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Smash the World's Shell
A fractured world. An impossible friendship. When a mysterious ring suddenly appears on reclusive teenager Ellen’s bookshelf, she is granted the power to travel miles away from everything she’s ever known. There she meets Shard, a friendly dragon who offers to help Ellen grow her stunted-since-birth magic. Although it seems too good to be true, Ellen accepts, sure she can conquer her self-hatred by becoming an accomplished magician. Little does she know, her magical voyages have raised the suspicions of those who would destroy her. Young and lonely, Shard is determined to find his first friend in Ellen. But befriending a creature as detested as a human could spell banishment from his tribe — or worse. As the bond between them grows, they will have to face their deepest fears. If they can’t, their friendship is doomed … along with any chance they have of saving both their kinds from annihilation.
323 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2023
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Fliederbaum
1 book11 followersPassionate about stories from a young age, Daniel Fliederbaum spent the entirety of their first-grade year too embarrassed of their bad handwriting to pick up a pencil and actually write. Thanks to the wonders of digital word processing, six-year-old Daniel was able to complete their writing assignment and hasn't stopped typing ever since. Now that they have a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, they're crafting even more emotional and imaginative tales than before.
When they aren’t writing, Daniel likes to spend time with friends, with their cat, and gorging themself on a steady diet of young adult fantasy, Japanese anime and Pokémon games. Follow them on Bluesky at @fireandpaint.bsky.social.
When they aren’t writing, Daniel likes to spend time with friends, with their cat, and gorging themself on a steady diet of young adult fantasy, Japanese anime and Pokémon games. Follow them on Bluesky at @fireandpaint.bsky.social.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 1, 2024
I'll try to leave this as spoiler free as possible. I will say, the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is more related to personal preferences. Also, I'm one of those annoying people who has a hard time fully 5 star-ing something or fully 1 star-ing something.
I think Daniel did a fantastic job with prose in this book. The wording, sentence flow, use of scenery, sounds, scents and metaphors are consistently great throughout the novel. That alone is worth the read. It feels like a silly thing to say, but it was a very pleasant reading experience. I'm not really sure how else to describe it. This is a well written book!
The story revolves around a forbidden friendship between a dragon and a human in a world where the two species are enemies. So much so that there is a giant dome protecting humanity from the dragons. Both races fight over a specific resource and that's generally the root for the conflict (but more of just a backdrop reason). The interaction between the main characters Ellen (the human) and Shard (the dragon) are my favorite parts of the book by far. We get to see them meeting and interacting and the story is told from both of their perspective back and forth. It was fun seeing inside of the heads of each of the characters as they explore an alien / new relationship.
I'm not going to get into spoilers, but it was fun seeing the differences between human society and dragon society. Each world is well crafted and has buckets of lore associated with it. And the explication of the lore was never heavy handed or dull, so props there.
Now, why four stars instead of five?? It's all (mostly) personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt.
-I would have liked to see MORE. I know that's probably a dumb thing to say, but I wanted to know more about the dragon world and how the tribes of dragons interacted. Also, more about some of the side characters / antagonists or their motivations / perspectives
-There were some heavy topics in there that I wasn't necessarily mentally prepared for, specifically around suicide. So readers be warned (I know Daniel added a content warning, which is good)
-The climax, to me, felt a little flat. Or I should say 'a bit typical' and some items building up to the climax didn't pay off as well as they could have.
That being said, should you read this book? Yes! Most definitely.
I think Daniel did a fantastic job with prose in this book. The wording, sentence flow, use of scenery, sounds, scents and metaphors are consistently great throughout the novel. That alone is worth the read. It feels like a silly thing to say, but it was a very pleasant reading experience. I'm not really sure how else to describe it. This is a well written book!
The story revolves around a forbidden friendship between a dragon and a human in a world where the two species are enemies. So much so that there is a giant dome protecting humanity from the dragons. Both races fight over a specific resource and that's generally the root for the conflict (but more of just a backdrop reason). The interaction between the main characters Ellen (the human) and Shard (the dragon) are my favorite parts of the book by far. We get to see them meeting and interacting and the story is told from both of their perspective back and forth. It was fun seeing inside of the heads of each of the characters as they explore an alien / new relationship.
I'm not going to get into spoilers, but it was fun seeing the differences between human society and dragon society. Each world is well crafted and has buckets of lore associated with it. And the explication of the lore was never heavy handed or dull, so props there.
Now, why four stars instead of five?? It's all (mostly) personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt.
-I would have liked to see MORE. I know that's probably a dumb thing to say, but I wanted to know more about the dragon world and how the tribes of dragons interacted. Also, more about some of the side characters / antagonists or their motivations / perspectives
-There were some heavy topics in there that I wasn't necessarily mentally prepared for, specifically around suicide. So readers be warned (I know Daniel added a content warning, which is good)
-The climax, to me, felt a little flat. Or I should say 'a bit typical' and some items building up to the climax didn't pay off as well as they could have.
That being said, should you read this book? Yes! Most definitely.
March 26, 2024
How can I not love a vegetarian dragon? Shard is sensitive, peaceful, and depressive. I love seeing such a stereotype-breaking dragon. Even if he weren't a dragon, I rarely see characters like him starring in books, but if he weren't a dragon I don't think I would have been pulled in.
There's a lot of mysteries in this setting. The characters call the world 'Earth', but it's clearly not the world that we're used to. Most of the world belongs to the dragons. All of humanity, with their high-tech society, has been compacted into one region under a silvery dome...
My biggest complaint with this novel is that it leaves too much unfinished. I can only assume the author intends to write a sequel to deal with the next major plot issue.
There's a lot of mysteries in this setting. The characters call the world 'Earth', but it's clearly not the world that we're used to. Most of the world belongs to the dragons. All of humanity, with their high-tech society, has been compacted into one region under a silvery dome...
My biggest complaint with this novel is that it leaves too much unfinished. I can only assume the author intends to write a sequel to deal with the next major plot issue.
September 28, 2024
Short but sweet! Though the pacing was faster than most books, and the characters went through a lot of pain, I really enjoyed this emotional read. This is the second dragon-point-of-view book I've read, and the second that I've been unable to put down.
The characters felt well-made and believable, with flaws to balance out the good, and good to balance out the bad. The LGBTQ aspects were natural and unforced, which is thankfully something that's becoming more common in this day and age. There were twists and turns; mystery and intrigue!
The ending was satisfying and cathartic, and I'm glad the author didn't try to resolve all of Shard's and Ellen's troubles, as some may have to the detriment of believability/authenticity.
I also enjoyed memeing around with the author in the Bookwyrm Lair Discord server, even if it did double the amount of time it took me to finish the book. If that sounds like the bee's knees, or rather, the dragon's knees to you, give the name of the server a google and come join in the fun.
Overall, this book was well worth the money I spent on it, and you should give it a read too. I think you'll be glad you did!
P.S.: Can't wait for book 2, and for Franklin Coffee Hands (you'll figure that joke out when you read)
The characters felt well-made and believable, with flaws to balance out the good, and good to balance out the bad. The LGBTQ aspects were natural and unforced, which is thankfully something that's becoming more common in this day and age. There were twists and turns; mystery and intrigue!
The ending was satisfying and cathartic, and I'm glad the author didn't try to resolve all of Shard's and Ellen's troubles, as some may have to the detriment of believability/authenticity.
I also enjoyed memeing around with the author in the Bookwyrm Lair Discord server, even if it did double the amount of time it took me to finish the book. If that sounds like the bee's knees, or rather, the dragon's knees to you, give the name of the server a google and come join in the fun.
Overall, this book was well worth the money I spent on it, and you should give it a read too. I think you'll be glad you did!
P.S.: Can't wait for book 2, and for Franklin Coffee Hands (you'll figure that joke out when you read)
December 15, 2023
Smash the World's Shell is an equal parts funny and depressing story about a pair of kids, one human and one dragon, who believe they are singularly unworthy of love, but who come to care a lot about each other. Through their interactions, they slowly begin to heal from their trauma.
Now, if you're like me, you will definitely want the human girl and the dragon boy to kiss. They do not kiss. And there are very good reasons that they do not kiss. But they DO do something that is metaphorically like kissing, and that's just as good. So: do not come to this book expecting the human and the dragon on the cover to kiss. DO come to this book expecting the human and the dragon on the cover to love each other very much.
Now, if you're like me, you will definitely want the human girl and the dragon boy to kiss. They do not kiss. And there are very good reasons that they do not kiss. But they DO do something that is metaphorically like kissing, and that's just as good. So: do not come to this book expecting the human and the dragon on the cover to kiss. DO come to this book expecting the human and the dragon on the cover to love each other very much.
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November 21, 2025It’s hard to talk about “Smash The World’s Shell” without delving into spoilers. The story is about a forbidden dragon/human friendship. The perspective is generally split between both of them, with sometimes a shift towards other characters to push the story forward.
When I started reading it, I assumed the story would be similar to other friendship stories like “How To Train Your Dragon” or “Lohikarmen”. But then the plot got a bit more complex as the chapters went on, and then suddenly it took some sharp turns here and there that managed to catch me completely off-guard.
The pacing is great. The story never loses itself in a forest of descriptions, nor rushes itself to the next big events. Every chapter changes from one perspective to another and the transitions between all of them flow really well.
I couldn’t help noticing while reading this book how much heart was put into its characters. There’s something about the characters that, as you’re learning more about them, makes them feel a bit more…real? Sometimes I could almost feel what they were feeling in the moment, if that makes sense.
And yes, this book can get pretty grim sometimes, with some dark themes thrown in so casually that it’s almost disturbing to think someone could do that to themselves so easily. Yet that’s sadly also what makes the characters so real, because some people in real life are in fact struggling with such dark thoughts.
Overall, this book gave me everything it needed to keep a reader interested; a great setting, emotional struggles, sweet interactions, some punches in the gut, characters to love, characters to hate, interesting plot twists...
I had a great time with it. I truly hope there will be a sequel, because the story is very far from over. There are still a lot of mysteries to uncover and problems to solve.
When I started reading it, I assumed the story would be similar to other friendship stories like “How To Train Your Dragon” or “Lohikarmen”. But then the plot got a bit more complex as the chapters went on, and then suddenly it took some sharp turns here and there that managed to catch me completely off-guard.
The pacing is great. The story never loses itself in a forest of descriptions, nor rushes itself to the next big events. Every chapter changes from one perspective to another and the transitions between all of them flow really well.
I couldn’t help noticing while reading this book how much heart was put into its characters. There’s something about the characters that, as you’re learning more about them, makes them feel a bit more…real? Sometimes I could almost feel what they were feeling in the moment, if that makes sense.
And yes, this book can get pretty grim sometimes, with some dark themes thrown in so casually that it’s almost disturbing to think someone could do that to themselves so easily. Yet that’s sadly also what makes the characters so real, because some people in real life are in fact struggling with such dark thoughts.
Overall, this book gave me everything it needed to keep a reader interested; a great setting, emotional struggles, sweet interactions, some punches in the gut, characters to love, characters to hate, interesting plot twists...
I had a great time with it. I truly hope there will be a sequel, because the story is very far from over. There are still a lot of mysteries to uncover and problems to solve.
March 25, 2024
This book was… not the book I expected. I came to it because I have just finished with a few adventure books and wanted a quiet, peaceful book about dragons. And our protagonists seemed like perfect candidates, sneaking out to meet each other, having a fun time making their first friends. However as the book progressed, I kept reading because of the adventure that opened up from the secret meetings.
One piece of the Author’s writing style stood out. They left certain pieces of the story blank, open for the reader’s interpretation, while giving enough information about other details. As a quick example, they never tell us if Pandora and her brother are human or dragons, or a other being (Pandora is depicted as a human, but what about her brother?). Or Lana’s earrings. Why did they mean so much? Did her dad give them to her?
They gave information that made me sympathize with Keeper (I do still hate him with a fiery passion), and blended it into the story well.
Side note, I do think there could’ve been more personal details added in the beginning. I read the preview off Goodreads and didn’t feel a connection with Ellen or Shard until late into the book, they were just too… blank. I think the story would be even better if a few more details could be shared.
While I still have a few questions about what happened next, that’ll have to wait for the next one. Good job on the book!
One piece of the Author’s writing style stood out. They left certain pieces of the story blank, open for the reader’s interpretation, while giving enough information about other details. As a quick example, they never tell us if Pandora and her brother are human or dragons, or a other being (Pandora is depicted as a human, but what about her brother?). Or Lana’s earrings. Why did they mean so much? Did her dad give them to her?
They gave information that made me sympathize with Keeper (I do still hate him with a fiery passion), and blended it into the story well.
Side note, I do think there could’ve been more personal details added in the beginning. I read the preview off Goodreads and didn’t feel a connection with Ellen or Shard until late into the book, they were just too… blank. I think the story would be even better if a few more details could be shared.
While I still have a few questions about what happened next, that’ll have to wait for the next one. Good job on the book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
The premise of a forbidden friendship between characters from enemy factions might be a common trope, it is merely the skeleton for a story that does a pretty good job at showing how what is expected from someone can be a crushing force that leaves little room for the individual.
Ellen and Shard are endearing - and distressing at some point - in their struggles to accept themselves, yet other protagonists have their own demons too, in some cases pushing them to horrible behaviors, that without condoning, one can see the roots of.
Their relation and how they open to each other is very well painted, in a fluid style and apt pacing that let pages flow seamlessly.
My only regrets are to not learn more of the world that hosts the story, how cohabitation (and the lack thereof) came to be on what really feels like a post apocalyptic earth, the origin of its dragons, given some troubling similarities they seem to share with the humans. Some bits of lore are given, but left me waiting for more.
The resolution was not my favorite part, it felt a bit quick (keeping it fuzzy to avoid spoilers), especially compared to the craft that went into the characters and their relation. That part of the book was the best for me, with some gut twisting and sadness along the road, but a happy ending.
Ellen and Shard are endearing - and distressing at some point - in their struggles to accept themselves, yet other protagonists have their own demons too, in some cases pushing them to horrible behaviors, that without condoning, one can see the roots of.
Their relation and how they open to each other is very well painted, in a fluid style and apt pacing that let pages flow seamlessly.
My only regrets are to not learn more of the world that hosts the story, how cohabitation (and the lack thereof) came to be on what really feels like a post apocalyptic earth, the origin of its dragons, given some troubling similarities they seem to share with the humans. Some bits of lore are given, but left me waiting for more.
The resolution was not my favorite part, it felt a bit quick (keeping it fuzzy to avoid spoilers), especially compared to the craft that went into the characters and their relation. That part of the book was the best for me, with some gut twisting and sadness along the road, but a happy ending.
October 14, 2024
Delightful. Heartwarming. Relatable. A team-up of misfits to make their atypical lives easier find acceptance and self-love through learning magic and becoming a mentor. Plus dragons...need I say more?
January 22, 2025
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author and have read several early drafts of this book. That said, I write this as a fair and honest review.
This was a fun read. Ellen is an earnest, relatable teen girl who doesn’t always get it right, but tries her hardest. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and has an open mind despite the historical hostility between dragons and humans. She struggles to fit in at school and pines over her crush; she has self-doubt and is scarred by her tragic loss.
Shard struggles with very relevant stereotypes and issues, identifying with what is deemed a more “feminine” persona in his tribe with his love for painting and his kind demeanor. He’s bullied by his brother, Keeper, and dismissed by his fellow dragons. Until he meets Ellen.
Ellen and Shard’s friendship is heartwarming and comes with quite the interesting reveal at the end of the novel. They are characters you want to root for.
There are some intriguing side characters such as Firebug, who has her own secrets and conflicts. Lana and Jess Flint’s characters are left with plenty more to discover at the end of the book.
The book reads as a young adult for a younger range of teens. It does deal with serious topics such as self-harm, suicide, and physical abuse.
I would have liked to have gotten to know the scope of the world a little more. I felt like I lacked a little understanding and visualization. I’m assuming there was only one dome where humanity lived, but wondered if there were any other humans in the world. How big was the dome? We do get the idea that there are different places within that require a train trip to visit. I also wonder how many groups of dragons there are. Shard’s tribe had a wonderfully imagined culture and society—I thought that was well-developed. I would have been interested to know more about orichalcum. Where is it mined? How far do the humans and dragons have to go to mine it? I hope to learn more about the humans who harvest it and the Guild.
I did struggle a little with the more modern and slangy words. That throws me out of the fantasy world a bit. That might just be a personal thing for me and my reading preferences. Words like “sweet,” “dude,” and “man” along with phrases like “Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me” were a little jarring alongside words like “alas.”
I found Firebug’s surprise at Keeper’s abuse toward Shard a little difficult to believe. I would think there would have been some red flags. Which she maybe just chose to ignore. There’s a bit of a disconnect between her “cooling” and “batting her eyes” as she’s “draped” over Keeper and then the version of her who is grappling with It seems like she saw Keeper as a childhood friend who was once kind and vulnerable, but I’m not sure I ever really understood the way she acted around him when we later find out It could have been her mom’s influence, but it didn’t fit her personality, so I had a little trouble pinning down who she really was.
One thing that confused me a bit was Flint’s conclusion that Ellen was Is there a record of this happening in history? What made Flint jump to that conclusion instead of considering something else?
The end was very exciting and had lots of reveals. I see a lot of potential for the story to continue.
All in all, a very solid debut novel. If you’re looking for a heartwarming friendship between a dragon and a human, look no farther!
This was a fun read. Ellen is an earnest, relatable teen girl who doesn’t always get it right, but tries her hardest. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and has an open mind despite the historical hostility between dragons and humans. She struggles to fit in at school and pines over her crush; she has self-doubt and is scarred by her tragic loss.
Shard struggles with very relevant stereotypes and issues, identifying with what is deemed a more “feminine” persona in his tribe with his love for painting and his kind demeanor. He’s bullied by his brother, Keeper, and dismissed by his fellow dragons. Until he meets Ellen.
Ellen and Shard’s friendship is heartwarming and comes with quite the interesting reveal at the end of the novel. They are characters you want to root for.
There are some intriguing side characters such as Firebug, who has her own secrets and conflicts. Lana and Jess Flint’s characters are left with plenty more to discover at the end of the book.
The book reads as a young adult for a younger range of teens. It does deal with serious topics such as self-harm, suicide, and physical abuse.
I would have liked to have gotten to know the scope of the world a little more. I felt like I lacked a little understanding and visualization. I’m assuming there was only one dome where humanity lived, but wondered if there were any other humans in the world. How big was the dome? We do get the idea that there are different places within that require a train trip to visit. I also wonder how many groups of dragons there are. Shard’s tribe had a wonderfully imagined culture and society—I thought that was well-developed. I would have been interested to know more about orichalcum. Where is it mined? How far do the humans and dragons have to go to mine it? I hope to learn more about the humans who harvest it and the Guild.
I did struggle a little with the more modern and slangy words. That throws me out of the fantasy world a bit. That might just be a personal thing for me and my reading preferences. Words like “sweet,” “dude,” and “man” along with phrases like “Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me” were a little jarring alongside words like “alas.”
I found Firebug’s surprise at Keeper’s abuse toward Shard a little difficult to believe. I would think there would have been some red flags. Which she maybe just chose to ignore. There’s a bit of a disconnect between her “cooling” and “batting her eyes” as she’s “draped” over Keeper and then the version of her who is grappling with It seems like she saw Keeper as a childhood friend who was once kind and vulnerable, but I’m not sure I ever really understood the way she acted around him when we later find out It could have been her mom’s influence, but it didn’t fit her personality, so I had a little trouble pinning down who she really was.
One thing that confused me a bit was Flint’s conclusion that Ellen was Is there a record of this happening in history? What made Flint jump to that conclusion instead of considering something else?
The end was very exciting and had lots of reveals. I see a lot of potential for the story to continue.
All in all, a very solid debut novel. If you’re looking for a heartwarming friendship between a dragon and a human, look no farther!
June 11, 2024
This is a powerful story
Shard and Ellen come from different worlds - one is a dragon, the other a human, and neither fits with their kin. With a mysterious ring they are brought together, and there begins a tale - one of ups and downs, of turbulece and trust, of breaking and healing.
I will not get into specifics of each of their struggles, but suffice to say both carry wounds within their hearts, and through their budding friendship both the characters and the reader get to explore those hidden hurts.
On that note I want to praise StWS for its authentic and raw portrayal of the characters' struggles. As to their nature - I would advise the reader to check the content warnings provided at the beginning. They are handled with care, never brushed off, shown to be strong and painful and deep and lasting.
That's not to say those issues define them - Shard and Ellen are characters, not caricatures, and it is in those quiet moments, when the sun has set and the stars shine, and the river rushes on and the wind whispers in the trees, that we get to know them - that they get to know each other, and much as they grow closer, we, too, as readers, grow to love this duo.
As the book itself proclaims, "This is a healing story, but the journey towards catharsis winds through dark lands." So sit down, potential reader. Pick up this book, leaf through those pages and expirience a tale of love and loss, heartbreak and comfort, pain and joy, dragons and humans.
I highly recommend Smash the World's Shell, and I am awaiting the sequels with eager anticipation.
Shard and Ellen come from different worlds - one is a dragon, the other a human, and neither fits with their kin. With a mysterious ring they are brought together, and there begins a tale - one of ups and downs, of turbulece and trust, of breaking and healing.
I will not get into specifics of each of their struggles, but suffice to say both carry wounds within their hearts, and through their budding friendship both the characters and the reader get to explore those hidden hurts.
On that note I want to praise StWS for its authentic and raw portrayal of the characters' struggles. As to their nature - I would advise the reader to check the content warnings provided at the beginning. They are handled with care, never brushed off, shown to be strong and painful and deep and lasting.
That's not to say those issues define them - Shard and Ellen are characters, not caricatures, and it is in those quiet moments, when the sun has set and the stars shine, and the river rushes on and the wind whispers in the trees, that we get to know them - that they get to know each other, and much as they grow closer, we, too, as readers, grow to love this duo.
As the book itself proclaims, "This is a healing story, but the journey towards catharsis winds through dark lands." So sit down, potential reader. Pick up this book, leaf through those pages and expirience a tale of love and loss, heartbreak and comfort, pain and joy, dragons and humans.
I highly recommend Smash the World's Shell, and I am awaiting the sequels with eager anticipation.
September 11, 2024
Fun, adventurous, moving.
I will endeavor to make this a spoiler free review.
Smash the World’s Shell is a young adult coming of age story about an impossible friendship. In this world, dragons and humans hold deep hatred and fear for each other, and so when young Ellen and Shard meet under strange circumstances, the odds are positively piled against them.
What I liked most about this book: the unique setting. Without spoilers, the setting feels new and refreshing. I’m personally burnt out on medieval(ish) fantasy settings, and STWS delivered on something fun and different. The settings and environments are easy to imagine, immersive, and lush. It feels like a lived in world.
I appreciated positive queer representation and struggles with complex emotional wounds. I would enjoy seeing the characters continue to grow, and I hope there will be at least a follow up book.
Some of the character moments brought out real emotions for me. I got angry on their behalf. At one point, I cried. I grew to care about these kids and what happens to them.
Who is this book for? An ideal audience will be readers of YA looking for a sci-fantasy feel. Readers of secondary world fantasy. Readers looking for emotional resonance rather than sword fighting action (though there is action!). Readers looking for storylines other than the hero’s journey and readers looking for books with dragons that aren’t too graphic. Readers who would enjoy a plot not centering romance.
My favorite part out of context:
“I hate you.”
Softly: “I hate you too.”
I will endeavor to make this a spoiler free review.
Smash the World’s Shell is a young adult coming of age story about an impossible friendship. In this world, dragons and humans hold deep hatred and fear for each other, and so when young Ellen and Shard meet under strange circumstances, the odds are positively piled against them.
What I liked most about this book: the unique setting. Without spoilers, the setting feels new and refreshing. I’m personally burnt out on medieval(ish) fantasy settings, and STWS delivered on something fun and different. The settings and environments are easy to imagine, immersive, and lush. It feels like a lived in world.
I appreciated positive queer representation and struggles with complex emotional wounds. I would enjoy seeing the characters continue to grow, and I hope there will be at least a follow up book.
Some of the character moments brought out real emotions for me. I got angry on their behalf. At one point, I cried. I grew to care about these kids and what happens to them.
Who is this book for? An ideal audience will be readers of YA looking for a sci-fantasy feel. Readers of secondary world fantasy. Readers looking for emotional resonance rather than sword fighting action (though there is action!). Readers looking for storylines other than the hero’s journey and readers looking for books with dragons that aren’t too graphic. Readers who would enjoy a plot not centering romance.
My favorite part out of context:
“I hate you.”
Softly: “I hate you too.”
October 14, 2024
An absolutely incredible story through and through. A total page turner as I was so hooked. The pacing and Fliederbaums fantastic writing really keeps you glued to the page.
As a long time fan of Downton Abbey, I loved how the perspectives similarly shifted to focus on other characters besides Ellen and Shard. I thought going into this book that the chapters would simply switch from Ellen and Shard but on one of the earlier chapters when the perspective shifted to one of the other dragons I was absolutely engrossed.
There are moments in this story that make you glee with joy or just make you cry and goodness this story did that for me tenfold.
This book is YA but it really has so many deep themes that I think us adults relate to all the time.
As a long time fan of Downton Abbey, I loved how the perspectives similarly shifted to focus on other characters besides Ellen and Shard. I thought going into this book that the chapters would simply switch from Ellen and Shard but on one of the earlier chapters when the perspective shifted to one of the other dragons I was absolutely engrossed.
There are moments in this story that make you glee with joy or just make you cry and goodness this story did that for me tenfold.
This book is YA but it really has so many deep themes that I think us adults relate to all the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2024
Smash the World’s Shell is a well-written, character-driven story about overcoming past trauma, reaching out to others, and breaking down barriers the world would be a better place without.
Even though the world the story is set in is quite captivating, the character development confidently takes center stage mostly focusing on the protagonists and their innermost feelings, aspirations, and fears, which are examined in detail. Ellen and Shard are probably a bit softer than usual for me, but the story makes it clear that they are far from spineless.
Although their unusual friendship is not always described in excruciating detail, with many interactions between the two being left up to the reader's imagination, it never feels insincere, which allows the narrative to successfully execute most of its powerful moments later in the story.
The focus on character development and emotional moments makes the dialogue even more crucial. Fortunately, it is handled well, for the most part. I don’t recall any character interactions that felt unnatural or stilted (well, save for the ones that were meant to be that way). Each notable character seems to have a unique presence in the story, supported by their dialogue.
The only shortcoming of the book's writing is that the vocabulary and inflictions of the characters, however vivid and varied they may be, feel far too familiar, which resulted in me only figuring out that the story isn’t set on some alternative version of Earth by the middle of the book.
As for the prose in general, I found it to be quite nice; the story doesn’t shy away from adding some flourish here and there, but it always feels natural, enhancing the reading experience, rather than detracting from it.
The narrative of Smash the World’s Shell focuses on its two protagonists, with the rest of the plot mainly setting the stage and leaving many of its narrative threads to be explored in future installments. This, in turn, means that the quality of the story depends on whether it will be continued. It can function as a standalone story, but that would leave many questions unanswered. So far, however, I’m optimistic about the chances of this tale receiving a continuation. Yet, if you find this story six years later still being the only entry to the series and consider giving it a read, I suggest making peace with the idea that not all of your questions will be answered.
In summary, Smash the World’s Shell features competent writing, likable characters with well-thought-out personalities, as well as a tense and captivating narrative that brings up many interesting ideas but leaves some of them for future installments to explore.
Even though the world the story is set in is quite captivating, the character development confidently takes center stage mostly focusing on the protagonists and their innermost feelings, aspirations, and fears, which are examined in detail. Ellen and Shard are probably a bit softer than usual for me, but the story makes it clear that they are far from spineless.
Although their unusual friendship is not always described in excruciating detail, with many interactions between the two being left up to the reader's imagination, it never feels insincere, which allows the narrative to successfully execute most of its powerful moments later in the story.
The focus on character development and emotional moments makes the dialogue even more crucial. Fortunately, it is handled well, for the most part. I don’t recall any character interactions that felt unnatural or stilted (well, save for the ones that were meant to be that way). Each notable character seems to have a unique presence in the story, supported by their dialogue.
The only shortcoming of the book's writing is that the vocabulary and inflictions of the characters, however vivid and varied they may be, feel far too familiar, which resulted in me only figuring out that the story isn’t set on some alternative version of Earth by the middle of the book.
As for the prose in general, I found it to be quite nice; the story doesn’t shy away from adding some flourish here and there, but it always feels natural, enhancing the reading experience, rather than detracting from it.
The narrative of Smash the World’s Shell focuses on its two protagonists, with the rest of the plot mainly setting the stage and leaving many of its narrative threads to be explored in future installments. This, in turn, means that the quality of the story depends on whether it will be continued. It can function as a standalone story, but that would leave many questions unanswered. So far, however, I’m optimistic about the chances of this tale receiving a continuation. Yet, if you find this story six years later still being the only entry to the series and consider giving it a read, I suggest making peace with the idea that not all of your questions will be answered.
In summary, Smash the World’s Shell features competent writing, likable characters with well-thought-out personalities, as well as a tense and captivating narrative that brings up many interesting ideas but leaves some of them for future installments to explore.
September 11, 2024
10/10, corny and I wouldn't have it any other way, oh my goodness! Absolutely a worthwhile read!
March 14, 2025
I just finished this wonderful story and wanted to put up a review now that the tears have finally dried.
The author's confidence took a little time (but not too much) to build as the story came together. But there plenty of heartwarming highs, and devastating lows throughout.
I encourage anyone to give this a read. It's a good story to help cope with the pain of loss or feelings of inadequacy. Or to relate to somebody you know going through those struggles.
The author's confidence took a little time (but not too much) to build as the story came together. But there plenty of heartwarming highs, and devastating lows throughout.
I encourage anyone to give this a read. It's a good story to help cope with the pain of loss or feelings of inadequacy. Or to relate to somebody you know going through those struggles.
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