Dealing With Dragons

By Patricia C. Wrede

Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart—and bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon—and finds the family and excitement she’s been looking for.

This has been on my list of to-reads for years. I was engaged almost immediately, but quickly became disinterested and only finished out of sheer will. I know that a lot of people disagree and think this book is the best thing since sliced bread, but I found the plot to be boring (though this could be due to the fact that I’ve read similar books that have been more entertaining and well-done). This may have been the first book to represent the anti-princess stereotype and dragon comraderie, but it was not the first I read, and therefore I was bored. Bored because Cimorene didn’t really have to fight for anything. Sure, she ran away and offered her services to a dragon, but everything that happens to her is done in such a way that she is practically gift-wrapped the ending without having an effective struggle. It was my biggest turn-off. I was past the point of caring because Cimorene didn’t seem to care either. I mean, she was concerned, but it was mild in tone and had me irritated. Anyway, I could go on and on, but this just wasn’t a happy-making read for me. I’d go to many other dragon/princess books before this one. And I’m not going to read the rest of the series. The only way that will happen is if in a few years I forget how bored I was and someone who loves the series talks me into it.

I give it a 2.75 out of 5 (Though it could be a 3, I’m just in a bad mood with this book.)