My latest read is a series that takes a more knightly than adventurous approach to dragon fantasy. And while harder to get into at first, it ended up being a decent read.

The book starts with quite a powerful moment – the assassination of a king. This was one of the reasons why I found it harder to get into, facing such a pivotal moment before you have even realized who the individual factions are and why they are in conflict. And it’s clear that, while dragons are a major part os the story, the driving point is this conflict between the north and south, where you slowly learns bits of the larger story.

Before I delve deeper, there’s one major difference from the typical dragon fantasy I’ve read before. First, there are different types of dragons, with different powers and “traits”, which introduces a strategic element when their deployment is in question. And, instead of sole riders, they’re ridden in teams, where a dragonmage is the one in control, and a team of (typically) a guard and two archers as the crew. In this case, the book includes diagrams of the harnesses, which help visualize it, even though the dark colors on a dark background aren’t that great in the e-book version.

This book has only a small number of PoV characters, which is a major advantage.

The main PoV follows Cyran, an aspiring squire on a small outpost from the southern bunch (both sides seem to be made of one dominant kingdom and its vassals), who aspires to become a dragonguard, along with his sister and friends. His story starts a bit unassuming at first, maybe with some hint of a “rebel pack” when his friends are considered, but once things start going poorly, he quickly uses his wits – along with a major amount of luck – to do the best for his people. Which brings them right into the thick of the strained politics, something he isn’t exactly prepared for. Once they’re separated, some chapters are from the PoV of his sister, Jaslin, who becomes a leader of the outpost’s captives.

The second PoV follows Sirra, dubbed “dragon queen”. Her powers are unmatched as she has an unrivaled depth of insight into dragons and can tap powers no one else seems to be able to access. She takes a small force with a goal to free the north’s queen and avenge the death of their king. And, unfortunately, the outposts where Cyran lives stand in her way. Sirra is someone you can, to some degree, understand when it comes to her motivations. However, her destructive way made it harder for me to connect with her – it’s not her goals, but her methods, that are questionable. Whether she’s a hero or vigilante is something the reader needs to decide for themselves.

The last, and very minor, PoV is Pravon, a mercenary and dragon thief, along with an assassin and another dragon thief. Their goals are very vague until they get there, though it’s clear they’re someone who plan to magnify the trouble that’s already brewing, though it’s unclear what their motivation is. There are mentions that Pravon might’ve had no choice but to accept the task, but that’s not elaborated on further, which feels like a notable gap.

The unfolding events are sending both sides into further turmoil, and while it seems a war is inevitable, no one seems to be willing to be the first to strike. Thus, for now, the conflict is limited to Cyran’s home, the Nevermere outposts, but by the end of the book, it’s clear that the trouble will soon affect the whole world.

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Read date: 26.1.-11.2.2026
Published: 31.6.2023
Goodreads/Amazon rating: 4,35/4,5
My rating: 80%
Length: 538 pages
My highlights (only a few to share, as most are spoiler material)

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The book was getting progressively easier to read as I gained more knowledge about the world, though I often felt like things were a bit too vague. The author promises that more will be revealed in the second book, and I hope that’s the case.