Receiving a proof of Dragonborn felt like Christmas. It is truly breathtaking and will definitely be on my list of best books of 2025 at the end of the year: a pacy, fiery, fangtastic adventure with insane twists, unlimited possibilities and a hidden realm within our world. From a fantasy point of view, Skralla’s secret island school will appeal to fans of Impossible Creatures and Skandar but this tale is also more grounded and darker: murder, betrayal and uprising lurk ominously… How unsettling is it that a dragon walks among us in human form and knows our weaknesses more than ourselves? I also loved how dragons have been evident through our history - there’s a great balance of humour here within the tension. As well as the fantasy elements, what makes Dragonborn such a sensational read is our main character, Alex. The sensitive portrayal of grief here is one of the best in children’s literature and that final page left me an emotional mess. She is grappling with so much and her journey to find her own strength and deserved place in this new world is what makes Dragonborn so compelling. You’ll find no spoilers here but a game-changing twist towards the end - leading to a crescendo of shocking events - means you will be unable to put this. I’m so glad this is the first in a series as I don’t want it to end! So, grab a glass of medu and fan that flame of excited anticipation within as Dragonborn is going to be your new favourite book!

I was very lucky to be sent a proof copy of Dragonborn… and I’ve been savouring every page. This is just EXQUISITE. It’s got a delicious plot, incredible characters, exquisite moments of the power of humanity… and a shed load of dragons. It’s fair to say that I 100% swore at this book MULTIPLE times - it’s JUST THAT GOOD.

Life has been tough for Alex since her father's death and she misses him terribly, especially as her mum insists in a daily regime of incredibly strict rules. But when, Oliphos, a mysterious man, appears and informs her she's actually a dragon, everything changes in an instant. However Alex's new life comes with danger: Drake Midna, the greatest dragon, is preparing for war against humans ... unless somebody can stop him in time. Wow! Where do I begin? For me, Struan Murray is a wonder with a pen and skilled at building the most vivid worlds, and Dragonborn is no exception. Skralla comes alive on the pages and brings with it a host of wonderous characters. It's the place where humans who have discovered they are actually dragons go to learn their skills but it's also a place where dark secrets lurk, ones that are bound to come out eventually. Alex's life changes in every way possible. Still reeling from the death of her father, she discovers that everything she thought she knew is different, including herself. Murray portrays her grief brilliantly and as she wrestles with her internal thoughts and worries for so long, she begins to wonder if she will ever find her true self. I don't want to include spoilers in this review so there is much I want to say but won't. However, I will say that from the beginning, the book lures you in and haunts you in the very best way whilst you're not reading it. Murray is a master at weaving in unexpected twists that make you gasp and this book was no exception - the end had me particularly gripped (to the point where I literally couldn't get out of bed until I'd read the last page ... then had to sit for a while to fully absorb and process everything I'd read. The book hangover was real!). Dragonborn is a stunning exploration into finding yourself, finding the truth and finding a way through your grief. It's a book that will stay with you and will absolutely leave you wanting more. Publishing on the 1st May, I sincerely hope there will be more to this series.

Loved this book! Murray is king of plot twists and there's a great one in this book (which I didn't see coming). This is a richly imagined fantasy world that has many of the familiar tropes of 'chosen one in a world they knew nothing about' but with a psychological depth that is sometimes lacking from this kind of MG fantasy story. It's gripping, well-written, pacy, imaginative and exciting. Something for everyone!

An immensely entertaining fast-paced fantasy adventure with a unique take on dragons as mythical creatures. We follow Alex as she discovers that only are dragons are real but she is one. In fact there are hundreds of dragons that just don't know they're dragons as they've all been living life in their human forms. Once Alex finds out this truth she is whisked away to Skralla and learns how to be a dragon with other dragon children. Oliphos, an absolute gem of a character, is one of the oldest dragons and helps Alex realise her true nature. Honestly Dragonborn has everything you could want in a 9-12 fantasy adventure. You've got dragons, magic, lovable characters with close friendship groups, action, betrayal, a mysterious bad guy, heartfelt character development and so many twists and turns. I'm so thankful for receiving a proof copy and I just simply had to buy a copy for myself as well. The naked hardcover is just as gorgeous as the dust jacket.