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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Dragonborn (Dragonborn, #1)
By: Struan Murray
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best For: 10 and up

Dragonborn: It’s Harry Potter, but with Dragons. Need I Say More?

Every so often, I go hunting for an “unknown” author who deserves a bigger spotlight. I think I found one in Struan Murray. I’ve been eyeing his first trilogy (Orphans of the Tide) for a while, but since I’m a strictly e-reader guy (mostly so my house doesn’t disappear under a mountain of paper), I had to wait for his latest release, Dragonborn, to finally dive in.

Was it worth the wait? HECK YES.

Dragonborn is about twelve-year-old Alex Evans, a girl who has spent her life smothered by an overprotective mother and the grief of her father’s death. But, unknown to Alex, she has a literal fire burning inside her—one that erupts into a roar when she finally hits her breaking point. It turns out Alex is a ‘Slumberer,’ a dragon who has been living as a human. Soon, she’s whisked away to the secret island of Skralla to join a dragon school to learn about her…dragon-ness, make friends, discover secrets, and face an ancient evil named Drak Midna–if only should could figure out how to actually get the dragon inside of her to come out!

If that sounds like “Harry Potter with dragons,” that’s because it basically is—and I loved every second of it.

Alex is a fantastic protagonist. She’s relatable, nuanced, and her struggle with her mother’s “unbreakable rules” feels very real. The world-building is top-notch, with vivid imagery that makes you feel like you’re flying right alongside her. Murray doesn’t just give us “dragon-lite”; the peril is real, the stakes are high, and there are some surprises–and everyone knows I’m a sucker for getting suckered by a book.

It’s hard to write quality Middle Grade that appeals to both kids and the adults reading over their shoulders, but Murray pulls it off. He’s earned a spot on my “reliable MG authors” list alongside greats like Jonathan Auxier and Kate DiCamillo.

Content Guide for Parents & Discerning Readers:

Age Recommendation: 10+ (Great for independent readers and as a family read-aloud).

Language: None. Perfectly clean.

Violence: Typical fantasy peril. There is some violence against dragons and high-stakes conflict, but nothing gratuitous.

Sexual Content: None.

Thematic Intensity: Moderate. Deals with the death of a parent, grief, and the tension of a child wanting independence from an overprotective parent.

The Verdict:

4 Stars. A soaring, action-packed start to a new series. I’ve already pre-ordered Book 2, The Twilight Child, which releases in October 2026. If your kids loved Wings of Fire, they’re going to enjoy this one too.

Happy Reading!