Raising Dragons (Dragons in Our Midst, Book 1) (Volume 1)

Okay I love this series and this book hits the ground running drawing you into the store an the world of Billy and Bonnie. It is beautifully written as is the whole series. I love how Bryan Davis writes from a Christian standpoint but doesn't sacrifice the quality of writing or of the story to push Christian morals as was previously popular in Christian fiction. As an author he is amazing!

The starter of a great series! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, RAISING DRAGONS was a tad predictable, and I'm not ashamed to admit that when I started reading it, I doubted it'd ever make the list of books I'm proud to admit I read. It felt like just another fantasy series, and even though I had friends avidly telling me that it was like Lord of the Rings, it felt... clunky. I found the writing style the first book held wasn't quite as captivating as the remainder of the books, but gradually grew better at an incredible rate. The rest of the series certainly forgives its first couple chapters, the little tieins and incredible things brought back to light to further the plot making it even more readable. These aren't books you can skim-read. Almost everything comes back. These aren't books you can start reading in the middle of the evening, because you'll stay up all night trying to finish them. These are books in which you'll almost want to keep bookmarks just to go back and say "AHA! So THAT'S why he said that..." Brian Davis doesn't put in silly little details. He lines up everything, plus a bit more. The series might've started a bit awkwardly, but by the end of the book, you'll have long forgotten any misgivings at the beginning. (however, if your all time favorite books are Dune *Herbert*, the Lord of the Rings BOOKS (not movies) *Tolkien* and The Silmarillion *Tolkien*, or any others similar, I do recommand taking the books from the library before buying them. You may find the lack of descriptive prose in the writing style irritating. If you're a LotR fan simply because you loved the plot, not the incredibly lengthy descriptions of places, you'll probably love DRAGONS IN OUR MIDST, nonetheless) All in all, I'm unashamed to recommand this book to any fans of good Christian fantasy.

At school, Billy Bannister is called Dragon Breath because of his extraordinarily scorching breath. He has been trying to hide it from his parents but it is becoming worse recently. When Billy accidentally sets off the bathroom fire systems at school because of it, he realizes he can't conceal his problem any longer. That's when Billy's parents drop the bomb: his dad is a former dragon that has been living in human form for hundreds of year- not the sort of thing a guy is expecting to find out! The bathroom episode has other serious repercussions too. Billy and his family's dragon heritage has been revealed to the dangerous sect of the dragon slayers who- as the name suggests- are out to kill all the dragons pretending to be humans as well as their children. I love to read fantasy, but there seems to be so little of it in the Christian market. I am so excited to have found Raising Dragons. It is well written and a very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading more of the books in this series.

Even though I'm an adult, and this book is geared for kids, I really enjoyed it. A story of good vs. evil that started centuries ago and rages generations later. When Billy's world is turned upside down by a father he thought he knew, he finds himself grappling with his faith. Bonnie, an orphan in foster care, longs for friends and family that will help her bear her deep secret. Will Bonnie help Billy come to terms with the truth about his father and himself? Can Bonnie trust Billy with the secret in her ever present backpack? Raising Dragons is the first in the Dragons in Our Midst series. I intend on reading them all.

J.R.R. who? Think I'm kidding? Then wait till you start reading the book. Bryan Davis has done a masterful job of weaving together a fascinating world in this first book of the series, and should he continue his name will be mentioned in the same breath as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Piers Anthony (Xanth), Terry Brooks (Sword of Shannara) and others. Raising Dragons, though set in this world, is a brilliant fantasy piece that starts fast and doesn't slow down. Mr. Davis takes advantage of our prior knowledge of fantasy (who hasn't heard the Authurian legends or know of dragons) and seamlessly builds the back story into the plot of the book, always careful to provide us with just enough information to understand the unfolding events, without giving away what might be coming along. Even though Raising Dragons is written from the perspective of a teenage boy, the way the story is written it will draw you in and capture you, regardless of your age. Along the way you'll learn to identify with the characters, appreciate the mysteries and look forward to that next page turning. And, if you're willing to trust me, trust this: you won't want to stop turning the pages! This book is a thriller with lots of twists and pleasantly unexpected turns. The book is a great story that has a moral, but it is not story written just to convey a moral. Mr. Davis has done an adroit job of communicating honest to goodness feelings, worries, concerns and showing how the characters find their solutions without being "preachy." Which of course, is wonderful. Now, can I hear an AMEN?! Raising Dragons: Read it, you won't regret it.

Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. I love reading fantasy (Tolkien, CS Lewis, Steven Lawhead, Gail Carson Levine, etc.) and this book is a great addition to the genre. It is a tantalizing and enjoying read, and thankfully there are more on the way! It also appeals to a wide age range. I'm eighteen, but my younger sister is twelve and also enthralled by it. Don't miss this book!