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When I was little, I once saw a car in the mall parking lot with a bumper sticker that said, “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.” I thought that was hilarious, and I told myself that when I grew up, I would get that bumper sticker for my own car. (I didn’t, yet, but I did once have a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference on my license plate—HSTL17—because I’m a nerd.)
The quote on the bumper sticker didn’t mention its author, and in searching for it online, I found half a dozen people attributed to it before I gave up. But I mention the quote because I thought of it recently when I started reading To Ride a Rising Storm, the second book in the Nampeshiweisit series by Moniquill Blackgoose, which is about—wait for it—dragons!
So, in honor of the sequel, and because dragons are cool (but make terrible bow ties), I thought I would share a few great recent-ish dragon novels. You’ve surely heard of all the big ones, like Fourth Wing, so I wanted to share some you may have missed. (And you can read about more in this must-read dragon post.)
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 Dragon Cursed by Elise KovaIn this YA fantasy (that has been optioned for the screen), dragons emerged from the depths to take over most of the world. And they brought with them a disease that wiped out many humans. Now there is only one human city left, Vinguard, and even behind its walls, humans are at risk of catching the dragon contagion and turning into one themselves. So those who are dragon-cursed hide their secret, waiting to turn. |
 Dreamslinger by Graci KimThis is an exciting start to a new middle grade series about Aria, a girl in Seoul who is a dreamslinger. That means she has the ability to transport to a magical realm while she sleeps. But it is a dangerous place, one where dragons fill the skies, and not being able to control your abilities as a dreamslinger can bring great tragedy. The last time tragedy struck, it killed her mother. Aria knows the Royal League of Dreamslingers was responsible for her death, so now, a decade later, she’s determined to infiltrate their ranks and get her revenge. |
 Dragon Rider by Taran MatharuJai is the orphaned son of an executed rebel, now held as a royal hostage to the Sabine Court. He is resigned to his fate when he meets Princess Erica, who is to marry the emperor’s son. Along with the princess comes her handmaiden, Frida, and her dragons. Seeing an opportunity to escape, Jai flees with Frida and a dragon hatchling, hoping to bond with the dragon so it will help him enact his revenge. |
 A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons by J. PennerHow about some cozy dragons? Doli Butterbuckle is a happy dwarf, content with doing tea magic and spending time with her friends. But when she inherits a dragon egg, she looks to gargoyle librarian Sarson for help. Suddenly, Doli has her hands full with a mischievous young dragon and her heart full of feels for Sarson. And together, they set out on an adventure to stop a nefarious plot. |
 Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon YangAnd finally, an exciting queer novella about a dragon hunter. (She must not have seen the bumper sticker.) Yeva killed a dragon when she was thirteen, and has been training to be a dragon hunter ever since. When word gets out that the kingdom of Quanbao not only has a dragon but actually worships it, Yeva knows what she must do. But as she searches Quanbao for the creature, she finds herself falling for their beautiful queen, Lady Sookhee. Will she follow her heart or her duty? |
Okay, star bits, now take the knowledge you have learned here today and use it for good, not evil. If you want to know more about books, I talk about books pretty much nonstop (when I’m not reading them), and you can hear me say lots of adjectives about them on the BR podcast All the Books! and on Instagram.