Dragons, they’re just like us! Well, not quite — they’re giant fire-breathing reptiles with wings and claws, after all. But plenty of fantasy authors have imagined what societies of intelligent dragons would be like… and how they might clash with human civilization. Here are a few of our favorite fantasy novels and series with dragon characters that outshine the humans.
Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 1)
Author: Robin Hobb
All of Robin Hobb’s fantasy novels are great (and many of the series are set in the same world with shared characters), but since we’re talking dragons, let’s focus on the Rain Wilds Chronicles. After nearly disappearing from the world, dragons have returned — but the few sorry specimens that hatched are sickly, weak, and deformed, and their human neighbors are getting tired of providing for them. As a last resort, the hatchlings decide to seek their legendary ancestral home of Kelsingra. But the trip will take them up the dangerous Rain Wilds river: toxic and poisonous, its waters cause the Rain Wilds people to develop strange mutations. A few brave humans accompany the dragons, including Alise Kincannon, a lady fleeing her stifling society marriage, and Thymara, a tree-dwelling mutant girl whose appearance has made her an outcast. Hobb’s fantasy stories are richly imaginative and tackle challenging themes like disability, sexuality and gender identity, abusive relationships, and mental illness in a way that’s fascinating without being preachy. If that sounds depressing, it’s not. Give this series a try!
His Majesty’s Dragon (Temeraire Series)
Author: Naomi Novik
If you hate to wait for the next book in a series, here’s good news: the Temeraire series is already 8 books in. This historical fantasy mashup imagines the Napoleonic wars in a world with dragons. British Navy Captain William Laurence is stunned when his ship captures a French ship with a priceless Chinese dragon egg inside. To his dismay, the egg then hatches, and the baby dragon immediately bonds for life with Laurence, meaning he’ll accept no one else as his master. Since dragons are too valuable to waste, Laurence is forced to abandon his navy career and join the rough-and-tumble world of dragon aviators — a serious step down the social ladder and a cause of shame for his upper-crust family. Meanwhile, Temeraire quickly evolves into a lively, intelligent being who makes Laurence’s life difficult by asking hard questions about the ethics of enslaving one sentient race to another in order to fight their wars. This ambitious series travels the world and gets bleaker and more political as it progresses, so consider yourself warned.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent
Author: Marie Brennan
This ongoing series (#4 just came out in April 2016) has a similar feel to the Temeraire books. Isabella, Lady Trent, is hardly your typical upper-class society lady. She’s writing her memoirs to describe her unusual, adventurous career of studying and illustrating dragons around the world, beginning with the mountains of Vystrana. The fantasy world bears a distinct resemblance to 18th-century Europe, but the books aren’t as focused on military history as the Temeraire series. Detailed illustrations of the many creatures Isabella encounters liven up the wryly humorous tale.
Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartman
In the kingdom of Goredd, humans and dragons co-exist together in an uneasy peace; dragons can assume human form in order to live side by side with people. Seraphina Dombegh is the daughter of a royal barrister who specializes in dragon law — and, ironically, she’s also half-dragon (on her mother’s side), an abomination so forbidden that both humans and dragons would destroy her instantly if they knew. As the 40th anniversary of the interspecies treaty approaches, Seraphina becomes assistant music mistress to the royal composer, helping plan the celebration. But just days before the celebration, Prince Rufus is murdered, apparently by a dragon. Or was the crime scene staged to make people think a dragon did it and overthrow the fragile human-dragon truce? Prince Lucian, captain of the Queen’s Guard, enlists Seraphina’s help in solving the mystery, thanks to her expertise in dragons. And Lucian’s fiancée, Princess Glisselda, suddenly wants to be Seraphina’s best friend. Now shy, grouchy Seraphina is painfully visible — and completely out of her depth in the treacherous waters of court politics. Can she keep herself safe and uncover the killer? Read our full Seraphina review.
Tooth and Claw
Author: Jo Walton
Here’s another fictional world where a complex dragon society is at the center of the story. When the dragon Bon Agornin dies, his son Penn — one of five siblings — prepares for the ritual eating of his remains to gain strength and power. But when a greedy in-law gobbles more than his fair share, it turns the surviving family against each other. A younger son, Avan, sues his brother-in-law over the stolen inheritance, while the female dragons must seek the protection of their male relatives — or seek a happy marriage to establish families of their own. If you like novels about dysfunctional families, just imagine how much more exciting the drama gets when they’re all dragons!
Sign up for our newsletter and get more awesome book lists in your inbox!
- Spring 2020 Book Preview - May 15, 2020
- Winter 2020 Book Preview - January 1, 2020
- Fall 2019 Book Preview - September 26, 2019
Leave A Comment