Dragon Rider

July 19, 2004
This fantasy that established Funke's (Inkheart
) reputation as a gifted storyteller in her native Germany (available for the first time in the U.S.), is sure to appeal to her many American fans. When humans encroach upon his home valley, Firedrake, a young silver dragon, sets off to find the Rim of Heaven, a legendary haven in the mountains. But evil Nettlebrand, a human-made hunter of silver dragons, is spying on him, hoping Firedrake will lead him to even more delicious treats. The creature, referred to as the Golden One, resembles a huge dragon, but he is covered in cold, hard gold scales and cannot fly; however, he can magically appear in any body of water. During his journey, Firedrake is joined by a feisty brownie, a homunculus (who initially spied for Nettlebrand) and Ben, an orphan who may be the dragon rider foretold in an ancient prophecy. Readers will delight in the creatures that turn up in this extended quest. The elves, dwarves and a thousand-eyed djinni (a kindly professor of archaeology and his friends also aid the travelers in piecing together clues) help contribute to a rich lore (all enchanted creatures have red eyes, for example, and dragon-fire will reveal their true natures). While readers may have trouble keeping track of all the plot's strands as they soar through this story, they will no doubt find themselves drawn in by the lively characters and their often hilarious banter, as well as the nonstop obstacles they encounter before the inevitable face-off with Nettlebrand. Ages 8-12.

Starred review from December 13, 2004
Funke's (The Thief Lord
) tantalizing fantasy about a quest to find the magical Rim of Heaven, the legendary place where dragons can live in peace forever, is a wildly entertaining ride, thanks to Fraser's top-drawer performance. The actor exudes the enthusiasm of a kid at Christmas as he tackles a full roster of inventively written characters, including heroic dragon Firedrake, human boy Ben (who just may be a dragon rider) and various comrades and enemies. From the mellow whisper of a weary, aging dragon to the spunky and hilarious fast-clip lilt of a Scottish-accented brownie named Sorrell, Fraser nimbly moves through this vivid and briskly plotted adventure. Listeners will find much to like—and much to keep track of—as the journey to escape human destruction progresses and gathers more excitement, travelers, dangers and intrigue along the way. In Fraser's command, Funke's punchy dialogue and descriptive storytelling style sparkle. Ages 8-12.