Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Buddy dragon series starts violent but heralds peace.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 59 parent reviews
Parents say this book appeals greatly to children due to its imaginative storytelling and dynamic characters, particularly for those who enjoy dragon-related themes. However, despite its popularity, several reviews express concerns about the graphic violence, which parents find inappropriate for younger readers; thus, the series may be better suited for children aged 9 and up, depending on individual maturity levels.
- engaging storytelling
- violence concerns
- suitable for older children
- relatable characters
- positive messages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 268 kid reviews
Kids say that this book series is a captivating adventure featuring dragonets on a quest to save their world, with strong themes of friendship, family, and courage. While many readers love the engaging characters and plot, they caution that it contains significant violence and darker themes, making it better suited for older children and tweens.
- adventure
- strong themes
- engaging characters
- significant violence
- older children
- dark themes
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In WINGS OF FIRE: THE DRAGONET PROPHECY, dragons in Pyrrhia have been warring for nearly two decades, but there is some hope for peace. An organization called Talons of Peace gathered dragon eggs from five different clans and raised the dragonets in secret. According to a prophecy, these dragonets will bring Pyrrhia together again. So for six years Clay, a MudWing, Tsunami, a SeaWing, Starflight, a NightWing, Glory, a RainWing, and Sunny, a SandWing, have been holed up in caves training and studying together with three caretakers who are more drill sergeant than surrogate parent. When they escape their caretakers, they find trouble immediately in the SkyWing Kingdom where they are imprisoned and have to fight their way out. They get better welcomes in the SeaWing and RainWing Kingdoms, at first. But everyplace they go they notice that dragons from different tribes are more invested in the war or hiding from conflict than they are in ending the bloodshed.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who love dragons and adventure and don't mind some blood and gore will get fired up for this first five-part series in the sprawling Wings of Fire universe. The five young dragons from different tribes squabble too much, but also look out for each other in each kingdom they visit. They have to, because they get captured and imprisoned more than once and face some pretty cruel dragons. Book 1 is definitely the scariest and goriest with Ancient Roman-style arena fighting. Tsunami, the fiercest dragonet of the lot, is forced to kill for the SkyWing queen's amusement. Luckily Book 2 shows Tsunami and her friends grappling with how commonplace violence seems in dragon culture, and how wrong it feels to them. In the SeaWing kingdom, that violence is better hidden, but alliances with a war-mongering SandWing queen bring the danger the young dragons are in to light. They get a better welcome in the RainWing kingdom in Book 3, but a new enemy emerges: apathy.
Kids trying to pick a favorite dragon may choose Glory after reading her story. She was called lazy and worthless her whole life and yet still steps up to be the leader the RainWings need in a crisis without losing her cheeky wit. The bookworm of the group, Starflight, gets his turn to shine in Book 4, and has to dig deep to find his inner hero. And it's all about Sunny in Book 5. The smallest and the least regarded dragon is also the most heroic in the end, like Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. While the ultra-violent start to The Dragonet Prophecy can be off-putting--along with all the bickering between the young dragons--overall this series brings the high adventure and focuses on friendship, heroism, and peace-building when it counts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Wings of Fire series. Is it easier to watch dragons die in books than people, even if they are the main characters?
What do each of the young dragons discover about their tribes? How do they teach compassion and empathy to the dragons they meet?
Who is your favorite dragon of the dragonets? Why? Who is the biggest hero? Who shows the most courage? And who feels the most misunderstood after meeting their tribe?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Humility , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic
- Publication date : July 1, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 9, 2026
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