Books

How to Train Your Dragon: How to Steal a Dragon's Sword

Book 9

Cressida Cowell, Author

Paperback

Series: How to Train Your Dragon

Imprint: Hodder Children's Books

Publication date: October 6, 2011

Category: Humorous stories (Children's / Teenage)

ISBN: 9781444900941

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Read the HILARIOUS books that inspired the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films!

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smallish Viking with a longish name. Hiccup’s father is chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe which means Hiccup is the Hope and the Heir to the Hairy Hooligan throne – but most of the time Hiccup feels like a very ordinary boy, finding it hard to be a Hero.

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 major award-winning DreamWorks film series. There is also a new live action movie due to be released in 2025. The TV series, Riders of Berk, can be seen on CBeebies and Cartoon Network.

Reviews

The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit

Read It

The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit

Read It

Short chapters, clever slapstick, child-friendly character names ...plus goofy, childlike drawings will keep even reluctant readers engrossed, laughing and turning the pages

Writing Magazine

Short chapters, clever slapstick, child-friendly character names ...plus goofy, childlike drawings will keep even reluctant readers engrossed, laughing and turning the pages

Writing Magazine

This highly amusing adventure story with a dash of toilet humour is perfect reading for boys and girls alike

Publishing News

This highly amusing adventure story with a dash of toilet humour is perfect reading for boys and girls alike

Publishing News

PRAISE FOR THE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON BOOKS:
'Fiercely exciting and laugh-aloud funny, it is as full of joy for children of 7+ who have given up reading as for those who love it.'

Amanda Craig, The Times

CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK: This book is great fun and has a Blackadderish sense of humour ... full of the sort of jokes that will make schoolboys snigger.

Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

... raucous and slapstick ... liberally illustrated with [Cressida Cowell's] riotous drawings, notes and maps.

The Financial Times

[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

'a hilarious and gripping adventure, beautifully paced and studded with great dramatic scenes.'

Amanda Craig, Times

Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful.

Independent on Sunday

'If light amusement is required, Cressida Cowell's How to Break a Dragon's Heart delivers all it promises. There are lots of illustrations and a playfulness with language that will draw in even the most reluctant reader.'

Daily Telegraph

'is not only funny, well written and thrilling, but also wise about what we owe those who love us.'

The Times

'Ahead of the film of the same title due to be released next March, this is a special edition of the first book in the uproarious series about Viking Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Highly original, and full of useful tips for dragon-owners everywhere.'

Woman's Weekly

Top stuff.

Daily Telegraph

Especially good... raises the series to classic status.

Times

Ceaselessly inventive... young readers are lucky to have her. *****

Books For Keeps

Always thrilling, funny and brilliantly illustrated.

Daily Express

The ninth book in Cowell's Dragon series... raises questions about courage and loyalty, and it's funny too. (The Sunday Times' 100 Best Children's Books)

The Sunday Times

Is, as always, thrilling, funny and brilliantly illustrated

Daily Express

Is, as always, thrilling, funny and brilliantly illustrated

Daily Express

Top stuff

The Daily Telegraph

Top stuff

The Daily Telegraph

A hilarious plot which also manages to be quite gripping...Cowell is a splendid storyteller with a gift for inventing outlandish names...ceaselessly inventive...young readers are lucky to have her

Books for Keeps

A hilarious plot which also manages to be quite gripping...Cowell is a splendid storyteller with a gift for inventing outlandish names...ceaselessly inventive...young readers are lucky to have her

Books for Keeps

Utterly fantastical but emotionally resonant

The Sunday Times

Utterly fantastical but emotionally resonant

The Sunday Times

Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon books are national treasures; this is especially good, with a wisdom about heroism which raises the series to classic status

The Times

Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon books are national treasures; this is especially good, with a wisdom about heroism which raises the series to classic status

The Times

The ninth book in Cowell's Dragon series... raises questions about courage and loyalty, and it's funny too. (The Sunday Times' 100 Best Children's Books)

The Sunday Times

Cressida Cowell

Cressida Cowell was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2019-2022). She is the author and illustrator of the bestselling The Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon books series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton.

The Wizards of Once series has been translated into 38 languages and has been signed by DreamWorks Animation. How to Train Your Dragon has sold over 8 million books worldwide in 42 languages and is a major DreamWorks Animation film franchise, as well as being made into a TV series on Netflix and CBBC.

Cressida is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency, a Trustee of World Book Day and a founder patron of the Children’s Media Foundation. She has won numerous prizes, including the Gold Award in the Nestle Children’s Book Prize.

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