Squishy Minnie Bookstore Squishy Minnie Bookstore
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book Clubs
  • Events
  • Storytime
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Shop

Book Review – Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

By Fergus on 14/11/2018

DRAGON RIDER follows the tale of Firedrake, a young dragon who sets off on a quest to find the acclaimed Rim of Heaven after learning that his home–and all the dragons that live in it–are in grave danger of a man-induced flood that will destroy their riparian home. Along the way, he will be joined by London orphan Ben and Sorrel the brownie on this journey, but must make haste, as Nettlebrand–a monster with the intention of dragon murder–and his trusted assistant Twigleg are hot on their trail. Firedrake, Ben and Sorrel will meet basilisks, dwarves, monks and many other characters in their quest to avenge all silver dragons.

FUNKE DELIVERS a satisfactory fantasy novel in DRAGON RIDER, and while her later works on the Inkworld Trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath) truly made her a staple among middle-grade fantasy fiction, there is no doubt that Funke has found her niche in the world of novel writing. With charmingly-described descriptions of nature and a lovable bond between human and dragon, DRAGON RIDER will truly mark itself among one of my favourite novels of 2018.

THE IMAGES sprinkled throughout the novel only added greatly to its success as a children’s book, with a perfect blend of fantasy and friendship, DRAGON RIDER has certainly solidified Funke’s writing, as she perfectly weaves characters, descriptions and plots together to create a fantastic novel.

I WAS eager to pick up this book when I saw it on the shelves in Squishy Minnie, as I am a dragon lover who has spent many a day poring over Christopher Paolini’s ERAGON, and I will say that DRAGON RIDER failed to fully show itself as a fantasy novel, as I felt as though it could be set today when considering the descriptions given of London in the first few chapters. ERAGON succeeded in capturing me in a world that is entirely different to the one I experience on a daily basis.

Aside from this, I truly did enjoy DRAGON RIDER.

RATING: 9/10
Writing: 9.5/10
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Recommended For: dragon apologists (like me).

Posted in Book Review.
Share

Categories

  • Book Review (54)
  • Books (4)
  • In Store Events (12)

Archives

  • September 2020 (2)
  • July 2020 (10)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • August 2019 (8)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • January 2019 (2)
  • November 2018 (5)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • May 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • November 2017 (2)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (2)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (4)
  • February 2017 (4)
PreviousBook Review – Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James
NextBook Review – On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Related Posts

  • 15/02/2017

    Book Review – A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

    With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and …

  • 27/04/2017

    Book Review – Contagion by Teri Terry

    Contagion by Teri Terry is a ticking time bomb of a novel, each chapter bringing the reader closer to the point of impact. This pre-apocalyptic dystopian novel set in Scotland …

  • 29/04/2017

    Book Review – Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller

    Elizabeth Murmur is moving with her unusual friend Zenobia to Witheringe House, the place where her dad grew up with his sister Tourmaline. Zenobia loves it and is convinced that …

  • 14/11/2017

    Book Review – The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil

    Melissa Keil’s The Secret Science of Magic is a unique and compelling twist on the typical romance novel. Shift away from the typical “quirky” star-crossed lover archetypes, Keil has created …

  • 26/04/2017

    Book Review – Finding Nevo by Nevo Zisin

    A heartwarming and honest read, Finding Nevo is a charming story of self-discovery and love. The memoir deals with some complex and relevant issues such as sexuality and gender identity, and …

  • 24/07/2020

    Book Review – Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

    Hunting Prince Dracula is a wonderfully haunting and cleverly crafted mystery novel from Kerri Maniscalco, author of Stalking Jack the Ripper. The novel, which involves the same characters from the …

  • © 2026
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book Clubs
  • Events
  • Storytime
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Shop