When Dragons Dream

by Martin Dukes

Deep in a subterranean cavern a dragon has slumbered for three thousand years, awaiting the magic touch that shall awaken him, at last. Oriala, a poor girl from a poor town, is nevertheless to play a leading part in a great struggle for the fate of her nation, a struggle that will ultimately involve the summoning of that dragon. She has no great strength of body, no special skill or magic to contribute to that conflict, but she has a unique power of mind that sets her apart from her contempories. An unlikely meeting brings her together with the prince who will become the love of her life. With her prince at her side she will sacrifice everything to ensure his victory. But victory comes at a price.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2024

Reviews

[Shannon Mould · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly gifted an ARC of When Dragons Dream, the fourth instalment in The Chronicles of Toxandria series. While each book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order for the richest experience.

The story opens with our main character, Oriala, found frozen in the snow and rescued by a band of merchants. However, it quickly becomes clear that Oriala is far from ordinary. Her mysterious powers and hidden past add depth and intrigue as she struggles to keep her secrets safe. Enter King Gallian, the compelling love interest, whose fate becomes entwined with Oriala’s in an epic quest for survival and restoration.

The highlight of this book? DRAGONS! As a devoted dragon enthusiast, I was thrilled by the portrayal of a morally complex dragon. Instead of the typical noble protector, we meet a dragon driven by chaos and destruction, making for a fresh and thrilling dynamic. Author Martin masterfully crafts a creature that is both a terrifying force and a crucial piece of the plot. Without this dragon, how could King Gallian ever hope to reclaim his throne?

Another intriguing element is the mysterious enchanted ring central to the story. I loved how its power tied into the dragon’s awakening and Oriala’s struggles. One detail I found a bit unclear was why only specific people could see the rings, aside from those wearing them—but this mystery added an extra layer of intrigue.

The divine interplay between the gods Yuzanid and Tio bookends the story perfectly. Their celestial rivalry adds a delightful touch of cosmic intrigue. I’m eager to see more of their witty banter and manipulations unfold in future instalments—go Tio!

Overall, The Chronicles of Toxandria is a must-read for fantasy lovers, especially those who appreciate historical fantasy with strong characters, complex magic systems, and, of course, DRAGONS. I’m already excited for the next instalment!

 

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series & author! Was so excited that I got the opportunity to read this book early.
The world building is amazing and explained so well and in lots of details, it's not confusing.
I love the FMC in this book, it was different to read about one that didn't have magic or brute strength she was different and I liked that.
It's available for pre order now. If you havent read books by this author then you should check them out.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible piece of literature by this author and I didn’t expect any less! The highlight of this book for me was of course the 🐉 as being a massive dragon lover! 🖤
No spoilers I promise!
The story begins with Oriala our FMC who is frozen in the snow and rescued by a band of merchants! It’s clear she’s far from ordinary as the story progresses and her secret powers and past add a special kind of intrigue and layers to her as a character whilst the story progresses. King Gallian, makes for an interesting love interest which adds depth to this quest for survival.
I was so intrigued by the idea of a morally complex dragon! You don’t see the typical hero type dragon but a manic and complex one which I loved!!

There is so much more I could say and do not want to spoil anything but this is such a thrilling and gripping read! The only bit I found confusing was understanding why only specific people could see the rings ( not including those wearing them) but it added for its own layer of intrigue in itself!!

Another incredible read as always and I can’t wait to read more by this author! 🫶🏻

[Alyssa Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

A world once controlled by an Empire as far as the eye could see, residing after only a moment of holding so much land so much power. After receding Earl's were assigned to establish orders in the cities once under empire control and a King was put in place to rule them all. With the previous King out of the way, a Regent has taken over until the prince comes of age. Having married the King's widow, he is hopeful for a son to contend with the path set out for the prince.

Oriala is found in the snow by Cupsidoron and his men, on the verge of death she is carried by a man named Kho to aid in her warmth until they arrive at their camp. She is quickly added to the group of merchants after Cupsidoron deems her more than just an ordinary girl. She tells the group that bandits had murdered her mother, and she wishes to bury her before departing the next day. After they all helped with the burial, they set out for the nearby town that shunned her years ago.

Cupsidoron is a known merchant in this part of the world, having come from the empire he is set to sell his rare goods as they make their way through the journey laid out before them. He is accompanied by Cassida (a previous woman of the night), Kho, Ballatin, Shan - Dzhi and Trindol.

Prince Gallian is set to descend the throne when he comes of age, his only contender is the Regent who married his mother after his father passed away. She is currently pregnant and if she has a boy Prince Gallian will be in danger of losing his throne and life.

When Dragons Dream is written in a way that compels the reader to traverse deeper into the book with each small hiccup or event that happens while the characters are following their destiny laid out before them. You get to know the characters, what makes them tick, what they think about certain things and their ties to smaller characters throughout the book. Every character, city, event, and place has a significant place in the story. As you are reading everything is important, I can't tell you how many times I highlighted a name or place for it to come up later in the story. There's so much detail and thought that went into this well-written exciting story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Dragons Dream by Martain Dukes

When Dragons Dream is a Stand alone in the Chronicals of Toxandria universe. This high fantasy tale takes you on a journey of discovery, following Oriala, a poor girl from a poor town that has a great destiny awaiting her as she goes on a quest to awaken a dragon and help her prince unite his people.

✨️ Secret Dragon Order
✨️ Chosen one
✨️ Quests
✨️ Found Family
✨️ Epic Fantasy

The ending to this book broke my heart. I won't say too much more as I don't want to drop any spoilers, but i definitely shed a tear at the end. I loved that the book is set in an ordinary world with no magic, so you could almost believe it could happen in our world. The found family aspect was another favourite of mine. I will definitely be checking out the other books in this universe.

Thank you for this, ARC Martain.

This is book 4 in the Chronicles Of Toxandria and is a stand-alone book, so you do not need to have read the other books, but I highly recommend checking them out. All books are available on Amazon.

When Dragons Deam is released December 18th.

🌟 Rating 4/5 🌟

[Deborah Lightfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the Toxandria series! I’ve read and adored them all: That Which the Deep Heart Knows, brimming with palace intrigues and high-stakes conspiracies. A Trick of the Light, a white-knuckle page-turner of constant, desperate peril. Reign of Spears, a multilayered story with mystery, prophecy, and undying love. And now Dragons Dream, which delivers more of everything that draws me into Martin Dukes’ writing: his beautifully crafted, confident prose; intelligent, fully conceived story lines; breathtakingly grand settings; and battle scenes with human emotion and not just carnage. And most wonderful of all, his believable, engaging characters – people I care about. This is my kind of epic fantasy, the kind of story that lingers in a reader's mind. The whole series is highly recommended. Each book stands alone; you can start anywhere, and it’s a sure bet that you’ll go on to read every entry in this fabulous series.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 of the series 'The Chronicles of Toxandria ' , although it can be enjoyed just as much as a stand alone book too.
Meet Oriala who is a poor girl in her town who has a totally unexpected meeting with the Prince and she quickly believes that she is in love with him.Oriala also has a power of the mind of which she is initially unaware of, once discovered her life dramatically changes .
Elsewhere in a hidden cavern lies a sleeping dragon , who has been sleeping for over three thousand years. Who will disturb him from his sleep and with what consequences.
This is a fabulous read which I would definitely recommend. It has been well written to the point I almost felt to be among the characters on their adventures, full of anticipation .A wonderful page turner you will not want to put down !
I rated this book 4.5 stars 🌟

[alishasbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had an interesting plot but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I struggled with the language quite a lot, and I think that’s because the chapters are quite long so it was a lot to take in all at once.

The world building was detailed and I liked the dragon aspect, I just couldn’t get into it at all because it seemed more like a historical fantasy, so at least I know now that genre isn’t for me at all.

I did really want to like this, I love fantasy and especially dragons, so it’s really unfortunate that I couldn’t get into it. I wanted to give it a chance which is why I didn’t DNF it. I’ll still recommend to people that like fantasy, but I will say it has more of a historical vibe to it.

[Βίκυ Χ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Glorious Fusion of Love and Epic Fantasy Lore

When Dragons Dream, The Chronicles of Toxandria, Book 4 by Martin Dukes is a true masterpiece, standing shoulder to shoulder with the classics and culminating in an absolutely glorious ending. Though part of a series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, allowing new readers to immerse themselves fully in its enchanting world. The remarkable storytelling transports readers to a magical realm, making it an unforgettable addition to the epic fantasy genre.

Beyond Dukes' unparalleled artistic prose, the dragon is transformed from a mere plot element into a remarkable character. This unique portrayal enables the author to skillfully delve into deep emotions and behaviors that have shaped human existence, centering on themes of love and duty, greed, and ingratitude. For me, it provided an unforgettable, blissful reading experience and introduced me to my new favorite heroine of all time, Oriala.

To conclude, the author has crafted yet another masterpiece that transcends the ordinary and ventures into the extraordinary. With its seamless mix of myth and mystery, it captivates the soul and stirs the imagination. The characters live on in the minds of readers, making this not just a book, but a cherished experience. For those who dare to dream, this story offers a passage to a world where the magic of storytelling reigns supreme.

[MG · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok, this book's vibe reminds me of two of my fav novels of all time that i miss very much so i feel instant fondness of it. the worldbuilding is quite thorough, you get just enough explanation for everything to still have a lot of questions to ponder about, it may feel too long for some people though. there is several parts and word choices that i personally dislike, but despite those, i really enjoyed this book, a lot.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. The writing was very descriptive and the plot was really good! It was a powerful story about growth and love not just romantically but also platonic love and trust between friends and following destiny.