Nocturnal Book Reviews

A Natural History Of Dragons is a lovely, quirky book which reads like a proper memoir, but as the reviews on Goodreads indicate it's not for everyone.

Lady Trent talks about her growing up, getting interested in dragons, obsessed with them, getting married to someone who shared her passion and at last embarking on her first expedition in a matter of fact simple narrative.

Vystrana where everything exciting happens, is a backward pseudo Eastern European country with quirky customs and superstitions, and to get used to it is really hard for Isabella. Her complaints about the weather and the people, her descriptions of day to day life however are old-fashioned and charming like something you would expect of Jonathan Harker's writing.

The approach to dragons again is very scientific and meticulous. In Vystana they behave out of norm and attack people, and it's up to the naturalists to understand why and to stop the dragons. There is a political intrigue here, danger and excitement, and lady Trent with her companions are slowly adding pieces of the puzzle together.

It is a fantasy book but it's mostly a historical mystery - dragons and alternative world-building are the only fantastical elements in the book. It's got its sad moments and its moments of triumph, it's a story easy to believe into and a heroine who you feel for. I enjoyed it very much but I've no clue who to recommend it to. Mostly to people who enjoy historical fiction, I reckon.