The Little Dragons

By Rowan Starsmith
$0.00 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Sep. 19, 2011
Words: 103461 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

Life in the Kingdoms is lived at night when Dragons sleep. Mother Peg, Healer of the Earth People, searches for the secrets of the Dragon Priestesses and their Little Dragons, who once kept the people safe. So does powerful King Anglewart of the Westlands, whose fathers killed them. Others are drawn into their quest, into danger, not only from Dragons, but from their antagonism towards one another

Extended description

Before the Kings came, the People of the Land had an agreement with the Dragons. It was negotiated by the Dragon Priestesses, who could communicate with those fearsome beasts through their familiars, the Little Dragons. The Kings, however, knew only the way of the sword. In their war against the Dragons, they killed their smaller cousins as well, along with the Priestesses who cared for them. The revenge of the Dragons was disastrous for both peoples, forcing everyone to live their lives at night, when the Dragons sleep in their caves in the mountains.
Feeling her age breathing on the back of her neck, Mother Peg, a Senior Healer of the Earth People, is determined to track down the persistent rumours that some of the doomed Dragon Priestesses shared their knowledge with the Healers who sheltered them. On the other side of the Realm, powerful King Anglewart of the Westlands, as determined as Mother Peg to find the Little Dragons, sends a search expedition to the mountains.
Others beco... (Read more) Before the Kings came, the People of the Land had an agreement with the Dragons. It was negotiated by the Dragon Priestesses, who could communicate with those fearsome beasts through their familiars, the Little Dragons. The Kings, however, knew only the way of the sword. In their war against the Dragons, they killed their smaller cousins as well, along with the Priestesses who cared for them. The revenge of the Dragons was disastrous for both peoples, forcing everyone to live their lives at night, when the Dragons sleep in their caves in the mountains.
Feeling her age breathing on the back of her neck, Mother Peg, a Senior Healer of the Earth People, is determined to track down the persistent rumours that some of the doomed Dragon Priestesses shared their knowledge with the Healers who sheltered them. On the other side of the Realm, powerful King Anglewart of the Westlands, as determined as Mother Peg to find the Little Dragons, sends a search expedition to the mountains.
Others become caught up in the quest: King Anglewart’s spirited wife, Queen Melisande, and their daughter, Liandra, apparently pregnant, although she denies ever lying with a man; Mother Peg’s servant, Maida, who dreams of becoming a Healer despite her origins as the daughter of a cheesemaker; Gleve, newly confirmed as a Healer and worried about what will happen to his beloved elderly teacher, Father Mallory, when he leaves; Keiran of Hanford, who survives the dangers of the King’s expedition to the Dragon caves, only to be beaten and left for dead by his own companions; Jessa and Ev, two lowly servants in the Women’s Retreat House, where young noblewomen commit themselves to craft and prayer, and widows retire to live out their days.
Danger surrounds each of these people—Dragons, of course, but also their antagonism towards one another. They cannot know that each bears a unique clue to the secret knowledge of the Dragon Priestesses.

"This is an awesome book! I love the author’s boldness, writing outside the box, giving me twists and turns and unexpected plots. This is a nice long story where you get character development in the first ten or so chapters, then get the rest of the book to continue traveling along with people you now know and love (or hate)." Cynikat, Podiobooks subscriber.

"I was thoroughly enchanted and delighted by the best book I have listened to in a very long time.
It is a well-crafted world of fantasy; man-eating dragons, little dragons, unfaithful kings, banished queens and princesses, Earth people, King’s men, witch healers, and Little Dragon Keepers all trying to survive in a very believable world.
As a well-written story should, it got under my skin. I laughed, gasped in surprise, cheered on and cried. It will be in my mind for a very long time." Arlene Radasky, author of The Fox.

Would you rather listen to The Little Dragons? An earlier version is available as a free serialized audiobook on Podiobooks.com.

A Warning
This book contains mature themes and is not intended for children. Also, two of the female characters share a loving lesbian relationship and one of the male characters is attracted to his male friend. Several Podiobooks listeners have found this offensive. Others have found it delightful, especially those who rarely see themselves reflected in the pages of fantasy fiction.
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Tags

gay, lesbian, feminist, spiritual healing, natural healing, mother goddess, alternative healing, goddess spirituality, indigenous people, nature spirituality, alternative societies, day and night reversal, oppressed peoples

Available ebook reading formats

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Reviews

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Review by: Arlene Radasky on Sep. 26, 2011 : (no rating)
Let me gush here for a few moments. I dove into this book, not knowing what to expect but was thoroughly enchanted and delighted. It is a well-crafted world of fantasy; man-eating dragons, little dragons, unfaithful kings, banished queens and princesses, Earth people, King's men, witch healers, and Little Dragon Keepers all trying to survive in a very believable world. Of course there are problems, and even wars between Humans and dragons, but the creative way this author has her characters overcome them makes a very good story. It is a large cast of characters, and though I usually do not like trying to keep track of many, I grew attached to all of them in this story, even Mother Peg, the cantankerous old healer. I never felt a thread or plot was left undone, each character had a place in the end and I could see the end of many problems with the dawn of the next day, when the book ended. When you enter this world, you enter knowing that all love is accepted here but NEVER will you be preached to or will it ever become graphic, just accepted, as I think it should be. As a well-written story should, it got under my skin. I laughed, gasped in surprise, cheered on and cried. It will be in my mind for a very long time. I wanted it to continue on and on. It is a wonderful world to fantasize about and I hope to see the giant and little dragons myself someday.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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