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The Dragon's Tooth
Dark forces are trying to overthrow the Seven Kingdoms. Can Calderon, the orphaned Kusarku prince, master a powerful magical weapon—and learn to trust his own abilities—in time to save his race and others?
After the devastating Grey War and the death of their beloved king and queen, the Kusarkus, descendants of minotaurs, reluctantly relinquished their independence and accepted the “generous protection” of the elves. Since then, Calderon, the only heir to the Kusarku throne, has had to hide his true identity. But when the Seven Kingdoms come under attack by unknown forces and the Kusarku are blamed, the young prince must journey to the human capital of Alezadria to defend his race and accept the responsibility of his birthright. If not the Kusarku, though, then who is leading the hordes of goblins and trolls against innocent citizens? And who can Calderon trust, even within his own kingdom?
To aid in his struggle against evil, Calderon’s adoptive father, Bard, presents him with one half of his father’s powerful magical sword – The Dragon’s Tooth. Working together with his friends, can Calderon master the legendary obsidian weapon and his own magical abilities in time to save the Seven Kingdoms?
After the devastating Grey War and the death of their beloved king and queen, the Kusarkus, descendants of minotaurs, reluctantly relinquished their independence and accepted the “generous protection” of the elves. Since then, Calderon, the only heir to the Kusarku throne, has had to hide his true identity. But when the Seven Kingdoms come under attack by unknown forces and the Kusarku are blamed, the young prince must journey to the human capital of Alezadria to defend his race and accept the responsibility of his birthright. If not the Kusarku, though, then who is leading the hordes of goblins and trolls against innocent citizens? And who can Calderon trust, even within his own kingdom?
To aid in his struggle against evil, Calderon’s adoptive father, Bard, presents him with one half of his father’s powerful magical sword – The Dragon’s Tooth. Working together with his friends, can Calderon master the legendary obsidian weapon and his own magical abilities in time to save the Seven Kingdoms?
Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 15, 2025
5 Stars – A Riveting Adventure with Heart and Depth
The Dragon's Tooth is an exhilarating journey through a vividly constructed world filled with rich characters, fast-paced action, and poignant themes. From the very first page, I was hooked. The world-building is masterfully done, drawing you into a landscape that's as enchanting as it is dangerous. The author skillfully blends magic, mystery, and a growing sense of global peril.
At the heart of the story is Calderon, a protagonist who feels incredibly real – he’s relatable, heartfelt, and brave in the face of overwhelming odds. His friendship with Kyle, his cheeky and adventurous lifelong companion, is a standout element of the story. Full of charming banter, innocence, and a depth of loyalty that makes their journey together all the more meaningful.
The book opens with a thrilling woodland encounter that sets the stage for a whirlwind adventure. The action doesn't let up, escalating quickly from a simple encounter in the woods to a global threat. Calderon, Kyle, and their new friends – Sara and Anna – travel to Alezadria to meet King Adam, where they soon discover that nothing is quite as it seems. The pace is relentless, and the stakes continually rise.
Despite being just over 60,000 words, The Dragon's Tooth is packed with excitement, intrigue, and emotion. It feels very much like the first book in a series, with plenty of room for future developments. I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment and hope it continues to delve deeper into the darkness that has been hinted at. There’s so much potential for the story to grow, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Though it may seem like a YA novel, The Dragon's Tooth tackles serious themes such as racial differences and discrimination, which are as relevant today as ever - themes explored with sensitivity and depth.
In conclusion, The Dragon's Tooth is a fantastic read for fans of fantasy who enjoy fast-paced action, strong character development, and thought-provoking themes. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to seeing what’s next in the series
The Dragon's Tooth is an exhilarating journey through a vividly constructed world filled with rich characters, fast-paced action, and poignant themes. From the very first page, I was hooked. The world-building is masterfully done, drawing you into a landscape that's as enchanting as it is dangerous. The author skillfully blends magic, mystery, and a growing sense of global peril.
At the heart of the story is Calderon, a protagonist who feels incredibly real – he’s relatable, heartfelt, and brave in the face of overwhelming odds. His friendship with Kyle, his cheeky and adventurous lifelong companion, is a standout element of the story. Full of charming banter, innocence, and a depth of loyalty that makes their journey together all the more meaningful.
The book opens with a thrilling woodland encounter that sets the stage for a whirlwind adventure. The action doesn't let up, escalating quickly from a simple encounter in the woods to a global threat. Calderon, Kyle, and their new friends – Sara and Anna – travel to Alezadria to meet King Adam, where they soon discover that nothing is quite as it seems. The pace is relentless, and the stakes continually rise.
Despite being just over 60,000 words, The Dragon's Tooth is packed with excitement, intrigue, and emotion. It feels very much like the first book in a series, with plenty of room for future developments. I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment and hope it continues to delve deeper into the darkness that has been hinted at. There’s so much potential for the story to grow, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Though it may seem like a YA novel, The Dragon's Tooth tackles serious themes such as racial differences and discrimination, which are as relevant today as ever - themes explored with sensitivity and depth.
In conclusion, The Dragon's Tooth is a fantastic read for fans of fantasy who enjoy fast-paced action, strong character development, and thought-provoking themes. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to seeing what’s next in the series
September 13, 2025
The Dragon’s Tooth follows Calderon, an orphaned prince, as he sets out to meet with King Adam to save his peoples reputation and to ensure the kingdom comes together to face the threat knocking at their door!
Along the way we learn about Calderon’s family and a strange weapon left by his father. How does he use it? and can he live up to his fathers image? There’s also a strange power just lying under the surface, can Calderon harness it safely?
The Dragon’s Tooth is an epic coming of age tale where the threat of attacks starts a landslide of change for young Calderon!
What I really loved was the pace versus the word count, the book isn’t overly wordy but the author didn’t rush anything and let the story unfold at a steady pace. The author even manages to pack in the detail needed to imagine the world and the people we meet along the way vividly!
Being a YA novel I felt the author really managed bring the story to life well whilst also tackling difficult topics such as exploring the differences between the races, prejudices and the struggle to feel self worth. What makes it even better is that it’s a natural flowing tale allowing the reader to stop to ponder their own feelings without feeling like the author forced you there..
I loved seeing Calderon grow, seeing him deal with different events and not only that but also navigating relationships as we meet new characters along the way.
Overall The Dragon’s Tooth is a epic tale, smart plot with well developed foundations. Ticks all the boxes! 5*
Along the way we learn about Calderon’s family and a strange weapon left by his father. How does he use it? and can he live up to his fathers image? There’s also a strange power just lying under the surface, can Calderon harness it safely?
The Dragon’s Tooth is an epic coming of age tale where the threat of attacks starts a landslide of change for young Calderon!
What I really loved was the pace versus the word count, the book isn’t overly wordy but the author didn’t rush anything and let the story unfold at a steady pace. The author even manages to pack in the detail needed to imagine the world and the people we meet along the way vividly!
Being a YA novel I felt the author really managed bring the story to life well whilst also tackling difficult topics such as exploring the differences between the races, prejudices and the struggle to feel self worth. What makes it even better is that it’s a natural flowing tale allowing the reader to stop to ponder their own feelings without feeling like the author forced you there..
I loved seeing Calderon grow, seeing him deal with different events and not only that but also navigating relationships as we meet new characters along the way.
Overall The Dragon’s Tooth is a epic tale, smart plot with well developed foundations. Ticks all the boxes! 5*
August 27, 2025
The Dragon’s Tooth is a fantastically paced YA fantasy that is a joy to read. Coward has a wonderful ability when it comes to worldbuilding and they enjoyably interlace this within the plot. Calderon is a fantastic protagonist and one of the rare ones in YA fantasy that while he does have ‘The Chosen One’ quality he is relatable and more importantly likable. I am not sure if it’s because I’m technically out of the YA age bracket but sometimes protagonists can feel a bit much, either they fully resist, are too ‘perfect’ or it just seems like an easy way to get the protagonist to be, well the protagonist. I didn’t feel like that was the case here. Calderon is very real. You quickly get invested in his quest and also get invested in his friends as well.
The action is fantastic and the pace is just right. It’s not too fast but keeps going at a pace that there doesn’t seem to be a lull in the story with filler or side quests as it were. As already mentioned the world building is fab and I was a little jealous at how well Coward did it! If you grew up with the Forgotten Realms, Warhammer/Black Library or Dragonlance books you will love this one. If you enjoy things like Dungeons and Dragons it’s also a must. But also if you enjoy stories like Percy Jackson and the like or are looking for a really solid fantasy you need look no further.
As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
The action is fantastic and the pace is just right. It’s not too fast but keeps going at a pace that there doesn’t seem to be a lull in the story with filler or side quests as it were. As already mentioned the world building is fab and I was a little jealous at how well Coward did it! If you grew up with the Forgotten Realms, Warhammer/Black Library or Dragonlance books you will love this one. If you enjoy things like Dungeons and Dragons it’s also a must. But also if you enjoy stories like Percy Jackson and the like or are looking for a really solid fantasy you need look no further.
As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
February 17, 2025
The Dragon’s Tooth is a perfectly paced fantasy story with delightful characters worth investing in. I loved the team building element which is such a fun part of fantasy. I felt like I was putting together my team as the story progressed! Ha!
Calderon is a young prince looking to live up to the powerful king his father was before he was felled in battle years before. When strange attacks start happening near Calderon’s peaceful home, Calderon suddenly finds himself on a journey full of new allies, new dangers, and a mystery to unravel, all while he must figure out how to use the mystical weapon once owned by his father.
The author has a keen sense of worldbuilding and manages to craft the setting without being overbearing. I loved the different races in the story: elves, goblins, dwarves, humans, and more, and the theme of coming together to overcome evil. I loved the main character Calderon. He seemed perfectly crafted as a boy growing into a man and leader throughout the story. He struggled with his role, but was able to gain his footing and lead his crew by the end.
This story had plenty of action, strong, interesting characters, and plot that kept pulling me along. Set up perfectly for future stories, I am excited for more of this adventure!
Calderon is a young prince looking to live up to the powerful king his father was before he was felled in battle years before. When strange attacks start happening near Calderon’s peaceful home, Calderon suddenly finds himself on a journey full of new allies, new dangers, and a mystery to unravel, all while he must figure out how to use the mystical weapon once owned by his father.
The author has a keen sense of worldbuilding and manages to craft the setting without being overbearing. I loved the different races in the story: elves, goblins, dwarves, humans, and more, and the theme of coming together to overcome evil. I loved the main character Calderon. He seemed perfectly crafted as a boy growing into a man and leader throughout the story. He struggled with his role, but was able to gain his footing and lead his crew by the end.
This story had plenty of action, strong, interesting characters, and plot that kept pulling me along. Set up perfectly for future stories, I am excited for more of this adventure!
August 30, 2025
Oh, this was such a good read. It may be classed as a YA Fantasy but I'm an Old Adult and I loved it. I also think this would be great for lovers of cosy fantasy too) although there is a distinct lack of baked goods which seems to be a key aspect of cosies!
This took me longer to read as every time I read the main character's name, Calderon, my brain sang a certain line from a very well known Red Hot Chilli Peppers song (if you know you know).
I loved the characters, each one brought something to the table, no filler characters. It was also refreshing to read a book with dark elves, given they are always painted as the goody two shoes in pretty much every fantasy, I loved that.
Intriguing from the very beginning and the mystery laced all the way through. The writing style was brilliant, very immersive, and while there were plenty of descriptions to take you deep into their world, it wasn't endless descriptions added purely to increase the page numbers.
YA fantasy fantasy and cosy fantasy readers, you really need to read this book!
This took me longer to read as every time I read the main character's name, Calderon, my brain sang a certain line from a very well known Red Hot Chilli Peppers song (if you know you know).
I loved the characters, each one brought something to the table, no filler characters. It was also refreshing to read a book with dark elves, given they are always painted as the goody two shoes in pretty much every fantasy, I loved that.
Intriguing from the very beginning and the mystery laced all the way through. The writing style was brilliant, very immersive, and while there were plenty of descriptions to take you deep into their world, it wasn't endless descriptions added purely to increase the page numbers.
YA fantasy fantasy and cosy fantasy readers, you really need to read this book!
November 29, 2025
This is a rather interesting story with a hero you can't help but keep rooting for.
The world building is great, I generally don't read fantasy, but this was definitely worth the read.
There was a lot of amusing dialogue and this is great for young adults branching into fantasy reads.
In my humble and slightly unpopular opinion the pacing could have been a bit faster, and some aspects could be polished a little more.
Some parts were a little repetitive and others felt over explained which made them feel heavy.
Now let me clarify I'm giving it 3 stars purely because I feel like it's a great story but needs a bit more done for a perfect, seamless execution.
I like this story, but it isn't my top 10.
Me giving it 3 stars is not because I didn't like it, just that I feel it needs a bit of a finer polish to really make it stand out.
However, I am excited to know what Benjamin Coward does next.
If you love fantasy and political antics, then you'll definitely enjoy it.
The world building is great, I generally don't read fantasy, but this was definitely worth the read.
There was a lot of amusing dialogue and this is great for young adults branching into fantasy reads.
In my humble and slightly unpopular opinion the pacing could have been a bit faster, and some aspects could be polished a little more.
Some parts were a little repetitive and others felt over explained which made them feel heavy.
Now let me clarify I'm giving it 3 stars purely because I feel like it's a great story but needs a bit more done for a perfect, seamless execution.
I like this story, but it isn't my top 10.
Me giving it 3 stars is not because I didn't like it, just that I feel it needs a bit of a finer polish to really make it stand out.
However, I am excited to know what Benjamin Coward does next.
If you love fantasy and political antics, then you'll definitely enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
“The Dragon’s Tooth” begins with an exciting and intriguing peek into the dark forces at work in young Kusarku Calendron’s world. The YA novel then moves into Cal’s meeting with a troll hunter and two mysterious dwarves and his subsequent adventures.
I appreciate the author’s attention to detail in clothing, world-building and weaponry. He even describes what it would be like to climb or cross wet rocks with hooves and the smells, sounds, and sensations of battle. The coming-of-age moments with the three likeable and well-developed main characters are relatable and amusing.
Central to the story is the tale of a sword called The Dragon’s Tooth, told first by Kusarku elder Darm and experienced later by Cal. His weapons training progression moves at a believable pace, and his journey culminates in a thrilling outcome that sets the stage for book two.
I appreciate the author’s attention to detail in clothing, world-building and weaponry. He even describes what it would be like to climb or cross wet rocks with hooves and the smells, sounds, and sensations of battle. The coming-of-age moments with the three likeable and well-developed main characters are relatable and amusing.
Central to the story is the tale of a sword called The Dragon’s Tooth, told first by Kusarku elder Darm and experienced later by Cal. His weapons training progression moves at a believable pace, and his journey culminates in a thrilling outcome that sets the stage for book two.
August 30, 2025
I was very surprised by this book. It was pitched as a young adult, fantasy, and a standalone - all things I enjoy reading, but it was also only 186 pages, so you never know what you will get with that. I am still not completely sold that this is a standalone though - while pitched that way and no series associations online, I felt like this was a good start to a series.
I really enjoyed that the main character isn’t human but a descendant of the minotaurs. This was a refreshing change from the typical fantasy hero, he is still pretty green and has a lot of reservations about what lies ahead. The adventure was engaging, and the trouble across the lands gave the plot enough climax points to string the reader along. I felt that the worldbuilding struck a nice balance of being both believable and distinctly fantastical. While I wanted a bit more description, it was a shorter book, it was also enough to tell the tale so to speak.
The book does a great job of setting the stage for what’s to come, especially as Calderon begins to uncover his heritage and face the challenges ahead of him. I wanted a needed a bit more resolution here... and hope that the series does continue. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for something with fantasy, diverse population dynamics, action and adventure this could be a great book to pick up.
I really enjoyed that the main character isn’t human but a descendant of the minotaurs. This was a refreshing change from the typical fantasy hero, he is still pretty green and has a lot of reservations about what lies ahead. The adventure was engaging, and the trouble across the lands gave the plot enough climax points to string the reader along. I felt that the worldbuilding struck a nice balance of being both believable and distinctly fantastical. While I wanted a bit more description, it was a shorter book, it was also enough to tell the tale so to speak.
The book does a great job of setting the stage for what’s to come, especially as Calderon begins to uncover his heritage and face the challenges ahead of him. I wanted a needed a bit more resolution here... and hope that the series does continue. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for something with fantasy, diverse population dynamics, action and adventure this could be a great book to pick up.
September 1, 2025
For a relatively short book (under 200 pages) this one certainly packs a punch.
One of the most important aspects of a fantasy book is world building and this books really delivers on this as it does on amazing character development.
This is a true hero’s quest tale with a wonderful cast of elves, goblins, and dwarves.
The MC and hero of the story, Calderon must join with allies to complete his quest and ultimately overcome evil.
I hope this book becomes a series as I would love to read more about this world and these characters.
Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours and the author for the free review copy.
One of the most important aspects of a fantasy book is world building and this books really delivers on this as it does on amazing character development.
This is a true hero’s quest tale with a wonderful cast of elves, goblins, and dwarves.
The MC and hero of the story, Calderon must join with allies to complete his quest and ultimately overcome evil.
I hope this book becomes a series as I would love to read more about this world and these characters.
Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours and the author for the free review copy.
August 28, 2025
I think I may have just found a new favourite author 👀
The Dragon’s Tooth is a gorgeously written YA fantasy. The world building is brilliant, in such a short amount of time (this book is under 200 pages!!), I felt as though I really got to know the world within this story, as well as the characters! The pacing was perfect, with lots of fun action and amusing moments. The MC, Calderon felt quite relatable, and had lots of coming of age moments.
I can’t wait for book 2!
The Dragon’s Tooth is a gorgeously written YA fantasy. The world building is brilliant, in such a short amount of time (this book is under 200 pages!!), I felt as though I really got to know the world within this story, as well as the characters! The pacing was perfect, with lots of fun action and amusing moments. The MC, Calderon felt quite relatable, and had lots of coming of age moments.
I can’t wait for book 2!
April 6, 2026
If adventure, magic, distant lands and the seven kingdoms needing a hero… this is your YA choice.
September 10, 2025
This is my first read by this author and at first look, this wouldn't be something that I'd normally pick up - but every so often, I like to stretch my reading genres and given this was a relatively short read, I jumped in with both feet.
Having got through this, I'm really pleased that I gave it a go because I really enjoyed both the writing style and the storyline.
The world building was really well written and woven into the storyline. This never felt sluggish, which often happens, but given the length of the book, this was nicely done and the story flowed well around this well constructed world.
The characters were all well presented and developed throughout the read and I enjoyed the diverse and realistic personalities and friendships which were drawn through this story.
Having said that this was a short read, there's definitely still lots going on and I was carried away with the excitement and and themes explored within this fast paced read.
An enjoyable read that really surprised me. I love it when I find a great read that I wouldn't have normally gone for - making this even more satisfying.
I will be looking out for more from this author in the future and expect that I'll be checking out book 2 soon too.
Having got through this, I'm really pleased that I gave it a go because I really enjoyed both the writing style and the storyline.
The world building was really well written and woven into the storyline. This never felt sluggish, which often happens, but given the length of the book, this was nicely done and the story flowed well around this well constructed world.
The characters were all well presented and developed throughout the read and I enjoyed the diverse and realistic personalities and friendships which were drawn through this story.
Having said that this was a short read, there's definitely still lots going on and I was carried away with the excitement and and themes explored within this fast paced read.
An enjoyable read that really surprised me. I love it when I find a great read that I wouldn't have normally gone for - making this even more satisfying.
I will be looking out for more from this author in the future and expect that I'll be checking out book 2 soon too.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews