Ever since childhood, I have been enthralled by dragons. The stories of these mythical creatures can be told in so many ways, from dragons as pets to bonding with them or even shapeshifting into them. I chose these books because they are memorable, they have stuck with me, and they have fascinated and inspired me for years. All of these writers have influenced my own work, and they are sure to resonate with you, too.
I wrote
Arrow's Flight: A Knights of the Pearl Order Novel
This book by Anne McCaffrey was the first book to ignite my love of dragons! I related to the characters and immersed myself in their detailed world.
In my teenage imagination, not only could I fly on a dragon's back, but the powerful creature could be my friend! This was just what I needed at that age.Â
Volume I of The Dragonriders of PernÂź, the groundbreaking series by master storyteller Anne McCaffrey
On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life is about to come under attack from a myth that is all too real. Lessa is an outcast survivorâher parents murdered, her birthright stolenâa strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat to Pern reemerges, Lessa will riseâupon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly . . . andâŠ
I like Terry Pratchettâs fresh take on dragons. Iâve always appreciated his sense of humor, and his portrayal of little swamp dragons is hilarious! It cracked me up to read about little dragons like they are purebred lap dogs.
In this book, Sir Terry skillfully uses a big dragon as a metaphor, and I always love a good metaphor. Although I read it years ago, this book has stuck with me.
First book of the original and best CITY WATCH series, now reinterpreted in BBC's The Watch
'This is one of Pratchett's best books. Hilarious and highly recommended' The Times
The Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . _________________
'It was the usual Ankh-Morpork mob in times of crisis; half of them were here to complain, a quarter of them were here to watch the other half, and theâŠ
The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.
The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.
Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn theâŠ
I loved the relationship between the boy and the dragon in this book. Although stories showing the bond between child and dragon are common, Paolini makes it new by sharing a depth of feeling between the two.
The development of that relationship and the world-building of the setting make for a fascinating read that kept my attention. This book was so captivating that I had to read the other two in the trilogy.
When poor farm boy Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it's a lucky discovery. Perhaps, he will be able to buy his family food for the winter.
But, when a baby dragon hatches out of the stone, Eragon realises he's stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
His simple life is shattered, and he's thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. To navigate this dark terrain, and survive his cruel king's evil ways, he must take up the mantle of theâŠ
This is a four-book series, and once I read the first one, I had to read the rest! Robin Hobbâs version of dragons is unique and imaginative, unlike the dragons in any other book Iâve read.
I immersed myself in her detailed, creative world. This series offered me an escape unlike any other.Â
Return to the world of the Liveships Traders and journey along the Rain Wild River in this standalone adventure from the author of the internationally acclaimed Farseer trilogy.
Guided by the great blue dragon Tintaglia, they came from the sea: a tangle of serpents fighting their way up the Rain Wilds River, the first to make the perilous journey to the cocooning grounds in generations. Many have died along the way. With its acid waters and impenetrable forest, it is a hard place for any to survive.
People are changed by the Rain Wilds, subtly or otherwise. One such isâŠ
In Book 1 in the epic dragon romantasy series Annals of the Dragon Dreamer, Zyla Powerbane rises from orphan obscurity to dragon rider as she completes a seemingly never-ending set of tasks to return her world to balance and save the sentient Lynkyn forests that are key to dragon survival.âŠ
This book features human/dragon shapeshifters, which is an idea I love. What fun it would be to change into a dragon!
The combination of shapeshifters and romance made this short book enjoyable. I donât read a lot of love stories, but when I do, I like fantasy romance, and this fits the bill.Â
When scholar Channon MacRea meets the handsome Sebastian who claims to understand the legendary Dragon Tapestry she's been studying for years, she follows him into an alternate world of magic and danger.
A group of young knights finds a woman in a cave. They make discoveries about her as she learns about herself and her true nature.
Dragons, elves, and magick feature prominently as more is revealed about the mysterious woman and the world of Pangondra. As she embarks on an inward and outward journey, she finds friendship, adventure, betrayal, and truth.
A corrupt kingdom. A rising darkness. Can a broken warrior save a world?
Mithranar is a country divided by ignorance and magic. Oppressed by their winged folk rulers, humans struggle to eke out an existence. Their only help comes from the mysterious Shadowhawk, a criminal who has evaded all attemptsâŠ
Mother of Trees is the first book in an epic fantasy series about a dying goddess, a broken world, and a young elf born without magic in a society ruled by it.
When the ancient being that anchors the worldâs power begins to fail, the consequences ripple outwardâthrough prophecy, politics,âŠ