The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village by Ronesa Aveela

The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village Reviews

• 
  Theresa Jacobs

  I loved the uniqueness of this book. The characters and creatures are brought to life and keeps you engrossed in the tale. It's full of constant action and adventure. A great read, or listen for everyone.
• 
  Allen Werner

  The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village is a very engaging, fast-paced adventure filled with a well-spring of fantasy creatures from folklore that I've never encountered before in other books. There are also harpies, dragons and shapeshifters.
  Theo, believing he is on a quest to find and save his sister who was kidnapped by a dragon, learns of a world and life that makes him question what is truly real. Assisted by his friend, Pavel, and the Samodiva, Diva, Theo is not unlike Alice falling through the rabbit hole. Everything they encounter is stranger and more dangerous than the last thing they encountered.
  The tales best feature is introducing the reader to a host of mysterious mythologies not widely known or tapped by other writers. I really enjoyed this book and found its originality fascinating.
• 
  Cynthia Morgan

  The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village is a Beautiful, self-discovery tale set among magical, mythical beings and places that sweeps you away and relates more than a few positive messages. Delightfully appealing for readers of all ages, it is a story that could easily become a classic. I can’t wait to read it again!
• 
  Ellie Mitchell

  As soon as I read page one, that was it. I was drawn to this story like a moth is drawn to the flickering flames in a grate. A tad cliche there- I do apologise.
  
  What makes this story so great?
  Honestly, EVERYTHING!
  
  From the cast of quirky characters, to the world-building and plot-line- ALL elements of this book hold mass appeal. I purchased the book from Amazon (yes, I know there are problems with Amazon and I am trying to use them less and less as time goes on.)
  
  The book starts off with a character glossary, in case you wanted to delve deeper into who's who. Personally, I was ready to dive into the book, so I skim-read the glossary until I came face to face with that all-deciding first page.
  
  Who is our Hero?
  
  Our hero is Theo, a twelve year old rebel that sadly lost his dad to the cruel sea.
  'Somewhere out their, their father had been lost on the night Theo and Nia were born.'
  What makes Theo's character more interesting (at least to me) is that he has a twin sister, Nia. We don't see a lot of Nia in the book, but she is painted as being cautious, yet playful, and definitely loves her brother unconditionally.
  
  Meanwhile, people in their home town view Theo as a foolish youngster, always up to no good with his best friend and their crazy inventions. However, his friend Pavel is there for Theo when he suffers a terrible tragedy, which leads to them meeting our heroine, Diva. Diva is a Samodiva, a type of woodland fairy / nymph (in Southern and Western Slavic Folklore.)
  
  Our young heroine, Diva is intensely brave. The moment we meet her, we are drawn in by her presence.
  'An earth scent, mixed with pine drifted in as a girl around their age entered. She knocked an arrow in her bow and pointed it at the creature. "Get out of here if you want to live!" '
  Diva's bravery stems from her natural calling to protect the earth from malicious fae creatures, such as harpies, which are attacking Theo and his friend, Pavel.
  
  This new world (Dragon Village) / Realm is overrun by Fae creatures, most of which have some evil motivations for trying to harm Theo and his allies.
  'He'd encountered a dragon, a three-headed snake, a Harpy, and a Samodiva girl. What else lived in this strange place?'
  
  What else, indeed?
  We see a whole host of mythical creatures throughout the story, the leader of which is Lamia, a fierce dragon. The main focus of the story is Theo's quest to destroy Lamia, so he can restore Dragon Village to its former glory.
  
  There are lots of twists and turns throughout, and at times I wasn't sure if Theo and his friends would make it to the end of the book. At only 12 years of age, Theo has had an enormous burden thrust onto his shoulders and many of the enchanting creatures in Dragon Village urge Theo to do all he can to defeat the evil Lamia.
  
  Nia depended on him. Old Lady Witch depended on him. Everyone in Dragon Village depended on him.'
  
  Clearly, this is a lot for a 12 year old to handle.
  But, Theo is a hero in the making.
  Will he and his friends survive their terrible ordeals as they fight to free Dragon Village from a terrible evil?
  
  You'll have to read to find out.
  My Rating: 5 stars.
  
  Recommended for lovers of Epic Fantasy.
• 
  Sarah Stuart

  Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
  
  Theo is an ordinary twelve-year-old boy, teasing his twin sister, Nia, and fooling with his best friend, a nerd who makes Theo wings, unsuccessfully. The only oddity in his past is his father drowned on the day he was born, and there are strange stories about why. Tales of witches, and Dragon Village, are only myths, aren’t they? Perhaps – The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village by Ronesa Aveela mirrors much of Slavic mythology. But! When Nia is kidnapped by the wicked Lamia, and a witch and a magpie guide Theo through the portal to Dragon Village, he realises the truth. He, his father’s son, is the unborn hero tasked with defeating Lamia and returning happiness to the land she holds in thrall. Does he have the skill to shoot her three souls with a silver arrow?
  
  The striking thing about The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village is Ronesa Aveela’s talent for character description – the good, the bad, and the ugly, and beauty rarely equals good or ugly necessarily bad – and her incredible settings. "‘Tree’ didn't do justice to what stood before them. Silver heart-shaped leaves clustered on the branches. In their midst sat a bird with wings like flames, gold burnishing the edges.” And, “Kosara's last words were nothing more than a whisper, a gentle touch tickling his ears. They faded with the setting of the sun.” Reading The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village is like watching a movie running in your head – drama and movement in every tiny, carefully and cleverly integrated, detail. Utterly brilliant and highly recommended.
• 
  Brenda Mohammed

  The Unborn Hero from Dragon Village is a story filled with adventure and Bulgarian mythology.
  The title of the book was the attraction for me.
  What is an unborn hero?
  Well, I am not going to reveal that because it will be a spoiler.
  Theo must save his sister Nia from Lamia, a heartless three-headed dragon, who had kidnapped his sister and woven a spell on her.
  He enlisted the help of a young woodland nymph to rescue his sister.
  Theo discovers many secrets in Dragon Village where his sister was being held.
  Lamia herself exposed those secrets to Theo which led to her downfall.
  Ronesa Aveela is a talented writer.
  This unusual story will keep you reading to the very end.
  I loved and enjoyed it.
  
  
• 
  Kayla Krantz

  Theo wants to fly. When his friend creates a pair of wings, Theo is all for testing them out. However, they fail, and unknown to them, Theo’s sister has tagged along. When she is kidnapped and taken through a portal, Theo must go on the ultimate quest to save her.
  
  Full of mystery and intrigue, this is a wonderful YA fantasy. There are plenty of mystical beasts ranging from witches to dragons to nymphs. I loved the character growth that we see in this story as well. While Theo tries to not only get a grip on his new powers, he has to overcome the doubts in his head and turn his worries into confidence.
  
• 
  Gordon Bickerstaff

  Welcome to Dragon Village!
  This is a story rich in mythology and legend from the Bulgarian/Slavic world. It is focused on Theo who is on a quest to rescue his sister who was kidnapped by a dragon. Like Alice (in Wonderland), Theo and his friends pass through a portal into a strange world and meet a succession of creatures, each more fantastic than the previous one. The writing is vivid and illuminates the scenes and its creatures very well. Characters are well drawn, easy to identify with and will appeal to readers of all ages. Embedded in all of this is a compelling story with a strong narrative that kept me turning the pages. Highly Recommended.
  
• 
  Jana Petken

  
  I loved this Bulgarian/Slavic mythical story. From page one, I was transported to another world with fascinating creatures and places. The writer has a fabulous gift of making the reader believe. Her descriptions were superb and the narrative very captivating. I don't know who wouldn't enjoy this tale of dragons and heroism. It is perfect for young adults and for mature adults who want to be taken away to this fantastical world for just a little while.
  
  Superb writing and drama. Loved every page.
  
• 
  Lucretia

  I was engrossed in this fantastic tale from the very start. It has a classic fantasy feel with a lot of whimsy reminding me of a more in-depth Alice in Wonderland. I wasn't familiar with the Bulgarian/Slavic myths so it was fresh and original and magical and just wonderful.
  
  Theo is a great hero who both adults and younger readers will find easy to connect with and cheer for. His friend Pavel, along with Diva, and Boo made a great party as they navigated through more challenging parts of the quest to save Nia and slay the dragon.
  
  The word building was excellent, as the layers of the story unfolded and the quest became more complex I sank deeper in the magical spell of the words. It was a truly beautiful experience to read this story. The mix of edge of your set tension and fantasy was perfect. The messages were strong. The storytelling superb. I highly recommend this fans of fantasy of all ages.
• 
  E.J. Bennett

  Wow this book is unique!
  
  The plot is different than any I have ever read before in this genre. A cross between Harry Potter and the Black Cauldren. Fantasy mixed with mythology and history with an interesting plot and storyline.
  The charaters are beliviable and fun.
  Although I would say this book is for the younger reader I myself thoroughly enjoyed the read.
  
  Theo searches for his kidnapped sister who has been taken by a dragon, with allies you would least expect.
  
  The way the author desribes each scene and creature and character makes you feel like you are there on the journey with Theo. The story feels real.
  
  This story is exciting, enjoyable and fun to read. The characters grow with each new chapter and find out more about themselves I.e their inner strengths.
  Excellently written!
  
  Look forward to reading this with my daughter when she is a little older.
  
  The perfect adventure read!
• 
  Got My Book

  I got this Audiobook for free. My opinions are my own. / Real rating 3.5*
  
  While I enjoyed listening to this, I was not as impressed as some other reviewers. I read (listen to) a lot of fantasy, so many of the creatures were already familiar to me from a few other books. That said, it was nice to read about a less common area of the world and their stories.
  
  Other than the less common creatures & customs, this was a standard middle grade fantasy. There was a boy, with just one parent and lots of doubts about his worthiness; his best friend, an inventor who gets a crush on a girl; plus a girl with supernatural abilities. There was a prophecy and a quest.
  
  CONTENTS: More Grimm than Disney (example - we are told that the bodies of tortured children are fed to monsters)
  
  NARRATION (4*): Sound quality = Good / Speed = Good, my usual 1.25 was fine / Emoting = Good / Voices = Some distinction between characters
• 
  Angela Lockwood

  Unborn hero is a magical adventure story that is steeped in Bulgarian and Slavic myths. A young boy, Theo, sets out on a quest to rescue his sister, when she is kidnaped by a dragon. Along the way Theo is helped by a Samodiva (a young woodland nymph) and many other magical beings that inhabit Dragon village. I like the central character of Theo as he is a modern boy who is used to having a mobile phone at his fingertips, rather than surviving in nature. We understand his struggle and his journey into self-discovery. This is a book that will appeal to both boys and girls as it is filled with adventure and magic. Many positive messages can also be taken away from this story such as; together you’re stronger and that love is a more powerful force than hate. There are some gruesome and violent scenes so it might not suit the very young reader, but it certainly entertained this older reader.
• 
  Fiona

  A charming adventure for young readers.
  A well-written, exciting adventure with age appropriate language and short chapters to encourage young readers. It could also be read to younger children to foster a love of great stories.
  Modern day friends, Theo and Paval find themselves transported to a magical kingdom, created largely from Bulgarian folklore, in a bid to rescue Theo's sister. With the help of Diva they meet many new friends and foes as Theo learns his destiny is to do much more than rescue his sister.
  While the brave exploits of the friends and their magpie will entertain there are underlying messages about friendship, family and belonging. The inclusion of myths and characters from Bulgarian folklore adds another dimension to a truely magical read.
  Great fun and educational.
• 
  Brianna York

  A tale of self discovery which takes place in a fantastic world of mystical beings and adventure. A journey which reveals the entirety of the world and it's inhabitants. Following the characters on their travels reminds one of the adventurous spirit of youth and the emotional freedom experienced as a child.
• 
  Sadee Bee

  Unborn Hero took me back to my childhood. By this I mean, it was an exciting adventure that made me feel like I was a kid again. I love dragons, I love self-discovery, and I love underlying messages in a story. Theo and Diva are great characters that I feel like just about anyone could relate to and Boo is just the cutest. Such a lovely book!
• 
  Denise McCabe

  I read this over a few days with my children and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a wonderful magical and adventurous fast tale with great characters to be met along the way. As a fan of Irish mythology, this also grabbed my attention learning more about Bulgarian and Slavic myths. This will appeal to boys and girls and adults also. Thumbs up from us all! :-)
• 
  C.A. King

  This book brought back so many fabulous memories. It is family night - sitting by the fire around my father's recliner. The story books he chose to read were always fantastic tales of worlds that dwell within in the realms of imagination. This is one of those stories!
  
  Well done!
• 
  S.K. Wee

  Young Theo wants to fly but the wings designed by his nerd buddy, Pavel, aren’t going to work. While they are out experimenting with them Theo’s sister, Nia, wants to tag along. Then the unthinkable happens, Nia is kidnapped and taken through a portal to an alternate universe. Theo quickly follows with the intention of saving his sister but is separated from his pal, Pavel. What follows is an exciting and enchanting adventure into an unknown world with all types of creatures. Theo meets many friends along the way to help in his quest but also dangerous foes.
  Well-written fantasy adventure dealing with legends, myths, and monsters. An exceptional coming-of-age story filled with life lessons. Good vs. evil along with a healthy supply of magic aided by a touch of science. Fast paced filled to the brim with plenty of action. Suitable for pre-teen on up and highly recommended.
• 
  Dorothy Garino

  What a great coming of age story! This story reminded me of when I was younger; wandering through the garden pretending it was a magical realm.
  
  A modern day adventure that is rich with magic creatures, folklore and history. While testing out some new inventions, Theo, Pavel and Nia get more than they bargained for. They discover a statue that is more than it seems. Nia is taken and they go on the journey to find her. Theo finds new friends and enemies along the way.
  
  I loved all of the little illustrations throughout the book and the cover is gorgeous. The writing is also fluid and very well done. Everything played out like a movie in my head, I could picture it all. To me, that’s the hallmark of a good writer and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
• 
  Katherine Jordan

  I got lost a few times during this audiobook, I don’t know if I just wasn’t paying attention, or it bored me so bad I stopped listening. I will give it the benefit of the doubt. The story of a young man trying to rescue his sister is a noble one. He is a kind person and picks up a lot of help along the way, only to have his sister turn on him and get taught a lesson on family. The narrator was blah, maybe that is why I lost track. I never take a reviewer’s word for something, what doesn’t do it for them might do it for me. So take my words or no, I will look for the next book if there is one. Just to satisfy my curiosity.
  
  I received a copy of this audiobook for free from StoryOrigin for an honest review.
• 
  Sean Benham

  A classic fantasy tale, steeped in Bulgarian folklore, The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village offers up a great read for a younger audience and remains more than compelling for adult readers. Packed with fun fantasy tropes and moving at a breakneck pace, the story of Theo's attempt to rescue his sister from the clutches of Lamia, the terrifying three-headed dragon is plenty of adventurous fun. While the novel often eschews character development and world building in favor of frenetic action, it's certainly a worthwhile tale to check out.
• 
  Tom Simmons

  Some reviews have referred to this book as a children's book, and while the main characters are certainly young, that doesn't stop adults with an 'inner child' from thoroughly enjoying this story too!
  
  The plot is well-paced, with plenty of obstacles and dilemmas, and interpersonal clashes which the characters must face on their quest. I loved the addition of some slightly less well-known creatures from eastern European mythology alongside the more traditional.
  
  Highly recommended, bring on book 2!
• 
  Nicholas Neagle

  What a great journey for this kid and what a world he lives in. The author did an amazing job with the development of new parts of the world, the integration of old folklore, and character development right away. This really drew me in and it was a ride I was not expecting. The monsters are so much fun and terrifying at the same time. The story really is a lot of fun to listen to and the story gets better and better and the ride, to me at least, is for a large group of ages and so many will enjoy all of the fantasy.
• 
  P.D. Alleva

  A fantastic blend of mythology and adventure. The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village is a truly remarkable adventure through fantasy and mythology. The story starts off fast jumping into the plot and action quickly and never stops. We’ve got dragons, mythology, magic, witches, and my favorite character, the magpie Boo. Not to mention fantastic character development about a boy who is just trying to save his sister. I enjoyed every part of this book. It brought me back to my youth and to a time when life is filled with wonder, amazement, and fantastic imagination. Highly recommended!