A review by ccpprrjj
Dragon Bones by Lisa McMann

adventurous emotional tense medium-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

4.5

This book was much better than the previous one.  Mostly because I cared more about the storylines that we followed.  I'll start with the Thisbe one, and then move into the

devastating

Fifer/Alex one. 

Thisbe Storyline
I find Thisbe to be a really compelling character.  She's both brave, angry, scared, and compassionate all at the same time, and this book really shows it.  She just wants to prove to herself (and Alex) that she's not evil.  That just because she has these destructive powers and killed someone when she was two doesn't mean that she's a bad person.  Her inner conflict in this book was so enjoyable to read about.  And Eagala was totally manipulating her.

The parts where Eagala was telling her that she's more evil than good were total lies.  There's no way.  I refuse to believe that Thisbe is more evil than good.  She got upset over seeing the bones of a baby dragon.  Would an evil person even care?  Yes, maybe she's morally grey (I'd call it a light grey-the worst things she does are lie and occasionally shoot fireballs at attackers).  But anyways.

  And I love her relationship with Rohan.  His gentleness balances out Thisbe's more rash moments and they make a great team.  Any content with the two of them is just so wholesome.

Fifer/Alex Storyline

And now to the depressing storyline.

  I'll start by saying that I still don't like Fifer.  She's just so. . .arrogant.  And not aware of it.  She thinks she's the most powerful and important person in the room, especially around people her age, that she just drives me crazy.  I get where Alex is coming from with his annoyance with her.  That's not to say he's completely in the right either.  He was definitely over sheltering her and doing his whole 'pushing people away' thing.  But then Fifer would come along and (whether internally or out loud) make some comment about a super traumatizing part of his life like it's nothing.  Like. Child.  These things you've read about aren't just stories to Alex.  He lived through them.  And he doesn't want you to have to go through anything similar.  On a different note, I loved Alex's growth in this book.  I felt like his recovery process was well-written and in character.  I feel like all the characters from the original series still feel like themselves here, but this book really focused on Alex and his mental space. 

  However, this being a reread.  I couldn't help but be sad while reading the happier parts where he reconciled with Fifer.  Because I knew it wouldn't last.  Which brings me to the part of this book that destroys me emotionally.  Alex's death.  Seeing him die just when he was getting better is so devastating.  When I first read it, it felt like my childhood had died with him.  Even now it's hard to read.  Harder than any of the deaths in the original series, that's for sure.  And I really appreciated the scene afterwards with Crow and the 'I am with you' bit.  Absolutely devastating.  Now, emotions aside, I do appreciate Alex's death from a narrative standpoint.  It opens such an interesting avenue for the rest of the books to explore: what do you do when the main character dies.  And that allows for so much growth and interesting situations to put our characters in.  I'm saddened by Alex's death, but not angered by it.  It was a bold and effective choice on McMann's part to move the story forward and shift its focus to the other Stowe siblings.

Overall, this was a good book.  Not as good as the original series, but an enjoyable and emotional read nonetheless.  Onto the next book!