Fantasy is known for its fantastical beasts and creations of all shapes and sizes. But even with the almost endless imagination that authors have at their pen and fingertips, nothing seems to capture the imagination quite like a good dragon in a book.
There’s just something about the presence they cut in a story. Maybe it’s their appearance, how powerful they seem in a good author’s hands. Maybe it’s that distinct giant serpentine shape that they always cut.
Or the fact that pretty much every time they appear in a story, it’s a big deal for everyone.
Whatever the reason, it seems like you can’t have a good fantasy book without at least a passing cameo from these giant mythological lizards. It almost feels like we’ve been robbed of something when they turn up.
That’s probably why there are so many fantasy books out there that include dragons in them, with varying levels of writing quality behind them. Some are among the greatest works of fiction, while others are not that.
Not on this list, however. Whether they’re the main character, a force of nature that must be dealt with, or a tricky obstacle our characters have to overcome, the dragon fantasy books in this list are all worth your time if you haven’t already found them yourself!
Here, There Be Dragons (James A. Owen)
With so many different books in the genre, it can be hard to decide where to go, after reading books like The Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire. Where do you go if you like the somewhat mysterious tone of these books, but want more of it?
Well, if you’re anything like us, then Here, There Be Dragons, will be just the next book to sink your teeth into.
Three Oxford scholars, in the middle of the First World War, find the journal of their recently departed mentor, the Imaginarium Geographica, a tome that contains the locations of many mythological and fictional places thought to just be stories before.
However, this book also puts the three strangers, Charles, Jack, and John, square in the sights of dark forces that seek to use the power of this book for themselves.
With nowhere else to escape to, the three escape London to the lands told in the book. Lands that, for better or worse, are the lands of ancient and powerful dragons.
With two worlds hanging in the balance in this tale, it’s a story that is packed with tons of creativity and one that you won’t soon forget!
Blue Moon Rising By (Simon R. Green)
When thinking of two genres that can be meshed together, fantasy has a ton of potential, but one that seems to get forgotten about at times. And that’s a shame because there are quite a few novels out there that utilize both in pretty great ways.
Blue Moon Rising is one of those books. In it, we follow the adventures of Rupert, the often-forgotten second son of the king, who has been tasked with going out and slaying a dragon. Classic swords and dragons fantasy.
However, the journey that lonely Rupert undergoes on his quest, as well as the other castaway from their kingdom, Princess Julia, as well the jovial dragon Rupert was sent to slay, find themselves changed by the journey in ways that they could not have expected.
This book does a lot to subvert the classic tropes of the time that it was written, from the great quest to slay a dragon to the princess that is held captive by the dragon, which, when combined with the wit and humor that this book has, make for a memorable read.
Temeraire (Naomi Novik)
Moving from classic swords and fantasy to something a little more based in the history books (somehow), the Temeraire series is not just an excellent fantasy series that has dragons in it, but it is also an amazing alternate history story that answer’s the burning question that everyone has been asking: What if history had dragons in it?
It’s the early 18th century, and the Napoleonic wars are in full swing. Not only are the great imperial powers of the day at war with each other, but the use of dragons as an air force has drastically upped the danger and damage that these wars threaten to do to Europe, and indeed the world.
Enter one Captain Will Laurence of the King’s navy, who has been sent to capture and retrieve a precious dragon egg from Napoleon’s forces, only to have it hatch and connect to him during the mission.
Now forced to leave the navy life that he has known, Will must now join the King’s royal dragon air force, and help bring this war to an end.
If you love fantastical takes on real-world history, then this book will be a phenomenal read for you!
The Neverending Story (Michael Ende)
Folks of a certain generation may or may not remember the movie adaptation that came out back in 1984 which, while not too commercially successful, did spawn a cult following and movie series.
However, fewer people might be aware that the movie was based on a 1979 novel, which the book only adapted the first half of. So, there’s plenty that fans of the original movie are missing out on that they can enjoy here!
Young Bastion Balthazar Bux is a loner, though not by choice. Unpopular at school, having only recently lost his mother, and having to deal with the neglect of his father at her loss, Bastion is just looking for an escape.
So, when he happens to find a copy of a mysterious book, The Neverending Story, he soon becomes enraptured in it, following the adventure of Atreyu to save the world of Fantasia.
And, of course, who could forget about the iconic luckdragon, Falkor, that aids Atreyu throughout the book?
If you’re looking for a story that you may already be slightly familiar with, but has more twists and turns than you could imagine, then this is the book for you. You might be surprised to see what you find in this version of the tale that you may have already heard!
The Dragons (Douglas Niles)
If you’re something of a tabletop role-playing game nerd (especially of Dungeons and Dragons), then the name Dragonlance might ring a bell or two for you. The world of Dragonlance (also known as Krynn) is a popular world in which many adventures have been set in.
Some of those stories have been put to paper, and made a rather phenomenal fantasy series out of them!
The Dragons might be the sixth book in this particular series, but don’t let that number scare you. You’ll find this book to be a surprisingly easy jumping-on-point to enjoy this series from.
And, of course, in a world called Dragonlance, there’s going to be tons of dragons to enjoy!
In the world of Ansalon, two great serpents, Aurican and Darlantan, have been raised in a prosperous world of wisdom and great knowledge. However, that world may soon no longer exist, thanks to the machinations of the Crematia on the other side of the world.
The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien)
Yeah, we know that this is a basic pick and one that many people may already be familiar with. But it’s also iconic for a reason, arguably being one of the seminal works of fiction that kick-started the fantasy genre.
So, naturally, it has a lot of the elements that fantasy would later become known for. Fascinating new lands and interesting fantastical civilizations to soak up and explore. And, of course, a great dragon that dominates the tale!
Bilbo Baggins is just like any other hobbit. He enjoys good food, the Shire, and not doing anything unexpected. So a random wizard turning up with 13 dwarves and a quest seems like the worst thing that could happen to him.
If you’re looking to catch up on seminal fantasy stories that make you understand why dragons have become so iconic, check this classic out for yourself!
Dragonflight (Anne McCaffrey)
How have we gotten this far into the list, and not mentioned perhaps one of the most seminal fantasy dragon books of the genre?
If it wasn’t for Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, the very concept of dragon riders might not have existed.
Needless to say, almost on that fact alone, we’re big fans of this particular book! However, there’s far more to this series than being a trendsetter, being a phenomenal fantasy series in its own right.
And it all starts here, with Dragonflight!
In the world of Pern, Dragonriders have been the sole protectors against the world-ending Thread. And as the next one seems poised to start, it is up to F’Lar, the rider of the greatest bronze dragon, to avert catastrophe.
Final Notes
So, there you have it!
We’re certainly not light on options when it comes to dragons in our fantasy books. However, we hope that our guide has given you your next favorite book and book series to work your way through!
