Having just re-read the Dragonkeeper series, and discovered this prequel on my shelf, waiting for me to read it, I was a little disappointed.

The story is much shorter - only about half the book, and the book is thinner and the type larger, making this merely a novella or even a novelette. We get some back story for Danzi - just one episode from his long life, several human generations (apparently) before the original trilogy, although there are hints at a connection with one person at least who appears. I'd rather have read the story of Danzi and Wang Cao!

The dragon and human characters in this story both have things to learn, but the novelette format allows for little subtlety and less plot.

In the second half of the book is a "dragon alphabet" - an A to Z of Chinese dragonlore. The book is worth having for this alone, though some indication of further reading would have been helpful.