Publisher: Thea Harrison
Where did you get the book: e-ARC from author
Release date: Out now
This is a short story (15,100 words or 55 pages) intended for readers of the Elder Races who enjoy Liam Cuelebre, aka Peanut, as a character.
Dragos Cuelebre is no longer the only dragon.
Dragos’s son Liam Cuelebre (a.k.a. Peanut) is springing into existence, reminiscent of the first of the Elder Races who were born at the beginning of the world. At just six months of age, he has already grown to the size of a large five-year-old boy. He can read, write in complete sentences, and his math skills are off the chart.
A white dragon in his Wyr form, Liam also holds more Power than almost anyone else. In an effort to give him a taste of normality, no matter how fleeting, his parents Pia and Dragos enroll him in first grade.
They hope school will help teach Liam how to relate to others, a vital skill that will help him control his growing Power. But school has a surprising number of pitfalls, and relating to others can be a tricky business.
When a classmate is threatened, Liam must quickly learn self-control, how to rein in his instincts, and govern his temper, because there’s no doubt about it—he is fast becoming one of the most dangerous creatures in all of the Elder Races.
*blurb taken from Goodreads*
E: I really enjoy reading Harrison’s novellas and how she ties groups of them together with a central theme or object. Peanut aka Liam has been part of this series for so long it has been great to catch glimpses of his family interaction with the focus on Pia and Dragos. With this particular novella Harrison made a radical departure from her usual style making the narrator Peanut. I thought this novella was extremely cute and I loved seeing how Liam’s unusual heritage made him struggle with challenges most people face gradually if at all. He is the perfect blend of fierce protectiveness **mine** and caring/compassion from his parents. I loved how he reasoned his way through situations and discovered a few new abilities along the way. I also enjoyed seeing how he was supported by his parents and his guards without them interfering with his growth and development. Harrison included so many messages in this novella it really packed a punch and has left me with a few things I hope she continues to develop throughout the series.
I give Peanut Goes to School a B+
Lou: I think Thea Harrison has done a marvelous job with the connecting novellas she’s written for the Elder series. Peanut’s story, and POV, is the next installment and despite it being a child’s POV, it did work for me. Peanut’s abilities are unique and he’s growing at such a fast rate that he’s now going to school. He knows he’s different and the vulnerability he feels was heartbreaking. My heart melted at that adorable scene with Peanut and Dragos. Peanut is definitely growing up to be a mixture of Pia and Dragos, especially in how he handles himself at school when he gets into a spot of bother. Peanut’s ability to grow is incredible, and I did wonder if Pia and Dragos would hold off having anymore children until they understand what’s happening to Peanut.
All in all, this was an adorable installment and it was almost like a prologue to the person that Liam is going to become as an adult. I also give Peanut Goes to School a B+
Has: This was a delightful story featuring Peanut’s first day of school, and like Lou and E said, I loved how Thea Harrison focuses on each member of the Cuelebra family along with a central theme. I really enjoyed how it brought out different dynamics and an in depth look of them as a family. I also loved that the repercussions with Dragos’ memory loss and how it carries over into this short story, and that he is still learning to cope from it. Peanut really shines in this story, and I think I may have to stop calling him that because he starts to mature and grow into his power as well as learning real life lessons other than schoolwork. I loved how he was a combination of his parents, with Pia’s sense of humour and Dragos’ power and charisma. There are hints of the man he will become and I am really hopeful we will see that come to fruition in the series and that there will be a book dedicated to his character, because I can sense it will be epic, fun and fabulous.
Overall, Peanut Goes to School was a wonderful and sweet story which was full of humorous moments as well as a great and personal insight of Peanut’s family. I also give Peanut Goes to School a B+
MinnChica: I love the Elder Races series, but I have to admit I was a little skeptical about reading a book from a child’s perspective. I have to say, I was happy with the way it turned out. I really adored Peanut and how mature he was as he grew at an exponential rate. I love the friendships he formed, as well as the thought process he had as he approached new situations. Getting to see Pia and Dragos as they both related to Liam as he grew was so fun. It made me all melty to think of how I will be relating the same way to my boy as he grows up. 🙂
All in all, I really liked this novella because it was so different from the other books in this series. It was a risk on Harrison’s part, but I think it absolutely paid off. It was fun and cute and sweet all at the same time.
I give Peanut Goes to School a B
I actually read this one! I was hoping for a more interesting power set in the baby dragicorn.
So am I correct that the author plans to write the dragicorn’s love story/happy ending here in a few years? She’s taking the soap opera child aging thing to a whole new level……
I don’t know if Liam will have a future book but if he does in however many years time, I think with the nature of his yet unknown powers would make him a great character. I was worried that I would find the novella from a child as precocious but thankfully it was never the case. It was really well done.