About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is grappling with the weight of leadership or the stress of high-stakes decision making. It is a sophisticated fantasy that explores what happens when there are no easy choices and the burden of saving a community falls on just a few shoulders. This story focuses on Lorana and Fiona, two pregnant leaders who must find a way to replenish their world's dragon population to fight off a biological threat from the skies. Through themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the bending of natural laws, the book offers a deep dive into the ethics of responsibility. It is best suited for older readers (ages 12 and up) due to its complex political landscape and mature themes regarding pregnancy and loss. Parents can use this story to open conversations about the long-term consequences of our choices and the courage required to innovate in times of crisis.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: Readers may find the death of dragons and the graphic description of "Threadfall" (which causes chemical-like burns and disintegration) distressing. There is also a scene involving the sacrifice of a queen dragon and the heavy physical toll of pregnancy under extreme stress. 2. CONVERSATION: Be prepared to discuss the ethics of time travel, specifically the "butterfly effect" and how changing the past affects the future.
Ideal Reader
A teenager who loves epic world-building and is interested in the intersection of science fiction and fantasy, particularly one who enjoys stories about the logistical and emotional burdens of leadership.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware that this is part of a long-standing series. While it can be read alone, the world of Pern has its own terminology (Weyrs, Thread, Impressing) that may require some initial explanation if the reader is new to the series. A child might express anxiety about the "end of the world" or feel overwhelmed by the characters' constant losses.
Age Experience
Younger teens will focus on the dragon-riding and the mechanics of time travel. Older teens will better grasp the political nuances and the heavy moral weight of the sacrifices made by the female protagonists.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many dragon fantasies that focus on combat, this book focuses on the scientific and temporal problem-solving required to prevent an extinction event, led primarily by leaders navigating the pressures of survival and the preservation of their lineage.
Read plot summary
In the wake of a plague that has decimated the dragon population of Pern, the remaining Weyrs are unable to defend the planet against Thread, a silver organism that consumes all organic life. Two pregnant leaders, Lorana and Fiona, realize that the current timeline offers no hope. Lorana discovers a way to utilize time travel (going "between") to bring dragons from the past or alternate times to the present. This requires immense physical and mental sacrifice, as well as the risk of altering history itself. The narrative follows their desperate gamble to ensure survival through temporal manipulation and the replenishment of the dragon hatchlings.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Lorana decides to bend the laws of time despite the risks. Do you think the potential survival of Pern justifies the risk of changing history?
2
Fiona and Lorana are both leading while pregnant. How does their role as future mothers influence the way they think about the survival of the Weyr?
3
In the book, time travel requires a 'great sacrifice.' What does the story say about the cost of progress or saving a society?
4
How does the community of Telgar Weyr maintain hope when they are clearly outnumbered and outmatched by the Thread?
