Review Detail

The most amazing thing about this book is that it was written when the author was just twelve. That shows an astounding level of commitment; many adults can't finish a novel, especially one this long (a whopping 518 pages!). The author's imagination is also very evident, as each page is full of fantastic creatures and places.

However, the storyline itself is simplistic and borrows heavily from existing stories (Arthur Pendragon even makes an appearance). Many highly successful novels do this as well (Harry Potter for one, or Eragon), but I found little truly original in Crystal of the Dragons. Worse, for me, was the annoying presence of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book. While I don't mind a mishap every now and then (ok, I do), so many errors really detracts from the book as a whole.

The book follows the adventures of Silvertalon, a dragon who falls into one quest after another to save Eden from the evil Firethroat dragons who are bent on destroying it. The primary quest is to find the crystal of the dragons, which was originally created by the good dragons of the world. A group of fellow adventurers accompanies Silvertalon, though it is usually up to our heroine dragon to truly get things done right.

I recommend this book for younger fantasy lovers that won't mind the simple sentence construction and would love the comforting presence of standard fantasy conventions. This would be a great pick for reluctant readers who like fantasy, notwithstanding the length of the novel. The action happens fast enough to keep them moving along.

I hope the author picks up her pen again in a few years. Ms. Donnelly is obviously dedicated and talented and a few years of experience and study will likely bring great improvements in her work.