The problem with this story is that nothing really happens. At first it comes off as a sort of quest narrative, but after Darna and her new friends reach Anamat, the story meanders around seemingly with no point. It eventually goes somewhere, but I began to get irritated with its lack of progress towards any kind of a climax or resolution at about the halfway mark. It didn't help that I absolutely despised one of the characters, Iola. That would have been fine if she were one of the unsavory characters, but that wasn't why I couldn't stand her. She wasn't someone I loved to hate. She was just so ridiculously naive and clueless about everything, and on top of that, her fanatical religious beliefs caused her to betray her friends.

One of the few elements that I enjoyed about this book is that the story is set in a very sexist world that also seems to treat its children as easily cast aside. Unlike a couple other books I've read this year, though, the main character is a young girl who chooses to go against societal pressures to make her own way in the world and not just accept her "fate". The girls in this story have backgrounds and character traits and physical descriptions. They're not just decoration or plot points along the way.

Overall, I didn't really like Scrapplings. However, I didn't hate it either. I think it deserves a chance if you truly love Fantasy, especially Fantasy involving dragons, or if you're tired of reading male-centric trope filled quest narratives. This isn't for you if you prefer fast(er) paced books, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who is new to the Fantasy genre. ( )

This was a wonderful book. A little slow to start, but in my experience, I find the best ones are. This certainly holds its own against other young adult fantasies!

Darna is the bastard child of a prince with the gift of dragon sight. Working in the palace kitchens, she could only dream of saving up the beads to get away, and when she learns of her heritage she runs away in fear of having her dragon didn't stripped of her. In Anamat she had options for her future, though still limited by her lack of beads she is destined to a season of begging and scrapping until she can earn enough to buy an apprenticeship or must succumb to a life as a servant. But the dragons have other plans for her.

I am very much looking forward to reading more in the Anamat series.

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I have always loved the fantasy genre (Tolkien/Eddings/Brooks etc) especially the creation of a new fantasy world. I loved the premise of the books: children otherwise known as scrapplings leaving behind the past and moving on to a new city where they can find their futures. I wish I had known more about the dragons that can only be seen by certain people but am sure there will be an answer in book two onwards. It is the kind of book (for me) that I need to sit down when I have time to finish in one go. I was unable to do that (families duties intruded lol) and I found it sometimes difficult to get back in the flow of things but again that was my own issue and not the author's. I was intrigued and cared about the main character and that is a big thing to me when I am reading a book. I am looking forward to the next instalment. ( )

I have always loved the fantasy genre (Tolkien/Eddings/Brooks etc) especially the creation of a new fantasy world. I loved the premise of the books: children otherwise known as scrapplings leaving behind the past and moving on to a new city where they can find their futures. I wish I had known more about the dragons that can only be seen by certain people but am sure there will be an answer in book two onwards. It is the kind of book (for me) that I need to sit down when I have time to finish in one go. I was unable to do that (families duties intruded lol) and I found it sometimes difficult to get back in the flow of things but again that was my own issue and not the author's. I was intrigued and cared about the main character and that is a big thing to me when I am reading a book. I am looking forward to the next instalment. ( )

I recieved this quite a while ago as a freebie for review however I've got so many books on my TBR that it sort of got push aside. I am currently half way through it and I'm finding it a rather hard read. I was excited to get it because I adore all things dragon related but I think it's the lack of so far that's dragging me down. I've read about half dragons many times and I thought this would be like that. I was wrong. I'm going to give it a bit more of a chance to draw me in before I actually rate it. As it stands right now, I'm sorry but it's little dry.