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Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent | Marie Brennan
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"
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StellarDoc
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Tamra Says every tired teacher. 😉 2mo
14 likes1 comment
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Bookworm54
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Pickpick

The first in a series of fictionalised memoirs about world renowned dragon naturalist, Lady Trent.

Covering her childhood interest in anatomy and sparklings, through to the culmination of her first expedition to study the dragons native to Vystrana, this is a story of a woman pushing societal expectations to follow her passion for dragons.

I really enjoyed the audio for this 🐉

44 likes1 stack add
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bookowly
Pickpick

A zoologist who studies DRAGONS?? Sign me tf up. To me this is one of the peaks of dragon storytelling.

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Nessavamusic
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Bailedbailed

This is my second or third time picking this up and I gave it about 30% and it‘s just not for me. Something about Lady Trent does not work for me. DNF

julesG I can relate. I bailed several times, but then found the audiobook which had me hooked. Strange, right? 1y
Nessavamusic @julesG This third time was on audiobook. 😜 1y
julesG Well then... More time to read other books. 😁 1y
43 likes3 comments
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DivineDiana
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Recently read for #booked2023 prompt. First in a series. Great on audio!
#bookbinge #involvesdragons

Eggs Great cover 👍🏼🐉💚 1y
DivineDiana @Eggs Lady Trent was an artist and she sketched the dinosaurs. (edited) 1y
53 likes1 stack add2 comments
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fredamans
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Eggs Great art 🩷🐉🤗 1y
38 likes1 comment
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DivineDiana
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Pickpick

This is the first in a Victorian series about Isabella, Lady Trent, the worlds foremost dragon naturalist.
As a young woman, her passion for learning about the natural world, particularly dragons,caused her to risk her reputation and hinder her marriage prospects. Most men and women of the period were astounded by her behavior. Luckily, her father accepted her passion and led her to a man who appreciated her. #booked2023 #gaslampfantasybook

DivineDiana Illustration: Artemis Fanart 1y
Cinfhen Fun choice ♥️it sounds delightful 1y
Suet624 Now whenever I hear the name Trent I immediately think of Trent Crimm … and his fabulous hair. 1y
54 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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DivineDiana
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Starting new audiobook for #booked2023 #gaslampfantasy New genre for me!

56 likes1 stack add
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Lizwarnerpdx
Pickpick

This was fascinating to read. I love the character of Lady Trent dnd the premise of her becoming the utmost expert in dragons in this fictional place. Looking forward to book 2!

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julesG
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Pickpick

Second time reading and I didn't bail.

The memoirs of Lady Trent start with Isabella's childhood, her first season and her first year of marriage. She (now 19y/o) persuades her husband to take her on a research trip to a mountainous country to study the local dragon wildlife.

Dragons are dangerous. The locals aren't very welcoming. There are smugglers. She doesn't speak the language.

#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

TheSpineView Well done! 2y
Cinfhen I‘m actually intrigued 🤓you think I might like it?? Now that I‘m a PotterHead 😉😂😘 2y
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julesG @Cinfhen 🤣🤣🤣 It's definitely more mature than HP. Give it a try. The audiobook was good. 2y
Cinfhen I‘ll look for it - thanks ☺️ 2y
paper.reveries I bought this so long ago and never read it! Hmmm.. maybe this is a sign. 👀👀 2y
80 likes6 comments
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underground_bks
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Panpan

I should have been obsessed with this book—I am totally the target audience! However, the main character‘s xenophobic stance toward the village she‘s intruding upon as a researcher does not change enough to give me confidence in joining her on an expedition to the version of colonial Africa in the sequel. I wanted more dragons, more science, and a more intersectional feminism. I would highly recommend Rachel Hartman‘s Seraphina series instead!

dylanisreading Putting Seraphina on my tbr! 2y
underground_bks @dylanisreading that‘s the nicest thing you could say to me 🥹 I freaking love those books (esp Tess of the Road)! And there‘s some lovely trans rep later on in the series too! 2y
25 likes2 comments
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Marmie7
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Thank you for the awesome book and chocolate! Can't wait to read this!
@staci.reads
Thank you for hosting! @MaleficentBookDragon
#Jolabokaflodswap

staci.reads Merry Christmas Eve! Enjoy! 2y
38 likes1 comment
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Twainy
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Pickpick

🎧 I‘m surprised. I‘m not a lover of epic dragon books. I enjoyed this one! A mystery, and more of a drama and scientific approach. A young girl with a love of dragon (anatomy) loves her dream life. I‘d read a book two.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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galueth28
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"Not a day goes by that the post does not bring me at least one letter from a young person (or sometimes one not so young) who wishes to follow in my footsteps and become a dragon naturalist. Nowadays, of course, the field is quite respectable, with university courses and intellectual societies putting out fat volumes titled Proceedings of some meeting or other."

#scarathlondailyprompts #teamslaughter @Clwojick

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bookandbedandtea
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The upside to being awake ALL NIGHT coughing? Time to read and a peaceful sunrise. (Trying to find silver linings. #sickinpalmsprings)

SamAnne Hope you start feeling better! 2y
DivineDiana Beautiful surroundings! Hope your health improves quickly! 2y
annahenke Ugh I‘m right there with you! 2y
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bookandbedandtea @DivineDiana @SamAnne Thanks for the well wishes! 2y
bookandbedandtea @annahenke I'm sorry to hear you're feeling unwell too. Hopefully we'll both be better soon. 2y
Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon!❤️ 2y
bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella Thanks! (Between the traveling and the coughing and the not sleeping I missed your comment. 😬) 2y
32 likes1 stack add7 comments
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imyril
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#WyrdAndWonder day 12: step into another‘s shoes

I love reading about epic adventures, but if I‘m going to trade places with fearless protagonists I‘d rather step into the shoes of one of the Camherst girls: Isabella or granddaughter Audrey. You get to study dragons (or the Draconean language), enjoy indoor plumbing and get up the nose of the establishment - sounds right up my street!

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Nessavamusic
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My #Roll100 picks for #March!

PuddleJumper That dragon cover is amazing! 3y
Seekingtardis I recently started using my dice to choose what I make for dinner! It‘s been great, Using them for my TBR sounds good too!!! 3y
rachelsbrittain I loved Vespertine! 3y
42 likes3 comments
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Schnoebs
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Pickpick

4⭐️

Similarly to Charles Darwin and Jane Goodall, Lady Trent change the field of natural sciences with her research into dragons. Now that she‘s reached the later years of her life, she has decided to write a series of memories describing her life and the adventures that accompanies her field work over the years. Filled with sketches, maps, and all sorts of details from her research, Lady Trent finally opens up about everything she experienced.

Schnoebs @julesG finished this earlier this month and so happy I finally got around to it. Hoping to pick up the next one in the coming weeks. Did you continue on with the series? 3y
julesG I still need to continue. I got sidetracked at about the same time as you. Determined to pick it up again soonish. 3y
julesG Great review! 3y
34 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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catsuit_mango
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Sunday morning, why did I wait to long to discover that book? It s right in my alley

12 likes1 stack add
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EllanaRose
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Pickpick

My delayed #24in48 is off to a great start!

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emilyesears
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My Christmas book haul! I sent my parents a list of books that I had been meaning to read for a long time and they bought me some of them! I‘m always trying to prioritize my owned unread books, so I figured if they BECAME owned unread books, I‘d get to them quicker. I can‘t wait to read them!

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thebacklistbook
Mehso-so

Sound world building. Great writing style. Will probably seek out other work by this author.

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thebacklistbook
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1. the tagged book
2. Hands down, Cinnamon roibos Chai tea from DavidsTea.
3. Non of my covers work so I used one of my calendars instead.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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Readergrrl
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Look at what came in the mail for me today!! I will be finishing The Diviner‘s this long weekend (love this book so far!) and then I can‘t wait to get started on this novel next for my #LMPBC round 009 book!

iread2much 😄 so glad it made it! 4y
44 likes1 comment
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KimM
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Pickpick

Just started this series. It's a fantasy (dragons and made up places that resemble actual places) and a mystery with a lady detective/naturalist struggling with the restraints society puts on her for being a woman (think: Sarah Howard in the The Alienist). It was different. I liked it. Think I'm going to read the rest. :)

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SassenachTheBookWizard
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Enjoying some dragons on Canada Day

AllisonM89 How is this one? I heard about it a while back and then completely forgot about it.. 4y
SassenachTheBookWizard @AllisonM89 I find it quite interesting. I think fans of stories like Outlander would like it. Not a lot of action packed dragon fights but very interesting 4y
AllisonM89 @SassenachTheBookWizard Oo - I like Outlander (not the show nearly as much as the series). Will look into it!
4y
73 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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StaceyKondla
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 59 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

MsMelissa Again, also on my TBR pile 😂 4y
StaceyKondla @Book_Fiend_Melissa @TobeyTheScavengerMonk 😂💚Impeccable taste in books! 4y
sydneyerin I read this a few years ago and loved it! You're in for a treat! 😁🐉 4y
54 likes4 comments
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Pogue
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Pickpick

This was a great book. I would be reading along with a picture in mind of the world she was writing about. Then she would mention a date or a place and it would remind me that she was not writing about our world.

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Pogue
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My current book mark

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Pogue
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Reading with a view!

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TheSpineView
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Eggs Beautiful 💚🐉💚 5y
67 likes2 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

Overall pick, despite being a little slow in spots. Set in a completely different world, it honestly felt like this story would have read better if it had taken place in an alternate of our world instead, especially since various geographic regions felt very much like England and other European countries anyway. While the MC did sometimes wander into that "I was so much smarter than all the other poor fluff-head girls" territory that greatly ⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) annoys me, overall this was an enjoyable story with just enough intrigue to keep things moving. I really loved how her husband was actually a wonderful, kind, supportive, intelligent person instead of being a horrible, overbearing, icky person.

I've fallen behind on my #EasterExtravaganza goal - finishing this book put me at just shy of 15hrs, so I'm not going to make my 24hr goal, but will see if I can hit 20!!

@Andrew65
5y
imyril I love this series - thankfully Isabella grows out of some of her less endearing characteristics and discovers there are many clever women in the world challenging the patriarchy :) 5y
dylanisreading I really liked this book. And I also find the “I‘m so much smarter than other women who only care about traditionally feminine things” trope annoying. I‘ve heard good things about the rest of the series but haven‘t gotten to it yet. Great review! 5y
TheAromaofBooks @imyril - I have the second and third books coming, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows as a person. She's only 19 in this book, so I was willing to give her some leeway. 5y
TheAromaofBooks @Bianca - It didn't get unbearable in this book, but I have definitely read books where female characters basically act like if a girl enjoys sewing or cooking or being a mother then it's just because she's stupid, and that really annoys me a lot. If a woman can do or be whatever/whoever she wants, then choosing to be a mother who enjoys sewing should also be a valid choice! Anyway, this one didn't get that bad & I'm looking forward to book two!! 5y
73 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Tamatha
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25 pages in and I‘m already in love with this book! #reading #dragons ❤️

wordslinger42 Such a good series! Books 1 and 4 were my favorite 🐉 5y
8 likes1 comment
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Sarrie
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Pickpick

This is a reread for me and I enjoyed it still. I generally do not enjoy rereads but I read this when it first released and could remember almost nothing. I'd like to finish the series so rereading it was. If you haven't read this and love dragons I 100% recommend. It's an easy, pacy read and very light as far as tone and tension go. A great jumping off point.

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Ddzmini
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Second time around is just as great as the first time 🙌🏽📚😋

InBooksILive I've had this book for awhile now, I need to add it to my TBR list. It sounds so good I don't know why I haven't picked it up yet! 5y
Ddzmini They are really great books 📚 @InBooksILive (edited) 5y
75 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Ddzmini
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Rereading this one because I really liked it the first time 🙌🏽📖😋

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emtobiasz
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#audiocrafting with dragons and a macramé hanger for my Christmas air plant. This doesn‘t gives great idea of the scale—I‘ll try to take a better picture tomorrow after I‘ve cut the dowel rod down to size. Overall I‘m pretty pleased with it though! #audiobook #newskills #houseplants

julesG Lovely! 5y
readordierachel You made that? I'm so impressed! 5y
Nute Super nice! 5y
75 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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BookishRedhead
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Dragon Haul!!
In a dragon mood
In the middle of Eragon and I'm enjoying it.
The Two hard covers cost £2.99 each.

GingerAntics I keep seeing the natural history of dragons, but I‘m not sure about it. I don‘t like books that make dragons the enemy. I love dragons. I would have sucked at life in the medieval period. lol 5y
12 likes1 comment
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the-woman-who-read-everything
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I love these illustrations!

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deirdrebeecher
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You know I get a little bored with fantasy covers sometimes. Ya think the publishing houses could do better than reusing the same hero pose in cloak with sword/orb/staff The Lady Trent novels score on beauty, originality, and also hinting at the premise with the reference to scientific drawing. My favourite fantasy covers #7days7covers #covercrush

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hissingpotatoes
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But my desire for knowledge was stronger than my religious sensibilities, which after all were more a matter of unthinking habit than real conviction.

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hissingpotatoes
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“We stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter that must have scared off every nonhuman animal for half a mile around.“

A perfect, heart-filling moment in the story, built up to from several equally perfect moments. Isabella and Jacob are one of my favorite literary couples. Such a wonderful meeting of minds.

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hissingpotatoes
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It‘s—it‘s as if there is a dragon inside me. I don‘t know how big she is; she may still be growing. But she has wings, and strength, and—and I can‘t keep her in a cage. She‘ll die. I‘ll die. [...] It‘s all right for women to study theology, or literature, but nothing so rough and ready as this. And yet this is what I want. Even if it‘s hard, even if it‘s dangerous. I don‘t care. I need to see where my wings can carry me.

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hissingpotatoes
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Normally “but you haven't heard the REAL/full story“ lines fall flat, but the build-up to it in this intro, combined with the signature from Isabella to make it feel more real, sent shivers of anticipation through me.

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hissingpotatoes
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One benefit of being an old woman now, and moreover one who has been called a “national treasure,“ is that there are very few who can tell me what I may and may not write.

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Meaw_catlady
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Got a very large semi book related tattoo yesterday. The dragon is based on the Gringotts Dragon from Harry Potter. She is protecting her egg which is also the moon which is inspired from Doctor Who. I love the way it turned out and can‘t wait for it to heal so I can get some better pics.

DaveGreen7777 That tattoo is glorious! 🐉 I love it! 😍 5y
Melissa_J Is that your back? How long did that take to tattoo? 5y
Meaw_catlady @DaveGreen7777 thanks so much!! I love it ! Me and the artist came up with something great! 5y
See All 22 Comments
Meaw_catlady @Melissa_J it‘s on my thigh . It took about 4 hours . 5y
Melissa_J Wow! I love the incorporation of the moon/egg. 5y
Meaw_catlady @Melissa_J thanks so much! (edited) 5y
cobwebmoth That's amazing! 5y
KarouBlue Nice! 5y
LiteraryinPA I love it!! 5y
LauraJ Beautiful! 5y
BookwormAHN Fantastic 🖤 5y
GypsyKat Wow!!!🤩 5y
SamanthaMarie Wow I love that!! And love the mashup of Harry Potter and Dr. Who ♡♡♡ 5y
Tianarose Amazing! I completely agree with @SamanthaMarie 5y
sudi It looks so cool!!! Love it ❤ 5y
litenthusiast That is stunning! I love it! 5y
Ddzmini I like it 🙌🏽 5y
Branwen OMG SHE IS SO GORGEOUS! 🐉💕😍 5y
Meaw_catlady @branwen thanks!!!! I have named her Molly Weasley cuz she Protec! 💕 5y
Branwen @Meaw_catlady Hahahaha! Omg I love it! That's perfect! 😂🤣 5y
rather_be_reading stunning!!! 😍 5y
52 likes22 comments
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hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ At 1st I only lukewarm toward the book, but then there's nothing like [spoiler] to make you realize how invested you are in the story.

This book was so fun, with a good balance of serious to make it more complex. The memoir-style, with the narrator adding tidbits from the future & lessons learned, added a brilliant layer that prevented the story from falling flat & just took the whole thing to the next level. Can't wait to read book 2.

Crazeedi I have had this on my shelf for a long time. I think my daughter loaned it to me, still havent picked it up 5y
hissingpotatoes @Crazeedi It flows well so it feels like a fast read! 5y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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HistoricallyAccurate
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Pickpick

I knew I would love this book the minute I bought it. It seems like a boring memoir about a fictional world and characters while they discover dragonkind, but it was fascinating, emotional, and smart. And includes pictures. It reminds me of a historical nonfiction, very informative, but also has a storyline. I will be reading the next book in the series.

ChasingOm I can‘t decide if I want this in physical copy or on audio... 🤔 5y
HistoricallyAccurate I actually liked the voice actress for this, I listened to the sample on Amazon but I‘m not an audiobook reader so it‘s up to you 🙂 5y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Hope these #Litsytips by @RaimeyGallant http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU are helpful. There‘s so many fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! #LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
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RaimeyGallant Welcome! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 💟📚💟 5y
Slajaunie Welcome to Litsy! 💙📖📚 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗👏🏻 5y
10 likes7 comments