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Geats and Shylfings
The Coming of the Dragon
Rebecca Barnhouse weaves Norse gods, blood feuds, and a terrifying dragon into this spectacular retelling of the end of the Old English poem Beowulf.
When he was a baby, Rune washed up onshore in a boat, along with a sword and a pendant bearing the runes that gave him his nickname. Some people thought he was a sacrifice to the gods and wanted to send him right back to the sea. Luckily for Rune, King Beowulf disagreed. He lifted the boy from the boat and gave him to Amma, a wisewoman living on a farm far removed from the king’s hall, to raise as she saw fit.
Sixteen years later, Rune spends his summers laboring on the farm. And at King Beowulf’s request, he comes to the hall each winter for weapons training. But somehow he never quite fits in. Many people still fear he will bring a curse on the kingdom. Then a terrible thing happens. On a lonely crag on a mountain that belongs to the giants, someone awakens a dragon. It is time for Rune to find the warrior inside himself and prove to the doubters once and for all that he is a true hero.
From the Hardcover edition.
When he was a baby, Rune washed up onshore in a boat, along with a sword and a pendant bearing the runes that gave him his nickname. Some people thought he was a sacrifice to the gods and wanted to send him right back to the sea. Luckily for Rune, King Beowulf disagreed. He lifted the boy from the boat and gave him to Amma, a wisewoman living on a farm far removed from the king’s hall, to raise as she saw fit.
Sixteen years later, Rune spends his summers laboring on the farm. And at King Beowulf’s request, he comes to the hall each winter for weapons training. But somehow he never quite fits in. Many people still fear he will bring a curse on the kingdom. Then a terrible thing happens. On a lonely crag on a mountain that belongs to the giants, someone awakens a dragon. It is time for Rune to find the warrior inside himself and prove to the doubters once and for all that he is a true hero.
From the Hardcover edition.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2010
25 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Barnhouse
8 books38 followersReading was like breathing to Rebecca when she was growing up. It still is. She loved the Little House books, and fought with her brother over books in the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series. Later, she discovered science fiction and fantasy, from The Lord of the Rings to Arthur C. Clarke to Ursula K. LeGuin’s Earthsea series, and many, many other books she and her best friend shared. They still do.
Rebecca first encountered The Book of Margery Kempe during graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and medieval literature written in Old and Middle English, Old Norse, and other fascinating languages.
A native of Vero Beach, Florida, she now lives in Ohio, where she teaches and writes about medieval topics and about children’s literature set in the Middle Ages.
Rebecca first encountered The Book of Margery Kempe during graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and medieval literature written in Old and Middle English, Old Norse, and other fascinating languages.
A native of Vero Beach, Florida, she now lives in Ohio, where she teaches and writes about medieval topics and about children’s literature set in the Middle Ages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 3, 2018
3.5 stars. This story is inspired by the epic poem Beowulf. I liked the author's note at the end that explained the differences between this story and the poem. I haven't read Beowulf in years, but I remember enjoying it in school.
I do think the pacing was a bit off, and during the first half it was a bit too repetitive regarding Rune's insecurities. Perhaps if I had not listened to it on audiobook I would have felt different. But overall the writing was good - lots of descriptions, and while I'm not an expert in the time period, it seemed accurate. The story was both true to the time period but also readable, especially for young readers. Certain parts were very exciting, particularly the scenes with the dragon. I liked the main character as well.
I do think the pacing was a bit off, and during the first half it was a bit too repetitive regarding Rune's insecurities. Perhaps if I had not listened to it on audiobook I would have felt different. But overall the writing was good - lots of descriptions, and while I'm not an expert in the time period, it seemed accurate. The story was both true to the time period but also readable, especially for young readers. Certain parts were very exciting, particularly the scenes with the dragon. I liked the main character as well.
July 27, 2012
After reading, and loving, Peaceweaver by Rebecca Barnhouse I decided I needed to read the companion book The Coming of the Dragon (which was published first). This young adult book; appropriate for middle grade readers and older, was inspired by Beowulf. During the time of peace following Grendel's defeat readers meet Rune. As an infant he washed up on the shore, and many thought he should be killed or left to die. However, Amma, a far-seeing woman knew he was coming and raised him as her own with the kings blessing. The story takes off when Rune is 16. He has been reminded all his life that he is different, and unwanted by some. While chasing after a stubborn goat, Rune sees an awakened dragon and his life is forever changed. The kingdom is in danger, and his true heritage is revealed, as Rune tries to aid his king and prove his worth.
The Coming of the Dragon is a coming of age story with a historical fiction and fantasy feel. The day-to-day lives described in the story matches up very well with how most historians describe the time. The women are strong characters, and the social structure is realistic. Rune is a well-defined character, going through questions about identity and self-worth that most people have faced in some manner in their lives. Amma, the king, and the other characters were also well crafted, coming to life on the pages. Having read Peaceweaver first, I liked seeing the world she was joining explained. Readers that read the books in the right order, with The Coming of the Dragon first, will enjoy seeing how the mysterious Hild came to join the fray in the final scenes of the book.
I highly recommend The Coming of the Dragon to readers that like historical; fiction, fantasy, and re-imaginings of legends. The writing style is fresh but still reminds me of Tamora Pierce and Maria V. Snyder because Barnhouse's work draws me into the story just as completely as their's. High praise from me, since Pierce is my author recommendation to all children and young adults looking for something with a touch of fantasy to read.
The Coming of the Dragon is a coming of age story with a historical fiction and fantasy feel. The day-to-day lives described in the story matches up very well with how most historians describe the time. The women are strong characters, and the social structure is realistic. Rune is a well-defined character, going through questions about identity and self-worth that most people have faced in some manner in their lives. Amma, the king, and the other characters were also well crafted, coming to life on the pages. Having read Peaceweaver first, I liked seeing the world she was joining explained. Readers that read the books in the right order, with The Coming of the Dragon first, will enjoy seeing how the mysterious Hild came to join the fray in the final scenes of the book.
I highly recommend The Coming of the Dragon to readers that like historical; fiction, fantasy, and re-imaginings of legends. The writing style is fresh but still reminds me of Tamora Pierce and Maria V. Snyder because Barnhouse's work draws me into the story just as completely as their's. High praise from me, since Pierce is my author recommendation to all children and young adults looking for something with a touch of fantasy to read.
October 7, 2021
I needed something different. A colleague gave me this several years ago. When I was teaching 12th grade English, we would be knee deep into Beowulf at this time of year. So I thought I’d go for it.
I was pleasantly surprised. Rebecca Barnhouse, who teaches at nearby Youngstown State University, retells the last section of the epic poem from the Anglo-Saxons. She does an outstanding job with matching the details and imitating the language of the original. I haven’t taught Beowulf now in five years, but it really came back for me. She even uses many of the vocabulary words I assigned to my seniors! The kennings, the imagery are the excellent. While she embellishes the poem with her own speculation, the integrity remains.
I feel like there’s probably not a very wide audience for this book, but my nerdy self thoroughly enjoyed it!
Side note: I read this author’s Book of the Maidservant a long time ago. It was based on The Canterbury Tales, I believe. I liked this one better.
I was pleasantly surprised. Rebecca Barnhouse, who teaches at nearby Youngstown State University, retells the last section of the epic poem from the Anglo-Saxons. She does an outstanding job with matching the details and imitating the language of the original. I haven’t taught Beowulf now in five years, but it really came back for me. She even uses many of the vocabulary words I assigned to my seniors! The kennings, the imagery are the excellent. While she embellishes the poem with her own speculation, the integrity remains.
I feel like there’s probably not a very wide audience for this book, but my nerdy self thoroughly enjoyed it!
Side note: I read this author’s Book of the Maidservant a long time ago. It was based on The Canterbury Tales, I believe. I liked this one better.
March 9, 2017
I liked this book very much. I gave it a 4* because some parts of it were really slow paced, while others to fast paced. Also, the ending isn't really as exciting as other books have read. But overall, it was an exciting book with a new author for me. I can't wait to read the second book! This is an action and adventure book with some crazy death and random turns of events that make the book more interesting.
November 13, 2012
Originally posted here.
The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse is a retelling of the latter part of Beowulf. I don't think I've ever read Beowulf or a retelling based on it. I don't know much about this epic tale because we never studied it for school. The Coming of the Dragon came highly recommended by both Brandy of Random Musings of a Bibliophile and Charlotte of Charlotte's Library so I decided to give it a go. Also, I'm very curious about the companion novel, Peaceweaver, because Ana and Thea of The Book Smugglers gave it a positive joint review. You can imagine my delight when I discovered that both books are available in the library. Yay for making the most out of my library membership!
If you've been following my blog for a while now then you're probably aware that I read all kinds of books but I rarely venture into middle grade territory. I only do that when a book comes recommended by book bloggers I trust. And when I end up enjoying the book, I usually feel like I would have loved to read it when I was in the target age for it. The Coming of the Dragon is one of those novels. I really liked Rune's character development - he starts off as an insecure young man but grows into something more as the story progresses. I understood how difficult and confusing life must have been like for Rune while growing up. I mean it's hard enough to figure out what you're meant to do with your life but with Rune, he had to deal with not knowing who his real parents are or where he came from. He desperately wants to prove himself, he just needs the chance to do so. I liked how the change in his character from the beginning to the end wasn't drastic, it felt believable based on the challenges that Rune experienced.
There is magic in this book but most of it is subtle, aside from the presence of the dragon. The novel reads more like historical fiction instead of epic fantasy. Maybe I should just describe it as historical fantasy and leave it at that. Like I said, I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to Beowulf or this time period so I'm not sure how accurate the setting is. What I can just say is that I enjoyed reading about the characters and their struggles to overcome their biggest foe: the dragon. I found the first few chapters a little slow but things picked up towards the end. Also, I got the feeling that the kingdom wasn't that big? I was wondering why there weren't more people who were there to fight against the dragon. Although that might really be the case, Beowulf's kingdom might just be a small one. I was really curious about Peaceweaver after reading this one and was a bit disappointed to discover that it's not a sequel but a companion novel instead. It doesn't continue the story after The Coming of the Dragon but occurs simultaneously with the events of the novel and features a different character. I'm still interested in reading it though, I just hope Rebecca Barnhouse returns to Rune's story. Would you happen to have any other recommendations based on Norse mythology?
The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse is a retelling of the latter part of Beowulf. I don't think I've ever read Beowulf or a retelling based on it. I don't know much about this epic tale because we never studied it for school. The Coming of the Dragon came highly recommended by both Brandy of Random Musings of a Bibliophile and Charlotte of Charlotte's Library so I decided to give it a go. Also, I'm very curious about the companion novel, Peaceweaver, because Ana and Thea of The Book Smugglers gave it a positive joint review. You can imagine my delight when I discovered that both books are available in the library. Yay for making the most out of my library membership!
If you've been following my blog for a while now then you're probably aware that I read all kinds of books but I rarely venture into middle grade territory. I only do that when a book comes recommended by book bloggers I trust. And when I end up enjoying the book, I usually feel like I would have loved to read it when I was in the target age for it. The Coming of the Dragon is one of those novels. I really liked Rune's character development - he starts off as an insecure young man but grows into something more as the story progresses. I understood how difficult and confusing life must have been like for Rune while growing up. I mean it's hard enough to figure out what you're meant to do with your life but with Rune, he had to deal with not knowing who his real parents are or where he came from. He desperately wants to prove himself, he just needs the chance to do so. I liked how the change in his character from the beginning to the end wasn't drastic, it felt believable based on the challenges that Rune experienced.
There is magic in this book but most of it is subtle, aside from the presence of the dragon. The novel reads more like historical fiction instead of epic fantasy. Maybe I should just describe it as historical fantasy and leave it at that. Like I said, I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to Beowulf or this time period so I'm not sure how accurate the setting is. What I can just say is that I enjoyed reading about the characters and their struggles to overcome their biggest foe: the dragon. I found the first few chapters a little slow but things picked up towards the end. Also, I got the feeling that the kingdom wasn't that big? I was wondering why there weren't more people who were there to fight against the dragon. Although that might really be the case, Beowulf's kingdom might just be a small one. I was really curious about Peaceweaver after reading this one and was a bit disappointed to discover that it's not a sequel but a companion novel instead. It doesn't continue the story after The Coming of the Dragon but occurs simultaneously with the events of the novel and features a different character. I'm still interested in reading it though, I just hope Rebecca Barnhouse returns to Rune's story. Would you happen to have any other recommendations based on Norse mythology?
February 16, 2019
Review originally posted here.
The third section of Beowulf has always been my favorite. It is just so sad and uncertain, yet hopeful at the same time. Like most endings are in life. Plus there's a dragon. There are very few stories that can't be improved by the presence of a dragon. So I was pretty excited about the existence of this book.
This book says so much and at the same time the story is so simple. It is Rune's story and shows his journey from taunted farm boy to one of the king's men facing a dragon, and then on to a bit more. Through Rune's story the reader gets so much more though. Not the least of which is a very accurate representation of Anglo Saxon life. I have to agree that this aspect did remind me of Rosemary Sutcliff in that the power was in the details. Small things were included that gives the reader a sense of the setting and did not require a lot of description. There is also a lot said about seeking wisdom, governing, war, peace, love, friendship and family. None of this is didactic, it is the story.
The plot is fast paced. The story covers little time. Things with the dragon happen quickly. The story taken from Beowulf ends about two thirds of the way in and the rest of the novel is pure invention and follows the things that occur in the land post dragon. The end is a bit rushed and some of Rune's emotions are startling in how quick they form but it was still concluded well.
Rune is a fascinating main character who comes across as real. I felt everything he was feeling so acutely as I read the book I actually had to double check to see what point of view it was written in before typing this review. It is third but I could have sworn it was first. All of the secondary characters are interesting as well, particularly Beowulf and Amma. There are several strong females in the story and they tell of how important they were to the society they lived in.
This is definitely one I will be coming back to again and will share with my children.
The third section of Beowulf has always been my favorite. It is just so sad and uncertain, yet hopeful at the same time. Like most endings are in life. Plus there's a dragon. There are very few stories that can't be improved by the presence of a dragon. So I was pretty excited about the existence of this book.
This book says so much and at the same time the story is so simple. It is Rune's story and shows his journey from taunted farm boy to one of the king's men facing a dragon, and then on to a bit more. Through Rune's story the reader gets so much more though. Not the least of which is a very accurate representation of Anglo Saxon life. I have to agree that this aspect did remind me of Rosemary Sutcliff in that the power was in the details. Small things were included that gives the reader a sense of the setting and did not require a lot of description. There is also a lot said about seeking wisdom, governing, war, peace, love, friendship and family. None of this is didactic, it is the story.
The plot is fast paced. The story covers little time. Things with the dragon happen quickly. The story taken from Beowulf ends about two thirds of the way in and the rest of the novel is pure invention and follows the things that occur in the land post dragon. The end is a bit rushed and some of Rune's emotions are startling in how quick they form but it was still concluded well.
Rune is a fascinating main character who comes across as real. I felt everything he was feeling so acutely as I read the book I actually had to double check to see what point of view it was written in before typing this review. It is third but I could have sworn it was first. All of the secondary characters are interesting as well, particularly Beowulf and Amma. There are several strong females in the story and they tell of how important they were to the society they lived in.
This is definitely one I will be coming back to again and will share with my children.
July 3, 2012
I love it when authors tackle retellings of the old, great myths and legends. These stories were passed down through centuries of oral storytelling with good reason: they're exciting and memorable. Since I used to teach Beowulf to my beloved high school English students, I was eager to read Barnhouse's book.
Three cheers for authenticity in the Anglo-Saxon culture/way of life. I kept thinking of that old idea: we fear what is beyond the circle of firelight. In other words, as we learn more and more about the world and can see more clearly, we come up with more "scientific" explanations. But to a Geat, an Anglo-Saxon, a Viking--why not have dragons and gods/goddesses and visions and the like? How else to explain things they couldn't understand? In that sense, while we would term this book a fantasy, THEY might not. And this comes through nicely. It's more historical fiction with a clear expression of Anglo Saxon belief.
I thought the book was a bit slow and predictable at times in its storytelling--especially in the beginning, but overall, well done. It wraps up mighty quickly, but believably so.
It might strike some readers as anachronistic to have women playing as major a role in their society as they do in this book. That, however, is not unrealistic. The Ancient Celts and Nordic peoples gave their women much more freedom than the later British societies did. There is a whole slew of warrior princess types sprinkled in those legends.
Three cheers for authenticity in the Anglo-Saxon culture/way of life. I kept thinking of that old idea: we fear what is beyond the circle of firelight. In other words, as we learn more and more about the world and can see more clearly, we come up with more "scientific" explanations. But to a Geat, an Anglo-Saxon, a Viking--why not have dragons and gods/goddesses and visions and the like? How else to explain things they couldn't understand? In that sense, while we would term this book a fantasy, THEY might not. And this comes through nicely. It's more historical fiction with a clear expression of Anglo Saxon belief.
I thought the book was a bit slow and predictable at times in its storytelling--especially in the beginning, but overall, well done. It wraps up mighty quickly, but believably so.
It might strike some readers as anachronistic to have women playing as major a role in their society as they do in this book. That, however, is not unrealistic. The Ancient Celts and Nordic peoples gave their women much more freedom than the later British societies did. There is a whole slew of warrior princess types sprinkled in those legends.
August 6, 2014
I was expecting this book to be slightly boring. I've never really read anything like this and didn't know what to expect. So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself liking it. The writting flows well, and the author really capturesthe time period well.
The characters are well thought out and have their own personalities. Rune is a little awkward and kind of a missfit, but he really comes into his own at the end of the book. Ketil is, I guess you could call him, his best friend. And he's there for Rune when he needs him most. King Beowulf doesn't act like your typical king. He's not greedy, he cares about his subjects, and he is brave. And Amma is very mysterious, but that adds to her charm. You slowly learn more about her past (and Rune's) as the book goes on.
Some books I've read are so fast paced and have so many things going on that it doesn't feel real. It feels like you're watching a cartoon or something. But with this book, I felt like I was there with the characters. They felt real, and I commend the author for that.
The only down side, is I felt that the dragon was dealt with too quickly. I would have enjoyed it more if the dragon had more page time in the battle.
But over all it was a great book, and I'm glad I read it.
The characters are well thought out and have their own personalities. Rune is a little awkward and kind of a missfit, but he really comes into his own at the end of the book. Ketil is, I guess you could call him, his best friend. And he's there for Rune when he needs him most. King Beowulf doesn't act like your typical king. He's not greedy, he cares about his subjects, and he is brave. And Amma is very mysterious, but that adds to her charm. You slowly learn more about her past (and Rune's) as the book goes on.
Some books I've read are so fast paced and have so many things going on that it doesn't feel real. It feels like you're watching a cartoon or something. But with this book, I felt like I was there with the characters. They felt real, and I commend the author for that.
The only down side, is I felt that the dragon was dealt with too quickly. I would have enjoyed it more if the dragon had more page time in the battle.
But over all it was a great book, and I'm glad I read it.
September 22, 2017
Book 2
When the story first started Amma’s family saw a boat coming, when it finally got here they brought her a baby to take care of his name was Rune. After a couple of years of working on Amma’s farm their only goat ran away so Rune went after it. While he’s trying to find the Goat he comes across a Cave with a dragon in it! He goes to try to warn the people and the king that a dragon is coming. They decide that they need to kill the dragon before it can do any harm. Can they stop this beast?
In this story Rune is the main character. At the beginning of the story Rune is a shy weak little guy that gets scared and nervous about a lot of different things, and he doesn’t know how to work. But after when he finds the dragon he realizes that he can do more then just sit there, he learns to help out and to be brave and heroic after going through many difficult trials. Now he is a tough character that know how to do something and when to do it. But over all of that he is the most hard worker in all of the land.
There are a lot of things that I like about this book. I like how it is so detailed that you can just imagine what’s going on like you’re in the book! I also like how the story twist and turns the plot, you think that something going to happen but the complete opposite happens. But one thing I don’t like about this book is all the stuff they used in medieval times that they didn’t explain pretty well so it left me hanging. This is a really good book and I recommend you read it, that’s why I gave it 5 stars.
When the story first started Amma’s family saw a boat coming, when it finally got here they brought her a baby to take care of his name was Rune. After a couple of years of working on Amma’s farm their only goat ran away so Rune went after it. While he’s trying to find the Goat he comes across a Cave with a dragon in it! He goes to try to warn the people and the king that a dragon is coming. They decide that they need to kill the dragon before it can do any harm. Can they stop this beast?
In this story Rune is the main character. At the beginning of the story Rune is a shy weak little guy that gets scared and nervous about a lot of different things, and he doesn’t know how to work. But after when he finds the dragon he realizes that he can do more then just sit there, he learns to help out and to be brave and heroic after going through many difficult trials. Now he is a tough character that know how to do something and when to do it. But over all of that he is the most hard worker in all of the land.
There are a lot of things that I like about this book. I like how it is so detailed that you can just imagine what’s going on like you’re in the book! I also like how the story twist and turns the plot, you think that something going to happen but the complete opposite happens. But one thing I don’t like about this book is all the stuff they used in medieval times that they didn’t explain pretty well so it left me hanging. This is a really good book and I recommend you read it, that’s why I gave it 5 stars.
May 13, 2022
A young boy with an unknown background. A reliable best friend; a bard with too much power; a weapons teacher who wants it; a pretty girl, a wise-woman and a King. These characters come to life in this fantasy loosely based on the Old English poem of Beowulf.
Our unlikely hero, Rune, who receives his name due to the runes found with him in a boat when he washes ashore as a baby, is alive only because the wise-woman Amma has convinced King Beowulf it should be so. She can raise him as she sees fit during the warm weather, but Beowulf insists he return to the castle for weapons training during the winter. Rune lives a simple life on a farm, is taunted by mean step brothers, and is generally considered a curse by the townspeople.
While chasing a goat, Rune discovers that a dragon has awakened and killed the King's best friend. In rushing to warn the King, he discovers that the dragon has already burned the main hall, as well as his own farm. ..along with Amma and his step-family. Left alone and homeless, Rune promises to avenge Amma's death. Alas, he alone stands against the dragon with King Beowulf and, with the help of Amma's teachings, finds his strength and, ultimately, discovers his background.
This tale is told in a narrative form which might be intimidating, but boys in grades 5-8 will love the dragon battle scenes, as well as other hand-to-hand combat. A recommendation would be to listen to the audio version if there is any difficulty with the unfamiliar words or pronunciations. An author's note at the end spells out precisely what is taken directly from the poem and what has been added.
Our unlikely hero, Rune, who receives his name due to the runes found with him in a boat when he washes ashore as a baby, is alive only because the wise-woman Amma has convinced King Beowulf it should be so. She can raise him as she sees fit during the warm weather, but Beowulf insists he return to the castle for weapons training during the winter. Rune lives a simple life on a farm, is taunted by mean step brothers, and is generally considered a curse by the townspeople.
While chasing a goat, Rune discovers that a dragon has awakened and killed the King's best friend. In rushing to warn the King, he discovers that the dragon has already burned the main hall, as well as his own farm. ..along with Amma and his step-family. Left alone and homeless, Rune promises to avenge Amma's death. Alas, he alone stands against the dragon with King Beowulf and, with the help of Amma's teachings, finds his strength and, ultimately, discovers his background.
This tale is told in a narrative form which might be intimidating, but boys in grades 5-8 will love the dragon battle scenes, as well as other hand-to-hand combat. A recommendation would be to listen to the audio version if there is any difficulty with the unfamiliar words or pronunciations. An author's note at the end spells out precisely what is taken directly from the poem and what has been added.
September 21, 2022
This might be the most irrelevant book on the face of this planet. When I look up questions on this book(because of school), absolutely nothing pops up, making this book completely irrelevant. Also, who is Rebecca Barnhouse. Apparently her teacher in high school tortured her so much that she had to write such a terrible book, and post it for sale to torture other people too. Also, she absolutely ruined my summer by having to read it, and ruined my school year by having to answer questions on it.
May 18, 2020
I gave this book 2/5 stars because it seemed to take forever to get to the point. I also just didn't like the way the book was wrote. Rune washed up from the ocean which was random and then no one wanted to save him except the king. Everyone also thought that Rune was a "curse" and that they shouldn't have saved him and that they should have sent him back out to the ocean. I probably would have liked the book a lot more if i was into these types of stories.
October 31, 2018
If you love ancient myths, you'll thoroughly enjoy Barnhouse's retelling of the sequel to Beowulf. A beautifully descriptive writer, she transports you back into the time of dragons and heroes. While I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as her first (a retelling of the original Beowulf), it was a "good read." :) Machen loved it. A good option for preteen or teens...
August 8, 2021
A very interesting read of a spin off from the world of Beowulf. This book takes the dragon scene from the original book and turns into its own story with an unlikely hero who helps Beowulf defeat the dragon.
I found this book at my local half price books and decided to read, definitely a diamond in the rough book and I was very glad that I bought it. Definitely worth the read.
I found this book at my local half price books and decided to read, definitely a diamond in the rough book and I was very glad that I bought it. Definitely worth the read.
April 13, 2022
Well written and researched for the time period (during the later reign of Beowulf). It's content was heavier than I thought it was going to be for a young adults novel. The pace was a little slow and it came together a little too quickly at the end but overall a good read.
Content:
Sexual: none
Violence: dragon (people dying by dragon fire) and war
Language: S***
Content:
Sexual: none
Violence: dragon (people dying by dragon fire) and war
Language: S***
June 10, 2019
I read this book to fulfil the goal read a book set in scandivadia. I am discoving that i really like fantasy. i found this book had just the right balance for me to keep me interested the wholw way though. i would read more by this author
June 13, 2019
This book was a really good book in my opinion and never ceased to lose my interest. This book is very fast paced, melancholy, and happy at the same time, and the book was really enjoyable. Another thing that I liked about this book was that it avoided many cliches.
June 30, 2017
Uncomplicated and highly enjoyable.
October 19, 2017
3.5 stars actually.
I read this book to preview it for our school library. I enjoyed it.
There is nothing inappropriate. I recommend for grades 4+.
I read this book to preview it for our school library. I enjoyed it.
There is nothing inappropriate. I recommend for grades 4+.
October 27, 2017
A good post Beowolf plot
An enjoyable read. The dragon wasn't scary enough, but I applaud the author on her storytelling. The shadow of poetry was behind her words.
An enjoyable read. The dragon wasn't scary enough, but I applaud the author on her storytelling. The shadow of poetry was behind her words.
July 27, 2019
based on the poem about Beowulf with added back story to the person who would be king after Beowulf's final battle. Full of Norse god references and challenges of the time of small kingdoms.
February 10, 2020
Beowulf retelling! Super good! Get your copy now!
March 5, 2020
2010. USA. Beowulf epilogue.
May 26, 2020
2.5/5 stars. It was ok, some parts a bit boring, other parts (with the dragon and Hild) exciting. Enjoyed that “Coming of the Dragon” and “Peaceweaver” tied in together.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
October 30, 2020
A wonderful light read for every young boy
February 19, 2021
Great!
June 15, 2023
A retelling of the death of Beowulf and the warrior who takes his place as king.
Very nicely imagined and written. Recommended if you enjoy retellings like this. (And the audio is excellent, too.)
Very nicely imagined and written. Recommended if you enjoy retellings like this. (And the audio is excellent, too.)
October 1, 2023
It was slow, and I didn’t get into it emotionally until halfway through but overall a good read!
March 16, 2017
I like how the author was able to weave parts of Norse mythology with the epic poem of Beowulf. The story was exciting and action-packed right to the end. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, since I don't read huge amounts of fantasy. I do enjoy a bit of Norse mythology on occasion and I liked Beowulf the numerous times I have had to read it, so perhaps that is why I liked this book so much.
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