Dragonborn

Finally!! A fantasy book that I really enjoyed, after reading perhaps a score or more of lousy imitations. Sam is a 12 year-old wizard's apprentice, whose master dies suddenly in the middle of his study term. He soon finds himself embroiled in a vast cabal of black vs. white magic, without the tools that could help him. He has to decide who is a friend, and who an enemy, just trusting his feelings. Luckily, he is befriended by a dragon, who sometimes helps but mostly behaves like a puppy. A beautifully told tale, with many things unexplained (as it should be in magic) and a very sensitive and lyrical pen. The real charm of the story lies in the author's skill, crisp yet poetic, simple yet moving. Above all, you acquire immediately a feeling for the characters- you love and identify with the ones you're supposed to and intensely dislike and abhor the ugly ones. No mean feat that! All that without imitating Tolkien and, thank God, without imitating Harry Potter. Why only four stars? Because the author could not resist writing a part of the story to entice the reader to buy a sequel. I do hate these marketing stratagems. A book should end where the story ends, period!

Everything seems all mixed up, jumping from one character or one situation to another, then you suddenly realize each character's place and point and why the author developed them the way he did. Ultimately, all of them are well-developed and you find yourself invested in them! Everything and everyone that seemed disconnected just comes together and you don't want the story to end! Lots of interesting twists and turns but it's almost like spinning around blindfolded then the blindfold comes off and there's a full tapestry right in front of you. Oddly but well written. Definitely worth reading until the dizziness stops and the whole picture comes together! Difficult to describe but excellent story. Can't wait to start the next book!

I think this book must be the first of a series even though the only other book I can find is a prequel. If there are other books to come, this book is okay but go into it knowing that you won't get answers to most of your questions. Not even enough to have a firm footing on what to expect in the future. I told my chidlren it was like a waffle with all the indentations as holes. I debated on 3 stars instead of 2. The story idea is a 4. The execution is a 2. Let me preface this with the fact that I LOVE fantasy and read it a lot. I especially look for books for my 10 to 13 year old boys. I had just read Ben, The Dragonborn by Dianne Astle and really enjoyed that book. So did my 10 year old boy. He really devoured it. So this title caught my attention. I LOVE dragons. The book had some interesting ideas. Interesting philosophy. Good story with too many frustrations.She says the names of several creatures that are unlike those of our world but never really tells us what they look like. She mentions the description briefly but not well enough to have a clear picture. She doesn't even show us later except for the roffles. I had to make my own mental image for memmonts. Sam finally meets one, but it only mentions it has green eyes. Frustrating.The whole title of the book is Dragonborn, but they never ever really explain what that was or how it is important, how it came to be or how it is an advantage! Is it even an advantage? I don't know after a whole book. I think it is supposed to be lucky, but is that the ONLY advantage? There are other interesting characters but the relationship is not really explained at all. You know one character is related or has a connection to Sam somehow, but that really isn't explained either. They may name the relationship, but give you no meat on the bones.Why is the magic strange? Why do people seem to think Sam is part of a prophesy or a wizard foretold to fix the problem? You never hear why any of them think that. Why in the world did people doubt he was a wizard? I like an overall story arc, but this didn't even answer basic questions about the villain, or about the main character. I liked it, but felt like I was dropped off a cliff for the ending. I expected some kind of actual confrontation between the good and the evil and it didn't happen. It was frustrating. There was a whole section called wizard war, but there are no direct confrontations really. Things were a little warped between the 2 sides but that is no different than it had been throughout the book.The one thing I can say is that editing was not a problem on the kindle version as far as spelling was concerned. No repeated words or stupid typos. I just think it needed a content editor to help flesh out the story. I about closed my kindle and stomped off. Read at your own peril. I will say the philosphy is fascinating, just needed more meat on the bones of the plot.

Although this book has a different writing style than I'm used to, the story is good, but convoluted much more than it needs to be. I don't think I'm going to get the rest of the books in this series.

this is the bestit came right on time it was in great condition and just reading the first two chapters was amazing once you just two chapters you are already suck in to the book i can not wait to get the next book Fire Born:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

I haven't read the book but my son has. Coming from a 12 year old the story is engaging and that why it get's two thumbs up. One of the few series he likes to read of his own will!

I liked the forshadowing in this book. Teases you about what is to come in following novels. Magic is alive.

This brilliant book would be absolutely wonderful for all ages I loved the whole story how it fit together and how it yells you something more than just what it was. It showed many great qualities and just an absolutely amazing book altogether.

I was hooked from the first page. This is writing of the first calibre, on a par with Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' series. It entertains as it raises questions about what it is to be human, it demonstrates how evil can grow from a seemingly trivial act, and that moral courage is often more admirable than physical bravery. Adults and children will love this series - I started reading Fireborn as soon as I finished Dragonborn because I HAD to know what happened next! Toby Forward's creation is inventive and original, thrilling, funny, charming and wise. Dragonborn is the best children's fiction I've read in many years.

I loved this book. As others have mentioned there are some bits that remind me of the Earthsea books but I much prefer this book especially if reading it to reluctant readers. It is well written and manages to combine humour and tragedy. The adult and child characters are all important to the plot and the end left me wanting to know more It was great to read a story that combined magic and dragons without being a simple fantasy story.

The story was a bit slow but did get better in the end, I will get the next book .

I let my son rate this book, he did find at some points it got boring but otherwise enjoys the book.