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.

I read this with my son and he loved. He didn’t want us to stop at night and wanted to read the whole thing in one go! I think this is going to bring kids into an amazing world and spark their imaginations!

My son (10) has loved James Riley’s other books (Half Upon a Time, Story Thieves, Revenge of Magic) and he was absolutely THRILLED to read this book with me.

He gave it an easy 5 stars. He says it is perfect for middle grade readers and really hooks you into the story. (He would like the next book ASAP, please. Ha, ha!) He would frequently stop me while reading to tell me what he thought would happen next. He had a lot of fun tracing the draconian words!

Ciara and Scorch are memorable characters, the Warden is appropriately dislike-able, and the ending leaves the audience eager for more. I felt like the back story was well thought out and the surprises along the way were fantastic.

It was easy to read aloud, I would only ask that you put the pronunciation of Ciara’s name earlier in the book because I was *very* wrong with how I was saying it. My son also wants to know if I was pronouncing Skael correctly. 😆

Another strong start to a new series, we are so excited to have read it. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the author for allowing us to read it for review.

What worked:
The story opens with a prologue that presents an enticing hook. It’s a journal entry by a homeless girl named Bianca on the day she meets the Dragon Mage. Bianca is recruited along with five other children to become apprentices to six dragons. The Dragon Mage’s hope is for all humans to eventually have magic and Bianca assumes readers must have the ability years later. However, Ciara, the main character, finds only one journal entry, and only royals are allowed to practice magic today. This will lead readers to wonder what happened to Bianca and the other apprentices and why the royals forbid anyone from ever speaking Bianca’s name. Each chapter begins with a short sentence or two from Bianca that adds anticipation or a touch of humor.
Ciara finds the journal in the Dragon Mage’s rundown, neglected tower but chooses not to hand it over to the new Warden. She summons a dragon called Scorch and readers will enjoy their unusual relationship. Scorch doesn’t think much of human intelligence and doesn’t miss many opportunities to point that out to Ciara. He explains the importance of tracing draconic symbols precisely and laughs hysterically when Ciara’s spell results in a horde of rats instead of a sumptuous meal. Scorch becomes cranky when Ciara wants to use the term spell instead of dragon magic. He refuses to call Bianca’s journal a spell book! Maybe he’s still testy since Ciara changed him into a horse.
Ciara’s sole motive is to cure her mother of the deadly Skael Cough that’s already taken her father. The Warden says he has enough medicine to save the whole village but people must pay everything they own to receive it. The Warden isn’t an honorable man as he often fails to follow through with his promises and deals. This makes him a ruthless antagonist who’s easy to hate. Scorch agrees to help Ciara save her mother but his motivation is to discover what happened to his original apprentice, Bianca, and the Dragon Mage. Ciara and Scorch make an unlikely pair and their sarcastic, playful relationship still makes a formidable team against a clear-defined bully.
What didn’t work as well:
The book leaves unanswered questions that readers must assume will be dealt with as the series progresses. What happened to the Dragon Mage and is her dream of universal magic a mistake? What kind of person is the emperor? Most of what readers know comes from the Warden who is a dishonest man. The characters of Ciara and Scorch could have been more developed.
The final verdict:
The amusing interactions between Ciara and Scorch make the book an entertaining adventure. The story has minimal violence and has a wholesomeness to it. I recommend you give it a shot!

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley is one of my favorite new Middle Grade reads! It is hilarious and had me laughing out loud multiple times. The Dragon's Apprentice follows Ciara, a young girl who accidentally summons a dragon when she opens a mysterious book. Dragons and spellbooks are common in middle grade fantasy, but this read still felt so original! The book PURRS and is adorable. The dragon sounds adorable too, but he probably wouldn't appreciate that. Great for all the middle grade readers looking for something fun!

Thanks to NetGalley, James Riley, and Random House Children's for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own!

Thank you to Random House/Labyrinth Publishing, NetGalley, and James Riley for the e-print ARC!

2.5 stars

If you are looking for a perfectly harmless read for your young children, this book is perfect (with the exception of some very moderate violence—no death or anything as heavy as that—and some pointed insults such as calling someone a “butt”).
However, don’t be duped by the picture of the dragon on the cover; Scorch is a little lame for a dragon, in my personal opinion, and I feel as if young audiences would share my opinion. His dry humor would definitely have been annoying to me at that age. He’s not the only thing to fall flat, however; from the sentence structure to the too-localized setting in which the story takes place, this book simply wasn’t with it. I was hardly intrigued. Rather, I was bored. The writing style was very amateur and that was a big barrier for me.
I will admit that I picked this book based off of two things, so my expectations were probably different from other people’s. One, I saw the name James Riley and was immediately transported back to my middle school years, when I spent many hours in the land of the great Story Thieves, a book I would wholly recommend. THAT was an engrossing book. I embraced the opportunity to leap back into this sort of fiction, expecting a feeling of sweet nostalgia (that I never found, by the way).
Two…I saw the dragon (what can I say? Even at eighteen years-old, I’m a sucker for dragons). I may or may not have been expecting a slightly more ferocious mythical beast. My bad.
So my review may be a little harsh, but it’s still true. Read if you’d like, but don’t make the mistake that I did and expect too great an adventure.
Happy reading!