REVIEW The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library) + eBook (Personal Library, Bookshop.org)
Publisher: Labyrinth Road 

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley was a really fun new middle grade fantasy read. Audiobook narrator Alana Kerr Collins did an excellent job with her performance bringing both Scorch and Ciara's perspectives to life. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy humorous reads filled with magic, dragons, and slightly cliche but equally despicable villains.

Ciara is a very relatable protagonist who is willing to do anything to save her mother. When she stumbles upon the journal of the 'lost apprentice' (which also happens to be somewhat sentient), it changes her life and that of her village forever. Enter Scorch, the grumpy and stern Great Dragon. He agrees to help Ciara save her mother as long as she helps him find his lost siblings and determine what happened to his last apprentice. Shenanigans ensue, as they work towards both of their goals. I loved the heart of the book as well as the worldbuilding (one specific power of the dragons was quite cool). There is a major cliffhanger, where the author sets up the events of the next book but it left me excited. If you like dragons, magical mentor-mentee relationships, and/or magic in general, this book is for you.