Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
16th Wings of Fire is slow to rev up, but has its moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE HYBRID PRINCE, MudWing siblings Umber and Sora flee the Jade Mountain academy after an explosion set by Sora killed two students. They fly away as far and fast as they can over desolate islands, only stopping when they must. Unfortunately they collapse on the wrong island beach and Umber is yanked into the sea by a kraken's tentacle. He fears he's a goner until a mysterious dragon swoops in and appears to calm the kraken and convince it to let Umber go. Umber is immediately smitten with his rescuer, a prince named Mulberry who invites them both to his island. The Court of Refuge is everything Umber and Sora could have hoped for, that is, until they begin to uncover its many dark secrets.
Is It Any Good?
This fourth Wings of Fire cycle is slow to rev up, relying on too many flashbacks for forward momentum and the growth of a so-so main character. Most of the exciting events in and around the Court of Refuge—assassination, betrayal, magical inventions—happened thousands of years ago. By contrast, the present situation at court feels stagnant. Bad monarchs (who are bad for untold reasons) stole the throne and most dragons walk/fly around pretending they're fine with it. When needed change happens, it's abrupt rather than thrilling.
Umber's presence is also less than thrilling. He's a follower who learns to lead and is curious in ways the others aren't, but he's not one of Tui T. Sutherland's best dragon characters, more of an uneven juxtaposition of a few of them. The best character is Platypus, an outspoken activist who knows how to court trouble. Here's hoping she gets a turn as a main character in a future book in the Forgotten Isles Prophecy cycle.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the protesting of injustice in The Hybrid Prince. How does Platypus protest? How does Aurora? Which form of protest would you choose?
Umber shows curiosity about the Court of Refuge. How does all his fact-finding help him choose the right path? Could he have truly acted with integrity without everything he learned from memories and the SharpWings?
Why is Sora desperate to save the scrolls the queen wants her to destroy? What's lost when a few decide what others can read?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Royalty ( Kings , Princes , Queens ) , Travel
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : March 3, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 17, 2026
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