Book Review: Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany

Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany

Publisher: Firewolf Books

Publish Date: June 17, 2011

Paperback, 236 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
 ISBN: 978-0983296041

My Review:
I loved this book.  From the first page of Henrietta The Dragon Slayer I was drawn into Henrietta's world.  I loved Henrietta, she's a strong girl, yet she's flawed too, so that makes her more normal and easier to like, but she's still really kick-butt with a sword and she can prove it when the male knights think the stories they have heard about her are untrue.

But the book is not just about Henrietta, there are also her sidekicks, a jester, a witch and knight who make the story interesting as well as her fear of the water.  There are serious moments and humorous moments (there has to be, there is a jester).  Ms. Barany writes beautifully and skillfully and translates her words into a magnificient fantasy story that I loved and can imagine teens and other adults loving as well.  There is adventure, sword fighting, good food, ale, dragons, jesters, magic, tall tales and true tales galore in this book and all of these elements together make it one story I will not soon forget and Henrietta one character who makes a great book.  So go grab a copy and prepare to be taken away for an afternoon or evening to Henrieta's world where dragon's and magic are as real as the insecurities of a teenage girl.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:
Henrietta, the legendary Dragon Slayer of the Kingdom of Bleuve, can't stomach the thought of one more kill. Yet, in order to save her dying mentor, she must go on one last quest. But will misfit companions, seasickness, and an ego maniacal king derail the quest for the healing stone? And will she be able to cut past her conscience and kill the dragon?

About the Author: 
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Beth Barany has been making up fantasy and adventure stories all her life. It only took her thirty years to actually start writing them down, then grit and determination to whip them into shape. She writes to empower girls and women with her kickass heroines who are faced with saving the world against great odds. In her off hours, Beth enjoys cardio kickboxing, stick yoga, reading and watching movies with her husband, author and musician Ezra Barany, and two cats, Kitty and Leo. For school visits and presentations, Beth Barany can be contacted through her site at bethbarany.com. She loves to hear from her readers at beth@bethbarany.com.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the author through Teen Book Scene for an honest review.

Book Feature: River's Song by Melody Carlson

River's Song by Melody Carlson
Book #1 in the Inn at Shining Waters Series

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publish Date:August 28, 2011

Paperback, 288 Pages
ISBN: 9781426712661

About the Book:

Her relationship with her daughter in shambles and tensions mounting with her mother-in-law, Anna Larson returns to her childhood home on the banks of the Suislaw River to sort out her parent's belongings and put the pieces of her own life back together. 

Embracing her native heritage for the first time since childhood Anna transforms her old family home into Shining Waters Inn, a place she hopes will give her family a new beginning.

River's Song is Book One in the Inn at Shining Waters series.

About the Author:

Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she has been writing prolifically ever since. To date, Melody has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 1.4 million her award-winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Charter House Girls series.

In her professional life, Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab. They enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

I will have a review coming in the next few weeks when I receive the book courtesy of Glass Road PR, so stay tuned for that review.  I love Melody Carlson's books so I can't wait to start this new series.