The Strange Ways of Dragons

By Arthur Lee Conway

The Strange Ways of Dragons takes the reader on an whirlwind journey into the cryptic, labyrinthine mindscape of the great winged serpent. Through the compelling poetic storytelling of Arthur Lee Conway, a riveting allegorical tale is revealed, one where dragons are both fire-breathing and antics-stirring in equal measure. Their sense of sight is far grander than that of an eagle’s, their sense of hearing is more potent than an elephant’s, and their greed is ever-ravenous. It is also crucial (and possibly life-saving) to never judge a dragon by its scaly cover because no matter their striking hue or level of heartwarming charm, madness resides beneath.

Cath Gowe
The Strange Ways of Dragons by Arthur Lee Conway is a wonderfully imaginative approach to the beasts in great mythology. Centered around the dragon, Conway crafts a beautiful narrative containing sketches, stories and poetry.

I appreciate the unconflicted approach to dragons. While they are not inherently evil, they generally are self-interested and show ill-will towards mankind. This seems generally accurate to traditional tales relating to dragons versus more modern fairytales and fantasy worlds where dragons can be good. Since most of the book is written through poetry, some ideas can be up for interpretation. This leaves room for imagination to take hold. With words like “mendaciousness”, “sophistry” and “ulcerous” younger readers will be challenged with thoughtful words to expand their vocabulary. The book is on the shorter side, and since it’s poetry, there are not many words per page. I definitely finished, wanting it to continue.
There were a few hiccups with the book. I read the Kindle version, which seems to have strange formatting. It was confusing and not easy to follow. The drawings too, would benefit from being seen on the printed page. I think next time, I will go ahead and order a physical copy. I suggest other readers do the same. Overall, what a great book to enhance the imagination. This will make a terrific gift for any fantasy loving child, even the older ones. Adults too will find it entertaining, as it transports them to another period of time. Highly recommended!

Tiffany Pond
The personalities of dragons are so intricately described in this poetry. Connecting with the lives of ordinary people, the author brings to life the depths of the dragons. Reminding you to be leery of those you do not know and treading carefully with those identified as dangerous. There are also wonderful illustrations accompanying the story showcasing the many attributes of the dragons. I loved looking through each one as they are just as intricate as the poetry. These are not your fairytale dragons, nor are they the mindless, fire breathing beasts portrayed otherwise. There are many sizes and shapes of dragons but they are all “the Ill will of man.” They can be devious and they can be demanding and they encompass evil. They are the greedy scum of the earth that get pleasure from other’s pain and discomfort. They are the traffickers and pushers, they are the narcissists and the sociopaths. It was too hard not to associate the dragons with evil people in the world. Every manipulative attack from a nefarious source feels like a dragon breathing fire down your back. And the author does such a brilliant job of illustrating with his words the pictures aren’t needed but they are a perfect addition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arthur Lee Conway
• Release date: Jul 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986619309

Arthur Lee Conway

Arthur Lee Conway is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia, and has attended the University of Maryland University College, graduating with an A.A. in Business Administration.He is the author of THE POETIC VIBRATIONS OF A MATURED BUTTERFLY: POEMS AND PARABLES. 2021 Literary Titan Book Gold Award winner for Poetry.

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