Anna C. (eclecticlibrarian) reviewed Dragonsong (Harper Hall Trilogy, V. 1) on + 49 more book reviews
I read this in high school and decided to re-read it after I bought this copy this evening. It's less complex than many of the Pern books - geared more towards a YA audience, I think.
Probably the best dragon series ever by any author.
This is a wonderful book - have re-read it soo many times!
According to an "official" guide, this book is #3 of 16.
I was looking through the paperback section of my local book store and the cover art caught my eye (the original cover design). I read the brief, bought it and I WAS HOOKED ON ANNE MCCAFFREY! I've read all the books from the "Pern" series and even turned my best friend on to it, too! Excellent writing - takes you away! This needs to be a miniseries or movie!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Review: I enjoyed this story. The main character was interesting, as was the world that the book was set in. The whole story was well written and well told.
There were two problems that I had with the book. The first was that it was too simplistic. There wasn't much character development, and things sometimes seemed to happen just because. However, this book was shelved in the young adult section of the library, so I don't really care that it was a simplistic book.
The 2nd was that the setting and some of the back stories were a bit confusing. There was a foreword in the copy to give the reader some background on Pern. However, it wasn't really enough, especially once the main character winds up at the place with all the dragons (I don't have the book on me anymore and I forgot what it was called!). There was a bit too much backstory missing for everything to make sense. I realize now that there's another trilogy that I should have read before this one, as the first book happens before "Dragonsong". However, given that this book is a young adult book and that the trilogy that comes before it is an adult book, the fact that this book is a bit on the confusing side when read alone is a problem. Not all kids who are in the yound adult section are up to reading adult books yet.
Aside from those two problems I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
Review: I enjoyed this story. The main character was interesting, as was the world that the book was set in. The whole story was well written and well told.
There were two problems that I had with the book. The first was that it was too simplistic. There wasn't much character development, and things sometimes seemed to happen just because. However, this book was shelved in the young adult section of the library, so I don't really care that it was a simplistic book.
The 2nd was that the setting and some of the back stories were a bit confusing. There was a foreword in the copy to give the reader some background on Pern. However, it wasn't really enough, especially once the main character winds up at the place with all the dragons (I don't have the book on me anymore and I forgot what it was called!). There was a bit too much backstory missing for everything to make sense. I realize now that there's another trilogy that I should have read before this one, as the first book happens before "Dragonsong". However, given that this book is a young adult book and that the trilogy that comes before it is an adult book, the fact that this book is a bit on the confusing side when read alone is a problem. Not all kids who are in the yound adult section are up to reading adult books yet.
Aside from those two problems I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
Absolutely wonderful book about a young musician discovering the world and learning expression through harp and dragons!
