How To Seize A Dragon's Jewel

How to Train Your Dragon #10

by Cressida Cowell

The Dragon Rebellion has begun, bringing the Vikings' darkest hour upon them. Hiccup has become an outcast, but that won't stop him from going on the most harrowing and important quest of his life. He must find the Dragon's Jewel in order to save his people...but where should he begin? Don't miss Hiccup's most dangerous adventure yet!

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Audiobook, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure

407 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Cressida 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)

Reviews

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

EDIT 3// screaming Valhallarama's name every day of my life
-

EDIT 2// I wish I could make everyone read this book. I wish the whole world would read this book and think about it every piece of it long and hard. Though I had There must be poetry, even in Monsters tattooed on my arm, it is only as a stand in for the fact that I could not have Valhallarama's entire scene written there.

A mark is only a symbol, and symbols can CHANGE.

--

EDIT// I'm sorry, but this book is perfect.

If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

I would quote the whole book as proof, but it would take too long. You don't understand. This book literally starts with an author's note apologizing for the fact that it's a story about how much growing up sucks. It ends with an epilogue about how terrible the present may be because of the choices you made before, but if you hadn't made those choices, you would miss out on the present joy, too, so you have to cheer your past self on. And everything in between... is the most beautiful tragedy.

And Valhallarama... I don't want to spoil it, but I have never met a more perfect badass. I want to be her. Or marry her. I don't know.

There must be poetry, even in Monsters.

--

These books have finally done it.

Hold on- I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts from where they are smashed and scattered on the ground among the fragments of my heart.

These books have finally done it.

When I started, I was holding this series up to what I thought was an impossible standard, expecting something great and profound and beautiful from a bunch of books aimed at ten-year-old boys, full of silly story logic and fart jokes and clueless characters. But there was always a hint, the tiniest idea that there was something deeper waiting behind this story - and as I moved forward, passed into book seven, Cressida Cowell showed me I was right. In book eight, she broke me. In book nine, I cried.

Here, in book ten, my world shattered into a hundred thousand pieces as this series finally destroyed my unreasonable expectations, absolutely obliterated the impossible standard to which I was holding it, and ripped my heart viciously apart. This book was something dark and horrifying and beautiful, this book was tragic and yet woven through with threads of glory and wonder, this book was worth every single time I rolled my eyes and sighed and wished this series could be better, but kept reading anyway.

And finally, these books surpassed the movies. The How to Train Your Dragon movies, which are among my favorite movies in the world, pale in comparison to the epic tale that the How to Train Your Dragon books- the How to Become a Hero the Hard Way books, as another reviewer proposed they be renamed- have finally, finally become. I wish the movies had been this good.

I have one book left to read- entitled How to Betray a Dragon's Hero, so I predict my already vulnerable heart will be a useless puddle by the end of it- and then one more book coming out later this year. I suspect it might be the last one. I suspect my life will be a yawning empty void when I finish it.

Why is it that the series whose next books I await with ravening need are all children's series right now? The Guardians, HTTYD (and once, long ago, Harry Potter, eh?)- something about them is so much more compelling than any other series I currently follow. Children's authors really do know what they're doing sometimes.




P.S. Valhallarama is the most insanely badass woman I have ever encountered and I would follow her to the grave and back. Unhesitating and unafraid.

[soph.connects.the.dots · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is always hope," whispered Innocence. "...You have to learn from stories. We will not give up this time..."

This series is literally so amazing. I can't...I recommend. Strongly. I don't have words to describe the simple power of these books that goes so far beyond merely a "children's story." It's like expecting to read a good book, and reading a masterpiece instead. This whole series is like that, and I have never been disappointed.

I'm a little worried, though. It has been foreshadowed something sad and heart-breaking may follow, and I am too emotionally invested to adequately prepare for potential book-heartache. Oh, please end well, if you can!

[MS Meagher]

I'm reading this series aloud to my children. You'd think at 15, 12 and 9 at least two of them would be getting a bit old for these books, but the new book was awaited with great anticipation and was not a let-down. You get a new perspective on books you read aloud. Clumsy dialogue and overly descriptive prose are more evident when every word is read aloud. With these books, there is no issue in this regard. The plotting is tight and the storyline intelligent. There are many laugh-out-loud moments (Alvin promising, on his honour as the word of a Treacherous) and moments of suspense. The major complaint I have about this book? Over the past few days we read to page 134. Today I started reading the book in the car, and when we got home decided to finish the chapter. Over 250 pages later, I finished reading. It's one thing when a book is "unputdownable"; another when that involves reading aloud.

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!💖
This one was so good! I think it might be my fav in the series so far, right up there with How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse!💖💖💖

Language: A few mentions of 'he' double hockey stick as in referring to down-under.

Violence: Some fighting. Some mentions of blood but nothing detailed or gory.

Magic: There's a 'witch' but she doesn't actually do magic, just some 'fortune telling' but she's not actually right most of the time, so🤷‍♀️

(Other: Mentions of the viking gods.)

This one was so good! I loved every second of it!!!! I don't know where to start, I love Wodensfang, he's so wise and sweet! And Toothless with his 'manners'! I was dying🤣 That was so funny! I really enjoyed these two together too, such a great, funny duo!💖🥰
The Windwalker was as sweet as always!! Such a cutey!💖🥰
Man, was this book action packed! There was never a dull moment! I loved it!!! Hiccup was great, I feel bad for him, poor guy but he is really growing up and it is so well written! The impossible decisions and just everything, poor guy, but so well done and he has grown so much!!
Cami was great and fun as always! Love her, and we actually got to see her showing her feelings a little bit💖👌🥰
And as always I love Fishlegs is great!! I loved his part of the story!! Just the character development in this book was great!👌💖
Eggingarde was so cute! Loved her!
Anyway, great castttt!!!!!
And Pataince, Innocence, and Aragance are such a nice addition to the gang! (I especially like Innocence, he's so sweet!💖🥰)
Moving on... this story was just great! Full of adventure, a fight for freedom, and great family themes too!💖 the setting was super cool as well, the red sands, cool!
Anyway, this was a great read! I really enjoyed myself!!!!!!!

10+

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-read 2025: we've reached the point in the series where cressida punches me in the face emotionally every 20 pages and I love her for it 🫶

[coriolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry.

Can someone please explain to me how a CHILDREN'S book that has DRAWINGS on every other page can possibly make me feel all the emotions I'm feeling right now.

This was supposed to be a cute fun series I read in between all the other books that hit me too hard emotionally, and here I am, crying over a children's book.

This book is just so relateable in so many ways. It's probably odd to think about a book about dragons and vikings with the main character being a preteen can be so relateable. And yet... this book touches on so many important subjects. The importance of friendship and family and bravery. How bravery comes in so many forms. How hard growing up can be. How things that are really worth it in the end, probably have to be done the hard way.

I never expected to become so emotionally invested in these books. I think of my earlier reviews of the earlier books, and I talk about how cute and fun they are. They still are, but they're also so deep and amazing and I recommend them to anyone of any age. Anyway, this review must end because I need to immediately pick up How to Betray a Dragon's Hero.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But sometimes the bravest thing a Hero has to do is not fighting monsters and cheating death and witches. It is facing the consequences of his own actions."

Help, I think this series might be wrapping up soon! Do not want.

I'm not going to waste my time writing a long review, because when one is writing a review of the tenth book in a series that none of one's GR friends have read, the act of reviewing is more a formality than anything. Ahem.

That being said, this might end up actually being longer than I thought. Whoops.

A couple complaints:

-There is a tension in the book as the story gets darker, bleaker, yet the author still hammers the reader over the head with morals and themes. It gets rather annoying.

-More broadly, I think the narrator's voice in general is just too overbearing. Sometimes it adds to the charm of the story, but often it's just a barrier between me and the characters.

Okay, who am I kidding. I just want to talk about the things I love.

Things this series, and this book, has which I adore:

-Hiccup, who is so preciously self-doubting and gangly, but also clever and compassionate and innocent. Gosh I just love him. (Plus, we're ten books in, so he's starting to get a bit genre-conscious, and has lots of practice with mortal peril!)

-A little girl dressed like a bear. And when she growls and acts bear-like, large hairy Viking men humor her and pretend to be scared. Gotta get some adorable children in a story full of slavery and potential genocide, right?

-Long-term, long-time-coming development of a Draco-esque villain. Snotlout learned an epic lesson about leadership today, let me tell you*.

-Strained, desperate father-son relationship that reminds me of the movie adaptation. Hiccup's hope that his dad still loves him, but paralyzing fear that he doesn't.

-Don't tell people hard truths... it's bad for morale.

-Finally, I was able to appreciate Camicazi! I have altered my perspective to see her sexism as a satire of misogyny. Case in point: 'You are only a boy, after all,' she reminded him condescendingly. 'You really need a girl to help protect you on this Quest.'

-The same snarky, deadpan, ridiculous humor sprinkled through that I have come to know and love.

-'Librarians are patient, and they can wait for their revenge...'

-A villain who says, 'I am very good at motivating children.' WHAT.

-Flirtacious dragons with naughty eyelashes.

-History repeating itself.

-The knowledge that I was told way back in (I think) the first book that the dragons all disappear. And somehow knowing this makes the fight to save them even more painful... if you need me I'll be over here, hoping against hope.**

Moral of the Story: Please read this series. There's a pretty high probability that it will bring a lot of joy and adorable-ness to your life.



*[as all the people he has tormented and exploited have turned the tables and are going to leave him to die out in the wilderness]

'We are about to leave you here alone,' said Gobber calmly. 'So you will have plenty of time to think. And what you should think about is this: what have I done as a Chief that will make someone here want to come back and save me?'

Spoiler Alert: Snotlout is about to find out about the existence of grace.

**

A world without Toothless, perching on your arm, giving you that naughty look, opening up his greengage eyes so innocently as he tells you that he's going to do something you wanted him to do, he p-p-promises, cross his claws, and hope to die, and then flies off and does precisely what he wants?

No, it was too horrible to think about. And all to be Hiccup's fault?

Sobbing forever.

[Emma Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ten books into my reread of this series and somehow still endlessly impressed with how well these books hold up in adulthood.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm listening to all these books over again, and although this one is still my least favorite, it's as well written and compelling as the others. I'm giving it another star.

I'm on my way to listening to the final volume, How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury, which I haven't yet read. Hoping this wraps up on a happy note, but I guess we'll see.

****************

Much too stressful for a children's book, and the first of the Hiccup series to end on a cliffhanger. Good enough, but not my favorite.

[Sisters Three · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Lux · Rating 4 out of 5]

if younger me read these books I'd be getting so obsessive over them like I did the Dreamworks films.

[Denae Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader Thoughts: This book started at the lowest point of Hiccup's life, I think. It ended slightly better, but I love what happened ith the slave mark. I love Valhalarama!

I thought the eye/claw dragon living under the sand would turn out to be friendly. Guess not. Then I thought Hiccup would get swallowed whole and find Fishlegs in the dragon's belly. Again, guess not. That would have been too unlikely (although this series certainly does that a lot).

I like that Hiccup grew up a year and that he turned from outcast into legend because of all the witch's failed attempts to catch and kill him. The people who disliked Hiccup can't help but admire him, even if it's only for avoiding Alvin and his mother.

Fishlegs' mother! That's a surprise and relief, but it explains the necklace. I'm not sure if Innocence/Patience/Arrogance will add comic relief or be a terrifying sidekick. Both, I suppose.

Slavery. It's awful. I love that Stoick decides maybe slavery isn't so good for dragons, not now that he's been a slave a while.

Writer thoughts: Cowell must have had this entire series planned before the first was published. Even details as small as a lobster-claw necklace become plot points later. Almost all the lost things showed up in seemingly ordinary ways. Even One-eye's warnings and prophecies don't seem too involved until much later.d

Only now, in book 10, can the reader really see how much everything pointed toward Grimbeard the Ghastly's prophecy about the next Viking King and Hiccup and dragons. Only now can we see that each adventure only put Hiccup more and more firmly on this quest. Even his encounter with the potato in book 4 prepared him to meet Excellinor's deadly fingernails.

I don't think I've read a better-plotted series, aside from Timothy Zahn's Dragonback Adventures books, which were just as well done. However, that was 6 books long, not 12! (Longer per book, yes, but still. I can only imagine that plotting gets exponentially more difficult with each volume, and might be factorially more difficult).

[Eldi Qevani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiccup is set on a quest to find the dragon's jewel which he finds it but as always it doesnt end well.Finally we see in action Valhallarama (Hiccup's mother),she's such a badass along with her powerful dragon.I predict that the last 2 books must be epic as hell

[Fantasy Svet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dračia séria Cressidy Cowellovej a vydavateľstva Slovart má šmrnc – dračí!

Bude to ťažké. Možno ešte ťažšie, ako si myslíte. Zabudnite na malý a stále mokrý ostrov Berk a jeho hŕstku obyvateľov. Ani Nočný bes nikdy neexistoval. O uštipačných dvojičkách či dračej jazdkyni Astrid nikto nikdy nepočul. Štikút, náčelníkov syn, má dve zdravé nohy. A aj jeho otec Chladnobrv sa teší celkom slušnému zdraviu. Možno trošku zhodil zo svojej váhy, ocitol sa so všetkými chuligánmi vo väzení na Jantárovom otrokárskom území a v istom momente prišiel nielen o svoje postavenie, ale aj dedinu, ktorú mu vypálili draky. Nakoniec, mali na to právo.

Vlastne, ani náš odvážny hrdina Štikút Strašný Šťukovec III., nádej a dedič kmeňa Chlpatých chuligánov, na tom nie je dobre. Prenasleduje ho vlastná mama, pretože sa na jeho hlavu vypísala slušná tučná odmena, i skupina veľmi nebezpečných drakov, ktorú vedie drak Zúrivec. Práve on je zodpovedný za veľké dračie povstanie. Za povstanie také gigantické, až osud ľudí visí na vlásku. Tom Štikútovom.

Viete, ak by kedysi istý človek nezlomil Zúrivcovi jeho priateľské dračie srdce, a ak by Štikúta nezajal kmeň Amokov, a ak by Štikút draka Zúrivca z jeho väzenia nevyslobodil, pretože Štikút má vo všeobecnosti rád všetky draky na tomto svete, nič z toho, čo sa stalo, by sa vlastne nestalo. A možno by Štikútove dobrodružstvá nabrali na úplne inom rozmere, ak by si v ten osudný deň, kedy si mala skupinka vystrašených chlapcov počas nie dvakrát teplej zimy ukradnúť a vycvičiť svojich drakov, nebol býval uchmatol Bezzubku (– prvú stratenú vec z celkom slušného množstva stratených Kráľových vecí Temnobrada Desivého, ktoré môžu zachrániť obyvateľov dračej ríše pred zúrivým dračím besnením a po dlhý čas opäť korunujú právoplatného kráľa Západodivočiny)...

Dračie dobrodružstvá, ktoré väčšina detských a menšina dospelých čitateľov pozná ako Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III., sa začali písať pred mnohými rokmi. Vtedy bola Cressida Cowellová ešte malá a rada trávila detstvo na takmer neobývanom ostrove blízko západného pobrežia Škótska. Práve tu sa po prvý raz stretla s drakmi a práve tu sa zrodil príbeh, ktorý má v súčasnosti 14 celkom hrubých malých kníh. Aj keď sa 14-dielna dračia séria narodila v roku 2003, začalo sa o nej oveľa intenzívnejšie hovoriť až o 7 rokov neskôr, kedy filmová spoločnosť DreamWorks Animation priniesla do kín na prvý pohľad nádherný rodinný animovaný film.

Naozaj to bude ťažké. Najlepší Štikútov priateľ Rybonoha má astmu, sem-tam ním o zem bude hádzať amok a jeho drak, Hrôzokrav, je nielen vegetarián, ale ak by si niekedy na svojho ľudského priateľa - majiteľa sadol, zrejme by ho zlomil. V súčasnosti sa Rybonoha stratil. A stratila sa aj Kamikadze, dcéra náčelníčky Močiarnych lupičov, najlepšia a vlastne jediná priateľka Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III., ak ide o dámske osadenstvo. Kamikadze sa viac-menej a akože na oko stratila iba preto, že ju jej priateľ sklamal. Nie, nebola to Štikútova vina. To len Alvin Zradný a jeho matka, striga Excellinor, vymysleli taký krutý plán, ktorý vieru drakov v ľudí i vieru ľudí v drakov úplne zlomil.

Vidíte? Je to veľmi, naozaj veľmi ťažké. Po tajomnom a krutom krotiteľovi drakov, zlom a obávanom Dragovi, nie je ani chýru a ani slychu. Ostrov Berk už roky rokúce susedí nielen s Južným ostrovom, na ktorom prebývajú Dubohlavovci, ale aj so Severným i Ľudožrútskym ostrovom, ako aj s Ostrovmi osudu. A medzi týmito ostrovmi sa denno-denne plavia či už majestátne otrokárske lode Oškilotrov, nenápadné a takmer neviditeľné lode Znebezpečeného surovca, ale aj malé, občas rozbité a trošku nepraktické lode Pútnikov, Hysterikov, Visilotrov, Lávovcov, Vražedníkov, Amokov i Pochmúrnych. Ostrov Berk leží na území, v ktorom to žije. Niekedy priateľsky, inokedy na krátky čas celkom nepriateľsky. Keď sa však urážky Vikingov utrasú a každý Viking dostane to, na čo má právo, je tento kúsok dračieho sveta celkom mierumilovný. A hlavne nie je taký malý, ako si to myslí Dean DeBlois, režisér dvoch celovečerných animovaných filmov, ktoré síce populárnu dračiu sériu objavili pre čitateľov všelijakého druhu, veku či náročnosti, avšak s knižným svetom Štikútovej dvornej prekladateľky majú toho pramálo spoločné.

Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III. sú unikátne. Svojou ľudskosťou, nebojácnosťou a hlavne veľkým srdcom statočne konkurujú Harrymu Potterovi od J. K. Rowlingovej. Dobrodružnými výpravami dávno zatienili Kroniky Narnie, aj keď Nekonečný príbeh je stále o jednu fantastickú výpravu napred, časom ich však dračie dobrodružstvá určite doženú. Vo vykreslení postáv sú rovnako čarovné ako stratené deti v Petrovi Panovi a detskí hrdinovia vo Flanaganových hrdinských príbehoch o Hraničiarovom učňovi. Nie sú také abstraktné ako Čarokraj dievčatka September, ale za to ponúkajú magickú dávku všednosti, ktorá nám skrášľuje náš každodenný život.

Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III. sú jednoducho o nás. Rozprávajú obyčajné príbehy o obyčajných hrdinoch, ktorí nepotrebujú tri roztopašné sudičky ani kliatby a prekáračky gréckych bohov, len aby sa hrdinov život niečím okorenil. Nie sú závislé ani na čarovných prútikoch, metlách, Hop-šup práškoch, vysávačoch, lietajúcich zámkoch pána Howla alebo Nemovej začarovanej postele. Nepotrebujú okrasných čierno-bielych úhlavných nepriateľov, aby sa neprajníkom a pochybovačom ukázalo, že výber hrdinu bol správny. Správny a jediný. A zďaleka nie sú vystavané na oslnivých charakteroch, ktoré sem-tam upustia zo svojej cnosti (alebo počestnosti), aby sa mohli za svoje prehrešky očistiť či už splnením náročnej úlohy, alebo spontánnym sebaobetovaním.

Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III. pripomínajú ten typ rozprávkových kníh, ktoré k nám obyčajne prídu v nejaký ten sviatočný čas. Mágia je len sprievodným javom, dôvtip na dennom poriadku a svojskí spoločníci, ktorí sa nehanbia báť sa, panikáriť, strácať sa, pretože chcú, ale aj bojovať za to, čo je podľa nich správne, aj keď to správne vlastne nie je, podmienkou, bez ktorej by hrdina, čo hrdinom byť nechcel, len to jednoducho zle vypálilo, nemohol existovať. Oni totiž predstavujú hybnú silu celého príbehu a nádej hrdinu, aj keď sa práve vzdal, pretože potrebuje nájsť niečo, čo by v ňom opäť prebudilo k životu chuť bojovať za ľudí a ich svojské povahy.

Anglická spisovateľka pre deti a mládež Cressida Cowellová má jeden zvláštny dar. Na to, aby vás do svojho dračieho sveta vtiahla, nepotrebuje veľké lexikóny kúziel, ktoré s potešením kradnú zasnívané Saxany. Nečaká na milé zvráskavené babičky s batôžkom plným korenia a soľničkou bez dna. Ani na čarodejníkov, ktorí nikdy nechodia neskoro. Cressida Cowellová má drakov. Tí draci sú veľkí, ale aj malí. Sem-tam pekne guľatí, tam a sem len kosť a koža. Niektorí sú bájni, iní obyčajní. Nájdu sa aj draci domáci, aj divoko žijúci, aj veľmi vzácni, aj celkom slušne vycvičení do boja. Inokedy natrafíte na drakov chovaných na ťažké manuálne práce a pomerne často svojimi majiteľmi s potešením zneužívanými na okrasu. A aby sa jej draci žijúci a hynúci tam niekde na severe nebodaj nenudili, rozhodla sa im dopriať kúsok potešenia v podobe tvrdohlavých vikinských národov, ktoré by hádam udržiavali prímerie, ak by nebolo bývalo ich lačnosti po dobývaní sveta.

Vydavateľstvo Slovart ponúklo prvý diel z populárnej anglickej dračej série deťom od 7 rokov už v roku 2004. Minulý rok ich potešilo novou reedíciou. Tento rok sa síce ešte nevie, kedy príde na knižné pulty do slovenčiny preložený 11 diel, avšak o to viac sa detskí čitatelia môžu tešiť na pokračovanie. Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III. sú nielenže čím ďalej hrubšie, ale aj temnejšie. Sú i poriadne napínavé a predovšetkým plné neočakávaných zvratov. Aj keď ide o knihy pre deti, zaľúbia sa do nich (celkom vážne) aj dospelí čitatelia. Hlavne tí, ktorí ešte stále kreslia po okrajoch poznámkových blokov ovečky, alebo netrpezlivo čakajú na list z Rokfortu.

Čaro, ktoré tieto vzrastom malé knihy v sebe ukrývajú, nie je ničím zvláštne. No napriek tomu vás očaruje. Jednotlivé dračie príbehy majú úplne jednoduchý dej. Najčastejšie pojednávajú o vzťahoch medzi rodičmi a ich deťmi. Zároveň sa intenzívne venujú i vykresleniu strachu z neznámeho, a aj tomu, ako tento strach prekonať. Snažia sa veľkým ľuďom ukázať, že deti by si mali vypočuť, a to aj vtedy, ak prídu s úplne banálnou vecou. A, naopak, malých ľudí presvedčiť, že rozdiely, ktoré môžu objaviť medzi sebou a svojimi priateľmi, sú prirodzenou súčasťou ich dospievania. Učia o zodpovednosti, ktorú musíme prijať za všetky svoje rozhodnutia, a to vrátane tých, ktoré síce boli správne, no aj napriek tomu niekomu ublížili alebo sťažili niečí život. Prinášajú praktické riešenia na prvý pohľad nepríjemných bežných konfliktov, ktoré vyvolali smiešne nedorozumenia či bezhlavé hádky. A, čo je najdôležitejšie, snažia sa vám vysvetliť, že láska má naozaj rôzne podoby, preto by ste nemali nikoho zatratiť bez toho, aby ste si ho najprv nevypočuli, aj keď sa na neho veľmi hneváte, pretože vám zlomil vaše dračie srdce na tisíce drobných kúskov.

Pamäti Štikúta Strašného Šťukovca III. predstavujú praktický návod na prežitie. Príručku dospievania a manuál, ktorý vám pomôže vyznať sa či už v sebe, alebo v iných ľuďoch. Napriek tomu, že väčšina detských kníh sa uberá presne týmto smerom, a to už od nepamäti, podarilo sa týmto spratným dračím príbehom posunúť význam a samotné posolstvo kníh pre deti ešte ďalej.

Možno pri prvej časti trošku zaváhate, predsa len si potrebujete na trošku netypické postavy zvyknúť, tie dračie si vaše sympatie získajú naozaj až časom. Ale aj tento faktor závisí od toho, či máte radi rozprávky a aký ich typ najčastejšie vyhľadávate. Avšak s novým dielom bude narastať nielen vaše nadšenie z ešte neprebádaných zákutí vášho detského sveta, ktorý k vám nostalgicky zaveje spisovateľkina bezhraničná fantázia, ale aj vaša zvedavosť. Zvedavosť, ktorá vám nedovolí opustiť hrdinov, aj tých sebeckých, aj tých viac chamtivých, aj tých nepraktických, otravných, neschopných, úplne nemotorných... presne tá istá zvedavosť, ktorú pomaly dva roky trápi v poradí 10 diel dračej ságy „Ako sa zmocniť dračieho drahokamu“. Štikút je totiž v nebezpečenstve. A so značkou otroka na svojom čele to nebude mať v dračom svete ľahké. Dvaja jeho najlepší priatelia sa stratili. Chladnobrv aj s hŕstkou chuligánov, ktorá dračie besnenie prežila, je vo väzení. Alvin Zradný má pomaly všetky stratené Kráľove veci a drak Zúrivec povolal do boja svojho najlepšieho draka. Ba čo viac, ide mu po krku vlastná mama!

Vidíte? Stále je to ťažké (zabudnúť na filmy). Knižná séria sa radí medzi klasiky, nebyť druhého animovaného filmu, asi by na ňu chvíľu padal prach. Čo je trošku smutné. Ak ju však máte, radi sa k nej vrátite kedykoľvek a v akomkoľvek veku!


Autor/ka: Cressida Cowellová
Názov diela: Ako sa zmocniť dračieho drahokamu
Rok vydania: 2013
Vydavateľstvo: Slovart
Počet strán: 408
Jazyk: slovenský
Hodnotenie autorom recenzie: 100% (recenziu napísala Yaonee)


Počet preložených knižných titulov z dračej série do slovenčiny: 10

Názvy knižných titulov chronologicky: (1) Ako si vycvičiť draka, (2) Ako sa stať pirátom, (3) Učíme sa dračtinu, (4) Ako oklamať dračiu kliatbu, (5) Ako zmeniť dračí osud, (6) Ako prežiť dračí útok, (7) Hrdinov sprievodca smrtiacimi drakmi, (8) Ako zlomiť dračie srdce, (9) Ako ukradnúť dračí meč a (10) Ako sa zmocniť dračieho drahokamu

Ďalej vyšlo (do slovenčiny zatiaľ nepreložené) v tejto sérii: (11) How to Betray a Dragon’s Hero (2013)

Bonus: How to Train Your Viking by Toothless the Dragon, The Day of the Dreader a The Complete Book of Dragons: A Guide to Dragon Species


Ďakujeme Vydavateľstvu Slovart za poskytnutý recenzný výtlačok.


Vedeli ste?

a) Dalo by sa povedať, že úspech Cressidy Cowellovej sa ukrýva predovšetkým v dračom motíve, ktorý sa rezko tiahne celou jej torbou. Tento výrok je však pravdivý len sčasti. Cressida Cowellová dokázala z úplne obyčajného dračieho archetypu, s ktorým sa stretávame skoro v každej fantastickej literatúre, urobiť unikátny plastický čarovný prvok, ktorý spĺňa viacero dôležitých funkcií. Draky nie sú obyvateľmi priľahlých ostrovov iba lovené, ale predstavujú pevnú súčasť vikinského návodu na prežitie, kde aj také osvetlenie príbytku, stopovanie nepriateľa, preprava jedla či Vikinga z bodu A do bodu B, ale aj zaistenie dôležitého artefaktu alebo zámerné priotrávenie nepríjemnej osoby je priamo od nich závislé.

Draky teda nepredstavujú iba tovar, o ktorom obyvatelia ostrova Berk vedia len to, že majú po ňom hlasno kričať, ak ho teda chcú skrotiť, ale aj celkom praktické pomôcky a veci spríjemňujúce všedný deň.

b) Cressida Cowellová vdýchla svojim dračím knihám ľudský rozmer a umne ho ukryla do charakteristík jednotlivých obyvateľov okolitých dedín, ktorí niekedy a dobrovoľne nasilu robia spoločnosť kmeňu Chlpatých chuligánov. Ich zaujímavé vlastnosti a svojská fyziognómia sa začínajú už pri menách, pretože každé z nich odráža tým, čím sú a čo by ste od nich mali pri prvom stretnutí aj očakávať. Väčšinou v nežnom humornom tóne poukazujú na obyčajné ľudské neduhy a nedokonalosti, ktorými oplýva každý bežný smrteľník mimo fiktívnej reality a ktoré by sme nemali škatuľkovať, pretože je tu možnosť nápravy (a niekedy aj zmeny). Len ich nositeľom treba dať ešte šancu.

„Myslím, že ťa poznám...“ povedal a lemom plášťa bojovníka, ktorý stál pri ňom, zotrel Štikútovi z tváre kašu. „Pri veľkom Thorovom nechte! To je ten hnusný chuligánsky červ, ktorý mi včera strelil do kráľovského zadku šíp!“
To nebol dobrý začiatok.
„Teší ma. Ako sa máte?“ zašveholil Štikút zdvorilo.
„NIE DOBRE!“ zahučal Norbert Pakomagor. „PÁLI MA ZADOK!“
Do siene sa vrátili zadychčaní bojovníci so správou, že prehľadali celú strechu aj dedinu, ale viac vrahov nenašli. Jednooký a Bezzubý sa zrejme odleteli ukryť do tmy.
Norbert Pakomagor sa tváril popudlivo:
„Na VRAHA si teda naozaj malý,“ povedal chrapľavo, vzal Štikútovi meč a zasunul si ho za opasok. „A keď sme už pri tom, taký bol aj ten druhý, čo nás včera napadol, ten, čo lyžoval ako stará mama s chorými kolenami. Vieme, že po mne už pätnásť rokov nie je ani chýru, ani slychu, ale naozaj si Chuligáni myslia, že ma môžu zabiť DETI?“
„Ale ja nie som vrah,“ bránil sa Štikút roztrasene.
„Klameš!“ zreval Norbert Pakomagor a prikročil k Štikútovi, akoby ho chcel na mieste zabiť sekerou.

Cressida Cowellová – Ako oklamať dračiu kliatbu

Fantasy svet

[Kirstie Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything got so serious in this book 😭

Part of me is going, there are only two books to go!! And the other part is going, it feels like there should only be one more ... what on earth is going to happen?!

This story is nothing but exciting and nerve-wracking. I'm 110% invested in Hiccup's adventures and so many heart-wrenching moments happen in this book. And, of course, many hilarious moments too.

Cressida Cowell's humour in these books is always on point, and this was no exception. I'm very stressed, but also very excited, to dive straight into the next book and see if Hiccup will finish his quest and come out of things okay!

But I imagine book 11 will *also* finish on a cliff-hanger.

Positively cruel, the ending in this one. I'm left hanging! At least this was a very satisfying story for finding out more about Fishlegs, however.

[Sterling.Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are really interested in how she builds her world and Characters. i will have to say that the last 4 books have been the best Because she got more serious with her righting, and it was not as Silly. Recommend for 10-14 year olds

[Serena.. Sery-ously? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un altro gioiello ♥

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhhhh :(

[Lo (kipepeo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man. I’ll never get over this series. Cressida Cowell has done some incredible work, that easily makes the books surpass the movies. I loved that this one was about mothers, and trust, and fate, and oh my god I’m scared for how this will end.

**4.5 stars**

[رزان خالد · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love these books 🥲

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stressful and poignant and heart-breaking and perfect perfect PERFECT

[janna · Rating 4 out of 5]

valid

[Heidi ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lost the ability to be objective about this series - it is perfect! It is amazing! Five stars!

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

AudioBook Review
Stars: Overall 5 Narration 5 Story 5

The tales from Hiccup Horrendous Haddock are coming to an end, and Cowell manages to acknowledge readers (now grown) who have followed from the start with a slightly darker tale, a bit sadder, very emotional, and gives us the next-to-last story in Hiccup’s tale.

The Dragons are rebelling, dramatically so, and Snotlout is the new King of the Hairy Hooligans, and in keeping with his personality, not a great one. Hiccup is still quietly being the hero, and all of the characters that are so familiar to us are tested, and we get more from Valhallarama and learn about Fishlegs’ family as we muddle through the tension, the sad moments and the dark themes. Quietly guided along by Hiccup and his solid, do-what-is-right-not-what-is-easy behavior that has served him so well. Why no one realizes just how heroic it is for him to stand against everyone in his tribe, to desperately wish for his father’s approval, and to be able to get Toothless to actually obey without a fight, amazes me. But, like life, it is often years later before you realize the strength and power of conviction decisions took.

The end is near, and we are already warned that the dragons are an endangered species, no matter HOW much we wish it differently. And yet, with all of the darker moments, Cowell manages to infuse a hopefulness that still burns within Hiccup, and gives us something and someone to admire. Camicazi returns in this story, and we see her growth and maturity as well as the strong bond that she has with Hiccup, and she gives a sense of her own power and what he has taught her simply by being. The story and its characters have matured, there are still ridiculous names and stupidly funny miscommunications and reactions, but there are lessons and challenges in this book that surpass all of the earlier installments.

David Tennant has been the narrator for all 10 of these stories, and I hope that he will wrap up the series with book 11 in the spring of 2015. Not only has he developed a distinct and solid voice for each characters, but his flair for performance and attention to detail, using pauses and halts to infuse key moments with gravitas, giving a stellar performance of the story. His use of accents, patois, delivery rhythm and pacing all add to the story, and you know exactly WHO is speaking at any one time. The continuity throughout the series is the best I have found, and his delivery is sure to please children and parents alike.

We aren’t quite done with this story – there is one more installment. And I can’t wait for it to be available in audio. No great cliffhanger here, Cowell continues to drop clues and foreshadow upcoming events without giving away TOO much, and keeping the appetite whetted for more.

I received an AudioCD of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Emmeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiccup really isn't doing so well this one. His friends are lost and he's lost and his family has all betrayed him. A lovely start to a children's book, might I add. Except you kinda get the feeling that this isn't any old children's book.

Honestly, for half of this book I was flailing around like a jellyfish exclaiming how adorable and amazing all the characters are (particularly Eggingarde), and the other half I was reading as fast as I could, because this one is a page turner.

Is it odd that this book reminds me slightly of The Lord of the Rings? Because even though it doesn't have Hobbits or elves or Dwarves or Orcs or the same writing style/plot AT ALL, it does have that same melancholy feel that is ever-present in the writing of LOTR. There is a sense of hopelessness, even when things are going right. And it is this that makes me wonder why people automatically classify this series as children's books. (Yes, I get why you would do that to the first few. But this one? Really?)

Hope is there, but it's hidden in a shadow of despair. Because in the end, in the end .... all of the turmoil and war is Hiccup's fault. And boy, does he know it. He doesn't dwell on it, but he knows it. It's always there eating away at him, and it will till the end of his days. This theme adds a powerful note of despair to the books, which also adds appeal for a wider audience of ages. EXCEPT IT DOESN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S A KIDS BOOK. Well, it is, but it's not. There's so much here that appeals to older ages.

THINGS I LIKE AND WOULD LIKE TO MENTION HERE:

- A small girl in a bear suit trying to scare full grown men by shouting ARGHHHH! and them pretending to be scared, and her believing them, and general ADORABLENESS.

- The illustrations, which have just gotten better as the books progressed.

- Slaves pretending that they aren't slaves and listening to their chiefs and generally staying in their old tribes.

- Evil warty villains swearing to be do something "as I am a Treacherous, I swear this thing"

- DRAGONS

- Camicazi, who is basically perfect in this book, starting up a Rescue Business with some friends and without her mother's knowledge. You can't keep a Bog-Burglar under lock and key, and apparently you can't keep her from rescuing those who are, either!

- Moral dilemmas, and occasional mishaps, and Visithug helmets, and fate, and coincidences, and three-headed dragons.

- The cliffhanger. Which I liked ONLY because I own the next book and am just about to go start it :)


So all in all, I loved this book. The plotting was tight, the writing was excellent, and the characters were to die for. I'm not generally a fan of series' with more than five books, but this one is a joyful exception.

So thank you for existing, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel.

(i really really like you)

[Dana Salman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the first chapter on the How to Train Your Dragon website, and all it's done is make me more excited and impatient than ever to read this book. Why do books have to come out so late here??

****

Although I miss the days where the most dangerous thing that could happen on a typical day on the Isle of Berk was a Pirate Training lesson gone horribly wrong (factors for said wrongness include a variety of monstrous and dangerous dragons, ruthless bullies with a basic sense of humor, a negligent and rather intimidating teacher with a short temper, madmen with axes, and everything that comes with being the wimpiest vikings in the Archipelago), this book still possesses as much simple charm as you can find in the previous Hiccup books as ever. True, there are not so many causes to laugh out loud anymore - Hiccup alone as he is, no Fishlegs, no Camicazi, no home and no tribe, hunted and hated by both dragons and vikings - but How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel is riddled with poignant and heart-moving moments about friendship and family that might not be appreciated by kids, but which moved me to tears.

This is where the characters - all of them, not just Hiccup - and their qualities are tested, put through trials to help them realize where their loyalties and their hearts lie, and, in the end, what matters most to each of them. We have new characters, equipped with more revealing backstories, like the adorable Northern Wanderer Eggingarde who spent her entire life as a slave, and the exotic and tragic three-headed Deadly Shadow, known individually as Innocence, Arrogance, and Patience (because that's what he has to have). We are treated to Toothless' spirited attempts at learning his manners, Hiccup's ever-reliable resourcefulness in the stickiest and often most peculiar situations (such as being swallowed alive by an underground dragon), and the far-away enchanting territories of the world of How to Train Your Dragon, such as the red desert of the Amber Slavelands, traversable only by the aptly-named sand-yachts, and only before the tide.

I actually took a lot longer to read this than I would have, because my sister, to whom I was reading it to at the same time I was reading it myself, forbade me from getting too far ahead of her (I didn't listen, because who could resist the temptation of reading a book you've been dying to read?). It still didn't take long enough to finish, though. It should at least have taken about as long to read as it will take before the next and (supposedly) final book comes out. I am already reminiscing over my favorite parts of How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel, but at the same time all I can think of is, 'what will happen next'? Is there no higher praise for a book?

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly don't know how to start this review, at least how to start it without spoilers. After the disaster of the events of the last book, Hiccup has become an outcast and he is desperate to find and save his father and friends but he's supposed to be looking for the Dragon Jewel. His heart isn't exactly in his quest with his loved ones in danger, but he isn't exactly safe himself with Furious still out for his blood. But Hiccup is a clever boy, surely he can multitask.

Even though the series is taking itself seriously at this point, that doesn't mean it's completely taken out the humor or dulled out the seriousness for it. But the reason why this book gets my first 5 stars of the series is because it honestly got me choked up a certain points. This is my favorite of the series, its an great combination and balance of the charming wit we're familiar while also having the understanding of the gravity of the situation the characters are facing.

Firstly, I LOVED this book. We get humor with parts like when Toothless introduces Stormfly to Woodensfang 'the Desperado' or with Woodensfang reminding Toothless to use his manners, had me snickering at times. They were short, natural, and they didn't take away from the situation at all.

Secondly, Hiccup's mother Valhallarama is finally put front and center of the story and they don't brush off her lack of absence. In fact, its put right to the forefront by Valhallarama herself when she notes how angry Hiccup allowed his resentment of her to fester over the years. I was plesantly surprised by the whole thing and towards the end of Valhallarama's apology to Hiccup, I got rather choked up.

Last and most importantly, the revelation of Fishlegs' past. His mother, her Deadly Shadow dragon, how he ended up in the lobster pot on the Isle of Berk was a great tale. But the Deadly Shadow's reaction to the fact that the child of her beloved master might be alive after all, their determination to find him, to fulfill their promise to her, coming to terms with the pain of losing them both and their pure joy when they found him got me more than choked up. I loved the whole thing, I believe much of my enjoyment of it derived from my fondness for Fishlegs and reading about how happy he was that his mother loved him after all was absolutely lovely.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!
Finally after the jaw-dropping cliffhanger of an ending from the last book, I have seen how the story continues, and I am not disappointed...

Really, I thought this book would a lot darker. Not as in horrible things happening, but darker on an emotional level and I suppose compared to the other books it kinda was. I STILL haven't read How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, but I know, for some reason, Hiccup is now immune to the venomous vorpent poison. Anyway, that fact wasn't really needed for this book.

For the large part Hiccup is in fact alone, or pretending to be other people so still alone. It was like a breath of fresh air when Camacazi FINALLY made her way back into the story. I did find it slightly annoying that Hiccup insisted on finding his father and Fishlegs before the jewel but that isn't unexpected of Hiccup's character. Also it worked out fine in the end, so it didn't matter. Really I felt like this book brought things together, Hiccup is finally being recognized as the hero we knew he was.
Also I loved the look into Fishleg's past and Valhallarama Hiccup's mother, they were both things I had been really wondering about.
I can't wait for the next book but I'm also sad.
From the speed Cowell is going at...it might be the last one.
And I really don't want this series to end.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books really are getting better and better as they go on. This one has definitely been my favorite so far. I really liked it.

What's really great is there seems to be a good balance between comical moments and deep, emotional moments, sometimes even profound moments. Cressida Cowell really has a great grasp on balancing out aspects of her stories.

There were, however, a few hiccups (if you will) with the story that I noticed. When Hiccup and Eggingarde parted ways, she said "Goodbye Hiccup" but she never knew his name and didn't know he was actually Hiccup since he was disguised. Also, the Hairy Scary Librarian found Hiccup's helmet and somehow he just magically knew it was Hiccup's. This is even more eye-brow raising because Hiccup, at this point, didn't even have his actual helmet. He was using one that Toothless and Wodensfang found for him, so the HSL even more so wouldn't know that helmet belonged to Hiccup. And last, I don't know if this was done on purpose or Cressida just doesn't know how to use "us" and "we" but she never once used it correctly. It was always "us Vikings" "us dragons" "us this or that" when it always should have been we. And yeah that's nitpicky of me, but it did bother me a bit.

Even with those little mix ups, I still really enjoyed this book, and I really can't wait to find out what happens next!

[King Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a very emotional review to book 9, having just finished it... but I stalled a month before writing this review of book 10. This is a real shame.

Because I have never had so many feels before.

I did not realize a children's book could be so creepy. That it could make me feel so... BURDENED. I felt the shell-shocked weight of the war upon my shoulders, and the pain kept on building, and building, and building. I could feel the horrors of the Amber Slavelands and suffer in the same way that Hiccup suffered.

Though I am surprised that the books became as dark as they did, I applaud Cressida Cowell for creating a fantasy world that made me so engaged that I shouted out spontaneously swearing throughout this book. While I thought that nothing could be worse than the end of book nine, "How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel" is definitely worse. Cressida Cowell compounds issues and truly creates a "worst case scenario."

I finally broke and cried near the end of the book when a GOOD event happened. So many bad, horrible events occurred throughout this story that it was the good event that made me cry.

For this reason, this book, as well as the following ("How to Betray a Dragon's Hero"), are certainly amongst my top favorite books ever.