Helpful Score: 2
There is something special about this book; special enough to make me come back and edit my first review. I have read longer books, more developed books, books with sequels; and yet many do not have the charm of this apparently hastily written little gem. There are so many icebergs extending far down under its apparently shallow surface. Almost more than a physical landscape, it has an emotional landscape. The fact that nothing is spelled out for you only adds to its attraction. Did she think --? Did he mean --? Did they say --? The story provokes a lot of thought every time I re-read it. And while I've owned a copy for years (not the same copy -- I keep giving mine away and then replacing it, though lately I've been keeping a spare to stay ahead of the curve), it hasn't yet lost its re-read value. Considering that I am a very picky reader, that says a lot.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a really great little book. I am so used to reading books that are 500 plus pages that this was a real breath of fresh air. I think the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it left me wanting more, and there isn't a sequel. What struck me as really moving was the message this book brought. Revenge might seem like a sweet prospect, but it just poisons the soul. The characters were really believable for a fantasy book in that the author did not make Selendrile (the dragon) too human. In fact, he seemed to have very little humanity to him, but some compassion and the need for revenge. And Alys was a tough girl who was knocked down way too many times but finally found the help she needed in an unlikely source. Like I said before, I wish there was a sequel to this one because I want more of these two and their adventures.
