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Dragon Rider Book Review

Reviewed by on Nov 14, 2009
Rating: 5 Star Rating

Firedrake and his pals set out in search of the legendary Rim of Heaven—a safe haven for dragons. But an evil dragon, Nettlebrand, is hot on their trail. Don’t miss Cornelia Funke’s wonderful adventure, Dragon Rider.

Author: Cornelia Funke

When their home is threatened by humans, the dragons must seek another place to live. Firedrake, his brownie pal, Sorrell, and their new human friend, Ben, set out on a search for the legendary Rim of Heaven—a chain of snow-peaked mountains said to be located somewhere in the Himalayas. According to legend, the Rim of Heaven is home to countless silver dragons who have sought refuge from the dangers of the world.


Keep Your Enemies Closer

The team sleeps by day and travels by night over land and sea. Along the way, they encounter a bunch of different creatures including a basilisk, a djinn, a four-armed brownie, and a man named Professor Greenbloom. They also meet Twigleg the homunculus—a tiny manmade man—and decide to bring him along for the ride. But Twigleg isn’t as innocent as he looks.


The Golden One

Twigleg is a spy for “the Golden One,” a massive manmade dragon named Nettlebrand whose only purpose in life is to hunt silver dragons. Nettlebrand sent Twigleg to spy on Firedrake and his crew, and learn the way to the Rim of Heaven.


Risks and Rewards

Will Firedrake and his team find the Rim of Heaven, or is it just a legend? And if they do, will they lead the world’s most dangerous beast into the dragons’ only safe haven?


The Bottom Line

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke is a beautiful, adventurous story. The characters, each a different species, form a unique bond that helps them conquer the impossible. If you haven’t read this or any of Cornelia Funke’s wonderful novels like Inkheart, The Thief Lord, Igraine the Brave, or When Santa Fell to Earth, now is the time.


Dragon Rider Rating: 5


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