Books › Dragon's Breath
Dragon's Breath
First published 2003 · 292 pages
A delightfully chaotic romp through a fractured fairy tale world where courage matters more than perfect spellcasting.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like tumbling headlong into a brightly colored, slightly disorganized magical kingdom where nothing goes exactly to plan but everything is deeply entertaining. The narrative moves at a brisk, cheerful clip, propelled by witty banter and a delightfully chaotic atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the awkwardness of growing up. It is a world where magic is messy and unpredictable, forcing its characters to rely on their wits, their humor, and their loyalty to one another instead of easy solutions. The prose is conversational and breezy, making it an effortless and immersive experience. It will thoroughly delight readers who love their fairy tales fractured, their princesses spunky and pragmatic, and their adventures spiked with a healthy dose of laughter and genuine heart.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cheerful
- adventurous
- Tone
- witty
- lighthearted
- chaotic
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- finding inner courage · the awkwardness of growing up · power of friendship · embracing imperfections
- The writing
- The writing is accessible and conversational, driven by snappy dialogue and playful, vivid descriptions of magical mishaps.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from overwhelmed frustration with uncontrollable magic to a grounded, confident realization of personal bravery.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who delight in fractured fairy tales featuring spunky, imperfect heroines and plenty of humorous chaos.
Content notes
- mild fantasy peril
About the book
Emma and Eadric have no sooner turned back into humans than Emma's mother is in a panic, Aunt Grassina is distracted because she's found her true love turned into an otter, and Emma's magic is so out of control she sends herself to the dungeon by mistake. The neighboring kingdom has chosen this moment to attack, and if Emma can't get Grassina's mind back on protecting the kingdom, life as they know it in Greater Greensward will be in peril. From underwater sea monsters to fire-breathing dragons, this witty pair of young friends manages to sweet-talk, cajole, and race their way to victory. But when it looks as if everything will finally work out, disaster strikes, and Emma finds that magic is not enough--it takes real bravery and a strong, new friendship to succeed.
Description from Open Library.
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