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Ben the Dragonborn (The Six Worlds Book 1) by [Dianne Astle]

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Dianne Astle

Ben the Dragonborn (The Six Worlds Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Dianne Astle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

207 ratings

Book 1 of 4: The Six Worlds

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Few people on earth know the location of a mysterious school where heroes of the past train those who belong to the future. Ben Taylor only learns of the school’s true purpose when he is called into the Principal’s office. Miss Templeton gives him a simple test to see if he is a Chosen of the Guardian. That very day Ben is sent through a portal to a watery world of mermaids and monsters. “Has a mistake been made?” This is the question on everyone’s mind, including Ben’s. Ben’s only chance of success depends on discovering the secret of his own true self in a terrifying world where nightmares come to life.

Reading age

10 - 18 years
Print length

181 pages
Language

English
Grade level

4 - 12
Publication date

December 16, 2013
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Editorial Reviews

Review

***** Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of fantasy worlds. I look forward to future stories of the Six Worlds. (Amazon.ca)
**** The tale is original, creative, and engaging. Any lover of the Potter books would likely enjoy this story immensely but won't be left with a sense of "Haven't I read this before?" (Goodreads)**** This beautiful book is an inspiring tale of courage, friendship and dreams that will dazzle and delight. (Goodreads)*** This was an engaging story with the elements of fantasy woven neatly into the coming-of-age/discovering your identity theme. This would appeal to those who like new and different fantasy worlds that feature a range of familiar and created mythical creatures. (Goodreads)***** Great read. Excellent characters. Fantastic story. I definitely recommend it! (Goodreads)

From the Author

It seems I have always been drawn to dragons. There is the dragon tea pot that sits on my shelf because it has a spout that doesn't really work. There is the dragon necklace I couldn't resist. And the only stuffed toy I've ever bought for myself as an adult was a dragon. Someone once asked me what kind of animal I would be if I could be an animal. There was a look of shock on her face when I said dragon. So it only makes sense that when I write a book there would be dragons in it. Although you need to wait till the end of the book for them to show up.

From the Inside Flap

There is an ancient school few know of on an island shroudedin mystery off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Heroes from a previousgeneration train those who belong to the future.

Student Ben Taylor does not know the school's true purpose. When he goes to see the Principal she gives him asimple test. Unexpected things happen and that very dayBen ends up being sent through a portal to a world full of water. Ben's journey does not make the Principal happy. She wonders if the Guardian has made a mistake. So does Ben and almost everyone he meets.

The first person Ben meets on Lushaka is a Mermaid namedCharla who doesn't care for humans. Yet she travels with Ben and a humanboy named Jared in a quest to stop a war between humans and mer. There facedangers along the way. But thebiggest danger waits for them on top of a mountain. If they make it that far there will beanswers to the question of just who Ben is,and where the nightmares he's beenhaving come from.

From the Back Cover

"In a watery world of mermaids andmonsters what can a fourteen year old boy do to stop a war?"

There arevery few people on earth who know the location of a mysterious school whereheroes of the past train those who belong to the future. Ben Taylor only learns of the school's truepurpose when he is called into the Principal's office. Miss Templeton gives hima simple test to see if he is a Chosen of the Guardian. That very day Ben issent through a portal to a watery world of mermaids and monsters. "Has a mistake been made?" This is thequestion on everyone's mind, including Ben's. No one knows that he isDragonborn. Ben's only chance of success depends on discovering the secret ofhis own true self in a terrifying world where nightmares come to life.

Praise for Ben the Dragonborn
"Ben theDragonborn is unique and original. There are portals to unknown worlds; an arrayof imaginative creatures; and a school that is magical and secretive. Fans of 100 Cupboards, Fablehaven, PercyJackson, and Harry Potter will find something to love in this book."
(Will Wortner)

About the Author

At one point in Dianne's life she believed that people grew up and when they did they stopped reading Fantasy. She discovered that life without Fantasy was soon out of kilter. She never planned to be an author, but a chance week at a Retreat Centre led to a story idea that Dianne could not resist. When not writing fiction, Dianne spends her time writing non-fiction, and seeks to help people discover the treasure of their own true selves so they can embark on their own hero's quest. Dianne lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GMAUA5C
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 16, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 6788 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 181 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,510,516 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,563 in Children's Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books
- #12,953 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy eBooks
- #16,105 in Children's eBooks (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
207 ratings

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Dianne Astle

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At one point in Dianne's life she believed that people grew up and when they did they stopped reading Fantasy. She discovered that life without Fantasy was soon out of kilter. She never planned to be an author, but a chance week at a retreat centre dropped the idea for a story into her head. When not writing fiction, Dianne spends her time writing non-fiction. Dianne seeks to help people discover the treasure of their own true selves so they can embark on their own hero's quest. Dianne lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas.

Dianne says, "It seems I have always been drawn to dragons. There is the dragon tea pot, with a spout that doesn't really work. There is the dragon necklace. And the only stuffed toy I've ever bought for myself was a dragon. Someone once asked me what kind of animal. There was a look of shock on her face when I said dragon. So it only makes sense that when I write a book there would be dragons in it."

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

207 global ratings

5 star		62%
4 star		28%
3 star		7%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

Great Story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 19, 2023

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Loved this story. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. I would like to read other books by this author. She has a brilliant imagination

Helpful

Ladyhawk

An exciting fantasy for the young and young at heart

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2017

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Looky, looky, I found a fun dragon booky.
If you're nuts about dragons like I am, then you'll want to get your talons into this fantasy novel: 'Ben the Dragonborn: a Six Worlds story' by Dianne Astle.
I was a little hesitant at first when our protagonist, Ben appear to be just a normal kid who couldn't swim and was laughed at by his peers (I was thinking Diary of a Wimpy Kid here), but it soon turns out that this is like a Harry Potter school and they don't let you in on the secret until you develop magical / paranormal powers. (I hope that doesn't count as a spoiler, sorry).
I don't want to give things away, but I think that being called a 'Six Worlds Story' it is pretty safe to say that this novel will take you to far off places you have never been.
I really enjoyed Ben the Dragonborn and would recommend it for readers age around 10 to adult. The reading level is simple and there is action aplenty to engage the reader. I like the original concepts. It is a traditional quest with a small group of heroes who don't always agree and each have talents essential for the quest to succeed. Ben has a mysterious back story which is unveiled piece by piece and brings depth and warmth to the story. I also appreciated the banter between Ben and Charla ( a well-written character). I was not a fan of the large creeping crawlies, but I will leave you to squirm as you read that part, eek!
Note: I did spot a few minor editing errors in the paperback, which may have already been corrected in the Kindle version.
I received the paperback as a prize in an online competition. Since I enjoyed the book so much, I have bought Ben the Dragonborn and it's sequel, Ben and the Watcher of Zargon ebooks. I can't wait to read book 2.

3 people found this helpful

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cloudbird

Solid adventure for 10-12 year olds.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 14, 2014

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Ben Taylor just found out he's Chosen to help defend justice and right--on other worlds--without any prior training. It's a bit of a stretch for him, but he gets help in the form of a mermaid named Charla and an open-minded kid named Jared. The title sort of gives away the climax... yes, Ben's part dragon. But I'll let you figure out how that comes into play when you read it!

Although the main character is a freshman in high school, I'd recommend this more for kids aged about 10 to 13. The reading level and plot complexity would be good for that range, but maybe a little simple for older teens. Solid middle grade reading, and I think boys in particular would really enjoy it.

As an adult, I enjoyed the premise. It reminded me of the Pendragon series, but for younger kids. Ben was a bit passive for my taste, but he grew. There's a clear message of believing in yourself and leaving prejudices behind which is also good for kids. The wind-down at the end was a bit long with a lot of debriefing the adventure, but there were also some key lines that summed up the themes.

All in all, though, I think this hits its target audience pretty well, and I'll be curious to visit the other worlds in Astle's series as Ben and his companions grow up.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

I love children's literature and am particularly concerned with really helping ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 14, 2014

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I love children's literature and am particularly concerned with really helping a child learn to LOVE reading. I think this is the perfect book for those readers who are ready for chapter books, need a more intricate story and are ready for a mid-range reader. I have a 10 year old boy, who is an okay reader, but sometimes he struggles with the really long books. He is currently devouring this book! The story is compelling, exciting & imaginative! My boy is sometimes timid and doesn't like to try new things. I love the way the character confronts his fears in this book and finds out he can do more than he thought he could. The possibilities for this series are endless, and I am also anxiously awaiting the next book. This book reminds me somewhat of the Deltora Quest books by Emily Rodda. The situation is fascinating and the world is very unique. I LOVE dragons and any book with dragons in it has a leg up automatically. I particularly loved the way the characters confronted each of their weaknesses and overcame them with teamwork and believing that they could succeed together. So often in real life that is exactly what it takes. I did love Charla and Jared and I hope that we see them again. I'm sure we will see more of the dragons. I hope that we see more of Allison and Denzel as well. That would be awesome! I'm so curious as to what gifts they would be given.

5 people found this helpful

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M. E. A.

A great story for both children and adults!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 21, 2020

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Ben the Dragonborn is the sort of story I would have devoured as child, and even as an adult I enjoyed it!

Featuring Ben, a hero with more fears than strengths, Ben the Dragonborn is a story of overcoming your weakness, relying on your friends, and trusting in yourself most of all. Filled with great morals and exciting adventures, this story is definitely one I’d recommend to my little sister to read.

My only small complaint was that I noticed quite a few errors about 50% into the book. But if given another pass by an editor this story would definitely get a full 5/5 stars.

Helpful

A great adventure tale that middle grade audiences will definitely enjoy.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 8, 2020

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I had a lot of fun reading this book. There were serious moments, but a lot of light-hearted ones too.

My main complaint would be that several narrative turns happened coincidentally instead of causally, but given that the story takes place in a world where mermaids exist, people can turn into dragons, and adults seem fine sending kids off to save the world, I can handwave it.

The strongest parts of this story are the outspoken characters and quirky worldbuilding. I think middle grade audiences will definitely delight in following Ben's adventures as things get crazier and crazier all the way through to the dramatic finish.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

S S Long

a fun read with plenty of adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 1, 2020

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I have to admit that I was attracted to this book because of the dragon on the cover; I'm addicted to books on dragons! I really loved the cover too; it also has my gecko's lick of approval as well. She's attracted to bright colours and she seemed particularly fascinated by this one. Bless.
This was a fun read with plenty of adventure; it follows the exploits of a boy called Ben who is sent through a portal to a water-based world. There was something happening in every chapter (which I enjoyed) and there were some humourous moments too. (which I also liked.) I really liked the fact that there were mer-people in this book too; I don't think I've ever read a book with mer-people in before. There are other books in this series which I am looking forward to reading in the future.

Tim

A well crafted work of fantasy aimed at the younger teenager

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 18, 2019

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Reading this as an adult I have decided to rate it as if I were the young teenager it is aimed at. As an adult I found it well paced. Teenage me would have found excitement and suspense, and most definitely given it the fifth star that adult me might have withheld.

Sometimes I felt the cast to be more youthful than the broad age of 14, sometimes a tad older. I suspect that is as it should be.

This is a tale of a quest and perilous adventures, carried off well by young protagonists. It manages not to be in the Harry Potter mould, and deus ex machina is subtle when it appears.

One person found this helpful

Tally Pendragon

Kids Hitch a Ride on an Emotional Roller-Coaster Fuelled by the Promise of Dragonborn Fire!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 23, 2014

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If you scroll down to the reviews of Ben the Dragonborn you'll see that there have already been many written, so my intention here is not to recap the story, rather to take readers on an emotional journey to Dragonhood. The beginning is so captivating that I found myself glued to the screen as the words scrolled past, wide-eyed and rapt. A lot of the things that happen to Ben are fairly obvious developments plotwise and I expected them, things like his fear of water playing out on a world that is mostly waterbound, and the obvious clue in the title could have ended no other way, but the ways in which these things happened filled me with childlike wonder and were pleasantly surprising. I didn't like some of the creatures the trio, Ben, Charla and Jared, met at various junctures, but I think that was rather the point: they represent character-building obstacles that stretch the three to breaking, and they come out fighting not for themselves but for each other, which was strangely humbling to read of such young people and produced a very warm glow in my heart. Everything ties off satisfyingly, with big emotional tugs at the heartstrings when both Charla and Jared are rewarded not only by their steep emotional learning curves on the journey, but also in the positions afforded them as a result of their bravery and heroism; and for Ben and his family on his return to his own planet. Needless to say, he is very keen to do well in subsequent swimming lessons, and I am very keen to know what he'll get thrown head first into in the next story, and what the other four planets have in store for him. If I lived closer to my 8-year-old grand-daughter I'd be reading it to her every chance I got, but I'll definitely be sending the Amazon UK link to my own grown-up baby so that he can buy it for her himself and read it to her.

One person found this helpful

iremic

Prejudice can be overcome

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 17, 2020

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This is an excellent book, one of differing worlds and peoples. There are transformations and lessons to learn in order to overcome adversity.
It is also a good way to show prejudice and adversity are none too easy to overcome.
A brilliant read for all who love Sci-Fi and new places.

Pam C. Golden

A enjoyable well-paced fantasy tale!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 25, 2015

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A brilliant book, fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable. The main characters are easy to identify with, whilst the story line weaves together beautifully to create a satisfying conclusion. As a teacher, I would have no qualms in recommending it as a good fantasy read for KS2. It has adult appeal as well- I've just read it in one go because I couldn't put it down! When is the next one in the series?

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