Review: The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire) by Tui T. Sutherland

The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire #1)
by Tui T. Sutherland

ISBN-13: 9-780545-349185
Publication: July 2012 from Scholastic Press
Rating: 4 ♥ / 5 ♥ – I really liked it

The dragonets are coming…to save the day.

Clay has lives his whole life under the mountain. The MudWing dragonet knows that war is raging between the dragon tribes in the world outside – a war that he and four other dragonets are destined to end, according to the mysterious Prophecy they’ve been taught. The five “chosen” dragonets were stolen from their homes while they were still in their eggs – and hidden away for years – all to fulfill the Prophecy.

But not every dragonet wants a destiny. And when danger threatens one of their own, Clay and his friends may choose freedom over fate…leave the mountain…and set the dragon world on a course that no one could have predicted.

The Dragonet prophecy: Wings of Fire #1 by Tui T. Sutherland is such a fun book. Rather than the normal human narrator, The Dragonet Prophecy focuses on dragons, and a world where dragons are the main sentient creatures. Five dragonets have been raised in secrecy so that one day they may fulfill a prophecy and stop the war that has taken over the dragon clans. But they are tweens, and tired of living below ground. The action and mystery that unfurls as the five try and escape keeps the book going strong, and the reader completely enthralled.

The book starts out great with a map (map!), descriptions of each dragon clan – including sketches of each type of dragon – the prophecy that is at the heart of the novel, and a very intense prologue that gets you excited for the main story. Clay, a MudWing dragon, is our narrator for this first book, and he is so endearing. Like a big brother to the rest of the dragonets, Clay is loyal, protective, strong and optimistic (most of the time). Since he is still technically a young teen in dragon standards, his mouth tends to run away with him sometimes and he speaks without thinking, but he has a good heart and would do anything for his makeshift family. It’s very easy to connect with Clay and the dragonets – they make you cheer for them! The glimpses we get of one of their caretakers, Kestrel, and Queen Scarlet of the SkyWings lets you know that even though this is a middle grade book, we’re taking dragons here and they are vicious, and at war. There is some death, talk and descriptions of battles and a gladiator style jail. So while not over the top intensely graphic, there are some not nice activities that take place.

I enjoyed that the prophecy is very much contested, and that even by the end of the book you’re still unsure how real it is. There’s a nice mystery surrounding the NightWing dragons and how believable they really are, and some threads left unsolved involving the dragonets and their mission that will be explored in coming sequels. The descriptions of the dragons, the clans and the world they inhabit are detailed and presented well. I found it hilarious that there is a species called Scavengers in this world: two-legged creatures that have hair on the tops of their heads, stand up right and go after dragon treasure – people! An endangered species, no less. With engaging writing, good characters, some great action and mystery, The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland is a promising start to a new series.

Hardcover copy provided by Scholastic Canada in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!