Reviewed by annieb123 on
Dracopedia Field Guide is a new guide to dragons and wyverns based on the great naturalist field guides of the Victorian era. Expected release date 7th May 2019, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardback and ebook formats. Written and illustrated by William O'Connor (sadly no longer with us), it is full of witty details from the 'stained' flyleaf with Dewey decimal accession number and tea splashes and Latinized author credit, to the dragon range maps and Linnaean nomenclature in the encyclopedia.
The book is stunningly illustrated. The additional details, from egg characteristics for the different species and uses of different dragons for travel and warfare, as well as field sketches on locomotion and anatomy, are wonderful and so realistic.
I received an eARC of the book in Kindle format and experienced some issues with viewing on an eReader (Kindle Oasis 2017 version). There were no observable issues on a color monitor or tablet. There is a contributor list at the end of the book with credits to the artists who stepped in to help complete the project on Mr. O'Connor's untimely passing.
This would make a superlative selection for a school or public library, for fantasy gamers, speculative fiction readers, all ages, and anyone who has longed to see dragons on the wing above them.
Five stars, beautiful book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 28 April, 2019: Reviewed