I remember listening to my mom read these books to me when I was young, probably on a car ride. This is one of the books that really influenced what I chose to read on my own. From the titles of the books alone you see that THE ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES revolves around dragons. I have probably reread this series the most over the years and it is one that I want to read to my children to give them a sense of wonder and make them think outside of the stereotypical high-fantasy box.
DEALING WITH DRAGONS follows Princess Cimorene who has no desire to be a conventional princess. Instead of taking dancing lessons, she takes cooking lessons, fencing lessons, juggling lessons, and magic lessons. Her parents finally decide that they are going to force her to marry and bring a prince to meet her. She is not impressed and when she finds out that her parents intend her to marry, even against her will if necessary. While she is talking to herself about her problem a frog directs her to someone who can help. She runs away from the castle and ends up in a cave full of dragons. Kazul, a strong minded female dragon, decides to hire her as her princess. The princess's duties consist of keeping the cave clean, organizing the treasury, and cooking when necessary. Cimorene soon finds herself enjoying her new life.
With the new life comes new troubles. The prince she ran away from, as well as a handful of knights, decides she needs to be rescued from the evil dragon. She meets several other captured princesses, a stone prince, a witch, and a few wizards. In this particular series wizards aren't good people. They steal magic and dragons are looking for any excuse to eat them. Cimorene must use all of her talents to keep herself and her friends safe. Even though the protagonist is a female this book appeals to both genders and all ages.
SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS is the second book in THE ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES. This follows the King of the Enchanted forest, Mendanbar. The Enchanted Forest is not a normal forest. It changes when you aren't looking. Mendanbar has been pressured by his family to get married though he hasn't met anyone who really captures his attention. When he comes across a burned portion of the forest scattered around with dragon scales, he heads to the mountains to talk with the King of the Dragons. Since the King of the Dragons is currently missing, Mendanbar and Cimorene team up to get to the bottom of the missing dragon and burned forest. While they are working on the mystery they call upon the help of Morwen the witch as well as a few giants on a rickety magic carpet and a leaky magic sword.
There are a few things that make this SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS so great. This is one of the first series I read where the point of view character changed from the first book. This is one of the reasons why the series appeals to a wide audience. Mendanbar adds a whole new dimension to the world as well as giving a different look at Cimorene. And I just can't get over about how cool the Enchanted Forest is.
CALLING ON DRAGONS is the third book in THE ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES and is told from the perspective of Morwen the witch. She isn't a conventional witch. She wears black because it is practical. She doesn't like pointy hats and she doesn't own a black cat. She owns at least nine cats none of which are black. Morwen is called in to help Cimorene and Mendanbar when the magic sword goes missing. They enlist the help of the magician Telemain, not to be confused with a wizard. Along their journey across the countryside they end up with a rabbit named Killer. Through the story Killer undergoes numerous changes because of magic. Morwen and Cimorene aren't sure they are going to make it back in time to save Mendanbar and the kingdom even with the help of dragons.
This book adds a new element. Not only do we get to hear a portion of the story from Morwen, but also from her cats. Though the other books you know that Morwen talks to her not so normal cats, but in CALLING ON DRAGONS you get to hear the cats talk back. They have their own individual personalities and you just grow attached to the felines. Fiddlesticks is one of my favorite characters from the whole series.
As I was getting ready to write this review I was surprised to learn that TALKING TO DRAGONS was written and published five years before DEALING WITH DRAGONS. TALKING TO DRAGONS takes place sixteen years after CALLING ON DRAGONS. Daystar grows up with his mother and is given an education involving sword fighting, magic, and manners. When he is sixteen a wizard comes to his house and he watches in surprise as his mother melts him. From there he is given a sword and sent into the Enchanted Forest with no instruction other than to not come back until he can tell his mother why he had to leave. During Daystar's travels in the forest he learns that the sword is no ordinary sword but is in fact magic and belongs to the Sleeping King. He meets a fire witch named Shiara and she sticks with him. They meet a young dragon as well as a few other people including a witch, magician and Kazul.
Now that I know that this book was written first it kind of explains why it has a slightly different feel from the other books. I love this book and it is one that you can read as a standalone novel because it gives enough back story that you won't feel as if you are missing anything but if you read it as part of the series you really get more excited about what is going on in the story and you just want to cheer when the characters you already know and love show up in the story. This is one of my all-time favorite series and it just changed the way I thought about traditional fantasy tropes.
I love these books too! all time favorites! :)
ReplyDeleteThese really are some of the best books. I am glad you agree.
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