How to Train Your Dragon: How to Ride a Dragon's Storm (How to Train Your Dragon, 7)

My son and I keep reading about Hiccup's adventures since the first book was out. We enjoyed them all. Funny language, wonderful illustrations, light humour. I recommended them to other parents, who complained about reluctant readers. My son enjoys reading all kind of books, but he always asks for something with real humour "for dessert". Enjoy!

I have five children, the oldest two being 11 and 9 year old boys that LOVE to read. This series is a big hit with both of them and I will be saving them for their younger brothers to read when they are old enough.

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, I had thought the "How To Train Your Dragon" books might be too young for her originally. It was only after we watched the movie that said daughter asked to read the books, and once we started with the first book (and the picture book), we were hooked. Cressida Cowell is a splendidly talented author and illustrator, and her scribbles that pepper the hapless Viking's memoirs truly work to spice up each adventure. Admittedly, I have minor issues with the naming of "Big-Boobied Bertha" - but, at the same time, I cannot deny that everything in the books are true to plot and character. Said daughter has enjoyed, in addition to the picture book, seven of the memoirs to date, and in her own words:

"The seventh book in the 'How To Train Your Dragon' series by Cressida Cowell, 'How to Ride a Dragon's Storm', is a great follow-up to 'A Hero's Guide To Deadly Dragons.'

"The story opens with Madguts the Murderous hosting an Inter-tribal Friendly Swimming Race where the goal of the contestants is to stay in the ocean for three months, five days and six hours without asking for help from float or boat. 'How to Ride a Dragon's Storm' describes Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third manages to win the race with his dragon, Toothless, and his two friends, Fishlegs and Camicazi, after almost discovering America, helping slaves escape, surviving being chased by an ancient Leviathagon and defeating his arch-enemy, Nobert the Nutjob.

"I thought the book was very funny and exciting. My favorite part was when Hiccup fought Nobert the Nutjob from the top of a mast of a rocking, sinking ship because it was thrilling and scary. However, I thought the sketches could be neater and nicer but, as they were, I thought they helped the story's imagery a lot. I also thought that there could have been more color because I often forgot what color Toothless is, and all the other dragons, and color would have made it more exciting.

"I also thought the use of different fonts was actually very nice, but the "Dragonese" font was a little too hard for me to read. If it wasn't in bold I think it would have been nicer, but other than that, the other fonts were easy to read and gave the book a little spark.

"Compared to the other 'How to Train your Dragon' books in the series, I thought that 'Book 2: How to be a Pirate' was better than this book as far as plot goes. The plots of the other books are basically the same: Hiccup gets into a fix with his annoying greedy dragon, Toothless, and his friends, Fishlegs and Camicazi, but manages to survive and save the day. That is actually why I like all the books, because I like knowing what will happen!

"I would recommend the book to anyone who likes dragons, adventure and, of course, Hiccup. I give the book five stars."

I haven't read a book in this series in a while (I was waiting for the book to come out in paperback, but finally I got impatient), but unlike some other series that end up a little disappointing after some time away, this book is as strong as any in the How to Train Your Dragon series.

It follows the same formula as all the other books--Hiccup and his comrades fall in on some life-threatening bad luck against one of their many archenemies and he must not only help them escape but also return to Burke to save his father in time. What I like about this book in particular is it broadens the world we have already come to know. We meet the Wanderers (specifically, American Natives) who have been captured as slaves, giving larger life to the size of the world we've gotten to know. We learn that there is a place where the Vikings sacrifice people to the Sky Dragons.

The book remains just as clever and funny as always. I am continuously impressed by the continued funniness of the series (Norbert the Nutjob wants to found Nutjobland for example) while also keeping to the heart. I like that Hiccup has really embraced his fate as the future leader but that he intends to change things when he does. Toothless had a rather small part in this book as compared to others (though he was still essential to helping them escape) and that was perhaps the only thing I might have liked changed. It might soon be time for Hiccup to have a love interest (maybe Camicazi, maybe someone else). Not something deep and intense, just a tiny crush or something. I can only imagine how funny Hiccup would mess things up trying to impress her.

I've read all seven of the "Hiccup" books to my six-year-old son, and we both love them, but this story was just magical. The prescience of Old Wrinkly, the bravery and brilliance of Hiccup, the loyalty of the Northern Wanderers, the unlikely triumphant return of Fish Legs, the cheeky humor of Grimbeard, and the lesson of overcoming old quarrels and prejudices to find a better way to live make this a fantastic yarn with a positive message. My son and I finished the book tonight, and we both shed happy tears at the ending. While I was reading the Epilogue, my son reached over and started trying to turn the pages and asked "How many more pages?" When I showed him that the book would end in two more pages, he said, "We HAVE to get the next book right away!" Unfortunately, [[ASIN:0340996927 How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Hiccup)]] seems to be available only from third-party sellers. I've ordered it, but we are still waiting for it to arrive.

I agree with other reviewers that some of the descriptors and name-calling in this series set less-than-ideal examples, but they do provide a valuable opportunity to discuss proper and improper things to say to and about other people. I especially like the opportunity this book and "How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse" present to learn about the real Vikings and their sea voyages. While we were between HTTYD books, I read [[ASIN:0964380307 Leif the Lucky]] to my son. It has been a great way to sneak in some history lessons by tying them to something he's already interested in.

All these Dragon books are great for the kids! They stay interested and are learning new words and meanings. Keep em coming!

Bought the whole series for my son and the books are fun to read

We have a happy kid.

This book continues to get checked out so I think it is a hit with my students.

Love the stories and 10 year-old reluctant reader would rather read the next chapter himself than go to sleep.
The book is of lesser quality than Canadian (UK printed) books. They DO NOT include the dragon trading cards and the edges of the page are jagged. I figured buying the hardback was a good idea. Son was very disappointed.