#How to Betray a Dragon's Hero

[campichor]

you can be a chief now

[asphodeline-lutea]

Every time I reread Book 11 I can’t help but stare at this line

“He has not yet lost someone he loves”

This is… the only time Hiccup the Third actually used the word “love” to describe his feelings for Snotlout

The emotion here… I can’t even find the words

This is painful

[stargazingdustbunny]

Thinking about redrawing this digitally, but here's a picture of my favorite scene/the scene that always makes me cry in the httyd books. How to betray a dragon's hero is my favorite book in the series, largely because of Snotlout's role in it (but there are other great scenes as well).

[silver-and-shadow]

"Now that I am an old, old man, looking back on my life, I can see the pattern and the reason for the darkness of that time. Great things are only made out of love and out of pain." - How to Betray a Dragon's Hero by Cressida Cowell

[agood-omen]

This part always kills me everytime I read it, just everything about snotlout culminates in this moment, 11 books worth of resentment of corrupting hatred of hiccup and himself god....

(full quote under cut)

[undercoverossifrage]

Hiccup and Fishlegs! These two have a very sweet friendship. They are both rather witty, but Fishlegs just has the most dry sarcastic lines and I love him for it. I'm so glad they were reunited after a Long year apart.

[asterthought]

Yeah... Uh... I was procrastinating the start of the last book of Hiccup's memoirs by drawing.

(Sorry about the big watermark, I didn't think it would look this big and didn't occur to me to sign every single one of the doodles)

Close-ups under the cut so this doesn't take much space in yall's feed <3

Camicazi's pose came out purely because of the space I had on my page, and I loved how she turned out! She looks like a spiky blonde gremlin lol

[jackshiccup]

despite knowing what was going to happen, snotlout's redemption and eventual downfall was so so heartbreaking to me. we spend the past 10 books witnessing how much he's tormented and bullied hiccup that we all feel the same anger and frustration and resentment as fishlegs does in the beginning of 11. i was, maybe, even rooting for something a little bad to happen to him so that he can feel even a fraction of the humiliation that he put hiccup through. but time and time again hiccup, with his inherent goodness and wonderful capacity to always try and see the best in people, reminds us that people need and deserve second chances. even third, fourth and fifth chances. even when hiccup was faced with the certainty that snotlout was set on betraying him from the start.

that's why it was so satisfying to get to the emotional catharsis of the swordfight. snotlout practically begging for hiccup to hate him and hiccup genuinely not having it in him to be able to. and even after that, even after he disarms hiccup and is seconds from killing him - he doesn't. and then hiccup comforts snotlout through it. he tells him words that snotlout didn't know he's been desperate to hear. he tells him he's being too hard on himself. he tells him he's a hero. he opens a door inside snotlout's life for the first time in a long time. despite everything, he offers him another choice to join the dragonmarkers. and snotlout accepts. he bows to hiccup, he calls him king, pledges his sword to his service forever, shakes his hand and chooses to bear the dragonmark.

and it's this moment we finally seeing the seeds of change planted in snotlout sprout - instigated by gobber teaching him a lesson in the amber slavelands and reminding him what the black star represents: pride, honour, bravery. all the times we see snotlout give in to vulnerability and ponder on his choices, he's always holding onto it. which makes it all the more symbolic when he hangs it around hiccup's neck during his last act of valour.

just like how the book tells us that the tides can change so fast, through hiccup, my heart was able to give snotlout another chance too. and it's because of hiccup's belief in snotlout's potential for more that makes you feel so strongly about his death. snotlout's excitement at finally being on hiccup's side, at doing what's right, at having the opportunity to actually be a hero - we can't help but feel that burst of pride, we can't help but root for him. and so we feel the loss, as hiccup did. and it's a point driven home when hiccup ends the epilogue with how he’s carried snotlout and his sacrifice with him all throughout his life. and how time has rubbed away at the black star.

that now the star doesn't look black at all. just gold.

[companion-of-the-dragonmark]

(Snotface Snotlout from Book 10: "How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel")

What do you guys think about me writing a what-if whump-tragedy fic where Hiccup died instead of Snotlout, leaving Snotlout to have to take up the mantle and become King of the Wilderwest in Hiccup's stead with a Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus-sized burden of guilt on the side?

[reluctantlyanimating]

BOOK ELEVEN BOOK ELEVEN AAA

BIG SPILLERS FOR BOOK ELEVEN

OK I WARNED YOU

AAAA

I had two things for book eleven but like cmon

Had to share this one, and i can use the other one tomorrow since i don't have anything epic for it otherwise sob

I drew this when i thought his hair was black for some reason bc despite my 800 rereads idk i just

Nothing clicked.

Then for a while after that i thought he was blonde bc blonde moustache and i kinda like that idea but then the wiki says he's also a redhead so like

Yeah, ANYWAY

How to Betray a Dragons Hero is my favourite one of the books i think 🫶🫶 from start to finish it's just such a masterpiece of an emotional rollercoaster. The moment it starts we see even more the devastation Furious and Alvin's war has wreaked, the dragons having caused forests and cities and islands to be reduced to ash in their rage and the Alvinsmen having driven these dragons further into their rage by killing them and stoking their anger every single day.

And then there's Hiccup and i just

The poor boy ok

I look back at how young he was through the series and find having started as younger than he ever was and now being older than we ever get to see him (excluding the epilogue) it feels like I've grown up with him.

And with Fishlegs.

I may resonate with this book most bc we all have an idea of what it is to be othered by society. The loneliness Hiccup and Fishlegs face, the isolation Camicazi faces for truly her first time now standing with these two boys, and the hope for better resonates deep in me.

I love how Cressida, in all her novels, seem to center around this quote of hers from wizards of once.

"We have to trust in the children and hope for the best."

She puts so much emphasis on the childlike hope, the lack of cynicism and the reality that change IS possible if you're willing to chase it. And even if you don't see it come to fruition, it's a matter of two steps forward and one step back.

Hiccup makes it to tomorrow (literally lives another day) because of Snotlout realizing that no matter what, you can start to fight for the better. The war ended because of Snotlout's act of selfless bravery even though he never saw the end of it.

I think another reason these themes resonate with me is it also aligns with some biblical aspects. How Jesus said that children would inherit the kingdom of God, and how childlike faith is necessary.

These are definitely thoughts i wanted to tack onto book/day twelve but oh well, here we are.

I really love these books and hopefully have some musings left for book 12 tomorrow. Happy Doomsday!!

[midnightcoffes]

and there we go, late but here, day 11: How to Betray a Dragon's Hero !

I cried doing this. More than once. I miss this guy, dudes. I miss him

anyways this book is straught up the most emotional to me because EVERYTHING GOES WRONG. AND I HATE IT. but is amazing ueue

[pinocthepiccolo]

A Hero is Forever.

[asphodeline-lutea]

I think that quite a number of people who read the httyd books didn’t get a good hold of Book 11’s entire plot, but this book actually has maybe the most intricate plots (or so I think!), with a large portion of them hidden underwater, away from the reader’s direct view, and I have never read any analysis done about this part, so here are some Very Important things I found while doing my Book 11 analyses —

Excellinor planned for Snotlout to find Hiccup and trick him into coming to the war bunker, better if with the last Lost Thing — Toothless, and then force Hiccup to tell her the whereabouts of the Dragonmarkers’ Hideout in front of all the captured Dragonmarkers.

Excellinor sent Spydragons to catch one of Hiccup’s friends during the start of her plan, to force him to come, in case he didn’t trust Snotlout enough, or had realized that the latter was lying.

In fact, Hiccup knew that Snotlout was lying and was going to betray them, that this was part of Excellinor’s plan, possibly soon after they rescued Snotlout. So he chose to turn her plan on itself, by letting Toothless be taken away to the other Things’ hiding place, then using the Hogfly to track Toothless down, thus finding all the Things.

But of course Hiccup didn’t know of the torture that the witch had in mind for him… and he still had to come up with a plan to rescue Camicazi. During the “torture scene”, when Hiccup said “There is nothing you can do to me, that will make me change my mind”, he was actually hinting at the witch to “torture” Camicazi instead, while he knew that Windwalker underwater will rescue her. Then, during Camicazi’s “torture”, he pretended to give in, then pretended to not be able to talk or point, getting the witch to unchain him so he could escape.

It seems that Snotlout did think of stealing the Things and trying to become King when he agreed to play the part in Excellinor’s plan, but he may be looking for an opportunity to do so rather than having a complete plan. This, however, was completely destroyed after Excellinor “dispatched” him with her words in Chapter 10.

After releasing the Dragonmarkers (I’m not sure the exact reason why Snotlout did this, but I think he was not going to stick to the Alvinsmens’ side after what just happened, and releasing these people would cause some chaos, which might be useful for his later actions), Snotlout silently follows Hiccup to the ship on his Hurricane. He intended to defeat Hiccup in what would not be a fair swordfight (more on this later I promise), but I don’t think he wanted to actually kill Hiccup or take the things. Nor did he plan to reveal his pain and despair at having Turned his Back on himself — that was sort of out of control for him. (Like… you know what you get when you suppress certain emotions for too long? Not good) I’d say that he more or less knew/felt Hiccup’s attitude and feelings towards him, and to him this was confusing and irritating (this is Very Complicated, I will write more posts on this later), so he was going to scream it out at Hiccup.

When Snotlout flew out on Windwalker’s back towards the Alvinsmen, he not only knew that he was going to die (hinted in Book 11, stated/mentioned that he was “facing certain death” in Book 12), but also actually planned for himself to die, in order for his plan to work, to make the Alvinsmen believe that Hiccup had been killed, and therefore protect Hiccup until he reaches Tomorrow.

The plans of different characters are interlocked with each other, forming the plot of this book, and a huge portion of it is hidden under the surface, but visible if you look closely enough. This is truly the work of a great writer and storyteller.

[its-raining-tonight]

I started httyd book 11 on the December 5st and finished on the 7th! (Info for me to get track of time)

Comments containing MAJOR SPOILERS after the break!!

I'm so DEVASTATEEEED AAAAA

When I was writing the post about book 10 I was going to comment about Gobber giving Snotlout what he deserved back there on the Amber Slavelands, but I had already read book 11 so I just couldn't 😭 I knew sooner or later that Snotlout would have a redemption moment, but this was too sad

All the conversation between Hiccup and Snotlout was so heartbreaking and so painfully and beautifully written

We got to learn how Snotlout really felt, and who he really was. Him demanding Hiccup to hate him? Cries. The reason he calls Hiccup Useless? Cries even more. The fact that he turned his back to himself? Cries an whole ocean

But then they had an absolutely beautiful made up moment, Hiccup still didn't hate him after the fight and understood why Snotlout hated him and Snotlout even forgave himself and regained hope that he could still fix what he did wrong

BUT THEN HE DIES 😭

The book comparing him to a falling star.. Sobs

I really wanted to see the others unturning their backs to him..

Why did he have to die right after his redemption 😭😭 Tell me he's going to come BACK 🥲

On another note we have Hiccup that was put in freezing water for minutes, my anxiety was screaming but that was really impressive I have to say

There's this illustration where Hiccup says "I will never give up fighting you, witch!" and I cannot help but read it as "I will never give up fighting you, bitch!", it would be very fitting

I don't even know how he's alive, his left side is going to fall off at this rate 😭

Anyway I hope there's no more deaths, and I'm so sad there's only one book left 😭 I don't want it to end

[tenebrius-excellium]

Httyd Books Ranking

From best to worst

Book 4: How To Cheat A Dragon’s Curse: The “Christmas Special”

It has my heart it is everything. It’s my favorite. <3 11/10

Book 7: How To Ride A Dragon’s Storm: The “Space Apocalypse”

It was something else entirely. There was an axe struck by lightning. 11/10

Book 3: How To Speak Dragonese: The “Action Movie”

This one was so random but sooo entertaining!!! Romans, nano-dragons, Camicazi???? I’m here for it! 8/10

Book 8: How To Break A Dragon’s Heart: The “Horror Movie”

It was also something else, but in an entirely different way. It was funny, it was weird, it was hilarious, it was gruesome. Would not read again but 9/10.

Book 9: How To Steal A Dragon’s Sword: The “DnD Hero’s Quest”

what even in the. that was a very good book and crucial to the series. The cave below the well reminded me a lot of the ice cave in RttE where Hiccup finds the Bewilderbeast’s egg. I disliked the castle though. 8/10.

Book 2: How To Be A Pirate: The “Treasure Hunt”

Nice! Introduction to Alvin and Grimbeard, a treasure hunt, an octopus. 7/10.

Book 10: How To Seize A Dragon’s Jewel: The “Young Adult Revolution”

I can’t remember most of the book except Eggingarde and the Slavemark revolt. That was some good stuff. Oh wait, and the crystal cave in the red sands??? Waaaiiiiiiiiit........ no that was actually GOOD STUFF!! 6/10

Book 6: A Hero’s Guide To Deadly Dragons: The “Library Themed Book Because Every Passionate Author Has One”

because it was fun and harmless :)))) 6/10.

Book 11: How To Betray A Dragon’s Hero: The “Big Drama I”

meh....it’s the lead-up to the epic conclusion, I guess...? 5/10.

Book 12: How To Fight A Dragon’s Fury: The “Final Drama II”

mehh.....wasn’t worth it. Look, for 12 books and such a complex, hopeless situation, I expected more from the finale. I believe humans and animals are better than this in real life. 4/10.

Book 1: How To Train Your Dragon: The “Novel”

It sure was a novel, huh. 3 points for the dragon-selecting scene, for Hiccup talking to the Green Death, and for inspiring the movies. 3/10

Book 5: How To Twist A Dragon’s Tale: The “Musical Episode”

Yeah no. I didn’t like that one. It seemed pointless. Too much singing, and Humongously Hotshot the Hero was veeery annoying. Also everything about Alvin and the Exterminator Dragons was just disgusting. 1/10

It’s interesting how I seemed to like the middle books better than the start and end!!! O_O I guess I’m more into adventure than into angst. :)

[agood-omen]

This part kills me everytime I read it, this is snotlout stripped bare, the culmination of 11 books worth of hatred, of hiccup and of himself....

(full quote under the cut)