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Here Be Dragons
Ellie Morgan wants a boy who’s all hers. Just for once, it would be nice to meet someone that Sheila the cow hadn't got her claws in to.
A remote farmhouse on Mount Snowdon is hardly the ideal setting for meeting anyone – unless, of course, you count her best friend George or creepy Darren (which Ellie doesn’t). But when a boy, glimpsed through the mist and snow, lures her up to the Devil's Bridge, Ellie realises the place she knows so well still has its secrets ...
The stronger her feelings for this strange boy become, the more she is in danger: a battle as old as Snowdon itself has been raging for centuries and now Ellie’s caught in the middle.
Something has left its lair.
It’s out there stalking her.
Who ever said true love was easy?
A remote farmhouse on Mount Snowdon is hardly the ideal setting for meeting anyone – unless, of course, you count her best friend George or creepy Darren (which Ellie doesn’t). But when a boy, glimpsed through the mist and snow, lures her up to the Devil's Bridge, Ellie realises the place she knows so well still has its secrets ...
The stronger her feelings for this strange boy become, the more she is in danger: a battle as old as Snowdon itself has been raging for centuries and now Ellie’s caught in the middle.
Something has left its lair.
It’s out there stalking her.
Who ever said true love was easy?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mussi
14 books53 followersSarah Mussi was born in Gloucestershire. After her education at a girl’s school in Cheltenham, she completed a post graduate degree at the Royal College of Art before leaving the UK for West Africa. She lived in Ghana, West Africa for over eighteen years, marrying a Ghanaian and teaching in Accra. Sarah now lives in Brixton and teaches in Lewisham, splitting her holidays between England and Ghana.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 3, 2020
Oh wow, wow wow! I don’t know what to say, I’ve just loved this story so much! ‘Here Be Dragons’ is the first in a fantasy trilogy and it is such an amazing read! Ellie Morgan lives in Snowdonia with her Mum. One evening they form part of a volunteer rescue and head up the mountain during snowy conditions to see if anyone is trapped there, and that’s where Ellie first sees him, a boy she feels somehow connected to. But as the days lead up to New Year and Ellie is determined to find out who he is, she ends up facing an ancient legend, more dangerous than she’s ever known.
This is the first book of the series and fills in all the gaps I had after reading the second one some time ago. I enjoyed the sequel ‘Here Be Witches’ a while ago now, but reading the second book before the first made the overall story a little confusing to begin with as I had missed a lot of things that had happened. However, now getting the chance to read this trilogy from the beginning I can say that this book has such an amazing and compelling plot which I just couldn’t put down after the first few chapters. And it’s a brilliant start to the tilogy.
The story is told from the first person perspective, Ellie’s, and is easy to get into right away. Ellie does have a bit of a silly/young way of speaking, with some teen/text speak in certain parts (e.g. ‘obvs’) but I’ve gotten used to this after reading quite a few novels aimed at younger teens and this didn’t bother me when reading this book. I don’t want to spoil what happens in the story, but Ellie does manage to meet up with the boy she saw on the mountain and from there the tale really takes off, becoming one mixed with Welsh legends and including some very real dragons! It’s this fantasy element of the story that I really loved, and although I did know something about Henry long before it was revealed (having read book two first) it was still interesting and compelling to see Ellie work it out and to read what happened next.
The build up to the ending as well as the dramatic end made my heart beat faster and I felt quite emotional after reading this. I didn’t know what was going to happen and it felt like such a brilliant, good and yet a bit of a sad ending all at the same time. The last few pages in particular made me feel like I was watching the last dramatic scenes in a movie and it’s made me desperate to find out what happens in the end of the trilogy (as I know what happens in book 2)! The ending is a satisfying one, although you do end up wanting to scream “Nooo!” and does a good job of making you eager to want to read the sequel.
The book has a map at the start, and throughout the story there are bits of the Welsh language spoken/written. It doesn’t matter if you can’t read Welsh though as there are footnotes at the bottom of some pages with an English translation. There is hardly any swearing in the book, with only very occassional use of the s swear word, but nothing else that would really upset anyone, and I could see many younger teens enjoying this book as well as older (although if you’re an adult you might need to get used to the ‘teen speak’).
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone, it’s a brilliant sort or urban fantasy (technically contemporary fantasy), focusing on Welsh folklore. This is such a compelling read once you get into the story and the relationship between some of the characters is just so lovely. Having read book two I know that this trilogy gets better and better and I can’t wait to see what happens in the finale!
-Thanks to Shrine Bell/Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy for review.
This is the first book of the series and fills in all the gaps I had after reading the second one some time ago. I enjoyed the sequel ‘Here Be Witches’ a while ago now, but reading the second book before the first made the overall story a little confusing to begin with as I had missed a lot of things that had happened. However, now getting the chance to read this trilogy from the beginning I can say that this book has such an amazing and compelling plot which I just couldn’t put down after the first few chapters. And it’s a brilliant start to the tilogy.
The story is told from the first person perspective, Ellie’s, and is easy to get into right away. Ellie does have a bit of a silly/young way of speaking, with some teen/text speak in certain parts (e.g. ‘obvs’) but I’ve gotten used to this after reading quite a few novels aimed at younger teens and this didn’t bother me when reading this book. I don’t want to spoil what happens in the story, but Ellie does manage to meet up with the boy she saw on the mountain and from there the tale really takes off, becoming one mixed with Welsh legends and including some very real dragons! It’s this fantasy element of the story that I really loved, and although I did know something about Henry long before it was revealed (having read book two first) it was still interesting and compelling to see Ellie work it out and to read what happened next.
The build up to the ending as well as the dramatic end made my heart beat faster and I felt quite emotional after reading this. I didn’t know what was going to happen and it felt like such a brilliant, good and yet a bit of a sad ending all at the same time. The last few pages in particular made me feel like I was watching the last dramatic scenes in a movie and it’s made me desperate to find out what happens in the end of the trilogy (as I know what happens in book 2)! The ending is a satisfying one, although you do end up wanting to scream “Nooo!” and does a good job of making you eager to want to read the sequel.
The book has a map at the start, and throughout the story there are bits of the Welsh language spoken/written. It doesn’t matter if you can’t read Welsh though as there are footnotes at the bottom of some pages with an English translation. There is hardly any swearing in the book, with only very occassional use of the s swear word, but nothing else that would really upset anyone, and I could see many younger teens enjoying this book as well as older (although if you’re an adult you might need to get used to the ‘teen speak’).
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone, it’s a brilliant sort or urban fantasy (technically contemporary fantasy), focusing on Welsh folklore. This is such a compelling read once you get into the story and the relationship between some of the characters is just so lovely. Having read book two I know that this trilogy gets better and better and I can’t wait to see what happens in the finale!
-Thanks to Shrine Bell/Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy for review.
August 19, 2017
I was really impressed with the premise, the mix of the old Merlin legends and the battle of the red and white dragon, with a new modern twist. It's got such an exciting start with a physical heroine saving another girl. And it's nice that she tried to rescue the love interest in the story, before she finds out the truth about Henry. I was also impressed with the use of the Welsh language and customs.
Great MG read.
Great MG read.
September 10, 2018
I read this book on recommendation from my librarian, of whose taste I usually trust. However, this book just wasn’t for me at all. It was YA tropes galore, and not the good ones either.
First of all, INSTALOVE BEYOND COMPARE. Not even a week passed throughout the entire novel and the narrator admitted she loved the boy she met on the first day within the first third.
I don’t count that as spoilers for the reason of my following point - everything was so goddamn obvious. I guessed the entire plot from the beginning, any plot twists were flaccid and without tension, and the predictability made the reading experience limp. Other complaints I had include juvenile writing style (why were so many phrases capitalised???), 1-dimensional characters (including all the main ones) and the fact that the famously “Nice Guy” that we were supposed to like (but not route for) was still a sexist tool.
That being said, there were aspects of this book that I enjoyed, one of which was the reason I picked up this book - the setting. The scene of Snowdonia is one that’s utterly unique for YA fantasy (at least, not one I’ve encountered previously) and Mussi did the ethereal otherworldliness justice. I did enjoy the final showdown, too. Unlike many fight scenes in fiction, it wasn’t repetitive and I never felt the urge to skip paragraphs of combat because it was actually gripping. The ending was excellent; Mussi didn’t pull any punches to give you the happy ending. It was ugly and broken and I enjoyed it.
However, these positives didn’t pull back this book enough for me. So it’s still 2/5.
First of all, INSTALOVE BEYOND COMPARE. Not even a week passed throughout the entire novel and the narrator admitted she loved the boy she met on the first day within the first third.
I don’t count that as spoilers for the reason of my following point - everything was so goddamn obvious. I guessed the entire plot from the beginning, any plot twists were flaccid and without tension, and the predictability made the reading experience limp. Other complaints I had include juvenile writing style (why were so many phrases capitalised???), 1-dimensional characters (including all the main ones) and the fact that the famously “Nice Guy” that we were supposed to like (but not route for) was still a sexist tool.
That being said, there were aspects of this book that I enjoyed, one of which was the reason I picked up this book - the setting. The scene of Snowdonia is one that’s utterly unique for YA fantasy (at least, not one I’ve encountered previously) and Mussi did the ethereal otherworldliness justice. I did enjoy the final showdown, too. Unlike many fight scenes in fiction, it wasn’t repetitive and I never felt the urge to skip paragraphs of combat because it was actually gripping. The ending was excellent; Mussi didn’t pull any punches to give you the happy ending. It was ugly and broken and I enjoyed it.
However, these positives didn’t pull back this book enough for me. So it’s still 2/5.
December 20, 2017
A fast-paced - the few days between Christmas and New Year - tale of girl meets boy, boy is *the* red dragon of Wales, girl must find a way to save him from Merlin's curse without losing her heart quite literally to the boy's savage nemesis the white dragon. There are good parts, and not so good parts. First up, the sense of mythology and place is fantastic - Sarah Mussi's Ellie lives and breathes the isolation of Snowdon, with intermittent phone signals and the dangers of midwinter hiking. Yet she's never really paid attention to the legends that surround the mountain, and that's something that quickly comes back to bite her. Mussi threads the narrative with Facebook notifications and Welsh language and fieldcraft spells, two worlds colliding convincingly.
What does grate a little though is Ellie's "voice". It's a long time, admittedly, since I was anywhere near being a teenager, but the way Ellie relates the story does become tiresome at times, and as a reader you just want the action to move along rather than have her constantly re-emphasising how bowled over she is by Harry. This style works much better in readings and audiobooks (for me at least), where you can play along with modern vernacular.
Pleasingly, Mussi avoids the temptation to cap the story off with a clutch of happy endings - without spoilers, Ellie's actions will have repercussions for all of her family and friends.
What does grate a little though is Ellie's "voice". It's a long time, admittedly, since I was anywhere near being a teenager, but the way Ellie relates the story does become tiresome at times, and as a reader you just want the action to move along rather than have her constantly re-emphasising how bowled over she is by Harry. This style works much better in readings and audiobooks (for me at least), where you can play along with modern vernacular.
Pleasingly, Mussi avoids the temptation to cap the story off with a clutch of happy endings - without spoilers, Ellie's actions will have repercussions for all of her family and friends.
May 11, 2023
such a good book, i loved the story progression and how everything played out, the ending was shocking but really good, would 10/10 recommend (warning some things are written in Welsh however there are footnotes of the english or an explanation for those who don’t understand welsh)
October 17, 2018
There was a good young adult novel in here, but it so long to set the scene that there was little time left fot the story to develop and the ending felt rushed
April 29, 2018
Full review coming soon, but I'm glad I've finally finished this one!
EDIT 04/07/17:
Full review sooner than I expected: turns out I knew exactly what I wanted to say about this one.
Ellie and her mother live on Mount Snowdon, and Ellie hates it. They relocated there after Ellie's mother inherited her grandmother's farm. Leaving London, they went back to Snowdon because it was her late father's favourite place. But Ellie misses her friends, and she wishes she was back in civilisation, with actual mobile phone signal.
On Christmas Day, Ellie and her mother receive a call about a girl stuck on the mountain. As they're both part of the rescue team, they head out into the snow - not the ideal way to spend the holiday. While looking for the girl, Ellie sees a mysterious boy further up the mountain. He's not wearing the proper gear, and he's completely on his own. Ellie tries to show her mother, but she won't listen, focused on the person they're supposed to be saving.
Later that night, Ellie can't stop thinking about the boy. They rescued the girl, getting her airlifted to hospital, but what if the boy is out there and he's in trouble? Her mother goes to visit her boyfriend, Jeff, and Ellie takes the opportunity to go out and search.
She doesn't expect to find him, though. And she doesn't expect to fall in love with him as quickly as she does. But just what was he doing up there on the mountain by himself? And why is he so damn mysterious?
SPOILER ALERT: the boy Ellie meets is a dragon.
I KNOW, RIGHT?! I saw it coming too. The foreshadowing isn't subtle in the slightest, so the 'dramatic reveal' is tension free. Henry makes a throwaway comment about not sleeping, and Ellie internally jokes about the fact that everyone sleeps '(apart from EVIL, and Edward in TWILIGHT)'. We all know Edward was a vampire: Ellie's boyfriend's paranormal background is the most obvious thing in the world.
Ten years ago, I would have loved this book. Now? A girl falling in love with a boy who spends most of his time as a gigantic winged beast gives me shudders. Human Henry is the stereotypically perfect YA boyfriend, but other than his dragon history he doesn't have much of a personality. It's hard to understand why Ellie likes him.
Sorry, loves him. 'Here Be Dragons' starts on Christmas Day and ends on New Year's Eve. That means Ellie and Henry know each other for a week. In that time she says she's in love with him more than I can count. It's instalove to the MAX, so cheesy it's physically painful.
A lot of these issues are because Sarah is establishing the greater plot. You need Ellie and Henry to fall head over heels for each other, because it gives the opportunity to expand the story into a series. At the end of the book the lovebirds are torn from each other, so the real action should begin in the second installment.
That being said, I loved the big battle scene between Henry and the White Dragon. The White Dragon is his uncle, Sir Oswald, making for an interesting family dynamic! I couldn’t have given this book three stars without that fight. It’s extremely brutal for a book that seems more middle-grade than YA throughout. Middle-grade in the way that Ellie is sixteen and saying ‘How The Hello?’ instead of hell. (See what I mean about cringe?).
I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Snowdonia. Sarah’s amazing at writing a three-dimensional setting!
This book probably deserved two stars, but I’m a sucker for a dramatic ending. Ellie’s not a realistic teenager, and the language she uses makes this book feel far older than it is. No one talks like that, or uses that much chat speak in their texts. I don’t care how quickly your signal drops out, you still don’t write like you’re a 12-year-old when you’re in your late teens!
I started the sequel, ‘Here Be Witches’, as soon as I finished ‘Here Be Dragons’. Thankfully, it’s already much stronger: I’m only 50 pages in and enjoying it ten times as much. I’ve got a feeling that it’s going to keep steadily improving on the first book: here’s hoping I’m right!
(This review was originally posted on Everything Alyce.)
EDIT 04/07/17:
Full review sooner than I expected: turns out I knew exactly what I wanted to say about this one.
Ellie and her mother live on Mount Snowdon, and Ellie hates it. They relocated there after Ellie's mother inherited her grandmother's farm. Leaving London, they went back to Snowdon because it was her late father's favourite place. But Ellie misses her friends, and she wishes she was back in civilisation, with actual mobile phone signal.
On Christmas Day, Ellie and her mother receive a call about a girl stuck on the mountain. As they're both part of the rescue team, they head out into the snow - not the ideal way to spend the holiday. While looking for the girl, Ellie sees a mysterious boy further up the mountain. He's not wearing the proper gear, and he's completely on his own. Ellie tries to show her mother, but she won't listen, focused on the person they're supposed to be saving.
Later that night, Ellie can't stop thinking about the boy. They rescued the girl, getting her airlifted to hospital, but what if the boy is out there and he's in trouble? Her mother goes to visit her boyfriend, Jeff, and Ellie takes the opportunity to go out and search.
She doesn't expect to find him, though. And she doesn't expect to fall in love with him as quickly as she does. But just what was he doing up there on the mountain by himself? And why is he so damn mysterious?
SPOILER ALERT: the boy Ellie meets is a dragon.
I KNOW, RIGHT?! I saw it coming too. The foreshadowing isn't subtle in the slightest, so the 'dramatic reveal' is tension free. Henry makes a throwaway comment about not sleeping, and Ellie internally jokes about the fact that everyone sleeps '(apart from EVIL, and Edward in TWILIGHT)'. We all know Edward was a vampire: Ellie's boyfriend's paranormal background is the most obvious thing in the world.
Ten years ago, I would have loved this book. Now? A girl falling in love with a boy who spends most of his time as a gigantic winged beast gives me shudders. Human Henry is the stereotypically perfect YA boyfriend, but other than his dragon history he doesn't have much of a personality. It's hard to understand why Ellie likes him.
Sorry, loves him. 'Here Be Dragons' starts on Christmas Day and ends on New Year's Eve. That means Ellie and Henry know each other for a week. In that time she says she's in love with him more than I can count. It's instalove to the MAX, so cheesy it's physically painful.
A lot of these issues are because Sarah is establishing the greater plot. You need Ellie and Henry to fall head over heels for each other, because it gives the opportunity to expand the story into a series. At the end of the book the lovebirds are torn from each other, so the real action should begin in the second installment.
That being said, I loved the big battle scene between Henry and the White Dragon. The White Dragon is his uncle, Sir Oswald, making for an interesting family dynamic! I couldn’t have given this book three stars without that fight. It’s extremely brutal for a book that seems more middle-grade than YA throughout. Middle-grade in the way that Ellie is sixteen and saying ‘How The Hello?’ instead of hell. (See what I mean about cringe?).
I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Snowdonia. Sarah’s amazing at writing a three-dimensional setting!
This book probably deserved two stars, but I’m a sucker for a dramatic ending. Ellie’s not a realistic teenager, and the language she uses makes this book feel far older than it is. No one talks like that, or uses that much chat speak in their texts. I don’t care how quickly your signal drops out, you still don’t write like you’re a 12-year-old when you’re in your late teens!
I started the sequel, ‘Here Be Witches’, as soon as I finished ‘Here Be Dragons’. Thankfully, it’s already much stronger: I’m only 50 pages in and enjoying it ten times as much. I’ve got a feeling that it’s going to keep steadily improving on the first book: here’s hoping I’m right!
(This review was originally posted on Everything Alyce.)
May 1, 2016
I adore Mount Snowdon. It’s one of my favourite places. (I climbed it two years ago and it was the most beautiful experience ever.) So imagine how excited I was to read a YA story set on the mountain itself! Here Be Dragons is an exciting mixture of mythology and romance, following Ellie as she discovers a strange boy on the mountain. Curious to learn more about him, she ignores his warnings to forget about meeting him. As their connection grows and Ellie find out more about his life, she becomes determined to free him from the difficult situation he’s trapped in.
Ellie was such a fun protagonist and I loved her witty comments throughout the story. She had a chatty way of narrating that made her relatable and endearing. The texts between Ellie and her friends were really fun. Rhiannon and Shelia are very different from each other, so I enjoyed seeing the contrast in the style of their texts. It was a bit of a shame that Shelia had to be a catty character, always trying to steal boys from other girls. I actually felt a little sorry for her, and I’m keen to know if there’s more to her character than what this first books allows us to see.
When Ellie meets Henry and they get to spend more time together, I enjoyed the conversations that happened between them. They do seem to bond rather quickly, but it’s not all smooth sailing for the two of them. I look forward to seeing how things move forward after that ending!
I’ll admit that Ellie’s best friend, George, was completely my favourite. As intriguing and lovely as Henry was, I know which guy I’d choose if I was in Ellie’s situation. He was just full of wit and enthusiasm, not to mention he was willing to do literally anything in order to keep Ellie safe. I couldn’t help but find him utterly adorable. I don’t exactly blame Rhiannon for constantly trying her luck with him!
The best aspect of this story for me was the plot itself. I was drawn in by the history and the mythology of the mountain and its dragons. Learning the legends was fascinating, and I loved the modern and romantic twists added into it for the sake of this story. It’s gotten me excited to learn more. The setting was also awesomely epic and vividly described. I felt like I was up on that mountain with Ellie most of the time.
This was a thrilling read that got more and more action packed as it reached the end. I’m eager to see what this world has in store for these characters next!
Ellie was such a fun protagonist and I loved her witty comments throughout the story. She had a chatty way of narrating that made her relatable and endearing. The texts between Ellie and her friends were really fun. Rhiannon and Shelia are very different from each other, so I enjoyed seeing the contrast in the style of their texts. It was a bit of a shame that Shelia had to be a catty character, always trying to steal boys from other girls. I actually felt a little sorry for her, and I’m keen to know if there’s more to her character than what this first books allows us to see.
When Ellie meets Henry and they get to spend more time together, I enjoyed the conversations that happened between them. They do seem to bond rather quickly, but it’s not all smooth sailing for the two of them. I look forward to seeing how things move forward after that ending!
I’ll admit that Ellie’s best friend, George, was completely my favourite. As intriguing and lovely as Henry was, I know which guy I’d choose if I was in Ellie’s situation. He was just full of wit and enthusiasm, not to mention he was willing to do literally anything in order to keep Ellie safe. I couldn’t help but find him utterly adorable. I don’t exactly blame Rhiannon for constantly trying her luck with him!
The best aspect of this story for me was the plot itself. I was drawn in by the history and the mythology of the mountain and its dragons. Learning the legends was fascinating, and I loved the modern and romantic twists added into it for the sake of this story. It’s gotten me excited to learn more. The setting was also awesomely epic and vividly described. I felt like I was up on that mountain with Ellie most of the time.
This was a thrilling read that got more and more action packed as it reached the end. I’m eager to see what this world has in store for these characters next!
February 13, 2017
This book is a beautifully crafted retelling of the old myths and legends of Wales, including those of Merlin. Ellie lives in a remote cottage halfway up Snowdon, and takes part in local search and rescue for lost climbers. One day she sees a boy in a snowstorm, impossibly dressed, in the distance. When Ellie sets off on her own to rescue him, she steps into a world of myth and legend and dragons. A great read, teenage romance but also dragons so good for boys and girls to enjoy. I really enjoyed it and your students will too.
December 24, 2015
Things aren't always what they appear on the mountains, with the snow and wind blurring your vision. So when Ellie spies a boy stuck on the cliffs, she isn't sure what to think. Especially as her mother doesn't see him. But she is instantly intrigued. Well, you know what they say about curiosity!
It was a slow story but fast romance, and I don't know how I feel about that. The slow build up was really cool, it made the suspense drag out and set things up for later novels, but the fast romance didn't mirror that well. Maybe I'm just a stickler for insta-love and maybe they did fall instantly after a dramatic night of being stranded in the mountains, but the L-word was said too soon for me. It was still a good match, the chemistry between Ellie and Henry was great. The truth behind Henry's family was an incredible twist on them unable to be together and really added to the drama, especially with Henry's uncle Sir Oswold. Locked in a seemingly never-ending battle, Henry and Sir Oswold fight it out and Ellie gets stuck in the middle of it.
It was based around Welsh legends and language, which was very cool to learn about. As it's set around Snowdon, the danger and the mystery of dragons seemed all too real. The way Mussi blended ancient legend with the Pendragon family and Henry, the mystery boy, was very cleverly done.
All in all, a great start to what is sure to be an amazing series. Really, they had me at Welsh dragons but the drama, the dangerous romance and the sweeping landscape just cinched it.
It was a slow story but fast romance, and I don't know how I feel about that. The slow build up was really cool, it made the suspense drag out and set things up for later novels, but the fast romance didn't mirror that well. Maybe I'm just a stickler for insta-love and maybe they did fall instantly after a dramatic night of being stranded in the mountains, but the L-word was said too soon for me. It was still a good match, the chemistry between Ellie and Henry was great. The truth behind Henry's family was an incredible twist on them unable to be together and really added to the drama, especially with Henry's uncle Sir Oswold. Locked in a seemingly never-ending battle, Henry and Sir Oswold fight it out and Ellie gets stuck in the middle of it.
It was based around Welsh legends and language, which was very cool to learn about. As it's set around Snowdon, the danger and the mystery of dragons seemed all too real. The way Mussi blended ancient legend with the Pendragon family and Henry, the mystery boy, was very cleverly done.
All in all, a great start to what is sure to be an amazing series. Really, they had me at Welsh dragons but the drama, the dangerous romance and the sweeping landscape just cinched it.
December 9, 2015
Award-winning author, Sarah Mussi, steps away from her usual urban thriller offering with this wonderful contemporary fantasy, set amidst the slopes of Snowdon.
Inspired by the Mabinogion tale of two warring dragons trapped under the mountain, the story starts on Christmas Day, as teenager, Ellie Morgan, searches its slopes for a missing girl. When she glimpses a mysterious boy through the mist, she is compelled to find out more. What she discovers draws her into a battle as old as Snowdon itself.
This story has a beautiful premise, and the dramatic backdrop of Snowdon, so brilliantly drawn by the author, provides the perfect stage for what is a compelling read. There is a rollicking pace, a likeable and gutsy heroine in Ellie, an adorable love interest, and a cast of charming extras to keep the pages turning.
With Here Be Dragons, Sarah Mussi has taken an ancient Welsh legend and wrestled it, kicking and screaming, into the twenty-first century. A master of suspenseful storytelling, she artfully weaves myth with a contemporary storyline and places them in a realistic setting to create a thoroughly modern book. The plot gets going from the off and not a single word is wasted as she drives this gripping tale of love, deception and loyalty to its breath-taking climax.
A marvellous Christmas gift, this captivating book would appeal to both boys and girls of eleven years old and over. Dreamy readers, in particular, will find this a treat to curl up with during the holiday season.
Inspired by the Mabinogion tale of two warring dragons trapped under the mountain, the story starts on Christmas Day, as teenager, Ellie Morgan, searches its slopes for a missing girl. When she glimpses a mysterious boy through the mist, she is compelled to find out more. What she discovers draws her into a battle as old as Snowdon itself.
This story has a beautiful premise, and the dramatic backdrop of Snowdon, so brilliantly drawn by the author, provides the perfect stage for what is a compelling read. There is a rollicking pace, a likeable and gutsy heroine in Ellie, an adorable love interest, and a cast of charming extras to keep the pages turning.
With Here Be Dragons, Sarah Mussi has taken an ancient Welsh legend and wrestled it, kicking and screaming, into the twenty-first century. A master of suspenseful storytelling, she artfully weaves myth with a contemporary storyline and places them in a realistic setting to create a thoroughly modern book. The plot gets going from the off and not a single word is wasted as she drives this gripping tale of love, deception and loyalty to its breath-taking climax.
A marvellous Christmas gift, this captivating book would appeal to both boys and girls of eleven years old and over. Dreamy readers, in particular, will find this a treat to curl up with during the holiday season.
August 26, 2015
Here Be Dragons is the first in The Snowdonia Chronicles but it’s a complete story. The book is narrated by Ellie, who has a very distinct voice.
My review is based on the proof I received so I don’t know if the final copy will differ but the tendency tostrike cross words out (like so) became more irritating as the story progressed. The little sub-notes, mostly about translations from Welsh were helpful but others, like explaining why George was called Siôr, could have been part of the narration. I thought it stopped the flow of the story, having to go look these up and I’m not sure why this formatting has been chosen.
Setting this aside, the story itself has dragons so you know I’m already going to be happy. I liked legend and I love Ellie’s best friend George who is absolutely my favourite thing about this book.
As with Sarah Mussi’s other books it took next to no time for me to be at the hallway point without realising it. The last chapter has me intrigued enough to want to know what happens next and of course I need to know what becomes of George. ;)
My review is based on the proof I received so I don’t know if the final copy will differ but the tendency to
Setting this aside, the story itself has dragons so you know I’m already going to be happy. I liked legend and I love Ellie’s best friend George who is absolutely my favourite thing about this book.
As with Sarah Mussi’s other books it took next to no time for me to be at the hallway point without realising it. The last chapter has me intrigued enough to want to know what happens next and of course I need to know what becomes of George. ;)
November 4, 2015
I feel a bit mean only giving this story 3 stars (I'd have gone 3.5 if I knew how), because my lack of enthusiasm is largely my own fault. If I'd read the blurb on the back first I would have had a better idea of what to expect - but I didn't. I saw the word 'dragon' in the title and the glorious red dragon scales on the cover and got over excited. I opened the book and went looking for dragons and found ... teenagers and text messages. That was a bit disappointing.
Having said that, it turned out to be an enjoyable story. I was pleased to have the Welsh translations as footnotes at the bottom of the page as it gave me the choice of knowing the detail or going with emotion of the scene and not slowing down the story. The idea of a battle between good and evil happening over hundreds of years with long gaps in between was intriguing and added urgency to the relationships. If you had asked me when I was halfway through the book if I would read the next in the series I would have shrugged and said maybe. The ending has ensured that I will be looking for book two.
Having said that, it turned out to be an enjoyable story. I was pleased to have the Welsh translations as footnotes at the bottom of the page as it gave me the choice of knowing the detail or going with emotion of the scene and not slowing down the story. The idea of a battle between good and evil happening over hundreds of years with long gaps in between was intriguing and added urgency to the relationships. If you had asked me when I was halfway through the book if I would read the next in the series I would have shrugged and said maybe. The ending has ensured that I will be looking for book two.
October 26, 2015
I'm getting too old for teenage books. Ellie Morgan lives on the slopes of Snowdon. While helping her mother rescue a girl from the slopes of Snowdon, she sees a boy who is to die for. Turns out she might die!! Cue a story about shape-shifting dragons and teenage rivalry for boys. Add in a gorgeous hunk, George who loves her. Sadly Ellie does not love him - even when he rescues her. I'd better not plotspoil any more. This is Number 1 of The Snowdonia Chronicles. I'm not sure how the author is going to create more stories but good luck to her. I'll add this book to the shelves and see if she has an audience.
November 24, 2015
"Sometimes what you really need is something to read that is both light and fluffy but heavy on the adventure — something to pull you out of a slump where you’ve been having trouble reading anything. For me, that book was Sarah Mussi’s Here Be Dragons. It is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump because it has all the best ingredients: a strong female lead, cute boys, fun characters, Welsh myths, dragons, and nothing too terribly serious. The world-building is light, and the teenage voice is authentic." http://www.germmagazine.com/review-he...
October 24, 2015
My Mum got this book free in return for a review from an author friend. So I thought since I loved all the whole Merlin legends I would read it. It's has a great and exciting start. Lots of twists in the plot. I loved the setting of a Welsh mountain, and would have probably rated it higher if I'd been a bit younger. I will read the next book in the series.
October 29, 2015
My mum was reviewing the book for an author friend and I read it... OMG. It has the perfect voice of a teenager and I love every thing about it! But there must be a series! The story is that good I want to read the next book and the book after that! (This is coming from a person who avoids series like the plague!)
September 14, 2015
another wonderful novel from one of todays most talented and thoughtful writers. I was sucked into Snowdonia from page 1.
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