Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon

Name: Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon
Author: Adam Blade

by Adam Blade

Ages 6–9 Reading age 7 Short chapters Set in somewhere magical adventurousepic

Tom is given a quest to free six beasts from an evil enchantment, starting with a fire dragon burning the farms of his own kingdom.

A story about children and magical creatures, adventurous and epic in tone. We would put it with children of 6–9, and at a reading age of about 7 for reading alone.

Worth knowing before you buy

Mild peril
Battles and fighting

None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.

Part of a series

This is book 1 of the Beast Quest series, so there is more to read if it goes down well — which is worth a great deal with a reluctant reader.

Our take on this book

Tom's kingdom of Avantia is under attack by cursed Beasts, and his first quest is to free Ferno the fire dragon from the enchantment turning it against the land. This opening adventure sets the pattern for one of the most successful reading series going: a clear mission, a single monster to face, and a young hero growing braver with each victory. Adam Blade (a house name for the series) writes short, punchy, high-action chapters designed to be devoured, with a Beast on the cover that children collect like trading cards. There is peril and monster-fighting throughout, but it is the exciting kind, and good triumphs every time. For a six- to nine-year-old, particularly a reluctant reader who wants fast wins and plenty of action, Beast Quest is close to a sure thing — the short length, the momentum and the sheer number of books in the series turn many children into readers who suddenly can't stop.