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Her people fled underground to escape dragons, monsters, and other humans. Now, the only thing that might save them is to embrace the thing they fear most. Can dragons lift Lisbeth and her people from the dark depths to the light of the sun?The first book in an epic dragon rider series from international bestselling author Jada Fisher.Lisbeth is the unacknowledged daughter of a noble in the subterranean city of Kyerchov, but that has given her no advantages in life. Quite the opposite, in fact. She spends her days sneaking to the ruins of an ancient city on the surface, braving monsters and dangerous beasts to look for scrap she can sell in the underground city. When she finds a dragon, an injured woman, and a mysterious egg, she is faced with a choice that could destroy her people. But it might also be the only way to save them.

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2024

961 people are currently reading
199 people want to read

About the author

Jada Fisher

98 books162 followers
Jada Fisher is the pen name used by Dave and Shannon VanBergen for co-authored fantasy projects. By working with multiple other talented authors, it allows them to share a wide variety of stories.

Dave publishes science fiction and fantasy stories under his real, full name, David J. VanBergen Jr..

Shannon is a USA Today Bestselling Author who publishes cozy mysteries under her real name, Shannon VanBergen.

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5 stars
476 (55%)
4 stars
248 (28%)
3 stars
113 (13%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
268 reviews8 followers
August 24, 2025
Lisbeth heard a human scream. “All of her instincts told her that she needed to run—immediately—but if another scrapper was in trouble, her mind told her she should help.”

What a crazy world she’d been born into, where humans hid deep underground for centuries to survive after dragons and barbarians and unimaginable “beasties” wreaked murder and destruction on the Dome where their ancestors had thrived above ground. However, we never actually meet any dragons!

Rejected by her aristocratic father as his illegitimate child, Lisbeth was forced to live in the dangerous ruined upper levels of Kyerchov among the poor orphans and forgotten elderly, hoping to survive another day through the scrap goods she retrieved from the long-abandoned city above ground. As she fled gangsters and flying predators, she found within her a strange sort of calm clarity that analyzed her environment and made firm decisions, knowing that “no matter what she did, she would either live or she wouldn’t. That was it.”

This story will captivate your imagination as you fight for this underdog who knows people deserve so much more than her society provides. Her big heart pushes her forward with the protective care of a superhero and the body of an undersized malnourished teenager. You’ll love her! It’s a sort of fantasy/Sci fi blend of survival fiction. The ending suggests a move into more trending dragon fantasy, but this world-building story stands well alone.
151 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2024
This was an interesting story

The background reality that the story takes place in is of a world of surviving by not being noticed by the oppressors who have destroyed their home. The survivors have been forced into living beneath the ruins of their former city and scavenging for resources from the ruin.The heroine is a scrapper who discovers something unique,that could change everything
Profile Image for Larry.
3,080 reviews18 followers
February 16, 2024
The story started out slow for maybe two pages, then it ratcheted up to a breakneck pace from then on to the end. The characters are fascinating, the peril the poor people are faced with every waking hour, and that is just in the underground city itself. Going up to the surface is ten times worse! The plot is straightforward, and the premise is for the main character to live long enough to survive and help her fellow orphans. I most definitely recommend this book!
Profile Image for Megan.
142 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2024
A Book That Makes You Yearn For The Next!

This was one of the most entrancing intro to a series I’ve read. (I read every day, since a very young age.) That said, I’m leaving you to continue on…

Okay, quick huzzahs for character creation, World creation within an already fascinating world (!) and for setting up what I expect to bet one of the best series yet. Dragon lovers, Post apocalyptic fans, tales of rags to riches fanciers - this book series is for all of you!

Enjoy!
Profile Image for June.
413 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2025
This book took a bit long to get interesting simply because you -the reader-were being introduced to Lisbeth,her extended family and her various 'adventures' of scapping to survive. Its a day to day type of survival until one day when Lisbeth is on top she comes across a strange woman in who is in a very bad way. Against her better judgement(the woman is a foreigner) Lisbeth takes her home where
the story really begins.
1 review
June 10, 2025
don’t start unless you buy the whole series…

…and, even then, i don’t know if IT leaves you hanging. It’s not a “series”, it’s a continuation. The story line just stops. Buy the next book or you’ll never know. For that matter, THIS series is a sequel to an earlier series which I assume ended leaving the connection hanging until you start this one.
331 reviews
June 27, 2025
Rough life with many pitfalls

Until the end I wasn't sure were this story was going but I kept reading to find the Dragon. It's a very rough life in this savaged world with no room for the poor. One brave young girl would make any parent very proud. Of course her only parent refuses to except her into his household.
Profile Image for Trippentigger.
348 reviews4 followers
April 22, 2024
So far so good

Welp, here’s to another series added to the reading list, cheers. Written very well, with a pace and story that finds you at the end in a blink, hooked without even knowing it.
35 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2024
great story

So different from the usual dragon books but that makes it so WONDERFUL! Drawn in page by page. I couldn’t put it down until it was the end and I am going straight to Amazon.com to buy the next one right after I finish this review!
Profile Image for Merhlynne.
277 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2024
A Very Interesting Story!

I love reading Jada’s work. And since I’ve read so many of her books, I have been wondering as to WHEN this book takes place in relation to her other works, or if it is even related in any way. Hmmmmm.

Need to read the next book! ;p
Profile Image for Jo.
373 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2024
interesting story

There was a lot of pain and love in this 1st book of the series.
I loved getting to know Lisbeth. Her courage, kindness and dedication to her friends. Highly recommended.
79 reviews
September 1, 2024
I loved this sort of dystopian world. It was a bit hard for me to picture the world the story is in but it is well written. The characters are interesting and the main fmc is young, but tough. I'm looking forward to the next. Onwards...
7 reviews
January 14, 2025
dragons return

Great little story reminds me of a couple of sci fi movies all combined into one story dragons, mysteries of a desolate world after a cataclysmic war and a heroine. What more could you ask for
79 reviews
May 30, 2025
Lisbeth is a very interesting character and reading her story has quite gotten me drawn into the storyline. I started reading because I like dragon tales and now I’ve finished the first book and no dragons
Hmm
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
71 reviews
June 1, 2025
where’s the Dagon?

The story is wonderful! However, I almost gave up on the book when I saw I’d reached 80% of the book without a dragon in sight. I sincerely hope this isn’t the case for all the books in the series. Bless you and thank you.’’
58 reviews
May 7, 2024
Just love Jada Fisher books

I have yet to read a book written by Jada Fisher that I didn't love. And this book is the same. Guaranteed to keep you interested from beginning to end.
30 reviews
July 1, 2024
Great start!

Really gripping, I've become really invested in the storyline and the characters. The writing really takes me to where the characters are - I'm enjoying it a lot
Profile Image for Stephen Levesque.
2,808 reviews
July 22, 2024
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
2 reviews
August 7, 2024
Awesome

I've missed the world of dragons so this was a wonderful return to that world. I'll be buying the new ones too.
Profile Image for Rick Waddington.
29 reviews
March 26, 2025
Great book

The characters are introduced slowly but in a very interesting way to keep you reading. I can't wait for the next one.
239 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2025
This felt like a really long prologue without enough oomph, but the world building was so vivid that I will try book 2.
Profile Image for Rosanna Clark.
9 reviews
May 14, 2025
Enjoyed it

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the adventure of it and they way she has learned more about how much she has grown.
120 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2025
Well written

My first read from this surhor. Will definitely read more, including starting the next volume in this series today! Chores can wait a bit...
Profile Image for Grandads Shed.
2 reviews
June 26, 2025
Exciting reading

Wonderful story telling gets you right into the story, couldn't put the book down. Cannot wait to read the next chapter,
Profile Image for Sue Jacobson.
15 reviews
July 21, 2025
Fast Read

The story is good and moves quickly thru a very interesting landscape. I enjoyed so much that I am going to read the whole series.
Profile Image for Joan Lloyd.
Author 56 books56 followers
July 31, 2025
Wonderful. Great characters and a cliff hanger, of a sort, at the end leading into the next book..I"m looking forward to it.
130 reviews
December 12, 2025
poor in coin yet wealthy in family

This heroine has somehow learned valuable social skills, yet she has little purpose to her life. She lives to protect her family.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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