Dragon Storm: Tomas and Ironskin

Dragon Storm - Tomas and Ironskin is the first book in this fab Dragon Storm series. The story starts when Tomas, an 11 year old, son of a blacksmith, is summoned to go to a special school where he can learn to be a Dragonseer! Along with his friends, teachers and his very own dragon, Tomas has to learn how to protect his dragon from those who wish him harm while also saving his home from a deadly threat.

I really liked how the dragons choose their own Dragonseer. This clearly shows the connection between the dragons and their seers, necessary for them to work effectively together. Ironskin, Tomas's dragon, was no different. She was happy to help him and keen to encourage him when he was disheartened.

This short story is easy to understand with just enough detail to create excitement, an ideal choice for any newly independent young reader. Written for children in lower Key Stage 2, Dragon Storm would no doubt make a great class read. In addition to a fab short story, I also enjoyed looking at the illustrations throughout the book, they added a little extra something to the story, just enough to keep the interest of a young reader without distracting them from the read itself. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon and the Dragon Realm series.

160 pages / Reviewed by Sam Phillips, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Dragon Storm - Tomas and Ironskin is the first novel in the Dragon Storm series. Tomas is a blacksmith's son, living a simple life in a world which once had Dragons in it. All Tomas knows is that Dragons don't exist anymore and that they were nasty creatures that burnt things and hurt people. That is, until he sees something in the fire and he meets a mysterious stranger called Malik…

Tomas is catapulted into a guild where Dragons do exist, in fact he has his own Dragon, as Tomas is a Dragonseer. Tomas has to learn how to control his dragon, Iron Skin, and summon her when he needs her. Although this seems easy at first, Iron Skin keeps disappearing and Tomas has to make a very important decision between dragons and family. Which will he choose and can he make space in his heart for both? It isn't till there is a fatal accident at Tomas's home that he truly knows what he should do.

I actually read the first chapter to my class on World Book Day and they loved it! They loved the line 'In the land of Dragons, there are no Dragons' as it hooked them in straight away and wanted to know more. Now we know there is a second book, Cara and Silverthief, I have got the girls on board too and we will all be Dragon Storm fans.

160 Pages / Reviewed by Lauren Maidman, Class teacher 

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Tomas and Ironskin is the first book I have read in the Dragon Storm series and it was a great introduction to what lies ahead in the other books. It starts with the character Tomas who is summoned to go to a special school where he can learn to be a Dragonseer! Only chosen ones can attend this school. It has all the elements of characters you expect to find in a book about school – nasty teachers, kind teachers, good friends and other pupils who like to cause trouble.

This book is great for young readers who are just starting to become independent with their reading. The story is simple yet exciting, easy to understand and the bond between Tomas and his dragon Ironskin is something that children will enjoy. The illustrations are really eye-catching and detailed.

I think it would appeal to all children – especially if they like the films How to Train Your Dragon. I will be interested to read some of the other books in the set.

160 pages / Reviewed by Catherine Kus, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Can you imagine being able to summon a dragon from the ether into the real world? A small number of children in this medieval world are able to do just that and, once they have summoned their dragon, they form a unbreakable bond with it. So begins a regime of training and bonding at the special dragon school with its medieval setting.

In this story, the first in the Dragon Storm series, we find out about Tomas and his dragon, Ironskin, and we learn how they came to be together. We also learn a little about the challenges they will face - not everyone seems to want to see the children and dragons succeed in working together, and we also need to work out who has set fire to the small village - and Tomas's home - nearby.

The idea of being able to summon your own dragon is an appealing one, and this story of dragon riding, dragon school and the challenges they bring is a good one. Rather than the knights of old that used to fight dragons, these children are looking after dragons and nurturing the relationship they have with them.

The story is aimed at readers aged 7+ and makes for a great class read. Once you've finished finding out about the dragons, children can think about the kind of dragon they might have if they were able to summon their own - a lovely creative writing activity, or simply a class discussion.

160 pages / Reviewed by Elen Green

Suggested Reading Age 7+