High-Flying, Rip-Roaring Dragon Rider Books

My enduring love for dragons began as a thirteen-year-old bookworm who borrowed a friend’s copy of Eragon and was immediately entranced by the friendship between the book’s titular protagonist and Saphira, the beautiful blue dragon on the cover. Paolini’s high fantasy novels unfold in the fictional world of Alagaësia, heavily influenced by Tolkien’s works, depicting the age-old struggle between good and evil. Over the course of four books, we follow Eragon and Saphira in their struggle to overthrow the evil ruler Galbatorix, and get introduced to other fearsome dragons with distinct personalities.   

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, light-hearted tale featuring dragons and their young riders, Cornelia Funke’s Dragon Rider is definitely a classic. This sweet and exciting story focuses on a silver dragon called Firedrake, an orphan boy named Ben and a cat-like brownie known as Sorrel as the trio search for the elusive “Rim of Heaven”—a secret place where dragons can live in safety, away from human machinations. Originally published in German, the English-language version of the book was a huge bestseller, and it now has a sequel called Dragon Rider: The Griffin's Feather.

Anne McCaffrey’s hugely influential science fantasy novels set in the planet Pern began way back in 1967. The first book in the ongoing series was Dragonflight which brought together two award-winning novellas published in Analog magazine into a single volume. It tells the story of Lessa, a young woman who shares a telepathic bond with a queen dragon called Ramoth and becomes the leader of the community. Since then, there have been over twenty books in the series, showcasing the evolution of Pern across multiple generations. Many of the latter books were co-authored or completed by her children.  

The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik comprises nine alternate history novels, revolving around Captain William Lawrence and his dragon, beginning with His Majesty’s Dragon published in 2006. The books heavily deal with warfare and political intrigue, reimagining the Napoleonic Wars where dragons are deployed as key weapons in aerial warfare. Carefully plotted, engagingly written and brimming with military details, the series is perfect for anyone with a soft spot for military fantasy and a love for intelligent, talking dragons. 

For all those who complain about Game of Thrones not having enough dragons, Fire & Blood that chronicles the rise and fall of the Targaryen dynasty, more than makes up for it. Some of the book’s portions were earlier published in assorted short stories and novellas, but this volume collects and expands on those fragments, offering a comprehensive history of the Targaryens. 

It’s also written in a deliberately dry tone with the occasional quips from unreliable narrators, highlighting how “history” itself is constructed from anecdote and conjecture. There are plenty of battles here—all featuring fearsome dragons—that will keep you engrossed as you wait for the next season of House of the Dragon to drop. 

Those predisposed to dragon stories aimed at younger audiences should definitely check out the Wyrmeweald books by Paul Stewart, accompanied by the brilliantly evocative illustrations of Chris Riddell. The first book Returner's Wealth follows 17-year-old Micah and veteran tracker Eli as they encounter a rare whitewyrme egg. Filled with romance, action and plenty of sizzling flames, it’s an endearing and imaginative read set in a vividly-realized magical world.

An epic, immersive adventure spanning over 800 pages, The Priory of the Orange Tree has a bit of everything, such as a sapphic love story, an ancient cult of assassins, secret mages, court politics, a queendom on the brink of war—and a solid dragon rider storyline, among its many narratives. Even though it’s a long book, Shannon’s lucid prose will make the pages fly—taking readers on a memorable and breathtaking adventure. 

Pride and Prejudice with dragons? Yeah, you read that right. Elle Katharine Whites’s debut historical fantasy novel, Hearthstone reimagines Jane Austen’s Regency-era socio-politics with magical monsters. And in her acclaimed sequel, Dragonshadow the author once again reunites the two lovers Aliza and Alastair (who are always fighting and bickering with each other) in another high-stakes war that may end or save their world. Packed with mystery, charming wit and some gory fights, Dragonshadow manages to be both adorable and awesome. 

Finally, dragon enthusiasts who have grown up loving Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels will find themselves at home in Mercedes Lackey’s richly-detailed fantastical world where her Dragon Jouster’s series is set. Joust, the first book in the series, focuses on the dragon-rider Vetch. Initially, the young boy is stuck working for an abusive master until he meets the Jouster Ari and is eventually entrusted with the care of his dragon, Kashet. 

Lackey draws upon Egyptian culture and her wide-ranging knowledge of animal behavior; and her careful attention to detail makes the mundane labor of animal-handling come vividly alive. If you’re looking for a slow-paced book that delves into the nitty-gritties of caring, feeding and saddling dragons, you’ll love Joust.