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Ashtown Burials #1
The Dragon's Tooth
N. D. Wilson, author of Leepike Ridge and 100 Cupboards, returns with an action-packed adventure that will captivate fans of both Percy Jackson and Indiana Jones with lost civilizations, ancient secrets, and buried treasure.For two years, Cyrus and Antigone Smith have run a sagging roadside motel with their older brother, Daniel. Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man with bone tattoos arrives, demanding a specific room.Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world's secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals who have terrorized the world for millennia.
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 610 reviews
September 13, 2020
I suppose this might be called "young adult" fiction. But that's just stupid. This series is a gripping read for any age. Wilson depicts evil as it ought to be depicted and good as truly as it exists. He weaves ancient and modern stories and myths into a single narrative. It's full of action but not without deep character. And in the up is up and down is down, but not in some sort of cheap, fake happy ending but rather the sort where what's noble lasts and what isn't doesn't.
January 22, 2018
I had the privilege of reading this in manuscript, and it is just fantastic. Look for this book to release this summer -- August, in fact. The Dragon's Tooth is the first in a series of five.
Nancy and I just read through this together again aloud (January 2018), and thoroughly enjoyed it. We read it in manuscript the first time, and enjoyed the changes and elements that weren't there the first time.
Nancy and I just read through this together again aloud (January 2018), and thoroughly enjoyed it. We read it in manuscript the first time, and enjoyed the changes and elements that weren't there the first time.
August 2, 2015
Another in a line of mediocre books I've run on lately. This is one of those been there done that books that slid over into boring very quickly for me.
I will say this, if you are a young reader and haven't read many, many books that criticism may not apply to you. If so you'll probably enjoy the book much more than I did.
The writer here seems to be very concerned that we won't get where we are or what's going on. We get long and finally tedious descriptions of places, people, actions and so on. The lead up to climatic events takes so long (and since you probably saw them coming 3 or 4 pages ago anyway) that the yawn reflex has already triggered.
Aside from that "Cy" (Cyrus) is a thoroughly annoying protagonist...and come to think of it so is his sister Antigone (Tig). I didn't dislike either of them...but I often wanted to shake them. Take an annoying character (or 2) and drag out the scenes and dialogue that lead up to expected and even predictable events and you can see why I can't really be that enthused about the book.
To each their own taste however and I see a lot of people really enjoyed this book, so maybe you should try it. As noted especially if you're a young reader all that bothered me may not be there for you....and you may like Cy and Tig, who knows?
Not one of I truly like or dislike (at least not intensely) but not actually bad either. An okay 2 stars.
I will say this, if you are a young reader and haven't read many, many books that criticism may not apply to you. If so you'll probably enjoy the book much more than I did.
The writer here seems to be very concerned that we won't get where we are or what's going on. We get long and finally tedious descriptions of places, people, actions and so on. The lead up to climatic events takes so long (and since you probably saw them coming 3 or 4 pages ago anyway) that the yawn reflex has already triggered.
Aside from that "Cy" (Cyrus) is a thoroughly annoying protagonist...and come to think of it so is his sister Antigone (Tig). I didn't dislike either of them...but I often wanted to shake them. Take an annoying character (or 2) and drag out the scenes and dialogue that lead up to expected and even predictable events and you can see why I can't really be that enthused about the book.
To each their own taste however and I see a lot of people really enjoyed this book, so maybe you should try it. As noted especially if you're a young reader all that bothered me may not be there for you....and you may like Cy and Tig, who knows?
Not one of I truly like or dislike (at least not intensely) but not actually bad either. An okay 2 stars.
August 28, 2011
Every title has a promise, and this one promises a lot. N.D. more than fulfills it.
His word-craft is to our imaginations what a flaming match is to gasoline. Dialogue so yummy. Images that leap off the page in 3D. Characters you want to meet. Characters you want to kill.
As always, Wilson’s voice is distinctive first and foremost because his view of the world is distinctive. His words crack like bones and strike like lightning because he sees a world where darkness is real and death has dug its trenches. His prose is heady and infectious because he sees a world rich like wine and filled with laughter. He simply tells the story he sees.
The result is that The Dragon's Tooth is not simply a mixture of fantasy and realism. It is a picture of the fantasy in the real, the magic in the ordinary, the miraculous in the mundane—through all of which Wilson brilliantly weaves a story of resurrection in the midst of ashes and dust.
For some, this well-traveled road to death is a treadmill. For Wilson, for his heroes, and for his readers, it's a springboard. To hell with the phoenix. The only way up is down; the only escape from death is straight through it.
So run at it. Through it.
Bring a dragon's tooth.
His word-craft is to our imaginations what a flaming match is to gasoline. Dialogue so yummy. Images that leap off the page in 3D. Characters you want to meet. Characters you want to kill.
As always, Wilson’s voice is distinctive first and foremost because his view of the world is distinctive. His words crack like bones and strike like lightning because he sees a world where darkness is real and death has dug its trenches. His prose is heady and infectious because he sees a world rich like wine and filled with laughter. He simply tells the story he sees.
The result is that The Dragon's Tooth is not simply a mixture of fantasy and realism. It is a picture of the fantasy in the real, the magic in the ordinary, the miraculous in the mundane—through all of which Wilson brilliantly weaves a story of resurrection in the midst of ashes and dust.
For some, this well-traveled road to death is a treadmill. For Wilson, for his heroes, and for his readers, it's a springboard. To hell with the phoenix. The only way up is down; the only escape from death is straight through it.
So run at it. Through it.
Bring a dragon's tooth.
November 17, 2015
I admit, I almost gave up on this book after the first few chapters. NOT because the writing was bad, but because it jumped around too much, reminding me of watching my son play video games on the computer. And it had one of my pet peeves: a false sense of tension created by characters talking in circles and riddles.
BUT.
A friend encouraged me to keep going. I am so glad I listened to her.
Only a little farther than the point where I nearly gave up, questions started getting answers. The situation clarified, and the writer made the story less...chaotic, although the action didn't slow down. I began to really connect with the characters and soon got caught up in a very creative and vivid story!
Reminiscent of Fablehaven, it's the story of a brother and sister becoming part of a secret organization, where they discover real magic and a seriously evil villain. The mansion that becomes their new home--if you can call being forced to live in the castle's catacombs "home". Unsure of who to trust, they must at all costs protect the dragon's tooth left to them by the mysterious Billy Bones moments before his death.
I highly recommend this book for middle-graders and teens. It's fast-paced, inventive, and a great balance of fun and dark adventure. If you are a fan of the Fablehaven series, I can't imagine you not loving this book!
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book 1
book 2
BUT.
A friend encouraged me to keep going. I am so glad I listened to her.
Only a little farther than the point where I nearly gave up, questions started getting answers. The situation clarified, and the writer made the story less...chaotic, although the action didn't slow down. I began to really connect with the characters and soon got caught up in a very creative and vivid story!
Reminiscent of Fablehaven, it's the story of a brother and sister becoming part of a secret organization, where they discover real magic and a seriously evil villain. The mansion that becomes their new home--if you can call being forced to live in the castle's catacombs "home". Unsure of who to trust, they must at all costs protect the dragon's tooth left to them by the mysterious Billy Bones moments before his death.
I highly recommend this book for middle-graders and teens. It's fast-paced, inventive, and a great balance of fun and dark adventure. If you are a fan of the Fablehaven series, I can't imagine you not loving this book!
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
April 22, 2025
Oh I love this one. I think there are a couple pacing issues and weird POV switches but still gladly 4.5 stars. I feel I live in Ashtown in such a vivid way while reading this. NDW is the master of atmospheric descriptions. And the characters! Are! So! Good! I know and love them so well after all these years, but it's always a delight to re-enounter Nolan and Rupert and Diana and my dear favorites Cyrus and Antigone.
This is just an excellent adventure story for boys and girls of every age, and I highly recommend. Dont *you* want to join an ancient order of explorers and learn to fly biplanes and speak Latin?
(Huzzah for the Polygoners)
This is just an excellent adventure story for boys and girls of every age, and I highly recommend. Dont *you* want to join an ancient order of explorers and learn to fly biplanes and speak Latin?
(Huzzah for the Polygoners)
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February 5, 2024If Mr. Wilson thinks this first installment in the Ashtown Burials is the weakest, then I simply can't wait to start the next book. The Dragon's Tooth was an unforgettable experience, to put it mildly. The most compelling, unputdownable adventure I've been on in a long time.
The thing I loved best about this book was its worldbuilding. The world of Ashtown and the Order of Brendan feels so real, so tangibly possible. And the way Wilson weaves real history into his story convinces me that he is a genius.
I didn't expect to (because of 100 Cupboards), but I came to like the inhabitants of Ashtown. I love that Cyrus and Antigone have a fierce affection for one another and yet are totally ready to drop an amiably snarky comment on each other at first chance. This sister-brother relationship was very different from any of the ones I've read, and it was quite amusing to read. The character development in general was intriguing to witness, especially in the case of Big Ben Sterling.
Wilson's writing style does a lot of showing rather than telling, which makes the reading process all the more interesting, but can be (and is) overdone. Sometimes the descriptions were too convoluted for me to make sense of, even after reading them over three times. But that is my only complaint.
All in all, this book leaves me eager to delve into the immersive world of Ashtown once more. ASAP.
The thing I loved best about this book was its worldbuilding. The world of Ashtown and the Order of Brendan feels so real, so tangibly possible. And the way Wilson weaves real history into his story convinces me that he is a genius.
I didn't expect to (because of 100 Cupboards), but I came to like the inhabitants of Ashtown. I love that Cyrus and Antigone have a fierce affection for one another and yet are totally ready to drop an amiably snarky comment on each other at first chance. This sister-brother relationship was very different from any of the ones I've read, and it was quite amusing to read. The character development in general was intriguing to witness, especially in the case of Big Ben Sterling.
Wilson's writing style does a lot of showing rather than telling, which makes the reading process all the more interesting, but can be (and is) overdone. Sometimes the descriptions were too convoluted for me to make sense of, even after reading them over three times. But that is my only complaint.
All in all, this book leaves me eager to delve into the immersive world of Ashtown once more. ASAP.
June 1, 2022
2022: reread number idek. At least seven though. This book is still the greatest.
The fact I'll be attending to the college my favorite author sometimes teaches at in only two months hasn't quite sunk in yet.
And now I shall proceed to read every book N D Wilson has written. 100 Cupboards was amazing and the best stuff ever, but Nolan!!! Solomon Keys!!!! Waffles!!! O of B!!!! Sir Roger!!!
Who doesn’t want an enormous skull that dims lights and breathes when a certain name is spoken? And a pirate cook with metal legs and bells in his ears. Transmortals that die when.. but wait that’s a spoiler.
Artifacts and history and myth and life and family are all mixed together and it’s amazing.
So yeah, I love this one.
The fact I'll be attending to the college my favorite author sometimes teaches at in only two months hasn't quite sunk in yet.
And now I shall proceed to read every book N D Wilson has written. 100 Cupboards was amazing and the best stuff ever, but Nolan!!! Solomon Keys!!!! Waffles!!! O of B!!!! Sir Roger!!!
Who doesn’t want an enormous skull that dims lights and breathes when a certain name is spoken? And a pirate cook with metal legs and bells in his ears. Transmortals that die when.. but wait that’s a spoiler.
Artifacts and history and myth and life and family are all mixed together and it’s amazing.
So yeah, I love this one.
August 24, 2021
This is book enraptured me with its hybrid of literary references and quirky charm! I loved it! Looking forward to reading the others and will most definitely reread this!
March 27, 2023
Solid 5 stars!
Things I liked:
-amazing writing; lyrical without being purple, and descriptive without breaking out of the headspace of the teen/pre teen MCs
-secret societies, magic artifacts, bonds of friendship, eccentric characters, traitors...a whole lot of my favorite things
-terrifying villain, with a few tropes (megalomania! And "We don't have to be enemies" approach among others) that were natural rather than forced/otherwise unbelievable
-consistent themes for the magic/artifacts. Not everything was explained in this book, and I can't wait to find out more
-believable teen/pre teen characters! The few who acted older than their age had good reason for it, and the oddness was noted by other characters
-no plot armor. Normally this is shown/comes across as "oh hey look everybody dies every couple of paragraphs", but not so here! Very real deaths; unexpected, painful, startling
Things I didn't like so much:
-NOBODY HAD PLOT ARMOR. That was ruddy stressful.
On that note, I'm hoping the magic includes the possibility of timey-wimey Shenanigans, because there are a few characters that needed to stick around longer...
Things I liked:
-amazing writing; lyrical without being purple, and descriptive without breaking out of the headspace of the teen/pre teen MCs
-secret societies, magic artifacts, bonds of friendship, eccentric characters, traitors...a whole lot of my favorite things
-terrifying villain, with a few tropes (megalomania! And "We don't have to be enemies" approach among others) that were natural rather than forced/otherwise unbelievable
-consistent themes for the magic/artifacts. Not everything was explained in this book, and I can't wait to find out more
-believable teen/pre teen characters! The few who acted older than their age had good reason for it, and the oddness was noted by other characters
-no plot armor. Normally this is shown/comes across as "oh hey look everybody dies every couple of paragraphs", but not so here! Very real deaths; unexpected, painful, startling
Things I didn't like so much:
-NOBODY HAD PLOT ARMOR. That was ruddy stressful.
On that note, I'm hoping the magic includes the possibility of timey-wimey Shenanigans, because there are a few characters that needed to stick around longer...
December 20, 2017
Whoa. If bookstores were theme parks, this book would be the 4th dimensional roller coaster ride with the long lines and the kids standing on tiptoes to meet the height requirement. I think my knuckles are still white.
Mr. Wilson wastes no time getting the plot moving, and within the first few chapters, Cyrus Smith, the likable pre-teen protagonist, has already experienced electrocution by a magical insect, an escape from a motel fire, the death of a mysterious tattooed stranger, an attack by undying mutant mobsters, the acquisition of a disappearing snake and a set of surprisingly powerful keys, a gun fight, a nearly fatal car chase, a jolting ride through a secret underground passageway, and induction into the not-altogether-friendly Order of Saint Brendan—a society with a mythical history and an impressively built community whose green lawns and marble pillars just happen to be located along the shore of Lake Michigan. And that's just the beginning.
Throughout the book, the characters are colorful, the descriptions are fantastic, and the plot takes turn after unexpected turn—sometimes hilarious, sometimes alarming. And keep a sharp eye out for the reincarnation of some familiar characters from classic adventure stories ranging from The Odyssey to Treasure Island.
By the time this book enters its final death-defying loop, it's hard to know which way is up, but I'm pretty sure the carny is letting us off while we're still hanging in mid-air. In other words, this ride isn't over yet—which is a good thing...except that now we have to wait with our hair standing on end until the next book in the series arrives to flip the switch and send us hurtling through yet another another succession of high-speed loops and dives. Hold on to your loose change.
P.S.—You might want to take a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl while you wait.
Mr. Wilson wastes no time getting the plot moving, and within the first few chapters, Cyrus Smith, the likable pre-teen protagonist, has already experienced electrocution by a magical insect, an escape from a motel fire, the death of a mysterious tattooed stranger, an attack by undying mutant mobsters, the acquisition of a disappearing snake and a set of surprisingly powerful keys, a gun fight, a nearly fatal car chase, a jolting ride through a secret underground passageway, and induction into the not-altogether-friendly Order of Saint Brendan—a society with a mythical history and an impressively built community whose green lawns and marble pillars just happen to be located along the shore of Lake Michigan. And that's just the beginning.
Throughout the book, the characters are colorful, the descriptions are fantastic, and the plot takes turn after unexpected turn—sometimes hilarious, sometimes alarming. And keep a sharp eye out for the reincarnation of some familiar characters from classic adventure stories ranging from The Odyssey to Treasure Island.
By the time this book enters its final death-defying loop, it's hard to know which way is up, but I'm pretty sure the carny is letting us off while we're still hanging in mid-air. In other words, this ride isn't over yet—which is a good thing...except that now we have to wait with our hair standing on end until the next book in the series arrives to flip the switch and send us hurtling through yet another another succession of high-speed loops and dives. Hold on to your loose change.
P.S.—You might want to take a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl while you wait.
January 4, 2026
“We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed. . . Who brought us to birth? In whose arms shall we die? He that keeps us neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is the Keeper of souls.”
I’ve never written reviews for the Ashtown Burials books, and that’s because I have no idea how to start.
How can I express how much I love this series? How much it means to me? How it’s remained my favorite (second only to The Lord of the Rings) since I first read it as a teenager, and how it retains that spot now in my adulthood?
Kicking off the series, The Dragon’s Tooth layers foreshadowing, adventure, sibling dynamics, esoteric talents, and reimagined history and legends and classics into one book, along with some of the most frank yet fortifying depiction of death and life I’ve encountered in a story.
Cyrus, Antigone, Rupert, Nolan, Diana, and every other Ashtown hero call to me regularly to return to this wild and wondrous world of exploration and death by living.
I’m more than happy to answer the call. Every time. I’ll be answering it again and again for many, many, many years to come.
🗝️ heads-up for (sometimes gruesome) violence, a villain’s non-graphic but disturbing experimentation on humans, and mentions of exams Cyrus and Antigone need to take for protection against the occult 🗝️
April 27, 2017
I loved this book, it was totally enthralling and I was clinging to the edge of my seat half the time. I would recommend it for older kids, because of how realistic some of the plot-twists are (i.e. they find skeletons drawn on pictures of their family; human experimentation; etc).
I really like the mix of good and evil and mystical items. One thing that I was a little disappointed in at first, and later impressed me was that there was a very obvious bad-guy side, and then there were a couple neutral characters, but there wasn't entirely an obvious good-guy side all the time. And it took a while to kick in, but that is one of the points of the book.
I think the most disappoint thing about it was that our library doesn't have the second one on audiobook!
I really like the mix of good and evil and mystical items. One thing that I was a little disappointed in at first, and later impressed me was that there was a very obvious bad-guy side, and then there were a couple neutral characters, but there wasn't entirely an obvious good-guy side all the time. And it took a while to kick in, but that is one of the points of the book.
I think the most disappoint thing about it was that our library doesn't have the second one on audiobook!
May 3, 2021
Really enjoyed this entry into Ashtown Burials!
I can't think of anything that I didn't enjoy (…well maybe enjoy isn't quite the right word...some of it's a tad grisly). But I'm going to give it four stars because I anticipate loving later installments more.
Very lively and full of humor and suspense (…having read The Door Before before reading this...yeah it adds a lot of meaning O.o). Anyways, I look forward to The Drowned Vault!
P.S. Cyrus is the best
I can't think of anything that I didn't enjoy (…well maybe enjoy isn't quite the right word...some of it's a tad grisly). But I'm going to give it four stars because I anticipate loving later installments more.
Very lively and full of humor and suspense (…having read The Door Before before reading this...yeah it adds a lot of meaning O.o). Anyways, I look forward to The Drowned Vault!
P.S. Cyrus is the best
June 10, 2020
2nd read. In preparation for book 4. Quite excellent.
June 24, 2020
I decided to finally dive into Ashtown Burials to see what all the fuss was about.
I get it now.
I get it now.
March 17, 2012
The Dragon’s Tooth, by N. D. Wilson was released about six months ago with much fanfare and excitement. I had enjoyed a couple of Wilson’s other children’s books, Leepike Ridge and The 100 Cupboards, but my disappointment with books 2 and 3 in the 100 Cupboards series made me reluctant to attempt The Dragon’s Tooth. When the fanfare subsided, I pretty much forgot that the book existed. Earlier this month, however, my six-year-old nephew proudly showed it off to me as the longest book he’s ever read. I decided to place it on hold at the library and give it a whirl.
Twelve-year-old Cyrus Smith lives in a dilapidated old motel with his older sister Antigone and older brother Dan. With their father dead for several years and their mother in a coma, the Smith children are forced to fend for themselves. For Cyrus, life consists of mundane things like skipping school, collecting old tires, and eating waffles. But when a strange guest named William Skelton checks in at the motel and demands to receive Room 111, life for the Smith children takes a radical change.
As the motel goes up in flames around them, Cyrus and Antigone find themselves initiates in a secret society known as the Order of Brendan with a bloodthirsty villain named Maximillien Robespierre on their trail. The children flee to Ashtown, a secret city housing the Order of Brendan, bringing with them a set of magical keys, an invisible snake named Patricia, and a shiny black shard said to be a piece of a dragon’s tooth. The adventure only gets wilder from there with venomous whip spiders, dragonfly surveillance cameras, friendly bull sharks, and immortal enemies. The book is a thrilling page-turner full of allusions to history and literature, a sort of Treasure Island of Dr. Moreau. (And no, I’m not going to explain that. You’ll have to read it see what I mean.) The only disappointment I had after finishing it is that the next book of the series hasn’t yet been published. I can wait. But not very patiently.
Twelve-year-old Cyrus Smith lives in a dilapidated old motel with his older sister Antigone and older brother Dan. With their father dead for several years and their mother in a coma, the Smith children are forced to fend for themselves. For Cyrus, life consists of mundane things like skipping school, collecting old tires, and eating waffles. But when a strange guest named William Skelton checks in at the motel and demands to receive Room 111, life for the Smith children takes a radical change.
As the motel goes up in flames around them, Cyrus and Antigone find themselves initiates in a secret society known as the Order of Brendan with a bloodthirsty villain named Maximillien Robespierre on their trail. The children flee to Ashtown, a secret city housing the Order of Brendan, bringing with them a set of magical keys, an invisible snake named Patricia, and a shiny black shard said to be a piece of a dragon’s tooth. The adventure only gets wilder from there with venomous whip spiders, dragonfly surveillance cameras, friendly bull sharks, and immortal enemies. The book is a thrilling page-turner full of allusions to history and literature, a sort of Treasure Island of Dr. Moreau. (And no, I’m not going to explain that. You’ll have to read it see what I mean.) The only disappointment I had after finishing it is that the next book of the series hasn’t yet been published. I can wait. But not very patiently.
August 13, 2012
Amazing bit of YA fantasy and adventure pulling in historical references, mixing myth with fact, reinvigorating the wonderment of the world that existed in the early 20th century. A Harry Potter for Americans with secret societies and magic in the world hidden just beneath the surfact. But more than imbued talent (e.g. wizzard vs. muggle), every person has the possibility to aspire to this society of explorers and find a new perspective on the world, with a bit of hard work learning how to fly airplanes, fence with swords, and read ancient languages.
November 17, 2025
August 2025 — Fun reread in anticipation of book four.
September 2011 — It's been nine years since my first reading, so I'd reached that happy condition of forgetfulness that made most of it seem new. And I thoroughly enjoyed it all over again.
I bought the audiobooks a few years ago in anticipation of refreshing my memory before the fourth book came out. And then the powers that be at Random House betrayed us [insert imprecatory psalm here].
But the author kept faith, and The Silent Bells is trickling out in serial, so I am revisiting the first three volumes.
The narrator was in the unenviable position of following a couple of really outstanding audio performances in my reading list, so he probably seemed more insitting to me than he really was. A couple of his voices just didn't work for me at all.
September 2011 — It's been nine years since my first reading, so I'd reached that happy condition of forgetfulness that made most of it seem new. And I thoroughly enjoyed it all over again.
I bought the audiobooks a few years ago in anticipation of refreshing my memory before the fourth book came out. And then the powers that be at Random House betrayed us [insert imprecatory psalm here].
But the author kept faith, and The Silent Bells is trickling out in serial, so I am revisiting the first three volumes.
The narrator was in the unenviable position of following a couple of really outstanding audio performances in my reading list, so he probably seemed more insitting to me than he really was. A couple of his voices just didn't work for me at all.
May 2, 2022
I'm reviewing the whole series here. This is the best middlegrade I've ever read. It's bizarrely and beautifully creative, epic, perilous, and a call to adventure that reached through the pages and grabbed me. The boy and girl MCs are not just fun characters, but they have so much grit it will humble most adults. This is the type of book to inspire true heroes.
I love just about everything about this series.
I love just about everything about this series.
June 17, 2017
Gross, uncomfortable, and immature, audiobook DNF at forty minutes.
September 29, 2022
How does this book get better every time I read it? 😍 I really couldn’t tell you. It’s amazing. I’d forgotten how wonderful. Haha. I’m gushing about it. Ahhhh. ❤️ Still one of my favorite series!
July 16, 2016
So, this was pretty cool. It had the N. D. Wilson feel of fantasy mashed with the real word. Evil villains with mysterious purposes. Transmortal people who have been hung and guillotined and still aren't dead. Characters shoved into the thick of things without a clue what in the world is happening. Loads of fun.
Every one of the characters is unique and has a brilliant personality. Cyrus was a great character right from page one. His daring adventurousness was perfectly written, not taking it too far so he did still get scared and stuff. He actually reminded me slightly of a young Sirius Black, which was cool. Tigs was also amazingly done, a wonderful older sister, and very realistic. Diana Boone, Rupert Greeves, and all the rest were brilliantly real. I loved 'em all.
Except, naturally, for the villains and the betrayers. Yet they too were so real. Dr. Phoenix had a personality that completely creeped me out (in a very good way) with his dual person/ Mr Ashes thing. His evilness made me want to punch him in the face. Or run away screaming. It was a toss up between the two. And I'm not going to go into my deep set hatred for all betrayers. Evil peoples. They all trusted you!
The plot = amazing. I loved everything about it. It never lagged much, and the mystery and uncertainty of everything kept the tension running high. And then there was the doubt whether some certain characters were still alive, and basically 'HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT DUDE STILL LIVING?' (Mostly Nolan for that. He was an...interesting character.)
And let's not forget the ending. I mean, seriously. They failed. But it was all cool anyway. They tried, and everyone make mistakes. And then they've got to live with them. That's just life, and books are meant to be about life. So I liked it heaps. Plus, it was worth it to see all the polygoners having a great time in the last chapter. They were such a great gang of characters that I just want to hug them all.
There is still so much mystery for the next book to carry on with, so much more I want to know. I can't wait to get to live another book with these amazing characters. Hopefully they won't all die by the end.
No guarantee about that though.
I totally recommend this. It is definitely five-star stuff. An epic, great read that is completely engaging. Basically, very, very good.
Every one of the characters is unique and has a brilliant personality. Cyrus was a great character right from page one. His daring adventurousness was perfectly written, not taking it too far so he did still get scared and stuff. He actually reminded me slightly of a young Sirius Black, which was cool. Tigs was also amazingly done, a wonderful older sister, and very realistic. Diana Boone, Rupert Greeves, and all the rest were brilliantly real. I loved 'em all.
Except, naturally, for the villains and the betrayers. Yet they too were so real. Dr. Phoenix had a personality that completely creeped me out (in a very good way) with his dual person/ Mr Ashes thing. His evilness made me want to punch him in the face. Or run away screaming. It was a toss up between the two. And I'm not going to go into my deep set hatred for all betrayers. Evil peoples. They all trusted you!
The plot = amazing. I loved everything about it. It never lagged much, and the mystery and uncertainty of everything kept the tension running high. And then there was the doubt whether some certain characters were still alive, and basically 'HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT DUDE STILL LIVING?' (Mostly Nolan for that. He was an...interesting character.)
And let's not forget the ending. I mean, seriously. They failed. But it was all cool anyway. They tried, and everyone make mistakes. And then they've got to live with them. That's just life, and books are meant to be about life. So I liked it heaps. Plus, it was worth it to see all the polygoners having a great time in the last chapter. They were such a great gang of characters that I just want to hug them all.
There is still so much mystery for the next book to carry on with, so much more I want to know. I can't wait to get to live another book with these amazing characters. Hopefully they won't all die by the end.
No guarantee about that though.
I totally recommend this. It is definitely five-star stuff. An epic, great read that is completely engaging. Basically, very, very good.
December 30, 2020
N.D.Wilson's writing is always so intense. The weather in the room where I'm reading practically changes when I open up his books. With that level of intensity, sometimes reading about unpleasant things ends up being actually unpleasant. I feel like this book is supposed to be middlegrade, but the story was pretty dire and dark (and excellently-written of course, and very exciting). I finished The Dragon's Tooth feeling like I had survived a murder attempt by some sort of dark lord of the sith. I thought, "I don't think I'll read the next two." (Rather in the same way the two children from Jumanji probably told themselves they'd never open that board game again.) But a couple of weeks later, I'm very curious to see what happens next... so I think I'll risk it.
August 24, 2011
N.D Wilson is one of those authors that just NAILS the characters.
They are Real, they are likable, they are not cliched even for young ages.
Wilson weaves terrific stories that hook you in and keep you hooked throughout.
I feel no time is wasted. I can not wait for the next books!.
They are Real, they are likable, they are not cliched even for young ages.
Wilson weaves terrific stories that hook you in and keep you hooked throughout.
I feel no time is wasted. I can not wait for the next books!.
March 25, 2011
As you could expect from me, loved, loved, loved it. Our eldest (Rory the nine year old) plowed right through it and now there's two in the house clamoring for book two.
August 20, 2022
Estuve un buen rato debatiendo entre ponerle dos o tres estrellas a este libro, porque a ver: tal vez ver a dos niños, que en ocasiones me recordaban a adultos me chirría. Estar curtida en mil y un libros de fantasía, y me he vuelto más exigente, puede ser. Que sentía que la trama no avanzaba, y me ha resultado indiferente. Tengo que ser honesta, es lo que me pareció.
¿Por qué tiene tres estrellas?
El libro lo acabé, y yo abandono los libros si no me va gustando la historia. La ambientación me pareció ciertamente original (no hay criaturas mitológicas, eso es un cambio), y realmente los protas no son terribles. A veces te dan ganas de darles una colleja, ¡PERO SON NIÑOS! Si ya fueran adolescentes, no habría excusa que valieran. A Cyrus y Antigone, los medio excuso por su edad, y porque las circunstancias eran crudas; aunque podrían haberle cantado las cuarenta a algunos, no es por nada.
Si queréis leer reseñas más detalladas, entrad en mi canal de Vero World:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5a-...
O en mi Instagram:
@veroworld1
¿Por qué tiene tres estrellas?
El libro lo acabé, y yo abandono los libros si no me va gustando la historia. La ambientación me pareció ciertamente original (no hay criaturas mitológicas, eso es un cambio), y realmente los protas no son terribles. A veces te dan ganas de darles una colleja, ¡PERO SON NIÑOS! Si ya fueran adolescentes, no habría excusa que valieran. A Cyrus y Antigone, los medio excuso por su edad, y porque las circunstancias eran crudas; aunque podrían haberle cantado las cuarenta a algunos, no es por nada.
Si queréis leer reseñas más detalladas, entrad en mi canal de Vero World:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5a-...
O en mi Instagram:
@veroworld1
June 1, 2023
What a ride!
Such a unique blend of elements here!
I’m glad to have read the 100 Doors series first to get a good sense of the authors style but especially The Door Before that it connects the two series, that is so cool to me!! I loved the mythology and challenges and the sibling dynamics!
This seems a little darker and… morbid, but I think it’s trying to make a contrast. Choosing to fight for the light when things are dark. Looking forward to the rest of the series!!
Such a unique blend of elements here!
I’m glad to have read the 100 Doors series first to get a good sense of the authors style but especially The Door Before that it connects the two series, that is so cool to me!! I loved the mythology and challenges and the sibling dynamics!
This seems a little darker and… morbid, but I think it’s trying to make a contrast. Choosing to fight for the light when things are dark. Looking forward to the rest of the series!!
July 18, 2024
It took awhile for me to get into it. Once you get past the first hundred pages, it’s very hard to put the book down. Overall a very fun book.
May 25, 2025
Oh. Oh, this was good.
So, I read Treasure Island earlier this month, and the similarities between it and this book are fascinating. Main character's family runs a motel. (An inn in Treasure Island.) A mysterious man arrives, and his name is William Skelton, or "Billy Bones." (His name is Billy Bones!?) Billy Bones is killed in the night by a group of old acquaintances led by a blind guy who is also killed. (The blind guy and everything?!) But the old rogue leaves something very interesting to the main character. From here the plot takes a very different path, but the main characters do find an ally with the last name Lawney. (Like Treasure Island's Trelawney?!) Much later in the book we meet the cook, called Big Ben Sterling. Sterling. (Like sterling Silver!?!) Later, a kid accidentally eavesdrops on Sterling and another character having an incriminating conversation while eating an apple. (The apple barrel scene in Treasure Island!) We also get another scene strongly evoking the "Flint's ghost" scene in, again, Treasure Island! WHAT?!? And there's more. I have not read "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," but I know the general concept, and this book gave some of those same impressions! Is this secretly a Stevenson fan piece? I don't know. I don't know! And the book's main plot, from what I can tell, is pretty original aside from these. But it was SO fun to collect these connections! I kinda want to read more Stevenson books just to see if there are any I missed!
I absolutely adore this author's writing style! It tickles my fancy in every way! The descriptions are vivid and engagingly worded, and the dialogue is fun, followable, and realistic! And the occasional addition of witty one-liner quotes such as "Fish would know the taste of math," brings me so much enjoyment! It's all brilliant! Strange personal preference--I like how the author didn't seem to feel limited in his perspectives at all! He let the narrative and viewpoints be whatever they needed to be! I really liked that!
The story, world, and characters were all very original and enjoyable. The villain was nice and creepy. The main characters were fun, competent, and just the right amount of reckless. (Though, I did choose to mentally age them up a year because twelve felt just a little too young.) One other thing I thought was that the cover did not match the character description, which is minorly irritating. If you know me you know I'm a sucker for large and varied casts, and this book totally delivered with its wonderful array of side characters! The plot was engaging, the action scenes had me wide eyed and gasping! (Especially a certain part in the climax involving jumping over fireballs! (You know it's gonna be good when the author says it "seemed to happen in slow-motion!"))
So, I think this brain-dump proves that I enjoyed this book. A lot. I don't know how soon I'll read the second book, but I plan to. The cliff-hanger was not too evil, so I don't feel compelled to read it just yet. But seriously, I'll be reading more from this author for the writing alone!
So, I read Treasure Island earlier this month, and the similarities between it and this book are fascinating. Main character's family runs a motel. (An inn in Treasure Island.) A mysterious man arrives, and his name is William Skelton, or "Billy Bones." (His name is Billy Bones!?) Billy Bones is killed in the night by a group of old acquaintances led by a blind guy who is also killed. (The blind guy and everything?!) But the old rogue leaves something very interesting to the main character. From here the plot takes a very different path, but the main characters do find an ally with the last name Lawney. (Like Treasure Island's Trelawney?!) Much later in the book we meet the cook, called Big Ben Sterling. Sterling. (Like sterling Silver!?!) Later, a kid accidentally eavesdrops on Sterling and another character having an incriminating conversation while eating an apple. (The apple barrel scene in Treasure Island!) We also get another scene strongly evoking the "Flint's ghost" scene in, again, Treasure Island! WHAT?!? And there's more. I have not read "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," but I know the general concept, and this book gave some of those same impressions! Is this secretly a Stevenson fan piece? I don't know. I don't know! And the book's main plot, from what I can tell, is pretty original aside from these. But it was SO fun to collect these connections! I kinda want to read more Stevenson books just to see if there are any I missed!
I absolutely adore this author's writing style! It tickles my fancy in every way! The descriptions are vivid and engagingly worded, and the dialogue is fun, followable, and realistic! And the occasional addition of witty one-liner quotes such as "Fish would know the taste of math," brings me so much enjoyment! It's all brilliant! Strange personal preference--I like how the author didn't seem to feel limited in his perspectives at all! He let the narrative and viewpoints be whatever they needed to be! I really liked that!
The story, world, and characters were all very original and enjoyable. The villain was nice and creepy. The main characters were fun, competent, and just the right amount of reckless. (Though, I did choose to mentally age them up a year because twelve felt just a little too young.) One other thing I thought was that the cover did not match the character description, which is minorly irritating. If you know me you know I'm a sucker for large and varied casts, and this book totally delivered with its wonderful array of side characters! The plot was engaging, the action scenes had me wide eyed and gasping! (Especially a certain part in the climax involving jumping over fireballs! (You know it's gonna be good when the author says it "seemed to happen in slow-motion!"))
So, I think this brain-dump proves that I enjoyed this book. A lot. I don't know how soon I'll read the second book, but I plan to. The cliff-hanger was not too evil, so I don't feel compelled to read it just yet. But seriously, I'll be reading more from this author for the writing alone!
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