Twelve-year-old Ciara lives with her mother in the village of Skael. Magic is forbidden in the Draconic Empire, but five years ago Ciara found a magical journal that belonged to Bianca, an apprentice to the Great Dragon Mage. She has kept the book hidden ever since but can’t resist reading it and trying out some of the magic.

Ciara is stunned when she summons a dragon named Scorch. Together these two are like a bickering comedy team. What Ciara needs help with is to cure her mother of the deadly Skael Cough, the same illness that took her father’s life. There’s a mean protagonist in the town’s leader who wants Bianca’s book returned. He is good at lying and making himself richer at the expense of the citizens.

Ciara comes to believe she not only can heal her mother (who is now imprisoned), but can also can save the whole town from this terrible man. Not so fast as she is just beginning to learn magic, leading her to frequently being exhausted and falling asleep.

The third person narration keeps the story flowing at just the right speed. Ciara and Scorch bring differing viewpoints on how to make things right and their interactions are the highlight of the story. The climatic, suspenseful ending will keep you on the edge of your seat. But wait, turns out this is a series and an epilogue hints at what’s in store next.

Fantasy and dragon lovers have a new best friend in THE DRAGON’S APPRENTICE.

PAGE COUNT: 240 BOOK BIRTHDAY: APRIL 1, 2025

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Riley is the New York Times bestselling author of the HALF UPON A TIME series, the STORY THIEVES series, the REVENGE OF MAGIC series, and the new ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME series. Contrary to what previous biographies have stated, he is a) real and b) not the character Nobody from his STORY THIEVES books. Where would people even get that idea? (Spoiler: From him. He totally made it sound like he really was Nobody. He thought it’d be funny. We’re sorry.) 

He was born in Connecticut, where he lived for only a short time before moving to … well, quite a few states. He currently lives in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., because that’s where his cats are. He has three of them. Other people think that’s a bit much. 

James is currently working on the final book of the ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME series, so he might be a little busy. But feel free to e-mail him with questions at jamesrileythatwriterguy@gmail.com, or ask him anything on his blog.

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