DNF. Could not get into it. It's me, not the book. I did think the premise was interesting but a lot of what I've been reading just hasn't interested me. ( )

This was entirely too slow moving for my taste and also for a book with a MAN RIDING A DINOSAUR ON THE COVER. It's a very interesting premise, but I wasn't really engaged with the story until the last third, when the action picked up and there were barely any dinosaurs at all. Honestly, I'm mostly irritated that there's this fascinating story idea and most of the story focuses on the rather ordinary, if well depicted, military action and maneuvering. I'd give this to a reader who likes military historical fiction, but not someone looking for what the cover seems to be offering. It has suspense, betrayals, a hint of romance, and some gruesome wartime injuries, so if that's your cup of tea it could be a good choice. If you want a book with rampaging dinosaurs thwarting man, read [b: Jurassic Park|6424171|Jurassic Park|Michael Crichton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344371661s/6424171.jpg|3376836].

PS. Heloise is the best thing about this book, and if it had been her story instead of weinery Willem's I would have been on board immediately. ( )

This is a very well written book. It is about the French Revolution but with a twist. This time the war has dinosaurs! The story has magic and yet the people are very real. It is a great book for boys who love adventure. It great to see how villagers from another time would react to dinosaurs and would it have changed history? ( )

This novel is very unusual. Don’t just it by the cover or the title because you will be wrong. I was. I was expecting a silly novel, but this is well-written, interesting novel that is well-worth reading.

Willem is the son of a great magician, but he and his mother are hiding because Napoleon got angry at Willem’s father. They have been hiding in a small village for several years with his mother as the town baker and Willem is the bread delivery boy. The perfect storm, however, is brewing. It’s 1815, and Napoleon escapes from Elba while at the same time Willem decides he will perform his father’s magic tricks for the town. His mother is furious; if words gets out, they will be found. Willem agrees to do silly magic tricks, but he can’t help but do one amazing trick.

Napoleon actually did escape from Elba, but in this version, history takes a stranger turn. In this version of history, there are dinosaur type creatures. Many people would stop here and say, stupid. I thought it would be silly and stupid, too, but it works and it works well. Willem has special abilities. He can control some of these creatures. As a child, he even secretly saved a girl from dying at the hands of a Firebird after her mother was killed. He’s kept this secret, but now that a creature has killed people in his village, he may have to use his abilities to save the town.

With dangerous and deadly creatures, a tyrant on the loose trying to take control of the country, divided loyalties among the citizens, a fear of Napoleon hearing of a boy with powers to control creatures who has magical abilities, and the desire to grow up and be his own man freely, this novel is exciting from beginning to end. About halfway through, I was shocked at the turn the story makes and was disappointed that the novel didn’t end. I will definitely read the next novel because this is inventive and intriguing. If I were the publishers, I would change the cover, the title, and the summary of the story because I know no one will want to read this book, and it should be read. ( )