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Cressida Cowell – How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse | Review

Title: How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse

Author: Cressida Cowell

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 240

Rating: 3.5/5

Cressida Cowell – How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse

This book was pretty cute, but then all of the How to Train Your Dragon books are and so there’s no surprise there. This was actually probably my least favourite of the three that I’ve read, but it was still enjoyable enough and I liked the fact that much of it focused on a quest to reclaim a mythical potato.

I also like the little twist towards the end, although I’m not going to spoil it for you by telling you what it was. Suffice to say that Hiccup and the gang are subjected to a test of friendship (as they usually are), and that there are all sorts of subtle parodies of our own world and the inimitable sense of humour that makes Cowell’s books a hit with kids and adults alike.

What I will say about this one is that the adventure felt a little less fleshed out, somehow shorter than some of the other books. There was too much time on the setup and not enough on the heart of the story, but that’s okay. It was still a good read, and I don’t regret picking it up. I just want to hurry up and get to the rest of the series, so I’ll have to scour the charity shops.

Cressida Cowell

Click here to buy How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse.

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Cressida Cowell – How to Train Your Dragon | Review

Cressida Cowell – How to Break a Dragon’s Heart | Review

Title: How to Break a Dragon’s Heart

Author: Cressida Cowell

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 320

Rating: 4*/5

Cressida Cowell – How to Break a Dragon’s Heart

When I first picked this one up, I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to finish it. I mean, it’s a kid’s book, right? But it turns out that despite being the eighth in a series of which I’ve only read the first, it was actually quite the cracker. I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad that they’re written in such a way that you don’t have to read them in order. It means I can keep on picking them up from charity shops as and when I see them.

If you’re familiar with the movie (or the TV show) of How to Train Your Dragon then you pretty much know what to expect here. In this adventure, Hiccup finds himself saving his friend Fishlegs by accidentally proposing marriage and having to complete an impossible task to win permission from her father. Along the way, he learns a little more about his ancestor, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Second, and meeting plenty more dragons along the way.

Sure, it can be a little daft at times, but it’s pure escapism and it proved to me that you’re never too old to enjoy a good tale about dragons. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I now plan to add the rest of the series to my Goodreads wishlist, which must mean something. Cowell’s writing style is perfect for kids without being offputting to adults, and the illustrations throughout the book really helped to bring it to life. I also noticed a few differences between the books and the movie/TV shows, including the fact that in the books, Toothless is green. But he’ll always be black in my head because the animated Toothless is the spitting image of my cat, Biggie. So cute.