This is a combination review for Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire as the last time I read this series was at least 10 years ago.

My mom got me the entire series (Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire) when I was in elementary school and let me tell you I loved this series. I reread it multiple times and is the reason why Psalm 23 is my favorite psalms (and tbh the only one I remember). While I might not go to church anymore, this series holds a special place in my heart. Solid blend of fantasy and Christianity without overdoing either side. ( )

Billy's nickname at school is "dragon breath," and with good reason - his breath is really hot! He doesn't understand why until his parents tell him that his father is a full dragon and he is a half-dragon. He's not at all happy that they've kept this from him his entire life, but he's forced to deal with it when he's attacked by his principal. His father tells him the tale of King Arthur and Merlin and how dragon slayers almost wiped out all of his kind, and how and why he is now a human. He also shares with him a prophecy that is going to end up reshaping Billy's life. He meets the new girl in school, Bonnie, and discovers that she, too, is a half-dragon, although she has known for years, so at least he's not alone.

This was a good middle grade blend of fantasy and Christian fiction. This book does a good job of blending dragon tales with Christian teachings, without overdoing it. I liked the kids and thought the way they acted was pretty much the way most young teens act in real life. The blending of all of this with the Arthurian legend was a good move on the author's part. I thought it added a great layer to the story.

The only problem I had with this book was the level of violence against the kids. I thought it was a bit graphic for a book targeted at a younger audience.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing the series.

4.5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, AMG Publishers, Living Ink Books, and Bryan Davis for the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )

I don’t normally read this genre, but the cover and the book blurb drew me in. This is a story about a young boy with a fiery breath who realizes he’s very different from other kids. Then he meets Bonnie, a girl that has her own secrets. One of which is hiding in her backpack. Things become all too real when Billy overhears his parents talking about him. He can’t believe what he’s hearing. Then all of a sudden things escalate when Bonnie saves his life by helping him escape from a malevolent slayer sword. So many questions, so little time to get answers. Billy and Bonnie are running for their lives. Can they find their parents in time?

This is a gripping, imaginative tale that reveals passages from scripture that describes a dragon (example Leviticus 41:21). I had never looked at this passage before. But wow, there it was. It sounded like a dragon to me. The author also incorporates elements of King Arthur tales. It’s a wonderful blend of fact and fantasy as the author takes readers on an exciting exploration in the world of dragons, and malevolent slayers. This novel is full of twists and turns. I liked the natural spiritual thread that prompts readers to dig deep into scripture, shows the characters struggles and how they deal with them.

This is the first book in the series. If you like to read about dragons, with near death battle scenes, fast-paced action, filled with wonder, betrayal, and mystery this is the series for you. Escape the cares of this world, treat yourself to this fun read. It’s one that would work well for a book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org ( )

the series started out great, then got worse and worse. ( )

This book was very good... for Christian fantasy. While I have not read the whole series, I thought that Raising Dragons stood alone very nicely. It was written to encouraging you to read another without forcing you into it. It also was pretty creative, with the exception of the names of the characters, and some odd extraneous details now and then which seemed to copy other fantasy books. The best thing about this book is it portrayed Christianity well, but did not push Gospel message.

The bad part of this book was it fell, nay jumped wholeheartedly, into many of the typical pitfalls of Christian fantasy. When you read Bryan Davis' short biography on the back cover, you may experience a little "knew-it" syndrome. When he says he homeschooled his seven children, it suddenly makes sense why all of the young characters in his books (who purportedly go to public school) speak like well-bred British children, college English majors, or -- well -- homeschoolers. (As a homeschooler, I should know.)

Other problems included random added scenes of backstory that lacked action, character's becoming emotionally attached to each other too quickly to be believable, and the mother's unemotional acceptance that (SPOILER) her husband had turned into a dragon and would never be human again. Personally, I think that would cause some marital problems.

I have very good friends that love this series. I myself do not, however, I can understand it's appeal. It is whimsical, typically fast paced, and has a cute love story blossoming between the two main characters. It is witty at times, and sappy at others.

I would rate this book a 5/5 out of all Christian Fantasy books and 2/5 out of all Fantasy books. So let's just say 3/5. ( )