Color by Maarta Laiho. Five young dragons are destined to fulfill a prophecy to end the war among dragon tribes. In the graphic novel adaptation of the first title in Sutherland's popular fantasy series, the illustrations translate rather than enhance the original story. Still, they have some clever moments, and a dynamic panel layout should keep pages turning.

A popular middle-grade dragon series gets a graphic-novel makeover.Based on the Wings of Fire series, this reworking breathes new life into a motley crew of dragonets who, against all odds, are destined to fulfill a prophecy and end the long-standing war that has plagued their kingdom. Kindhearted Clay, fierce Tsunami, brainy Starflight, overlooked Glory, and runt Sunny have been kept hidden underground their entire lives. When they finally escape, they find a harsh and violent kingdom aboveground, overseen by the malevolent Queen Scarlet, a dragon who revels in death and violence. Working together, the dragonets try to do what is right in a land riddled with treachery, deception, and bloodshed. This high-fantasy graphic novel is assembled by a dream team of established creators: the adaptation is written by Hereville creator Deutsch and illustrated by Secret Coders' Holmes. Colorist Laiho does stunning work; her vibrant, eye-catching hues nearly jump off the page. Faithful to the original, this stellar adaptation is sure to delight both those familiar and newcomers to this series, and with universal themes such as good versus evil and the hero's quest for self-identity, this may even ignite new interest in the genre.Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan. (Fantasy. 7-13)

Gr 4-7 This graphic novel adaptation of the first "Wings of Fire" installment centers on five young "dragonets" who are being trained to save the dragon world from war and destruction as they rebel against their handlers and strike out to discover their own destiny. They encounter a wicked queen who takes them captive, and the dragonets must work together with the help of a new friend to escape death and destruction in the gladiator-style fighting ring. The full-color illustrations bring the dragons and their surroundings to life, and the fast-paced, plot-driven story translates well to the graphic novel format. One of the dragons, Glory, can alter her appearance, which may be confusing, as her colors sometimes change without explanation. The text bubbles are occasionally hard to follow, such as when multiple dragons speak at once. However, readers comfortable with the comic format or familiar with the first book will be able to understand. VERDICT Fans of the series will be drawn to this visual representation of their favorite characters, as will those who enjoy epic, animal-based fantasies. Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library,IL

The five dragonets, who prophecy has foretold will end the great dragon war, have escaped from their protective home to see the real world only to realize that things are far graver than they were ever taught. Adapted from Sutherland's middle-grade series, the story is surprisingly riveting; the politics involved between the warring factions and dragon races makes for great world building, and the war-torn world, complete with gladiatorial-style fights and backstabbings, is an intriguing backdrop for the five dragons' development. Comparisons to other fantasy properties are inevitable, but Sutherland and Holmes' series starter escapes most of those tropes and blazes its own path. The accompanying artwork, which is a bit bloodier than one might imagine for a kid's graphic novel, depicts the results of the dragon war, such as a bloody dragon battle and a few dragon murders. Holmes tones down the gore just enough, and his anime-like scenes, with bright colorization and expressive character design, nicely downplay the violence and emphasize the high-stakes action. Sure to be a hit among fantasy-adventure fans.

A popular middle-grade dragon series gets a graphic-novel makeover.Based on the Wings of Fire series, this reworking breathes new life into a motley crew of dragonets who, against all odds, are destined to fulfill a prophecy and end the long-standing war that has plagued their kingdom. Kindhearted Clay, fierce Tsunami, brainy Starflight, overlooked Glory, and runt Sunny have been kept hidden underground their entire lives. When they finally escape, they find a harsh and violent kingdom aboveground, overseen by the malevolent Queen Scarlet, a dragon who revels in death and violence. Working together, the dragonets try to do what is right in a land riddled with treachery, deception, and bloodshed. This high-fantasy graphic novel is assembled by a dream team of established creators: the adaptation is written by Hereville creator Deutsch and illustrated by Secret Coders' Holmes. Colorist Laiho does stunning work; her vibrant, eye-catching hues nearly jump off the page. Faithful to the original, this stellar adaptation is sure to delight both those familiar and newcomers to this series, and with universal themes such as good versus evil and the hero's quest for self-identity, this may even ignite new interest in the genre.Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan. (Fantasy. 7-13)