Has anybody here read any of Bryan Davis' books? These include the Dragons In Our Midst series, Oracles of Fire, and Echoes From The Edge. I personally find him to be an amazing author, and his books are spiritually convicting. Has anybody else come away from reading them with a deeper spiritual connection with God, or at least a feeling of hope?
Anyway, I just wondered if people had read these books or found them particularly interesting. If you've read any of them, what are your favorite parts, characters, or moments?

I loved the Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series. Even though the story is fiction, Bonnie really inspired me to become closer to God! I like that at the end of Oracles of Fire, Mr. Davis left you with a feeling that the story would continue, even if he doesn't write any more books.
A couple people have mentioned his other series, but I haven't read them yet. It sounds like I need to!

I've heard of them, and gotten mixed reveiws all from, "They are the most amazing books ever!" to "They were sooooo cheesy..."

Would you say the writing and dialogue is good, or does it just come across as static?

I thought his writing was pretty good.

One thing that my mom didn't care for was that he mixed fantasy in with Biblical truth. That didn't bother me when I read it, but I don't know that I'd recommend them to someone who doesn't know the Bible very well.

From what I understand, he based them off of the Bible to a large degree.

My mom was concerned that they went over the line with the 'Dragonbreath Billy: who's actually descended from dragons' part. She saw that line in a teaser from a our Christian Book catalog, and wouldn't let me read them. *sulk* Honestly, I'd like to read them, but how's that aspect tie in?
(if you can tell me without ruining the story, that is. )

Basically Billy's dad used to be a dragon, but when dragons started to be hunted during King Arthur's time, Merlin turned all the good dragons into humans. So even though his dad isn't actually a dragon anymore, Billy inherited some dragon qualities, like breathing fire.

I don't think that would mess up the story for you!

Yeah, PrincessoftheKing got it right. The books are very Bible-based, and atually strengthened me in Christ. I'm a fantasy-lover (obviously), and these books were really an inspiration. So I definitely recommend them. And if your parents are against dragons and such, then I would recommend the Echoes From The Edge series.

I think I may have heard of these before..but I'm not sure. I will have to check them out!

I read all four of Dragons in Our Midst. I would say that the first book was best because after that I thought that the other books grew weird. I would say that my biggest problem with the book from a biblical point of view would be that Billy has to be the savior for the dragons, and I thought that went over the line. Then there was Morgan Le Fey, the flood starting again. I thought that since it says in the Bible that God would never destroy the earth again with water that it might not be right to say that it was starting again, I don't know. But aside from the weirdness it wasn't bad, I liked the characters and I thought that the dragon powers were well done.

Well I have read the 1st, 3rd and 4th in the first series, and the first 2 in the second series (which I enjoyed immensely), and I haven't read any of Echoes From The Edge. My favorite characters... Bonnie, Sapphira, Yereq, Billy, Palli, Walter, Elam and some others. Some of my favorite parts: In the first book; when they find Clefspere. In the fourth; when Billy and Bonnie go into the 6th circle, when Cefspere is transformed into Jared again and when Hartanna is transformed into Irene and Bonnie sees her.

I know that in the 1st Oracles of Fire book I was... well, inspired to grow closer with God and tell Him all my trials and troubles, so yes I came away from reading them with a deeper spiritual connection with God.

I think Bryan Davis is an awesome author, though I also think his books are geared towards young adults (12-13 + up).

Well that is what I think!

God bless!

Well--I was pointed to this thread--so here's my two cents (Yes, I realize this has been inactive for almost a year). I liked Bryan Davis' writing (though it's been a few years since I read these) and his plots. Except. Where he mixed in too much of the Bible. Especially the first book in the second series (Oracles of Fire is the second series, right?). That was the one I felt had too much of the Bible changed or added on to.

But--if you read them, I'd recommend what I do for any book that mixes the Bible with fiction. Read that part of the Bible at the same time you're reading the book. Don't take anything the book says as truth unless the Bible says it. At least, that's what I do. =)

eruheran

Yes! That series was well written, but it was kinda weird. It's been awhile so I can't really speak for or against it.

It's a great series and has inspired me a lot.

His books are so great.

He is currently editing the first book in the next series of four books, that comes after Oracles of Fire. It should be released in late spring this year.

I really like how he ties it into the Bible, even if it's not possible or true. It's fiction, and it tells a very good story. Perhaps they're weird, but I like to think outside of the box (one reason I like Ted Dekker so much.) Correction...I've never had a box. So I like a lot of weird things.

I've got the whole Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series', and I read them in seven days. Really. What an adventure. I haven't read anything else by him. I started Starlighter but it didn't suck me in. So I'm sticking to the dragons series.

And I'm going to meet him in June this year at the One Year Adventure Novel workshop, as long as nothing stops me from going.

And his 19 year old daughter wrote a book which he's editing and it'll be released late this year.

How much allegory is in these? Is it not much or a lot like in Dragonspell?

I wouldn't say they have allegory. They're more like Lord of the Rings, a good story with good morals and themes, but it's still its own story.

I have the first two books, but haven't made time to read them yet. (Too busy.) She bought them from a secondhand store (Savers.)

I like the series. I'm on Mr. Davis' forum.

I've listened to the audio of some of his books. I own "Starlighter."

I just started reading Dragons In Our Midst today, and I really like it so far I'll probably finish the book this evening, and I'm hoping I can bring it back and borrow the next two (maybe the 4th as well) Wednesday.
I haven't read any YA books in a while that I remember, but I still like them sometimes. So far the author seems to do a really good job of tying things in to the Bible without contradicting it.

@Arias: I really like that series. My only caution would be what you've already mentioned: not contradicting the Bible. He does well at this in the first series but the second series is worse, IMHO, at least as far as that goes.

eru

He recently held a songwriting contest, for giving a tune to one of his songs. I was one of three finalists, so I get the first two books in his next series free.

Here's a link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZDINr0i0Hc

My brother and sister are 14 and 12 years old.

Ah, okay, thanks for the warning. I hadn't looked at the second series, really. Come to think of it, I haven't looked at the last three books of this series much =P

@Luke: That's awesome!

@Arias: Yes; in my opinion the extent to which I agree with his theology lowers the further I go in the books. The story, on the other hand, I like across the board; 'tis great writing.

eru

Thanks! I've been posting it all over and nobody has said what they think of it yet.

Bryan Davis has always been a mixed bag for me. It's been a while since I read the complete Oracles of Fire/Dragons in our Midst series, but here are my general thoughts.

I think Davis did a great job with ideas - his works sparkle with imagination. As others mentioned, though, there's a clear mix of fantasy with reality in that dragons don't actually exist {*gasp*}. So I'd agree with Abby and others in saying that it might be confusing for young Christians or not-yet-believers. That said, however, I was thrilled when the library in Singapore got the entire series and I refused to check them out in the hope that they would be read by some of my Muslim or Buddhist friends. Cool, right?

In terms of his writing style, it was okay, but not my favorite. It was close to being rather immature. Plus, what really turned me off in the first one was that the climax was the result of a misunderstanding. I prefer more definite causes for conflict.

So, as I said, I both like and dislike Bryan Davis' work.

I haven't read them. They sound like they're written for younger readers, correct? I don't know if I'd like them; I don't really like Scripture mixed with fantasy. (Although I do like "The Chronicles of Narnia".)

@Aemi: I'd say they are on a higher reading level than Narnia. But yes, teens.

@Luke: Forgive me. I have been out of the loop on the forums these past few weeks. Again, I reiterate - that's awesome! Do you have a link or can you not share it?

eru

The link is in my post up there. ^

If you don't like Scripture plus fantasy, I don't think you'd really enjoy these. They're not an allegory, like with Lewis, but more of a blatant "Bible-plus-dragons" in our world, our time, our history. If you're ok with that, then go right ahead .

Mhm. I think I'm already seeing that (just finished the second book today ).

Ah, so it is. I glossed over it because I can't access Youtube with my internet filter =( Still, I bet the music is awesome, though!

eru

I liked them some, but they seemed to drag at points and Bonnie drove me crazy.

I really really liked the three books that I read(Raising Dragons, the Candlestone, and the Eye of the Oracle).
I couldn't put down the first books! When I started the Eye of the Oracle, it was weird. It was like Science fiction. My sister says that the deeper into the series you go, the more science fiction it is.
But I still liked it a lot. Its more for teens/tweens and up, but adults have read it and really liked it.

Have you read the new book, The Song of the Ovulum?

*digs up thread and brushes the dust off*

I wanted to know if anyone's read Song of the Ovulum, the sequel to the Oracles of Fire series. I got it for Christmas, and really enjoyed it... but I don't have time to post a full-blown review at the moment.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had thoughts on the book.

My sister did, but I haven't managed to yet.

I've read it, but it's been awhile.... Time tends to jumble all my memories into a garbled mess.

I enjoyed that book - I think there's a review on ItB...*goes link digging*

El Linko

I always feel awkward jumping in with a link to a review, but with books like these that it's been months since I've read, my thoughts get all jumbled

Andrew

I love Bryan Davis' books! I'm reading the Song of Ovulum right now.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!!! You will enjoy Song of the Ovulum, I'll tell you that.

My siblings haven't read it yet, so the second book: From the Mouth of Elijah, I probably won't get for a while...

I loved Dragons In Our Midst. It has the honor of being the second book series I ever read The first being Dragon Keeper Chronicles from Donita K. Paul and I enjoyed it immensely.

Oracles of Fire was even better - the return of characters - though, (Don't read without reading Children of the Bard #1! seemingly bringing Devin back again?

Children of the Bard spoilers: My record-keeping-ness allows me to thoroughly enjoy reading his 'flash-back-talk' material: The Battle of Fort Knox, the Second Eden/Earth fall-out, etc.

I finished Song of the Ovulum! It was so good! I can't wait to read From the Mouth of Elijah!

Song of the Ovulum is the beginning of "The Children of the Bard Series."

It is a good book, but I found "From the Mouth of Elijah" to be better than the first book in that series. I've read all of the "Dragon's In Our Midst" books, "Oracles of Fire" series, and of course, Song of the Ovulum in "The Children of the Bard" series. The only concern I would have about this series for preteens would be the violence they have in them.

I was so desperate for the next release in the series that I emailed him a request to be an advanced reader for "From The Mouth of Elijah." Thankfully, he accepted the request. You won't be dissapointed if you enjoy his writing.

I've been hooked on them and have even bought some ereader copies.