soph (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sophia_sol) wrote2015-08-17 09:15 pm
sophia_sol) wrote2015-08-17 09:15 pm
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, by Marie Brennan
Thoroughly enjoyed! I have been reading a number of 19th century women's travel memoirs of late (Thank you librivox!) and I love the genre. And this is that genre WITH ADDED DRAGONS. So great. Though this book doesn't quite have the right tone. Oh well - it IS an alternate universe that among other things does dates differently so it's not technically 19th century....
It's possible though that my favourite part of this book was Dagmira? Dagmira was super great! Takes as little shit from these foreigners as she can get away with, but is also a decent person despite her very understandable frustrations.
Gotta admit I was a little surprised when our main character's beloved husband died at the end, but in retrospect it was absolutely necessary in order to facilitate all her future adventures, because he was definitely fairly protective of her.
Speaking of our main character and her husband! Her husband always seemed kind of bland to me but overall the shape of their relationship made me very happy. I had someone mention to me that this book has an asexual character - my reading actually is that our main character is aromantic though not asexual. She makes oblique reference once or twice to the sex she enjoys with her husband, but her her feelings about him are all firmly in the realm of friendship. So that was pretty cool! I definitely enjoyed that.
And I definitely intend to seek out the sequels!
It's possible though that my favourite part of this book was Dagmira? Dagmira was super great! Takes as little shit from these foreigners as she can get away with, but is also a decent person despite her very understandable frustrations.
Gotta admit I was a little surprised when our main character's beloved husband died at the end, but in retrospect it was absolutely necessary in order to facilitate all her future adventures, because he was definitely fairly protective of her.
Speaking of our main character and her husband! Her husband always seemed kind of bland to me but overall the shape of their relationship made me very happy. I had someone mention to me that this book has an asexual character - my reading actually is that our main character is aromantic though not asexual. She makes oblique reference once or twice to the sex she enjoys with her husband, but her her feelings about him are all firmly in the realm of friendship. So that was pretty cool! I definitely enjoyed that.
And I definitely intend to seek out the sequels!