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Dragonsinger
Dragonsinger
Dragonsinger
Audiobook10 hours

Dragonsinger

Written by Anne McCaffrey

Narrated by Sally Darling

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Menolly has returned home and entered the Harper Hall. But her entry into the Hall proves the beginning of more troubles, and the Master Harper gives her a difficult time because she is a girl. As Menolly begins to despair, she finds help in the shape of nine bright allies.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 12, 2007
ISBN9781440780905
Author

Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey, a multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner, was one of the world's most beloved and bestselling science fiction and fantasy writers. She is known for her hugely successful Dragonriders of Pern books, as well as the fantasy series that she cowrote with Elizabeth A. Scarborough that began with Acorna: The Unicorn Girl.

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Reviews for Dragonsinger

Rating: 4.156639146127248 out of 5 stars
4/5

1,446 ratings36 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful story, masterfully written. Strong female lead, epic fantacy series.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Menolly's story continues, and her struggle to overcome ingrained childhood beliefs about music and Harpers. Piemur emerges as an even better friend. Master Shonagar is a favorite character of mine.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Hi Angela I was thinking about it I would have been thinking that you would be able and you could see the kids
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I wonder if JK Rowling read Dragonsinger before she wrote the Harry potter series. Dragonsinger reminds me of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. The protagonists are each regarded as inadequate by their families, in Harry’s case an Aunt and Uncle in Menolly’s by her biological parents. Harry however when he reaches Hogwarts finds that he has a special talent for Quidditch and is infamous as the child who survives an assassination attempt as a baby. Menolly not only has her song writing skill and musical ability she’s also the owner of nine fire lizards. Both are protected by the head of the school, Professor Dumbledore and Masterharper Robinton. Both by they’re very existence rub certain teachers and students the wrong way and both are the objects of both envy and prejudice.

    For the reasons stated above I’d recommend the Harper Hall series to fans of Harry Potter who may never have heard of the series I’m sure they will find a lot to like.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is another reread from long ago. I hoped it would be all I remember as that was pretty awesome. I was not disappointed. Menolly is finally at Harper Craft Hall, where she belongs. While there is bullying, the true adults (one "adult" is also a bullying snob) help Menolly when she is out of her depth. It was fascinating to me to see the young musician bloom when in her element.Second in a series, this can stand alone as long as the reader has some familiarity with McCaffrey's Pern, although it is much better if one has read Dragonsong. While written for young adults, I thoroughly loved it. I think adults with a love of music would also find it interesting. Anyone who loves science fantasy will probably enjoy this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I haven’t read this since I was a kid and I still adore it. Although I won’t lie, Dragonsinger wasn’t my favorite of the trilogy, I always felt it was a slow moving tale, and after the re-read it does still have that slow, almost boring pace.The story is beautiful though, after everything we witness in book one, with how Menolly is treated at her hold and at the hands of her own parents, it’s satisfying seeing her treated with respect and true care, though that’s not to say everyone at Harper Hall is particularly happy she is there. But boy did I love when Menolly finally stood up to Pona and even slugged Benis a good hit! That was my favorite scene when I read this years ago and frankly it still is.The story focuses on Menolly adapting to her new home while trying to understand her place amongst the Hall but also maintain her control over her 9 fire lizards. There is a lot of talk of instruments and music chords, that after awhile I got bored of the topic but it’s a Crucial part of Menolly’s story, so you have to follow it. It’s really is a story that just kind of follows Menolly’s every day life, which is filled with excitement.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey is the second book of the Harper Hall trilogy (along with Dragonsong and Dragon Drums). I first read these and the original Dragonriders of Pern trilogy (Dragonflight, Dragonquest and The White Dragon) back when I was barely a teenager. I loved all of them for many years, along with many other McCaffrey stories. It took me awhile to figure out that one of the things that I really enjoyed is that there is no religion in this fantasy setting, and no war or large-scale violence.The Harper Hall trilogy are my favorites, and the only ones I am interested in keeping now. That's because they don't involve any sex, unlike the other early trilogy. It took me a long time to figure out that McCaffrey's portrayal of sex was deeply problematic: almost always involving at least one scene where the man makes sexual overtures, the woman says no, and the man goes ahead anyway. Sex without consent is by definition rape. Add in the particular twist of the telepathic bonds with dragons or fire lizards, such that when the dragons mate, the people linked to them have sex too, swept away by the sexual urges. Which is to say, the woman bonded to the gold queen dragon doesn't get to pick her sex partner and may not even know what the hell is happening if she didn't happen to grow up in a dragon weyr. But hey, that's just biology and associated social order.The protagonist of Dragonsinger is Menolly, the youngest daughter of the chief (Holder) of a small, isolated fishing village (seahold). She's about 15 at the beginning of the second book. Menolly has just arrived at Harper Hall to great acclaim as Petiron's lost apprentice. However, she struggles to find her place in this new, unfamiliar community while still healing from the injuries, both physical and emotional, acquired in Dragonsong. She's an apprentice, but the lone female, and can't stay in the barracks with the boys. There are other girls, but they're casual students and more concerned with social status and dating. Her encounters with various students, apprentices, and masters of various musical disciplines leave her uncertain about her future at Harper Hall.This is a charming books featuring a strong female character coming of age and finding her strength and her friends. She deals with physical and emotional abuse, seeking food and shelter, social ostracism, bullying, prejudice, and overly narrow gender roles. But the story is hopeful and ultimately rewarding. I wanted to be Menolly when I read these books at her age.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    While trying to escape almost certain death, Menolly has been rescued by dragon and rider, and finds herself where she's wanted to be for a long time: the Harper Hall. But not everything goes well, as petty jealousies and vindictive acts abound, from those who attempt to make her stay unpleasant, or even worse, very short-lived. Her main source of emotional support comes from her nine fire lizards, a "half-wit" kitchen drudge, and a young troublemaker.Of all Anne McCaffrey's works, I am most fond of the Harper Hall series, and especially this second volume of Menolly's tale. It's aimed at all ages, and worthy of a read, whether by an adolescent, or a granny, like me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    DRAGONSINGER is the continuing story of Menolly, the heroine of DRAGONSONG. In this book, Menolly, now revealed as Petiron's lost apprentice, comes to the Harper Hall. This center of musical learning is more, and less, than Menolly thought it would be. She is forced to face opposition and prejudice from the music masters and her fellow students. However, the care and understanding the MasterHarper, Robinton, give her make the transition less painful. So do the friendships of Piemur, an impish singing apprentice, Sebell, a journeyman harper and Robinton's right-hand man, and Camo, the sweet but dull-witted kitchen drudge. Menolly faces her demons and triumphs in true fairy-tale fashion. Another favorite book, read so many times it is in tatters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The second part of the Harper Hall Trilogy takes place of the course of Menolly's first week at Harper Hall. As the only female harper apprentice and unintended owner of a clutch of fire lizards at a time when the most important men and women on Pern are fighting to one one, she cannot help but make immediate friends and enemies. Alienated by the nobles' daughters and fighting to be accepted among the men, Menolly's arrival coincides with F'nor's attempt to reach the Red Star and great upheaval throughout Pern. Melon's fire lizards and songs soon pull her into the chaos that the Masterharper and dragonriders regularly face.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dragonsong had a satisfying, happily-ever-after ending so it's a bit surprising that this sequel begins just minutes later, like turning the page to the next chapter. Reading this novel straight, it's approximately 250 pages of what happily-ever-after looks like. Looking a bit deeper, it's Menolly's therapy after her traumatic upbringing. She requires a lot of assurance from phenomenally pleasant people before she can begin to believe she has worth and something to contribute. The turning point arrives when she loses her temper. I fully agreed with another character who expressed relief that Menolly was willing to stand up for herself after all. Actually I scoffed a bit when it happened, since it's triggered by a silly concern following all of the many graver things that have happened to her, but it actually makes sense. As Menolly's feelings of worth are rising from zero, the first thing she rates herself above is a dog to be kicked by the lowliest minds over the pettiest matters. I'd imagine after this book ends her pride will build still further, until she's ready to take umbrage at increasingly serious challenges to her character. Menolly doesn't return to confront the family that abused her, but it's another kind of victory that she decides they don't even rate a letter.Pern rates high among imaginary worlds I'd soonest visit, but many of its novels are not aging well (beat your wife lately, F'lar?). Menolly's duology retains its shine, the brightest portion of Anne McCaffrey's legacy.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I read the first book in the Harper Hall Trilogy last year on the advice of a friend. To be honest, it wasn’t my favorite. I found the characters hard to connect with and the world pretty difficult to jump into as this is a small part of the larger Dragonriders of Pern series.What brought me back to continue with the series was the fire lizards. When reading Dragonsong I would think about them even when I wasn’t reading and I became a little heart-sick over the fact that they were fictional. They are amazing creatures and I just wanted to see what more trouble they could get up to!I didn't find myself disappointed, as the fire lizards are front-and-center in this story and make themselves known on practically every page. While Mennoly's journey (no pun intended) is worth reading, it is really the interactions of the fire lizards, and how they may-or-may-not-be connected with people, each other, and dragons, that is the most interesting aspect of this tale to me.New characters introduced in this second volume were much more appealing than those in Dragonsong. The Masterharper, Sebell, Oldive, and Groghe were all welcome additions to the story.I can see how this could be a very defining and important series to read for a young adult. I have read many reviews of these books stating how they were integral to their childhood reading experiences. Obviously, I am only just now reading them in adulthood and I cannot help but wonder if a bit of the magic is lost on me. I hope not.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    [Re-read, 2011]

    Just as good as I remember it from when I was a kid!

    I am impressed (hah!) all over again by the world of Pern. There are some things I find problematic but there's also so much cool stuff. The dragons! Threadfall! Between! The whole society! And I still empathize with Menolly, even if I'm not as shy/self-doubting as I was when I was a kid.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Mennolly is an apprentice harper now, but her troubles are far from over. Having Impressed a clutch of nine fire lizards, she faces unique challenges at the Harper Hall. There's no question Masterharper Robinton appreciates Mennolly's gift, but the attitudes of the other masters who will be teaching her range from skepticism to outright dislike. She faces jealousy from her peers, and though she makes a few friends, she's not sure whether they like her for herself or for her fire lizards. To top it off, a lifetime of being punished for writing music leaves her burdened with self-doubt. Mennolly longed to find a home at the Harper Hall, but will she be able to hold her own there?I loved this book, possibly even more than I loved the first book. The plot is not as action-packed, but the characters and setting make up for that. And I'm a sucker for boarding school stories; what can I say? Recommended for readers who enjoyed Dragonsong -- don't wait as long between books as I did!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Second book in the trilogy, Menolly has made it to the Harper Hall and is trying to find her place. The other young girls studying there aren't as talented and their jealousy makes for a lot of problems. She has to overcome the emotional damage that her family left her as well, beating her for her music. It gets a bit emotional as she's encouraged to sing, play and compose at the Hall. She also brings a lot of hard won knowledge about fire lizards.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This story follows Book One, Dragonsong, without a blink. I hold a lot of nostalgia for these books. I used to take five to six hour trips every month to see my step-son. I used to imagine dragons flying among the mountain peeks as we traveled along the boring freeway.

    Anne McCaffery died in November of last year. I’m saddened that there will be no new releases. As an adult, her work inspired me to daydream. A trait I was discourage from pursuing as a child, and thought I had outgrown. She and others like her are the reason why I can write today. I hope her work continues to bring dreams and joy to all generations to come.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As a sequel this could not be better. Picking up where Dragonsong left off it is a great book. I recommend every young person read this, preferably they should have this as part of their school work. A book that can teach much about understanding and of course about wonder.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I read this book in sixth grade and for years after, I remembered this story, like it haunted me. Years later I finally remembered and figured out what the book was, and rediscovered an incredible world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lovely feel-good story about dragonets (fire lizards) by one of the master storytellers. Harper-girl (musician) coming of age in a medival society were harpers are one of the guilds. Book stands on it own.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dragonsinger is essentially a boarding school novel, in contrast with Dragonsong which is an adolescent adventure. It's a good one at that - the trials are deftly woven in with the triumphs, and while McCaffrey has a heavy hand with the "bad" characters, they don't weigh too heavily on the story - the situation itself is conflict enough.

    Some of the more distant events certainly has more resonance if you know the backstory - Jaxom's Impression, Canth's fall - but they make enough sense to go on with if you haven't read the earlier books.

    It seems a bit too slight to justify the ending, but part of that may be that I'm not at all accustomed to the pace of YA books. I'm totally willing to let an author maunder on for 1200 pages, but I get confused when they wrap it up in a fifth of that.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Continuing from where Dragonsong left off, Menolly is taken to the Harper Hall. Through her young readers can experience the upsets of feeling unwanted and useless in new surroundings and older readers can relive going through the same struggles in their youth. Though the book is full of the teases and torments of schoolchildren, that's not all it is about. The series continues the issues on Pern, interweaving all of the books together in a way that is natural and easy to read. The characters and their interactions will touch the heart and bring warm smiles and soft chuckles to the reader as they turn the pages. Most of all, many fans of Pern simply can't get enough of the Masterharper and this series is a wonderful look into his craft and hall... and gives you a tiny glimpse into his life from an outsider's perspective.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book suffers from all the same flaws as its predecessor and enjoys all the same virtues. The heroine survives the malice of others and her own disillusionment and the book arrives at a happy and pleasantly brief conclusion.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Everything finally seems to go right with Menolly. She is a new apprentice Harper, she can finally play her music freely and people everywhere love it, and she has nine wonderful fire lizards. Unfotunately, Menolly’s fate isn’t that easy or perfect. She’s recovering from her gutting accident and her feet being cut, her teachers are somewhat hard on her, some students at Harper Hall are really mean to her for no apparent reason, and everything that Menolly does or when someone does something to her, her fire lizards always get in her way and ends up disastrous. But throughout it all, Menolly struggles to find her place in the strange planet of Pern.Rating: Four and a Half Stars **** ½
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is a sequel to Dragonsong set within the Pern universe that includes McCaffrey's Dragonrider books. I first read this as a teen and this is marketed towards young adults (or even younger). However, I found it a fun read even later as an adult. Menolly is among McCaffrey's most appealing characters; I enjoyed seeing her growth through these two books. I was fascinated with the world of dragons (and music in Harper Hall) that she's a part of, and other characters surrounding her like the Masterharper Robinton and her fellow student Piemur are memorable and appealing. Even lacking the dragons (although the events in Dragonquest are echoed here) this book in McCaffrey's Pern is among the most entrancing. (and given Menolly's nine firelizards, I don't miss the dragons too much.)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Menolly is a talented young woman who has just arrived at the Harper Hall; a boarding school for future Harpers. She is insecure about her musical skills and isn't sure if she will fit in. The adults doubt her because there has never been a girl Harper. She is bullied by the other girls at the school who are rich paying students and are jealous of her talents. It doesn't help that Menolly has impressed nine fire lizard's that cause havoc where ever she goes.I first read this book back when I was in seventh grade. The whole Harper Hall Trilogy was important to me because as a music student I could relate to the main character. I enjoyed rereading the story. The plot line is very simple; the trials of a teenager trying to fit in, yet it is well written and engaging. The school setting reminded me of the Harry Potter stories. This is a great tale about a young woman coming into her own.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    this was the first Anne McCaffrey book I ever read and it remains one of my favorite books of all time.I loved the world of Harper Hall that McCaffrey created and I really felt a kinship with Menolly even though I am nowhere near as gifted as she was or even that musical. The character of Menolly is just perfectly written to appeal and reach out to anyone who feels out of place or unaccepted for just being who you are.And even though the Harper Hall Trilogy books are some of the shortest she has written, for me the actually held the most strength and emotional punch of all the rest. I felt invested in Menolly's adventures and well being and just felt that her world just came alive and felt real.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Just as good as the last book, though in a different way. Instead of following Menolly's life at Half-Circle Sea Hold and later her days of trying to survive in the wilderness, we're following her day-to-day life in the Harper Hall.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Again as a teenager I could relate to Menolly’s insecurities of fitting into a new environment. Not being sure of her place and being the victim of some rather nasty girls. I loved the fact that although these books are set on another world the problems were the same as the ones I was facing (also I wanted a firelizard).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bashful girl with nine mini dragons wins over guild of gruff musicians with mad skillz and love of music.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of my favourite series, I almost cried when Menolly succeeds against all the bias and jealousy