The Dragon's Tapestry

The Marmawell Trilogy #1

by Martine Bates, Martine Leavitt

When news of dragon trouble comes, Marwen doesn't scoff even though dragons haven't flown in the land of Ve for many generations. Her destiny has been woven, and it will lead her to lost lands, to the powerful magic of the Wizard's staff and to a mystery no one should have to face alone.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dragons

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Martine Bates now writes under the name Martine Leavitt.

Reviews

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved another book (Keturah and Lord Death) by this author, so I wanted to give The Dragon’s Tapestry a chance, and I am glad I did.

Marwen took a little time for me to love. I felt bad for her being such an outside in her village. She was treated horribly by most everyone for not having a tapestry, but it was still hard to read some of the reactions and choices she made in the beginning….BUT it made her growth that you get to see later in the book satisfying.

The magic here is so interesting. I loved the idea of everyone having a tapestry, and it needing fulfilled.

I wished we got to see more of Marwen’s dad, but I love all that did for her.

The romance happens pretty quick, but it’s still sweet. It’s a very small part of the story.

Overall I’m glad I purchased this book, and if you can get your hands on a copy I definitely recommend it.

[Alysonsharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this casually with my youngest son. After the prologue he wasn’t to excited. Can’t blame him, he is 10 and what 10 year old boy is a fan of birth? I encouraged him to stick with it and after 2 chapters, he was hooked.

This was a difficult book, at times, to read aloud as my tongue got twisted by some of the phrases. Maybe that was due to fatigue. This was only a minor inconvenience and didn’t deter us from reading.

My son’s favourite parts were:

1. Marwen saying a spell that caused a boy to trip.

2. Marwen’s last encounter with The Taker.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I thought I remembered. Wouldn’t recommend based on its odd pacing and themes (such as the magic system and character interactions).

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Some things that bothered me though, was the way in which she described things. She gave odd, undiscription names and terms to things and never described outright what they were. Such as the creatures "wingwands". You don't get a full discription of what they are for quite a while, and when you do they turn out to be very strange. And she refers to the passage of time as "windcycles" or "winds" and gives no reference to whether that means a day, a week, a month or even an hour. I appreciate the author not spelling out her world for the reader, but a little more description would have been more inviting. As a reader, I felt alienated from the world, and thus not attached as to the characters or story.

[Julie Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe this was her first book. The world she drops you into is so crazy and so vividly drawn--exactly how fantasy should be. I thought the plot was gripping, and I was all tingly for the last 20 pages straight, even tearing up once or twice. It's a great story, and I'm liking the second one too. It's just a shame they were published by a tiny press in Canada--they're really hard to get a hold of.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutly fantastic!!! Everyone should read this book! It's great for all ages! It's fantastically written and a book that should be in everyone's library! I could't put this book down! It's one of my all time favorites!

[Stephi K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this alright--if you like fantasy it's pretty good--especially for a first novel. She now writes under the name Martine Leavitt because she got remarried, I believe.