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Moon Realm #2
The Dragondain
The Moon Realm Series combines the richness of Game of Thrones with the fun and wonder of Chronicles of Narnia. Perfect for kids, or anyone who loves mystery and adventure.
It's the middle of the night, you need to send your brother to the Moon Realm, and he won’t wake up. So you improvise. . . .
When a confused Jasper awakes, he's convinced he's dreaming. But by the time he meets Greydor, Jasper understands that this is no dream. In fact, persuading the King of the Rinn to work with the men of Dain to defeat their common enemy is a nightmare. Then there’s the other side of the coin: convincing Tavin and Dubb that saddling a Rinn isn’t certain death. (“It’ll be fun!”) And perhaps even a greater worry: can he make friends with Dubb’s daughter Darce before she punches his lights out?
Lily has problems, too. There’s a little mousie scratching in her closet. Or at least, it sounds like a little mousie. Oh, and her second confrontation with Curse, and trying to form her first peerin. (Don’t you have to be from Dain to do that?) And where’s Ebb?
One thing’s for sure: now that Lily and Jasper have entered the Moon Realm, nothing can ever be the same again.
It's the middle of the night, you need to send your brother to the Moon Realm, and he won’t wake up. So you improvise. . . .
When a confused Jasper awakes, he's convinced he's dreaming. But by the time he meets Greydor, Jasper understands that this is no dream. In fact, persuading the King of the Rinn to work with the men of Dain to defeat their common enemy is a nightmare. Then there’s the other side of the coin: convincing Tavin and Dubb that saddling a Rinn isn’t certain death. (“It’ll be fun!”) And perhaps even a greater worry: can he make friends with Dubb’s daughter Darce before she punches his lights out?
Lily has problems, too. There’s a little mousie scratching in her closet. Or at least, it sounds like a little mousie. Oh, and her second confrontation with Curse, and trying to form her first peerin. (Don’t you have to be from Dain to do that?) And where’s Ebb?
One thing’s for sure: now that Lily and Jasper have entered the Moon Realm, nothing can ever be the same again.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
About the author
Richard Due
3 books210 followersI edit Willa Snap's highly illegal memoirs: sentient Clockwerks, time-traveling dragons, highly verbal cats—that kind of thing.
And when not shifting unpredictably into third person, Richard lives with his wife, two lovely daughters, some cats, and four ducks, in a magical bookstore that is—quite frankly—the only thing that stands between you and raging hordes of zombies who haven’t read a good book in, like, forever.
He has won an Independent Publisher Award, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a Moonbeam Children's Book Award. He’s also been recognized by Writer’s Digest, the International Rubery Book Award, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award.
WillaSnap.com
And when not shifting unpredictably into third person, Richard lives with his wife, two lovely daughters, some cats, and four ducks, in a magical bookstore that is—quite frankly—the only thing that stands between you and raging hordes of zombies who haven’t read a good book in, like, forever.
He has won an Independent Publisher Award, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a Moonbeam Children's Book Award. He’s also been recognized by Writer’s Digest, the International Rubery Book Award, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award.
WillaSnap.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 23, 2012
As the author mentions in his author blurb at the end of the book that he came up for the idea of The Moon Realm books when telling bedtime stories to his children. This is exactly the kind of story that you want as a bedtime story. This is a great book for both adults looking for a great story as well as little ones who need a great story before drifting off to sleep. There is definitely wide appeal here!
The book is incredibly imaginative and the story is rich with great detail, great world-building, and great characters. I really, really loved this latest adventure and I am anxious to go back to the Moon Realm in the next book. Those who loved books and movies like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Neverending Story (definitely some favorites from my own childhood) will definitely find something to love about this book.
This is the second book in the Moon Realm series and I would say that in order to understand this book, you should probably read the first book in the series, The Moon Coin, in order to understand everything that is going on in The Dragondain. In this book, the readers get to learn more about the Moon Realm and the battle that is being waged. Jasper and Lily are still trying to find out what happened to their beloved Uncle Ebb. There are some secrets uncovered in this book but there is so much left to know.
The Dragondain picks right up where The Moon Coin left off. Because it has been several months since I read The Moon Coin, I had forgotten some of what happened in the first book, which made some of the second book a little difficult to get through. Once I hit a stride, I really hit a stride. The writing is really, really good. There are so many creative and fantastic creatures in the book, which I really enjoyed. The world building is fantastic. The world building is probably still my favorite part of these books.
While I liked The Moon Coin a little bit better than this book (there is a lot more explanation in the first book), this is still most definitely a solid read!
Bottom line: A great fantasy with broad appeal!
The book is incredibly imaginative and the story is rich with great detail, great world-building, and great characters. I really, really loved this latest adventure and I am anxious to go back to the Moon Realm in the next book. Those who loved books and movies like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Neverending Story (definitely some favorites from my own childhood) will definitely find something to love about this book.
This is the second book in the Moon Realm series and I would say that in order to understand this book, you should probably read the first book in the series, The Moon Coin, in order to understand everything that is going on in The Dragondain. In this book, the readers get to learn more about the Moon Realm and the battle that is being waged. Jasper and Lily are still trying to find out what happened to their beloved Uncle Ebb. There are some secrets uncovered in this book but there is so much left to know.
The Dragondain picks right up where The Moon Coin left off. Because it has been several months since I read The Moon Coin, I had forgotten some of what happened in the first book, which made some of the second book a little difficult to get through. Once I hit a stride, I really hit a stride. The writing is really, really good. There are so many creative and fantastic creatures in the book, which I really enjoyed. The world building is fantastic. The world building is probably still my favorite part of these books.
While I liked The Moon Coin a little bit better than this book (there is a lot more explanation in the first book), this is still most definitely a solid read!
Bottom line: A great fantasy with broad appeal!
September 26, 2012
This is another great book with well rounded characters and fabulous imagery. The story moves on from where we left it in the Moon Coin and we get to know Jasper better. Jasper is a likeable, capable and bright teenage boy, who plans and considers the consequences of his actions far more than his younger sister Lily. Lily, although just as bright and possibly brighter, appears to be more reckless and devious in this book.
Alot happens, and it is incredible how much influence 2 children from earth (or maybe not from earth) have in the moon realm. I suspect that Uncle Ebb has planned his disappearance to provide the children with this adventure and to progress his plans to unite people and creatures of the moons; a destiny or prophesy perhaps from a world filled with magic. Again, the children's parents do not act in a way we expect, something definitely fishy going on there, and what's with the bonsai? Who are the two women camped out in Uncle Ebbs mansion?
Dradondain was difficult to rate for me, I loved it and can't wait until next year for the third book, but it felt like "an instalment" rather than a book in it's own right. For this reason, I would have rated it 4.5 stars, but 5 it is because 4 is overly critical / harsh.
My daughter is the right age (9/10) for this book and loved it, as she did the Moon Coin, but we're in the UK and few children have their own e-readers, therefore I urge the publisher to make the paperback versions more easily available outside of the US. Christmas is coming up and these books are fabulous presents, but parents will not be willing to pay large carriage charges.
Alot happens, and it is incredible how much influence 2 children from earth (or maybe not from earth) have in the moon realm. I suspect that Uncle Ebb has planned his disappearance to provide the children with this adventure and to progress his plans to unite people and creatures of the moons; a destiny or prophesy perhaps from a world filled with magic. Again, the children's parents do not act in a way we expect, something definitely fishy going on there, and what's with the bonsai? Who are the two women camped out in Uncle Ebbs mansion?
Dradondain was difficult to rate for me, I loved it and can't wait until next year for the third book, but it felt like "an instalment" rather than a book in it's own right. For this reason, I would have rated it 4.5 stars, but 5 it is because 4 is overly critical / harsh.
My daughter is the right age (9/10) for this book and loved it, as she did the Moon Coin, but we're in the UK and few children have their own e-readers, therefore I urge the publisher to make the paperback versions more easily available outside of the US. Christmas is coming up and these books are fabulous presents, but parents will not be willing to pay large carriage charges.
November 30, 2012
After reading the first of the Moonrealm books, 'The Moon Coin', I knew I wanted to read the rest of them as well. Thankfully, I was allowed to and here I bring you the review of the second book.
I loved this book even more than the last. I realize that as a 19-year old I should perhaps not enjoy reading novels for the younger this much, but I feel that Richard Due really stepped up his game in this novel making it so much easier to just love it. The worlds seem much richer than before, now that we have passed the introductions in the first book. We get to see more of the different cultures of the different moons and more about their history. Especially for younger readers it is a great introduction into fantasy world building. Carolyn Arcabascio's illustrations really bring forward the intense colours of the different worlds.
It was great to get a bit more time with Jasper, as the reader. The last novel was mainly about Lily and her experiences and here we get to see how he deals with the Moon Realm. Richard Due truly created two different characters that are both their own character and yet recognizable for every child and adult who have ever imagined themselves on a fantasy journey. The fact that they're children isn't overlooked, as happens in many teenage novels, but highlighted and used to its best advantage. As children, they have restrictions but also certain liberties adults do not possess.
As a second novel in a trilogy, a novel often has to achieve multiple things. Not only does it have to keep the readers interested and maintain their relationship with the characters, it also has to find the right balance between answering questions and creating new ones, introducing new characters while maintaining the old characters etc. It is always a shame to see an author struggle, but it is a true joy to see it work. Thankfully, Richard Due is able to find the right balance and keeps the right pace of plot without leaving too many loose ends. It is clear a lot still has to happen and be explained but that is why I am looking forward to the next novel.
This is a great introduction to the fantasy genre for any child and a great opportunity for (young) adults to remember their first fantasy. The characters remain interesting and as you read the impression never leaves you that there is so much more to discover. I believe that in fantasy that is the most important thing, knowing that there is always more to imagine, to explore. And I would say that Richard Due achieved this very well.
I loved this book even more than the last. I realize that as a 19-year old I should perhaps not enjoy reading novels for the younger this much, but I feel that Richard Due really stepped up his game in this novel making it so much easier to just love it. The worlds seem much richer than before, now that we have passed the introductions in the first book. We get to see more of the different cultures of the different moons and more about their history. Especially for younger readers it is a great introduction into fantasy world building. Carolyn Arcabascio's illustrations really bring forward the intense colours of the different worlds.
It was great to get a bit more time with Jasper, as the reader. The last novel was mainly about Lily and her experiences and here we get to see how he deals with the Moon Realm. Richard Due truly created two different characters that are both their own character and yet recognizable for every child and adult who have ever imagined themselves on a fantasy journey. The fact that they're children isn't overlooked, as happens in many teenage novels, but highlighted and used to its best advantage. As children, they have restrictions but also certain liberties adults do not possess.
As a second novel in a trilogy, a novel often has to achieve multiple things. Not only does it have to keep the readers interested and maintain their relationship with the characters, it also has to find the right balance between answering questions and creating new ones, introducing new characters while maintaining the old characters etc. It is always a shame to see an author struggle, but it is a true joy to see it work. Thankfully, Richard Due is able to find the right balance and keeps the right pace of plot without leaving too many loose ends. It is clear a lot still has to happen and be explained but that is why I am looking forward to the next novel.
This is a great introduction to the fantasy genre for any child and a great opportunity for (young) adults to remember their first fantasy. The characters remain interesting and as you read the impression never leaves you that there is so much more to discover. I believe that in fantasy that is the most important thing, knowing that there is always more to imagine, to explore. And I would say that Richard Due achieved this very well.
June 29, 2013
A feisty sequel to The Moon Coin, The Dragondain is a fun and suspenseful adventure into the nine moons of the Moon Realm. Beginning precisely where The Moon Coin left off, Jasper is transported into the moon of the Rinn and he must figure out what is going on if he is going to survive his trip to the Moon Realm. Jasper has his own part in all the madness that has become finding his uncle on these moons that rotate around each other and Lily does as well, but this time, she may not realize her follies until it is too late.
Mr. Due has a way of crafting a world around us with every flip of the moon coin and every clang of a sword he makes us, all at once, relive our dreams and hopes as children, wanting nothing more than to have adventures of our own. In The Dragondain, that all seems possible once again. Each moon crafted and molded into a fine balance of beauty and adventure, it dances across our senses never pausing for a moment in their ability to stun us and usher us into worlds beyond the one in which we live. The characters of The Dragondain are just as boisterous and creative as the moons on which they live. The Dain, humans so to speak, are just magical enough that the reality of it makes us put up our own fingers in front of our faces to make a peerin of our very own. And maybe, just maybe if we concentrate hard enough we will see something fantastic.
And while this title is considered middle-grade fiction (ages 7-12) due to the ages of its protagonists, it is so much more than that. It is an addictive drug for those of us who have lovingly flipped through its pages. It is the fantastical story you dreamed of while waiting to fall asleep. It is youth brought to life. It is all the things I still wish I could do. Things like have adventures of my very own.
With an ending that will surprise you, Mr. Due leads us to places and through a story that makes us think we may burst with the intensity of it all, leaving us wanting so much more than we ever thought we could. A book for all ages, The Dragondain does not disappoint. A cliffhanger waits at the end if this sequel, but not so much that you're frustrated as much as you simply feel satisfied for what you have read, grateful to wait for what comes next. With many questions still left at hand, the release of the next book in the Moon Realm series cannot come soon enough.
Mr. Due has a way of crafting a world around us with every flip of the moon coin and every clang of a sword he makes us, all at once, relive our dreams and hopes as children, wanting nothing more than to have adventures of our own. In The Dragondain, that all seems possible once again. Each moon crafted and molded into a fine balance of beauty and adventure, it dances across our senses never pausing for a moment in their ability to stun us and usher us into worlds beyond the one in which we live. The characters of The Dragondain are just as boisterous and creative as the moons on which they live. The Dain, humans so to speak, are just magical enough that the reality of it makes us put up our own fingers in front of our faces to make a peerin of our very own. And maybe, just maybe if we concentrate hard enough we will see something fantastic.
And while this title is considered middle-grade fiction (ages 7-12) due to the ages of its protagonists, it is so much more than that. It is an addictive drug for those of us who have lovingly flipped through its pages. It is the fantastical story you dreamed of while waiting to fall asleep. It is youth brought to life. It is all the things I still wish I could do. Things like have adventures of my very own.
With an ending that will surprise you, Mr. Due leads us to places and through a story that makes us think we may burst with the intensity of it all, leaving us wanting so much more than we ever thought we could. A book for all ages, The Dragondain does not disappoint. A cliffhanger waits at the end if this sequel, but not so much that you're frustrated as much as you simply feel satisfied for what you have read, grateful to wait for what comes next. With many questions still left at hand, the release of the next book in the Moon Realm series cannot come soon enough.
November 25, 2012
The Dragondain written by Richard Due and illustrated by Carolyn Arabascio is the second book in the Moon Realm middle grade fantasy series. Lily has returned from her trip to the Moon Realm and sent Jasper to take his turn, but he slept through most of her instructions and explanations. When Jasper wakes up, groggy and confused, he thinks that the Rinn that surround him are part of a dream. Quickly Jasper wakes up fully and follows Lily's path to two of the moons, discover more than he could have dreamed about his Uncle Ebb's tales. Can he convince those of Rinn and Dain that working together might be thier only hope, and can he get closer to Dubb's daughter Darce without her inflicting bodily harm? Lily gets a return trip to Dain and things begin to spin further out of control.
The Dragondain is a fantastic followup to The Moon Coin. The adventure and characters continue on in full color. I will admit to being completely hooked on this series, and eager for the next installment. However, even with the fantastic world building and solid character development, I did have two things that left me uphappy at the end of the book. First, I would love to see Jasper get a little more screen time, which will happen to at least some degree in the next installment, judging by the ending of this one. I also was less than thrilled with how much was left in the air. Cliffhanger and quite a few unresolved issues that left me looking for more, but slightly dissatisfied. I do not mind aspects of a cliffhanger, but there were just so many things that I know I will have to wait to discover without many solid answers to balance that effect. I still loved the book, but wanted at lest one more chapter for a smidge of resolution before moving on to the next installment.
I highly recommend the Moon Realm series, but before reading The Dragondain, readers must first read The Moon Coin or they will be lost. Readers should also be prepared for the story to continue further, because The Dragondain is by no means the end of this story.
The Dragondain is a fantastic followup to The Moon Coin. The adventure and characters continue on in full color. I will admit to being completely hooked on this series, and eager for the next installment. However, even with the fantastic world building and solid character development, I did have two things that left me uphappy at the end of the book. First, I would love to see Jasper get a little more screen time, which will happen to at least some degree in the next installment, judging by the ending of this one. I also was less than thrilled with how much was left in the air. Cliffhanger and quite a few unresolved issues that left me looking for more, but slightly dissatisfied. I do not mind aspects of a cliffhanger, but there were just so many things that I know I will have to wait to discover without many solid answers to balance that effect. I still loved the book, but wanted at lest one more chapter for a smidge of resolution before moving on to the next installment.
I highly recommend the Moon Realm series, but before reading The Dragondain, readers must first read The Moon Coin or they will be lost. Readers should also be prepared for the story to continue further, because The Dragondain is by no means the end of this story.
September 18, 2012
I absolutely LOVE The Moon Coin (Moon Realm #1), and I have to say it is still my favorite. I really, really do like The Dragondain as well, but I think I just like the fresh, fantastical feel of The Moon Coin a bit better.
That being said, there still is a ton of fantasy involved in The Dragondain. The war from The Moon Coin is still going strong, but we’re also introduced to more citizens of Dain and even get a glimpse at a dragon, which I am anxious to get to know more about! It was also nice to get to travel between moons with Jasper this time, to get the male viewpoint of things for a bit.
In the end, we’re left with a lot of unfinished business and unanswered questions, which makes me all the more eager to get my hands on the next book to see what is going to happen. There are so many moons left to explore and so many new faces to meet. And we still don’t know where dear old Uncle Ebb is!
If you haven’t tried this series yet, you must! It is perfect for any age, in my opinion, but a great series to share with your kids. I’m looking forward to getting some paperback versions and reading them with my children. I know they will love them as much as I do!
That being said, there still is a ton of fantasy involved in The Dragondain. The war from The Moon Coin is still going strong, but we’re also introduced to more citizens of Dain and even get a glimpse at a dragon, which I am anxious to get to know more about! It was also nice to get to travel between moons with Jasper this time, to get the male viewpoint of things for a bit.
In the end, we’re left with a lot of unfinished business and unanswered questions, which makes me all the more eager to get my hands on the next book to see what is going to happen. There are so many moons left to explore and so many new faces to meet. And we still don’t know where dear old Uncle Ebb is!
If you haven’t tried this series yet, you must! It is perfect for any age, in my opinion, but a great series to share with your kids. I’m looking forward to getting some paperback versions and reading them with my children. I know they will love them as much as I do!
April 3, 2014
Again I would like to thank Richard Due and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book. !si thing...Even better than the first book!! Richard does an excellent job of staying true to the world he created in the first book, while expanding on the characters including additional family and friends. Much more of a cliffhanger this time and am looking forward to the third book in the series. There are so many places he can go with this story it will be great to follow it through and watch the ever expanding group of characters grow and persevere!
Again great for 6-8 graders or anyone looking for an adventure with a little magic. Straight forward plot with excellent characterization and details. However, there were not so many details and description as to get boring. The book moved along well with a small climax in every chapter and a large climax towards the end with many questions left unanswered. Again looking forward to the third book to get some of these cliffhangers answered.
All in all excellent!!
Again great for 6-8 graders or anyone looking for an adventure with a little magic. Straight forward plot with excellent characterization and details. However, there were not so many details and description as to get boring. The book moved along well with a small climax in every chapter and a large climax towards the end with many questions left unanswered. Again looking forward to the third book to get some of these cliffhangers answered.
All in all excellent!!
October 18, 2019
Amazing
I don't even care if this is a kids book. It was amazing! It was not predictable at all and I'm hoping for a third book. I can not wait. My daughter will definitely be reading these books.
I don't even care if this is a kids book. It was amazing! It was not predictable at all and I'm hoping for a third book. I can not wait. My daughter will definitely be reading these books.
August 19, 2021
“Tales, unlike stories, never lie. You see, a tale is an account of things in their due order, often divulged secretly, or as gossip.”
‘The Dragondain’, is the second book in the ‘Moon Realm’ fantasy series. Written ostensibly with young adults as its primary reading audience, this series not only makes for some excellent bedtime reading aloud, (which is where the inspiration for the idea first started in the Due household), for said audience, but is also a fabulous collection for adults to indulge themselves in reading, once the youngsters are asleep and dreaming of far away places!
Just one small word of caution though! You really do need to have read the first installment of the series, ‘The Moon Coin’, which I had the pleasure of doing some months ago, or you may find yourself seriously lost and confused.
The journey to the world of the ‘Moon Realm’, is definitely a much richer experience the second time around. Not only are the characters of Jasper and Lily more well drawn, better defined and easier to connect with; the moons themselves have become almost visual for the reader, as Richard’s fluid writing style and rich descriptive prose have brought them to life; and the diverse profusion of complex characters who inhabit the various moon’s of the realm have acquired a life of their own as the multi layered saga unfolds.
The magic is more mesmerising, the adventures more alluring, the building sense of intrigue and danger more tantalising and evocative.
All beautifully illustrated, with a colour intensity which brings the story to life and lifts it from the page, by the talent of illustrator Carolyn Arcabascio.
We now find Jasper having adventure of his own in the moon realm, and whilst at present, he is still quite happy to defer to Lily’s superior powers of deduction, logic and organisational skills, I strongly suspect that in future installments, we shall see Jasper’s role evolve into the much stonger character of the two.
Richard has creatively and intelligently crafted the story, to imbue a real sense of spirit and adventure into the children’s journeys, as they discover more about the amazing powers and influence they have on the moons of the realm, in their search for Uncle Ebb, whose name is revered by many and known to all the creatures they encounter on their travels.
Many others seek this illusive paragon of stroytelling and travel, however the children are becoming more and more convinced that the secret of Uncle Ebb’s whereabouts may lie closer to his own home on Earth and are increasingly certain that their parents know more than they are letting on … In fact with a perceptiveness far beyond their years, Jasper and Lily are even beginning to question their parentage, as their increasing powers only serve to bring them closer to their wayward Uncle.
All children like the idea of keeping a secret from a sibling, Lily and Jasper are no exception. We find Jasper making moonlight forays into the forbidden grounds and house where Uncle Ebb once lived and Lily discovers a late night visitor of her own, who may not be so welcome! Richard is slowly answering old questions, yet all the while introducing new riddles, objects and characters, ready to expand and enhance the future adventures of this non-stop action saga, where every word counts and continuity of plot and dialogue is all important.
I do have just one small personal grumble, although to most readers this probably wouldn’t even rate a mention … Whilst ‘The Moon Coin’ ended at a point in Lily’s journey and adventures, where there was a natural break in the storyline, ‘The Dragondain’ really did end as something of a cliffhanger and instead of ‘The End’ appearing as the final words on the page, would have been fully deserving of ‘To Be Continued’. A little more resolution and closure on the story to date, would, I felt, have been fair to younger readers.
‘The Dragondain’, is the second book in the ‘Moon Realm’ fantasy series. Written ostensibly with young adults as its primary reading audience, this series not only makes for some excellent bedtime reading aloud, (which is where the inspiration for the idea first started in the Due household), for said audience, but is also a fabulous collection for adults to indulge themselves in reading, once the youngsters are asleep and dreaming of far away places!
Just one small word of caution though! You really do need to have read the first installment of the series, ‘The Moon Coin’, which I had the pleasure of doing some months ago, or you may find yourself seriously lost and confused.
The journey to the world of the ‘Moon Realm’, is definitely a much richer experience the second time around. Not only are the characters of Jasper and Lily more well drawn, better defined and easier to connect with; the moons themselves have become almost visual for the reader, as Richard’s fluid writing style and rich descriptive prose have brought them to life; and the diverse profusion of complex characters who inhabit the various moon’s of the realm have acquired a life of their own as the multi layered saga unfolds.
The magic is more mesmerising, the adventures more alluring, the building sense of intrigue and danger more tantalising and evocative.
All beautifully illustrated, with a colour intensity which brings the story to life and lifts it from the page, by the talent of illustrator Carolyn Arcabascio.
We now find Jasper having adventure of his own in the moon realm, and whilst at present, he is still quite happy to defer to Lily’s superior powers of deduction, logic and organisational skills, I strongly suspect that in future installments, we shall see Jasper’s role evolve into the much stonger character of the two.
Richard has creatively and intelligently crafted the story, to imbue a real sense of spirit and adventure into the children’s journeys, as they discover more about the amazing powers and influence they have on the moons of the realm, in their search for Uncle Ebb, whose name is revered by many and known to all the creatures they encounter on their travels.
Many others seek this illusive paragon of stroytelling and travel, however the children are becoming more and more convinced that the secret of Uncle Ebb’s whereabouts may lie closer to his own home on Earth and are increasingly certain that their parents know more than they are letting on … In fact with a perceptiveness far beyond their years, Jasper and Lily are even beginning to question their parentage, as their increasing powers only serve to bring them closer to their wayward Uncle.
All children like the idea of keeping a secret from a sibling, Lily and Jasper are no exception. We find Jasper making moonlight forays into the forbidden grounds and house where Uncle Ebb once lived and Lily discovers a late night visitor of her own, who may not be so welcome! Richard is slowly answering old questions, yet all the while introducing new riddles, objects and characters, ready to expand and enhance the future adventures of this non-stop action saga, where every word counts and continuity of plot and dialogue is all important.
I do have just one small personal grumble, although to most readers this probably wouldn’t even rate a mention … Whilst ‘The Moon Coin’ ended at a point in Lily’s journey and adventures, where there was a natural break in the storyline, ‘The Dragondain’ really did end as something of a cliffhanger and instead of ‘The End’ appearing as the final words on the page, would have been fully deserving of ‘To Be Continued’. A little more resolution and closure on the story to date, would, I felt, have been fair to younger readers.
September 24, 2014
This is the second book in the Moon Realm series. Prepare for lots of deep magic, play-by-play battle scenes, and some world-hopping. My dumbed-down review is this: I didn't like it nearly as much as the first, and though I DID like the writing style, I found the story so chocked full of characters that I couldn't keep track of them all, and I felt confused half the time. I'm also more than a tad annoyed that neither of the first two books in this series actually have endings.
Now for the more complicated review.
I like Due's writing style. It's fun, witty, detailed, just a tinge sarcastic at times. I enjoyed the world. He's obviously spent a lot of time crafting it and thought it out to the max (I can't speak for scientific accuracy, though--there's ZERO science in my background here, sorry!). So, two for two so far, right?
But now we get to the characters. I read this book in bits over a few weeks, and that was REALLY tough to do because the character list in this book is on serious steroids. There is a character list at the front of the book FOR A REASON. I had to keep flipping back to it because I'd forget who everyone was--which made for a really slow read. Other than this complication, I liked the characters that returned from the previous book. They have histories and are interesting and fun. I did feel, though, that there were a lot of...er, "inside jokes"...going on in the book. Conversations that the reader is left out of because you won't find out why the characters are laughing (etc) till a later book. That sort of foreshadowing/play is great in pints, but it was served in gallons.
The story itself felt like it was dragging. It's neat in that it tosses us back and forth between Lily's and Jasper's views as they alternate going to and from the Moon Realm. But while the descriptions were of great, imaginative settings and events, frequently they just went on too long. I didn't find myself as interested as I was with the first book. And THEN I got to the end and realized this series is like a tv movie--that the "end" is really just a commercial break and the story continues in the next book without closing any of the plot in this one.
So, here's the wrap. If you love middle-grade fantasy, enjoy plotted battles, and you're good at keeping track of a slew of characters or can read The Dragondain in just a few sittings, then delve on! It's a great world--maybe a bit TOO in depth, if such a thing is possible. My main issues were that I got bored a lot because I tripped over too much confusion (possibly my own fault for taking too many sittings to read it) and that this book didn't leave me much more enlightened than when I left the first book. There's a cool plot in here, but I don't want it to take five books before I can get ANY kind of closure.
Now for the more complicated review.
I like Due's writing style. It's fun, witty, detailed, just a tinge sarcastic at times. I enjoyed the world. He's obviously spent a lot of time crafting it and thought it out to the max (I can't speak for scientific accuracy, though--there's ZERO science in my background here, sorry!). So, two for two so far, right?
But now we get to the characters. I read this book in bits over a few weeks, and that was REALLY tough to do because the character list in this book is on serious steroids. There is a character list at the front of the book FOR A REASON. I had to keep flipping back to it because I'd forget who everyone was--which made for a really slow read. Other than this complication, I liked the characters that returned from the previous book. They have histories and are interesting and fun. I did feel, though, that there were a lot of...er, "inside jokes"...going on in the book. Conversations that the reader is left out of because you won't find out why the characters are laughing (etc) till a later book. That sort of foreshadowing/play is great in pints, but it was served in gallons.
The story itself felt like it was dragging. It's neat in that it tosses us back and forth between Lily's and Jasper's views as they alternate going to and from the Moon Realm. But while the descriptions were of great, imaginative settings and events, frequently they just went on too long. I didn't find myself as interested as I was with the first book. And THEN I got to the end and realized this series is like a tv movie--that the "end" is really just a commercial break and the story continues in the next book without closing any of the plot in this one.
So, here's the wrap. If you love middle-grade fantasy, enjoy plotted battles, and you're good at keeping track of a slew of characters or can read The Dragondain in just a few sittings, then delve on! It's a great world--maybe a bit TOO in depth, if such a thing is possible. My main issues were that I got bored a lot because I tripped over too much confusion (possibly my own fault for taking too many sittings to read it) and that this book didn't leave me much more enlightened than when I left the first book. There's a cool plot in here, but I don't want it to take five books before I can get ANY kind of closure.
August 29, 2016
I received a copy of The Dragondain from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Having read book one of the Moon Realm series, I was eager to read book two. This volume, The Dragondain, continues from where the first one left off.
You can read my review of The Moon Coin, which is book one of the Moon Realm, to get an idea of the thrill of this series. The Dragondain takes the reader on another burst of adventures, and fills one’s head with images and scenes that are amazing and wondrous. It’s as if the author, Richard Due (pronounced Dewy) stored in his mind every fantasy story he ever read, picked out the most exciting inspiring parts, tweaked them, added the Dewy imagination, and out came this exciting fantastical world … or, I should say, worlds. Wonderful! Note: The illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio at the beginning of each chapter add a creative extra to the story.
In The Dragondain: a Moon Realm Novel we are reunited with fifteen-year-old Jasper and his fourteen-year-old sister, Lily, as they continue in their search for their missing mysterious uncle Ebb. Using a special necklace, they take turns travelling to other worlds where they meet with all sorts of dangers and strange characters, enter into serious battles, and discover their own unique powers. This time more dramatic events happen at their uncle’s mansion and their own house to add to the suspense.
The Dragondain is very well crafted and cleverly executed, with the final scene set for continuation in another book. It isn’t done in a mean way, either, but as an invitation to continue on the journey with Jasper and Lily. I look forward to it! There is a fourth book already in line for after book three is released.
If The Dragondain interests you, then it is best that you start with book one – The Moon Coin (at the time of this writing The Moon Coin is free on Kindle for anyone with Amazon Prime) – so you will get to know the characters and background. If you enjoy fantasy you won’t be disappointed.
Having read book one of the Moon Realm series, I was eager to read book two. This volume, The Dragondain, continues from where the first one left off.
You can read my review of The Moon Coin, which is book one of the Moon Realm, to get an idea of the thrill of this series. The Dragondain takes the reader on another burst of adventures, and fills one’s head with images and scenes that are amazing and wondrous. It’s as if the author, Richard Due (pronounced Dewy) stored in his mind every fantasy story he ever read, picked out the most exciting inspiring parts, tweaked them, added the Dewy imagination, and out came this exciting fantastical world … or, I should say, worlds. Wonderful! Note: The illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio at the beginning of each chapter add a creative extra to the story.
In The Dragondain: a Moon Realm Novel we are reunited with fifteen-year-old Jasper and his fourteen-year-old sister, Lily, as they continue in their search for their missing mysterious uncle Ebb. Using a special necklace, they take turns travelling to other worlds where they meet with all sorts of dangers and strange characters, enter into serious battles, and discover their own unique powers. This time more dramatic events happen at their uncle’s mansion and their own house to add to the suspense.
The Dragondain is very well crafted and cleverly executed, with the final scene set for continuation in another book. It isn’t done in a mean way, either, but as an invitation to continue on the journey with Jasper and Lily. I look forward to it! There is a fourth book already in line for after book three is released.
If The Dragondain interests you, then it is best that you start with book one – The Moon Coin (at the time of this writing The Moon Coin is free on Kindle for anyone with Amazon Prime) – so you will get to know the characters and background. If you enjoy fantasy you won’t be disappointed.
March 13, 2013
I enjoyed this better than the first book, partially because I like Jasper more than Lilly.
Jasper is clever more apt to help the warring "moons". He is logical and able to think on his feet. Lilly is personable and charismatic, but I don't know how helpful that is.
Some plot points I'm eager to see resolve include; do the kids live? is the ring only attached to one "person"? What is Mr. Fixit making? What is the significance of that bonsai tree?
I'm very anxious to read the next installment. I hope this will be a short series, because I don't think I can wait to find out the ending.
Overall, very intriguing and active book. I couldn't stop reading and read in one sitting.
If you were a bit disappointed (like me) with the first book, I would recommend continuing on in the series because it gets better...so far anyway.
Jasper is clever more apt to help the warring "moons". He is logical and able to think on his feet. Lilly is personable and charismatic, but I don't know how helpful that is.
Some plot points I'm eager to see resolve include; do the kids live? is the ring only attached to one "person"? What is Mr. Fixit making? What is the significance of that bonsai tree?
I'm very anxious to read the next installment. I hope this will be a short series, because I don't think I can wait to find out the ending.
Overall, very intriguing and active book. I couldn't stop reading and read in one sitting.
If you were a bit disappointed (like me) with the first book, I would recommend continuing on in the series because it gets better...so far anyway.
December 7, 2012
I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book. Reading this series has been like falling down the rabbit hole. When reading I was so drawn into the Moon Realm everything around me fades to nothing and I feel like I am right there with Lily and/or Jasper sharing their adventures. My highest compliment for a sequel is that it does not feel like one and Dragondain does not disappoint. What I like best about a series is the feeling of continuity and Dragondain builds onto the amazing story and world Due has created. The saddest part about reading it so quickly is having to wait for the next one! I'm dying here!!!!
December 12, 2015
In The Dragondain, Lily and Jasper travel back to the Moon Realm to search for their uncle and help in the war for its survival.
I found this second novel to be very enrtertaining and fun. The characters are all really well done, and the plot is a real page turner. Both Lily and Jasper are great characters to follow. There were a few slow spots that I had to wade through and some character conversations that could have been tightened up. But overall I felt it was a wonderful read and I really hope there is another book in this series in the future.
This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan
I found this second novel to be very enrtertaining and fun. The characters are all really well done, and the plot is a real page turner. Both Lily and Jasper are great characters to follow. There were a few slow spots that I had to wade through and some character conversations that could have been tightened up. But overall I felt it was a wonderful read and I really hope there is another book in this series in the future.
This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan
April 13, 2015
Richard Due does it again with a great sequel to his book "The Moon Coin." This time Jasper and Lily share the burden of risky travel into the Moon Realm. The narrative flows enjoyably from the Moon Realm adventures to Jasper and Lily's real life. A great twist was that the Moon Realm elements are starting to invade their actual lives on Earth, and it is becoming a serious challenge for them to contain the secret of the Moon Realm much longer! I greatly anticipate the third installment.
May 6, 2015
It ended all too quickly!
Book two of this series set an even faster pace than book one.... I have to take a minute to catch my breath before I can continue with this review.
The pace of the stories is picking up and new characters are being introduced. Fast paced action and stunning descriptions are the norm.
Now I must stop typing so I can order Book Three!
Book two of this series set an even faster pace than book one.... I have to take a minute to catch my breath before I can continue with this review.
The pace of the stories is picking up and new characters are being introduced. Fast paced action and stunning descriptions are the norm.
Now I must stop typing so I can order Book Three!
January 19, 2013
I could not get myself to finish this book I read 60% and I'm still lost. I could be just me but like Stephen King says : there are too many books to read so if a book doesn't inspired you, stop reading it :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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