I received a free copy of, The Dragon's Apprentice, by James Riley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ciara is a 12 year old girl who summoned a dragon. Ciara and her dragon Scorch are a great team. This is an enjoyable read.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley is a mixed third and first person multi-POV Middle Grade fantasy. Ciara’s home village has been invaded by the emperor’s men on a quest to find the journal of one of the original apprentices of the Dragon Mage. Ciara has not only found it, but unlocked a bit of its magic, a forbidden act to anyone who isn’t a descendant of the apprentices. When she’s betrayed and runs away, she learns the secrets of the journal and awakens Scorch, the first dragon seen in centuries.

The story opens with a very voice-y prologue from the POV of Bianca, one of the six apprentices and then we get epigraphs in every chapter from her journal that gives glimpses into her relationship with Scorch. Scorch’s POV chapters add another layer to this and imply a very complex relationship that was built on respect but also teasing and frustration and an initial struggle as Scorch originally didn't want to teach humans magic. I would have loved for the whole book to have followed the style of the prologue, but I did enjoy Ciara and Scorch’s POVs as well.

The new spins on magic and dragon lore is pretty fun. Ciara has to learn Draconic runes in order to practice magic, including learning the hard way to be careful when lines are curved vs straight, and she calls Bianca’s journal a spelling book or a spellbook for short. It’s the little things like that that give new origins to common phrases that add a sense of charm. Dragons teaching young children magic isn’t a new concept, but them being compelled by a mage to do so and the students in turn will teach the rest of the world magic is something I haven’t seen before.

A decent portion of the story is fairly claustrophobic and only Ciara and Scorch are on the page. Their dynamic pushes forward a lot of the character moments which pushes forward the plot, but there is a grander plot that exists independent of Scorch teaching Ciara. Ciara’s village is suffering from a plague and the Warder, who works for the emperor, is refusing to give medicine to anyone until he gets Bianca’s journal. This sets the stage for strong themes of the inherent good in caring for others and not blindly following orders as well as ‘following orders’ not being an excuse when you take joy in harming the people around you.

I would recommend this to fans of MG fantasy with dragon characters and mentor-mentee relationships and readers who love magical school stories but want something more claustrophobic

I really liked the overall concept of the story, I loved how Scorch and Ciara interacted, the magic system seemed fun and engaging for a childrens story. I would have liked the story to move past the tower a bit more but overall I think it works really well and am very excited for how the story will progress in subsequent books.

**This book comes out April 1, and it is no joke that you should pre-order!**
Thank you so much for this eARC from Netgalley and the Publisher!!
It has been a little while since I have been able to gush about an ARC.
I definitely recommend this Middle Grade to every Library, Teacher and Parent to a 8-12 year old.
Also, to any adult like me as a child at heart.
This book was pure fun. I found myself smiling and chuckling out loud a lot.
I would say if you are an adult reader, this does read younger because its from the perspective of a 12-year old, Ciara. Your adult perception will lead to being bothered by a child making childish decisions if you take this book too seriously.
This book is mostly humorous, but has deeper themes of friendship, sacrificing for good, forgiveness, correcting mistakes made, and also not being afraid to apologize when you do something wrong.
As an Adult Epic Fantasy reader, I was impressed by the world-building of this younger age range fantasy series. We were told how the world is now plus what it was in the past and what it was supposed to be but isn't. All woven throughout the story without being a boring info dump. I am so intrigued to find out what happens, because this book is definitely a big setup to the world and characters.
Scorch, he is a wonderful mythical creature companion. For all you dragon lovers, this is the sassiest dragon and I love him. Plus, as an adult reader you side with him a lot when it comes to Ciara's childish choices. I don't want to spoil too much, but one of my favorite moments is when he has to disguise himself as a black cat.
I have pre-ordered a physical copy of this if that tells you anything. The publishers are on point with the trends of sprayed edges...the paperback is beautiful. I originally loved the cover illustration on its own, so the spredges just add that cherry on top!
So happy to finally have a book and series I am excited about.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. While I usually love James Riley’s books, this one didn’t really thrill me. The pacing was very slow, and the book seemed to drag on. I just did not connect with the story even though I love a good dragon story. The ending is a cliffhanger for the next book, but it just didn’t make me want to read on in this series. I also think the fact that the codex is written in elaborate curling script will be a big issue with the target audience. Most kids do not learn cursive anymore. I would rate it a 3.5, decent, but not great.

One thousand years ago, magic was everywhere, and dragons were the creatures who imparted magical knowledge upon humans. In twelve-year-old Ciara’s time, however, magic has been relegated to only the select few individuals in power, and everyone else must somehow survive a non-magical existence. Secretly, Ciara has come into the possession of a journal written one thousand years earlier by a girl named Bianca, and the emperor will stop at nothing to get it back. When Ciara meets the fearsome and mighty Scorch, the dragon who trained Bianca herself, Ciara realizes that she may finally have the tools to restore her community to the magic-filled place it once was.

This entertaining middle grade novel is told in a stream-of-consciousness style narrative that unfolds primarily from Ciara’s perspective. The chapters are short, and each one advances with a momentum that keeps readers engaged. Comedic characters and situations are embedded within the more somber challenges Ciara faces, which serves to add some levity to the heavier topics within the narrative. Readers who enjoy stories that incorporate magic and the unexpected within the framework of familiar human situations will appreciate the structure of this book. Similarly, the relatability of the main characters helps readers to empathize with this fantasy-based story. Samples of Draconic language are found at the end of the book, further anchoring the fantastic nature of the novel in reality. Entertaining and primed for a sequel, this book is a positive addition to library collections for confident middle grade readers.

Such a fun epic story. I love the feisty-ness of the main character and her strength. Great for fantasy and adventure fans.

(2.5 stars) I have read other books by James Riley in the past and have enjoyed them, but for some reason it took awhile for me to get into this book. I'm not sure if it was because of the slow pace during the beginning or the predictable plot, but it took longer than it should have for me to finish such a short book. This book is relatively tame as it doesn't have any gory descriptions and very little violence which makes it ideal for a younger audience (under 10 years old). Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Book for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow I loved this book, it was AMAZING, the story was easy to get into and spoilers ahead I loved scorch and Ciara, scorch so funny ,and Ciara was too! The plot was amazing, and now I need the second book. Why did you have to leave on a cliffhanger WHY. This is a great book for middle grade readers , age around 8 to 12. It was a great book but for me it felt a little too young but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall I give this book 4.7 stars out of 5.

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In the beginning, the Dragon Mage found 5 homeless children and began to train them to be dragon apprentices. One of the children, Bianca, kept a journal that a thousand years later is found by 12-year-old Ciara. Ciara’s father died from the Skael Cough in the mines and her mother now suffers from it. When the evil Warden finds out Ciara has the journal, she escapes to the Dragon Tower, where she unknowingly summons Bianca’s dragon, Scorch. Seeing that Ciara has Bianca’s journal (which has a mind of its own), Scorch agrees to train Ciara to help save her mother. The book is funny, suspenseful, relatively short, and ends on a cliffhanger (ugh). This is a great opener to a new series and, hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for the next installment. Recommended for readers in grade 3 and up.
#TheDragonsApprentice #NetGalley

This was a fun middle grade read. I loved the creative magic system. It would be a great learning tool for world building. The overall message is a very important one for kids. The only reason I would not recommend this is because of the cliffhanger. I have students that hate cliffhangers and this is a doozy.

The Dragon's Apprentice" is book one of a series. The target audience is middle grade ages 8-12. I believe this book will do its job bringing in readers. I found this as a quick read. I was surprised how far I got when I stopped reading for the night.

One reader's experience will be different but I do hope more people read it and get into reading because of the book. The children (and most people) probably use sarcasm a lot. If you or anyone you know finds sarcasm funny, then they will enjoy this book.

This book's main meal is the interaction between two characters. About half or so of the book is dedicated to Circa and Scorch and their interactions. The other characters don't have a real purpose until the climax pretty much. The thing I can't explain is what the characters are like. I know Circa wants to save her mother and Scorch wants to find what happened to Bianca. I think they are not defined very well or I wish I could get more definition of the characters. My favorite part of the book was Bianca's journal excerpts at the beginning of chapters. It started off funny but as the book went on, we get more meaningful or important quotes that relate to the corresponding chapter.

The author writes books with sarcasm normally and magic so I knew somewhat to expect. This is the shortest book he has written so far. I think that was the right choice. The book takes place within a week or two which is fine some good books are all in one day. What I think was most disappointing was how the plot takes a complete backseat. Stuff happens but it felt like waiting for the climax versus taking action towards the climax.

Overall I am glad I have a chance to review this book. The negatives don't make me hate the book. I hope it is successful. I might not be clamouring for the next book but I still will check it out.

A note about the book cover is that it grabs my attention. It stands out when searching for a book.

Thank You Netgallery for a free Electronic Advanced Reader's Copy for my honest opinions and thoughts.

The Dragon's ApprenticThe Dragon's Apprentice is a book about a girl who finds a journal - a journal that just happens to have been written by the most reviled person known to history, who turns out to be someone completely different. Bianca was the first apprentice to Scorch, one of six dragons brought by Tia, the Dragon Mage, to train humans in magic, something like one thousand years in the past. Details were lost, and so was Bianca's journal, to be found by Ciara, who traces the only example of the Draconic language she sees in the journal, waking Scorch from a slumber he had intended to last only a few months. After a great deal of confusion due to the elapsed time, Scorch agrees to train Ciara in Draconic, because while only humans can use Draconic to do magic, only dragons know enough of it to teach humans how to use it.

Over the course of this fun and fast-paced novel, readers get to know Ciara, a girl whose life has been hard due to the greed of the local magistrate, as well as the long-term designs of the Emperor, the only person legally allowed to do magic (along with his son). Ciara is impulsive, likely to leap headlong into action without considering the outcome, but her intentions are good: she wants to heal her mother's illness, save her village, and learn magic to help her do those things. I look forward to the sequel the epilogue predicts. Recommended for readers of all ages.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.e

I need the next book. NOW. This was SO good, the second I started it, I couldn't put it down! I loved the found family aspect, the sassiness of Scorch and everything in between. I will be buying the physical copy the second it is out and every book that comes out next! Thank you SO much for letting me read this author's amazing work. It made me feel like a kid again, in the absolute best way possible <3

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Dragon’s Apprentice! Huge thanks to Random House Children and Labyrinth Road for the opportunity!

🔥🐉 Magic, dragons, and a deal that could change everything... When a daring young girl stumbles upon an ancient power, she makes a choice that sets her on a path filled with danger, adventure, and the kind of magic no one is supposed to wield. But with an empire looming and secrets waiting to be uncovered, she may have just awakened something even more powerful than she bargained for.

💭 Fast-paced, full of heart, and bursting with Riley’s signature humor and adventure, this is a must-read for fantasy lovers of all ages. Get ready for a story that will sweep you away into a world where the impossible becomes reality—at a price.

📖 The Dragon’s Apprentice releases April 1, 2025—you won’t want to miss this one!

🔥✨ Who else loves a good dragon story? Let’s chat in the comments!

#TheDragonsApprentice #JamesRiley #LabyrinthRoad #RandomHouseKids #MiddleGradeFantasy #BookReview #FantasyReads #Dragons #MagicBooks #BookLover #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram

I want to thank Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road for sending me an ARC of this book. I was initially intrigued and drawn into this story by the premise and the initial different form of 4th wall way of story telling it started off with. However, the more I was trying to get through the story I became less and less interested. I just wasn't a fan of the direction of the writing style and the interactions of the characters. I think someone else may enjoy this book more than I did, but it just wasn't as good of a read as I was hoping for.

This was a cute story. It sets up a series so there is a little bit of a cliffhanger. As an adult reading the book I see the theme of a religion being used as a tool to subjugate and manipulate people. It is a good reminder to check where our information comes from and not just trust what we are told. There are plenty of lighthearted moments, and themes of love, friendship family and sacrifice as well as the importance of standing up for what you believe in and seeking and telling the truth even if it’s hard. This was a fun little escape from reality and if your child (like mine) wants to read *your* books about dragons but can’t for another 8-10 years this is a fun adventure they could try!

I absolutely adored this cute book. "The Dragon's Apprentice" is a lighthearted and fun tale. Rather than dumb down a story for a younger audience, Riley pens a delightful dragon-filled snarky romp.

To save her ill and dying mother, our hero Ciara fights against a powerful adversary, who usurped power in her village. When she tries to protect her mother, she inadvertently summons a dragon in the midst of its much-needed, thousands-year long nap.

Needless to say, the dragon felt a bit cranky after being woken up by some random child. Then Ciara has the gall to ask for the dragon's help freeing her village from the Emperor and the village's Warden. Even worse, Ciara wants to be the dragon's apprentice.

After some fiery hemming and hawing, the dragon grumpily concedes to Ciara. With some important conditions.

But can they save Ciara's village - and her mother?

I highly recommend this delightful read for middle grades.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road for the ARC.*

A fun humorous fantasy where magic is forbidden unless you are from the royal bloodline. Ciara a twelve year old finds a journal from the Dragon Apprentice and wakes up a 1000 year old dragon! Scorch agrees to teach Ciara so she can save her mother and village. A funny adventure with many twist and turns that will have wide appeal.

Fun middle grades read. Easy to read and follow along with the story. Enjoyable character descriptions.