The anti-hero your kid actually relates to
Peril is a refreshing departure from the "chosen one" trope that dominates the earlier books. Most protagonists in this series are trying to save the world because it’s the right thing to do. Peril is just trying to figure out how to not be a monster. She spent her life as Queen Scarlet’s personal executioner, and her "firescales" mean she literally destroys everything she touches.
For a middle-school reader, that’s a powerful metaphor for feeling "too much"—too angry, too loud, or too different to fit in. Her internal monologue is messy and occasionally dark, but that’s exactly why it works. If your kid is already deep into the series, you likely already know the Wings of Fire: Dragons, Dynasties, and the 'Graphic' in Graphic Novels vibe, but Escaping Peril pushes the character work further than the previous entries.
Visually intense (even for this series)
Mike Holmes’ art stays consistent with the previous seven books, but the "graphic" in graphic novel is doing some heavy lifting here. Because Peril’s power involves extreme heat, the combat isn't just claw-and-teeth; it’s visceral. We’re talking about dragons being incapacitated by heat and the physical toll of her power on the environment.
If you have a particularly sensitive reader who handled the earlier books okay, just be aware that the stakes here feel more personal. The villain, Queen Scarlet, isn't just a generic bad guy. She’s a master of psychological manipulation. Watching her try to gaslight Peril back into submission is arguably more intense than the actual dragon fights. It’s a great entry point for talking to kids about what a toxic friendship or authority figure looks like.
Where this fits on the shelf
By the time a reader hits Book 8, they are usually "all in" on the lore. This installment bridges the gap between the original dragonets and the newer cast introduced in the second arc. If your kid finishes this and wants more of the darker, magic-heavy side of this world, you’ll want to look at the parent’s guide to Talons of Power, which follows this one and ramps up the tension even more.
One thing to note: Peril’s motivation for much of the book is her intense, almost obsessive crush on Clay. It’s handled through the lens of her being a social outcast who has never known kindness, but it’s a recurring theme. It’s less "romance" and more of a fixation that she eventually has to outgrow to find her own identity.
Pro-tip for parents
If your kid is blowing through these too fast, use the "firescales" concept as a dinner table hypothetical. Ask them: "If you had a superpower that made it impossible to touch anyone without hurting them, what’s the one thing you’d miss the most?" It’s a quick way to pivot from "I’m reading a book about dragons" to a genuine conversation about isolation and empathy without making it feel like a school assignment.
