A Natural History Of Dragons is a beautifully written book, constructed with remarkable care for details and executed with passion and precision. The novel assumes the style of a memoir and leads the reader on a fascinating journey into the world filled with dragons. Everything - from the phenomenal Victorian/Regency Era atmosphere, coruscating dialogues, unforgettable visuals and - most of all - extraordinary (and perhaps a little bit eccentric) heroine - is to die for! 
 Lady Trent's uncanny narrative voice is what truly made this book for me (well, that and the gorgeously depicted dragons, of course!). She is clever, intelligent, witty, curious and passionate. She's a real lady - polite, cultured and well-rounded - but she can also be quite sharp-tongued if needed. If she really wants something, she will find a way to get it, but at the same time, she is smart enough to pick her battles. She's determined, but not senselessly defiant. Through her eyes, we get to see the mountains of Vystrana in their whole glory. Her descriptions are rich and tangible and they breathe life into every scene, character and place. I'm not sure if I can say that I fell in love with Lady Trent's character - she is not a heroine that you simply "like", but rather one you look up to, admire and respect. A wise old lady who is kind enough to share her amazing adventures with us. And her voice is strikingly authentic! 
 While the title might suggest a book filled with dry facts and boring passages, this story is, in fact, filled with interesting thoughts, reflections and emotionally affecting recollections that keep you captivated all the way through. There are many adventures and mysteries within the pages of this book. As I mentioned before, the story mimics an actual memoir and it certainly reads as one. The writing style, hand-drawn sketches of dragons (which, by the way, are absolutely gorgeous!), even the realistic Preface written by Lady Trent - it all makes you feel that what you're holding in your hands is, in fact, an authentic memoir of a famous dragon naturalist, magically transported here from a world where dragons are (very) real. The slow pacing of the story will only add to that feeling. Not everyone will love it. If you're allergic to memoir-style books, you will probably not enjoy it very much. If you're looking for epic battles, magic and larger-than-life heroes fighting evil villains - this is not where you'll find all that. But if you appreciate good storytelling, characters that are so realistically drawn you think of them as historical figures, and alternative world settings that are just as believable as they are astonishing, you are in for a treat! 
 I loved this novel. I loved this world. And I loved this journey. 
 I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dragons (the realistic, dangerous kind, not the "How To Train a Dragon"-kind) and intelligent adventure/exploration stories. With vivid settings, breath-taking description of dragons and deliciously evocative prose, it's a feast for imagination. I can hardly wait to read next one of Marie Brennan's phenomenal novels!