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Wyrmeweald #1
Returner's Wealth
From the creators of the internationally bestselling Edge Chronicles comes an epic story of dragons!
The wyrmeweald is a hostile place, an arid wasteland where man is both hunter and hunted, and where the dragon-like wyrmes reign supreme.
Seventeen-year-old Micah enters the wyrmeweald intent on stealing a wyrme egg to sell for a bounty. With the riches such an egg will bring—returner’s wealth—Micah can go home to a life of luxury, and win the hand of the girl he loves. But the wyrmeweald is a treacherous place, and Micah quickly finds himself in mortal danger. When a tracker named Eli rescues him, Micah is forced to prove his worth, and together he and Eli defend a rare wyrme hatchling from kith bandits intent on stealing and selling wyrme eggs.
As Micah soon discovers, this hatchling has a guardian already—the beautiful, brave, and dangerous Thrace. Micah and Thrace make the worst possible Micah is a would-be bandit, and Thrace is a wyrme rider-assassin, devoted protector of the wyrmeweald. Yet their chemistry is undeniable, and soon Micah and Thrace join forces to protect the rare wyrme and battle the evil forces that encroach on their native habitat. But is there anything left in the devastated wyrmeweald to be saved?
The wyrmeweald is a hostile place, an arid wasteland where man is both hunter and hunted, and where the dragon-like wyrmes reign supreme.
Seventeen-year-old Micah enters the wyrmeweald intent on stealing a wyrme egg to sell for a bounty. With the riches such an egg will bring—returner’s wealth—Micah can go home to a life of luxury, and win the hand of the girl he loves. But the wyrmeweald is a treacherous place, and Micah quickly finds himself in mortal danger. When a tracker named Eli rescues him, Micah is forced to prove his worth, and together he and Eli defend a rare wyrme hatchling from kith bandits intent on stealing and selling wyrme eggs.
As Micah soon discovers, this hatchling has a guardian already—the beautiful, brave, and dangerous Thrace. Micah and Thrace make the worst possible Micah is a would-be bandit, and Thrace is a wyrme rider-assassin, devoted protector of the wyrmeweald. Yet their chemistry is undeniable, and soon Micah and Thrace join forces to protect the rare wyrme and battle the evil forces that encroach on their native habitat. But is there anything left in the devastated wyrmeweald to be saved?
374 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2010
40 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Paul Stewart
217 books917 followersPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles, which has sold more than three million copies and is available in over twenty languages. They have also collaborated together on lots of other exciting books for children of all ages. The Far-Flung Adventure series includes the Gold Smarties Prize Winner Fergus Crane, and Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners. Then there are the Barnaby Grimes books, two Muddle Earth adventures, and the sci-fi Scavenger and fantasy Wyrmeweald trilogies. For younger readers there is the Blobheads series, while for the very young, Paul has written several picture books, including the Rabbit and Hedgehog series, In the Dark of the Night and, his latest, Wings.
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
July 27, 2025
Mix together a strong element of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Sam Peckinpah for kids and you have this frontier tale of harsh life, treasure hunting, visceral violence and dragons. On an unnamed world or in an undetermined past or future young Micah, spurned in the first flush of teenage lust by a girl who prefers a flash of bling over the advances of an amorous ploughboy, sets out for the Wyrmweald to win his own Returner's Wealth from the ferocious almost primeval land of the dragons.
In the badlands of the Weald, however, there is more than the threat of flying lizards. It contains a population of wandering human thieves, charlatans, sadistic villains and weary lost souls at the edge of mental defeat. The bad guys, and gals, can usually be determined by their careless table manners, appalling personal hygiene, talking with their mouths full, believing spittoons are for gimps, and a readiness to slice open your belly and examine your intestines as they spill out. Micah is fortunate to team up with a long-thinking, slow-talking Clint Eastwood type called Eli Halfwinter, quick on the crossbow and with knuckles of steel. Together they set off on Micah's bildungsroman.
On the way, Micah is almost killed by and then falls in love with a young wyrmekin – that is a young person adopted by a wyrme in early childhood – called Thrace. That brings in the divisions of human Weald society between Kith, people basically like us; Kin, those emotionally attached to the wyrmes; and, later in the story, things called Keld, who seem to have more in common with Macbeth's weird sisters than anything homo sapiens-like. The Kith and the Kin are generally enemies and their rivalry results in much of the story's violence. On the whole the violence is that of a graphic novel – in fact, the whole book reads like a graphic novel verbalized – and is generally acceptable. However, there are instances were the border between plain violence and violence coupled to arousal comes close to being transgressed – especially the torture of Thrace by Solomon Tallow and his gang. As a YA novel it teeters there on the border between Young and Adult.
For a tired old adult there are too many reminders of Spaghetti Westerns and gun-slinging clichés, but to someone young enough it may all be new and exciting. It is certainly well written and illustrated, and the cliffhanger at the end promises well for volume two in the Wyrmeweald trilogy.
In the badlands of the Weald, however, there is more than the threat of flying lizards. It contains a population of wandering human thieves, charlatans, sadistic villains and weary lost souls at the edge of mental defeat. The bad guys, and gals, can usually be determined by their careless table manners, appalling personal hygiene, talking with their mouths full, believing spittoons are for gimps, and a readiness to slice open your belly and examine your intestines as they spill out. Micah is fortunate to team up with a long-thinking, slow-talking Clint Eastwood type called Eli Halfwinter, quick on the crossbow and with knuckles of steel. Together they set off on Micah's bildungsroman.
On the way, Micah is almost killed by and then falls in love with a young wyrmekin – that is a young person adopted by a wyrme in early childhood – called Thrace. That brings in the divisions of human Weald society between Kith, people basically like us; Kin, those emotionally attached to the wyrmes; and, later in the story, things called Keld, who seem to have more in common with Macbeth's weird sisters than anything homo sapiens-like. The Kith and the Kin are generally enemies and their rivalry results in much of the story's violence. On the whole the violence is that of a graphic novel – in fact, the whole book reads like a graphic novel verbalized – and is generally acceptable. However, there are instances were the border between plain violence and violence coupled to arousal comes close to being transgressed – especially the torture of Thrace by Solomon Tallow and his gang. As a YA novel it teeters there on the border between Young and Adult.
For a tired old adult there are too many reminders of Spaghetti Westerns and gun-slinging clichés, but to someone young enough it may all be new and exciting. It is certainly well written and illustrated, and the cliffhanger at the end promises well for volume two in the Wyrmeweald trilogy.
February 8, 2016
This is an excellent book made for people who want a sense of adventure and something to keep them on their toes.when i first read this book i was amazed at how much action there was.This lead me to read the whole series and i don't regret it one bit.The language in this book is very complex and i constantly had to reach for a dictionary.The only problem is that if you don't read carefully you can miss details that will help make the rest of the story make sense.i highly recommend this book/series.
January 31, 2024
I was quite hyped about this book, because I love the Ridell/Stewart children book, and WOW WAS I DISAPPOINTED.
After starting with an unhealthy "relationship" between Micah (whos a farmer) and a rich bitch, some really weird food kink seen (no kink shaming, but rly, i don't need that in a normal fantasy book), then some more sex mentioning, then some rape hinting, then some dragon sex (sorry mating, but wtf), then almost actual raping, and then some pretty obvious raping of a dead body, i just couldn't bother anymore. If i wanna read shit like this, i go read GOT or fanfics.
Beside all the sex/rape theme, which annoys me the most, Micah is SO DAMN STUPID. Like all the girls he sees hes instantly drawn too. The rich bitch is obviously toying with him as a funny farmer sextwink, throwing out/destroying the presents Micah gave her etc, and getting him whipped up pretty badly, Micah comes to the idea, that he definately will go to the Dragon Land to get Money and when he comes back SHE DEFINATELY WILL FALL FOR HIM BCS HES THEN RICH. Excuse me WHAT??? The guys supposed to be 17, and not 13.
And all the mentioning about how pretty Thrace, the dragongirl, is... holy shit. Yes we got it the first time, but every time she comes around, she is so beautiful. And ofc Micah instantly falls for him. Oh and it suppose to be romantic, if a guy stares at a girl all the time. Not...
The whole romance is so unnecessary. Especially because Thrace as a dragonkingirl is supposed to hate humans, which she does, BUT .... Micah is quite good looking, so maybe hes not that bad.. oh my fucking god. Just stop writing romance shit if u cant do it right.
Oh and there was like zero story progress. I still have no idea what the story is supposed to be, or go to, except Micah being stupid in a dangerous land.
After reading some reviews for the second book, i just throw out the whole series. It gets more dark, more sex (rape probably) and MIcah doesnt have ANY character development at all. So yeah. I just go back to read the children books of the author duo.
After starting with an unhealthy "relationship" between Micah (whos a farmer) and a rich bitch, some really weird food kink seen (no kink shaming, but rly, i don't need that in a normal fantasy book), then some more sex mentioning, then some rape hinting, then some dragon sex (sorry mating, but wtf), then almost actual raping, and then some pretty obvious raping of a dead body, i just couldn't bother anymore. If i wanna read shit like this, i go read GOT or fanfics.
Beside all the sex/rape theme, which annoys me the most, Micah is SO DAMN STUPID. Like all the girls he sees hes instantly drawn too. The rich bitch is obviously toying with him as a funny farmer sextwink, throwing out/destroying the presents Micah gave her etc, and getting him whipped up pretty badly, Micah comes to the idea, that he definately will go to the Dragon Land to get Money and when he comes back SHE DEFINATELY WILL FALL FOR HIM BCS HES THEN RICH. Excuse me WHAT??? The guys supposed to be 17, and not 13.
And all the mentioning about how pretty Thrace, the dragongirl, is... holy shit. Yes we got it the first time, but every time she comes around, she is so beautiful. And ofc Micah instantly falls for him. Oh and it suppose to be romantic, if a guy stares at a girl all the time. Not...
The whole romance is so unnecessary. Especially because Thrace as a dragonkingirl is supposed to hate humans, which she does, BUT .... Micah is quite good looking, so maybe hes not that bad.. oh my fucking god. Just stop writing romance shit if u cant do it right.
Oh and there was like zero story progress. I still have no idea what the story is supposed to be, or go to, except Micah being stupid in a dangerous land.
After reading some reviews for the second book, i just throw out the whole series. It gets more dark, more sex (rape probably) and MIcah doesnt have ANY character development at all. So yeah. I just go back to read the children books of the author duo.
October 4, 2013
Returner's Wealth was a bit of a mess for me. With poor pacing, a weak plot, a weirdly inconsistent structure and generally boring characters, even the presence of dragons couldn't save this one.
my biggest issue with this one was that I found it boring. It honestly took me almost a month to read this one because I kept getting bored and starting other books. One problem was that I felt like I was thrust into the middle of the story without any background knowledge. Then there were the alternating chapters of past and present for a while until they abruptly stopped.
I also felt like very little actually happened in this one. There was a lot of wandering around with bits of action mixed in. I was expecting a big climax, but that also felt small and undeveloped.
I also had issues with most of the characters. Micah was stupid. That's really all there is to that. Thrace was weird and unlikeable and I really didn't understand what happened with her and Aseel at the end. And the romance was instant and creepy. Micah was checking her out when she is freaking dying from falling off a cliff! But her can't stop thinking about how hot she is. I did like Eli, although his personality was pretty mild.
My favourite part of this one was the world. You could tell how much work and thought the authors had put into creating this harsh world full of a variety of different wyrme species. However, as a mentioned above, I think the world could have been introduced to the readers more clearly.
Overall, I was disappointed with Returner's Wealth. I love dragons, but this one had too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
my biggest issue with this one was that I found it boring. It honestly took me almost a month to read this one because I kept getting bored and starting other books. One problem was that I felt like I was thrust into the middle of the story without any background knowledge. Then there were the alternating chapters of past and present for a while until they abruptly stopped.
I also felt like very little actually happened in this one. There was a lot of wandering around with bits of action mixed in. I was expecting a big climax, but that also felt small and undeveloped.
I also had issues with most of the characters. Micah was stupid. That's really all there is to that. Thrace was weird and unlikeable and I really didn't understand what happened with her and Aseel at the end. And the romance was instant and creepy. Micah was checking her out when she is freaking dying from falling off a cliff! But her can't stop thinking about how hot she is. I did like Eli, although his personality was pretty mild.
My favourite part of this one was the world. You could tell how much work and thought the authors had put into creating this harsh world full of a variety of different wyrme species. However, as a mentioned above, I think the world could have been introduced to the readers more clearly.
Overall, I was disappointed with Returner's Wealth. I love dragons, but this one had too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
September 9, 2013
I have been a fan of Stewart & Riddell since my early teenage years when I feel in love with the characters and creatures in The Edge Chronicles. So when I saw this on Netgalley I nearly brokemy
mouse bashing the request button :D
It's a tale of kith and kin, friends and foe to the dragon like creatures who inhabit the WyrmeWeald. kin are soul mates to their fire breathing counter parts. When the dragon sheds its first skin the kin will wear it like a second skin that provides a shield against the sharpest arrow. Together they defend their world against a common enemy.
The kith see the Wyrmes as nothing more than cash cows (or dragons). They slaughter them and harvest their valuable bones and organs to be sold to market.
People from the towns and villages undertake excursions to the plains in hope of securing a returners wealth to live in luxury for the rest of there lives. That prize however, is reserved for the few who actually return alive.
I didn't find this story as engaging as The Edge Chronicles but that may be because these stories are just not aimed at my genre any more ( Stupid aging!) . It was nice to see a strong willed female in a YA story. I'm tired of pre-pubescent girls fawning over not so dangerous paranormal creatures. *Rolls eyes*
One thing which really disappointed me was the lack of illustrations. I remember drooling over the many illustrations dotted through The Edge Chronicles. Here the reader has to make do with a strip down the right hand side at the start of each chapter :(. The illustrations of each species of dragon are amazing though.
Despite my whining about the lack of artwork I would still recommend this book. It will appeal to male and female readers both young and old (er).
mouse bashing the request button :D
It's a tale of kith and kin, friends and foe to the dragon like creatures who inhabit the WyrmeWeald. kin are soul mates to their fire breathing counter parts. When the dragon sheds its first skin the kin will wear it like a second skin that provides a shield against the sharpest arrow. Together they defend their world against a common enemy.
The kith see the Wyrmes as nothing more than cash cows (or dragons). They slaughter them and harvest their valuable bones and organs to be sold to market.
People from the towns and villages undertake excursions to the plains in hope of securing a returners wealth to live in luxury for the rest of there lives. That prize however, is reserved for the few who actually return alive.
I didn't find this story as engaging as The Edge Chronicles but that may be because these stories are just not aimed at my genre any more ( Stupid aging!) . It was nice to see a strong willed female in a YA story. I'm tired of pre-pubescent girls fawning over not so dangerous paranormal creatures. *Rolls eyes*
One thing which really disappointed me was the lack of illustrations. I remember drooling over the many illustrations dotted through The Edge Chronicles. Here the reader has to make do with a strip down the right hand side at the start of each chapter :(. The illustrations of each species of dragon are amazing though.
Despite my whining about the lack of artwork I would still recommend this book. It will appeal to male and female readers both young and old (er).
June 30, 2015
Paul Stewart definitely has a way with words.
I love his use of language - the way he throws around words that don't exist, but should exist and are easy to figure out the meaning of - words like "hackdagger" and "shatterrock". I love the way in which he creates his world as you journey through it, introducing you to its detailed and intricate nature as you join the heroes on their intrepid adventures.
Throughout, the lyrical text is illustrated with Chris Riddell's unique and utterly endearing (if slightly ctreepy) art. This text is littered with various wyrme species - the demented carrionwyrme, the charming manderwyrme, the formidable lakewyrme... and the narrow panels at the start of each chapter also enhance the mood and the theme.
Of course, there is a darker edge, a bloody, slightly macabre tang to the air. The wyrmeweald is a brutal place, and the people are divided between the scummy dragon slayers - the kith, and the aloof and deadly dragon friends - the kin. Kith and kin can never unite, can never be friends.
Or can they?
I received an ARC of this book way back in 2010 and have finally gotten around to reading it. Now I look forward to delving further into this world.
I love his use of language - the way he throws around words that don't exist, but should exist and are easy to figure out the meaning of - words like "hackdagger" and "shatterrock". I love the way in which he creates his world as you journey through it, introducing you to its detailed and intricate nature as you join the heroes on their intrepid adventures.
Throughout, the lyrical text is illustrated with Chris Riddell's unique and utterly endearing (if slightly ctreepy) art. This text is littered with various wyrme species - the demented carrionwyrme, the charming manderwyrme, the formidable lakewyrme... and the narrow panels at the start of each chapter also enhance the mood and the theme.
Of course, there is a darker edge, a bloody, slightly macabre tang to the air. The wyrmeweald is a brutal place, and the people are divided between the scummy dragon slayers - the kith, and the aloof and deadly dragon friends - the kin. Kith and kin can never unite, can never be friends.
Or can they?
I received an ARC of this book way back in 2010 and have finally gotten around to reading it. Now I look forward to delving further into this world.
September 11, 2013
Returner's Wealth (by Paul Stewart and illustrated by Chris Riddell) introduces a well-built fantasy world in Wyrmeweald and a congenial and goodhearted protagonist in Micah. Initially, I thought it would be a great adventure for ages 10-12, but the further I read, it became evident that an older audience would be better. In spite of the occasional violence, Stewart has created a grand adventure.
Weald in Old English has two meanings: 1) forest and 2) power, authority. Wyrm or wyrme in Old English can mean dragon or snake; the warrior Beowulf battles a wyrm and becomes the first dragon-slayer. Stewart's use of these terms indicates a fondness for the epic poem Beowulf and /or a fondness for Tolkien's works. I share this weakness for both Beowulf and Tolkien.
Another feature (and dip into OE) that I enjoyed was Stewart's use of kennings, imaginative and poetic compound words: two-hides, festercrags, rockscape, wyrmehost, hackdagger, tooth-tugged, stoppertight, and limbwithered, for example.
On to the plot--
Micah decides to visit the Wyrmweald, a harsh, dangerous, and mountainous landscape, in search of wealth that might help him win the heart of the girl he loves. He quickly discovers that the hostile landscape alone can kill--but there are other things that are even more frightening.
At the wrong place at the wrong time, Micah is seriously wounded by a wyrmkin. Fortunately, Micah meets Eli Half-Winter, who takes him to a healer and saves his life. Rather reluctantly, Eli takes Micah under his wing, but soon realizes the benefit of Micah's company.
Together, they unite with Thrace, a wyrmkin, and the three of them will do their best to defeat the evil kith who deal in the death and destruction of the wyrms.
An exciting adventure with a bit of romance.
NetGalley/Open Road Media
YA/Fantasy. originally publ. in 2010; republ. Sept. 2014. Print version: 374 pages
September 30, 2020
If you love powerful storytelling, fantasy, action, adventure and sensational world-building quite unlike anything that has been written, and you adore and are as engrossed and taken away by the breathtaking artwork of Chris Riddell, well buy this book.
I know that Stewart and Riddell are known by many and will often turn to Paul's and Chris's The Edge Chronicles- their most famous of books, in a long range of trilogies culminating into a 13 book series- when acknowledging their credits is their go to. And sadly, the both of them have crafted many genre busting and tackling realms together in multiple book series and I feel they are not as often known for them, such as The Far Flung Adventures (Fergus Crane, Corby Flood, Hugo Pepper) to Barnaby Grimes, to now Wyrmeweald. A book of Wyrme's, varying bleak lands apes built upon various mountainous scape, full of Kith, Kin, dangers, love, romance, symbiotic bonding between a rare few Riders and their steeds, The Wymres.
The Edge Chronicles is a book series ever so close to my heart and many million of others.
Paul and Chris, have always been artists I've dedicated my life to reading.
But, as one grows up, and the supposed tastes shift, and as one discovers new writers, though those artists you adore and their works are still on your mind, your inclination is usually swayed by the potential of others of whom may perhaps start criticising you for still reading books aimed for " teens" or children. The usual retort of "That's for kids!".
This mentality bothers me, more so because I myself have been afflicted by this hollow sentiment and attitude. The greatest of books and stories told and shared over parchment or fire, are ones usually composed and carried across for many a generation, dictated to children, ro leave their imprint. Something I feel has an advantage over some more literary lauded works that you are expected to gave lodged in your noggin.
If you love books that are maturer in theme, content and just by being a little more rugged and edgy-(mind the pun there) than their usual works, this is something all Stewart & Riddell fans will clamour for.
With a higher age grading, for reading, Stewart excels in the emotion and descriptions and the desolate, harsh badlands, exalted by the meaner meatier far denser layers offered by this stories enviroments and characters, allowing a lot of freedom in content in this verse, and leaning hard on perhaps content and thematics that are too risky for a younger readership of their books, with Edge and such like.
Not to say The Edge books are not grotesque, bloody and full of mature and subtle nuances and I am not presumptuous to assume Stewart feels unleashed compared to The Edge and Grimes and Free Lance books, in particular, but I feel he and Chris are going in with a different intent, different goal in its whole self, with it being for older readers, given far more allowances that might be criticised if used or conveyed in the Edge Chronicles/Barnaby Grimes novels.
I feel this has freed up the creative duo. In a lot of ways. Riddells artwork is sparse, subtle, hinting mildly at the world, and it is extremely disappointing when you first head into this, ai myself much younger was, yes, rather aggrieved to notice there is hardly any grand full page part Riddell mania incorporated into the books text and morphing and binding into the text of most of the Edge Chronicles books.
Here, the writing seems to be enough. Not that previous books lack the lavish detail of description, but it is tonally so different than their previous books.
It is meaner. Grittier. Also pulling from many sources of historically valued art and literature from centuries back.
As a reader and specially a fan of a certain writer or illustrators we do not steer towards their new releases like we used to when much younger, but there are those we acknowledge as being aimed for our age range as the books we should be investing time and money into.
I knew that the Wymreweald series was aimed at a higher age bracket, yet still didnt endeavour to read or buy those books back in 2010 aged 15.
And as the years passed and I got over myself, I got the three books in this series because, what does it matter if it is marked at 9-11, 12-16? A book is a book, that one of any age can relate to and enjoy.
So I finally started on this new quest of my own, to thrust myself into those comfortable, nostalgic, powerful world offered to me by my old hombres; falling into their life changing worlds and words and images that so motivated and inspired me to be, not just a writer today, but a reader as well.
So, Wyrmeweald is a fantastical world, with an Old western slant, its felt, lived in, vast and epic in its desolation and crags, the mountains, the red waters...the world is so lived in and so beautifully conveyed by Stewart's and I also assume Riddells prose.
A western, only with dragons instead of gunslingers. And so with the addition and love for Dragons/Wyrme's dear reader, as I mean who doesn't love those most - if you want to experience something, almost a whole other species of genre, a new form of genre then look no further than this book (series) that the creative duo behind Fergus Crane, Barnaby Grimes, BLOBHEADS, Muddle-Earth and The Edge Chronicles, put out nearly a decade ago. What I have noticed and that Paul Stewart and Riddell have admitted to having, it that, this series has not reached as many readers as their Edge books had, which is sad very sad, as its worth so much more ove, affection and a fandom. So, take my advice, get in on this book series.
As a reader grows up, he takes it upon himself to drift into so called maturer realms, adult books, whether general fiction or fantasy, and sometimes neglects to support and endeavour to continue reading the writers and creators works that set them on this grandiose path of literature.
One is almost ashamed to state that they love books written specifically for children or YA, sometimes for good reason, yet this has never been the case of Paul and Chris's work for myself.
They have always been on my mind and on my periphery. Only now, having matured even more, I can apologetically buy these books and read them without a weird sense, that is oddly bestowed unto us readers growing up by other readers and those around as to it being immature or not a book one expects another to read.
Fuck right off. They wouldn't be saying that if they read such wonderfully fleshed out worlds and stories like Paul Stewart and Chris put out.
The books they create are not age bound, but only bound by those willing to push that mind-frame aside and to allow themselves to be taken away whether by Skycraft or Wyrme.
Read this first chapter in a trilogy I have a feeling is going to stay with me and leave a mark quite akin to when I first discovered these two masterful artists works back in 2004.
I know that Stewart and Riddell are known by many and will often turn to Paul's and Chris's The Edge Chronicles- their most famous of books, in a long range of trilogies culminating into a 13 book series- when acknowledging their credits is their go to. And sadly, the both of them have crafted many genre busting and tackling realms together in multiple book series and I feel they are not as often known for them, such as The Far Flung Adventures (Fergus Crane, Corby Flood, Hugo Pepper) to Barnaby Grimes, to now Wyrmeweald. A book of Wyrme's, varying bleak lands apes built upon various mountainous scape, full of Kith, Kin, dangers, love, romance, symbiotic bonding between a rare few Riders and their steeds, The Wymres.
The Edge Chronicles is a book series ever so close to my heart and many million of others.
Paul and Chris, have always been artists I've dedicated my life to reading.
But, as one grows up, and the supposed tastes shift, and as one discovers new writers, though those artists you adore and their works are still on your mind, your inclination is usually swayed by the potential of others of whom may perhaps start criticising you for still reading books aimed for " teens" or children. The usual retort of "That's for kids!".
This mentality bothers me, more so because I myself have been afflicted by this hollow sentiment and attitude. The greatest of books and stories told and shared over parchment or fire, are ones usually composed and carried across for many a generation, dictated to children, ro leave their imprint. Something I feel has an advantage over some more literary lauded works that you are expected to gave lodged in your noggin.
If you love books that are maturer in theme, content and just by being a little more rugged and edgy-(mind the pun there) than their usual works, this is something all Stewart & Riddell fans will clamour for.
With a higher age grading, for reading, Stewart excels in the emotion and descriptions and the desolate, harsh badlands, exalted by the meaner meatier far denser layers offered by this stories enviroments and characters, allowing a lot of freedom in content in this verse, and leaning hard on perhaps content and thematics that are too risky for a younger readership of their books, with Edge and such like.
Not to say The Edge books are not grotesque, bloody and full of mature and subtle nuances and I am not presumptuous to assume Stewart feels unleashed compared to The Edge and Grimes and Free Lance books, in particular, but I feel he and Chris are going in with a different intent, different goal in its whole self, with it being for older readers, given far more allowances that might be criticised if used or conveyed in the Edge Chronicles/Barnaby Grimes novels.
I feel this has freed up the creative duo. In a lot of ways. Riddells artwork is sparse, subtle, hinting mildly at the world, and it is extremely disappointing when you first head into this, ai myself much younger was, yes, rather aggrieved to notice there is hardly any grand full page part Riddell mania incorporated into the books text and morphing and binding into the text of most of the Edge Chronicles books.
Here, the writing seems to be enough. Not that previous books lack the lavish detail of description, but it is tonally so different than their previous books.
It is meaner. Grittier. Also pulling from many sources of historically valued art and literature from centuries back.
As a reader and specially a fan of a certain writer or illustrators we do not steer towards their new releases like we used to when much younger, but there are those we acknowledge as being aimed for our age range as the books we should be investing time and money into.
I knew that the Wymreweald series was aimed at a higher age bracket, yet still didnt endeavour to read or buy those books back in 2010 aged 15.
And as the years passed and I got over myself, I got the three books in this series because, what does it matter if it is marked at 9-11, 12-16? A book is a book, that one of any age can relate to and enjoy.
So I finally started on this new quest of my own, to thrust myself into those comfortable, nostalgic, powerful world offered to me by my old hombres; falling into their life changing worlds and words and images that so motivated and inspired me to be, not just a writer today, but a reader as well.
So, Wyrmeweald is a fantastical world, with an Old western slant, its felt, lived in, vast and epic in its desolation and crags, the mountains, the red waters...the world is so lived in and so beautifully conveyed by Stewart's and I also assume Riddells prose.
A western, only with dragons instead of gunslingers. And so with the addition and love for Dragons/Wyrme's dear reader, as I mean who doesn't love those most - if you want to experience something, almost a whole other species of genre, a new form of genre then look no further than this book (series) that the creative duo behind Fergus Crane, Barnaby Grimes, BLOBHEADS, Muddle-Earth and The Edge Chronicles, put out nearly a decade ago. What I have noticed and that Paul Stewart and Riddell have admitted to having, it that, this series has not reached as many readers as their Edge books had, which is sad very sad, as its worth so much more ove, affection and a fandom. So, take my advice, get in on this book series.
As a reader grows up, he takes it upon himself to drift into so called maturer realms, adult books, whether general fiction or fantasy, and sometimes neglects to support and endeavour to continue reading the writers and creators works that set them on this grandiose path of literature.
One is almost ashamed to state that they love books written specifically for children or YA, sometimes for good reason, yet this has never been the case of Paul and Chris's work for myself.
They have always been on my mind and on my periphery. Only now, having matured even more, I can apologetically buy these books and read them without a weird sense, that is oddly bestowed unto us readers growing up by other readers and those around as to it being immature or not a book one expects another to read.
Fuck right off. They wouldn't be saying that if they read such wonderfully fleshed out worlds and stories like Paul Stewart and Chris put out.
The books they create are not age bound, but only bound by those willing to push that mind-frame aside and to allow themselves to be taken away whether by Skycraft or Wyrme.
Read this first chapter in a trilogy I have a feeling is going to stay with me and leave a mark quite akin to when I first discovered these two masterful artists works back in 2004.
October 5, 2017
Bookworm Speaks!
Wyrmeweald: Returner’s Wealth
by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
****
Acquired: Amazon.com
Series: The Wyrmeweald Trilogy (Book 1)
Hardcover: 374 pages
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween; Reprint edition (September 3, 2013)
Language: English
Subject: Fantasy
****
The Story: The wyrmeweald is a hostile place, an arid wasteland where man is both hunter and hunted, and where the dragon-like wyrmes reign supreme.
Seventeen-year-old Micah enters the wyrmeweald intent on stealing a wyrme egg to sell for a bounty. With the riches such an egg will bring—returner’s wealth—Micah can go home to a life of luxury, and win the hand of the girl he loves. But the wyrmeweald is a treacherous place, and Micah quickly finds himself in mortal danger. When a tracker named Eli rescues him, Micah is forced to prove his worth, and together he and Eli defend a rare wyrme hatchling from kith bandits intent on stealing and selling wyrme eggs.
As Micah soon discovers, this hatchling has a guardian already—the beautiful, brave, and dangerous Thrace. Micah and Thrace make the worst possible match: Micah is a would-be bandit, and Thrace is a wyrme rider-assassin, devoted protector of the wyrmeweald. Yet their chemistry is undeniable, and soon Micah and Thrace join forces to protect the rare wyrme and battle the evil forces that encroach on their native habitat. But is there anything left in the devastated wyrmeweald to be saved?
The Review: When this book started out, the text hinted that once again, the reader Bookworm thought that they were going to be taken to yet another fantasy inspired by Europe of the Middle Ages. Indeed, the opening chapters seem to lend credence to this theory. As the story progresses though, it becomes clear that this is not the case. The world that the reader is taken to seems to be more evocative of the Wild West than Medieval Europe. This immediately sets it apart from other fantasy books, particularly ones about Dragons…or Wyrmes as they are called in this world.
Micah as a protagonist may not rock the boat right away but his innocence, heart and hidden strength immediately makes him relatable to Bookworm. The mentor aspect that Eli serves is reminiscent of Halt and Will in the Ranger’s Apprentice, although it does seem to come out of nowhere. Thankfully, aside from the sudden start, the relationship evolves in a more organic matter as the story progresses. Micah himself, grows and develops and thankfully, he does not follow the cliche of turning into a badass by the book’s ending.
The inclusion of illustrations in this book is a definite plus for Bookworm. It may seem childish, asking for pictures to go with the story but they really do help. The images render the text a bit more grounded, believe it or not, as it gives the imagination something the build up around. Knowing what all of these strange beasts and mysterious characters look like helps spare the reader from expending more mental energy than necessary. The artwork’s distinctive style makes the text stand out and adds a certain feel that is difficult to define but definitely falls into the positive category. A sense of timelessness would be best.
The primary audience is intended to be for Teens and Young Adults but prospective readers should take care and make sure they possess a certain maturity when broaching the grittier aspects of the story. A central theme here is that of poaching, specifically the poaching of dragons. The authors held nothing back when exposing the cruelty and waste of the practice. This is a violent book with a fair share of blood and guts. It never gets extremely gory, like something out of a slasher film but it doesn’t shy away from the fact that the Wyrmeweald is a cruel and unforgiving land. Many dark characters, both man and beast, make their home and the authors don’t shy away from showing the reader how very dark they can be.
No book is perfect though, no matter how many rankings Bookworm may give it. The author was very skilled at building the world Bookworm is taken too but maybe Bookworm was taken in a little too deep. The authors obviously had a lot of fun building the language and slang utilized by the characters but the new words can get a little confusing at times. The inclusion of a glossary at the end would have been extremely helpful, alongside the images of the various Wyrmes that inhabit the land. Bookworm gradually became acclimated to it but it was a little confusing at the beginning.
The most glaring flaw of the novel, however is the prologue of Micah’s journey to the wyrmeweald. It is told through a series of flashbacks, the story of Micah’s life and the tale of the “girl he loves” as mentioned in the book’s summary. In retrospect, it follows a lot of familiar tropes but they way the story is conveyed contains enough emotional depth to render it into a quite compelling tale. Unfortunately the reader is hanging. The flashbacks cease after about halfway through the text and Bookworm was left wondering about what truly compelled him to make such a hazardous quest. Bookworm wanted to know more about Micah’s lady friend and his life before coming to the land of dragons. One could make the argument, that the reader got all the information they required before getting to the main story. The reader does not truly need anymore story about Micah’s past, which admittedly is something of a sad sack, but it was told is such a compelling way that Bookworm hopes that future volumes will return to the place of Micah’s origins.
Final Verdict: Returner’s Wealth is an engaging, original fantasy with a distinctive setting with uncomplicated but engaging characters. Truly the start of a great series and Bookworm can’t wait to see what comes next.
Rating: Five Wyrmes out of Five.
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Wyrmeweald: Returner’s Wealth
by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
****
Acquired: Amazon.com
Series: The Wyrmeweald Trilogy (Book 1)
Hardcover: 374 pages
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween; Reprint edition (September 3, 2013)
Language: English
Subject: Fantasy
****
The Story: The wyrmeweald is a hostile place, an arid wasteland where man is both hunter and hunted, and where the dragon-like wyrmes reign supreme.
Seventeen-year-old Micah enters the wyrmeweald intent on stealing a wyrme egg to sell for a bounty. With the riches such an egg will bring—returner’s wealth—Micah can go home to a life of luxury, and win the hand of the girl he loves. But the wyrmeweald is a treacherous place, and Micah quickly finds himself in mortal danger. When a tracker named Eli rescues him, Micah is forced to prove his worth, and together he and Eli defend a rare wyrme hatchling from kith bandits intent on stealing and selling wyrme eggs.
As Micah soon discovers, this hatchling has a guardian already—the beautiful, brave, and dangerous Thrace. Micah and Thrace make the worst possible match: Micah is a would-be bandit, and Thrace is a wyrme rider-assassin, devoted protector of the wyrmeweald. Yet their chemistry is undeniable, and soon Micah and Thrace join forces to protect the rare wyrme and battle the evil forces that encroach on their native habitat. But is there anything left in the devastated wyrmeweald to be saved?
The Review: When this book started out, the text hinted that once again, the reader Bookworm thought that they were going to be taken to yet another fantasy inspired by Europe of the Middle Ages. Indeed, the opening chapters seem to lend credence to this theory. As the story progresses though, it becomes clear that this is not the case. The world that the reader is taken to seems to be more evocative of the Wild West than Medieval Europe. This immediately sets it apart from other fantasy books, particularly ones about Dragons…or Wyrmes as they are called in this world.
Micah as a protagonist may not rock the boat right away but his innocence, heart and hidden strength immediately makes him relatable to Bookworm. The mentor aspect that Eli serves is reminiscent of Halt and Will in the Ranger’s Apprentice, although it does seem to come out of nowhere. Thankfully, aside from the sudden start, the relationship evolves in a more organic matter as the story progresses. Micah himself, grows and develops and thankfully, he does not follow the cliche of turning into a badass by the book’s ending.
The inclusion of illustrations in this book is a definite plus for Bookworm. It may seem childish, asking for pictures to go with the story but they really do help. The images render the text a bit more grounded, believe it or not, as it gives the imagination something the build up around. Knowing what all of these strange beasts and mysterious characters look like helps spare the reader from expending more mental energy than necessary. The artwork’s distinctive style makes the text stand out and adds a certain feel that is difficult to define but definitely falls into the positive category. A sense of timelessness would be best.
The primary audience is intended to be for Teens and Young Adults but prospective readers should take care and make sure they possess a certain maturity when broaching the grittier aspects of the story. A central theme here is that of poaching, specifically the poaching of dragons. The authors held nothing back when exposing the cruelty and waste of the practice. This is a violent book with a fair share of blood and guts. It never gets extremely gory, like something out of a slasher film but it doesn’t shy away from the fact that the Wyrmeweald is a cruel and unforgiving land. Many dark characters, both man and beast, make their home and the authors don’t shy away from showing the reader how very dark they can be.
No book is perfect though, no matter how many rankings Bookworm may give it. The author was very skilled at building the world Bookworm is taken too but maybe Bookworm was taken in a little too deep. The authors obviously had a lot of fun building the language and slang utilized by the characters but the new words can get a little confusing at times. The inclusion of a glossary at the end would have been extremely helpful, alongside the images of the various Wyrmes that inhabit the land. Bookworm gradually became acclimated to it but it was a little confusing at the beginning.
The most glaring flaw of the novel, however is the prologue of Micah’s journey to the wyrmeweald. It is told through a series of flashbacks, the story of Micah’s life and the tale of the “girl he loves” as mentioned in the book’s summary. In retrospect, it follows a lot of familiar tropes but they way the story is conveyed contains enough emotional depth to render it into a quite compelling tale. Unfortunately the reader is hanging. The flashbacks cease after about halfway through the text and Bookworm was left wondering about what truly compelled him to make such a hazardous quest. Bookworm wanted to know more about Micah’s lady friend and his life before coming to the land of dragons. One could make the argument, that the reader got all the information they required before getting to the main story. The reader does not truly need anymore story about Micah’s past, which admittedly is something of a sad sack, but it was told is such a compelling way that Bookworm hopes that future volumes will return to the place of Micah’s origins.
Final Verdict: Returner’s Wealth is an engaging, original fantasy with a distinctive setting with uncomplicated but engaging characters. Truly the start of a great series and Bookworm can’t wait to see what comes next.
Rating: Five Wyrmes out of Five.
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
November 1, 2012
Returner's Wealth is a wonderful fantasy that is fast-paced, themed around wyrmes (my favourite fantasy creatures), has vivid characters that have clear motivations and gory detailed action scenes (a word of caution- for those who don't like blood and are young, this book may not be for you). The author Stewart and Riddles are cunning in the method of making wonderful twists and disturbing ironies such as Micah and his brother. Another great feature of the book is its fluidity. The book flows smoothly and effortlessly which hooks the reader directly to its characters-there's no feeling of disconnection basically-.
All in all, a very great book. Let's hope the other two books are just as good :)
All in all, a very great book. Let's hope the other two books are just as good :)
March 13, 2016
Another brilliant, richly imagined series from the creators of one of my all time favourite series The Edge Chronicles. Packed with brilliantly drawn characters and epic world building, complete with Riddle's mesmerizing line drawings, this is a must read. The plot is a bit thin, but this is only the first of a trilogy.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 7, 2018
Leser des geliebten Paul Stewart – Chris Riddell-Duos seien vorgewarnt, denn dies ist nicht ein typisches humorvoll ironisch geschriebenes Werk wie die Klippenland-Chroniken oder Muddelerde, sondern ein ganz anderer Stil, an den sich der ein oder andere Leser vielleicht erst gewöhnen muss.
Neue Ideen rund um die Drachenthematik werden in dieser Geschichte nicht präsentiert, dafür wird das bereits Bekannte (Drachenjäger und Drachenkrieger, Diebstahl eines wertvollen Drachen-Ei`s sowie das Drachenvolk KIN) anschaulich in bildreicher Sprache und mit kleinen Illustrationen ausgearbeitet, so dass diese Geschichte bis zum Schluss den Leser fesselt. Es wechseln sich ruhige Passagen mit Kampfszenen dramatischer Art ab, ebenso Abschnitte, in denen Micah um die Zuneigung und Aufmerksamkeit der Kin-Kriegerin Thrace kämpft.
Micah zieht vom Flachland in das Land der Drachen (= Hochland), um als wohlhabender Mann zurückzukehren und um das Herz eines reiches Mädchens zu erobern. Doch zuvor steht ihm ein mühsamer und gefährliches Unterfangen bevor. Denn der Weg in das Land der Drachen ist gefährlich und wird von kaltblütigen Killern und Kampfszenen überschattet. Micah hat Glück und trifft auf einen Jäger, der ihn in seine Lehre nimmt und sie gemeinsam den weiteren Weg beschreiten bis sie auf das Drachenmädchen Thrace treffen.
Die bildlich detailiert beschriebene Landschaft mit ihren spitzen Felsen, rauchenden Schloten und seinen Drachen geben dem Leser den Eindruck, als würde man selbst durch diese Gegend wandern und sich umsehen.
So ausführlich detailverliebt wie die Landschaft des Drachenlandes beschrieben wurde, fehlte es leider an den Charakteren und den Hintergrundinformationen. Man erfährt leider recht wenig über die Umstände der ärmlichen Verhältnisse Micah`s, über das gesellschaftliche System des Tieflands und über das Drachenvolk der Kin. Hier hätte einfach mehr beschrieben sein können, wie die Verbindung zwischen den Kin und den Drachen funktioniert und warum Drachen von wilden Drachen verstoßen werden, die die Kin-Verbindung eingehen. Ich hoffe, dass diese fehlenden Informationen im Folgeband erklärt werden.
Mit den einmalig unverkennbaren detaillierten schwarz-weißen Illustrationen von Chris Riddel wird jedes Kapitel eingeleitet, welche sich immer wieder perfekt in die Geschichte einfügen und dem Buch ihren eigenen schönen Stil geben. Es gibt leider nur wenige große Zeichnungen, die die Drachen auf ihre inspirierende Weise darstellen und den Betrachter fesseln.
Das Ende des Buches könnte als abgeschlossene Handlung durchgehen, jedoch wird genügend Freiheit gelassen, um über das Ende hinaus weiterzudenken. Deshalb bin ich schon auf die Fortsetzung dieses ersten Bandes gespannt. Einige Ungereimtheiten tauchen gegen Ende der Geschichte auf, die so hoffe ich, in der Fortsetzung aufgeklärt werden.
Die Schrift dieses Hardcover-Buches ist leicht lesbar gedruckt, der Zeilenabstand ist breit, so dass dies selbst Lesermuffel trotz der hohen Seitenzahl anlocken sollte.
Das Cover selbst ist sehr ansprechend, verrät es doch bereits hier kleine Einblicke auf die Geschichte und die Drachenwelt selbst mit ihren spitzen Bergen. Das tollste jedoch ist der Weißdrache im oberen Drittel des Covers, der je nach Lichteinfall aufgrund von Silberprägung silbern schimmert. Mir gefällt auch die Gestaltung des Covers in warmen Farbtönen, was mich im Buchladen magisch anzog und mich neugierig machte. Es sei jedoch noch einmal abschließend gesagt, dass dies nicht ein typisches Stewart & Riddell-Werk ist. Allerdings hat diese Geschichte auch ihren Reiz, also versucht euch auch an diesen etwas anderen Stil gewöhnen, da es sich lohnt.
Insgesamt ist dies eine grundsolide Geschichte über Drachen mit bereits bekannten Elementen in einer angenehmen Sprache und tollen Illustrationen. Deshalb vergebe ich 4/5 Punkten an dieses Werk, besonders, weil mir die Illustrationen und die Covergestaltung so gut gefallen haben.
Neue Ideen rund um die Drachenthematik werden in dieser Geschichte nicht präsentiert, dafür wird das bereits Bekannte (Drachenjäger und Drachenkrieger, Diebstahl eines wertvollen Drachen-Ei`s sowie das Drachenvolk KIN) anschaulich in bildreicher Sprache und mit kleinen Illustrationen ausgearbeitet, so dass diese Geschichte bis zum Schluss den Leser fesselt. Es wechseln sich ruhige Passagen mit Kampfszenen dramatischer Art ab, ebenso Abschnitte, in denen Micah um die Zuneigung und Aufmerksamkeit der Kin-Kriegerin Thrace kämpft.
Micah zieht vom Flachland in das Land der Drachen (= Hochland), um als wohlhabender Mann zurückzukehren und um das Herz eines reiches Mädchens zu erobern. Doch zuvor steht ihm ein mühsamer und gefährliches Unterfangen bevor. Denn der Weg in das Land der Drachen ist gefährlich und wird von kaltblütigen Killern und Kampfszenen überschattet. Micah hat Glück und trifft auf einen Jäger, der ihn in seine Lehre nimmt und sie gemeinsam den weiteren Weg beschreiten bis sie auf das Drachenmädchen Thrace treffen.
Die bildlich detailiert beschriebene Landschaft mit ihren spitzen Felsen, rauchenden Schloten und seinen Drachen geben dem Leser den Eindruck, als würde man selbst durch diese Gegend wandern und sich umsehen.
So ausführlich detailverliebt wie die Landschaft des Drachenlandes beschrieben wurde, fehlte es leider an den Charakteren und den Hintergrundinformationen. Man erfährt leider recht wenig über die Umstände der ärmlichen Verhältnisse Micah`s, über das gesellschaftliche System des Tieflands und über das Drachenvolk der Kin. Hier hätte einfach mehr beschrieben sein können, wie die Verbindung zwischen den Kin und den Drachen funktioniert und warum Drachen von wilden Drachen verstoßen werden, die die Kin-Verbindung eingehen. Ich hoffe, dass diese fehlenden Informationen im Folgeband erklärt werden.
Mit den einmalig unverkennbaren detaillierten schwarz-weißen Illustrationen von Chris Riddel wird jedes Kapitel eingeleitet, welche sich immer wieder perfekt in die Geschichte einfügen und dem Buch ihren eigenen schönen Stil geben. Es gibt leider nur wenige große Zeichnungen, die die Drachen auf ihre inspirierende Weise darstellen und den Betrachter fesseln.
Das Ende des Buches könnte als abgeschlossene Handlung durchgehen, jedoch wird genügend Freiheit gelassen, um über das Ende hinaus weiterzudenken. Deshalb bin ich schon auf die Fortsetzung dieses ersten Bandes gespannt. Einige Ungereimtheiten tauchen gegen Ende der Geschichte auf, die so hoffe ich, in der Fortsetzung aufgeklärt werden.
Die Schrift dieses Hardcover-Buches ist leicht lesbar gedruckt, der Zeilenabstand ist breit, so dass dies selbst Lesermuffel trotz der hohen Seitenzahl anlocken sollte.
Das Cover selbst ist sehr ansprechend, verrät es doch bereits hier kleine Einblicke auf die Geschichte und die Drachenwelt selbst mit ihren spitzen Bergen. Das tollste jedoch ist der Weißdrache im oberen Drittel des Covers, der je nach Lichteinfall aufgrund von Silberprägung silbern schimmert. Mir gefällt auch die Gestaltung des Covers in warmen Farbtönen, was mich im Buchladen magisch anzog und mich neugierig machte. Es sei jedoch noch einmal abschließend gesagt, dass dies nicht ein typisches Stewart & Riddell-Werk ist. Allerdings hat diese Geschichte auch ihren Reiz, also versucht euch auch an diesen etwas anderen Stil gewöhnen, da es sich lohnt.
Insgesamt ist dies eine grundsolide Geschichte über Drachen mit bereits bekannten Elementen in einer angenehmen Sprache und tollen Illustrationen. Deshalb vergebe ich 4/5 Punkten an dieses Werk, besonders, weil mir die Illustrationen und die Covergestaltung so gut gefallen haben.
February 15, 2021
Reread but I barely remembered anything from the first time around to be honest. This book was majorly disappointing as it is written well and by my favourite author-illustrator duo AND is basically about dragons and yet I didn't like it?
This book is the first in a trilogy with a fantasy western setting full of wrymes. Sounds great! However there are three or four obstacles between me and enjoyment:
1. The romance. This was the main problem for me personally. I was enjoying the book SO much more before Micah met Thrace and he had his one sided meet-cute. I really don't like it when in books the guy finds the girl super attractive and simps over her and she wants to kill him and at best thinks he is ok. Like there is nothing about this pair that should have led to them having sex? They are a genuinely awful match and tbh Micah's continual internal monologue of "OH she's so hot! So delicate but so dangerous!" is just really not my thing. Would have enjoyed it a lot more if they'd just been friends.
2. The revenge plot. The first half of the book is mainly a kind of survival/coming of age story with cool world building on the side but then over 50% through the story becomes a revenge plot after a harrowing couple of chapters featuring sexual assault and some quite heavy gore. It gets a little heavy and I'm just glad it mostly went over my head when I first read this when I was around 14 or so.
3. The sense of environmental decay. This one wasn't so much of a problem and I definitely don't disagree to these kind of themes being present in books but since this book was written the effects of global warming have begun to feel tangible so I already experience this feeling in real life and did not need an extra dose from this book. More to the point though, I didn't enjoy the accompanying holier-than-thou attitudes the Kin (basically dragon riders) take towards the Kith (normal people living in the wrymeweald) and also the whitewyrmes take towards those that become kinned. Like many of the kith do bad things or impact the environment negatively but they mainly do this out of ignorance or desperation and listening to characters go on about others being 'tainted' - even if they have abstained from such activities - was just not fun. This book very much took the 'humans are the disease' angle which I feel is a bit of a lazy take.
4. The wyrmes. Most disappointingly I didn't like the whitewyrmes AT ALL. The other types were good and I liked how every niche in the ecosystem is filled by wyrmes and the wide variety of forms they take but the whitewrymes - the closest thing this book has to traditional dragons - were annoying. They are supposed to be these intelligent creatures that preside above all the other wymes but most of the chapters from whitewryme points of view read like "the ancient whitewyrme looked at the female. She looked back and stretched her neck. He called to her." and so on and there is barely any explanation of what the stuff they are doing actually means or what they are thinking. I already mentioned how annoying the whitewyrmes are with their superiority complexes but I would also like to yell for a little about some of the decision making of one of them (which moves along the plot, may I add) where a wyrme ditches his Kin to go have sex for FOUR days and then later when she has sex with a Kith abandons her possibly permanently??!! Also there is nothing in the wyrme's POV to suggest he is abandoning her, in fact he recognises that the situation is the same/similar to when he ditched her to mate so WHY??? I DON'T GET IT!?
In summary almost everyone here deserves to go to horny jail and I am sad.
May 15, 2018
I really wanted to like this book. I love a good Dragon book. But I really struggled with this one.
I actually picked up Bloodhoney in the Charity shops recently and on getting it home realised it was a book two. Luckily my local library had Returner's Wealth on the shelf so I got it.
The first 100 pages of the book for me was so disjointed. You had Micah, in the present, who you realised was new to the Wyrmeweald and seeking the Returner's Wealth, in between, you had back flashes to explain why Micah had come to the Wyrmeweald in the first place, namely that he was trying to impress a Landowners daughter, Seraphita. In between those, you had descriptions of a wyve (a baby Whitewyrme) that was hatching from an egg and a Whitewyrme and Kin which you later found out to be Thrace and Aseel watching over it.
There were loads of different types of wyrme, Carrionwyrmes, whitewyrmes, greywyrmes lakewyrmes, fisherwyrmes etc etc who all live in the wyrmeweald. People lived in the plains and some have gradually come to the wyrmeweald seeking fortune from killing the wyrmes. Only a few make it back as the environment is so harsh and suited to the wyrmes.
Ordinary people are described as wyrme kith those who have come to the wyrmes to hunt and kill then. But some are chose by the great white wyrmes and end up as Kin. Usually young girls who then stay with the wyrmes and then protect them in the environment of the wyrmeweald.
The book itself was actually really beautiful it had silver reflects in the cover to show the shiny skin of the whitewyrme and inside each chapter was beautifully illustrated with pictures of the wyrmes and characters.
I just had really had trouble getting by head around it and found it really hard going and that I couldn't find myself caring enough what actually happened to the characters. I even actually found the wyrmes to be quite creepy.
The ending left you at place that I now know where it is leading for the next book and I actually don't care enough to carry on, especially knowing it is a trilogy. So I am going to stop here. Shame really as I was really hoping to have enjoyed that more than I did.
3 stars.
I actually picked up Bloodhoney in the Charity shops recently and on getting it home realised it was a book two. Luckily my local library had Returner's Wealth on the shelf so I got it.
The first 100 pages of the book for me was so disjointed. You had Micah, in the present, who you realised was new to the Wyrmeweald and seeking the Returner's Wealth, in between, you had back flashes to explain why Micah had come to the Wyrmeweald in the first place, namely that he was trying to impress a Landowners daughter, Seraphita. In between those, you had descriptions of a wyve (a baby Whitewyrme) that was hatching from an egg and a Whitewyrme and Kin which you later found out to be Thrace and Aseel watching over it.
There were loads of different types of wyrme, Carrionwyrmes, whitewyrmes, greywyrmes lakewyrmes, fisherwyrmes etc etc who all live in the wyrmeweald. People lived in the plains and some have gradually come to the wyrmeweald seeking fortune from killing the wyrmes. Only a few make it back as the environment is so harsh and suited to the wyrmes.
Ordinary people are described as wyrme kith those who have come to the wyrmes to hunt and kill then. But some are chose by the great white wyrmes and end up as Kin. Usually young girls who then stay with the wyrmes and then protect them in the environment of the wyrmeweald.
The book itself was actually really beautiful it had silver reflects in the cover to show the shiny skin of the whitewyrme and inside each chapter was beautifully illustrated with pictures of the wyrmes and characters.
I just had really had trouble getting by head around it and found it really hard going and that I couldn't find myself caring enough what actually happened to the characters. I even actually found the wyrmes to be quite creepy.
The ending left you at place that I now know where it is leading for the next book and I actually don't care enough to carry on, especially knowing it is a trilogy. So I am going to stop here. Shame really as I was really hoping to have enjoyed that more than I did.
3 stars.
December 31, 2022
This was an enjoyable quick read with a fun adventure and interesting characters! I am very satisfied with how the details started and the eventually got explained towards the end.
It feels like a cross between Stardust - our main character young man is going to an unknown land to seek riches for a girl he thinks he loves - and Eragon - a boy is picked up by old stubborn man who drags him along and there's dragons. There is enough story to feel like a completed standalone in this book, but there is definitely room for the next installment if you wanted to stay in this world!
My only complaint is there is the super typical YA instalove trope from the 2010s so I did NOT appreciate chapters Thirty-Two (this is a whole chapter of the Male Gaze sexualising a young girl while she's practically dying from being attacked and injured in a fight.) and Forty-Four(?) (instalove with an implied sex scene).
Related to the plot and my feelings: I'm sad about what happened between Thrace and Aseel to be honest, I want to believe they'll get back together eventually. Side note: it's kind of hypocritical and a double-standard that Aseel could do what Thrace also did but only Thrace had to pay the price? Bit shitty.
But besides that, I had a great time with this book!
It feels like a cross between Stardust - our main character young man is going to an unknown land to seek riches for a girl he thinks he loves - and Eragon - a boy is picked up by old stubborn man who drags him along and there's dragons. There is enough story to feel like a completed standalone in this book, but there is definitely room for the next installment if you wanted to stay in this world!
My only complaint is there is the super typical YA instalove trope from the 2010s so I did NOT appreciate chapters Thirty-Two (this is a whole chapter of the Male Gaze sexualising a young girl while she's practically dying from being attacked and injured in a fight.) and Forty-Four(?) (instalove with an implied sex scene).
Related to the plot and my feelings: I'm sad about what happened between Thrace and Aseel to be honest, I want to believe they'll get back together eventually. Side note: it's kind of hypocritical and a double-standard that Aseel could do what Thrace also did but only Thrace had to pay the price? Bit shitty.
But besides that, I had a great time with this book!
March 16, 2023
wyrmeweald: A world where only the hardy Kith survive. A world barren of much life beyond that of dodgy dealings, strange tradings and skies full of Wyrmes be they Carrion, snake or other. The Weald is no place for someone young and virgin to such ways of living. Someone exactly like Micha, a teenage boy who takes to the Weald in order to find wealth beyond needs; Returner's Wealth. and take it back to his childhood sweetheart who must take the richest offer.
However out in the Weald, Micha unknowingly trespasses a nesting ground for the greatest of Wyrmes, the Whitewyrme and is speared by the Kin that protect the eggs and the Wyrmes. Left for dead he is later found by a crag climber Eli who takes him under his -metaphorical- wing and teaches him the way of the Weald.
Paul Stewart has created a fantastic world with this trilogy and his style of writing is fast paced, fun and not taken to serious. His use of made up words worked perfectly and he did well in creating vivid if slightly harsh settings in which Wyrmes were abused, traded and seen at their wildest.
An enthralling read and cant wait to get my hands on the next one!
However out in the Weald, Micha unknowingly trespasses a nesting ground for the greatest of Wyrmes, the Whitewyrme and is speared by the Kin that protect the eggs and the Wyrmes. Left for dead he is later found by a crag climber Eli who takes him under his -metaphorical- wing and teaches him the way of the Weald.
Paul Stewart has created a fantastic world with this trilogy and his style of writing is fast paced, fun and not taken to serious. His use of made up words worked perfectly and he did well in creating vivid if slightly harsh settings in which Wyrmes were abused, traded and seen at their wildest.
An enthralling read and cant wait to get my hands on the next one!
March 4, 2017
I liked this book, especially considering it's not the kind of book I usually choose to read (my personal preferences err more towards flowery and fantastical). It had a bit of a slow start and it took a while for me to get used to the constantly changing perspectives, but after it stopped flashing back to Micah's life before he left home, it got a lot more interesting for me. I liked how fleshed out the world was and I'm a sucker for anything dragon themed, so I was down for all the different dragons the authors featured. One thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the rushed romantic development later in the story; honestly, it kind of came out of nowhere and, besides setting up a particular plot point, I didn't think it was necessary. I think the story would've been better without its inclusion.
Overall, pretty good. I'm not dying to pick up the next book in the series, but I'm interested enough that I'll probably give it a read sometime. I'd recommend this book to dragon fans and those who like, for lack of a better term, "grittier" adventure stories.
Overall, pretty good. I'm not dying to pick up the next book in the series, but I'm interested enough that I'll probably give it a read sometime. I'd recommend this book to dragon fans and those who like, for lack of a better term, "grittier" adventure stories.
May 3, 2025
I stumbled across this trilogy in a thrift store, not usually as lucky as to find the whole set. Due to health, I had to step back from a more complicated fantasy to rebuild my reading prowess with some young adult stuff. It's hard to explain, but boils down to attention span and energy.
Returner's Wealth, in my opinion, has achieved what I needed from it. A simplified story-line, easy to follow fantasy elements, and neat art to go along with it. I've always loved dragons, and they're my go-to stories when all else fails.
I'm confused as to why Aseel left his kin behind. He realized she had been "called" like he had, but why did he sever their bond? When he was called, he left to do his duty and then returned. She cannot do the same? The way the dragon/kin bond is a little confusing to me, it's like a partnership without sex?? The jealousy when Aseel goes off to mate?? The jealousy when Thrace was with Micah??? Huh?
Maybe it's explained in the second book.
Also, author's choice of verbage gets a little weird but I don't mind it.
Returner's Wealth, in my opinion, has achieved what I needed from it. A simplified story-line, easy to follow fantasy elements, and neat art to go along with it. I've always loved dragons, and they're my go-to stories when all else fails.
I'm confused as to why Aseel left his kin behind. He realized she had been "called" like he had, but why did he sever their bond? When he was called, he left to do his duty and then returned. She cannot do the same? The way the dragon/kin bond is a little confusing to me, it's like a partnership without sex?? The jealousy when Aseel goes off to mate?? The jealousy when Thrace was with Micah??? Huh?
Maybe it's explained in the second book.
Also, author's choice of verbage gets a little weird but I don't mind it.
January 13, 2023
A pleasant enough read that I continued to read the entire trilogy. The authors (there are actually two authors listed on the book - Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell) have succeeded in developing an entirely new realm populated by humans appearing in different guises as well as an entire range of wyrme species, mostly flying reptiles of various sizes and intelligence. Micah, a young man jilted by the girl he loves and with no prospects, sets off for the highlands to make his fortune in the land of the wyrmes. Adventure ensues. It is an easy read and is listed as a young adult series, but I would say that it isn't for too the too young. There is both sex and violence. The sex is pretty mild, but the violence can get pretty rough at times.
June 19, 2018
With poor pacing but actual potential, the pages of this book had all the wrong things in all the wrong places. That is to say, the author(s) neglected the unique aspects and creations of their world and the potential for character depth and detailed villains, instead focusing on a ridiculously extended exposition and no true plot explanation/development until about 70% through the book. Two stars for the ideas, however lacking in depth they were, and for the illustrations.
October 15, 2021
For the most part i enjoyed this book; the writing is very compelling and the pages flew by. It's a easy and fast read, and I loved the rocky and snowy environment it's based in, which feels unique compared to a lot of fantasy novels.
For me, the story just fell a bit flat. I would have loved to see more action, more character depth, more stakes at risk. The novel is a lot of walking and observing but I wish it just had more to sink my teeth into.
The illustrations were stunning, too.
For me, the story just fell a bit flat. I would have loved to see more action, more character depth, more stakes at risk. The novel is a lot of walking and observing but I wish it just had more to sink my teeth into.
The illustrations were stunning, too.
October 8, 2021
I love the Stewart and Riddell combination dearly, but this first book was a meandering adventure that is unfortunately forgettable. In Wyrmeweald you find lackluster world-building, average characters, and a hollow plot. I felt the potential and was hoping for some sort of payoff but it never comes.
Maybe the series gets better? We will see if I find it in me to give it a try.
Maybe the series gets better? We will see if I find it in me to give it a try.
October 13, 2021
I liked this story. It's a good first book in a trilogy, even if it is mainly set up and initial world-building. I just wanted more. More action, more character perspectives, and the like. I would recommend this to people who are new to fantasy, since it is mainly aimed towards younger readers.
It was a good time.
It was a good time.
July 15, 2014
Before climbing into the harsh landscape of the Wymeweald, Seventeen-year-old Micah only knew life on the plains as a poor plow-boy. He’s was often punished for daydreaming about his liege-lord’s daughter instead of focusing on his work. The girl even returned his affection until she found a rich suitor and tossed him aside. Determined to win the girl back and prove that he is more than a lowly plow-boy, Micah set off into the Wymeweald, a dangerous territory full of savage dragon-like creatures called wymes. He is searching for returner’s wealth, a fortune of jewels paid only to the few lucky enough to find one of the Wymeweald’s few treasures – like the egg of a great whitewyrm. To survive in the journey, though, a man has to face the fury of nature, the relentless search for food and water, the claws and teeth of wymes, and the blades and deception of others seeking the same prize. In the weald, though, the hunters, known as kith, are being hunted by an even greater danger – the guardians of the eggs. Known as Kin, these mysterious wyme-riders have formed incredible bonds with the creatures, and they will stop at nothing to protect the eggs.
Soon after he takes his first steps into the weald, Micah finds the pointy end of a kin-lance. Luckily,he is rescued by Eli, a veteran of the weald, who decides to teach the greenhorn a way a surviving that doesn’t require killing and slaughtering. Eli is no mere treasure seeker, however; he is a friend of the kin and knows their ways, as well as the ways of the greedy and devious kith that Micah was sure to become before running into him. While teaching Micah his way, their destinies intertwine with that of a young, beautiful kin named Thrace, who was brutally injured by a group of brigand kith seeking the wymeling she is sworn to protect. After helping the girl, they find that her attackers are an even more sinister group than they could imagine. Now, the three of them, each from a different world, must join together, not only to save the stolen hatchling, but to seek vengeance.
While the plot is interesting, Wyrmeweald as a whole is not particularly engaging. I really wanted to like the book, but the first half of the book has very short chapters that tend to jump around between many different times and points-of-view, including the antagonists’ and the stolen hatchling’s. The writers must have wanted to mimic the style of A Song of Ice and Fire, but they are not George R.R. Martin. While not a total hindrance, the writers put too much detail in mundane action and lots of unnecessary information into the book. The previous 2 summary paragraphs are basically EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED in the first half of the book. Seriously! It just drags on, with little action and very few events that actually push the plot forward. My only guess is that the writers really wanted to mimic the pacing and detail elements utilized by much better fantasy writers, like Tolkien, and especially McCraffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, the latter of which the novel is totally mirroring. While this classic style of epic fantasy can be a tedious read, at least things are moving forward. Also, the classic writers, and even the good modern writers with tedious reads, are world-building. For a tedious book with its setting as a namesake, one would think that the world-building would be better. The book can also get really annoying in its use of the suffix “wyme.” Every other word in the book is some combination of “wyme” and some other description word: wymeweald, wymekin, wyrmekith, whitewyrme, redwyrme, carrionwyrme, wyrmewyve, wyrmebreath, wyrmeling, lakewyrm…and the list seemingly goes on forever. As a reader, I really want some variety. Can they not be dragons, dragon-riders, hunters, wyverns, drakes, or anything else?
To the book’s credit, it really does come alive in the second half. The plot, which was actually interesting from the start, finally begins pushing forward in a positive direction. Description is replaced with action, the setting is truly defined (and consistent), and the antagonists start playing an important role. The relationship between Micah and Thrace is explored with care, arising from the character’s confusion and curiosity instead of love at first sight. Eli is a well-written character, complete with an intriguing past, and serves well as the median between the characters of Micah and Thrace. It is only when the three are together that the book thrives and unfortunately, that’s only for small part of the book – specifically, the exciting and VERY violent ending chapters. In the end, these chapters salvage most of the book, but the overabundance of exposition is still enough for me to not want to read the rest of the trilogy. That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend the novel to teens – I just wouldn’t recommend it to avid epic fantasy readers. For them, I would recommend the books that the writers of Wyrmeweald are copying. The book will still be enthralling for teens interested in dragons and fantasy realms, though, especially older teens that aren’t afraid of some well-written violence and gore.
Soon after he takes his first steps into the weald, Micah finds the pointy end of a kin-lance. Luckily,he is rescued by Eli, a veteran of the weald, who decides to teach the greenhorn a way a surviving that doesn’t require killing and slaughtering. Eli is no mere treasure seeker, however; he is a friend of the kin and knows their ways, as well as the ways of the greedy and devious kith that Micah was sure to become before running into him. While teaching Micah his way, their destinies intertwine with that of a young, beautiful kin named Thrace, who was brutally injured by a group of brigand kith seeking the wymeling she is sworn to protect. After helping the girl, they find that her attackers are an even more sinister group than they could imagine. Now, the three of them, each from a different world, must join together, not only to save the stolen hatchling, but to seek vengeance.
While the plot is interesting, Wyrmeweald as a whole is not particularly engaging. I really wanted to like the book, but the first half of the book has very short chapters that tend to jump around between many different times and points-of-view, including the antagonists’ and the stolen hatchling’s. The writers must have wanted to mimic the style of A Song of Ice and Fire, but they are not George R.R. Martin. While not a total hindrance, the writers put too much detail in mundane action and lots of unnecessary information into the book. The previous 2 summary paragraphs are basically EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED in the first half of the book. Seriously! It just drags on, with little action and very few events that actually push the plot forward. My only guess is that the writers really wanted to mimic the pacing and detail elements utilized by much better fantasy writers, like Tolkien, and especially McCraffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, the latter of which the novel is totally mirroring. While this classic style of epic fantasy can be a tedious read, at least things are moving forward. Also, the classic writers, and even the good modern writers with tedious reads, are world-building. For a tedious book with its setting as a namesake, one would think that the world-building would be better. The book can also get really annoying in its use of the suffix “wyme.” Every other word in the book is some combination of “wyme” and some other description word: wymeweald, wymekin, wyrmekith, whitewyrme, redwyrme, carrionwyrme, wyrmewyve, wyrmebreath, wyrmeling, lakewyrm…and the list seemingly goes on forever. As a reader, I really want some variety. Can they not be dragons, dragon-riders, hunters, wyverns, drakes, or anything else?
To the book’s credit, it really does come alive in the second half. The plot, which was actually interesting from the start, finally begins pushing forward in a positive direction. Description is replaced with action, the setting is truly defined (and consistent), and the antagonists start playing an important role. The relationship between Micah and Thrace is explored with care, arising from the character’s confusion and curiosity instead of love at first sight. Eli is a well-written character, complete with an intriguing past, and serves well as the median between the characters of Micah and Thrace. It is only when the three are together that the book thrives and unfortunately, that’s only for small part of the book – specifically, the exciting and VERY violent ending chapters. In the end, these chapters salvage most of the book, but the overabundance of exposition is still enough for me to not want to read the rest of the trilogy. That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend the novel to teens – I just wouldn’t recommend it to avid epic fantasy readers. For them, I would recommend the books that the writers of Wyrmeweald are copying. The book will still be enthralling for teens interested in dragons and fantasy realms, though, especially older teens that aren’t afraid of some well-written violence and gore.
February 26, 2017
loved it
March 26, 2019
Read it a long time ago. Could be that a reread could bring down the score, but I remembered it was a pleasant surprise and kept me wanting to read the second book.
May 15, 2020
Just wasn’t for me, I found the style a bit plodding and boring.
August 20, 2020
This is so easy to read and immersive the characters are well constructed and you feel the balance or not which I really enjoy why are these not on Netflix !!!!
April 15, 2022
Not great. I really hate author's making up words when perfectly good English words are available.
Hackdagger - tells me nothing about the weapon except it's a dagger.
Hackdagger - tells me nothing about the weapon except it's a dagger.
April 1, 2020
Good stuff:
- Stewart and Riddell wrote a whole series I didn't know existed!
- the illustrations
- the world building
- multiple tragedies in the book giving depth of emotion
- the moral messages about greed, about empathy towards living creatures
- the ending... you know there will be more to come!
Not so good stuff:
- the pacing was a bit odd, it plodded then picked up then plodded and then picked up. It felt a little over the place.
- the instant romance
- the violence, it was sedate enough for a children's book, but there was so much of it
- the lack of backstory: I wanted more history of the world, more history of the characters
- the ending... I think the MC was a bit too hasty and naive in what he considered Returner's Wealth in the end. It's great he had a change of mind, but he could have kept it all...
- Stewart and Riddell wrote a whole series I didn't know existed!
- the illustrations
- the world building
- multiple tragedies in the book giving depth of emotion
- the moral messages about greed, about empathy towards living creatures
- the ending... you know there will be more to come!
Not so good stuff:
- the pacing was a bit odd, it plodded then picked up then plodded and then picked up. It felt a little over the place.
- the instant romance
- the violence, it was sedate enough for a children's book, but there was so much of it
- the lack of backstory: I wanted more history of the world, more history of the characters
- the ending... I think the MC was a bit too hasty and naive in what he considered Returner's Wealth in the end. It's great he had a change of mind, but he could have kept it all...
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