What a lovely sweet and lighthearted book is this <3 A truelly enjoyed every part of it. Atthis Art and Minerva provided me with an ARC of this book in return of my review. Thanks so much for this opportunity!

"An apology?" the dragon repeated. "We are meeting for the first time and you are demanding and apology? Is that how your people say hello?"

The story takes place in the small town of Ynys and their local knight and the towns dragon who are wound up in a adventure they are not used to. The story takes the protagonists and the reader through the new and exciting world where they meet new people.

"Why?" the spider asked. "What message do you think is so important that everyone sould hear it?"
"The message that being different from what is considered the norm does not mean you will lead an unhappy life."

It's a story about self-acceptance but especcialy about accepting others. About feeling and expressing your true self without the fear of being judged. This book is something everybody should read. It's very suitable for children because of the length and how it's written. But there are probably more adults who can also learn a lot from this book.

Every time something goes missing from the village, Sir Violet, the local knight makes his way up to the dragon’s cave and negotiates the item’s return. But when the dragon hoards a person, that’s a step too far. Only to find a more complex mystery. A quest that leads Sir Violet far beyond the cave. The dutiful village knight embarks in his greatest adventure yet.

The book was so pleasantly, wonderfully and unexpectedly good. Such a joyful, funny, super cute story about acceptance. I grew attached to Sir Violet and Snap the very second I started reading the story. Reading about a character who is asexual aromantic brought such joy to my heart. We need more books like this on the near future.

A few parts were a bit preachy for my liking, had a couple of eye rolls here and there. The fact that this story is suitable for any age is so beyond this world. You can learn so much from this book about acceptance and you might even find your place in this world after reading this wonderful story. I didn’t want the story to end.

Thumbs up to Certidwen for giving the female characters so much power and bravery.

The Dragon of Ynys is a fantasy fairy tale about love and acceptance and friendship. Sir Violet investigates thefts that are happening in his town. He finds the dragon who is stealing them. But then Juniper goes missing, and Sir Violet wonders if the dragon has stolen her as well. What follows is a bit of an adventure, as the characters go looking for Juniper, and work on solving some personal relationship problems as well.

This is quite a short book, and it really does feel like a fairy tale. There's something about the language and the structure. As I was reading it, I felt like it would work quite well read aloud as a bedtime story. At first the way it was written made me feel a little disconnected from the characters, but as the story progressed I got to know and like the characters.

This story is fun and cute. The characters are interesting and likeable, and the plot is fun and engaging. There are some funny moments, and some quite emotional moments as well. For the most part, the book feels like it's aimed at children, with its simplistic, fairy tale like structure and its positive message and morals, although it can definitely be enjoyed by adults as well! Occasionally it felt more adult, though not in an inapropriate way . More that there were certain conversations that felt like they might bore children, especially younger children.

This is a fairy tale with queer representation, which I loved. I love being able to see myself and characters like myself in the kind of story that we often don't get to play a part in. But this isn't just a fairy tale featuring diverse characters. It's also a fairy tale specifically about a diverse range of characters and their identities. I especially liked that there is an aroace main character, and that there are nonbinary characters as well. In the story, people aren't restricted by gender, with women as knights and a woman as the mayor. There's a little bit of minor transphobia from some of the characters but ultimately characters are supportive, and the book would be a good way to introduce younger children to trans and gender nonconforming people, as it shows that it's important to be yourself and also to accept others as themselves. The sharing of pronouns is also normalised, which is great.

This version of the book is a rerelease, after the writer rewrote the book to be more trans friendly. I definitely think she succeeded, and I think this is a wonderful story to read and to share with children.

This was such a nice and fun story to read! A dragon, a knight, and the baker's wife embark on a quest to find the missing baker. Sounds quite simple said like this but this story was filled with LGBTQIA+ characters and important messages, which the real story was to bring them to all around the world.

“The message that being different from what is considered the norm does not mean you will lead an unhappy life.”

When things start to go missing in the small village of Ynys, local knight Violet must venture to meet the dragon living nearby to retrieve the items. The dragon, being of a good temper, is usually more than willing to return the items upon Violet’s requests. When the baker goes missing, Violet’s first inclination is to seek out the dragon. But, when the baker is still nowhere to be found, it is up to Violet, the dragon, and the baker’s wife to figure out what has become of the baker, leading them on an adventure beyond the borders of the village where they meet new people and other creatures.

Snap the dragon is the standout character in this novella. He talks and has a rather good disposition--he’s never once tried to eat Sir Violet. He likes shiny and sparkly things, which is why things often go missing. More importantly, the things he says are amusing. One of my favorite lines is a poke at the village and the mayor, “I suppose that in a place like your village, that chain really is the only perk of being mayor. Far be it from me to take that joy away.” I would greatly enjoy conversing with Snap. He would be wonderful company and I would come out of it alive.

Dealing with strangers and a dragon that hoard only serves as surface-level concerns. There are multiple layers revealed when the baker goes missing and Violet, Snap, and Holly go on their search. At the heart of this fairytale is acceptance, from those around you and yourself. It’s about individuals trying to fit in by their own standards, rather than the standards of others. It’s also about listening, being able to see beyond your worries or interests so you can better understand those around you, to hear what they say and what they do not say…because what they are unable to vocalize may be just as important if not more so.

The book has LGBTQIA+ representation along with ARO-ACE representation, which is not as common as it should be. It is an enjoyable read—I also really liked the narration—that actively encourages readers to ponder the lessons it imparts for far longer than the nearly 100 pages that it makes up.

⁠It's a cute little book about an unlikely friendship between a knight, a baker, and a dragon, who later become a crime solving/adventure having trio. It's so frigging wholesome it was difficult not to say aww every couple of pages. ⁠
🐉⁠
The style of narration made this book feel more like a fairy tale than a fantasy novella. At first, I found it surprising, but then I was quite interesting and enjoyable.⁠
🐉⁠
Here are some cute things about the book: everybody is named after a plant, there is a dragon that hoards things out of boredom because he wants the knight to visit him, and there a wide range of characters with different identities. Holly, the baker looking for her missing wife, is the most logical and straightforward character I've ever encountered in a fantasy book. The Dragon, is, well, a typical dragon, mocking humans yet willing to help. He's basically a magpie, attracted to the tiniest shiny thing he sees. And finally Sir Violet, the knight, is there to occasionally sigh and do all the knighting. ⁠

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this e-arc.
Basically a cute and charming little tale about the need for more representation in media. The message of the story iis that it is OK to be different, that it is OK to be you.
It is told in a 87page long short story, so there isn't much room to work out the message in any sort of nuance, but it is an absolutely charming story which really plays with the gender a lot. Most of the characters have names of flowers and so intuitively you would consider them all as being women, however, many of them are men or have chosen to be seen as a specific gender. As a result, this is very much a world in which it isn't possible to assume someone's gender, thus normalising the need to ask for people's pronouns. I thought that was really well done.
I also liked reading the afterword in which the author describes how she reworked this short story based on reader's criticism.
Another message of the story is definitely that it is ok to make mistakes as long as you're willing to learn from your mistakes and grow, which this afterword of the auhtor clearly indicates is something the author really takes to heart.
A beautiful look at how to respond to criticism in a positive way.
Definitely think this is most suited as a sort of bedtime story to children, but you can definitely also enjoy it as an adult as a sort of palate cleanser when you need something light and fluffy, something that'll warm your heart.

I love a good fairytale and this novella delivered on a number of the standard tropes- knights, a dragon and their hoard, a quaint village. Overall, this was a delightful read although the messages were a bit on the nose. A bit of subtly in the themes would have bumped this up another star. I do wish the aromantic/asexual representation was a bit more prominent as those characters are sorely unrepresented in literature today. I plan to pass this along to my pre-teen cousins as I think the message in this is very beneficial to a younger audience.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atthis Arts and Minerva Cerridwen for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dragon of Ynys is a beautiful story full of adventure and representation. There's a reclusive dragon who occasionally steals from the village, a brave village knight who goes to face the dragon whenever something is taken and a lovely journey of acceptance and found family.

It is written in a very easy to read way, and is aimed at all ages although is likely more for younger audiences, children who want to see themselves represented and see their stories told. The book features trans characters, asexual and aromantic characters, and lesbian characters. It is a truly beautiful story with a deep meaning and could become a favourite for children learning about their own identities.

One of the main messages in the book surrounds the internet and the benefit of spreading messages of love and acceptance in an attempt to make the world a safer place for those that are different, it is told in a beautiful way through the lens of fantasy in a world where the internet does not exist. However, it isn't only the internet that is important for spreading these messages but also the libraries for those who do not have access to the internet as our books should reflect the diversity around us and teach children about the things they feel.

Overall a really lovely book with a great message. It feels like a fairy tale and there's a great found family element for the characters which is adorable. It's not exactly what I had expected, I was expecting a longer YA style fantasy book, but this book is likely invaluable to children who are questioning their identity.

The Dragon of Ynys is a charming and hopeful fairytale with an inclusive cast of characters. Sir Violet has been retrieving stolen items from the local dragon’s hoard for years. But when a villager goes missing, he is forced to take action. Upon confronting the dragon, his assumptions and beliefs are challenged. A quest ensues and friendship forms between knight and dragon as they search for the missing villager.

Examining what it means to be a hero and villain, the assumptions we make, and classic adventuring, this book is sweet and meaningful. The Dragon of Ynys is written in the style of Patricia C. Wrede in Dealing with Dragons, where assumptions about dragons do not prove true. In many ways, this is a story about a knight and a dragon on a quest, with classic scenarios that readers will recognize. However, this story also expertly incorporates ace, aromantic, and trans representation. This positive representation is needed now more than ever, particularly in children’s literature.

One of my favorite things about this story is how accessible is is for young children, middle grade, and adults. The Dragon of Ynys is a valuable addition to any library, especially for those seeking inclusivity, dragons, and fairytales with representation. I recommend this ownvoices story for anyone, regardless of age. I’m reading a version of this story that was written after the author had the opportunity to revise and reflect on feedback received from readers, which is addressed by the author in the afterword. The Dragon of Ynys releases on September 15, 2020. Thank you to Minerva Cerridwen, Atthis Arts, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you NetGalley and Atthis Arts for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the writing was absolutely amazing, the author really fit in so much connection between characters in only a few pages. The book also read very smoothly to me.

The only thing I disliked was the forced representation. I absolutely think lgbt+ characters being normalised in literature is important, but this was often just a bit overkill to me. Not the amount of lgbt+ characters bothered me but how they were treated like they were oh so soft and special babies. They can just exist and be normalised without making it a big deal in my opinion.

That being said, I did enjoy the reading experience and when I noticed the author was Belgian I needed to check it out.

3.5 stars (but rounding up to four on goodreads because of the authors note at the end T_T)

The Dragon of Ynys is a charming story which tells the story of Sir Violet, a knight who helps retrieve items that have been stolen from the village of Ynys by the local dragon, Snap until one day one of the villagers goes missing and Violet and Sanp have to team up to try and find her!

This story reads very much like a folktale/fairytale, with a strong moral message and a fun adventure however my one main flaw with the book was that it suffered from short book syndrome (yes i'm a medical student and confirm this is a recognised disease), I felt like this book had so much more potential if it had been longer and the characters had been fleshed out more - they were all so interesting but it felt quite surface level in terms of characterisation.

The LGBTQ+ rep in this book was so diverse, I really appreciated how the author took the time to reflect on feedback/criticism previously given and took that into account for this republished verison, 2 of the characters are trans and this is explored a bit, especially as one of them is young (6) and her mother is a bit unsure about how to support her and goes to her sister (who is also trans) for advice but maybe goes about it in the wrong way. The book clearly portrays this as wrong but then it shows how the mother character grows from her mistakes and becomes very supportive of her daughter and how we are allowed to make mistakes nd learn from them, which I think this book demostrates nicely. We also have a lesibian couple, as well as Sir Violet being asexual, I really appreciated the asexual rep and one line hit me really hard along the lines of "why does every stroy have to end witha happy couple riding of into the distance and not just someone curled up at home with a glass of milk, a good book and a delicious pastry" (this is not an exact quote) and I wish more books ended like this!!

Overall this was a really cozy, short read that feels like a warm hug and is great for people of all ages!!

This is a short book. And it is a fairytale that we NEED. It has a friendly dragon, an aro-ace Knight and a transwoman on a quest. You see where I'm getting at? This is something that I would want to read to my kids or any kids for that matter.

This is more a children's or a MG book, and for some adult readers, this can feel as boring. But again, that depends. There were so many things that I myself have not come to terms with that this book addressed. And I felt like I needed this book when I was younger. This is not just about representation, but also about inclusivity and educating the ones that are still in the shadows. Not everyone is open to people who are different, and not everyone deals with it the same way.

Personally I think everyone should read this and come up with their own opinions. And make sure you read the 'Afterword' by the author at the end. It makes us understand the true meaning behind #ownvoices, how authors can make mistakes but what is important is that they learn from it.

"After all, representation is not just about seeing yourself in a story. It also, more generally, opens our minds and explains the perspectives of other people around us."

Thank you Atthis Arts and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2 stars to The Dragon of Ynys. This was a loving story about a knight named Sir Violet and his run in with a mischievous dragon. The two of them and the local baker’s wife set out on an adventure together, all while discussing the importance of being true to oneself in terms of identity.

As a member of the non-binary community, it was nice to see so much representation of different gender identities and sexualities just being accepted and understood. There are trans characters, and Violet himself is an aromantic, ace fella! Everyone in this story communicates well and respectfully to each other, and it definitely was sweet in that way.

Although there were parts of this novella that made me smile while reading, for the most part I was....well...bored. I saw the cover of this book and immediately was curious. I wanted a fantasy story, and I thought maybe this book would be a bit YA, but it honestly read like it was somewhere between a children’s book and a middle grade book at best. There really wasn’t much fantasy going on; yes there was a dragon, and there is a little bit of magic later on—but mostly it was just regular people trying to support each other and accept themselves. Some of the language felt a bit pandering, and I felt like I was being hit on the head with language about gender identity you’d find if you just google searched “how to talk about gender identity” or “how to explain trans”. I guess I just preferred the subtleties, like how everyone’s name was basically agender and a bearded man wearing a dress wasn’t anything to think twice about.

The story ended up basically being about like..sharing your experiences via the internet, which made me like uh what? I lost all feeling that I was in a fantasy novella and felt more like I was reading a long PSA.

A good story for young children who may need some encouragement about being true to themselves or accepting others who may seem “different” to them.

This was an adorable and heartwarming story. It's a light read that can easily be finished in a single sitting, which is what I did. The cover may imply a more involved fantasy, but this is primarily character and message driven. The worldbuilding is very slim, with minimal explanations for the way magic and the society work. If you read fantasy for the epic worldbuilding, this book isn't for you. It's more like a fairy tale in that the fantasy elements are simplistic and emerge as the story needs them.

However, if you enjoy character interactions and an optimistic worldview, it's a lovely story to read. There's no true "villain" of the story; the book takes the stance that everyone is generally good and trying to do the best they can. People make mistakes and don't always communicate properly, but that can be solved through listening and understanding each other.

The message of the story is one of acceptance and diversity. Violet is aromantic and asexual, Holly and Juniper are a lesbian couple, Holly is a trans woman, and her cousin Moss has a trans daughter. The trans and ace characters face misunderstandings from cis and allo characters, but these mistakes are discussed and addressed. Juniper immediately begins prioritizing Moss's perspective on not fully supporting her trans daughter to Holly, and later realizes her error and apologizes.

It has empathy for everyone, which was refreshing. The idea of spreading empathy through storytelling is a nice way of connecting this story to the real world. Just like in the story, hearing the stories of diverse people globally can help us connect with each other.

This book is not for everyone. For some, it may come across as too simplistic or childish. But I found it quite nice to sink into a book that was like a comforting embrace, especially when the world is so anxiety-ridden. With sweet character interactions and friendships, this is a great book for all ages in need of a little optimism.

This was a lovely fairytale. While I was reading it, I could feel just how much love and care the author put into their work. The world of 'The Dragon of Ynys' was just the right amount of vague, whimsical, and hopeful. The characters, too, fit the story, and their interactions were lovely. It's rare to see older characters even in Adult Fantasy.

One thing that attracted me to the novel was the mention of a dragon (obviously). And was he a delightful character all around. Sarcastic, powerful and he had a soft spot for humans. His and Sir Violet's interactions were my favourite. They really did seem like long-time friends, constantly bickering and one-upping each other.

I admit, the dialogue between characters could've been improved, as it sounded very contemporary. Some things happened unrealistically fast and involved an abundance of new information and characters.

All these things, however, don't lessen the book's message: that everyone should be accepted, regardless if it's 'unusual' or 'strange'. Queer stories are valuable and worth telling. Worth spreading around the world. I rarely felt so seen as I did when Sir Violet mentioned that he could spend hours with many friends, but at the end of the day, he finds it tiring and prefers being left alone.

So this book has dragons. Well, one dragon. And a tiny town bakery that has amazing cinnamon rolls. I mean, that would make it a 4-star read already!
The little town of Ynys is fortified by mountains on two sides and a river on one. The only land way out is a vast stretch to the south. Sir Violet is the knight who protects the place. The mayor’s gold chain has been stolen and Sir Violet takes charge to find the thief. Except, oh snap! The thief is a dragon who likes shiny stuff.
This is the kind of book you read while snuggled up in a cosy corner and drinking hot chocolate. It makes you feel like that anyway. The story is wholesome and the characters are so inclusive! The book has queer representation, but this time it is not just a sub-plot, or a part of the plot; it is the centre of the whole game.
I absolutely loved it in every prospect. It explores the concept of sexual orientation, but without any adult content and in the form of a fairytale, hence the book is amazing for all ages. If you want someone young to understand oriental differences then this book is a great start. My only complaint, if any at all, would be that there was no premise and we jump right into the plot. I would’ve loved a bit of a base story before the action began.

It is a high spirited story with endearing characters, but it would be much better classified as a fairytale or “children's literature”, than “adventure”.

First of all, I loved the book! The LGBTQ+ representations were great, and the first thing that caught my attention was how the mayor and a knight were introduced as women like it was not a big deal, which shouldn’t be. But sometimes I felt like the book got a little too explanatory about the concept of trans or ace, for example, which again, I feel like would be very important for younger readers, but for an adventure book I would have loved to see the message of respect a bit more subtle, or else it can verge on a pedagogical book.

There is not much of a complicated or tense plot, it focuses more on the human (or dragon) relationships. At a certain point, one of the characters goes on a journey to find a queen spider, to ask her to extend her web around the world (feel old yet, www?) to spread a message of love and respect.

The dragon is definitely the gem-character. He loves hoarding gold and stealing shiny things from the village, but if needed, considerately apologizes: “ I hope I didn’t cause any inconvenience”. He’s a perfect combination of sassy and respectful, and when we learn his backstory it literally brought me to tears.

There’s an innocent aura about this book, in which dragons or spiders are not menacing, but potential friends, and as the writer said fans have told her, it does feel like a “warm hug”. That innocence and major lack of an adventurous plot did not prevent me however from enjoying the narrative and feeling moved by it. It was high time we had a male protagonist who can be sensitive and not interested in romantic relationships without having anyone question his bravery or masculinity.

If I could, I would use the spiders’ web to spread this book and turn it into an oral-narrative tradition so that future generations could grow up listening to it like any other fairytales, but this time feeling safe and free to be who they are.

I got an ARC of this book.

I am not a fantasy person, but I am a queer person (are my puns getting funnier yet?). So I thought I would give this a chance. My book nerd partner found it and told me there was trans and aroace, which of course sold it. So I was ready. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I read the entire book while grumpy that I was not going to have a good day today.

The book itself is short. The cover doesn’t really match the feel of the book. Yes, there is a dragon, but this cover is more fantasy than the book really delivers on. There are dragons and some talking spiders, that is pretty much the extent of the fantasy. Except for the constant need to travel and over explain everything in dialogue. This is one of the reasons I don’t like fantasy.

This book wasn’t the greatest thing out there. I can see why it can appeal, but it just felt like Cerridwen tried too hard to make something inclusive and that be a part of the plot. This is an issue I have with a lot of queer plots. The trans character should just be allowed to exist without their plot being they are trans. The aroace character should be allowed to exist without having to explain their sexuality all the time. I am really annoyed at the plot being the aroace character was hit on. Great. The character was already pretty annoying, but then his identity being reduced to not wanting to be hit on just felt shallow and disappointing. Add in the tone kept me from actually getting to know any character. There was such a fairy tale feel, that I didn’t get to know any characters. I just read the book a few hours ago and I couldn’t tell you the names of the main characters.

I read some reviews of the first edition and read the afterword by the author. I am really glad there was an effort to fix things and figure out where things went wrong. The trans plots read much more about the trans character being supported and there was a lot less transphobia from what I can tell from reviews. That being said, I am still let down by this book. It has improved from awful to cute I guess. It was just a miss for me.

I know others who will really enjoy it, but it wasn’t for me.

A light and quick read, The Dragon of Ynys is a low-stakes fantasy adventure about acceptance and growth. Enjoyable, cute, funny, and fast paced, I was able to read this in a single sitting. I loved the afterward and the author's acknowledgement of growth between the two publications, and how sensitivity readers were utilized to make sure that all areas of representation were accurate. Thank you to Netgalley and Atthis Arts for the copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review!