This book was an enjoyable read, characterized by its fast pace and ease of reading. The author did an excellent job of maintaining a brisk narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. However, despite these strengths, the lack of world-building was a significant issue for me. We were dropped into a universe with little context, explanation, or backstory, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. A more developed setting would have provided a richer reading experience and a better understanding of the stakes and environment in which the characters operate.

The characters themselves also lacked depth, preventing me from forming any particular attachment to them. The main protagonist, Markus, remained a somewhat enigmatic figure throughout the book. His motivations and history were not adequately explored, leaving him feeling one-dimensional. Additionally, the side characters were given minimal attention, which made it challenging to invest in their individual stories or see them as integral parts of the narrative. This lack of character development diminished the emotional impact of the story and made it harder to care about the outcomes.

The love story between Amira and Markus, which had the potential to add a compelling layer to the plot, unfortunately, failed to resonate with me. Their chemistry felt lacking and unconvincing, and their relationship progression seemed rushed and underdeveloped. A more gradual build-up and deeper exploration of their interactions and emotions could have made their romance more engaging and believable.

On a positive note, I loved the dragon element. The dragon races were well-written, bringing excitement and vivid imagery to the pages. I appreciated the fresh take on the rider/dragon relationship, which added a unique twist to the familiar trope. Setting the story in a modern-day universe was a welcome change, blending contemporary elements with fantastical creatures in an intriguing way. This innovative approach stood out as one of the book's strengths.

In summary, this book had a lot of potential, drawing influences from Fast and Furious, Fourth Wing, and How to Train Your Dragon. These inspirations could have resulted in a thrilling and emotionally rich narrative. However, the story ultimately fell short due to its lack of depth and occasionally poor writing. The book would have benefited greatly from additional pages dedicated to world-building and character development. With more detailed backstories, richer settings, and more nuanced character interactions, the story could have been truly captivating. Despite its flaws, the book offers some enjoyable moments and creative ideas, making it worth a read for fans of fast-paced fantasy adventures.

Dragons. School. A mystery. Second-chances. Markus is a student at a school that teaches their students how to train dragons and cultivate the bond between dragon and dragon rider. When it is time for Markus to capture a dragon to make his own, he fails. Miserably. But before he can leave in defeat, he is offered a riderless dragon in return for completing a mission. Simple, right? But the mission is anything but, and Markus finds himself wrapped up in intrigue, lies, and maybe even love.

This was a fun read at times, but at other times, I was a little confused by the plot. I loved the unique names that the characters got, and the whole idea behind the book was captivating, just not brought out enough in the short 180 pages of this book. The ending did leave the reader on a cliff-hanger, meaning that there is room for a sequel, but I don’t think I will be reading it if it does come out. This story was not developed enough to draw me in fully.

For anyone who loves How to Train Your Dragon and other dragon-focused books, definitely check this one out! It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Yggdrasil Press for an ebook version of this book in exchange for a review! All thoughts here are my own.

I received an arc for Dragon Den via @thenerdfam and from the author. With this being the authors first book, I was pleasantly surprised. This was a mix of “how to train your dragon” and “fast and the furious”. I really loved the “fast and furious” aspect, the Dragon Den is where dragon riders go for underground racing/dragon fighting. It was also refreshing to read a fantasy romance where the main character is from a males POV. There were a few parts that left me confused. I wish in the chapters that were from a different characters POV had their name in the chapter heading; it took a few sentences to figure out whose POV I was reading. I enjoyed Loki’s character the most, a dragon with golden retriever energy. I look forward to the next book!

3.2/5
This is a perfect read for those who loved Fourth Wing and Fast & Furious.

Personally, I really enjoyed the parts of this book where the dragons are mentioned but the beginning of the book felt like we were just dropped into this world and if I didn't read the Fourth Wing, I would have probably been very confused. That being said, I do not like the parts that were copied from that particular book. Not because I didn't like the Fourth Wing but because the beginning of the book kind of felt like reading the Fourth Wing from another student's perspective, instead of Violet's - that's how many similar elements there were. The author must have gotten inspired by it but took it a bit too far for my liking.

There was a little nod to Daenerys Targaryen (ASOIAF) as well in there with how the main character introduces themselves but I wish the author spent more time on his backstory.

Some social issues were covered in the book as well and I wish the author spent a bit more time on those as well. <spoiler>They mentioned there were 7 or 8 world wars that were fought, so I'm guessing the year is 2500+? Are we really going to still be fighting racism at that point? I guess all the dystopian novels I've read in the past left such a bad taste in my mouth that I prefer to read about these issues already being resolved by that time in the future but you never know. I mean, people back in the day thought we'd have flying cars by now and here we are, not even a single flying bycicle around...

The version that I was given had only 181 pages, so I am guessing this isn't the ending of the book. But, the point where this version ends does makes me want to read the rest of it. Mostly because of the dragons. Not a big fan of the whole "I want to destroy and build a better world from scratch" trope (Is it a trope?) because it often ends up being cringe but I can see where the characters are coming from and I would be interested in finding out more about it. I may purchase the full version when it's released next month!

My first Netgalley read. Thank you for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Markus is a young man with a great deal of ambition. Unfortunately, his ambition is greater than his skills, and rather than showing off for the girl he likes (and his class at dragon school) by getting an impressive Black Clubtail, he ends up with a small Graytail named Loki. However, he still has a chance to impress the girl he likes; he just has to first impress her brother and figure out where the stolen dragon collars are going.

In this world dragons aren’t bonded, they’re broken. Forced into a bond via obsidian collars that link the minds of rider and dragon together, and upon the death of their rider, locked away in underground stables ntil a new rider gets a collar on them. There are also dragon races, and dragon fights — where the dragons are used like roosters or dogs, pitted against one another for the entertainment of those who watch. It’s a dark world, and one not really explored in any depth.

The world itself isn’t really the main focus of this book because Markus has only three things on his mind: Amira, the girl he likes; Loki, his new dragon; and his mission. He’s not concerned about right or wrong, where things come from or how they got there. He just wants Amira to like him, and when he gets a chance at that he gets distracted (like any young man) by the prospect of love, much to the detriment of his mission.

This is, perhaps, not as developed a world as it could be, but I am left — at the end of the book — wanting more. More of the dragons, more of the dragon school, more of the collars and how they work. Markus isn’t a bad character, he’s just a normal guy who really, really wants to be with the girl he likes. Amira is her own character, and I think the two of them have some nice moments between them. I buy the friendship and the romance, and when book two comes out, I’ll be more than happy to pick it up.

This book was a ride. I don't know what just hit me, but I'm pretty sure it was dragons and Taylor Swift references?

On a more serious note, I appreciated the underlying themes of consent and agency (of both humans and dragons) coupled with modern-day racism. No spoilers, but in that regard, I really liked the ending for Markus and Loki. The character diversity reflected within the text did not feel like tokenism, which is a breath of fresh air, though some of our characters did feel surface-level.

Regarding the "for fans of Fourth Wing" note, the similarities I found were a "contemporary Romance" writing style, First-person Present POV, and a dragon miliary academy with new-adult romance and a little spice. But loving Fourth Wing doesn't guarantee you'll love this one---in large part due to the sparse worldbuilding details and shorter length that define urban fantasy as a genre. So set expectations for your library patrons accordingly. While I didn't actually compare the two, I'm pretty sure chapter 1 of this book was over before Violet was even across the parapet... ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley and Yggdrasil Press for the ARC.

From the description I was really excited to read this book and wanted to love it. That’s not what happened. It pains me to rate an ARC this low particularly because it’s someone’s hard work. This one - for me - needed a lot more. But the beauty of books is that they’re subjective, right? What didn’t work for me will work for someone else.

The writing feels…I don’t know what the appropriate word is. Juvenile seems too harsh but that’s the general direction I’d lean. Half-baked or rushed would work as well. If this had no sex scenes, I would give it to a middle schooler to read. The story in its entirety is severely lacking. There is no world building and little-to-no character development. Dragons just exist out in the world with cars and people and all is ok? How does one end up at a dragon college? How do you learn and prepare to “break” a dragon? What about the ones that stay wild? What were these wars, who fought them, and why? What do people actually do after they graduate from the college? Why do obsidian collars work the way they do? Who are these crime clans and what are they into? Etc. etc. etc.

I couldn’t tell you a thing about Markus other than his dad is dead and he gets turned on at the drop of a hat. Does he have no other family? Does he have any friends in or out of school? His arousal and descriptions of Amira are also cringey (boner? Shrinking breasts? No, thank you). He was half-heartedly determined to not get kicked out of school yet he just let the dragon that was handed to him go for good? What was the point of Loki then other to prove he was a fast flier? And then after all of that another dragon just falls into his lap? It was all too convenient.

Maybe if this was written from Amira’s POV it might have been more interesting. Amira and Markus’s relationship felt rushed and forced and the big betrayal was anticlimactic. The issues of race fell flat and like a throw in. Big reveals like who actually killed Amira’s mom were lackluster. Particularly because we have very little interaction with whoever the chief guy (I never wrote his name down) is. Other important points were not touched at all, like why are the Jonjungs & Ejo clans feuding.

I’m giving this two stars because the potential was there but it fell short. Thank you Yggdrasil Press for the ARC. I’m so sorry I couldn’t love this story the way that I had hoped to.

As a newcomer to this book, I had high hopes for the promised "fast-paced" adventure. However, I found myself somewhat disappointed by the rushed pace, which hindered the development of the characters. Unlike the richly crafted characters in works by Maas or Jensen, I struggled to form a deep connection with the protagonists.

Despite this setback, I did admire the author's dedication to world-building, which lent an enjoyable backdrop to the story. However, moments of excitement felt contrived due to the lack of genuine emotional investment in the characters, particularly Markus, our central figure. His portrayal fell flat, failing to evoke any real sympathy or interest in his journey.

The brevity of the book was a double-edged sword; while it allowed for a quick read, it also highlighted the shortcomings in the writing. Characters, especially Markus, felt stiff and lacking in depth, with dialogue and inner thoughts lacking nuance.

The decision to set the story in our world rather than a traditional fantasy realm was an intriguing choice, but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The plot, while somewhat engaging, followed predictable beats, and the overall narrative suffered from poor prose and character development. Despite attempting to tackle weighty themes, the story ultimately lacked the finesse and depth needed to truly captivate its audience.

Comped as Fast and Furious with dragons, I couldn't resist. The urban element is what I think they are referring to when they say F&F, and it did make for an unexpected read and setting. I would have liked more world-building overall, but perhaps this was more a symptom of it being urban, and I would have liked to have more character development. Overall, I wanted to feel more immersed into the world. Would recommend for anyone who does really enjoy urban fantasy.

Great for fantasy fans and crime show fans. A modern fantasy that is highly recommended. I can’t wait for more by this author!

I loved the premise and the idea of the book, but I couldn't finish it. I wasn't able to connect with the characters and the world didn't feel immersive to me. I would have loved more information at the beginning about how they end up in that kind of world and the dynamics, more descriptions to feel part of it before starting the action.
There were points that took me out of the book. The fast paced way for the main character to get a second opportunity having a dragon after being said multiple times that it wasn't possible was one of those. I just can't see a commander saying "the following is confidential" and just throw the important information without more... more to it, it didn't feel real to me and made it more difficult to connect with the story. Lastly, which completely made me stop reading was that I found Markus POV just uncomfortable to read, the way he lusted after EVERY woman he saw and the comments about it in the middle of his internal thoughts... I just couldn't. I didn't like him or like his internal thoughts and it affected everything for me.
As I said, I loved the premise and I know that there are going to be people who love it, it's just not for me.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is Fast & Furious but with Dragons, and if instead of a cop its a student at a Dragon Riders military academy.

Its has a balance of light and heavy, with a story not dissimilar from F&F. That said, it was a delight and i thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. I loved the characters, the World building and especially the dragons.

Wouldn't mind a second book.

Thank you NetGalley and Yggdrasil Press for the ARC! The premise of the book was interesting but not well developed. The writing was overly simplistic making it feel like a YA book which it is not. The college and dragon system were poorly developed as well as the most all the characters unfortunately. Loki was the only good character in my opinion from the whole book.

Thank you for the ARC! It was definitely fast passed as it was said, the plot was a little predictable but it was overall all a fun read!

Dragon Den is blurbed as Fast and the Furious with dragons. While this story has dragon elements, the plot resembles FF1.

There is a lot of potential in this world, but it was off-putting to know what would happen next.

If this fits your vibe check, then you'll enjoy the high intensity of the dragon races!

This was an interesting read. I wasn't expecting fast and the furious meets dragons in an urban fantasy setting. This was fast paced and had a lot of action. I felt like the side characters were not as well rounded as I would personally like and they all sort of blended together.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped to. I thought that the more modern setting especially in the PNW was a nice touch. The concept of the dragon dens being in the volcanos and it being geographically correct was one of the biggest selling points for me. The story feel short with all of the similarities to Fourth Wing. I would have enjoyed a little bit more originality especially when it came to the dragon riders school, the uniforms, and also the main character fighting against rouges. I liked the diversity in the characters that was a nice touch. Overall, the setting was a plus but it lacked originality.

Am a huge fan of anything with dragons in it and was pretty excited to read this. I think this book is fine for someone who wants a very basic fantasy book with dragons thrown in but anyone who is familiar with the genre or is a fan of dragons may crave more. I fell into the latter camp. As someone who read Fourth Wing, I do not mind simple world building or storyline, but this felt more like fanfic.

Okay, let me start this by saying that this had a lot of potential. The synopsis is good and it immediately called my attention. I really liked the first few chapters too because, even if we were basically just thrown into action and things were confusing, I figured they would explain in more detail further into the book.

Nope.

So many things stay confusing and the pace is so fast that many of the problems don’t require more than half a paragraph to get solved. Here I was stressing over how they would get out of a difficult situation because, surely they are going to get caught and everything is going to go to shit.

Nope. It was that easy.

And all this basically comes down to the fact that it’s Markis, our protagonist, the one doing the entire monologue. That guy is a stupid idiot with all the letters. He lacks personality, hobbies, dreams, backstory, friends… a spine… Even within the story (not in the action descriptions) he fails to do his one job which is to inform his superior about anything.

Instead, he spends his time drooling over Amira’s body and what he’d do to get her and what he’d do once he got her (which I skimmed over because it was a bit terrible. I know. ME. SKIMMING OVER SEX SCENES. What is this?)

And speaking of Amira, the racism towards her (or the talk of it) just felt like a plot point that was there to… pretend to cause drama? Nothing really happens and nothing is actually talked about in depth, so it just felt like it was written to tick some kind of checkmark.

In one of the instances, Tobias (Amira’s brother) starts antagonizing Markus for not getting his sister out of a situation where she could have been hurt for being Black. The situation: Markus’ friend dropped a thousand meters out of the fucking sky and is now sprawled in the floor, bent at unnatural angles and blood coming out of every pore of her body. The police are coming to check what happened and Amira is just standing there.

Like, I completely get that Amira could have suffered discrimination, but this mf’s friend is literally dead and I don’t think Amira is the first thing on his mind right now. Cut him some slack.


Other things that didn't make much sense in no particular order that I won't go into detail about bacause I'm already dissapointed enough about the book:

- The dragons are on a "special diet" where they only have one sheep a day. I'm sure one or two mroe wouldn't hurt, but Markus constantly gives Loki two or three every single day?

- The dragons are only awake one day of the year and then go to sleep in a volcano. All of them? To one volcano? To sleep for a year?

- Loki's past only getting mentioned in the very end even tho it should be an important part, not only of his life, but the plot?

- The very little protection they place on the obsidian trucks after having already been hijacked plenty of times

- I hope I just didn't get this right, but: they get sent to random posts after graduation. I don't mean as in the place, that doesn't really matter, but the job they will be doing. Theo likes research and hopes to be put somewhere where he can do it? Do you mean to tell me that some random brute built for only fighting could get assigned one of those places even though they are not made for it?

- Mamba being completely chill with this absolute nobody on his stall after having killed many other people who, I'm sure, were way better than him.

And one last thing: the ending was a bit obvious. The last few chapters in general.

Despite all of this, I liked the potential of the story (maybe something could be done about that??) and I’m totally biased because I love dragons, so.. Also, the cover is really pretty.

1) Only fast and furious movie I've seen is Fast X, my experience reading this book felt similar. fast-paced, but the character relationships were poorly developed. The book opens with a punchy first scene, but it could have used some building up of character relationships before the time crunch.
The action scenes were decent, but the book just didn't gel together.