What do you think?
Rate this book
The Flaxfield Quartet #1
Dragonborn
When Flaxfield the great wizard dies, his apprentice Sam is left without a master. Sam has great power-but he doesn't know it yet. All he knows is that he needs a new master if he wants to finish his education in magic.
With his dragon Starback at his side, Sam sets out alone on his quest. But there are those who want Sam's power for themselves, dangerous forces who are waiting for his first mistake so they can attack. When Sam is tricked into making a mortal error, only Starback can save him, thanks to a bond between them that is deeper than either of them know.
With a strong sense of adventure and a lyrical writing style, Toby Forward has created a page-turning, accessible fantasy with the literary quality of a classic.
With his dragon Starback at his side, Sam sets out alone on his quest. But there are those who want Sam's power for themselves, dangerous forces who are waiting for his first mistake so they can attack. When Sam is tricked into making a mortal error, only Starback can save him, thanks to a bond between them that is deeper than either of them know.
With a strong sense of adventure and a lyrical writing style, Toby Forward has created a page-turning, accessible fantasy with the literary quality of a classic.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2011
86 people are currently reading
1252 people want to read
About the author
Toby Forward
49 books32 followersToby Forward is the author of many books for children, including Shakespeare's Globe. He has also written for adults. Toby Forward lives in Liverpool, England, with his wife and two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
September 21, 2015
I promised Megan I would write more wordy reviews! Anyway.
This book was sort of confusing. The way it was written, the flow - it all felt a bit more like a fanfic than an actual book, although there were parts that interested me. It was sort of disjointed throughout, and didn't really explore the characters as much as it could have. The plot twists were pretty predictable - and that kind of added to the "fanfic" feel, and I really am not sure how else to describe that - and people's conversations in the book overall felt pretty stilted.
There was also a lack of descriptive language. I normally do not like excessive descriptions of characters or animals or whatnot, but this book didn't really give me a clear idea of what some of the main characters and animals looked like, which was a bit baffling, in just a "wait what" kind of way.
Thinking about it, I basically felt like the book wasn't a finished product. It could have used a lot more polish than it actually got.
This book was sort of confusing. The way it was written, the flow - it all felt a bit more like a fanfic than an actual book, although there were parts that interested me. It was sort of disjointed throughout, and didn't really explore the characters as much as it could have. The plot twists were pretty predictable - and that kind of added to the "fanfic" feel, and I really am not sure how else to describe that - and people's conversations in the book overall felt pretty stilted.
There was also a lack of descriptive language. I normally do not like excessive descriptions of characters or animals or whatnot, but this book didn't really give me a clear idea of what some of the main characters and animals looked like, which was a bit baffling, in just a "wait what" kind of way.
Thinking about it, I basically felt like the book wasn't a finished product. It could have used a lot more polish than it actually got.
June 22, 2012
This is a tough one to review. For at least the 1st half of the book I was confused. Characters asked questions, but other characters evaded answering or gave cryptic replies. The whole plot felt like that, too. Cryptic, confusing. . .I found it annoying for a while, but something compelled me to keep reading rather than give up. At some point, I realized that this was likely intentional. The world/culture created here seems to need people to seek and choose for themselves, and even though the main character is young, he has to find his own way. I can acknowledge that this book is well crafted, but I'm not sure who I would hand it to at the library. It would have to be a patient reader, one who doesn't mind being in the dark until the end, when he or she will have to wait for the next book to be published.
Read
August 7, 2015I will now sum this book up in four words; boring, boring, boring, boring.
May 9, 2013
Dragonborn begins with these words: Flaxfield died on a Friday… Flaxfield had been teaching Sam to become a wizard. Sam is halfway through his apprenticeship – he knows some magic but not enough. He is completely alone but for his dragon and best friend, Starback. Everything that is familiar disappears in an instant. Flaxfield’s past apprentices come back to the cottage to honor their master as the rules dictate – while there they question Sam and don’t believe he is an actual apprentice. They bully and confuse Sam enough so that runs away in search of someone or a way that will help him complete his apprenticeship.
Sam’s journey follows a tracing of trails that weaves worlds and times together. For Sam it means losing Starback but gaining a roffle. The roffle leads Sam to a school for wizards; perhaps he can finish his apprenticeship there. Once at the school, Sam discovers that it is not what he needs at all. The magic taught there is not what he wants to learn. Most of the teachers and students there lack respect for the rules of real magic, the important kind. Magic is wasted there so it becomes weak and useless. Sam leaves there too.
Almost as soon as Sam begins his journey, the other Flaxfield wizards realize that Sam might be “the one” and they go in search of him. Starback sees this and leads them away from Sam. He leads castle he once knew. Then it was teeming with life. Strangely now it is lifeless and dark, but it is away from Sam and Starbuck hopes that will keep him safe.
Separated from his friend, Sam’s lonely journey continues. Glimmers of hope appear around some bends in the journey, while shadows of evil slip through at others. Sam is on a quest, one that threatens his very life. It seems he has no choice but to follow the path before him. There is no running from destiny and by the end of the book I had a inkling of what that destiny might be. There is evil magic abroad and an old danger is gathering strength. Sam and Starback have in important part to play as the story continues.
I have much more to learn about magic, dragons, Flaxfield, Flaxfold, Tamrin and Ash and I can’t wait! Dragonborn is the first in a quartet of books. I am eager to read them all. I had many questions as I read. It was challenging to keep the characters and the action straight. Jot some notes. They will help you understand the sides and that’s important. I found myself rereading large sections of the book to make sure I understood how the pieces fit together. This is a richly complex book - one to read and read again.
Sam’s journey follows a tracing of trails that weaves worlds and times together. For Sam it means losing Starback but gaining a roffle. The roffle leads Sam to a school for wizards; perhaps he can finish his apprenticeship there. Once at the school, Sam discovers that it is not what he needs at all. The magic taught there is not what he wants to learn. Most of the teachers and students there lack respect for the rules of real magic, the important kind. Magic is wasted there so it becomes weak and useless. Sam leaves there too.
Almost as soon as Sam begins his journey, the other Flaxfield wizards realize that Sam might be “the one” and they go in search of him. Starback sees this and leads them away from Sam. He leads castle he once knew. Then it was teeming with life. Strangely now it is lifeless and dark, but it is away from Sam and Starbuck hopes that will keep him safe.
Separated from his friend, Sam’s lonely journey continues. Glimmers of hope appear around some bends in the journey, while shadows of evil slip through at others. Sam is on a quest, one that threatens his very life. It seems he has no choice but to follow the path before him. There is no running from destiny and by the end of the book I had a inkling of what that destiny might be. There is evil magic abroad and an old danger is gathering strength. Sam and Starback have in important part to play as the story continues.
I have much more to learn about magic, dragons, Flaxfield, Flaxfold, Tamrin and Ash and I can’t wait! Dragonborn is the first in a quartet of books. I am eager to read them all. I had many questions as I read. It was challenging to keep the characters and the action straight. Jot some notes. They will help you understand the sides and that’s important. I found myself rereading large sections of the book to make sure I understood how the pieces fit together. This is a richly complex book - one to read and read again.
January 27, 2012
my rating 2.8 stars
i will start off with an explanation of my rating. This book is aimed at junior primary children. I’m in senior school and the book confused the shiz out of me so much that... well... I got confused. The age rating on this book was stupid and so was the layout of events. That’s why it only got 2.8 stars.
get really comfy because after a while this book get quite interesting. unfortunatly my revew isn't lol
That’s basically the whole story but in my confused Review type of way. I will admit the book had lots of nice ups but it also had a lot of downs. The confusing story line was one of the downs as well as if you accidentally skimmed over a sentence you would get lost with what was happening really easily. I found that there were a heap of under described characters that made no real difference to the story and so they were stupid.
The pros: I loved the character of Sam i Found him an enjoyable character that was described well for his age. Starback was another lovable character any dragon is :) . i liked the setting the book was placed in and the overall development of the book.
I’m going to read the next one just to see what happens. Hopefully it will be a bit better.
i will start off with an explanation of my rating. This book is aimed at junior primary children. I’m in senior school and the book confused the shiz out of me so much that... well... I got confused. The age rating on this book was stupid and so was the layout of events. That’s why it only got 2.8 stars.
get really comfy because after a while this book get quite interesting. unfortunatly my revew isn't lol
That’s basically the whole story but in my confused Review type of way. I will admit the book had lots of nice ups but it also had a lot of downs. The confusing story line was one of the downs as well as if you accidentally skimmed over a sentence you would get lost with what was happening really easily. I found that there were a heap of under described characters that made no real difference to the story and so they were stupid.
The pros: I loved the character of Sam i Found him an enjoyable character that was described well for his age. Starback was another lovable character any dragon is :) . i liked the setting the book was placed in and the overall development of the book.
I’m going to read the next one just to see what happens. Hopefully it will be a bit better.
September 2, 2025
3.5
I thought this was a solid coming of age book for children aged 9+. It had some fun magic and I love the ethics attached to it, the intention behind using magic effecting the outcome.
It is quite a slow and gentle but engaging enough. I would say it doesn’t have enough of a resolution at the end.
I thought this was a solid coming of age book for children aged 9+. It had some fun magic and I love the ethics attached to it, the intention behind using magic effecting the outcome.
It is quite a slow and gentle but engaging enough. I would say it doesn’t have enough of a resolution at the end.
October 23, 2011
First I was very exited about the book because: Dragons! but, it didn't hold up. Way too little about the dragon, too confusing (time jumps and changes of POVs without warning, talking about things that haven't been explained before and so on), too difficult to follow and so on. :(
November 4, 2017
This is a rather hurried review, but this book was great. Very well written, very well thought out. Enjoyed it immensely, as should you.
There is a few creepy parts, but if you don't mind beetle eating maniacs as villains and wizards galore, you'll like it just fine. For sure getting the second book. :)
There is a few creepy parts, but if you don't mind beetle eating maniacs as villains and wizards galore, you'll like it just fine. For sure getting the second book. :)
Read
April 20, 2015I suppose Sam had nowhere else to go after the wizard died, but it's a pity he had to go to school. I'm glad he got out of it at the end.
February 18, 2019
3.5, weird.
Firstly, loved the hand sketched drawings. They're done in my favourite style, you go dragons, and beetles, and boys playing in fields, and inns, and castles. Just gorgeous.
Second, good writing style. I've been wanting to read something light lately, and this was perfect. Not a lot negative feelings explored in depth, magic, and a boy on a journey. Plus, liked the incorporation of the 'Pages from an apprentice's notebook' part, taking us out of the story for exposition on the world and it's magic, and maybe (subtly) some of the upcoming cast members, without actually taking time away from the world's natural growth. Most fantasy books have a lot of rules and regulations the reader needs to be caught up on and I just like the way it was done here.
Overall, not a bad read.
Only issue lay in some of the tone shifts. This book doesn't necessarily have a 'big bad' to fight, no warriors to bring together, no band of misfits to get to know. It's like the prequel to all of that, like what they were doing before shit hit the fan. But it tries to play it off as if that's not happening. A lot of vague dialogue to about, 'things', I can't tell you anymore than that because I literally have no clue as to what they were referring to half the time. A prequel, that's trying not to give away what happens in the other (read: actual) book.
In saying this it does have to go somewhere, even if dedicated to set up, it has to be a full story. Which brings in the 'random' tone shifts. Midway through this book our main suddenly packs up with no previous thought and heads out, feet leading the way. We later find out that maybe magic lead him there? Maybe. But all of a sudden he's not some pre-teen struggling with the real world for the first time, still excited by magic. He turns into a middle-aged man who consults magic and nothing else? And then there's another tone shift and everything's 'dark and going wrong' but like... nothing's happening? Everyone legit just fell asleep like some connective hibernation? I don't know man, I got the feeling that chapters were missing, like a whole as book preceded this one and I was missing something and constantly having to go back and read between the lines and nod and go, "yeah, well... dramatique but ok."
I feel like a lot of this will be explained in the later books but I've just never seen the first book in a series risk so much set up and vagueness without hauling the reader in first with actualized plot. Risky, I like it.
Firstly, loved the hand sketched drawings. They're done in my favourite style, you go dragons, and beetles, and boys playing in fields, and inns, and castles. Just gorgeous.
Second, good writing style. I've been wanting to read something light lately, and this was perfect. Not a lot negative feelings explored in depth, magic, and a boy on a journey. Plus, liked the incorporation of the 'Pages from an apprentice's notebook' part, taking us out of the story for exposition on the world and it's magic, and maybe (subtly) some of the upcoming cast members, without actually taking time away from the world's natural growth. Most fantasy books have a lot of rules and regulations the reader needs to be caught up on and I just like the way it was done here.
Overall, not a bad read.
Only issue lay in some of the tone shifts. This book doesn't necessarily have a 'big bad' to fight, no warriors to bring together, no band of misfits to get to know. It's like the prequel to all of that, like what they were doing before shit hit the fan. But it tries to play it off as if that's not happening. A lot of vague dialogue to about, 'things', I can't tell you anymore than that because I literally have no clue as to what they were referring to half the time. A prequel, that's trying not to give away what happens in the other (read: actual) book.
In saying this it does have to go somewhere, even if dedicated to set up, it has to be a full story. Which brings in the 'random' tone shifts. Midway through this book our main suddenly packs up with no previous thought and heads out, feet leading the way. We later find out that maybe magic lead him there? Maybe. But all of a sudden he's not some pre-teen struggling with the real world for the first time, still excited by magic. He turns into a middle-aged man who consults magic and nothing else? And then there's another tone shift and everything's 'dark and going wrong' but like... nothing's happening? Everyone legit just fell asleep like some connective hibernation? I don't know man, I got the feeling that chapters were missing, like a whole as book preceded this one and I was missing something and constantly having to go back and read between the lines and nod and go, "yeah, well... dramatique but ok."
I feel like a lot of this will be explained in the later books but I've just never seen the first book in a series risk so much set up and vagueness without hauling the reader in first with actualized plot. Risky, I like it.
November 10, 2016
Dragonborn, by Toby Forward, is a fictional book that is full of fantasy and magic. The book begins with a curious boy named Sam who has just witnessed his master’s death. His master, Flaxfield, was a smart wizard with great power. Sam, his apprentice, is now left alone and seeking a new master. His only friend is a dragon called Starback. While running away from wizards that may be good or bad, he meets Megatorine, a roffle. A roffle is a very small person who lives below the earth. Megatorine convinces him that he doesn’t need to be an apprentice to be a wizard and takes him to a college to learn wizardry. At the college, he experiences some challenges from a mean professor who is jealous of Sam’s talent for magic, but also meets some wizards who are very helpful. He leaves the college when he realizes it is not a good place for him. He continues on his journey to try to find a replacement for Flaxfield and almost dies from fatigue and lack of food. He is saved and discovers that some of the wizards that he was running from are really trying to help him.
I liked this book because it dealt with my favorite subject, magic. There were some parts of the book that were so tense that it was hard to stop reading it. The thing I didn’t like about the book was that it didn’t always indicate when the author was going to switch to a new character or place. This made it confusing at times.
Dragonborn would be enjoyable for both boys and girls and for those who are 9 year olds through adult. It is the first book in a four book series so it is a good read for those who enjoy series books. I would strongly recommend this book to all those who like to read books that involve magic and fantasy.
I liked this book because it dealt with my favorite subject, magic. There were some parts of the book that were so tense that it was hard to stop reading it. The thing I didn’t like about the book was that it didn’t always indicate when the author was going to switch to a new character or place. This made it confusing at times.
Dragonborn would be enjoyable for both boys and girls and for those who are 9 year olds through adult. It is the first book in a four book series so it is a good read for those who enjoy series books. I would strongly recommend this book to all those who like to read books that involve magic and fantasy.
May 8, 2019
At page 144 I give up. We made it almost to 50%, but it's not only not getting better, it's actually getting worse and worse. My son is at the stage where he can read picture books himself, but they no longer interest him. So we moved on to bigger novels and read a few pretty books about dragons. The first three Harry Potter books were swallowed in a blink. But this... The plot is way too scratchy to interest a kid. The characters are... Were there characters? Some dirty and amazingly not-self-aware kid that moves around with no obvious intention. Some mysterious "evil" lurking in a huge prison. And a bunch of idiotic wizards so easily swayed, it's amazing. And yes, a dragon we know nothing about. The motives of any of them are unclear. And that's only the beginning. The biggest downfall of this book is descriptions, which are non-existent. And kids' books should be all about descriptions! In this particular case even my, fully developed, imagination was not enough to picture what's going on in any detail. The most I can say is I can follow the plot more or less (and I cannot say that about my son), but I can't imagine that world. This is one of those books that seems designed to kill a reader in a kid. So get rid of it before it's too late!
September 22, 2012
I am kind of scratching my head on this one. It has a good cover and a good quest tale. However, it is at times almost a little esoteric. I couldn’t help but wonder if it might be a little too out there or slow to keep kids attention. In the end it is a good story, classic fantasy themes of good and evil, power corrupts, orphan turned hero etc. Good for strong fantasy readers 4-6th grade. Note the evil forces are really evil, AND pretty scary AND sometimes gruesome. They made my skin crawl which I liked but this is not a book for a sensitive reader.
April 29, 2012
By the end of the first chapter I was captivated by this book. The way it is written draws the reader in and paints a wonderful picture of the characters and settings around which the story is skilfully woven.
I don't want to say anything about the story because I don't wish to spoil it for those who are yet to read it. Suffice to say, this book will not disappoint and by the end you will be ordering the next book in the series.
Jim Kay's illustrations are fabulous!
I don't want to say anything about the story because I don't wish to spoil it for those who are yet to read it. Suffice to say, this book will not disappoint and by the end you will be ordering the next book in the series.
Jim Kay's illustrations are fabulous!
October 31, 2011
Fantastic new middle grade series for lovers of The Magic Thief and Septimus Heap. When the wizard Sam is apprenticed to dies, "Sam was annoyed because the old man hadn't told him he was going to die, and Sam missed him." With his dragon Starbuck, Sam sets out to find a new wizard to finish his training. He has no idea that he isn't the only one who wants his magic.
March 5, 2013
I'm not saying the book was bad, I'm really not. It just was not for me. I couldn't get past page 120. Truly, I didn't want to give up on the book; I even tried twice to read it. But I just couldn't get invested in the character.
May 27, 2013
I loved this book, something in it spoke to me and made me feel like a child again discovering fantasy fiction for the first time. I didn't want to put it down and can't wait till I can read the next one in the series.
March 26, 2015
I really liked the plot and how you got different points of view.
June 27, 2016
Wow! what an adventure...In this book the author portrays exactly how you would imagine Sam to feel. I think I would like a pet Dragon!
October 1, 2015
I don't know how I missed this when it first came out, but I'm glad to have discovered a new book that I can recommend to the kids I know who loves stories with dragons and magic.
Read
August 5, 2023I created an account specifically to talk smack about this book because I genuinely hate it that much.
For some background, I read half of this back in 2015 so my mind isn't as fresh as other reviewers but I still remember distinct plot points and the general goings on so bare with me.
The story is utter nonsense and no, not the fun kind either. Things just sort of... Happen? Like there was little to no reason as to why things were happening the way they were. Whether they're explained later or not, well, according to other reviewers it isn't so I guess it's just shoddily written then. The descriptions waffle on for so long even Tolkien would be blushing. I distinctly remember like 20 bloody pages of the kid walking down a road. I also remember crying, yes actual real life crying, because I was so god damn bored of that fucking road. The rest from there is a blur until I just threw down the book and lamented ever picking it up over Harry Potter or Eragon.
This book was so unbelievably bad it caused me to stopped reading novels and it was only fairly recently (2021-2022) that I picked up the hobby again. Let me say that one more time; THIS BOOK IS SO BAD I STOPPED READING FOR 6-7 YEARS BECAUSE OF IT.
Toby, if you're ever reading this, I pray you have the worst day of your life. Not a bad day, not even an annoying one, no, the worst day of your fucking life. Also judging by your website and Goodreads profile, seems you haven't written a book for almost 10 years and you know what? Good fucking riddance. Eat shit Toby. Eat it for the 6 years you took from me.
For some background, I read half of this back in 2015 so my mind isn't as fresh as other reviewers but I still remember distinct plot points and the general goings on so bare with me.
The story is utter nonsense and no, not the fun kind either. Things just sort of... Happen? Like there was little to no reason as to why things were happening the way they were. Whether they're explained later or not, well, according to other reviewers it isn't so I guess it's just shoddily written then. The descriptions waffle on for so long even Tolkien would be blushing. I distinctly remember like 20 bloody pages of the kid walking down a road. I also remember crying, yes actual real life crying, because I was so god damn bored of that fucking road. The rest from there is a blur until I just threw down the book and lamented ever picking it up over Harry Potter or Eragon.
This book was so unbelievably bad it caused me to stopped reading novels and it was only fairly recently (2021-2022) that I picked up the hobby again. Let me say that one more time; THIS BOOK IS SO BAD I STOPPED READING FOR 6-7 YEARS BECAUSE OF IT.
Toby, if you're ever reading this, I pray you have the worst day of your life. Not a bad day, not even an annoying one, no, the worst day of your fucking life. Also judging by your website and Goodreads profile, seems you haven't written a book for almost 10 years and you know what? Good fucking riddance. Eat shit Toby. Eat it for the 6 years you took from me.
May 22, 2018
I read this book by accident. I was given it back by a pupil in school who said he didn't like it and wanted to return it early. I decided to have a flick through and see what it was about based on his negative review as the blurb made it sound really good.
Well he was wrong (in my opinion) I was only having a look and before I knew it I had done no work and was 5 chapters in. The book was coming home with me.
I read this in no time and enjoyed every minute of it. It is rare I can say that about a book. I loved that the chapters ended on cliffhangers. I loved that when we did pick up those characters again we didn't get given every minute detail of where they'd been, instead they had moved along the same time line and you are given just enough information to fill in the blanks. I was fully invested in all the characters, and was very emotional about the dragon. There is a certain air of mystery around some of the characters which means that I am still thinking about them and what they might be up to.
This is a clever book and an intelligent read. I'm sad that my pupil didn't enjoy the opening enough to read on as I believe he would have enjoyed it. I have already passed it on to another pupil in the hope that he enjoys it as much as I did so that I can purchase the following 3 for the library - cough.
Well he was wrong (in my opinion) I was only having a look and before I knew it I had done no work and was 5 chapters in. The book was coming home with me.
I read this in no time and enjoyed every minute of it. It is rare I can say that about a book. I loved that the chapters ended on cliffhangers. I loved that when we did pick up those characters again we didn't get given every minute detail of where they'd been, instead they had moved along the same time line and you are given just enough information to fill in the blanks. I was fully invested in all the characters, and was very emotional about the dragon. There is a certain air of mystery around some of the characters which means that I am still thinking about them and what they might be up to.
This is a clever book and an intelligent read. I'm sad that my pupil didn't enjoy the opening enough to read on as I believe he would have enjoyed it. I have already passed it on to another pupil in the hope that he enjoys it as much as I did so that I can purchase the following 3 for the library - cough.
May 29, 2021
Sam is an apprentice wizard, but his mentor, Flaxfield, dies unexpectedly. Most of the former apprentices arrive for Flaxfield's Finishing ceremony, and they're concerned that Sam needs a new mentor. Sam is not aware of the great powers he possesses, and many wizards, good and evil, would like to control him. Sam runs away with his dragon, Starback, with no destination in mind. Starback starts to behave strangely and abandons Sam. Sam is guided to a school for wizards, but he senses something is wrong and heads out again. He comes upon the home of a deceased miner where he performs the Finishing. The mines are dangerous to wizards, and it may give the evil forces the edge they need to pull Sam under their power.
I found the idea of the conflict interesting. A young wizard with tremendous, unknown power, who was secretly being manipulated by others, created a dramatic conflict. Sam tried to learn about himself, while others seemed to already know about his secrets. I found the author's style a little confusing. The point of view jumped from Sam, to Starback, to an evil wizard. Sam often asked questions of other wizards that went unanswered, and it became annoying to me. Overall, I still enjoyed the plot and plan to read the sequel, Fireborn. Give it a shot.
I found the idea of the conflict interesting. A young wizard with tremendous, unknown power, who was secretly being manipulated by others, created a dramatic conflict. Sam tried to learn about himself, while others seemed to already know about his secrets. I found the author's style a little confusing. The point of view jumped from Sam, to Starback, to an evil wizard. Sam often asked questions of other wizards that went unanswered, and it became annoying to me. Overall, I still enjoyed the plot and plan to read the sequel, Fireborn. Give it a shot.
June 11, 2019
"Dragonborn" - written by Toby Forward and published in 2011 by Walker Books Ltd. "Everyone knows that dragons bring luck; the trouble is, you never know whether it is going to be bad luck or good luck." You'd think from the cover, the title and quotes like this one that dragons would be a strong component of this story. Not so much! Sam's mentor in all things magic and life in general dies quite suddenly and he leaves the comfortable cottage, it seems, to find himself. To be sure, there are several wizards, a quite small dragon, a school for magic, and a really evil sorceress. But the fabric of the story itself was hollow, as if ideas and events had been written out separately on Post-It Notes and then assembled without a clear design. I did not feel empathy for Sam nor any idea of his goals and it seemed other characters in the book were just as confused. Forward has written other magical creature-themed stories for middle grade readers and they seem to be popular, especially the Wyvern series.
November 24, 2017
Dragonborn, by Toby Forward was a very confusing book that I did not particularly enjoy nor disliked. The book is set in a fantasy world with magic and strange creatures. The book had very interesting ideas that were let down by the way the author structured the book. The author split this book into separate “books", which made me extremely confused because, I did not know if Dragonborn was one book or multiple books inside one book. There were also point of view changes with no warning which confused me even more.
On the other hand the story was very complex, the new creatures and the wizards' skills were very fascinating. The wizards' abilities to see through their different animals and Sam’s ability to be both himself and Starback were very intriguing. The story was aimed at children so the messages weren’t very complex. The author was trying to show a journey of self discovery all throughout this book.
On the other hand the story was very complex, the new creatures and the wizards' skills were very fascinating. The wizards' abilities to see through their different animals and Sam’s ability to be both himself and Starback were very intriguing. The story was aimed at children so the messages weren’t very complex. The author was trying to show a journey of self discovery all throughout this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2025
I have a lot of love for this book even though I hadn't read it yet, because I've kept it from my childhood. However, the synopsis for this novel seems misleading, as this story feels more lose and like ideal than a concrete novel. I'm not sure how many mid grade readers would enjoy this book due to this writing style. This book is well written, but plot points and characters, in my opinion were let down by the writing style.
At points I really enjoyed this book, and at other points I felt as though I couldn't grasp what was being put down. I kept expecting this book to start explaining itself, but Sam and many of the other characters just expect you to understand what is happening. Also all of the children characters feel way older than their age on the page, there is one scene of Sam playing in the water with Starback like a normal young boy, and that's some of the only evidence he is young.
I feel disappointed in this book due to the writing style.
At points I really enjoyed this book, and at other points I felt as though I couldn't grasp what was being put down. I kept expecting this book to start explaining itself, but Sam and many of the other characters just expect you to understand what is happening. Also all of the children characters feel way older than their age on the page, there is one scene of Sam playing in the water with Starback like a normal young boy, and that's some of the only evidence he is young.
I feel disappointed in this book due to the writing style.
October 14, 2017
This is a very slow book, but the writing and the descriptions are fantastic. Take a look at:
Most of the prose is like this. It slows that the pacing terribly, but the strength of the prose is that the reader is expected to luxuriate in the descriptions.
It's a children's book, so the plot is simple: apprentice goes on a journey to find his new master. Along the way, he meets new people. There's not much else to say, other than: really, just read this for the prose.
Sam selected slender branches, young new shoots that had grown since the last winter, straight and smooth, with fine foliage, the tender leaves a lighter green than the older growth. They had a plant quality of youth, easily curved and guided. Sweet sap wet his hands as he stripped them. He piled them under an oak.
Most of the prose is like this. It slows that the pacing terribly, but the strength of the prose is that the reader is expected to luxuriate in the descriptions.
It's a children's book, so the plot is simple: apprentice goes on a journey to find his new master. Along the way, he meets new people. There's not much else to say, other than: really, just read this for the prose.
April 13, 2024
This was the first in a four book series. I read this to fulfill a reading challenge prompt of "Beware of Dragons" (or something similar). It was a book from my daughter's bookshelf that she got while she was in middle school and during her period where she loved stories about dragons. However, she had never actually read the book. I think that if she were younger and still into dragons I might have enjoyed this book more, since I could have talked about the story with her.
I liked this book ok, although I found it a little hard to follow at first. It did pick up some, but at this time I don't plan on continuing to read the rest of the series. Again, this might have been different if by kids were still at an age where they were also reading these books.
I liked this book ok, although I found it a little hard to follow at first. It did pick up some, but at this time I don't plan on continuing to read the rest of the series. Again, this might have been different if by kids were still at an age where they were also reading these books.
November 30, 2024
The beginning wasn't that strong, so I put this book down and read a few other books.
Later, when I came back to this, I decided that I would just keep reading until I couldn't help it anymore, but the book was way better as I continued to read it.
Honestly, this book is a 5 star, but the beginning lowered its score.
A great book, and the diverse point of view makes the reader wonder who the main character can trust and who he/she can't.
The book I read had an excerpt of another book (Fireborn, hopefully is good as well) and I loved how the author mixed pieces of other books into books to make the reader be able to relate to those parts.
Please read!
Later, when I came back to this, I decided that I would just keep reading until I couldn't help it anymore, but the book was way better as I continued to read it.
Honestly, this book is a 5 star, but the beginning lowered its score.
A great book, and the diverse point of view makes the reader wonder who the main character can trust and who he/she can't.
The book I read had an excerpt of another book (Fireborn, hopefully is good as well) and I loved how the author mixed pieces of other books into books to make the reader be able to relate to those parts.
Please read!
June 30, 2025
Pretty convoluted and hard to follow for a book honestly… It was a bit difficult, and confusing, and repetitive- especially with the use of ___, and ____, and ___ for nearly every single paragraph. It was an interesting plot but the writing fell a bit flat so often that it was a bummer.
On the good note, the characters all stand out- and they’re actually likeable. The antagonist really is a freak- fully insane and her bug eating did make me cringe. If the book went through another revision it would’ve been better! Pacing was off as well at times where whole chapters that really could’ve been two paragraphs.
On the good note, the characters all stand out- and they’re actually likeable. The antagonist really is a freak- fully insane and her bug eating did make me cringe. If the book went through another revision it would’ve been better! Pacing was off as well at times where whole chapters that really could’ve been two paragraphs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews