This book started out... in a style I had to get used to. It kind of reminded me a bit of Terry Pratchett or Patricia C Wrede. It's a fantasy world, with kingdoms and (waning) magic, but there's cars, and airplanes taking over the jobs that magic used to take care of. But keep reading, it really is a wonderful little story. I thoroughly enjoyed it (plus there's talking dragons, that's always a plus)!