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Product Description
Quill & Quire
Set in the rugged but beautiful loch-pocked Orkney Islands of northern Scotland during the eighth century, Dragon Seer is the story of Madoca, a 14-year-old girl enslaved since the age of nine in the household of Uunguist. Her life is a bleak and cheerless one until – to the utter astonishment of herself and her people – she is chosen to become the next Dragon Seer, a position of the utmost authority and honour. In her new role, Madoca becomes not only a protector but also a student of the Orkney dragons, beasts who symbolize the very heart and soul of her society. And while her powers prove to be stronger than those of the Dragon Seers who preceded her, she must learn how to harness them in order to save her beloved dragons and her people’s way of life from the ruthless Norse marauders, the Vikings. Much of the charm of Janet McNaughton’s new novel lies in its depiction of the dragons. There are none of those weary literary veterans, the monstrous, fire-breathing serpents that wreak havoc on the bucolic medieval countryside. Instead, Madoca’s charges are small, and though feather-light and fleet of wing, they are comically ungainly on the ground with their “peculiar dragon gait … skinny hind legs bowed and awkward.” McNaughton has also cleverly swapped the traditional Western dragon with those from the Far East, creatures that bind their followers to the natural forces of fire, earth, sky, and water. And even though the dragons are noble fonts of life-sustaining knowledge, they are also curmudgeonly, suspicious, matter-of-fact beings with no time for pleasantries. Though McNaughton has spun a compelling story, readers may find themselves longing for greater depth of description in some scenes. For example, at ceremonies, the dragons execute aerial formations in the form of Celtic knots – to have had this feat described rather than merely referred to would have made the experience of reading about it all the more magical.
Book Description
Enslaved since early childhood, Madoca is astonished to be chosen as dragon seer, one who will care for the dragons of Orkney. But people now question the age-old traditions that placed the dragons at the very heart of her society, and one of the older dragon seers has made enemies among the chieftains. When the Vikings arrive with a malevolent seer who has vowed to destroy all dragons, new alliances form and the people's way of life is threatened. As Madoca's powers emerge, strong but uncontrolled, she faces the fight of her life. How can she save her beloved dragons?
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dragons and Magic, a sure teen hit,
By
This review is from: Dragon Seer (Hardcover)
14 year old Madoca has travelled with her Master's family to the yearly Gathering on West Mainland Island in the Scottish Orkneys. Tonight the dragons will chose a new Dragon Seer. Madoca hopes it is Annoc, her Master's daughter, but in a twist of fate, she is chosen. Her life changes from that day and in a few short months it becomes clear that the very fate of the Dragons and that of her people is held in her capable hands.I was captured into this story from the first pages. I could imagine the flight of the Dragons and the hush that must have fallen over the crowd when the choosing of the new Dragon Seer was happening. Even now, I can imagine the mist lifting from between the standing stones as the morning sun began to burn through. I didn't develop a detailed picture of the dragons, but more of an impression of what it would feel like to be in their presence and to be communicating with them. I enjoyed the contrasts of the two older Dragon Seers. Eenna had a motherly comfort and wisdom which made Madoca feel at home from the first day. Nechtan, being a man had the physical presence that made the various leaders want to look to him for advice. Turns out that the differences of the three Dragon Seers became an asset for them in dealing with the demands of their future. The Dragons were at a critical point. There were no longer enough genetic diversity for them to perpetuate their species. They knew this as did the Dragon Seers. Madoca's solution was drastic, but necessary. She was 15 by this point in the story but had matured enough to realize that she didn't have any other choice. Another character who had to grow was Annoc. We don't hear about her for the better part of a year, but when we met her again she has changed and in many good ways. So even the most spoiled of brats can learn and grow. While this is a teen novel, there is enough development of the main characters to keep an adult enthused and reading. With magic and Dragons, this book is sure to be a hit with the young teen crowd.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting yet real,
By Karrine - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dragon Seer (Hardcover)
Janet McNaughton is the Canadian author of the Dragon Seer, published by HarperCollins Canada in 2009. I read the book last fall and it has a place of honor on my bookshelf.Set in Scotland, a setting every fantasy reader loves, more specifically 8th century Orkney. The story was developed from Pictish images of animals. Janet brings you into the assumed lives of a mythical, magically community of ancient Scotland. Reading this book has made me a fan and I plan to seek out at least one more of her books this year. [...]
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lyrical, Mystical Story of Medieval Society on the Orkneys,
By Nicola Manning - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dragon Seer (Hardcover)
Reason for Reading: I enjoy dragon fantasy and this seemed like it might be a bit different, with a society centred around the dragons.I have to admit I thought this book was going to be about the Celts but it's not and I won't tell you what group of people it is about as it isn't given away until the Historical Note at the end. Just in case you are not up on your early history. Set in the same time period though, that of the eight century in the Orkney Islands at the tip of Scotland. The book is firmly grounded in its medieval historical setting. While no famous personages make appearances except for a passing remark about St. Brendan, the monk that myth tells us sailed the seas in a coracle, the Vikings are the looming threat to these peaceful people of the dragons. The book starts off immediately with Madoca, a slave girl, being chosen as the new Dragon Seer apprentice and going off to live in seclusion with a small group of people who look after the Dragons. But the Dragons are really there to look after the people; they have memorized the lore, history, laws of the ancients and all that came before and through them the people can have the knowledge of the past, as they are a people without a written language. Madoca learns from the dragons, and learns how to access and use the magic of earth. She is surprisingly a powerful receptacle for the magic, much more so than anyone has seen in some time. Danger threatens the dragons from one side and the life of the people is threatened from more than one side. After only a year of apprenticeship, can Madoca save the dragons. This is a beautiful story! The dragons are not what one expects. McNaughton has made them long, slender, agile and yet ungainly when they walk on the land. They are much more like the dragons of the East as they fly in the air and form knots together, each with special meaning. They don't breath fire, but they can speak the language of the people when taught as hatchlings. They communicate with each other, and teach the dragon seers, by projecting feelings over any amount of distance. The writing is lyrical yet simple and there is a mystical atmosphere throughout the book. Madoca starts off at 14 years of age and grows as a person through the story as her character moves through the various stages of her life, maturing and at first doubting, then accepting the important role she is destined to play in the future. The book ends in a complete and satisfactory ending making it feel as if it could be a stand-alone book, but I see that this Fall a second book will be published whether it be a companion or the next in a trilogy I can't find any information. I'll definitely be adding it to my list though. I'm very pleased to have found Canadian author Janet McNaughton this way. I'm afraid I've never heard of her before and she has an impressive backlist of books including historical fantasy, historical fiction and dystopia. I will be making her an author to read. |
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