Middle-grade books that let each book shine with a different character make the series stand out. In this one, Silke takes center stage as she is the best friend of adventurine, the dragon/human character from book one. Silke lost her parents to the faeries of Elfenwarld when she and her brother were children traveling to Drachenburg. Now the faeries are visiting and are seeking something the people there have an alliance with dragons. All is not as it seems, and Silke is personally asked by one of the princesses to find out what the faeries genuinely want. This book is charming and shows the strength of Silke's dragon heart and how far she goes to figure out the truth. A charming sequel.

This book is charming as the first. I like how Silke recognized the flaw in the fairies because it mirrored her own.

I really enjoyed this sequel to “The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart.” Hearing Silke’s view of this world was delightful; all books should have chocolate and dragons in them.

The main character, Silke, is absolutely amazing. I love a book that is character drive, with amazing world building and the added bonus of dragons! I love that Silke is a storyteller and love seeing the world through her eyes. I will definitely carry on with this delightful series!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

Stephanie Burgis one of my favorite authors after reading Masks and Shadows. This middle grade novel was cute and very heart-warming. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I adored Silkie. She was a fun character who eventually grows throughout the story. I recommend this for fans of Karen Foxlee, E. D. Baker, and Shannon Hale.

The Girl with the Dragon Heart is the second book in the Tales from the Chocolate Heart series by Stephanie Burgis. I highly recommend reading this series in order, to help fully understand the characters and their relationships.

Silke has always been good at spinning the truth and storytelling. So good that, just years after arriving in the kingdom as a penniless orphan, she has found her way to working for the most splendid chocolate makers in the city as a master promoter. Although Silke loves her work at the Chocolate Heart, she's certain it's not going to last, and what Silke wants more than anything is somewhere to call home--somewhere safe. But when your best friend is a dragon-turned-hot-tempered-girl, trouble is always right around the corner. Then Silke gets the opportunity she's been waiting for: the Crown Princess personally asks her to spy on the Elfenwald royal family during their first visit to the kingdom. In return, Silke will have the home she's always wanted in the secure palace. But Silke has her own dark, secret reasons for not trusting fairies, and her mission isn't as simple as she hoped. Soon, she discovers that her city is in danger--and that maybe it's more her home than she ever realized. Can Silke find out the truth about the fairies while keeping her own secrets hidden?

The Girl with the Dragon Heart is a delightful follow up to The Dragon With av Chocolate Heart. I was so glad to see more of Silke, and understand her character more. Particularly since she was my favorite character from the first book. Silke is quick thinking and wonderful at telling stories and talking her way out of trouble. The only troubles she cannot escape is her strained relationship with her brother, her own worries, and the crown princess's demands. I empathized with her, and winced along side her as she struggled to find her path and to let go and trust those that care for her. I found her past, and the conflict with the Elfenwald royalty to be very well woven together.I liked seeing the red cap make an appearance, and think we might see more of him and perhaps some of the dragon family in future books (please!). I understood her desire to keep her secrets, to be strong at the same time craving the feel of home and safety. I think that is something just about everyone, regardless of age, can relate to that. I really enjoyed the continued character and world building, and found the continuity to be very well done, even with the switch of focus from Adventurine to Silke. I read this book in a single day, and was disappointed every time I had to put the book down. I simply love the characters and how the core group accepts each other as they are, with all their faults and quirks, and loves each other as a chosen family. I think there are way too many people that lack a group like this, and wish everyone (including myself) had this above and beyond blood family.

The Girl with the Dragon Heart is a wonderful sequel. I think this is a great example of engaging middle grade fantasy and I cannot wait to read more.

In this book, the story of Drachenburg continues from Aventurine's best friend Silke's perspective. Silke is told from the first book is an amazing storyteller and can essentially talk her way through anything. When she is summoned by the crown princess and given a task that hits a little too close to home, she takes on the job in hopes to learn more about her past gone awry.

I felt that the author's writing style flowed even better in this book than in the first. The backstories of Silke's past connecting to her task with spying on the fairies kept me reading so I can see what her next move is when the fairies and the royal court respond to her. I was kept on the edge of my seat when Silke ended up in some intense situations that seemed like they were going to be pretty difficult for her to talk herself out of. Silke's internal struggle with what home is to her starts to take over throughout the book as well. The constant battle with her brother and her village, her confusion with her feelings of the Chocolate Heart where Aventurine, Marina, and Horst work, and her neverending battle with the crown princess' cross sister Sofia. But while facing her task she learns that her friends would do anything to ensure her safety, even if it's her friends that need her protection more than ever. Silke begins to understand that sometimes family does not mean blood relative.

This is definitely a great fantasy book that talks about the power of friendship, family, and empathy. This would be a good read for tweens.

Always searching for more dragon/fantasy for my 4th and 5th grade readers, I read this one with great anticipation, was pleased, and will be purchasing this title for my fifth grade campus and possibly my 4th. Unaware that this book was the second in Burgis’ Tales of the Chocolate Heart, I was put off a bit at the start to all the references to earlier life experiences made by main character Silke. Put off only because I wanted more detail and not because it was confusing! The author provides sufficient detail to allow this book to stand alone, but a few things may be spoiled for those who read the books out of order. Plenty of reviews have summarized the storyline so I will focus on other aspects. The character of Silke is fully fleshed out and her strength of will is evident throughout her efforts to find a home for herself and protect her friends. Supporting characters are not as thoroughly described, but that’s why they are in “supporting” roles. The plot moves quickly, never getting bogged down in unnecessary descriptions and while the ending is predictable, there are enough slight twists and interesting characters that it is a satisfying conclusion. This book is recommended for all readers of the genre who can handle the 250 pages and upper 5th grade reading level and without any reservations in regards to profanity, sexual content, or excessive violence...even the dragon destruction is pretty tame. Fans of the more YA Seraphina may enjoy this as a lighter read and those who enjoyed Auxier’s Sweep and Sophie Quire will see some similarities in tone and setting.

This is wonderful sequel to "The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart" and continues the story of Aventurine (the dragon who turned into a girl) and her friend Silke. Silke is the main character in this mystery story. Silke has been pressed into service by the crown princess. The princess would like Silke to spy for her. There is a group of fairies coming to the kingdom and both the princess and Silke have their reasons for wanting to know all their secrets. It's a very exciting mystery story! I can't wait to give this one to my students!

Things have picked up since the events of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart. Adventurine is still making chocolate wonders and Silke is trying to promote the shop. She catches the eye of the Crown Princess Katrin, who would like her to become a spy in the palace. The royal elves of Elfenwald are coming for a visit after hiding underground for a hundred years and everyone is on edge. Silke agrees but with a hidden agenda. Her parents disappeared as they were fleeing through Elfenwald and she wants to know what happened to them. Of course things do not go according to plan. Hidden agendas are revealed and new alliances must be made.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was eagerly anticipating this one. It didn't have nearly enough chocolate or Adventurine for my tastes, but it was a fun spy story. Silke is an interesting character with a unique skill set. She can get herself into and out of lots of different situations. I particularly enjoyed Princess Sophie.

"The Girl with the Dragon Heart" is the story of Silke, a young girl with a talent for spinning stories, who winds up involved in a power struggle between the royal family of Drachenburg and the royal elves of Elfenwald. Silke was orphaned when her parents were stolen by faries in Elfenwald six years earlier and currently lives a ragamuffin life along the beach with her brother, selling used clothing in the town market. Her only comfort comes from the kitchen of a fine chocolate shop and her best friend who is half-dragon. Seems like the start of something good, especially since I was a big fan of the Dealing with Dragons series. While the book starts off a touch slowly, when Silke is brought in by the Crown Princess and asked to be a spy, things really pick up.

Silke is plucky, intuitive, and loyal, but she needs to believe in herself. As she gains strength and is determined to figure out why the fairies have really come to Drachenburg, she becomes a more solid and likeable character. She takes the job as a spy because she wants more than the life of the refugee camp, but quickly realizes that corseted court life also isn’t her style. What she realizes in the castle, is that home is where the heart is, and her heart is with the family she has built in the chocolate kitchen, including Aventurine, the dragon. While hired to spy for the Crown Princess, in the end, she fights to save her family and her friends.

A solid, strong female protagonist story. I didn’t even realize that it was the second book in a series and feel it can stand on its own just fine. My only beef is that the title doesn't work for me as this book is about Silke and not Aventurine.

I loved the first one and I loved this one. I have a dragon lover in my life and could not wait to recommend this book to her.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Children's, and Stephanie Burgis for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I found out there was a SEQUEL to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, I'm pretty sure I flipped a table. What I originally thought as a stand-alone is actually now a series! How exciting!

While the first book is told from Aventurine's point of view, this book is then told from Silke's perspective, a character introduced in the previous book.

Silke's parents were taken, presumably killed, by the faeries of Elfenwald when she and her brother were children. Now they are visiting Drachenburg, seeking something the people there have: an alliance with dragons. But the Elfenwald royals have no interest in befriending dragons; they want to kill them. Silke is personally asked by one of the princesses to assist with this royal mash-up and find out what the faeries are after, since she's so good at wording her way out of various situations.

With the help of Aventurine, Silke is able to discover the secret of her family's past and what the faeries are truly after--and how to stop them!

While I still thought this book was very cute and fun, it definitely did not go the direction I thought it would. I thought, similar to Aventurine becoming human (a dragon with a chocolate heart), I thought Silke would become a dragon (since, you know, she's a girl with a dragon heart). But it's more metaphorical in this in that Silke acts like a dragon--she's fierce and angers easily--but she never becomes one, which was disappointing based on the title.

On the other hand, I do love stories where those who are low class have to disguise themselves and practice the mannerisms to fit in with the royals for some ulterior motive. That's always fun too, and I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Overall, an enjoyable middle grade read that I would love to have in my personal collection or in my classroom.

"Silke has always been good at spinning the truth and storytelling. So good that, just years after arriving in the kingdom as a penniless orphan, she has found her way to working for the most splendid chocolate makers in the city as a master promoter. Although Silke loves her work at the Chocolate Heart, she's certain it's not going to last, and what Silke wants more than anything is somewhere to call home--somewhere safe. But when your best friend is a dragon-turned-hot-tempered-girl, trouble is always right around the corner.

Then Silke gets the opportunity she's been waiting for: the Crown Princess personally asks her to spy on the Elfenwald royal family during their first visit to the kingdom. In return, Silke will have the home she's always wanted in the secure palace. But Silke has her own dark, secret reasons for not trusting fairies...and her mission isn't as simple as she hoped. Soon, she discovers that her city is in danger--and that maybe it's more her home than she ever realized.

Can Silke find out the truth about the fairies while keeping her own secrets hidden?"

I first read and loved Stephanie's work for Regency Magic and I look forward to each new release!

What I Liked
I have this bad habit of grabbing up book #2 in a series without having read book #1. This was one of those times, but it didn't even matter. I couldn't NOT read a book with a cover like this one! I fell right into the story and the characters immediately. They're all so unique and fun that I had no problem catching up to the story. Silke is independent and feisty, but has a secret soft heart that is so endearing. Her best friend Aventurine is a dragon... but she looks like a girl most of the time. Unless she gets mad. Then the claws come out! Aventurine and Silke's interactions are a blast, and they have an easy friendship that is a joy to read.

What I Would Have Liked To See
More dragons! I get that this is Silke's story, not Aventurine's this time, but uhhhh pretty much everything in the world is improved by adding dragons, IMO.

My Favorite!
There were so many wonderful things about this book. So many of the characters were layered, deep, and surprising. The sinister fairy court was sufficiently creepy, and the princes insufferably obnoxious. Silke's resourcefulness and determination made her such a great heroine, so I'm going to have to say Silke was my favorite. ^_^

TL;DR
Feisty orphan with a dragon for a best friend saves everyone with the gift of chatter and chocolate. So fun, and a great sequel to whatever book #1 was about!

P.S.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. All thoughts are my own!

This book was so much fun and really made me crave hot chocolate! (In fact I’m drinking some now as I write this) It was a lot of fun reading Silke’s story. She was one of my favorites from the first book. I can’t remember how much of her back story we got in the first book, but this story just suited her personality so well.

Silke continues to be a brave young lady, that can talk her way into and out of many difficult situations. She is a storyteller and very good at her craft. Like Aventurine, she is fiercely protective of her family and her friends. She does have a bit of a prickly relationship with her brother, but when the stakes are high he remains protectively by her side.

We see a bit more of the Crown Princess and her sister Princess Sophie in this book. I liked both of them and admired how strong the Crown Princess could be. Sophie was not always a pleasant character, but she does grow on you and you end up liking her by the end of the book.

The Elfenwald are not a very nice group of people. They rule with terror and by controlling others with their magic. Their distrust of the dragons is because they feel powerless against them. Not totally rational, but you know, sometimes that is the way people feel about each other. Plus the dragons would just eat them when they got too bothersome.

The plot was wonderful and full of chocolate of course. Silke just wants to get her parents back and has trouble seeing that she needs her friends to help her. She refuses to talk about her parents and what happened to them, if she had been honest from the start, things might have gone a little differently though. She goes through a journey that helps her learn that family isn’t just the people you are related to.

A very enjoyable book, especially when you count the dragons and chocolate!

Burgis, Stephanie. The Girl with the Dragon Heart. Bloomsbury, 2018.

Silke is trying to make the chocolate shop famous by telling the tales of how she and Aventurine (a dragon who has taken the form of a human girl but who can switch back to being a dragon at will) saved the day. Now the royal family want to use Silke as a spy! Will she be able to get them the information they need without revealing her secret (or Aventurine's)?

This is a perfect adventure story for middle grade and tween readers, particularly for those who are fans of Inkheart and similar fantasy adventure tales. There are enough details about the world Silke lives in to delight the hearts of fantasy fans, while the action will keep adventurous readers turning pages. This story would make a great read aloud for an upper elementary classroom.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.

Fans of Burgis's other middle grade fantasies are sure to love this one as well. Although I missed Aventurine a little bit, it was nice to get to know Silke better. I'd recommend to fans of Jessica Day George's Dragonslippers series, Shannon Hale's Princess Academy books, and Susan Fletcher's Dragon Milk series.