Dragon School: First Flight (Volume 1)

By: Sarah K. L. Wilson

Narrated by: Jigisha Patel

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?