Sun Dragon's Song #1

It is a bit hard to judge if this will continue to be good, but so far it is. This is the story of a young, physically challenged boy, wanting to be a dragon rider, but for not, he has to take care of dragons, along with all the other boys. (I did not notice any girls, although his mother is a dragon rider).

Nicely done, sketchy drawings, dragons that resemble Chinese versions of dragons, vs Western ones. Traditional red envelopes, beautiful spread of what looks like traditional food. The cartoonist knows what they are drawing.

I like what the dragons eat, crystals, and that they have to be mined by the kids.

But of course, the ending is important, so this is only for the first issue. We shall see where this story goes.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This is so cute!! I'm familiar with the work of Joyce Chng, and as a fellow Singaporean, I'm always up for supporting local talent ESPECIALLY those who write about dragons. I LOVE DRAGONS. Anyway, since this is just the first issue, there isn't that much to say. That's not a bad thing though! I was left wanting to know more at the end of this issue because it felt so brief. I had just about learned about this kid and his family and a little bit about his world and then IT WAS OVER. I'll certainly try and check out the following issues when I can!!

https://hercommonplaceblog.wordpress.com/

Since this is the first in a series of comics, it's hard to review because it's like reading just the first chapter of a book. There's not really enough information to get a feel of any of the characters and who they are. The premise sounds interesting, but who knows where it will go? Plus it also needs a little more set up, background on who the boy is and what a sun dragon rider does- an origin story if you will. Maybe that will come later, but I can only read what I have.

I received an e-ARC of this book from Rosarium Publishing via NetGalley, in exchange with an honest review.

A great plot with an Asian protagonist who faces bullying, and feeds the dragons. That sounds very intriguing , but I believe that we should have seen more of the story, understood more about the world where Ho Yi lives in ,before wrapping part 1 up.

​I will definitely keep an eye for the next book. I truly believe that this story could go places.

I give it 3/5 stars.

This has the beginnings of some interesting ideas and begins to create an interesting world but my library doesn't really buy single issue comics for the children's room. I would be more interested in seeing a collection of the first few issues.

In a story that seems to be set in ancient China, a boy who needs a crutch to get around is bullied while feeding the dragons. All he wants is to be a dragonrider. When his parents, both dragonriders, come home from the war, he gets to go home with them. Dad’s a pacifist, who would rather let a young thief go than throw her into prison, while mom wants to do the opposite. At the end of this first of four issues, he’s accepted as a dragonrider trainee.
Since this is just ¼ of the story, there’s not much to go on. I don’t mean it artistically when I say this is painted in broad strokes, no doubt so kids can understand it. I do like the direction it’s going in, and look forward to the next one.
The artwork is “sketchy”; looks like someone simply colored the first drafts.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

by Joyce Chng and Kim Miranda
Rosarium Publishing
Publication date: September 21, 2016

Ho Yi wants to be a sun dragon rider like his parents, but he uses a crutch to get around and he is often bullied by a larger pupil at his school. Still, he feels their song in his heart and he believes that despite his disability, he can become a rider.

Set in a distant land, this origin story sets up a little of young Ho Yi's life. The reader sees a little of his grit personality. We learn a bit about his parents and the struggles that this young boy goes through. However, there is much left unanswered, which I think will keep young tweens invested in reading. For example, what is he gathering in the cave and why does he have to wash it down? What happened to his legs? Why does the bully hate him so much? And will the feisty young girl that his father released at the border play a part in the next installments?

If readers liked Avatar, they will like Sun Dragon's Song.

An e-galley provided by Net Galley and the publishers for an honest review.