Fortress of the Stone Dragon

Dragon Masters #17

by Tracey West, Matt Loveridge (Illustrator)

Drake has to stop an evil wizard in this action-packed, New York Times bestselling series!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!An evil wizard named Astrid is plotting to become the most powerful wizard in the world. She is collecting ingredients for a dangerous spell, and it is up to the Dragon Masters to stop her from casting it. Drake and Mina travel to the Fortress of the Stone Dragon to warn the Stone Dragon's Dragon Master, Caspar, that Astrid is on her way there. But will the evil wizard's dark magic overpower the Dragon Masters?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Chapter Books, Dragons, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Tracey West is the New York Times bestselling author of Dragon Masters, a series in the Scholastic Branches line. She has written more than 400 books for kids, including the Pixie Tricks series and the Underdogs series with Kyla May.

Some readers also know Tracey for writing books based on animation such as Pokémon and LEGO Ninjago.

She currently lives in the western Catskills of New York with her husband, Bill; their adopted dogs; and a whole mess of chickens.

Reviews

[Ashley G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending!

I'm going to have to start reading the next book immediately. I mean, immediately. I might not even wait for my child (ha, ha!).

Holda is the wizard of the northern lands where Nina and the Ice dragon Frost are from. Holda's wicked sister was released when an evil wizards spell was undone and she is up to no good.
Drake and Nina head to the Fortress of the Stone Dragon who keeps guard of the Garden of the beasts.

With help from their dragons, they try to defeat Astrid and her army of mind controlled soldiers, but she does a lot of damage, before Drake is able to escape alone, without his dragon, and without the other dragon masters.

Currently running to grab the next installment!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, we are all caught up. When we finished this volume, we went to open the next. But alas It does not come out for almost three months to the day. My youngest daughter was really struck by the cliff-hanger ending to this one. But she thinks it is perfect. If it was not a cliff-hanger in three months she might not return to the series. But because it is we have already ordered the eBook and it will deliver the day it releases. This is an excellent book in a great series.

As a family we really, really, really love these books! A few years ago, I read the first eight books of this series to my son. My youngest daughter really enjoyed it and the three of us read them. This year my youngest has been reading them to me. And now we are all caught up. This year we found out that my nephew has been reading them and was only 1 book ahead of us. He is reading the physical books and We are reading the eBook editions. This is another great story in a wonderful series. My youngest daughter is insistent that we will read the whole series. And she has spent her reading challenge money buying all the kindle editions that are available. And when we finished this one we found out there are three more announced already. That will bring the series to 20 stories and one special edition volume, Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters.

This series builds book upon book. But each is written well enough that they can be read on their own. But as a series it is fantastic. We see characters come in and out of the stories. Characters change from bad to good. And we get to watch Drake and the dragon masters at Bracken and around the world work together to protect each other, their kingdoms and the whole world. But the stories really do focus around Drake, his dragon Worm. And their role in these adventures.

In this one the story the work of cleaning up all the dark magicians that were released from Maldred’s trap continues. The team gets a call from help from old friends. And are off to fight one of the most powerful wizards in the world. We meet the Stone Dragon, its master and find out it has a special power. But Astrid has learned not only how to steal Dragon’s powers but how to use them herself.

This is the second volume illustrated by Matt Loveridge. There are several illustrators across the series. The illustrations keep a consistent feel and look. But Each artist leaves their own mark on the books they work on. Some illustrations stand alone and some wrap around the text and span two-page spreads.

This is another excellent read in a great series. These are awesome books for young readers, but also entertaining enough for older readers. I am continually impressed with the staying power of this series. After multiple reads over several years I still really enjoy returning to the Dragon Masters, as do my children. And look forward too many more reads in this series, as my daughter is insistent, she will read them all to me! And she insisted we give it 5/5 stars! And she loved the cliff-hanger ending. It is a great read in a wonderful series!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Tracey West.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite touch-and-go for a minute but I liked the sense of urgency and suspense and impending doom as the young Dragon Masters raced against time to stop Astrid, an evil wizard, from casting a dangerous spell of dark magic.

[Union County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend you check out the 1st-3rd grade level Dragon Master series by Tracey West! In the 17th book of the series, Fortress of the Stone Dragon, an evil wizard named Astrid is on the loose and she is headed to the Fortress of the Stone Dragon to cast a dangerous spell that will bring buried, giant creatures back to life! Can Drake and Mina, with the help of a new Dragon Master named Caspar, stop Astrid?

- Reviewed by Sam K.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the seventeenth volume of the Dragon Masters, we are introduced to the Stone Dragon. The dragon master’s are still attempting to clean up after the evil wizards were released.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to Galen on November 10, 2024.

“It was great. And I liked how they had to go to the desert and fight the stone dragon and how Astrid used the stone dragon powers to turn the stone dragon to stone. (whispered: It also kinda reminds me of Medusa.)”

[The Ghosts of Razgriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cliffhanger!

[Shelby Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had goosebumps!

[Lorelai Didur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how it ended because I did not think that the villain could do that kind of thing that she did.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7 year old has been counting down the days for this book to be released and literally jumped for joy when this book was delivered yesterday. He said it’s just as good as all the others and he loved it.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mina and Drake are two among several young (Mina is only 8 years old) dragon masters who have been tasked, along with their dragons, Frost and Worm, with the mission to stop the evil wizard, Astrid. Astrid has been traveling all around and has in her possession, ingredients for some dark spell. What evil plan is Astrid trying to carry out? Will Mina, Drake, Frost and Worm be able to stop her in time?

This is the 17th book in the Dragon Masters series, but the first one I’ve read. I really enjoyed the characters and storyline that made me want to keep reading to see what would unfold next. Lower elementary students who are fantasy fans would enjoy the wizard and dragon magic along with the fight of good vs evil. It ends with a cliff hanger that leads into the next book of the series.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the biggest cliff hanger to date. We shall we what happens when the next book comes out next month (and after our library gets a copy).

My son has loved these books. We started book one in November, and here we are four months later having read all 17 books (plus Griffith's bonus book). It's going to be a little different having to WAIT for her books to be published now. We are excited for her 3 books coming this year, and just heard that she's writing 5 more after that! We will definitely keep up with the writing as the books come out. Excellent series for young readers!

[Ash Brar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you like the book?
Yes
Who was your favourite character?
Mina - a dragon master from the far north - she’s very nice
What was your favourite scene?
When Casbar, the dragon master of the stone dragon told of the Garden of Beasts…the beasts were dinosaurs!
If you could’ve been in this story would you want to?
No! I would’ve been turned to stone by Astrid!

They need to find 3 dragons to unstone them and if they don’t before Astrid does they will be DOOMED and one of the dragons they need is the lava dragon

Charlotte age 7 (July 2022)

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stone dragon seems suspiciously similar to Worm being an earth dragon, but whatever. This Astrid character is quite a problem... too bad they let her free. Again, I appreciate that the book didn't end cleanly, but with main characters turned into stone! Yikes! Raising the stakes makes it that much more exciting for kids to read. The idea of capturing and using different dragon's powers in bottles is kind of fun too. I think it's funny that the big problem is Astrid using a spell to make bones come alive.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 17th book in this series and my 7 year old was captivated by it! The evil wizard Astrid is putting together ingredients for a spell to bring back dinosaurs and take over the world. Drake and his friends are up to the task to stop her, but the cliffhanger ending had me reaching for the next book… which our library doesn’t have yet! It was just published in March, so we’re eagerly anticipating their purchase.

[Myrah Pruthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is very interesting. The length of the story is not too long and not too short.
I enjoyed stone dragon the most, it's name was Shaka. She has red eyebrows, she is strong and protective. She has a secret power of turning evil people into stone. She protected her fortress from evil wizard named Astrid. Drake, and his Earth dragon 'Worm' & Mina & her Ice dragon 'Frost' also helped Shaka. I also liked the font size, drawings for illustration.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son (age 5) enjoyed this exciting story, though the first two chapters are a bit confusing with so many characters and places introduced.

I was highly disappointed to find this has a cliffhanger ending. It's odd for a kids book not to have a conclusion. Would have liked a heads up about that in the blurb.

[Wayne D Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially by the time you're at the 17th book, you have to know what to expect from these from the standpoints of things like plot and character development. In those areas, they are generally basic and predictable. For me, it's a fun, safe, and nicely illustrated read at bedtime with the kids. These books are quite short, though, so we get through them very quickly.

[Laurel Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the series that was a little too scary for my daughter. She is only 4. I know this series is above her level. She is devouring them though. The other books have had moments where she would be worried. This one she asked me to stop for a while. We finished it and she want to keep on with the next one.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but at the end I really got a little mad that they couldn't really figure out anything.
I can't wait to read the next book because every single book has a new dragon and a new dragon master.

-Charlotte
Age 6

[Jesse M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old son loves this series and we have been checking one out from the library each week and reading it together. Perfect for his age and great stories with just enough peril, friendship, fun and happy endings to keep him intrigued!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son wrote this review of the Fortress of the Stone Dragon:

I am eight years old. I've been reading this series for three years. I have all the books. Book 17 is my favorite book in the series. I like Shaka's secret power. I am not going to tell it...

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoying this series as a read aloud to my 5 year old

[Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cliff hanger!

[William]

ggggooooooooooooddddd my child loves dragon masters so much

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, interesting and exciting!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting new antagonist

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a 6-8/9 year old

[Jennifer F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very suspenseful!

[Jenny Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left on a cliffhanger....