How to Steal a Dragon's Sword

How to Train Your Dragon, Book 9

By: Cressida Cowell

Narrated by: David Tennant

The story continues in the ninth volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs read by David Tennant.

Bad times have come to the Archipelago. Ever since the woods of Berserk burned down, it is almost as if the world is cursed. Dragons are starting to revolt against their Masters. The waters have risen, flooding fields and washing whole villages away. But worse still, the wicked witch Excellinor has returned. Can Hiccup find the King's Things and win the sword-fighting contest to stop Alvin the Treacherous from becoming King of the Wilderwest?

How to Train Your Dragon is a DreamWorks film starring Gerrard Butler, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill, out on DVD adapted from the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell. Listen to the rest of Hiccup's exploits in How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm and How to Break a Dragon's Heart. Check out the website for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks! Hear all about Hiccup and all of your favourite characters, learn to speak Dragonese and train your own Dragon to do tricks!

©2013 Cressida Cowell (P)2013 Hachette Children's Books

Critic reviews

"[Cressida Cowell] puts a contemporary spin on the old brains over brawn moral and brings the story to a climax with a thrilling dragon duel. Lots for lots of different readers to enjoy" ( Books for Keeps)

Serious Plot Twists….

This series is just getting better and better. I love the strength of the friendship between Hiccup, Fishlegs and Kamikaze! When the worst is exposed, when you hit rock bottom, that’s when you know who your friends are!

Again, both author and narrator rock!!!!

Amazing book

Best book ever

I loved every minute of the book and is really easy to pick up

Perfect Book

Children will love it. It is poetic and is all about amazing creatures, and adventures. One of the few books that really gets you thinking what you were doing your whole life without it.

Very well narrated and written. I would recommend this to ages 5-18 as well as the 11 other books about Hiccup (this one is my favourite).

I'd you are looking for a good book, read this, or even better, have it ready to you on Audible.

fantastic

David Tennant is awesome!!!! he is thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. fantastic highly recommend HTTAD

A Hero's Tale with Oodles of Action

What did you love best about How to Steal a Dragon's Sword?

Cressida Cowell is so witty. So many little clever moments that made me laugh out loud. Even the chapter headings make you giggle. I know this is "kids" book but who isn't a kid really? The names of characters make me chuckle just to think of them (Stoic the Vast, Snot Loud, Old Wrinkly, Fish Legs, Madguts). I can't imagine how she came up with them. The different types of dragons too are creative in name and menace. The various tribal names are special too.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Steal a Dragon's Sword?

Laugh, giggle and a few "Oh no!" moments throughout. Flashburn "You may cheer now" - the ultimate hero and so full of himself - makes me laugh. Tennant's choice for the witch's voice is great - spooky but makes me laugh at the same time "Doom has come to the Archipelago!" Great moments throughout.

What does David Tennant bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love David Tennant's narration and it was his name that brought me to this book. I had seen the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie but had not read any of the books but thought I would give this a go because of him. David doesn't let you down. He holds his characterisation. His Scottish accent is great for narrating this tale though one time I went "what was that" and realised it was just a "broad accent" moment. He is great at pace and tone - no mono-tone reading from this chap. If you don't get pulled in by his reading you should probably give-up... or at least try one more time. I have a great imagination David's narration adds so much that my head does not!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could I would. I loved the narration and there is so much going on with the story I want to hear it all but also go back and hear the bits that may have wooshed by. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III's story is a grand one and continues to build.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story and if you haven't read any of the other books (like me) you should be fine listening to this. Cressida likes to add the odd explanation throughout and points you to other novels if you want more info, but you should have not problem enjoying this story. There is a website dedicated to this topic so there is more info there too. Statement of obvious - dragons are little and big - don't bring images of "other" dragons to this tale but listen to descriptions and picture that. Musical lead-in as each chapter begins is nice and not cheesy as some musical moments in audio productions can be. The only let-down is there is still more to go for this hero and his tale, so we will need to purchase those when they are ready.