How to Train Your Dragon: How to Betray a Dragon's Hero (How to Train Your Dragon, 11) Paperback – Illustrated, September 16, 2014

my sons and i have been reading the series for a couple years and was trying to reserve a copy from local library and couldnt even find it in the system... then i found it on amazon for a good price so i ordered it. it is wonderful how soon after release we got it. this story is a much scarier story of Hicups misadventures but is still an awsome story and the quality of the book matched that of the ones i borrow from the library.

Just awesome! Impeccable writing? Check. Humour? Check. Good plot with everything coming together at the end even though not always in the favour of the characters? Check.I like how there is nothing that makes you think: "Hey! That couldn't happen to Y because then X would just swoop in and do this or that." You know what I mean?Instead everything that is laid out at the beginning fits with everything else in the end, like: "No, X had to go to that other place in order to that thing that let to the incident that shaped the circumstances for Y. Making it completely natural that Y gets out of a certain predicament with the help of this and that". This is not a weird retelling of events from the book. I am just trying to explain myself and doing a horrible job at it. :S :PSome spoilers ahoy!In addition to being awesome, this book also tries to teach us/kids that people are usually bad for a reason and that they can be good if given the chance, and it does a wonderful job of it, if somewhat sad. I never thought I would cheer for Snotlout. And feel so sorry for him. And MISS him, even.I can really recommend this book, along with all the others in the series, of course.

Valuable lessons among the flights of fancy! Just the right blend of humor and suspense...and so imaginative. My 10 YO son loves the books, and so do I. Having a fair amount of life-experience under my belt, I have my own idea of where Ms Cowell might be going, and what Hiccup's final "lesson" will be on his path to becoming a leader. Can't wait for the final book to see if I'm right, and how she presents it!

As always, the How to Train Your Dragon series offers energetic storytelling by the renowned David Tennant, and his services are once again put to great use telling this, the second-to-last tale of the series. Things are dark before dawn, here, and without spoiling anything there are big events brewing within the digital bindings of this spoken tome. If you've read/listened to the series this far, I hardly need to tell you to keep going, but by no means skip this one over! It adds important context to the ultimate end of the young Hiccup's journey, and is as much a delight as ever. Savor it.

Though I must admit I was a little exasperated to learn this is STILL not the last book, I read this with as much gusto as I enjoyed the previous books in the series. Ms. Cowell's storytelling and writing skills are as strong as ever, making this a thoroughly enjoyable novel that is certain to please current fans. Though I felt this had a little too much plot in too little time, in general this is just what I've come to expect from Ms. Cowell and these books: humor, quirkiness, excitement, action, and a whole lot of heart.In the beginning, we are introduced to the Island of Tomorrow, pretty much the place of the prophecy heretofore discussed. The ticking thing is ticking, leaving only a matter of days before a King must be crowned and the race is on to get all the Lost Things together and have them accepted by the Island's blindfolded Guardian (that's a detail I loved.)Again, I found it a little too much plot too fast, but I still think many a reader will enjoy it all the more because. Here is one scuffle or skirmish right after another for all characters involved. It wasn't quite as funny as prior books, but makes up for it in sheer excitement and adventure. Not to mention its attention to certain characters before glossed over (I recommend a box of tissues if you're really into the characters...)So it looks like there is one more book, but this sure presents plenty of delectable story in a penultimate way. Those who appreciate Cowell's amazing storytelling talents that just grab at the heart will find this does not disappoint.

09/25/15 - My original review is listed below; it was ONLY about the quality of the CD. I just finished listening to the Audible version, which was perfect. Even at 61 y.o., I couldn't stop listening even when I really wanted to go to bed. After the 12th book comes out on Audible and I've finished with the series, I plan on starting to listen from the very first book through to the 12th all over again.*************The volume control on my copy of the CD is really wonky! It ranges from inaudible up to screaming loud without touching the volume knob. Tried playing it on different devices and the problem was the same, so it's definitely a problem with the CD. I ordered it a long time ago but just received it; going to try to return it and get it through Audible if/when it becomes available.

This whole series is fantastic! I enjoyed reading them to my daughter because it was complex enough for me but the story was also understandable and fun for her. There are some very deep thoughts that run through this book, and I found myself thinking about them well beyond the evening in which we read. Great literature!

If you think that this book series is going to give away the movie series for you then you got to rethink it. WARNING I will be giving it away to you in my proof. So if you want to and haven't watched the movie yet please don't continue reading this.Now comes my proof!In the 2nd movie Hiccup's father dies. In this book series Hiccup dies.Just a book for the memories!PEACE!

My daughter loved all of the books from this series and this one was great as well!

Heureux d'avoir reçu mes livres (commande de toute la série), mais... des livres neufs qui arrivent avec TOUTES les couvertures abîmées, c'est vraiment dommageable. Je ne sais pas si je renouvellerai l'expérience.

My son loves this series. We discovered the series early in the year and have been reading through it a chapter a night ever since. The book, like the rest, keeps us going to see how everything turns out. I do think the end is being dragged out, but my son does not care. I will be sorry to see the series end.

Cressida Cowell's dragon story lines are superb! Our daughter has all 11 books and found them hard to put down when she started reading them!

We were really looking forward to this instalment as book 9 ended on a bit of a cliff hanger. This book picks up and continues to take us on the roller coaster of emotions as we plummet head long to the final chapter in Hiccups memoirs. The book is well paced to keep younger readers hooked and the adventure comes thick and fast. The writer has built a really beautiful mix of characters through out the series and the situations that develop allow the reader to explore some complex themes. The redemption of a lost soul in this volume is both moving and exceptionally well written. In many ways the reader is left with a charming dilemma, the need to read on while realising that the end is neigh. My son and I can't for the next book, but it will be the last. For Thors sake, what will we do then?