This is such an incredible start to Struan Murray's new middle grade series, Dragonborn. It's original, fast-paced, with relatable characters, and the world-building is phenomenal. I had extremely high expectations going into this because Struan's debut novel, Orphans of the Tide, remains one of my favourite ever books, and I've loved everything of his since then too. I am very happy to say that Dragonborn lived up to my hopes, and I couldn't put it down! It is extraordinary. There are dragons living among us, and ANYONE could be one- your teacher, your neighbour, your sibling, or even you! You might not even know it. Amid her grief and frustration at life alone with an overbearing mother, Alex discovers that she is a dragon, just like her father had been. She is whisked away by Oliphos (a brilliantly drawn character) to the island of Skralla, home of the dragons. Here she must train and fight with other dragon children, but her inner dragon is reluctant to show itself. And then there's the problem of Drak Midna, the mightiest, most fearsome dragon, who is planning a devestating attack on all of humanity. This is a fabulous tale of dragons and magic, but it's also a story of grief, friendship, bravery, and finding yourself. For every dragon lover out there, and especially for fans of How to Train your Dragon, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, and Impossible Creatures. You will love this!

As huge fan of Struan’s “Orphans of the Tide” series this was eagerly anticipated. What I didn’t expect was how brilliant this would be. It is an epic start to a new series. Alex is desperate to find out what happened to her father what she doesn’t realise is that this will set her on a journey to discover that she is “Dragonborn” and what that truly means. Struan has built an epic other world that sits alongside our own world , his world creation and lore is second to none. He also remains the master of the twist, throwing readers curveballs. This will be loved by fantasy loving children, its character building and imagination is amazing. Top drawer children’s fiction.

The way unicorns and variations of creatures from Greek mythology have dominated the last few years, I think it’s safe to say we are very much in the era of the dragon and Dragonborn solidifies that even more with, what I would argue, one of the strongest middle grade dragon stories of all time. And, funnily enough, the dragons are not the reason why I would say that. Within their wondrous existence in Dragonborn, Murray masterfully weaves themes of self-discovery, friendship, and courage against a sprawling, breathtaking backdrop filled with a well-established mythical lore and vivid, imagination fuelling settings. It’s hard to describe to people who are readers, but this book made my imagination feel colourful, like the saturation was on full, and that will always be a sign of a brilliant book for me. Alex is a poignant protagonist dealing with the grief of a lost loved one, but also, interestingly, the loss of watching her childhood pass her by under her mother’s control. On Skralla, we watch as she comes grows (and sometimes fights the growth) and comes to terms with both the changes and things that remain resultant from these emotions all within a narrative that is expertly paced, keeping me flipping page after page until I finished. Murray's writing style is truly the shining star of middle grade dragon fuelled adventures with each phrase thought provoking yet accessible, making it a delight for children and the adults who read alongside them. This is the type of book that myself, as a child, would have encouraged everyone around me to read because I would’ve NEEDED someone to understand my excited about this story and, in fact, I’m pretty much doing the same thing as an adult. It’s THAT good. Without giving too much away, the book’s climax delivers a satisfying blend of action and emotional cliffhanging, which left me and is sure to leave other readers eager for what comes next in Dragonborn 2. Perfect for anyone reading age 9+, Dragonborn is an unforgettable journey into a world where the extraordinary waits just beneath the surface of all of us. So while I go try and uncover my inner dragon, I recommend you go and get your copy now!

This is certainly going to be a top pick for this year and I am already wishing I could start it again for the first time. I read a lot and love so many books but I always get a feeling with some that they are going to be special and DragonBorn is just that. The world building, characters and plot are breathtaking and wondrous- as only Struan Murray can do! When we first meet Alex, she is running screaming into the forest to let off some steam but little do we know what will happen in the coming weeks. Her over-protective mother is keen to keep her locked up and safe but Alex feels a burning inside to be wild, outside and in nature. When Alex is forced to confront who she is and who her father was, she leaves her home and travels to Skralla. Here she will be faced with challenges, homesickness and the discovery of her own truth. It’s a formidable story of dragons, family and the battle between good and evil, human and dragon. Where does Alex fit in this new world? Can she find her own path and will she ever be true to herself?

I can’t speak for anyone else who reviews children’s books but in my case, I have to read the entire thing before I can even think of sitting down to try to compose my thoughts so it came as a bit of a surprise to me when about 40 or 50 pages into the proof of this new read that I was most fortunate to receive that a little voice in my head said to me: ‘How on Earth are you going to review this?’ This lack of self-belief isn’t a new thing but, in this case, it was brought about by an enormous turning point in the story – the first of many – that left me stunned, in rather the same way that that bit did in the author’s debut read, Orphans of the Tide. Having finished this title a couple of days ago, I sat down the following morning to try to compose my thoughts and have so much I want to say but will try to refrain from including spoilers because this is very much a book that you won’t want spoiled but will want to enjoy with no more information ahead of time than that which is included in the blurb or on online retail sites. An astonishing middle grade fantasy, rich in detail and with numerous twists and turns that I most definitely didn’t see coming, this is a book that will – quite rightly – be on many readers’ Best of 2025 lists and one to which the sequel cannot come soon enough. When a series of minor irritations threatens to overwhelm Alex shortly after she has got up, she leaves the home she shares with her mother and heads to the nearby forest to let out her anger in an enormous scream, little expecting her actions to be witnessed by anyone, let alone the strange man who asks if she is okay and who exchanges small talk with her before disappearing into the trees. Readying herself to face the day ahead, Alex’s mother soon arrives to drag her back home, leaving her daughter in no doubt as to her feelings about finding her there by forbidding her to set foot in the forest ever again – something Alex cannot accept as it is her one remaining link to her father. Expecting her mum to be home late from work, Alex sneaks into the forest again after school before returning home, where she is shocked to discover the strange man in her kitchen – something that doesn’t go down well with her mother when she returns, angrily telling the man to leave. Before he does so, the man makes it clear to Alex that he knew her father and tells her that if she needs his help, she has only to call his name: Oliphos. Now in a state of panic, Alex’s mother tells her that they will need to pack and leave and after further arguments the following morning, Alex storms into the forest where instead of a scream, flames pour from her mouth. Summoning Oliphos, whose appearance is swiftly followed by that of her mum, Alex is astonished to discover that she is a dragon and finds herself accompanying Oliphos to the island of Skralla, where she is to learn all that that means. Thrown into a world that has previously been kept secret from her, Alex soon discovers that not all the dragons are on the side of good and that the great dragon Drak Midna has vowed to destroy humankind in a terrible war. As she struggles to come to terms with her new life and all that comes with it, can Alex find the inner strength to play her part in all that is to come and become the dragon she is destined to be? Anger is a very natural emotion that we all feel from time to time but in Alex’s case, she is filled with rage as a result of all that has happened to her in her young life. Having lost the father who was so very dear to her, her life has been strictly regimented by her well-meaning mother, who has done her utmost to hide her true nature from her in her attempts to keep her safe from the future that she doesn’t want for her, leading Alex to turn her back on her home when she is offered the chance to leave for Skralla with Oliphos. When she reaches the island, she finds that she doesn’t fit in as quickly as she might have hoped, with the result that she is still unhappy and filled with a frustration that she must fight to master if she wants to gain the place in her new surroundings that she truly believes is her fate. As in his other books, the author has created a complex and highly detailed world that is easily recognisable to us but different enough that we are filled with awe and wonder at its inhabitants and their surroundings. The magic within the story is portrayed in such a way that it is entirely credible, and young readers will very quickly feel themselves swept along in the narrative and desperate to read on to uncover the book’s many secrets as they arrive, all of which led to many gasps on my part as I encountered them, as I certainly wasn’t able to predict them. A fabulous story for confident readers in Year 4 upwards, this would make a brilliant shared read in upper KS2 and will be equally enjoyed by those in KS3 who are need of a book that will keep them hooked from the very beginning. Having absolutely adored it, I would say that there is only one thing worse than waiting to read a book you’re looking forward to and that is waiting for its sequel, for which I do not as yet have a date.