Lightningborn

Lightningborn
Author(s)
Age Range
8+
Release Date
April 02, 2024
ISBN
978-1368090308
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In a world in the clouds where only the rich own dragons, a poor boy named Remy finds a wild baby dragon—believed to be extinct—and becomes the focus of an evil pirate’s vengeance.

REMY spends his days trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge—one of the many islands floating in the gravitational pull of the magical Maelstrom raging below. But his life changes forever when a violent storm brings a baby dragon to his doorstep, and he feels a bond he has never felt with anyone. Remy names the dragon Storm and vows to protect this new friend, no matter the cost. 

GEM longs for the day when she call herself a true mage. That is, if she can convince her teachers and peers that just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she’s lazy and spoiled. But when Gem learns that the floating islands that make up her kingdom are rapidly sinking into the Maelstrom, she makes it her mission to save her world. Against the king’s wishes, she accesses forbidden research and discovers the secret to saving humanity may lie in a True Dragon—a dragon capable of intelligent thought and able to cast and use magic. But True Dragons are extinct . . . aren’t they?

Remy’s and Gem’s lives will never be the same when their fates collide, thanks to Storm. With an evil pirate mage named Jhaeros determined to claim the rare dragon for himself, the two must learn to trust in each other as they team up with a shifty pirate captain and her crew, stand together against impossible odds, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Editor review

1 review
Orphaned boy finds magical dragon
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Lightningborn is the first in a series of books by Julie Kagawa called Storm Dragons. The series title tells you that storms and the magic surrounding these kinds of dragons are involved. Our tale is told from alternating points of view between a princess and an orphaned boy. The two views will collide, and eventually, they will have the same goal: save the island before they crash into a monster and rescue the baby dragon from a power-hungry pirate. What I like most about this story is that Julie Kagawa knows how to write dragons, whether in a young adult fantasy or a younger middle-grade series. She lays out the world's magic in easy-to-understand language; the simple world-building is intriguing and leaves room for exploration in the future book of the series. I don't know how many books are in this new series, but I am eager to see what other kind of storm dragons we get to meet.
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User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0(1)
Characters
 
5.0(1)
Writing Style
 
5.0(1)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0(1)
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A dragon series with potential
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Lightningborn is a great start for a middle-grade high fantasy (not portal) dragon rider story. The magic system and the worldbuilding are easy to follow and we are never confused about who is who, even when it feels like it's predictable we are hoping our predictions turn out true.

It starts with two different points of view and location, a boy (Remy) finds a baby dragon being hunted by an evil sky pirate mage. This pirate's intentions are not good and Remy will do whatever is needed to protect the dragon with the help of Bart (we learn more about him as we read). Gem, the princess has Cloud a white dragon. They belong to another perspective of this story. Her goal is to find a way to save her kingdom, to heal the crystals she must find someone who knows about the true dragons.

I love how Gem and Remy's story gets tangled and they become a team in an adventure against time to rescue more than just a baby dragon. Gem has a great personality: focused, brave, and goes against rules but for the greater good. Remy is also brave with his heart in the right place and Bart is very honorable and knowledgeable. Lightning is more than just a baby dragon.

This first book ends with a promise of a larger quest and higher stakes to solve. I will look forward to reading the rest. It's easy to read and the author's style flows well.

Cover art 4.
Good Points
Dragons, Dragon riders, eggs
Chosen one trope
Great World Building and Adventure
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