So, after having never heard of this collection of fanfics before, I started reading it a couple of days ago. I finished I Hear Him Scream on the second day, having been completely drawn into it.
From the very beginning, chapter 1, I was feeling very different about this fic. The whole dragon!Hiccup idea has of course been done elsewhere, but... often rather awkwardly and, at times, even too weirdly to keep up with. But this one, this fanfic, this was the one that really drew me into the idea.
It's everything but sunshine and rainbows. It's not a well-intended gift to Hiccup. It is a malicious act of vengeance by a brash, spiteful Toothless that will send the boy tumbling down through numerous near-death experiences. It's dark, as will a lot of the story be. And it's impressively written.
Every time I paused my reading of I Hear Him Scream, I was left eagerly wondering what would come next. The story doesn't just grip you in the moment, it grants you beats and cues to tumble around in your head and theorize about. Everything in the story has the possibility of playing a major role sooner than you expect.
I can give nothing but praise to the brunt of this story. From its darker handling of established characters, to its creation of original characters on the fly. And, despite all the gloomy and forlorn events of the story, it makes the happier, heartfelt moments so much more impactful.

Now, having said that I finished IHHS, my only real complaint or concern was the ending, and the content of the sequels.
So- ending spoilers!

Part of me is very sad that Hiccup wasn't able to remain a dragon, after everything he and Toothless had been through, and after the acceptance that he finally received. I am reading the sequels with bated breath, hoping for it to happen, but unfortunately it might not truly be. Maybe I am just a sucker for dragons and their escapism.

I think the only reason Toothless was so quick to trust Hiccup is a combination of Hiccup's weak body, his complete unwillingness to kill even when he had the best opportunity, and then the forced contact between them. It was a very clear "I'm not like those other violent humans." Then Hiccup fixed his tail, at least partially.

Now, Toothless trusting any other Viking? That's a bit different. There's history there.

In this story, the circumstances are not the same, and so it takes a lot longer. Also, the lack of language barrier removes any sort of uncertainty to what people are saying, so ironically it lengthens the time it takes to trust each other.

Hiccup in canon didn't know anything but "this dragon is acting nothing like dragons are supposed to", and thus didn't hear constant insults about humans. And of course he didn't have any reason but previous prejudice to hate Toothless. And of course in order to communicate at all, Hiccup had to do a lot more than just open his mouth, so Toothless must have at least been mildly impressed at the effort.

It's been... years since I first read this. I don't remember Toothless being this much of an asshole, but I guess that's part of the fun.

Wow. Just wow. This story is amazing. Mm actually kind of mad at myself for not sending a review earlier until chapter 11. This is just so well done.

First, just loved all the build up to the queen throughout the entire story. We see from Toothless' point of view just how powerful she is. Her mental abilities got an entire nest to be subservient to her. Yet this also brilliantly teased at the mental ability is not just tied to magic. It could also be intelligence.

Then when they meet the queen; Oh man, everything was well done. First, loved how they first went to the queen and after a while, the queen called them each one at a time to deal with them. Not only does this make logical sense. It is easier to break a mind one at a time instead of them both as a united forced. This also gives the queen a chance to look over their bodies and minds. Her conclusions are all well thought out and never feel forced. She doesn't immediately mentally attack Hiccup. She pokes and prods for information. Then uses that information to plant seeds of doubt. Then when Hiccup is at his most vulnerable from the legit doubt he harbors, she swoops in for the kill.

Also just loved the call back to the dragons back at the fighting pit. They were all mostly united in helping the Night Furies escape, despite the dangerous situation. And we saw through them the control the queen had even when they are not at the nest. This is great buildup for when we finally meet the queen.

Love this story but this bit at the end with everything falling apart and he doesn’t decide to talk to his dad to explain what’s happening even though this entire time he wants to get back into good graces with the clan is really quite perplexing

I honestly don’t think Stoic honored his nest hunt with Hiccup’s name because he was feeling loving. More like he was feeling the guilt and defeat as a father. I know he’s not heartless but the lack of empathy when it comes to most of the tribe on the whole at this moment speaks volumes to that idea. Stoic’s role as a chief trumped his responsibility as Hiccup’s father and pretty much lead to a lot of said accidents dealing with Hiccup in the village. One compliment or fatherly word of wisdom, curiosity of his son’s day might have gone leagues to improve how things might have turned out.

The story about the Two dragon gods shouldn’t shock Hiccup with how extreme the dragon of the sun was in taking someone’s eye. I mean his own beliefs have a god who gave one up for infinite knowledge and wisdom. While another was just a whole lot of strange and bad all around. Loki is the most twisted for having several children of different types with different species so yeeeeaaaah. Plus the fact that Ragnarok is still the end no matter how many fine warriors Odin brings to Valhalla to build an army against it. This whole conversation just took a grim turn so I’m stopping now.

Bruh. This is friggin awesome. v

holy SHIT!

You may never see this but I feel obligated to write something here. this was the first real fanfiction I ever read and it really turned me on to writing and it inspired me to write. the story you spent years working on I'm sure inspired others including myself to write or continue reading other people's works. I thank you for making this, you have opened up so many doors for me and I won't forget it. the story feels cannon and it deserves a solid 9/10 fantastic job.

Fyi: every instance of 'sheath' up to this point in the story has been wrong. Just wanted to let you know before I forgot.

To sheath something, is to put it inside of something else, such as a swords scabbard, or maybe a night fury's gums.
To unsheeth, is to remove it from said receptical.

'He unsheathed his sword, so all could see it'
'she sheathed her dagger, to protect it from rust'

Make sense?

Anyway, I'm enjoying the story. Thanks for putting it out there.

I think the past tense of "lie" is "lay", not "lied".

I didnt remember me. or you. I still don't see. just a lonely guess. I know. youre there., somewhere. searching... banging.

Its not what workss. I just cfant., Im broke. Brokken. Lost.

was. am. I dont know how to get back up anymore.. they killed my soul. killed my fire. I cant even look out the window. im brokenand I let it die. i couldnt fight ., i didnt even know what happened. or who anytone wa. im here. in the house by the skyt. lost. stuck. no fire left and my king is gone. im lost and the lonely., the lost boys lost too.

my lonly never found the lost in us too. cause lost was lost where lonely never knew. i waited so lonely and lost took you too.

Having read this back in 2018 was a blast and I enjoyed it deeply.. Coming back to it now feels l8ke meeting an old friend. The only thing I don't remember is how short it is in chapter count, it never felt short thpugh when I reading it. The chapters were packed to the brim and I never felt disappointed in any chapter I was reading.
Having this be my second read will always be blessing in of it self, now knowing what is to come as of 2019-2020.

This was absolutely incredible. Just. Wow. Towards to middle I don’t as thinking it was getting pretty long and stretched, but, all that background was needed to understand, to feel what all the characters did, and for the ending to be what it was. Thank you so much, rift-raft, for finishing this, and for writing such an epic.