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aotora's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I had this one on my bookshelf for a while now. I remember picking it up because it has an interesting premise and an interesting cover -I love this cover so much - it's black and white with a tiny speck of color and an epic dragon - and the story sounded interesting.
But if you go into this book expecting epic dragons and fantasy... you will be deeply mistaken. I started reading this book after New year and it took me until now to finish it. Those 400 pages felt like 4000.
I love it when the author describes the world and uses a lot of detail - most of the time - but this one was just bloated with the deatails that added nothing to the story, like someone pointed out them making fire, them just walking and nothing happening, them staying at a cottage and nothing really happening, them finding food and eating it - this book felt like it wanted to do a lot but nothing is really happening through like 80% of it and what does happen happens at the end of the book - and it's an open ended book that really needs a sequel because the premise is well set up - you have a dying world, a witch that just gave birth and her husband - they run away before the darkness and dying and they have to keep themselves and the child alive, even when said witch loses her powers. The child is special and has the heart of the dragon inside of her now meaning that she will in time turn into a full dragon and be imortal after touching the corpse of the last dragon there was before her. It's an interesting premise but it's seemingly glossed over and nothing really happens aside from her to choose to live in the dying world when she has a chance to go to a different world that is still safe and full of immortal beings.
I love Higgin's attention to detail but because this book was so bloated I doubt that I will read another one of his books any time soon.
But if you go into this book expecting epic dragons and fantasy... you will be deeply mistaken. I started reading this book after New year and it took me until now to finish it. Those 400 pages felt like 4000.
I love it when the author describes the world and uses a lot of detail - most of the time - but this one was just bloated with the deatails that added nothing to the story, like someone pointed out them making fire, them just walking and nothing happening, them staying at a cottage and nothing really happening, them finding food and eating it - this book felt like it wanted to do a lot but nothing is really happening through like 80% of it and what does happen happens at the end of the book - and it's an open ended book that really needs a sequel because the premise is well set up - you have a dying world, a witch that just gave birth and her husband - they run away before the darkness and dying and they have to keep themselves and the child alive, even when said witch loses her powers. The child is special and has the heart of the dragon inside of her now meaning that she will in time turn into a full dragon and be imortal after touching the corpse of the last dragon there was before her. It's an interesting premise but it's seemingly glossed over and nothing really happens aside from her to choose to live in the dying world when she has a chance to go to a different world that is still safe and full of immortal beings.
I love Higgin's attention to detail but because this book was so bloated I doubt that I will read another one of his books any time soon.
bethan's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this book with no expectations and was thoroughly surprised!
This is probably the best apocalyptic, world ending book I’ve ever read.
I’m in awe at the amount or world building that was achieved in just 400 pages.
My only gripe would be that the very end felt slightly rushed and I would have liked an epilogue to show a little of the future of the characters.
This is probably the best apocalyptic, world ending book I’ve ever read.
I’m in awe at the amount or world building that was achieved in just 400 pages.
My only gripe would be that the very end felt slightly rushed and I would have liked an epilogue to show a little of the future of the characters.
ravenclawlibrarybooks's review
3.0
The world building is strong and immersive and the characters were well-rounded. I did wish slightly more had happened in the plot, though. I would read a sequel because I want to know what will happen to Hope.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Peter Higgins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Peter Higgins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
fishface's review against another edition
3.0
Dragon heart is an interesting take on the chosen one with powers trope, in that it is told by the parents of one such being, as they travel through a fantasy apocalypse. I appreciated the way their struggles with what their child was becoming were explored and the theme of parental love. However, the dialogue and characters felt quite simple and it was therefore difficult to care about their struggles. And they just kept walking. And walking. The travelling was drawn out to an extreme, with minimal things of note happening during these large potions of the book.
The general vibe of the story worked really well though, a sort of melancholic acknowledgement of change and general sadness at a crumbling world brightened by the people in your life.
All in, it might have worked better as a short story with less lengthy travel sequences in which nothing much happens. But I did still enjoy :)
The general vibe of the story worked really well though, a sort of melancholic acknowledgement of change and general sadness at a crumbling world brightened by the people in your life.
All in, it might have worked better as a short story with less lengthy travel sequences in which nothing much happens. But I did still enjoy :)
ravenclawlibrarybooks's review against another edition
3.0
The world building is strong and immersive and the characters were well-rounded. I did wish slightly more had happened in the plot, though. I would read a sequel because I want to know what will happen to Hope.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Peter Higgins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Peter Higgins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Having very much enjoyed the Wolfhound Century Trilogy I was excited to dive into Dragon Heart, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. This post-apocalyptic world is built magnificently, and the attempts residents made to get away from the dark force intent on following them are frightening. The characters are well drawn and relatable; I wouldn't want to be in their position. The fear and tension were palpable throughout, but Higgins isn't just a master of suspense he manages to make you feel for the characters too and there are a few scenes that I found profoundly emotive.
I appreciated that the author decided to include relatively few characters; I find that some writers tend to go overboard thinking there needs to be a certain number of people, but, here, the focus on the small cast means they are richly imagined, vivid and three-dimensional. Told from the points-of-view of Shay and Cass, we get to know them well; their motivations, their hopes; their grief. As with all books in the Grimdark sub-genre, there is lots of death, fear and absolute terror, and the reader feels every single bit a part of the plot rather than looking in as an outsider. It does start off quite slowly so the reader can immerse themselves in the world, but it soon picks up speed and carries on that way right up to the conclusion.
Many thanks to Gollancz for an ARC.
I appreciated that the author decided to include relatively few characters; I find that some writers tend to go overboard thinking there needs to be a certain number of people, but, here, the focus on the small cast means they are richly imagined, vivid and three-dimensional. Told from the points-of-view of Shay and Cass, we get to know them well; their motivations, their hopes; their grief. As with all books in the Grimdark sub-genre, there is lots of death, fear and absolute terror, and the reader feels every single bit a part of the plot rather than looking in as an outsider. It does start off quite slowly so the reader can immerse themselves in the world, but it soon picks up speed and carries on that way right up to the conclusion.
Many thanks to Gollancz for an ARC.
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