Becoming the Dragon (The Dragon Inside Book 1)

The book reads like some weird info dump. It’s very dry and boring. Could be a result of the translation but I doubt it. And it’s crazy short. Definitely not worth $6. Deeply regret this purchase.

In this novel, a boy named Andy is going on a journey where he transforms from boy to dragon. It should have been amazing, but the execution of the novel was flawed. I could not understand what was going on for the first 60 % of the novel. It was from multiple points of view for some reason even though Andy was supposed to be the main character. Andy did not even start to change into a dragon until the novel was 60% over, and only then did the novel start to come together. Then, a new side plot is added in the last 10% of the novel, and all of the previous work is thrown to the dust. Even though there was worldbuilding, it was more like a random information dump after a particular scene rather than being done smoothly. There was little to no character development and the characters just began to meld together. I would not be able to recommend this book to anyone in the current state that it is in.

Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction wherein a young Russian man is transported to the alien planet of Ilanta by a transportation device invented by his father.

There is a lot here for fans of fantasy to enjoy. Mr. Sapegin has a vivid imagination and his world is filled with interesting animals, and the standard elves, gnomes, orcs and of course magic. In this world, dragons are in short supply and though Andy’s journey is harrowing, it ends with him being embraced by the one place on Ilanta which still loves and respects dragons.

In my opinion this is a very uneven book, with lots of unnecessary verbiage, odd phrases and hard to understand passages. Once I knew that the book was originally written in Russian, I tried to take that into consideration, but honestly, it didn’t make it any easier to read. I don’t know if it’s common to say “He froze like a popsicle.” in Russian, but in English it sounds ridiculous and it took me out of the story and made me forget just why Andy had stopped moving.

One of the biggest problems with this book, is how much filler there is before Andy is transported and how much it veers from Andy’s story once he is on the new planet. At home we learn that Andy had been previously hit by lightning, which changed him and made capable of shorting out electronic equipment. We never do find out why that was important. Whether that contributed to his having magical ability, or helped him transform into a dragon was never clear to me.

Andy eventually lands in a medieval type kingdom, and the author throws in other point of view characters to describe the politics and history of the planet. The middle of the book uses Neril, an elf, to introduce us to the politics of the kingdom, but it is done in a way that seems overwritten and overly focused on cruelty and brutality.

All in all, Becoming the Dragon will appeal to fantasy readers, because Mr. Sapegin has checked all the boxes which make fantasy appealing. Imaginative, unique and surprising, this novel is filled with magic spells, long lost secrets and a main character who longs to be human.

The book is at its best when it focuses on Andy and the gnome, Jagirra, who nurses him back to health. The last third of the book was much superior to the first two-thirds and contained some surprises and unique ideas that fantasy readers will really love. For these reason I gave Becoming the Dragon three stars.

Take away a star if having a well-crafted story with skillful writing is more important to you than an intriguing story.

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from onlinebookclub in exchange for an honest review.

Two years ago things changed for Andy. He was struck by lightning while on a class field outing. Since then Andy can’t be near any TV or computers or they will go on the fritz. Since then he has read voraciously and learned archery. Andy’s father is a scientist researching transporter technology. During a demonstration Andy is inadvertently caught up in the effect and disappears. When he wakes up everything is different - even the night sky to his complete shock.

Andy manages to avoid the wildlife but is captured by some mercenaries. While in captivity, a mage sees him and says Andy is a mage. However, since he was so badly injured when he was taken he is sent to the King to be part of a hunt. Along the way his neighbor is an orc shaman who teaches him a bit of the language. She also believes Andy has an important future. At the King’s Hunt, which uses orcs and other unfortunate humans like Andy as prey, he fights back and is imprisoned and tortured. It is here he meets Karegar, the dragon.

During his travels Andy meets orcs, humans, elves, gnomes and, of course, a dragon. He also discovers that all is not peaceful on this new world and Andy finds himself making both enemies and allies. He does find a new family who he loves and who will do anything for him.

I truly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I would give Becoming the Dragon 5 out of 5 stars. People who enjoy fantasy would like this book, as would young adults who like adventure stories. The book’s main character is a young man but it appeals to all. If you enjoy a lot of romance or graphic violence then this probably isn’t for you.

Alex Sapegin created a beautifully realized world and populated it with interesting characters who draw you in and engage you in their stories. The interactions between Karegar and Jagirra are especially fun and entertaining. The dynamics when Andy joins them are both amusing and touching. The background information covers thousands of years and explains the genesis of the hatred between some of the races, although we’ve only heard one side so far.

Becoming the Dragon is a fantastic start to an epic fantasy series. It does everything right. The main characters are interesting and likable, the beginnings of a world wide conflict are being put in place and a hero is being developed. I strongly encourage everyone to give this book a chance. I’m going to be downloading the second book in the series to find out what happens next.

This was the first book I read about dragons and I was not disappointed. This story was full of magical creatures and mysterious places that were so different from our own. It is perfect for someone in the mood for a fantasy novel. The characters were super interesting and fun to read about. The world was also intricate, with its own myths, legends, and cultures.

I had trouble with the first half of the novel because the perspective jumped around a lot and the characters were not memorable enough for me to understand what was happening. It wasn't until the end of the book that I became familiar with the core set of characters and their story and became interested in what was going to happen next.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin

Andy lived a life of an average teenager until a beyond average experience: he was struck by lightning. Much to his behest, he did not inherit any superpowers other than the strange ability of having electronics freeze up in his presence. While searching for other ways to pass the time, Andy becomes friends with his next-door neighbor who teaches him archery…little does he know that this pastime would soon become integral for his survival.

One night, Andy is asked to deliver some documents to his Dad office, where he is working on trying to create a teleportation device. Yet, on that fated night, the experiment is launched and Andy unknowingly walks straight into the active field…and into another world.

The land of Ilanta is full of curious creatures and luscious landscapes...along with an equal share of cruelty. Before he can make sense of things, Andy is captured, sold into slavery, and forced to fight for his very existence. As time passes, Andy’s powers, derived from the lightning, begin to manifest, and he continually defies the will of his captors who seek to break his spirit. Condemned to a terrible fate, Andy decides to rally one last time and accidentally sets free a fellow captive dragon by the name of Karegar. When Andy is fatally injured only one thing can save him….becoming a dragon. Problem is, no one in three thousand years has performed the Ritual…and survived. Will Andy be able to become a dragon and retain his humanity? Or will he be fated to be a Lord of the Sky?

Sapegin’s world of Ilanta is weaved with the features of a quintessential fairytale narration, not in the ‘happily ever after’ sense, but in the style similar to Hans Christian Anderson’s writings. “Becoming the Dagon” is a great start to “The Dragon Inside” series where Sapegin brings the classic elements of mysticism and folklore to modern YA readers. I enjoyed seeing how Andy’s contemporary persona blended in with the new world of Ilanta and easily became a part of Sapegin’s narration. “Becoming the Dragon” had many gripping elements such as the newfound relationship between Andy and Karegar, the awakening of hidden powers, and the unknown future of Ilanta.

I found “Becoming the Dragon” a fresh, original work of fantasy with a great plot that promises to develop throughout the series, and it holds enough action, adventure, and unpredictable twists to have readers yearning for more pages.

Book Review: Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin

Andy Kerimov, a young Russian adolescent, is teleported to a place which at first look seems to be a different place on earth. As he searches to find a way back to his human family on Earth, Andy encounters various creatures such as griffins, dragons, and elves. Andy captured, caged, and traded between various groups. He manages to escape, only to be hit by a poison arrow. During his recovery, Andy spends time with a healer and a dragon.

This was my first fantasy book, so I struggled with names of creatures, characters, and places. When I got to the end of the book, I found a glossary of some of the places and terminology. The glossary might be better placed at the front of the text, so that the reader is more aware of it and can refer to it easily.

There were a few odd words used throughout the book, In one place, the verbiage “our hero” is used. It is hard to tell who “our hero” is. Is it Andy, the main character or Den, a young watchman?

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I loved the author’s vivid descriptions of the characters and their interactions. The depiction of Andy’s transformation from human to dragon was fascinating. The author’s use of foreshadowing was handled beautifully through the book. For example, at the beginning Andy learns how to use a bow and arrow from a neighbor. As a result, he handles the weapon well in the Royal Hunt.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I feel awful when an author or publisher gives me a book for a review, and my review is unfavorable. But I guess you can't connect with every book.

Becoming the Dragon has one of the most creative narratives; a very well constructed setting and interesting characters. However, as I mentioned before, I couldn't connect with the book. It took me days to read the first couple of chapters, and lamentably, in the end, I wasn't even capable of doing it.

The book narrates the story of Andy, a teen who survived being hit by lightning when he was younger and has been experimenting some strange reactions around electronics since then. After accidentally stumbling into a laboratory and mistakenly being transported to another planet whose inhabitants are mystical creatures, Andy needs to decide if he wants to die or live as a dragon.

I think my problem with the story was the many subplots. They made it difficult to connect with the main plot, and it was confusing to keep on with the story.

I really wish I had liked this book. There is nothing better than a mystical world with dragons, orc, elves. Nevertheless, no matter how many times I tried to finish it, I just couldn't.

This book was an interesting read.

On the one hand, fantasy and sci-fi literature can be very hit or miss. A lot of what gives the genre it's identity, especially in this day and age, is the world the story inhabits, and how well we feel transposed into a new one. That's why fantasy and sci-fi have such fertile ground for film and television -- visual media lends itself a little better to something new. But still, there are some true greats in the world, and they manage to stand out by using their language effectively to show, rather than tell. This book had the handicap of being translated from a language that I don't speak, and as a result, I feel like some elements that would have otherwise cemented that environment and tone -- it really did distract from the experience whenever I was reading a description from the third-person narrator, and modern slang kept cropping up. "Guy" where "man" would have fit better, and other such details. So, on the one hand, as a fantasy novel, this story had to have a lot to compensate, just for the fact that the language was somewhat uneven.

It more than made up for that with the sheer scope of the kinds of fantasy it's trying to inhabit. High fantasy, involving dragons, elves, dwarves, and orcs, as well as gritty, brutal deconstructions with the portrayals of filth and class imbalance, the modern 'Normal human child in a magical land' tropes, shape-shifting folklore and mythology, even some of the classic fantasy tropes that wouldn't be unheard of for the tales of chivalry and knighthood. Again, because the language is not always faithful or the best utilized for these story types, it can be a little distracting, but for just one book in a series of 5, it's an ambitious chunk to tear off.

It's also very easy to identify with the main character, Andy -- a normal Russian teenager, who gets sucked into a fantasy land with fantastic beasts and magic and lessons to learn as he adjusts. So much time is spent with him on Earth that you grow to feel like you know this character, and when he does get pitted against a new environment, his reaction is pretty much exactly like how any of us would realistically behave. Likewise, the other main characters are enjoyable and likeable, while also being distinct enough from generic, bland protagonists.

The problem comes from both pacing and a few other issues of focus -- a good third of the book is spent watching from the perspective of the (I think) antagonist, Nirel. By the time we see Andy again, it's easy to have forgotten that he's the main character. It doesn't help that Nirel is so BORING. For so much time devoted to seeing from his perspective, I still couldn't tell you a thing about the guy, or what he wants, or why he's doing what he does. Presumably, the intention was to build a foundation for later books -- showing us the intrigue of the royal court and the drama of politics in a medieval style fantasy world -- but it was so dull, and it dragged on for so much. If the chapters had shifted back and forth between Nirel and Andy, it could have given better perspective, or at least not felt like a slog. When the focus returns to Andy, it's a hard to re-acclimate to the basic premise. And then, once you are, the final dozen or so pages give an introduction of a character, who everyone acts as though will be an important, big influence on our hero, only for a twist to come just a few pages after they're introduced. I should also mention -- that twist and several important final details are brought up in the EPILOGUE. Not the last few chapters -- the post-script AFTER the last chapter. It's an astonishingly jarring rush for the last pages of a book, and ultimately hurt my impression of it.

That said, it didn't lessen how much I enjoyed reading it. A bad ending does not a bad book, make. And if you don't mind a few hiccups, you'll also probably have a good time, as well.

First in a series of five that originated in Russia, The Dragon Inside: Becoming the Dragon is debut Young Adult fiction from Alex Sapegin with a complicated sci-fi/fantasy plot.

Dragons and other fantasy creatures make this a sought after story for the YA crowd, especially for young adult boys, but it should be noted that (perhaps due to translation from the original Russian text) details seem rough and there are definite storyline gaps. In short, while it’s an exceptionally imaginative plot, full of action and adventure, it can be very hard to follow. Perhaps some of these questions will be answered in successive books, but there is regrettably little exposition to set the stage.

The gist of the storyline is that the main character, Alex, is struck by lightening on a school field trip years earlier, but thought the only effects of the incident were a nasty scar and a lingering strange effect on electronics that he came near. Without video games to fill his time, he found (or developed) other pastimes and skills, like cooking and archery. His constant sidekick is his pet dog, Bon. But one day while running an errand for his Father, who works at a private discovery lab aiming to master teleportation, Alex passed through the lab’s Experimental Field and was sent via portal to the fairytale world of Ilanta.

Humans, orcs, elves and dragons live in Ilanta. (Some of the best parts about the world here are that some creatures are borrowed from common lore and others are entirely new.) Alex, a teenager, takes his sudden appearance here surprisingly in stride, even as he meets danger almost immediately, and the dangers continue at every turn - though he does meet some unlikely friends and allies along the way as well.

It seems to survive in this world he may need to lose his humanity.

Becoming the Dragon, this first book in The Dragon Inside series, is a complicated, but interesting read. I found it to lack some critical plot devices, but young males may enjoy it and other books in the series if the story continues to develop in a comprehensive way.

*Voluntary review of Advance Reader Copy. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher.

Step into a world of orc, elves, gnomes, and dragons with Alex Sapegin’s Becoming the Dragon. Andrew is a normal sixteen-year-old who isn’t so normal after his electrifying accident two years prior. Suddenly, technology doesn’t really like his presence. He hasn’t really felt himself. And fate is about to make that even worse as he is suddenly thrown into an entirely different world. Even in this new world, he’s unique.

While I enjoyed Sapegin’s storytelling, I had a difficult time being pulled into this book until the very end. The writing was very choppy and had little flow. Among the choppiness, I was distracted by the many repetitive sentences as well as some misspellings. However, I’m chalking this up to the translation process. Becoming the Dragon was first published in Russian and has since been brought over to the U.S. in order to allow American readers to enjoy some modern Russian literature. Fantasy lovers will thoroughly fall in love with this story, if they can overlook some of the technical problems.

I received this book from Smith Publicity, Inc. for review.

Becoming a Dragon is a well written book by Alex Sapegin. This book is rather unique and the author does a good job creating a new world that does have semblance with ours, borrowing quite a few creatures from our known mythology and paranormal genre, but also creates a few of his own. His plot is imaginative and follows a great pace. I never felt like the story was dragging out although there were a couple of slower spots to allow some character development. The story never felt rushed though and did surprise me a few times with the direction it took.

Andy is an interesting character and it sure impresses me that a teenager his age is taking everything that happens to him with such ease. Thankfully he finds some very good friends along his difficult journey.

All in all this is a fun read. My interest is peaked but since I have a longer reading list finding out what will happen next to Andy will have to wait.

Voluntary review of Advance Reader Copy. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher.

Becoming the Dragon is the first installment of a five book series. This installment introduces a variety of characters whose storylines are intricately intertwined. The mythical world and creatures are beautifully described in detail making it easy to envision the world the author created. The possible conflicts hinted at in this book piqued my interest to see where this adventure will go. I was delighted to see such depth in a first installment. The only detraction from the story were the flashbacks. I had no difficulty jumping from one character's perspective to another and following the tale. The flashback portion that occurred more than midway through the book caught me off guard as it described events immediately leading up to a previous passage. As long as time lines are progressing at the same pace, changing perspectives works well. Changing perspectives and timelines caused some confusion.

That was just a minor flaw, though. I am dying to get my hands on book 2!

The story starts off relatively slow, but then quickly picks up the pace and becomes intriguing as it follows Andy through various adventures until he becomes a young dragon. It then chronicles the beginning of his life as a young dragon and all the things that come with it. The story ends at the perfect point to lead into the next book in the series.

This is a very unique story, which I truly enjoyed. The imagery and storytelling were fantastic. There were some errors in the book, but they were mostly punctuation.

Although the cover looks like this may be a children's book, this book is classified as a teenage/young adult novel, and I agree that it is appropriate for that age group. However, this is a story that I believe anyone, of any age, could enjoy. It is a delightful fantasy tale full of wondrous creatures, people, and places.

I really liked the fact that this story had several magical creatures, including elves, gnomes, dragons, and more. Also, I found the themes of destiny, transformation, discovery, and mentoring were portrayed well.

The parts that I found lacking included: secondary characters were forgettable with no distinguishable traits; plot was fairly choppy and jumped around quite a bit; the dragon transformation, though part of the title, doesn’t happen until about two-thirds into the book; and the uncommon and inventive names/words were frustrating and hard to keep track of (i.e. -names: Grok, Grchok, Gmar, Glik, etc.; inventive words: bozl, settage, mrowns, troglomp, etc.).

Overall, I can see some enjoying this, but I don't feel this is for me. Perhaps those who don’t mind plot jumpiness and inventive language would enjoy this one.

If you enjoy a good fantasy tale that has adventure, magic, mystical creatures, teleportation, and exploration of different worlds, then "Becoming the Dragon" by Alex Sapegin is just for you. I enjoyed the storyline, plots and especially the unique characters in the book. The author narrates the tale of Andrei Kermov's accidental teleportation to the planet Ilanta. His entry to this new world is anything but pleasant as his unintentional activation of a ancient object frees Karver, the Dragon, he is captured, put in handcuffs and sold as a slave. His meets elfs, orcs and dragons in his quest for self-discovery and fighting the cause of good versus evil, as his transformation into a dragon occurs.

Although the author was able to create several interesting storylines and characters within the book, the ability of the author to connect them all into one at the end did not plot was not achieved. This made it difficult to make a connection to the characters and storyline. I did appreciate the creative attempt to construct names and words associated with the planet that the author used, however, the flow of the story was difficult due to pronunciation issues.

In summary, I gave this book a rating of 4 out of 5 because of the interesting storyline and character development. I could not give it a higher score due to the choppy flow of the book. If these problems were correct, I'm sure the rating would increase

Andy was once a normal boy in modern-day Russia. His father worked on special government technology projects, his mother was always busy, and his loving sisters occasionally got on his nerves. One day, while Andy is running some paperwork to his father’s office, a test goes awry. Suddenly, Andy trips and finds himself falling through a giant sequoia forest… on another planet. The locals are very interested in having him for dinner, and not as a guest. Throughout various trials, he must shift his paradigm of the world around him to include the existence of magic, elves, orcs, and various hostile wildlife. And dragons. Andy becomes very familiar with dragons after becoming one himself!

Sapegin weaves an engaging story of uprooting, sojourning, and survival in this enjoyably short read. "Becoming the Dragon" will interest readers with a penchant for imaginative fantasy-fiction tales. This is your classic magic-and-swordplay story with unique characteristics applied to the typical fantasy races. Each race has their own version of a generally similar religion, though it doesn’t play a great role in this first book of the series.

I'd recommend that parents screen it before letting their children read it, as there are a few brief scenes with very suggestive sexual content, though not entirely explicit. Language is fine for children, though they will likely need a dictionary for some of the wide vocabulary.

Becoming the Dragon is the first in a five part series originally written in Russian and translated into English. The novel starts off kind of slow in a typical YA fiction story about a young boy coping with something that makes him different from the rest of the world around him. In this case, Young Andy was struck by lightning while on a fieldtrip and consequently has had to learn to live his life without the use of computer devices. I found this portion of the novel to be a little difficult to get through but once Andy arrives into a mysterious new world, Ilanta, the action is pretty nonstop.

The world building done in this novel is fantastic and I could not put it down. Excellent world building is done by showing rather than telling. There were no long paragraphs explaining the deities of the fantasy world, rather they are mentioned in passing by characters in dialogue and more details are revealing in tidbits as the story goes on….most of the time, there are periods where backstory is given in long paragraphs rather than flashbacks. It would have been great to see the novel fleshed out and these backstory bits been longer pieces, but for the shorter story length, this kind of thing was expected. There are a few grammatical errors here and there, but again, once the novel delves into the fantasy world it is an easily overlooked problem.

My favorite portions of Becoming the Dragon by far, are when Andy is first transported into the land of Ilanta and he is forced to find a way to survive in an unknown world with two moons. It reminded me a little of the Hunger Games in terms of surviving by wits along and I am a huge sucker for this type of book, from strange animals to coping with injuries with no first aid kit, this portion of the book was thrilling to read to say the least.

That being said I did find, on occasion, the dialogue to be a little awkward, but that could be attributed either to the Russian to English translation, or as I prefer to see it, just the weird quirks of the alien characters in the novel. I also found Sapegin’s take on dwarves, elves and more importantly, dragons to be on the side of unique and definitely interesting. A couple of times the writing, again made me pause, and pulled me out of the story, like when “Karegar sighed heavily and put his head back down on his left paw”, do dragons have paws? Wouldn’t it be claws? But that seems a bit nitpicky perhaps. However it did pull me out of the story so it is worth mentioning.

The ending was satisfying enough, going in knowing that the novel was a part of a series, I did not mind that it ended in a cliffhanger (especially since the rest of the series is already written and available for purchase!) I will likely continue the series as I am curious to see how the story evolves given what happens to Andy at the end of this novel. I would recommend this book to lovers of high fantasy, new worlds, and especially dragons. I would rate this novel a 3 out of 4. It is overall intriguing and well written, but with some grammatical/editing errors.

This is a story about a young Russian boy being transported into the magical and hostile world of Ilanta. He has to use his wits and knowledge to fight for his life. He is near death after being captured and tortured, and his only option to survive is to become a dragon. He does manage to make some friends who help him along the way.

What I love about this book is the imagination and originality of how Andy becomes a dragon and how he copes with the changes to his body and the challenges of just trying to exist in this world of Ilanta.

I recommend this book to teenagers and everyone who enjoys reading science fiction/fantasy books.

This is a very fun fantasy novel, where a human from our own humdrum, dragon-free world discovers a fantasy realm that has all the elves orcs, quests, and mythos that one requires from such a thing.

The author beautifully reveals the world as the book's hero discovers it, and by that I mean, I want to go there now.

The world has Eleraffs, a cross between an elephant and a giraffe. Eleraffs are my new favorite thing, and I want them to be in every book.

"The dungeon is not a spa" is the funniest quote I've seen in awhile.

This whole story is fun, with heroes, villains. You know, the good stuff. Highly recommended.

This book proved to be a fast, fun, and imaginative adventure of a young man. The fantasy series Becoming the Dragon by A. Sapegin has everything you would want in a fantasy story. It takes its main character, sixteen year old Andy Kerimov, to a new planet. Andy’s adventure starts when he is struck by lightning and discovered he can disrupt anything electronic. He also discovers this new electrical charge has given him magical powers. An unexpected turn of events suddenly transports Andy through a portal to a new planet known as Ilanta. Where the many creatures of childhood stories exist. Ilanta is populated with orcs, elves, gryphons, humans, dragons and magic. It has kingdoms, complex religious beliefs, and a very long history of conflict between species. Most interesting is Ilanta long ago used portal connecting different worlds.

Andy handles the situation he is in as any sixteen year old would, with recklessness. He makes impulsive decisions that have very bad consequences. This leads him to be captured, sold as a slave, and displayed as an animal. During captivity he finds a friend in a dragon named Karegar. Together they escape but Andy is mortally injured and his only way to survive is to be transformed into a dragon.

This is a great young adult coming of age book. It has all the elements to an epic tale with treachery, violence, love and revenge. It has mythical creatures, incredible magic, and heroic battles. With each passing page you are immersed in Andy’s wild adventure.

I really enjoyed the new world that A. Sapegin created using familiar fantasy themes. There are a large number of characters and some seem a little underdeveloped. I am hopeful that these will be more important characters in future books in the series.

The book was originally written in Russian and translated to English by Elizabeth Kulikov. I believe some things got lost in translation. The story moved from sub-plot to sub-plot leaving the reader confused at times and the story fragmented. For me, it did not take away my reading experience. The story is very imaginative, and takes the dragon theme into an entirely new spin. I was left wanting more. I look forward to reading the entire series. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy stories.

Due to the issues with translation, I have to give this 3 out of 4 stars.

It certainly amazed me as to how this young teen age boy endured such grueling hardship from jump to finish. I kept questioning and wondering, though, whether young or old, who could bear such extreme difficulty, except Christ Himself? Then, I realized, "Oh", anything can happen in a world of fictional fantasy aka a land of make believe. On the other hand, imaginary or not, I realize and honestly recall several moments, whereas, if it had not been for the Lord on my side, I would have never pulled through, thus revealing my true self.

However, in as much as, I like the biblical references and perked up regarding God, good verses evil and the notions of a boy changing into man; a healthy and respectful father and son relationship, as well as family unity, I still haven't quite made up my mind to read the complete series because of what I interpret as unnecessary pacing within this book and mostly, I do not believe in supernatural magic.

I had mixed feelings about this book. While I thought this story was carefully thought out, the actual execution left something to be desired.
The whole book felt disjointed; there were seemingly random events that left me feeling confused as to the significance, flashbacks that weren’t clearly portrayed as flashbacks, and small sections were written from insignificant characters' perspectives which detracted from the overall flow of the plot.
Also, too much time was spent on the world building of this new universe. Elaborate descriptions of things that didn’t impact the story were also a common occurrence. I found those long paragraphs difficult to visualize and wanted only to skip ahead to the action.
I also found it difficult to connect to the characters. During the most profound and impactful parts of the story, the author seemed to skim over Andy’s emotions and reactions, causing it to feel passive and ungenuine.
Multiple secondary characters were introduced to us at one time, and with such unusual names like Guynug and Grchok, I had to reread paragraphs in order to determine who’s who.
I noticed several mistakes and typos throughout the book, such as thoughts that should’ve been italicized, sentences that shouldn’t have been, missing punctuation and unneeded commas.
So while I didn't enjoy reading this, if you’re interested in a sci-fi/fantasy story with an intricate new world, teenage boys becoming dragons, and themes such as discovery, transformation and mentoring, you may appreciate this book.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Let’s get to the point first and ramblings second- this was an imaginative read. There are dragons, gryphons, Cheshire cats, and other fantasy creatures and beings. This book was full of action, adventure, and turns I didn’t see coming. There are so many characters in the story that make it very unique. And honestly difficult to keep up with sometimes, but I enjoyed the read. Now for some ramblings...
I’d definitely describe this as a boy book. There were several references to his “sacred” place and “crotch” and his “fly growing”. And that’s all in the first bit of the book. The second thing that got me was how much the main character, Andy, speaks to himself. The author simply italicizes these in the middle of a paragraph and keeps going. There is a lot of internal dialogue so it’s jarring to keep moving back and forth. And finally, I’m in the US and this book is from Australia. That makes for some slightly different habits and expressions... slightly awkward but not something to take away any ratings. Just worth mentioning.
Overall, not entirely suited for me personally, but still a unique read!

Andy, a 16-year-old boy, was struck by lightning a couple of years ago. Now he is unable to go near electronics. His love of computer gaming is over, so he finds other hobbies like reading, cooking, and sports. Andy and his friends also meet a man willing to teach them to use a bow and arrow. Then one day he falls into a portal to another world. The things he has learned helps him to survive the new world.

Andy meets strangers and befriends some of them, including a dragon, and learns some words of their language so he can communicate with them. He is captured, sold, caged and beaten. The authors descriptive writing has the reader feeling scared, sad, angry, and so much more.

This book is fast-paced and well-written. The characters come to life and keep the reader wanting to know what happens next.

I really enjoyed this book. Alex Sapegin has a talent for world-building that kept me eager to read what came next. 16-year old Andy Kerimov finds himself transported to a new planet after inadvertently becoming the first to test out a teleportation device funded by the Russian government. Sapegin describes in excellent detail Andy's adventures in his new world, from running afoul of the local gentry and being captured as quarry for their hunt, to his near-fatal escape that ultimately led to Andy becoming the dragon. Sapegin pulls the reader into the story and keeps us engaged from start to finish. Two small critiques were the use of too many unusual terms that had not been defined when we first meet the Ilantans and Andy's repeated referral to his dragon mentor as "Daddy." Both were a little jarring to me but easily ignored.

Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin, is the first book in a series called The Dragon Inside about a teenage boy named Andy who is teleported to another world. This portal fantasy is filled with interesting characters and a unique plot. When I saw the book was a Sci-fi fantasy about dragons, I honestly thought it was about a boy befriending a dragon, but that is not the case. In Becoming the Dragon, after Andy is teleported to this new world, he is held captive for letting Karegar the Dragon go free. His punishment, should he choose to accept, is to either die as a human or become a Dragon. Now, Andy must learn to trust in his new body and master his new powers. Little does he know, he is about to need them in the war between two planets that will also affect Earth.

The unique spin on the characters was intriguing as I read multiple stories throughout the book about elves, dragons, and orcs. Their personalities were fun and they added a lot of creative twists to the book. My only issue was the connections between all of the sub-plots of different characters. The book tends to jump from one scene to the other making it harder to follow along and get truly invested in the story. Without the “who’s-who” section, I honestly don’t know if I would have been able to keep up with all the characters.

The book was originally written in Russian and was then translated to English later. I’m not sure if it is because of the translation, but the writing style seemed a little uneven with inaccurate pacing. This made the book more confusing than it should have been and difficult to love as much as I wanted to. The story was also a little slow getting started, I found myself constantly waiting on the edge of my seat for the plot to thicken.

Overall, I would rate Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin a 4 out of 5 stars. The novel tells an intriguing fantasy of other worlds and supernatural beings, but could use some work with connecting narratives, pacing, and structure. I really enjoyed the story and the characters, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style for the book.

I received this book free with the intention to review, this didn't effect my opinion of the book.
The author did a good job creating a new world, where elves, humans, orcs, nomes, and dragons all exist. I feel like it was engaging enough to hold the readers interest, though it did seem a little dry towards the end. Overall I would reccomend this book to lovers of fantasy.

Becoming the Dragon is a dark fantasy about a journey of self-discovery as Andy is swept into this other world. He goes through a series of transformations throughout which keeps on this constant path of having to rediscover his identity. He goes from this normal teenager to going through this almost feral overhaul of himself, changing him into this wolf-like creature. His final transformation comes in the form of a dragon which forces him to confront himself and find a line between the human he was and the dragon he's become. Even the world itself slowly transforms before Andy's eyes. When he's first thrown into the world, it receives comparison to Alice in Wonderland as a place of wonder and magic which is quickly turned into a dark and gritty place of torture and enslavement. As a dark fantasy, this book does contain torture and violence throughout, but it's not without hope and humor. The progression of Andy's journey is well-written and worth the read!

Starting by saying I'm not a fantasy book lover, I enjoyed this book very much. The plot was very engaging, the characters not only had unique personalities, but they all had an essential role in the main character’s development towards his final stage as a dragon. I found Andy’s progression into a fighter and eventually a dragon very fascinating and his strength and determination drew me into the story. Nirel instead, the antagonist, was the perfect villain. He was smart and successful in his evil plan, but he also captivated me with the mystery around his character. I can’t wait to find out more about him in the next book. The novel was translated from Russian, so I think this is something to take in consideration while reading the book. I thought it was well written, and despite the character’s descriptions being a little superficial, the action kept me hooked until the end. I believe that a teenager would better identify with the main character, but I recommend this book for all the people who love fantasy worlds.

A young boy named Andy finds out when his father’s invention goes awry and transports him into a magical land of elves, orcs, gnomes, griffons, dragons and many other creatures that do not exist in his own world.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the detailed description of the physical changes Andy went through as he transformed from a human boy into a young dragon. Not only did the author make the physical transformation very visual and engaging, he covered the mental anguish and exhaustion that Andy experienced during the ordeal.

I would recommend this book to individuals who are interested in fantasy, adventure and survival stories. This book is suitable for younger readers who may especially like the plot because it includes dragons and the ability for a character to change into a fantasy animal. Older readers would enjoy the story equally well.

Good read! This book adds enough interesting details and unique changes to the predictable coming of age story to make it worth reading. Still a predictable story of a lonely boy who becomes the chosen one, in this case a dragon. However, the main character is lovable and would be very relateable to any teen. I recommend this to any young adult reader looking for a series to dive into. There are a few more books after this one as well. Overall, not a waste of time for anyone to read.

Alex Sapegin succeeds in creating a colorful world and an entertaining story in Becoming the Dragon, which I believe that YA readers who like fantasy will enjoy.
This story, translated from Russian, hits most of the prerequisite fantasy notes: a foreign world where magic is present, adventure, drama, and a cast of characters comprised of a variety of species. Although there are early scenes prepping the character of Andy to explain why he would have certain useful skills once transported, I am uncertain what his inner conflict was and why he needed to be the one to go through the Heroes Journey.
There were a few things in the writing that I found to be frustrating or odd, the first being that the book states that Andy is a teenager. Ok, well that can be anywhere from 13 – 19, and there is a big difference. It doesn’t state until over halfway through the book that he is 16, something that may help other readers, as up until that point I had difficulty forming a mental picture of the main character because his age was difficult to pin point based on how he was written.
The other two major complaints could also be a cultural and/or translation issue. The writing comes off clunky in places, e.g. there is a flashback within a flashback at one point that feels very jarring, and there are awkward scene transitions here and there. The biggest gripe that I have is Andy’s internal dialogue, which at times does not represent how teenagers talk: “Regarding my complaints of this beastly, hellish itching at my tailbone…” In fact, I do not know any adults that would use some of the phrasing that this sixteen year old sometimes uses. The worst offender, in my opinion, is when he starts referring to his new father figure as “daddy”, which he then does constantly. As I said, this could be a cultural thing, I have no idea if it is normal for Russian teenagers to refer to their parents as “mommy” and “daddy”, but for me the continual use of the term was just weird and grating.
Aside from this, the book does meander at times, but the author is a talented storyteller and I am interested to see what adventures Andy has in store for him.

Becoming the Dragon throws its protagonist, Andy, into a fantasy world that borrows tropes from Tolkien-esque fantasy novels. There are species like elves and dragons, but the book includes enough unique worldbuilding to make it feel like its own concept. Andy is a resourceful protagonist who isn’t immediately revered by the inhabitants of the world he finds himself in, and both his allies and enemies are well-rounded characters in their own rights. I couldn’t give it a perfect rating, however, due to some relatively explicit content that detracted from the story overall: two characters have sex in the woods, and emphasis is sometimes placed on female characters’ breasts and/or rears. There was also a distinct shortage of strong female characters, with only one exception.

This is an imaginative tale of a young boy who finds himself accidentally teleported to another world filled with fantastical creatures. There he finds magic and adventure. He faces danger and death. He learns that he is stronger than he ever imagined possible.

This is a tale of a young boy who discovers that to fulfill his true destiny, he must face the pain and agony of Becoming The Dragon. Can he do this? Can he make the necessary sacrifices? Can he give up the hope of ever returning home to the life he once knew, the family he left behind?

I recommend Becoming The Dragon to adults who enjoy fantasy adventures. Due to a couple of short sexually suggestive scenes (not erotica), I would not recommend it for teens or younger.

This is an incredibly fun read.

I struggled to follow this book from the start. Having been translated into English, I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt to the author as far as grammatical and spelling mistakes were concerned. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that. The mistakes were numerous and detracted from the story. Although, I didn't think that the story was all that great either. I think the concept of a boy being teleported to another world and becoming a dragon is very cool, but I think the execution could have been much better. The characters fell a little flat, as well. I never warmed to Andy. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a mindless, light-hearted read. But seasoned fantasy lovers will not appreciate it.

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. I really disliked the inappropriate references to the boy’s genitalia being “aroused” which is totally gross considering this book looks like it should be marketed to kids. I also think either the writing or the translation or both are just terrible. There’s a lot of telling, not much showing or feeling. The bones of a good story are definitely there, but execution is sadly lacking.

I received this book for free from onlinebookclub in exchange for a review.

Overall I was impressed with Sapegin's first novel in the series. Readers follow Andy, the main character, along as he's thrust into a new world and has to figure out how to survive. I quickly felt sympathetic for Andy, especially considering some of the situations he encounters throughout his journey. We're introduced to a host of new characters, most of whom are satisfactorily fleshed out. My only complaint would be that, while Sapegin has done an incredible amount of world-building, he chooses to share this information in densely packed sections. The last third of the book shows Andy learning about the history/religious background of this new world from mentors in almost complete dialogue. I had trouble remaining focused on so much new information and would've preferred to see it broken apart throughout the book or series.

Regardless, I think Becoming the Dragon is a strong start to the series and would recommend it to anyone interested in the fantasy genre.

This was such a cool idea: a human would have the change to become one of the "embodied ones," a human-turned-dragon! The fantasy world of Ilanta where this takes place was so vibrantly described; Sapegin has his rules and runs with them fluidly and naturally. The story kept me wanting more every time I sat down to read it. If you like fantasy, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Inheritance cycle, you will definitely want to pick up the first book in The Dragon Inside series. I gave the book four stars instead of five because of the translator's typos and grammatical errors; the story itself is interesting and well-executed. Check it out!

I enjoyed the storyline of Becoming the Dragon, but there are several things that prevent me from recommending it to other readers. First, it is difficult to read because the writing has misspellings, poor grammar, and too many Americanisms despite being set in Russia and a mythical land. Second, the characters were inconsistent and I didn't really get to know or love any of them, not even the protagonists. Lastly, it was incomplete: the heavy events are poorly paced; I wanted to spend time and learn about the world around me, but found myself rushed from scene to scene with either no explanation or dry commentary. If the author spends more time filling in the gaps and running it past another editor or proofreader, I'd be willing to consider reading the other books in the series.

Enticing starter book for the series. Well translated from its original Russian since it conveys the emotions and sensations well. The author has a very vivid imagination and takes the main character from one adventure to another passing by teen's rollercoaster emotions with changes in his own environment and physical as he becomes the legendary beast.
It reminds me a little bit of The Lord of the Ring's Thomas when he takes the heart of the Dragon. It is an entertaining read designed for teens and young adult with the right dose of violence and romance.

This is a fantasy that would keep you on your toes throughout the read. You'll be confused, disgusted, touched, surprised, and left in tears. You would want to know that the boy, who mistakenly teleported to the other land, to turn out to be okay. You would hate the people who would hurt this innocent soul and grieve with the boy. But one thing is for sure, you would not give up on him because you would wish for him to be reunited with his family.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was an easy read with a creative new world that kept you interested until the end. The author clearly understood his world he created, but the book could have used a little more world building to fill in a few more blanks. I am hoping that we get some of that in the next book.

It is a translation from the original Russian, and at times there are a few phrases that get lost in translation. It also could use a good once over with a native English speaking editor to fix some typos, homonyms, and a repeated paragraph.

Although it does have a few downsides, it is still a worthwhile read.

The premise here seemed really interesting, but I found the main character rather lacking. He was the sort of main character where things happen to him, but he never takes the lead to do anything about these events. In the end, the book was okay, but not my favorite. Readers that enjoy lots of action without worrying about much character development will likely enjoy this book.

First book in a series of portal fantasies, Becoming the Dragon is an interesting example of that genre.
Although nominally a fantasy, the writing style is closer to hard science fiction, as the author uses science terms to describe magic (eg linguistic matrices, magical energy flowing like veins through the blood) and the world that the main character finds himself in after an accident with a teleportation experiment.This world is filled with common fantasy races like dragons, orcs, elves, gnomes, griffons, etc. but they don't necessarily feel stereotypical. The author found a way to make many of them unique, like gnomes with luminescent hair and a sweet female elf/male dragon odd couple who adopt the protagonist.
Note that despite the main character being a sixteen year old boy, the story does not read like a young adult novel. The vocabulary is extensive, well beyond the typical adolescent's reach.

The premise of this book caught my interest even though I don't read much fantasy. The storyline about the dragon was pretty interesting and the main characters were well done. I especially like the actual transformation and how the main character adjusts to being a dragon. However, there were so many subplots that did not seem to fit in and the characters introduced then never revisited. I imagine that these loose strands will be revisited in the rest of the series, but it made the book seem disjointed.

This novel is totally worth it. You have to make it through a lot of back story at the beginning, but once the action starts it doesn't stop! There are some awkward constructions as a result of the translation, but for the most part it is very well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed the world the author developed. Who doesn't love griffons, orcs, elves, dragons, and "mrowns" (Chesire-like BIG cats)!? And did I mention dragons? Take the time to get through the beginning and any fan of fantasy will love this one.

This book was really good!! It was a little slow starting out but once you got about a 1/4 of the way into the story it got REALLY interesting and adventurous!! I want to rate this a 5 because as soon as I was finished reading it, I quickly downloaded Book 2 and 3 from Kindle Unlimited and I jumped right into reading Book 2. The only reason I am rating it a 4 is because of the slow start. DEFINITELY worth taking the time to read it though.

This story is a great read for fantasy fiction lovers. The main character's development is really what drew me into the story. The author did a fantastic job describing in detail his growth both emotionally and mentally. The story did tend to drag on for me, which brought my review down a bit. There were quite a few details that really could have been left out without effecting the storyline. I did enjoy Andy's journey though and look forward to reading the next chapter!

"Becoming the Dragon" by Alex Sapegin is book #1 in his "The Dragon Inside" series. It takes place on Planet Ilanta. Andy, our protagonist, goes through many adventures with a wide variety of other characters. I can only give this a 3 star rating because the first 3/4 of the book had me confused. There were many errors in punctuation, grammar, incomplete sentences and the amount of non-important characters was just too confusing. Then in the final 1/4 of the book, it changes. It suddenly becomes very interesting and I wanted to know what will happen to Andy. If you can get through the beginning of the book it might be worth your while to read.

I was asked to give an honest review by the author of the book, Alex Sapegin. Becoming the Dragon is an imaginative fantasy centered around Alex, a sixteen year old boy. He visits his father at work and is transported to another planet where he interacts with elves, mages, dragons, orcs, Vikings, and other humans. How is Andy going to get home? Will the dragon Karegar be able to help?
I love the author's use of descriptive language which allows the reader to imagine the planet, Ilanta, the landscape, and all of its inhabitants. There were numerous characters which could be confusing at times. However, the unique storyline and main characters, including dragons and humans truly transported me to another world! I would recommend this to any fantasy reader.

Becoming the Dragon is a surefire page-turner and an excellent start to a new fantasy series. Alex Sapegin brings intriguing characters together in a well-designed fantasy world. My only gripe is that the editing is not on par with my expectations for a professionally published piece of literature. Beyond that, I recommend diving headfirst into this first entry in the Dragon Inside series, where you can journey with the protagonist Andy into another world and experience the adventure of two lifetimes.

Andy is teleported to a world full of magical and dangerous creatures. In order to survive, he embraces his animal side. What is most remarkable about this book is the in-depth world building. The characters are well developed, complex and relatable. It was easy to get immersed in the world and invested in Andy's journey. This is a book for readers who enjoy young adult fantasy. However, this is also a thought-provoking dark fantasy that can easily be enjoyed by older age groups.

I found Becoming the Dragon to be better than expected. The world building was better than usual for a young adult book (more on par with adult fantasy genre). I did find the plot slow to develop and was frustrated that half way through things were still pretty slow. When I finished the book, though, I was glad I stuck with it. I even ended up liking the main character, which is unusual for me. I’m rating this book a three, but I would really give it three and a half stars. If it had not been for how slow it was it would have easily been a four star book.

A well-written and engrossing story. Yet, since there is so much set up in this book, you really need the second book in the series to see where this is going. Readers who enjoy fantasy will breeze through this book and hurry on to the next. Thankfully, the rest of the series is available and readers can satisfy their curiosity and discover Andy's fate.

Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin is a fun fantasy novel about a teenager named Andy who accidentally walks through an experimental portal and gets transported to a world full of dragons, elves, orcs, and magic. Sapegin does a great job of making Andy relatable. In the first few chapters, we know what he cares about, what makes him tick, and what ticks him off. The story moves in fits and spurts occasionally, but really gets rolling right at the end, with a lot of allusions to further events (this is the first in a series). I found this to be a fun read, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I like the world the author created, and I am naturally drawn to anything having to do with dragons. This seemed like a good start to a young adult series. However, sometimes I felt disconnected from the main character, and it was difficult to know what he was going through and to empathize with him. Also, the dragon transformation happened much later than I expected, considering it is the title of the book and the first thing mentioned in the description. There was a lot more about what happened to lead Andy to the transformation, and less to do with him adjusting to this new form.

Alex Sapegin has created a fantastical parallel world in Becoming the Dragon. This coming of age tale mixes a little science with a lot of fantasy to transport you to a world where dragons are more than just predators hidden in the mountains. Complex characters and an exciting plot complete with elves, dragons and other good and evil creatures will keep you turning the pages right to the end! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because a few instances of the translation at the beginning of the book seemed a little awkward. Otherwise, this is an excellent young adult read!

Ultimately, Andy shows a courageous and inspiring character by overcoming the trials and tribulations life has presented to him. He unintentionally falls through a portal to another world where he is \transformed into a dragon. Through the agonizing process, he finds love and support. He will learn magic to finally build a bridge connecting his old world with his new one. Though a fantasy, readers can find inspiration in their own lives as they face daunting challenges with the courage to overcome them and transform themselves with heroic vision.

"Becoming the Dragon" is a fast-moving fantasy story about a boy, Andy who finds himself in another world. There are mystical animals and beings that he encounters. There are a lot of characters, but they all do finally make sense. The brave boy becomes a dragon and he continues his adventures in the new world. After reading the first book in a five-book series, I want to read the other books to find out what happens next.

This story follows a young man from his odd life in our world to his fight to survive and transform in another. Every character and creature he meets has a different agenda but only the two that are closest to him have guessed what his true purpose in their world might be. The book was translated from Russian to English and it shows in the way the teen characters speak in the beginning, but it does not take away from the story at all. The plot moves quickly and adroitly through worlds and several points of view. A fantasy story worthy of the name!

This story focuses on a young man, Andy, who gets transported to another world, where magic and dragons are real. His trials and tribulations as he adjusts to the new culture he finds himself in lead him to unexpected discoveries - in his new world and about himself. This was an enjoyable read that kept my attention throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel because it transported me to a fantasy world full of its own charms and perks. The main character Andy is saved by a dragon named Karegar and an elf herbalist named Jagirra, and together they work to raise Andy as one of their own. Andy's transition into a dragon was written wonderfully, as the author took his time to describe his anatomical and emotional change. The plethora of new characters were a bit overwhelming, and I would have loved if there were periodic updates about Andy's family were included in this novel. Other than that, a fantastic novel, and the second book should be a delight to read!

I recieved this book for free from onlinebookclub.org for my honest review.

This is a fantastic book! It's the first of 5 books about a 16 year old boy who was transported to a magic world. Spoiler, he becomes a dragon!

The writing is a little choppy, it is a Russian to English novel. However, it is an amazing story. There are several story lines that come together about half way through the book. The author also does quite a few flash backs, which is somewhat annoying. It is a pretty linear tale and easy to follow.

I very much look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I really enjoyed this read. While I think some was lost in translation (literally) and there could have been some more world building, the overall plot was fantastic and I loved Andy's character. Definitely recommend for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure stories!

Becoming the Dragon is a marvellous read by A. Sapegin who divulge the reader in a amazing new unknown world of wilderness, full of action and thriller in it. The main character is a typical teen who goes through hell to secure his life and finally his ultimate moment to become a dragon. Truly a worth reading experience!

I really enjoyed this book in what is surely going to be a great series. I gave it five stars because the characters are well developed and so is the world. Anyone that enjoys fantasy, adventure, or Tolkien's work would enjoy this book for sure.

This story is a really interesting science fiction book. You follow the main character as he goes from an average teenage life to being thrown into a new world where he has to find a way to survive. The only downside, I felt, was that it takes a little bit before the story becomes a true page turner that you just cannot put down.

This book was enjoyable to read and showed the incredible imagination of the author. He took you on lots of ups and downs and through lots of places while seeing a wide variety of characters. My 13 year old son is looking forward to reading it as well as one of the teachers I work with as well as his fiancé.

The first installment in The Dragon Inside five-book series is about being thrown into a world of supernatural creatures and having to choose between Becoming the Dragon or perishing. Enjoyable for all ages this story is perfect for teens, young adults and Science-Fiction Fantasy lovers alike. I like the concept that since the main character Andy Kerimov got struck by lightning standing under an oak tree, he’s charged with electricity and starts to affect anything electrical around him. Andy zapped lightning bolts and the electric in the air is magic.

Reading this book was an interesting experience. On one hand, the descriptions and secondary characters were captivating. On the other hand, it's nearly impossible to relate to the main character, Andy. As a character, Andy reads more as a self-insert, male Mary Sue, and that makes it disrupting and distracting to the reader. The story itself is fascinating and has more than enough weight to carry it through to completion, but is bogged down by the ill-fitting main character.

I really enjoyed the book, it reminded me so much of the books I adored as a child, while having more adult themes and moments. Very imaginative, and takes very exciting turns from the norm and what may be expected from a story in this genre. I highly recommend anyone looking for a fun, captivating read pick up this book, and (unlike me, haha) be sure to use the handy glossary in the back if names and places start getting confusing. There's a lot to take in, but the author was thoughtful enough to take that into consideration.

onlinebookclub.org has my official review but I must say I really liked this book. The story flows and keeps the reader interested. Great read. some adult content so be advised if reviewing for your children.

The book doesn't grab you at the beginning, but it gets better as it goes on. The main character Andy goes through alot of trouble throughout the book. But makes friends with a dragon whom he calls dad.
There were too many characters in the book, which gets confusing.

This book has an extraordinarily compelling plot. It's one that will keep you coming back out of sheer curiosity. And it includes dragons, which are, according to Tolkien, essential to any good story. In short, if you love adventure and fantasy, you should definitely give this book a try. There is some subject matter that I would consider questionable for children to preteens. It won't include anything the average teenager would be shocked by.

I admire anyone who has the gumption to write a novel. The idea here...how a person might become a dragon and what it would be like...is a good one. However, the book needs a lot of editing. The problem may be that it was originally published in Russian, but it was difficult to follow.

The story was way to random and hard to follow. So little is known about the character from the beginning and we are expected to just know a lot of detail from the start. Locations shift and change at will with no real necessity or interest. The book could've definitely used a few more editing shifts.

Becoming the Dragon is the first book in a series by Alex Sapegin.the book follows a boy named Andy through a portal, making him fight for survival. Providing intricate details and a fully-developed realm outside our own, Sapegin has written an amazing fantasy novel. Including teleportation, magic, and reincarnation, this is a book I would highly recommend if you enjoy the fantasy genre.

This was such a fun book to read, I found I really didn’t want to put it down. It is the first of five books in the series and as soon as I finished it I downloaded the free sample of the second book. As a parent I’m always looking for books that are clean and fun that I can read and pass off to my kids, or even read to my kids, this is certainly one of those books. There is no profanity or language, no sexually explicit scenes, and nothing too dark or gory.

The STORIES were engaging, but this book should have been two and there should also have been a higher word count. Sometimes Andy solves things simply because he is the main character or because he is the unofficial chosen one. It feels rather rushed and the most emotional moments feel passive and ungenuine.

Still, what was good and I'm going to read the sequels, but this series is not the next Lord lf the Rings.

I loved the adventure in this book. It has a truly magical quality and you can't help but fall in love with Andy as he journeys to another world and becomes something he never thought possible by his sheer will to survive and help from those who recognize his inner strength. Although some parts are hard to read due to some mistranslation, this book has everything a fantasy buff desires in its heart, mystery, and action packed excitement.

Becoming the Dragon is a unique approach to a science-fiction novel. The characters are endearing and the plot is fast paced and exciting. This is the first novel in the series and it lays the foundation for the next novels. If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings, you will enjoy this series.

Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin is a tale of life changing events for Andy Kerimov. He is pulled into a new world and is faced with unimaginable challenges; from portal traveling, hand to hand combat, reincarnation, and supernatural beings. For a time I was a little confused as to what was going on, but everything comes together well and without any unanswered questions. I am looking forward to reading the next book!

For anyone who has ever wished they could break free of their ordinary life, especially teenaged boys, this is a great book to launch their escape. Layer by layer, the author takes Andy from a regular boy in a regular town in Russia to a whole other life in a whole other place populated with eleraffes, magic and dragons.

Becoming the Dragons has an array of unique characters, but the names feel repetitive and make it difficult to decipher who is who. There were some characters I found highly interesting and wanted to read more about, but they're only brought up every so often. The narrative is difficult to follow and hard to understand who the story is about.

This story is good which is why I gave it 4 stars but had a shaky beginning for me. There were some areas that I had trouble following at the beginning but as the plot came together my interest solidified. A hint of the truth began to form near the end and it will be interesting to see where it leads in the subsequent books. I would recommend this to my friends and family who like science fiction fantasy.

This book was an excellent fantasy book, and fit the bill for the title. It is the first of a set of multiple books, so it took a long time setting up the story, which I enjoyed. I really connected with the main character.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. There were grammatical errors that should've been caught by an editor. The story idea is intriguing and leaves you wanting to know more, but some parts of the novel seemed underdeveloped, which is probably due to this being the first book in a series. If you enjoy science fiction/fantasy and enjoy series, then I recommend this book for you.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and the culture was rich. The world Sapegin created was amazing and detailed. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.

Becoming the Dragon was an interesting take on the fantasy genre. I liked how the author built a unique world and realistically addressed the language issues present when travelling to a different world. However, the book was slow at times and I didn't like how the author handled the female characters.

I love that Becoming the Dragon gives a different spin on the fantasy world that hasn't been done a thousand times. I also love following the teenage Andy as he struggles to survive, but continue to be himself while being thrust into a fantasy world that he believed to only exist in books. This book leaves you wanting more. I look forward to the rest of the adventure!

I am not a sci-fi reader but I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. The character development is excellent and it gives a very interesting and positive perspective on "dragons" that are contrary to pop culture thinking.

Becoming the Dragon is a wonderful tale of a normal kid who becomes something extraordinary. I love the way Alex Sapegin balances the jumping of worlds and apparent time frames. I am an avid reader of fantasy fiction and I cannot wait to read the next book to see how Andy's journey continues.

I really enjoyed this book because the author does an excellent job of immersing you into the fantasy world he creates. Also, there's a good balance between the perspective of the main character and the development of other, broader issues that makes the book fun to read by itself, but you also end up wanting to read the other books in the series.

I was very pleased with this book. It gives detail, or description, where it is needed. The plot it's paced well and does not leave one wondering how the characters got to that place and time. This would be a good book for a young adult, or anyone looking for a good adventure.

This book had a lot of positives. The main character was fun, the narration was descriptive and engaging, and the plot was intriguing. The only place where I feel it fell flat was the originality of the tale. The story itself and its twists and turns were quite predictable.

I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable for a fantasy book. I don't read the genre often, but the writing style itself kept me interested. I would recommend this short book for a light read between heavier novels.
- Bobbi

It was a good book. It starts off kinda slow at first but picks up very quickly. The world building is in my opinion what makes the book worth the read. Considering that this the first of the series and its starting off strong. IT gives me some hope for future installments

This book has great ideas and starting groundwork for a series, but the writing is a little lacking in details and flow. However, it was still an okay read and I will be checking out the next one when I get the chance.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I was mad when it was over because I wanted to know what happened to Andy. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series. Anyone who enjoys fantasy books will enjoy it.

I liked the story after reading the first chapter. Lovers of fantasy would love this book. Andy Kerimiv makes a compelling hero. The ending was unimpressive. I definitely want read the rest of the stories.

I'm a picky reader. I do a lot of reading, and it's sometimes hard for me to find books I love a ton, especially by less-known authors. But this book was so funny, exciting, original, and interesting that I couldn't put it down. Read it! It's great!

This is a good young adult book. It has humor, adventure, magical creature and time travel. It kept my attention throughout the story. I enjoyed the characters and the imagery throughout the story.

BookRev6