Dealing with Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book One

Rating:
Summary: ROTFL
Review: I discovered Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Series one week ago. Since then, I have read all 4 books and can't wait to read more by her. The series starts with this book, "Dealing with Dragons", in which the Princess Cimorene is sick to tears of the strictures of being a princess (can't study fencing or cooking, have to study manners) and decides to escape marriage to a handsome but utterly boring prince by running away to live with the dragons. How she becomes the dragon Kazul's princess, deals with unwanted rescuers and meddlesome wizards is presented by Wrede with a wicked sense of satire towards all the traditional fairy tale conventions. Unlike many series, all three following books of the series live up to the high standards set by the first. Wrede's writing can be enjoyed by pre-teens and post-post-teens (such as myself) - the hardest part is putting down the books

Rating:
Summary: a MUST read
Review: this book captivated me the moment i read the first page. i love this book and i have read it over and over and i still like it! I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequal. It is a MUST read!

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, but not intended for experienced readers
Review: This book is about a plucky princess, who I found entertaining. Patricia Wrede's writing style is lively.

However, the plot isn't very good. This is a classic "plot coupon" story. The princess collects a bunch of stuff, and miraculously it is all used in the end. This happens in Harry Potter too, but in that book the character's morals are tested as well. Here the character's morals are never tested at all. I found the ending predictable and forgetable.

All that said, this book is probably a good read for someone who hasn't read hundreds of books already. More experienced readers will probably be entertained by the style but bored by the plot.


Rating:
Summary: My window into Fantasy
Review: I used to read a lot of fantasy as a kid, but Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles is the only one I can solidly remember. I used to read over and over about stoic men, hysterical damsels, and the like, and when I came across this book it was if I had been freed.

Ms. Wrede does an excellent job at writing a lighthearted book while still keeping it exciting, and proving that girls do have a place in fantasy. I don't know if as I guy I would have enjoyed it that much, with its cooking and cleaning and sensibility, so thank God I'm a girl.

I think the best part about this book, and the entire series, is that even though Wrede seems to be writing mainly towards young girls, she is writing to young girls who love dragons, running away to find their destiny, and doing what needs to be done. There's no swooning or waiting for prince charming in sight. Cimorine was an inspiration to me, and always will be.

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS GREAT
Review: Forget this one. The Princess Cimorene seems to have a bad case of feminist-inspired brain cloud, running away from repressive parents only to enter drudge service to a dragon -- but it's a she-dragon, so that's all right then.

The main character is snotty, mumbles passive-aggressively under her breath, and demonstrates that acting stupid and vain is the only way to deal with unscrupulous wizards. Not what I would call fine role-modeling for girls of any age.

Male (human and otherwise) characters are without exception either clueless morons or cruel, devious wizards up to no good.

The action is overly-descriptive and full of needless, distractive detail. Action is often sluggish to nonexistent -- pages of boring conversation. Attempts at humor by alluding to other fairy tales fall flat.

Suffers from the amateur-writer's pitfall: It Fails To Entertain. During evening storytime, we skimmed and abridged the last half of the book, just to make an end ASAP.

Rating:
Summary: Dealing with Dragons
Review: Any smart girl (or lady!) who knows her fairy tales and fantastical elements will revel in this tale! It's chock full of all the favorite conventions, but they're presented in a fresh, unconventional way. It's not a 'deep' book, but it's perfect for a humorous break.

I highly recommend this book, along with "Ella Enchanted," and "The Midwife's Apprentice".

Rating:
Summary: Well Worth It
Review: This is an excellent unabridged version of "Dealing With Dragons." It's five hours and twelve minutes long and is performed by a full cast. Although sometimes the lines sounded stilted, as if the actors did not have enough time to read and think about their lines before saying them but overall the actors did a very good job. The story was light-hearted and humorous with unusual takeoffs on the traditional fanasy stories and an excellent witty heroine named Princess Cimorene. A good choice to any audio library.