Customer Reviews

Dragon's Bait (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was a great book: a nice, easy-to-read page turner that had me hooked from start to finish.

I had no problems in believing any of the characters or settings. In fact, while I read this story, I was totally there! It was so compelling. Vivian Vande Velde is obviously an intelligent, accomplished author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

The recommended reading age for this book--12 and up--was spot on, but I'd recommend it not just to teens, but to any adults who like a good fantasy read too. I mean, I'm 33 and I thought it was brilliant!

Okay, so the title of this review is corny. But the book is wonderful; another of Vande Velde's recent publishings which, in my opinion, ever topple the last one in excellence.

In this book, fifteen year old Alys is learning how to fend for herself; her frail father is barely recovering from the winter's sickness while she must learn his tin-making trade to keep them both alive.

All this comes crashing down upon her ears when she is accused of witchcraft (of which she is innocent) by her scheming neighbors, plotting to take her father's land from her. The clever inquistor from a neighboring village incriminates her before her friends can step in. Soon, Alys finds herself as "Dragon's Bait," left as food for a fearsome dragon that ravages the nearby countryside.

But Alys is in for a suprise. The dragon is capable of many transformations; including that of a human. Instead of adding her to his menu, he spares her life, and inevitably becomes her aly, if not her friend.

Alys is infuriated by the dragon (who speaks with her in his human form; that of a handsome seventeen year old youth) who seems to have no use for her--except that he is willing to help her get her revenge. And as she soon learns, revenge is something that the dragon, Selendrile, is very good at.

But is revenge what Alys really wants? A witty funny novel about revenge and its cost and spoils.

WAIT! DON'T STOP NOW! There is something very important that I would like to tell you about this book. I fear that I have doomed it into being serious; THIS BOOK IS FUNNY! Well, it has dark under-tones, but it is witty, clever, and fast-paced fantasy.

Vande Velde demonstrates her skilled capacity for fantasy in this novel. Her strong heroine and handsome dragon companion make an endearing cast for her novel. THE PROBLEM! This book is like a small chocolate; you savor it for as long as you can, yet you still find yourself craving for more afterward.

So what do you think? Even if you hated everything I had to say, I would say, give it a try! Even the anti-fantasy reader will enjoy this morsel of a novel! If you like Vande Velde, I would reccomend her other books, like Heir Apparent (I wrote a review for that also--check it out!)

So...happy reading!

Most people doubt that it's possible to write a good book in less than 300 pages. And usually I would agree, but this book is an exception. Dragon's Bait is a well-written, fast paced, and unusual book. The characters, rather than being strictly good and bad, are shades of gray. It avoids most, if not all, of the fantasy cliches I can think of and throws some subjects for thought in as well. If that isn't good enough for you, it has a strong-minded and realistic heroine who, as far as I know, isn't blonde. The dragon is a very cool character, and you have to guess throughout the entire book just who's side he's on. So, to end the review, I will say that I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books, dragons, or just a good read. i ,at least, wasn't disapointed.

Wow. I never would've thought. I took this book out of the library as an afterthought, one of those "might as well" kind of descisions. I am glad I did. What made me so reluctant at first to read the book was the fact that it was so thin. I thought it would be another one of those underdeveloped, waste-of-my-time (though is doesn't take that long to read them) I-can't- stand-the-cardboardness-of-the-characters kind of book. I'm glad I was wrong. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is crammed in too much. It has the perfect pace. It won't bore you with too many wordy descriptions and the main characters are so cool! I mean Alys is definately not another one of those "Cinderella" characters who can only wait to be rescued by some handsome prince, but then again she also not another of those completely rebellious bratty types that so many authors are trying out, wanting to be different but ending up instead just going with the latest fad. Senlendrile is calm, cool, and definately sardonic and sarcastic (like one of the main characters in another book i love, court duel). You NEVER know what he's thinking but are happy to watch Alys try to figure him out, but then practically rip her hair out when she can't. When they're together, it leads to witty conversation that, I think, is the best part of the book, because when the plot get's boring after numerous readings (it will take you awhile, I assure you) you still have the dialogue to look over and over again. Try it out. Even if you don't like it (i find it impossible) it's short enough that it won't leave you with the dread that you spent too much time reading something you shouldn't have.

When I finished Dragon's Bait, I was loathe to put it down, hoping more writing would appear.

Vivian Vande Velde has a frank, no-nonsense way of writing that catches your attention and holds it. She doesn't launch into long, wordy descriptions, nor does she explain everything about her characters, instead letting you get to know them on your own. That, to me, is a refreshing style I wish I saw more often.

Plus, the plot is clear, and the story itself original. Both main characters, even cold Selendrile, are people I came to love, and the villains were not unbelievably villainous, like many Evil Incarnate, crazed bad guys.

This is a good book for almost any avid reader.

It was supposed to be a normal day. Alys usually stayed in the shop while her horribly sick father rested but today was no ordinary day. Today she was stuck on a stake in the middle of nowhere awaiting her doom, which happened to be the man eating dragon. How this came to be is simple. Inquisitor Atherton, a very sneaky, evil man falsely accused poor Alys of being a witch. At her 15 minute trial, a man named Gower, who had probably arranged all of this nonsense, his wife Una, and daughter Etta told of fake times when they had seen Alys bewitch things. Una said she saw Alys make a goat go dry, and Gower says she saw her creating a thunders storm and people actually believed them, and so she was sent to the mountain. Alys does get away from the stake and there is only one thing stuck on her mind....REVENGE. But she can only do it with the help of the handsome Sederline, who happens to be a man, a dragon, and whatever animal you can think of. So Sederline and Alys are off seeking revenge, on the four people who ruined Alys's life.
Dragon's Bait is a book full of witty characters and sweet revenge. Similar to something like the Salem accusations, this book is about witches. The story is well written, and has just the right amount of description. Compared to the author's other books, this has got to be one of my favorites. At first you might think this book is boring, but by the third page, the suspense keeps you going. I hope once you read it, you will agree.

I just happened upon this book a few days ago, thinking that the concept of a dragon taking human form pretty interesting. This is the first book I have ever read by the author, so I cannot compare this with her other books. What I have to admit is that I am rather impress. I am so use to reading big thick 300 pages book (they usually ended up being a classic) that I have forgotten the fun in reading one with less than 150 pages.

Aside from critizing witch hunts, Dragon's Bait also gives reader a refreshing look at Dragons, damsel, and the midieval world in general. With humour that can almost rival with Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, every pages are full with wonderful irony. The book makes me laugh out loud at three in the morning.

The two main characters characters are highly likable. Alys is courageous and realistic. She is certainly not your normal perfect, totally righteous, helpless demsal. As for Selendrile, he characteristic is as shady as a shadow, making a reader wonder whether he was trustworthy or not, and his intentions. He was also suppose to be handsome too so that also gives him some points (it was totally amusing seeing girls and woman alike falling for him).

I have to admit this book is perhaps too short, with the plot Dragon's Bait has, I think this book could at least be 200 pages, if not 250. She definately has the material to write that much. I am not complaining though, at least the book has a fast pace and has absolutely no dragging parts.

The author left a lot of room for a sequel but it has been years since this book was first publish and still no sequel. But perhaps it is better this way, sequels are often disappointing, not because I do not believe in the Vivian Vande Velde's ability to write a good sequel, but I know, from experience that sequels seldom produces the an ending I desire. So perhaps it is best that Dragon's Bait ends where it did, at a point that leaves readers plenty of room for imagination.

I really enjoyed this book, but I wish it had been a bit longer. If you've ever read "Companions of the Night", also by VVV, I think you'll enjoy this, because they are quite similar. Both have this handsome, sexy, mysterious guy who is not very honest but has an incredible knack for telling lies with a straight face. Both have a likeable heroine who is trying to figure out when the guy (in this case a dragon) is lying to her.

Alys, a 15-year-old from the village of St. Toby's, is convicted of witchcraft and is secured to a stake for the dragon, Selendrile to come and eat her. Instead, he rescues her and says he wants to help her get revenge. She slowly discovers that revenge is horrible, and she tries to right the wrongs she did. A very well written book indeed, and if you're looking for a fast-paced adventure, quick wit, and a touch of romance, you should give this book a try.

Dragon's Bait is far better than your stereotypical revenge-quest fantasy novel. The characterizations are vivid, the action moves along at a nice clip, and the heroine's various dilemmas are compelling. The only reason that the book does not earn five stars in my opinion is that the ending is just a bit too preachy. If you enjoyed this book I highly recommend Vivian Vande Velde's even better _Companions of the Night_.

This book has everything a fantasy lover wants. And when is fantasy at it's best? Why in human history. Trying to give the feeling of those men and women who were falsly accused of witchcraft, Velde has her main character staked out and left for a dragon as punishment for witchcraft.After her Dad dies, Alys is left on here own, until a very surprising thing happens. Alys attracts the attention of the dragon who decides to interfer a little bit with human affairs. The Dragon, Selendrile, takes human form to help Alys with her plans for revenge and seems amused with the ways of humans. Alys and him each learn a lesson from the other rather unwillingly. Entwined throughout the whole is a humorous love story of two different races and the end is very pleasing. Definately a keeper to add to your collection. A story about a very sexy dragon and a gutsy heroine quotes the horn book. And that sums it up.