I’m one of those people who enjoy things aimed mainly at children. There's a certain amount of charm and naive way of thinking that just makes me, as a reader, feel like a young kid again. While my taste in storytelling has grown over all the years I spent watching, playing, or, in this case, reading different types of media, I will always have a soft spot for childish things and stories that may be safe and predictable but also carry a good amount of creativity that you can’t necessarily get by reading books made for and only for adults. The book in this review called “Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly: The Coldfire Curse” is a book that may be too simple and formulaic, but it has many charming qualities that make it decent from beginning to end.
A Pampered Pet Dragon named Ruskin has never known life outside of the Wrenly kingdom until a young from Crestwood named Cinder comes to tell Ruskin that she needs help to stop something called the Coldfire Curse before it destroys all of Wrenly and its inhabitants. With help from Cinder’s cousin Groth and her Aunt Nova, The three young dragons are tasked to stop the curse, hoping their loved ones will be rescued before the curse takes full effect.
The Story is, unfortunately, predictable and has many plot conveniences that solve situations a little too quickly. It's not very complex, and the pacing can sometimes be messy. The narrative also glosses over many plot elements, such as Ruskin’s relationship with his human owner and the people in the kingdom of Wrenly itself. However, what makes up for most of those things mentioned is the charm and likability of the adventure and how easy it is to be entranced in the fantasy world filled with dragons and many more fantastical characters. The world building in this story is okay, but nothing too exciting to write about. Still, I found this story to be charming and fun despite its problems. For kids, it's not that bad, but older readers may want something with a bit more edge and complexity, which is understandable.
The Characters are fun and instantly likable. The three main heroes take up the most time in the story, and all of them are young kid Dragons. Ruskin is the pampered Dragon Pet of the kingdom of Wrenly who is tasked with coming along on a daring adventure. Ruskin is adorable but also a brave showoff. He’s not flawed or fascinating, but his likabillity makes him worthy of following in his grand adventure. Cinder acts tough but also resides in some moments of pure innocence, which she and Ruskin connect with. Groth is Cinder’s cousin. He is a lovable goofball who acts as the cubby persona with a heart of gold. All three young dragons work pretty well off each other, and their friendship is cute, even if there are very few roadblocks that test their bond. Other mentional characters include Cinder’s Father, Groth’s Mother, Nova, A queen of Fairies named Sophie, and the mysterious dragon elder Villinelle. Although the three central young dragons take the spotlight away from the other characters, Most of them are pretty fun in their own right and are not wrong to spend an adventure with.
The Illustrations are very colorful and create a colorful atmosphere that is just too irresistible not to look at. The character designs are enticing and well drawn. The young dragons, in particular, are drawn to look more chubby, adorable, and sometimes precious, while the older dragons have more distinct edges and look more like what is usually associated with the look of an adult dragon. The backgrounds are full of color and life, and many locations, such as the forests and the big blue sky, are made to look expansive. Other places, such as caves and the snowy mountains, are cold and offer little bright colors to contrast colorful fantasy areas with those in the opposite. I am a fan of the illustrations of the dragons flying in the sky, and it feels like I'm up with them in the sky, dodging obstacles and doing tricks in the air. Whether in the air, on the ground, or even underwater, all the characters and backgrounds are very colorful and create a sense of fantastical fun that is perfect for the young and young at heart.
Despite an underdeveloped story and many plot conveniences in the narrative, this was, surprisingly, a cute read with instantly likable characters and adorable and adventurous illustrations. Kids deserve stories that are told way better than the ones shown in the first of many more Dragon Kingdom books. However, its pure, likable energy keeps everything afloat and makes this an easy read for kids with a few creative moments and some charming characters to journey along with. Overall, I found this a decent read. I acknowledge that this book will speak more to children than their parents. For a graphic novel mainly aimed at its young demographic, it does its job well enough to pass for decent entertainment.
(Final Grade: B-)