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How to Train Your Dragon #1-12
How to Train Your Dragon: The Complete Series
Read the books that inspired the hit movie sensation with this new and complete paperback gift set of the New York Times bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series!
How to Train Your Dragon chronicles the adventures and misadventures of reluctant Viking hero Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. Join them on all twelve of their exciting stories.
This beautiful box set showcases the series' stunning new look and makes the perfect gift for any How to Train Your Dragon fan!
How to Train Your Dragon chronicles the adventures and misadventures of reluctant Viking hero Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. Join them on all twelve of their exciting stories.
This beautiful box set showcases the series' stunning new look and makes the perfect gift for any How to Train Your Dragon fan!
3328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
About the author
Cressida Cowell
254 books2,559 followersCressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. She has a BA in English Literature from Oxford University, a BA in Graphic Design from St Martin's and an MA in Narrative Illustration from Brighton. Cressida loves illustrating her own work, but also loves writing books for other people to illustrate as the end result can be so unexpected and inspiring. Cressida has written and illustrated eight books in the popular Hiccup series. The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit. How to Train Your Dragon is now published in over 30 languages. A DreamWorks Animation feature film is out in March 2010. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 and has been shortlisted for many others. Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 24, 2023
this series really exceeded my expectations! it’s so cute and silly but at the same time, the characters grow and develop and learn important lessons. i’m also impressed at how well sensitive subjects are handled. hiccup has to be one of my favorite characters of all-time now!
December 25, 2021
i fucking lvoe dragons man yumyu myum
October 8, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
You know those rare moments in life when you loved the movie far more than you even liked the book? Well, that's How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. This doesn't happen very often for me, but ultimately I find some movies really take the source material and change it for the better. Often, unfortunately, that happens when the source material either isn't great, has problems, or just plain missed out on an opportunity for emotional attachment. In the case of Cowell's novel, it's not that her story is bad but rather that the film's story is better, infinitely so, especially when it comes to emotionality.
Let's get one thing straight here to start with.
Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon is nothing like its movie counterpart. If you suggested that the film is loosely based on this book, you'd be correct. Near everything is different. I could probably count the similarities on one hand. Barring Hiccup's personality (but only moderately), the names, the setting, and pieces of the ending...there's very little similar about them. Instead of a world of Vikings who are terrified of and fight dragons, we live literally in a world where they are raised to capture and train them. The entire central conflict of the film, that of Stoick wanting his son to kill dragons and Hiccup refusing, does not exist in the book.
Also, much to the annoyance of one of my students, there is no Astrid in the books.
As much as I hate to admit it, the changes made to the story really do affect the likability. I can guarantee you all that I would not have an emotional attachment to How to Train Your Dragon without the things that they changed in the process of adapting it. Most likely, if I'd even read the book, I would have thought it was decent for young readers--it is generally a pretty good book--but I never would have cared much more than that. As it stands, I really have no interest whatsoever in reading the rest of the books in this series.
Let's talk about why.
I'm just going to come right out and say it: book Toothless is awful. He's whiny and annoying and in no way endearing. I don't care about him at all in the books whereas in the movie I fall in love with him. This was perhaps my biggest gripe about the differences between the books. I couldn't stand one of the most important characters. Also, Toothless talks which, while not inherently bad, it did make it harder to connect with the characters in general. Again, there's that emotionality aspect; Toothless was kind of a jerk, something you wouldn't have felt as much had he not been able to talk.
The stakes are higher in the film. First of all, you care more about the characters. You love Hiccup, you adore Toothless, and you're incredibly invested in their relationship and wellbeing. The books were more about a bullied kid of a leader who couldn't figure out how to train his bratty pet. The movie, however, had many deeper messages. Moments of tension like when Hiccup had to decide between being the fearsome dragon killer his father wants him to be and when he tried to convince his people that dragons weren't dangerous had you on the edge of your seat. You care about Stoick, but you hate him for what he does to Toothless.
The movie shows you that adults can be wrong sometimes and learn, too.
You don't really get that in the book.
Honestly, at times the victory at the end of the novel doesn't even feel earned. Things just happened to turn out. The lazy dragon who refused to anything just happened to get up and do something. If I recall correctly, he complained the entire time he was doing it. Everyone had dragons, so Toothless--baring his reluctant heroics--wasn't really special in any way other than that he allowed Hiccup to get bullied more.
And I'm not saying that the book was bad. The world-building is amazing, the characters are fun and relatable, and the story is pretty decent. But I never would have loved it on its own. And, yeah, when compared to the movie it doesn't even really stand a chance.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
You know those rare moments in life when you loved the movie far more than you even liked the book? Well, that's How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. This doesn't happen very often for me, but ultimately I find some movies really take the source material and change it for the better. Often, unfortunately, that happens when the source material either isn't great, has problems, or just plain missed out on an opportunity for emotional attachment. In the case of Cowell's novel, it's not that her story is bad but rather that the film's story is better, infinitely so, especially when it comes to emotionality.
Let's get one thing straight here to start with.
Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon is nothing like its movie counterpart. If you suggested that the film is loosely based on this book, you'd be correct. Near everything is different. I could probably count the similarities on one hand. Barring Hiccup's personality (but only moderately), the names, the setting, and pieces of the ending...there's very little similar about them. Instead of a world of Vikings who are terrified of and fight dragons, we live literally in a world where they are raised to capture and train them. The entire central conflict of the film, that of Stoick wanting his son to kill dragons and Hiccup refusing, does not exist in the book.
Also, much to the annoyance of one of my students, there is no Astrid in the books.
As much as I hate to admit it, the changes made to the story really do affect the likability. I can guarantee you all that I would not have an emotional attachment to How to Train Your Dragon without the things that they changed in the process of adapting it. Most likely, if I'd even read the book, I would have thought it was decent for young readers--it is generally a pretty good book--but I never would have cared much more than that. As it stands, I really have no interest whatsoever in reading the rest of the books in this series.
Let's talk about why.
I'm just going to come right out and say it: book Toothless is awful. He's whiny and annoying and in no way endearing. I don't care about him at all in the books whereas in the movie I fall in love with him. This was perhaps my biggest gripe about the differences between the books. I couldn't stand one of the most important characters. Also, Toothless talks which, while not inherently bad, it did make it harder to connect with the characters in general. Again, there's that emotionality aspect; Toothless was kind of a jerk, something you wouldn't have felt as much had he not been able to talk.
The stakes are higher in the film. First of all, you care more about the characters. You love Hiccup, you adore Toothless, and you're incredibly invested in their relationship and wellbeing. The books were more about a bullied kid of a leader who couldn't figure out how to train his bratty pet. The movie, however, had many deeper messages. Moments of tension like when Hiccup had to decide between being the fearsome dragon killer his father wants him to be and when he tried to convince his people that dragons weren't dangerous had you on the edge of your seat. You care about Stoick, but you hate him for what he does to Toothless.
The movie shows you that adults can be wrong sometimes and learn, too.
You don't really get that in the book.
Honestly, at times the victory at the end of the novel doesn't even feel earned. Things just happened to turn out. The lazy dragon who refused to anything just happened to get up and do something. If I recall correctly, he complained the entire time he was doing it. Everyone had dragons, so Toothless--baring his reluctant heroics--wasn't really special in any way other than that he allowed Hiccup to get bullied more.
And I'm not saying that the book was bad. The world-building is amazing, the characters are fun and relatable, and the story is pretty decent. But I never would have loved it on its own. And, yeah, when compared to the movie it doesn't even really stand a chance.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
May 23, 2026
I love this series so much! Quite different from the movies but amazing just the same!
October 8, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
You know those rare moments in life when you loved the movie far more than you even liked the book? Well, that's How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. This doesn't happen very often for me, but ultimately I find some movies really take the source material and change it for the better. Often, unfortunately, that happens when the source material either isn't great, has problems, or just plain missed out on an opportunity for emotional attachment. In the case of Cowell's novel, it's not that her story is bad but rather that the film's story is better, infinitely so, especially when it comes to emotionality.
Let's get one thing straight here to start with.
Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon is nothing like its movie counterpart. If you suggested that the film is loosely based on this book, you'd be correct. Near everything is different. I could probably count the similarities on one hand. Barring Hiccup's personality (but only moderately), the names, the setting, and pieces of the ending...there's very little similar about them. Instead of a world of Vikings who are terrified of and fight dragons, we live literally in a world where they are raised to capture and train them. The entire central conflict of the film, that of Stoick wanting his son to kill dragons and Hiccup refusing, does not exist in the book.
Also, much to the annoyance of one of my students, there is no Astrid in the books.
As much as I hate to admit it, the changes made to the story really do affect the likability. I can guarantee you all that I would not have an emotional attachment to How to Train Your Dragon without the things that they changed in the process of adapting it. Most likely, if I'd even read the book, I would have thought it was decent for young readers--it is generally a pretty good book--but I never would have cared much more than that. As it stands, I really have no interest whatsoever in reading the rest of the books in this series.
Let's talk about why.
I'm just going to come right out and say it: book Toothless is awful. He's whiny and annoying and in no way endearing. I don't care about him at all in the books whereas in the movie I fall in love with him. This was perhaps my biggest gripe about the differences between the books. I couldn't stand one of the most important characters. Also, Toothless talks which, while not inherently bad, it did make it harder to connect with the characters in general. Again, there's that emotionality aspect; Toothless was kind of a jerk, something you wouldn't have felt as much had he not been able to talk.
The stakes are higher in the film. First of all, you care more about the characters. You love Hiccup, you adore Toothless, and you're incredibly invested in their relationship and wellbeing. The books were more about a bullied kid of a leader who couldn't figure out how to train his bratty pet. The movie, however, had many deeper messages. Moments of tension like when Hiccup had to decide between being the fearsome dragon killer his father wants him to be and when he tried to convince his people that dragons weren't dangerous had you on the edge of your seat. You care about Stoick, but you hate him for what he does to Toothless.
The movie shows you that adults can be wrong sometimes and learn, too.
You don't really get that in the book.
Honestly, at times the victory at the end of the novel doesn't even feel earned. Things just happened to turn out. The lazy dragon who refused to anything just happened to get up and do something. If I recall correctly, he complained the entire time he was doing it. Everyone had dragons, so Toothless--baring his reluctant heroics--wasn't really special in any way other than that he allowed Hiccup to get bullied more.
And I'm not saying that the book was bad. The world-building is amazing, the characters are fun and relatable, and the story is pretty decent. But I never would have loved it on its own. And, yeah, when compared to the movie it doesn't even really stand a chance.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
You know those rare moments in life when you loved the movie far more than you even liked the book? Well, that's How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. This doesn't happen very often for me, but ultimately I find some movies really take the source material and change it for the better. Often, unfortunately, that happens when the source material either isn't great, has problems, or just plain missed out on an opportunity for emotional attachment. In the case of Cowell's novel, it's not that her story is bad but rather that the film's story is better, infinitely so, especially when it comes to emotionality.
Let's get one thing straight here to start with.
Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon is nothing like its movie counterpart. If you suggested that the film is loosely based on this book, you'd be correct. Near everything is different. I could probably count the similarities on one hand. Barring Hiccup's personality (but only moderately), the names, the setting, and pieces of the ending...there's very little similar about them. Instead of a world of Vikings who are terrified of and fight dragons, we live literally in a world where they are raised to capture and train them. The entire central conflict of the film, that of Stoick wanting his son to kill dragons and Hiccup refusing, does not exist in the book.
Also, much to the annoyance of one of my students, there is no Astrid in the books.
As much as I hate to admit it, the changes made to the story really do affect the likability. I can guarantee you all that I would not have an emotional attachment to How to Train Your Dragon without the things that they changed in the process of adapting it. Most likely, if I'd even read the book, I would have thought it was decent for young readers--it is generally a pretty good book--but I never would have cared much more than that. As it stands, I really have no interest whatsoever in reading the rest of the books in this series.
Let's talk about why.
I'm just going to come right out and say it: book Toothless is awful. He's whiny and annoying and in no way endearing. I don't care about him at all in the books whereas in the movie I fall in love with him. This was perhaps my biggest gripe about the differences between the books. I couldn't stand one of the most important characters. Also, Toothless talks which, while not inherently bad, it did make it harder to connect with the characters in general. Again, there's that emotionality aspect; Toothless was kind of a jerk, something you wouldn't have felt as much had he not been able to talk.
The stakes are higher in the film. First of all, you care more about the characters. You love Hiccup, you adore Toothless, and you're incredibly invested in their relationship and wellbeing. The books were more about a bullied kid of a leader who couldn't figure out how to train his bratty pet. The movie, however, had many deeper messages. Moments of tension like when Hiccup had to decide between being the fearsome dragon killer his father wants him to be and when he tried to convince his people that dragons weren't dangerous had you on the edge of your seat. You care about Stoick, but you hate him for what he does to Toothless.
The movie shows you that adults can be wrong sometimes and learn, too.
You don't really get that in the book.
Honestly, at times the victory at the end of the novel doesn't even feel earned. Things just happened to turn out. The lazy dragon who refused to anything just happened to get up and do something. If I recall correctly, he complained the entire time he was doing it. Everyone had dragons, so Toothless--baring his reluctant heroics--wasn't really special in any way other than that he allowed Hiccup to get bullied more.
And I'm not saying that the book was bad. The world-building is amazing, the characters are fun and relatable, and the story is pretty decent. But I never would have loved it on its own. And, yeah, when compared to the movie it doesn't even really stand a chance.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
July 25, 2023
I picked this series up thinking the books would be a light-hearted and fun. When I was younger, I read the first few books and put them down because I tired of the repetitive story lines, but this time I decided to give the whole series a go- and I was surprised!
Yes, the books were fun, but I was completely unprepared for the themes of genocide, slavery and war that the books would sensitively explore. I was also unprepared for the incredible characters that I couldn't help but get attached to (Valhallarama is amazing. I won't say much as she only appears in her full glory in the later books, but that scene where she calmly stands twirling an arrow in her hand, patiently waiting for the villain to finish their speech took my breath away).
The characters and plot are amazing, and I am in awe at how Cressida Cowell wraps everything up, and makes even the smallest details integral to the plot (and make sense!)
I have to admit, I watched the films before I read this series properly. I was under the impression that the films were incredible (which they are) and the books wouldn't equal them. But I was proved wrong. These books will hold a special place in my heart, for the characters and the messages that Cressida Cowell portrays.
After reading the books, I was curious about what Cressida Cowell thought of the films. After all, my younger self was shocked at the differences in the first film and the first few books, (though I soon got over my outrage and fell swiftly in love with the films). At first, I thought she would be upset that the films had taken her characters and completely changed them and the plot. But when I looked on her website, I was surprised to find that she endorses the films, and after some thinking, I realised why. Both the books and films show you the importance of kindness and standing true to your beliefs, and that, I think, is the most important thing of all.
Oh! And also this book series has one of the best redemption arcs I have seen in a book series
Yes, the books were fun, but I was completely unprepared for the themes of genocide, slavery and war that the books would sensitively explore. I was also unprepared for the incredible characters that I couldn't help but get attached to (Valhallarama is amazing. I won't say much as she only appears in her full glory in the later books, but that scene where she calmly stands twirling an arrow in her hand, patiently waiting for the villain to finish their speech took my breath away).
The characters and plot are amazing, and I am in awe at how Cressida Cowell wraps everything up, and makes even the smallest details integral to the plot (and make sense!)
I have to admit, I watched the films before I read this series properly. I was under the impression that the films were incredible (which they are) and the books wouldn't equal them. But I was proved wrong. These books will hold a special place in my heart, for the characters and the messages that Cressida Cowell portrays.
After reading the books, I was curious about what Cressida Cowell thought of the films. After all, my younger self was shocked at the differences in the first film and the first few books, (though I soon got over my outrage and fell swiftly in love with the films). At first, I thought she would be upset that the films had taken her characters and completely changed them and the plot. But when I looked on her website, I was surprised to find that she endorses the films, and after some thinking, I realised why. Both the books and films show you the importance of kindness and standing true to your beliefs, and that, I think, is the most important thing of all.
Oh! And also this book series has one of the best redemption arcs I have seen in a book series
August 5, 2023
"There were dragons when I was a boy."
These books were breathtakingly beautiful. Based on the first few books, I never expected the series to go in the direction it did, but it worked so wonderfully that when I finished the series I stood up and applauded.
Fishlegs was definitely my favorite character, loyal to Hiccup to the end. Toothless was a selfish rascal, but hilarious. I loved the illustrations and the creative fonts used throughout the books, but Cressida Cowell's writing style is amazing enough that the series would have still been great without them.
This is the type of series that would appeal to a middle schooler or an adult. It's humorous and dramatic and sometimes sad. It makes you root for the characters to succeed. Well done, Cressida Cowell!
These books were breathtakingly beautiful. Based on the first few books, I never expected the series to go in the direction it did, but it worked so wonderfully that when I finished the series I stood up and applauded.
Fishlegs was definitely my favorite character, loyal to Hiccup to the end. Toothless was a selfish rascal, but hilarious. I loved the illustrations and the creative fonts used throughout the books, but Cressida Cowell's writing style is amazing enough that the series would have still been great without them.
This is the type of series that would appeal to a middle schooler or an adult. It's humorous and dramatic and sometimes sad. It makes you root for the characters to succeed. Well done, Cressida Cowell!
September 29, 2026
This is THE dragon book, the place where it all began, and is perfection and grief and joy and delight and humor and sadness and hope. No matter what age you are, this is a book worth reading.
Don't be caught off guard how it starts, this book escalates, grows and deepens over the years and through each book, touching on heavy themes thata re sure to resonate with readers young and old.
Hiccup is a brave, compelling and relatable protagonist, full of struggles and doubts even with his skills and abilities he has. His kindness and bravery are constantly tested alongside his mettle and will.
The dragon characters and all the characters are charming and unique and fun to read. The illustrations are delightful. The story gutted me, and made me fall in love.
Dragon lovers, read this.
Don't be caught off guard how it starts, this book escalates, grows and deepens over the years and through each book, touching on heavy themes thata re sure to resonate with readers young and old.
Hiccup is a brave, compelling and relatable protagonist, full of struggles and doubts even with his skills and abilities he has. His kindness and bravery are constantly tested alongside his mettle and will.
The dragon characters and all the characters are charming and unique and fun to read. The illustrations are delightful. The story gutted me, and made me fall in love.
Dragon lovers, read this.
September 19, 2023
This is one of my all time FAVORITE series! So good that I reread it in my teen years and enjoyed it just as much as I did when I read it in fourth grade! It was easy to read, so much fun, hilarious, clean, and it kept you on the edge of your seat as you realized how much was unfolding the whole time!
January 26, 2025
read
-main series 1-12 (audiobooks read by david tennant)
-the dragon tales collection (how to train your viking, the day of the dreader, when the windwalker changed)
-how to train your hogfly (read by david tennant)
-incomplete book of dragons
-a journal for heroes
httyd a treasure cove story ????????
-hiccup:the viking who was seasick
-main series 1-12 (audiobooks read by david tennant)
-the dragon tales collection (how to train your viking, the day of the dreader, when the windwalker changed)
-how to train your hogfly (read by david tennant)
-incomplete book of dragons
-a journal for heroes
httyd a treasure cove story ????????
-hiccup:the viking who was seasick
June 21, 2025
PEAK! tackled some insane themes near the end, need to have a collector's edition of the entire series for when i am rich and have room on my bookshelf. used to beg my mom to take me around to different public libraries so i could check out the next one. so so so good and tbh scared me really bad
March 2, 2026
this series is so profoundly thoughtful while also being written in big print with illustrations and fun fonts for the different character voices 5 stars and i need every child to read this it will make them a better person and a better friend
January 3, 2023
These are delightful little tales for children. Though the plotlines become repetitive, they are full of adventure, heroism, and sprinkle of dumb luck.
July 5, 2024
i dont remember the books very well, but these were all that young me read, i also loved the films too. i spefically remember reading and re reading my primary schools copy of the last book.
September 15, 2024
Most underrated book series ever. Love, war, good and evil, epic fights, swords, mind games, beautiful life lessons and DRAGONS 🌠
December 28, 2024
its so peak
January 4, 2025
I think I read all of these once upon a time. It was a fun time.
July 2, 2025
Very good book. Many plot twists. I would suggest listening to this series. Having sound effects makes it even better.
September 3, 2025
no words needed
February 7, 2026
It took us a while but we finished the series ! What a fun set of books to read together at bedtime. So much adventure, triumph and loss. Loved it !
October 12, 2026
This was (and still is) my favourite children and teenager book series.
March 17, 2022
I read this series out loud to my ten year old son. I expected these books to be a more in depth retelling of the movie series by the same name. But other than some names, the setting, and the basic premise, the books and movie vary widely in plot, character development and storyline.
Frankly, as an adult I preferred the movie’s storyline & character development better. I felt the books storyline & characters were better suited for younger kids and tweens and the movies storyline appealed more to both kids & adults. In hindsight, this would have been a better series for my son to read on his own.
Frankly, as an adult I preferred the movie’s storyline & character development better. I felt the books storyline & characters were better suited for younger kids and tweens and the movies storyline appealed more to both kids & adults. In hindsight, this would have been a better series for my son to read on his own.
February 21, 2019
You know when you're grown up and you come across something for kids that you just love? And you wish so badly you could somehow open a crack in time and drop it into the lap of your surprised younger self? Yeah. That's this. Oh, she would have loved this. And I should know.
November 14, 2016
I didn't read this particular gift set, but I did read the whole series and I loved it.
August 12, 2022
My whole family LOVED these books. Especially the audio books!!!! They were witty, fun, & full of adventure! The entire story is a hilariously woven tale. I cannot recommend it enough!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews