What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dragon's Playlist
From the author of THE HALLOWED ONES and NINE OF STARS comes a new novel blending the magical and the real…
“This is war,” the dragon said. And she believed him.
Di fled rural West Virginia to study music and pursue a bright future as a violinist. But when a mining accident nearly kills her father, she is summoned back home to support her family. Old ghosts and an old flame emerge from the past. When Di gets a job as a bookkeeper at the same mine where her father worked, she is drawn into a conflict pitting neighbor against neighbor as the mine plans an expansion to an untouched mountain.
If the mining company’s operation goes forward, there will be more at stake than livelihoods or the pollution of the land: Di has discovered a dragon lives deep within Sawtooth Mountain, and he is not happy with this encroachment upon his lair. When catastrophe strikes, Di must choose between her family’s best interests and protecting the dragon – the last surviving bit of magic in Di’s shrinking world.
In every fight, sides are chosen. And there can be no yearning for what has been left behind.
“This is war,” the dragon said. And she believed him.
Di fled rural West Virginia to study music and pursue a bright future as a violinist. But when a mining accident nearly kills her father, she is summoned back home to support her family. Old ghosts and an old flame emerge from the past. When Di gets a job as a bookkeeper at the same mine where her father worked, she is drawn into a conflict pitting neighbor against neighbor as the mine plans an expansion to an untouched mountain.
If the mining company’s operation goes forward, there will be more at stake than livelihoods or the pollution of the land: Di has discovered a dragon lives deep within Sawtooth Mountain, and he is not happy with this encroachment upon his lair. When catastrophe strikes, Di must choose between her family’s best interests and protecting the dragon – the last surviving bit of magic in Di’s shrinking world.
In every fight, sides are chosen. And there can be no yearning for what has been left behind.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2017
14 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bickle
27 books501 followersLaura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio, reading entirely too many comic books out loud to her favorite Wonder Woman doll. After graduating with an MA in Sociology – Criminology from Ohio State University and an MLIS in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the public library and worked with data systems in criminal justice. She now dreams up stories about the monsters under the stairs, also writing contemporary fantasy novels under the name Alayna Williams.
Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.
Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 3, 2017
Di has been away at college studying music, she escaped her hometown as fast as she could and was hoping never to have to return. That all changed when her father was badly injured in a mining accident, he is no longer able to work so her family are struggling to make ends meet, especially since her father's medical bills aren't being covered by the company he worked for. Di is forced to return home and take a job at the same mining company just so she can help out her family but she's extremely resentful and unhappy about being back. The mining company is planning on destroying the mountain to make their job easier and protesters are determined to do whatever it takes to stop them from destroying the area. There is a huge amount of conflict between locals who rely on the mine for their incomes and outsiders who are there to protest the work that is being planned and Di is caught in the middle of it, especially when she realises that there is something hiding deep in the mountain that needs her protection.
I love dragons so I had very high hopes for this book but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped to. It's not a bad book in any sense of the word but for me it focused a little too heavily on the contemporary issues of living in a mining town and the damage to the environment and not enough on the dragon. It raises a lot of important issues but I went into this expecting it to be all about dragons and the dragon was really only a minor part of the story. If I'd gone into it knowing it would have more of a contemporary feel then perhaps I'd have enjoyed it more so thats why I feel the need to point that out in my review.
I think my biggest issue was that I didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters, Di just came across as a bit too spoiled and selfish for me to ever like her. I get why she was upset to return home but it felt like her dreams of studying music were more important than her father's health and I found that hard to get my head around. This book has a lot of positive reviews so I'd never try to put anyone off giving it a try, hopefully you'll enjoy it much more than I did!
I love dragons so I had very high hopes for this book but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped to. It's not a bad book in any sense of the word but for me it focused a little too heavily on the contemporary issues of living in a mining town and the damage to the environment and not enough on the dragon. It raises a lot of important issues but I went into this expecting it to be all about dragons and the dragon was really only a minor part of the story. If I'd gone into it knowing it would have more of a contemporary feel then perhaps I'd have enjoyed it more so thats why I feel the need to point that out in my review.
I think my biggest issue was that I didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters, Di just came across as a bit too spoiled and selfish for me to ever like her. I get why she was upset to return home but it felt like her dreams of studying music were more important than her father's health and I found that hard to get my head around. This book has a lot of positive reviews so I'd never try to put anyone off giving it a try, hopefully you'll enjoy it much more than I did!
June 3, 2021
When Di is informed that her father was in a mining accident, she drops everything and comes home only to find that it's worst than she thought. Her father is a shell of his former self and is hurt really bad. But while home she gets to visit with her grandfather who is having memory problems but can also still play the violin along with her which brings her spirits up. Then when she has car trouble and her ex-boyfriend stops to help her and comes home with her, she finds out that he has been really helpful to her family. He actually helped pull her father out of the mine when it collapsed. Over time they seem like they are going to rekindle their relationship.
Di also makes friends with Will who is against the expansion of the mining operation because of the pollution it could cause. The mining company wants to expanding their operation to the Sawtooth Mountain where they hope to be able to get the coal. But they don't know that a dragon lives in that mountain and is willing and able to stop them. When Di finds the dragon, he seems to like music and likes the music she makes with the violin. He even talks to her a bit when it's pretty clear he just wants to be left alone.
I really thought that this was going to be a book about the dragon but the dragon was a mere side story. This book was more about coal mining, the pollution that it might cause, the damage the mining causes to the land and how miners are treated by the company. It poses real world problems with a side of magic...a very small side of magic. This could have been a really good book but it bored me to tears. I kept reading because I was really hoping that it would get better and the dragon would play a bigger part but it didn't. The ending was anti-climatic and just fell flat for me. This book could have been so good but it left me wanting the hours back that I spent reading it.
Di also makes friends with Will who is against the expansion of the mining operation because of the pollution it could cause. The mining company wants to expanding their operation to the Sawtooth Mountain where they hope to be able to get the coal. But they don't know that a dragon lives in that mountain and is willing and able to stop them. When Di finds the dragon, he seems to like music and likes the music she makes with the violin. He even talks to her a bit when it's pretty clear he just wants to be left alone.
I really thought that this was going to be a book about the dragon but the dragon was a mere side story. This book was more about coal mining, the pollution that it might cause, the damage the mining causes to the land and how miners are treated by the company. It poses real world problems with a side of magic...a very small side of magic. This could have been a really good book but it bored me to tears. I kept reading because I was really hoping that it would get better and the dragon would play a bigger part but it didn't. The ending was anti-climatic and just fell flat for me. This book could have been so good but it left me wanting the hours back that I spent reading it.
July 9, 2017
I will start by saying the Dragon’s Playlist is possibly one of the best books I’ve read this year. The characters are well developed and captivating, the story moves at a brisk pace and keeps the engrossed even when the story deals with mundane things and elicited real feelings from me as a reader. And considering I read a lot of books to review and have honestly grown a bit jaded when a novel tries to tug at my heart strings, that’s saying something.
This book blends the real everyday world with a fantasy element, a style that has worked well over the years. If you think too hard about the fantasy elements, it can come a bit undone, but that applies to most of these types of books. And the book is written skillfully enough that it’s easy to ignore the cracks in the premises when they do show up.
While the book has magical elements to the story, including the titular Dragon, it’s really about the going back home and seeing your old life through adult eyes. Seeing the people, you once knew and how they’ve changed, and how relationships change with parents when you are no longer a child.
The mystical elements are fine and weaved in well enough that, not only doesn’t it disrupt the story of homecoming that’s the real treasure of the book, but it adds to it. Afakos, the Dragon, isn’t some otherworldly separate plot but feels like an extension of it. Admittedly, he’s supposed to be the main plot, and the homecoming angle seems to be the B plot, but it’s told with such care and empathy that, for me at least, the two flipped.
While some of the characters are a little two dimensional, you can’t help but become attached to Di. She is a fantastic character, and when she dyes her blue hair brown, I found myself feeling sad for her, as she left part of her independent life behind so she could help her family. She evolves through the book in a masterfully told character arc that kept me glued to the page.
I could continue gushing on all the details of the book, but I’ll leave it with this: The Dragon’s Playlist is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and is a must read. It’s not action packed, although there’s action. It’s not a magical ride into fantasy, although there’s plenty of fantasy and magic in it.
It is, however, one of the most honest and captivating tale about growing up I’ve ever read. Get this book and read it. You won’t be sorry.
This reivew can be found at http://homeofreading.com/the-dragons-playlist/
This book blends the real everyday world with a fantasy element, a style that has worked well over the years. If you think too hard about the fantasy elements, it can come a bit undone, but that applies to most of these types of books. And the book is written skillfully enough that it’s easy to ignore the cracks in the premises when they do show up.
While the book has magical elements to the story, including the titular Dragon, it’s really about the going back home and seeing your old life through adult eyes. Seeing the people, you once knew and how they’ve changed, and how relationships change with parents when you are no longer a child.
The mystical elements are fine and weaved in well enough that, not only doesn’t it disrupt the story of homecoming that’s the real treasure of the book, but it adds to it. Afakos, the Dragon, isn’t some otherworldly separate plot but feels like an extension of it. Admittedly, he’s supposed to be the main plot, and the homecoming angle seems to be the B plot, but it’s told with such care and empathy that, for me at least, the two flipped.
While some of the characters are a little two dimensional, you can’t help but become attached to Di. She is a fantastic character, and when she dyes her blue hair brown, I found myself feeling sad for her, as she left part of her independent life behind so she could help her family. She evolves through the book in a masterfully told character arc that kept me glued to the page.
I could continue gushing on all the details of the book, but I’ll leave it with this: The Dragon’s Playlist is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and is a must read. It’s not action packed, although there’s action. It’s not a magical ride into fantasy, although there’s plenty of fantasy and magic in it.
It is, however, one of the most honest and captivating tale about growing up I’ve ever read. Get this book and read it. You won’t be sorry.
This reivew can be found at http://homeofreading.com/the-dragons-playlist/
March 15, 2018
I have heard some rumors about Laura Bickle’s writing and now I know, IT’S TRUE! She can spin a heart pounding tale of love and loss, and fantasy and fiction, that blend together in a spellbinding read that you will not be able to put down.
Diamond came home to see her ailing father. It is terrible to see a parent weak, ill, a parody of their former self. He had been hurt in a mine cave in.
Oh man, she’s got a porcelain unicorn collection. Me too. She talks of her love for trees and the forest. I love them too. I also had a treehouse, and, like hers, it was really just a couple of boards nailed to a couple of branches. BUT, I never had a fiery something coming my way. Hmmm…is it a shadow…is that fire?
Money issues force her to take a break from college and she is not happy about it. She is resentful, even though she knows it’s the only way to help her parents. Her ex-boyfriend, Jason, seems to be a permanent fixture at her parents home. She thought it was odd, until she found out why Jason and her dad had such a close relationship.
Another mining story with the same theme, attitudes, danger, treehuggers…and the miners who need the jobs. I have read several books, recently, about coal mining and it pisses me off every time it comes up. We shouldn’t be underground, like rats, mining for an obsolete product. Well…let me collect myself…These type of stories get my emotions roiling and I am filled with anger, disgust, sadness, and a feeling of ambivalence.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of noodling, and if you haven’t heard of it you are in for a laugh or two. It’s a southern thing. They were supposed to be looking for Buzzard Bill, but the kids are easily bored.
Whoa…Not what I was expecting and I love it. Reminds me of Mothman…a bit.
The characters have some decisions to make, some attitudes to adjust and some romantic feelings to sort out. Their futures are not easy to discern and their problems read like a true story as they struggle day by day. Sometimes we don’t get all the dreams of our youth, but, like Diamond, there can still be love, happiness and a feeling of contentment.
At seventy percent, I am feeling so sad. I went from childlike wonder to anger and disappointment, sorrow and hope. So much heartache. Can there possibly be any happiness left?
I cannot stop reading…I must know…OMG! Fabulous, fiery, fantastic, flaming, flawless fantasy!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dragon’s Playlist by Laura Bickle.
See more at fundinmental
Diamond came home to see her ailing father. It is terrible to see a parent weak, ill, a parody of their former self. He had been hurt in a mine cave in.
Oh man, she’s got a porcelain unicorn collection. Me too. She talks of her love for trees and the forest. I love them too. I also had a treehouse, and, like hers, it was really just a couple of boards nailed to a couple of branches. BUT, I never had a fiery something coming my way. Hmmm…is it a shadow…is that fire?
Money issues force her to take a break from college and she is not happy about it. She is resentful, even though she knows it’s the only way to help her parents. Her ex-boyfriend, Jason, seems to be a permanent fixture at her parents home. She thought it was odd, until she found out why Jason and her dad had such a close relationship.
Another mining story with the same theme, attitudes, danger, treehuggers…and the miners who need the jobs. I have read several books, recently, about coal mining and it pisses me off every time it comes up. We shouldn’t be underground, like rats, mining for an obsolete product. Well…let me collect myself…These type of stories get my emotions roiling and I am filled with anger, disgust, sadness, and a feeling of ambivalence.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of noodling, and if you haven’t heard of it you are in for a laugh or two. It’s a southern thing. They were supposed to be looking for Buzzard Bill, but the kids are easily bored.
Whoa…Not what I was expecting and I love it. Reminds me of Mothman…a bit.
The characters have some decisions to make, some attitudes to adjust and some romantic feelings to sort out. Their futures are not easy to discern and their problems read like a true story as they struggle day by day. Sometimes we don’t get all the dreams of our youth, but, like Diamond, there can still be love, happiness and a feeling of contentment.
At seventy percent, I am feeling so sad. I went from childlike wonder to anger and disappointment, sorrow and hope. So much heartache. Can there possibly be any happiness left?
I cannot stop reading…I must know…OMG! Fabulous, fiery, fantastic, flaming, flawless fantasy!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dragon’s Playlist by Laura Bickle.
See more at fundinmental
December 2, 2017
In The Dragon's Playlist, Di begrudgingly returns home when her father is severely injured in a mining accident. But when she discovers an ancient dragon lurking around the mines, she has to question where she stands in an upcoming battle for the mines that could change her life forever.
Di returns home when her father is nearly killed in a strange incident within the mines. She's not happy about it - she was off living her dream as a violinist and coming back home means she's gotta give up that dream and be stuck in her small hometown where she feels like she's suffocating. On the one hand, her relationship with her mother seems to be even more strained - but then she's got her ex-boyfriend Jason, who proves to be more supportive than she realizes.
When she gets a job at the mining facility where her dad worked, she meets and befriends a dragon by the name of Afakos. The dragon loves her violin music and when she plays, so she does. There's a connection between the beast and her father's accident...something Afakos isn't hesitant to admit.
But there's also a bigger threat to the whole situation when environmental rioters come in and protest against the planned blast mine - which would progress the industry, but also kill off all the wildlife in the area. An area which Afakos has made his home.
So now Di is torn between walking away and stopping the blast mine process to spare Afakos. It makes for a great read all in all.
I'm fond of Di's character for the most part. I really honed in on the parts with her and a side character, Julie, who shows her a taste of magic. I've been in her shoes for that role - the curiosity of learning something you never really knew existed. It reminded me of Sweep at times, which is a series I also enjoy. The Wiccan elements really hit home for me, though I'm not sure how I feel about not knowing Julie's fate.
One thing I couldn't relate to was Di's bitterness at coming home. I also grew up in a very small town but I never had that "oh god, I must get out" feeling. And personally, if I got a call telling me my dad was in the hospital and in very bad condition, I would have no qualms about returning. So I found it very frustrating that Di was acting like a child having temper tantrums at some points.
I like the romance between her and Jason, and the small but crucial attraction she has to the leader of the protesters. Though the romance doesn't take over the story, Jason plays a key role in helping Di realize her place in her small world. Plus, he seems like a genuinely sweet guy.
The writing is wonderful. It flows well and you can tell the descriptions just fit in all the right ways. This obviously isn't Laura Bickle's first novel, so I'm enjoying reading some of her new work and new ideas. I wouldn't take this as a natural fantasy, more of a contemporary about family and growing up with fantastical elements (dragon, of course) added to it. Although it didn't hook me enough to read all through the night, it was still a book I would read again eagerly.
Overall, I give it a four.
Di returns home when her father is nearly killed in a strange incident within the mines. She's not happy about it - she was off living her dream as a violinist and coming back home means she's gotta give up that dream and be stuck in her small hometown where she feels like she's suffocating. On the one hand, her relationship with her mother seems to be even more strained - but then she's got her ex-boyfriend Jason, who proves to be more supportive than she realizes.
When she gets a job at the mining facility where her dad worked, she meets and befriends a dragon by the name of Afakos. The dragon loves her violin music and when she plays, so she does. There's a connection between the beast and her father's accident...something Afakos isn't hesitant to admit.
But there's also a bigger threat to the whole situation when environmental rioters come in and protest against the planned blast mine - which would progress the industry, but also kill off all the wildlife in the area. An area which Afakos has made his home.
So now Di is torn between walking away and stopping the blast mine process to spare Afakos. It makes for a great read all in all.
I'm fond of Di's character for the most part. I really honed in on the parts with her and a side character, Julie, who shows her a taste of magic. I've been in her shoes for that role - the curiosity of learning something you never really knew existed. It reminded me of Sweep at times, which is a series I also enjoy. The Wiccan elements really hit home for me, though I'm not sure how I feel about not knowing Julie's fate.
One thing I couldn't relate to was Di's bitterness at coming home. I also grew up in a very small town but I never had that "oh god, I must get out" feeling. And personally, if I got a call telling me my dad was in the hospital and in very bad condition, I would have no qualms about returning. So I found it very frustrating that Di was acting like a child having temper tantrums at some points.
I like the romance between her and Jason, and the small but crucial attraction she has to the leader of the protesters. Though the romance doesn't take over the story, Jason plays a key role in helping Di realize her place in her small world. Plus, he seems like a genuinely sweet guy.
The writing is wonderful. It flows well and you can tell the descriptions just fit in all the right ways. This obviously isn't Laura Bickle's first novel, so I'm enjoying reading some of her new work and new ideas. I wouldn't take this as a natural fantasy, more of a contemporary about family and growing up with fantastical elements (dragon, of course) added to it. Although it didn't hook me enough to read all through the night, it was still a book I would read again eagerly.
Overall, I give it a four.
May 29, 2017
I guess I never saw things from the miner's pov. Sure they know this might not be the best work, but what else can they do? It is the only work where they live. The greenpeace like peeps protesting just do not get that.
But this was not a book about miners. This was about Di that returns to get small hometown. She does not want to. She wants to continue her studies, to be away. Alas, her dad was in an accident. And you just feel how the town is trying to drag her back kicking and screaming.
The town where her ex lives. The town where she meets a new friend. There town where she meets the people protesting the leveling of the mountain (and yes that is effed up. Destroying an entire mountain!?) The town with her over bearing mother. Her sick father....
And let us not forget the dragon. That made me think of that movie Pete's dragon. There are dragons still in the wild, not many, but there. And he was a decent dragon too...to her at least.
It's not a long book, but it does make you think about a few things. I liked her wonder of things, I wish there was magic around too. Good and short.
But this was not a book about miners. This was about Di that returns to get small hometown. She does not want to. She wants to continue her studies, to be away. Alas, her dad was in an accident. And you just feel how the town is trying to drag her back kicking and screaming.
The town where her ex lives. The town where she meets a new friend. There town where she meets the people protesting the leveling of the mountain (and yes that is effed up. Destroying an entire mountain!?) The town with her over bearing mother. Her sick father....
And let us not forget the dragon. That made me think of that movie Pete's dragon. There are dragons still in the wild, not many, but there. And he was a decent dragon too...to her at least.
It's not a long book, but it does make you think about a few things. I liked her wonder of things, I wish there was magic around too. Good and short.
February 12, 2018
When fantasy and reality merge with a perfect balance, it leaves you questioning things and gives you new points of view to examine old ideas. That's what this book does. It doesn't lean too heavily on the trope of the dragon in his mountain lair, but it uses it just well enough to make the point that what we do has a lasting impact on our environment. We all know that, but what we also get to see is the opposite side of that, the human beings who live devoid of that magic, who need to put food on the tables for their families.
Our protagonist Di is caught exactly in the middle of those two opposing ideas and struggles, just like we do, with the rent between wanting one and needing the other.
This is a story of family, of roots, and of a belief in something more.
Our protagonist Di is caught exactly in the middle of those two opposing ideas and struggles, just like we do, with the rent between wanting one and needing the other.
This is a story of family, of roots, and of a belief in something more.
dnf
March 3, 2018Dnf at 55%. I tried, I really did. But it's all just a little too farfetched for me. I can't deal with the talking dragon (not unless it's gonna be an epic fantasy or a children's book) and other events have been pretty boring. It did look promising in the beginning but I have to move on now to something that is hopefully better.
I didn't know I'd actually be dnf'ing a lot of these ebooks I've received :/ not a good sign.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know I'd actually be dnf'ing a lot of these ebooks I've received :/ not a good sign.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2017
I received a free copy via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
A nice story but a different title would have been better as I felt it was very misleading.
The story leaves quite alot of unanswered questions about different people.
Don't question the story too closely and you will find it a easy read.
A nice story but a different title would have been better as I felt it was very misleading.
The story leaves quite alot of unanswered questions about different people.
Don't question the story too closely and you will find it a easy read.
November 14, 2017
Whew. I don’t know if this book was as bad as I felt it was, but it wasn’t GOOD. It felt like something I would have written in high school. It had no humor or depth. The main character is unlikeable. The dragon was almost background. Overall, yawn.
October 7, 2020
Another well-written story by Laura Bickle. Di has escaped the coal town where she grew up and was studying music, hoping to become a professional classical musician. Unfortunately, her Dad's accident pulls her back. Bitterly disappointed at the turn her life has taken, she still longs for a bit of magic in her life. She finds it when she discovers the dragon. Worlds clash and Di has to take a stance. Material necessity or magic? Find out what happens. Recommended read.
June 20, 2017
*Source* Amazon
*Genre* Dragons, Environment, Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Author Laura Bickle, best known for her Hallowed Ones, and Dark Alchemy series, returns with The Dragon's Playlist. The story is a contemporary themed novel with a rather unusual dragon who just wants to be left alone. Diamond (Di) Hoffman was away at college when her father was caught in a mine disaster. Her father, like a majority of those in her home town in West Virginia, relies heavily on the coal industry for steady jobs.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Dragons, Environment, Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Author Laura Bickle, best known for her Hallowed Ones, and Dark Alchemy series, returns with The Dragon's Playlist. The story is a contemporary themed novel with a rather unusual dragon who just wants to be left alone. Diamond (Di) Hoffman was away at college when her father was caught in a mine disaster. Her father, like a majority of those in her home town in West Virginia, relies heavily on the coal industry for steady jobs.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
September 13, 2017
I already pre-ordered this book when I was offered an early copy for review, and I was eager enough to read this as soon as possible that I immediately accepted.
And this is such a beautiful read!
Laura Bickle has yet to write something that I do not love.
This story takes you on a magical and emotional ride. It's filled with sadness, hope, and longing. I connected with Di from the start and could understand why she longs for magic and freedom. Her attempts to find the strange creature living in the mountain had me cheering her on.
This is not just a story about a dragon, it's a bitter sweet tale about family and roots - the ties that bind - about letting go or holding on, and what price you are wiling (and able) to pay for either choice.
I was gripped and drawn in, and couldn't put this book down until I finished it. You bet I'll be rereading this. and I'm hoping it will become available in print, so I can add it to my shelf of favorites.
And this is such a beautiful read!
Laura Bickle has yet to write something that I do not love.
This story takes you on a magical and emotional ride. It's filled with sadness, hope, and longing. I connected with Di from the start and could understand why she longs for magic and freedom. Her attempts to find the strange creature living in the mountain had me cheering her on.
This is not just a story about a dragon, it's a bitter sweet tale about family and roots - the ties that bind - about letting go or holding on, and what price you are wiling (and able) to pay for either choice.
I was gripped and drawn in, and couldn't put this book down until I finished it. You bet I'll be rereading this. and I'm hoping it will become available in print, so I can add it to my shelf of favorites.
August 7, 2017
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I will be the first to admit that I'm not a huge fan of books about dragons, so in all honesty, I probably shouldn't have requested this book. But I also like stepping out of my comfort zone, so I thought I would give this book a try. Even though I gave The Dragon's Playlist a 3 star rating, I actually thought it was pretty good and it immediately made me think of one of my friends who would love this book. So while for me it's a 3 star rating simply because it's just not the type of story I would read about, I know that for others it will be a 5.
There's a lot to like about this story. The characters are all realistic people, and throughout the story, they develop really well. The main character Di really struggles with what she wants to do when she comes home after her father gets hurt in a mining accident. Does she want to go back to school or does she want to stay at home and make money to support her family? Along with her is her family, including her grandfather who introduced her to music, music which brings magic into her life. Her ex-boyfriend Jason is also in the picture, and the one who rescued her father. Along with many other people, there's a rich cast of characters in this novel but none of them feel flat or cheap. I can say that I genuinely liked all the characters that were introduced, including the dragon.
Another thing that I really appreciated about this story was that it was very fast-paced. There wasn't ever a moment where I felt it dragged, and I got through it very quickly. This was good for me who wasn't very interested, but I also thought that people who would be very invested in this story wouldn't mind the pace either. There's something to really like about a novel who has no dull moments, and I think everyone can appreciate that.
Another thing I liked was that this novel was very multi-faceted. It wasn't JUST about dragons like I thought. It was about the environment, about family, about magic and music. It was honestly more than I expected, but that was a wonderful surprise. It was an added dimension to this novel that it really benefited from.
Honestly, there was no reason to dislike this novel, it just really wasn't my cup of tea. But like I said, I think that for people this appeals to, it would be a 5 star book.
I will be the first to admit that I'm not a huge fan of books about dragons, so in all honesty, I probably shouldn't have requested this book. But I also like stepping out of my comfort zone, so I thought I would give this book a try. Even though I gave The Dragon's Playlist a 3 star rating, I actually thought it was pretty good and it immediately made me think of one of my friends who would love this book. So while for me it's a 3 star rating simply because it's just not the type of story I would read about, I know that for others it will be a 5.
There's a lot to like about this story. The characters are all realistic people, and throughout the story, they develop really well. The main character Di really struggles with what she wants to do when she comes home after her father gets hurt in a mining accident. Does she want to go back to school or does she want to stay at home and make money to support her family? Along with her is her family, including her grandfather who introduced her to music, music which brings magic into her life. Her ex-boyfriend Jason is also in the picture, and the one who rescued her father. Along with many other people, there's a rich cast of characters in this novel but none of them feel flat or cheap. I can say that I genuinely liked all the characters that were introduced, including the dragon.
Another thing that I really appreciated about this story was that it was very fast-paced. There wasn't ever a moment where I felt it dragged, and I got through it very quickly. This was good for me who wasn't very interested, but I also thought that people who would be very invested in this story wouldn't mind the pace either. There's something to really like about a novel who has no dull moments, and I think everyone can appreciate that.
Another thing I liked was that this novel was very multi-faceted. It wasn't JUST about dragons like I thought. It was about the environment, about family, about magic and music. It was honestly more than I expected, but that was a wonderful surprise. It was an added dimension to this novel that it really benefited from.
Honestly, there was no reason to dislike this novel, it just really wasn't my cup of tea. But like I said, I think that for people this appeals to, it would be a 5 star book.
July 11, 2017
When Di is called home after a devastating accident almost claims the life of her father, she doesn’t feel at home. Her musical pursuits and dreams are put on hold as she’s thrust back into the life she fled. She does the best she can to ease the transition. When she discovers that there is a dragon living in a mountain that a local mining company wants to destroy, Di has to choose between taking care of her family or taking care of the dragon she has befriended.
The Dragon’s Playlist is a contemporary fantasy novel and I really enjoyed the book. Di is a multi-dimensional character that had a bright future with her violin. Her world comes crashing down when a mining accident almost kills her father. He’s become a shell of the man she once knew and the author did a great job describing Di’s reaction to seeing her father.
I enjoyed the mixture of emotions that warred within Di as she tried to acclimate to her surroundings. She left her home as a child but returned as an adult. It was hard for her to be back and her emotions and responses were skillfully relayed to the reader. Her strength pulls her through the motions of rebuilding her life back home – once independent and now back home with her parents. As a person who moved home after a divorce, I know exactly how Di felt. Her independence takes a back seat to the rules of the home.
The fantasy elements were fleeting but important to the story. They were masterfully woven within the drama of Di’s life – giving her an outlet away from her past and present. I was captivated from the start and engaged throughout the book. The references to elemental salamanders reminds me of Sparky, the salamander from Laura Bickle’s Anya Kalinczyk series. I enjoyed the story of Di’s life shake-up, her hard acclimation to being back home, the dragon tale, and the mining company.
I reviewed my verified Amazon purchase.
The Dragon’s Playlist is a contemporary fantasy novel and I really enjoyed the book. Di is a multi-dimensional character that had a bright future with her violin. Her world comes crashing down when a mining accident almost kills her father. He’s become a shell of the man she once knew and the author did a great job describing Di’s reaction to seeing her father.
I enjoyed the mixture of emotions that warred within Di as she tried to acclimate to her surroundings. She left her home as a child but returned as an adult. It was hard for her to be back and her emotions and responses were skillfully relayed to the reader. Her strength pulls her through the motions of rebuilding her life back home – once independent and now back home with her parents. As a person who moved home after a divorce, I know exactly how Di felt. Her independence takes a back seat to the rules of the home.
The fantasy elements were fleeting but important to the story. They were masterfully woven within the drama of Di’s life – giving her an outlet away from her past and present. I was captivated from the start and engaged throughout the book. The references to elemental salamanders reminds me of Sparky, the salamander from Laura Bickle’s Anya Kalinczyk series. I enjoyed the story of Di’s life shake-up, her hard acclimation to being back home, the dragon tale, and the mining company.
I reviewed my verified Amazon purchase.
September 1, 2017
I received this book as a complementary ebook from NetGalley. My thanks to NetGalley and Pronoun Publishing.
The Dragon's Playlist intrigued me from the teaser blurb. I expected this to be a simple mythical tale about dragons, but it ended up being so much more.
The first 30-40% of the book has a slower pace, but I'm a speed reader, so I don't mind a slower paced beginning unlike other readers. I enjoy a book that takes the time to effectively set the scene, setting, characters, and motivations, and author Laura Bickle does this splendidly.
I ADORE books that juxtapose the [mundane] real world with fantasy and the author does this so well that it truly seems believable. Authors often make the mistake of trying too hard to explain why the fantastic fantasy things are happening, but Laura Bickle puts in just enough to help the reader justify to him/herself the hows and whys of dragons living in rural mine county, West Virginia.
I could relate to Di's predicament of having to leave school and temporarily give up her passion - I danced ballet at a very high level for 11 years, but was forced to stop due to injuries. Di's talent and desire for her music really touched me. I wish there had been more scenes of her playing music or memories of her school experiences because those were the scenes where Di's characterization really showed the most.
The last 35-30% of the book was such a roller coaster! So many heart-wrenching decisions for Di, and so many heartbreaks all in such quick succession.
I really hope Laura Bickle is planning a sequel, because I felt that the book ended too suddenly with so many unfinished stories and unanswered questions. But this gets a solid 4 stars from me!
PS: I have an enormous passion for rocks and crystals, so I squealed a lot when those were mentioned! :)
The Dragon's Playlist intrigued me from the teaser blurb. I expected this to be a simple mythical tale about dragons, but it ended up being so much more.
The first 30-40% of the book has a slower pace, but I'm a speed reader, so I don't mind a slower paced beginning unlike other readers. I enjoy a book that takes the time to effectively set the scene, setting, characters, and motivations, and author Laura Bickle does this splendidly.
I ADORE books that juxtapose the [mundane] real world with fantasy and the author does this so well that it truly seems believable. Authors often make the mistake of trying too hard to explain why the fantastic fantasy things are happening, but Laura Bickle puts in just enough to help the reader justify to him/herself the hows and whys of dragons living in rural mine county, West Virginia.
I could relate to Di's predicament of having to leave school and temporarily give up her passion - I danced ballet at a very high level for 11 years, but was forced to stop due to injuries. Di's talent and desire for her music really touched me. I wish there had been more scenes of her playing music or memories of her school experiences because those were the scenes where Di's characterization really showed the most.
The last 35-30% of the book was such a roller coaster! So many heart-wrenching decisions for Di, and so many heartbreaks all in such quick succession.
I really hope Laura Bickle is planning a sequel, because I felt that the book ended too suddenly with so many unfinished stories and unanswered questions. But this gets a solid 4 stars from me!
PS: I have an enormous passion for rocks and crystals, so I squealed a lot when those were mentioned! :)
August 19, 2017
Well, you -can- go home again, but it might not be a good idea... but sometimes you don't have a choice. This is one of the most depressing books I've read in a very long time, and I read a lot of books. I'm tempted to pick up Shute's On the Beach to cheer me up. It's very well written, which made the impact of one loss after another all the stronger. It's a story about coming-of-age and accepting responsibility and getting along as best you can with the cards you're dealt, but mostly it's about dealing with grief and loss. It's a contemporary modern fantasy set in a small West Virginia mining town. The setting is extremely realistic, as I know from having lived in one such for a few years some time ago. I'm not sure in what year it's set exactly, but I'd guess the mid-1990's. The protagonist drives a Chevette, the music named is from that era or before, and while computers are extant there's no mention of the internet and none of the characters seem to carry phones. Music plays an important role in the book, and I can't help but think that Wellman's Silver John was a big influence. (On the lighter side, salamanders are mentioned prominently, which has become an Easter-egg in Bickle's books. You know, like Ron Goulart always mentioned seagulls.) I'm not sure that the title couldn't have been better chosen because it seems a little light in the wake of so much gloom. Though privately printed it's refreshingly free of errors, and has a very attractive cover. I recommend it highly, but not to anyone looking for a light feel-good read.
July 19, 2017
You really can't go home again. Or at least the home you remember. Though the story is ostensibly about a dragon [and there is one], the tale is really about trying to move on with your life but getting stalled by home and love and duty to family.
I really looked forward to reading this book as soon as I read the synopsis. The setting resonated with me as I am married to someone from this coal mining environment. He's told me stories and I've visited his home and I can see parallels to Diamond and her upbringing. Coal is what the residents know and when that becomes threatened in any way, there is an uproar.
I could empathize with Diamond as she is torn between what is known and the unknown. She loved college and the chance to move away from home, but I think she was a bit relieved to find herself home again. It's terrifying growing up and away. There is comfort in the familiar, however appalling that may feel.
Excellently developed characters, intriguing premise and some unanswered questions. A fantastic mystery as much as a fantasy.
Laura Bickle is pretty much on my get-as-soon-as-released authors. I've loved everything she has written and I always look forward to all upcoming creations from her.
Definitely recommend.
I really looked forward to reading this book as soon as I read the synopsis. The setting resonated with me as I am married to someone from this coal mining environment. He's told me stories and I've visited his home and I can see parallels to Diamond and her upbringing. Coal is what the residents know and when that becomes threatened in any way, there is an uproar.
I could empathize with Diamond as she is torn between what is known and the unknown. She loved college and the chance to move away from home, but I think she was a bit relieved to find herself home again. It's terrifying growing up and away. There is comfort in the familiar, however appalling that may feel.
Excellently developed characters, intriguing premise and some unanswered questions. A fantastic mystery as much as a fantasy.
Laura Bickle is pretty much on my get-as-soon-as-released authors. I've loved everything she has written and I always look forward to all upcoming creations from her.
Definitely recommend.
January 27, 2018
The Dragon's Playlist by Laura Bickle
Reviewed by Angi
This is now my 3rd book by Laura. Each book has been a complete and totally different world. I sometimes find that many authors that do many series either carry thinning storylines that do not hold up or the stories are to close to each other to call them individual stories. That is NOT the case with Laura.
With The Dragon's Playlist it was a sad and beautiful story. Di has come home due to her father being in a tragic mining accident. She is torn between her love and responsibility to her family and her dream of playing music in NY. She leaves NY to go home and get a job with no real dream future. She feels stuck and strangled by her circumstances. There is her ex Jason comfortable and reliable. A mystery man Will who is dangerous and not a stay around kinda guy. Then there is Buzzard Bill the town's own loch ness monster, with a hankering for classical music.
Will she survive in her small town version of her hell? What becomes of her dreams? That I can not tell you. You will have to read and find out. My complaint? Where is the next book? I need more. My heart needs more! Well this is my way of asking for book 2 haha
Thank you for such a beautiful story!
Reviewed by Angi
This is now my 3rd book by Laura. Each book has been a complete and totally different world. I sometimes find that many authors that do many series either carry thinning storylines that do not hold up or the stories are to close to each other to call them individual stories. That is NOT the case with Laura.
With The Dragon's Playlist it was a sad and beautiful story. Di has come home due to her father being in a tragic mining accident. She is torn between her love and responsibility to her family and her dream of playing music in NY. She leaves NY to go home and get a job with no real dream future. She feels stuck and strangled by her circumstances. There is her ex Jason comfortable and reliable. A mystery man Will who is dangerous and not a stay around kinda guy. Then there is Buzzard Bill the town's own loch ness monster, with a hankering for classical music.
Will she survive in her small town version of her hell? What becomes of her dreams? That I can not tell you. You will have to read and find out. My complaint? Where is the next book? I need more. My heart needs more! Well this is my way of asking for book 2 haha
Thank you for such a beautiful story!
July 31, 2017
Wow! The Dragon’s Playlist is the first book I’ve ever read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last! ... What an amazingly fresh new story for me, without an obvious shifter, in an awesome PNR must read I guess is modern or urban fantasy! ... An addicting, magical fairy-tale for adults with different elements expertly woven in about life, love, family, careers, the environment & making choices that really made me think! ... As an avid fan of shifter reads, I wasn’t sure if I’d love this or not, but I quickly became invested from the beginning & with each page I read as the author continued to reel me in, hook me and then send me on an emotional roller-coaster ride! The unique storyline was well thought out with surprise twists, fantastic descriptions & well defined relatable characters, and enough loose ends, that I sure hope we get another book soon with these characters :D (*Hint, hint* Ms. Bickle :D) Even tho I volunteered to read this, I have expressed my honest feelings without any outside influences. I highly recommend this to all fans of fiction and now I can’t wait for more!
August 12, 2017
I enjoyed this, particularly as the main character is a violinist. (And, as a string player myself, I had to worry about what happens to her and what that means for her future as a violinist.)
Di, short for Diamond, has to leave college and return home as her father was severely injured in an accident in the mine where he works. She reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Jason, takes a job in the office for the mine, and discovers that local legendary monster Buzzard Bill is really a dragon named Afakos.
It's a very enjoyable read although, as I said, I got so invested in Di that I worried about what the time off would do to her career chances (she doesn't seem to actually practice, just play what strikes her fancy at the time) and, of course, what I can't speak of for it would be a spoiler. I also enjoyed her friendship with Julie, who runs the local woo-woo shop and adopts a kitten, naming it Rhiannon. Hey, what's a fantasy novel without a cat?
If you like dragons, if you like music, check this out.
Di, short for Diamond, has to leave college and return home as her father was severely injured in an accident in the mine where he works. She reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Jason, takes a job in the office for the mine, and discovers that local legendary monster Buzzard Bill is really a dragon named Afakos.
It's a very enjoyable read although, as I said, I got so invested in Di that I worried about what the time off would do to her career chances (she doesn't seem to actually practice, just play what strikes her fancy at the time) and, of course, what I can't speak of for it would be a spoiler. I also enjoyed her friendship with Julie, who runs the local woo-woo shop and adopts a kitten, naming it Rhiannon. Hey, what's a fantasy novel without a cat?
If you like dragons, if you like music, check this out.
July 30, 2017
I was pretty sure I was going to like this book before I started it. String musicians will always hold a special place in my heart, as will Appalachian settings and environmental issues. It's kind of impossible, then, to set aside that this book seemed tailor-made for me, but it exceeded my expectations in so many ways.
First of all, it's pretty obvious that different parts of America have problems talking to and understanding one another. Which could easily lead to an author who's more sympathetic to one side of an issue than the other. But here, both the coal miners trying to scrape out a living and the environmental activists trying to shut down the mine are treated respectfully and, importantly, neither are treated as "evil." For that reason alone I would recommend this book to most people (assisted, of course, by the fact that the story is great).
Second, I'm starting to be really into the idea of modern-not-urban settings for fantasy. The whole book takes place in a teeny tiny town in rural West Virginia, but still manages to provide a variety of settings. This is also a nice break in many ways from the standard "murder mystery investigation" feel of a lot of (frequently good) urban fantasy that I found really refreshing.
This book is by no means perfect (there's an "is it or is it not a love triangle" thing that I don't think added much to the plot, but it's pretty small and unimportant) but I love it regardless.
My copy was provided by Netgallery in exchange for my honest review. I don't think this impacted my opinion of the book.
First of all, it's pretty obvious that different parts of America have problems talking to and understanding one another. Which could easily lead to an author who's more sympathetic to one side of an issue than the other. But here, both the coal miners trying to scrape out a living and the environmental activists trying to shut down the mine are treated respectfully and, importantly, neither are treated as "evil." For that reason alone I would recommend this book to most people (assisted, of course, by the fact that the story is great).
Second, I'm starting to be really into the idea of modern-not-urban settings for fantasy. The whole book takes place in a teeny tiny town in rural West Virginia, but still manages to provide a variety of settings. This is also a nice break in many ways from the standard "murder mystery investigation" feel of a lot of (frequently good) urban fantasy that I found really refreshing.
This book is by no means perfect (there's an "is it or is it not a love triangle" thing that I don't think added much to the plot, but it's pretty small and unimportant) but I love it regardless.
My copy was provided by Netgallery in exchange for my honest review. I don't think this impacted my opinion of the book.
July 2, 2017
This one didn't have a strong enough fantasy element to hold my attention. I think of this as old-style contemporary fantasy, where everyone starts as an unbeliever and has to be gradually wooed over to belief in the fantasy element through several incidents spread over multiple chapters. I strongly prefer the newer-style urban fantasy where the main characters usually know about the fantasy element from the get go (Sparks or Embers by the same author for instance.) That's why this is a three for me personally, despite the high writing quality.
The main character, Di, is college-age and on that seesaw of adult to teen. Her struggle with being pulled back to the mining town she'd just escaped from is portrayed quite well, and so are the different sides of the mining issue.
The main character, Di, is college-age and on that seesaw of adult to teen. Her struggle with being pulled back to the mining town she'd just escaped from is portrayed quite well, and so are the different sides of the mining issue.
June 6, 2017
There is music and dragons and reality of returning home when tragedy strikes and perhaps losing a bright future.
The reality part of the story touches on an issue in the news - coal mining done by miners tunneling through mountains giving way to the much more efficient method of blowing off the top of the mountain to get at the coal (with enormous impact to the surrounding environment and no guarantees that the miners will be needed anymore). I am not a terribly political person, and I feel sorry for the people losing their jobs and for the environment.
The story part of this was meandering and not terribly cheery, but the ending was moderately hopeful.
The reality part of the story touches on an issue in the news - coal mining done by miners tunneling through mountains giving way to the much more efficient method of blowing off the top of the mountain to get at the coal (with enormous impact to the surrounding environment and no guarantees that the miners will be needed anymore). I am not a terribly political person, and I feel sorry for the people losing their jobs and for the environment.
The story part of this was meandering and not terribly cheery, but the ending was moderately hopeful.
July 28, 2017
This was a real gem to read. It was offered to me by a friend and the minute I dived into the story, I could not take my eyes off of it. It is superbly written by Laura Bickle and it is truly unlike any dragon shifter story I have read up to date. The story is quite relatable to a certain extant and it made me cry quite a few times, as I have suffered much loss myself recently.
If you want to read a dragon shifter story that is unlike anything you have read, this is the book for you.
If you want to read a dragon shifter story that is unlike anything you have read, this is the book for you.
October 12, 2017
2.5 stars
I...really actually loved this story. The mc was engaging, the Dragon was perfectly imperfect.
But.
Like, I loved all the PIECES of this story, but they just didn't mesh well. I feel like a good editor could have helped smooth some of those rough edges, blended things a bit more seamlessly. This read like someone's NaNo draft that they fell in love with and published too soon. And that's a real shame, because it ended up good when it could have been great.
I...really actually loved this story. The mc was engaging, the Dragon was perfectly imperfect.
But.
Like, I loved all the PIECES of this story, but they just didn't mesh well. I feel like a good editor could have helped smooth some of those rough edges, blended things a bit more seamlessly. This read like someone's NaNo draft that they fell in love with and published too soon. And that's a real shame, because it ended up good when it could have been great.
January 15, 2018
A family tragedy forces a college student to reluctantly return home to a West Virginia coal mining town she thought she’d escaped, where she gets mixed up in a conflict between miners, environmentalists, and the dragon who turns out to be living in the mine. This isn’t essential reading, but it’s solid enough if you’re interested in the subject matter. The great cover art at least partially makes up for the utterly terrible title.
July 7, 2017
To give up one's dream from a sense of duty, and then use the same talent to help save your town .. Lost hopes, old love rekindled, and old magic come together in a special story of commitment and doing the right thing. In the end, one cannot just sit down and let life takes its course. It needs to be steered. Most enjoyable.
June 12, 2020
An unbelievably good book with wonderful characters and a real feel for small town dynamics. Di was a typical youngster who was just finding out who and what she could be and she did a pretty good job.
December 20, 2019
Absolutely loved it. Wish there was more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews