It's a nice idea with good imagination, but the execution is poor and it definitely needs a proof-read or three.
Humans with dragon magic is not new, bIt's a nice idea with good imagination, but the execution is poor and it definitely needs a proof-read or three.
Humans with dragon magic is not new, but the overall plot simmered quite nicely for the intended audience. A lack of focus in the dialogue and a severe lack of editing meant it stalled and spluttered....more
It's a nice idea with good imagination, but it is executed very poorly. The story begins nicely and sets the scene for what should be an intriguing reIt's a nice idea with good imagination, but it is executed very poorly. The story begins nicely and sets the scene for what should be an intriguing read, but sadly the terrible writing (put down the thesaurus, no one has emerald eyes) and the shoddy characterisation really dampens any enjoyment.
The romance is obvious and annoying, but there are little aspects of the way these people live that are interesting. The fog is a nice concept, but there are no little hints here and there to urge you to find out where it came from, and the plot plods along with a huge chunk of boring right in the middle.
The dialogue is probably the worst aspect of this novel, with very unrealistic conversations and it doesn't evoke the fantasy spirit that the book wants to convey. A nice idea but executed poorly....more
Unfortunately this is the last How to Train Your Dragon book I will be reading (unless I seriously run out of other books to read or need a very, veryUnfortunately this is the last How to Train Your Dragon book I will be reading (unless I seriously run out of other books to read or need a very, very quick simple book). I haven't been as entertained by the books as I'd like and I have not garnered much amusement from them at all. Full review to follow....more
It's only been about a week since I read this, but I cannot remember much of it. I have tried reading four books of the How to Train Your Dragon serieIt's only been about a week since I read this, but I cannot remember much of it. I have tried reading four books of the How to Train Your Dragon series, but sadly we are not compatible. I prefer my fiction to be even vaguely historically accurate: you may think that defeats the point of it being fiction but I disagree rather strongly.
The books are relatively harmless, I suppose, though the genders stereotypes are rather a bore until Kamakaze turns up. She should have far more page time than any of the stupid Vikings. I think the fact that Vikings never wore horny helmets is getting to me more than it should.
There is attempted humour but I find it incredibly lacking. There are funnier children's books out there that have more charm than this, more adventure and better characters in general. Also, is anyone just utterly disappointed with Toothless and find him annoying to the point of wanting the wee little shite to just die? Just me?...more
After a while, the How to Train your Dragon books all seem to merge in to one big pile of not-for-me so, whilst I said a full review would follow, sadAfter a while, the How to Train your Dragon books all seem to merge in to one big pile of not-for-me so, whilst I said a full review would follow, sadly I don't particularly remember anything, either vaguely or pivotal to comment on. I think the series as a whole has some things to offer, though perhaps most of it sails underneath me.
From my rather abysmal memory, I just know that the humour seemed forced and wasn't particularly... anything, really. I didn't enjoy the historical aspects because they were wholly inaccurate right down to the pointy helmets and, though it had its fun moments, this truly is not a series for me.
Though I am loath to admit that the books aren't for me because I'm not a child. I dislike books that are "just for children". I'd prefer if your child read something else-something historically accurate but also extremely fun, but I don't know any books like that. To be honest, I'd suggest just watching the film....more
I have only read four comic books (or graphic novels? I swear I don't know the difference, I am not taking the pissA couple of things before we start.
I have only read four comic books (or graphic novels? I swear I don't know the difference, I am not taking the piss) before and those were sexist and pointless. I am not a comic book person, but I love illustrated editions of books. Same thing, right? Nope.
And secondly, I love Terry Pratchett and will read anything with his name on it, even those terrible sci-fi books he wrote with that other dude.
So, with my pathetic knowledge and experience of comicbookgraphicnovels and my superb knowledge and great experience of Terry Pratchett, let's get started.
Everything that Terry is great at can't really be translated in to pictures. His stories are top notch but they're never excellent, brilliant, superbly thought-out or anything much different to what you get elsewhere. But the way he tells them is one of the most sublime things in the literary world. His words flow like silk over melting butter-or other such things that have little or no friction-and as a nice side-effect of this, the stories develop in a lovely way that has all that stuff we love in a good story, like excellent pace and all the words in the right place.
What you rely on in a comicbookgraphicnovel is the dialogue. PTerry is good at dialogue, but he isn't brilliant. His characters have some wonderful one-liners and his characters' conversations definitely almost always pass the Bechdel Test, so yey. But this particular comicbookgraphicnovel didn't really have much except the wonderful one-liners, and one-liner after one-liner is just annoying. Like a comedian dying on stage who resorts to insulting the hecklers instead of observing.
I did like the drawings. I thought Vimes was pretty spot on but I often found it hard to decide who was who. You have to figure that out for yourself. If I didn't know who Vimes was I probably still wouldn't know who he was having finished this. I definitely wouldn't like him (read: be madly in love with him and imagine him slightly younger and better looking in my head) after reading him in this. We get his thoughts but we just don't get his proper thoughts. Am I making any sense? I don't think I am.
From The Gruffalo writer, this book is just as captivating and I don't know if I like it better. It has the same wonderful rhyming scheme as The GruffFrom The Gruffalo writer, this book is just as captivating and I don't know if I like it better. It has the same wonderful rhyming scheme as The Gruffalo and I would assume all of her others have it, as well. It's a delightful tale with wonderful illustrations, though I read a tiny cardboard version and would recommend the large, paperback ones for the full effect. 'Tis short, but it's for kids....more
Wydrin and Sebastian are swords for hire and Lord Frith comes to them with a proposition: enter the forbidden Citadel and find a treasure that cannot Wydrin and Sebastian are swords for hire and Lord Frith comes to them with a proposition: enter the forbidden Citadel and find a treasure that cannot be found anywhere else. But the Citadel is said to be more than haunted, as this was where the mages trapped the old gods during the last war, and though the heros have not much idea what they will be faced with, they do know that they'll get paid whatever happens...
The Copper Promise started out life as four novellas and this is evident during the novel as it is separated in to four parts. Whilst this made sense, it would have been nice to have seen the author engage with the full-length format and join them up seamlessly, instead of the disjointed obvious four-part book it was. The writing was competent, though occasionally there would be weird, disjointed sentences that really threw me off track, particularly at the beginning of paragraphs: sentences such as (I am paraphrasing) "all of sudden several things happened at once" and "then a strange thing happened". There were just a few sentence structures, errors and grammatical errors that lowered the tone of the book for me, but overall it flowed well enough.
The world-building was very lack-lustre. I do not mean it was a small world: it was a very large world (a map would have been nice, but I read it on the kindle so perhaps it was only missing from that) but the description always seemed to fall flat. Characterisation was fine; at times it seemed very run-of-the-mill and stereotypical and then at times it felt in-depth and rounded. I also found myself rushing through it, both to find out what happens next and also to get through it and finish.
I think I would define the book as slightly schizophrenic. It was equal parts good and bad, with both attributes cancelling each other out to give a great story that was, at times, poorly told.
Cinder is a dragon who blows bubbles instead of fire, and his King is certainly not happy about it. But, when the King meets a real fire-breathing draCinder is a dragon who blows bubbles instead of fire, and his King is certainly not happy about it. But, when the King meets a real fire-breathing dragon it's up to Cinder to step up and save the day. Bought for my nephew for Christmas but I had a quick sneaky read beforehand.
This book is beautifully illustrated and tells half the story through the images. The story itself is short and simple but very effective; a very good book for a young reader.
Whilst the misaligned way they have stuck the sticker on the front of this book makes me think that they may have milked this Dragonology series, it iWhilst the misaligned way they have stuck the sticker on the front of this book makes me think that they may have milked this Dragonology series, it is still a wonderful example of what is lacking....more
Part of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosingPart of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosing from options throughout. A small book that can give more fun than one would expect....more
Part of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosingPart of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosing from options throughout. A small book that can give more fun than one would expect....more
Part of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosingPart of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosing from options throughout. A small book that can give more fun than one would expect....more
Part of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosingPart of the Dragonology series. A fictional adventure concerning Dr. Drake, wherein the reader decides for themselves where the story goes by choosing from options throughout. A small book that can give more fun than one would expect....more
Whilst not to be taken too seriously, this book is a rare delight that combines sustainable materials, whimsical fantasies and wonderful knowledge. ItWhilst not to be taken too seriously, this book is a rare delight that combines sustainable materials, whimsical fantasies and wonderful knowledge. It is the everlasting question that we may never fully realise; why are dragons universally known? One would suspect dinosaurs had something to do with it....more
Part of the Dragonology series. Contains 12 miniature models to assemble of various types of Dragons. More for the younger readers of these books as tPart of the Dragonology series. Contains 12 miniature models to assemble of various types of Dragons. More for the younger readers of these books as the booklets included contain information found in most other variants in this series....more
Should have been written in novel format, though it is no bother. Sometimes it's nice to have a change.Should have been written in novel format, though it is no bother. Sometimes it's nice to have a change....more
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