❥ Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free book.
Synopsis
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
Thoughts
Since I watched The Last Unicorn movie in my youth, I was quick to pick up this latest title from Peter S. Beagle. Although it is marketed as an adult book, I think middle grade readers would enjoy it, as well. When you see the mention of dragons, you likely think of the fantasy genre, but this book also contains lots of humor and cozy mystery elements. And it all works together to create a delightful story.
More than anything, this book made me feel nostalgic for old fantasy books and movies from my youth. With a dash of The Last Unicorn, a smidge of Dragonheart, a hint of The Princess Bride and a peppering of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this is classic fantasy storytelling. My only criticism is that it felt a bit slow at times. I would love to see this made into a movie!
Question
Do you have a favorite dragon from a book or movie?