Status
Available
Call number
Call number
PB Str
Local notes
PB Str
Collection
Publication
Disney-Hyperion (2004), 332 pages
Description
When the unearthing of a broken, ancient cross unleashes the power of a long-buried dragon, Stephen and Sarah MacIntyre and their friend, Tom Aubrey, try to stop the dragon's awakening--even though it means fighting their own brother, Michael, who has fallen under the dragon's evil spell.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
332 p.; 5.25 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member FionaCat
When Michael falls asleep on top of a hill near the English village where he lives, he wakes up to find himself with a strange power of Sight that first frightens him and then intrigues him. Meanwhile, the local vicar finds an ancient stone cross buried in the churchyard -- a cross that is carved
This is an intense, rather scary book but so compelling that I couldn't put it down. Jonathan Stroud has a knack for writing stories about good and evil in which it is never quite clear which side the main character(s) is on. His Bartimaeus Trilogy is absolutely brilliant, and this earlier novel shows the same skill and talent.
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with a dragon and has one arm broken off. As Michael's powers increase, he discovers that he is not the only one in the village with the powers, and that the others are planning to release the dragon that sleeps beneath the hill; a dragon that was imprisoned long ago by the stone cross, which has now been broken.This is an intense, rather scary book but so compelling that I couldn't put it down. Jonathan Stroud has a knack for writing stories about good and evil in which it is never quite clear which side the main character(s) is on. His Bartimaeus Trilogy is absolutely brilliant, and this earlier novel shows the same skill and talent.
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LibraryThing member soccergirl659
This was kind of a drone. Nothing really exciting ever happens and it seems all from the wrong point of view.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Michael McIntyre lives with his brother, Stephen in a small English village with their sister, Sarah. The story starts with Michael sleeping in the sun and something touches him, something not physical.
Meanwhile, the Reverend Tom Audley is getting some renovations on the local church when they find
When Michael goes home he realises that he hasn't suffered from sun-stroke but something else. Something that allows him to see the souls of people, and something that touches him with fire. But where does the power come from?
It's an interesting story and the characters are well-realised. I found them all quite believable and quite realistic. Although it isn't as good as his Bartemius series, some of the germs of that are here.
Meanwhile, the Reverend Tom Audley is getting some renovations on the local church when they find
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a broken stone. The stone is intricately carved with dragon images.When Michael goes home he realises that he hasn't suffered from sun-stroke but something else. Something that allows him to see the souls of people, and something that touches him with fire. But where does the power come from?
It's an interesting story and the characters are well-realised. I found them all quite believable and quite realistic. Although it isn't as good as his Bartemius series, some of the germs of that are here.
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LibraryThing member patryclus
As usual, Stroud had me on the edge of my seat.
If you liked this book, read the Bartimaeus trilogy also by Stroud.
If you liked this book, read the Bartimaeus trilogy also by Stroud.
LibraryThing member norabelle414
I must say I was very disappointed. I like young adult books, I like Jonathan Stroud, I love books about Welsh mythology. But somehow, this book just didn't work.
My biggest problem was that there is absolutely no character development. I understand that young adult books aren't supposed to be heavy
I also noticed a lot of similarities in the ending between this book and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They were both published in 1999 so I don't really know what's going on with that. I totally approve of writing with influences or ideas from other authors, but the ending of this book just felt really tired and predictable.
My biggest problem was that there is absolutely no character development. I understand that young adult books aren't supposed to be heavy
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on the psychology, but it literally took me half the book to be able to distinguish the two main characters. Even after that, I still could not muster up any kind of sympathy for either of them. One of the themes of the book is characterizing people's souls as animals, but how is that supposed to have any meaning to me if I have no idea who these people are?I also noticed a lot of similarities in the ending between this book and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They were both published in 1999 so I don't really know what's going on with that. I totally approve of writing with influences or ideas from other authors, but the ending of this book just felt really tired and predictable.
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LibraryThing member The_Hibernator
In Buried Fire, a boy is given the 4 gifts of a sleeping dragon, with the expectation that he will serve its evil cause. It was a cute story, but had some rather strong language for a children's book. I'm sure kids DO talk that way, but that doesn't mean we should encourage them in books!
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Pages
332