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Descent to Azakmar
"An excellent blend of action, world-building, humor, and heart." -Fantasy Faction
"This story weaves a layered narrative with emotional depth and nuanced conflicts, making it just as gripping for adults as for kids." -Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Historical Fiction Book Reviews
Centuries ago, the mighty Dragon Commonwealth fragmented after warring with the KyuSan sorcerers. In the years since, the different types of dragons have retreated to their driftlands, floating mountains hanging above the endless Boiling Deep.
When Korlana, niece to the queen of Tamost, sees a tantalizing driftland covered in ancient ruins pass below her home, she bullies her best friend into joining her on an adventure. After descending to explore the sprawling remains, the young dragons learn that the KyuSan are using this driftland as a launch point for their next invasion. While spying on the invaders, Korlana discovers her aunt, the queen of Tamost, has betrayed her subjects and made a deal with the foul sorcerers.
Faced with Nox Mortua, dragons who prey on other dragons, Rockspur, with their stone melting breath, and an army of evil KyuSan sorcerers, Korlana must find a way to save her home.
327 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2025
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Fletcher
51 books1,321 followersMichael R. Fletcher is a science fiction and fantasy author, a grilled cheese aficionado, and a whiskey-swilling reprobate. He spends his days choreographing his forklift musical (titled "Get Forked"), and using caffeine as a substitute for sanity. Any suggestions that he is actually Dyrk Ashton in disguise are all lies.
Blog (kinda): http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
Blog (kinda): http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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April 20, 2025GoodReads refuses to believe that I'm me (as if anyone else would want to be!) and so...
This ebook is currently available for preorder through Amazon. Paperbacks will be available on release day, July 1st, 2025.
This is NOT the typical dark fantasy stuff you're used to seeing from me. It's middle-grade fantasy and if I had to slap a label on it, I'd call it heroic. I wrote it for my daughter several years ago and she helped with the characters, which is to say she told me who all the characters had to be.
Anyway.
Enjoy!
This ebook is currently available for preorder through Amazon. Paperbacks will be available on release day, July 1st, 2025.
This is NOT the typical dark fantasy stuff you're used to seeing from me. It's middle-grade fantasy and if I had to slap a label on it, I'd call it heroic. I wrote it for my daughter several years ago and she helped with the characters, which is to say she told me who all the characters had to be.
Anyway.
Enjoy!
July 1, 2025
This was a fun read.
Brought me back to the likes of Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel!
Brought me back to the likes of Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel!
April 30, 2025
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Advanced Review Copy
For someone known for dark fantasy so intense that your nightmares have nightmares, Fletcher takes a delightful detour with the roaring success, Descent to Azakmar, a heroic middle-grade fantasy he wrote with his daughter's input, shaping its vibrant characters. This personal touch shines through in a sincere, fun story that proves Fletcher’s remarkable range as an author. Imagine The Lion King but with dragons, or a dragon-focused How to Train Your Dragon-there’s a lively spirit here, balanced with gut-wrenching emotional depth, which Fletcher nails just as well.
The story is set in a breathtaking world of floating driftlands above the mysterious Boiling Deep, Descent to Azakmar follows Korlana, a spirited young Aviad dragon as she embarks on an adventure to the forgotten driftland of Azakmar, only to discover her aunt, the Aviad Queen, is entangled in a shocking alliance with the KyuSan, threatening Tamost's future. She teams up with a fierce, diverse crew of female characters, including Razak and EliXyr who help her navigate a web of mistrust and ancient secrets to protect her home. It's a journey of courage and discovery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Fletcher labels this a “heroic” middle-grade fantasy, and that tone shines through in Korlana’s quest. She’s a reluctant hero who grows into her role, uncovering the true history of dragons and unraveling long-held misconceptions. Themes of unity, truth, and overcoming prejudice resonate powerfully, reflecting real-world issues like division and classism, while remaining accessible for younger readers. Unlike many middle-grade books that can feel overly simplistic, this story weaves a layered narrative with emotional depth and nuanced conflicts, making it just as gripping for adults as for kids. The spirited bond between Korlana and her allies adds warmth and humor, balancing the story’s intense moments with a sense of wonder. One scene near the end made me giggle a good bit, a moment straight out of a film that’s hilarious every time l’ve seen it.
The book’s inspirations are clear and well-executed, enhancing its cinematic feel. Korlana’s journey echoes the poignant leadership struggles of The Lion King, while the dragon-centric world and focus on unity across species evoke How to Train Your Dragon, with a Star Wars-like flair in its rebellion against tyranny. I also got a bit of Avatar's awe-inspiring visuals of floating lands and primal conflicts mixed into this story as well. Fletcher’s unique world of driftlands, the Great Empty, and the Boiling Deep, deliver a tale of hope and resilience that echoes the best of its inspirations, lingering long after the final page.
What makes Descent to Azakmar truly special is its heart. The father-daughter collaboration infuses the story with warmth, evident in every page. Though labeled “middle-grade,” I found myself enjoying this more than expected and I expect readers of all ages to resonate with it the same as I did, thanks to Fletcher’s skillful writing. This isn’t just a story of dragons, it’s a story of family, within the narrative and in its creation. Whether you’re a young reader or an adult craving a heroic escape, Descent to Azakmar delivers a soaring, unforgettable adventure that’ll leave you soaring too.
Follow me on X: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Advanced Review Copy
For someone known for dark fantasy so intense that your nightmares have nightmares, Fletcher takes a delightful detour with the roaring success, Descent to Azakmar, a heroic middle-grade fantasy he wrote with his daughter's input, shaping its vibrant characters. This personal touch shines through in a sincere, fun story that proves Fletcher’s remarkable range as an author. Imagine The Lion King but with dragons, or a dragon-focused How to Train Your Dragon-there’s a lively spirit here, balanced with gut-wrenching emotional depth, which Fletcher nails just as well.
The story is set in a breathtaking world of floating driftlands above the mysterious Boiling Deep, Descent to Azakmar follows Korlana, a spirited young Aviad dragon as she embarks on an adventure to the forgotten driftland of Azakmar, only to discover her aunt, the Aviad Queen, is entangled in a shocking alliance with the KyuSan, threatening Tamost's future. She teams up with a fierce, diverse crew of female characters, including Razak and EliXyr who help her navigate a web of mistrust and ancient secrets to protect her home. It's a journey of courage and discovery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Fletcher labels this a “heroic” middle-grade fantasy, and that tone shines through in Korlana’s quest. She’s a reluctant hero who grows into her role, uncovering the true history of dragons and unraveling long-held misconceptions. Themes of unity, truth, and overcoming prejudice resonate powerfully, reflecting real-world issues like division and classism, while remaining accessible for younger readers. Unlike many middle-grade books that can feel overly simplistic, this story weaves a layered narrative with emotional depth and nuanced conflicts, making it just as gripping for adults as for kids. The spirited bond between Korlana and her allies adds warmth and humor, balancing the story’s intense moments with a sense of wonder. One scene near the end made me giggle a good bit, a moment straight out of a film that’s hilarious every time l’ve seen it.
The book’s inspirations are clear and well-executed, enhancing its cinematic feel. Korlana’s journey echoes the poignant leadership struggles of The Lion King, while the dragon-centric world and focus on unity across species evoke How to Train Your Dragon, with a Star Wars-like flair in its rebellion against tyranny. I also got a bit of Avatar's awe-inspiring visuals of floating lands and primal conflicts mixed into this story as well. Fletcher’s unique world of driftlands, the Great Empty, and the Boiling Deep, deliver a tale of hope and resilience that echoes the best of its inspirations, lingering long after the final page.
What makes Descent to Azakmar truly special is its heart. The father-daughter collaboration infuses the story with warmth, evident in every page. Though labeled “middle-grade,” I found myself enjoying this more than expected and I expect readers of all ages to resonate with it the same as I did, thanks to Fletcher’s skillful writing. This isn’t just a story of dragons, it’s a story of family, within the narrative and in its creation. Whether you’re a young reader or an adult craving a heroic escape, Descent to Azakmar delivers a soaring, unforgettable adventure that’ll leave you soaring too.
April 29, 2025
If GoodReads had half-star ratings, this would be a 4.5 star rating. :)
Michael R. Fletcher is an author best known for his grimdark work. His Manifest Delusions series, along with The Obsidian Heart trilogy, are superb examples of dark, brutal, and violent fiction. Descent To Azakmar is his first foray into more traditional fantasy, unchained by horror, madness, or savage morality.
It is simply a tale of a bright young dragon coming to terms with the real world and how it works.
Our hero is Korlana, a former princess of Tamost- a massive floating landmass that is home to a large community of dragon-kind known as the Aviad. Proud, fastidiously clean, and generally peaceful, the Aviad are content to keep to themselves. They fear the ferocious Nox Mortua black dragons, they disregard the slow and flightless Rockspur burrowing dragons, and they amuse themselves with elaborate hunts that showcase their skills at flight. Their lives aren’t quite idyllic, but theirs isn’t a culture of conquest or war.
The appearance of a massive driftland under Tamost causes Korlanas aunt, Queen Anakat, to call all Aviad to hunker down in her central palace in order to protect them all from the potential threats posed by this new and unknown land. Korlana and her best friend Utikan make a rash decision to leave the palace during this lockdown, a choice that triggers a series of events leading to ever-deepening revelations about the Driftlands. Along the way, they will be forced to re-assess everything they’ve ever been taught about the nature of all dragonkind- and get caught up in an increasingly complex web of betrayals, power plays, and external threats. It will take all of Korlanas wits- and the support of new friends- to navigate these challenges and avert disaster.
Descent to Azakmar treads a fine line between high fantasy and young adult fantasy, without taking bold steps firmly into either camp. It is an easy read that avoids self indulgence. While there are some clear tropes being used (along with a small degree of predictability that comes with said cliches) the pacing more than compensates. This book is a page-turner, and the plot moves forward with an excellent momentum that pulls the reader in.
The world building lies mostly in how Fletcher has sculpted the history and culture of dragon-kind, and its done masterfully. Learning more about the history of the Driftlands (and the varied lost species that each floating land mass hides) leaves the reader eager for the next books in the cycle. The most frustrating thing about Descent to Azakmar is wanting to know what happens next. The wait for its sequels will be maddening.
As an exercise in stepping-outside-the-box, Fletcher has comported himself well with this novel. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying desperately to be what it isn’t. It’s a highly enjoyable read with broad appeal and a great deal of potential for the series.
Michael R. Fletcher is an author best known for his grimdark work. His Manifest Delusions series, along with The Obsidian Heart trilogy, are superb examples of dark, brutal, and violent fiction. Descent To Azakmar is his first foray into more traditional fantasy, unchained by horror, madness, or savage morality.
It is simply a tale of a bright young dragon coming to terms with the real world and how it works.
Our hero is Korlana, a former princess of Tamost- a massive floating landmass that is home to a large community of dragon-kind known as the Aviad. Proud, fastidiously clean, and generally peaceful, the Aviad are content to keep to themselves. They fear the ferocious Nox Mortua black dragons, they disregard the slow and flightless Rockspur burrowing dragons, and they amuse themselves with elaborate hunts that showcase their skills at flight. Their lives aren’t quite idyllic, but theirs isn’t a culture of conquest or war.
The appearance of a massive driftland under Tamost causes Korlanas aunt, Queen Anakat, to call all Aviad to hunker down in her central palace in order to protect them all from the potential threats posed by this new and unknown land. Korlana and her best friend Utikan make a rash decision to leave the palace during this lockdown, a choice that triggers a series of events leading to ever-deepening revelations about the Driftlands. Along the way, they will be forced to re-assess everything they’ve ever been taught about the nature of all dragonkind- and get caught up in an increasingly complex web of betrayals, power plays, and external threats. It will take all of Korlanas wits- and the support of new friends- to navigate these challenges and avert disaster.
Descent to Azakmar treads a fine line between high fantasy and young adult fantasy, without taking bold steps firmly into either camp. It is an easy read that avoids self indulgence. While there are some clear tropes being used (along with a small degree of predictability that comes with said cliches) the pacing more than compensates. This book is a page-turner, and the plot moves forward with an excellent momentum that pulls the reader in.
The world building lies mostly in how Fletcher has sculpted the history and culture of dragon-kind, and its done masterfully. Learning more about the history of the Driftlands (and the varied lost species that each floating land mass hides) leaves the reader eager for the next books in the cycle. The most frustrating thing about Descent to Azakmar is wanting to know what happens next. The wait for its sequels will be maddening.
As an exercise in stepping-outside-the-box, Fletcher has comported himself well with this novel. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying desperately to be what it isn’t. It’s a highly enjoyable read with broad appeal and a great deal of potential for the series.
April 28, 2025
This book is really different from what Michael usually writes. Instead of gritty Gore, we have some nice fantasy which uses some of the classic tropes even though this book dances close to being a young adult it’s really not. We have a nice cast of characters who assemble to go beat. The bad guy. One could even say that some of the themes in this book could be applied to real life and the world would be a much happier place. Great job Mike. Can’t wait to read the next one.
April 30, 2025
Descent to Azakmar by Michael R. Fletcher is quite a departure from Michael R. Fletcher’s usual grimdark fare. Instead of adult fantasy, this one is a middle-grade heroic adventure. With just a hint of "grimdark light."
Warning: there’s a fair amount of death and some vivid violence. For many kids, this level will be totally fine, I personally loved books like this at that age. But if you’re thinking of handing it to a more sensitive reader, you might want to hold off a little. (That said, in "A Boy Called Christmas", a troll’s head explodes with quite some detail, so clearly there’s already a precedent for this age group!)
Now, onto the book itself:
The Cast:
Dragons, and other species, who’ve been raised to hate and fear those different to them, slowly begin to challenge those beliefs. Slowly friendships are forming, where no one thought they could exist. The topic is handled beautifully, never preachy, always organic, and serves as a powerful reminder of how easily fear and hatred can be taught.
The humor and banter between characters were especially well done and kept me engaged throughout.
The Main Character:
A reluctant heroine! I really appreciated that she wasn’t perfect or always successful. She makes mistakes, relies on her friends, and sometimes has to retreat. This made her feel real and relatable.
The World:
A fascinating world filled with flying islands, unique cultures, and strange new creatures. It’s imaginative without ever becoming overwhelming. Complex enough to be exciting but still accessible for younger readers.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the illustrations! They really add to the overall enjoyment and ease of emersion.
The Story:
There’s a blend of light politics, high adventure, and a steadily unfolding plot. While it might be a bit predictable for adults, it’s ideal for kids who haven’t read dozens of books in the genre.
There’s effective foreshadowing that lets readers feel clever when things come together, which is always a satisfying experience.
A few scenes wrapped up a bit too easily, and I’d have liked a bit more depth in those moments, but overall, it’s spot-on for the target audience.
Conclusion:
An excellent blend of action, world-building, humor, and heart.
Descent to Azakmar is perfect for (hardy) middle-grade readers, but also a real treat for adults who are still young at heart.
Highly recommended!
Warning: there’s a fair amount of death and some vivid violence. For many kids, this level will be totally fine, I personally loved books like this at that age. But if you’re thinking of handing it to a more sensitive reader, you might want to hold off a little. (That said, in "A Boy Called Christmas", a troll’s head explodes with quite some detail, so clearly there’s already a precedent for this age group!)
Now, onto the book itself:
The Cast:
Dragons, and other species, who’ve been raised to hate and fear those different to them, slowly begin to challenge those beliefs. Slowly friendships are forming, where no one thought they could exist. The topic is handled beautifully, never preachy, always organic, and serves as a powerful reminder of how easily fear and hatred can be taught.
The humor and banter between characters were especially well done and kept me engaged throughout.
The Main Character:
A reluctant heroine! I really appreciated that she wasn’t perfect or always successful. She makes mistakes, relies on her friends, and sometimes has to retreat. This made her feel real and relatable.
The World:
A fascinating world filled with flying islands, unique cultures, and strange new creatures. It’s imaginative without ever becoming overwhelming. Complex enough to be exciting but still accessible for younger readers.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the illustrations! They really add to the overall enjoyment and ease of emersion.
The Story:
There’s a blend of light politics, high adventure, and a steadily unfolding plot. While it might be a bit predictable for adults, it’s ideal for kids who haven’t read dozens of books in the genre.
There’s effective foreshadowing that lets readers feel clever when things come together, which is always a satisfying experience.
A few scenes wrapped up a bit too easily, and I’d have liked a bit more depth in those moments, but overall, it’s spot-on for the target audience.
Conclusion:
An excellent blend of action, world-building, humor, and heart.
Descent to Azakmar is perfect for (hardy) middle-grade readers, but also a real treat for adults who are still young at heart.
Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews