John proves his worth as a member of the family when he teaches the dragon couple how to properly season their food to improve the flavour.

During their time away, the Bunsen-Burners are attacked by a group of ambitious knights, but the dragons easily drive them away without any casualties, Albertina affirming that they must never eat humans again after everything John has come to mean to them.

Fortunately, Lucky discovers a boy dragon called Gerald Fire-Drake during a return trip to the beach, and the two form a deep attachment that blossoms into romance.

An unknown reviewer from Quill & Quire stated the author "fills the book with adventure and humour, keeps his touch light and his nonsense uncomplicated, and creates a world of human - dragon relationships that will resemble some young readers' own favourite fantasies: easy to accept and thoroughly entertaining.

Young stated "Dick King-Smith makes the most of the satirical possibilities offered by attributing the foibles of the class system to the world of dragons.