The book takes place in medieval times. Alys, a teenager, lives with her father (her mom died when she was born) above the blacksmith's shop where her father works. Suddenly, the villagers, for no reason at all, decide that she is a witch. At her trial, her father drops dead from the strain of it. The villagers then take her and tie her to a post on a mountain so a dragon will eat her. She manages to work her way loose from her bindings. She is trying to think of what to do, when a dragon swoops down. Here's an excerpt from the book:
Her first inclination was to hope the dragon hadn't seen the torches and that she'd have time to run under cover of the nearby trees... Then she realized the dragon hadn't seen her, and that if she stayed still for a few moments longer, she was free. But she was soaked to the skin and cold, and she hadn't eaten anything since early morning, and she was an orphan with nowhere, absolutely nowhere, to go. And she remembered the wolves. Her choices, as she saw them, were to die quick or to die slow. She chose quick. Standing, she flung a rock with all her might. "You stupid dragon!" she screamed. "Come and get me!" The dragon picks her up and carries her over to a haystack by a deserted farm. He then transformed into a human. He told her that his name is Selendrile and that dragons can change into any animal they like. Although dragons aren't supposed to meddle in human affairs, he decides to help her get revenge on the villagers. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Romance Yes Romance plotlets: - falling in love with the enemy Adversaries are… - dragon buddy Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) GIANT monster(s) Yes Descript. of chases or violence - 20 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Human/magical couple? Yes Type of couple: - She's a human, he's a magical being Main Character Identity: - Female Age: - a teen Main Adversary Identity: - magical being Age: - long-lived adults Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a lot How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters Setting Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |