Tag: dragons

The Frog Princess Returns – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Today, I’m happy to be bringing you a review of The Return of the Frog Princess by E.D. Baker, which is a new book in the Tales of the Frog Princess series. Ms. Baker is also doing a guest post over at Nerdy Book Club today. You should check out her post about not always having to write “what you know”.

Book Cover: The Frog Princess Returns - Tales of the Frog Princess by E.D. Baker - Pink background - Vignette picture of the Princess with the Frog prince on her shoulder talking to a fairy

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Synopsis

Two weeks after Emma’s birthday, Prince Eadric — having been turned from a frog into a human again — is still in Greater Greensward. One day, a beautiful princess named Adara arrives at the castle in Greater Greensward for a visit, claiming to be Emma’s distant cousin. But Adara has other motives that threaten Emma and Eadric’s blossoming romance.

Meanwhile, something is very wrong in Greater Greensward. Crops are dying, streams are drying up, and large sections of trees in the enchanted forest are withering — all because the Fairy Queen has disappeared. Without her, there is no peace in the magical kingdom, and dangerous foes threaten to take advantage of her absence. Only brave, tenacious Emma with her knowledge of the land can restore order . . . but first she must set out on a journey unlike any before.

Brimming with lovable characters and page-turning magic, The Frog Princess Returns will bring a whole new batch of readers to E. D. Baker’s highly acclaimed, wonderfully popular world of Frog Princess series.

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Review

I’ve enjoyed the Tales of the Frog Princess series ever since I read them back shortly after they were first published so I was thrilled to hear that there was another book coming out in the series! The Frog Princess Returns doesn’t disappoint! Fans of the series will love this latest story.

While it didn’t have that extra little pizzazz I need for a 5-star rating, it’s a strong 4.5. There’s intrigue, secrets, mystery, fairies, dragons, and adventure. What more could you want in a story?

All of our favorite characters have returned and we’ve added a few new people, such as Princess Adara who’s on a mission. The characters are well-developed, fun, and easy to like. The settings are magical with just enough descriptions that you can imagine them easily.

The story line moves along at a decent pace and there’s a twist in the end that even though I didn’t necessarily like the character to begin with, I didn’t see the twist coming!

If you’ve read the series before now, this does not take place at the end of the series. This takes place earlier in the series. Emma and Eadric aren’t married yet, but they’ve had some of their early adventures. I’d place it right around the time of book three.

It’s a great addition to the series and whether you’re finding this series for the first time or are just excited about the new story, I highly recommend this one! So much fun!

*** Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions are my own. ***

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Sky Dragons – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

3 out of 5 stars.

Sky Dragons by Anne & Todd McCaffrey book cover - background of trees with flat tops and a blue dragon with rider in foreground

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Synopsis

Scores of dragons are dead after plague swept across the world of Pern, and now the Weyrs are struggling to rebuild before Threadfall destroys everything—and everyone—left alive. Their best hope lies with a group of new dragonriders who have volunteered to brave the dangers of an unexplored island populated by vicious wild felines and voracious tunnel-snakes to create a safe home for their young dragons, whose offspring will hopefully replenish Pern’s decimated population. But their leader, Xhinna, the first female rider of a blue dragon, faces an uphill battle to win the respect of her peers, especially after tragedy leaves the new colony reeling. The way forward seems to lie with the awesome ability of the dragons to travel through time. But that power comes with risks: By venturing into the past, Xhinna may jeopardize the very future she has sworn to save.

Review

Sky Dragons by Anne & Todd McCaffrey is the 24th book in the Dragonriders of Pern series and was the last book in the series to be published after Anne McCaffrey died in November 2011.

This unfortunately was not one of the better books in the series. I think all the “timing” it that has happened in the last few books that were published has made even the authors’ brains a bit addled. All of the back and forth, back and forth is becoming utterly confusing.

I still love the characters that Todd McCaffrey has created. Some of them really stretch themselves and grow during this book. We see them overcome some formidable obstacles, including dissension amongst themselves. In the end, they come up with a solution to help the planet which is still in peril from the dreaded dragon sickness. It remains to be seen whether or not this solution will actually be the solution needed, but it’s a start. We may never know if what they tried worked or not since there hasn’t been another Pern book published since Ms. McCaffrey died.

In the end, I would still recommend this book to Pern-lovers because I think it does advance the storyline, but it is certainly not one of the best books in this series.

Dragonheart – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey book cover - Gold and bronze dragons flying around each other with a background of mountains

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Synopsis

The grim specter of sickness looms over the Weyrs of Pern, felling fire-lizards and posing a potentially devastating threat to their dragon cousins, Pern’s sole defense against the deadly phenomenon that is Thread. Fiona, the youngest and only surviving daughter of Lord Bemin, is just coming of age, and about to assume the duties of a Weyrwoman, when word spreads that dragons have indeed begun succumbing to the new contagion. With the next season of Threadfall quickly approaching, and the already diminished ranks of the dragons once more under siege, every Weyr across Pern is in crisis mode. It is hardly the time for disturbing distractions–such as the strange voice Fiona suddenly hears in her mind at the darkest and most urgent moments.

Circumstances and the mood of the weyrfolk worsen when advance patrols relay the dreaded news that black dust–the unmistakable herald of falling Thread–has been sighted. As more dragons sicken and die, leaving only a new generation of weyrlings too young to succeed them, Weyrleader B’Nik and queen rider Lorana arrive from Benden Weyr to comb Fort Weyr’s archives in a desperate search for clues from the past that may hold the solution to the plague.

But could the actual past itself prove the pathway to salvation for Pern’s stricken dragons and the entire imperiled planet? Guided by a mysterious ally from a wholly unexpected place, and trusting in the unique dragon gift for transcending time, Fiona will join a risky expedition with far-reaching consequences for both Pern’s future and her personal destiny.

Review

Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey is the 21st book in the Dragonriders of Pern series.

I’ve been a fan of the series since I discovered them in the late 1990’s. I must admit that I was a bit leary when I heard that her son, Todd, was starting to take over the series. I wasn’t a huge fan of the first couple of books that came out under his name, but this one I really love. Fiona and T’mar have become two of my all-time favorite Pern characters and this book really showcases their characters and their development.

In this book, we see Fiona go from a Lord Holder’s daughter to a Weyrwoman. We see her develop through her early teen years trying to adjust not only to the changes in her own body and feelings but also the changes in her life brought on by impressing a dragon. T’mar is an older bronze rider whose path crosses with Fiona’s many times after she first becomes a weyrwoman. Then, they both find themselves back in time at an abandoned weyr which allows their relationship to grow and develop in new ways.

I highly recommend this installment of Pern’s story.

Tapestry: An Anthology – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

4 out of 5 stars.

Tapestry - An Anthology of Four Short Stories by Lynn Kurland, Madeline Hunter, Karen Marie Moning, and Sherrilyn Kenyon book cover - striped pink & peach background with photo of three flower blossoms - two hot pink and one peach

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Synopsis

Woven from the color and pageantry of the Middle Ages…
From the burning passions of bold and beautiful women…
From the brave hearts of strong and courageous men…

Welcome to a world of chivalry and honor, of danger and desire, of legend, and of love…. These four original novellas bring to life all the romance and adventure of the Middle Ages, with the common thread of a rich medieval tapestry woven through each tale by an acclaimed master of historical romance…

Includes the following stories:
To Kiss in the Shadows by Lynn Kurland
An Interrupted Tapestry by Madeline Hunter
Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning
Dragonswan by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Line of spools of thread connected by a string - thread in blue, green, red and yellow
©Graphic Garden

Review

Tapestry is anthology with four different authors: Lynn Kurland, Madeline Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, & Karen Marie Moning. Each of the stories has a tapestry that plays a prominent role in the story line, hence the title of Tapestry.

I originally bought the book for the Lynn Kurland’s story, To Kiss in the Shadows, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked three out of four of the stories in the anthology. The only one I didn’t really like was Into the Dreaming, but even that was well-written, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

To Kiss in the Shadows is my favorite out of the four. Jason is one of my favorite de Piaget characters and I enjoyed reading his story. He’s a wonderful, humble, well-rounded character. He’s as fierce with a sword as any of his brothers, but unlike those brothers, he doesn’t hide from his compassionate side.

I also really enjoyed Dragonswan by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I was a bit surprised because I don’t usually like her style of writing, but I found this one intriguing and fascinating. It’s well-written, has wonderful characters and is just a joy to read.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes historical romance or paranormal romance.

Dragon’s Time – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

4 out of 5 stars.

Dragon's Time by Anne & Todd McCaffrey book cover - Dawn or dusk sky background with gold dragon flying upwards in the sky

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Synopsis

Even though Lorana cured the plague that was killing the dragons of Pern, sacrificing her queen dragon in the process, the effects of the disease were so devastating that there are no longer enough dragons available to fight the fall of deadly Thread. And as the situation grows more dire, a pregnant Lorana decides that she must take drastic steps in the quest for help.

Meanwhile, back at Telgar Weyr, Weyrwoman Fiona, herself pregnant, and the harper Kindan must somehow keep morale from fading altogether in the face of the steadily mounting losses of dragons and their riders. But time weighs heavily against them — until Lorana finds a way to use time itself in their favor.

It’s a plan fraught with risk, however. For attempting time travel means tampering with the natural laws of the universe, which could drastically alter history — and destiny — forever. Or so it has always been thought. But Lorana discovers that if the laws of time can’t be broken without consequences, it may still be possible to bend them. To ensure the future of Pern, she’s willing to take the fateful chance — even if it demands another, even greater, sacrifice.

Review

Dragon’s Time by Anne & Todd McCaffrey is the 23rd book in the Dragonriders of Pern series.

As I do with most Anne McCaffrey books (and by extension those by Todd McCaffrey as well), I devoured this book. I enjoyed every part of it except for the epilogue. I felt like someone told the authors to take the next 3 or 4 books and smoosh them all together in one short epilogue.

There are places in the book that can get a bit confusing, but the confusion comes from a chunk of the main plot, so I don’t want to give it away. All I can say is don’t give up on it! It does make sense if you keep reading!

I’ve been impressed by Todd McCaffrey’s ability to “play in his mother’s sandbox” (that’s how he puts it). When he first started writing Pern novels, I wasn’t sure I was going to like his writing style, but now that we’re several books into it, I find that I almost like his characters more! He has developed several well-rounded, complex characters and I enjoy reading the interplay between them and watching them grow and develop.

All in all, an excellent new installment to the Pern series!