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7 Fantasy Books About Dragons That Are 10/10, No Notes
If there’s one thing fantasy fans can’t seem to get enough of, it’s dragons. You know, large flying, fire-breathing lizards? They’ve been a staple of the fantasy genre for decades, if not centuries, as they stem from mythology. Many cultures all across the world feature some variation of dragons in their folklore, probably because they inspire such a sense of wonder and majesty.
Since fantasy books are genuinely pretty in line with mythology and folklore, a lot of them have featured these flying beasts over the years. Sometimes they are allies, other times they are villains. Sometimes they are intelligent and capable of speech, other times they are animalistic predators. Either way, these are the best fantasy books featuring dragons, all of which can be considered perfect.
‘Dragons of Deltora’ (2004)
Deltora Quest 3, or, as it’s known in North America, Dragons of Deltora, is a compilation of four smaller YA fantasy novels. It’s a whole series in one, basically. The book comes from Australian author Jennifer Rowe, under her pen name of Emily Rodda. Like the first two books, the story is about Lief, a young man who seeks to free the land of Deltora from the clutches of the evil Shadow Lord. The first series (which received an anime adaptation) follows Lief as he reassembles the gems of the magical Belt of Deltora, while the second is about rebuilding a magical flute called the Pirran Pipe.
In this third series, Lief, along with his usual companions, Barda and Jasmine, must travel to the four corners of Deltora to destroy evil spirits called the Four Sisters. However, these sisters can only be destroyed with dragon fire, which means they must reawaken the last remaining dragons, who have been locked away in an eternal slumber. While this is primarily a book for kids aged 8–12, adults can still find enjoyment in this easy read. The Deltora series has always been a stellar introduction to fantasy for young readers, with a surprising amount of lore and incredible world-building to boot.
‘The Rage of Dragons’ (2017)
Evan Winter‘s The Rage of Dragons is a really interesting read with an even more interesting setting. Instead of opting for a medieval European setting that a lot of high fantasy novels favor, his world is more analogous with Bronze Age Africa. For two centuries, the Omehi people have been locked in an eternal cycle of war and chaos. A very rare few are able to call dragons to aid them in the fight, though this power is exclusive only to women. In the midst of the chaos, a young swordsman sets out on a quest for revenge.
Author Rick Riordan gave the book his personal seal of approval, accompanied by a wordy, odeful review. Apart from the praise of one of YA fantasy’s most prominent figures, fans and critics alike have expressed their adoration for the book’s unique setting and story. It’s truly a spectacular read that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, which is why any dragon-loving fantasy fan needs to pick it up as soon as possible.
‘The Sword of Destiny’ (1992)
The Sword of Destiny is one of the first short story collections published as part of The Witcher saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, which, as many know, has been adapted into a live-action Netflix series. This anthology of stories follows Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter known as a Witcher who travels across a high fantasy world, seeking contracts from local villagers. Not all the stories contain dragons, but there is one towards the end of the collection that does.
More specifically, it’s about the glittering golden dragon named Villentretenmerth, who is a bit of a shaky ally at best. Most of the monsters in The Witcher are ripped straight from various mythologies and folklore across a variety of cultures, so it’s to be expected that dragons would show up at some point. As far as books in The Witcher series go, this one is one of the best ones because it’s easy to digest and even easier to get lost in.
‘Tress of the Emerald Sea’ (2023)
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a stand-alone novel in Brandon Sanderson‘s shared literary universe known as the Cosmere. The basic premise of this universe is that each series or stand-alone story is set on its own planet, all of which are in the same galaxy. The story takes place on the backwater planet of Lumar, which is closely orbited by 12 moons. The moons continuously pump spores into Lumar’s atmosphere, which make up the oceans in lieu of water. When the spores come into contact with moisture, they produce a destructive effect, which varies depending on the color of the spore. The oceans can even be sailed on due to gas jets on the planet’s surface, which fluidize the spores.
On the remote Emerald Sea island called Diggen’s Point, a young girl named Tress has fallen in love with the mayor’s son, Charlie. However, when Charlie goes missing on an overseas trip, Tress becomes determined to save him. She eventually gets wound up with a pirate crew and comes face-to-face with the dragon Xisisrefliel. While the dragon’s appearance is only a small part of the story, he is a looming background presence throughout. It’s a heartwarming, easy to read, romantic fairytale inspired by The Princess Bride. It’s one of the most underrated entries in Sanderson’s extensive repertoire.
‘A Storm of Swords’ (2000)
A Storm of Swords is the third book in the acclaimed, but unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. This series famously became the cultural phenomenon that is Game of Thrones. While all the books are amazing in their own right, this third novel is considered one of the best. It’s also one of the longest, at roughly 1,000 pages. The story, as always, is about nine royal families who are feuding over the throne of Westeros while a primordial threat is silently gathering strength to the North, preparing to bring about the end of the world.
One of the major characters in this series is Daenerys Targaryen, from an exiled Westerosi house who had an affinity for dragons. After being gifted three dragon eggs during her wedding in the first book, she now possesses three young dragons that are just learning to breathe fire. While the dragons aren’t as large or mighty as they are in the later books, they are still a major part of the story. They might be small, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. In any event, this book is truly superb, and is among Martin’s finest work.
‘Dragonflight’ (1968)
Dragonflight is the first novel in the critically-acclaimed The Dragonriders of Pern series, which went on for 50 whole years, seeing its most recent installment in 2018. Not all the books are written by original author Anne McCaffrey, since she passed away in 2011. This first book is actually a compound book, made up of two novellas smashed into one cohesive volume.
Believe it or not, the series follows dragon riders in the land of Pern. Humans have colonized a distant planet filled with dragons, but have lost their technological capabilities, reverting them back into the Middle Ages. On this new planet, they form a relationship with the dragons, using them to combat a rising darkness eroding organic matter. This series was so long-lived and acclaimed for a reason: it’s absolutely brilliant, adventurous, and it revolutionized the fantasy genre.
‘The Hobbit, or There and Back Again’ (1937)
The Hobbit is the first book published by J. R. R. Tolkien, and the very first published work in his vast Middle-Earth legendarium. This includes The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as thousands of pages of extensive history and mythology. In this novel, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins is unexpectedly swept up in a quest to slay the dragon Smaug and reclaim the kingdom of Erebor along with 13 dwarves and the wizard Gandalf. The book was famously adapted into a trilogy of films in the early 2010s.
Even if there’s only one dragon in the story, he’s still a commanding presence and certainly counts as the main antagonist. It’s pretty much a classic dragon story, too: Smaug hordes gold, lives in a mountain, breathes fire, loves flattery… the only thing he’s missing is a kidnapped princess and a knight in shining armor. This is considered one of the finest fantasy books ever written, as it sounds like a father telling a story to his children. Beyond that, it’s family-friendly, adventurous, and full of profound moral wisdom. It’s simply a must-read for any fan of fantasy.
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