Dragon School: First Flight (Volume 1)

By: Sarah K. L. Wilson

Narrated by: Jigisha Patel

Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Join Dragon School. Learn to fly.

Sixteen-year-old Amel arrived at Dragon School just like everyone else - with a dream to ride dragons and join the Dominion Dragon Riders. But Amel has a crippled leg, and Dragon School training is grueling. Before she can even become an initiate, she must complete her First Flight on a dragon. Can Amel survive First Flight and become a Dragon School initiate, or will her dreams dash on the rocks below?

©2017 Sarah K. L. Wilson (P)2018 Sarah K. L. Wilson

Amel finds more in her dragon than expected

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This story is Amel fighting against the odds to be what she wants to be. She has no support in school from the other students. In fact, they all doubt her. But Raolcan, her dragon, feels to have as strong a determination as Amel. Amel has to decide if she really wants to do this when she learns it means her dragon will be a slave, magically bound.

Jigisha Patel is a new voice for me. The introduction by Audible and title page sound clear but the first chapter sounds muffled which jumps out at me within seconds. There were a few moments I thought it was clearing up, but it got muffled again. The muffle clears up at the end of first chapter and the remainder of the book is clear as a bell. As Jigisha narrates, I could hear her breath. I know everyone breaths, but some narrators are easier to hear than others. Knowing this helped me not focus on it and listen to the story. Jigisha voiced Amel with character and determination, which fits Amel as she is determined.

Amel has a handicap, her leg. She's determined to not be judged or stopped by it. This is awesome. We see, with Amel, a lot of people think she won't make it through the difficult lessons with her dragon, but Amel's strength shows through. She's more and can do more, than people want to give her credit for. People see a handicap and stop there. Amel's determined to show them she's more. And she is. I love the dragon that picks her though. Raolcan doesn't see a handicap. He sees a strong young woman who is like him in views.

Amel and Raolcan don't trust others, but they'll have to trust each other to survive the first flight. Yet, the seem to be fast friends. They find something in the other they aren't given by other people, a support and strength to keep going. Sometimes having that one person (or dragon) can help.

This story is very much a good story for young readers. Amel doesn't bulk under the negative vibe of others. She's strong and willing to keep going for what she wants. AND, she's a kind person. She'll help anyone. She's sincere in her worries for Raolcan as well. This is a clean story in language and affections.

This is a dragon school. We learn little details of the dragons and their positions and jobs based on their color. We even learn how dragons come to the school and why. There is a interesting connection with the dragons, and I'm glad Amel sees the truth in it.

The way the story ends with the dragon school leaves us to think there is possibly trouble somewhere. There is going to be more to come and I'm kind of curious about what Amel and Raolcan will come across.

A simple, quick fun story

No princess-in-hiding, no lost heir, no orphan title character. Just a PoMo "fringe, excluded one" chasing her dream. [Wait! someone several books later will eventually say "Did I forget to say that I am a prince/princess?"] However, we do start off with the "chosen one" trope ["The ---- chooses the ----, Harry."] and some time later will have to deal with prophesy. We have a mind-meld lifetime-bond of dragon and rider (reminiscent of Eragon and of the bats in Gregor the Overlander), which allows Amel to rise above herself.
The narrator, however, delivers a reading rather than a performance, with the result that one needs to imagine how the characters would really express themselves. I recommend bumping up the speed to focus on the story not the narration.

A good listen at the sale price; too short for the full price. These books should be bundled into a trilogy and repriced.

adorable young adult Book

a very very good young adult book I liked it's quite much can't wait to see what will be the second book in the series very good book

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Good Intro to a New Dragon World

This was my first book I’ve read of Wilson’s and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a good intro to the Dragon School world. I wish some more of Amel’s back story had been explained, but it was still an interesting take on dragons and their riders. The side-characters kind of fluctuate between liking and hating Amel which makes your head spin, but it’s somewhat understandable since they’re trying to like her though society deems she’ll never be worthy of anything due to her disability. I’m intrigued in what will happen next, so I’ll definitely be continuing the journey.

Get a new narrator

I’m sure the rest of the story might probably maybe be good. But the narrator......beuller? Beuller?

What A Beginning...

I had owned the e-book of this, but had put off reading it.... now I am kicking myself for waiting. A school for dragon riders where anyone can apply regardless of social class or physical condition, what a great idea for a book? Actually, though, I am kind of glad that I waited for the audio book as the narrator, Jigisha Patel, has done amazing job of bring the book, and especially the crippled protagonist to life. You could just feel her pain and determination. And the story (though a little short) kept me not wanting to turn it off as it led from one situation to the next. I cannot wait to hear the rest of this 20 book series. A copy of this audiobook was received at no cost from the author in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

Great

I got this ARC via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. I loved this story from beginning to end. This is a story of courage in the face of all odds. Spider as her dragon names her was injured in childhood but still determined to be a dragon rider. The author's world building and story development took you on a ride and never let go. The narrator carried the story to its conclusion. I can't wait to read the next book. This is a fantasy story but is told so well that I could not stop listening to it. I stayed up until 3 am in order to get to the end.

A good start but with some audio issues

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The first thing I wanted to point out is that the audio quality of this book (as of today) is very inconsistent. In some places it was very clear and crisp, and others it is muffled and awful. This really made it difficult to get through the book. At only a couple of hours long, this is a big issue to me. That being said, when the narration is clear, she is a good narrator.

As for the story itself, I like the premise. The story line is good, but the main character is a bit weak, in my opinion. She seems to have courage to overcome her disability, but is kind of a whiner.

It has a bit of a cliffhanger, though, so be warned. The rest of the series is not yet available on Audible. I'd be open to checking the series out, if only to see where the story ends up. I just hope they fix the audio issues going forward.

Can't wait to read book two!

I was hooked from the beginning all the way to the end. However, I found the main character whinned a lot. It really got to me. I mean she sounded strong at times which I really liked about her, she didn't let her disability get in the way yet she would moan instead of thinking positive and getting on with it. She did this on and off through out the book. However, it is still a good book, it is a clean read so it suitable to all and I would still recommend it.
I will be looking the next book up in the series.

Dragon School

Very interesting read about #perseverance #strength and #friendship it's the start of an adventure #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes