Dragonsdale (review)

As the daughter of the head of Dragonsdale, a stable for dragons, Cara has grown up tantalizingly close to her goals as she has been mucking barns and caring for the creatures her whole life. Unfortunately, it seems that her dreams of flying a dragon and competing in tournaments will never come true as her father, still heartbroken over his wife's death during a dragon flight years before, has forbidden her to ever ride. However, Cara can't ignore what she feels is her destiny, especially when her beloved Skydancer, a dragon with whom she has an established trustbond, is sold to a cruel and spoiled master. Nicely varied black-and-white illustrations complement the text; although most of the drawings are small and directly reflect the story, occasional full-page spreads add intricacy and emotional impact to the details given. The descriptions of dragon agility tournaments and speed tests are exhilarating, adding the risks and thrills of flight to the usual racing excitement. Unfortunately, life on the ground is considerably less suspenseful, and readers familiar with any of the myriad horse series will be able to predict the exact chain of events that leads to Cara getting everything she ever wanted. In addition, the villains are entirely one-dimensional and unredeemable, which, while enabling their satisfying comeuppance, doesn't add much drama or depth to the novel. However, as this is ultimately a story of a girl and her pony—er, dragon, the characters of Cara and Skydancer, fiercely loyal and dedicated to each other, may satisfy many young animal lovers. A map and an interview with the fictional author (a young dragon rider herself) add to the fantasy fun.