Published By: Puffin
Pages: 352
Released On: 01/05/2025
Reading Age: 9-12
Become the impossible . . .
Life is no fun for Alex Evans. Ever since her dad’s death, her overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. When the frustration inside Alex finally gets too big to bear, it rushes to the surface.
And flames spill from her mouth.
Because Alex is a dragon. One of the many who live among us, unless something awakens their true nature. Led by the mighty Oliphos to the legendary island of Skralla, Alex must now train alongside fierce, frightening dragon children, if she is to unlock the power of her birthright.
But other dragons are rising too. Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be good enough for this fight, or we all will burn . . .
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Puffin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have been captivated to read this ever since I first heard about it. I love a good kids book, and I love a fantasy book with dragons in, and so this sounded right up my street. I had just finished a hard-hitting emotional memoir so I needed a bit of fun to perk me up.
I have read quite a lot of dragon books recently, adult and kids, and whilst all very good, they all tend to stick with known dragon lore. Whereas Struan has given us the traditional dragons but within a new and exciting form, which was a lovely surprise.
There’s definitely an element of A.F Steadman’s Skandar series about it, and it had the magical feeling of the Narnia books too.
It’s fun and exciting but it doesn’t hide away from difficult topics, such as death, loss, and grief.
Struan has beautifully created a wonderful world. He’s so descriptive that you can see everything; the island, the dragons, even the fear. It feels like such a real place and you’re right in there with them.
A lot of adults won’t read children’s books, thinking they wouldn’t enjoy them, but they’re missing out. Because I love a good thriller book or crime novel, but sometimes I want a dragon, and Struan gives us plenty.
As an adult reader, it can be hard to identify with child characters, especially as this book has a lot of children in it, but they’re all fabulous. I’m not going to say I identify with children who happen to be dragons, but Alex is a well rounded protagonist who you really root for. She’s surrounded by lots of others, good and bad, teacher and pupil, and they all work so well together.
Its great fun, thrilling, exciting, funny, magical, scary, but it has a really big heart. It’s quick and easy to read. I did it in a few hours, but I can definitely see it being a book children get their parents to read them at night. It’s destined to become a classic fantasy story.
I sure hope it’s the start of a series. There’s so much still to say and do, and I want to be a part of it.
Books By Your Bedside 