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Audiobook read by David Tennant
Hiccup and Fishlegs get lost in the fog on a 'How to Board an Enemy Boat' lesson and accidentally board a Roman galley full of dragon poachers. Hiccup, who understands a bit of Latin, learns that the Romans intend to kidnap the heirs of two opposing tribes (which includes him) in order to set the two tribes agains each other. Unfortunately, though he and Fishlegs escape to tell the tale, Toothless is captured by Romans. Hiccup's dad doesn't listen to his son (what's new?) and falls for the Romans' ploy, so Hiccup and Fishlegs are both kidnapped by Romans. An old enemy, Alvin the Treacherous, resurfaces. now posing as a Roman. Hiccup amd Fishlegs end up in the Roman arena along with the heir to the other tribe. Yes, they get away but there's a bit of a cliffhanger to lead into the fourth book. Nicely read by David Tennant.
I love Diana Wynne Jones' storytelling. I picked this audiobook out at random and didn't realise it was one of the sequels to Howl's Moving Castle until Sophie and the fire demon Calcifer cropped up part way through. The main character is Charmain, a teen who is given the task of looking after Great Uncle William's house while he is away being cured of an illness by the elves. Uncle is a wizard and the house itself proves to have magic. It bends space and time. The corridors lead to many different places depending on the way Charmain turns. She's dismayed to find the house in complete disarray and hasn't a clue how to do the laundry or the washing up until Peter, Uncle William's new apprentice, arrives unexpectedly.
