The Fire Within centres around Elizabeth Pennykettle’s ability to craft small realistic clay dragons, many of which are dotted around the Pennykettle’s home. Into the fold of the family home comes David Rains a student looking for accommodation closer to the university. The one criteria for taking the room is “Must Like Dragons”

At first David doesn't understand the obsession with dragons, until he comes to love his own – Gadzooks -who is given to David as a welcome present.

All the Pennykettle dragons have their own guises and Gadzooks is no exception; he is a writer’s dragon and comes with his very own pad and pencil. When David is tasked with writing a story for Lucy Pennykettle’s 11^th birthday, Gadzooks and David come into their own.

Although puzzled by this reference about liking dragons, David soon fits in with the family. He becomes wrapped up in the plight of the local squirrels and the deepening mystery behind the dragons in the house and the need for him to be kept out Liz’s pottery room, and in particular the secret to his own dragon.

Only Lucy and Liz can hear the dragons hrrrr to each other, but one day David will get to hear them too. But that comes later.

The Fire Within is a light and enjoyable, but compelling story, which leaves you wanting more. You too must find out the mystery of the dragons.

There are now five books in this series and I have read three, but as my birthday approaches in July I will be asking for the other two.