When you think of dragons, do you think about the loving, caring side of these beasts? Or do you picture giant lizard beasts breathing fire and terrorizing villages? And how about their riders? Are they noble knights who fight for justice or just arrogant jerks who want to feel like a flying god?
Today’s list aims to answer all those questions. On this list, we will look at some amazing dragon books that can be featured in fantasy stories. Let us begin with.
12 Amazing Dragon Books for Fantasy Fans
1. Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton:
The book is a popular 1963 children’s story about the adventures of Puff, a friendly dragon, and his companion Jack. The story begins with Puff playing by himself when another dragon named Spike arrives. When Jack appears, Puff believes that he must be the one to slay all dragons because he never believed in imaginary creatures before. He feels betrayed that Jack befriended a dragon and tricks him into thinking that he killed Spike. Puff feels remorseful but is not willing to apologize until Jack saves his life from hunters.
2. The Hobbit:
This 1937 children’s classic written by J.R.R Tolkien tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who goes on an adventure with thirteen dwarves to take back their kingdom of Erebor from Smaug, a large and very dangerous dragon. After being driven out of his lair by the dwarves, Smaug went on a rampage of destruction which would have driven all men from the land had it not been for the timely intervention of the wizard Gandalf. When Smaug flies over the mountain to attack Lake-town, Bilbo bravely volunteers to accompany Gandalf on a quest to find the Arkenstone in order to save the town.
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3. Dragondrums:
Written by Anne McCaffrey in 1968, ‘Dragondrums’ is another children’s book set in Pern that follows the story of a young harper and his adventures with a bronze dragon. When Kindan was five years old, he started learning how to use music as a way to sooth agitated dragons. He lived in the small mining town of Camp Natalon where miners would risk their lives every day by going underground to dig for coal and iron ore. When the miners came across a clutch of eggs, they were horrified to know that the fire lizards will be killed as they protected their young.
4. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell:
In the book, a young Viking teenager by the name of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III lived in a village with his father and the other villagers. The dragons in their world were large and very dangerous but were kept under control by a group of heroes known as the Dragon Riders. One day a dragon that appeared to be half-dead crash-landed in Hiccup’s house. When he approaches the dragon, it woke up and the boy and dragon became friends.
5. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb:
Published in 2010, ‘Dragon Keeper’ is a part of the popular ‘Dragon Keeper’ series written by Robin Hobb. The story follows a man known as Vetch, who was once a slave on the Island of Gont before it was freed from its evil masters. He is now working as a dragon keeper for one of the great dragons named Darshanth. But someone wants to lead an uprising against the dragons and only a queen dragon can stop them. The kingdom of Gont must find a new dragon to hatch into a queen but all the eggs are missing.
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6. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey:
This is the first book in the much-loved Dragonriders of Pern series written by Anne McCaffrey back in 1968. The story begins with a young girl named Lessa, who was secretly placed as a baby into hiding to escape from murdering her as well as destroying all records of every Ruathan family member including herself. Lessa was found by a young Lord named Fax, who would come to be her mentor and protector when she is sent back from exile. When Lessa comes of age, she does what no other person in the history of Pern has ever done before, become a dragon rider.
7. Dragonquest:
Published in 2007 as the first book of the ‘Ridership Chronicles’ series. Dragonquest tells the story of a young boy named Bink, who is orphaned after his entire family is slaughtered by an evil dragon known as The Withered. He and other orphans were taken in by Pellar, a master leatherworker and dragon keeper who trains them to take care of the dragons. Bink becomes determined to become a dragonrider when he discovers that his sister is still alive and must be rescued from The Withered.
8. Dragonspell by Joanne Bertin:
Published in 2013, this story is set in the land of Septimus Heap where Queen Etheldredda has come into power and has decided to destroy her sister’s heir, Septimus Heap. Four dragon eggs were lost when the Dragon House burnt down and The Queen sends a young girl called Syrah to find them before they hatch and bring them back. When Syrah finds out that she is one of the last dragonspellers in the land, she enlists the help of her friend Silas, who wants to become a dragon rider.
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9. The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham:
‘The Dragon’s Path is the first book in the series ‘The Dagger and the Coin’, which was published in 2011. It follows the story of Cithrin bel Sarcour, who has managed to escape the Medean Bank. When he returns, he is betrayed by his mentor and becomes falsely accused of murder. Geder Palliako also becomes caught up in the midst of the matter as he has complete control over his kingdom that everyone fears him including his own mother.
10. The Dragonbone Chair:
It was first published in the year 1988 and is part of the ‘Memory, Sorrow and Thorn’ series written by Tad Williams. It was published as a four-book story with the first book being named ‘The Dragonbone Chair’. The story follows a young man called Simon who is on a quest to save his friend from certain death. He must first escape with help from a princess who has loved him since they were children. The two then travel on to save the world of Osten Ard that is under the threat of the undead Sithi who are now under the control of a dark and powerful creature known as The Storm King.
11. Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton:
This is the first book of the ‘Thessaly’ series that was published in 2005. It’s set in a world where Queen Victoria has died and the country is now ruled by werewolves, witches, and vampires. The story tells of Detective Inspector Lord Akeldama who investigates the murder of a Shadowhunter named Edmund St. Clair who has been murdered near Oxford University.
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12. Dragonvein by Brian D. Anderson:
This is the first book of the ‘Dragonvein’ series published in 2015. It follows the story of a young girl named Llyn who was sent to live with relatives when her parents died tragically in an accident just before she was born, however, after she discovers a map that leads her to a hidden realm. In there she meets a group of people known as the Veiled Alliance who are on a mission to save the world from evildoers.
Final Thoughts:
Dragon fiction has been quite popular ever since the Middle Ages when books were written about knights, dragons, and medieval lords. Over time, this genre has evolved and we can now find new stories that are set in modern times about dragons and the themed books that were not necessarily written for children.
