Dragonsinger

Plot

Dragonsinger picks up where the first book in the Harper Hall Trilogy, Dragonsong, left off. The story follows the journey of Menolly, a young girl who has a talent for music and a love for dragons. Menolly has left her home in the Sea Hold and has joined the Harper Hall, where she hopes to pursue her passion for music and become a harper. However, she faces many challenges along the way.

The book begins with Menolly settling into her new life at the Harper Hall. She is assigned to work in the kitchens, where she meets Piemur, a young boy who is also a harper apprentice. Menolly and Piemur become fast friends and spend their free time exploring the Harper Hall and the surrounding areas.

As Menolly begins her harper training, she faces many obstacles. She struggles to keep up with her studies and is often bullied by her fellow apprentices. However, she perseveres and eventually earns the respect of her peers and teachers.

Meanwhile, the Harper Hall is preparing for a major event – the visit of Lord Meron, a wealthy and powerful lord who is known for his love of music. The harpers are tasked with putting on a grand performance for Lord Meron, and Menolly is given the opportunity to showcase her talents.

However, things do not go as planned. Lord Meron is a difficult and demanding guest, and his presence causes tension and conflict among the harpers. Menolly also faces a personal crisis when she discovers that her beloved fire-lizards are in danger.

The climax of the book comes when Menolly and Piemur embark on a dangerous mission to save the fire-lizards. They must navigate treacherous terrain and face many obstacles along the way. However, they ultimately succeed in their mission and return to the Harper Hall as heroes.

Characters

The characters in Dragonsinger are well-developed and complex. Menolly is a strong and determined protagonist who is easy to root for. She is a talented musician and a loyal friend, but she also has her flaws. She can be stubborn and impulsive at times, which often gets her into trouble.

Piemur is another standout character. He is a mischievous and adventurous boy who is always up for a challenge. He provides a good contrast to Menolly’s more serious personality and adds some levity to the story.

The other harper apprentices are also well-drawn characters. They are a diverse group with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are supportive of Menolly, while others are jealous and resentful of her talents.

Lord Meron is a more one-dimensional character, but he serves his purpose as the antagonist of the story. He is arrogant and demanding, and his presence causes a lot of tension and conflict among the harpers.

Themes

One of the main themes of Dragonsinger is the power of music. Throughout the book, music is portrayed as a transformative and healing force. Menolly finds solace in music and uses it to express her emotions and connect with others. The harpers also use music to bring joy and comfort to the people of Pern.

Another theme of the book is the importance of perseverance. Menolly faces many challenges and setbacks throughout the story, but she never gives up. She works hard and overcomes her obstacles, earning the respect of her peers and teachers.

The book also explores the theme of friendship. Menolly and Piemur’s friendship is a central part of the story, and their loyalty to each other helps them overcome the challenges they face.

Audiobook

The audiobook version of Dragonsinger is narrated by Sally Darling. Darling does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and capturing the tone of the story. Her voice is clear and easy to listen to, and she does a good job of differentiating between the different characters.

One of the strengths of the audiobook is the way it captures the musical elements of the story. Darling sings the songs and plays the instruments mentioned in the book, which adds an extra layer of immersion to the story.

The only downside of the audiobook is that it can be a bit slow-paced at times. The story is already fairly slow-moving, and the audiobook can make it feel even slower. However, this is a minor quibble and is not a major issue overall.

Conclusion

Dragonsinger is a classic science fiction novel that has stood the test of time. The audiobook version, narrated by Sally Darling, is a great way to experience the story. The characters are well-developed, the themes are powerful, and the narration is excellent. If you are a fan of science fiction or fantasy, Dragonsinger is definitely worth checking out.