Discover Dragons: I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath

15 May

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
by Peter S. Beagle
I had previously read Beagle’s classic The Last Unicorn so couldn’t resist to see what his latest novel involving Dragons was like. I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons reads a bit like a fairy tale in some ways with a handsome prince and beautiful princess, but the prince struggles with bravery and the princess secretly wants to learn to read as much as find her true love. In the mix is also a lad of humble birth who along with two friends works as a dragon exterminator, despite a fascination with the creatures and secretly keeping a few as household pets. When an evil sorcerer threatens the kingdom, it will take all their collective skills to save the land. I felt the book held my interest more earlier on with its quirky depiction of a dragon infested castle and dragon market than later when it became somewhat more predictable in the climatic battle, but If you enjoyed The Last Unicorn you will also likely be charmed by this sweet coming of age tale.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
by Moniquill Blackgoose
We read To Shape a Dragon’s Breath as part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group in March. The group enjoyed the novel which although marketed as Young Adult (it was picked by a member who is a school librarian), still has plenty to appeal to adult fantasy fans. Blackgoose is of Native American descent and she works in issues of colonization and differing worldviews into her story about a teen girl, Anequs, attending a dragon academy. Beyond Native Americans there is also diversity in many of the other characters represented including one student who is neurodiverse. What I enjoyed was that this is done in an authentic feeling way and doesn’t read as simply tokenism and even characters we route for have their own flaws so one culture isn’t all perfect. There is a surprising twist on the typical romantasy love triangle and some Steampunk elements are included since her brother and his friends are part of a collective of inventors interested in “enginekraft.” The most unique concept though in the book was the way in which dragon fire is used to manipulate matter; it can both be used to split things apart as well as form new things depending on what the dragon’s companion, called Nampeshiweisit by Anequs’s people and Dragoneers by the Anglish, has them do.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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A New Adventure Based on an Ancient Story: Strike the Zither

8 May

Fantasy can be ground for many great and original works, many of which go on to become well beloved classics. It can also be grounds for retellings of fairy tales, legends, and mythology of all sorts, leaving for a different sort of take on a classic story. Love them or hate them, they are a staple that will continue for times to come. 

In this retelling of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, author Joan He tells the story of Zephyr, an orphan who would grow up to become one of the greatest strategist in the kingdom, serving under warlordess Xin Rin, whose loyalty to the puppet empress is a double edged sword that could put their survival in danger. When forced to infiltrate an enemy camp, Zephyr meets the mysterious Crow, a strategist from a rival kingdom who is her intellectual match. The destined meeting forces both of them to realize that there are more enemies around them and not all of them are human. 

If you are a reader who is not familiar with the story of the Three Kingdoms, this is a great book to learn about it while seeing the author’s take on this classic tale. Joan He’s narrative style is quite enthralling, pulling the reader right at the height of a danger, letting us see first hand just how skilled Zephyr’s skills are in the art of strategy and into her personality. Zephyr is quite a fun character to read about, confident to the point of arrogance, but still quite endearing at the same time. 

The second of our main cast of characters is Crow and from the moment he and Zephyr meet, there is immediate tension between them on a multitude of levels. They clearly match each other in terms of intelligence and the sparks of something more between them is undeniable. In terms of personality, while Zephyr is arrogant to an almost boisterous degree, Crow is much more quiet and mysterious, but still just as intelligent, and arrogant, as Zephyr. Of those she has encountered, it is only Crow that Zephyr considers to be a true rival. The plot is very well paced and has a great set of twists and turns that will make readers want to reach for the sequel, Sound the Gong, out now. For readers seeking a new adventure, Strike the Zither, is one not to be missed!

Written by:
Lauren Lapinski
Information and Digital Services Assistant

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