I really wanted to like this (middle ages! Facts!) but the structure was confusing. Nominally, each section followed a portion of the hero's journey, but the "real life" examples would often have nothing to do with the activity described in the dragon quest. Attempts at humor were awkward and unnecessary.

A truly informative read!
You can tell that Cait Stevenson put a great deal of research Into their work, and covers a great deal of topics!
I did find that after a while some parts became slightly repetitive and dry, but overall the book was very enjoyable.
I would recommend to authors and historians, but I would probably put it in a niche fantasy category - it is very factual and is probably not the first thing an avid fantasy reader would reach for. But for the market it is designed for, it meets all the criteria and teaches a great deal about how the tropes of the genre came to be (the flirting with a barmaid chapter was particularly delightful!)

This started out really well and I was enjoying the uniqueness of the book and the humor and wit the author brought. However, it started to feel a little stale and repetitive after awhile and, towards the end, I was having a hard time staying engaged. There is some pretty interesting stuff in here about the Middle Ages and it's presented in a very accessible way, so if that's what you're looking for, I think this is a great place to start. If you're looking for anything more in-depth, though, this is probably not the book for you.

How to Slay a Dragon is perfect for readers who love history and fantasy quests. First off, love the cover, it's perfect for the book. How to Slay a Dragon dives into the history of the middle ages set up a hero's guide. This covers topics such as who you could pick to be your mentor and what you should wear. Since the book covers all of the middle ages, this is more of a cursory overview written in a witty way that makes for a fun take on the time period. Sometimes the book did get bogged down in details and caused me to forget what section I was on, but overall it was a fun way to read about the time period.

This was a really fun book based off of the middle ages. I usually don't pick up books based on the middle ages because they don't seem particularly interesting but this one was really fun and I laughed out loud a couple of times. I really liked the "tldr;" at the end of the chapters, I thought it was a really good addition and added more to the humouristic side of the book. I will definitely pick up this book for someone who likes history and the Middle Ages.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review**

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the idea of this book. I love medieval history, and especially social history, so I was hoping that this would feature information about the practicalities of how people lived that I didn't know. And in some ways it delivered on that: I learned about the physical landscape of the road and the different kinds of inns. But it felt more like a stream of facts than a cohesive guide to the period.

I think part of this stems from trying to write a guide to how a fantasy medieval adventurer would survive, without giving a more firm context on where and when specifically we're talking about. There was a great section about the geography of the medieval world, but after the vastness of the area was explained, it was kind of just left there. And then when we hear about various facets of life, that geographical context is dropped. I was never sure where exactly I was.

It also ended up feeling like a lot of stories the author wanted to tell were shoehorned in. For instance, there's a section where a curfew is explained and then a quote given from a person who mentioned a curfew. That additional quote didn't add to my understanding.

I enjoyed some of the things I learned, but overall this just wasn't the book for me.

A fun and loving dive into the strange world of the Medieval ages. Beautiful illustrations and a hilarious illuminating experience from beginning to end.

How to slay a dragon by Cait Stevenson was quite an adventure. I loved taking this magical journey. The book reads like a fantasy book, but with accurate historical facts. I was exhausted midway of the journey, learning and “experiencing” life in the medieval ages. I was convinced I wouldn’t survived (ha ha)

This is no ordinary history book and doesn’t read like one either. It is an interactive book that transports you back in time.  You embark on an adventurous fantasy journey, with problems to solve and decisions to make based on what you learn throughout the book. You are guided and provided with enriched information of the Middle Ages, as well as examples for you to make conscious decisions that will lead your journey.

This book is excellent for history lovers and those reluctant to read them. It will make you think, laugh and question what you might have already known of the Middle Ages.

I have such mixed emotions about this work, which is not normal for my relationship with nonfiction. Typically I only LOVE fiction, and nonfiction is either "interesting" or "not." This work, however, has traits that make it loveable.

"So why the three-star rating Fangirl?" Okay, fair enough.

This book is written with a unique premise, the reader is a fairy tale hero from the middle ages and the author is instructing you on how to survive and thrive. I've never read nonfiction with this structure and I think, for about the first half of the book, it really worked for me. Unfortunately, it did get a bit tired and I didn't always understand the connection between the reader's stage in their journey and the topic the author wanted to discuss. Hence the three-star rating.

Tl;dr = I enjoyed this and it's super informative and unique but it did get old.

Fun is an apt description. I love the possibilities for diving into a fantastic world and thinking about how this book might inspire young readers.

I love nonfiction books, especially when they teach me something new about the world. I’ve gotta say, I enjoyed this book and I learned a lot of new, weird things about the Middle Ages. I really wish there was a bit more of the old, storybook style art throughout. I also think there were times where the narrator kind of got off topic in various chapters. But overall, this was a fun read with an entertaining setup.

How to Slay a Dragon is a charming, if occasionally meandering, nonfiction take on the fantastical stereotypes of the medieval world through a realistic lens. Broken up into sections based on steps one would take in a medieval fantasy hero's journey, the book covers actual examples in history as they relate to the supposed medieval world, like unicorn horns (whoops, narwhal teeth) being cherished for their magical, fortune-bringing abilities and "how to outwit a genie." The tone of the book remains appropriately tongue-in-cheek even as it contends with potentially dull historical details. While the book is structured in very specific sections, the book can at times feel a little directionless, but I suppose that's just something that's unavoidable in a nonfiction book. Regardless, How to Slay a Dragon is an amusing, approachable take on medieval history.

They say never judge a book by the cover, but I knew I had to get my hands on this the second I saw that dragon. Luckily for me, what continued within lived up to the hype of the tagline; that it's a "fantasy hero's guide to the real Middle Ages."

Thinking of my personal interests, I may perhaps be the perfect reader for this book. I devour a ton of fantasy. I'm well versed in many of the tropes that inhabit those worlds, and I have a deep love of history. Especially those dang Middle Ages, where most fantasy book worlds love to take inspiration from.

Author and historian Cait Stevenson has compiled a hilarious account of real Middle Ages history that fit neatly into many fantasy genre tropes. The book is beautifully laid out, with gorgeous chapter illustrations and exceptional font choices. You can tell a ton of care went into the design. At the moment I have a digital copy, but I've already pre-ordered the physical book, which will be a fierce addition to my bookshelf.

I've dipped my toe in the humorous history book world before, but "How to Slay a Dragon" really is a take unlike any other I've seen. Stevenson has such a unique voice and a deft hand; able to present dense information that even the history haters will find tempting.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this one was the reader's role as the hero. This was my chance, my shot, at finally being *THE CHOSEN ONE*... if you've ever wondered what it was like to train a wizard, find a unicorn, and feast like a king (all from the context of the true Middle Ages) than "How to Slay a Dragon" is your moment! So go ahead reader, listen to the call from this lady in the lake. Reach out to that bookshelf and claim "How to Slay a Dragon," because your destiny is waiting...

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was everything I could want. It's exactly as the title says. Basically it takes the famous fantasy concepts you are familiar with such flirting with the barmaid and then answers them pulling from a uniquely medieval perspective (In short, you just don't).

What I loved most about this is that it doesn't feel like you are reading historical book. The prose reads as if someone is talking to you, so you don't get bogged down by all the historical facts. There is plenty of humor and name drops thrown in that make it an easy read. Also the illustrations provided are works of art. Of course after your done How To Slay A Dragon, you will want to re-read it again or pick up a non-fiction dedicated to one of the many interesting historical figures mentioned. I know I can easily see myself re-reading this one in the near future.

Perfect for fans of fantasy, historical fiction and lovers of history (specifically the medieval ages).

A historical insight into the world of the middle ages, with nods to the world of fantasy. This book looks at the lives of real people and situations in the medieval world and tying them around archetypes of fantasy novels (how to find an inn? How to dress? How to find a mentor? How to travel? etc). Very well documented and cited, with witty banter, this novel is an extremely interesting read.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I received an ARC of this book. I love fantasy and I think the Middle Ages is a fascinating time period. It took me a while to get into to the book and its premise; the book is more about the history of people in the Middle Ages with less discussion of fantasy novels. That was probably my own fault for misunderstanding the summary of the book. Either way, I continued to read and enjoyed learning more about the people and situations in that time period. The narration is excellent, there are sometimes sarcastic and witty comments that add some character to the book. One thing I do wish was that there were more images; are you considering pictures in the final publication? I think I could sell it more to my high school students if there were; even with a catchy title.

Overall, an intriguing way to share history of the Middle Ages. Would definitely consider purchasing this book for our library.

Thank you Netgalley and Tiller Press for this ARC.