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Bentwhistle the Dragon #1
A Threat From The Past
Can you be heroic and naive?
For one young man, the answer is yes, despite his magical birthright.
Blissfully unaware of what's going on around him, for the most part Peter remains fully focused on blending in and keeping a low profile.
But fate and plain bad luck have other designs on him.
Not so bad, you might think. Until you discover the TRUTH!
Just like his friends, he is a... DRAGON!
Thrust into a life away from the underground dragon domain, disguised in a new, awkward human form in an effort to guide and protect humanity just like the rest of his race, all he has to do is uncover the diabolical deeds playing out around him.
With the help of his two young friends, a master mantra maker and a complete dragon stranger with more than a little history attached to him, will Peter manage to thwart the dark, devious scheme long in the planning?
Ever wondered how dragons use their supernatural gift to travel below ground at almost the speed of sound?
Want to know how they use magical mantras to transform their giant bodies into convincing human shapes?
Learn the true story of George and the Dragon, see if a prehistoric grudge turns into murderous revenge, and find out what to do if you meet a giant arachnid grinning at you when you're wearing nothing but your smile.
Lose yourself in this unputdownable fantasy adventure NOW!
For one young man, the answer is yes, despite his magical birthright.
Blissfully unaware of what's going on around him, for the most part Peter remains fully focused on blending in and keeping a low profile.
But fate and plain bad luck have other designs on him.
Not so bad, you might think. Until you discover the TRUTH!
Just like his friends, he is a... DRAGON!
Thrust into a life away from the underground dragon domain, disguised in a new, awkward human form in an effort to guide and protect humanity just like the rest of his race, all he has to do is uncover the diabolical deeds playing out around him.
With the help of his two young friends, a master mantra maker and a complete dragon stranger with more than a little history attached to him, will Peter manage to thwart the dark, devious scheme long in the planning?
Ever wondered how dragons use their supernatural gift to travel below ground at almost the speed of sound?
Want to know how they use magical mantras to transform their giant bodies into convincing human shapes?
Learn the true story of George and the Dragon, see if a prehistoric grudge turns into murderous revenge, and find out what to do if you meet a giant arachnid grinning at you when you're wearing nothing but your smile.
Lose yourself in this unputdownable fantasy adventure NOW!
493 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2011
About the author
Paul Cude
23 books706 followersPaul Cude is a husband, father, field hockey player and aspiring photographer. Lost without his hockey stick, he can often be found in between writing and chauffeuring children, reading anything from comics to sci-fi, fantasy to thrillers. Too often found chained to his computer, it would be little surprise to find him, in his free time, somewhere on the Dorset coastline, chasing over rocks and sand in an effort to capture his wonderful wife and lovely kids with his camera.
Paul Cude is also the author of The White Dragon Saga.
Paul Cude is also the author of The White Dragon Saga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 5, 2014
Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past by Paul Cude is quite simply a magnificent fantasy adventure for all the family. Imagine an author clever enough to blend elements of classics such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Harry Potter books - Hobbit - and you have Paul Cude.
The author has reinvented our world where humans exist on the surface as one would expect. But beneath that surface live dragons in vast caverns connected by tunnels that lead to the surface. They are highly developed and can travel at incredible speeds. These dragons can alter their shape and become humanoid in appearance and by doing so look after us, nurturing us in ways we would never fathom. The history of these two worlds combined is so lovingly displayed by Paul who obviously is young at heart. This reader especially enjoyed the retelling of George and the Dragon.
But everything is about to change when a devious dragon plots to destroy this beautiful relationship and only Peter Bentwhistle and his young friends Richie and Tank can see what's going on. These three brave dragons must stop the threat from the past to save our present.
The characters are well fleshed out and the action descriptions are richly embellished, especially the dragons' underworld which is quite breathtaking. This brilliant novel ranks up there with Jules Verne and JRR Tolkein and would perfectly fit next to those books on any bookshelf.
A FIVE STAR family adventure for all ages and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED so get downloading for on of the best reads you'll ever have in this genre.
The author has reinvented our world where humans exist on the surface as one would expect. But beneath that surface live dragons in vast caverns connected by tunnels that lead to the surface. They are highly developed and can travel at incredible speeds. These dragons can alter their shape and become humanoid in appearance and by doing so look after us, nurturing us in ways we would never fathom. The history of these two worlds combined is so lovingly displayed by Paul who obviously is young at heart. This reader especially enjoyed the retelling of George and the Dragon.
But everything is about to change when a devious dragon plots to destroy this beautiful relationship and only Peter Bentwhistle and his young friends Richie and Tank can see what's going on. These three brave dragons must stop the threat from the past to save our present.
The characters are well fleshed out and the action descriptions are richly embellished, especially the dragons' underworld which is quite breathtaking. This brilliant novel ranks up there with Jules Verne and JRR Tolkein and would perfectly fit next to those books on any bookshelf.
A FIVE STAR family adventure for all ages and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED so get downloading for on of the best reads you'll ever have in this genre.
September 19, 2013
Unique! Fun! Humorous! A little quirky with a side of dark and dangerous! Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past by Paul Cude puts a whole new slant on those dragons that are living among us! (Because, they do, right?) I admit it, I have never read about dragons in this light, and I was completely enthralled with how “normal” they are as they move among humans while in human form and yet, have their own world where, they can look like dragons! There is also something sinister afoot and Bentwhistle, an unlikely hero is up to his scales in the thick of it! Ancient magic, best friends, ominous enemies and more add to the fantasy and intrigue that is suitable for ALL ages, kids on up!
Rich with fine detail and characters that are as real as you or I are, the sense of friendship and loyalty shared between Bentwhistle and his best friends is a joy to follow! Their dialogue sounds like true conversations between friends and Peter Bentwhistle is so “average” that he makes the perfect unlikely hero as he follows a dark and twisted mystery that reeks of evil.
Paul Cude has given us all a realistic and relatable contemporary hero in Peter, while creating a fantasy that is family-friendly, light enough for younger readers, yet with enough mystery that older readers will enjoy the escape from reality, too! Have you ever discussed a book with a young person? I have, and their take on a story is fascinating! Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past is the perfect book to start a new tradition with!
Publication Date: October 19, 2011
Publisher: Authors OnLine Ltd
ISBN: 0755206789 (Paperback)
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Age Recommendation: Middle-Grade on up!
Self Purchase
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
NOTE: As of September 18, 2013, this ebook is FREE at Amazon & B&N!
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Rich with fine detail and characters that are as real as you or I are, the sense of friendship and loyalty shared between Bentwhistle and his best friends is a joy to follow! Their dialogue sounds like true conversations between friends and Peter Bentwhistle is so “average” that he makes the perfect unlikely hero as he follows a dark and twisted mystery that reeks of evil.
Paul Cude has given us all a realistic and relatable contemporary hero in Peter, while creating a fantasy that is family-friendly, light enough for younger readers, yet with enough mystery that older readers will enjoy the escape from reality, too! Have you ever discussed a book with a young person? I have, and their take on a story is fascinating! Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past is the perfect book to start a new tradition with!
Publication Date: October 19, 2011
Publisher: Authors OnLine Ltd
ISBN: 0755206789 (Paperback)
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Age Recommendation: Middle-Grade on up!
Self Purchase
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
NOTE: As of September 18, 2013, this ebook is FREE at Amazon & B&N!
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
January 24, 2020
I loved this captivating book! Paul Cude has done an amazing job of world-building, worlds intertwining and everything in between. For starters, we’re given a glimpse into dragon history, a long ago past that sets the theme for the book. Dragons see themselves as guides and helpers of humans. At least that’s what “good” dragons aim for. Some rogue dragons have a different agenda. When their dark schemes are discovered, they’re swiftly dealt with by dragon society.
With that bit of dragon history in place, we’re introduced to modern times and our main protagonist, a dragon named Peter Bentwhistle. We learn about dragon culture and how a young dragon is schooled in everything dragon-related and also human-related. When old enough and properly educated, many dragons, including Peter, leave their underground dragon societies. Learning how to use mantras to turn their dragon bodies into human-looking bodies, they proceed to the surface world of humans. They take jobs and interact with people. That doesn’t mean they don’t return to their dragon worlds. They live a duel existence.
Paul Cude paints an expansive and breathtaking description of the dual worlds of a dragon. His accounts of Peter Bentwhistle’s life and struggles are relatable and at the same time fascinating. I was particularly impressed with how seemingly small events, clues of something sinister, not high drama could pull me in so completely.
Perhaps that’s one thing that impresses me with this book. I was amazed at how quickly the story grabbed hold. I had to know more about a menacing, mysterious plot that looms in front of the young and inexperienced Peter. All the while, I was captivated by the ways of the dragon world, its magic, its complex characters and also its failings. Everything about the story was so beautifully laid out by the author that I had to keep reading. I highly recommend “Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past” for not only young adults, but for anyone who enjoys a fresh, beautifully written, multifaceted and original tale.
With that bit of dragon history in place, we’re introduced to modern times and our main protagonist, a dragon named Peter Bentwhistle. We learn about dragon culture and how a young dragon is schooled in everything dragon-related and also human-related. When old enough and properly educated, many dragons, including Peter, leave their underground dragon societies. Learning how to use mantras to turn their dragon bodies into human-looking bodies, they proceed to the surface world of humans. They take jobs and interact with people. That doesn’t mean they don’t return to their dragon worlds. They live a duel existence.
Paul Cude paints an expansive and breathtaking description of the dual worlds of a dragon. His accounts of Peter Bentwhistle’s life and struggles are relatable and at the same time fascinating. I was particularly impressed with how seemingly small events, clues of something sinister, not high drama could pull me in so completely.
Perhaps that’s one thing that impresses me with this book. I was amazed at how quickly the story grabbed hold. I had to know more about a menacing, mysterious plot that looms in front of the young and inexperienced Peter. All the while, I was captivated by the ways of the dragon world, its magic, its complex characters and also its failings. Everything about the story was so beautifully laid out by the author that I had to keep reading. I highly recommend “Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past” for not only young adults, but for anyone who enjoys a fresh, beautifully written, multifaceted and original tale.
February 5, 2013
When I first picked this book up my initial thoughts were that I had probably never read anything quite like it before. Upon finishing Brentwhistle the Dragon I can confirm that I was correct!
I like to be exposed to different styles and genres because, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what reading is all about. This book was another ‘first’ for me. I wondered how a story about dragons that lived alongside humans would work and how sport could come into it too, but I can say that it all fitted together quite neatly, turning out to be a real feel good story that would be suitable for anyone from teens through to adults. I’m not really into sport, and after my senior school years the word ‘hockey’ makes me wince with pain, but the accounts of matches, the adrenalin and camaraderie that accompanied it all actually made me feel like giving it another shot. Peter and his two friends were perfectly well formed and all had distinct personalities of their own.
The only downside really (and it’s only really a downside if like me you get funny about how long it takes you to read a book and where you do and don’t feel comfortable breaking from a read) is that there are few chapters. This means that each one is quite long and I work better with chapters that are shorter and allow me to pick it up, read a couple, and put it down again without having to cut my read short halfway through. That being said, when I did get to sit and read, I really enjoyed joining Peter on his journey to solve the mysterious goings on at work, and was quite fascinated by the extent to which some writer’s imaginations stretch! Amazing! I would happily recommend it to my friends that love dragons and fantasy fiction and, in fact, I have recommended it already.
Happy reading and very well done on this lovely dragon tale of yours, Mr Cude.
I like to be exposed to different styles and genres because, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what reading is all about. This book was another ‘first’ for me. I wondered how a story about dragons that lived alongside humans would work and how sport could come into it too, but I can say that it all fitted together quite neatly, turning out to be a real feel good story that would be suitable for anyone from teens through to adults. I’m not really into sport, and after my senior school years the word ‘hockey’ makes me wince with pain, but the accounts of matches, the adrenalin and camaraderie that accompanied it all actually made me feel like giving it another shot. Peter and his two friends were perfectly well formed and all had distinct personalities of their own.
The only downside really (and it’s only really a downside if like me you get funny about how long it takes you to read a book and where you do and don’t feel comfortable breaking from a read) is that there are few chapters. This means that each one is quite long and I work better with chapters that are shorter and allow me to pick it up, read a couple, and put it down again without having to cut my read short halfway through. That being said, when I did get to sit and read, I really enjoyed joining Peter on his journey to solve the mysterious goings on at work, and was quite fascinated by the extent to which some writer’s imaginations stretch! Amazing! I would happily recommend it to my friends that love dragons and fantasy fiction and, in fact, I have recommended it already.
Happy reading and very well done on this lovely dragon tale of yours, Mr Cude.
July 23, 2016
"Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past" by Paul Cude is using a highly original idea and makes it the centre of a very entertaining adventure story for young adults and those young at hearts. In times of "Eragon" and "The Hobbit" many of us older adults love a good dragon story just as well as the younger ones and I am sure most people who pick up this book will appreciate Cude's excellent effort in that regard.
Most of the story however is surprisingly set in present day and not in the distant past. The dragons are not enemies of us humans but are actually here to protect us, a tradition that goes a long way back into their past. Using this inventive set up Cude tells us with much love for detail about the world and communities of dragons, their habitat, tunnels under the sea and much more which I found very enjoyable.
Myths and legends in the dragon world their good and bad members, their habits, their sports and their views on the human world add flesh to the action part of the story.
Cude has taken the simple idea and given it a lot of thought and imaginative detail, it is obvious what a labour of love writing this book must have been and it certainly has paid off.
Highly recommended, a great and fun-filled read.
Most of the story however is surprisingly set in present day and not in the distant past. The dragons are not enemies of us humans but are actually here to protect us, a tradition that goes a long way back into their past. Using this inventive set up Cude tells us with much love for detail about the world and communities of dragons, their habitat, tunnels under the sea and much more which I found very enjoyable.
Myths and legends in the dragon world their good and bad members, their habits, their sports and their views on the human world add flesh to the action part of the story.
Cude has taken the simple idea and given it a lot of thought and imaginative detail, it is obvious what a labour of love writing this book must have been and it certainly has paid off.
Highly recommended, a great and fun-filled read.
October 5, 2017
Finished reading: September 29th 2017
DNF at 49% (238 pages)
"The valuable lesson you should have learned, was that evil comes in many guises, not always visible to everyone."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 6, 2016
The book starts with a perfect introduction, which is actually a short story happening sometime in the past, when humans weren't so advanced and when dragons tried to help them and control their own. The not-so-short chapter is a perfect mix of magic, mystery, and action. I wish the whole book was like that.
When the actual story starts the author moves us to the present times, to the Earth we seem to know. The thing is, there's a whole world just under our feet. The world accessible only to dragons in their original form, as well as in their human bodies.
The blending of human and dragon worlds is perfect and extremely detailed. You can find out not only how it will all happen to exist, but also how the dragons can travel so fast and what's their favorite sport. Actually, the descriptions are so detailed that you'll find out not only the name of the sport, but also the game rules, the team members and how they happened to get their names. I think these are the details that kind of put me off. I do enjoy a good world building, but I think I got a bit overwhelmed here. Too many details, too little action
Each of the characters also gets their own story. Obviously, Bentwhistle, as the main hero, is especially well developed, but the author does not forget about the others. You will get insight into their lives, work, free time. You'll see exactly how they fit into the story and how they influence it.
This review was hard for me to write. For some strange reason, this book and I couldn't get along. It's a pity because both the story and the world building seem great! Oh gosh, that would make a fantastic movie!
So yes, I didn't manage to finish reading this book and I've decided to finally stop trying, but it doesn't mean you have to follow because the story is good, the world and character building are fantastic and it's all about dragons :).
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
check my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
When the actual story starts the author moves us to the present times, to the Earth we seem to know. The thing is, there's a whole world just under our feet. The world accessible only to dragons in their original form, as well as in their human bodies.
The blending of human and dragon worlds is perfect and extremely detailed. You can find out not only how it will all happen to exist, but also how the dragons can travel so fast and what's their favorite sport. Actually, the descriptions are so detailed that you'll find out not only the name of the sport, but also the game rules, the team members and how they happened to get their names. I think these are the details that kind of put me off. I do enjoy a good world building, but I think I got a bit overwhelmed here. Too many details, too little action
Each of the characters also gets their own story. Obviously, Bentwhistle, as the main hero, is especially well developed, but the author does not forget about the others. You will get insight into their lives, work, free time. You'll see exactly how they fit into the story and how they influence it.
This review was hard for me to write. For some strange reason, this book and I couldn't get along. It's a pity because both the story and the world building seem great! Oh gosh, that would make a fantastic movie!
So yes, I didn't manage to finish reading this book and I've decided to finally stop trying, but it doesn't mean you have to follow because the story is good, the world and character building are fantastic and it's all about dragons :).
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
check my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
April 20, 2019
Paul Cude has written a superbly amusing, fantasy novel, Bentwhistle the Dragon, about a wondrous dragon world existing below the present human one. Peter, Richie and Tank are the main dragons in the story who take on human form to infiltrate our supposedly superior, friendly world. We discover secret passages between each world, learn everything there is to know about those fascinating dragons, and take comfort in the fact that they are actually protective of humans and not those bad-tempered, treasure-greedy, nasty reptiles we meet up with in most children's books.
This is a delightful and educational adventure���everybody should make it a point to learn the authentic facts about these lovely creatures��� for children and adults alike.
This is a delightful and educational adventure���everybody should make it a point to learn the authentic facts about these lovely creatures��� for children and adults alike.
May 3, 2015
This book was such a juvenile read - and I don't mean it in the sense that it's written for kids, I mean it reads like it was written by a kid.
I couldn't get through this book fast enough, I read as fast as "Usain Bolt going for the last chicken nugget" (the part in quotes is actually in the book...nothing like making a reference in a book that no kid in 10 years time will understand - especially an analogy as stupid as that one).
I can see why this one was free on Amazon.
I couldn't get through this book fast enough, I read as fast as "Usain Bolt going for the last chicken nugget" (the part in quotes is actually in the book...nothing like making a reference in a book that no kid in 10 years time will understand - especially an analogy as stupid as that one).
I can see why this one was free on Amazon.
September 2, 2019
Loved this book. I loved the hockey games (Played at school and watched husband). But there is more....there be dragons. Dragon Dragons, human dragons, dragon railways, and especially the wild rides in the dragon fun parks, not to forget the food. And there is St George too.
In this fast-paced book, you will be egging on the little dragon, or in your head, screaming can't you see it at him, whether on the astroturf or fighting the big, bad, ugly dragon at the exciting nail-biting end.
In this fast-paced book, you will be egging on the little dragon, or in your head, screaming can't you see it at him, whether on the astroturf or fighting the big, bad, ugly dragon at the exciting nail-biting end.
Read
May 27, 2021A unique, imaginative and quirky tale of dragons who play football.
Well, not exactly football to be precise, but Laminium Ball. Almost the equivalent of football, but with a touch of Quidditch if you ask me.
I kid you not folks, this game is awesome - 'pitching dragon against dragon in unmatched, adrenaline fuelled, jaw dropping action.' Dragon teams competing against each other and using their tail to dribble, slap, roll, slam, tackle, intercept as well as perform tricks with the ball. - AMAZING with all caps and perhaps my favourite part of this tale.
But back to the book, because I digress, A Threat From The Past is a fun filled and quirky family fantasy adventure that will appeal to both young and old and would probably make for a badass movie.
It all starts with the 'true story of George and the Dragon' and later unfolds in our present day world, in which dragons live side by side with humans, blending in with them by using human shapes and trying to fulfil their sworn pledge of guiding and protecting.
Their homes are below ground, an underground dragon domain that's absolutely fascinating and it is there that all dragons can freely roam around in their dragon shape.
Thrust into a life away from the underground dragon domain, disguised in a new, awkward human form in an effort to guide and protect humanity just like the rest of his race, a young dragon called Peter Bentwhistle must uncover and thwart a diabolical scheme long in the planning.
With the help of his two young friends, a master mantra maker and a complete dragon stranger with more than a little history attached to him, Peter must brave the past to save the present.
This has been the pick of the wheel for my weekly random review draw program and it's one of the books I found it most difficult to review.
The premise is great, the characters are wonderful and the setting is amazingly detailed and downright wondrous. Different from anything I've read until now and hat's off to the author's imagination for that.
There were however a few things that didn't work for me.
The pace is very slow at times, and often seems to drag because of the lengthy detailed descriptions. They say sometimes even a good thing may become too much and this is exactly the case here. Less would have worked much better.
And then there are the dragons. As a huge dragon fan I love everything draconic and these dragons here didn't appeal to me. They seemed more human than dragon most of the time and that was a major drawback in my book. I want my dragons to be dragon-like. I want to see them as dragons when I read. I want dragons that feel like dragons and have their little draconic quirks that always make you keep in mind that they are dragons! All that is missing from this book here.
But then, that's just me and a preference as personal as it gets. And that is also the reason for which I chose to NOT rate this book.
It's not a bad book by all means. It's quirky, imaginative, fun-filled and unique.
It's just that, it isn't really my cup of tea.
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
Well, not exactly football to be precise, but Laminium Ball. Almost the equivalent of football, but with a touch of Quidditch if you ask me.
I kid you not folks, this game is awesome - 'pitching dragon against dragon in unmatched, adrenaline fuelled, jaw dropping action.' Dragon teams competing against each other and using their tail to dribble, slap, roll, slam, tackle, intercept as well as perform tricks with the ball. - AMAZING with all caps and perhaps my favourite part of this tale.
But back to the book, because I digress, A Threat From The Past is a fun filled and quirky family fantasy adventure that will appeal to both young and old and would probably make for a badass movie.
It all starts with the 'true story of George and the Dragon' and later unfolds in our present day world, in which dragons live side by side with humans, blending in with them by using human shapes and trying to fulfil their sworn pledge of guiding and protecting.
Their homes are below ground, an underground dragon domain that's absolutely fascinating and it is there that all dragons can freely roam around in their dragon shape.
Thrust into a life away from the underground dragon domain, disguised in a new, awkward human form in an effort to guide and protect humanity just like the rest of his race, a young dragon called Peter Bentwhistle must uncover and thwart a diabolical scheme long in the planning.
With the help of his two young friends, a master mantra maker and a complete dragon stranger with more than a little history attached to him, Peter must brave the past to save the present.
This has been the pick of the wheel for my weekly random review draw program and it's one of the books I found it most difficult to review.
The premise is great, the characters are wonderful and the setting is amazingly detailed and downright wondrous. Different from anything I've read until now and hat's off to the author's imagination for that.
There were however a few things that didn't work for me.
The pace is very slow at times, and often seems to drag because of the lengthy detailed descriptions. They say sometimes even a good thing may become too much and this is exactly the case here. Less would have worked much better.
And then there are the dragons. As a huge dragon fan I love everything draconic and these dragons here didn't appeal to me. They seemed more human than dragon most of the time and that was a major drawback in my book. I want my dragons to be dragon-like. I want to see them as dragons when I read. I want dragons that feel like dragons and have their little draconic quirks that always make you keep in mind that they are dragons! All that is missing from this book here.
But then, that's just me and a preference as personal as it gets. And that is also the reason for which I chose to NOT rate this book.
It's not a bad book by all means. It's quirky, imaginative, fun-filled and unique.
It's just that, it isn't really my cup of tea.
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
June 1, 2020
I love fantasy novels, and those that provide a large amount of detail about a world's mechanics and beings are ones I especially appreciate. "Bentwhistle the Dragon" is a slow burning fantasy that indulges readers like me: ones who want to know as much as they can about a book's world. The author gears the book to a YA audience in mind, too, so readers who appreciate the above characteristics will feel right at home with this series. I didn't latch on to the sports elements as much because I'm not one for organized team sports (I did swimming and fencing), but I still enjoyed the book fully. On a personal note, the idea that dragons could live among humans fascinates me. I'm a silly person who hopes there's elves, fairies, etc. living among us.
August 2, 2014
My review
When the author contacted me to review his book, I was a bit skeptical to read it because truth be told, the cover isn't very attractive. However, I realized I wasn't being fair so I decided to put my first impression aside and give this book a chance.
There are several things that I didn't like about this book. The first was the slow pacing. I kept putting this book down because I had a really hard time getting into the story. I didn't like how flashbacks were used for the world building and to tell the background story. I think it made the tale really slow and boring. There were also a lot of information to take in, and I felt that some things could have been omitted as they weren't relevant. Another reason why I didn't enjoy this book, was that I didn't click with the characters. After reading more than 200 pages I still didn't feel for them. I even tried to take a break from reading, so I could have a fresh start but when that didn't work, I eventually gave up. I feel that the main character, Peter, is very shallow which didn't make him interesting to read. He isn't a brave person, he allows others to walk over him and always relies on his two friends, Tank and Richie. Although I think he probably may have changed by the end of the book, I didn't think he was an enjoyable character to read. This book has also a mystery aspect to it, but it unfolds really slowly and I didn't find it very intriguing.
However, the fascinating thing about Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past was that it focuses a lot on sport. It's something I have never encountered in other novels before, and I think it's what differentiates this book from other similar-sounding books. I also like the idea it's based upon. It's set in the present where dragons live secretly amongst humans. Since they were born, the dragons have been training to assume human forms and learning about human lifestyle, so they could easily blend in. I liked how there's a whole "dragon community" that lives underground, and how all the training doesn't happen in secret academies and schools.
To summarize, I think this could have been a really great book. I liked the setup, but didn't like the execution. Sadly, this is neither a plot-driven nor a character-driven book.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
When the author contacted me to review his book, I was a bit skeptical to read it because truth be told, the cover isn't very attractive. However, I realized I wasn't being fair so I decided to put my first impression aside and give this book a chance.
There are several things that I didn't like about this book. The first was the slow pacing. I kept putting this book down because I had a really hard time getting into the story. I didn't like how flashbacks were used for the world building and to tell the background story. I think it made the tale really slow and boring. There were also a lot of information to take in, and I felt that some things could have been omitted as they weren't relevant. Another reason why I didn't enjoy this book, was that I didn't click with the characters. After reading more than 200 pages I still didn't feel for them. I even tried to take a break from reading, so I could have a fresh start but when that didn't work, I eventually gave up. I feel that the main character, Peter, is very shallow which didn't make him interesting to read. He isn't a brave person, he allows others to walk over him and always relies on his two friends, Tank and Richie. Although I think he probably may have changed by the end of the book, I didn't think he was an enjoyable character to read. This book has also a mystery aspect to it, but it unfolds really slowly and I didn't find it very intriguing.
However, the fascinating thing about Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past was that it focuses a lot on sport. It's something I have never encountered in other novels before, and I think it's what differentiates this book from other similar-sounding books. I also like the idea it's based upon. It's set in the present where dragons live secretly amongst humans. Since they were born, the dragons have been training to assume human forms and learning about human lifestyle, so they could easily blend in. I liked how there's a whole "dragon community" that lives underground, and how all the training doesn't happen in secret academies and schools.
To summarize, I think this could have been a really great book. I liked the setup, but didn't like the execution. Sadly, this is neither a plot-driven nor a character-driven book.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2016
This is my first book about dragons and I really liked it. It was so different from what I was expecting and I had so much fun discovering all the details in this fantasy world. Learning about these amazing creatures was the best thing in the experience and now I can't wait to start the sequel. Paul Cude has done a great job in creating a special world where dragons and humans are able to coexist and, most of all, where dragons are ready to help people when they need it.
The story begins with the retelling of George and the Dragon, which I totally loved more after I understood the meaning and the connection with our hero. Peter, the main character, is such a sweet guy and I enjoyed being in his shoes, because I was constantly thinking: "This is exactly what I would do" or "This is exactly what I would say". He has two best friends named Richie and Tank, who are such great individuals that I wished I had them as my best friends. Together they make the best team, as I was happy to discover in the end.
Peter is the only one capable to feel the danger approaching the company where he and Richie work, with the arrival of his new superior Mason. Knowing he can trust his friends, he asks for their help. Things get more difficult and weird for him, making both his personal and professional life miserable, so he can't stand and wait for it to happen, especially after one of his colleages and also a dragon dies. Will he succeed to prove that Mason is the one behind all of these and to punish him?
The characters in this novel are very well embodied and developed. Richie is a badass character, with a great pleasure to give men a lesson when she feels they need it, taking advantage of her dragon power. At the same time, Tank is the perfect combination between kindness, tenderness and strength, using his abilities to keep Peter safe from bullies and to teach him useful mantras. They are really cool!
The only thing that bothered me was the length of the chapters, which were pretty long. It took me a while to read this book, mostly because I was very busy with school and some writing contest, but I am glad that I did.
I recommend this book to all of you who are still young at heart and who know to appreciate a fantasy story about dragons and who want to find out the value of friendship.
Note: I received an e-copy for an honest review.
The story begins with the retelling of George and the Dragon, which I totally loved more after I understood the meaning and the connection with our hero. Peter, the main character, is such a sweet guy and I enjoyed being in his shoes, because I was constantly thinking: "This is exactly what I would do" or "This is exactly what I would say". He has two best friends named Richie and Tank, who are such great individuals that I wished I had them as my best friends. Together they make the best team, as I was happy to discover in the end.
Peter is the only one capable to feel the danger approaching the company where he and Richie work, with the arrival of his new superior Mason. Knowing he can trust his friends, he asks for their help. Things get more difficult and weird for him, making both his personal and professional life miserable, so he can't stand and wait for it to happen, especially after one of his colleages and also a dragon dies. Will he succeed to prove that Mason is the one behind all of these and to punish him?
The characters in this novel are very well embodied and developed. Richie is a badass character, with a great pleasure to give men a lesson when she feels they need it, taking advantage of her dragon power. At the same time, Tank is the perfect combination between kindness, tenderness and strength, using his abilities to keep Peter safe from bullies and to teach him useful mantras. They are really cool!
The only thing that bothered me was the length of the chapters, which were pretty long. It took me a while to read this book, mostly because I was very busy with school and some writing contest, but I am glad that I did.
I recommend this book to all of you who are still young at heart and who know to appreciate a fantasy story about dragons and who want to find out the value of friendship.
Note: I received an e-copy for an honest review.
July 20, 2018
Thank you to the author for sending me all the ebooks in exchange for an honest review!
The first thing I noticed when reading this book was the use of capital letters. Usually, when an author wants to stress on certain words, they use italic words. However, Paul Cude used them as if in a blog post. It wasn’t something I liked very much and it did take some time to get used to.
I loved that there was a sport that only dragons could play. It provided readers an insight into the dragons’ culture. I would also love to see some music in the dragon world. I feel like music is always the thing that is missing in a fantasy world. We see festivals, sports, and other traditions but not the music.
Another thing that I liked about this book is that it explored the different opinions of dragons on humans. While some work for humans, some look down on humans and will never take their human forms.
Onto the characters, Peter, our protagonist, worked at a company as a head security officer and protected laminium (a special kind of substance that is very valuable to dragons) in secret. One day, a new man arrived at the company and turned everything upside down. That’s when Peter started to get himself into trouble. He was sometimes ruthless and yet brave. Tank was the muscular and strong friend that stayed close to Peter at all times and supported him throughout the story. Richie was basically the Hermione - smart but moody and definitely very necessary in winning the battle against the antagonist.
Two things that I hoped would improve in the later books:
Faster pace. This book only got more exciting in the last half.
Tank and Richie playing a bigger role in helping Peter. I feel like they were both just sitting there, doing nothing for most of the time while Peter was out there fighting for his life so...
The first thing I noticed when reading this book was the use of capital letters. Usually, when an author wants to stress on certain words, they use italic words. However, Paul Cude used them as if in a blog post. It wasn’t something I liked very much and it did take some time to get used to.
I loved that there was a sport that only dragons could play. It provided readers an insight into the dragons’ culture. I would also love to see some music in the dragon world. I feel like music is always the thing that is missing in a fantasy world. We see festivals, sports, and other traditions but not the music.
Another thing that I liked about this book is that it explored the different opinions of dragons on humans. While some work for humans, some look down on humans and will never take their human forms.
Onto the characters, Peter, our protagonist, worked at a company as a head security officer and protected laminium (a special kind of substance that is very valuable to dragons) in secret. One day, a new man arrived at the company and turned everything upside down. That’s when Peter started to get himself into trouble. He was sometimes ruthless and yet brave. Tank was the muscular and strong friend that stayed close to Peter at all times and supported him throughout the story. Richie was basically the Hermione - smart but moody and definitely very necessary in winning the battle against the antagonist.
Two things that I hoped would improve in the later books:
Faster pace. This book only got more exciting in the last half.
Tank and Richie playing a bigger role in helping Peter. I feel like they were both just sitting there, doing nothing for most of the time while Peter was out there fighting for his life so...
October 31, 2019
Oh to be a dragon!
I’m going to have to let you all know, what is blindingly obvious to me: Paul Cude is a dragon. Maybe not the Peter in the stories, though that is entirely possible, but at the very least, someone who is very close to Peter.
How else can he know such intimate and intricate details of their lives, habits, homes and technology??
He has cast a mantra, obviously given to him by Tank or Gee Tee, that befuddles and confuses our poor human minds into believing that he has only used his brilliant and witty imagination to conjure up a magnificent tale in this, his first book of what WILL be a purely mind-blowing series.
All I can say is kudos to Cude for a wonderful read that should be taken out of the Fiction category, to be fair to all the other writers of this genre. This is a work of pure fact.
Oh, and by the way, if you ever see Paul chewing on the end of a pencil, he’s not deep in thought or having a minor worry. He’s snacking on a treat!!!
This is absolutely a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and should be read by everyone who’s ever had a sneaking suspicion that their neighbours are not quite what they appear to be!!
I’m going to have to let you all know, what is blindingly obvious to me: Paul Cude is a dragon. Maybe not the Peter in the stories, though that is entirely possible, but at the very least, someone who is very close to Peter.
How else can he know such intimate and intricate details of their lives, habits, homes and technology??
He has cast a mantra, obviously given to him by Tank or Gee Tee, that befuddles and confuses our poor human minds into believing that he has only used his brilliant and witty imagination to conjure up a magnificent tale in this, his first book of what WILL be a purely mind-blowing series.
All I can say is kudos to Cude for a wonderful read that should be taken out of the Fiction category, to be fair to all the other writers of this genre. This is a work of pure fact.
Oh, and by the way, if you ever see Paul chewing on the end of a pencil, he’s not deep in thought or having a minor worry. He’s snacking on a treat!!!
This is absolutely a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and should be read by everyone who’s ever had a sneaking suspicion that their neighbours are not quite what they appear to be!!
January 4, 2020
Highly recommended.
The first in the Bentwhistle the Dragon series of urban fantasy novels, this book is a wonderful blend of fantasy, mystery, adventure and suspense thriller. Dragons and magic abound in a parallel world that is complex and fascinating, and which remains full of surprises even for those who live there.
Suitable for young adult and older audiences, the story explores important themes of friendship, ethics and personal integrity through the experiences of Peter Bentwhistle and his best friends, Richie and Tank.
The characters are delightful, each with quirks and qualities that make them both likeable and relatable for human and dragon readers alike. The more sinister characters are similarly relatable, because we all know someone who is selfish or a bully. As the action rolls and the story develops, the reader is drawn deeper into the story and finds themselves very definitely on the side of the protagonists. The twists and surprises keep coming, right to the end of the book.
Well-written and expertly constructed, this is a brilliant read.
The first in the Bentwhistle the Dragon series of urban fantasy novels, this book is a wonderful blend of fantasy, mystery, adventure and suspense thriller. Dragons and magic abound in a parallel world that is complex and fascinating, and which remains full of surprises even for those who live there.
Suitable for young adult and older audiences, the story explores important themes of friendship, ethics and personal integrity through the experiences of Peter Bentwhistle and his best friends, Richie and Tank.
The characters are delightful, each with quirks and qualities that make them both likeable and relatable for human and dragon readers alike. The more sinister characters are similarly relatable, because we all know someone who is selfish or a bully. As the action rolls and the story develops, the reader is drawn deeper into the story and finds themselves very definitely on the side of the protagonists. The twists and surprises keep coming, right to the end of the book.
Well-written and expertly constructed, this is a brilliant read.
September 15, 2014
When I first read the reviews on this book I was skeptical to say the least, I pictured children's bedtime story which a happy ending.
I am surprised to say that I fell in love with the dragons in this book and didn't really want to put it down. Sometimes it's nice to get in touch with your inner child.
Imagine a world beneath your feet full of dragons who have lived with the sole purpose of safe guarding and leading human kind to a higher level of conciseness while maintaining their secret existence.
The story of Peter the shy and slightly self conscious dragon overcoming his fears and shortcomings to become a hero of the dragon world will take you on an adventure that was least expected.
I enjoyed the authors style of writing and the use of modern day that you and I would recognize and secret societies existing everywhere around us.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I am surprised to say that I fell in love with the dragons in this book and didn't really want to put it down. Sometimes it's nice to get in touch with your inner child.
Imagine a world beneath your feet full of dragons who have lived with the sole purpose of safe guarding and leading human kind to a higher level of conciseness while maintaining their secret existence.
The story of Peter the shy and slightly self conscious dragon overcoming his fears and shortcomings to become a hero of the dragon world will take you on an adventure that was least expected.
I enjoyed the authors style of writing and the use of modern day that you and I would recognize and secret societies existing everywhere around us.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 29, 2019
I really wanted to like this, I do.. but it was so boring.. and dragons disguised as humans? It's just a little awkward. Sports jocks that are actually dragons and dear god.. deep breaths.. DNF for me.
March 31, 2022
Fantasy stories require great world building, characters that are unique and compelling, plenty of action, and a story line that engages and carries you along from first to last page. I would say that all those boxes were ticked in this first book of the White Dragon Saga.
Two worlds, one of which runs deep beneath that inhabited by humans, and is meticulously described. Accessed creatively by a number of portals enabling ancient guardians to move freely between them. There is a wonderful thread of humour throughout the book as the author shares the parallel lifestyles including food, sport and adventure holidays of the mythical creatures, which lightens the mood as the dangerous plot unfolds.
The story opens with mythical dragons and a violent attack on humans that gave rise to the legend of St.George… This chapter sets the scene for events in the present, when long buried evil elements of the dragon community seek to break the harmony created over centuries between the humans and their guardians.
The three young friends Pete, Tank and Richie all love different sports in their human forms and there are some great action sequences that take place on hockey, lacrosse and rugby pitches and on the equivalent game centres in the underworld, but on a much bigger scale. The fast paced commentary has you standing on the sidelines cheering on the players in both forms.
There is evil intent brewing; missed by those responsible for dragon security, and Peter finds himself in the middle of an escalating and frightening takeover at work and on the pitch. This builds to a dangerous climax when all could be lost for both humans and the majority of benevolent dragons. Revelations about the past and the intentions for a darker future lay the groundwork for the next book in the series which I am looking forward to.
There is magic, danger, adventure and plenty of thrills throughout the book, and it would appeal to young adults who enjoyed Harry Potter, as well as adults who enjoy well written fantasy, and are looking for an established series to follow with several books to enjoy.
Two worlds, one of which runs deep beneath that inhabited by humans, and is meticulously described. Accessed creatively by a number of portals enabling ancient guardians to move freely between them. There is a wonderful thread of humour throughout the book as the author shares the parallel lifestyles including food, sport and adventure holidays of the mythical creatures, which lightens the mood as the dangerous plot unfolds.
The story opens with mythical dragons and a violent attack on humans that gave rise to the legend of St.George… This chapter sets the scene for events in the present, when long buried evil elements of the dragon community seek to break the harmony created over centuries between the humans and their guardians.
The three young friends Pete, Tank and Richie all love different sports in their human forms and there are some great action sequences that take place on hockey, lacrosse and rugby pitches and on the equivalent game centres in the underworld, but on a much bigger scale. The fast paced commentary has you standing on the sidelines cheering on the players in both forms.
There is evil intent brewing; missed by those responsible for dragon security, and Peter finds himself in the middle of an escalating and frightening takeover at work and on the pitch. This builds to a dangerous climax when all could be lost for both humans and the majority of benevolent dragons. Revelations about the past and the intentions for a darker future lay the groundwork for the next book in the series which I am looking forward to.
There is magic, danger, adventure and plenty of thrills throughout the book, and it would appeal to young adults who enjoyed Harry Potter, as well as adults who enjoy well written fantasy, and are looking for an established series to follow with several books to enjoy.
August 10, 2021
Dragons!
A unique story. I've read many books with dragons, but none where the dragons are the main characters and that they live amongst us acting as humans - a brilliant concept.
Exciting from the action packed start, this story is for everyone and being set within an hour's drive from where I live, had me hooked from the start.
A well deserved 5 stars for Paul Cude.
A unique story. I've read many books with dragons, but none where the dragons are the main characters and that they live amongst us acting as humans - a brilliant concept.
Exciting from the action packed start, this story is for everyone and being set within an hour's drive from where I live, had me hooked from the start.
A well deserved 5 stars for Paul Cude.
September 30, 2020
Wonderful narration
The story was excellent. With a hidden world of dragons coming from the pages, the more beautiful thing is the detailed description of the world.
It is obvious that the author is interested in sports and that has been brought out very imaginatively in the story.
Enjoyed the dragons and the story.
The story was excellent. With a hidden world of dragons coming from the pages, the more beautiful thing is the detailed description of the world.
It is obvious that the author is interested in sports and that has been brought out very imaginatively in the story.
Enjoyed the dragons and the story.
June 18, 2014
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.Thank you!**
FULL Review Can Be Found @My Addiction:Books
Actual Rating: 2.7 stars
My Opinion Of This Book: I was lovin' it, then it was like not really good, not really good, lovin' it, not really good,...-yeah, it was a roller coaster ride!
Liked:
-Tank
-Richie
-The Ending
-The Writing (kind of)
-The Concept
-The Plot/Storyline (sometimes)
Disliked:
-Peter
-The Plot/Storyline (sometimes)
I think this is the first book I've ever read about Dragons...and it wasn't bad -it was okay, I just feel like it could've been executed better.
The Characters
Peter
Peter is the protagonist. I, most of the time, enjoy reading from a male POV, but with this book, it's a different case. I couldn't connect with Peter - I felt like he was so dull and boring.
I mean, don't get me wrong!There was maybe 3 times I actually liked him, but, besides that, no.
Richie
Richie is Peter's friend. I liked her! She's tough and bad***!
Tank
Tank is another one of Peter's friends. I loved him! He was hilarious sometimes!And he's definitely a good friend -he stands up for Peter.
The Concept
DRAGONS! DRAGONS!MAGIC! I liked the concept! It was interesting! There are several books about dragons, but Paul Cude managed to make this book unique!
The Writing
The writing was good - but it did take me some time to get used to! It was descriptive and different. I liked it for the most part. I felt like a lot of this book was so serious. It lacked real humor where you laugh out loud for what seems like forever. I mean, Tank made me smirk- that's close!But he didn't crack jokes a whole lot, plus he wasn't in the book that much. I just wished there was more humor incorporated.
And,..I think I found -one or two?- grammer mistakes.
The Plot/Storyline
Let me start from the beginning!
I LOVED, LOVED the first chapter of this!! It was AMAZING!! I really liked George!!
Then the following chapters I was like, "okay, this is good"
Then like 28% through, I was like , "eh"
So, what I'm saying is I also felt like this book was too slow for me and some chapters/events that happened were not necessary, in my opinion.
The last -maybe 2 or 3?- chapters were fast paced and action-packed!Those chapters were great!
The Ending
That ending was amazing!!
Overall
This was alright. It could have been executed better. I'm hoping for the next book ti be better!
If you love dragon & magic stories, you should give this book a try- I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it more than me!
FULL Review Can Be Found @My Addiction:Books
Actual Rating: 2.7 stars
My Opinion Of This Book: I was lovin' it, then it was like not really good, not really good, lovin' it, not really good,...-yeah, it was a roller coaster ride!
Liked:
-Tank
-Richie
-The Ending
-The Writing (kind of)
-The Concept
-The Plot/Storyline (sometimes)
Disliked:
-Peter
-The Plot/Storyline (sometimes)
I think this is the first book I've ever read about Dragons...and it wasn't bad -it was okay, I just feel like it could've been executed better.
The Characters
Peter
Peter is the protagonist. I, most of the time, enjoy reading from a male POV, but with this book, it's a different case. I couldn't connect with Peter - I felt like he was so dull and boring.
I mean, don't get me wrong!There was maybe 3 times I actually liked him, but, besides that, no.
Next he began to unbutton his shirt. As he did so he glanced around uncomfortably. He did a quick double take. The huge spider above the counter had winked at him, he was sure.
"A cool piece of bling, as they would say on the surface."
The old shopkeeper looked completely confused at Peter’s description. “Never mind,” said Peter. “I don’t really understand what it means either, and I’m supposed to be young and hip. "
Richie
Richie is Peter's friend. I liked her! She's tough and bad***!
The two rugby players yelped with pain as their bruised hands bounced up from the undamaged table.
“Thanks guys,” Richie said, as she got up and performed a mock bow.
Tank
Tank is another one of Peter's friends. I loved him! He was hilarious sometimes!And he's definitely a good friend -he stands up for Peter.
"Is there a problem, Tiny?” asked Tank softly. Theobald looked to his friends for support, but they had backed off some way and were looking distinctly uninterested in getting involved now Tank had shown up.
she [Richie] bent forward and kissed him on the forehead. Peter smiled a dreamy smile and squeezed Richie’s hand tightly.
Tank leant in close and said, “Yes so worried,” and puckered up, ready to kiss Peter too.
“Anyway if I feel miserable about the lack of customers, I can just visualise you standing in the front of the shop in just your Y-fronts,” Tank said with tears of laughter beginning to stream down the front of his face.
The Concept
DRAGONS! DRAGONS!MAGIC! I liked the concept! It was interesting! There are several books about dragons, but Paul Cude managed to make this book unique!
The Writing
The writing was good - but it did take me some time to get used to! It was descriptive and different. I liked it for the most part. I felt like a lot of this book was so serious. It lacked real humor where you laugh out loud for what seems like forever. I mean, Tank made me smirk- that's close!But he didn't crack jokes a whole lot, plus he wasn't in the book that much. I just wished there was more humor incorporated.
And,..I think I found -one or two?- grammer mistakes.
The Plot/Storyline
Let me start from the beginning!
I LOVED, LOVED the first chapter of this!! It was AMAZING!! I really liked George!!
Then the following chapters I was like, "okay, this is good"
Then like 28% through, I was like , "eh"
So, what I'm saying is I also felt like this book was too slow for me and some chapters/events that happened were not necessary, in my opinion.
The last -maybe 2 or 3?- chapters were fast paced and action-packed!Those chapters were great!
The Ending
That ending was amazing!!
Overall
This was alright. It could have been executed better. I'm hoping for the next book ti be better!
If you love dragon & magic stories, you should give this book a try- I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it more than me!
December 8, 2019
I received an e-book copy in exchange for a completely honest review.
I'm not one who normally leaves reviews, as I'm terrible at wording properly, but I will do my best!
First I will say I absolutely adored this book and can not wait to read the others in this series. I am an avid fantasy reader and love dragons. The book mostly runs through Peter Bentwhistle's perspective, occasionally through his friends, Richie and Tank, perspectives. It starts off, though, as a story within a story about George and the Dragon, a favourite of Peter's. Then you come to the 'present' of Peter's life, which goes from absolutely wonderful to what the heck happened quite quickly due to some new guy in Peter's workplace named Manson (who is a total turd). Throughout the story there is interspersed talk of sports, not just sports we know (Peter plays hockey, Tank does Rugby, and Richie has Lacrosse), but a Dragon Sport known as Laminium Ball! Now, I am in no way a sports fan, but the way Paul Cude places these sports into his book and describes the events had me loving every minute. The story, and even the games, kept me on the edge of my seat, it was hard to put the book down and I hated when I hadn't the time to read. The ending part I literally couldn't even stop reading because it had me sucked in knowing that I was getting close to the end and some crazy things were about to happen.
I'm not one who normally leaves reviews, as I'm terrible at wording properly, but I will do my best!
First I will say I absolutely adored this book and can not wait to read the others in this series. I am an avid fantasy reader and love dragons. The book mostly runs through Peter Bentwhistle's perspective, occasionally through his friends, Richie and Tank, perspectives. It starts off, though, as a story within a story about George and the Dragon, a favourite of Peter's. Then you come to the 'present' of Peter's life, which goes from absolutely wonderful to what the heck happened quite quickly due to some new guy in Peter's workplace named Manson (who is a total turd). Throughout the story there is interspersed talk of sports, not just sports we know (Peter plays hockey, Tank does Rugby, and Richie has Lacrosse), but a Dragon Sport known as Laminium Ball! Now, I am in no way a sports fan, but the way Paul Cude places these sports into his book and describes the events had me loving every minute. The story, and even the games, kept me on the edge of my seat, it was hard to put the book down and I hated when I hadn't the time to read. The ending part I literally couldn't even stop reading because it had me sucked in knowing that I was getting close to the end and some crazy things were about to happen.
October 23, 2019
Peter, Richie and Tank are three best friends, they are also dragons who disguise themselves as humans to guide and protect them.
While Peter and Richie live above ground and have human jobs, Tank lives below in the world of dragons working with the Master Mantra maker. (Mantras are the spells cast by dragons to do all sorts of magic like appearing human.)
When a new person starts influencing Peter's boss, he senses that something is not right about him. He just doesn't seem "human" but he doesn't give the right vibes to be "dragon".
Peter can't get his friends to see Mason as a threat. They think he is just jealous because his authority at work is being downgraded. Peter is not so sure they are wrong.
This is a fantastic story. I love the originality and the entire concept of dragons living incognito!
I did find sections that were very dry. The human sports sections were the worst for me. I never did see why I needed to learn all the rules of each of their respective games. Having a dragon game was kind of fun but it made me think the author was trying to grab a shirt tail from Harry Potter.
Even though some sections were a bit much. I recommend reading the book.
While Peter and Richie live above ground and have human jobs, Tank lives below in the world of dragons working with the Master Mantra maker. (Mantras are the spells cast by dragons to do all sorts of magic like appearing human.)
When a new person starts influencing Peter's boss, he senses that something is not right about him. He just doesn't seem "human" but he doesn't give the right vibes to be "dragon".
Peter can't get his friends to see Mason as a threat. They think he is just jealous because his authority at work is being downgraded. Peter is not so sure they are wrong.
This is a fantastic story. I love the originality and the entire concept of dragons living incognito!
I did find sections that were very dry. The human sports sections were the worst for me. I never did see why I needed to learn all the rules of each of their respective games. Having a dragon game was kind of fun but it made me think the author was trying to grab a shirt tail from Harry Potter.
Even though some sections were a bit much. I recommend reading the book.
July 2, 2018
Sometime ago, I decided that I would no longer put less than three stars in a review. If it's not three stars worthy, I simply do not rate it at all.
However, after reading this and then looking at the four star review average, I was thrown a bit...until I started reading the reviews themselves. (Insert disappointed face here.)
I decided that for my fellow readers an HONEST review was needed.
I'm not saying every review was fluffed for favor but I'm leaning towards a high percentage.
This book is juvenile in its writing style. There is too much telling, and I was unable to get into the story. There is no character building and minimal world building.
When I'm at thirty pages and asking myself why on Earth I would keep reading, there's a problem.
I grew bored of the story, and bored of the characters.
Let me add, I love dragons and dragon shifters even more.
I was very disappointed with this book.
Sorry, but as a reader I want honest reviews so I don't waste my time, and I believe my fellow readers feel the same.
However, after reading this and then looking at the four star review average, I was thrown a bit...until I started reading the reviews themselves. (Insert disappointed face here.)
I decided that for my fellow readers an HONEST review was needed.
I'm not saying every review was fluffed for favor but I'm leaning towards a high percentage.
This book is juvenile in its writing style. There is too much telling, and I was unable to get into the story. There is no character building and minimal world building.
When I'm at thirty pages and asking myself why on Earth I would keep reading, there's a problem.
I grew bored of the story, and bored of the characters.
Let me add, I love dragons and dragon shifters even more.
I was very disappointed with this book.
Sorry, but as a reader I want honest reviews so I don't waste my time, and I believe my fellow readers feel the same.
October 10, 2016
*I got sent a copy of this book for review by the author. All thoughts are my own.*
This book was good: the world building was interesting and I loved how dragons were characterised in this book. Typically dragons are big, scary creatures but in this book dragons are just a normal part of society. They spend most of their time in human form and have jobs and play sports (if you like sport, as well as fantasy this books is for you!).
The characters were also really fun to read about! My only problem with this book was the pacing - the action is all clustered at the end of the book, so the beginning is a bit slow. However, in the following two instalments of this series you can really see a marked difference in both writing and pacing!
Overall, this series is a really fun, quick read!
This book was good: the world building was interesting and I loved how dragons were characterised in this book. Typically dragons are big, scary creatures but in this book dragons are just a normal part of society. They spend most of their time in human form and have jobs and play sports (if you like sport, as well as fantasy this books is for you!).
The characters were also really fun to read about! My only problem with this book was the pacing - the action is all clustered at the end of the book, so the beginning is a bit slow. However, in the following two instalments of this series you can really see a marked difference in both writing and pacing!
Overall, this series is a really fun, quick read!
February 12, 2020
17% in. Had to chuck it.
This started off so well! A different take on George and the Dragon. I really enjoyed it. Exciting, fast paced, nice set up. THEN I got to the next chapter, and I haven't been that bored since my 5 year old told me (in intricate detail) about the Paw Patrol Episode we had just watched. Omg! Who cares about the in and outs of a ducks bum when it comes to dragon engineering and secrecy? And the description of him getting into his flat was so long winded. I kept trying to carry on, but then it started on "hockey" and my brain just switched off. If it ever gets edited, I'll give it another go, but I have no time in my life for how charcoal doughnuts smell.
This started off so well! A different take on George and the Dragon. I really enjoyed it. Exciting, fast paced, nice set up. THEN I got to the next chapter, and I haven't been that bored since my 5 year old told me (in intricate detail) about the Paw Patrol Episode we had just watched. Omg! Who cares about the in and outs of a ducks bum when it comes to dragon engineering and secrecy? And the description of him getting into his flat was so long winded. I kept trying to carry on, but then it started on "hockey" and my brain just switched off. If it ever gets edited, I'll give it another go, but I have no time in my life for how charcoal doughnuts smell.
June 12, 2017
Meh..urr...ehhh...I finally finished. *swipes forehead* Review to come.
May 18, 2020
I really debated about whether I should give this a 1* or a 2* and decided, to be generous and give it 2*. All these 5* reviews have me baffled. I don't think we were reading the same thing. I will give the author this, he does know how to market. I purchased this book. It wasn't a free copy in exchange for a review.
I almost didn't finish it. I have never DNFd a book before, and I was seriously contemplating it. The premise was good. Who doesn't like a shape-shifting dragon urban fantasy? That should be interesting and exciting. It was decidedly not. Fantasy is supposed to be fantastical, interesting, but this was boring. I skimmed (also something I never do) through the last third because I just wanted to get through the boring parts to the plot points. One section was 80 pages long. I can't call it a chapter because it wasn't. So there would be 80 pages of exposition and 2o pages of dialogue and things pertaining to the plot. It should be the other way around.
*spoilers*
What I liked
I liked the first section. It was a 45-page short story retelling of George and the Dragon. If it had continued on that vein, this would be a three-star book. Sadly it did not.
I did like the sports play-by-play, but only when it pertained to the plot. Otherwise, it dragged the story down unnecessarily.
What I didn't like
The structure was perplexing. I love worldbuilding, but that worldbuilding should be there to support the story. Charcoal donuts are cool, but unless it pertains to the plot, I would not devote more than a couple of paragraphs to it, not pages. It was like that with a lot of worldbuilding aspects. Cool for the writer, not so cool to the reader. There has to be a balance and it just wasn't there. That alone would have cut 200 pages off the book. It needs to be sent to a developmental editor or relaunched after a few round of Beta Reads. It would be a much better book after killing some darlings.
There are huge walls of text. I found a paragraph that took up two pages. Lots of telling and very little showing, lots of passive language. There were Caps used in some sections with exclamation points. Repetitive paragraphs, poor word usage, head-hopping, and a few other writing faux pas that I couldn't get past. It was very distracting. This was originally published in 2012? So maybe the author's skill has improved since then. It needs to be relooked at. Even if the basic story doesn't change, these things need to be corrected.
The MC was just so dull. He changed once or twice into his dragon form and stayed in his human form throughout most of the book. At the climax when you think maybe he would turn into a dragon and have a cool dragon battle? Nope. Nothing. There were scenes where we see him eating cereal and checking the Tele newspaper and the newspaper isn't relevant to the story. Or he is cleaning his house, or doing work stuff. I don't like cleaning my own house, why would I want to read about it? His best moment? The match where he is directly encountering the villain on the field. I found that compelling and interesting. If there had been more moments like that, then Peter would have been much more likeable.
The villain. I found the villain to be flat, juvenile, and a simple bully. Even at the climax, he wasn't that interesting. He even did the "Since you are going to die anyway..." monologue. It was cliche. And the motivation didn't tie back to the first section in a strong enough way. So the big baddie felt meh.
The side characters, Ritchie and Tank were more interesting than the MC, which is problematic. I did like what I did read about those two. Although, I was a bit disappointed that they weren't there with Peter at the climax. The cover indicated that might be the case, and the fact Peter relied on them so much and they weren't there at the end... It felt like a missed opportunity.
Overall
I'm not interested in reading the sequel. A lot of this was a series of missed opportunities. The first section gives me hope. The retelling of George and the Dragon was good. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. It was a frustrating read for me, but maybe you will have better luck.
I almost didn't finish it. I have never DNFd a book before, and I was seriously contemplating it. The premise was good. Who doesn't like a shape-shifting dragon urban fantasy? That should be interesting and exciting. It was decidedly not. Fantasy is supposed to be fantastical, interesting, but this was boring. I skimmed (also something I never do) through the last third because I just wanted to get through the boring parts to the plot points. One section was 80 pages long. I can't call it a chapter because it wasn't. So there would be 80 pages of exposition and 2o pages of dialogue and things pertaining to the plot. It should be the other way around.
*spoilers*
What I liked
I liked the first section. It was a 45-page short story retelling of George and the Dragon. If it had continued on that vein, this would be a three-star book. Sadly it did not.
I did like the sports play-by-play, but only when it pertained to the plot. Otherwise, it dragged the story down unnecessarily.
What I didn't like
The structure was perplexing. I love worldbuilding, but that worldbuilding should be there to support the story. Charcoal donuts are cool, but unless it pertains to the plot, I would not devote more than a couple of paragraphs to it, not pages. It was like that with a lot of worldbuilding aspects. Cool for the writer, not so cool to the reader. There has to be a balance and it just wasn't there. That alone would have cut 200 pages off the book. It needs to be sent to a developmental editor or relaunched after a few round of Beta Reads. It would be a much better book after killing some darlings.
There are huge walls of text. I found a paragraph that took up two pages. Lots of telling and very little showing, lots of passive language. There were Caps used in some sections with exclamation points. Repetitive paragraphs, poor word usage, head-hopping, and a few other writing faux pas that I couldn't get past. It was very distracting. This was originally published in 2012? So maybe the author's skill has improved since then. It needs to be relooked at. Even if the basic story doesn't change, these things need to be corrected.
The MC was just so dull. He changed once or twice into his dragon form and stayed in his human form throughout most of the book. At the climax when you think maybe he would turn into a dragon and have a cool dragon battle? Nope. Nothing. There were scenes where we see him eating cereal and checking the Tele newspaper and the newspaper isn't relevant to the story. Or he is cleaning his house, or doing work stuff. I don't like cleaning my own house, why would I want to read about it? His best moment? The match where he is directly encountering the villain on the field. I found that compelling and interesting. If there had been more moments like that, then Peter would have been much more likeable.
The villain. I found the villain to be flat, juvenile, and a simple bully. Even at the climax, he wasn't that interesting. He even did the "Since you are going to die anyway..." monologue. It was cliche. And the motivation didn't tie back to the first section in a strong enough way. So the big baddie felt meh.
The side characters, Ritchie and Tank were more interesting than the MC, which is problematic. I did like what I did read about those two. Although, I was a bit disappointed that they weren't there with Peter at the climax. The cover indicated that might be the case, and the fact Peter relied on them so much and they weren't there at the end... It felt like a missed opportunity.
Overall
I'm not interested in reading the sequel. A lot of this was a series of missed opportunities. The first section gives me hope. The retelling of George and the Dragon was good. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. It was a frustrating read for me, but maybe you will have better luck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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