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hmnborczon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wanderingstories's review
4.0
How to Be a Pirate was such an easy, fun read with great humour and a nice touching ending.
I'm definitely going to read a little further in this series but I believe this make a nice standalone as well. Just what a Children's story should be like: Fun.
I'm definitely going to read a little further in this series but I believe this make a nice standalone as well. Just what a Children's story should be like: Fun.
mis_chievous's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
makennak's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
juniper_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
Pirates, treasures, bumbling vikings, dragons, and creatures that will raise the hairs on your arms.
My third HtTYD book, and second in this fabulous series! Yep, I am definitely enjoying my time in this world as it is just so much fun. At times I do feel sorry for Hiccup, but I know that he will end up all right, after all he is the hero of the book + just like the other books he apparently does something amazing every book.
I still feel sad that he gets bullied so much. Sure, he is not like the other viking kids, he is short, not too strong, relies more on his brain and imagination, he can speak dragonese, he is not too violent (as it seems most of those kids are). He gets kicked, walked over, and during that fight on the ship in the beginning almost killed. :( I get that this is just the way of the vikings, but I still sad for the little guy.
But thankfully Hiccup is not one who just stands by, and thanks to his help and use of dragonese he gets his tribe out of a pickle quite a few times. Plus he shows tons of bravery at many points in these books. He also shows he cares about his friend, Fishleg, and then at the end, even about his tribe. Yep, his tribe. He is starting accept that he is the heir, that he is the upcoming boss. That he has to care for these bumbling violent idiots one day. But you can also see that he is affected by what happens around him, at times it makes him sad or withdrawn, but he also seems to borrow from that and get stronger. Plus while he has a dragon that is worthless, he still says, mostly, kind to it. He tries to get Toothless to do stuff without the usual shouting that the vikings use for their dragons.
And in this book we have pirates! Yep, viking pirates. It is time for our boys to learn some pirate skills. So that means lessons on a boat, sword fighting on a boat, finding treasure. I had to wonder, do they not learn these boys swimming before that? As Fishlegs cannot swim and I wonder if there are others like him.
We have a new character and I didn't trust him from the start. He was just a bit too slimy and ick for me. He reminded me a bit of a shady car-seller. I was just waiting for him to reveal his real side, because I knew that would happen sooner or later. I did feel sorry for the vikings, and also for Hiccup. Especially Hiccup, as he thought he had found a new friend. Someone who was helping him with sword fighting, someone to talk to. Someone who had amazing stories to tell.
The treasure hunt, and that island full of dreadful monsters? Oh my, I would have NOPED my way out of there before we left our island. Dang, those dragons/monsters are creepy as hell, and a bit too dedicated to killing and maiming. Not a good holiday spot. :P
The ending and all that happened there was just absolute brilliance. Why of course, it is because of that that Hiccup couldn't do sword fighting well. And then there was that monster that we met a bit earlier on, even more creepy and disgusting and NOPE than I already thought. I was definitely rooting for Hiccup to get his brain to work and figure out a fantastic plan.
The book is also illustrated, and with each book I am getting more and more used to the style. By now I actually like it and I think it is pretty original/creative.
All in all, I still have books 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 to go before I got to buy the next boxset/books. I am not too sure if I will be buying them immediately, I may just savour this series a bit longer and spread buying them out over several months.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
My third HtTYD book, and second in this fabulous series! Yep, I am definitely enjoying my time in this world as it is just so much fun. At times I do feel sorry for Hiccup, but I know that he will end up all right, after all he is the hero of the book + just like the other books he apparently does something amazing every book.
I still feel sad that he gets bullied so much. Sure, he is not like the other viking kids, he is short, not too strong, relies more on his brain and imagination, he can speak dragonese, he is not too violent (as it seems most of those kids are). He gets kicked, walked over, and during that fight on the ship in the beginning almost killed. :( I get that this is just the way of the vikings, but I still sad for the little guy.
But thankfully Hiccup is not one who just stands by, and thanks to his help and use of dragonese he gets his tribe out of a pickle quite a few times. Plus he shows tons of bravery at many points in these books. He also shows he cares about his friend, Fishleg, and then at the end, even about his tribe. Yep, his tribe. He is starting accept that he is the heir, that he is the upcoming boss. That he has to care for these bumbling violent idiots one day. But you can also see that he is affected by what happens around him, at times it makes him sad or withdrawn, but he also seems to borrow from that and get stronger. Plus while he has a dragon that is worthless, he still says, mostly, kind to it. He tries to get Toothless to do stuff without the usual shouting that the vikings use for their dragons.
And in this book we have pirates! Yep, viking pirates. It is time for our boys to learn some pirate skills. So that means lessons on a boat, sword fighting on a boat, finding treasure. I had to wonder, do they not learn these boys swimming before that? As Fishlegs cannot swim and I wonder if there are others like him.
We have a new character and I didn't trust him from the start. He was just a bit too slimy and ick for me. He reminded me a bit of a shady car-seller. I was just waiting for him to reveal his real side, because I knew that would happen sooner or later. I did feel sorry for the vikings, and also for Hiccup. Especially Hiccup, as he thought he had found a new friend. Someone who was helping him with sword fighting, someone to talk to. Someone who had amazing stories to tell.
The treasure hunt, and that island full of dreadful monsters? Oh my, I would have NOPED my way out of there before we left our island. Dang, those dragons/monsters are creepy as hell, and a bit too dedicated to killing and maiming. Not a good holiday spot. :P
The ending and all that happened there was just absolute brilliance. Why of course, it is because of that that Hiccup couldn't do sword fighting well. And then there was that monster that we met a bit earlier on, even more creepy and disgusting and NOPE than I already thought. I was definitely rooting for Hiccup to get his brain to work and figure out a fantastic plan.
The book is also illustrated, and with each book I am getting more and more used to the style. By now I actually like it and I think it is pretty original/creative.
All in all, I still have books 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 to go before I got to buy the next boxset/books. I am not too sure if I will be buying them immediately, I may just savour this series a bit longer and spread buying them out over several months.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
devontrevarrowflaherty's review
4.0
It’s hard for me to believe that I didn’t do this review earlier, though we did finish reading as I was tackling a sizable backlog. Boo! This series deserves better than a months-stale review. But it is what it is, and the least the series deserves is a late review.
Amazon's blurb for the first book is as follows: "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons...and becomes a hero."
I think we ended up reading book number one of this fairly hefty twelve-volume series because it was on a fourth grade reading list. Little did I know that book one would not be enough for us, and that we would end up buying Eamon the entire box set and giving months of our bedtime reading to enjoying this together. I suppose that I expected something akin to the How to Train Your Dragon movies and maybe even the TV series, and I imagine I thought that the books were not going to be as good. And why were there twelve, anyhow? The movie is just one fairly simple story.
Well, that’s because the books and the movies are nothing alike.
Honestly, I find myself a little irritated that the movie even goes by the same title as the books. “Inspired by,” (and naming characters after) would be more accurate. Other than the names and a similar world, the books and movie have different moods, feels, language, characters (even though they go by the same names), plot, morals, etc. Not that the movie is bad. It’s a contemporary classic for a reason (Well, the first one, anyways) but I just want to reiterate: they have not much in common. They are both brilliant in their own way.
And the books are completely brilliant. I love them. My son loved them. When painting our eight stairs with book spines, the kids each got to chose one title, and Eamon—instead of Where the Red Fern Grows, Danny the Champion of the World, or Sign of the Beaver—went for How to Train Your Dragon.
Full disclosure: these books are written by the college friend of Lauren Child. When I found this out, I understood part of why I was loving it so much. Both Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child (author of the Charlie and Lola, Ruby Redfort, and Clarice Bean series) have a similar tone and similar voice. They are both funny and wildly imaginative, both like children who have never quiet grown up, like Willy Wonka or, his creator, Roald Dahl.
All that nepotism aside, however, How to Train Your Dragon stands alone based on writing, plot, and characters. The writing is smooth and engaging. The plots keep you reading. And the characters are charming and develop over time. Though not every kid will be in for dragons and Vikings, give it a try anyhow. Your kid may just end up wanting to know what happens to Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Camicazi, wanting to join them for their continually spiraling adventures.
I probably had some complaints about these books while I was reading them (like maybe I didn't love some of the stylized illustrations (which kids will)), but time has left a pleasantly warm feeling. I would re-read them. I hope my son will, too.
Book list:
How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
How to Be A Pirate (2004)
How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
How to Cheat A Dragon's Curse (2006)
How to Twist A Dragon's Tale (2007)
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
How to Ride A Dragon's Storm (2009)
How to Break A Dragon's Heart (2010)
How to Steal A Dragon's Sword (2011)
How to Seize A Dragon's Jewel (2012)
How to Betray A Dragon's Hero (2013)
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (2015)
New series, beginning 2017: The Wizards of Once
__________
MOVIE: I already mentioned the movie above. I would definitely recommend that you watch the first one, if you have not already. It’s a great movie, though hardly resembles the books. The second movie is okay. Take it or leave it. You won’t regret renting it for family movie night. (The third movie comes out this year.) The TV series, although somewhat popular, is not a favorite of mine. Read the whole book series, watch the first movie, and marvel at how different they are.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
Amazon's blurb for the first book is as follows: "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons...and becomes a hero."
I think we ended up reading book number one of this fairly hefty twelve-volume series because it was on a fourth grade reading list. Little did I know that book one would not be enough for us, and that we would end up buying Eamon the entire box set and giving months of our bedtime reading to enjoying this together. I suppose that I expected something akin to the How to Train Your Dragon movies and maybe even the TV series, and I imagine I thought that the books were not going to be as good. And why were there twelve, anyhow? The movie is just one fairly simple story.
Well, that’s because the books and the movies are nothing alike.
Honestly, I find myself a little irritated that the movie even goes by the same title as the books. “Inspired by,” (and naming characters after) would be more accurate. Other than the names and a similar world, the books and movie have different moods, feels, language, characters (even though they go by the same names), plot, morals, etc. Not that the movie is bad. It’s a contemporary classic for a reason (Well, the first one, anyways) but I just want to reiterate: they have not much in common. They are both brilliant in their own way.
And the books are completely brilliant. I love them. My son loved them. When painting our eight stairs with book spines, the kids each got to chose one title, and Eamon—instead of Where the Red Fern Grows, Danny the Champion of the World, or Sign of the Beaver—went for How to Train Your Dragon.
Full disclosure: these books are written by the college friend of Lauren Child. When I found this out, I understood part of why I was loving it so much. Both Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child (author of the Charlie and Lola, Ruby Redfort, and Clarice Bean series) have a similar tone and similar voice. They are both funny and wildly imaginative, both like children who have never quiet grown up, like Willy Wonka or, his creator, Roald Dahl.
All that nepotism aside, however, How to Train Your Dragon stands alone based on writing, plot, and characters. The writing is smooth and engaging. The plots keep you reading. And the characters are charming and develop over time. Though not every kid will be in for dragons and Vikings, give it a try anyhow. Your kid may just end up wanting to know what happens to Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Camicazi, wanting to join them for their continually spiraling adventures.
I probably had some complaints about these books while I was reading them (like maybe I didn't love some of the stylized illustrations (which kids will)), but time has left a pleasantly warm feeling. I would re-read them. I hope my son will, too.
Book list:
How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
How to Be A Pirate (2004)
How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
How to Cheat A Dragon's Curse (2006)
How to Twist A Dragon's Tale (2007)
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
How to Ride A Dragon's Storm (2009)
How to Break A Dragon's Heart (2010)
How to Steal A Dragon's Sword (2011)
How to Seize A Dragon's Jewel (2012)
How to Betray A Dragon's Hero (2013)
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (2015)
New series, beginning 2017: The Wizards of Once
__________
MOVIE: I already mentioned the movie above. I would definitely recommend that you watch the first one, if you have not already. It’s a great movie, though hardly resembles the books. The second movie is okay. Take it or leave it. You won’t regret renting it for family movie night. (The third movie comes out this year.) The TV series, although somewhat popular, is not a favorite of mine. Read the whole book series, watch the first movie, and marvel at how different they are.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
eddieboy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0