The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley
Series: Dragon's Apprentice #1
Published by Labyrinth Road on April 1, 2025
ISBN: 0593813170
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

12 year old Ciara is on the run from an evil Warden who discovers she secretly found an ancient journal with magic spells.  She uses magic and accidentally summons a Dragon named Scorch.  Ciara is determined to learn magic in order to save her mom who is imprisoned in a dungeon and sick with Skael Cough, but Scorch is hesitant to teach her.  Scorch eventually relents and teaches Ciara some basic magic, even though he gets frustrated because she breaks his rules time and again.  Ciara shows great bravery, and a little recklessness, when she uses her limited magical abilities to rescue her mother by tricking the warden.

Upper elementary/middle grade readers will enjoy this novel.  Scorch and Ciara have an interesting relationship and their banter back and forth adds some humor to this story.  There is also strong character development and readers will enjoy witnessing how Ciara and Scorch’s relationship grows.  This novel is fast-paced, leading to the pivotal confrontation between Ciara and the Warden.   While this book reaches a satisfying conclusion, the epilogue points to a sequel! This is a fun fantasy that many readers will enjoy.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library