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The Memoirs of Lady Trent #5
Within the Sanctuary of Wings
After her adventure in the mountains of Vystrana, and her exploits in the depths of Eriga, to the high seas aboard The Basilisk, and then to the deserts of Akhia, the Lady Trent has captivated hearts along with fierce minds. This concluding volume will finally reveal the truths behind her most notorious adventure - scaling the tallest peak in the world, behind the territory of Scirland's enemies - and what she discovered there, within the Sanctuary of Wings.
365 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2017
182 people are currently reading
8,775 people want to read
About the author
Marie Brennan
167books3,164followersMarie Brennan a.k.a. M.A. Carrick
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit , Twitter , or .
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit , Twitter , or .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,040 reviews
May 15, 2019
I admit, my main reaction was "oh, so that's what we've been building up to!"
Now I want to reread the series with the knowledge of where it's going. It's really clever and well done and now I want a BBC miniseries with Maggie Smith playing Lady Trent as the narrator.
Update: reread the series in two weeks. It’s one of those stories that’s even better on reread.
Now I want to reread the series with the knowledge of where it's going. It's really clever and well done and now I want a BBC miniseries with Maggie Smith playing Lady Trent as the narrator.
Update: reread the series in two weeks. It’s one of those stories that’s even better on reread.
April 15, 2021
Lady Trent, the world's foremost dragon naturalist, is penning another book - one that hints at why she became so world-renowned.
"Oh, I am skeptical," I assured him. "But also curious."
But first, she needs to go on one last adventure.
My heart stuttered in its beat. Perhaps you think it was a foolish reactionAfter being reunited with Suhail and back on the trails with Tom, Lady Trent is ready to make waves and discover some amazing dragonish things.
But when a freak accident leaves her stranded with the most unlikeliest of rescuerers, she will find herself reevaluating everything she's ever known.
Writing the final volume of one's memoirs is a very peculiar experience. This book does not chronicle the end of my life, as I am not dead...Ahhhh, this was such a STUNNING ending - it truly was perfect.
I truly did not see that ending coming but I honestly could not imagine a better way to wrap up this series - I loved, loved, loved it.
I also LOVED the love in this book - the relationship with Lady Trent and Suhail was so natural and sweet. It wasn't a wild, passionate affair but a slow-and-steady burn (which is my favorite type of relationships).
All in all, this last book TRULY made this series worth every page.
| | | | | Snapchat @miranda_reads
April 25, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum
It is with a heavy heart that I bid adieu to another one of my favorite series, but I am also glad that at long last I got to see all the ideas come to fruition in this fifth and final novel of Marie Brennan’s wholly unique Memoirs of Lady Trent. After all, Within the Sanctuary of Wings is everything a fan could want in a finale—a book that ends on a high note of hope and happiness while also deftly tying all the overall series themes and plot threads together.
Furthermore, I’m sure those who have been along for the ride since A Natural History of Dragons will be glad to know that the details behind Isabella’s most infamous scientific discovery—an event that has been teased for the first four books—will finally be revealed. Without a doubt, the answers were worth waiting for. I guarantee that the revelations in this book will change everything you think you know about this series.
The adventure, however, begins rather quietly. While attending a lecture on Draconean linguistics delivered by her husband, Isabella’s attention is unexpectedly pulled away by a Yelangnese stranger with an urgent matter to discuss with her. The man, whose name is Thu, reports that he has discovered the corpse of a new type of dragon while scouting with his fellow rebels in the mountains of the Mrtyahaima. As expected though, the remoteness of the location and its unforgiving conditions do little to faze the headstrong Isabella, who immediately works on putting together an expedition to Yelang so that her team can investigate Thu’s claims.
Unfortunately, their road is plagued with obstacles. There is only a tiny window time in which they must reach the Mrtyahaima mountains before the monsoon season brings heaps of snow upon the peaks. Then there are the political complications. The region is unstable with different tribes chafing under the Yelangnese rule, and it’s not like Isabella is exactly welcome in Yelang either, after the way she offended their government on one of her past adventures. Worst of all, there’s no guarantee that she will find evidence of a new dragon species. Weeks of planning and risk-taking could end up being all for naught.
But of course, our characters find something. And obviously I won’t spoil what it is here, but it’s something HUGE.
Without revealing anything though, I will admit that the twist caught me off guard—likely what it was meant to do, but it also left me with some mixed feelings. I’ve made no secret that one of my favorite aspects of this series are the dragons and the way they are handled—not as mythological beings or exceptional creatures with special abilities or powers as most fantasy novels depict them. In contrast, Brennan’s dragons are part of the natural world, a key theme which has provided the driving force behind all these books. I found this approach refreshingly original. I also loved the science and the learning, and most of all I loved Isabella’s quest to find out as much as she can about how dragons fit into the natural order of the world. Within the Sanctuary of Wings does not really change any of this, and for that I am glad. But at the same time (and apologies for being deliberately vague on this), this installment did also manage to drop a bombshell which introduced a completely new element into my understanding of this series.
As well, there were a few minor issues with pacing. First, compared to the previous books, this one started more slowly, and even the harrowing journey through the snow and ice did little to give the intro an energy boost. Second, this was also a very Isabella-centric story, resulting in less appearances by some of my other favorite characters like Tom and Suhail. Third, while lots of fascinating things happened throughout, a large chunk of the middle was characterized by inaction which, to be fair, couldn’t be helped given the way certain events played out. Finally, the ending wrapped things up way too conveniently for my tastes, but at that point I understood the need for a quick and satisfying resolution.
Still, despite my quibbles, this was once again another riveting book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent sequence. It has been an absolute joy to be with Isabella as she evolved throughout the series, as well as watching her relationships grow. Sometimes, if I allow myself to get really immersed, I even start thinking of this alternate world as my own, and I have to credit the author’s incredible writing skills. These books have a way of drawing me in, making it easy for me to believe I am actually reading an account of an old woman’s youth and rise to fame as a world renowned dragon researcher. I cheered Isabella on as she fought to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist, bucking social conventions at a time when men still dominated academia. It was hard not to shed a tear by the time I got to the very last page, so moved was I to see how far our protagonist has come.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings is truly Lady Trent’s greatest adventure, closing this outstanding pentalogy with style. It is a wonderful, gratifying conclusion to an overall excellent series that I just can’t recommend enough.
It is with a heavy heart that I bid adieu to another one of my favorite series, but I am also glad that at long last I got to see all the ideas come to fruition in this fifth and final novel of Marie Brennan’s wholly unique Memoirs of Lady Trent. After all, Within the Sanctuary of Wings is everything a fan could want in a finale—a book that ends on a high note of hope and happiness while also deftly tying all the overall series themes and plot threads together.
Furthermore, I’m sure those who have been along for the ride since A Natural History of Dragons will be glad to know that the details behind Isabella’s most infamous scientific discovery—an event that has been teased for the first four books—will finally be revealed. Without a doubt, the answers were worth waiting for. I guarantee that the revelations in this book will change everything you think you know about this series.
The adventure, however, begins rather quietly. While attending a lecture on Draconean linguistics delivered by her husband, Isabella’s attention is unexpectedly pulled away by a Yelangnese stranger with an urgent matter to discuss with her. The man, whose name is Thu, reports that he has discovered the corpse of a new type of dragon while scouting with his fellow rebels in the mountains of the Mrtyahaima. As expected though, the remoteness of the location and its unforgiving conditions do little to faze the headstrong Isabella, who immediately works on putting together an expedition to Yelang so that her team can investigate Thu’s claims.
Unfortunately, their road is plagued with obstacles. There is only a tiny window time in which they must reach the Mrtyahaima mountains before the monsoon season brings heaps of snow upon the peaks. Then there are the political complications. The region is unstable with different tribes chafing under the Yelangnese rule, and it’s not like Isabella is exactly welcome in Yelang either, after the way she offended their government on one of her past adventures. Worst of all, there’s no guarantee that she will find evidence of a new dragon species. Weeks of planning and risk-taking could end up being all for naught.
But of course, our characters find something. And obviously I won’t spoil what it is here, but it’s something HUGE.
Without revealing anything though, I will admit that the twist caught me off guard—likely what it was meant to do, but it also left me with some mixed feelings. I’ve made no secret that one of my favorite aspects of this series are the dragons and the way they are handled—not as mythological beings or exceptional creatures with special abilities or powers as most fantasy novels depict them. In contrast, Brennan’s dragons are part of the natural world, a key theme which has provided the driving force behind all these books. I found this approach refreshingly original. I also loved the science and the learning, and most of all I loved Isabella’s quest to find out as much as she can about how dragons fit into the natural order of the world. Within the Sanctuary of Wings does not really change any of this, and for that I am glad. But at the same time (and apologies for being deliberately vague on this), this installment did also manage to drop a bombshell which introduced a completely new element into my understanding of this series.
As well, there were a few minor issues with pacing. First, compared to the previous books, this one started more slowly, and even the harrowing journey through the snow and ice did little to give the intro an energy boost. Second, this was also a very Isabella-centric story, resulting in less appearances by some of my other favorite characters like Tom and Suhail. Third, while lots of fascinating things happened throughout, a large chunk of the middle was characterized by inaction which, to be fair, couldn’t be helped given the way certain events played out. Finally, the ending wrapped things up way too conveniently for my tastes, but at that point I understood the need for a quick and satisfying resolution.
Still, despite my quibbles, this was once again another riveting book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent sequence. It has been an absolute joy to be with Isabella as she evolved throughout the series, as well as watching her relationships grow. Sometimes, if I allow myself to get really immersed, I even start thinking of this alternate world as my own, and I have to credit the author’s incredible writing skills. These books have a way of drawing me in, making it easy for me to believe I am actually reading an account of an old woman’s youth and rise to fame as a world renowned dragon researcher. I cheered Isabella on as she fought to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist, bucking social conventions at a time when men still dominated academia. It was hard not to shed a tear by the time I got to the very last page, so moved was I to see how far our protagonist has come.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings is truly Lady Trent’s greatest adventure, closing this outstanding pentalogy with style. It is a wonderful, gratifying conclusion to an overall excellent series that I just can’t recommend enough.
April 25, 2020
A solid end to a solid series.
Who knew that a lady of *ahem* advancing years should be so handy in the heights of those daunting, deserted mountains!
No spoilers, but there is a somewhat sensationalist and predictable twist in the core of this book. It reminds me fondly of ... just about any big-name adventure book to come out of the late Victorian time period.
But that's a GOOD thing. The spirit that's evoked in these novels is meant to conjure the ghosts of many tweed adventurers. It succeeds in exactly what it sets out to do. :)
Who knew that a lady of *ahem* advancing years should be so handy in the heights of those daunting, deserted mountains!
No spoilers, but there is a somewhat sensationalist and predictable twist in the core of this book. It reminds me fondly of ... just about any big-name adventure book to come out of the late Victorian time period.
But that's a GOOD thing. The spirit that's evoked in these novels is meant to conjure the ghosts of many tweed adventurers. It succeeds in exactly what it sets out to do. :)
February 8, 2023
[4 Stars] Fantastic end to one of my all time favorite fantasy series. I will miss Lady Trent's stories.
August 21, 2024
I was NOT expecting where this one went and what happened! What a great ending to this fantastic series!
July 10, 2024
A satisfying conclusion to her epic tale!
February 25, 2018
First, I want to say that I haven't read any of the previous books in The Memoirs of Lady Trent series. However, it has been one that I have been curious about for some time. As a fantasy fan can't I help but find the books in this series very appealing. The covers for the books are fabulous and I found the idea of an alternative world set in the early 20th century with dragons intriguing. Now, since the book didn't have many maps can't I say for sure how similar the world in this series is to ours, and all the countries have different names. But, it does feel like reading an alternative Victorian-era book.
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May 25, 2023
4.5*
Over the last week, I have been whizzing through this series, enjoying it even more than the first time.
We meet Isabella in the first title as a feisty young woman passionate about dragons and science and throughout the series witness her growth both as a scientist and a woman. Each book focuses on an expedition, and I absolutely loved all of this, the adventure, the different settings, but ultimately it is Isabella’s voice that completely fascinated me :O) Her friendship with Tom was wonderful - those two kindred spirits joining efforts against a society that kept seeing them as ‘inferior', especially due to their rocky start. There are many other characters too, Suhail being of course a favourite. I particularly loved the last 3 books. Those were wonderful - furthering our intrepid heroine’s theory, bringing new facts, and developing her personal life.
There is a sixth title, not from Isabella’s point of view, but a successor, and I must admit I am curious to see how that will work.
Over the last week, I have been whizzing through this series, enjoying it even more than the first time.
We meet Isabella in the first title as a feisty young woman passionate about dragons and science and throughout the series witness her growth both as a scientist and a woman. Each book focuses on an expedition, and I absolutely loved all of this, the adventure, the different settings, but ultimately it is Isabella’s voice that completely fascinated me :O) Her friendship with Tom was wonderful - those two kindred spirits joining efforts against a society that kept seeing them as ‘inferior', especially due to their rocky start. There are many other characters too, Suhail being of course a favourite. I particularly loved the last 3 books. Those were wonderful - furthering our intrepid heroine’s theory, bringing new facts, and developing her personal life.
There is a sixth title, not from Isabella’s point of view, but a successor, and I must admit I am curious to see how that will work.
October 25, 2017
Perfect ending to a lovely series of books. Questions answered and a new country to explore. I thought the books got better and better and this one made a very satisfying ending...
Lady Trent and her memoirs now hold a very special place in my heart. I'm sure I'll revisit her tale someday.
Lady Trent and her memoirs now hold a very special place in my heart. I'm sure I'll revisit her tale someday.
January 6, 2023
This 5 stars is partly because this is one of the best instalments in the series, but mainly because of how well it ties everything together than has been touched upon in the first 4 books; in a way I never would’ve expected. This is a fantastic fantasy series that felt refreshing in the way it deals with dragons and dragon lore. There’s so much more I want to say about this series that I’ve loved, however that would be full of spoilers. So I’ll just say, wonderful world building, excellent vibes, fun characters (Isabella you have definitely made my favourites list) and slow but intriguing plot. Some final books in a series can be a little bit of a letdown, this was the complete opposite.
September 13, 2023
I cried like a little baby.
It's true. I did. On a couple different occasions. The conclusion of The Memoirs of Lady Trent was everything I could have hoped for. Looking back on all five books, everything was building up to this. After years of watching Isabella grow, from her girlhood to the present, I feel so close to her. Yes she's a fictional character, but I was there for it all. Now I get to see the culmination of her dreams, her scholarship, and her relationships.
So, yes. I cried.
It's true. I did. On a couple different occasions. The conclusion of The Memoirs of Lady Trent was everything I could have hoped for. Looking back on all five books, everything was building up to this. After years of watching Isabella grow, from her girlhood to the present, I feel so close to her. Yes she's a fictional character, but I was there for it all. Now I get to see the culmination of her dreams, her scholarship, and her relationships.
So, yes. I cried.
August 15, 2018
3.5 stars
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February 16, 2024
یه پایان فوقالعاده� برای یه مجموعه� خیلی جذاب!
همه� جلدای این مجموعه سرگرمکنند� و جالب بودن. همشون دوست داشتنی بودن، مخصوصا جلد قبلی ولی این جلد عالی بود.
انگار توی تکت� جلدهای قبلی یه سرنخ کوچیک بود که توی این جلد به یه نتیجه� خیلی بزرگ و خیلی جالب و شوکه کننده میرسید و دقیقا حالا که میدونم "جواب" چیه، دلم میخواد برگردن عقب و از اول بخونمشون و ببینم اون سرنخه� رو.
نمیتونم خیلی ازش حرف بزنم چون پلاتتوییس� شوکه کنندشو خراب میکنم و حس میکنم هرکی این مجموعه رو میخونه باید بدون دونستن این نکته بخونتش و خودش کشفش کنه.
ولی میتونم بگم که پایان این جلد خیلی دوست داشتنی بود.
دیدن مسیر طولانیا� که ایزابلا از جلد اول اومده، راه های سختی که به خاطر علاقش اومده، روابط دوستانه و رابطه� عاشقانها� که ساخته...خیلی قشنگ بود.
انگار نویسنده یه روش خیلی قشنگ و غمگینو انتخاب کرده بود که با شخصیته� و دنیایی که توی ۵ جلد ساخته بود، خدافظی کنه.
با اینکه تمرکز این مجموعهه� روی پلات و دنیای اطراف ایزابلاست که ایزابلا قدم به قدم کشفش میکنه، شخصیتاشم برام دوست داشتنی بودن.
این ماههای� که توی این دنیا بودم، تجربه� لذت بخشی بود.
دلم براش خیلی تنگ میشه.
پ.ن: میدونم یه جلد دیگه هم هست ولی تا جایی که فهمیدم روایت ایزابلا اینجا تمومه و رسما خدافظی کرد. راوی بعدی باید متفاوت باشه:)
همه� جلدای این مجموعه سرگرمکنند� و جالب بودن. همشون دوست داشتنی بودن، مخصوصا جلد قبلی ولی این جلد عالی بود.
انگار توی تکت� جلدهای قبلی یه سرنخ کوچیک بود که توی این جلد به یه نتیجه� خیلی بزرگ و خیلی جالب و شوکه کننده میرسید و دقیقا حالا که میدونم "جواب" چیه، دلم میخواد برگردن عقب و از اول بخونمشون و ببینم اون سرنخه� رو.
نمیتونم خیلی ازش حرف بزنم چون پلاتتوییس� شوکه کنندشو خراب میکنم و حس میکنم هرکی این مجموعه رو میخونه باید بدون دونستن این نکته بخونتش و خودش کشفش کنه.
ولی میتونم بگم که پایان این جلد خیلی دوست داشتنی بود.
دیدن مسیر طولانیا� که ایزابلا از جلد اول اومده، راه های سختی که به خاطر علاقش اومده، روابط دوستانه و رابطه� عاشقانها� که ساخته...خیلی قشنگ بود.
انگار نویسنده یه روش خیلی قشنگ و غمگینو انتخاب کرده بود که با شخصیته� و دنیایی که توی ۵ جلد ساخته بود، خدافظی کنه.
با اینکه تمرکز این مجموعهه� روی پلات و دنیای اطراف ایزابلاست که ایزابلا قدم به قدم کشفش میکنه، شخصیتاشم برام دوست داشتنی بودن.
این ماههای� که توی این دنیا بودم، تجربه� لذت بخشی بود.
دلم براش خیلی تنگ میشه.
پ.ن: میدونم یه جلد دیگه هم هست ولی تا جایی که فهمیدم روایت ایزابلا اینجا تمومه و رسما خدافظی کرد. راوی بعدی باید متفاوت باشه:)
May 22, 2017
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Within the Sanctuary of Wings is the fifth and final novel in Marie Brennan's anthropological fantasy series about a (usually scandalous, never boring) female dragon naturalist. It's Isabella's most daring adventure and biggest discovery yet -- and that's saying something if you know any of the details of Lady Trent's first four books. Even this far into the series, Brennan has creativity and imagination to keep her stories and characters fresh and interesting. Journeying to all new locales and encountering new dragons to study and learn, Within the Sanctuary of Wings contains all the manners and mayhem we've come to expect while effectively tying up the series' plot elements.
Isabella is a force to be reckoned with, as she has been all her life. Here in the last book chronicling her storied and scandalous career and private life, she is a tad bit wiser, a tad less heedless and reckless, but she is no less intellectually curious or personally ambitious. In fact for the first time and thanks to her new marriage, she is motivated by more than just scientific career goals. Her fictional life is robust with action and scientific experiments; she defied societal expectations when she was first Lady Camherst and never failed to continue to do so through her various elevations and associations. Reading from her perspective is a unique experience every time, but a fully-developed one. The memoirs cover five decades of Lady Trent's unusual experience - from an awkward child to potential bluestocking to scholarly infamy and beyond - so it's easy to invest in her personally, and the secondary characters to a lesser degree.
While Within the Sanctuary of Wings makes for an undoubtedly fun and entertaining read, it feels a bit short for a concluding volume at only three hundred fifty-odd pages. Some of the story's central plot elements feel a bit.. underdeveloped and rushed in the narrative's drive to wrap up all the loose ends of Isabella's life. The main plot of the book is clever - tying in hints and allusions and glimpses from the previous novels about a central mystery at the heart of the world - as well as some other unexpected parties, but it felt somewhat unexplored before the ending.
As a whole the Lady Trent books have been wryly funny mixes of Victorian attitudes and a fantasy world. With storylines concerned with everything from smashing patriarchal political complications to uncharted draconic exploration, there's a lot to enjoy about Marie Brennan's final chapter in this smart story.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings is the fifth and final novel in Marie Brennan's anthropological fantasy series about a (usually scandalous, never boring) female dragon naturalist. It's Isabella's most daring adventure and biggest discovery yet -- and that's saying something if you know any of the details of Lady Trent's first four books. Even this far into the series, Brennan has creativity and imagination to keep her stories and characters fresh and interesting. Journeying to all new locales and encountering new dragons to study and learn, Within the Sanctuary of Wings contains all the manners and mayhem we've come to expect while effectively tying up the series' plot elements.
Isabella is a force to be reckoned with, as she has been all her life. Here in the last book chronicling her storied and scandalous career and private life, she is a tad bit wiser, a tad less heedless and reckless, but she is no less intellectually curious or personally ambitious. In fact for the first time and thanks to her new marriage, she is motivated by more than just scientific career goals. Her fictional life is robust with action and scientific experiments; she defied societal expectations when she was first Lady Camherst and never failed to continue to do so through her various elevations and associations. Reading from her perspective is a unique experience every time, but a fully-developed one. The memoirs cover five decades of Lady Trent's unusual experience - from an awkward child to potential bluestocking to scholarly infamy and beyond - so it's easy to invest in her personally, and the secondary characters to a lesser degree.
While Within the Sanctuary of Wings makes for an undoubtedly fun and entertaining read, it feels a bit short for a concluding volume at only three hundred fifty-odd pages. Some of the story's central plot elements feel a bit.. underdeveloped and rushed in the narrative's drive to wrap up all the loose ends of Isabella's life. The main plot of the book is clever - tying in hints and allusions and glimpses from the previous novels about a central mystery at the heart of the world - as well as some other unexpected parties, but it felt somewhat unexplored before the ending.
As a whole the Lady Trent books have been wryly funny mixes of Victorian attitudes and a fantasy world. With storylines concerned with everything from smashing patriarchal political complications to uncharted draconic exploration, there's a lot to enjoy about Marie Brennan's final chapter in this smart story.
July 27, 2017
I kind of procrastinated on reading this book, or at least finishing it, because I didn’t want the adventures to be over. This is the concluding volume of Lady Trent’s memoirs, and I already miss her ‘deranged practicality�, her curiosity and drive, and the people around her. Still, it’s a worthy end to her story, concluding her major scientific studies with � well, I’d better be careful not to say too much. The series has been building up to this point, and I wouldn’t want to spoil the moment of realisation and discovery halfway through this book.
My only quibble, perhaps, is a minor spoiler � I find it amazing that Isabella’s team come out of all of this so well. They end up in what I think are an analogue for the mountains of Tibet, suffer avalanches and punishingly cold temperatures, and yet for the most part, they come through these trials whole or able to heal. No frostbite, no permanent injuries, etc. It’s a bit of a contrast to the end of book one, where of course Isabella’s husband dies. I probably would’ve been annoyed if Isabella didn’t get a happy ending, but maybe this one felt a little too easy.
I don’t want to end on a quibble, though, because I truly love these books � more than I ever thought I would, the first time I read A Natural History of Dragons. Isabella is an amazing character, and I can’t help but love her and most of those around her. I really enjoy that the books have some illustrations of dragons and finds, and that Isabella is a serious scholar who tests hypotheses and formulates theories � she doesn’t get to the answer in one leap of intuition in book one and then simply have to prove what she already knows. The five books each see her learning more, changing her ideas, and being surprised along the way.
And lest you be worried about the Victorian-ish setting of these books and what effect it might have on the narration, don’t. If they were actually set in Victorian times, I’d call them anachronistic � there’s a flavour of the old fashioned in some of the phrasing and such, but no more. Suffice it to say that my sister read the last two books in about 24 hours � snatching my copy of this one from my hand almost as soon as she saw me when I arrived to visit.
If my wife would start reading them now, that’d be good. I’m waiting (and hoping she likes Isabella and her adventures as much as I do).
My only quibble, perhaps, is a minor spoiler � I find it amazing that Isabella’s team come out of all of this so well. They end up in what I think are an analogue for the mountains of Tibet, suffer avalanches and punishingly cold temperatures, and yet for the most part, they come through these trials whole or able to heal. No frostbite, no permanent injuries, etc. It’s a bit of a contrast to the end of book one, where of course Isabella’s husband dies. I probably would’ve been annoyed if Isabella didn’t get a happy ending, but maybe this one felt a little too easy.
I don’t want to end on a quibble, though, because I truly love these books � more than I ever thought I would, the first time I read A Natural History of Dragons. Isabella is an amazing character, and I can’t help but love her and most of those around her. I really enjoy that the books have some illustrations of dragons and finds, and that Isabella is a serious scholar who tests hypotheses and formulates theories � she doesn’t get to the answer in one leap of intuition in book one and then simply have to prove what she already knows. The five books each see her learning more, changing her ideas, and being surprised along the way.
And lest you be worried about the Victorian-ish setting of these books and what effect it might have on the narration, don’t. If they were actually set in Victorian times, I’d call them anachronistic � there’s a flavour of the old fashioned in some of the phrasing and such, but no more. Suffice it to say that my sister read the last two books in about 24 hours � snatching my copy of this one from my hand almost as soon as she saw me when I arrived to visit.
If my wife would start reading them now, that’d be good. I’m waiting (and hoping she likes Isabella and her adventures as much as I do).
September 12, 2018
Within the Sanctuary of Wings is the fifth and final book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent series that began with A Natural History of Dragons. I’ve enjoyed this entire series. As I’ve said in my previous reviews, the books are fairly light, with lots of adventure and fun. Although there were slow spots here and there, they held my interest consistently and felt like fast reads.
This final book started off in the same vein as the previous books, but there was a twist around the middle that really sucked me in and took my interest in the story up to another level. I was also happy with how the series wrapped up. I’m really glad I decided to fit this into my reading schedule; it made a nice change of pace from some of my recent selections.
This final book started off in the same vein as the previous books, but there was a twist around the middle that really sucked me in and took my interest in the story up to another level. I was also happy with how the series wrapped up. I’m really glad I decided to fit this into my reading schedule; it made a nice change of pace from some of my recent selections.
March 23, 2018
I could not review the end of this series better than Isabella herself does at the end of the book (no spoiler)
"If there is any conclusion to my tale (apart from my death, which I hope is yet a good way off), it is that the heart of it will never truly end. Altough my memories are of course the story of my life and career, they are also a story of discovery: of curiosity, and investigation, and learning, not only regarding dragons but many other topics. I take comfort in knowing that others will carry this tale forward, continually unfolding new secrets of the world in which we live, and hopefully using that understanding more often for good than for ill.
And so I leave it in your hands, gentle reader. Mind you carry it well."
So go out and discover, go out and do science!
"If there is any conclusion to my tale (apart from my death, which I hope is yet a good way off), it is that the heart of it will never truly end. Altough my memories are of course the story of my life and career, they are also a story of discovery: of curiosity, and investigation, and learning, not only regarding dragons but many other topics. I take comfort in knowing that others will carry this tale forward, continually unfolding new secrets of the world in which we live, and hopefully using that understanding more often for good than for ill.
And so I leave it in your hands, gentle reader. Mind you carry it well."
So go out and discover, go out and do science!
October 8, 2019
Ця жінка змусила мене сьогодні забути про обіцянку в найближчий вихідний нарешті написати притомний книжковідгук до блогу! І, як не дивно, ця жінка - то не Ізабелла, леді Трент - невтомна натуралістка-дослідниця драконів, а її творчиня Марі Бреннан.
Я трохи занудьгувала на четвертій книжці (хоча вона безмежно прекрасна тими частинами, котрі переспівують новітні археологічні теорії зразу кінця ХІХ століття на фентезійний лад), тому з п'ятою вирішила: хай там як, а цього року треба добивати. І це було офігенно. Останній пазлик ліг на своє місце, хвости, що ненав'язливо помахували уважним читачам ще з першої частини, нарешті отримали свої урочисті бантики, п'ять томів стали струнко, розправили плечі і дали нарешті змогу оцінити масштаби, деталізацію та рефрени наскрізного сюжету. /лунає захоплений вереск, крізь який прориваються поодинокі осмислені фрази, навроді "Та ж #видайтеукраїнською!"/
Це все ще було про наукову відвагу і нескінченний пошук, про прийняття себе й іншого (і трішки - іншого в собі), про буквально карколомні пригоди в екзотичних локаціях (цього разу - альтісторичний аналог Гімалаїв в умовах отвєточки за Опіумні війни - ні, в цьому світі їх не було, Бреннан по-іншому вивернулася) і ще карколомніші відкриття. Тільки цього разу було ще більше політики, ще більше лінгвістики та антропології, а вишенькою на торті слугує ідеальна ілюстрація принципу sic sunt dracones.
Я трохи занудьгувала на четвертій книжці (хоча вона безмежно прекрасна тими частинами, котрі переспівують новітні археологічні теорії зразу кінця ХІХ століття на фентезійний лад), тому з п'ятою вирішила: хай там як, а цього року треба добивати. І це було офігенно. Останній пазлик ліг на своє місце, хвости, що ненав'язливо помахували уважним читачам ще з першої частини, нарешті отримали свої урочисті бантики, п'ять томів стали струнко, розправили плечі і дали нарешті змогу оцінити масштаби, деталізацію та рефрени наскрізного сюжету. /лунає захоплений вереск, крізь який прориваються поодинокі осмислені фрази, навроді "Та ж #видайтеукраїнською!"/
Це все ще було про наукову відвагу і нескінченний пошук, про прийняття себе й іншого (і трішки - іншого в собі), про буквально карколомні пригоди в екзотичних локаціях (цього разу - альтісторичний аналог Гімалаїв в умовах отвєточки за Опіумні війни - ні, в цьому світі їх не було, Бреннан по-іншому вивернулася) і ще карколомніші відкриття. Тільки цього разу було ще більше політики, ще більше лінгвістики та антропології, а вишенькою на торті слугує ідеальна ілюстрація принципу sic sunt dracones.
July 28, 2017
Review courtesy of .
WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF WINGS is the rare, magical beast that manages to be both a fitting series finale as well as a complete and utter surprise. From start to finish this series draws much of it's emotional power from the constraints of its imaginary, historical world. The series finale uses those same constraints, carefully nurtured in the readers' minds, to deliver a surprise that made me gasp out loud.
In the interest of avoiding spoilers, this review will avoid dissecting the particulars of this last book. Fans of the series will enjoy another, quintessential Lady Trent expedition. It is heartwarming to see how life after marriage continues to nurture and enrich a beloved romance. And despite Lady Trent's casual allusions to her future discoveries down the entire series, never for a moment did I expect that "discovery"to be surprising enough to shock me along side her peers.
While it is sad to close the cover on a wonderful series, from start to finish The Memoirs of Lady Trent offer much to enjoy for fans of fantasy, science, and classic adventure. It was a pleasure to sail alongside her, and the world Lady Trent helped discover will live on vividly in my heart.
Sexual content: None.
WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF WINGS is the rare, magical beast that manages to be both a fitting series finale as well as a complete and utter surprise. From start to finish this series draws much of it's emotional power from the constraints of its imaginary, historical world. The series finale uses those same constraints, carefully nurtured in the readers' minds, to deliver a surprise that made me gasp out loud.
In the interest of avoiding spoilers, this review will avoid dissecting the particulars of this last book. Fans of the series will enjoy another, quintessential Lady Trent expedition. It is heartwarming to see how life after marriage continues to nurture and enrich a beloved romance. And despite Lady Trent's casual allusions to her future discoveries down the entire series, never for a moment did I expect that "discovery"to be surprising enough to shock me along side her peers.
While it is sad to close the cover on a wonderful series, from start to finish The Memoirs of Lady Trent offer much to enjoy for fans of fantasy, science, and classic adventure. It was a pleasure to sail alongside her, and the world Lady Trent helped discover will live on vividly in my heart.
Sexual content: None.
June 27, 2022
Within the Sanctuary of Wings brings the conclusion to The Memoirs of Lady Trent . If you have made it this far, you’ll know exactly what you’ll get: a light read, with a few indiscretions, scientific discoveries and female strong headedness! I really enjoyed the series as a whole, though with a short break in-between (it is a bit repetitive and as I said, very light). The audio version was excellent and I relished the different voices of the narrator plus she was just a perfect voice for Lady Trent.
January 20, 2022
Excellent conclusion to the series. Very, very glad that I took it back up.
June 29, 2019
4.5
The perfect end to an incredible series! Can’t wait to start the new series set in this world that’s coming out soon!
The perfect end to an incredible series! Can’t wait to start the new series set in this world that’s coming out soon!
April 10, 2020
* * * * *
5 / 5
Mini Review!
Lady Trent is back at nearly forty years of age to put the final touches on her memoirs (I love the pictures in the back - she looks like Dame Maggie Smith, so distinguished!), chronicling the final discovery as regards the Draconeans. It features most of the prominent characters from the previous books - Tom, Suhail, and her son - plus a new character Thu. It follows in the same vein as the other books in the Lady Trent series: a expedition is planned to find some new species of dragon, this time they voyage into the Mrtyahaima mountains, a team is put together, they travel and begin to make discoveries, something goes wrong, there's some sort of forbidden or sacred site involved. Yes, it's a touch formulaic, but I have found every book to be charming and fresh and Within the Sanctuary of Wings was no different. It's got all the little touches that make these books feel authentic like details about mountaineering or interactions with local people.
This book is the culmination of the discovery that has been building up throughout the series - the eggs, the sculptures, the Draconean script - all the clues and hints sprinkled throughout are brought together to what is a satisfying conclusion. Whilst this book is a little low on the action side in comparison to some of the others, there's no kidnapping or wars or such, I found I didn't particularly care. The writing is as lovely and engaging as ever, Isabella Trent is as wonderful a narrator, and the illustrations in the book are stunning. Whilst the cover isn't my favourite out of the five, it does still look good on my shelf.
My only criticism might be that the end wraps up a little too fast; I felt the events probably deserved a little more detail, but it did keep the book from dragging - Brennan hasn't fallen into this recent trend of writing longer and longer sequels. Other than that, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I would absolutely recommend that anyone reading this review who hasn't read the whole series: pick it up now!
I'm planning to write a full series review some time soon, so keep your eyes out for that on my blog:
5 / 5
Mini Review!
Lady Trent is back at nearly forty years of age to put the final touches on her memoirs (I love the pictures in the back - she looks like Dame Maggie Smith, so distinguished!), chronicling the final discovery as regards the Draconeans. It features most of the prominent characters from the previous books - Tom, Suhail, and her son - plus a new character Thu. It follows in the same vein as the other books in the Lady Trent series: a expedition is planned to find some new species of dragon, this time they voyage into the Mrtyahaima mountains, a team is put together, they travel and begin to make discoveries, something goes wrong, there's some sort of forbidden or sacred site involved. Yes, it's a touch formulaic, but I have found every book to be charming and fresh and Within the Sanctuary of Wings was no different. It's got all the little touches that make these books feel authentic like details about mountaineering or interactions with local people.
This book is the culmination of the discovery that has been building up throughout the series - the eggs, the sculptures, the Draconean script - all the clues and hints sprinkled throughout are brought together to what is a satisfying conclusion. Whilst this book is a little low on the action side in comparison to some of the others, there's no kidnapping or wars or such, I found I didn't particularly care. The writing is as lovely and engaging as ever, Isabella Trent is as wonderful a narrator, and the illustrations in the book are stunning. Whilst the cover isn't my favourite out of the five, it does still look good on my shelf.
My only criticism might be that the end wraps up a little too fast; I felt the events probably deserved a little more detail, but it did keep the book from dragging - Brennan hasn't fallen into this recent trend of writing longer and longer sequels. Other than that, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I would absolutely recommend that anyone reading this review who hasn't read the whole series: pick it up now!
I'm planning to write a full series review some time soon, so keep your eyes out for that on my blog:
November 17, 2022
This was a wonderful conclusion to this series.
I know people who want action and loads of magic in their fantasy will not like this series, but I love it. It reads more like a Victorian travel novel with an interest in certain animals and foreign cultures. Again, Lady Trent's humorous tone made this a delight for me. I like the lighthearted way of storytelling and the fascination for all things dragon-related.
The character of Lady Isabella ist just so endearing to me. She is curious and kind, but obviously not perfect. While she is smart, she makes mistakes and there are many things she doesn't know. I love that she calls out her younger self in all of the books.
This time, her travels lead her to the fantasy version of the Himalayas. While there are some political entanglements and the suspense of nature, it is once again more about the cusiosity for dragons and other people. It takes a little for the travel to get going, but I thoroughly enjoyed both the lead-up to the journes as well as the journey istelf. Only towards the end it got a little bit rushed but it makes sense for the narrator to place her focus like she did.
I might read the sequel which follows Isabella's granddaughter, I think. But I will miss Isabella as a narrator.
I know people who want action and loads of magic in their fantasy will not like this series, but I love it. It reads more like a Victorian travel novel with an interest in certain animals and foreign cultures. Again, Lady Trent's humorous tone made this a delight for me. I like the lighthearted way of storytelling and the fascination for all things dragon-related.
The character of Lady Isabella ist just so endearing to me. She is curious and kind, but obviously not perfect. While she is smart, she makes mistakes and there are many things she doesn't know. I love that she calls out her younger self in all of the books.
This time, her travels lead her to the fantasy version of the Himalayas. While there are some political entanglements and the suspense of nature, it is once again more about the cusiosity for dragons and other people. It takes a little for the travel to get going, but I thoroughly enjoyed both the lead-up to the journes as well as the journey istelf. Only towards the end it got a little bit rushed but it makes sense for the narrator to place her focus like she did.
I might read the sequel which follows Isabella's granddaughter, I think. But I will miss Isabella as a narrator.
October 28, 2022
The final book of the main series was nothing short of mind-blowing. I could never imagine that it would have such a satisfactory conclusion, where all the little hints and pieces scattered across the previous books were stringed together, delivering a remarkable answer to the puzzle. The new knowledge on dragons discovered through Isabella's research over the course of the series was elegantly combined with the archeological discoveries regarding the Draconian civilization and� Voila! This masterpiece of a book happened.
I don't believe there's much more I could say without delivering major spoilers, and believe me, the surprise is simply delightful.
Otherwise, the book had everything else the previous novels had: amazing characters, amazing pacing, amazing adventures, amazing scientific discoveries, amazing humour� The list goes on.
This series is truly a gem.
I don't believe there's much more I could say without delivering major spoilers, and believe me, the surprise is simply delightful.
Otherwise, the book had everything else the previous novels had: amazing characters, amazing pacing, amazing adventures, amazing scientific discoveries, amazing humour� The list goes on.
This series is truly a gem.
February 6, 2023
2/6/23: 5 stars. Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan. 5 stars. An excellent, satisfying, mind-blowing conclusion to the series, with so many cool ideas and concepts that were executed excellently. Specifically, this is one of the most "high concept" fantasy books I've ever read and I loved how it all played out. This series is one of my GOATs now, possibly sitting at number 4 or 5 and moving Cradle out of the top 5 and cosmere down to 7.
June 21, 2024
So bitter sweet to be done with this series.
July 2, 2023
Großartiger Abschluß der Reihe. hat mir sehr sehr gut gefallen!
September 1, 2019
Ich bin ja von der Reihe an sich sehr begeistert: Als eine Art Memoiren in Form von Reiseberichten erzählt Lady Trent, wie sie in einer Gesellschaft, die das viktorianische Zeitalter wiederspiegelt, gegen sämtliche Konventionen kämpft, um als Frau akzeptiert zu werden. Und zwar nicht nur als schönes Beiwerk eines Ehemannes, sondern als Wissenschaftlerin, die sich der Forschung nach Drachen verschrieben hat.
Im letzten Teil war es mir anfangs leider etwas zu zähflüssig bis es wirklich voranging - und auch wenn die politische Lage der Länder, die in den Bänden immer wieder mit einfließt, eine große Rolle spielt, war es mir hier einen Tick zu viel.
Der Mittelteil war dann wie gewohnt faszinierend und abenteuerlich, wogegen das Ende dann wieder etwas nachgelassen hat.
Die Entdeckung, die Isabella hier in den eisigen Bergen gemacht hat, ist bahnbrechend und hat mich sehr überrascht. Aus ihrer Sichtweise erzählt sie wie üblich mit einem etwas spröden, aber unglaublich erfrischend trockener Art, was mir grade an dieser Reihe besonders gut gefallen hat.
Eine starke Frau, ein Vorbild, die zeigt dass man einen Weg finden kann, wenn der Wille da ist und ein wunderbares Sammelsurium an Drachenkunde, wie man sie so sicher noch nicht gelesen hat. Ich kann die Reihe auf jeden Fall empfehlen für jeden, der nach außergewöhnlichem Ausschau hält.
Im letzten Teil war es mir anfangs leider etwas zu zähflüssig bis es wirklich voranging - und auch wenn die politische Lage der Länder, die in den Bänden immer wieder mit einfließt, eine große Rolle spielt, war es mir hier einen Tick zu viel.
Der Mittelteil war dann wie gewohnt faszinierend und abenteuerlich, wogegen das Ende dann wieder etwas nachgelassen hat.
Die Entdeckung, die Isabella hier in den eisigen Bergen gemacht hat, ist bahnbrechend und hat mich sehr überrascht. Aus ihrer Sichtweise erzählt sie wie üblich mit einem etwas spröden, aber unglaublich erfrischend trockener Art, was mir grade an dieser Reihe besonders gut gefallen hat.
Eine starke Frau, ein Vorbild, die zeigt dass man einen Weg finden kann, wenn der Wille da ist und ein wunderbares Sammelsurium an Drachenkunde, wie man sie so sicher noch nicht gelesen hat. Ich kann die Reihe auf jeden Fall empfehlen für jeden, der nach außergewöhnlichem Ausschau hält.
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