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Follow the Shadows: The Tales of Moerden Book 1
When Marise Leeson gets her hands on a crystal ball, she believes her knowledge of Wicca is about to expand. The magic, however, goes horribly wrong. In short order, she’s thrown into an alternate world, attacked by a dragon, and rescued by Javeer, a young male dragon in search of a friend.
Marise is desperate to get home alive. Instead of dabbling in scrying and spells, she must now use her Wicca skills to survive in Moerden—navigating rival dragon factions, riding Javeer without falling, and dodging unknown perils of an alien landscape. Through a series of adventures and mishaps, she learns that the dragons face slow extinction from a mysterious disease. Some see Marise as part of the cause. Some hope she’s a key to a cure.
Marise grows up fast as her focus switches from escape from Moerden to saving the dragons. She draws upon her powers, intuition, and some help from home as she and Javeer begin a quest to solve the puzzle of the stagger. If they survive, and if their trust and courage are strong, they may succeed. If they do not, the dragons of Moerden will cease to exist.
Marise is desperate to get home alive. Instead of dabbling in scrying and spells, she must now use her Wicca skills to survive in Moerden—navigating rival dragon factions, riding Javeer without falling, and dodging unknown perils of an alien landscape. Through a series of adventures and mishaps, she learns that the dragons face slow extinction from a mysterious disease. Some see Marise as part of the cause. Some hope she’s a key to a cure.
Marise grows up fast as her focus switches from escape from Moerden to saving the dragons. She draws upon her powers, intuition, and some help from home as she and Javeer begin a quest to solve the puzzle of the stagger. If they survive, and if their trust and courage are strong, they may succeed. If they do not, the dragons of Moerden will cease to exist.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2023
3025 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 28, 2023
1 star
I read this book when I was on a post-Fourth Wing dragon high and I really wish I had DNFed this.
There was so much going on, the MC was annoying and stupid af. I thought this would be witchy and full of dragons. But we got parastites… f’cking PARASITES in the dragons heads which was killing them. And NO WITCHY THINGS. Besides like mentions of her being a witch and then the witchy shop owner at the end.
Home girl Marise basically said f’ck her parents and the fact she burnt their entire home down and they thought she was dead - instead all she cared about was these dragons that kept trying to kill her and this world that didn’t exist.
Maybe someone else will enjoy this one more than I did… but sorry this was not for me.
Big thanks to SparkPress for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
I read this book when I was on a post-Fourth Wing dragon high and I really wish I had DNFed this.
There was so much going on, the MC was annoying and stupid af. I thought this would be witchy and full of dragons. But we got parastites… f’cking PARASITES in the dragons heads which was killing them. And NO WITCHY THINGS. Besides like mentions of her being a witch and then the witchy shop owner at the end.
Home girl Marise basically said f’ck her parents and the fact she burnt their entire home down and they thought she was dead - instead all she cared about was these dragons that kept trying to kill her and this world that didn’t exist.
Maybe someone else will enjoy this one more than I did… but sorry this was not for me.
Big thanks to SparkPress for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
September 19, 2023
The main character Marise is a girl who is interested in Witchy practices. She is so intrigued by Wicca that she steals a crystal ball & accidentally propels herself into another world……full of dragons! Once she is there she learns that some of the dragons are dying from a mysterious illness and she wants to help but not all of the dragons are happy to see her! Does she save the dragons? Does she find a way back home? Or is she stuck with dying and deadly dragons forever?
The story begins quite fast-paced with a lot of action happening straight away, I enjoyed this rather than a slow build up and it had me asking questions from the start. I do think there could have been a bit more background to give more context but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Marise is brave in her endeavours but I didn’t overly warm to her in the beginning. I found I was more concerned for the dragons but as the story went on I found I opened up to her a little more.
I loved the writing about the dragons and how they communicate, it’s so different to anything I’ve ever read about dragons which was a nice change. The mysterious illness had me worried for the dragons and I found myself vying for them to live!!!!
I would love to see a second story in this series, maybe even a prequel. I would like to know more about how the dragons live with each other, their relationships and the hierarchy etc. It would be great to get a bit more background on them.
Overall, I found this book easy to read and it kept me engaged throughout. The pace did lull in places but I was still drawn in by what might happen in the end. If you love dragons (I’m sure everyone does) and magical adventures (who doesn’t?) then this is definitely a book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton & Rosemary Drisdelle for an Advanced Review Copy in return for an honest review!
The story begins quite fast-paced with a lot of action happening straight away, I enjoyed this rather than a slow build up and it had me asking questions from the start. I do think there could have been a bit more background to give more context but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Marise is brave in her endeavours but I didn’t overly warm to her in the beginning. I found I was more concerned for the dragons but as the story went on I found I opened up to her a little more.
I loved the writing about the dragons and how they communicate, it’s so different to anything I’ve ever read about dragons which was a nice change. The mysterious illness had me worried for the dragons and I found myself vying for them to live!!!!
I would love to see a second story in this series, maybe even a prequel. I would like to know more about how the dragons live with each other, their relationships and the hierarchy etc. It would be great to get a bit more background on them.
Overall, I found this book easy to read and it kept me engaged throughout. The pace did lull in places but I was still drawn in by what might happen in the end. If you love dragons (I’m sure everyone does) and magical adventures (who doesn’t?) then this is definitely a book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton & Rosemary Drisdelle for an Advanced Review Copy in return for an honest review!
September 26, 2023
What an adventure! I really curled up and sank into this read. One of my favorite things in fantasy, except for DRAGONS of course, is when two entities can talk to each other through their minds (lovers, friends, person and their familiar, etc). In this one, our main character, Marise, can speak to the dragons via an orb that is attached to the end of their tails. This very same type of orb is how she ended up in Moerden, a land filled with dragons. One minute she’s in her room, scrying and trying to get what she believes is a crystal ball to work, and next—boom—- dragon land. Except the dragons are slowly facing their own extinction, and Marise finds herself trying to find a way to save them. Read this book for an adventure far from home filled with dragons and magical adventures. Also keep in mind that this book is YA, so if you’re used to adult high fantasy or any of the kind, it is different and not as detailed and fleshed out as you might expect, and the main character very much acts like a teenager (because she is one).
Thank you BookSparks and the author for the early copy for the #FallPopUp !
Thank you BookSparks and the author for the early copy for the #FallPopUp !
September 4, 2023
Thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!
From the very beginning I could tell that this book is intended for younger audiences, so I can't really compare it to other YA Fantasy books, even though it's marketed that way. The writing was fine but I didn't like the addition of text messages in the story. The main character was annoying, but there was some character growth along the way. Overall, an enjoyable middle grade book, but I don't think it would do well as a YA Fantasy.
From the very beginning I could tell that this book is intended for younger audiences, so I can't really compare it to other YA Fantasy books, even though it's marketed that way. The writing was fine but I didn't like the addition of text messages in the story. The main character was annoying, but there was some character growth along the way. Overall, an enjoyable middle grade book, but I don't think it would do well as a YA Fantasy.
July 23, 2023
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was definitely a lot different than I expected. I was expecting a moody, atmospheric witchy story that involved dragons. This wasn't that, and is probably better suited for a much younger audience, but I still enjoyed this story. I really liked the concept of humans being the invasive species, since we pretty much are in reality.
As much as I enjoyed the concept and the characters - especially the dragons - the execution lacked a little, which for a younger audience I guess might not be as much of an issue, but as a reader in their twenties, there were a couple of things that brought down my rating of this book. For one, we got very little backstory before being thrust into the new world. The overall plot was quite thin and shallow, never really delving deeper than surface level. It all felt a little too easy.
What I will say is that the character development Marise went through was not only believable but relieving. By the end of the book, she was actually likeable, which is hard for a lot of authors to achieve in such a short book.
I also know very little about Wicca, but it's very apparent that the author does, and it's always interesting to read about something when you can just feel how much somebody is genuinely interested in the topic.
If you enjoy light fantasy books, Wicca, and, of course, dragons - you'll enjoy this little adventure.
This was definitely a lot different than I expected. I was expecting a moody, atmospheric witchy story that involved dragons. This wasn't that, and is probably better suited for a much younger audience, but I still enjoyed this story. I really liked the concept of humans being the invasive species, since we pretty much are in reality.
As much as I enjoyed the concept and the characters - especially the dragons - the execution lacked a little, which for a younger audience I guess might not be as much of an issue, but as a reader in their twenties, there were a couple of things that brought down my rating of this book. For one, we got very little backstory before being thrust into the new world. The overall plot was quite thin and shallow, never really delving deeper than surface level. It all felt a little too easy.
What I will say is that the character development Marise went through was not only believable but relieving. By the end of the book, she was actually likeable, which is hard for a lot of authors to achieve in such a short book.
I also know very little about Wicca, but it's very apparent that the author does, and it's always interesting to read about something when you can just feel how much somebody is genuinely interested in the topic.
If you enjoy light fantasy books, Wicca, and, of course, dragons - you'll enjoy this little adventure.
July 7, 2023
There’s no way I could have given this book anything less than five stars. If the option was there, I’d give it more!
I just loved the concept of this book (and as a parasitologist, the unexpected turn of a parasitic threat to the dragons made me an insanely happy reader - it was executed so well!). And the real life science in it was sound and combined with the fantasy element was just perfection. I adored the world this was set in and very quickly grew to love Marise’s character. And of course the dragons and now I want one.
The story itself was hugely entertaining to follow and you certainly get a feel for the dangerous place that our character found herself in - there were threats a plenty! The feeling of adventure was strong in this book which I loved and there was plenty at stake for our young heroin; with the fate of the dragons resting in her hands.
It’s set itself up so well as a series and I honestly can’t wait for the follow up. I’ll be itching to get straight back into this world and back with Marise. I loved reading this and although I’m sad I’ve finished it, I’m glad there are more to come!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
I just loved the concept of this book (and as a parasitologist, the unexpected turn of a parasitic threat to the dragons made me an insanely happy reader - it was executed so well!). And the real life science in it was sound and combined with the fantasy element was just perfection. I adored the world this was set in and very quickly grew to love Marise’s character. And of course the dragons and now I want one.
The story itself was hugely entertaining to follow and you certainly get a feel for the dangerous place that our character found herself in - there were threats a plenty! The feeling of adventure was strong in this book which I loved and there was plenty at stake for our young heroin; with the fate of the dragons resting in her hands.
It’s set itself up so well as a series and I honestly can’t wait for the follow up. I’ll be itching to get straight back into this world and back with Marise. I loved reading this and although I’m sad I’ve finished it, I’m glad there are more to come!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Follow the Shadows should have been a book I would love. It has Wicca and dragons, two things I am very passionate about. Unfortunately, the book turned me off right from the beginning.
Characterization
Let me start by saying I DNF’d this book. I think I got about a quarter in and then shut the book down.
The first turn off about this book was Marise. Oh my god, she was so annoying and awful and, in general, the worst character in the world.
Here we have a young girl practicing wicca who believes this crystal ball belonging to her teacher is the key to enlightening her mind. As if it works that way. No one, not even someone who practices Wicca, believes one crystal ball will magically make everything make sense and make the user more powerful. It was stupid.
Then there is the fact that the crystal ball belongs to her missing teacher. Marise does not care one lick that her teacher is missing. He is missing and presumed dead, and all she cares about is getting her hands on the crystal ball because he said one day it could be hers.
I mean, she’s awful.
I understand this is a middle-grade novel, but come on, having a character start as self-centered is an instant turn-off. She is not likable in the slightest.
I don’t know if she develops as a character because I did not finish this book.
Poor Story Development
I agreed to read this book, or at least try, because the dragons and wicca element are two things I’m passionate about.
Unfortunately, the dragons were poorly developed. The way they communicate with Marise is way too complex. Marise has to hold a specific crystal belonging to each dragon to communicate with them. I understand the author trying something different, but even for the plot, it seemed highly impractical and just didn’t make sense.
Now, as for the Wicca element…there was none. Other than the beginning, the novel has little to no magic. Again, I don’t know if more pops up later in the story, but it did not exist here. When you tell me she has to use her “Wicca skills to survive,” I expect some magic in the story.
Again, maybe it pops up later in the story. Still, after 25%, I expect more than convoluted and impractical dialogue with dragons and a self-centered persona.
Final Thoughts
Follow the Shadows was just an utter disappointment. There’s nothing else to say but that.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
An unfortunate DNF, Follow the Shadows, failed to hold my attention, making dragons and wicca dull.
Follow the Shadows should have been a book I would love. It has Wicca and dragons, two things I am very passionate about. Unfortunately, the book turned me off right from the beginning.
Characterization
Let me start by saying I DNF’d this book. I think I got about a quarter in and then shut the book down.
The first turn off about this book was Marise. Oh my god, she was so annoying and awful and, in general, the worst character in the world.
Here we have a young girl practicing wicca who believes this crystal ball belonging to her teacher is the key to enlightening her mind. As if it works that way. No one, not even someone who practices Wicca, believes one crystal ball will magically make everything make sense and make the user more powerful. It was stupid.
Then there is the fact that the crystal ball belongs to her missing teacher. Marise does not care one lick that her teacher is missing. He is missing and presumed dead, and all she cares about is getting her hands on the crystal ball because he said one day it could be hers.
I mean, she’s awful.
I understand this is a middle-grade novel, but come on, having a character start as self-centered is an instant turn-off. She is not likable in the slightest.
I don’t know if she develops as a character because I did not finish this book.
Poor Story Development
I agreed to read this book, or at least try, because the dragons and wicca element are two things I’m passionate about.
Unfortunately, the dragons were poorly developed. The way they communicate with Marise is way too complex. Marise has to hold a specific crystal belonging to each dragon to communicate with them. I understand the author trying something different, but even for the plot, it seemed highly impractical and just didn’t make sense.
Now, as for the Wicca element…there was none. Other than the beginning, the novel has little to no magic. Again, I don’t know if more pops up later in the story, but it did not exist here. When you tell me she has to use her “Wicca skills to survive,” I expect some magic in the story.
Again, maybe it pops up later in the story. Still, after 25%, I expect more than convoluted and impractical dialogue with dragons and a self-centered persona.
Final Thoughts
Follow the Shadows was just an utter disappointment. There’s nothing else to say but that.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
September 8, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book after reading other reviews but I actually really liked it! I'll preface this review by saying I do think it's aimed at a younger YA audience but it was very sweet and action packed.
I loved the main characters Marise and Javeer. Marise starts off as quite a selfish character but her development into a compassionate, caring girl was lovely. Javeer the dragon is just downright adorable and sweet. The other characters were well rounded and interesting.
The storyline did start out a bit clunky and disjointed but it soon smoothed out and it felt like a lot happens in the story. The world building was really well done and I enjoyed that we got to explore a lot of the dragons' realm. I did feel that the wicca side of Marise's story could have been explored a lot more; it was the catalyst for the whole story but then didn't seem to feature much afterwards. The magic system was really engaging and unique, nothing like anything I've read before.
This is set up as the start of a series and I'm excited to see where the next book takes Marise.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book after reading other reviews but I actually really liked it! I'll preface this review by saying I do think it's aimed at a younger YA audience but it was very sweet and action packed.
I loved the main characters Marise and Javeer. Marise starts off as quite a selfish character but her development into a compassionate, caring girl was lovely. Javeer the dragon is just downright adorable and sweet. The other characters were well rounded and interesting.
The storyline did start out a bit clunky and disjointed but it soon smoothed out and it felt like a lot happens in the story. The world building was really well done and I enjoyed that we got to explore a lot of the dragons' realm. I did feel that the wicca side of Marise's story could have been explored a lot more; it was the catalyst for the whole story but then didn't seem to feature much afterwards. The magic system was really engaging and unique, nothing like anything I've read before.
This is set up as the start of a series and I'm excited to see where the next book takes Marise.
July 17, 2023
A strong YA novel with actual character growth that doesn't feature an overpowered or "perfect" protagonist.
In fact, Marise starts out looking unpromising as a protagonist. She comes across as self-absorbed, not very empathetic, ignorant, and a bit lazy, though no more of any of these things than a lot of teenagers. And she continues throughout to be slow on the uptake; I predicted most of the major plot points well before she figured them out, but because the author hasn't presented her as some kind of exceptional prodigy, this largely works. Through the book, she grows in courage, empathy, effectiveness and problem-solving ability in a believable way.
She needs all of those things, because after her biology tutor (a retired professor) mysteriously disappears, she surreptitiously takes something of his that he'd kind of promised to her - a sphere that she intends to use as a crystal ball in a Wiccan rite. It turns out to be from the tail of a dragon, and transports her to another world, where she gets caught up in trying to solve a dragon health crisis (caused by short-sighted, selfish humans, which means that some of the dragons want to kill her). She builds friendships, overcomes obstacles, takes risks, goes through considerable physical hardship without whining about it even once, and (eventually) figures out the solution.
The challenges are varied, but keep on coming at a good pace. Some of the worldbuilding is better than other parts; I wasn't convinced that the river acted much like a real river, and there's a cave with the river running through it that's inexplicably warm, for example. The pre-publication version I had from Netgalley needed a bit more polishing from a copy editor before release, though it's better than a lot I see. But the emotional heart of the story is sound, and it's a true coming-of-age story free from annoying tropes. There's no romance for Marise, for example (she doesn't seem to be particularly interested in that for herself, though she encourages it for her dragon friend). She doesn't have green eyes, or if she does the author doesn't mention them. And she's an ordinary hero, not a Chosen One, who chooses to stay and help the dragons at her own risk, even though she could walk away and return to her life in our world.
I like that kind of hero.
In fact, Marise starts out looking unpromising as a protagonist. She comes across as self-absorbed, not very empathetic, ignorant, and a bit lazy, though no more of any of these things than a lot of teenagers. And she continues throughout to be slow on the uptake; I predicted most of the major plot points well before she figured them out, but because the author hasn't presented her as some kind of exceptional prodigy, this largely works. Through the book, she grows in courage, empathy, effectiveness and problem-solving ability in a believable way.
She needs all of those things, because after her biology tutor (a retired professor) mysteriously disappears, she surreptitiously takes something of his that he'd kind of promised to her - a sphere that she intends to use as a crystal ball in a Wiccan rite. It turns out to be from the tail of a dragon, and transports her to another world, where she gets caught up in trying to solve a dragon health crisis (caused by short-sighted, selfish humans, which means that some of the dragons want to kill her). She builds friendships, overcomes obstacles, takes risks, goes through considerable physical hardship without whining about it even once, and (eventually) figures out the solution.
The challenges are varied, but keep on coming at a good pace. Some of the worldbuilding is better than other parts; I wasn't convinced that the river acted much like a real river, and there's a cave with the river running through it that's inexplicably warm, for example. The pre-publication version I had from Netgalley needed a bit more polishing from a copy editor before release, though it's better than a lot I see. But the emotional heart of the story is sound, and it's a true coming-of-age story free from annoying tropes. There's no romance for Marise, for example (she doesn't seem to be particularly interested in that for herself, though she encourages it for her dragon friend). She doesn't have green eyes, or if she does the author doesn't mention them. And she's an ordinary hero, not a Chosen One, who chooses to stay and help the dragons at her own risk, even though she could walk away and return to her life in our world.
I like that kind of hero.
August 2, 2023
"Follow the Shadows" by Rosemary Drisdelle made my heart skip a beat when I found it. After all, dragons have always been my favourite magical creatures, and this book promised to be full of them and more. I was pulled into a world of magic, other realms, and dangerous adventures from the first page.
When Marise Leeson, our brave main character, buys a crystal ball to learn more about Wicca, she doesn't know that she is setting off a chain of events. She had no idea that her experiment would take a scary turn and pull her into a strange place called Moerden, which was full of dragons. I was drawn in by Marise's adventures and her special relationship with Javeer, a young male dragon who befriends and protects her.
In this book, the dragons were like a breath of fresh air. The author's ideas about their colours, how they talk, and how they act with each other were new and different from the normal dragon fiction stories I've read. But I have to say that the story's pace was hard to follow because it seemed to jump around a lot. In the first few chapters, we were thrown into a rush of events without much background. I felt like I was looking for important pieces of information.
Marise, our brave character, made me feel a lot of different things. She could be a little annoying and focused on herself at times. Maybe it's just me, but the things she did at first made it hard for me to fully connect with her. But as the story went on, I saw her change and grow, which made her more understandable and likeable.
I was most interested in the stories about travelling between dimensions and the dragons. The fact that some dragon groups in Moerden might go extinct because of an unknown disease sets the stage for an exciting quest. As Marise and Javeer set out to find a fix, I couldn't help but care about what would happen to them.
Even though the book is sold as YA, I thought it was more for middle-schoolers. The silly antics and cute dragon figures would definitely be a hit with younger readers. Still, I liked the fast-paced, dragon-filled adventures in the book.
In the end, "Follow the Shadows" is a magical adventure with dragons that is perfect for people who love mythical animals and want to go on magical quests. Even though there are some problems with the way the story moves and the characters, the book is a fun read for people who want to learn more about the world of Moerden. This story is worth reading if you like dragons as much as I do and like a little bit of fun.
When Marise Leeson, our brave main character, buys a crystal ball to learn more about Wicca, she doesn't know that she is setting off a chain of events. She had no idea that her experiment would take a scary turn and pull her into a strange place called Moerden, which was full of dragons. I was drawn in by Marise's adventures and her special relationship with Javeer, a young male dragon who befriends and protects her.
In this book, the dragons were like a breath of fresh air. The author's ideas about their colours, how they talk, and how they act with each other were new and different from the normal dragon fiction stories I've read. But I have to say that the story's pace was hard to follow because it seemed to jump around a lot. In the first few chapters, we were thrown into a rush of events without much background. I felt like I was looking for important pieces of information.
Marise, our brave character, made me feel a lot of different things. She could be a little annoying and focused on herself at times. Maybe it's just me, but the things she did at first made it hard for me to fully connect with her. But as the story went on, I saw her change and grow, which made her more understandable and likeable.
I was most interested in the stories about travelling between dimensions and the dragons. The fact that some dragon groups in Moerden might go extinct because of an unknown disease sets the stage for an exciting quest. As Marise and Javeer set out to find a fix, I couldn't help but care about what would happen to them.
Even though the book is sold as YA, I thought it was more for middle-schoolers. The silly antics and cute dragon figures would definitely be a hit with younger readers. Still, I liked the fast-paced, dragon-filled adventures in the book.
In the end, "Follow the Shadows" is a magical adventure with dragons that is perfect for people who love mythical animals and want to go on magical quests. Even though there are some problems with the way the story moves and the characters, the book is a fun read for people who want to learn more about the world of Moerden. This story is worth reading if you like dragons as much as I do and like a little bit of fun.
July 12, 2023
‘Follow the Shadows’ by Rosemary Drisdelle - 3/5 ⭐️
Look how cute the cover is! How could I not apply for this ARC? 💖
I loved the sense of adventure in this book. The protagonist Marise is a young Wiccan woman who finds herself tumbling into a world where dragons exist, and they’re threatened by a strange disease. There are flights on dragonback, pursuits from enemies, magical caves with mosaics, and exotic flora and fauna in a fairly tropical world.
The disease is discussed a lot, and quite technically. You can tell that the author is particularly passionate about Wicca and biology around parasites (is parasitology a word?) - both are discussed fluently by our protagonist. I do wish we had more time to settle in with what Marise’s interests are - I’d have liked more about her background as a Wiccan, and her interest and passion for biology. Not much history or exposition is given in this read - it’s really good at describing current events, but the plot feels a bit thin.
I also wish the characters took more time to describe the settings, world, and creatures we encounter in the moment. Marise is thrown into a strange land, and I would have loved more detail about everything she witnesses. I was occasionally confused by the biology of creatures or the setting because it wasn’t described very well!
I also feel like I should absolutely mention a questionable - borderline racist - comparison made at one point: ‘Red wiggly lines like Chinese writing covered her skin’. I think the author could have used literally any other comparison for a wiggly line here. It felt really inappropriate and out of place in a fairly whimsy, moment-to-moment tale for younger readers. This definitely docked a few points off of my rating!
Overall, this was a fast-paced read, which still manages to have lots of tender moments between Marise and Javeer, (the dragon on the cover). I can picture a young audience really enjoying a lot of this book - especially the way the nice dragons can be really cute and goofy, but there are moments where they’re also intimidating and complicated. It also is a good way to explain parasite science to children or young people! I would happily recommend this to young ones who love dragons and science (so long as the bad metaphor is removed or edited) 💖
Thank you very much to Rosemary Drisdelle, Sparkpress, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Look how cute the cover is! How could I not apply for this ARC? 💖
I loved the sense of adventure in this book. The protagonist Marise is a young Wiccan woman who finds herself tumbling into a world where dragons exist, and they’re threatened by a strange disease. There are flights on dragonback, pursuits from enemies, magical caves with mosaics, and exotic flora and fauna in a fairly tropical world.
The disease is discussed a lot, and quite technically. You can tell that the author is particularly passionate about Wicca and biology around parasites (is parasitology a word?) - both are discussed fluently by our protagonist. I do wish we had more time to settle in with what Marise’s interests are - I’d have liked more about her background as a Wiccan, and her interest and passion for biology. Not much history or exposition is given in this read - it’s really good at describing current events, but the plot feels a bit thin.
I also wish the characters took more time to describe the settings, world, and creatures we encounter in the moment. Marise is thrown into a strange land, and I would have loved more detail about everything she witnesses. I was occasionally confused by the biology of creatures or the setting because it wasn’t described very well!
I also feel like I should absolutely mention a questionable - borderline racist - comparison made at one point: ‘Red wiggly lines like Chinese writing covered her skin’. I think the author could have used literally any other comparison for a wiggly line here. It felt really inappropriate and out of place in a fairly whimsy, moment-to-moment tale for younger readers. This definitely docked a few points off of my rating!
Overall, this was a fast-paced read, which still manages to have lots of tender moments between Marise and Javeer, (the dragon on the cover). I can picture a young audience really enjoying a lot of this book - especially the way the nice dragons can be really cute and goofy, but there are moments where they’re also intimidating and complicated. It also is a good way to explain parasite science to children or young people! I would happily recommend this to young ones who love dragons and science (so long as the bad metaphor is removed or edited) 💖
Thank you very much to Rosemary Drisdelle, Sparkpress, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2023
3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable read full of dragons, mystery and Wicca but is suited for a middle grade of early YA audience.
I did pick this book up because of the dragons and the pretty cover and I've got to say it was pretty good! I thought it was very original and loved the unique take on dragons.
These dragons have spheres at the end of their tails and these spheres can emit light, enable humans to communicate with dragons and let them sphere-travel.
Our MC Marise found one of these spheres (not attached to a dragon obviously) and unknowingly traveled to the mysterious land filled with dragons, some that want to kill her and others that help.
At first Marise was a bit annoying but soon was developed into such an amazing MC, also she bonded with a dragon Javeer. And this dragon was so FUN and cute! AS Marise spends more time in the world searching for ways to get home she discovers that the dragons are suffering from a sickness, the Stagger.
Then Marise can finally go home, except she doesn't want to. Because she wants to help the dragons discover the origin of the Stagger. So begins her big quest of discovery! The mystery of this was woven so well into the story and I loved the slow reveal of it!
Of course this book had such an amazing concept, characters and world! The only thing that let it down for me was some of the writing. I don't know if it was just the formatting of the book on my kindle but some of it was very jumpy from one scene to the next and it disoriented me a little. The dialogue was also kind of weird. It did suit the dragons well but sometimes again was a little choppy.
However, I still really enjoyed this read and just know that as the author develops as a writer her books will be absolutely amazing!
Thanks to Netgalley and Sparkpress for a copy of this book to review, this did not impact my review and all thoughts are my own.
This was an enjoyable read full of dragons, mystery and Wicca but is suited for a middle grade of early YA audience.
I did pick this book up because of the dragons and the pretty cover and I've got to say it was pretty good! I thought it was very original and loved the unique take on dragons.
These dragons have spheres at the end of their tails and these spheres can emit light, enable humans to communicate with dragons and let them sphere-travel.
Our MC Marise found one of these spheres (not attached to a dragon obviously) and unknowingly traveled to the mysterious land filled with dragons, some that want to kill her and others that help.
At first Marise was a bit annoying but soon was developed into such an amazing MC, also she bonded with a dragon Javeer. And this dragon was so FUN and cute! AS Marise spends more time in the world searching for ways to get home she discovers that the dragons are suffering from a sickness, the Stagger.
Then Marise can finally go home, except she doesn't want to. Because she wants to help the dragons discover the origin of the Stagger. So begins her big quest of discovery! The mystery of this was woven so well into the story and I loved the slow reveal of it!
Of course this book had such an amazing concept, characters and world! The only thing that let it down for me was some of the writing. I don't know if it was just the formatting of the book on my kindle but some of it was very jumpy from one scene to the next and it disoriented me a little. The dialogue was also kind of weird. It did suit the dragons well but sometimes again was a little choppy.
However, I still really enjoyed this read and just know that as the author develops as a writer her books will be absolutely amazing!
Thanks to Netgalley and Sparkpress for a copy of this book to review, this did not impact my review and all thoughts are my own.
July 18, 2023
Thank you Rosemary Drisdelle, SparkPress and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.
Early on in this novel, I was put off Marise when she's .
The dragons seem to have more distinct characterization than Marise.
When they .
One of the things I really enjoyed were the funny, endearing parts between Marise and Javeer, including after they find out . What she does for him is great. I also enjoyed how this is a story about a human helping sick dragons, and that the way the dragons and humans communicate is unusual.
Overall, despite the things above which I would have worked on, this fantasy adventure novel held my attention, so whether or not I'm able to get an ARC, I'll read the sequel.
Early on in this novel, I was put off Marise when she's .
The dragons seem to have more distinct characterization than Marise.
When they .
One of the things I really enjoyed were the funny, endearing parts between Marise and Javeer, including after they find out . What she does for him is great. I also enjoyed how this is a story about a human helping sick dragons, and that the way the dragons and humans communicate is unusual.
Overall, despite the things above which I would have worked on, this fantasy adventure novel held my attention, so whether or not I'm able to get an ARC, I'll read the sequel.
July 29, 2023
Thank you @netgalley for sending me an ARC of Follow the Shadowa in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of this book soundes very interesting, but unfortunately it was a let down.
The book progresses quite slow. The first 100 pages are pretty boring to be honest. The rest also didn't draw me in.
The lore is great, that's true. The plot with the interdimensional travels and the dragon illness was very intriguing. Especially considering how hard it was to cure the disease.
The dragon characters are nice to read bout, though there's nothing that makes them stand out.
The protagonist though...
Marise is self-centered and irresponsible. The first thing she thinks about when her tutor goes missing is to steal his crystals. She lies to his wife to get them during his memorial. Even when her dragon friend, Javeer, gets hurt and she thinks he's dead, the first thought she has is of taking his sphere so she can go home. It's so egoistical, especially since he was always by her side. After the tutor really dies, she still lies about finding him to his wife. She says she didn't find him, even though she saw him die (she does this because she needs her help fast and doesn't wnat her to stop and grieve), which is just so terrible. As she grows, she starts to care about people, which makes her easier to emphatise with. She had quite some development, but she was so horrible at the beggining that nothing can really make me invested in her.
Also, she is childish but at the same time she's stated to be wearing "a lacy black bra", which makes me confused about her actual age.
I'm sure this book was someone's cup of tea, it just wasn't mine.
TW:death, murder, poisoning, disease, parasites, fire.
The premise of this book soundes very interesting, but unfortunately it was a let down.
The book progresses quite slow. The first 100 pages are pretty boring to be honest. The rest also didn't draw me in.
The lore is great, that's true. The plot with the interdimensional travels and the dragon illness was very intriguing. Especially considering how hard it was to cure the disease.
The dragon characters are nice to read bout, though there's nothing that makes them stand out.
The protagonist though...
Marise is self-centered and irresponsible. The first thing she thinks about when her tutor goes missing is to steal his crystals. She lies to his wife to get them during his memorial. Even when her dragon friend, Javeer, gets hurt and she thinks he's dead, the first thought she has is of taking his sphere so she can go home. It's so egoistical, especially since he was always by her side. After the tutor really dies, she still lies about finding him to his wife. She says she didn't find him, even though she saw him die (she does this because she needs her help fast and doesn't wnat her to stop and grieve), which is just so terrible. As she grows, she starts to care about people, which makes her easier to emphatise with. She had quite some development, but she was so horrible at the beggining that nothing can really make me invested in her.
Also, she is childish but at the same time she's stated to be wearing "a lacy black bra", which makes me confused about her actual age.
I'm sure this book was someone's cup of tea, it just wasn't mine.
TW:death, murder, poisoning, disease, parasites, fire.
July 30, 2023
Ok so, book starts with Dragons, which is a massive plus for me! Dragons are my favourite mythical creature EVER! However, we are then thrown into Marise's POV and from then we follow her encounters and adventures with dragons and more.
I loved the dragons in this book and the standard colourings and the communication methods etc, I found it actually a refreshing take and something a bit different to the normal Dragon fantasy :)
I liked the premise, I enjoyed the story but did in places find it hard to follow, I felt like it kind of jumed around a bit. I think this may have been due to the pacing, from the very beginning I felt like the whole plot was very rushed. In the first 3 or 4 chapters we have met and encountered and experienced A LOT but with little to no context. We go from dragons, to humans, to crystal balls, to strange witchy type people who sew with human hair then back to dragons and magical transportations and honestly I couldn't help but feel a little lost most of the way through this book, like I was always missing a piece of information or chasing a piece of information.
I did find Marise to be a tad annoying but like most things this is an entirely personal and individual opinion, I bet lots of people love her :)
That being said, this is a personal and subjective opinion, it is quite likely that I just prefer a slower pace and an abundance of information. A lot of people prefer a faster pace with a bit of room for imagination.
I would definitely recommend giving this a read especially if you love dragons (which I hope you do because they are awesome) and quirky plot points :)
I loved the dragons in this book and the standard colourings and the communication methods etc, I found it actually a refreshing take and something a bit different to the normal Dragon fantasy :)
I liked the premise, I enjoyed the story but did in places find it hard to follow, I felt like it kind of jumed around a bit. I think this may have been due to the pacing, from the very beginning I felt like the whole plot was very rushed. In the first 3 or 4 chapters we have met and encountered and experienced A LOT but with little to no context. We go from dragons, to humans, to crystal balls, to strange witchy type people who sew with human hair then back to dragons and magical transportations and honestly I couldn't help but feel a little lost most of the way through this book, like I was always missing a piece of information or chasing a piece of information.
I did find Marise to be a tad annoying but like most things this is an entirely personal and individual opinion, I bet lots of people love her :)
That being said, this is a personal and subjective opinion, it is quite likely that I just prefer a slower pace and an abundance of information. A lot of people prefer a faster pace with a bit of room for imagination.
I would definitely recommend giving this a read especially if you love dragons (which I hope you do because they are awesome) and quirky plot points :)
September 27, 2023
I found this an interesting read overall. It starts with the story of Marise and her botany tutor, who has gone missing. Her botany tutor had two large crystal spheres that Marise was always interested in. These spheres are somehow connected to Wicca, according to her friend Celeste and herself. So she finds one of the spheres eventually. She awakens in a new place with some kind of weird dragon like creatures and is dying to get back home. She forges a relationship with these dragon-like creatures during the course of the book and that reminds me a lot of another book series with Dragons, but this one has a human aspect too!
There is a mystery happening with the Dragons which was a little confusing and also like what? And the story does have a tendency of jumping around from one scene to the next overall so that is a bit hard to read for readers. I did like how the Dragons communicated with each other and with Marise/other humans though. I found that to be an interesting way to communicate.
This is a debut book in a new series as book 1 implies😉 I would like to read more of the series and learn what happens to the Dragons and Marise in the next book. The ending leaves the readers wondering due to a cliffhanger, so if you don't like that in a book be warned. You will end up having to wait for the next book.
There is a mystery happening with the Dragons which was a little confusing and also like what? And the story does have a tendency of jumping around from one scene to the next overall so that is a bit hard to read for readers. I did like how the Dragons communicated with each other and with Marise/other humans though. I found that to be an interesting way to communicate.
This is a debut book in a new series as book 1 implies😉 I would like to read more of the series and learn what happens to the Dragons and Marise in the next book. The ending leaves the readers wondering due to a cliffhanger, so if you don't like that in a book be warned. You will end up having to wait for the next book.
September 19, 2023
Thank you BookSparks for a gifted copy of this book. I knew going in that this was targeted for YA which helped me not take the story so seriously at times when I wished a little bit more would’ve been given. Overall, I think the story is very entertaining and exciting. Who doesn’t love dragons?
The dragons, magic, fighting scenes, and major character development from Marise is ultimately, what led me to a four-star review. If goodreads did a .5 rating scale, this might get a 3.5 stars ONLY because there were some scenes when I wanted more. For example, the brief interaction between Dr. Bonner and Marise should’ve been extended. I wanted more explaining, interacting, sharing stories, all of the above - especially after getting a glimpse into a few of his chapters, to see what his journey had been like in Moedern.
Obviously, the front of this book says Book 1, so I was expecting a cliffhanger. But to have her friend literally come and save Javeer, and then just disappear out of no where left me stressed! I would be interested in continuing to read this series, but maybe in audiobook form. It was just a little slow at parts for me to read.
Overall four stars for me and super glad I got to finish this on Pub Day! Congrats Rosemary Drisdelle!
The dragons, magic, fighting scenes, and major character development from Marise is ultimately, what led me to a four-star review. If goodreads did a .5 rating scale, this might get a 3.5 stars ONLY because there were some scenes when I wanted more. For example, the brief interaction between Dr. Bonner and Marise should’ve been extended. I wanted more explaining, interacting, sharing stories, all of the above - especially after getting a glimpse into a few of his chapters, to see what his journey had been like in Moedern.
Obviously, the front of this book says Book 1, so I was expecting a cliffhanger. But to have her friend literally come and save Javeer, and then just disappear out of no where left me stressed! I would be interested in continuing to read this series, but maybe in audiobook form. It was just a little slow at parts for me to read.
Overall four stars for me and super glad I got to finish this on Pub Day! Congrats Rosemary Drisdelle!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
First, I would like to mention that I believe this book is categorized in the wrong section and is a middle-grade fantasy. I believe I was told YA fantasy but the writing gave off a very middle-grade type of story. I don’t mind middle grade but if you aren’t told from the beginning then the outcome of the book doesn’t come out well as you went in with other thoughts.
This book was a cute read and I can see middle graders being appealed to the book. It’s easy to read with not a complex world-building. The main character, Marise, is very likable as she’s a young girl trying to survive in the world of magic. I love dragons and Javier was such an amazing dragon. The storyline was well taught out for an MG book and for a YA/Adult reader, I liked how it wasn’t so complicated to read and figure out the story. Everything was just there was no “lines in between”. Overall not a bad book but I went in thinking it’s YA.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
This book was a cute read and I can see middle graders being appealed to the book. It’s easy to read with not a complex world-building. The main character, Marise, is very likable as she’s a young girl trying to survive in the world of magic. I love dragons and Javier was such an amazing dragon. The storyline was well taught out for an MG book and for a YA/Adult reader, I liked how it wasn’t so complicated to read and figure out the story. Everything was just there was no “lines in between”. Overall not a bad book but I went in thinking it’s YA.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
Read
January 28, 2024DNF
I was so sad not to enjoy this one. I read about 100 pages before I decided to stop reading.
This book follows a young girl named Marise. She is also Wiccan. I found this a bit hard to believe but gave it a shot. She gets a crystal ball and ends up in another world with dragons. Sadly, this one didn't hit - Marise was a bit of a brat. Especially about the orb/ crystal ball. She saw her teacher with it and hyper focused to the point of being rude and eventually stealing it. And that is AFTER her teacher goes missing and she has no sense of remorse or sadness about it. She was just like 'oh! He's gone, now I can have it' and that never sat right with me.
Past that, I found the next bit to be a bit drab and boring and there was too much telling versus showing.
This seemed like it would be such an interesting one, but sadly it just fell really short.
If you are looking for a book about dragons, you might enjoy this more than I did. I also liked that there was a different religious perspective, but I don't really think it was conveyed well.
I was so sad not to enjoy this one. I read about 100 pages before I decided to stop reading.
This book follows a young girl named Marise. She is also Wiccan. I found this a bit hard to believe but gave it a shot. She gets a crystal ball and ends up in another world with dragons. Sadly, this one didn't hit - Marise was a bit of a brat. Especially about the orb/ crystal ball. She saw her teacher with it and hyper focused to the point of being rude and eventually stealing it. And that is AFTER her teacher goes missing and she has no sense of remorse or sadness about it. She was just like 'oh! He's gone, now I can have it' and that never sat right with me.
Past that, I found the next bit to be a bit drab and boring and there was too much telling versus showing.
This seemed like it would be such an interesting one, but sadly it just fell really short.
If you are looking for a book about dragons, you might enjoy this more than I did. I also liked that there was a different religious perspective, but I don't really think it was conveyed well.
July 24, 2023
Thank you SparkPress and NetGalley for an eArc of this book!
3.5/5
First off, I'm a sucker for dragons so this was an insta request just by the cover alone. It's quite gorgeous and I love its color story. (Also a sucker for every shade of green..)
Secondly, this is GIVING strong 'The Neverending Story' vibes to me - which I was also super into. It is whimsical and fun. I felt like I was thrown into some childhood shenanigans with Marise, however that is kind of where her character stopped and stayed for me. The dragons appear more fleshed out and character driven than our MC.
This novel, I would say, isn't my usual go to as far as target audience. After reading it, I found I was wanting more character growth and that I kept waiting for world building that just didn't really happen. I think that this novel is more targeted to younger audiences so I'd kind of classify it as a middle grade. YA seems a bit too high perhaps.
3.5 for a fast-paced dragon adventure.
3.5/5
First off, I'm a sucker for dragons so this was an insta request just by the cover alone. It's quite gorgeous and I love its color story. (Also a sucker for every shade of green..)
Secondly, this is GIVING strong 'The Neverending Story' vibes to me - which I was also super into. It is whimsical and fun. I felt like I was thrown into some childhood shenanigans with Marise, however that is kind of where her character stopped and stayed for me. The dragons appear more fleshed out and character driven than our MC.
This novel, I would say, isn't my usual go to as far as target audience. After reading it, I found I was wanting more character growth and that I kept waiting for world building that just didn't really happen. I think that this novel is more targeted to younger audiences so I'd kind of classify it as a middle grade. YA seems a bit too high perhaps.
3.5 for a fast-paced dragon adventure.
August 5, 2023
I instantly knew this book was written by someone who knew about parasites and I liked how that information was linked to dragons. That was a really interesting twist. The communication between dragons was also unique and something I never would have thought of.
There was an issue following the story in some places. In some places, events would jump ahead and I'd find myself having to fill in the blanks. I also found that the writing was a bit juvenile, even for YA. Marise was also a bit selfish and not very likable, but that may just be me.
The main gist of the story was fascinating even with the minor issues I had and I enjoyed it. I really would not mind following this series.
This series can be enjoyed by older children and preteens but some may find some of the violent scenes a bit disturbing so I suggest parents take a read first.
Thanks SparkPress for the opportunity to review this book
There was an issue following the story in some places. In some places, events would jump ahead and I'd find myself having to fill in the blanks. I also found that the writing was a bit juvenile, even for YA. Marise was also a bit selfish and not very likable, but that may just be me.
The main gist of the story was fascinating even with the minor issues I had and I enjoyed it. I really would not mind following this series.
This series can be enjoyed by older children and preteens but some may find some of the violent scenes a bit disturbing so I suggest parents take a read first.
Thanks SparkPress for the opportunity to review this book
September 13, 2023
Thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
I think the target audience for this book is much more middle-grade than YA. It was very different from what I expected, but not necessarily in a bad way! I think 5th/6th grade me would've had fun with this story- it has dragons and dragon riders, what's not to love? Plus the cover is gorgeous.
For me, the pacing of the book felt off. I felt like it kind of jumped around a lot and some scenes felt quite choppy and underdeveloped. I also think the plot was quite shallow and surface-level- I think it would have been interesting to explore more of the dynamics between humans and dragons and see how else the humans have affected this world. There was also a lot of exposition and less action than I would've preferred. A lot of Marise, the main character, uncovering the truth about why the dragons were becoming sick was her reading someone else's research or someone explaining something to her.
I did love Marise as a main character though! She was very believable and likeable and I think her character development and growth was very well executed. I adored her dynamic with Javeer.
I think the target audience for this book is much more middle-grade than YA. It was very different from what I expected, but not necessarily in a bad way! I think 5th/6th grade me would've had fun with this story- it has dragons and dragon riders, what's not to love? Plus the cover is gorgeous.
For me, the pacing of the book felt off. I felt like it kind of jumped around a lot and some scenes felt quite choppy and underdeveloped. I also think the plot was quite shallow and surface-level- I think it would have been interesting to explore more of the dynamics between humans and dragons and see how else the humans have affected this world. There was also a lot of exposition and less action than I would've preferred. A lot of Marise, the main character, uncovering the truth about why the dragons were becoming sick was her reading someone else's research or someone explaining something to her.
I did love Marise as a main character though! She was very believable and likeable and I think her character development and growth was very well executed. I adored her dynamic with Javeer.
August 19, 2023
This book had an interesting story premise with a unique mix of high fantasy and science. The parasitic aspect was intriguing and unique. And the underlying message about the damage that humanity can do when introducing non-native species into an environment is an important one.
But as much as I liked the ideas, I felt the writing needed more polish. The book was well-paced and engaging in places, but slow and clunky in others. There were a few confusing points, due to gaps in information. And there were a few places where the writing felt melodramatic. Lastly, even though this is marketed for young adult readers, the simplicity of the writing felt more suited for young middle grade readers.
Good ideas. The writing just needs more polish.
But as much as I liked the ideas, I felt the writing needed more polish. The book was well-paced and engaging in places, but slow and clunky in others. There were a few confusing points, due to gaps in information. And there were a few places where the writing felt melodramatic. Lastly, even though this is marketed for young adult readers, the simplicity of the writing felt more suited for young middle grade readers.
Good ideas. The writing just needs more polish.
September 8, 2023
I'll have to admit I was a little wary at first, going into this book. I've had a bad experience with dragons and female humans so I wasn't really sure what to expect. One thing I was curious about was how Rosemary would tackle how the dragons spoke and I loved the idea of the spheres being their way of communicating. The worldbuilding was lovely, I was able to picture the scenes in my mind as I read.
Marise and Javeer had a great relationship. They both loved one each other (thankfully not romantically) and I loved how in tune they were with each other and how they would do anything for each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing where Marise's next journey will take her and how Javeer will play into it.
Marise and Javeer had a great relationship. They both loved one each other (thankfully not romantically) and I loved how in tune they were with each other and how they would do anything for each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing where Marise's next journey will take her and how Javeer will play into it.
November 2, 2023
Anything that is remotely like a portal fantasy, or someone getting kicked into another world is something I'm willing to look more into. In this story Marise plays with some occult things and ends us getting sucked into a world with dragons. With all the dragon hype that has happened lately this book is definitely coming at a great time and I found it a fun start to a series. I certainly could have used some more world building and background, but when thinking about it in respect to the target audience more backstory could have proved overwhelming. The writing was easy to read and though there was some pacing slow downs here and there, it was never to a point that I put down the book. Overall an enjoyable dragon fantasy and a good start to a series.
March 18, 2024
I really wanted to love this, I was instantly drawn in by the cover; but honestly I found the book a bit of a slog & I kept putting it down and forgetting about it for days at a time before I picked it up again. The world building was fairly basic, it wasn’t anything incredible. Enough to set a basic scene and that’s about it. The MC was a struggle and honestly I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her a fair few times. Loved the dragons, they were great but I wanted more page time with them. For an alleged witchy book there wasn’t actually much witchiness or magic happening, it was quite sparse. I enjoyed it enough that I finished it but I don’t think I’d ever do a reread. It is very basic ya fantasy, perhaps a good introduction to the genre for tweens & very young teens.
August 31, 2023
Marissa Leeson gets her hands on what she believes is a crystal ball. This transports her to the world of Moerden where dragons are real and one is trying to kill her but one also saves her. Javeer risked his life to save hers and she soon realizes she can communicate with the dragons.
She learns that the dragons are facing extinction from a mysterious disease they call the stagger. Instead of racing to go home she wants to find out what is causing the dragons to get sick and save them.
Along the way there will there will be some adventure, puzzle solving, magic spells and traveling between worlds.
Thank you Sparkpress for my advance read copy.
She learns that the dragons are facing extinction from a mysterious disease they call the stagger. Instead of racing to go home she wants to find out what is causing the dragons to get sick and save them.
Along the way there will there will be some adventure, puzzle solving, magic spells and traveling between worlds.
Thank you Sparkpress for my advance read copy.
October 21, 2023
The synopsis of this book is what drew me to wanting to read it. I did enjoy this book but felt that it fell into the much younger side of ya and I did struggle a little.
I think it was the fantasy and dragon aspect which is what drew me in mostly.
The book was good but it did take me a while to finish as I just wasn’t hooked unfortunately but I do like to finish books once I’ve started.
The authors writing style was easy to follow along with. The characters growth and development can been seen throughout the book.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I think it was the fantasy and dragon aspect which is what drew me in mostly.
The book was good but it did take me a while to finish as I just wasn’t hooked unfortunately but I do like to finish books once I’ve started.
The authors writing style was easy to follow along with. The characters growth and development can been seen throughout the book.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 3, 2023
Great concept full of magic and dragons. Sadly, I don't think the book lived up to its full potential and its clearly trying to piggybank on the dragon era of 2023. I didn't click with the Marise as a main character. The book had some interesting twists, lively pacing but the characters were 2D, rigid or self-absorbed letting the story down. Its mean girls meets dragons.
The dragons and plot around their plight actually is really engaging and unique concept. I wish more could have been made of this idea.
Gorgeous book cover and the designer deserves a solid 5 stars for a gorgeous design. Content of the book gets a 3 stars.
The dragons and plot around their plight actually is really engaging and unique concept. I wish more could have been made of this idea.
Gorgeous book cover and the designer deserves a solid 5 stars for a gorgeous design. Content of the book gets a 3 stars.
August 14, 2024
Follow the Shadows by Rosemary Drisdelle is a captivating read that stands out in the middle-grade genre. Drisdelle's writing style is engaging, and her vivid descriptions bring the story to life, particularly through the detailed portrayal of dragons and magical elements. The seamless integration of these fantastical aspects with well-developed characters creates a rich, immersive experience. The narrative maintains a smooth flow and steady pace, making it accessible and enjoyable for readers of all ages. Overall, this book is a well-crafted and enchanting tale that will appeal to both young readers and the young at heart.
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