How to Train Your Dragon — by Cressida Cowell

Order	Book	Date	Rating
1	How to Train Your Dragon	May-2004	5
2	How to Be a Pirate	May-2005	5
3	How to Speak Dragonese	May-2006	5
4	How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse	Apr-2007	2
5	How to Twist a Dragon's Tale	May-2008	5
6	A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons	Aug-2009	5
7	How to Ride a Dragon's Storm	Jul-2010	5
8	How to Break a Dragon's Heart	Nov-2011	5
9	How to Steal a Dragon's Sword	Jul-2012	5
10	How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel	May-2013	3
11	How to Betray a Dragon's Hero	Dec-2013	4
12	How to Fight a Dragon's Fury	Nov-2015	5
	The Complete World of Dragons: A Guide to Dragon Species	May-2014	5
	How to Train Your Dragon: A Journal for Heroes	Nov-2015	0

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Series Premise

The How to Train Your Dragon series follows Hiccup, a small and clever Viking boy, as he challenges his tribe’s traditions by befriending and training dragons. Each book centers on a new adventure involving dragon conflicts, tribal politics, and ancient mysteries while Hiccup grows from an unlikely hero into a leader.

The How to Train Your Dragon Series Reading Order

Publication order gives the best experience for the How to Train Your Dragon series. Each book has a complete central plot with its own adventure and resolution, but character relationships, Hiccup’s personal growth, and the larger story of Vikings and dragons carry across the volumes. Readers who begin later in the series will understand the main events yet miss the deepening bond between Hiccup and Toothless, evolving friendships, and context for ongoing developments in Berk.

Explanation of reading order types

The How to Train Your Dragon Series Characters

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the inventive and thoughtful central protagonist who becomes a dragon trainer and leader. His dragon Toothless serves as his loyal and mischievous companion, while friends like Fishlegs and Astrid, along with his father Stoick the Vast, form the core recurring cast.

Setting of the The How to Train Your Dragon Series

The series is set primarily on the Viking island of Berk and its surrounding seas, featuring dragon-filled skies, rocky cliffs, and hidden caves. Stories expand to distant islands and ancient dragon territories as the characters explore beyond their home waters.

Tone & Themes of the The How to Train Your Dragon Series

The tone mixes humor, adventure, and heart with clever wordplay and action. Central themes include courage in being different, friendship across differences, challenging tradition, and finding peaceful solutions in a world built on conflict.

Is the The How to Train Your Dragon Series Worth Reading?

This series appeals to children ages 8–12 who enjoy humorous fantasy, dragon stories, and young heroes who rely on brains over brawn. It suits readers who want illustrated chapter books with excitement, heart, and Viking-inspired fun.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

Mild fantasy peril and dragon battles; light-hearted humor with no strong language or romance; appropriate for middle-grade readers.

The How to Train Your Dragon series builds a rich world of Vikings and dragons through Hiccup’s continuing journey. Its structure rewards sequential reading while delivering satisfying individual adventures. The combination of humor, friendship, and growing heroism makes it a standout middle-grade fantasy series.