects.
Because this was published 20 years ago, maybe it is worth reading Dragon’s Bait as a historical piece of YA fiction to see how far YA has come in terms of writing and character development but also how little it has changed in terms of its most obvious problematic romantic tropes?
Yeah, I will go with that.
I first heard about Dragon’s Bait through this piece on Entertainment Weekly about unmissable teen reads. And because it was an older title and because the Publishers Weekly review (which I sought after I read the EW article) said it is a “thoughtful mainstream fantasy with a gently feminist slant”, I decided I needed to read it soon.
Basically, the story follows a young girl, fifteen-year-old Alys, as she is accused of being a witch by her neighbours and summarily convicted in an unfair trial by the visiting Inquisitor. She loses everything and worst of all, Alys’ sick father dies in front of her eyes as she is dragged away to be sacrificed to the local dragon.
Alys thinks she is all but dead when, to her surprise, the dragon – who shape-shifts into a hot young man (obviously) called Selendrile– does not kill her. Instead, he listens to her story and offers to help her to avenge herself.
And you know, I can totally see where both EW and PW are coming from but at the same time…no, not really?
On the one hand we have a quick story with a fairytale vibe. Plus, Alys is a great heroine. Her voice is engaging, ironic and questioning. Her father has been teaching her to work on his workshop against the mores of their time where women don’t actually work at all and she loves the feeling of being useful.
Then when she is taken to be sacrificed to the dragon, she wonders why is it that only maidens are always the ones to be sacrificed? And the dragon-boy brings to her attention that dragons don’t actually make those demands at all as they couldn’t care less who they eat. Those choices are made by the men who rule the towns and who perceive maidens (young unmarried girls with no profession) as worthless. This could actually be taken as really cool meta-textual observation about the way we have chosen to write these stories about dragons and maidens over time.
On the other hand, there is very little character development when it comes to the secondary characters, very little thought about character-motivation and a confusing world-building that is both historical and fantastical but doesn’t really care about pesky historical details or in presenting a carefully constructed fantasy world.
Not to mention that there is a fairly heavy-handed, shallow moral lesson about revenge and how bad it is. And if yes, Alys’ arc is interesting in the way that allows Alys to take control of her own acts by becoming less and less reliant on the dragon’s help and coming up with her own plans, it is also incredibly frustrating how it plays out. Because in the end, Alys is still rescued by dragon-boy after deciding that her feelings of revenge are so bad she decides that the right course of action is to take the blame for EVERYTHING bad that has EVER happened in the village and I am like: WHY. It is such an out-of-character thing to do, all the more so because after she is rescued, those guilty feelings are never addressed again?
And then we have the romance between Alys and Selendrile. And at first it is great to see addressed the inevitable allure of the not-so-human, dark, older hot guy at the same time that showed Alys mistrusting him and fearing him for the monster that he is. And for the greatest part of the novel – till the very end – Alys is very unsure about his true feelings and fears he will EAT/KILL HER eventually. But then they end up together anyway in the most abrupt ending of ALL TIMES in which Alys ends up FOLLOWING him because she has NO OTHER CHOICE, even though he possibly EATS PEOPLE and doesn’t really show his emotions toward her except when it comes to mocking her humanity. He is very good at THAT.
And I am like: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
And in a way, this is a really interesting choice and it points out to a darkness and to the fact that Alys wants to be with this creature but because it is so abrupt, this choice goes unquestioned and unchallenged for its clearly problematic aspects.
Because this was published 20 years ago, maybe it is worth reading Dragon’s Bait as a historical piece of YA fiction to see how far YA has come in terms of writing and character development but also how little it has changed in terms of its most obvious problematic romantic tropes?
Yeah, I will go with that.
April 2, 2009
Published in 1992, this book suffers from the "this book is for young adults so it must be short" mentality that existed back then. And therefore, the characters are not as well developed as I would have liked. In her review for School Library Journal, Margaret Chang observed "While the writing is smooth and the story moves quickly, the girl's emotions are not convincingly portrayed. The story's tone wobbles, sometimes keeping a comic distance from tragic events. The abrupt ending may leave readers puzzled as to the heroine's motivations." I think that if this book had been written today, the author would have been able to flesh out the characters better and given the reader much more detailed descriptions. Let's hear it for J. K. Rowling -- young adult fiction will never be the same again.
July 27, 2014
There is a big difference between
- A romance written in a fantasy setting; and
- A fantasy novel with romance in it.
Most authors do not write a well-balanced story with both elements – to use a famous example, Harry Potter is heavy on the fantasy and very light on the romance. (Unless, of course, if you’re reading fanfiction.)
Dragon’s Bait is neither. It is a story of a girl and a dragon, and as a fantasy novel it is a total fail, because the world-building was not well thought out at all.
- You get a vaguely Middle Age setting, during the time of wide-scale witch hunts. Because for some reason the best way to introduce your main characters to each other was to sacrifice the damsel in distress to the dragon.
- You get a total of ONE dragon, who is a special snowflake of a character. He has special shape-shifting powers.
"Can all dragons change to human shape?" He paused, as though considering how much to tell her. "No," he said, "Only gold-colored dragons have magic."
Which is just strange. You could’ve said that
- Dragons have been blending in amongst humans, pretending to be the same
- dragons could turn into human and have been keeping this ability a secret. Use your imagination. I could think of at least 5 reasons why.
Instead, no, only Selendrile has the ability because he is blonde. Great.
And also, you get inexplicable dragon biology.
I have to be a dragon come dawn or I'll die."
"Why?"
"Why?" He sighed, sounding more tired than exasperated. "Why can't you soar on the wind? Why can't you breathe underwater? Why can't you she'd your skin and turn into a butterfly?"
She didn't understand.
Because Alys is a foolish girl, and Selendrile is one irritating bastard who is always undressing himself in front of her for laughs.
By the light of the torches she saw that his hair was the color the mane had been, palest gold, and it hung almost to his waist. Alys jerked her gaze back up to the face, for she had suddenly—finally—noticed that he wore no clothes. For the first time, the purple eyes flickered with emotion: amusement.
He is always finding amusement at Alys’s expense. And if she was as feisty as the author would’ve liked us to believe, he would not have gotten away with this behaviour half so many times.
"She was flirting with you," Alys explained, lest he think she was laughing at him. "She liked you."
For some reason Alys thinks that a dragon who is
- over 300 years old
- could shapeshift into human form at whim
does not understand the concept of lust/romantic attraction. Right.
The one good thing I could say about the romance it that it is not instalove. The love is implied rather than expressed. But I do not like the characters and I don’t see their attraction to each other being anything deeper than a superficial level.
"Of course I saw you. I wasn't interested until you began to act out of the ordinary."
Speaking of which, “acting out of ordinary” in this case consisted of Alys throwing rocks at a flying dragon when she was supposedly tied to a stake.
Apparently the villagers forgot to tie her hands.
- A romance written in a fantasy setting; and
- A fantasy novel with romance in it.
Most authors do not write a well-balanced story with both elements – to use a famous example, Harry Potter is heavy on the fantasy and very light on the romance. (Unless, of course, if you’re reading fanfiction.)
Dragon’s Bait is neither. It is a story of a girl and a dragon, and as a fantasy novel it is a total fail, because the world-building was not well thought out at all.
- You get a vaguely Middle Age setting, during the time of wide-scale witch hunts. Because for some reason the best way to introduce your main characters to each other was to sacrifice the damsel in distress to the dragon.
- You get a total of ONE dragon, who is a special snowflake of a character. He has special shape-shifting powers.
"Can all dragons change to human shape?" He paused, as though considering how much to tell her. "No," he said, "Only gold-colored dragons have magic."
Which is just strange. You could’ve said that
- Dragons have been blending in amongst humans, pretending to be the same
- dragons could turn into human and have been keeping this ability a secret. Use your imagination. I could think of at least 5 reasons why.
Instead, no, only Selendrile has the ability because he is blonde. Great.
And also, you get inexplicable dragon biology.
I have to be a dragon come dawn or I'll die."
"Why?"
"Why?" He sighed, sounding more tired than exasperated. "Why can't you soar on the wind? Why can't you breathe underwater? Why can't you she'd your skin and turn into a butterfly?"
She didn't understand.
Because Alys is a foolish girl, and Selendrile is one irritating bastard who is always undressing himself in front of her for laughs.
By the light of the torches she saw that his hair was the color the mane had been, palest gold, and it hung almost to his waist. Alys jerked her gaze back up to the face, for she had suddenly—finally—noticed that he wore no clothes. For the first time, the purple eyes flickered with emotion: amusement.
He is always finding amusement at Alys’s expense. And if she was as feisty as the author would’ve liked us to believe, he would not have gotten away with this behaviour half so many times.
"She was flirting with you," Alys explained, lest he think she was laughing at him. "She liked you."
For some reason Alys thinks that a dragon who is
- over 300 years old
- could shapeshift into human form at whim
does not understand the concept of lust/romantic attraction. Right.
The one good thing I could say about the romance it that it is not instalove. The love is implied rather than expressed. But I do not like the characters and I don’t see their attraction to each other being anything deeper than a superficial level.
"Of course I saw you. I wasn't interested until you began to act out of the ordinary."
Speaking of which, “acting out of ordinary” in this case consisted of Alys throwing rocks at a flying dragon when she was supposedly tied to a stake.
Apparently the villagers forgot to tie her hands.
September 30, 2009
This was a choice little find in my school library back in tenth grade, and it's been a favorite ever since! I love, love, love Selendrile, and I wish I could meet someone like him! The story is compelling, but not too long, and luckily it doesn't have a sequel. It's nice to have a stand-alone book sometimes!
I was also pleased that it had a good lesson. Fifteen or sixteen year old Alys is falsely accused of being a witch by neighbors and sentenced to death by dragon. They tie her to a big pole outside of the town limits and leave her. Eventually Alys is able to extricate herself, but has nowhere to go. Her father is dead, and there are wolf-infested woods around her. So, when she sees a beautiful white dragon flying overhead, she yells, "You stupid dragon! Come and kill me!" and tosses a rock at it. Amused, the dragon wheels around and lands by her. She clenches her eyes shut and waits. . .and waits. . .until, finally, Alys opens her eyes--only to find a nude young man with long white hair and purple eyes staring at her! He turns out to be the dragon in human form, and agrees to spare her and help her with her plans of revenge against the townspeople. But is revenge really all that it's cracked up to be?
I was also pleased that it had a good lesson. Fifteen or sixteen year old Alys is falsely accused of being a witch by neighbors and sentenced to death by dragon. They tie her to a big pole outside of the town limits and leave her. Eventually Alys is able to extricate herself, but has nowhere to go. Her father is dead, and there are wolf-infested woods around her. So, when she sees a beautiful white dragon flying overhead, she yells, "You stupid dragon! Come and kill me!" and tosses a rock at it. Amused, the dragon wheels around and lands by her. She clenches her eyes shut and waits. . .and waits. . .until, finally, Alys opens her eyes--only to find a nude young man with long white hair and purple eyes staring at her! He turns out to be the dragon in human form, and agrees to spare her and help her with her plans of revenge against the townspeople. But is revenge really all that it's cracked up to be?
January 12, 2011
I've read a few short YA books lately, most of which have been good. This one is the shortest of any of them, and it is also good, but lacks the depth that the other books have. The dragon character doesn't have much of a personality at all, and the girl accused of being a witch is driven only by revenge. I was waiting for the part where the girl realized that revenge doesn't make you feel any better, but I don't think she really got to that point, not truly. I still don't understand why the dragon is drawn to the girl, nor why he decides to help her with her revenge. Since he barely talks and has no feelings, I guess we will never know. Still, the book is enjoyable. It is so short that I had no problem reading it quickly, I finished it and thought it was okay. Nothing special about it at all that would warrant any rating above a three. There is no complexity, no excitement, just go from here to there, plot a bit of revenge, and move on. I know that YA can be deeper and better than this, but oh well. Dragon's Bait is an enjoyable little escape from reality, and to some it may be fun to see a girl reek havoc on her tormentors. To me it just felt shallow.
November 1, 2010
I enjoy stories like this one. Not necessarily stories where the maiden is rescued by a handsome, mysterious hero, but those where help comes from an unexpected quarter - where someone who's supposed to be an enemy turns out to be a friend. I also like a turn-about, where the weaker party is called upon to do some rescuing of the stronger.
So theme-wise, I'm fine with this book. There's simply not enough to it. I don't read a lot of YA novels, but I did recently enjoy the only other Velde book I've read, Companions of the Night. That book surprised me, so I thought I'd try another from Velde. But this one pretty much met my expectations of what a younger YA novel would be like - a nice little story for a young reader, but one that wouldn't hold much interest for me.
So theme-wise, I'm fine with this book. There's simply not enough to it. I don't read a lot of YA novels, but I did recently enjoy the only other Velde book I've read, Companions of the Night. That book surprised me, so I thought I'd try another from Velde. But this one pretty much met my expectations of what a younger YA novel would be like - a nice little story for a young reader, but one that wouldn't hold much interest for me.
January 30, 2019
I just happened to be scrolling through GR or Twitter and saw someone mention this book, and I couldn't believe I hadn't read it before. It sounded awesome! And it pretty much was. Basically, this girl is called a witch because the townspeople are awful and so she becomes food for a dragon who's been terrorizing them. Except that her brazenness makes the dragon curious and they become allies in revenge. I would not call them friends and there is definitely no romance to speak of, but that's not even the point because despite all of this, they develop a bond based on nothing more than an intense loneliness and it is sad but lovely...if not a bit horrifying at times. Definitely recommend.
June 8, 2020
3.95 Stars!
I'm sure you'll be asking yourselves why not a 4? Well, I will explain in my review intensely!
The blurb is pretty clear, but I'll take the time to remind you of what this story is about. It's about feelings, cultures, and people mostly.
The story itself is about our MC Alys who's been accused of being a witch. So as all nasty peasants/villagers do, instead of burning her at the stake, they offer her as a sacrifice to a dragon on a hillside. She waits for her doom and yet fate has other plans for Alys... This dragon isn't interested in her human flesh and she isn't the least afraid. All she cares about is carrying her vengeance against the nasty ignorant villagers!
Before I start delving into details, I would like to warn readers that this book has been classified in a genre that is a little misleading. And I want to let readers know before they're deeply disappointed.
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!
As to why... I will explain later on in the nerdish rant of course.
Just let me start by saying this was a good read! A unique little treasure inside a chest that has been buried under dirt and rubble for many years. And I was lucky enough to find it and give it a chance. But if I have to be totally honest this nerd has many things to point out. It wasn't the best fantasy read of my life, but I enjoyed it enough that it left a little mark on my picky heart.
So let's talk about the details.
The writing has a pleasing pace and the dialogues are truly captivating. Every exchange and gesture between the characters was meaningful and well done. There was never a moment of boredom and it didn't try too hard to win you over.
I realized that there were no excessive descriptions and it kept its pace throughout the story.
Something I also appreciated, was that you don't need to like or be a fan of fantasy to like this book. The author melds fantasy with simplicity in a perfect bite so it's edible for everyone.
It doesn't try too hard, nor does it slap you with unnecessary information, as some fantasy and fiction do.
The plot is explicit and to the point. There are no twists or plotholes. The author keeps it simple in a good way and manages to keep you engaged. She drags you into the world and minds of these two characters smoothly.
Characters
Alys is an amazing female lead.
A teen who's been through hell, but has a f* brain that she f* makes use of. She's quick on her feet. Brave, but not stupid brave. Also, her thoughts and actions reflect not only her age but the internal debate and questions that take us to eventual maturity. Our experiences leave scars and we learn from them. And teen years are a period of significant experiences and existential crisis. We learn stuff. Well... not all people. But Alys does.
And it makes us better or worse through time. And I loved that this author showed me that in YA book. Mainly because as adults we start to see the YA genre lately as unrealistic, naive and stupid. It's been a long time since a YA doesn't make me roll my eyes or scoff.
Selendril
This nerd is very picky when it comes to fantasy and fantastic male leads.
One usually thinks of dragons like this...
Well yeah... part of being a dragon anyway from a peasant's POV. But there's a lot more to dragons in general. I loved Selendril's attitude, his complex thoughts, his assessment of humans. I loved him! His knowledge, his stony face, his curiosity, and his wisdom. I adored the way he was so far from being this ideal good-willed hero. He is a dragon and he's so well written that he got me good.
Though he spends most of the time in human form.
I kept seeing a dragon. His words, his actions, his quotes, constantly reminded me that he was a dragon in every sense of the word. *Fanning myself*
I need a moment...
The interaction between these two characters is the main focus of the book. Their exchange was mostly friendly in my opinion. The relationship is too recent and gradual so there is no real romance. A hint of attraction... Yes. But the book doesn't delve too deep in that aspect. Its focus is more on developing trust, to a very deep friendship.
And the main objective of the author I think is to show us the grays in life. The in-betweens. That there are middle grounds.
The feelings of rage, disappointment, distrust, and vengeance our female MC experiences. It's about a girl growing up, and the choices she makes.
Also, it's about cultural exchange and point views. And of course, our moral compass and what we learn from others.
In this case, the characters both learn from each other. And it was beautifully done.
Bad stuff
A little world-building would've helped this book immensly.
Also, it's a little predictable when it came to action scenes. You know... This leads to that and we're done. So it made it feel rushed in the last bits.
Another thing I didn't like was that all the development was cut short. I felt empty inside when I reached the ending, like the whole other half of the book, was missing.
It's like I only got to see the beginning of the movie!
It frustrated me and left me unsatisfied. This book deserved to be lengthier. It needed more substance, more meat to it. So I sadly can't rate this a 4.
I'd also like to add that not only was the genre misleading, but if the author planned a romance then it must have never been published. Which I really, really was eager to experience. That brought a lot of anger and frustration into my rating.
And finally, there are no other characters that stand out in this book. It's just the MC's. And for such a simple story, with 2 very well built characters, it just made me angrier.
So excuse me... I like you, but our relationship ends here! *Laughing by myself*
Yeah... I'm a little crazy. So what?
To conclude. I do recommend this light-hearted read for a rainy afternoon. It's a cute, memorable read that you won't regret having spent time on.
I'm sure you'll be asking yourselves why not a 4? Well, I will explain in my review intensely!
The blurb is pretty clear, but I'll take the time to remind you of what this story is about. It's about feelings, cultures, and people mostly.
The story itself is about our MC Alys who's been accused of being a witch. So as all nasty peasants/villagers do, instead of burning her at the stake, they offer her as a sacrifice to a dragon on a hillside. She waits for her doom and yet fate has other plans for Alys... This dragon isn't interested in her human flesh and she isn't the least afraid. All she cares about is carrying her vengeance against the nasty ignorant villagers!
Before I start delving into details, I would like to warn readers that this book has been classified in a genre that is a little misleading. And I want to let readers know before they're deeply disappointed.
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!
As to why... I will explain later on in the nerdish rant of course.
Just let me start by saying this was a good read! A unique little treasure inside a chest that has been buried under dirt and rubble for many years. And I was lucky enough to find it and give it a chance. But if I have to be totally honest this nerd has many things to point out. It wasn't the best fantasy read of my life, but I enjoyed it enough that it left a little mark on my picky heart.
So let's talk about the details.
The writing has a pleasing pace and the dialogues are truly captivating. Every exchange and gesture between the characters was meaningful and well done. There was never a moment of boredom and it didn't try too hard to win you over.
I realized that there were no excessive descriptions and it kept its pace throughout the story.
Something I also appreciated, was that you don't need to like or be a fan of fantasy to like this book. The author melds fantasy with simplicity in a perfect bite so it's edible for everyone.
It doesn't try too hard, nor does it slap you with unnecessary information, as some fantasy and fiction do.
The plot is explicit and to the point. There are no twists or plotholes. The author keeps it simple in a good way and manages to keep you engaged. She drags you into the world and minds of these two characters smoothly.
Characters
Alys is an amazing female lead.
A teen who's been through hell, but has a f* brain that she f* makes use of. She's quick on her feet. Brave, but not stupid brave. Also, her thoughts and actions reflect not only her age but the internal debate and questions that take us to eventual maturity. Our experiences leave scars and we learn from them. And teen years are a period of significant experiences and existential crisis. We learn stuff. Well... not all people. But Alys does.
And it makes us better or worse through time. And I loved that this author showed me that in YA book. Mainly because as adults we start to see the YA genre lately as unrealistic, naive and stupid. It's been a long time since a YA doesn't make me roll my eyes or scoff.
Selendril
This nerd is very picky when it comes to fantasy and fantastic male leads.
One usually thinks of dragons like this...
Well yeah... part of being a dragon anyway from a peasant's POV. But there's a lot more to dragons in general. I loved Selendril's attitude, his complex thoughts, his assessment of humans. I loved him! His knowledge, his stony face, his curiosity, and his wisdom. I adored the way he was so far from being this ideal good-willed hero. He is a dragon and he's so well written that he got me good.
Though he spends most of the time in human form.
I kept seeing a dragon. His words, his actions, his quotes, constantly reminded me that he was a dragon in every sense of the word. *Fanning myself*
I need a moment...
The interaction between these two characters is the main focus of the book. Their exchange was mostly friendly in my opinion. The relationship is too recent and gradual so there is no real romance. A hint of attraction... Yes. But the book doesn't delve too deep in that aspect. Its focus is more on developing trust, to a very deep friendship.
And the main objective of the author I think is to show us the grays in life. The in-betweens. That there are middle grounds.
The feelings of rage, disappointment, distrust, and vengeance our female MC experiences. It's about a girl growing up, and the choices she makes.
Also, it's about cultural exchange and point views. And of course, our moral compass and what we learn from others.
In this case, the characters both learn from each other. And it was beautifully done.
Bad stuff
A little world-building would've helped this book immensly.
Also, it's a little predictable when it came to action scenes. You know... This leads to that and we're done. So it made it feel rushed in the last bits.
Another thing I didn't like was that all the development was cut short. I felt empty inside when I reached the ending, like the whole other half of the book, was missing.
It's like I only got to see the beginning of the movie!
It frustrated me and left me unsatisfied. This book deserved to be lengthier. It needed more substance, more meat to it. So I sadly can't rate this a 4.
I'd also like to add that not only was the genre misleading, but if the author planned a romance then it must have never been published. Which I really, really was eager to experience. That brought a lot of anger and frustration into my rating.
And finally, there are no other characters that stand out in this book. It's just the MC's. And for such a simple story, with 2 very well built characters, it just made me angrier.
So excuse me... I like you, but our relationship ends here! *Laughing by myself*
Yeah... I'm a little crazy. So what?
To conclude. I do recommend this light-hearted read for a rainy afternoon. It's a cute, memorable read that you won't regret having spent time on.
March 24, 2020
When fifteen-year-old Alys is accused of witchcraft by a jealous neighbor determined to force her father to sell his land, the villagers of Saint Toby stake her to the mountainside as a sacrifice to the local dragon. Selendrile, a dragon who can assume human form, has no interest in eating maidens, but he does offer to join Alys in a quest for revenge against the villagers, and Atherton, the false priest who condemned her. So begins a partnership that deepens into friendship, as Alys learns that vengeance is not as satisfying as she had hoped...
Located squarely within the now well-established sub-genre of alternative dragon fantasy, this fairly light novel touches on themes such as vengeance, difference, tolerance, and the nature of the human soul, with delicacy, while offering the reader adventure and romance as well. Recommended for adolescent readers who enjoy the work of Robin McKinley and/or Patricia Wrede.
Located squarely within the now well-established sub-genre of alternative dragon fantasy, this fairly light novel touches on themes such as vengeance, difference, tolerance, and the nature of the human soul, with delicacy, while offering the reader adventure and romance as well. Recommended for adolescent readers who enjoy the work of Robin McKinley and/or Patricia Wrede.
Read
November 5, 2012Alys is framed for witchcraft and sentenced to dragon. The dragon, however, offers vengeance, not death.
This is the second or third book by Vivian Vande Velde which I've read. All have been (very short) competent fantasies which haven't worked for me.
In this particular outing, we have a typical story about revenge - which is basically
The romance, which involves a love interest intended to in his way be a "blank slate of morality" onto which Alys's worst nature projects itself, completely failed to work for me. It was one of those attracted without realising it, jealous without realising it (leading to much negativity toward females encountered), mockery on one side, frustration and embarassment on the other kind of romances and those practically never fit for me.
I also found the worldbuilding to be slight, particularly a world where girls can be summarily hauled off and killed for being witches, and yet the main character doesn't think about God until the 85% point.
This will be my last book by this author, I suspect.
This is the second or third book by Vivian Vande Velde which I've read. All have been (very short) competent fantasies which haven't worked for me.
In this particular outing, we have a typical story about revenge - which is basically
The romance, which involves a love interest intended to in his way be a "blank slate of morality" onto which Alys's worst nature projects itself, completely failed to work for me. It was one of those attracted without realising it, jealous without realising it (leading to much negativity toward females encountered), mockery on one side, frustration and embarassment on the other kind of romances and those practically never fit for me.
I also found the worldbuilding to be slight, particularly a world where girls can be summarily hauled off and killed for being witches, and yet the main character doesn't think about God until the 85% point.
This will be my last book by this author, I suspect.
May 18, 2014
Vivian Vande Velde is one of those writers of old who can create a fantasy world and give you believable, interesting characters in only a few pages. A lost art.
(1) She does YA romance in a way that YA romance has ceased to be, without the gushing of instalove (yes, it's a thing now), without the constant fixation on outward appearance, and without the need for definite, I-love-you, you-love-me HEA.
(2) She does the biggest paranormal romance plots and offers in three simple, satisfying books. Shapeshifting dragons - Dragon's Bait. Time travel & shapeshifter - A Well-Timed Enchantment. Vampire love - Companions of the Night She doesn't attempt to capitalize on these plots and just gives it to you straight. Stand-alone books. Gotta love 'em.
(3) I am a huge fan of her endings. I'm going to only focus on the endings of these three, because they follow a format that is commonly seen in PNR nowadays but with a lot more class. The endings are classy, mysterious, and leaves room for speculation. I know people don't like these sorts of endings anymore, because everything has to be talked to death and figured out before the last page of the book. (I put this down to the change of times. Black and white movies also reflect a mysticism in endings. A lack of the need for words to let the audience know what's there. But some of the newer movies out there recently have shown a reversal of times, so there's still hope.)
(4) I miss the teenage characters of old. The teenage female protagonists of old. I don't know if it's due to a change in the profile of writers, but it seems that there are a lot of boy-crazy protagonists out there. Fair enough. Girls are boy-crazy. It's called puberty. But is there nothing to them other than this? Does nothing else weigh on their minds? I don't believe that's true. Girls worry about all sorts of random, crazy things, things like their dads not liking their jobs, their parents getting a divorce, how sad they'll be if their parents died, what to do after graduation, the economy, worrying about why there's nothing to worry about. Girls think too much. This is true. There are tons of blogs, and the biggest theme is "girls think too much," and yet we don't see this in YA literature anymore. That's sad. In a Well-Timed Enchantment, the teenage protagonist thinks about the time before their parents split up, she thinks about what to say after the time to say it has passed, she doesn't know how to problem-solve and is best at crossing her fingers and hoping for the best. All this is real. It's immature. It's sweet and endearing. It's not a life filled with a giggle a minute and a sideway glance at the HAWT boy who you think is looking at you. (Wise up, little girl, he's looking at you because you're looking at him. Stop being full of yourself.)
About This Book
So I guess I should eventually get to talking about this book. Unlike A Well-Timed Enchantment, which was enchanting in its realness and humor, this book opens up with Alys, who apprentices with her father, a tin-maker, because he has no sons. He's also ailing, and the wheelwright next door has been eyeing their shop for his own expansion. Pretty soon, Alys is accused and framed of witchcraft in a cursory trial before the town by the wheelwright and an Inquisitor that travels between several towns. Before the trial is over, her ailing father has died of a heart attack, and she's dragged off to be sacrificed to the regional dragon to appease him.
Tied up to the stake, with it beginning to rain, you feel her utter depression and anger. Even when she manages to break free, she hears wolves crying in the distance and sees the dragon flying closer. And most importantly, she has nowhere else to go, not being a boy who could apprentice elsewhere. This is real. This isn't about a girl who suddenly manifests superpowers despite never having momentum and runs away and starts a new life somewhere in local small towns where everyone knows everyone else. So with the dragon circling overhead, Alys throws her future to the fates and hurls a rock at the dragon and yells for it to come eat her.
The dragon turns out to be Selendrile, a shapeshifter with long gold hair and purple eyes in human boy form. He learns of what has happened to Alys and then tells her that he can help her get revenge, because he's "fond of revenge." There's no instalove here; Alys is aware at all times that Selendrile isn't human and could eat her in one bite. There's no trust between them, since Selendrile tells her nothing at all and disappears at intervals.
Their revenge is planned out thus: frame the Inquisitor and then the wheelwright's family -- attack them where it hurts, their reputation in their business. The Inquisitor's revenge goes smoothly, despite feelings of mistrust. Then they head towards the wheelwright. But things go wrong.
I usually give all spoilers out, but the ending is such that I think this book really has both characters learning something of themselves. A book about friendship borne of small-mindedness and petty revenge. A little bit about the futility of revenge in how it doesn't bring back anything you've lost. Some about the lengths one has to go in order to really accomplish revenge. A book about trust between two loners who has lost the ability to trust others. All in all, it's a pretty darn good book as far as a simple YA novel goes. A little romance? Maybe. It's understated. But that's how I like it.
(1) She does YA romance in a way that YA romance has ceased to be, without the gushing of instalove (yes, it's a thing now), without the constant fixation on outward appearance, and without the need for definite, I-love-you, you-love-me HEA.
(2) She does the biggest paranormal romance plots and offers in three simple, satisfying books. Shapeshifting dragons - Dragon's Bait. Time travel & shapeshifter - A Well-Timed Enchantment. Vampire love - Companions of the Night She doesn't attempt to capitalize on these plots and just gives it to you straight. Stand-alone books. Gotta love 'em.
(3) I am a huge fan of her endings. I'm going to only focus on the endings of these three, because they follow a format that is commonly seen in PNR nowadays but with a lot more class. The endings are classy, mysterious, and leaves room for speculation. I know people don't like these sorts of endings anymore, because everything has to be talked to death and figured out before the last page of the book. (I put this down to the change of times. Black and white movies also reflect a mysticism in endings. A lack of the need for words to let the audience know what's there. But some of the newer movies out there recently have shown a reversal of times, so there's still hope.)
(4) I miss the teenage characters of old. The teenage female protagonists of old. I don't know if it's due to a change in the profile of writers, but it seems that there are a lot of boy-crazy protagonists out there. Fair enough. Girls are boy-crazy. It's called puberty. But is there nothing to them other than this? Does nothing else weigh on their minds? I don't believe that's true. Girls worry about all sorts of random, crazy things, things like their dads not liking their jobs, their parents getting a divorce, how sad they'll be if their parents died, what to do after graduation, the economy, worrying about why there's nothing to worry about. Girls think too much. This is true. There are tons of blogs, and the biggest theme is "girls think too much," and yet we don't see this in YA literature anymore. That's sad. In a Well-Timed Enchantment, the teenage protagonist thinks about the time before their parents split up, she thinks about what to say after the time to say it has passed, she doesn't know how to problem-solve and is best at crossing her fingers and hoping for the best. All this is real. It's immature. It's sweet and endearing. It's not a life filled with a giggle a minute and a sideway glance at the HAWT boy who you think is looking at you. (Wise up, little girl, he's looking at you because you're looking at him. Stop being full of yourself.)
About This Book
So I guess I should eventually get to talking about this book. Unlike A Well-Timed Enchantment, which was enchanting in its realness and humor, this book opens up with Alys, who apprentices with her father, a tin-maker, because he has no sons. He's also ailing, and the wheelwright next door has been eyeing their shop for his own expansion. Pretty soon, Alys is accused and framed of witchcraft in a cursory trial before the town by the wheelwright and an Inquisitor that travels between several towns. Before the trial is over, her ailing father has died of a heart attack, and she's dragged off to be sacrificed to the regional dragon to appease him.
Tied up to the stake, with it beginning to rain, you feel her utter depression and anger. Even when she manages to break free, she hears wolves crying in the distance and sees the dragon flying closer. And most importantly, she has nowhere else to go, not being a boy who could apprentice elsewhere. This is real. This isn't about a girl who suddenly manifests superpowers despite never having momentum and runs away and starts a new life somewhere in local small towns where everyone knows everyone else. So with the dragon circling overhead, Alys throws her future to the fates and hurls a rock at the dragon and yells for it to come eat her.
The dragon turns out to be Selendrile, a shapeshifter with long gold hair and purple eyes in human boy form. He learns of what has happened to Alys and then tells her that he can help her get revenge, because he's "fond of revenge." There's no instalove here; Alys is aware at all times that Selendrile isn't human and could eat her in one bite. There's no trust between them, since Selendrile tells her nothing at all and disappears at intervals.
Their revenge is planned out thus: frame the Inquisitor and then the wheelwright's family -- attack them where it hurts, their reputation in their business. The Inquisitor's revenge goes smoothly, despite feelings of mistrust. Then they head towards the wheelwright. But things go wrong.
I usually give all spoilers out, but the ending is such that I think this book really has both characters learning something of themselves. A book about friendship borne of small-mindedness and petty revenge. A little bit about the futility of revenge in how it doesn't bring back anything you've lost. Some about the lengths one has to go in order to really accomplish revenge. A book about trust between two loners who has lost the ability to trust others. All in all, it's a pretty darn good book as far as a simple YA novel goes. A little romance? Maybe. It's understated. But that's how I like it.
July 27, 2020
4.5 ⭐️
TW/CW:
religious fanaticism, misogyny (challenged), death, grief, violence.
Oh, this was good. This is a book you can finish under an hour but it is really brilliant in the few pages the book holds. I loved the characters and I loved the witty banter they had between each other. There's a lot to be said about the themes in the book, there's discussions about humanity and who the real monster is. I recommend this to anyone who likes light fantasy and fun characters!
TW/CW:
religious fanaticism, misogyny (challenged), death, grief, violence.
Oh, this was good. This is a book you can finish under an hour but it is really brilliant in the few pages the book holds. I loved the characters and I loved the witty banter they had between each other. There's a lot to be said about the themes in the book, there's discussions about humanity and who the real monster is. I recommend this to anyone who likes light fantasy and fun characters!
September 23, 2024
It was ok but the whole thing felt unfinished. Selendrile and Alys never actually seemed to bond and Alys' emotions never felt that real. Just we're told that she feels something many times. At the start it made sense because she doesn't want the other people to know but it got annoying after a while.
Also we never find out what is up with a major plot point in the story. Just BAM story is done the end. But it was not the worst book I've ever read so two stars for being readable.
Also we never find out what is up with a major plot point in the story. Just BAM story is done the end. But it was not the worst book I've ever read so two stars for being readable.
March 22, 2018
What I liked about the book was that there was a lot of good scenes in each chapter. I also liked how the girl was able to be near a dragon without the dragon eating her. What I didn't like about the book was that there wasn't that many graphic scenes in the books that I have read before.
December 8, 2014
To sum up this book: Patronizing, moralistic, boring characterization.
Featuring an annoying male lead, Selendrile is a typical pretty boy with exotic magical features. With long white-blonde hair and purple eyes, his true form is that of a big-spankin' lizard. He's ever so knowing, without ever indicating it is what he's supposed to know, but that just adds to his mystical allure.
Entirely unlikeable, Selendrile is borderline abusive with our female lead, Alys. He enjoys: hauling her off without her consent; manhandling her; digging his fingers into her arm for perceived slights; and seeming to enjoy threatening her with his preternatural abilities. He's also a being hundreds of years old who likes to watch 15 year-olds undress, despite repeated requests to stop. Sexy, right?
Alys likes to think of herself as an independent woman because she works in her father's shop and looks down on all the village boys for their lack of ambition. Unfortunately, being kind of bitchy has its consequences. She's just been accused of witchcraft by those who would take her father's tin shop from her, so she does the logical thing and shacks up with her would-be murderer so she can get revenge on the town.
She has a crisis of conscience about her plans with him 75% through the book, but it isn't fleshed out very well. The author wanted to teach us all a lesson, with speed, so our leading lady suffered a small case of deus ex machina so she could wrap up nicely. It's a very short book, ~200 pages, so there really is no time for anything else.
All right, aside from the characters and the plot the writing isn't that bad. It was a quick read. My major beef with this book lies with the fact that it's a YA romance where the relationship being promoted is creepy and inappropriate, riding the alpha male trope.
Featuring an annoying male lead, Selendrile is a typical pretty boy with exotic magical features. With long white-blonde hair and purple eyes, his true form is that of a big-spankin' lizard. He's ever so knowing, without ever indicating it is what he's supposed to know, but that just adds to his mystical allure.
Entirely unlikeable, Selendrile is borderline abusive with our female lead, Alys. He enjoys: hauling her off without her consent; manhandling her; digging his fingers into her arm for perceived slights; and seeming to enjoy threatening her with his preternatural abilities. He's also a being hundreds of years old who likes to watch 15 year-olds undress, despite repeated requests to stop. Sexy, right?
Alys likes to think of herself as an independent woman because she works in her father's shop and looks down on all the village boys for their lack of ambition. Unfortunately, being kind of bitchy has its consequences. She's just been accused of witchcraft by those who would take her father's tin shop from her, so she does the logical thing and shacks up with her would-be murderer so she can get revenge on the town.
"What are you going to do about it?"
"There's nothing I can do. Except enjoy the thought of you flying over Saint Toby's village and breathing fire and roasting them all, every singe one of them, down to the last baby."
The dragon raised his brows.
"Well," she said, "maybe not the babies."
The dragon grinned and stood again.
She has a crisis of conscience about her plans with him 75% through the book, but it isn't fleshed out very well. The author wanted to teach us all a lesson, with speed, so our leading lady suffered a small case of deus ex machina so she could wrap up nicely. It's a very short book, ~200 pages, so there really is no time for anything else.
All right, aside from the characters and the plot the writing isn't that bad. It was a quick read. My major beef with this book lies with the fact that it's a YA romance where the relationship being promoted is creepy and inappropriate, riding the alpha male trope.
August 22, 2007
Alys is an independent girl running her father's shop during his illness, when she is accused of being a witch by her neighbors, who really just want her shop. She is tied up outside the village and left for the dragon that has been rampaging to eat.
But when he arrives, instead of eating Alys, he offers her a chance to take revenge on her enemies. Should Alys take the dragon up on his offer? Wouldn't it be ironic if she ended up committing the crimes she has already been found guilty of doing?
Clever, funny, and with a surprise twist at the end, I found this to be a very satisfying read.
But when he arrives, instead of eating Alys, he offers her a chance to take revenge on her enemies. Should Alys take the dragon up on his offer? Wouldn't it be ironic if she ended up committing the crimes she has already been found guilty of doing?
Clever, funny, and with a surprise twist at the end, I found this to be a very satisfying read.
March 25, 2010
Not your usual fantasy tropes - what happens when the girl staked out for the dragon to eat, insteads joins forces with him to get revenge on her tormentors?
This quite good (albeit short) book.
I really enjoyed how the author did not 'humanize' the dragon, but instead constantly reminded the reader how alien he was, how he did not think like a human.
I definitely read more adventures of Alys and Selandrine.
This quite good (albeit short) book.
I really enjoyed how the author did not 'humanize' the dragon, but instead constantly reminded the reader how alien he was, how he did not think like a human.
I definitely read more adventures of Alys and Selandrine.
September 2, 2018
I really wish there was a sequel! This book was so good! However, I have NEVER in all my life felt so unsatisfied at the end of the book, and I am a very avid reader (like I read a book a day). Please, Vivian, WRITE A SEQUEL! Pretty please? There is so much more that needs to be told for this story. :)
March 19, 2015
I read this quite a while ago - probably when I was in middle school, and all I can remember is... loved it!
July 15, 2019
Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed myself. It was a quick read but perhaps too quick as I felt that all the problems were resolved really quickly. I also felt like the characters were one dimensional even the dragon which is a shame. The main character had no substance to her in my opinion as she was only focused on one thing and when that thing was done the book ended. There seemed to be some sort of chemistry happening with the dragon and the main character but before that could be fleshed out the book ended. The plot seemed forced at points and again it just felt rushed to wrap it up. I feel like this book had a lot of potential to be more adventurous or magical, but it fell short of the mark.
April 16, 2023
3.5 Rounded up!! Enjoyed it very much, just wish the ending was longer so we could see the character's resolutions play out more.
December 22, 2023
*sighs happily*
March 21, 2024
loved it so fun
December 7, 2020
“How would the dragon kill her? Perhaps she would be less afraid if she figured out just what to expect. A blast of flame? Not likely, she decided.”
Going into this one, I didn't have high expectations. Then I found that I like the characters and writing. And then, Dragon's Bait ended up disappointing me after all.
Alys is quite the spunky character given that this is a medieval-themed setting - her sarcasm is great. I also enjoy characters who are able to show both fear and courage. Serendile, the dragon, is also a fun character, though I feel like there was more to him than what was shown to the reader.
I enjoyed the journey these two embarked on and I wouldn't have minded if this novel were longer. In fact, that's the main issue I have with this novel - the ending feels rushed and axed. Throughout the story, the pacing is good and then everything is suddenly wrapped up so fast, the romance is barely hinted and you're just left to guess how it might continue. So, what started as a fun read just fell really flat at the end - wasted potential and a real shame too.
February 21, 2023
⭐ 2.5 Stars ⭐
Felt that this was a little too short. Not much care about characters and the story wasn't that interesting to me.
~~RTC~~
Felt that this was a little too short. Not much care about characters and the story wasn't that interesting to me.
~~RTC~~
March 6, 2017
Not the author's best. Reads like a genre Romance for 'tweens. Alys is such a princess; sure, sometimes she thinks about and even says independent or smart things, but basically it's a good thing she's got someone to rescue her. Slight & superficial.
August 7, 2015
It took me a day and a half to finish this book. It was short, i think it was the shortest fantasy book I've ever read.
It's a standalone and as such it is entertaining as a light read, it lacks depth.
This is what I think happened: this book came out in the period where fantasy was more marginalized than SF (can you tell I'm not a SF lover at all?) and during this time it was thought that children and teens have the attention span of mice so fantasy novels that exceeded 450 pages were considered already too long, so they cut them into sections of 300-400 pages per volume. though to be fair I dunno how Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth got past the cut *shrug*.
This novella stems from that time period and it would have been interesting as a standalone novel of 600 pages set in fantasy - young adult genre. It had promise. I don't know why the author did not broaden it.
The plot is fairly plain and unambitious, fast paced (because it's a barely 200 page book) and lacks character development, world-building and atmosphere. Three things that make a fantasy a fantasy. It's good as a light read.
(Sidenote: The Dragon transforming into a 17 year old boy, made me think of the Dragon Aspects from World of Warcraft, there's that)
So I guess that was a short review. Then again it is a short novel.
My other reviews :D
It's a standalone and as such it is entertaining as a light read, it lacks depth.
This is what I think happened: this book came out in the period where fantasy was more marginalized than SF (can you tell I'm not a SF lover at all?) and during this time it was thought that children and teens have the attention span of mice so fantasy novels that exceeded 450 pages were considered already too long, so they cut them into sections of 300-400 pages per volume. though to be fair I dunno how Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth got past the cut *shrug*.
This novella stems from that time period and it would have been interesting as a standalone novel of 600 pages set in fantasy - young adult genre. It had promise. I don't know why the author did not broaden it.
The plot is fairly plain and unambitious, fast paced (because it's a barely 200 page book) and lacks character development, world-building and atmosphere. Three things that make a fantasy a fantasy. It's good as a light read.
(Sidenote: The Dragon transforming into a 17 year old boy, made me think of the Dragon Aspects from World of Warcraft, there's that)
So I guess that was a short review. Then again it is a short novel.
My other reviews :D
November 5, 2008
He refused to release her hands until she looked at him again. He smiled, but this time the amusement didn't reach his eys. "It is not often," he said in a voice that was soft and husky but well within the norms of a human of his --apparent-- age and build, "that I find a damsel flinging rocks at me." He paused as though considering and slowly added, "It happened once with a knight, but I'd already eaten his horse and most of his weapons. The squire, too, as I recall." He tipped his head slightly as though waiting for a response, the same gesture he had made while in dragon shape.
Alys has been accused of witchcraft and has been left tied to a stake, an offering to a dragon. Although she manages to escape before the dragon comes, she realizes there is no where for her to go. If she returns to her village, they will simply stake her out again. She a young woman, alone in the world.
When the dragon appears not to notice her, she decides to accept her fate and shouts at him, tossing stones. Suddenly, he is before her and she shuts her eys. When she opens them, the dragon is gone and a boy stands before her, with long golden hair and amethyst eyes . . .
She realizes that the dragon and the boy are the same and tells him her plan for revenge against the villagers who left her out here, and killed her father. The dragon likes revenge and agrees to help her.
Alys has been accused of witchcraft and has been left tied to a stake, an offering to a dragon. Although she manages to escape before the dragon comes, she realizes there is no where for her to go. If she returns to her village, they will simply stake her out again. She a young woman, alone in the world.
When the dragon appears not to notice her, she decides to accept her fate and shouts at him, tossing stones. Suddenly, he is before her and she shuts her eys. When she opens them, the dragon is gone and a boy stands before her, with long golden hair and amethyst eyes . . .
She realizes that the dragon and the boy are the same and tells him her plan for revenge against the villagers who left her out here, and killed her father. The dragon likes revenge and agrees to help her.
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