The dragon's apprentice by James Riley

The Dragon’s Apprentice begins with the journal entries of Bianca, who lives in the medieval-like village of Skael. She is an apprentice who is being taught magic by a dragon called Scorch. People in the village contract a fatal cough from working in the mines and magic can cure them. Suddenly we jump a thousand years later and meet Ciara who similarly lives in Skael. She found Bianca’s journal five years ago and it seems to have a personality but is somewhat useless and blank. Yet the journal must have some importance. The tyrannical Warden demands the journal and imprisons her seriously ill mother when it is discovered that they have been hiding it. Luckily Ciara escapes with the journal and manages to evade the Warden and his Drakes (soldiers) while she discovers the power of magic in the journal. She conjures up Scorch the dragon by drawing a magical symbol in the air with her hand. Scorch and Ciara discover how things have gone so bad in Skael and why the villagers have been forbidden to learn magic. 

This enjoyable story has a humorous tone with no unnecessary violence. Dragons have taken an oath not to use magic for violence towards humans, which causes an interesting ethical dilemma for a fire-breathing dragon. James Riley has his characters talk in plenty of contemporary banter and therefore makes this story funnier and more relatable to children. Also, he has wisely created an uncomplicated fantasy world. Good versus evil drives the fast-paced plot. Ciara is a brave likable 12-year-old, determined to save her mother and see justice done. Scorch becomes less cranky and kinder as he tries to teach Ciara the rights and wrongs of using magic. The jacket design is appealing and the examples of magic symbols at the end of the book are a nice touch. I found myself trying them out! It would make a good read aloud for 8-to-12 year olds. There is already a sequel.

Themes: Truth, Justice, Bravery, Fantasy, Dragons, Magic.

Jo Marshall