Customer Reviews

The Dragon Hoard

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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I first read this book when I was twelve, and remember it impressed me so much that I was inspired to write my own fairytale. Ever since I have been attempting to find my own copy of this timeless story, and thanks to Amazon this has finally become possible. Now at 21 years of age I find this story just as delightful as I had remembered. Tanith Lee has such a clever way of wording her narrative, which at times reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Her story, while much more light-hearted and a faster read than The Hobbit, is very imaginative and original, making it a fun read for both children and adults. With its down-to-earth heroes, unforgettable characters, and its many unexpected twists of fate, the Dragon Hoard never has a boring moment. It is my opinion, and also that of my teenage sister and cousins, that this book deserves to be called a classic and should be returned to print! Good luck finding this little treasure!

It's always refreshing to read a fantasy that can laugh at itself-- as The Dragon Hoard is constantly doing. Tanith Lee's inventiveness never lags, strolling briskly from talking goats and owls to a witch's unpaid chariot fees to a pair of silly wolves. All traditional characters are in place...with outrageous twists! The prince isn't much for heroics and scarcely knows how to seek his fortune, the princess is cursed with a kindness spell, and everything in general is turned completely upside down. Wonderful book-- pity it's so hard to find.

Superb stylist Tanith Lee offers a wry picaresque fable for the young and the young at heart. A children's book peppered with things to entertain the grownups who might be reading along. Sweet and goofy. The characters are delightful and hilarious and always heading in unexpected and wonderful directions. At times laugh out loud funny. It manages to be both a fairy tale quest and a parody of the genre... so that (unlike many books in this vein targeted at little readers) it never dissolves its own goo. My only complaint about the book is that I can't find it in print to give to the kids in my life.

Tanith Lee is an excellent author of fantasy fiction. her heroes are unique, her stories are compelling, the dragon hoard, though written for a younger audience, does not lose any of her talent. this is a fantastic book. my dad read it to me when i was a child. and when i have kids, i'll read it to them. :)