Customer Reviews

How to Ride a Dragon's Storm (How to Train Your Dragon Film)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My son and I keep reading about Hiccup's adventures since the first book was out. We enjoyed them all. Funny language, wonderful illustrations, light humour. I recommended them to other parents, who complained about reluctant readers. My son enjoys reading all kind of books, but he always asks for something with real humour "for dessert". Enjoy!

I have five children, the oldest two being 11 and 9 year old boys that LOVE to read. This series is a big hit with both of them and I will be saving them for their younger brothers to read when they are old enough.

I haven't read a book in this series in a while (I was waiting for the book to come out in paperback, but finally I got impatient), but unlike some other series that end up a little disappointing after some time away, this book is as strong as any in the How to Train Your Dragon series.

It follows the same formula as all the other books--Hiccup and his comrades fall in on some life-threatening bad luck against one of their many archenemies and he must not only help them escape but also return to Burke to save his father in time. What I like about this book in particular is it broadens the world we have already come to know. We meet the Wanderers (specifically, American Natives) who have been captured as slaves, giving larger life to the size of the world we've gotten to know. We learn that there is a place where the Vikings sacrifice people to the Sky Dragons.

The book remains just as clever and funny as always. I am continuously impressed by the continued funniness of the series (Norbert the Nutjob wants to found Nutjobland for example) while also keeping to the heart. I like that Hiccup has really embraced his fate as the future leader but that he intends to change things when he does. Toothless had a rather small part in this book as compared to others (though he was still essential to helping them escape) and that was perhaps the only thing I might have liked changed. It might soon be time for Hiccup to have a love interest (maybe Camicazi, maybe someone else). Not something deep and intense, just a tiny crush or something. I can only imagine how funny Hiccup would mess things up trying to impress her.

I've read all seven of the "Hiccup" books to my six-year-old son, and we both love them, but this story was just magical. The prescience of Old Wrinkly, the bravery and brilliance of Hiccup, the loyalty of the Northern Wanderers, the unlikely triumphant return of Fish Legs, the cheeky humor of Grimbeard, and the lesson of overcoming old quarrels and prejudices to find a better way to live make this a fantastic yarn with a positive message. My son and I finished the book tonight, and we both shed happy tears at the ending. While I was reading the Epilogue, my son reached over and started trying to turn the pages and asked "How many more pages?" When I showed him that the book would end in two more pages, he said, "We HAVE to get the next book right away!" Unfortunately, How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Hiccup) seems to be available only from third-party sellers. I've ordered it, but we are still waiting for it to arrive.

I agree with other reviewers that some of the descriptors and name-calling in this series set less-than-ideal examples, but they do provide a valuable opportunity to discuss proper and improper things to say to and about other people. I especially like the opportunity this book and "How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse" present to learn about the real Vikings and their sea voyages. While we were between HTTYD books, I read Leif the Lucky to my son. It has been a great way to sneak in some history lessons by tying them to something he's already interested in.

This is another delightful addition to one of the more fun kid series out there. With her charming, story book-esque style and biting madcap humor Cressida Cowell brings to life a fictional Viking world where swimming contests last for months and America is still up for discovery grabs!

An annual "friendly" swimming competition turns ugly when the children are kidnapped and dragged across the "Great Western Ocean" to help in discovering the new world. Along the way they encounter slaves, machines warding against sea monsters, and the wildest of inventing barbarians one could ever hope to read about. Despite the obvious insanity of the story line Cowell weaves a tight plot and has the age-appropriate sense of humor to pull it all off on in a narrative that just screams to be read aloud.

This is perfect for younger readers comfortable in their chapter books and seeking some true entertainment and creativity, yet any one of any age still possessing that kid-at-heart quality will get a kick out of this and appreciate the snappy writing and subtle heart.

Even though this is a children's series with a childish plot, don't be put off. It's written through the lens of an adult. I'm a 17-year old boy, and I'm absolutely hooked on these stories. They're very cleverly written, with intricately woven plots, vivid descriptions and dry, unique humor. Even though they describe rather unpleasant things and the characters are often put in perilous situations, no blood is actually spilled on-screen, and the series manages to retain a level of innocence that makes them suitable for the young at heart.

This was one of the more epic installments to the franchise.

As soon as How To Train Your Dragon came out it the theaters my son was hooked. I found the books for him but he was barely 5 at the time and not anywhere near ready for reading chapter books to himself so we would read him a few chapter every night before bed and he would beg us to read more. Just when you weren't sure if he was actually paying attention something funny would happen or a character would say something silly and he'd start giggling. His attention span is always the best so I was amazed at how engrossed in these books he was. My husband and I had a great time reading all The How to Train Your Dragons Books to him and as different as they are from the movie they were just as fun and easy to love.

Grandson had asked for this book on his Christmas list he was excited to get it. He loves to read and said this was a fun series.

How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, the seventh book in the Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, is as good if not better than the previous books in this strong series. My 8 year-old daughter and I always enjoy reading these books together, and this book is no exception. Unlike the previous books, however, this one breaks new ground by dispensing with the formula of viking training exercises and replacing it with an all-tribes competition. It places the VIking chief Stoick in just as much danger as his son Hiccup. And we begin to see clear evidence of the development of the young Viking Hiccup into the great hero he is destined to become. How to Ride a Dragon's Storm also takes place mostly out on the ocean, which offers a compelling setting for the adventures of the book. All in all, Book 7 of this wonderful series demonstrates that Cressida Cowell is at the top of her craft, and we hope that we don't have to wait too long for Book 8 to come out!

My grandson asked me when the next book was coming out! This series has made a reader out of him. In my opinion, that makes a book worth buying.