What do you think?
Rate this book
The Skystone Chronicles #1
Dragon Thief
A dragon-riding thief. A legendary dragon egg. One heist that could change Evgard forever.
A Kirkus-star winner and Indies Today’s 2023 Best Book of the Year
Seventeen-year-old Asher uses his outlawed magic to steal from the nobles of Evgard’s frontier—but he’s got a knack for landing himself in trouble.
Every heist brings Asher’s family one step closer to safety—and Asher one step closer to capture.
See, in Evgard, magic draws hungry dragons.
That’s why the ruthless Mage Hunters brand every known magi with icy silvermarks, spreading them far and wide throughout the realm. So they don’t draw the dragons near. Getting caught would, at best, tear Asher’s family apart and, at worst, get him executed.
Still, when a dangerous crew of rebel magi offers him a position on the heist of a lifetime, he can’t walk away.
Their a legendary true dragon egg that could shift the stars of magi everywhere for the better.
Not only would the reward finally get Asher’s family to safety—the mission offers something he wants even more. A shot at revenge on the Black Valkyrie, the merciless leader of the Mage Hunters.
Asher’s role in the plan is
He’s the distraction.
But Asher’s never been good at sticking to the plan.
Armed with forbidden magic, a quick tongue, and his cheeky getaway dragon, Asher must survive deadly magical combat, shifting loyalties, and a specialized heist crew that’s only slightly more trustworthy than he is.
Perfect for readers who want the unforgettable dragon bonds of Eragon, the intricate heists and hard magic of Mistborn, and the humor and heart of The Last Airbender.
Dragon Thief begins the award-winning five-book Skystone Chronicles, with over 14,000 copies sold across the series and over 5 million pages read on KU. Book Five completes the series this November!
Get ready for friendship, banter, and plot twists that will drag you straight into the story and refuse to let go.
Start your next dragon rider fantasy binge today!
A Kirkus-star winner and Indies Today’s 2023 Best Book of the Year
Seventeen-year-old Asher uses his outlawed magic to steal from the nobles of Evgard’s frontier—but he’s got a knack for landing himself in trouble.
Every heist brings Asher’s family one step closer to safety—and Asher one step closer to capture.
See, in Evgard, magic draws hungry dragons.
That’s why the ruthless Mage Hunters brand every known magi with icy silvermarks, spreading them far and wide throughout the realm. So they don’t draw the dragons near. Getting caught would, at best, tear Asher’s family apart and, at worst, get him executed.
Still, when a dangerous crew of rebel magi offers him a position on the heist of a lifetime, he can’t walk away.
Their a legendary true dragon egg that could shift the stars of magi everywhere for the better.
Not only would the reward finally get Asher’s family to safety—the mission offers something he wants even more. A shot at revenge on the Black Valkyrie, the merciless leader of the Mage Hunters.
Asher’s role in the plan is
He’s the distraction.
But Asher’s never been good at sticking to the plan.
Armed with forbidden magic, a quick tongue, and his cheeky getaway dragon, Asher must survive deadly magical combat, shifting loyalties, and a specialized heist crew that’s only slightly more trustworthy than he is.
Perfect for readers who want the unforgettable dragon bonds of Eragon, the intricate heists and hard magic of Mistborn, and the humor and heart of The Last Airbender.
Dragon Thief begins the award-winning five-book Skystone Chronicles, with over 14,000 copies sold across the series and over 5 million pages read on KU. Book Five completes the series this November!
Get ready for friendship, banter, and plot twists that will drag you straight into the story and refuse to let go.
Start your next dragon rider fantasy binge today!
442 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2023
About the author
Blake Penn
6 books91 followersPart of a writing duo with Raven Penn.
Blake and Raven Penn fought through epic battles and twisted love triangles to finally find each other. They both studied script writing in college, and now deign to turn their film and comedy experience into novel writing. Through sunshine or the dreaded Utah Valley inversion, they spend their days tending their wild offspring and dreaming of dragons. Aiming to write fantasy adventures that would keep their former teenage selves up reading long past midnight, Blake and Raven hope to brighten a world in desperate need of light.
Blake and Raven Penn fought through epic battles and twisted love triangles to finally find each other. They both studied script writing in college, and now deign to turn their film and comedy experience into novel writing. Through sunshine or the dreaded Utah Valley inversion, they spend their days tending their wild offspring and dreaming of dragons. Aiming to write fantasy adventures that would keep their former teenage selves up reading long past midnight, Blake and Raven hope to brighten a world in desperate need of light.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 6, 2023
Fantasmic creatures and fantastic storyline
This book, rather series will be devoured by fantasy readers.
It is carefully crafted with excellent world building. Chalk full of creatures, hybrids, portals, and magical powers.
Narration was a little confusing as it toggles between first POV to third between chapters. But this is a personal thing. I have read many books like this. I feel it is a nice trend that lets the author exercise freedom to express.
In conclusion, I can't wait to read book two from this series. There is a small sneak peak in the end that has me hooked already. I hope Elle and Asher can be together and that Vidya will back off. Let's see...
This book, rather series will be devoured by fantasy readers.
It is carefully crafted with excellent world building. Chalk full of creatures, hybrids, portals, and magical powers.
Narration was a little confusing as it toggles between first POV to third between chapters. But this is a personal thing. I have read many books like this. I feel it is a nice trend that lets the author exercise freedom to express.
In conclusion, I can't wait to read book two from this series. There is a small sneak peak in the end that has me hooked already. I hope Elle and Asher can be together and that Vidya will back off. Let's see...
July 31, 2025
First off, I knew going into it that Dragon Thief was probably not going to be a perfect fit for me as I’d heard it’s more YA than adult fantasy, and that certainly turned out to be the case. Despite that though, I did quite enjoy the story and characters, and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes YA fantasy.
There’s a very detailed world here, and the sheer number of new, in-world creations borders on the ridiculous. Although I love the attention to detail in the worldbuilding, I did find that a lot of it was unleashed very early on in the book, which can make it harder to adjust to a first book in a new world. Within the opening couple of chapters we’ve been introduced to lots of varied fauna, and as the book goes on it quickly becomes apparent that most of this world’s creatures are dragon related in some form (the really nice illustrated guide to the world in the back of the book does give a quick confirmation of this as well). Here we have draccoons, drakalopes, dragon buffalo, bloodhuskies, spydras, sand sharks, and many more. We also have a multitude of magical specialities, including astromancers, wildshapers, and rifters.
The characters are likeable, and as we focus on a group of thieves and rebels, it feels natural that they would have a range of different magi at their disposal. Of course, this also works really well in showing us all the different things they can all do, without any of it seeming too commonplace for the world at large.
I liked the overall story, and there are some nice little twists and betrayals, but also some nice little tricks that the different magi pull off in order to save themselves or their friends, or as part of the various heists and infiltrations they attempt. The character interactions work nicely within this story, and I do appreciate the work put in to building a group that is adjusting to some new blood being brought in, even as we see the story mostly from the eyes of one of these new recruits. There’s a good amount of tension and distrust, but also a nice softening of this as the group learns about each other, their abilities, and just what they will do to get the job done and to keep everyone safe and alive.
So this was a fun story in a very creative world with some good characters, and despite the tone being a bit too light in places for my taste, it did work well overall.
There’s a very detailed world here, and the sheer number of new, in-world creations borders on the ridiculous. Although I love the attention to detail in the worldbuilding, I did find that a lot of it was unleashed very early on in the book, which can make it harder to adjust to a first book in a new world. Within the opening couple of chapters we’ve been introduced to lots of varied fauna, and as the book goes on it quickly becomes apparent that most of this world’s creatures are dragon related in some form (the really nice illustrated guide to the world in the back of the book does give a quick confirmation of this as well). Here we have draccoons, drakalopes, dragon buffalo, bloodhuskies, spydras, sand sharks, and many more. We also have a multitude of magical specialities, including astromancers, wildshapers, and rifters.
The characters are likeable, and as we focus on a group of thieves and rebels, it feels natural that they would have a range of different magi at their disposal. Of course, this also works really well in showing us all the different things they can all do, without any of it seeming too commonplace for the world at large.
I liked the overall story, and there are some nice little twists and betrayals, but also some nice little tricks that the different magi pull off in order to save themselves or their friends, or as part of the various heists and infiltrations they attempt. The character interactions work nicely within this story, and I do appreciate the work put in to building a group that is adjusting to some new blood being brought in, even as we see the story mostly from the eyes of one of these new recruits. There’s a good amount of tension and distrust, but also a nice softening of this as the group learns about each other, their abilities, and just what they will do to get the job done and to keep everyone safe and alive.
So this was a fun story in a very creative world with some good characters, and despite the tone being a bit too light in places for my taste, it did work well overall.
February 21, 2023
Big thank you to the authors — Blake and Raven Penn — for sending me an arc!
This book was phenomenal. Just wow.
From the very beginning, I knew this story was going to suck me in and not let go. This magic system is so cool, it’s almost unreal. From the magic, to the different types of mystics and sentinels, to the dragons types and creatures — the authors fleshed everything out so well that when you start to read, you’re already immersed.
The main character Asher is so funny, brave, and just full of mischief and banter. The characters in general are just so wonderfully written, I felt like I knew every single one of them by the end of the book.
Without giving too much of the plot away, we follow Asher on a path of vengeance after the head mage hunter kills his mother. He finds himself in a much deeper battle though, and from there, our authors kill it with the story and the plot. It was so well thought out, so much fun. The pacing was perfect — keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat and never quiet letting you relax. I love the sprinkle of romance as well.
Definitely give this a read, it’s one of the best books involving dragon i’ve picked up in a while!
This book was phenomenal. Just wow.
From the very beginning, I knew this story was going to suck me in and not let go. This magic system is so cool, it’s almost unreal. From the magic, to the different types of mystics and sentinels, to the dragons types and creatures — the authors fleshed everything out so well that when you start to read, you’re already immersed.
The main character Asher is so funny, brave, and just full of mischief and banter. The characters in general are just so wonderfully written, I felt like I knew every single one of them by the end of the book.
Without giving too much of the plot away, we follow Asher on a path of vengeance after the head mage hunter kills his mother. He finds himself in a much deeper battle though, and from there, our authors kill it with the story and the plot. It was so well thought out, so much fun. The pacing was perfect — keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat and never quiet letting you relax. I love the sprinkle of romance as well.
Definitely give this a read, it’s one of the best books involving dragon i’ve picked up in a while!
August 24, 2024
I want to thank the person that left the 1-star review that said - "the authors havent[sic] grown up....the perfect read for middle school hoodlums"
I am a "middle school hoodlum" that hasn't grown up! (I may have to grow old but I refuse to grow up!)
I LOVED the book! Honestly, this is the most wholesome novel that I have read in quite some time. While there is violence, it's not gory. The authors made up swear words...so this book is rated G. There is some "romance"...but it's holding hands and kisses. And yet, it's STILL enjoyable for adults (well, at least ones like me that haven't grown up).
The characters are interesting. The plot is fun an engaging. The dialog flows well. The action scenes are well written!
This book is the "Greatest thing that could have happened"....according to one of the major characters!
I am a "middle school hoodlum" that hasn't grown up! (I may have to grow old but I refuse to grow up!)
I LOVED the book! Honestly, this is the most wholesome novel that I have read in quite some time. While there is violence, it's not gory. The authors made up swear words...so this book is rated G. There is some "romance"...but it's holding hands and kisses. And yet, it's STILL enjoyable for adults (well, at least ones like me that haven't grown up).
The characters are interesting. The plot is fun an engaging. The dialog flows well. The action scenes are well written!
This book is the "Greatest thing that could have happened"....according to one of the major characters!
April 11, 2026
── 2.0✦
I found out about this series when the authors’ video popped up on my feed comparing the friendship here with that of Shawn and Gus from Psych but with dragons. Say no more, added to my tbr immediately.
When I stopped trying to understand the worldbuilding, that’s when I knew I was not going to enjoy the rest of the book. Sad to say, I have never been so bored and I have never cared less about the characters. Though Asher was as charming as advertised.
I found out about this series when the authors’ video popped up on my feed comparing the friendship here with that of Shawn and Gus from Psych but with dragons. Say no more, added to my tbr immediately.
When I stopped trying to understand the worldbuilding, that’s when I knew I was not going to enjoy the rest of the book. Sad to say, I have never been so bored and I have never cared less about the characters. Though Asher was as charming as advertised.
June 6, 2024
This was a fun one! A YA fantasy adventure with a witty voice, fun characters, and dragon riders, but not in quite the same way as a lot of the others. I’m a bit burnt out on dragon stories, but I loved Dragon Thief. Blake and Raven Penn take what could have been a very traditional Dragon rider story and make it so much more. A fast-paced, character driven adventure; a heist story with dragons. Let’s get into it.
Dragon Thief by Blake and Raven Penn
Characters: This book was full of amazing characters. The Penn’s definitely know how to craft engaging, lovable characters that you can’t help but follow.
Asher: I love Asher. He’s witty, he’s confident, and yet he’s emotional underneath it all. He was a super fun character to get into the head of. There were few weird moments where he was flirting with two girls at almost the same time and seemed very unconcerned about it. I wanted a bit more tension as he’s trying to figure out which girl to choose, instead of him just going, “she’s hot, oh she’s also hot” Asher is a very conscientious person and I felt like he would feel a bit worse about his behavior, even if as a teenage boy, he’s absolutely going to continute doing it. He also gets incredibly upset with another member of the group for flirting with two different girls, and I wanted him to possibly realize his own hypocrisy at some point. Small concerns, but things I wanted from Asher.
Elle: I also loved Elle. She enters the story relatively late on, but brings some great energy to things, and yeah, her and Asher? I ship it, okay?
Kai: Great best friend character, kind of the conscience to go with Asher’s chaotic wit. They play off each other really well.
I also loved Valla, Solrac, and Boone. Oh Boone. I listened to the audiobook, and the voice acting for Boone was fantastic.
Worldbuilding/Magic System: The world is well developed. We have the magi, the evil mage hunters and, the Drekai, a group of outside agitants. There are wildshapers and different types of magi galore. They burn ether to use their powers, and the Penn’s do well describing all the different types of magi and their abilities. Asher uses his powers of levitation, while each other magi has their own power, be it wildshaping or reading minds. And when you use magic, you make yourself known to the wild dragons. Since dragons are kinda scary, the people of the world are prejudiced toward magi. They’d prefer not to be dragon dinner, so the magi are outlawed. If you’re caught using magic, you’re either silvermarked (basically a silver tattoo on their face that destroys their magical abilities) or executed. I enjoyed the magic system. It has that everything and the kitchen sink style to it. All sorts of different types of magic coexisting, and it’s just a lot of fun!
Story:
This is a story of parts. You have the team-building, the heist, and Asher’s personal journey to get revenge for his mother’s death. The story moves along at a great pace and I was hooked from the beginning. Asher’s voice is fantastic, and pushes the story along. He has that wit and charisma that all of my favorite characters have. I will say that at the beginning, I wasn’t expecting where the story would take me. I expected Asher to spend most of the story fighting against the evil mage hunters and their leader, The Black Valkyrie, but instead that simmered in the background while Asher and the crew planned out their heist. And I’m glad about it. The team-building and planning was fantastic and kept me thoroughly engaged.
One aspect that did take me out of the story a little bit was some of the switches between 1st and 3rd person POVs. In general, I was more invested in Asher’s 1st person sections, but the 3rd person parts did give us important plot information. There were definitely some plot points that were a bit telegraphed, and I knew what would happen before it did, but that’s how it goes with tropes.
Overall: This was a super fun story. It’s got adventure, humor, action scenes, romance, and some pretty cool magic. I’m looking forward to continuing the series, and you should definitely check this one out!
Dragon Thief by Blake and Raven Penn
Characters: This book was full of amazing characters. The Penn’s definitely know how to craft engaging, lovable characters that you can’t help but follow.
Asher: I love Asher. He’s witty, he’s confident, and yet he’s emotional underneath it all. He was a super fun character to get into the head of. There were few weird moments where he was flirting with two girls at almost the same time and seemed very unconcerned about it. I wanted a bit more tension as he’s trying to figure out which girl to choose, instead of him just going, “she’s hot, oh she’s also hot” Asher is a very conscientious person and I felt like he would feel a bit worse about his behavior, even if as a teenage boy, he’s absolutely going to continute doing it. He also gets incredibly upset with another member of the group for flirting with two different girls, and I wanted him to possibly realize his own hypocrisy at some point. Small concerns, but things I wanted from Asher.
Elle: I also loved Elle. She enters the story relatively late on, but brings some great energy to things, and yeah, her and Asher? I ship it, okay?
Kai: Great best friend character, kind of the conscience to go with Asher’s chaotic wit. They play off each other really well.
I also loved Valla, Solrac, and Boone. Oh Boone. I listened to the audiobook, and the voice acting for Boone was fantastic.
Worldbuilding/Magic System: The world is well developed. We have the magi, the evil mage hunters and, the Drekai, a group of outside agitants. There are wildshapers and different types of magi galore. They burn ether to use their powers, and the Penn’s do well describing all the different types of magi and their abilities. Asher uses his powers of levitation, while each other magi has their own power, be it wildshaping or reading minds. And when you use magic, you make yourself known to the wild dragons. Since dragons are kinda scary, the people of the world are prejudiced toward magi. They’d prefer not to be dragon dinner, so the magi are outlawed. If you’re caught using magic, you’re either silvermarked (basically a silver tattoo on their face that destroys their magical abilities) or executed. I enjoyed the magic system. It has that everything and the kitchen sink style to it. All sorts of different types of magic coexisting, and it’s just a lot of fun!
Story:
This is a story of parts. You have the team-building, the heist, and Asher’s personal journey to get revenge for his mother’s death. The story moves along at a great pace and I was hooked from the beginning. Asher’s voice is fantastic, and pushes the story along. He has that wit and charisma that all of my favorite characters have. I will say that at the beginning, I wasn’t expecting where the story would take me. I expected Asher to spend most of the story fighting against the evil mage hunters and their leader, The Black Valkyrie, but instead that simmered in the background while Asher and the crew planned out their heist. And I’m glad about it. The team-building and planning was fantastic and kept me thoroughly engaged.
One aspect that did take me out of the story a little bit was some of the switches between 1st and 3rd person POVs. In general, I was more invested in Asher’s 1st person sections, but the 3rd person parts did give us important plot information. There were definitely some plot points that were a bit telegraphed, and I knew what would happen before it did, but that’s how it goes with tropes.
Overall: This was a super fun story. It’s got adventure, humor, action scenes, romance, and some pretty cool magic. I’m looking forward to continuing the series, and you should definitely check this one out!
February 19, 2024
2026 review:
Ahh... Now THIS is what YA fantasy is meant to be!
This is a super fun, elaborate fantasy novel involving innate magical abilities, political intrigue, and dragons! No spice, no language, and no excessive violence/gore. There is a sub-plot of romance, but it isn't a major part of the story.
Content considerations:
- This world's main religion revolves around worshipping three goddesses (but it's not a major part of the story, just mentioned as cultural background). One character does pray to the main goddess "just in case". There's also mentions of an afterlife.
- Made up swear words related to Evgard are included; some people also use the goddesses' names to swear
- Multiple characters are mourning their dead parents
- Mentions of alcohol and drinking (the teens do drink but no one ever gets drunks; in fact there's a general consensus that too much alcohol is a very bad thing)
- Human and animal death; some intense battle scenes
- People with magic abilities are treated like second-class citizens, hunted, branded, and even killed
- Some teenage flirtation, kisses, etc. Nothing that felt overboard or unrealistic for teenagers aged 17-19
- (mild spoiler) A mythical group called the Gray Ones are revered/worshipped by at least one character
- (mild spoiler) The villain in the story dabbles in what could be considered black magic, stealing people's souls to gain their magic abilities (this is frowned upon by everyone else)
2024 review:
I randomly stumbled across Dragon Thief in the Kindle store, and I’m so glad I did. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Young adult and fantasy are two genres I very rarely read. They’re usually not my taste, but this book was different. I read somewhere that this book has Eragon and Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes, and that’s totally true. I’d also say it has pretty big Skyrim vibes (which I appreciate!)
The beginning of this book was packed full of world-building, and at first I thought I was going to have trouble keeping up, but it all makes more sense as you keep reading. The fantasy aspects of this book are really unique - the magic types, techniques, and limitations were fascinating to learn about throughout the story.
Another plus for this book is the humor. Lots of wisecracks and good jokes were the perfect ways to break up some of the more serious or complicated sections. I loved the running gag about Asher being a distraction 🤣
Although Asher is great, I think Kai was my favorite character. I felt he had some really good character development in this book, and it’s hard not to admire him when he’s the mastermind behind so many of the group’s plans.
And finally, that plot twist at the end with Solrac… I need to know what happens next!
Looking forward to continuing the series!
Ahh... Now THIS is what YA fantasy is meant to be!
This is a super fun, elaborate fantasy novel involving innate magical abilities, political intrigue, and dragons! No spice, no language, and no excessive violence/gore. There is a sub-plot of romance, but it isn't a major part of the story.
Content considerations:
- This world's main religion revolves around worshipping three goddesses (but it's not a major part of the story, just mentioned as cultural background). One character does pray to the main goddess "just in case". There's also mentions of an afterlife.
- Made up swear words related to Evgard are included; some people also use the goddesses' names to swear
- Multiple characters are mourning their dead parents
- Mentions of alcohol and drinking (the teens do drink but no one ever gets drunks; in fact there's a general consensus that too much alcohol is a very bad thing)
- Human and animal death; some intense battle scenes
- People with magic abilities are treated like second-class citizens, hunted, branded, and even killed
- Some teenage flirtation, kisses, etc. Nothing that felt overboard or unrealistic for teenagers aged 17-19
- (mild spoiler) A mythical group called the Gray Ones are revered/worshipped by at least one character
- (mild spoiler) The villain in the story dabbles in what could be considered black magic, stealing people's souls to gain their magic abilities (this is frowned upon by everyone else)
2024 review:
I randomly stumbled across Dragon Thief in the Kindle store, and I’m so glad I did. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Young adult and fantasy are two genres I very rarely read. They’re usually not my taste, but this book was different. I read somewhere that this book has Eragon and Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes, and that’s totally true. I’d also say it has pretty big Skyrim vibes (which I appreciate!)
The beginning of this book was packed full of world-building, and at first I thought I was going to have trouble keeping up, but it all makes more sense as you keep reading. The fantasy aspects of this book are really unique - the magic types, techniques, and limitations were fascinating to learn about throughout the story.
Another plus for this book is the humor. Lots of wisecracks and good jokes were the perfect ways to break up some of the more serious or complicated sections. I loved the running gag about Asher being a distraction 🤣
Although Asher is great, I think Kai was my favorite character. I felt he had some really good character development in this book, and it’s hard not to admire him when he’s the mastermind behind so many of the group’s plans.
And finally, that plot twist at the end with Solrac… I need to know what happens next!
Looking forward to continuing the series!
February 22, 2024
YYEEEESSSSS!!!!!
This book is so good. SO GOOD!
I love the characters. (Asher in particular. Isn't it lovely when the main character is your favorite?) I like books with a large and varied cast and we definitely have that here!
The worldbuilding is amazing. This world is themed around the dragons, which are AWESOME, but I like how the story revolves around the magic system, which is EVEN MORE awesome! I knew that it was going to be really good from reading The Guide to Evgard in the back of the book, but it exceeded my expectations!
The story itself is great! I really, REALLY didn't want it to end.
I will definitely keep up with these authors. They wanted to write a book their teenage selves would have loved? Well, coming from a teen like I imagine they were, they have SUCCEEDED!
This book is so good. SO GOOD!
I love the characters. (Asher in particular. Isn't it lovely when the main character is your favorite?) I like books with a large and varied cast and we definitely have that here!
The worldbuilding is amazing. This world is themed around the dragons, which are AWESOME, but I like how the story revolves around the magic system, which is EVEN MORE awesome! I knew that it was going to be really good from reading The Guide to Evgard in the back of the book, but it exceeded my expectations!
The story itself is great! I really, REALLY didn't want it to end.
I will definitely keep up with these authors. They wanted to write a book their teenage selves would have loved? Well, coming from a teen like I imagine they were, they have SUCCEEDED!
October 27, 2024
this book is seriously the best thing that could’ve ever ever happened. I’m absolutely obsessed with it.
my seventh grade self, who is obsessed with Percy Jackson series would’ve loved this book🥹🥹
it kept me on my toes the entire book and the plot twists were phenomenal. I laughed, cried, gasped, and often talked back as I listened to the audiobook. I especially loved the audiobook and the voices taking turns for different parts.
guys, I love this book so much that I’m going to buy the hardcopy now because I need for my own personal library.
When I tell you, it had just the right of romance, I mean it. it didn’t distract from the storyline at all, which I loved. and best of all, it was CLEAN!!
I recommend this book to EVERYONE!! 10000/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
my seventh grade self, who is obsessed with Percy Jackson series would’ve loved this book🥹🥹
it kept me on my toes the entire book and the plot twists were phenomenal. I laughed, cried, gasped, and often talked back as I listened to the audiobook. I especially loved the audiobook and the voices taking turns for different parts.
guys, I love this book so much that I’m going to buy the hardcopy now because I need for my own personal library.
When I tell you, it had just the right of romance, I mean it. it didn’t distract from the storyline at all, which I loved. and best of all, it was CLEAN!!
I recommend this book to EVERYONE!! 10000/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 14, 2026
Welp, I feel kinda bad for rating this so low because the husband and wife duo who wrote this seemed so wholesome and sweet when they were advertising their series on Instagram. But this really was not good…
The romance in this book was literally the most shallow stuff I have ever read. The only good part was that it was clean. But characters were kissing and showing deep care for the others after having met one day ago, which is just ridiculous. And there was zero build up or chemistry between them. The only thing that drew characters to each other was THEIR PRETTY APPEARANCES!
Oh and the number of times the phrase “dragonfire green eyes” appeared was just plain annoying. Every time the MC’s eyes were mentioned, so were their specific color (hint hint: dragonfire green). And the fact that it was in first person made it worse.
One good thing: it was clean and had some funny parts. The plot was ok too. But I still want my dollar back.
The romance in this book was literally the most shallow stuff I have ever read. The only good part was that it was clean. But characters were kissing and showing deep care for the others after having met one day ago, which is just ridiculous. And there was zero build up or chemistry between them. The only thing that drew characters to each other was THEIR PRETTY APPEARANCES!
Oh and the number of times the phrase “dragonfire green eyes” appeared was just plain annoying. Every time the MC’s eyes were mentioned, so were their specific color (hint hint: dragonfire green). And the fact that it was in first person made it worse.
One good thing: it was clean and had some funny parts. The plot was ok too. But I still want my dollar back.
January 22, 2026
This book had me in a choke hold from start to finish, with everything from funny banter between characters, emotions that had me on the verge of tears, and captivating fight scenes. I love the main character, Asher, so much. I feel like I can relate to him so much. But most importantly, and the whole reason I read this book in the first place, the dragons! I love how they were portrayed and that there was more than just the classic dragon, but variety. So in short, this has been my favorite read of the month and I can't wait to get to the next book.
June 18, 2026
Cool magic and adventures with dragons is a surefire yes from me! The story itself is lighthearted and fun despite the high stakes, and the authors do a fantastic job of pulling you into the world full of awesome creatures and rival factions.
September 30, 2026
All I can say is this:
WHERE WAS THIS BOOK WHEN I WAS 14?????? Seriously, it was awesome, and was EXACTLY the kind of book that I was looking for back then.
The book is very fast paced, with a likeable cast of characters and delves into a lot of familiar fantasy tropes. It's also a very funny book, and I found myself actually laughing in several parts.
I have only one complaint: Blake & Raven Penn haven't yet perfected time travel to send this book back to 14 year old me.
Five stars. Please add this book to your TBR.
WHERE WAS THIS BOOK WHEN I WAS 14?????? Seriously, it was awesome, and was EXACTLY the kind of book that I was looking for back then.
The book is very fast paced, with a likeable cast of characters and delves into a lot of familiar fantasy tropes. It's also a very funny book, and I found myself actually laughing in several parts.
I have only one complaint: Blake & Raven Penn haven't yet perfected time travel to send this book back to 14 year old me.
Five stars. Please add this book to your TBR.
February 27, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. I know that this book is aimed for a young adult audience but I've always loved fantasy adventure books and this one ticked so many boxes. The main character, Asher, is sassy and confident sometimes too much so, but that's what makes the story interesting. You can tell he's young by his actions which leaves room for growth throughout the story.
Every chapter was filled with adventure and excitement. The author explained the emotions and surroundings well without getting too wordy and losing my interest. It takes a bit to adjust to all of the different types of magi and creatures in the book but the very start of the book includes a wealth of information on all of that so if you find yourself confused or lost you can easily flip back to the beginning and look it over. I gave them a quick read myself before starting the book and didn't find the need to return as they're explained fairly well as you go.
Quick rundown of the plot while avoiding spoilers as much as possible: In this world Magi are hunted as their source of magic is basically food for dragons and thus draws them. Asher, the main character, is a magi who lost his mother to a mage hunter and is determined to get revenge. He tends to get into trouble due to hunting the Black Valarie who was responsible and his best friend Kai often tries to snap him back to reality. They meet up with a group who also seem to be hunting for her while also trying to free the magi from their current oppression.
There are a few different love interests for Asher but not a ton of focus or drama around it, which I like. A few times there are points of tension with it but the story focuses way more on the adventure than the romance side. I found myself making theories about characters and plot to come and while some were a bit predictable, due to context clues, there were still some surprises towards the end of the story. There were no times during the story that I found myself getting bored with the plot as each event led fairly quickly into another.
If you love dragons, magic, and adventure then I'm sure you'll love this book too. I personally am very excited for the next book to release. I'm hoping to see more of both Solrac and Vidya's past as they're both quite interesting characters that I still have some unanswered questions that were teased a bit at the end of this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Every chapter was filled with adventure and excitement. The author explained the emotions and surroundings well without getting too wordy and losing my interest. It takes a bit to adjust to all of the different types of magi and creatures in the book but the very start of the book includes a wealth of information on all of that so if you find yourself confused or lost you can easily flip back to the beginning and look it over. I gave them a quick read myself before starting the book and didn't find the need to return as they're explained fairly well as you go.
Quick rundown of the plot while avoiding spoilers as much as possible: In this world Magi are hunted as their source of magic is basically food for dragons and thus draws them. Asher, the main character, is a magi who lost his mother to a mage hunter and is determined to get revenge. He tends to get into trouble due to hunting the Black Valarie who was responsible and his best friend Kai often tries to snap him back to reality. They meet up with a group who also seem to be hunting for her while also trying to free the magi from their current oppression.
There are a few different love interests for Asher but not a ton of focus or drama around it, which I like. A few times there are points of tension with it but the story focuses way more on the adventure than the romance side. I found myself making theories about characters and plot to come and while some were a bit predictable, due to context clues, there were still some surprises towards the end of the story. There were no times during the story that I found myself getting bored with the plot as each event led fairly quickly into another.
If you love dragons, magic, and adventure then I'm sure you'll love this book too. I personally am very excited for the next book to release. I'm hoping to see more of both Solrac and Vidya's past as they're both quite interesting characters that I still have some unanswered questions that were teased a bit at the end of this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2024
I have to say it was a good story. I liked the characters, and the story was really nice. Overall the book doesn't slow down and it keeps moving along, which I like, as it doesn't get bogged down into intricacies of the world that they describe. Also at the the end of the book, there is a slight guide to the world, in case you're interested in the world of this book. It is a series, and I may pick up the rest as this is one of the small amount of fantasy books that I have read in my life. The characters aren't over-described and have enough writing to make them come alive in the story. The plot is good too, and the ending is good as well, a true bittersweet story that you should definitely check out.
March 24, 2023
I loved this book so much!! I can’t even express how much I recommend it and want everyone to read it and experience the characters and the world of Evgard. The world building is amazing, with a complex magic system that sucked me right in. The authors do a fantastic job of explaining all of the aspects of their world and its magic without it feeling like an info dump. The characters in this book are all so unique and well-written, I felt like I got to know each of them so well! Especially Asher. He’s hilarious and endearing, a perfect narrator. I can’t wait for the second book in this series to be released!
October 6, 2024
Loved it. Highly recommend!
October 5, 2026
So, what can I say about this book? It’s both good and bad. It feels like a book where the authors are learning as they go, which is very likely the case, but I can’t let that make me less objective.
The world is genuinely very enjoyable. What fantasy fan doesn’t love going back to their childhood, when they grew up with dragons as their idea of what fantasy is? From that perspective, I think the book will appeal to a large portion of younger readers, especially teenagers, because of the romance included in the book, although this slightly lowers my rating. I understand that most of them are teenagers, but it’s quite exaggerated how much their hormones seem to affect them.
The plot is somewhat predictable. There were a few decent twists, which makes me feel some desire to pick up the next book, but not immediately, as some other books would make me want to.
As for the characters, I don’t think there is much to say. It’s obvious that this is a book aimed at teenage readers because it follows the usual stereotypical character system.
And now comes the part I’m most conflicted about — the writing style. On one hand, I liked it because the book was extremely easy to read. On the other hand, quite often I noticed some annoying mistakes that feel like the kind of things an author makes when they lack experience. I’m talking about things like unnecessary adjectives, such as “rocky rock” , or breaking one of the important rules of writing a book — avoiding very similar names. For example: Kai and Kari.
The atmosphere throughout the book was generally really good, but I think the authors didn’t know what else to add to the book, and a considerable part of it consists of romantic plotlines that somehow don’t fit into the overall idea. They feel unnecessary and overemphasized. I mean, I don’t have a problem with these kinds of storylines, but not when they take up such a significant percentage of the book. I didn’t like how heavily this particular theme was emphasized. I think that if it had been reduced by half, it would have seriously improved the book.
And that’s it. Not a bad read, but I don’t think it offers enough to make you want to read the entire series. Probably if I’m too lazy to look for a specific dragon book, but I feel like reading something with dragons, this could be a decent choice.
The world is genuinely very enjoyable. What fantasy fan doesn’t love going back to their childhood, when they grew up with dragons as their idea of what fantasy is? From that perspective, I think the book will appeal to a large portion of younger readers, especially teenagers, because of the romance included in the book, although this slightly lowers my rating. I understand that most of them are teenagers, but it’s quite exaggerated how much their hormones seem to affect them.
The plot is somewhat predictable. There were a few decent twists, which makes me feel some desire to pick up the next book, but not immediately, as some other books would make me want to.
As for the characters, I don’t think there is much to say. It’s obvious that this is a book aimed at teenage readers because it follows the usual stereotypical character system.
And now comes the part I’m most conflicted about — the writing style. On one hand, I liked it because the book was extremely easy to read. On the other hand, quite often I noticed some annoying mistakes that feel like the kind of things an author makes when they lack experience. I’m talking about things like unnecessary adjectives, such as “rocky rock” , or breaking one of the important rules of writing a book — avoiding very similar names. For example: Kai and Kari.
The atmosphere throughout the book was generally really good, but I think the authors didn’t know what else to add to the book, and a considerable part of it consists of romantic plotlines that somehow don’t fit into the overall idea. They feel unnecessary and overemphasized. I mean, I don’t have a problem with these kinds of storylines, but not when they take up such a significant percentage of the book. I didn’t like how heavily this particular theme was emphasized. I think that if it had been reduced by half, it would have seriously improved the book.
And that’s it. Not a bad read, but I don’t think it offers enough to make you want to read the entire series. Probably if I’m too lazy to look for a specific dragon book, but I feel like reading something with dragons, this could be a decent choice.
January 19, 2026
I read this as a mix of physical and audio and either way is a great way to go. It was nice to start out with the physical as I got all the world building straight and could flip to the sketchbook style guides to the magic and creatures. The narration is actually done by the authors (they are trained voice actors) and is a duet narration and very well done!
I now have a new YA fantasy series that I can add to my go-to recommendations for teens! This one felt like it was truly written for the teen audience (sometimes YA books feel like they’re written more for adults) and will be one I can recommend easily. It is a very action packed and fast paced story. The magic system and world building is really intriguing and creative. The main character had major Flynn Rider vibes (charming thief with humor and a good heart) which was a lot of fun.
The romance is not my favorite so far as there is a fair amount of kissing people without a lot of depth to the interactions but I guess that kind of fits the teen vibe in some ways. It is definitely still mild in content and doesn't go beyond kissing.
I now have a new YA fantasy series that I can add to my go-to recommendations for teens! This one felt like it was truly written for the teen audience (sometimes YA books feel like they’re written more for adults) and will be one I can recommend easily. It is a very action packed and fast paced story. The magic system and world building is really intriguing and creative. The main character had major Flynn Rider vibes (charming thief with humor and a good heart) which was a lot of fun.
The romance is not my favorite so far as there is a fair amount of kissing people without a lot of depth to the interactions but I guess that kind of fits the teen vibe in some ways. It is definitely still mild in content and doesn't go beyond kissing.
October 3, 2026
This book is well written jibberish (well that is a bit harsh, but that was my initial thoughts directly after finishing it, so I will leave it here).
I sometimes feel like the ideas were thrown in by AI and the sudden change in pace is so great that if you miss a couple of sentences, suddenly the whole situation could be dramatically different.
Edit: I actually forgot that this book was written by 2 authors, this explains the sudden plot and pace changes here and there.
There were a few things I liked in the book, like the language it is written - easy to read and overall enjoyable. I also liked the overall idea of the world. Unfortunately there we a lot more things I disliked about it, I don't want to go into too much details, so not to give away any spoilers here.
Overall I would not really recommend it, unless you are maybe a teenager and don't want to get involved with some of the 'deeper' books of the genre.
I sometimes feel like the ideas were thrown in by AI and the sudden change in pace is so great that if you miss a couple of sentences, suddenly the whole situation could be dramatically different.
Edit: I actually forgot that this book was written by 2 authors, this explains the sudden plot and pace changes here and there.
There were a few things I liked in the book, like the language it is written - easy to read and overall enjoyable. I also liked the overall idea of the world. Unfortunately there we a lot more things I disliked about it, I don't want to go into too much details, so not to give away any spoilers here.
Overall I would not really recommend it, unless you are maybe a teenager and don't want to get involved with some of the 'deeper' books of the genre.
January 16, 2026
This was such a fun first read of the year. The world was so expansive and I loved learning about the different kinds of Magi and Dragons. I also loved our characters Asher was really fun to follow with his playful arrogance yet how loyal and deeply he cared for those around him. I also loved Kai and how he was a unique character more focused on the planning and strategy than being amongst the action. I also did not see the twist coming at all. It is very easy to tell how much the authors love this world with the amount of thought that has gone into the world building and character arcs. I am very much so looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Plus it's about Dragons and that will always get more points from Me!
October 4, 2026
I struggled with this book a lot. I am most certainly not its target audience.
All of the characters felt flat, one-dimensional, and juvenile. There is an overwhelming focus on romance, to the point where everything else seems secondary. And unfortunately, the romance is just… bad. It’s vapid and shallow, with very little sense of genuine connection between the characters. At one point there are so many primary and secondary love interests that it feels like nothing else matters.
The plot doesn’t fare much better. More often than not, for the story to move forward, people have to be stupid or make wildly irrational decisions. It became increasingly difficult to take the characters or their choices seriously.
There are a few saving graces, though. The fight scenes were dynamic and well written, and I genuinely enjoyed both heists, even if they came with their fair share of plot holes.
Overall, this was very much a case of not for me and I won’t be finishing the series.
All of the characters felt flat, one-dimensional, and juvenile. There is an overwhelming focus on romance, to the point where everything else seems secondary. And unfortunately, the romance is just… bad. It’s vapid and shallow, with very little sense of genuine connection between the characters. At one point there are so many primary and secondary love interests that it feels like nothing else matters.
The plot doesn’t fare much better. More often than not, for the story to move forward, people have to be stupid or make wildly irrational decisions. It became increasingly difficult to take the characters or their choices seriously.
There are a few saving graces, though. The fight scenes were dynamic and well written, and I genuinely enjoyed both heists, even if they came with their fair share of plot holes.
Overall, this was very much a case of not for me and I won’t be finishing the series.
September 26, 2026
I want to write an actual review soon, but for now I just had to express how much I LoVeD this read!
World Building was amazing
The characters were so cool
The magic was unique yet similar with its own twists
Then the DRAGONS! Loved loved!
No language, no spice. the only thing was made up curse words.
I already started book two and want to buy physical copies for my shelves.
I feel safe to recommend to ALL!
🎧Audio Review🎧
🐲Dragon Thief by @blakeravenpenn
🐲The Skystone Chronicles, book 1
🐲Narrated by Brad Witbeck and Rylee Haviland (so good! So so good! I loved this Dual Narration! Both phenomenal)
Not only did I absolutely love the narration, but THIS STORY! Wow! It is amazing! Fantastic world building, incredible characters, and creative skills and storyline! I have found a new favorite series! I am completely invested! I loved everything about this story!
17 year old Asher was the coolest dragon-riding thief! His quick thinking and incredible determination made this story! I never knew what to expect from him. I loved his character.
You will find
Danger
Dragons
Incredible powers
Villains
Friendships
Crushes
Elaborate Heists
And Distractions
I truly don’t know how to put into words the amazingness of this story! And to know there is more ahead makes me so happy. I’ve already started book two and I just can’t get enough!
World Building was amazing
The characters were so cool
The magic was unique yet similar with its own twists
Then the DRAGONS! Loved loved!
No language, no spice. the only thing was made up curse words.
I already started book two and want to buy physical copies for my shelves.
I feel safe to recommend to ALL!
🎧Audio Review🎧
🐲Dragon Thief by @blakeravenpenn
🐲The Skystone Chronicles, book 1
🐲Narrated by Brad Witbeck and Rylee Haviland (so good! So so good! I loved this Dual Narration! Both phenomenal)
Not only did I absolutely love the narration, but THIS STORY! Wow! It is amazing! Fantastic world building, incredible characters, and creative skills and storyline! I have found a new favorite series! I am completely invested! I loved everything about this story!
17 year old Asher was the coolest dragon-riding thief! His quick thinking and incredible determination made this story! I never knew what to expect from him. I loved his character.
You will find
Danger
Dragons
Incredible powers
Villains
Friendships
Crushes
Elaborate Heists
And Distractions
I truly don’t know how to put into words the amazingness of this story! And to know there is more ahead makes me so happy. I’ve already started book two and I just can’t get enough!
October 13, 2026
I listened to the audiobook and greatly enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I was so caught up in a story, not wanting to put it down.
It doesn’t hit a full 5 stars for me, though, because the writing itself pulled me out of the story sometimes. It’s very similar to Brandon Sanderson’s books; with its elaborate magic system, Asher’s arc of revenge and hate toward nobles, and the order of Knights of the Torch (Knights Radiant, anyone?).
It’s still fantastic and I love that I could hand this to my younger sisters for them to experience the awesomeness of these things without worrying about some of the more adult content that the Stormlight Archive has.
I think Kai is my favorite character. He reminds me of C3-PO from star wars with the constant risk calculations 😆
Solrac is a close second. Asher is pretty great too, though I hate to admit it because he’s rather full of himself.
It doesn’t hit a full 5 stars for me, though, because the writing itself pulled me out of the story sometimes. It’s very similar to Brandon Sanderson’s books; with its elaborate magic system, Asher’s arc of revenge and hate toward nobles, and the order of Knights of the Torch (Knights Radiant, anyone?).
It’s still fantastic and I love that I could hand this to my younger sisters for them to experience the awesomeness of these things without worrying about some of the more adult content that the Stormlight Archive has.
I think Kai is my favorite character. He reminds me of C3-PO from star wars with the constant risk calculations 😆
Solrac is a close second. Asher is pretty great too, though I hate to admit it because he’s rather full of himself.
August 6, 2025
MAGI…ETHER…DRAGONS…WAR!!
This book was great! The action and adventure was super interesting with plot twists and love triangles to spice it up! The magic system is very complex in this series and it’s really cool! The author gives detailed descriptions of how the magic works and the different types of ways it can be used.
I loved the characters and the Knights of the Torch team! The main character Asher is a talented magi but also is a funny 17 year old boy. Him and his friends bring humor to the story but also a great plot in which they must save the Kingdom from evil.
Highly enjoyed this and can’t wait for book 2 and 3!
Visit skystonechronicles.com for character images, Evgard maps, and the magic system breakdown.
This book was great! The action and adventure was super interesting with plot twists and love triangles to spice it up! The magic system is very complex in this series and it’s really cool! The author gives detailed descriptions of how the magic works and the different types of ways it can be used.
I loved the characters and the Knights of the Torch team! The main character Asher is a talented magi but also is a funny 17 year old boy. Him and his friends bring humor to the story but also a great plot in which they must save the Kingdom from evil.
Highly enjoyed this and can’t wait for book 2 and 3!
Visit skystonechronicles.com for character images, Evgard maps, and the magic system breakdown.
December 1, 2025
The first hundred and fifty or so pages had a large cast and were a bit dry so it was hard to follow
But I really enjoyed the last part and I’m excited to see how the story continues!
But I really enjoyed the last part and I’m excited to see how the story continues!
February 16, 2026
Dragon Thief is the first book in a wonderful YA dragon series. Where you follow Asher a teenage magi on his revenge/ heis quest, while being hunted by mage hunters
I miss the Percy Jackson time when I was a teenager, re-reading them now doesn't give the same vibe as then. So then it's so nice to find books like Dragon Thief that hits almost the same spot years after.
I had a great time in the Penn's world. And with two authors that's writes the same story, it's always gonna be a small worrie if the writing style is gonna somehow crash with each other. I can safely say that Blake and Raven has done a fantastic job with their writing strength and complimenting each other strengths.
The world and magic system is fun and exciting with different types of magi's and dragons, exciting and big places to discover, and adventure along Asher and his companions. You will mostly follow Asher as a main pov, with the side characters jumping in as a brilliant side povs during the story. Also love the best friend dynamic between Asher and Kai, one chaotic and one that calculates everything, but surprisingly works so well together.
Action, adventure, humor, a tad romance and ofc DRAGONS!! You will for sure find something to love here!
I miss the Percy Jackson time when I was a teenager, re-reading them now doesn't give the same vibe as then. So then it's so nice to find books like Dragon Thief that hits almost the same spot years after.
I had a great time in the Penn's world. And with two authors that's writes the same story, it's always gonna be a small worrie if the writing style is gonna somehow crash with each other. I can safely say that Blake and Raven has done a fantastic job with their writing strength and complimenting each other strengths.
The world and magic system is fun and exciting with different types of magi's and dragons, exciting and big places to discover, and adventure along Asher and his companions. You will mostly follow Asher as a main pov, with the side characters jumping in as a brilliant side povs during the story. Also love the best friend dynamic between Asher and Kai, one chaotic and one that calculates everything, but surprisingly works so well together.
Action, adventure, humor, a tad romance and ofc DRAGONS!! You will for sure find something to love here!
March 5, 2023
This first book of a series is awesome! 1. The main characters of the series are freaking crazy. I mean waaay awesomely crazy. So crazy, that their antics are freaking unbelievable! I was hooked by the end of the first paragraph, plus DRAGONS!!! Ok, so there are different kingdoms in the book all under a High King. There are different types of dragons and different types of those who wield the magics of the world. Most people believe that the magics draw in the dragons and other lesser creatures that cause problems. So they have Hunters that hunt those with magic and then they mark them with silver as silver is the only thing that magics can’t cut through.
Now the fight scenes when they use the magics, sheesh they are awesome. I literally read all the crazy awesome fight scenes three times each because i wanted to picture it in my head just right. Reminds me of some of the Dungeons and Dragons movies and stuff like that growing up.
The Knights of the Torch are my heroes, although they are considered rebels to almost everyone else. Although Kari, Kai’s sister isn’t a mage, she can make some really cool weapons. Kai is just really a mage nerd. A very powerful one. Then there is the wyvern Thorn who is fun and my fave and main Character Asher. Now he is absolutely nuts. I mean super nuts but he gets the job done and he is a teen?!
I am totally addicted to this book and can’t wait for the next one! A dragon amount of crazy happens in this book and so much happens and there is a lot of information in it due to the different types of dragons and mages, etc. But so you need to keep a few notes or annotate the book as you go. So worth it! Oh, and wait until you meet Karl! Lol.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Now the fight scenes when they use the magics, sheesh they are awesome. I literally read all the crazy awesome fight scenes three times each because i wanted to picture it in my head just right. Reminds me of some of the Dungeons and Dragons movies and stuff like that growing up.
The Knights of the Torch are my heroes, although they are considered rebels to almost everyone else. Although Kari, Kai’s sister isn’t a mage, she can make some really cool weapons. Kai is just really a mage nerd. A very powerful one. Then there is the wyvern Thorn who is fun and my fave and main Character Asher. Now he is absolutely nuts. I mean super nuts but he gets the job done and he is a teen?!
I am totally addicted to this book and can’t wait for the next one! A dragon amount of crazy happens in this book and so much happens and there is a lot of information in it due to the different types of dragons and mages, etc. But so you need to keep a few notes or annotate the book as you go. So worth it! Oh, and wait until you meet Karl! Lol.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 4, 2023
Blake and Raven Penn state in their bio that they wanted to write something they would have wanted to read as teenagers. Well I’ve just turned sixty and it’s just the kind of thing that I want to read too. Honestly if I could give this more stars I would because it’s marvelous. The world building has had a lot of clever planning go into it, the plot is great and delightfully convoluted and the characters are complex and exciting. I can definitely see this series becoming the next new thing to catch people’s attention. In fact I would be surprised if it doesn’t.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 7, 2026
I jumped into this book with high expectations, but in the words of Agatha Swanburne, "Getting one's hopes up is easy. Getting them down again often requires a ladder." I am sad to say that this book did in fact require a ladder. The worldbuilding was phenomenal, and the plot itself was quite intriguing, but the characters' (romantic) relationships completely overshadowed everything and ruined the book for me. I was not aware of how immature all of the characters would be (including the adults!) in this regard. The main character alone was horrible when it came to changing his mind just because he found a "prettier" girl. (Several comments about how tight-fitting their dresses were was also not appreciated.) And while a huge plot twist at the end did help me see why the authors chose to do this, it was not worth the rather long read to get there. About halfway through the book things began to calm down in that respect, but I am still undecided as to whether I will be reading the next one. I sadly regret purchasing my own copy and instead wish I had requested it from the library, for I most likely will not be reading it again. If overly cocky characters and immature romance are things you enjoy/can tolerate, then you might fare better than I did in this disappointing adventure.
Side note: The excessive fictional swears in this book also made me a bit uncomfortable, especially since they resembled real-life swears quite closely.
Side note: The excessive fictional swears in this book also made me a bit uncomfortable, especially since they resembled real-life swears quite closely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews