Rawr Reader,
What joy! I know said this last time I posted a review but it's been so long! I haven't shared my recent reads with you but I think everyone can agree 2020 was a funky year and most of us would find it the most unusual, unexpected, and darkest year we've ever faced. In that darkness I found a new love, yoga. I was blessed to have stayed employed when so many lost their jobs, however it was a desk job and my body was feeling the effects. Enter yoga, and I don't think I can go back without it in my life.
On the topic of books, unfortunately, I read a measly 14 books.
*Queue sudden gasp*
I shudder to think back to the peak of my college years when I read nearly 5 times that many. And of the fourteen only two were quite memorable and what I would rank Five Star Reads. While I never did a review for them I would still like to share them:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
and
The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Both are mammoth. Both successfully blew me away. The former for tackling a narrative that intertwined the environment and a wide cast of characters with a structure that mirrored a Frankenstein/Cloud Atlas tree ring. And the latter for being a contemporary Agatha Christie whodunnit I only wish I could reread for the first time again. I would gladly revisit both of these novels if I could read a new book at the same time. Alas, we are creatures with only a singular pair of eyes. I wish evolution considered humans desire to read into the equation so we could at least have the option to read two books at once. Or one pair of eyes sleep while the other reads through the night. Just me? I think the impossibility of nature stemmed from my recent dive into fantasy again. So let's jump in!
The synopsis for The Memoirs of Lady Trent series, A Natural History of Dragons is by Marie Brennan and borrowed from Goodreads:
You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .
All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.
Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.
Reference:
Goodreads. Because Goodreads is a wonderful fountain of literature.
Review:
(safe for those who haven't read this book)
I can honestly say I can't think of the last time a fantasy author took my hand and led me into their story with grace, grit, and wit. Fantasy, as its nature, oftentimes has to deliver a multi-layered world to the reader and yet keep to the plot without drifting too much. Brennan is a phenomenal writer. Through her descriptions of settings and the manner and voice of our narrator Isabella Hendemore, our marvelous Lady Trent before she earned the appellation, Brennan reveals a deep look into this vibrant world that might take another author perhaps twice as long to execute effectively. Set in an alternate Victorian era world, places and names are colorful and familiar and thankfully names I only have to read in my head because if I tried saying them aloud I would likely butcher them. I would suggest that if it helps, it might be useful to write down names for people and places and vernacular until you become familiar with them since Brennan never defines new words, she simply implies meaning with context.
Unlike many ladies in proper society, Isabella is spellbound by dragons, a species that is rare and mysterious and in a word—destiny—for our young narrator. Throughout the first and second books, she encounters dragons of different sizes and in different environments. She observes some, merely escapes with her life with others, and throughout it all will not think twice about risking her life to relive the experiences again. I admire a woman who is driven, even more so when the topic is as exciting as dragons.
Unlike many ladies in proper society, Isabella is spellbound by dragons, a species that is rare and mysterious and in a word—destiny—for our young narrator. Throughout the first and second books, she encounters dragons of different sizes and in different environments. She observes some, merely escapes with her life with others, and throughout it all will not think twice about risking her life to relive the experiences again. I admire a woman who is driven, even more so when the topic is as exciting as dragons.
The exotic and strenuous environments she is drawn to to study the dragons are as much an obstacle for Isabella and her companions which can make the study of the dragons that much more taxing. Yet she refuses to let a dangerous landscape or a foreign people deter her. I found her encounters and interactions with the mountainous peoples of Vystrana what made me love these books even more. Brennan doesn't make the entire world a single culture, there are other cultures and in ANHoD we live in it for a huge chunk of the book, which only adds to the list of difficulties Isabella and her companions have to learn to adapt to and not in any way easier to tackle because they are the same species.
Dragon hunting is not an easy hobby. I can't help but reminded of the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 as she angrily commends her son's accomplishments to the king, but Isabella's ambition through precarious terrains and with questionable foreigners really is a remarkable trait. Her goal isn't as simplistic as saving the princess in the locked tower, she has questions to the anatomy, the behaviors, the culture's accepting or antagonistic views toward dragons who more often than not only lead to more questions.
Isabella isn't just an enthusiast for dragons, she becomes committed to learning the languages of the countries she travels to so that she can contribute and be the most effective in her studies. And Lady Trent notes more than once how language barriers and the limits that poor comprehension translates to transpired in her efforts to accomplish whatever task she was set on. I love reading about new cultures in fantasy, and added with a cast of languages and Brennan's alluring prose, I don't see how I could have walked away from this book disappointed.
Lady Trent also often references books within the world of the series we will never read but are described so vividly that readers might do a double take to remember those are works of fiction in a fiction. This reminds me of a similar inclusion in Amazon's Carnival Row, another colorful world of high fantasy, where the two protagonists become interested in a work of fiction and how it brings them together. She subtly references scientists and authors that we have never heard of and notes their significance alongside works Lady Trent has published. Little drops of detail like these make this memoir seem that much more realistic despite the topic of discussion.
Isabella isn't just an enthusiast for dragons, she becomes committed to learning the languages of the countries she travels to so that she can contribute and be the most effective in her studies. And Lady Trent notes more than once how language barriers and the limits that poor comprehension translates to transpired in her efforts to accomplish whatever task she was set on. I love reading about new cultures in fantasy, and added with a cast of languages and Brennan's alluring prose, I don't see how I could have walked away from this book disappointed.
Lady Trent also often references books within the world of the series we will never read but are described so vividly that readers might do a double take to remember those are works of fiction in a fiction. This reminds me of a similar inclusion in Amazon's Carnival Row, another colorful world of high fantasy, where the two protagonists become interested in a work of fiction and how it brings them together. She subtly references scientists and authors that we have never heard of and notes their significance alongside works Lady Trent has published. Little drops of detail like these make this memoir seem that much more realistic despite the topic of discussion.
The eponymous A Natural History of Dragons is a scientific text Isabella reads early in her life that becomes a bible that will set her toward the events that unfolds in the series. Being that there are four more novels in this series, I'd like to think this text will reappear later as Isabella ages and learns more about dragons.
One of the last things I'd like to touch on is Isabella's connections and the relationships she makes throughout the two books. Being a woman of science more than society, social graces aren't what I'd label as Isabella's strong suits and yet she manages to form strong bonds with people native and foreign to her. The camaraderie that develops between certain characters like Tom Wilker and Dagmira were some of my favorites, despite being some of the most difficult for her. There are others who have flatter lasting impressions of friendship or detestation, but the fluidity of these relationships I found to be the most enjoyable to read through.
One of the last things I'd like to touch on is Isabella's connections and the relationships she makes throughout the two books. Being a woman of science more than society, social graces aren't what I'd label as Isabella's strong suits and yet she manages to form strong bonds with people native and foreign to her. The camaraderie that develops between certain characters like Tom Wilker and Dagmira were some of my favorites, despite being some of the most difficult for her. There are others who have flatter lasting impressions of friendship or detestation, but the fluidity of these relationships I found to be the most enjoyable to read through.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Quote:
“But I know, at least, that you would keep a library on the subject, and I hoped that I might be allowed to read from it.”
He regarded me with a bemused expression. “You want me for my library.”
― Marie Brennan, A Natural History of Dragons
~Because Isabella and Mr. Camherst have a relationship to rival many famous literary duos~
My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole
Next to Read:
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
Spoilers:
(unsafe for those who haven't read this book, so don't read this section)
(unsafe for those who haven't read this book, so don't read this section)
Brennan must have known how perfect she was making Jacob Camherst when she was writing him. A man who not only shared Isabella's interests but included her when others in society would have shut the door on her. Time and time again we see how much he loved her. He almost always doing what she wanted, which sounds rather boring of him when I say it like that, but as I was reading it seemed very endearing.
Something I noticed throughout the book was how often things turned out "okay." There were struggles Isabella and the party faced when studying the dragons, but incidents and problems always righted itself by the end. Rather "easy" from an outsider's point-of-view. There were losses, of course with the obvious being Jacob, however even then it sort of had to happen because if she continued with him at her side, then society would focus more on his accomplishments over hers. I know Tom Wilker joins her in the next novel at least, and it could be said their accomplishments might bring him more into the spotlight than her, however one thing that she mentions on more than one occasion is the fact that he isn't of the same rank as her. Isabella and Tom are somewhat of the black sheep of scientists with being a woman and being of a lower station respectively, but being tied to Jacob and his family's status and reputation elevated her above him. If Jacob were there, he would be the focus. I enjoyed how Isabella and Tom found a common ground in that even though they butted heads in everything else.
Dragons are one of the most majestic and thrilling creatures to read about in fantasy and I liked how Brennan gave her a little twist to them in her series: dragons leave no trace behind after death save teeth or claws, so studying dragons and their anatomy implies that anyone trying to study them has to work quickly after slaying. Isabella in Lady Trent flair reminds the reader that she has no qualms killing a dragon as long as its in the name of science, and we see her play a hand in the capture of them. Admirer of dragons as I am, I couldn't help shedding a tear every time a dragon was hunted down. I just had to remind myself—it's for science.
Adventure tales have always appealed to me, but I think one reason why this one did especially was because it reminded me of The Mummy movie series. While set in a Victorian era, several decades before the Mummy movies which were set in the 20s/30s, they both were reliant on scholarship and our characters wished to join the acclaimed ranks of academia, there were limitations technology and transportation offered them, the lands they would explore were populated by cultures not all that friendly to them. The next book is set in the jungle and I can't wait to see how dragons fair in tropical climates and how Brennan unravels more of this fascinating mystery behind the dragon species.
Adventure tales have always appealed to me, but I think one reason why this one did especially was because it reminded me of The Mummy movie series. While set in a Victorian era, several decades before the Mummy movies which were set in the 20s/30s, they both were reliant on scholarship and our characters wished to join the acclaimed ranks of academia, there were limitations technology and transportation offered them, the lands they would explore were populated by cultures not all that friendly to them. The next book is set in the jungle and I can't wait to see how dragons fair in tropical climates and how Brennan unravels more of this fascinating mystery behind the dragon species.
Until Next Time,
Nicole Ciel
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