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Dragon Singer Chronicles #1
Songflight
Can a silenced slayer find her voice among the dragons?
As the sole child of a powerful slayer chief, Alísa’s position as heir to the clan should have been certain. But in addition to the vocal stutter holding her back, she also holds a terrible secret. Her empathic powers connect uncontrollably to dragons, forcing her to feel their pain as they die. No slayer clan will ever follow a woman influenced by dragons.
When a killing ceremony reveals her shameful secret, her fate is sealed—she will marry her father’s apprentice, and he will be the next chief instead. But when her growing powers reveal one dragon’s goodness, Alísa is left with terrible questions:
Are dragons truly soulless as the slayers believe?
Is the war between their races justified?
And might the dragons actually listen to her, despite her stutter?
Now Alísa must choose—remain with her family in comfortable yet condemning silence, or follow the dragons claiming to know her true purpose.
A heart-filled adventure for fans of Eragon, Dragonriders of Pern, and the How To Train Your Dragon movies. Check it out if you like:
- Introverted Main Characters
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)
As the sole child of a powerful slayer chief, Alísa’s position as heir to the clan should have been certain. But in addition to the vocal stutter holding her back, she also holds a terrible secret. Her empathic powers connect uncontrollably to dragons, forcing her to feel their pain as they die. No slayer clan will ever follow a woman influenced by dragons.
When a killing ceremony reveals her shameful secret, her fate is sealed—she will marry her father’s apprentice, and he will be the next chief instead. But when her growing powers reveal one dragon’s goodness, Alísa is left with terrible questions:
Are dragons truly soulless as the slayers believe?
Is the war between their races justified?
And might the dragons actually listen to her, despite her stutter?
Now Alísa must choose—remain with her family in comfortable yet condemning silence, or follow the dragons claiming to know her true purpose.
A heart-filled adventure for fans of Eragon, Dragonriders of Pern, and the How To Train Your Dragon movies. Check it out if you like:
- Introverted Main Characters
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)
442 pages, Paperback
Published August 21, 2020
43 people are currently reading
2216 people want to read
About the author
Michelle M. Bruhn
4 books63 followersMichelle M. Bruhn is a young adult fantasy author whose stories focus on outcasts, hard questions, and hope. She is passionate about seeing through others’ eyes and helping others to do the same, especially through characters with diverse life experiences. She spends the rest of her free time making and listening to music, walking, reading, and snuggling with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 5, 2024
*4.5 stars
I stumbled across the audiobook on Scribd, when I was searching for How to Train Your Dragon (that's not on there), and thought, ok I'll give it a go. I immediately noticed the inspiration from Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, and on checking, saw that the author was indeed initially inspired by those. I loved the Pern books, so that's a good thing! The author has taken one or two aspects about the Pern books and made it her own.
It's a wonderful self-published YA fantasy - I didn't realise initially that it was self-pub. Throughout the novel, you can really feel that this is a passion project, even without hunting down what the author has said about it, and a lot of work has clearly been put into its presentation - the cover, the author's website, the quality of the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, including her lovely songs, and there's even a nice map at the beginning (I looked at the ebook on Kindle Unlimited too). I will be buying physical copies of the books.
As for the story itself, I found Alisa a refreshingly unique protagonist, in that she's not a sassy, butt-kicking YA protagonist that is so common these days - she's vulnerable and doubts herself a lot, and takes her time to really find where her strength lies and to make her decisions. I really liked her. I could also tell that the author put a lot of work into researching what it is like to have a stutter, and the exploration of empathy and how she weaved a magic system from that (linking it to Alisa's singing) was really well done and unique. I'm not the biggest fan of 'psychic' magic stuff - powers you can't actually see - but the thought the author put into the details of it paid off. We gradually get to know more about how it all works as the book goes on.
The dragons and the dreki (little dragons) were really cool and I liked all the side characters (the nice ones haha), and I also like that there is not necessarily a simple 'good and evil' binary in what's going on either.
This first book is complete enough to be a satisfying story of its own, but it very definitely ends wide open for book 2, which I am really looking forward to reading!
I stumbled across the audiobook on Scribd, when I was searching for How to Train Your Dragon (that's not on there), and thought, ok I'll give it a go. I immediately noticed the inspiration from Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, and on checking, saw that the author was indeed initially inspired by those. I loved the Pern books, so that's a good thing! The author has taken one or two aspects about the Pern books and made it her own.
It's a wonderful self-published YA fantasy - I didn't realise initially that it was self-pub. Throughout the novel, you can really feel that this is a passion project, even without hunting down what the author has said about it, and a lot of work has clearly been put into its presentation - the cover, the author's website, the quality of the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, including her lovely songs, and there's even a nice map at the beginning (I looked at the ebook on Kindle Unlimited too). I will be buying physical copies of the books.
As for the story itself, I found Alisa a refreshingly unique protagonist, in that she's not a sassy, butt-kicking YA protagonist that is so common these days - she's vulnerable and doubts herself a lot, and takes her time to really find where her strength lies and to make her decisions. I really liked her. I could also tell that the author put a lot of work into researching what it is like to have a stutter, and the exploration of empathy and how she weaved a magic system from that (linking it to Alisa's singing) was really well done and unique. I'm not the biggest fan of 'psychic' magic stuff - powers you can't actually see - but the thought the author put into the details of it paid off. We gradually get to know more about how it all works as the book goes on.
The dragons and the dreki (little dragons) were really cool and I liked all the side characters (the nice ones haha), and I also like that there is not necessarily a simple 'good and evil' binary in what's going on either.
This first book is complete enough to be a satisfying story of its own, but it very definitely ends wide open for book 2, which I am really looking forward to reading!
read-multiple-times
April 21, 2025Thanks for giving Songflight a look! If you want to try out my writing before giving the full novel a go, you can get my free short story prequel Mindsong here!
A few things you can expect from Songflight:
- Introverted Main Character
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)
You can learn more and purchase on my website here!
A few things you can expect from Songflight:
- Introverted Main Character
- Dragons With Personality
- Unlikely Friendships
- Sweet Romantic Subplot
- Music As Magic
- Disability Representation
- Telepaths & Empaths
- Tiny Fairy Dragons (who might be scarier than the big ones)
You can learn more and purchase on my website here!
July 10, 2020
It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I did, I absolutely loved it.
I love how the author tested Alisa again and again, showing how she could be both frail and strong at the same time.
I love how the plot kept me guessing, wondering if Alisa really could convince both dragon and slayer to work together.
I love the description of the towns, the people in them, and how the author made me feel like each and every human (or dragon) had a character or mind of his/her own. I love how the author built her world with easy titles, like "slayer" or "holder" and unique roles for all.
My heart broke with Alisa, soared with Alisa, and wept with Alisa through her trials and triumphs.
And the music...it should be obvious, considering the title, but the songs in this book are wonderful and inspiring, though it took a bit to get used to.
This book is well worth the price you pay for it. This is YA Fantasy at its finest. I can't wait to read the next one.
I love how the author tested Alisa again and again, showing how she could be both frail and strong at the same time.
I love how the plot kept me guessing, wondering if Alisa really could convince both dragon and slayer to work together.
I love the description of the towns, the people in them, and how the author made me feel like each and every human (or dragon) had a character or mind of his/her own. I love how the author built her world with easy titles, like "slayer" or "holder" and unique roles for all.
My heart broke with Alisa, soared with Alisa, and wept with Alisa through her trials and triumphs.
And the music...it should be obvious, considering the title, but the songs in this book are wonderful and inspiring, though it took a bit to get used to.
This book is well worth the price you pay for it. This is YA Fantasy at its finest. I can't wait to read the next one.
September 19, 2022
Songflight has a wonderful Celtic fantasy feel in a very cool world that I enjoyed getting pulled into. Filled with chiefs and dragons, mountains and forests, a chieftain’s daughter and several scheming plots, it was an epic read! It’s kind of like Brave meets How to Train Your Dragon and I’m here for it. *grinning*
Alisa’s song magic was sooo cool! I loved it, and I loved that the songs were IN the book. They were delightful. The worldbuilding was neat, too, and I loved the sense of past and history that the book was steeped in, while still feeling present. It almost had a historical fantasy feel despite being in a fantasy world!
Dragonssss! Okay, obviously the best part of this book is that there are dragons in it. Sooo many dragons, and I loved how there were lots of different kinds of characters among them. And there were also . . . TINY DRAGONS! Called Dreki, the tiny dragons were the absolute greatest, and I loved that they existed as well as the big, ridable kind. The Dreki make me so happy!
Alisa’s a relatable heroine and following her on her journey was so cool, especially continuing against all odds, and as she meets others on her quest. There’s a great cast of characters, like the different dragons, such as Graydonn who is epic and loyal and I would like to ride him, yes please; and Sesina, young and playful and energetic; and Chri, one of the precious but wise Dreki! And, yes, even humans, like Falier—he’s the best! I wanted more of Falier. XD They and others are all such loyal friends for Alisa and—I’m having a feeling. Loved these characters!
This book lost a star from me because of a character death which was Not Okay. AHEM. That may be just me, though. (But it’s like killing the dog, okay! T_T Ahem. XD) But otherwise, this was an immersive Celtic fantasy with DRAGONS and song magic, and I really enjoyed it! I’d recommend it and I’m looking forward to reading more in this world!
Special audiobook note: I had started this in ebook form, but later switched to the audiobook version on Scribd (https://www.scribd.com/g/965uhi), and it’s delightful! It’s read by the author, and she SINGS the song parts! I always listen to audiobooks around 2x speed, but I slowed it down every time singing came up. Loved it! Just saying it’s worth checking out the audio (if you’re an audiobook person). I also enjoyed the short story prequel which is also on audio.
(I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.)
Alisa’s song magic was sooo cool! I loved it, and I loved that the songs were IN the book. They were delightful. The worldbuilding was neat, too, and I loved the sense of past and history that the book was steeped in, while still feeling present. It almost had a historical fantasy feel despite being in a fantasy world!
Dragonssss! Okay, obviously the best part of this book is that there are dragons in it. Sooo many dragons, and I loved how there were lots of different kinds of characters among them. And there were also . . . TINY DRAGONS! Called Dreki, the tiny dragons were the absolute greatest, and I loved that they existed as well as the big, ridable kind. The Dreki make me so happy!
Alisa’s a relatable heroine and following her on her journey was so cool, especially continuing against all odds, and as she meets others on her quest. There’s a great cast of characters, like the different dragons, such as Graydonn who is epic and loyal and I would like to ride him, yes please; and Sesina, young and playful and energetic; and Chri, one of the precious but wise Dreki! And, yes, even humans, like Falier—he’s the best! I wanted more of Falier. XD They and others are all such loyal friends for Alisa and—I’m having a feeling. Loved these characters!
This book lost a star from me because of a character death which was Not Okay. AHEM. That may be just me, though. (But it’s like killing the dog, okay! T_T Ahem. XD) But otherwise, this was an immersive Celtic fantasy with DRAGONS and song magic, and I really enjoyed it! I’d recommend it and I’m looking forward to reading more in this world!
Special audiobook note: I had started this in ebook form, but later switched to the audiobook version on Scribd (https://www.scribd.com/g/965uhi), and it’s delightful! It’s read by the author, and she SINGS the song parts! I always listen to audiobooks around 2x speed, but I slowed it down every time singing came up. Loved it! Just saying it’s worth checking out the audio (if you’re an audiobook person). I also enjoyed the short story prequel which is also on audio.
(I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.)
December 29, 2021
As someone who is probably quite outside Bruhn's target demographic, I found this adventure both enthralling and heart-rending. Hours after the story was over, I found myself missing the characters, wondering what they'd do next.
Bruhn also did an excellent job with the audiobook narration, especially considering the abundance of music woven into the story. You'd never believe the entire production was an indie effort.
I can't wait for the next volume.
Bruhn also did an excellent job with the audiobook narration, especially considering the abundance of music woven into the story. You'd never believe the entire production was an indie effort.
I can't wait for the next volume.
September 22, 2022
I loooooooooove this book! It's now one of my favorite books (and that's not so easy to accomplish)! It's epic!
M. Bruhn takes her time telling the story, it's not rushed, but far from boring.
The character development is perfect, comprehensible and absolutely believable. You'll find yourself here and there, whether it's in the humans or the dragons (or the dreki? ;)
The best Christian-dragon-fantasy novel I've read so far!
I can't wait for the next book!!! ❤️❤️❤️🐲
M. Bruhn takes her time telling the story, it's not rushed, but far from boring.
The character development is perfect, comprehensible and absolutely believable. You'll find yourself here and there, whether it's in the humans or the dragons (or the dreki? ;)
The best Christian-dragon-fantasy novel I've read so far!
I can't wait for the next book!!! ❤️❤️❤️🐲
April 24, 2023
Excellent new dragon story
Poetic, vivid, and gripping. The story of Alisa is one to treasure and savor. A new and wonderous look at dragons and humans.
Poetic, vivid, and gripping. The story of Alisa is one to treasure and savor. A new and wonderous look at dragons and humans.
July 16, 2025
I loved the fact that I could see myself in the mc. Everything was relatable how her in some way. I will definitely have to read more by this author. What a fun, and visual ride.
August 20, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this eARC as part of being on Michelle's Street Team but all opinions are my own. (Check out my bio for the pre-order link that has goodies and a giveaway. Definitely sign up to get her Songflight sawshort story!).
This story has heart, compassion, loss, and adventure weaved into themes of family, friendship, learning to trust, self discovery, learning to understand before judging, and so much more. The emotions are palpable and made me cry a few times and laugh a lot. The characters each had their own flaws and traits that make you understand them, empathize with them, and believe in them.
Alísa's stammer and strong empath powers at first bring her shame and humiliation, but as she finds inner strength through her actions and friends in unlikely places she learns how to direct her skills and overcome her fears in the hope of bringing peace to her home. This main character, and all the characters in this book (both human and dragon), are each their own with actual personalities and complex emotions.
The struggle Alísa faces in how to best find peace, and show both dragons and humans that the other is not all evil, is reminiscent of Aang's struggle in how to end the war in Avatar the Last Airbender (great story arc and similar push back for peace, that is what I am getting at here).
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one! I need it already and this book isn't even out officially until August 😭.
5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story has heart, compassion, loss, and adventure weaved into themes of family, friendship, learning to trust, self discovery, learning to understand before judging, and so much more. The emotions are palpable and made me cry a few times and laugh a lot. The characters each had their own flaws and traits that make you understand them, empathize with them, and believe in them.
Alísa's stammer and strong empath powers at first bring her shame and humiliation, but as she finds inner strength through her actions and friends in unlikely places she learns how to direct her skills and overcome her fears in the hope of bringing peace to her home. This main character, and all the characters in this book (both human and dragon), are each their own with actual personalities and complex emotions.
The struggle Alísa faces in how to best find peace, and show both dragons and humans that the other is not all evil, is reminiscent of Aang's struggle in how to end the war in Avatar the Last Airbender (great story arc and similar push back for peace, that is what I am getting at here).
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one! I need it already and this book isn't even out officially until August 😭.
5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 12, 2021
Alisa is my spirit animal! Or maybe it's Sesina. Either way, I loved the characters and following them into this world of dragons and conflict and music - ah, music. I will never tire of entering worlds where the magic of music is manifested in tangible ways. Can't wait for book 2! (And 3, but I'll try not to get ahead of myself.)
August 16, 2023
Loved this story! I couldn't put it down! The characters are well written and the plot is enthralling. I was on an emotional rollercoaster and loved every minute of it. I can't wait to read the next!
June 24, 2020
Imaginative exploration of complex moral issues + dragon-riding fun!
November 24, 2020
Songflight is a deeply moving story. The main character is a fantasy empath, a.k.a. a heightened, almost tangible perception of others' feelings, which causes emotion to be a consistent and raw presence in the narration. Beyond even Alísa's empath gift, however, she's a deeply empathetic and passionate character. She feels not just others' emotions strongly, but her own. She cares and cares hard. The constant inundation of feeling can be almost overwhelming for the reader — and it certainly is so for Alísa herself.
It would be interesting to explore the empath powers thematically throughout Songflight, and in just how many respects they portray or typify empathetic struggles, whether there's any more nuanced analogy going on; but that would require a reread on my part that I don't currently have time to give ;)
The plot is slow-moving, definitely not a fast-paced read — priority is spent on developing relationships, internal struggles, and times of training and instruction. I wouldn't have objected the beginning to move a little faster, but overall I think the pace suits the story. The reader and the characters deserve the time to soak up that relationship growth in-between the intense struggles and horror.
I was so proud to watch Alísa grow as a character. That took time, too. But there was a certain high point that made me proud all through (even if I got MASSIVE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASSMENT!), and after that, each accumulating milestone was exciting. The relationship dynamics between her and each character were fun to watch, and I'm eager to see how one or two in particular carry forward into the next book.
This book had a fascinating way of scattering songs throughout the book — appropriately, considering the title, and logically, considering Alísa's stammer. I haven't read many books that incorporate so much verse, and I was impressed by the result here. I didn't *love* all the songs, but I enjoyed the variety of metrics and styles and TRULY appreciated the author's evident experience in this area (I know when I'm reading mediocre lyrics and it's not fun).
Songflight faces a lot of heavy topics head-on — pulling no punches with questions about pain, repentance, prejudice, equity, war, grief, "Why do bad things happen", and "Why me". The Christianity parallels shine through beautifully without ever being heavy-handed, serving to ground the story and themes in a deep and lovely way.
One of the strongest themes in Songflight is that we are made the way we are for a reason. Many of Songflight's characters experience unique, challenging conditions. Alísa's speech impediment is the most immediate example, easily inciting condescension and dismissal; but one character also seems to have a form of synethesia (? hard to tell this kind of thing in fantasy sometimes), her brother hides his telepathic gift rather than let others see how stunted it is; another character is blind. Even one of the dragons faces physical coordination problems from a maternal bond formed under unusual circumstances. They all face their own kind of loneliness, fears, and "why"s. But Songflight sends the clear message that we while we might not know "why" right away, we do not matter less, and are not less loved because of it.
Little things I loved: Alísa being a dragon "mom", the adorable romance (I'm very proud of myself for calling the chemistry before the characters even realized it), the dreki, the at times breathtakingly cinematic visuals that the book conjures up with its weighty moments, landscapes, and creatures.
I take off a star for personal enjoyment, since the writing style didn't click with me and caused me a little difficulty connecting to Alísa in the beginning. However, the story's message is stunningly beautiful and valuable, and I'll be waiting for the sequel.
It would be interesting to explore the empath powers thematically throughout Songflight, and in just how many respects they portray or typify empathetic struggles, whether there's any more nuanced analogy going on; but that would require a reread on my part that I don't currently have time to give ;)
The plot is slow-moving, definitely not a fast-paced read — priority is spent on developing relationships, internal struggles, and times of training and instruction. I wouldn't have objected the beginning to move a little faster, but overall I think the pace suits the story. The reader and the characters deserve the time to soak up that relationship growth in-between the intense struggles and horror.
I was so proud to watch Alísa grow as a character. That took time, too. But there was a certain high point that made me proud all through (even if I got MASSIVE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASSMENT!), and after that, each accumulating milestone was exciting. The relationship dynamics between her and each character were fun to watch, and I'm eager to see how one or two in particular carry forward into the next book.
This book had a fascinating way of scattering songs throughout the book — appropriately, considering the title, and logically, considering Alísa's stammer. I haven't read many books that incorporate so much verse, and I was impressed by the result here. I didn't *love* all the songs, but I enjoyed the variety of metrics and styles and TRULY appreciated the author's evident experience in this area (I know when I'm reading mediocre lyrics and it's not fun).
Songflight faces a lot of heavy topics head-on — pulling no punches with questions about pain, repentance, prejudice, equity, war, grief, "Why do bad things happen", and "Why me". The Christianity parallels shine through beautifully without ever being heavy-handed, serving to ground the story and themes in a deep and lovely way.
One of the strongest themes in Songflight is that we are made the way we are for a reason. Many of Songflight's characters experience unique, challenging conditions. Alísa's speech impediment is the most immediate example, easily inciting condescension and dismissal; but one character also seems to have a form of synethesia (? hard to tell this kind of thing in fantasy sometimes), her brother hides his telepathic gift rather than let others see how stunted it is; another character is blind. Even one of the dragons faces physical coordination problems from a maternal bond formed under unusual circumstances. They all face their own kind of loneliness, fears, and "why"s. But Songflight sends the clear message that we while we might not know "why" right away, we do not matter less, and are not less loved because of it.
Little things I loved: Alísa being a dragon "mom", the adorable romance (I'm very proud of myself for calling the chemistry before the characters even realized it), the dreki, the at times breathtakingly cinematic visuals that the book conjures up with its weighty moments, landscapes, and creatures.
I take off a star for personal enjoyment, since the writing style didn't click with me and caused me a little difficulty connecting to Alísa in the beginning. However, the story's message is stunningly beautiful and valuable, and I'll be waiting for the sequel.
January 6, 2023
Original with Familiar Themes
Music has power. For Alisa, it has more power than she could have imagined.
I loved these flawed characters who had to band together in a fight against their families, prejudices, and inner demons.
Anyone who loves tales of dragons, underdogs and the triumph of good over evil will love this book. I’m eager to experience the next leg of the Dragon Singer’s journey.
Music has power. For Alisa, it has more power than she could have imagined.
I loved these flawed characters who had to band together in a fight against their families, prejudices, and inner demons.
Anyone who loves tales of dragons, underdogs and the triumph of good over evil will love this book. I’m eager to experience the next leg of the Dragon Singer’s journey.
January 25, 2023
This is my second time reading this, and I must say, it gets more beautiful with each reading.
I mean, who doesn't love:
Characters with disabilities struggling to overcome them
Characters learning to work together to better each other and their world
Dragons with great personalities (and jokes!)
A surprisingly pro-life message
A beautiful message of embracing the truth over lies
Poems and songs that you can practically hear (the author has a playlist!)
Easy to understand worldbuilding (Holders, Slayers, Singers, Empaths)
Heart-pounding plot (Dragon battles anyone?)
If any of that interests you, you will love this book!
Content: Use of the d word a few times. Violence in dragon battles, with imagery of blood/bleeding. Physical abuse by a fiancé (hits her once, possessive behavior, and mind choke).
I mean, who doesn't love:
Characters with disabilities struggling to overcome them
Characters learning to work together to better each other and their world
Dragons with great personalities (and jokes!)
A surprisingly pro-life message
A beautiful message of embracing the truth over lies
Poems and songs that you can practically hear (the author has a playlist!)
Easy to understand worldbuilding (Holders, Slayers, Singers, Empaths)
Heart-pounding plot (Dragon battles anyone?)
If any of that interests you, you will love this book!
Content: Use of the d word a few times. Violence in dragon battles, with imagery of blood/bleeding. Physical abuse by a fiancé (hits her once, possessive behavior, and mind choke).
October 19, 2020
You know when you read one of those books and you're thinking "wait, this was indie published?!" Songflight gave me those feelings. I've been jaded about dragon books for a long time because they don't do anything new, or else fall into that over-hormonal YA category that makes the fantasy element feel shallow. Songflight is the YA epic dragon fantasy I didn't realise I'd been waiting for. It's the perfect coming of age tale with a troubled heroine and an original fantasy land full of strange Celtic spiritual charm. I haven't cared so much about draconic characters since Eragon or Dreamwalker.
The story brings us into a world where groups of humans gifted with psychic powers defend the "normal" humans from the dragons that burn and pillage their wild, mountainous lands. Alisa is the daughter of the chief slayer in her clan, but while she knows enough about swordplay to not stick herself with the pointy end, she's no warrior. The women of her clan cannot wield the psychic energies needed to fight, but use empathy instead to connect and heal one another. Yet Alisa's trouble is that she doesn't only sense humans, she can sense dragons. If it weren't bad enough that she suffers from a stutter and was looking at an arranged marriage to a cooly possessive warrior, she's struggling to rein in her growing sensitivities. Whispered legends tell her people that dragons are evil, servants of a cruel god, and that no good could ever come from them. Yet when she meets -and speaks to!- a captured dragon youngster, Alisa's perceptions change. The dragon offers her answers, but only if she's brave enough to leave behind all she's ever known.
I love love loved Alisa as a heroine. She's not your newfangled YA butt-kicker. She's competent, yes, but not overpowered or unrealistic. Her "flaw" of her vocal stutter is sympathetically and realistically written - and it's one she can't just magically get rid of either (OK, she can use her "psychic voice" with certain special characters, but even so ). Her inner feelings are described beautifully, and while she spends a lot fo time worrying and filled with self-doubt it doesn't overpower her story or make her a whiny character. Meeting the dragons and coming to know them, I really cared for them all and their familial bond. Greydonn, Sesira and Koriana all have very distinct personalities, as do the important side characters like Holder siblings Falier and Selena, so they were easy to follow and like (or, you know, not like if they're the nasty ones). Later on there are quite a few characters to add to the mix, many of them named dragons, and I did then wish for a kind of cast list if just to help me keep them all in order!
Even the "bad" human characters can been seen as complex shades of grey - slayers who like Alisa have to question all they've been told in the face of the evidence don't just come round in a snap, but nor do they unrealistically dig their heels in to make that "so unfair!!1!" adult character trope that turns up so often in YA. They act like real human beings; something that modern YA struggles with yet here is effortless.
There is a tiny hint of romance. It's obvious, understated and perfect. That is all.
The world isn't over-described and maybe seems a little generic hills/forests/mountains, but the lore of the world is where it really shines. Celtic drums and dances, songs peppering the narrative making it like one of those bardic fantasy tales of decades past, the spiritual mythology of dragons and fae and gods and saints all added together to make a living, breathing world of magic. It's also not your usual dragon rider type of thing; riding dragons is just a by-product of necessity rather than being part of some kind of warrior legend. It's more about the emotional and mental connections.
The plot is paced to perfection, following the usual highs and lows of a coming of age tale yet never feeling contrived or dragging. It's a slow, steady sort of book with plenty of heart and heartbreak along the way. The ending is the perfect sort of cliffhanger; not too abrupt, but with promise of hard times to come even after the standard Happy For Now.
I've said perfect a lot in this review, mostly because I adored this slow-burn of a dragon rider read. If I were to gripe about anything (I have to, for balance) it'd be the very occasional use of modern slang like "cool" and "gross" in an epic fantasy setting. That's about it.
I haven't looked forward to a YA book 2 this much in a long time.
The story brings us into a world where groups of humans gifted with psychic powers defend the "normal" humans from the dragons that burn and pillage their wild, mountainous lands. Alisa is the daughter of the chief slayer in her clan, but while she knows enough about swordplay to not stick herself with the pointy end, she's no warrior. The women of her clan cannot wield the psychic energies needed to fight, but use empathy instead to connect and heal one another. Yet Alisa's trouble is that she doesn't only sense humans, she can sense dragons. If it weren't bad enough that she suffers from a stutter and was looking at an arranged marriage to a cooly possessive warrior, she's struggling to rein in her growing sensitivities. Whispered legends tell her people that dragons are evil, servants of a cruel god, and that no good could ever come from them. Yet when she meets -and speaks to!- a captured dragon youngster, Alisa's perceptions change. The dragon offers her answers, but only if she's brave enough to leave behind all she's ever known.
I love love loved Alisa as a heroine. She's not your newfangled YA butt-kicker. She's competent, yes, but not overpowered or unrealistic. Her "flaw" of her vocal stutter is sympathetically and realistically written - and it's one she can't just magically get rid of either (OK, she can use her "psychic voice" with certain special characters, but even so ). Her inner feelings are described beautifully, and while she spends a lot fo time worrying and filled with self-doubt it doesn't overpower her story or make her a whiny character. Meeting the dragons and coming to know them, I really cared for them all and their familial bond. Greydonn, Sesira and Koriana all have very distinct personalities, as do the important side characters like Holder siblings Falier and Selena, so they were easy to follow and like (or, you know, not like if they're the nasty ones). Later on there are quite a few characters to add to the mix, many of them named dragons, and I did then wish for a kind of cast list if just to help me keep them all in order!
Even the "bad" human characters can been seen as complex shades of grey - slayers who like Alisa have to question all they've been told in the face of the evidence don't just come round in a snap, but nor do they unrealistically dig their heels in to make that "so unfair!!1!" adult character trope that turns up so often in YA. They act like real human beings; something that modern YA struggles with yet here is effortless.
There is a tiny hint of romance. It's obvious, understated and perfect. That is all.
The world isn't over-described and maybe seems a little generic hills/forests/mountains, but the lore of the world is where it really shines. Celtic drums and dances, songs peppering the narrative making it like one of those bardic fantasy tales of decades past, the spiritual mythology of dragons and fae and gods and saints all added together to make a living, breathing world of magic. It's also not your usual dragon rider type of thing; riding dragons is just a by-product of necessity rather than being part of some kind of warrior legend. It's more about the emotional and mental connections.
The plot is paced to perfection, following the usual highs and lows of a coming of age tale yet never feeling contrived or dragging. It's a slow, steady sort of book with plenty of heart and heartbreak along the way. The ending is the perfect sort of cliffhanger; not too abrupt, but with promise of hard times to come even after the standard Happy For Now.
I've said perfect a lot in this review, mostly because I adored this slow-burn of a dragon rider read. If I were to gripe about anything (I have to, for balance) it'd be the very occasional use of modern slang like "cool" and "gross" in an epic fantasy setting. That's about it.
I haven't looked forward to a YA book 2 this much in a long time.
March 1, 2023
A great adventure of a girl coming into her own, with wonderful friendship development along the way! And so many dragons! If one dragon can make a book better, just imagine dozens of them!
The writing really shines, painting a clear picture of the beautiful landscapes, the colorful dragons, and the scared girl in their midst.
The writing really shines, painting a clear picture of the beautiful landscapes, the colorful dragons, and the scared girl in their midst.
January 18, 2023
This story has heart, compassion, loss, and adventure weaved into themes of family, friendship, learning to trust, self discovery, learning to understand before judging, and so much more. The emotions are palpable and made me cry a few times and laugh a lot. The characters each had their own flaws and traits that make you understand them, empathize with them, and believe in them.
Alísa's stammer and strong empath powers at first bring her shame and humiliation, but as she finds inner strength through her actions and friends in unlikely places she learns how to direct her skills and overcome her fears in the hope of bringing peace to her home. This main character, and all the characters in this book (both human and dragon), are each their own with actual personalities and complex emotions.
The struggle Alísa faces in how to best find peace, and show both dragons and humans that the other is not all evil, is reminiscent of Aang's struggle in how to end the war in Avatar the Last Airbender (great story arc and similar push back for peace, that is what I am getting at here).
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one!
Alísa's stammer and strong empath powers at first bring her shame and humiliation, but as she finds inner strength through her actions and friends in unlikely places she learns how to direct her skills and overcome her fears in the hope of bringing peace to her home. This main character, and all the characters in this book (both human and dragon), are each their own with actual personalities and complex emotions.
The struggle Alísa faces in how to best find peace, and show both dragons and humans that the other is not all evil, is reminiscent of Aang's struggle in how to end the war in Avatar the Last Airbender (great story arc and similar push back for peace, that is what I am getting at here).
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one!
November 10, 2020
Loved this story! I've been eagerly awaiting the final product after knowing the author for a few years now. It did not disappoint. Well crafted world and characters, a clear love of music and seamless weaving of that through the plot, DRAGONS, slow steady plot, and an overall vibe that's like Brave meets LOTR.
I love Alisa, watching her grow in confidence and challenge the beliefs her family has upheld for generations. Her striking off to start her own path/journey kicks off this story and I adored following along. Especially with all the characters we meet along the way. Sesina, Falier, and Greydonn are all so well fleshed out as well and don't make me pick a favorite.
Slow building plot culminates in an intense last few chapters and sets up nicely for lots of internal and external conflicts.
Highly recommended for those who love clean, christian based fantasy, and dragons!
I love Alisa, watching her grow in confidence and challenge the beliefs her family has upheld for generations. Her striking off to start her own path/journey kicks off this story and I adored following along. Especially with all the characters we meet along the way. Sesina, Falier, and Greydonn are all so well fleshed out as well and don't make me pick a favorite.
Slow building plot culminates in an intense last few chapters and sets up nicely for lots of internal and external conflicts.
Highly recommended for those who love clean, christian based fantasy, and dragons!
July 7, 2020
Are you looking for a fun dragon book with diverse characters, timeless themes, and an ending that will leave you pacing the floor? Look no further!
Michelle has done a superb job weaving a tapestry of unique, complex, characters. A timid, stuttering, heroin from a warrior clan with an uncanny connection to her enemies. A chief who loves his daughter deeply, and yet fears what she may become. A dragon who must work with his father's murderers for a chance at peace. A village boy desperate to make a difference but convinced he will never be enough. All coming to terms with the meaning of worth and the dangers of judging others without first attempting to understand them.
Michelle has done a superb job weaving a tapestry of unique, complex, characters. A timid, stuttering, heroin from a warrior clan with an uncanny connection to her enemies. A chief who loves his daughter deeply, and yet fears what she may become. A dragon who must work with his father's murderers for a chance at peace. A village boy desperate to make a difference but convinced he will never be enough. All coming to terms with the meaning of worth and the dangers of judging others without first attempting to understand them.
November 29, 2022
I didn’t know this was going to be a series so when it ended and I couldn’t find the next one (it doesn’t come out until 2023) I was so disappointed! Can’t wait til it comes out and I can find out where her journey goes next as they set up their territory and she tries to find dragons and humans who are willing to live and work together to end the war. I enjoy her relationship with Falier and hope to see more of the villagers, maybe that will be their main city in the new territory. Really hoping her parents come around and I hope the singer from her home helps her instead of her terrible ex trying to use him to his advantage.
January 17, 2022
listen if you can
This was a very good book for Audio, the narrator did an awesome job, especially with the songs! She has a very sweet voice, just like the character. Overall the storyline was solid and interesting, with a combination of plenty of action, some humour, friendships and a tiny hint of romance. Occasionally I found the MC’s introspection a bit of a slog, however that too was true to her character. I look forward to seeing where this series goes next!
This was a very good book for Audio, the narrator did an awesome job, especially with the songs! She has a very sweet voice, just like the character. Overall the storyline was solid and interesting, with a combination of plenty of action, some humour, friendships and a tiny hint of romance. Occasionally I found the MC’s introspection a bit of a slog, however that too was true to her character. I look forward to seeing where this series goes next!
February 15, 2022
I stepped slightly out of my comfort zone with this read, but I enjoyed the adventure. I appreciate that the author built a world that is consistent no matter what character lives in it. I also felt seen when there was a moment of longing for a brotherly relationship, because that is something I have always related to-😆
Highly recommend the audio version, the songs are beautifully sung by the author and it is well produced.
Highly recommend the audio version, the songs are beautifully sung by the author and it is well produced.
December 30, 2021
Dragons? Check.
Original songs? Check.
A new world to get lost in? Check.
Looking for the next dragon-riding story? Look no further. I loved taking this journey with the characters and can't wait for the next book!
Original songs? Check.
A new world to get lost in? Check.
Looking for the next dragon-riding story? Look no further. I loved taking this journey with the characters and can't wait for the next book!
January 26, 2022
Captivating! I absolutely loved this young adult epic fantasy, full of dragons, telepathy, and an amazing cast of characters. It's hope-filled and brimming with heart, and kept suprising me with the depth of its characters and captivating storyline. I can't wait to read the sequel!
January 13, 2025
Good Book
Really liked this book. Strong female lead dragons and a lot of excitement, empathy, terror, blossoming friendship and a little romance ❤️
Really liked this book. Strong female lead dragons and a lot of excitement, empathy, terror, blossoming friendship and a little romance ❤️
July 25, 2025
So good!!!!!!!
I won an ebook of Songflight, and just got around to reading it. And wow, it’s so good. Part Eragon, part How to Train Your Dragon, with a stutter, and empathy treated like a gift. Michelle Bruhn writes wonderfully, and I could tell a lot of love and passion went into crafting this book. I can’t wait to see what happens to the characters in the next book.
I won an ebook of Songflight, and just got around to reading it. And wow, it’s so good. Part Eragon, part How to Train Your Dragon, with a stutter, and empathy treated like a gift. Michelle Bruhn writes wonderfully, and I could tell a lot of love and passion went into crafting this book. I can’t wait to see what happens to the characters in the next book.
January 11, 2024
Songflight is an enjoyable read! It reminded me of How to Train Your Dragon, Skyrim, and Eragon while also standing out.
Bruhn does a great job building her world. It feels very medieval and pulls you in from the start. What makes Songflight really unique, though, are her dragons and their telepathic abilities. I won't spoil it, but the way she wrote the dragons and how they relate to the human characters was very cool. The physic element set Songflight apart from the franchises I mentioned, and I enjoyed it. Furthermore, I appreciated her allusions to God, subtly woven throughout.
Alísa was a great protagonist. Her stammer and fears made her relatable, and it was neat seeing her growth arc from the beginning to the end. Falier was a likable sidekick and I didn't see his particular arc coming, which was nice! My only complaint with him is that, at times, he didn't feel convincing as a male character. The dragons all had fun personalities, though, with some being spunky and others, wise and tragic.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Songflight for those who loves fantasy, dragons, and medieval stories with non-magic powers. 4.5/5.
Bruhn does a great job building her world. It feels very medieval and pulls you in from the start. What makes Songflight really unique, though, are her dragons and their telepathic abilities. I won't spoil it, but the way she wrote the dragons and how they relate to the human characters was very cool. The physic element set Songflight apart from the franchises I mentioned, and I enjoyed it. Furthermore, I appreciated her allusions to God, subtly woven throughout.
Alísa was a great protagonist. Her stammer and fears made her relatable, and it was neat seeing her growth arc from the beginning to the end. Falier was a likable sidekick and I didn't see his particular arc coming, which was nice! My only complaint with him is that, at times, he didn't feel convincing as a male character. The dragons all had fun personalities, though, with some being spunky and others, wise and tragic.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Songflight for those who loves fantasy, dragons, and medieval stories with non-magic powers. 4.5/5.
March 21, 2023
Reread! Just as good the second time, on to book 2!
I think my Goodreads review for my first read somehow got deleted, so an updated one is coming soon! 😊
I think my Goodreads review for my first read somehow got deleted, so an updated one is coming soon! 😊
July 14, 2020
I received Songflight as an eARC, which did nothing to alter my opinion of this book. This review is spoiler-free.
Songflight was everything I long for in fantasy: fantastical creatures so well written they seem real, a creative, complex magic system, enchanting world building details, and characters who learn, fight, and grow.
It was so refreshing to read about a character who is shy and an introvert! These days I feel like almost all the female characters are fierce, determined, “Let me rip you apart” characters. But how many people are truly like that in real life? Alísa felt so much more real with her sensitivity and awkwardness, and I learned so much about my own uncertainties and introvertedness.
Also, the dragons in this book are so well crafted. Each has its own personality, wishes, longings and desires. It was so enjoyable getting to know them; I became fast friends with them all. It was a bit confusing toward the end of the book keeping them all straight, and it would have been helpful to have some reminders, but that’s a small thing.
The songs woven into this book were well-written and added so much magic and beauty to the novel. I’m astonished that Michelle could come up with so many, and all that fit the scenes perfectly. I loved the idea of the empathy, which I’d never encountered before. What a creative idea! I was confused about the telepathy a few times–who could speak to who and why, but I understood enough not to be sidetracked.
I could gush about this book for another 500 words, but I won't ;). The only major issue I have with this book is that I have to wait to read the sequel until sometime next year at the earliest. How will I survive?!
Songflight was everything I long for in fantasy: fantastical creatures so well written they seem real, a creative, complex magic system, enchanting world building details, and characters who learn, fight, and grow.
It was so refreshing to read about a character who is shy and an introvert! These days I feel like almost all the female characters are fierce, determined, “Let me rip you apart” characters. But how many people are truly like that in real life? Alísa felt so much more real with her sensitivity and awkwardness, and I learned so much about my own uncertainties and introvertedness.
Also, the dragons in this book are so well crafted. Each has its own personality, wishes, longings and desires. It was so enjoyable getting to know them; I became fast friends with them all. It was a bit confusing toward the end of the book keeping them all straight, and it would have been helpful to have some reminders, but that’s a small thing.
The songs woven into this book were well-written and added so much magic and beauty to the novel. I’m astonished that Michelle could come up with so many, and all that fit the scenes perfectly. I loved the idea of the empathy, which I’d never encountered before. What a creative idea! I was confused about the telepathy a few times–who could speak to who and why, but I understood enough not to be sidetracked.
I could gush about this book for another 500 words, but I won't ;). The only major issue I have with this book is that I have to wait to read the sequel until sometime next year at the earliest. How will I survive?!
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