The Brass Wyvern

by Bronte-Marie Wesson

How, exactly, do you steal a dragon?

The holy city of Muqdah is falling. For days, the priests of the First Temple have argued amongst themselves — despite the cracks growing in the city’s magical shields. But fighting the Imperial army could mean the sacrifice of Muqdah’s dragons. Only one among their number believes it worth the risk … and the lone voice of a pregnant woman falls on deaf ears.

In the great Imperium, a slave named Zuri escapes into the night. Arriving on the doorstep of the Brass Wyvern, she discovers kinship, safety — and an unexpected purpose. When the bedworkers there hear of her captors’ caged dragon, a plan is hatched: free the beast, right history’s wrongs.

As Imperial magic and ancient bloodlines collide, an oppressed people start to make their voices heard. But not everyone sees eye-to-eye on justice, and a royal heist is easier said than done.

The Brass Wyvern is a witty fantasy epic with anti-colonialist vibes, queer love, feminine rage, found family, and of course — sweet, sweet revenge.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Lesbian, Dragons, LGBT, Magic, Found Family

476 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2025

Reviews

[Bronte-Marie Wesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my wife, who kept the fires burning when I thought it was finally time to snuff them. This book would not exist without you and our childhood dreams of greatness.

This is my debut but in my book they shall see a reflection of you. Your quiet intensity, your brilliance, your sass. (Takuma is entirely you, as well as Taliesin. You get full credit for them). They will see how dearly I have loved you.

Here's to a lifetime of storytelling together. Here's to you.

-

Here's a glimpse of what to expect:
- Dark fantasy set in a queernorm world.
- A love network, rather than a love triangle.
- A heist of epic proportions.
- The angriest pregnant woman in the world.
- Devastation and love in equal measure.

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-Read:

I honestly enjoyed this even more on my second read. This time around, I found myself leaning into the layers of past intrigue, and those moments ended up being my absolute favorite parts. There’s such a rich history woven into the background of this world, and I appreciated it so much more with the hindsight of knowing where things were headed.

I still adore these characters and their messy, loyal, found family vibes. The emotional connections were a little harder to feel across the entire ensemble the first time (except for Taliesin and Nuru). Their bond hit every time. And Takuma? I ADORE him. On this re-read, I actually found myself paying more attention to the quieter characters I didn’t connect with the first time, which was a nice surprise. That said, I do think book two really needs to dive deeper into character work. The cast is so big that it’s easy to lose track or feel a bit distant from some of them.

The heist elements are still fun, the betrayals and drama still hurt in the best way, and the stakes still feel high. This continues to be a book full of big feelings, layered plot twists, and the kind of morally gray decisions I love in a fantasy.
---
First Read:

Do you LOVE a heist story? I do, I do! They almost always have phenomenal characters, which I'm SO weak for.

What an absolute gem of a debut.

The Brass Wyvern had me by the heart from the very first page and refused to let go. This is one of those ensemble casts that feels so charming that you’ll be ready to start a revolution with them—or at the very least, build them a cozy little cottage where they can finally rest. There’s a gorgeous, messy, loving imperfection to every single character in this book. No one is one-note. And can we talk about the range of love on the page? Romantic, platonic, familial, queer, complicated—it’s all here and it's all beautifully done.

The world-building is incredible, immersive, and dripping with anti-colonialist rage in the best way. The politics, the city in peril, the dragons (!!!), and the sense of long-standing cultural trauma all blend into a fantasy world that feels lived-in and raw.

There’s something special about a story that’s so fiercely loving in the face of oppression. It’s full of fight, full of heart, and packed with high-stakes. Found family tropes? Check. Feminine rage? Check. Queer love and dragons? Check and check. HIGHLY Recommend this incredible book!

Thank you SO much to the author and MTMC Tours for the complimentary copy. This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did NOT disappoint! This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Aramis De Fraine Keedle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the behest of my partner who was a fan of Brontes content and I love supporting Australia authors and the premise of a dragon heist was too fun to resist so put in a pre-order when she announced the physical run.

This book is mostly fantastic. The characters are wildly imaginative and varied, with the effort and logic that has been put into the world building is a massive highlight for a first book and leaves me excited for the second novel.

I think my favourite aspects of the book included the varied states of relationships between the characters from romantic to friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing just so much queer positive prose as someone who has seen other authors stumble hard with it.

The only things that gave me pause in the book were an abrupt ending (it kinda feels like the book is at its climax until the last page and there is not much cooldown) and that the multiple perspectives and timelines were a tad confusing to begin with . Once I got a good 80pgs in or so I found my footing and it cleared up nicely.

Either way this was a really fun read and frankly can't wait to get the next book to continue the hijinks of the Brass Wyvern crew.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so eagerly anticipating this!!!!! :)

[Andreea-Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book very much and I am very excited for the next instalment.
It was absorbing, well-written, with a likeable cast of characters and great world building. We have heists, magic, dragons, and elves! I also love the fact that everyone was a little bit queer. Immersing myself in a queer normative world is such a lovely escape.💕As for the characters I loved so many, but Nuru and Takuma have my heart.❤️
A great addictive read, highly recommended!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts.

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

i loved the setting, the message and the unapologetic queerness of the characters. 

i just had a hard time following the story. it jumped around in time a lot and there wasn't clear indication of who the characters were. i found their motivation kept switching and at one point a character was being named over and over and i couldn't tell you who tf they were!

that being said, i love supporting local authors, and especially female authors. i'm curious to see what she comes out with in the future.

[Essie Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this as I love Bronte's page and felt hyped for her debut. but it fell a bit flat for me.

I loved the characters of the main gang. Well fleshed out and wonderful characters. Nuru has my whole heart.

But felt that there were too many other characters to keep track of.

The second timeline felt jumbled. It took me way too long to realise that the second time line was at least 10 years prior.

I enjoyed the representation of people that didn't feel forced. It was a world where people can just exist and be who they are.

Thurlowe Thurlowe is a bastard and I wish we knew more about him. Why he become a tyrannical warmonger.

Overall a lovely debut that I can't wait to read more of her work.

[Dresden Crace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamics between the characters in this story felt so reminiscent to those in Dragon Age 2! (and I mean that in the best way possible) The relationships crafted here felt living and genuine - I adore every single Wyvern with the whole of damnable heart. This tale tells of a dragon heist...but it realizes something so much greater. Sat clutching the book to my chest, I've been crying without pause since finishing the final chapter. My heart is glowing - Blessed you might say. I found the magics in this world to be a delightfully unique twist on what one may expect out of standard high fantasy. But The Brass Wyvern is anything but standard to me...I have not loved a book this much in such a great time. I already miss the characters so deeply and I am aching for a sequel ~ the feral need to know what is to come is mighty.


Thank you to the author for creating a world which allowed me to feel true emotions with each turn of the page, and for giving queer folk such as myself a space to see our love celebrated. The love that went into this book is palpable.

[Amy James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very original and enjoyable fantasy heist novel. The inhabitants of the Brass Wyvern brothel are trying to answer an important question: How exactly do you steal a dragon?

I loved the characters and world building. The book is queer- and poly-positive, which was really refreshing. It was fantastic to read a fantasy book that breaks the mould a bit!

[Mia fawnsandfairytales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The snippets the author has shared with us about this so far have been so exciting, and her writing sounds beautiful, I can't wait!

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of found family, revenge, resistance and love. I wasn’t ready for it to end and hope that I get the opportunity to revisit this world again.

[Cara Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun fantasy heist book, I do think this book could have benefited from some more ruthless editing though as some parts did drag.

[Dany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly have reread Brass Wyvern twice and the vibes of the epic fantasy are immaculate.The found family that I have been craving since Six of crows was finally matched! The story starts off with such intriguing lore that pulls you in. The was Brontë-Marie wrote these characters made me melt. The small pieces of romance as lend themselves so well to raising the world up. The Brass Wyvern has such a dynamic world. It feels a lot like an open world game when there’s so many pieces that are interesting and fleshed out in a way where the world and specifically the strife within the Imperium is so impactful. The way Zuri interacts with the other characters as she pushes through the story is truly so satisfying. She’s a fantastic lead through the ensemble cast. I was truly blown away by the adventure and shenanigans. There are so many promises for the future of these characters and you get to root for them the whole way. I’m so thrilled for the rest of this series and I can’t wait to see more from Brontë-Marie!

[Мария Иванова · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for the release of this book for quite a while and I’m really happy to say I really enjoyed the book.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before, it was beautifully written and in a way that sucked me in into the rich culture of the characters and the way they lived through prejudices and their trauma.
I loved the way the author had written the female characters and how the themes of motherhood, childbearing, love and sexuality were explored in the story. It was a truly unique experience reading this book, honestly I haven’t cried over a book in a while nor wanted to take care of a fictional characters as much as I did with all of the brass wyvern gang.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released and to see what else the author would write in the future.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a genre I usually don't pick up, I thoroughly enjoyed the exploits of The Brass Wyvern crew. In the authors writing, the fantasy world of Svarna and The Imperium came vividly to life, as did the characters I came to know. A fun, rollicking read.

[Isabelle Quilty · Rating 4 out of 5]

'That was the nature of stories - a thousand different mouths could speak the words, yet one could still hear the echo of the first in a stranger's voice. (Page 158, The Brass Wyvern, Wesson).

My journey with The Brass Wyvern began a week before I opened the book. I attended a launch event and I got to listen to the author, Bronte-Marie Wesson discuss the inspirations for her debut novel. It informed part of my reading experience, certainly, seeing those original notes winding their way through the foundations of the story. It's part of why I love attending book launches. Not only do I get the opportunity to support authors, but I also get to listen to the author discuss their dreams, their hopes, and where that first spark of an idea was ignited. I get to hold onto that flame and let it guide that first reading. In this case, I was able to read and enjoy The Brass Wyvern all whilst appreciating its Skyrim-inspired roots. (For those unaware, Skyrim is a popular fantasy RPG, part of the Elder Scrolls series.) It is this that perhaps informs us where The Brass Wyvern's strength lies; worldbuilding.

In a world with more and more books that insist on over-explaining and underwriting, The Brass Wyvern is a breath of fresh air. In the realm of fantasy novels, The Brass Wyvern is a relatively short book, yet it packs in a wide cast of characters and an elaborate, detailed world. The characters are unapologetic and the prose is sharp and carried with the author's strong voice. Complex topics like sexism, colonialism, and the perseverance of culture are explored, which requires nuanced and confident writing. Wesson doesn't trip over herself to prioritise romance or plot twists over the exploration of these themes.

The world-building is paramount in this book. You can feel the love, time, and dedication put into each element. While Elves, empires, and dragons are fantasy elements that have been explored time and time again, Wesson does not insist on subverting our expectations for these tropes. They are made their own by the author's dedication to fleshing them out. The origins of the characters themselves are freed from the usual trappings. Men are not one-dimensional in their misogyny. They are realistically depicted as institutional, like statues carved into a temple; they can't be removed no matter how much they weaken the temple foundation.

'Women felt this. At a certain age, all girls were faced with the inevitable realisation that they were not as protected from the world as their naivete had led them to be. They were raised on fairy tales depicting the might of Svarna; they were the draconic daughters of Svarna. But that did not save them from men who snuck their hands up their skirts.' (Page 116, The Brass Wyvern, Wesson).

Entwined with its unapologetic attitude is sexuality. The Brass Wyvern isn't shy about presenting its characters as they are, with no tokenism or characters defined solely by their orientation. I enjoy Wesson's approach to relationships, sexuality, and most importantly, sex work. The Brass Wyvern is a brothel and thus sex work is a predominant theme.

'Pleasure was Nuru's profession, and she was damn good at it.' (Page 104, The Brass Wyvern, Wesson).

This brings us to a more meta-examination of sex and books, which is quite a hot topic at the moment. This is commonly referred to as 'spice,' and it seems everyone has their own opinion. Personally, I feel when we insist on boxing in books by their 'spice' level I feel as though we're detracting from moments of well-written intimacy in the context of a compelling story. The love shared in this novel isn't the world-breaking stuff we are typically given in fantasy. It is a quiet, warm, and passionate love that shapes lives instead of destiny. And for that I love it. I love it when characters are each other's home, when they can barely kiss through wide smiles, and when peace is found with understanding. There are many things I adore about Brass Wyvern, but I think the way Wesson writes relationships is reflective of the overall strength of this book - sincerity. It is clear Wesson has love in her life, the kind of love I can see shining back at me through her words.
'When you love someone, you carry them beneath your sternum for as long as their memory lives on in you.' (Page 151, The Brass Wyvern, Wesson).

One of the key themes I mentioned previously is that of colonialism. The Brass Wyvern is split into two timelines, one in the present and one in the past, before the fall of the holy city of Muqdah. The present timeline is more of a heist story, while the past timeline is a self-described grim-dark siege story. Yet in both of these plotlines, the effects of the oppressive Elven empire are felt. The destruction of a culture, stripping the components that suit the invaders, sexualising the exoticness of the marginalised. One of my favourite details is the crossover of a goddess figure stolen from one of the Elves conquered peoples. Colonialism and its traumatic effects are detailed with clear real-world inspiration, but Wesson doesn't shy away from displaying the persevering strength of the survivors of colonialism. Culture, art, religion, and magic survive, despite the violence.

'Kinfolk was a Svarnish concept. Family baked and bred by blood was important, but kinfolk - family made by time and the rivers of choice - could fuel a person's soul just as well.' (Page 131, The Brass Wyvern, Wesson).

One of my few critiques would be how some characters fade into the background. There is a large cast in both perspectives of the book and it can be difficult to keep track of everyone. The standouts were most certainly the Wyverns.

I'm most hesitant to speak on the pacing. I go back and forth on whether I like the fast, tight pacing or whether it's a detriment to the overall story. I think I landed on both. This goes back to the wide cast of characters and how some suffer due to the limited spotlight they're able to have. Perhaps if this was the first book in a longer series or a far longer book, more in the Game of Thrones ballpark then the cast would have better breathing room. My hesitance comes from a place of love. I enjoy the cast immensely, and they each carry extensive promise with interesting backstories and much longer tales to tell.

Overall, I can confidently recommend The Brass Wyvern to all readers who enjoy well-written fantasy worlds, found family, and stories founded in love and perseverance.

[Lucien Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been honoured to get to read an early release of this book and it is INCREDIBLE. A queer normative world, filled with delightful characters with genuine and true depth.
As a compliment, I compare to Tolkien's same depth and breadth of worldbuilding. If your someone who cares deeply about the details of the worldbuilding, this is a book for you. Without feeling clunky, the world is given space to shine and breathe, it's nuances and changes and depths presented in a way that feels natural, while still leaving enough space in the sandbox for fandom to thrive and play. The spaces left are ones that you can feel confident in knowing the author will either plumb in the future with the same delicate and careful hand it has previously been, or left for the fans to play and create in.
If you care deeply about having characters you give a hoot about, you will be SPOILT. Despite having a truly tremendously large cast, no two characters feel the same. They all feel like living, breathing beings, with flaws and complexities and ugly and beautiful bits. Even the ones you hate still have enough details that they're just not some 2D creation. As someone who adores a good villain, I *HATE* the ones in this book with the passion you can only get with depth.
Our protagonists are allowed to make mistakes, to be hypocrites, to make bad choices, to be selfish, to be more than just good. I have many favourites amongst this cast, and to use Tumblr language, this book is BRIMMING with blorbos for everyone.
This book also manages to do something which is insanely difficult - seamlessly transition between past and present without leaving the reader feeling confused. As someone who grew up watching Dr Who, I wish all books could walk that fine line with the balance The Brass Wyvern does. Despite knowing, ultimately, how it ends, there's so many questions. I felt so deeply over this book. The characters we meet in the past are ones you care so deeply about.
If you love a good tragedy, the hurt/comfort tag, this book is a FEAST for you. Just thinking about it makes me tear up. I can't go into detail without spoilers. But yes.
I think, ultimately, the best review I can give this book is the following: I am someone who has been struggling with undiagnosed chronic, clinical depression for over 10 years. This, combined with a major book burnout spell, has made any engagement on a deeper level with books incredibly difficult for me. This book gave me books back. It made me cry. It made me laugh. It had me on the edge of my seat. It had me hoping. It had me thinking. It had me theorising. It made me *feel* in ways I haven't in years, and wasn't sure I would again maybe ever. This book was enough to crack open the depression so even thinking about it makes me emotional again.
I can't wait to read the rest of them and see how this world evolves.

[Deotima Sarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

How, exactly, do you steal a dragon"

That's the hook. And it leads into all that comes afterward in The Brass Wyvern by Brontë Marie Wesson @thebrontemarie — a gritty, poetic, and deeply emotional fantasy that launches The Blessed Imperium series in blazing fashion.

It's a book that refuses to settle as just another fantasy. It's biting, it's rebel-like, and it's saturated with themes worthy of your note — anti-colonial insurgency, the price of power, women's wrath, queerness in defiance of apology, and love that creates amidst brokenness.

At its core The Brass Wyvern is reclamation — of identity, legacy, of magic. It's about the silenced finding voice and flame. It's a tale of found family, of slow-burning love, and of rebellion made with both rage and nuance.

Bronte's prose is vehement and immersive. The writing has the weight of incantation. All characters are richly realized, their motivations rich in history and hurt. There are no half-measures taken here — the narrative plunges into pain, power, love, and revenge with equal vigor. PSSST - there is a map 🗺️

If you've ever dreamed of a fantasy that provides you with politics and poetry in the same breath, this is for you. Love the angry girls, magical rebellion, and fierce softness and I’m still not over it.

[Patty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while now and after being a long time follower of the author I was beyond excited when I finally had the chance to sit down and read it. Now to be transparent I'm not much of a reader I enjoy it when I get the chance but thats sadly not often, so my review and feelings may honestly just be because this story wasnt for me.
It felt so busy, trying hard to be a vast and deeply established fantasy world but not taking the time to let the reader build a strong connection to it. Made me feel like I should already know everything about the world from the get go but wasn't giving me the chance to learn. The characters were fun, but again had the same issue, there were so many to keep track of as well that it took away from the whole flow of the story, it might be a me issue but i struggled to get immersed because i had to keep back tracking thinking I missed something. This book feels like its trying to be something it's not and gives the vibe that it was heavily influenced by multiple other fantasy novels but just written in a slightly different tone. I hope that the next in the series is better but sadly for me I won't be spending more of my time to find out.

[MiserableFlower · Rating 3 out of 5]

would be better served as 2 books.

Honestly I really enjoyed the story… but it didn’t get the chance to flourish. There’s so much condensed in the one book, there’s a lot of details that have to be known before the book can get going on the plot line. There’s character flips on every chapter plus the dual storylines made this a struggle to get through. I think if it had been two books, the first one covering Eulalia’s story, and the second one starting where this one did, it would have really helped. Because for as much info we got packed in here…. We doing actually know the characters, the magic system, the politics, and why Thurough was allowed to be off the chain with no repercussions…, we also don’t know much about the characters and their connections. This has got amazing potential, so it’s still worth the read to me.

[Elia Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited for this book, even pre-ordering it and then not reading it until I could dedicate time and brain space to it. And then it didn't live up to its expectations. It had its good parts; interesting cast, fascinating premise, fun worldbuilding and some impactful prose. But there were too many characters to actually get to know many of them properly, and somehow, the unmarked switching between their povs was more confusing than informative. The secondary storyline was vaguely uninteresting and brutal, despite involving the great character of 'worlds angriest pregnant woman'. That storyline also didn't really tie up, it just finished. In fact, the same could be said for the main storyline. Generally, not a whole lot was actually explained, and it was frequently confusing and at times uninteresting. But it was the authors first book and I'm hoping with time they will improve.

[Nora Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who can only hope to create half the world-building in this book, I fell in love with the character development and diversity of their traits. They felt realistic with flaws and personalities, something I often enjoy but struggle to find in high fantasy novels.

One of the reasons why I couldn’t give this a complete 5/5 was due to it feeling a bit long, and I really struggled to get into the book. I finally found my stride over halfway in but it took a while. I loved the dual storylines, but they felt disconnected until the very last second, making the read a bit more confusing. Overall I really enjoyed it, and as a debut novel this really offers a new and fresh genre to typical fantasy novels. I can’t wait for future novels from this author!!

[Jes Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oi. I really wanted to like this. And there were a lot of things I did like about it. I loved the characters. I loved how unapologetically queer it was. The world building was good. The author’s voice was good. But, it felt like it was trying to be Six of Crows, and not quite succeeding. The transitions were abrupt. It kind of went from introducing the characters to “let’s steal a dragon” in like half a second. Honestly, I just think it needed a lot more editing. The writing and storytelling are there, it just wasn’t cleaned up quite enough.

Oh, and I still don’t know which character the person on the cover is supposed to be.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honoured to read this debut early! If you love dragons, heists and chaotic gays, you will loveeeee this. The found family trope always hits so good in fantasy books and it was SO good in this. I loved the whole cast of characters, but Hotaru has my whole heart. Not to be dramatic, but I’d die for her. Takuma is a fucking icon and I want to be best friends with him. The world building was so delicious, I could picture everything so vividly in my mind. AND THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK? I AM SHOOK TO MY CORE BITCH. It’s 1am and I’m NOT OKAY???

Read if you love Six Of Crows or ur gay xoxo

4⭐️ 1🌶️

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so easily, comfortably, engagingly, warmly enveloped into the world of the Imperium and Morouqdi and Wesson’s amazing cast of characters! As tension grew and the story unfolded into the inevitable climaxes, I kept pausing my reading, begging to stay just a little longer, hoping beyond hope for each of my favourite characters.
There is no greater compliment or endorsement I can give other than I will be eagerly awaiting the follow two novels.
I stumbled across Bronte on TikTok, and am so happy I did.

[Abby Howl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun and strong debut. I love the found family trope and this delivers in spades, this book felt like sitting down at a Dungeons and Dragons table with a group of friends. The LGBTQIA+ representation felt natural and it was a really nice approach to a queernorm setting.

The temple plotline was darker than I'd expected going in but it feels particularly timely with everything going on in the world. Can't wait to see where this series goes next.

[Henry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought the book at a recent event and sadly just not for me, too much yet not enough. Potential is there but needed much better editing and a more defined plot. Also the characters whilst some very felt a bit all over the place
I think for a authors first they shouldve done more test readings, maybe more market research with variety, as some of the story felt like it was trying to copy some other books already on the market...

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED! After seeing Bronte speak at Supanova in Sydney and getting my hands on a signed copy of this baby, I was so damn excited to read it. The world building was beautiful, the story telling between two separate but connected stories was seamless, and the characters are ones I will never forget. Looking forward to reading what's next from Bronte!

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much potential for an incredible story. Absolutely needed more dev editing. Very slow-paced until roughly the 75% mark. Exciting ending.

Needs an index of characters. There is so much head-hopping that, for the first 40%, I had to refer to a list of characters my buddy reader made to remember who was who.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the amount of care, craft, thought, creativity and passion she demonstrates I KNOW this book is going to be fire (hehe, you know, cause Wyverns?). Can’t wait and hope this is the first book of many!