How To Train Your Dragon 9: How to Steal A Dragon’s Sword

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Cressida Cowell

Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 8 to 11

Published by Hodder Children’s Books, 2011

Fantasy
Funny
Historical

About this book

Ever since the woods of Berserk burned down, it is almost as if the world is cursed. The waters have risen, flooding fields and washing whole villages away.

When the dragons attack (Razorwings, Tonguetwisters, Doldrums and Vampire Ghoulbreaths), Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is suspended on the side of a mountain, sleeping in a patched blanket. After surviving the battering of terrible dragons, Hiccup discovers that this is just the beginning of the Red-Rage, a dragon rebellion in which dragons have vowed to wipe out all of humanity.

At least, that’s the explanation according to Alvin the Treacherous, whose terrifying witch mother foretells the destruction of the realm unless a new king can be crowned. It should be Hiccup, but Alvin is desperate to take over… Can Hiccup find the King's Things and win the sword-fighting contest to stop Alvin the Treacherous from becoming King of the Wilderwest?

The reluctant hero Hiccup is back in the ninth instalment of this epic series.

About the author

Cressida Cowell is the number one bestselling author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once book series. How to Train Your Dragon is also an award-winning DreamWorks film franchise. Cressida is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, a trustee for World Book Day and a founder patron of the Children's Media Foundation. She lives in Hammersmith with her husband, three children and a dog called Pigeon.

Cressida was our Writer in Residence in 2016–17 and the Waterstones Children's Laureate 2020–2021