Even for someone like me, who isn’t a particular fan of fantasy fiction, dragons are intriguing. Legendary, large, fire-breathing . . . and in some cases below, cuddly and comic. Here are some of my favorite books featuring dragons.
Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby OlsonQuenby Olson is a talented author, and both Mildred Percy’s and the author’s voices are delightful in this fantastical historical novel. Sharply, smartly written and wildly creative, it’s no wonder so many readers have enjoyed it.
Mildred’s slow arc from browbeaten spinster sister to confident, adventurous woman is a pleasure to read. The minor characters are three-dimensional and the pacing is good, even for a longish novel.
The parenthetical asides used widely throughout the novel were clever, but they distracted me from the main point of the sentence, and I often had to go back and re-read to get a clear sense of the intended meaning. That’s the only reason I withheld a fifth star. It’s a highly enjoyable novel, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Elfling by Corinna TurnerElfling is a highly imaginative fantasy novel about a young girl’s quest to find and save her father. Serapia, accompanied by her dragonet pet, goes from a smart, toughened street urchin to a beloved daughter.
Revelations about her parents’ split and the nature of her father’s past sin took me by surprise, propelling the story in a direction I hadn’t anticipated. Serapia’s subsequent (relentless) quest to obtain healing for her father at the hands of an unwilling he-elf examines the nature of evil, sin and its consequences, suffering, forgiveness, and immortality from a Christian perspective.
Although Serapia’s persistent efforts to compel the he-elf include many flashbacks as she regains her memory, I found that segment of the story a bit long, making it somewhat repetitive. Even so, fans of fantasy will enjoy the detailed world and rich story Corinna Turner has created.
Belt of Truth by Theresa LindenI knew Theresa Linden could write for teens. I knew she could write for adults. I didn’t know that she could write equally well for young children and illustrate as well! But, she knocks it out of the park with the first installment in the Armor of God series.
This short book is the perfect blend of friendship, adventure, and a little moral lesson for early grade readers, especially Catholic children preparing for the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist.
Belt of Truth, which follows George Pennington as he begins Knight School for Boys and Girls, offers a simple lesson in the consequences of lying. George, his brother Erik, and their friend Robyn are likable and relatable enough for kids to look forward to their next adventure. They’ll also be left wondering about that knight/dragon tapestry that hangs in George’s bedroom and what it means.
I’m looking forward to sharing this with my young children and, I admit, reading it for myself!
Mercy’s Prince by Katy Huth JonesMercy’s Prince is the type of fantasy I enjoy – one that is human-focused, relatable, and includes names I can pronounce! The world of Valerian, the second son in line for the throne, and Mercy, a pacifist healer, was real enough to me that the introduction of a reptilian enemy horde and noble dragons seemed entirely natural.
The minor characters, even villains, are unique and interesting, not just extra bodies to prop up the story, and the slow-building relationship between Valerian and Mercy is tender and sweet.
There’s nothing about this fantasy that Christians need be wary of as the world is grounded in a medieval-style Christian culture and all supernatural gifts are clearly given for the benefit of all by the one, true God.
Fans of this genre, especially, will enjoy this story, which includes some intense but not overly graphic battle scenes. While I don’t ordinarily read many books as long, nothing about the story dragged. Instead, it lent an epic quality to the story.
The Jabberwocky Princess by Cece LouiseA fun fantasy tale for teens with adventure, action, and light romance – actually TWO romances! And dragons. Who doesn’t like a good dragon slaying? Beyond that, there’s a bit of mystery as Princess Opal, Prince Ander, Kainda, and Larkin work to discover what or who is behind the monstrous attacks on Fernshire.
The pacing is good throughout as both the romance and mystery unfold through the eyes of the two heroines – Opal and Kainda. Both are spunky and sassy in a way that modernizes the tale for contemporary readers. No helpless damsels here.
The Jabberwocky Princess stands alone, but there is cameo by characters from the first book in the series, Desperate Forest. A fun, clean series for medieval-style fantasy fans. And the covers are just gorgeous!
Murder Most Picante: A DragonEye, PI story by Karina Lumbert FabianA cozy mystery with a sentient dragon crime-solver? With solid Catholic theology? Yes, please.
Murder Most Picante was most fun, and I loved Karina Fabian’s humor from the role-playing game enthusiasts to the nimble lawyer. Anenjoyable escape with a dragon, Vern, trying to find his purpose from the parish rectory garage in the Mundane world.
Only Vern can unravel the cause of several mysterious deaths whose perpetrators seem to cross the Gap from Faerie to Mundane. I’m not generally a fan of fantasy fiction, but the realistic human characters and humor drew me right in. Well done!
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