Struan Murray is Scottish and grew up in Edinburgh, the youngest of a large, rowdy family of redheads. His debut novel, Orphans of the Tide, won the prestigious Branford Boase Award and was a Guardian Best Children's Book of the Year. When he's not writing, Struan is a lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Oxford.

"Dragonlore with a difference." --The Times (London)

"Following a delicious twist at the end, readers will be hooked until book two arrives." --Booklist

"Come for the dragons but stay for the suspenseful reveals and relatable characters." --Kirkus

"Murray balances wonder-laced, laughter-fueled adventure with fearsome action, resulting in a fanciful and exciting series opener." --PW

"Astonishing fantasy with a unique story that burns with brilliance. Readers will love this thrilling new take on dragons." -A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series

"A blazingly brilliant adventure that will burn bright in the imagination long after the final page." --Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn

"A fire-breathing, heights-soaring, majestic beast of a book." --Thomas Taylor, author of Malamander

"The kind of fast-paced, perfectly plotted, thrillingly written book that makes you want to devour it in one go." --Katya Balen, Carnegie medal-winning author of The Light in Everything

"Think you've read every dragon story? Think again. I adored this epic, heart-racing fantasy." --Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm

"As powerful as a dragon's roar, as fast-paced as a dive through the sky, and with more twists than a coiling tail--Dragonborn is brilliant." --Jamie Littler, author of Voyage of the Frostheart

"The freshest, most exciting children's book of the decade. Brimming with originality and full of breathtaking twists." --Joseph Elliott, author of The Good Hawk

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Pub date: 2026-08-25

Length: 352 pages