I'm pleasantly surprised by how much this first book drew me in! This is a xenofiction series popular with Warriors fans, so it's been on my radar for a very long time (ten years, apparently..). The Dragonets are a loveable cast, Peril is intriguing, and I was surprised with just how much death was allowed for a kids' series. I love a series that isn't afraid to kill a character off.
I've ended up purchasing the first five books, so I'll definitely be continuing this read, at least for a while. ( )

Introduces the main characters of the next couple of books in the series. Where a prophecy was made about a group of young dragons who will save the land from the three queens in the sand kingdom. Who are fighting for the throne because their mother died before any of them could challenge her for the throne. This first book is in the perspective of one of the male dragonets who is what they call a mudwing. After the loss of their mentors, who took their eggs before they hatched for the prophecy, were killed, he and the rest of the group ended up in an arena for some time. Where there was another dragon who’s scales would burn anyone who touched her. Except he was able to touch her because of something that had to do with his egg. When they were traveling they also went to a mudwing village where he found his family and learned some things about himself that explained some things about how he acted and behaved as a hatchling.

My 8-year-old gives this a solid 5-star rating. My inner child is leaning more towards a 4. - So a solid 4.5 stars.

It was an enjoyable read, no doubt. However, I didn't find it quite as gripping as my 8yr old did. Plus, it felt like it dragged on a bit before diving into the truly adventurous parts.

Although there aren't many images or graphics throughout the book, I did appreciate the visuals and backgrounds of the different types of dragons at the beginning. They were easy to follow and added to the overall experience.

Overall, I'd say it's perfect for beginner readers looking to dive into the world of reading! ( )

The writing style/vocab aims for a slightly younger audience, but the violence pushes the age range higher. I've found that this series appeals to kiddos who are old enough to follow a high fantasy plotline but may be a bit behind in terms of reading level. It also often appeals to kiddos who love Warrior Cats - it has that same "collect them all" vibe with the different types of dragons.

I like the idea of each book in the series being told from the point of view of a different character from the group, but the author may take this concept too far. This first book, written in Clay's POV, reveals Clay's entire emotional framework and fixes it, all in one go. I worry that trying to fully resolve each character's issues in their dedicated book will lead to multiple unsatisfying, rushed story arcs. I would prefer seeing the dragonets mature together over the series, instead of ticking each of them off as we go. ( )

Not bad! Good pacing and strong characters. Quite violent, in a way that definitely appeals to younger teens. ( )