Pearl

by Kenton Kilgore

“To-Ho-Ne calls Mama ‘Princess,’” Alijandra whispered. “If she’s a princess, doesn’t that make us princesses, too?”“We aren’t princesses,” Isabella whispered. “Princesses live in palaces, not…not here.”“Here” is the unforgiving high desert in the Old West of an alternate Earth. Isabella—who is almost 13 years old—and her sister Alijandra—who is almost 8—scratch out a meager life with their parents. Their home is a shack deep in the lands of the Diheneh, the indigenous people, far from the family’s former country of Ysparria.Isabella dimly remembers a better time, years before, when they were rich and respected because their father caught, tamed, and trained dragons for Ysparria’s armies. But now their father is an outlaw who spends many weeks away from home on futile efforts at prospecting. Their mother, aided by the old native woman who raised her, struggles to grow food, earn money, and keep Isabella and Alijandra safe. Into their lives comes a small, wingless dragon from far away. Finding the dragon near death after a fight, the girls take it home and begin tending it back to health. Alijandra calls the dragon “Pearl,” after its tiny white eyes. While Pearl heals, the family begins to learn where the dragon came from, as well as the strange and terrifying powers it possesses. As the family ponders what to do with Pearl, they learn that the hunt for the former dragontamer has intensified. At the same time, Pearl grows more and more compelled to complete the mysterious journey that brought her to these lonely lands.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

302 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

I write books for young adults, and adults who are still young.

I craft characters you’ll care about, and worlds you’ll get lost in.

My stories of wonder and terror, adventure and peril will make you think, and make you feel.

The influences that inspire me run from Shakespeare to comic books, poetry to hard rock, mythology to monster movies.

There’s no author like me, and my stories aren’t for everyone.

They’re unique. They’re intense. They challenge the SF/F genre. They’ll challenge you.

And they’re absolutely killer.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an alternate world filled with powerful dragons, two young girls find a small dragon with eyes the color of pearls who is near death and seemingly harmless. After all, their father is a dragon tamer and will know what to do with the small creature, if only he would come back home from his hunt. Meanwhile, their father has become an outlaw, the family is destitute, living in this world’s version of the Old West in the desert, where eeking out a life is a brutal task. As the small dragon, now named Pearl heals, he shows a remarkable ability and loyalty to these young girls and their family.

Using his knowledge of Native Americans in the West, Kenton Kilgore has created a harsh world where the respect for tradition and life is part of the survival of these strong people. The innocence of these girls is refreshing and their sibling banter often amusing and completely life-like! As part one of this series, the world building is remarkable, from each background scene to the characters themselves! Although the pace is good, there are many details to absorb, and I would call the action steady, more character-driven. This is a wonderful book for the younger reader who will easily relate to the young characters and the fantasy of having a dragon! I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review Dragontamer’s Daughters Part One: Pearl! Publication Date: June 1, 2012


Available at Amazon

Paperback: 302 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1475200641
ISBN-13: 978-1475200645

For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Cayt Landis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book, and the second part, at a fantasy and science fiction literature convention a couple of years ago. I didn't know much about it but I've always enjoyed dragons and young adult books so I gave it a go. Much to my surprise, I really loved it!

Dragontamer's Daughters tells the story of two young sisters and their lot in life, living with a poor family on the outskirts of town. Though their family is now a frontier family, they originated from wealth and magic. The father of the girls was once a renowned dragon tamer and now the girls are discovering their family's past and the truth about dragons. The story was very well written and every character was realistic. I am an only child so I'm not the best person to ask, but the relationship between the sisters seemed very authentic and loving. The mother's love for her children was also very evident. I loved the relationship the family member's shared and the love between them was evident and believable.

As for the world building, I loved it! The world is based more on Native American beliefs than around your typical fantasy magic. There are dragons but they are different than European or Asian dragons that you might read about in other books. The story centers around a small, injured dragon that the girls find. They name her Pearl and she is absolutely adorable. She is a willful creature who has her own wants and needs. I loved reading about the dragon and how she interacted with the girls, as she grew to trust and love them.

For myself I would give this book four stars but I'm giving it a five because I know I would have LOVED it when I was a kid. There's no way I wouldn't have wanted to have my own Pearl at the end of the book. I still kinda do.

Visit my blog for this review and many more!

[Barbara Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenton Kilgore has written an imaginative novel that younger readers may find appealing. The novel is lengthy, approximately 600 pages and is broken down into two separate books. I’ve just finished Part I: Pearl, which takes readers into a fantasy world where empires rely upon the mystical gifts of dragons to protect their lands from enemy invaders. The plot centers around the family of former well-respected dragontamer, Thad Anerson and his family who were once prominent members of Ysparrian society. Now, for reasons yet to be revealed, Anerson and his family have fled Ysparria and are secretly living in the remote desert among the indigenous Diheneh people. The family has assumed false names to protect them from the Ysparrian government whose army is actively searching for Anerson because he is wanted for murder.

Living conditions are harsh for the Anerson family, and Thad is often away from home searching for a way to support his family. Kilgore spends much of the book painting a verbal picture of what life is like for the Anerson sisters, Isabella or “Bella” who is twelve, and little Alijandra or “Ali” who is seven-years-old. They are the central characters whose thoughts and actions are at the heart of the story. The daughters are well-behaved and strive to be obedient and helpful to their mother and caretaker, To-Ho-Ne. To-Ho-Ne affectionately refers to the mother as “Princess,” and the girls can’t help but wonder if their mother is, indeed, descended from royalty. Much about their former life in Ysparria is kept secret, and I’m so curious to find out what circumstances have led them to this point in their lives.

Kilgore has taken great pains to develop the main characters within the family and all of them are well-rounded with distinct personalities, and each character plays an important role in the story. While Thad is away from home, it is up to the females to maintain their home and keep food on the table. I like that the author has created strong female role models who are emotionally strong and nurturing to the two young sisters. The mother teaches her daughters how to be resourceful, and To-Ho-Ne passes down the ceremonial legacy and traditions of her native people to aid the daughters as they mature into capable young women.

Bella and Ali are very close, and they have their moments of bickering and conflicts typical of siblings. They also serve as character foils to one another. Bella is the oldest, takes her responsibilities very seriously, and her mood is often somber. She doesn’t want to do anything to disappoint their mother. In contrast, Ali is outgoing, gregarious, and tiny bit of rebellious, even though her intentions are good. Ali embraces life and sees the good in everyone. She is delightful, and she quickly stole my heart as she tends to and bonds with a tiny dragon, on the verge of death, which the family rescues following a deadly storm. Despite her mother’s protests, Ali affectionately names the dragon, Pearl and frequently puts her own safety at risk to do what she can to help the dragon heal.

Part One of the book is dedicated to world-building and character development which primarily drives the plot. Kilgore also introduces the mysteries that I hope will be revealed in the second book, Stormcaller. Pearl’s appearance in the desert is highly unusual and she is unlike any dragon anyone has ever seen. The powers she exhibits are rare and powerful, so much so that the mother is reluctant for her daughters to be around this fearsome dragon that has the capability to cause serious physical harm. Yet, Ali refuses to be deterred, determined to convince everyone that this little magical dragon is friendly and will keep them safe. Everyone is curious about Pearl’s journey so far from her native homeland and where her final destination will be. I look forward to finding out the connection between Pearl and the Dragontamer’s family. In addition, I anticipate that the drama and danger will ratchet up several notches now that a mysterious dragon killer is also hunting the Dragontamer for reasons still unknown. The themes of the book reinforce the importance of family, tradition, love, and acceptance of those who differ from us and our expectations.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through GoodRead's First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

Dragontamer's Daghters, Part 1: Pearl is certainly an interesting book. Kenton Kilgore has created a world not all that unlike our own - one full of vast empires and indigenous peoples. It's full of strange traditions, of odd technology, all the while mimicking so much of the Old West that I wouldn't be surprised if the language spoken by the Dihneh is actually Navajo - it certainly bears more than a passing resemblance to it. In short, this is quite unlike any fantasy novel I've yet picked up. Kenton Kilgore has done rather a good job of bucking the typical fantasy trends.

Juanita lives with her nanny To-Ho-Ne and her two daughters Isabella and Alijandra in a small hogan out in the Indigenous people's territory. Her husband left a while ago to find a dragon to tame and sell, an activity that seems to be less than admired by many of the people in this empire. Why her husband is suddenly wanted dead or alive is unknown, but so far his quest has brought no success. After a terrible storm, Bella and Ali find a wounded dragon, but it is unlike any dragon native to their area. Together with the rest of the family they begin nursing it back to health, and while doing so, discover some rather strange abilities this dragon seems to have...

This is the first part of a two-book series, and as such, seems to be laying the groundwork for rather a lot that is to come. For the most part, the book is slow-moving. It gives you time to really absorb the world and begin to get used to it, to start to wonder without giving too much away. The writing style is similarly slow, and it took me a while to get into it. That having been said, by the end I was invested in the characters, however frustrating some were to me. In particular, I think Kenton Kilgore deserves rather a lot of praise for having written little girls extremely well. Both Isabella and Alijandra are extremely believable, as is their mother and To-Ho-Ne's reactions to them when they are less than good.

This book is interesting, and shows a lot of promise. While the pace could use improving, it becomes charming when delved into deeply enough. I could easily see myself getting absorbed by this book when I was younger, though I know some children might balk at the lack of traditional action. I liked the setting, the characters, and the extensive borrowing from cultures commonly not represented in such novels. I look forward to reading the second part soon.

[Paul Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to write a story about children with pet dragons that not only is original, but feels original. Kenton Kilgore achieves this in Dragontamer's Daughters, Part 1: Pearl, bringing the reader a new world to be immersed in and a reinvention of the concept of dragons.

After the first chapter, which takes place on an abandoned island of vast and mysterious ruins, most of the story takes place in the harsh desert on the border between Ysparria and the land of the Diheneh. Here, in the tiny village of Scorpion Tail, we meet Isabella and Alijandra Fhurdrickson Sanches… or at least that's who they say they are. Their father is a fugitive from the Ysparrian government, and their family is keeping safe by living under assumed names. While the girls, their mother and an old Diheneh woman named To-Ho-Ne manage a small farm, their father Thad Anerson wanders the wilderness, allegedly prospecting but in fact searching for dragons to tame.

This is even more dangerous than it sounds. The dragons are not so much monsters as embodiments of natural forces — earth, wind, rain, sun, fire, poison and so on. Their forms, their powers and their appetites are extremely varied, and some of them have a capacity for mass destruction that would impress Godzilla.

Although the dragontamer has a good many adventures out in the wilderness, the focus of the story is a tiny, wounded dragon discovered by Alijandra after a storm. She names it Pearl, begins nursing it back to health and discovers that it has the power to summon wind, rain and lightning. Pearl starts out completely feral and prone to hurting people who try to handle her, but by the end has begun to care for the children.

Although I wholeheartedly recommend this book, there are two points I want to make so that no one reading it will be disappointed.

First, this isn't an action-adventure story. It's hard to describe the action in the scenes on the farm, because the events of their lives (apart from the arrival of Pearl) are so small, but Kilgore gives every moment emotional weight. The family's pride in their everyday accomplishments and fear of utter destitution become real for the reader. Even out in the wilderness, we usually see Thad Anerson talking to other travelers or writing letters to his daughters in his mind rather than dodging venomdrakes or hostile tribes. This is not the story of a struggle, it's the story of a family — the struggle is just something that happens to it.

Second, this is only half a book. To get to the resolution of any of the plot threads, you have to pick up Part 2.

[A.L. Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this first part of a two-part tale, and was pleasantly surprised. "Pearl" is both well-written and creative. I especially liked the author's descriptive abilities; his scenes seem to come alive in the imagination, and a reader can watch the happenings of the book unfold with clarity. As a warning to readers, this book is not a complete story. It is, truly, only the first part of a story that (I hope) resolves with the second book.

Strengths of "Pearl": Good use of language, realistic dialogue, good knowledge and use of detail, imaginative.

Weaknesses of "Pearl": In my opinion, this book could have been about 25% shorter and been a better story for it. A number of its scenes seemed superfluous, neither moving the plot forward, nor expanding readers' knowledge of the characters. (e.g., the second time in the book that the youngest main character goes to use the outhouse and first checks to make sure there aren't monsters lurking there. Cute the first time, not needed again.) Because of this, "Pearl" dragged at times. Though I have not yet read the second part, if it is similar to this part, I would have preferred to see a single book that held the complete story, with some trimming done to remove the unnecessary scenes.

Overall, 4 out of 5, and I will go and read the second part.

Note: I received a free copy of Dragontamer's Daughters in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kilgore really knows the American desert and the Native Americans who lived there long before there were reservations. He has taken this knowledge and created a fantasy world where dragons not only exist, some can be tamed and their power used to change the balance of power. Questioning the wisdom of using such a dangerous weapon costs the Nunez family their wealth and station in court and now Juanita and her two little girls, Isabella and Alijandra, with the help of Juanita's devoted nanny To-Ho-Ne, struggle to survive while the father is away prospecting. And then one night in the midst of a terrible storm a dragon comes to the desert and everything begins to change.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/UMbaZ6

My opinion: What a wonderfully CLEAN read this book was! This book would a fantastic introduction to the world of fantasy or dystopian literature for the young reader. I found the novel to be fast paced with likable characters that a pre-teen or early teen could identify with. The author did a dynamic job in really writing this as a light fantasy novel without the characters or the setting being too crazy, which could turn off new readers.

[Karina M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really interesting, I just could not stop turning the pages, my eyes were glued on to the page. I brought it everywhere. I was even asked to stop reading during my English class. Even though I enjoyed this book, this might not be very ones type of book so I would consider trying it and you'll know if this book is or is not for you.