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    A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
    A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
    A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
    Audiobook10 hours

    A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent

    Written by Marie Brennan

    Narrated by Kate Reading

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Marie Brennan begins a thrilling new fantasy series in A Natural History of Dragons, combining adventure with the inquisitive spirit of the Victorian Age.

    You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

    All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

    Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

    "Saturated with the joy and urgency of discovery and scientific curiosity."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on A Natural History of Dragons

    An NPR Best Book of 2013

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateOct 29, 2013
    ISBN9781427243904
    A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
    Author

    Marie Brennan

    MARIE BRENNAN is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for inspiration. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to The Night Parade of 100 Demons and the short novel Driftwood. She is the author of the Hugo Award-nominated Victorian adventure series The Memoirs of Lady Trent along with several other series, over seventy short stories, and the New Worlds series of worldbuilding guides; as half of M.A. Carrick, she has written the epic Rook and Rose trilogy, beginning with The Mask of Mirrors. 

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    Reviews for A Natural History of Dragons

    4/5

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    • 2/5
      A perfectly respectable and enjoyable book. A little to light on the fantasy aspect to net a higher rating. The writing style was strong. I will definitely read more by this author in future.

      Pacing was rather slow, and the action sequences felt a tad forced. World building was also somewhat lacking for me. Though I did enjoy the field notes turned published work vibe.

      I recommend reading this book when one is fully awake, so as not to miss anything.
    • 3/5
      It took me a while to get round to finishing reading this, even once I was a decent way into it and knew I wanted to finish it. It's a slow sort of book, one I suspect you will either get on with or not based on the narrator and setting. The idea is of a Victorian-era analogue in which dragons exist, and in which one young woman has the opportunity of a lifetime to go and study dragons scientifically after having obsessed over them all her life. The conceit is that it's narrated by her in the form of memoirs, in a very Victorian sort of style.It's fascinating in its attempts to place a female character realistically in a society that is a Victorian analogue and have her still free enough to have this sort of story happen to her without it sounding far fetched -- it mostly works, I think. Unfortunately it's also pretty slow, and relatively uneventful when compared to so many other dragon books. I did get into it (or rather, back into it) eventually, but I can see it won't be to everyone's taste. I did, after all, also love Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. The illustrations are, by the way, perfect. I spent quite a while examining each one in detail. And the world built up around this story is both frustrating in its close and quite naked similarities to ours and tantalising in details that aren't comparable, or at least instantly placeable.
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Set as autobiography of a woman that became a scientist in an imagined victorian era, where dragons roam some parts of the world.
    • 4/5
      This was a fun read. I'm usually hooked by anything dragon, so that was a good start. The next hooker was a woman being true to herself in a society that would prefer to stunt her. Then add in some adventure, cultural adaptation, and good character relationships and you've got a great read. It's not a page turner but it's a good story and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more of the five book series. It was too bad about Jacob. I really liked his character. I'm looking forward to more.
    • 3/5
      See the whole review at Short & Sweet Reviews!

      This book is definitely unlike anything I have read before. It bills itself as a memoir, and it truly is - the fictional memoir of Isabella, Lady Trent, and her first encounters with dragons, which have been a life-long fascination of hers. The entire book is written in Isabella's voice as she talks about her childhood, meeting her husband, and their perilous journey to study dragons, at a time where women, especially women of high society, weren't encouraged to engage in scholarly pursuits. This is a book about dragons, yet, but first and foremost, it is a story about a young woman bucking tradition in order to follow her passions.

      I think that's an important point to make and remember, because if you go into this book expecting it to be high fantasy about dragons, you'll be disappointed. There is plenty of adventure, and danger, and of course, many encounters with dragons, but there are also long passages about society's expectations of women, or about Isabella's thoughts and reflections on her various experiences. I don't want to say that the story is dry, but rather that it isn't always fast-paced.

      I did, however, really enjoy the book. Reading something that's actually written in the style of a memoir was different, and made the book really feel like it was part of a much larger universe. I found myself really wanting to read the other books that Isabella talks about in her narration, both books which shaped her love of dragons and her own writings which had been previously "published". Also, I can't help but want to read future "memoirs" about Isabella. This book only covers her early life, so I was left with questions about how she managed to defy society's expectations in order to become a respected scholar, or how she got the title of Lady Trent. You don't get a complete picture of Isabella, rather you get a much older Isabella's reflections on her younger self. And in case you haven't gathered already, Isabella is a real firecracker of a character -- she certainly knows how to play the game and fit into what society expects of her, but when it comes down to it, she also quietly yearns to challenge those expectations.
    • 3/5
      I liked this, but I wish it had been better.
    • 5/5
      ***I purchased a copy of this book for my own enjoyment, and with no expectation of a review.***Brennan's Natural History of Dragons tells the story of Isabella Trent and her love of dragons. Told in first person, the story takes us from Isabella’s first forays into naturalism, all the way to her first true dragon expedition. This is set in an alter-world with echoes of our own, and has a definite Victorian flair.From a young age, our humble narrator had a deep love for all things flying. Childhood escapades include such scandalous acts as diseccting a dove to learn about flight, and disguising as a boy to hunt a wolf-drake.During her ‘grey years’, Isabella must learn to act as a proper lady, make her dubious debut to Society, and spend her Season(s) trying to snag the last the she really wants- a husband. Isabella is quite lucky in snagging Jacob Camherst, a man with a heart and mind so similar to her own.Despite the ‘unladylikeness’ of it, Isabella accompanies her husband to the wilds of Vystrana, on a naturalist expedition to study rock-wyrms. She comes into her own as a competent naturalist, and the team discovers some truly astonishing things about the elusive dragons, things that could have a world-altering impact. This charming novel, first in a series, is an engrossing account of an expedition as much anthropology as naturalism. Isabella, and the expedition team, must learn to operate in the culture of the Vystrani, which means they must take pains to learn about that as well. Sometimes they are able to bend to customs odd to them, while at other times they are not, leading to friction with the local people. There are ups and downs for the expedition- harrowing thrills, life and death, and questions of ethics and morals. A Natural History of Dragons is Darwin’s Origin of Species, if Darwin studied dragons. Brennan’s tale has more of a historical feel to it than a fantasy one. It is Isabella’s recounting of her youth and early (mis)adventures as a budding dragon naturalist. Dragons are very much part of this natural world, no mysticism or magick involved. I really appreciated that part. These beasties often get thrust in the role of big magickal baddie.Isabella herself goes through a transformative process. She is young yet, and has a bit of an impetuous streak that leads her and her team to a bit of trouble at times. She, like her comrades, must learn to play the anthropologist and yield to local customs to achieve certain ends. If I had to wager a guess, I would say Isabella is an Aries. She certainly has many of the traits! Loss is a part of any transformation, and this one is no exception. Among other things, Isabella loses her naivety about how the world beyond Scirland works. Her notions of what is ‘right’ and ‘proper’ are turned on end. There's deeper loss as well; loss whose scars will run last a lifetime. Brennan’s writing had an authentic feel. It was easy to get lost in Isabella's memories, with the scenes vividly displayed in my mind’s eye. A truly grand story can draw you in completely, making that world just as real as this one. Brennan exceeded that expectation for me. Isabella, as the memoirist, has delightful interjections and commentary on her own writing which are quite amusing. Scattered throughout the text are beautiful sketchs done by her, adding to the authentic feel.If you like things anthropological, or things dealing with naturalism, if historical fantasy tickles your palate, if adventurous accounts akin to The Lost City of Z arrest your attention, then look no further! Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons can slake that thirst. Come, walk in a world where dragons dwell, and learn the secrets of the natural world.
    • 4/5
      J'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre et la voix qui le lisait.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Isabella, Lady Trent, looks back on her eventful life in a series of memoirs, the first of which acquaints the reader with the beginning of her lifelong interest in, and passion for, dragons when a young girl and her life until her marriage to fellow dragon enthusiast Jacob Camherst. By far the largest section of the book is devoted to the expedition to Vystrana in order to study the rock-wyrms in that country's mountains, which she accompanies with her husband and as the group's secretary.It took me a while to warm to Lady Isabella, especially in the early chapters, with her slightly superior attitude despite occasional mentions of her flaws, but in the end I found her determination and resilience in the face of prejudice against strangers, and women in particular, admirable and inspiring. Her experiences in Vystrana form a good old adventure tale with a mystery at its core: why have the dragons started to actively attack people? A minor criticism, as other reviews have already mentioned, is the relative scarcity of dragons, but since A Natural History of Dragons describes only the beginning of Lady Isabella's career as a natural historian, I hope that this will be remedied in subsequent titles in the series. I fully intend to see what her next expedition, to study the swamp-wyrms of Mouleen, will bring.
    • 3/5
      Not nearly enough dragonsLet me be clear, I liked this book. It is a delightful mock-Victorian high adventure. But it does not deliver on dragons. They are mostly off stage, and when they do make an appearance, they are little more than McGuffins to set the plot in motion. They could just as well have been dinosaurs or sea serpents.A very enjoyable book, but if you are expecting some dragon lore, you'll be disappointed.
    • 4/5
      I fell in love with the voice; I loved also the scientific memoir-style narration of her childhood, early research, and first expedition. The mystery plot/adventure was of much less interest to me, but that was sufficiently submerged beneath the more interesting details about bones and wing skin that I needn't bother myself too much about it.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed reading this book. Lady Trent is a great storyteller and the story she's telling is unbelievable. The author has made an incredible mix of high and low fantasy in the same book. The way that the familiar and unfamiliar is blended together kept everything so interesting and fresh. I love dragons and the dragons this book were interesting and I loved approaching it from a scientific point of view. I really hope there are more books to read because the hints to lady trends full-rich life make me want to adjust keep delving in.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this alt-history scientific treatise and memoir. A solid story, a winning (and quite funny) heroine, and a very convincing adventure.
    • 1/5
      There's a cool story in there somewhere but it is delivered in the most boring way possible.
    • 4/5
      Isabella -- well-travelled, unabashedly unconventional, strong minded, and passionate about dragons -- tells of her childhood obsession with dragons began, and how, aged nineteen, she joined an expedition to study the rock-wyrms of Vystrana.This is such a novel and interesting approach to dragons. Isabella’s adventures are eventful, and her observations are astute and often delightfully expressed. Because she’s looking back on her youth, she’s able to comment on things that her nineteen year old self didn’t recognise or appreciate. This introduces a level of nuance, and self-awareness, which the narrative might have otherwise lacked.But it also makes it easy for Isabella, at key points in the story, to create distance between her narrative and her nineteen year old self’s emotions. I came away feeling unsure if I found the ending satisfying and unsure if I wanted to read more. As a reader, I’m HERE for the emotions. Be warned, then: the collected volumes of this series will contain frozen mountains, foetid swamps, hostile foreigners, hostile fellow countrymen, the occasional hostile family member, bad decisions, misadventures in orienteering, diseases of an unromantic sort, and a plenitude of mud. You continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart -- no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such a study offers rewards beyond compare; to stand in the presence of a dragon, even for the briefest of moments -- even at the risk of one’s life -- is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten.
    • 5/5
      Was not sure what to expect. Really loved it! The narrator was exceptionally well suited.The tale begins in what seems to be an alternative Englandverse rather in a steampunk sort of way, with our protagonist as a young girl who is just too intelligent and science minded to fit in. When her family decides to marry her off, her father gives her a list, and the less likely candidate finds her to be just the sort of companion that he dared not hope to find. She maneuvers and manipulates others into sending them off to a cold, mountainous place known to be an excellent place to study the taxonomy of dragons, and soon become embroiled in local politics and the quest to find a way of stabilizing dragon bones. There is adventure and high drama, good times and despair. Truly an enjoyable read for all sorts of nerds.No sex scenes present or required.
    • 4/5
      This was an entertaining enough light read - reminded me of the Elizabeth Peters Egypt books. But I don't think I enjoyed it enough to bother with the rest of the series.
    • 3/5
      3.5 starrer to be honest.

      The premise is very good. Alt-Victorian world, woman in a patriarchy shows scientific aptitude, gains receptive partner, has adventures, and dragons of course.

      The 19th C style of prose and the initial slow pace may deter some readers but I found it to be authentic given the type of book this is aiming to be. The principal character is moderately well constructed, and given that this is the first of a series and that she is in the earlier stages of her life more development can certainly be hoped for. I did wish the other characters got some more space though. this is the principal problem of a first person PoV narrative.

      After the slow beginning the book moves moderately fast but the last part is extremely rushed and I think several major things got handwaved in the last chapter.
    • 4/5
      A delightful and accessible novel — Jane Austen meets Jane Goodall in a fantasy world. Well-concieved and well-written, with immersive worldbuilding enhanced by a careful attention to science and culture. I read it in two sittings and might have read it in one had sleep not intervened.
    • 3/5
      I get the impression that I'm the wrong age for this target audience. It feels a bit like it is aimed at a teen girl audience. Although i wonder how they responded to the somewhat didactic tendency (I know I didn't respond very well to it!) Written as the memoirs of a elderly lady, this cover the period of her life from childhood to first marriage and into her 20s (just). She's a bit of a nerd, with a scientific mind that her father encouraged, even if society did not. She also doesn't have very much in the way of common sense or ability to be rational at moments of stress. And she has a passion for dragons. the author has invented a world that comes complete with lashings of superiority, racism and misogyny, then has a tendency to say "you wouldn't believe it now, you young things have never had it so good". It's an odd mixture of Russian type setup, peasant villagers, distant overlords, smugglers, and ancient ruins along side a scientific expedition to discover more about dragons. There are a few areas where you can't help thinking that if they'd bothered to talk to the locals as human beings, a lot of the later trouble might have been avoided, but that just goes hand in hand with the inherent superiority complex that the main group of characters seem to have, to greater or lesser degrees. It's not great literature, it's inventive enough, but I'm not going to be seeking out the further adventures of Isabella.
    • 3/5
      This was entertaining and engaging. While not my favorite novel of manners imitation, it nevertheless holds charm with the character of Isabella.
    • 4/5
      I'm a sucker for illustrated novels. Let's be honest: Lockwood's illustrations probably bumped up my rating by a full star.

      Lady Trent's recounting of her first expedition is a bit... stretched and could've been edited down. Really, it falls in quite nicely with the scenario established at the beginning of the "memoir;" the nice chaps at Lady Trent's publishing house want to get as much bang for their buck as possible... why sell one book when a whole series could be offered?

      Is this a bit of an overblown theory? Yes. Do I really care? No.
    • 5/5
      A proper young lady should not be obsessed with the study of dragons (or any scientific or academic pursuit, really), but Isabella’s parents have never been able to fully discourage her from this odd obsession. When she is fortunate enough to find a husband who does not discourage her from reading scientific texts, she feels that she has been as fortunate as she has any right to expect — but then she hears about an expedition to study dragons firsthand . . .I’ve been hearing about this series here and there for at least a few years now, and I can’t think why it’s taken me this long to read it! It’s just my thing, what with dragons and the quasi-historical setting that draws in mannerpunk characteristics. I’m delighted to see that there are several more books in the series. I also highly recommend the audiobook version, as Kate Reading’s narration is top-notch.
    • 4/5
      This is the first of five books in The Memoirs of Lady Trent series. Previous to reading this book I had also read Brennan’s Doppleganger series (enjoyed it) and the first book in her Onyx Court series (didn’t like it). This is a historical fantasy of sorts and is told from an aged Lady Trent's POV. She tells the reader about her childhood and her start into the research of dragons. I ended up enjoying this quite a bit.I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. Kate Reading always does a phenomenal job narrating and I loved listening to her read this book. I would highly recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.I love this kind of Victorian fantasy, and despite being a bit slow at times, I really enjoyed this. I love how scientific minded Lady Trent is and how she is portrayed throughout. She has a witty and dry sense of humor and is never overly sentimental. There isn’t any romance in this book, so if you are looking for that don’t look here.Overall this was a great read and I will definitely continue this series. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. I would recommend to those who enjoy Victorian fantasies about mythical creatures.
    • 4/5
      Isabella, Lady Trent, is now the world's most famous dragon naturalist, by she was once a young girl in a land called Scirland, like and unlike our own Regency England, with an interest in dragons considered distinctly unladylike. But when it comes time for her to marry, her loving and indulgent father helps her find a husband who shares her interest in dragons and will be equally indulgent in letting her share the use of his library.

      He did not expect that, after two years of marriage, Isabella and Jacob would join an expedition to study dragons in Vystrana.

      What neither she, nor Jacob, nor Lord Hilford, expects is that she will do more than draw sketches of the the dragons and file the men's notes.

      The story is told as the now-elderly Lady Trent's memoir of the first expedition that was the start of her scientific career, making breakthroughs not just in natural history but in what women were allowed to do.

      I really enjoyed this. Isabella's developing interests, struggles against restraints and expectations, and blossoming as a young scientist are all very well down, and her voice is very convincing. Brennan avoids a mistake that many writers make, in that her back history of a world with actual dragons is, while recognizably our planet, not at all our history. Scirland has a fair amount in common with our England, but isn't our England. A country that isn't a Russia we'd recognize is ruled by a Tsar, but the people filling recognizably familiar roles, are not people we know from history, renamed or not. Altogether, it gives this fantasy world a greater sense of reality.

      Recommended.
    • 4/5
      I found the start a bit slow, with the narrator's childhood, but it picked up as it got to the main plot, and by the end I was interested in reading the rest of the series. Interesting world-building, and a strong narrative voice.
    • 4/5
      A mixture of Jane Austen and Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy setting of a would-be zoologist exploring the nature of dragons. It is a creative book that discusses dragon knowledge, social structures, and gender roles. The characters are great, with a strong female lead. It is written as a memoir, which I enjoyed. The time period is nice, but the world building is light and doesn't feel any different than a pre-Victorian type age. I feel the made up countries and areas could just be Europe, but maybe this is expanded on in the later books.
    • 5/5
      I picked this up based on the strong recommendation of a friend. Be forewarned that if you get this as an ebook, you will miss some of the elegance of the printed hardcover. I chose the ebook simply because my apartment is still overflowing with printed books and there is simply no room.This is set in a true fantasy world, but anyone familiar with Regency or Victorian England will feel right at home in Scirland. Drustanev, where Isabella goes to study dragons in the wild has the feel of Imperialist Russia. The book is a combination of memoir and scientific study. The pen-and-ink drawings done by Isabella expand nicely in the Kindle version (I have the Android app; your mileage may vary) and help establish the scientific journal feel. There is also a mystery tucked into the book -- why have the dragons in this region started changing their habits? I fell in love with Isabella (especially the older Isabella who is writing her memoirs) and the book. I have already gotten the next book in the series. My favorite quotations are these:.. to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten.andSheep eat the grass, wolves eat the deer, and dragons eat everything that doesn’t run away fast enough.Who would like it? I think fans of Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody series who also like fantasy would quickly fall in love with it. Fans of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate might also like it.
    • 5/5
      I devoured this book! I loved Isabella right away and her voice. She was super fun, sassy, and engaging. The writing was on point, I really liked the story telling and the style the adventure was delivered in. I quite enjoyed the side characters as well, they were quite well developed and I hope to see more of them in later books. The plot was well developed and I really liked the delivery. It was interesting and there were so many good aspects. The mystery, intrigue, and adventure were great. I wish there was a little more of the dragons, but overall, I liked the introduction to the world and Lady Trent.Definitely will continue with this series!
    • 4/5
      The opening premise of this book is essentially the same as one of the story lines from Robin Hobb's Dragon Keepers, but executed much more convincingly - woman trying to be scholarly within the confines of her time, looking for a husband who will let her. It didn't end up having as much actual dragon involvement as I'd hoped, but it was a great book and an enticing story, and I really liked the characters. I do wish there'd been a little more development, but it was a fun, fast read, and I'll read the next one.