Dragonflare

By Author / Illustrator

Jamie Hammond

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Usborne

ISBN

9781836046929

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-05-2026

Synopsis

Solve the puzzles to find the gold in this thrilling and funny interactive dragon-riding adventure from the bestselling author-illustrator of Grumpfort, packed with epic illustrations!

You are invited to compete in the Wingrider Trials on Dragonflare Island! Do you have what it takes to become a dragon rider, solve the puzzles and find the treasure?

Flynn definitely doesn't. So, when a dragon kidnaps him to be her partner in the trials, things get complicated. Now they're stuck in a labyrinth full of hungry monsters, impossible obstacle courses, and backstabbing competitors. To win, they'll need brains, bravery and - worst of all - teamwork.

But the trials are hiding a deadly secret, and if Flynn and his dragon don't win, the whole island could be doomed...

"Full of heroes and heart, Jamie Hammond packs adventure into every sentence." - Emma Swan, author of Cruise Ship Kid. "A stone cold five stars and recommended to ages 7 and up!" - Ramzee, author of The Cheat Book. "Filled with adventure, heart, humour, puzzles and DRAGONS - I loved it!" - Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of the Imagination Island series. "A fiery, five-star adventure filled with fiendishly fun puzzles!" - Jennifer Bell, author of Magicalia.

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Reviews

Jacqueline

Flynn, a thief forced to steal to look after his little sister, accidentally ends up in the dragon trials on Dragonflare island. Forced to team up with a dragon (and he doesn't even like dragons), he has to make his way through a labyrinth, solving puzzles as he goes, to win the gold prize at the end.

Dragonflare is pure entertainment, from the cartoon-style drawings to the puzzles to be solved in the book, to the main hero, Flynn. It is just fun, and a fun read is always something to be welcomed.

Flynn is a fairly useless hero and all the more entertaining because of it. He makes a lot of mistakes but is still likeable. The monsters are monstrous and the baddies apparently really bad, and the whole book is written with such humour you cannot help but enjoy it.

My favourite monsters were the Granshees and the Nochless monster- I just love clever plays on words. The puzzles do add a really different dimension to the story and I can see children really enjoying that alternative element as well. I can see this being very popular with ages 7-9 years and, as it is highly illustrated, it is quite an easy read, as well as a fun romp.

288 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher