Scan barcode
namaria's review against another edition
3.0
Right now, I'm struggling to get through The Dragon Queen. It started out great. The author is very descriptive. Unfortunately, I'm running into a problem. The author is one of those that writes from the perspective of multiple characters, and each of them has different things going on. This isn't that bad when they're sharing a scene, but when they're each in their own scene, the author likes to jump from one to another without any notice to the reader. She also doesn't give very many clues about which character you're reading about and it'll take a few pages before you've caught up to not only what's going on, but which character it is. It's annoying. While I liked the book in the beginning, now I find my enjoyment dissipating just for that reason. I'm determined to finish the book, but I doubt it'll get more than 3 stars from me.
Now that I'm finished...
I wouldn't be able to read this book a second time. There was no real storyline that I could figure out, other than Arthur and Guinevere going through some struggles. The ending was rather confusing and I couldn't really figure it out. The last few chapters, I just found myself reading faster so I could get it over with and go to bed. It's not that the book wasn't interesting, because it was a little bit. The author was very descriptive. I just don't think this was her best work by far. About 3/4 of the way through the novel, I figured out she was bouncing back and forth between Guinevere and Arthur. Up to that point, I struggled to figure out which character she was talking about as the chapters changed. Sometimes the characters changed in the middle of the chapter, which really threw me off for a few pages until I caught up to what was going on.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, but if you're into descriptive novels that don't really go anywhere, give it a whirl and see what you think. If this is your first time reading this author's work, start with The Silver Wolf before diving into The Dragon Queen. The Silver Wolf was good and will make you want to pick up more. The Dragon Queen will make you never read her again.
Now that I'm finished...
I wouldn't be able to read this book a second time. There was no real storyline that I could figure out, other than Arthur and Guinevere going through some struggles. The ending was rather confusing and I couldn't really figure it out. The last few chapters, I just found myself reading faster so I could get it over with and go to bed. It's not that the book wasn't interesting, because it was a little bit. The author was very descriptive. I just don't think this was her best work by far. About 3/4 of the way through the novel, I figured out she was bouncing back and forth between Guinevere and Arthur. Up to that point, I struggled to figure out which character she was talking about as the chapters changed. Sometimes the characters changed in the middle of the chapter, which really threw me off for a few pages until I caught up to what was going on.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, but if you're into descriptive novels that don't really go anywhere, give it a whirl and see what you think. If this is your first time reading this author's work, start with The Silver Wolf before diving into The Dragon Queen. The Silver Wolf was good and will make you want to pick up more. The Dragon Queen will make you never read her again.
justgeekingby's review against another edition
1.0
Good premise, terribly boring and long winded writing style. I really enjoyed her other books, just not this series which is a shame because it looked really good.
rachelita's review against another edition
3.0
This was like reading someone's dream. The ideas were all loosely connected but the transitions were weird and random or completely non-existent. However, the characters and concepts were fun and interesting and I did like this book.
joypouros's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars.
I REALLY like the character of Guinevere, but there were other parts of the story I didn't enjoy.
The writing style can be very winding and even abstract in some ways. There are whole parts you can skim without missing much. There aren't a ton of people, but enough to get them confused, especially a couple with similar names.
I'm always very frustrated with stories that try to have strong female characters but still have an overly sexually charged world. There are so many wonderfully creative parts of this world and then we default back to several tired tropes. There's just no need.
Some chapters are 30 pages, some are 5. It doesn't appear based on POV or time, so why is this so inconsistent?
And finally... I understand this is the first book of the trilogy, but this book just felt like a long prologue. Other series the first book is still a worthwhile read and entertaining story. This is more of an origin story before you fully appreciate the main story. So there are very mixed feelings about continuing the series because while I love Guinevere, there's an awful lot to overlook.
I REALLY like the character of Guinevere, but there were other parts of the story I didn't enjoy.
The writing style can be very winding and even abstract in some ways. There are whole parts you can skim without missing much. There aren't a ton of people, but enough to get them confused, especially a couple with similar names.
I'm always very frustrated with stories that try to have strong female characters but still have an overly sexually charged world. There are so many wonderfully creative parts of this world and then we default back to several tired tropes. There's just no need.
Some chapters are 30 pages, some are 5. It doesn't appear based on POV or time, so why is this so inconsistent?
And finally... I understand this is the first book of the trilogy, but this book just felt like a long prologue. Other series the first book is still a worthwhile read and entertaining story. This is more of an origin story before you fully appreciate the main story. So there are very mixed feelings about continuing the series because while I love Guinevere, there's an awful lot to overlook.
ibazel's review against another edition
Another in the Mists of Avalon-inspired Arthurian retelling pile, but top of the pile, I'd say. Pity the series never finished...
fireintrouble05's review against another edition
2.0
Rating this book was a challenge. It was an impulse grab. I suspected it would be wonderfully terrible or terribly wonderful and there was only one way to find out.
What I liked: Arthurian legend from Guin's point of view. Cool. That awkward time period in history when they were both Christian but still observed many pagan rites. It had all the names I knew, and some of the tropes I knew: Vortigen, the witch in the well, so on and so forth from various movies I've seen.
What I disliked: the writing. Some of the dialogue wasn't needed. The descriptions could be too much in places and entirely lacking in others. Who is speaking? What do they look like? They were a human in a tower and now they are a fish? When? How? Transitions don't exist. This makes it hard to follow.
It was a wild ride, and I hung on until the end because I was curious as to how it would turn out. Turns out there's a sequel...I don't know that I have that in me...
What I liked: Arthurian legend from Guin's point of view. Cool. That awkward time period in history when they were both Christian but still observed many pagan rites. It had all the names I knew, and some of the tropes I knew: Vortigen, the witch in the well, so on and so forth from various movies I've seen.
What I disliked: the writing. Some of the dialogue wasn't needed. The descriptions could be too much in places and entirely lacking in others. Who is speaking? What do they look like? They were a human in a tower and now they are a fish? When? How? Transitions don't exist. This makes it hard to follow.
It was a wild ride, and I hung on until the end because I was curious as to how it would turn out. Turns out there's a sequel...I don't know that I have that in me...
tigerlily33's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyable, a page Turner that I didn't want to be finished. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book.
rhianonleigh's review against another edition
1.0
Actually couldn't even finish it. It was all over the place and really strange, but not in a good way.