The Last Dragonslayer

A lighter, faster entry point for younger readers or anyone looking for Fforde without the literary references.

Why Start Here

The Last Dragonslayer follows 15-year-old Jennifer Strange, an orphan who manages Kazam, a failing employment agency for wizards reduced to unblocking drains and rewiring houses. When prophecies announce the imminent death of the world’s last dragon, Jennifer finds herself at the centre of a land grab involving corporations, governments, and magic itself. It is Fforde’s first book aimed at younger readers, but it never talks down to its audience.

This is the right pick if you want something short, self-contained, and fun. It has Fforde’s trademark wit, his knack for absurd world-building, and a protagonist who is practical, brave, and entirely believable. The series runs to four books, but this first instalment works perfectly on its own.

What to Expect

A brisk, charming fantasy with a sharp satirical edge. Fforde takes aim at corporate greed and bureaucratic absurdity while telling a genuinely warm story about doing the right thing when everyone else is looking the other way. Lighter than his adult novels, but no less inventive. A great palate cleanser or gateway into Fforde’s wider work.