Calling on Dragons

Hello again, loyal Book Dame readers! I apologize for the prolonged gap in reviews. I promised Jefferson that I would read a book of his that was dull and long. But, since that’s finished, here we go!

Title: Calling on Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1994
Series: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Book 3)
Next in Series: Talking to Dragons

Review:
Morwen and her cats live a fairly quiet life in the Enchanted Forest. Sometimes odd things do occur, but who would have thought the cats would run into a seven foot eleven inch tall (including the ears) rabbit who is obviously enchanted? Morwen investigates. She discovers that the wizards have found a way to soak up the Enchanted Forest again. Heading off for the castle at once, Morwen informs King Mendanbar and Queen Cimorene. There they find that the wizards have stolen the sword that is linked to the magic of the Enchanted Forest. Since only a member of the King’s family can handle the sword (and Mendanbar can’t leave or the Forest will all be soaked up) pregnant Cimorene must go adventuring with her entourage: Kazul, Telemain, Killer the rabbit, Morwen and two of her cats.

While this book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a little less exciting at first than the previous two, it has some really interesting points. Fire-witches, mentioned a few times in Searching for Dragons become far more involved in the series and I found them fascinating. The whole idea of a person who’s hair spontaneously combusts when they’re angry, is immune to fire and can learn any kind of magic is pretty cool. Also, there are talking cats. They're just as sarcastic and snide as cats would be if they could talk.

However, the rest of the book was dull and jumpy. Hopping from one place to another doesn’t move the story along, it just describes more scenery. That's not why I bought the book. From Morwen’s house to the Castle, and then with Telemain’s random transportation spells, shifting the setting needlessly ties up pages without moving the plot along. Also, the giant rabbit gets annoying very quickly. They bring him everywhere and he’s constantly eating things he shouldn’t so first he’s giant, then he turns in to a donkey, and well… it just keeps going to the point of nausea. There’s also a random encounter with Jack, a magic bean farmer, which is only in the story to give Killer another magic thing to eat.

And then there’s the hanging ending…

Perspective:
Calling on Dragons is told from third person limited.

My Thoughts:
This was always my least favorite book of the series when I was growing up, simply because of the hanging ending. I loved having a book from Morwen’s perspective and finally being able to know what her cats were saying. The basis of this story, though, is really just to set the stage for the next book (my favorite of the quartet). Really, Morwen is one of my favorite characters in the series. I just wish the book from her point of view was more interesting. It’s a decent read, but no where near up to par with the other three.

Favorite Scene:
I loved the floating laundry basket they use to get into the fire-witch’s tower.

Who this book is best for:
Middle school kids will like it, or anyone else who wants to finish the series. It’s worthwhile because it sets up the stage for the next book.

Violence: 1 of 5, because the dragons start eating people.

Stars: 2.5 of 5

Annie's Adventure

Title: Annie’s Adventure
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Genre: kid’s mystery
Published: 2008
Series: The Sisters Eight
Next in series: Druinda’s Dangers

Summary:
Annie and her seven sisters are octuplets. On New Years Eve 2007, their scientist mother (mommy) and model father (daddy) disappear from their house. “The Eight” (as they call themselves) decide not to alert the authorities, fend for themselves, and find their parents. But to do so, they must each discover their hidden talent and their gift. In this installment Annie finds her talent and gift, helps her sisters overcome the first month without any adults and learns to drive.

Review:
The Sisters Eight’s life revolves around that number in a way that would seem amusing if it weren’t so overdone. There are eight girls born on the 8th of August. Their last name means eight in French. They have eight cats. It goes on from there. The sisters portray the usual rolls as “first child” being bossy, last child being the baby, the third child nitpicking and being uptight. Since this was Annie’s book, she’s the most developed character in it, and since it’s the first book she’s the most developed in the series.

Their world is that of any eight-year-olds: home and school. From a well off family, the girls live in an almost-castle and go to a private school where they make up eighty percent of the class. And luckily for the Sisters Eight, all of the adults in this world have the brain of an amoeba, which makes their antics doable.

Perspective:
Annie’s Adventure is told from the perspective of one of the Eight, although I never figured out which one it was. So, it’s sort of an odd first person, in that there are a lot of “we”s going on.

My Thoughts:
Honestly, I wasn’t that taken with the first book in this series. It may have had something to do with the fact I was reading it in the airport and my plane was delayed, but frankly I consider every adult in this book to be astoundingly stupid to the point that even children won’t find it believable. It got on my nerves. I won’t be reading the others.

Favorite Scene:
The girls going to the toy store was perhaps the most amusing scene in this book for me. When Annie dresses up as a man and then pretends to be a midget, while unrealistic, made me smile. However, since there were so many more scenes that made me frown, I have to list my least favorite as well. I despised the scene where Annie is handed the bills and runs out in tears, screaming. It was out of character for her, and was just too sudden. It’s never a good idea to have a character step out of the personality you’ve built for them.

Who this book is best for:
This is best for girls who are between seven and nine, who are picking up their first chapter books. Anyone else will be bored.

Violence: 0 of 5

Stars: 2.5 of 5 (honestly, I was very bored with this book. It’s a good thing it was short or it may have been my first “didn’t finish” of Book Dame.)