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Firedrake, a brave young dragon, his loyal brownie friend Sorrel and a lonely boy called Ben are united as if by destiny. Together, they embark on a magical journey to find the legendary place where silver dragons can live in peace forever. With only a curious map and the whispered memories of an old dragon to guide them, they fly across moonlit lands and seas to reach the highest mountains in the world.

Along the way, they discover extraordinary new friends in unlikely places and a courage they never knew they had. Just as well, for the greatest enemy of all is never far behind them – a heartless monster from the past who’s been waiting a very long time to destroy the last dragons on earth.

A big-hearted story of heroism, friendship and adventure, Dragon Rider was the longest running # 1 on The New York Times bestseller list since Harry Potter. Two of Cornelia Funke's other books, The Thief Lord and Inkheart have been worldwide bestsellers. Inkheart the movie was released in 2008.

Reviews:

'Dragon fanciers will approve of Firedrake, with his silver scales, true heart, and weary wings …' OBSERVER

'… a delicious romp across the world … a good old-fashioned fantasy adventure'  PUBLISHING NEWS 

All was still in the valley of the dragons. Mist had drifted in from the sea nearby and was clinging to the mountains. Birds twittered uncertainly in the foggy damp, and clouds hid the sun.

            A rat came scuttling down the slope, fell head-over heels, tumbled down the moss-covered rocks and picked herself up again.

            ‘Didn’t I say so?’ she muttered crossly to herself. ‘Didn’t I tell them?’

            Snuffling, she raised her pointy nose, listened, and made for a group of crooked fir trees at the foot of the highest mountain.

            ‘I knew before winter,’ murmured the rat. ‘Oh yes, I knew before winter, I could smell it coming, but they wouldn’t believe me, no, not them! They feel safe here. Safe! Huh! I ask you!’

            It was so dark under the fir trees that you could scarcely see the gaping crevice in the mountainside that swallowed up the mist.

            ‘They don’t know anything,’ the rat continued peevishly, ‘that’s their problem. They know absolutely nothing about the world. Not the least little thing.’

            She glanced warily around again, and then disappeared into the crevice in the rock. There was a large cave behind it. The rat scurried in, but she didn’t get far. Someone grabbed her tail and lifted her up in the air.

            ‘Hi, Rat! What are you doing here?’

            The rat snapped at the furry fingers that were holding her tight, but all she caught was a mouthful of brownie hairs, which she furiously spat out.

            ‘Sorrel!’ she hissed. ‘Let go of me this instant, you brainless mushroom-muncher! I don’t have time for your silly brownie tricks.’

            ‘You don’t have time?’ Sorrel placed Rat on the flat of her furry paw. She was still a young brownie, no bigger than a human child, with a spotted sulphur-yellow coat and bright, catlike eyes. ‘How come, Rat? What’s the big hurry? Need a dragon to protect you from hungry cats, or what?’

            ‘This has nothing to do with cats!’ hissed Rat angrily. She didn’t care for brownies herself, although all the dragons loved them and their furry faces. When the dragons couldn’t sleep they would listen to the strange little songs the brownies sang, and when they felt sad, no one could cheer them up as well as those sharp-tongued brownie layabouts.

            ‘I’ve got bad news, if you want to know. Extremely bad news,’ grumbled Rat. ‘But I’m not telling anyone except Firedrake. Certainly not you!’

            ‘Bad news? Oh, festering fungus! What sort of bad news?’ Sorrel scratched her stomach.

            ‘Put – me – down!’ snarled Rat.

            ‘If you say so.’ Sorrel sighed and let Rat hop down to the stony floor of the cave. ‘But he’s still asleep.’

            ‘Then I’m waking him up!’ spat the rat, making her way further into the cave, where a fire burned blue, keeping the darkness and damp away from the heart of the mountain.

            Beside its flames the dragon lay asleep, curled up with his head on his paws. His long tail with its spiny crest was coiled around the warmth of the fire. The flames brought a glow to his scales and cast his shadow on the cave wall. Rat scurried up to the dragon, climbed on his paw and tugged his ear.

            ‘Firedrake!’ she shouted. ‘Firedrake, wake up. They’re coming!’