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Dragon Kings of Oklahoma #1
Dragon Kings Of Oklahoma: A Backwoods Adventure
They were just two good ol’ boys putting out a fire in the Ouachita mountains. They didn’t expect to find a mother dragon sitting on her brood…
Daisy Collins was born in Oklahoma and he’s gonna die in Oklahoma. But a busted hip means that Daisy can’t hold a steady job and is in danger of losing his family home.
So when Daisy stumbles across a botched scheme to smuggle dragons out of Germany, and his best friend Wild-Eye says these dragon eggs could be the ticket to financial stability, Daisy agrees. How hard could it be to sell off baby dragons?
Very, as it turns out. Everyone wants the dragons - Dusty, the werewolf owner of the local All-Mart; Johanna, a dragon-hunter who’s tracked Germany’s lost national treasures to Oklahoma; and Sheriff Kenny, who’ll do anything to save his town’s tourist-friendly image.
But the biggest threats to his get-rich-quick plan are these adorable, deadly dragons, who Daisy slowly comes to think of as his beloved pets…
The Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is a fast-paced, funny, character-driven novel with lots of action and lots more cute baby dragons.
Daisy Collins was born in Oklahoma and he’s gonna die in Oklahoma. But a busted hip means that Daisy can’t hold a steady job and is in danger of losing his family home.
So when Daisy stumbles across a botched scheme to smuggle dragons out of Germany, and his best friend Wild-Eye says these dragon eggs could be the ticket to financial stability, Daisy agrees. How hard could it be to sell off baby dragons?
Very, as it turns out. Everyone wants the dragons - Dusty, the werewolf owner of the local All-Mart; Johanna, a dragon-hunter who’s tracked Germany’s lost national treasures to Oklahoma; and Sheriff Kenny, who’ll do anything to save his town’s tourist-friendly image.
But the biggest threats to his get-rich-quick plan are these adorable, deadly dragons, who Daisy slowly comes to think of as his beloved pets…
The Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is a fast-paced, funny, character-driven novel with lots of action and lots more cute baby dragons.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2024
16 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Ferrett Steinmetz
50 books290 followersFerrett Steinmetz’s latest novel THE DRAGON KINGS OF OKLAHOMA, a.k.a. "The Tiger King but with baby dragons," will be out in September 2024. He was once nominated for the Nebula, for which he remains moderately stoked, and lives in Cleveland with his very clever wife and an occasionally friendly ghost.
He has become wise enough to no longer spray the world with ill-advised words in blogs or social media, but sporadic updates are posted on his website at www.theferrett.com.
He has become wise enough to no longer spray the world with ill-advised words in blogs or social media, but sporadic updates are posted on his website at www.theferrett.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 22, 2024
Sometimes you pick up a book just because it has a silly title and a funny description. But I am finding more and more those books often tend to be surprisingly deep, for sure still funny, but tackle things I wasn't expecting going in and appreciate seeing (see also Strange Love by Ann Aguirre). This book fits that bill directly.
It is really funny and a good time. Though it does have a couple of very specific cultural references that will date the book rather quickly (Netflix, Lady A, etc.), they are not excessive as others books I have seen where I had to put them down for trying to be too hip. More just a forewarning to people who don't like pop culture in their books.
What I most liked about this book was how well it shifted back and forth from jokes about dragons and living in the country to very real and frank discussions about how capitalism has deeply impacted rural America. Discussions of how there are no real winners but at least people have empathy for each other and about hoarding of power.. Additionally, the character roster showed the real diversity you can get in a rural town, with secondary characters being queer, BIPOC, and indigenous. Everyone knows everything about everyone but not everyone cares and people leave well enough alone. I think if you haven't experienced much of rural America, this is actually a pretty reasonable glimpse from some of the towns I have been to in the past. Overall, a shorter fun read that left me feeling good after for having picked up.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.
It is really funny and a good time. Though it does have a couple of very specific cultural references that will date the book rather quickly (Netflix, Lady A, etc.), they are not excessive as others books I have seen where I had to put them down for trying to be too hip. More just a forewarning to people who don't like pop culture in their books.
What I most liked about this book was how well it shifted back and forth from jokes about dragons and living in the country to very real and frank discussions about how capitalism has deeply impacted rural America. Discussions of how there are no real winners but at least people have empathy for each other and about hoarding of power.. Additionally, the character roster showed the real diversity you can get in a rural town, with secondary characters being queer, BIPOC, and indigenous. Everyone knows everything about everyone but not everyone cares and people leave well enough alone. I think if you haven't experienced much of rural America, this is actually a pretty reasonable glimpse from some of the towns I have been to in the past. Overall, a shorter fun read that left me feeling good after for having picked up.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.
August 19, 2024
I received this as an Arc on NetGalley and when I signed up I thought “Ok, a magical redneck dragon book this could be fun” I was not prepared for the meth references and oxy addicted townsfolk haha. However to my surprise I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, almost realistic in some references and may have single-handedly pulled me out of my reading funk. It is a fast paced read that I found well written. The cover art gave me old school fantasy vibes which also helped draw me in. I am eager to read the next book!
August 18, 2024
*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Growing up as a dragon lover in BFE, I was really excited to read this book. While there were a few plot points that left me questioning the author's choices, overall, it was a fun, quick read with silly characters and lovable dragons.
I give it 3.5 stars
Growing up as a dragon lover in BFE, I was really excited to read this book. While there were a few plot points that left me questioning the author's choices, overall, it was a fun, quick read with silly characters and lovable dragons.
I give it 3.5 stars
October 1, 2024
I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This book is wild. I keep showing people the cover. Despite the eyebrow raises or the "what the heck" responses, all of them wanted to know the premise. So, if the cover intrigues you, give it a shot because it's almost exactly what you think it is.
This book is very fun. It’s quick-paced, funny, has a premise I have never seen before, and strides that balance between teasing and redefining a culture. The two characters are both stereotypical "hicks" and also not stereotypical at all. They revel in the parts of themselves that they see as “good old boys” but reject the stuff such people are often assumed to be by outsiders - gut nuts, homophobic, etc. The book also has a huge plotline surrounding the opioid crisis, which I thought was handled in a way that was sensitive and balanced. It doesn't blame people but also advocates for determined self-detox. It also broaches other important topics, like the poverty cycle, disability, and unemployment. This serves to give the story weight but not tamp down on the fun aspects.
The world building was a little light. I wasn’t sure why dragons only existed in Germany, and it wasn’t clear how prevalent magical stuff was in the world and how magic factored into the way society functioned. Then again, the dragons themselves were an absolute joy.
The one thing I wasn’t sure about was the genre. It’s a fantasy, for sure, and it’s a bit of a comedy, but not really, and it’s cozy but there’s violence, so it kind of strides all these lines. I think it managed to pull these things off without having them compete or contrast. I would be tempted to call it a romp.
The prose is fun. It’s a very fast read, as it’s dialogue-heavy, but when there are action scenes, they are described well and are very fun (there’s a dragon truck chase ... twice!). The book provides what you need to understand the story and the characters, but I wouldn’t call it deep. Yet, I wouldn’t want it to be deep.
The characters are fun, especially Daisy and his buddy Wild-Eye. The best thing about Wild-Eye is that he’s self-admittedly unattractive, yet he somehow manages to get all the guys in town. Yes, Wild-Eye is gay, which was a wonderful bit of inclusion as it wasn’t something I was expecting.
Overall, this is a novel about sticking by your friends and sticking up for what is right. It was heartfelt and fun, and I very much enjoyed it. A great beach read.
This book is wild. I keep showing people the cover. Despite the eyebrow raises or the "what the heck" responses, all of them wanted to know the premise. So, if the cover intrigues you, give it a shot because it's almost exactly what you think it is.
This book is very fun. It’s quick-paced, funny, has a premise I have never seen before, and strides that balance between teasing and redefining a culture. The two characters are both stereotypical "hicks" and also not stereotypical at all. They revel in the parts of themselves that they see as “good old boys” but reject the stuff such people are often assumed to be by outsiders - gut nuts, homophobic, etc. The book also has a huge plotline surrounding the opioid crisis, which I thought was handled in a way that was sensitive and balanced. It doesn't blame people but also advocates for determined self-detox. It also broaches other important topics, like the poverty cycle, disability, and unemployment. This serves to give the story weight but not tamp down on the fun aspects.
The world building was a little light. I wasn’t sure why dragons only existed in Germany, and it wasn’t clear how prevalent magical stuff was in the world and how magic factored into the way society functioned. Then again, the dragons themselves were an absolute joy.
The one thing I wasn’t sure about was the genre. It’s a fantasy, for sure, and it’s a bit of a comedy, but not really, and it’s cozy but there’s violence, so it kind of strides all these lines. I think it managed to pull these things off without having them compete or contrast. I would be tempted to call it a romp.
The prose is fun. It’s a very fast read, as it’s dialogue-heavy, but when there are action scenes, they are described well and are very fun (there’s a dragon truck chase ... twice!). The book provides what you need to understand the story and the characters, but I wouldn’t call it deep. Yet, I wouldn’t want it to be deep.
The characters are fun, especially Daisy and his buddy Wild-Eye. The best thing about Wild-Eye is that he’s self-admittedly unattractive, yet he somehow manages to get all the guys in town. Yes, Wild-Eye is gay, which was a wonderful bit of inclusion as it wasn’t something I was expecting.
Overall, this is a novel about sticking by your friends and sticking up for what is right. It was heartfelt and fun, and I very much enjoyed it. A great beach read.
September 2, 2024
This book was the equivalent of trash reality TV in the best way. It hooks your attention and doesn’t let go until you realize that the book is done. Fair warning, though, reliance on OxyContin is referenced many times for those that are sensitive to that subject. For a book that you go in knowing not to take to seriously, I was impressed by the depth of the story. There’s a likable cast of diverse characters that are dealing with fairly complex underlying issues not counting the dragon problem. I also loved the relationship between Daisy and Ace. They formed such a sweet bond. There’s also so many comedic aspects that help offset the darker themes. Overall, I was surprised by how much I ended up loving this, would definitely recommend it, and can’t wait for book two.
✨
✨
eARC courtesy of Netgalley and Victoria Editing Co-op
✨
✨
eARC courtesy of Netgalley and Victoria Editing Co-op
September 3, 2024
I don't even know where to start with this. This was the best book I have read in a long time. It was witty, a little TV style trashy, a whole lot of unexpected depth. This book has it all AND it has dragons. I went into this with zero expectations. What I found was a pretty compelling story of a backwoods town full of the kinda community spirit everyone should experience. A whole lot of guns and shenanigans and a surprisingly tender string of moments. This book hits some really heavy topics including drug addiction, cheating, torture, domestic abuse (between dragons), animal trafficking and death of a parent (off page). I think that they were all done well, as someone who has dealt with a few of these things in real life I didn't feel that they triggered me as much as they normally would. The surprisingly tenderness and love between Daisy and Ace was really something and I did find myself getting a little teary eyed at the end. I cannot wait to read book two and Steinmetz has a new fan for life.
August 23, 2024
Okay, this book caught my attention initially because of the cover, but one I started reading I was pleasantly surprised by how captivating “Dragon Kinds of Oklahoma” was.
This story follows Daisy, a “six-two shithouse of aging muscle, a fine mullet…”. He was injured in a work accident leaving him permanently disabled. Even with having to deal with his disability and other mental health issues, Daisy tries to live a better life. One day, Daisy and his best friend Wild-Eye go put out a fire, as volunteer firefighters, in the mountains. However, they quickly stumble in the middle of a huge dragon smuggling scheme. They quickly realize that there is a profit to be made with the dragon.. this is where Daisy’s story begins.
Going in to this I thought this was going to be laugh out loud, knee slapping funny, but there was a lot more serious topics covered. With Daisy going through so much and his friends having their own troubles too, this read brought attention to the situations most small towns go through. There were definitely moments where one of the characters reminded me of someone from my small town.. it is relatable in that sense. I was captured by the story and the interaction with the Dragons too. There were funny moments and even better quips from the side characters.
This was a pleasant story and enjoyable to see the growth Daisy goes through. However, it wasn’t my favorite but it wasn’t at all bad. I enjoyed my time reading and with the characters (definitely the dragons). I just don’t see myself continuing into the next book or rereading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Ferrett Steinmetz for the opportunity to read this and for the ARC.
Final rating: 3 stars ✨
Tropes:
LGBTQIA+ rep
Magic
Disability rep
Found Family
Dragons
This story follows Daisy, a “six-two shithouse of aging muscle, a fine mullet…”. He was injured in a work accident leaving him permanently disabled. Even with having to deal with his disability and other mental health issues, Daisy tries to live a better life. One day, Daisy and his best friend Wild-Eye go put out a fire, as volunteer firefighters, in the mountains. However, they quickly stumble in the middle of a huge dragon smuggling scheme. They quickly realize that there is a profit to be made with the dragon.. this is where Daisy’s story begins.
Going in to this I thought this was going to be laugh out loud, knee slapping funny, but there was a lot more serious topics covered. With Daisy going through so much and his friends having their own troubles too, this read brought attention to the situations most small towns go through. There were definitely moments where one of the characters reminded me of someone from my small town.. it is relatable in that sense. I was captured by the story and the interaction with the Dragons too. There were funny moments and even better quips from the side characters.
This was a pleasant story and enjoyable to see the growth Daisy goes through. However, it wasn’t my favorite but it wasn’t at all bad. I enjoyed my time reading and with the characters (definitely the dragons). I just don’t see myself continuing into the next book or rereading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Ferrett Steinmetz for the opportunity to read this and for the ARC.
Final rating: 3 stars ✨
Tropes:
LGBTQIA+ rep
Magic
Disability rep
Found Family
Dragons
September 3, 2024
I have been a fan of Ferret for quite awhile and have read most of his books. That being said, I really didn't know what to expect with this book based on the premise.
I really enjoyed the book and it read very quick. The characters were fun and if you grew up in a small town, they definitely reminded you of people you knew back home. I would call it fun popcorn fiction where it doesn't take itself too serious and you'll come out having had a fun little escape while reading.
I really enjoyed the book and it read very quick. The characters were fun and if you grew up in a small town, they definitely reminded you of people you knew back home. I would call it fun popcorn fiction where it doesn't take itself too serious and you'll come out having had a fun little escape while reading.
August 28, 2024
Thanks so much to Victory Editing and Netgalley for providing me with an arc!
I requested this book because im a sucker for everything that has a dragon, and the description sounded fun. I got exactly what i wanted and more. This book was also surprisingly deep and heartfelt. Steinmetz is good at navigating back and forth between jokes about dragons and living in the rural country side, to very real everyday problems: capitalism for example. How tourism can negatively impact a whole town and all of its citizens. How even tho it feels like there are, there are no real winners. No one truly gains anything and the only way you're able to push through is with some good old helping hands. Community! Was also really nice to see some diversity in a rural town, something you can never get enough off!
All in all a really nice kinda supernatural, rural town, with dragons read!
Excited to see where this series will go!
I requested this book because im a sucker for everything that has a dragon, and the description sounded fun. I got exactly what i wanted and more. This book was also surprisingly deep and heartfelt. Steinmetz is good at navigating back and forth between jokes about dragons and living in the rural country side, to very real everyday problems: capitalism for example. How tourism can negatively impact a whole town and all of its citizens. How even tho it feels like there are, there are no real winners. No one truly gains anything and the only way you're able to push through is with some good old helping hands. Community! Was also really nice to see some diversity in a rural town, something you can never get enough off!
All in all a really nice kinda supernatural, rural town, with dragons read!
Excited to see where this series will go!
August 25, 2024
This cover is everything. How could I have not asked for an ARC?
We are following Daisy and his friend Wild-Eye as they are headed to put out a fire in the woods as the towns' volunteer firemen. When they get there, they find the surprise of a lifetime. A dragon! Better yet, she is sitting on a nest of eggs. (We will ignore poor Goose, who is burnt to a crisp on the floor of the camper). Soon, they come up with a scheme to sell the baby dragons to make some quick cash. Too bad it won't be that easy.
This was so fun! I loved the backwoods, small town setting. The humor was great. Our main characters had lots of heart, and of course, baby dragons.
I have already pre-ordered the second book, and can't wait to read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
We are following Daisy and his friend Wild-Eye as they are headed to put out a fire in the woods as the towns' volunteer firemen. When they get there, they find the surprise of a lifetime. A dragon! Better yet, she is sitting on a nest of eggs. (We will ignore poor Goose, who is burnt to a crisp on the floor of the camper). Soon, they come up with a scheme to sell the baby dragons to make some quick cash. Too bad it won't be that easy.
This was so fun! I loved the backwoods, small town setting. The humor was great. Our main characters had lots of heart, and of course, baby dragons.
I have already pre-ordered the second book, and can't wait to read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2024
Mullet ✅
Beat up, past it’s prime truck ✅
Porn stash ✅
Cut off sleeves ✅
Cute baby dragon ✅
If those aren’t elements that entice you into picking up a book, we may not have the same taste in light hearted reads. Add in the main character being a dudes-dude named Daisy, with an oxy problem and a queer lifelong bff, who lives in a podunk town in Oklahoma with a sudden dragon influx and clearly this book has the makings to be the best can’t look away, good time from a book one might have all year. It had my immature sense of humor laughing over and over again. Being a satire, no one is supposed to take this book too seriously. Even still, the characters are extremely likable. It kind of felt like the hillbilly version of Twyla and Frank to me.
I found this book to be a fun time. I’m not mad I took the time to read it with my eyeballs - and that’s saying something. There is a strong addiction theme (specifically to OxyContin) so please keep that in mind when deciding if this book is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Ferrett Steinmetz, for this eARC.
Beat up, past it’s prime truck ✅
Porn stash ✅
Cut off sleeves ✅
Cute baby dragon ✅
If those aren’t elements that entice you into picking up a book, we may not have the same taste in light hearted reads. Add in the main character being a dudes-dude named Daisy, with an oxy problem and a queer lifelong bff, who lives in a podunk town in Oklahoma with a sudden dragon influx and clearly this book has the makings to be the best can’t look away, good time from a book one might have all year. It had my immature sense of humor laughing over and over again. Being a satire, no one is supposed to take this book too seriously. Even still, the characters are extremely likable. It kind of felt like the hillbilly version of Twyla and Frank to me.
I found this book to be a fun time. I’m not mad I took the time to read it with my eyeballs - and that’s saying something. There is a strong addiction theme (specifically to OxyContin) so please keep that in mind when deciding if this book is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Ferrett Steinmetz, for this eARC.
September 3, 2024
What comes to your mind when you hear about rural Oklahoma? A town with barely 500 residents, the protagonist Daisy's family long lost their farmland to the bank, him waiting on a decision on his disability payments after an accident at a local meet-processing factory years ago and side-hustling as a dealer of prescription drugs as the only source of sustenance... Until one day, in the ashes of a fire he attended to as the town's volunteer firefighter, Daisy finds a dragon with five eggs about to hatch.
Because, you know, this is also a world where there are all kinds of magical creatures. Druids. Werewolves. And dragons. But the latter ones native exclusively to Germany's Black Forest mountains, carefully protected by a very serious special corps and strict international laws, since there's great interest for dragon eggs in the black market.
So, that seems to be Daisy's chance to finally make it: sell the eggs, salvage his house from the bank, and start a family. But the plan appears to be not as bullet-proof as initially thought, and very soon everybody is after our guy and his dragons: the sheriff, the local criminal boss whom the dragons were bound to be delivered initially, and the German Drachensichern corps. Oh, and Daisy starts doubting being able to part with the dragons because of the special bond he makes with the unexpected "pets."
This is a hilarious combination of these seemingly mutually foreign things. And that's not even that much a combination of rural Oklahoma with the dragon story but more so the fantasy adventure with the satire on the struggles in a capitalist exploitative society. And the combination of the aesthetics of this setting that cries "rednecks" with its every detail with a surprisingly inclusive ethics of the story. (I still haven't reached a final thought on what this latter discrepancy does in terms of a further-fetched cultural message, but that's outside the scope of this brief review).
And it's also nicely short. Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that it's badly written or anything so I am glad that it's not a long read. Quite to the contrary: by abandoning the current seemingly ubiquitous longing to reach the 300+ page range to be called a novel, this story is extremely well-paced, no scenes leaving the uneasy feeling of lack of understanding why they were necessary here.
There's a second installment announced, and I will definitely be on the lookout for that!
4.5 stars
I have been provided with a free eARC of this book through Netgalley, which I am grateful for; the review about is my fully independent opinion of it.
Because, you know, this is also a world where there are all kinds of magical creatures. Druids. Werewolves. And dragons. But the latter ones native exclusively to Germany's Black Forest mountains, carefully protected by a very serious special corps and strict international laws, since there's great interest for dragon eggs in the black market.
So, that seems to be Daisy's chance to finally make it: sell the eggs, salvage his house from the bank, and start a family. But the plan appears to be not as bullet-proof as initially thought, and very soon everybody is after our guy and his dragons: the sheriff, the local criminal boss whom the dragons were bound to be delivered initially, and the German Drachensichern corps. Oh, and Daisy starts doubting being able to part with the dragons because of the special bond he makes with the unexpected "pets."
This is a hilarious combination of these seemingly mutually foreign things. And that's not even that much a combination of rural Oklahoma with the dragon story but more so the fantasy adventure with the satire on the struggles in a capitalist exploitative society. And the combination of the aesthetics of this setting that cries "rednecks" with its every detail with a surprisingly inclusive ethics of the story. (I still haven't reached a final thought on what this latter discrepancy does in terms of a further-fetched cultural message, but that's outside the scope of this brief review).
And it's also nicely short. Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that it's badly written or anything so I am glad that it's not a long read. Quite to the contrary: by abandoning the current seemingly ubiquitous longing to reach the 300+ page range to be called a novel, this story is extremely well-paced, no scenes leaving the uneasy feeling of lack of understanding why they were necessary here.
There's a second installment announced, and I will definitely be on the lookout for that!
4.5 stars
I have been provided with a free eARC of this book through Netgalley, which I am grateful for; the review about is my fully independent opinion of it.
September 17, 2024
Really a 4.5. Funny, cute, fast-moving, and yet also (like other of Steinmetz's work) sliding in more serious themes like poverty and addiction and disability. It's an odd combination, dragons and good ol' boys, druid powers and light drug dealing, but like the wonderful cover, it really works.
Genrewise, this is magical realism - dragons and druids and shifters are things that are part of the world and known and accepted as much as you'd accept the laws of physics and the FDA. Daisy's got some druid powers from his absent mom, a house he can only barely afford to keep, a bum hip, an oxy habit, a ladyfriend he's been veeeery slowly kinda-courting, and a reputation as a ne'er do well. Luckily, he's also got a good best friend, and he's about to make more when he and Wild Eye stumble upon the remains of a dragon-smuggling ring. What starts as a half-baked scheme to make some money off their new charges instead turns into a desperate fight to protect them from the crime boss that smuggled them, the authorities they were smuggled away from, and another dragon that also wants them back. Everything moves pretty fast here, and there were definitely some places where I felt a bit more description or worldbuilding explanation wouldn't have gone amiss, but overall the quick pace kept everything moving along and I rooted for Daisy and Wild Eye and Turkey and Ace the whole time.
Overall, the book just vibes well. Daisy's voice is well done, in that his internal monologue explains some things like you would to a new person in town, but some of the rest he just leaves there, because it's common knowledge to him. This is a sign of a really nicely done character voice, for me, so I did not at all mind that I had to look up what "yee yee" meant. I'm not sure if the author is from or spent time in the area, but Daisy and Wild Eye and the rest of the Douay citizens provide a wonderfully underused and authentic-feeling backwoods town for this book to take place in. The repeated references to Turkey's reactions as a "battered wife" sort of figure struck me as a bit odd (in that it stuck a very human template onto the behavior of nonhuman characters), but I could appreciate the theme even if I thought it needed a bit more to support it.
Absolutely the most original $3 book I've read this year. Already pre-ordered the next in the series.
(Content warnings: this book contains discussion of drug dependence, animal abuse, domestic violence among non-human characters, and some described but not gratuitous torture.)
Genrewise, this is magical realism - dragons and druids and shifters are things that are part of the world and known and accepted as much as you'd accept the laws of physics and the FDA. Daisy's got some druid powers from his absent mom, a house he can only barely afford to keep, a bum hip, an oxy habit, a ladyfriend he's been veeeery slowly kinda-courting, and a reputation as a ne'er do well. Luckily, he's also got a good best friend, and he's about to make more when he and Wild Eye stumble upon the remains of a dragon-smuggling ring. What starts as a half-baked scheme to make some money off their new charges instead turns into a desperate fight to protect them from the crime boss that smuggled them, the authorities they were smuggled away from, and another dragon that also wants them back. Everything moves pretty fast here, and there were definitely some places where I felt a bit more description or worldbuilding explanation wouldn't have gone amiss, but overall the quick pace kept everything moving along and I rooted for Daisy and Wild Eye and Turkey and Ace the whole time.
Overall, the book just vibes well. Daisy's voice is well done, in that his internal monologue explains some things like you would to a new person in town, but some of the rest he just leaves there, because it's common knowledge to him. This is a sign of a really nicely done character voice, for me, so I did not at all mind that I had to look up what "yee yee" meant. I'm not sure if the author is from or spent time in the area, but Daisy and Wild Eye and the rest of the Douay citizens provide a wonderfully underused and authentic-feeling backwoods town for this book to take place in. The repeated references to Turkey's reactions as a "battered wife" sort of figure struck me as a bit odd (in that it stuck a very human template onto the behavior of nonhuman characters), but I could appreciate the theme even if I thought it needed a bit more to support it.
Absolutely the most original $3 book I've read this year. Already pre-ordered the next in the series.
(Content warnings: this book contains discussion of drug dependence, animal abuse, domestic violence among non-human characters, and some described but not gratuitous torture.)
September 16, 2024
Now this was just delightful. This urban fantasy is set not in a city but a country: small town, backwoods Oklahoma. It's a place with small town problems: wildfires caused by backwoods meth-cooking, having to deal in Oxy to get by because your disability is being held up and denied for no reason, thugs running the place out of the local all-mart, corrupt cops, everyone knowing each other's secrets. Except the thug who runs everything is a werewolf, and the protagonist and his best pal, "Daisy" and "Wild-Eye", the local volunteer fire-fighters, just found a dragon he smuggled into the country. And the dragon, of course, is also a metaphor for abusive relationships of the kind very familiar to small-town folks like Daisy.
It's incredibly fun and extremely hard to put down. Everything has respect for this small-town culture even while showing the problems there, the characters are charming and flawed, and the dangers are very real. People get hurt, badly, and I was never entirely sure how it was going to work out -- even while I was very sure it WOULD work out in some way.
My only issue with it was that a lot of time things worked out without the characters necessarily having put in the work -- characters coming by and instantly being on board with plans, or helping out before the protagonists could even ask for help. Likewise, the convenience occasionally comes through in the narration; Daisy will be thinking about something, and another character will immediately pivot to talking about that thing without it being prompted aloud (though that could be them knowing Daisy well). I like Daisy a lot, and I can see why a character would be into him, but I'm not sure why Lily specifically was -- not that I doubt the relationship, but I'd have loved to see more specifically about the specific things she liked in him. But none of these stopped it being incredibly readable, nor were the stakes ever lowered.
Queer content: I originally picked this up because I saw it was queer and thought the name was going to be a reference to the protagonists being drag kings, which they are not! It's just coincidental. Wild-Eye is gay -- and a great character, by the way. Just mentioning it because I imagine other people might make the same assumption!
Fantastic read, really great. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
It's incredibly fun and extremely hard to put down. Everything has respect for this small-town culture even while showing the problems there, the characters are charming and flawed, and the dangers are very real. People get hurt, badly, and I was never entirely sure how it was going to work out -- even while I was very sure it WOULD work out in some way.
My only issue with it was that a lot of time things worked out without the characters necessarily having put in the work -- characters coming by and instantly being on board with plans, or helping out before the protagonists could even ask for help. Likewise, the convenience occasionally comes through in the narration; Daisy will be thinking about something, and another character will immediately pivot to talking about that thing without it being prompted aloud (though that could be them knowing Daisy well). I like Daisy a lot, and I can see why a character would be into him, but I'm not sure why Lily specifically was -- not that I doubt the relationship, but I'd have loved to see more specifically about the specific things she liked in him. But none of these stopped it being incredibly readable, nor were the stakes ever lowered.
Queer content: I originally picked this up because I saw it was queer and thought the name was going to be a reference to the protagonists being drag kings, which they are not! It's just coincidental. Wild-Eye is gay -- and a great character, by the way. Just mentioning it because I imagine other people might make the same assumption!
Fantastic read, really great. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
September 14, 2024
As the author himself describes it, Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is Tiger King with dragons. Daisy & Wild-Eye are volunteer firefighters and drug couriers in the small town of Douay, Oklahoma. They're called out to a fire at a camper, and find the camper completely demolished with the owner charred right along with it. They also find a mama dragon guarding five little dragon eggs. Daisy just so happens to have a touch of druid in him, thanks to his absentee mama, and is able to communicate with the dragon that they don't want to hurt her. She's cooperative, and Daisy & Wild-Eye agree to hatch the dragon eggs and sell the wyrmlings for a tidy profit.
The only problem is, dragons are native to Germany (and only Germany) and the German government is VERY protective of their animals. Before long, there's a member of Germany's Dragon Guard sniffing around Douay trying to find out where their missing heritage animal has gone. Actually, that's not the only problem. Because the dragon was being held on behalf of Dusty Schneider, the owner of the town's All-Mart, supplier of all the Oxy making its way through that part of Oklahoma, and Daisy's boss. Oh, and he's a werewolf. And he is pissed that his prize dragon has gone missing, and when he finds out who has the dragon and her eggs, he is going to take it out of their hide. Literally.
Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is a fast-paced adventure fantasy set in a small town hit hard by the opioid crisis. The characters feel like people you might bump into at the local bar, and the town feels lived in, even as the author casually mentions monocles that detect lies and dragons that took place in the World Wars. Daisy faces real-world issues like his own addiction to Oxycontin (and the workplace injury that got him the prescription in the first place) while also dealing with a werewolf crime boss and a very angry dragon. Ferrett Steinmetz is an imaginative world-builder, and his latest work continues that excellence. Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is the first of a trilogy, and all three are being released in the next few months. So if you wanted a new fun fantasy series to dive into, I have a suggestion for you!
The only problem is, dragons are native to Germany (and only Germany) and the German government is VERY protective of their animals. Before long, there's a member of Germany's Dragon Guard sniffing around Douay trying to find out where their missing heritage animal has gone. Actually, that's not the only problem. Because the dragon was being held on behalf of Dusty Schneider, the owner of the town's All-Mart, supplier of all the Oxy making its way through that part of Oklahoma, and Daisy's boss. Oh, and he's a werewolf. And he is pissed that his prize dragon has gone missing, and when he finds out who has the dragon and her eggs, he is going to take it out of their hide. Literally.
Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is a fast-paced adventure fantasy set in a small town hit hard by the opioid crisis. The characters feel like people you might bump into at the local bar, and the town feels lived in, even as the author casually mentions monocles that detect lies and dragons that took place in the World Wars. Daisy faces real-world issues like his own addiction to Oxycontin (and the workplace injury that got him the prescription in the first place) while also dealing with a werewolf crime boss and a very angry dragon. Ferrett Steinmetz is an imaginative world-builder, and his latest work continues that excellence. Dragon Kings of Oklahoma is the first of a trilogy, and all three are being released in the next few months. So if you wanted a new fun fantasy series to dive into, I have a suggestion for you!
August 27, 2024
Overall, Dragon Kings of Oklahoma was good, solid, entertaining fun. Steinmetz does a great job of telling a story in an engaging yet easy-to-follow way. The way he builds a cast of townspeople and structures an adventure around them reminds me of the Sookie Stackhouse series, and he includes some great queer, disability, and POC rep that is often missing from these sorts of stories.
However, the redneck rep isn't quite as accurate as it could be. The casual drug use, appreciation for guns and hunting, and love of good food was on point, but the word "yee yee" was overused and I don't think there was a single mention of bonfires, four-wheelers, or camo. Overall, I got the feeling that Steinmetz doesn't really have a lot of first-hand experience with that sort of thing, but the broad stereotypes were still amusing enough.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However, the redneck rep isn't quite as accurate as it could be. The casual drug use, appreciation for guns and hunting, and love of good food was on point, but the word "yee yee" was overused and I don't think there was a single mention of bonfires, four-wheelers, or camo. Overall, I got the feeling that Steinmetz doesn't really have a lot of first-hand experience with that sort of thing, but the broad stereotypes were still amusing enough.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2024
I didn't quite know what to expect going into a book with such a title. I was honestly pleasantly surprised! This book is funny, heartwarming, crazy and completely wild. You get dragons, druids, werewolves, and the plentiful tom foolery. Just about everyone is addicted to opioids and our main characters are of course dealers. The town is in the pocket of a greedy werewolf and when he decides to deal in illegal, highly guarded animals that are safeguarded by the Germans, things go really wrong, really fast.
If you enjoy dark humor, satire and a good story, this book is for you. I found myself growing attached to not just the dragons and wyrmlings, but the main characters as well! The battle scenes were intense and the plot was well thought out. I had a hard time putting this book down and fully plan on picking up the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of The Dragon Kings of Oklahoma!
If you enjoy dark humor, satire and a good story, this book is for you. I found myself growing attached to not just the dragons and wyrmlings, but the main characters as well! The battle scenes were intense and the plot was well thought out. I had a hard time putting this book down and fully plan on picking up the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of The Dragon Kings of Oklahoma!
August 14, 2024
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: satire, fantasy
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼♀️: fast
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: Tiger King but lovable criminals with a mild pill problem
⚠️: it's a satire. The humor is dark. An entire town is hooked on oxy
When I say I cackled...
“You can’t hand a bunch of yee-yees something dangerous and not expect them to turn it into a toy.”
This was incredibly funny, well-written, and just what I needed. I cannot put this into a box- it's satire, fantasy, there's a quest to hide and save some baby dragons, a town full of questionable hicks, and some true backwoods battles.
I adored the little baby dragons. The imprinting bond with the MMC. The queer hick rep. The lovable pill poppers and the small town vibes.
Hysterical and wildly entertaining.
I absolutely will be continuing this series.
Thank you for the advanced copy. I really needed this in my life 😂
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼♀️: fast
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: Tiger King but lovable criminals with a mild pill problem
⚠️: it's a satire. The humor is dark. An entire town is hooked on oxy
When I say I cackled...
“You can’t hand a bunch of yee-yees something dangerous and not expect them to turn it into a toy.”
This was incredibly funny, well-written, and just what I needed. I cannot put this into a box- it's satire, fantasy, there's a quest to hide and save some baby dragons, a town full of questionable hicks, and some true backwoods battles.
I adored the little baby dragons. The imprinting bond with the MMC. The queer hick rep. The lovable pill poppers and the small town vibes.
Hysterical and wildly entertaining.
I absolutely will be continuing this series.
Thank you for the advanced copy. I really needed this in my life 😂
September 3, 2024
This fun & fast-paced sitcom is sweeter than a coffee milkshake. Ferrett's imagination is vast, ecompassing a werewolf managing a Walmart (All-Mart, whatever) & an 800-year-old DV-addicted dragon. Read this book so you can learn some excellent new insults & gain some insight (dare I hope for compassion?) into drug addiction.
I am curious to know what Oklahomans (particularly, self-identified Yee-Yees) think of his characters. To me (neither an Oklahoman nor a Yee-Yee), I feel Ferrett has given his characters complexity: they are loyal (except when they betray each other), clannish (except that worthy outsiders can earn their respect), struggling to make ends meet (& yet displaying open-handed generosity). The end result of my speed-read through this novel is that I tried to look up Douay, Oklahoma on Google Maps & was somewhat disappointed to learn it doesn't exist.
I am curious to know what Oklahomans (particularly, self-identified Yee-Yees) think of his characters. To me (neither an Oklahoman nor a Yee-Yee), I feel Ferrett has given his characters complexity: they are loyal (except when they betray each other), clannish (except that worthy outsiders can earn their respect), struggling to make ends meet (& yet displaying open-handed generosity). The end result of my speed-read through this novel is that I tried to look up Douay, Oklahoma on Google Maps & was somewhat disappointed to learn it doesn't exist.
September 8, 2024
This cover 100% caught my eye. I love old school covers like this one.
I started the book expecting a quick, lighthearted read, which it was! Quite funny with good-hearted characters that find themselves in some silly circumstances. A small, rural town steeped in community. Just regular ole' people trying to live their lives in a world much like our own, except with dragons and other creatures.
I was surprised by the depth in here-it's a commentary of sorts on living in rural America, which has its own issues. Nestled in these pages are issues like drug addiction and poverty. And there is an understanding of rural diversity which I believe is far more accurate than not. Somehow the author managed to include all of this without making the story feel bogged down or heavy. I really enjoyed it. 🐉
I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley.
I started the book expecting a quick, lighthearted read, which it was! Quite funny with good-hearted characters that find themselves in some silly circumstances. A small, rural town steeped in community. Just regular ole' people trying to live their lives in a world much like our own, except with dragons and other creatures.
I was surprised by the depth in here-it's a commentary of sorts on living in rural America, which has its own issues. Nestled in these pages are issues like drug addiction and poverty. And there is an understanding of rural diversity which I believe is far more accurate than not. Somehow the author managed to include all of this without making the story feel bogged down or heavy. I really enjoyed it. 🐉
I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley.
September 4, 2024
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting a lot of Dragon Kings of Oklahoma. Curiosity got the best of me especially after someone told me that they actually enjoyed it…
And well I absolutely loved it. It was completely different than I expected. It was hilarious and I really liked the story and the characters….especially the dragons ❤️.
The ending made me drop a star. I wasn’t a huge fan. And I didn’t think anything supernatural was needed. I’ll definitely pick up the next book. I can’t wait to visit Douay again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ferrett Steinmetz
for a copy of Dragon Kings of Oklahoma in exchange of an honest review.
And well I absolutely loved it. It was completely different than I expected. It was hilarious and I really liked the story and the characters….especially the dragons ❤️.
The ending made me drop a star. I wasn’t a huge fan. And I didn’t think anything supernatural was needed. I’ll definitely pick up the next book. I can’t wait to visit Douay again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ferrett Steinmetz
for a copy of Dragon Kings of Oklahoma in exchange of an honest review.
September 10, 2024
It wasn't nearly enough. I wanted more! This was a great, fast paced, well-written introduction to a fantastical version of Oklahoma - one with druids and dragons alongside pickup truck-driving yokels and weekend community breakfasts at Momma's. There is a broad spectrum of characters, a lead with a painkiller addiction, and definitely no 'gays being buried' here. Looking forward to the next instalment! But 'kaboomdle', Ferrett? Really? 😆
September 14, 2024
One of the most entertaining spoofs of every action packed thriller you've ever read. I laughed as the characters blundered their way through the trials, tribulations.....and of course, dragons......that life threw at them everyday. I recognized far too many of the towns and characters for my comfort....I'm not sure the book does much for the reputation of Oklahoma and/or it's residents, but it was certainly a different tale to be told.
September 16, 2024
4⭐ for the fun of it 😂
This is such a fun, quick read to mix it up a bit.
You've got a small, backwoods town in Oklahoma with a drug problem, some smuggled German dragons and a likable MMC who's a pill-popping redneck, half-druid named Daisy.
Honestly, it was a lot of fun, I see great potential for the series and look forward to future books!
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review.
This is such a fun, quick read to mix it up a bit.
You've got a small, backwoods town in Oklahoma with a drug problem, some smuggled German dragons and a likable MMC who's a pill-popping redneck, half-druid named Daisy.
Honestly, it was a lot of fun, I see great potential for the series and look forward to future books!
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review.
September 5, 2024
Oh, such a great story! What a wonderful, relatable world
I read this in under 24 hours. Spoiler, there is a sequel coming.
Oh, what a great story.
I have never seen a world of dragons and modern American country folk in the same book- world. Add druids and small town life.
Highly recommend.
I read this in under 24 hours. Spoiler, there is a sequel coming.
Oh, what a great story.
I have never seen a world of dragons and modern American country folk in the same book- world. Add druids and small town life.
Highly recommend.
September 27, 2024
A charming, fast-paced read with cute dragons. The worldbuilding is pleasant enough, German names are funny, but in a whimsical instead of facepalmy way. The characters don't have much depth, but are sketched out just enough to be enjoyable.
Hopefully in next books everyone gets more than one or two character traits, but for this book it was just enough of everything.
Hopefully in next books everyone gets more than one or two character traits, but for this book it was just enough of everything.
November 5, 2024
Daisy wasn’t expecting to find a dragon when he and Wild-Eye were putting out a fire…and he certainly wasn’t expecting that dragon to have eggs that were about to hatch. Now, he’s hiding dragons from a German dragon-hunter and a local werewolf, and things are getting a little bit chaotic.
This book took me so long to finish, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was fun and quirky. I loved the dragons, especially Ace. The characters felt really well developed and the plot kept a nice pace throughout the entire book. Overall, it was really creative and well done.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.
This book took me so long to finish, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was fun and quirky. I loved the dragons, especially Ace. The characters felt really well developed and the plot kept a nice pace throughout the entire book. Overall, it was really creative and well done.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 2, 2024
Ridiculously Enjoyable
I definitely recommend buying and reading this book. Only problem is you'll need a block of time because you're not going to want to put it down. It's funny and heartwarming and touches on a serious real life issue with grace and kindness.
I definitely recommend buying and reading this book. Only problem is you'll need a block of time because you're not going to want to put it down. It's funny and heartwarming and touches on a serious real life issue with grace and kindness.
November 10, 2024
Recent Reads: The Dragon Kings Of Oklahoma. Ferrett Steinmetz's rural fantasy channels Justified, only from the other side of the lines. Two small-scale oxy dealers find themselves the guardians of a brood of baby dragons, a brood that's very much in demand. It takes a village and then some.
January 2, 2025
This was a fast, satisfying and pure fun read. I needed a change of pace and wow this was one— I will absolutely be spending more time reading about the challenges that arise if a dragon is loose in rural Oklahoma.
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