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Silver Batal #1
Silver Batal et le dragon d'eau
Silver Batal habite une ville fascinante au milieu du désert : perchés à flanc de falaise, des dizaines d'ateliers accueillent les artisans les plus divers – potiers et joailliers, ébénistes et souffleurs de verre. À treize ans, elle est censée travailler dur pour succéder à son père, l'un des bijoutiers les plus renommés de la région. Seul problème ? Son cœur n'appartient pas au désert, mais aux flots de l'océan : elle rêve de participer aux courses de dragons d'eau qui, chaque année, font vibrer le pays tout entier.
Justement, le destin ne tarde pas à frapper à sa porte : Nebekker, vieille tisserande avec laquelle elle s'est liée d'amitié, la mène jusqu'à Hiyyan, un petit dragon capable – ô miracle – non seulement de nager, mais aussi de voler ! Risquant le tout pour le tout, Silver et son cousin Brajon partent pour la cité royale, où doit justement se tenir une grande course. Créatures des cavernes et renards du désert, circuits créés par magie sur l'océan peuplés de tourbillons et de vagues impressionnantes... les pires dangers attendent nos deux héros. À commencer par Sagittaria Prodigo, la dresseuse de dragons d'eau favorite de la reine – la féroce adversaire qui a osé enlever la mère d'Hiyyan !
Justement, le destin ne tarde pas à frapper à sa porte : Nebekker, vieille tisserande avec laquelle elle s'est liée d'amitié, la mène jusqu'à Hiyyan, un petit dragon capable – ô miracle – non seulement de nager, mais aussi de voler ! Risquant le tout pour le tout, Silver et son cousin Brajon partent pour la cité royale, où doit justement se tenir une grande course. Créatures des cavernes et renards du désert, circuits créés par magie sur l'océan peuplés de tourbillons et de vagues impressionnantes... les pires dangers attendent nos deux héros. À commencer par Sagittaria Prodigo, la dresseuse de dragons d'eau favorite de la reine – la féroce adversaire qui a osé enlever la mère d'Hiyyan !
470 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
20 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 9, 2020
3.5 un bon premier tome pleins de magie et de dépaysement 😍
May 1, 2021
Ich war und bin absolut verzaubert von dem deutschen Cover! Ich liebe Geschichten über Drachen und die Prämisse, dass es hier um ein Rennen zwischen Wasserdrachen geht. Jetzt im Nachhinein würde ich empfehlen, den Klappentext nicht so genau zu lesen, weil er sehr viel vorwegnimmt und die ersten über 150 Seiten spoilert. Nichtsdestotrotz war ich gespannt darauf wie es weitergeht. Die Fantasywelt bringt ihren ganz eigenen Charme mit und ich fand den Kontrast zwischen Wüstenstadt und dem weiten Ozean richtig toll. Silver ist eine absolute Gryffindor, die für diejenigen kämpft, die ihr am Herz liegen. Während sie sich in Rekordzeit weiterentwickelt, gingen die Nebencharaktere allerdings unter. Diese haben sich eigentlich gar nicht entwickelt oder hatten Tiefgang.
Was mir leider nicht gefallen hat, war der Schreibstil. Manche Sätze wirkten sehr holprig („Silver schnappte nach Luft, als ihr Blick auf einen Krug aus Holz fiel - den eine Einlegearbeit aus Perlmutt schmückte, die einen Wasserdrachen darstellte.“) oder die Übergänge zwischen den Sätzen passten nicht richtig zusammen. Oft wurden Situationen richtig schnell abgehandelt, wodurch kaum Emotionen in mir ausgelöst wurden. Silver sitzt bspw. zum allerersten Mal auf einem Wasserdrachen, wovon sie ihr ganzes Leben geträumt hat. Ein magischer Moment oder? Leider nicht, denn in einem Moment setzt sie sich auf den Rücken des Drachen, im nächsten Absatz geht dann damit weiter, dass sie beim nächsten Lager angekommen ist. Von diesen Situationen gab es einige, was mich zunehmend frustriert hat. Viel Action ist ja schön und gut, aber Gefühle sind mir genauso wichtig. Hinzu kamen die ständigen Wortwiederholungen auf fast jeder Seite: Wasserdrachenrennen, Wasserdrachenrennreiterin, Wasserdrachensattel,...
Mein letzter großer Kritikpunkt sind die zahlreichen Logiklücken. Zum Beispiel strickt sie innerhalb ein oder zwei Stunden eine riesige Decke und eine Maske für ihren Drachen (der ist so groß wie ein Haus). Später stellt sie innerhalb einer Stunde Metallfäden her und daraus wiederum ein Kettenhemd (für ihren Drachen!) und auf der Flucht innerhalb von ein paar Minuten eine Tragetasche für einen anderen Drachen. Nicht nur kann sie anscheinend die Zeit beim Stricken ausdehnen, auch beim Training für das Rennen schafft sie innerhalb einer Stunde, wofür andere Charaktere trainiert haben seit sie drei Jahre alt sind.
Diese Ungereimtheiten und der Schreibstil haben mir den Spaß am Lesen ziemlich genommen. Ich empfehle euch auf jeden Fall einen Blick in die Leseprobe zu werfen, um zu schauen, wie sie euch gefällt. Falls ja, erwartet euch eine tolle, fantasievolle Welt, eine Bilderbuchheldin und durchgehende Spannung.
Was mir leider nicht gefallen hat, war der Schreibstil. Manche Sätze wirkten sehr holprig („Silver schnappte nach Luft, als ihr Blick auf einen Krug aus Holz fiel - den eine Einlegearbeit aus Perlmutt schmückte, die einen Wasserdrachen darstellte.“) oder die Übergänge zwischen den Sätzen passten nicht richtig zusammen. Oft wurden Situationen richtig schnell abgehandelt, wodurch kaum Emotionen in mir ausgelöst wurden. Silver sitzt bspw. zum allerersten Mal auf einem Wasserdrachen, wovon sie ihr ganzes Leben geträumt hat. Ein magischer Moment oder? Leider nicht, denn in einem Moment setzt sie sich auf den Rücken des Drachen, im nächsten Absatz geht dann damit weiter, dass sie beim nächsten Lager angekommen ist. Von diesen Situationen gab es einige, was mich zunehmend frustriert hat. Viel Action ist ja schön und gut, aber Gefühle sind mir genauso wichtig. Hinzu kamen die ständigen Wortwiederholungen auf fast jeder Seite: Wasserdrachenrennen, Wasserdrachenrennreiterin, Wasserdrachensattel,...
Mein letzter großer Kritikpunkt sind die zahlreichen Logiklücken. Zum Beispiel strickt sie innerhalb ein oder zwei Stunden eine riesige Decke und eine Maske für ihren Drachen (der ist so groß wie ein Haus). Später stellt sie innerhalb einer Stunde Metallfäden her und daraus wiederum ein Kettenhemd (für ihren Drachen!) und auf der Flucht innerhalb von ein paar Minuten eine Tragetasche für einen anderen Drachen. Nicht nur kann sie anscheinend die Zeit beim Stricken ausdehnen, auch beim Training für das Rennen schafft sie innerhalb einer Stunde, wofür andere Charaktere trainiert haben seit sie drei Jahre alt sind.
Diese Ungereimtheiten und der Schreibstil haben mir den Spaß am Lesen ziemlich genommen. Ich empfehle euch auf jeden Fall einen Blick in die Leseprobe zu werfen, um zu schauen, wie sie euch gefällt. Falls ja, erwartet euch eine tolle, fantasievolle Welt, eine Bilderbuchheldin und durchgehende Spannung.
November 20, 2019
This was a cute story, and reminded me of Christopher Paolini's Eragon. While I found it hard to stay focused on this book (it was clearly not meant for my age group), it was a quick and easy read and I can see many children really enjoying it.
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races, as you can imagine, follows the adventures of a thirteen year old girl named Silver Batal. Though she has spent her entire life being trained by her father to be a jeweler, Silver's true passion lies in racing water dragons. Unfortunately, Silver and her family live in the middle of a vast desert, meaning Silver has very little chance of even seeing a water dragon, much less racing one. This changes when Silver's elderly friend, Nebekker, introduces her to a rare baby dragon named Hiyyan. When Hiyyan's mother Kirja (and Nebekker's bonded dragon) is kidnapped, it is up to Silver and her cousin Brajon to brave the big city to get her back. The two are led on an epic adventure that will test them in many ways, while also giving Silver the chance to finally live her dream and become a water dragon racer.
This book had some issues (I'll get to those later), but overall I thought it was very cute and appealing to middle grade readers. As I said before, the plot feels very similar to Eragon, with a wayward teen bonding with an extremely rare dragon and going on an epic adventure. Unlike Eragon, however, this book is an incredibly easy read. The writing style is simple but engaging, and there are no made-up words or languages for the reader to memorize. This is a book I would easily recommend to a reluctant reader, especially one who enjoys series like Wings of Fire, as I think it has a lot of appeal to fans of fantasy and dragons.
I'll admit that I rarely read middle grade, as I tend to enjoy YA more. Where middle grade is extremely tame and generally inoffensive, I enjoy YA for its ability to push boundaries and take risks, covering topics that many adult and children's authors are often hesitant to tackle. Silver Batal, though not a bad book, falls into this category of being harmless and inoffensive. There is absolutely no cursing, sexual content, or real violence (some of the dragons get wounded, but that's about it), and the story focuses much more on friendship and learning to be true to oneself than anything else. This obviously isn't a bad thing, but it made for a rather uninteresting read for me. To a middle schooler obsessed with dragons, however, I could easily see this being their favorite book, if only because the premise is so cool. If I had picked up this book in middle school myself, I think I would've really enjoyed it as well, but it didn't quite capture my attention as much as an adult.
One thing I loved was that the front and back inside covers of this book featured pictures of some of the dragons mentioned in the story. The downside to this, however, is that it doesn't show all of the species, and the book is also lacking a map. Any time I'm reading fantasy that name drops certain city names or landmarks, I expect there to be a map so that I can follow along with the characters as I read. It is, unfortunately, one of my pet peeves when it comes to fantasy, and this book had that issue. Of course, this is only the first book in a series, so there might be maps and different dragons in future installments, but for now I remain a tad disappointed. I will say, however, that the art featured in this book is gorgeous, from the cover to the black and white illustration in the back. I would love to see more of this beautiful artwork, as I think it helped spark my initial interest in picking this title up for ROYAL.
And now I have to discuss my one major issue with this book: Silver herself. Though she is written realistically for a naive, impulsive thirteen year old girl, I found myself getting a little frustrated with Silver throughout the story. First, she steals from her father before going on her adventure, and never once apologizes to her family for doing so. I understand that her father was less than supportive of her desire to race water dragons, but I don't think this justified Silver stealing precious jewels from him. She later gets really indignant and defensive when jewel thief posters are put up, insisting that she's not a thief, but... she literally is. It frustrates me that she never really takes ownership of this, and there are never really any consequences for doing so.
Another thing about Silver that annoys me is that she seems to be very selfish at times, worrying more about her own desires and what she wants than what those around her want. One example is Brajon; though he wants to stay put in their hometown, Silver seems to bully him about this a little bit, guilting him into coming with her anyways. She then gets annoyed with him over little things throughout the story, including disappearing briefly in the city (he was trying to help her) and being afraid to fly on Hiyyan. Though this is remedied at the end when she lets him remain home, Silver never really apologizes for this behavior, and there are (once again) no consequences for this. The same thing happens later when she pushes Hiyyan too far, and while she does learn from it and apologize this time, her attitude still left me feeling icky and annoyed. Again, she's meant to be a very flawed thirteen year old with a lot to learn, but I worry that the lack of real consequences for her actions might be modeling bad behavior in younger readers.
Aside from Silver, however, I really enjoyed the rest of this book. I thought it was really cool that the author (who is herself Lebanese American) worked in some aspects of Middle Eastern culture, such as fashion (headscarves and caftans) and the desert setting. While I admit that I know very little of Lebanese culture, it was neat to see a small piece of another culture woven into a fantasy, as this is good representation for those who might not otherwise be exposed to cultures different than their own. I can always appreciate diversity in a story, especially a fantasy story.
I also really enjoyed the relationships in this book, from Silver and her dragon to her friendship with Brajon and Nebekker. I also loved what seemed to be a hinted future romance between Silver and Ferdi, as I think they're really cute and had great chemistry. I also liked how this book gave a subtle warning to young teens about putting their heroes on a pedestal, as Silver's hero Sagittaria Wonder turns out to be a cruel and manipulative bully. Silver's behavior throughout the book might actually be hinting at the fact that she could turn into Sagittaria if she's not careful, which helps justify the author's writing choices throughout the story. I still worry that some readers might not understand this comparison, but I can at least recognize that some of Silver's bad choices have a rhyme and reason within the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and think it would be a great choice for any young fans of dragons or fantasy. I would especially recommend it to fans of Wings of Fire, How to Train Your Dragon, and Eragon, as I think this story is in the same vein as the other two. Better yet, it's going to be a series, giving readers an opportunity to dive into a new series while they wait for others to update. This book is also good for reluctant readers and those with restrictive parents, as the language is easy to follow and extremely inoffensive. I would feel comfortable with an elementary schooler reading this, as I didn't come across anything offensive or controversial in the book. While it wasn't exactly an instant obsession for me, I recognize that I am not the target audience for this book. I believe middle grade readers will really enjoy this story, however, and will gladly add it to my library's collection and recommend it to them in the future.
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races, as you can imagine, follows the adventures of a thirteen year old girl named Silver Batal. Though she has spent her entire life being trained by her father to be a jeweler, Silver's true passion lies in racing water dragons. Unfortunately, Silver and her family live in the middle of a vast desert, meaning Silver has very little chance of even seeing a water dragon, much less racing one. This changes when Silver's elderly friend, Nebekker, introduces her to a rare baby dragon named Hiyyan. When Hiyyan's mother Kirja (and Nebekker's bonded dragon) is kidnapped, it is up to Silver and her cousin Brajon to brave the big city to get her back. The two are led on an epic adventure that will test them in many ways, while also giving Silver the chance to finally live her dream and become a water dragon racer.
This book had some issues (I'll get to those later), but overall I thought it was very cute and appealing to middle grade readers. As I said before, the plot feels very similar to Eragon, with a wayward teen bonding with an extremely rare dragon and going on an epic adventure. Unlike Eragon, however, this book is an incredibly easy read. The writing style is simple but engaging, and there are no made-up words or languages for the reader to memorize. This is a book I would easily recommend to a reluctant reader, especially one who enjoys series like Wings of Fire, as I think it has a lot of appeal to fans of fantasy and dragons.
I'll admit that I rarely read middle grade, as I tend to enjoy YA more. Where middle grade is extremely tame and generally inoffensive, I enjoy YA for its ability to push boundaries and take risks, covering topics that many adult and children's authors are often hesitant to tackle. Silver Batal, though not a bad book, falls into this category of being harmless and inoffensive. There is absolutely no cursing, sexual content, or real violence (some of the dragons get wounded, but that's about it), and the story focuses much more on friendship and learning to be true to oneself than anything else. This obviously isn't a bad thing, but it made for a rather uninteresting read for me. To a middle schooler obsessed with dragons, however, I could easily see this being their favorite book, if only because the premise is so cool. If I had picked up this book in middle school myself, I think I would've really enjoyed it as well, but it didn't quite capture my attention as much as an adult.
One thing I loved was that the front and back inside covers of this book featured pictures of some of the dragons mentioned in the story. The downside to this, however, is that it doesn't show all of the species, and the book is also lacking a map. Any time I'm reading fantasy that name drops certain city names or landmarks, I expect there to be a map so that I can follow along with the characters as I read. It is, unfortunately, one of my pet peeves when it comes to fantasy, and this book had that issue. Of course, this is only the first book in a series, so there might be maps and different dragons in future installments, but for now I remain a tad disappointed. I will say, however, that the art featured in this book is gorgeous, from the cover to the black and white illustration in the back. I would love to see more of this beautiful artwork, as I think it helped spark my initial interest in picking this title up for ROYAL.
And now I have to discuss my one major issue with this book: Silver herself. Though she is written realistically for a naive, impulsive thirteen year old girl, I found myself getting a little frustrated with Silver throughout the story. First, she steals from her father before going on her adventure, and never once apologizes to her family for doing so. I understand that her father was less than supportive of her desire to race water dragons, but I don't think this justified Silver stealing precious jewels from him. She later gets really indignant and defensive when jewel thief posters are put up, insisting that she's not a thief, but... she literally is. It frustrates me that she never really takes ownership of this, and there are never really any consequences for doing so.
Another thing about Silver that annoys me is that she seems to be very selfish at times, worrying more about her own desires and what she wants than what those around her want. One example is Brajon; though he wants to stay put in their hometown, Silver seems to bully him about this a little bit, guilting him into coming with her anyways. She then gets annoyed with him over little things throughout the story, including disappearing briefly in the city (he was trying to help her) and being afraid to fly on Hiyyan. Though this is remedied at the end when she lets him remain home, Silver never really apologizes for this behavior, and there are (once again) no consequences for this. The same thing happens later when she pushes Hiyyan too far, and while she does learn from it and apologize this time, her attitude still left me feeling icky and annoyed. Again, she's meant to be a very flawed thirteen year old with a lot to learn, but I worry that the lack of real consequences for her actions might be modeling bad behavior in younger readers.
Aside from Silver, however, I really enjoyed the rest of this book. I thought it was really cool that the author (who is herself Lebanese American) worked in some aspects of Middle Eastern culture, such as fashion (headscarves and caftans) and the desert setting. While I admit that I know very little of Lebanese culture, it was neat to see a small piece of another culture woven into a fantasy, as this is good representation for those who might not otherwise be exposed to cultures different than their own. I can always appreciate diversity in a story, especially a fantasy story.
I also really enjoyed the relationships in this book, from Silver and her dragon to her friendship with Brajon and Nebekker. I also loved what seemed to be a hinted future romance between Silver and Ferdi, as I think they're really cute and had great chemistry. I also liked how this book gave a subtle warning to young teens about putting their heroes on a pedestal, as Silver's hero Sagittaria Wonder turns out to be a cruel and manipulative bully. Silver's behavior throughout the book might actually be hinting at the fact that she could turn into Sagittaria if she's not careful, which helps justify the author's writing choices throughout the story. I still worry that some readers might not understand this comparison, but I can at least recognize that some of Silver's bad choices have a rhyme and reason within the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and think it would be a great choice for any young fans of dragons or fantasy. I would especially recommend it to fans of Wings of Fire, How to Train Your Dragon, and Eragon, as I think this story is in the same vein as the other two. Better yet, it's going to be a series, giving readers an opportunity to dive into a new series while they wait for others to update. This book is also good for reluctant readers and those with restrictive parents, as the language is easy to follow and extremely inoffensive. I would feel comfortable with an elementary schooler reading this, as I didn't come across anything offensive or controversial in the book. While it wasn't exactly an instant obsession for me, I recognize that I am not the target audience for this book. I believe middle grade readers will really enjoy this story, however, and will gladly add it to my library's collection and recommend it to them in the future.
October 22, 2020
I read the last 50% of this in 1 sitting!! I loved it! I usually try not to read any books w/any kind of animals in them-b/c they usually are stressful lol I was worried about these dragons the whole book b/c of my fear lol that’s a personal thing though. I felt like I was in the desert, in the caves, the water, the races...all of it. I could smell everything, & taste the food. Everything was described so well! Silver is so brave, determined, & feisty! Her father has her future already planned for her-but she has different ideas-a mind & heart of her own. I loved her. I also loved Brajon, Nebekker & Kirja. Hiyyan was my absolute favorite though. I love that dragon. I loved the “bond” in the book b/n a dragon & their human. That was so amazing & special. The races were very interesting & action packed. The whole book was action packed & full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. More upper MG for sure. Loved this!!💜💜
July 19, 2019
Very fun/cute/adventurous Middle Grade book. Definitely will keep an eye out for the rest of this series. This is on the list for my future child and I to read together because: dragons.
June 15, 2020
Sympathique malgré quelques longueurs. J'ai beaucoup plus apprécié la seconde moitié. Parfait pour les enfants qui ont aimé les Royaumes de 🔥.
October 22, 2019
I almost gave up on this SO MANY TIMES. I almost did not finish this; I question myself and the use of my time if it took me until PAGE 244 to even like the MC!?! OUT OF 323 PAGES!!! Great Googly Moogly!
Silver Batal was selfish and spoiled and a very unbelievable sort of character, not very likeable as well, and rather a brat. To be honest, I loved her dragon and was hanging out for the dragon. If there was any redemption to be had or any salvation of any sort, I wanted it for the dragon's sake...not for the girl's. She was such a prat. Did she even deserve to win her dreams? Debatable due to how horrid she was. Was her father horrid and a dream-crusher? Did this mitigate how she acted in my mind? Nope.
*sigh* Everything about how she dragon-raced/dune-boarded/flew/etc. came too easily for someone who had never done it before. I really don't like that trope. *double sigh* She used people, and I really don't like that. And her lack of consequences didn't seem to amount to anything. Did she FINALLY grow as a character? Arrrghhhh.....
The illustrations on the end papers are amazing. The culture/world-building is amazing. Would I like to visit this world? Yes! Would I read a sequel? With reservations....
Silver Batal was selfish and spoiled and a very unbelievable sort of character, not very likeable as well, and rather a brat. To be honest, I loved her dragon and was hanging out for the dragon. If there was any redemption to be had or any salvation of any sort, I wanted it for the dragon's sake...not for the girl's. She was such a prat. Did she even deserve to win her dreams? Debatable due to how horrid she was. Was her father horrid and a dream-crusher? Did this mitigate how she acted in my mind? Nope.
*sigh* Everything about how she dragon-raced/dune-boarded/flew/etc. came too easily for someone who had never done it before. I really don't like that trope. *double sigh* She used people, and I really don't like that. And her lack of consequences didn't seem to amount to anything. Did she FINALLY grow as a character? Arrrghhhh.....
The illustrations on the end papers are amazing. The culture/world-building is amazing. Would I like to visit this world? Yes! Would I read a sequel? With reservations....
May 12, 2020
Je suis restée très hermétique à l'histoire et j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à m'y plonger. Je n'ai pas apprécié le personnage de Silver que j'ai trouvé assez ennuyeuse et énervante (et ce, dès les premières pages). Le seul personnage que j'ai réellement apprécié est Ferdi (à mon grand désarroi, on le découvre assez tard dans le roman).
J'ai trouvé l'univers intéressant mais pas assez exploité à mon goût : on nous parle de dragons et on nous en donne à voir si peu au final. Il y a différentes espèces mais pas assez de descriptions ou de détails. Je ne m'attendais pas à un catalogue non plus ou a autant de détails que dans Une histoire naturelle des dragons de Marie Brennan. On reste sur un roman jeunesse, mais j'en attendais un peu plus. Peut-être que ces détails se trouvent dans les parties que j'ai "sauté" au cours de ma lecture.
J'ai trouvé l'écriture assez lourde avec beaucoup de longueurs (notamment au début). J'ai lu une grosse partie en diagonale mais la fin relève le niveau (même si la partie course est bien rapide). Malheureusement, même si la fin est intéressante, elle ne modifiera pas grandement ma note.
Je ne lirai probablement pas la suite. Ce premier tome est très introductif (et probablement beaucoup trop pour moi et il mérite la moyenne : 2.5/5). Dommage parce que j'étais vraiment très emballée par cette histoire.
J'ai trouvé l'univers intéressant mais pas assez exploité à mon goût : on nous parle de dragons et on nous en donne à voir si peu au final. Il y a différentes espèces mais pas assez de descriptions ou de détails. Je ne m'attendais pas à un catalogue non plus ou a autant de détails que dans Une histoire naturelle des dragons de Marie Brennan. On reste sur un roman jeunesse, mais j'en attendais un peu plus. Peut-être que ces détails se trouvent dans les parties que j'ai "sauté" au cours de ma lecture.
J'ai trouvé l'écriture assez lourde avec beaucoup de longueurs (notamment au début). J'ai lu une grosse partie en diagonale mais la fin relève le niveau (même si la partie course est bien rapide). Malheureusement, même si la fin est intéressante, elle ne modifiera pas grandement ma note.
Je ne lirai probablement pas la suite. Ce premier tome est très introductif (et probablement beaucoup trop pour moi et il mérite la moyenne : 2.5/5). Dommage parce que j'étais vraiment très emballée par cette histoire.
July 1, 2019
Bonding with a dragon, racing through an obstacle course on dragon back, and a desert world with a foreign culture. The book had all those qualities and more.
At first, I found Silver to be a impetuous, short-sighted girl, and her eagerness to get herself into trouble really annoyed me. Halfway through the book, however, Silver's growing responsibilities & unfamiliarity with the capital city turned her a bit more cautious. She's always full of energy, which helps her out in very sticky moments. I enjoyed how Silver had to choose between her desires and her responsibilities.
The dragons sound wonderful, and there are some great characters that help Silver out. Her hometown sounds fascinating - a desert city populated by artists, and her own amazing family.
I didn't connect with the MC, so this book wasn't my favorite, but I'm sure others will enjoy it. It was a very creative work.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
At first, I found Silver to be a impetuous, short-sighted girl, and her eagerness to get herself into trouble really annoyed me. Halfway through the book, however, Silver's growing responsibilities & unfamiliarity with the capital city turned her a bit more cautious. She's always full of energy, which helps her out in very sticky moments. I enjoyed how Silver had to choose between her desires and her responsibilities.
The dragons sound wonderful, and there are some great characters that help Silver out. Her hometown sounds fascinating - a desert city populated by artists, and her own amazing family.
I didn't connect with the MC, so this book wasn't my favorite, but I'm sure others will enjoy it. It was a very creative work.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2020
3.5/5 ⭐️
🐉🐉🐉🐉
Coucou les chouquettes 🥰 Comment ça va?
Aujourd’hui je reviens pour mon avis sur les tomes 1 et 2 de Silver Batal de K. D. Halbrook. J’ai lu ces livres dans le cadre de mon #magicalcreaturesathon
Dans l’ensemble j’aime beaucoup l’histoire qui tourne autour des dragons d’eau, de la découverte de soi et de la poursuite de ses rêves. J’aime aussi beaucoup le monde créé avec d’un côté les Pleines désertiques et de l’autre les Contrées Océaniques. Je pense que cette histoire va énormément plaire aux enfants/jeunes ados.
Pour moi, le côté jeunesse ressort énormément et m’a un peu dérangé de par l’enchaînement d’actions trop rapides, le fait que Silver devient la meilleure en 2 secondes et par les problèmes qui se résolvent très facilement et rapidement. Ce point s’arrange dans le second volet, sans toutefois me transporter totalement.
J’ai plus aimé le tome 1 car je trouve l’intrigue plus travaillée et plus intéressante. J’ai adoré la course à la fin et j’aurais aimé qu’elle dure plus longtemps.
Le tome 2 souffre du syndrome du tome 2 😅 Il y a moins d’actions et l’intrigue tourne en rond sans vraiment décoller. Toutefois, la fin laisse présager une très bonne suite où Silver sera confrontée à elle-même et grandira. Je lirais donc le 3ème volet quand il sera publié!
Ces livres se lisent très rapidement et l’écriture est simple mais très fluide.
🐉🐉🐉🐉
Coucou les chouquettes 🥰 Comment ça va?
Aujourd’hui je reviens pour mon avis sur les tomes 1 et 2 de Silver Batal de K. D. Halbrook. J’ai lu ces livres dans le cadre de mon #magicalcreaturesathon
Dans l’ensemble j’aime beaucoup l’histoire qui tourne autour des dragons d’eau, de la découverte de soi et de la poursuite de ses rêves. J’aime aussi beaucoup le monde créé avec d’un côté les Pleines désertiques et de l’autre les Contrées Océaniques. Je pense que cette histoire va énormément plaire aux enfants/jeunes ados.
Pour moi, le côté jeunesse ressort énormément et m’a un peu dérangé de par l’enchaînement d’actions trop rapides, le fait que Silver devient la meilleure en 2 secondes et par les problèmes qui se résolvent très facilement et rapidement. Ce point s’arrange dans le second volet, sans toutefois me transporter totalement.
J’ai plus aimé le tome 1 car je trouve l’intrigue plus travaillée et plus intéressante. J’ai adoré la course à la fin et j’aurais aimé qu’elle dure plus longtemps.
Le tome 2 souffre du syndrome du tome 2 😅 Il y a moins d’actions et l’intrigue tourne en rond sans vraiment décoller. Toutefois, la fin laisse présager une très bonne suite où Silver sera confrontée à elle-même et grandira. Je lirais donc le 3ème volet quand il sera publié!
Ces livres se lisent très rapidement et l’écriture est simple mais très fluide.
November 18, 2019
Abandon à 207 pages.
De ce que j'ai lu j'ai trouvé ça d'un long et je m'ennuyais ferme. Je pense avoir assez lu pour me faire une idée donc sans regret je m'arrête là.
De ce que j'ai lu j'ai trouvé ça d'un long et je m'ennuyais ferme. Je pense avoir assez lu pour me faire une idée donc sans regret je m'arrête là.
June 6, 2019
http://www.virtuellementvotre.fr/2019...
Dès l’annonce de la sortie de « Silver Batal et le dragon d’eau » j’ai été conquise par son résumé et la magnifique couverture qui l’accompagnait. Étant mère de plusieurs enfants, dont un fils de treize ans, j’avais très envie de partager cette histoire avec lui et de m’évader en sa compagnie. C’est chose faite aujourd’hui, et le moins que l’on puisse dire c’est que ce livre regorge d’action et d’émotions.
Silver Batal n’est pas n’importe quelle jeune fille et je suis ravie de constater que sa personnalité est très proche finalement de celle de nos adolescents. Cette tête brûlée a un caractère fougueux et sait ce qu’elle veut dans la vie. Elle est tour à tour, casse coup prête à tout pour toucher à son but et vulnérable lorsqu’elle se met à douter de ses atouts. Je me suis rapidement prise d’affection pour la jeune fille que j’ai eu envie d’encourager et de voir relever tous ses défis haut la main. Son évolution est particulièrement prenante alors même si le chemin est long et semé d’embûche, je n’ai cessé de croire en ses capacités et d’applaudir ses exploits.
Toutefois, Silver n’est pas seule dans cette aventure et le lien qui l’unit à Hiyyan est absolument fascinant. En effet, de par sa rareté et sa solidité, il est captivant de voir l’ele-joaillère prendre ses marques avec l’Aquinder. Il existe une telle connexion, une telle union des cœurs et des corps que l’on est obligé de s’attacher à ce duo. Ils sont l’âme de ce roman tout simplement.
Autour d’eux gravitent bon nombre de personnages secondaires qui ont chacun leur importance et forment un ensemble très intéressant. Avec d’un côté la Reine Imea, la dresseuse Sagittaria Prodigo, les habitants de Calidia et de l’autre Rami Batal, Sersha, Brajon et Nebekker sans oublier Kirja, Ferdi et Mele, les rencontres s’enchaînent pour Silver et ne se ressemblent pas. Il faudra que la jeune fille choisisse soigneusement ses alliés et apprenne à faire confiance aux bonnes personnes sous peine de se voir entraîner dans des situations incontrôlables.
La dimension fantastique de ce texte est époustouflante. L’ambiance magique qui règne, la présence des dragons majestueux, les courses passionnantes et toute la pression qui repose sur les épaules de notre héroïne s’entrechoquent et s’équilibrent pour nous offrir une histoire hors du commun dont on a du mal à détacher nos yeux.
Silver Batal et le dragon d’eau est un premier tome que l’on a pris énormément de plaisir à découvrir. Nous n’avons pas vu les heures passer et il nous a permis de partager un joli moment de complicité et d’émotions grâce à un texte fort teinté d’humour et d’espoir. Une belle lecture qu’il me tarde de réitérer avec la suite dès qu’elle sera disponible.
Dès l’annonce de la sortie de « Silver Batal et le dragon d’eau » j’ai été conquise par son résumé et la magnifique couverture qui l’accompagnait. Étant mère de plusieurs enfants, dont un fils de treize ans, j’avais très envie de partager cette histoire avec lui et de m’évader en sa compagnie. C’est chose faite aujourd’hui, et le moins que l’on puisse dire c’est que ce livre regorge d’action et d’émotions.
Silver Batal n’est pas n’importe quelle jeune fille et je suis ravie de constater que sa personnalité est très proche finalement de celle de nos adolescents. Cette tête brûlée a un caractère fougueux et sait ce qu’elle veut dans la vie. Elle est tour à tour, casse coup prête à tout pour toucher à son but et vulnérable lorsqu’elle se met à douter de ses atouts. Je me suis rapidement prise d’affection pour la jeune fille que j’ai eu envie d’encourager et de voir relever tous ses défis haut la main. Son évolution est particulièrement prenante alors même si le chemin est long et semé d’embûche, je n’ai cessé de croire en ses capacités et d’applaudir ses exploits.
Toutefois, Silver n’est pas seule dans cette aventure et le lien qui l’unit à Hiyyan est absolument fascinant. En effet, de par sa rareté et sa solidité, il est captivant de voir l’ele-joaillère prendre ses marques avec l’Aquinder. Il existe une telle connexion, une telle union des cœurs et des corps que l’on est obligé de s’attacher à ce duo. Ils sont l’âme de ce roman tout simplement.
Autour d’eux gravitent bon nombre de personnages secondaires qui ont chacun leur importance et forment un ensemble très intéressant. Avec d’un côté la Reine Imea, la dresseuse Sagittaria Prodigo, les habitants de Calidia et de l’autre Rami Batal, Sersha, Brajon et Nebekker sans oublier Kirja, Ferdi et Mele, les rencontres s’enchaînent pour Silver et ne se ressemblent pas. Il faudra que la jeune fille choisisse soigneusement ses alliés et apprenne à faire confiance aux bonnes personnes sous peine de se voir entraîner dans des situations incontrôlables.
La dimension fantastique de ce texte est époustouflante. L’ambiance magique qui règne, la présence des dragons majestueux, les courses passionnantes et toute la pression qui repose sur les épaules de notre héroïne s’entrechoquent et s’équilibrent pour nous offrir une histoire hors du commun dont on a du mal à détacher nos yeux.
Silver Batal et le dragon d’eau est un premier tome que l’on a pris énormément de plaisir à découvrir. Nous n’avons pas vu les heures passer et il nous a permis de partager un joli moment de complicité et d’émotions grâce à un texte fort teinté d’humour et d’espoir. Une belle lecture qu’il me tarde de réitérer avec la suite dès qu’elle sera disponible.
July 12, 2019
This book was everything that I love in a book involving Dragons and so very much more.
Imagine a world where Dragons are creatures of the water and many of them are famous not only for their uniqueness but also for those that have been a part of the Water Dragon Races in which people come to from all over the world.
Silver Batal is a young thirteen year old girl who is expected to take over her Dad's Jeweler business but she doesn't feel that it's her calling and has spent a good chunk of her life dreaming of becoming a Water Dragon racer just like someone that she very much looks up to. She befriends an elder woman who seems to be just the kind of friend that Silver needs and is the key to Silver possibly having her biggest dream come true.
Silver soon learns that a rare breed of Dragon that was said to have become extinct really isn't and one of them bonds with Silver in a way that will change her life forever whom she names Hiyyan who isn't very old in Dragon years and whose only companionship has been that of Silver's friend and Kirja who is Hiyyan's Mother. When Kirja is kidnapped by someone who Silver once looked up to, Silver is determined to rescue her and also hopes to take part in the famous Water Dragon Racing. her cousin Brajon shows up just as Silver is about to leave with Hiyyan and is determined to tag along if only to hopefully keep Silver from being harmed.
Their journey to rescue Kirja will be full of adventure, unexpected twists and danger that will test their determination but also bring them closer, forming a bond and making friends along the way.
Silver will find herself very much tested while searching for Kirja and joining in on the Water Dragon Races which is a dream come true but will also hopefully lead to freeing Kirja before it's too late and her bond with Hiyyan will help her to grow and become a better person.
I enjoyed this book so much, particularly the mention of a variety of Water Dragon breeds which I would love to see drawings of. It was so much fun to read about such fascinating creatures and I could picture just about all of them with the descriptions.
This is one of my favorite Dragon books that I have read in quite some time and I am eager to some day read a sequel of it. I highly recommend checking out this book and may you enjoy it as much as I have!
Imagine a world where Dragons are creatures of the water and many of them are famous not only for their uniqueness but also for those that have been a part of the Water Dragon Races in which people come to from all over the world.
Silver Batal is a young thirteen year old girl who is expected to take over her Dad's Jeweler business but she doesn't feel that it's her calling and has spent a good chunk of her life dreaming of becoming a Water Dragon racer just like someone that she very much looks up to. She befriends an elder woman who seems to be just the kind of friend that Silver needs and is the key to Silver possibly having her biggest dream come true.
Silver soon learns that a rare breed of Dragon that was said to have become extinct really isn't and one of them bonds with Silver in a way that will change her life forever whom she names Hiyyan who isn't very old in Dragon years and whose only companionship has been that of Silver's friend and Kirja who is Hiyyan's Mother. When Kirja is kidnapped by someone who Silver once looked up to, Silver is determined to rescue her and also hopes to take part in the famous Water Dragon Racing. her cousin Brajon shows up just as Silver is about to leave with Hiyyan and is determined to tag along if only to hopefully keep Silver from being harmed.
Their journey to rescue Kirja will be full of adventure, unexpected twists and danger that will test their determination but also bring them closer, forming a bond and making friends along the way.
Silver will find herself very much tested while searching for Kirja and joining in on the Water Dragon Races which is a dream come true but will also hopefully lead to freeing Kirja before it's too late and her bond with Hiyyan will help her to grow and become a better person.
I enjoyed this book so much, particularly the mention of a variety of Water Dragon breeds which I would love to see drawings of. It was so much fun to read about such fascinating creatures and I could picture just about all of them with the descriptions.
This is one of my favorite Dragon books that I have read in quite some time and I am eager to some day read a sequel of it. I highly recommend checking out this book and may you enjoy it as much as I have!
December 25, 2024
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races by K.D. Halbrook had an exciting premise: a brave girl chasing her dream of becoming a water dragon racer, set in a world of magical creatures and daring competitions. Unfortunately, while the idea promised so much, the execution disappointed my middle schooler and me.
The story follows Silver Batal, a determined girl who longs to escape her desert hometown and pursue her dream of racing water dragons. Along the way, she bonds with a majestic water dragon and faces challenges that test her courage and resolve. While Silver’s enthusiasm and her relationship with the dragon are sweet, they can’t make up for the shortcomings in the story.
The biggest issue is the overly simplistic worldbuilding. The setting feels bare and unconvincing for a book centered on such a unique concept. The desert town, the racing circuits, and even the water dragons lack the vivid details that could have made this world come alive. My child kept asking questions about how the races worked or why the world seemed so disconnected—and there weren’t any satisfying answers. Instead of immersing us in a fully realized fantasy realm, the book barely scratches the surface, leaving much of the world flat and unfinished.
The plot itself is equally thin. While Silver’s journey has moments of excitement, her challenges are resolved too quickly and easily, robbing the story of meaningful tension or stakes. Many side characters are one-dimensional, serving more as tools to move the plot along rather than adding depth or emotional connection. When we reached the end, my middle schooler felt more frustrated than satisfied, and I had to agree.
The action scenes involving the water dragon races add some energy but lack the detail and intensity to make them genuinely thrilling. The book had all the ingredients for a spectacular adventure, but instead, it felt like a rushed outline of a much better story.
Overall, Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races earns 2 stars. While it may appeal to young readers new to fantasy, it falls short of its potential. The lack of depth in the world, story, and characters makes it hard to recommend, especially when so many more substantial dragon-themed books are out there. If your middle schooler is a fan of dragons, I’d steer them toward more richly developed fantasies instead.
The story follows Silver Batal, a determined girl who longs to escape her desert hometown and pursue her dream of racing water dragons. Along the way, she bonds with a majestic water dragon and faces challenges that test her courage and resolve. While Silver’s enthusiasm and her relationship with the dragon are sweet, they can’t make up for the shortcomings in the story.
The biggest issue is the overly simplistic worldbuilding. The setting feels bare and unconvincing for a book centered on such a unique concept. The desert town, the racing circuits, and even the water dragons lack the vivid details that could have made this world come alive. My child kept asking questions about how the races worked or why the world seemed so disconnected—and there weren’t any satisfying answers. Instead of immersing us in a fully realized fantasy realm, the book barely scratches the surface, leaving much of the world flat and unfinished.
The plot itself is equally thin. While Silver’s journey has moments of excitement, her challenges are resolved too quickly and easily, robbing the story of meaningful tension or stakes. Many side characters are one-dimensional, serving more as tools to move the plot along rather than adding depth or emotional connection. When we reached the end, my middle schooler felt more frustrated than satisfied, and I had to agree.
The action scenes involving the water dragon races add some energy but lack the detail and intensity to make them genuinely thrilling. The book had all the ingredients for a spectacular adventure, but instead, it felt like a rushed outline of a much better story.
Overall, Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races earns 2 stars. While it may appeal to young readers new to fantasy, it falls short of its potential. The lack of depth in the world, story, and characters makes it hard to recommend, especially when so many more substantial dragon-themed books are out there. If your middle schooler is a fan of dragons, I’d steer them toward more richly developed fantasies instead.
February 5, 2025
I feel like I got a different book than the one advertised. Either that, or this book just can't seem to decide what it wants to be. I'm all for watching a girl go against her family's traditions to participate in a favorite sport, even if that's a storyline that's been done to death. I was confident that the author could give it a fresh spin, especially when this book featured dragons! Unfortunately, the book was a muddled mess not helped by an unlikable main character.
Silver dreams of racing water dragons and becoming a champion, despite her father's intention to make her train to be a jeweler like the rest of her family. So she's overjoyed when she discovers a young water dragon... a rare type of water dragon that can both swim AND fly! But the history behind water dragons is far more complex than she realized, and soon she finds herself on a journey with her new dragon and her stubborn cousin to win a race, free another dragon from captivity... and prove herself to the world.
I enjoyed the basic premise, and the baby dragon was enjoyable. But the worldbuilding felt rather haphazard. There's mention of a great war in the past that's only alluded to in order to bring up convenient obstacles for Silver (such as her species of dragon being nearly extinct and a particular metal she needs to compete being illegal). And while the world is clearly based off of Middle Eastern culture, there are some odd gaps that don't get properly explained. It also doesn't help that despite this book supposedly being about the races -- it's in the title -- most of the book is taken up with running through the desert, conspiracies, and sneaking around, with the races not even happening until two-thirds of the way through.
Silver herself is a spirited character... but I disliked how she used everyone she came across, even her own dragon. She does get called out for this, at least, even though it makes her fairly unlikable for much of the book. The other characters seem to only have personality when the plot calls for it, with Silver's cousin and the racer she idolizes both seeming to shift personality to whatever's convenient for the plot. At least the dragon was likable...
I'm sure there's an audience for this book, but sadly it wasn't me. And I'm not impressed enough with it to continue the series.
Silver dreams of racing water dragons and becoming a champion, despite her father's intention to make her train to be a jeweler like the rest of her family. So she's overjoyed when she discovers a young water dragon... a rare type of water dragon that can both swim AND fly! But the history behind water dragons is far more complex than she realized, and soon she finds herself on a journey with her new dragon and her stubborn cousin to win a race, free another dragon from captivity... and prove herself to the world.
I enjoyed the basic premise, and the baby dragon was enjoyable. But the worldbuilding felt rather haphazard. There's mention of a great war in the past that's only alluded to in order to bring up convenient obstacles for Silver (such as her species of dragon being nearly extinct and a particular metal she needs to compete being illegal). And while the world is clearly based off of Middle Eastern culture, there are some odd gaps that don't get properly explained. It also doesn't help that despite this book supposedly being about the races -- it's in the title -- most of the book is taken up with running through the desert, conspiracies, and sneaking around, with the races not even happening until two-thirds of the way through.
Silver herself is a spirited character... but I disliked how she used everyone she came across, even her own dragon. She does get called out for this, at least, even though it makes her fairly unlikable for much of the book. The other characters seem to only have personality when the plot calls for it, with Silver's cousin and the racer she idolizes both seeming to shift personality to whatever's convenient for the plot. At least the dragon was likable...
I'm sure there's an audience for this book, but sadly it wasn't me. And I'm not impressed enough with it to continue the series.
August 18, 2019
My name is Silver Batal, and I've always dreamed of becoming a great water dragon rider. Many people think it's a crazy dream for the daughter of a jeweler, living in a hot, dusty desert. Now, I must recover my friend's water dragon, stolen by my hero, Sagittaria Wonder. I'm thankful my cousin Brajon has offered to help, but I'm not sure what we'll do once we reach Calidia. We can't exactly walk up to the queen and tell her the most famous dragon rider in the world is a thief. No, the only thing I can do is enter the water dragon races, and win. My plan is complicated, since I've bonded with a young water dragon that's still learning to swim. The fact he's an Aquinder presents an even bigger problem. If anyone discovers this mythical water dragon exists, things will get very dangerous.
The concepts of water dragons and racing them interested me enough to read the book, but the early pages were slow. It was clear Silver would do anything to become a rider, but nothing would happen in the plot until Sagittaria came to visit her village. The book became much more interesting after about eighty pages, once Silver left for Calidia. She was accused of stealing jewelry and Sagittaria knew who she was, so Silver had to move stealthily across the lands and streets. She could also lose her water dragon, Hiyyan, even though they were bonded. They could be registered together if they raced, but Silver would need to teach Hiyyan how to swim and how the fly. Complicating things was a law saying all Aquinders needed to be killed, so how could they practice flying without anyone seeing? The author tossed in some "natural" dangers with wild creatures popping up along the way. Silver made a couple of allies during her adventure, and she discovered some conspiracies. The races were much more than races to political foes, and secrets were hidden in watery caves. Overall, the book made up for the slow start, and I recommend you give it a shot. Lovers of "nice" dragons should enjoy the story.
The concepts of water dragons and racing them interested me enough to read the book, but the early pages were slow. It was clear Silver would do anything to become a rider, but nothing would happen in the plot until Sagittaria came to visit her village. The book became much more interesting after about eighty pages, once Silver left for Calidia. She was accused of stealing jewelry and Sagittaria knew who she was, so Silver had to move stealthily across the lands and streets. She could also lose her water dragon, Hiyyan, even though they were bonded. They could be registered together if they raced, but Silver would need to teach Hiyyan how to swim and how the fly. Complicating things was a law saying all Aquinders needed to be killed, so how could they practice flying without anyone seeing? The author tossed in some "natural" dangers with wild creatures popping up along the way. Silver made a couple of allies during her adventure, and she discovered some conspiracies. The races were much more than races to political foes, and secrets were hidden in watery caves. Overall, the book made up for the slow start, and I recommend you give it a shot. Lovers of "nice" dragons should enjoy the story.
February 6, 2020
I liked the overall idea of this book, I really did. It was unique, desert cities, mixed with ocean water dragons? Super cool. Love the culture involved and the story. There were only a couple things that bothered me in this book. Saying "The End." At the end of the book gave me the impression the story was completely over. Yet the last pages of the book opened up a massive problem. The story was nowhere near over, and I was left to assume that I just had to guess that their mission would be successful because it said "The End." I thought the author was finished with the book. But now I'm hearing rumours of a second book coming, which honestly doesn't surprise me because the story was nowhere near finished. If I were the author I would take out "The End" off of it to mitigate confusion.
Secondly, how many times can a desert beetle be used as a simile or metaphor? Like almost every page. The writing could have been better, I felt like some similes were way overused, desert foxes and desert beetles, I get it, there's not a whole lot of desert creatures to choose from, but I feel like there still could have been a little more research involved for other creatures, or other metaphors. I felt like the writing style was a little amateur for this age group.
Didn't really like how the water dragons kind of acted like cats either, and to be honest, didn't really want another book about "bonds." I think the story would have been better without the whole bonding thing, but I get that was kind of the point of the story so...I don't know, it's just not how I personally would have written it. I don't like it when dragons act like cats or dogs and make dog or cat noises, I feel like they should be treated as their own special creature with their own behaviours.
Anyway they're small complaints, this book was still good. Decent, rather. I don't know if I'd ever read it a second time but I might recommend it to someone if I thought they'd find it interesting.
Secondly, how many times can a desert beetle be used as a simile or metaphor? Like almost every page. The writing could have been better, I felt like some similes were way overused, desert foxes and desert beetles, I get it, there's not a whole lot of desert creatures to choose from, but I feel like there still could have been a little more research involved for other creatures, or other metaphors. I felt like the writing style was a little amateur for this age group.
Didn't really like how the water dragons kind of acted like cats either, and to be honest, didn't really want another book about "bonds." I think the story would have been better without the whole bonding thing, but I get that was kind of the point of the story so...I don't know, it's just not how I personally would have written it. I don't like it when dragons act like cats or dogs and make dog or cat noises, I feel like they should be treated as their own special creature with their own behaviours.
Anyway they're small complaints, this book was still good. Decent, rather. I don't know if I'd ever read it a second time but I might recommend it to someone if I thought they'd find it interesting.
June 7, 2019
Je tiens tout d’abord à remercier les Editions Lumen pour l’envoi de ce roman bien en avance de sa date de sortie avec en plus de beaux objets presse qui vont avec ! Difficile de ne pas tomber sous le charme de cette magnifique couverture en relief, de cette médaille et de cette présentation presse où l’on y trouve Hiyyan, le bel aquinder de l’histoire. L’intérieur du roman est également magnifique puisque ce dernier a deux belles illustrations (une au début et une à la fin) sur deux pages ainsi que d’autres à chaque début de chapitre représentant Hiyyan. Encore un roman bien trouvé pour Lumen que j’ai dévoré en quelques jours ! Un 6e sens pour les trouver ? Oui surement !
Silver Batal et le Dragon d’eau nous mène dans le désert en compagnie d’une jeune fille (Silver Batal) qui ne rêve que de dragons d’eau et de courses ! Difficile pour elle de se plier à la volonté de son père pour travailler les bijoux quand elle n’aspire qu’à partir loin de la ville dans laquelle elle est née. Une opportunité arrive pour elle, la championne des courses viendra avec la reine, elle décide alors de se créer une combinaison de course pour se faire repérer par cette dernière. Malheureusement, tout ne se passe pas comme prévu et les choses vont tourner d’une dangereuse manière. Elle apprend alors l’existence de deux aquinders et va surtout avoir tout une aventure avec l’un d’entre eux !
L’histoire est assez longue à se mettre en place, on nous présente la vie de Silver, son monde et surtout l’histoire des dragons d’eau, des courses et le passé sur les aquinders. Cette dernière a du pain sur la planche avec la mission qui lui incombe ! Pour cela, il faudra qu’elle mente et elle prendra des décisions assez discutable … J’avoue qu’au début je me suis posée des questions sur cette dernière, ce qu’elle fait est assez terrible même si ses intentions sont louables. Et puis il en va de même avec Hiyyan. Finalement, elle est juste jeune, elle apprend au fur et à mesure et se rend compte de ses erreurs. Son aventure fait bien rêver, elle semble ressentir une telle liberté lors des courses et c’est juste génial de pouvoir communiquer comme elle le fait avec Hiyyan ! Bref, vous l’aurez compris, ses aventures sont vraiment passionnantes et on dévore le bouquin !
En résumé, Silver Batal et le Dragon d’eau est un premier tome passionnant de cette duologie ! J’ai bien hâte de lire la suite et de connaître la suite des aventures de Silver et Hayyin ! En tout cas, je ne peux que vous conseillez à vous procurer ce roman qui vient tout juste de sortir, ce jour, dans votre librairie préférée ! Un excellent roman d’aventure !
Silver Batal et le Dragon d’eau nous mène dans le désert en compagnie d’une jeune fille (Silver Batal) qui ne rêve que de dragons d’eau et de courses ! Difficile pour elle de se plier à la volonté de son père pour travailler les bijoux quand elle n’aspire qu’à partir loin de la ville dans laquelle elle est née. Une opportunité arrive pour elle, la championne des courses viendra avec la reine, elle décide alors de se créer une combinaison de course pour se faire repérer par cette dernière. Malheureusement, tout ne se passe pas comme prévu et les choses vont tourner d’une dangereuse manière. Elle apprend alors l’existence de deux aquinders et va surtout avoir tout une aventure avec l’un d’entre eux !
L’histoire est assez longue à se mettre en place, on nous présente la vie de Silver, son monde et surtout l’histoire des dragons d’eau, des courses et le passé sur les aquinders. Cette dernière a du pain sur la planche avec la mission qui lui incombe ! Pour cela, il faudra qu’elle mente et elle prendra des décisions assez discutable … J’avoue qu’au début je me suis posée des questions sur cette dernière, ce qu’elle fait est assez terrible même si ses intentions sont louables. Et puis il en va de même avec Hiyyan. Finalement, elle est juste jeune, elle apprend au fur et à mesure et se rend compte de ses erreurs. Son aventure fait bien rêver, elle semble ressentir une telle liberté lors des courses et c’est juste génial de pouvoir communiquer comme elle le fait avec Hiyyan ! Bref, vous l’aurez compris, ses aventures sont vraiment passionnantes et on dévore le bouquin !
En résumé, Silver Batal et le Dragon d’eau est un premier tome passionnant de cette duologie ! J’ai bien hâte de lire la suite et de connaître la suite des aventures de Silver et Hayyin ! En tout cas, je ne peux que vous conseillez à vous procurer ce roman qui vient tout juste de sortir, ce jour, dans votre librairie préférée ! Un excellent roman d’aventure !
June 5, 2019
ARC provided by Macmillan Children’s Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.
I just adore that cover! It really is striking and depicts what water dragons would look like racing. It really conveys a sense of what this story is all about.
Silver was a wonderful character, full of spunk and courage. She has a wonderful relationship with her cousin Brajon, which was nice to see. Her relationship with her parents was pretty realistic. There was tension between her and her father, because of her lack of focus on becoming a jeweler, but you could still see that they loved each other. Silver’s adventures shows how brave and strong she is and willing to do what it takes to get what she wants. But she is also compassionate and willing to sacrifice her dreams to help others in trouble. Her bond with Hiyyan was also very precious. Hiyyan has quite the personality and as they struggle to get to know each other and to understand each other, their bond only gets stronger.
The plot was well done, although there were some slow spots and at times I was a bit confused as to how much time was passing. But the rest of the story makes up for these short comings. The world building was wonderful. I loved the Arab-inspired world which shows mostly through the food, clothing and architecture. The addition of water dragons was unique. There are a variety of types and they are all described well enough that I could picture them quite well. Silver’s descriptions of riding Hiyyan for the first time was awesome, especially when they flew. There were also some good twists to the story, and the descriptions of the racing were fascinating.
Overall a really good start to an exciting new series. My kids who love the Wings of Fire series, will be excited to read this as well.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
I just adore that cover! It really is striking and depicts what water dragons would look like racing. It really conveys a sense of what this story is all about.
Silver was a wonderful character, full of spunk and courage. She has a wonderful relationship with her cousin Brajon, which was nice to see. Her relationship with her parents was pretty realistic. There was tension between her and her father, because of her lack of focus on becoming a jeweler, but you could still see that they loved each other. Silver’s adventures shows how brave and strong she is and willing to do what it takes to get what she wants. But she is also compassionate and willing to sacrifice her dreams to help others in trouble. Her bond with Hiyyan was also very precious. Hiyyan has quite the personality and as they struggle to get to know each other and to understand each other, their bond only gets stronger.
The plot was well done, although there were some slow spots and at times I was a bit confused as to how much time was passing. But the rest of the story makes up for these short comings. The world building was wonderful. I loved the Arab-inspired world which shows mostly through the food, clothing and architecture. The addition of water dragons was unique. There are a variety of types and they are all described well enough that I could picture them quite well. Silver’s descriptions of riding Hiyyan for the first time was awesome, especially when they flew. There were also some good twists to the story, and the descriptions of the racing were fascinating.
Overall a really good start to an exciting new series. My kids who love the Wings of Fire series, will be excited to read this as well.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
July 6, 2020
Set in a desert with a vast aquifer and river running under the sand, this book features a young woman, Silver Batal, who thinks she knows all there is to know about water dragon racing: the breeds, the riders, the races they've won and lost and attributes of each dragon.
But when the famous Sagittaria Wonder, the winningest water dragon racer in Calidia, comes to Silver's little desert town of Jaspaton, Silver discovers there's a lot she doesn't know. Like how mean and callous Sagittaria can be and how focused the racer is on winning -- at any cost.
That cost includes stealing a rare mother dragon from her bonded rider, the old seamstress Nebekker. Sagittaria doesn't know the dragon she's stolen has a fledgling, Hiyyan, who bonds with Silver as soon as they meet.
Sagittaria cares not one whit for the "bond" between rider and dragon. All she cares about is winning the next race on the back of an ancient, rarely-seen breed of dragon, and because breaking the bond really only adversely affects the human involved, she keeps the dragon in her racing stables.
Silver's determined to race Hiyyan and thus claim ownership of him under Calidian law, and rescue his mother, as Nebekker gets sicker the longer she's separated from her dragon.
But once Silver and Hiyyan, with help from her cousin Brajon, set out on this quest, she violates her family's trust and becomes an outlaw in her own town. She may never be able to return home -- much less race -- again.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
But when the famous Sagittaria Wonder, the winningest water dragon racer in Calidia, comes to Silver's little desert town of Jaspaton, Silver discovers there's a lot she doesn't know. Like how mean and callous Sagittaria can be and how focused the racer is on winning -- at any cost.
That cost includes stealing a rare mother dragon from her bonded rider, the old seamstress Nebekker. Sagittaria doesn't know the dragon she's stolen has a fledgling, Hiyyan, who bonds with Silver as soon as they meet.
Sagittaria cares not one whit for the "bond" between rider and dragon. All she cares about is winning the next race on the back of an ancient, rarely-seen breed of dragon, and because breaking the bond really only adversely affects the human involved, she keeps the dragon in her racing stables.
Silver's determined to race Hiyyan and thus claim ownership of him under Calidian law, and rescue his mother, as Nebekker gets sicker the longer she's separated from her dragon.
But once Silver and Hiyyan, with help from her cousin Brajon, set out on this quest, she violates her family's trust and becomes an outlaw in her own town. She may never be able to return home -- much less race -- again.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
September 23, 2021
https://merveilles-livresques.fr/silv...
Haaaaaa mais j’ai adoré cette lecture ! J’aurais adoré lire ça quand j’étais adolescente et j’ai aussi adoré le lire aujourd’hui. L’autrice a su me captiver et j’ai déjà très hâte de lire la suite !
Bon, vous l’aurez compris, j’adore les dragons, même si finalement je ne lis pas tant de romans que ça où ils sont au centre de l’histoire. Dès le début du roman, nous sommes plongés dans cet univers et dans ce désert avec Silver, le personnage principal. Silver est une élève joaillère, mais elle n’a qu’une seule envie : devenir dresseuse de dragons et participer à des courses ! Quand elle va rencontrer un dragon et se lier avec lui, toute sa vie va basculer, pour son plus grand bonheur (et le nôtre).
L’intrigue va se développer autour de Silver et de son petit dragon, partant à la rescousse de la maman de ce dernier. Au fil de cette intrigue, Silver va apprendre à connaître son dragon et à appréhender leur lien. Mais elle va aussi remettre en question ses rêves et prendre conscience que maintenant elle n’est plus toute seule, et que ça implique du partage et des bonnes choses mais aussi des responsabilités envers son dragon. J’ai apprécié voir ce personnage mûrir au fil de ce premier tome. Au début c’était vraiment une jeune ado avec beaucoup de rêves, certains superficiels, et elle va découvrir ce qui est vraiment important dans sa vie. Silver est aussi bien entourée car son cousin, Brajon, la suit dans son aventure. J’ai adoré ce personnage un peu prudent, qui accompagne sa cousine pour veiller sur elle mais qui n’est pas trop à l’aise avec l’idée de partir à l’aventure. Et point fort positif : il n’y a pas de love interest inutile, je suis joie !
J’ai beaucoup aimé le style de l’autrice. C’est un roman jeunesse, mais il y a beaucoup de subtilités et de choses à lire en sous-texte. L’autrice aborde de nombreuses thématiques au fil du roman comme la maltraitance animale, ou les difficultés de s’affranchir de ses parents, de trouver sa voie et de grandir sereinement.
En bref, une très bonne lecture. J’ai adoré ce premier tome et j’ai vibré avec Silver et son dragon. J’ai hâte de lire la suite !
Haaaaaa mais j’ai adoré cette lecture ! J’aurais adoré lire ça quand j’étais adolescente et j’ai aussi adoré le lire aujourd’hui. L’autrice a su me captiver et j’ai déjà très hâte de lire la suite !
Bon, vous l’aurez compris, j’adore les dragons, même si finalement je ne lis pas tant de romans que ça où ils sont au centre de l’histoire. Dès le début du roman, nous sommes plongés dans cet univers et dans ce désert avec Silver, le personnage principal. Silver est une élève joaillère, mais elle n’a qu’une seule envie : devenir dresseuse de dragons et participer à des courses ! Quand elle va rencontrer un dragon et se lier avec lui, toute sa vie va basculer, pour son plus grand bonheur (et le nôtre).
L’intrigue va se développer autour de Silver et de son petit dragon, partant à la rescousse de la maman de ce dernier. Au fil de cette intrigue, Silver va apprendre à connaître son dragon et à appréhender leur lien. Mais elle va aussi remettre en question ses rêves et prendre conscience que maintenant elle n’est plus toute seule, et que ça implique du partage et des bonnes choses mais aussi des responsabilités envers son dragon. J’ai apprécié voir ce personnage mûrir au fil de ce premier tome. Au début c’était vraiment une jeune ado avec beaucoup de rêves, certains superficiels, et elle va découvrir ce qui est vraiment important dans sa vie. Silver est aussi bien entourée car son cousin, Brajon, la suit dans son aventure. J’ai adoré ce personnage un peu prudent, qui accompagne sa cousine pour veiller sur elle mais qui n’est pas trop à l’aise avec l’idée de partir à l’aventure. Et point fort positif : il n’y a pas de love interest inutile, je suis joie !
J’ai beaucoup aimé le style de l’autrice. C’est un roman jeunesse, mais il y a beaucoup de subtilités et de choses à lire en sous-texte. L’autrice aborde de nombreuses thématiques au fil du roman comme la maltraitance animale, ou les difficultés de s’affranchir de ses parents, de trouver sa voie et de grandir sereinement.
En bref, une très bonne lecture. J’ai adoré ce premier tome et j’ai vibré avec Silver et son dragon. J’ai hâte de lire la suite !
July 1, 2020
This book is just wow, wow and wow. What a fantastic tale, beautifully composed and bringing so much to life, letting a girl starting onto her own journey to discover who she is and what she is made up of.
We travel from a city in the desert to the capital of the realm. We meet water dragons and quite a few unique characters. The main character Silver Batal is sometimes likeable, sometimes not so much, as she discovers the wider world and starts to make her own way.
Apart from an engaging and constantly moving forward storyline, this book also has fantastic representation. Silver is so well embedded into the community where she grew up with her family, her mother and her father, each having their own sphere of influence and their own ideas who Silver should become and yet, Silver has a very specific dream of who she wants to become herself. When her dream starts to become real, she has to leave the known behind and start the adventure of her own journey.
What makes me swoon even more is the representation of female craftsmanship, of working with fibre and thread and yarn. This is seamlessly woven into the story and I just love it for that.
Add all the rest of it, dragons, adventure, racing and finding friends and your own way, learning about people who mean well and others who maybe don't, and voila, for me this has become a favourite read of this year and I think also an all time favourite. It is that good.
We travel from a city in the desert to the capital of the realm. We meet water dragons and quite a few unique characters. The main character Silver Batal is sometimes likeable, sometimes not so much, as she discovers the wider world and starts to make her own way.
Apart from an engaging and constantly moving forward storyline, this book also has fantastic representation. Silver is so well embedded into the community where she grew up with her family, her mother and her father, each having their own sphere of influence and their own ideas who Silver should become and yet, Silver has a very specific dream of who she wants to become herself. When her dream starts to become real, she has to leave the known behind and start the adventure of her own journey.
What makes me swoon even more is the representation of female craftsmanship, of working with fibre and thread and yarn. This is seamlessly woven into the story and I just love it for that.
Add all the rest of it, dragons, adventure, racing and finding friends and your own way, learning about people who mean well and others who maybe don't, and voila, for me this has become a favourite read of this year and I think also an all time favourite. It is that good.
January 31, 2019
The story: Desert-dweller Silver Batal knows she is destined to race water dragons. The only problem: both water, and dragons, are scarce in the desert. When she runs into the mysterious old woman Nebekker, Silver eventually learns of a desert oasis where the dragons hide, and where she meets and forms an instant bond with Hiyyan, a rare Aquerid dragon that can both swim and fly. But her entrance into the secret world leads a troop of dragon thieves there too, and now Silver and her cousin Brojon must race against time to rescue Hiyyan's mother before Nebekker, separated from her bond dragon, dies. Their dangerous quest leads them to the big city and...the dragon races. Can the untrained Silver race and save the dragons?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG; GLBt content G; adult themes G; overall rating PG (best for grades 5-8).
Liz's comments: This will appeal to fans of the "Rick Riordan Presents" books, and to those who like Tui Sutherland's "Wings of Fire" novels.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG; GLBt content G; adult themes G; overall rating PG (best for grades 5-8).
Liz's comments: This will appeal to fans of the "Rick Riordan Presents" books, and to those who like Tui Sutherland's "Wings of Fire" novels.
April 3, 2020
Un roman juste magique ! Et très addictif. J’ai aimé suivre Silver et son cousin dans leur folle aventure. Le caractère de la jeune fille et sa relation avec son cousin m’ont rappelée avec plaisir Oksa Pollock et Gus Bellanger, deux héros qui ont bercé mon adolescence et que j’aime toujours autant.
Les actions et les bouleversements se succèdent, ne laissant que peu de temps au lecteur pour reprendre son souffle : on est complètement captivé par l’histoire et on a l’impression d’accompagner physiquement les personnages dans leur quête. D’ailleurs, j’adorerai avoir moi aussi la chance de tisser un lien avec un dragon. Je dois avouer être un peu jalouse de Silver sur ce point-là 😆
Les personnages sont très attachants et super réalistes ... les scènes de course, également! Loin de paraître superficiels, ces moments de pure magie nous entraînent et paraissent tout à fait naturels, réalistes. L’auteur a très bien réussi son coup !
J’ai hâte de découvrir la suite !
Les actions et les bouleversements se succèdent, ne laissant que peu de temps au lecteur pour reprendre son souffle : on est complètement captivé par l’histoire et on a l’impression d’accompagner physiquement les personnages dans leur quête. D’ailleurs, j’adorerai avoir moi aussi la chance de tisser un lien avec un dragon. Je dois avouer être un peu jalouse de Silver sur ce point-là 😆
Les personnages sont très attachants et super réalistes ... les scènes de course, également! Loin de paraître superficiels, ces moments de pure magie nous entraînent et paraissent tout à fait naturels, réalistes. L’auteur a très bien réussi son coup !
J’ai hâte de découvrir la suite !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2021
I enjoyed this book but wanted a little more out of it.
Silver, thirteen years old and living in a desert community, wants nothing more than to be a water dragon racer. Her father is a reknowned jeweler and metalsmith but Silver's skills are not nearly up to par for his apprentices. When a great water dragon racer, Sagittaria Wonder, comes to Silver's village along with the queen, Silver dreams of being able to travel away with Sagittaria - but the racer is cruel and steals a rare water dragon that had been hiding in the desert along with her rider.
Silver finds out the water dragon left behind a youngling, a dragon she bonds with and names Hiyyan, and she, Hiyyan, and her cousin, Brajon, leave home on a quest to find Kirja, Hiyyan's mother, even if it means racing Hiyyan to get Kirja back.
Silver, thirteen years old and living in a desert community, wants nothing more than to be a water dragon racer. Her father is a reknowned jeweler and metalsmith but Silver's skills are not nearly up to par for his apprentices. When a great water dragon racer, Sagittaria Wonder, comes to Silver's village along with the queen, Silver dreams of being able to travel away with Sagittaria - but the racer is cruel and steals a rare water dragon that had been hiding in the desert along with her rider.
Silver finds out the water dragon left behind a youngling, a dragon she bonds with and names Hiyyan, and she, Hiyyan, and her cousin, Brajon, leave home on a quest to find Kirja, Hiyyan's mother, even if it means racing Hiyyan to get Kirja back.
September 23, 2019
Entre les divers rebondissements et les révélations, je n’ai pas vu les pages défiler ! En plus de Silver, nous rencontrons également un panel de personnages secondaires aussi intéressants qu’attachants qui auront un rôle important à jouer. Et dans tout cela, n’oublions pas Hiyyan, le dragon d’eau de Silver qui est juste trop cool et mignon !
Bref, voilà un récit épique qui ravira autant les adolescents que les adultes ! Pour ma part, je me suis régalée et j’attends la suite de pied ferme ! Ma chronique : https://songedunenuitdete.com/2019/09...
Bref, voilà un récit épique qui ravira autant les adolescents que les adultes ! Pour ma part, je me suis régalée et j’attends la suite de pied ferme ! Ma chronique : https://songedunenuitdete.com/2019/09...
November 20, 2019
I love world-building, and this book was delightful in that sense. Rich cultural details and interesting creatures! However, the pacing was very off to me (the characters talked as if sooo much time was passing, but it could've been just days as far as I could tell) and the dialogue was just alright. For a pacing example, Overall, I enjoyed parts of the story and really loved the world, but I wasn't sad to be done with this one. Cautiously excited for a sequel.
January 20, 2020
For a book titled "water dragon races" the races only took a few pages and didn't feel very exciting at all. Dragon names were dropped left and right but zero description of the dragons made for a world I never felt a part of. The writing often felt vague and a little stilted. Silver meets her dragon and immediately gets a magical bond which allows them to share all their thoughts and feelings. They spent, what I thought was a few days, but I think was months underground. I still don't really know how long it was, only that the dragon had gotten very large without Silver realizing. I guess it just wasn't what I expected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
TW: dragon blood
Started strong but dragged in the middle and rushed the ending. Could have been 1/3 shorter to keep the pace even.
Great concept and fun dragons, just needed more of them and less of the main character's drama. There could have been such great parallels between Silver and her rocky relationship with her father vs Hiyyan and his kidnapped mother, but both storylines stay seperate and one unresolved.
Also, if I had a dime for each time we are told Silver "nibbled", "bit", or "chewed" her bottom lip I'd be a millionaire. It got waaaay annoying to read that over and over again.
Started strong but dragged in the middle and rushed the ending. Could have been 1/3 shorter to keep the pace even.
Great concept and fun dragons, just needed more of them and less of the main character's drama. There could have been such great parallels between Silver and her rocky relationship with her father vs Hiyyan and his kidnapped mother, but both storylines stay seperate and one unresolved.
Also, if I had a dime for each time we are told Silver "nibbled", "bit", or "chewed" her bottom lip I'd be a millionaire. It got waaaay annoying to read that over and over again.
October 21, 2019
I really liked the beginning and the end. Silver "bonds" super fast with her dragon and is super attached to him before the reader really is invested in the dragon as a character, so that was a bit hard for me to follow. Though I loved the different types of dragons with different abilities, and the desert setting of Jaspaton at the beginning was really vibrant. And I loved that Silver and her dragon get in a fight at one point, rather than always having this amazing relationship--that added an interesting dimension.
This should go over well with my patrons who want dragon books.
This should go over well with my patrons who want dragon books.
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