Ciara has a lot on her plate right now - namely that her entire village is starving, her mom has caught the deadly Skael cough, and instead of helping her or any of their neighbors, the Warden has decided to arrest her mom for having a forbidden book: the diary of a former dragon's apprentice that's filled with magical spells. The only trick is that her mom never had the book - Ciara does.

Desperate to save her mom, find a cure for the cough, and hopefully take out the Warden in the process, Ciara opens the book and becomes a dragon's apprentice herself.

Overall this was delightful, if sometimes a bit over the top. I think I personally got burnt out on the tone, but the characters were fun, the dragons and magic were enjoyable, and the villains were preposterous in the best way. This was well-crafted and goofy. The cover is perfect, also, because I think the bright colors are exactly what this felt like to read (if that makes any sense?). Can't wait to find out what happens to Ciara and Scorch next!

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was a pretty compelling book--but it's chock-full of sequel bait. Nothing gets wrapped up here and not everything is explained, you'd have to wait for the next book to find out more.

Ciara and Scorch were both extremely self-centered and whiny characters, so the book was a bit hard to get through. The worldbuilding/magic was confusing and shallow--dragons can't use magic, but they can teach humans magic, which is a bizarre rule. The book was very dark, even though the cover and title indicated a light-hearted fantasy, which it is not. It's more dystopian than anything.

This delightful fantasy romp is bursting with humor, heart, and just the right amount of magical mayhem. From the very first page, the book’s playful tone and clever narration pull you into a story that refuses to take itself too seriously—even while dealing with dragons, forbidden magic, and a tyrannical emperor.

Ciara, our brave and slightly chaotic heroine, is an absolute joy to follow. Her accidental summoning of Scorch—a cranky, ancient dragon with a sarcastic streak—is both hilarious and oddly heartwarming. Their banter is a highlight of the book, and their growing friendship adds a layer of emotional warmth beneath all the jokes and magical mishaps.

The humor is pitch-perfect for middle-grade readers (and grown-ups who appreciate witty storytelling), with plenty of tongue-in-cheek warnings, silly surprises, and laugh-out-loud moments. The book leans into its absurdity with charm, making it a refreshing take on the classic fantasy quest.

Despite the light tone, the story still delivers meaningful stakes, especially as Ciara sets out to rescue her mother and challenge the Emperor’s rule. It’s a magical adventure full of laughs, heart, and just enough danger to keep you turning pages. A wonderfully funny and imaginative read—highly recommended!

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley is a middle grade, childern’s fantasy book. On the surface, this book has everything: a young girl as the protagonist, dragons, an interesting back-story and world-building, and a unique magic system.


Unfortunately, I hated the characters. Ciara is annoying and whiny, the dragon, Scorch, is irritable and cranky. And while an irritable, cranky dragon could be an interesting plot point, it just didn’t work for me.

I only finished this to see if it would get better, but it really didn’t. The only decent characters are Ciara’s best friend Meg, her mother, and Meg’s dad.

I wish there were better fantasy books with girl characters. This was disappointing.

⭐️⭐️ (2 out of 5)

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an advance copy in exchange for sharing my opinions. All opinions in this review are my own. Links in this review are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

This is a great book! I really enjoyed reading it! I am hoping to read a sequel soon. I really liked how the characters interacted with each other.

I will be honest this book was not my favorite middle grade. This may be because i’m not the prime demographic. However I found both Ciara and Scorch to be annoying. Their bickering made the story drag for me. However the plot of the book was interesting and cute. I liked the past and future coming together. Overall this was an okay book for me. I would’ve liked It more if the personalities weren’t so conflicting I think.

I read this with my two children (9 and 7) and they enjoyed it! My daughter is a Dragon Fan Extreme, so I knew this would be right up her alley. My son was a little more wary of it, but there are funny parts he still references from a chapter we read several weeks ago (he's the comedian of the family). So the whole family got something out of it! We enjoyed the characters, especially the sassy main, and my husband and I had fun doing voices for the wide array of personalities.

I think the story didn't move as I expected; I kept thinking Ciara was going to finally leave her hometown, but it looks like that won't happen until later in what is clearly going to be a series. But otherwise, the action was enjoyable and it kept my kiddos engaged. The story was unique and somewhat unexpected, which made it a lot of fun for us all.

I was so lost from the POV and how it was written.
The vibe of this book would be amazing for a middle grade student, but for me it lacked so much depth,

It was nice to see a YA book with good character development. The dragon was a great character that I connected with. The storyline was typical for a YA book. While I had a hard time connecting with the main character, I did enjoy this story and look forward to reading the next installment. I think my students will enjoy this series.

This hilarious, magical adventure story is about Scorch and Ciara, who find each other as Ciara is desperately trying to save her mother and their family home. Ciara has come into possession of a magical book (which is pretty cheeky) and Scorch is a dragon that Ciara awakens after a 1000 year nap. Ciara's mother has been desperately sick and the Warden seems to have the only remedy for her illness. The Warden agrees to give Ciara the medication in return for the family home but goes back on the deal when he finds out she has the magical book. Through the story, Ciara's magical powers grow (with Scorch's help) and Ciara's destiny becomes clearer. Ciara and Scorch are funny and well developed characters that lots of kids will identify with and enjoy reading. The themes of family, both found families and families you're born to, and friendship with also resonate with readers.

The things you do to save the ones you love!

The Dragon’s Apprentice by James Riley is the first in this new fantastical series and is funny, intense, and a grand adventure for new and old fantasy readers alike! I loved that things started with a 1000 year old journal entry which gives the backstory to the overall situation, and a glimpse into what could have been vs the current reality.

I like that the dragon mage started this whole process by bringing everyone together and summoning the dragons to teach the kids. There’s a bit of telling within the story, but it makes sense due to the age it’s intended for. Also the dynamic between the dragon who doesn’t want to do anything, a kid who wants to learn at all costs, and an Emperor who has forbidden magic creates such a beautiful blend of tension.

I really enjoyed the very limited illustrations. Just like the cover, the illustrations within bring in a whimsical feel due to the wisps and curves of the lines. Between things like the smoke and magical swirls in front of solid and darker backgrounds, it creates a nice tone for the story while giving visuals to keep things moving forward. Beautiful artwork!

This would be fantastic for kids 8-12 as well as slightly younger with assistance. Of course older readers will enjoy this as well. It’s a fun entry into fantasy for that middle grade audience. Could be fun for the classroom as well as a family read.

Check out other books by James like The Story Thieves series, Half Upon a Time series, and The Revenge of Magic series.

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of The Dragon’s Apprentice from James Riley via NetGalley

I read this one to the wee ones; 9 and 11. They LOVED it!!!! The Grumpy-Sunshine duo of Ciara and Scorch is truly a set up for comedy gold. We were laughing the whole read and super intrigued by the magic at play and the mystery scattered throughout the story. They constantly had "just one more chapter" syndrome. It really left us hopeful for a possible series? *fingers crossed*

While I'm definitely not the target audience for this book (or series), I found it quite entertaining. I think this story would be perfect for 8-12 year olds and having helped run the Scholastic Book fair at my children's elementary school for many years, I could see many of the students there wanting a book about dragons to gravitate towards this book. While one should never judge a book (solely) by its cover, I think it's fantastic and it absolutely grabbed my attention. While there is a more subtle message about being careful about accepting religious/national belief without question, I think the more obvious message is that if those in power are hurting the very people they're supposed to be protecting, there is something wrong with this and it's important for people to stand up against the injustice, even if they stand to personally lose something.

This story ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger, which of course means kids will be clamoring for the next book. I, for one, am very much looking forward to the second book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

James Riley brings his trademark metafictional humor to The Dragon’s Apprentice, a whimsical fantasy romp that warns you—quite hilariously—not to read it. The story follows Ciara, a plucky twelve-year-old who accidentally summons a dragon and sets off a chain of magical events that challenge a tyrannical emperor’s anti-magic regime. With talking dragons, ancient secrets, and tongue-in-cheek narration, the book aims squarely at middle-grade readers who love magic and mischief.

Riley’s signature narrative voice—self-aware, cheeky, and often breaking the fourth wall—is clever and engaging, especially for younger audiences. The setup is imaginative, and Scorch the dragon makes for a fun and loyal companion. Ciara’s bravery and curiosity are endearing, and the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance adds some emotional weight.

However, the book sometimes leans too heavily on its gimmick. The constant narrative interruptions, while funny at first, start to wear thin, and the plot pacing suffers from the overuse of this device. Some twists feel predictable, and deeper world-building takes a backseat to the humor. Readers looking for a tightly plotted fantasy may find it a bit scattered.

In all, The Dragon’s Apprentice is a light, entertaining read with plenty of charm, but it doesn’t reach the emotional or narrative heights of Riley’s best work. A good pick for younger readers seeking adventure and laughs, but seasoned fantasy fans might crave a bit more depth.

I really enjoyed this middle grade adventure book!

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley is a wild ride of sassy dragons, best friends turned enemies turned best friends, and a very courageous girl named Ciara. Ciara might not always think before acting, but all she wants is to save her village and her mom. I loved watching the relationship between Ciara and her dragon develop, as well as all the ups and downs in her friendship with Meg.

That cliffhanger was a lot to handle! Also, although this author captured a kids voice well, I kept thinking Ciara and Meg where a bit older than twelve, and especially the prince acted much older than twelve. But still, I'm excited for the sequel.

This wasn't my cup of tea. I wished there was a prequel where we could've read about the original apprentices. It also read a bit younger than I was expecting. It was definitely the lower end of Middle Grade. The humor was good, but it was a bit slow.

I'm not a big fan of fantasy... which is something I always say until I read a really good fantasy book that blows me away. So let me start over:

I like fantasy books that are well-written, immersive, and original. Unfortunately The Dragon's Apprentice doesn't quite fall under that umbrella. As I said in my initial, brief review, I think it has plenty of good ideas - a story about a young girl standing up against a corrupt ruling class? Couldn't be more timely - they're just not the best executed.

The opening of the book almost made me want to stop reading altogether; I wasn't prepared for a diary-like fantasy story, and Bianca's writing style bothered me. I guess I forgot what the blurb for the book had said and feared that the whole book would be written this way; thankfully, it wasn't. But unfortunately, it wasn't written all that much better. There wasn't enough description to really immerse me in this fantasy world, which, as a result, didn't feel all that fantastical besides the inclusion of a talking dragon and some spell-casting. I guess Riley wrote a fantasy book for fantasy skeptics, which I typically am, but for whatever reason, I just wasn't feeling this one. I really just stuck with it because of the hook of Ciara trying to heal her ailing mother. I really wanted to know how she'd manage to do so.

And that solution was relatively satisfying. I mean, was I expecting it to be non-magical? I guess not. But it was difficult to enjoy because so soon afterwards did things become even more chaotic, with the warden nearly executing Ciara, her mom, and the head of the Drakes in front of the entire village, until Meg came up with a plan to stop them along with Scorch . Which leads me to my other big point: I didn't care for Ciara as a character. Like Bianca, I found her mildly annoying, and though I know she's supposed to be a rebellious tween all around, I didn't love her disobedience to Scorch. It made sense towards the end, when she cast an extra spell beyond the two that were promised to cure her mom , but I don't know, beyond that, I feel like she should have been much more responsible with her magic. Which I guess she did learn the hard way, due to the severe energy drain, but... meh. By the end, I felt like Meg would have made for a better protagonist because she seemed smarter, more responsible, and more resourceful than Ciara. Also, it might have made for a more interesting story if you had the daughter of the Captain of the Drakes rebelling against the very institution her father works for to rescue her friend from poverty and heal her ailing mother.

So, Meg was a good character (even if she unfortunately fell into the "sidelined black friend" trope), and I liked snarky Scorch a lot. But otherwise, the characters were all a bit of a drag, and I found the lack of details about what happened to the Dragon Mage frustrating. But I guess that was done intentionally, since it seems to be an overarching mystery for the rest of the planned series, to figure out what happened to her and whether or not she's still alive.

The epilogue did grab my attention, I'll admit. But as for whether I read it, I'll have to see how I feel when it comes out, whenever that'll be. (I assume sometime next year? Unless somehow Riley already has it written and set to come out later this year... I'll keep an eye out for updates on that.)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ciara is a 12-years-old girl who's hiding a secret book. She only needs to deliver the book to the Emporer, and her mother will be healed. But Ciara refuses to give up the book, and the book seems to want to stay with her. However, when she accidentally uses a spell to summon a dragon, everything might change. Can she harness the new power she's discovered and become a teachable apprentice on her quest to save her mom and her community?
This book is clever and somewhat funny. I chuckled several times. But at other times, I thought the author tried too hard (and unsuccesfully) to be funny.
I like that Ciara is a determined girl who follows her intuition. She's a heroine!
I want more information, though. For instance, where is Bianca? And who is the Revenant? I'm hoping a sequel answers some of these questions.
The quotes at the beginning of each chapter support the story and are a helpful addition to the book.

A really cute and fun story about a world where dragons are real and are tasked with helping the human race learn magic. Centuries after the Dragon Mage and her dragons have disappeared, Ciara finds the Dragon Mage's journal and ends up summoning back one of the dragons - just in the nick of time. This is a fun mid-upper elementary adventure that students in grades 3+ are sure to enjoy.

This is a humorous mid grade story about a young girl, Ciara, who finds a magic journal written by an ancestor of hers. She accidentally summons a dragon and life gets very interesting.

There are the usual bad guys, a ruler who is greedy and a narcissist, his minions who follow his every order, and the far off Emperor who is behind all the bad things going on in this small medieval type town. Ciara wants to save her ill mother, who was arrested, and Scorch, the dragon, promises to teach her the magic she needs to do this.

Overall, this was a cute and funny book and I'd be interested to see if there are any sequels on the horizon!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.