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When Dealing with Dragons
Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal—now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other, from Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight.
Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse—plus, he's the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.
When James strongarms his way into interning at her family's dragon sanctuary for the summer, it puts everything at risk. Farren isn't just the plain copper-crafter she seems. She's hiding a secret that could not only change her life, but their society as a whole. And James, trying to find refuge from his controlling father, harbors his own secret, years-long crush on Farren. Hating James might be harder than she thought, but Farren can't risk getting too the fate of an endangered species is at stake.
When Dealing with Dragons is a delightful young adult dual-POV romantasy about cross-class romance, finding family, and creating a better world for creatures big and small.
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse—plus, he's the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.
When James strongarms his way into interning at her family's dragon sanctuary for the summer, it puts everything at risk. Farren isn't just the plain copper-crafter she seems. She's hiding a secret that could not only change her life, but their society as a whole. And James, trying to find refuge from his controlling father, harbors his own secret, years-long crush on Farren. Hating James might be harder than she thought, but Farren can't risk getting too the fate of an endangered species is at stake.
When Dealing with Dragons is a delightful young adult dual-POV romantasy about cross-class romance, finding family, and creating a better world for creatures big and small.
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
Audible Audio
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Dana Swift
3 books565 followersDana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. While in college, Dana competed as a saber fencer and learned a thing or two about fighting, parrying and how it feels to fall in love with your sparring partner. She currently lives with said husband in Miami, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 ⭐️
Unlike most dragon books, When Dealing with Dragons focuses on being dragon veterinarians rather than on dragon riding. Introducing the readers to an idealistic dragon sanctuary where Farren (the FMC) and her family live and rehabilitate dragons. Yet Farren's oasis of dragons (brimming with closely guarded secrets) faces a dramatic upheaval through the arrival of the new summer intern, her academic nemesis James (the MMC)!
James is her popular and snobby academic rival for a college scholarship. James goes out of his way to be critical and derisive anytime he and Farren interacted in their school days…or so it would seem! Through the wonderful dual-POV narration, we get insight into this beautiful idiot's thought process and how he's loved this girl ever since he was 12 years old! (There are reasons for why he'd acted like an ass, and thankfully the "bullying" is only briefly mentioned without chapters of malicious torment.) Summer intern James is a s-i-m-p. He is DOWN BAD for Farren. He falls first. He falls harder. He's very, VERY obvious with his feelings. 🤭
“To tell Farren about my type would be to describe her. She’s funny. She’s kind. She’s smart. And she’s ambitious and curious in a way that’s unmatched. More than anything, though, she doesn’t stand by; she never just watches. But I couldn’t possibly tell her I never had a type because she’s been at the center of what I found attractive since I was 12.”
This book has a very unique metal-crafting magic mixed in with the fantasy of dragons. Each dragon possesses a metal (gold, silver, bronze, copper, tin, and iron), and humans utilize their dragon metals for crafting, health tonics, clothing, etc. The more prestigious the metal (gold, silver, or bronze), the more prestigious the family that can craft it.
*Trigger warning for depictions of animal abuse. As dragons often "showed their metal" when under duress, there were some in this book that purposefully hurt dragons for their metal.
Not Farren's dragon sanctuary! They're lovers, not fighters, nor are they greedy for dragon metals or social standing whatsoever! I pictured a grassy and expansive cliffside paradise filled with dragons of all shapes and sizes frolicking around in bliss. 🐉
If you like books with an adorable green flag romance, a heartwarming found family, likable leads, and PLENTY of dragons – this is a fun one. No complaints, so I'm giving it the full five stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own. 💚
Unlike most dragon books, When Dealing with Dragons focuses on being dragon veterinarians rather than on dragon riding. Introducing the readers to an idealistic dragon sanctuary where Farren (the FMC) and her family live and rehabilitate dragons. Yet Farren's oasis of dragons (brimming with closely guarded secrets) faces a dramatic upheaval through the arrival of the new summer intern, her academic nemesis James (the MMC)!
James is her popular and snobby academic rival for a college scholarship. James goes out of his way to be critical and derisive anytime he and Farren interacted in their school days…or so it would seem! Through the wonderful dual-POV narration, we get insight into this beautiful idiot's thought process and how he's loved this girl ever since he was 12 years old! (There are reasons for why he'd acted like an ass, and thankfully the "bullying" is only briefly mentioned without chapters of malicious torment.) Summer intern James is a s-i-m-p. He is DOWN BAD for Farren. He falls first. He falls harder. He's very, VERY obvious with his feelings. 🤭
“To tell Farren about my type would be to describe her. She’s funny. She’s kind. She’s smart. And she’s ambitious and curious in a way that’s unmatched. More than anything, though, she doesn’t stand by; she never just watches. But I couldn’t possibly tell her I never had a type because she’s been at the center of what I found attractive since I was 12.”
This book has a very unique metal-crafting magic mixed in with the fantasy of dragons. Each dragon possesses a metal (gold, silver, bronze, copper, tin, and iron), and humans utilize their dragon metals for crafting, health tonics, clothing, etc. The more prestigious the metal (gold, silver, or bronze), the more prestigious the family that can craft it.
*Trigger warning for depictions of animal abuse. As dragons often "showed their metal" when under duress, there were some in this book that purposefully hurt dragons for their metal.
Not Farren's dragon sanctuary! They're lovers, not fighters, nor are they greedy for dragon metals or social standing whatsoever! I pictured a grassy and expansive cliffside paradise filled with dragons of all shapes and sizes frolicking around in bliss. 🐉
If you like books with an adorable green flag romance, a heartwarming found family, likable leads, and PLENTY of dragons – this is a fun one. No complaints, so I'm giving it the full five stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own. 💚
Want to Read
June 19, 2026I’m not going to rate my own book, but I did want to use this space to post updates and answer any questions that come up about my new YA Fantasy, WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS! If more questions arise I’ll happily add to this list.
I have a google form for the preorder campaign! There are going to be amazing character art/scene art, stickers, and bookmarks so be sure to preorder before June 30th and fill out the form here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
If you order from BookPeople in Austin, Texas or Books & Books in Miami, Florida you get a signed personalized copy and all the swag!
BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/978125040...
Books & Books: https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9...
1. Is WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS a series?
This book was written as a standalone. But! I'm working on a companion novel that will hopefully be released in Summer 2027. That companion novel will have two different main characters and their own love story, but it will be in the same world. Farren and James will have cameo appearances in the companion novel so if you love WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS you're going to want to read the next one!
2. Content level: How explicit is the romance?
There are no sex scenes in the book. It never goes beyond kissing.
As for other content, there is no cursing in the book. I very much wrote it to be YA, not upper YA or crossover, but firmly for the young adult audience.
As for other elements Trigger Warnings are below, #5.
3. Will there be an audiobook?
Yes! The audiobook comes out June 30, 2026, the same day as the hardcover and e-book. Excitedly, the audiobook will be dual narrated for the two points of view!
4. Will there be foreign translations?
Yes! I'm so happy to report a few foreign countries have bought the rights to publish WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS. Here are the languages the book will be translated into I can publicly announce (so far):
English (US and UK) - Book 1 & 2
German - Book 1 & 2
Italian - Book 1
Hungarian - Book 1
French - Book 1
Russian - Book 1
Bulgarian - Book 1
5. Trigger Warnings:
I have a google form for the preorder campaign! There are going to be amazing character art/scene art, stickers, and bookmarks so be sure to preorder before June 30th and fill out the form here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
If you order from BookPeople in Austin, Texas or Books & Books in Miami, Florida you get a signed personalized copy and all the swag!
BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/978125040...
Books & Books: https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9...
1. Is WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS a series?
This book was written as a standalone. But! I'm working on a companion novel that will hopefully be released in Summer 2027. That companion novel will have two different main characters and their own love story, but it will be in the same world. Farren and James will have cameo appearances in the companion novel so if you love WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS you're going to want to read the next one!
2. Content level: How explicit is the romance?
There are no sex scenes in the book. It never goes beyond kissing.
As for other content, there is no cursing in the book. I very much wrote it to be YA, not upper YA or crossover, but firmly for the young adult audience.
As for other elements Trigger Warnings are below, #5.
3. Will there be an audiobook?
Yes! The audiobook comes out June 30, 2026, the same day as the hardcover and e-book. Excitedly, the audiobook will be dual narrated for the two points of view!
4. Will there be foreign translations?
Yes! I'm so happy to report a few foreign countries have bought the rights to publish WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS. Here are the languages the book will be translated into I can publicly announce (so far):
English (US and UK) - Book 1 & 2
German - Book 1 & 2
Italian - Book 1
Hungarian - Book 1
French - Book 1
Russian - Book 1
Bulgarian - Book 1
5. Trigger Warnings:
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
˗ˏˋ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬 ˎˊ˗
ᯓ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴs ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴᴇ 30, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.25 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴs, ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ, ʀɪᴠᴀʟs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ!!
ᯓ ✨ ᴘʀᴇᴍɪsᴇ:
⤿ Farren Walsh and James Murphy are two rivals that would like to have nothing do with each other (perhaps). James has always been the star dragon racer, coming from a prestigious family and set to win the scholarship Farren has her eyes on. Farren is keeping secrets close to her heart, which James is getting (dangerously) close to.
ᯓ ✨ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
⤷ A light-hearted book, filled with compassion, found family and first love! Perfect for anyone who needs to curl up for a day and be transported to a wonderful world filled with dragons.
The dragons were super fun to read about as well. I quite liked how they shifted between the fierce, protective beasts and kind, caring creatures. The idea of having dragons that shed rare metals with magic powers when scared is super cool, although what ends up happening is rather gruesome.
The pacing is quick. The story goes on turbocharge after the 50% mark, it kept me engrossed - but it did feel rushed. There were some parts that I felt could have taken their time, but I was never bored while reading this.
The dual point-of-view was really entertaining, I liked watching them fall for each other - my heart melted a little bit.
The writing irked me a little bit in the beginning, but once I adapted it was fine. The chapters are littered with a funny, but dry humor. (I would like to argue that I am just as entertaining)
Additionally, this book is a super clean young-adult fantasy. The author herself elaborated that the romance is not explicit in any way.
In this case, I enjoyed how the characters receive their happy ending. I will definitely be up to reading the companion novel to this when it comes out!
ᯓ✨ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs:
⤷ Farren Walsh. A talented dragon veterinarian in training, dedicated to protecting her family (dragons included)!
⤷ James Murphy. A privileged dragon racer, wishing for something no noble titles can give him.
Their personalities and strengths compliment each other quite well and they are so fun to read about!
ᯓ 🫧 ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤿ 4.25 stars!!
ᯓ✨ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
⤿ The Prison Healer (Lynette Noni)
⤿ Fireborne (Rosaria Munda)
Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
✨ || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ i am so excited to read this! the cover is wonderful - i think that i will read any book with a purple cover.
✨ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇs:
➤ 5% = i absolutely adore it when books have funny chapter titles 🥹
➤ 60% = they’re not too good at fake hating 😁
➤ 100% = i’m smiling so hard rn!!
ᯓ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴs ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴᴇ 30, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.25 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴs, ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ, ʀɪᴠᴀʟs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ!!
ᯓ ✨ ᴘʀᴇᴍɪsᴇ:
⤿ Farren Walsh and James Murphy are two rivals that would like to have nothing do with each other (perhaps). James has always been the star dragon racer, coming from a prestigious family and set to win the scholarship Farren has her eyes on. Farren is keeping secrets close to her heart, which James is getting (dangerously) close to.
ᯓ ✨ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
⤷ A light-hearted book, filled with compassion, found family and first love! Perfect for anyone who needs to curl up for a day and be transported to a wonderful world filled with dragons.
The dragons were super fun to read about as well. I quite liked how they shifted between the fierce, protective beasts and kind, caring creatures. The idea of having dragons that shed rare metals with magic powers when scared is super cool, although what ends up happening is rather gruesome.
The pacing is quick. The story goes on turbocharge after the 50% mark, it kept me engrossed - but it did feel rushed. There were some parts that I felt could have taken their time, but I was never bored while reading this.
The dual point-of-view was really entertaining, I liked watching them fall for each other - my heart melted a little bit.
The writing irked me a little bit in the beginning, but once I adapted it was fine. The chapters are littered with a funny, but dry humor. (I would like to argue that I am just as entertaining)
Additionally, this book is a super clean young-adult fantasy. The author herself elaborated that the romance is not explicit in any way.
In this case, I enjoyed how the characters receive their happy ending. I will definitely be up to reading the companion novel to this when it comes out!
ᯓ✨ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs:
⤷ Farren Walsh. A talented dragon veterinarian in training, dedicated to protecting her family (dragons included)!
⤷ James Murphy. A privileged dragon racer, wishing for something no noble titles can give him.
Their personalities and strengths compliment each other quite well and they are so fun to read about!
ᯓ 🫧 ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤿ 4.25 stars!!
ᯓ✨ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
⤿ The Prison Healer (Lynette Noni)
⤿ Fireborne (Rosaria Munda)
Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
✨ || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ i am so excited to read this! the cover is wonderful - i think that i will read any book with a purple cover.
✨ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇs:
➤ 5% = i absolutely adore it when books have funny chapter titles 🥹
➤ 60% = they’re not too good at fake hating 😁
➤ 100% = i’m smiling so hard rn!!
July 3, 2026
Adorable YA romantasy! Dragon vets, dragon racing, and all the feels of your first love!
June 11, 2026
When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift
Book Blurb: Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal―now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other.
Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse―plus, he's the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.
Rating: *****
Feels: Excited, Fun, Anticipation, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy
First published June 30, 2026: 336 pages
Themes & Setting: I adored this world setting where people are set in classes based on what metal they are aligned with and people train in magic based on that. That the metals the dragons shed give magical properties that can cure people and heal people. Of course the system is abused and a large part of the story revolves around that and is really well done. I loved the conservation themes and
FMC: Farren is not going to give up for anything and I just love that about her. She is the kinda person you wish all the best things for and cant help but root for through the whole book.
MMC: You wanna think James is a spoiled entitled privileged brat because that is how Farren sees him at first. So its an absolute pleasure to get to know him.
Conclusion: All the feel good vibes of a great fantasy that made me want to grow up and be a dragon veterinarian!! I really can’t decide what my favorite part of this book was. The setting with its dragon stewardship / racing and magic centered around what rank of metal you were was really fascinating. People who could craft silver being at the top of the food chain and silver giving interesting practical real world benefits keeping them at the top lends to an interesting power dynamic!! I am always a fan of Rivals to Lovers and he falls first is just such a great combo. Farren and James are competing for the same scholarship and their families do not get along due to James being a silver crafter and Farren being a lowly copper. What they both love is Dragons (hey me too !!!) and circumstances arise that bring them together (oh yes we love forced proximity!!) This was just such a fun easy enjoyable read with so many of the elements of a great fantasy book !! Highly recommend.
Favorite Quote: Which means I'm officially, irrevocably, stuck with him. (que hysterical cackling)
This book has:
Dragons !!!
He falls first
Forced proximity
Rivals to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Conservation themes
Structured Class System
Unique Magic System
Amazing chapter titles !!
Book Blurb: Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal―now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other.
Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse―plus, he's the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.
Rating: *****
Feels: Excited, Fun, Anticipation, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy
First published June 30, 2026: 336 pages
Themes & Setting: I adored this world setting where people are set in classes based on what metal they are aligned with and people train in magic based on that. That the metals the dragons shed give magical properties that can cure people and heal people. Of course the system is abused and a large part of the story revolves around that and is really well done. I loved the conservation themes and
FMC: Farren is not going to give up for anything and I just love that about her. She is the kinda person you wish all the best things for and cant help but root for through the whole book.
MMC: You wanna think James is a spoiled entitled privileged brat because that is how Farren sees him at first. So its an absolute pleasure to get to know him.
Conclusion: All the feel good vibes of a great fantasy that made me want to grow up and be a dragon veterinarian!! I really can’t decide what my favorite part of this book was. The setting with its dragon stewardship / racing and magic centered around what rank of metal you were was really fascinating. People who could craft silver being at the top of the food chain and silver giving interesting practical real world benefits keeping them at the top lends to an interesting power dynamic!! I am always a fan of Rivals to Lovers and he falls first is just such a great combo. Farren and James are competing for the same scholarship and their families do not get along due to James being a silver crafter and Farren being a lowly copper. What they both love is Dragons (hey me too !!!) and circumstances arise that bring them together (oh yes we love forced proximity!!) This was just such a fun easy enjoyable read with so many of the elements of a great fantasy book !! Highly recommend.
Favorite Quote: Which means I'm officially, irrevocably, stuck with him. (que hysterical cackling)
This book has:
Dragons !!!
He falls first
Forced proximity
Rivals to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Conservation themes
Structured Class System
Unique Magic System
Amazing chapter titles !!
July 11, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This is one of the best YA novels I've read in a long time, and one of the most realistic, which is ironic because it's a fantasy. This author absolutely captured what it's like to have a secret crush on someone/realize you like someone as a teen. Farren's and James's perspectives read exactly like a high school senior's would. I was immediately impressed by the narration style and the writing was dynamic. I read most of this in less than 24 hours, picking it up every free moment I had.
I LOVED how present Farren's parents were in this for a YA. It was very refreshing. If you want to read a YA story where the parents are ACTUALLY involved in the plot and the teens' lives and ACTUALLY parent them, this is perfect. Her parents made great side characters in general.
The fantasy completely revolved around the dragons and the metal crafting/classes. I enjoyed how simple the world was kept, focusing more on the hierarchy of the society and the lives of these characters. It was easy to digest and fun to learn about. And boy did the dragon elements deliver. There are so many creative details for the reader to learn and the landscape was described with such lush language.
The romance was paced well and the tropes executed as they ought. One of my favorite things are when an MMC and FMC who think they're opposites slowly learn they're one in the same. You also learn that James is 1-2 inches shorter than Farren and that was honestly giving me Tom Holland and Zendaya vibes. I was here for it and it was done perfectly by only being mentioned a couple of times. This story was vivid and definitely a romantasy, keeping the romance central while still having a strong plot and inspiring character growth. I had so much fun reading this!
In this book:
-academic rivals to more
-off-limits
-forced proximity
-secret crush
-misunderstood MMC
-slow burn
-he's obsessed with her
-fake hating
-dual-POV (first person)
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - damn used frequently, God's name in vain frequently, pr*ck twice, bullsh*t twice, hell 3x, a** twice, and "pissed off" used once
violence - infrequent in the first half and frequent in the second but non-graphic
fantasy - metal crafting, dragons
Potential Content Warnings:
-animal cruelty
-DV/child abuse
-cancer regarding a side character
-bullying/sexual harassment
-classism
I LOVED how present Farren's parents were in this for a YA. It was very refreshing. If you want to read a YA story where the parents are ACTUALLY involved in the plot and the teens' lives and ACTUALLY parent them, this is perfect. Her parents made great side characters in general.
The fantasy completely revolved around the dragons and the metal crafting/classes. I enjoyed how simple the world was kept, focusing more on the hierarchy of the society and the lives of these characters. It was easy to digest and fun to learn about. And boy did the dragon elements deliver. There are so many creative details for the reader to learn and the landscape was described with such lush language.
The romance was paced well and the tropes executed as they ought. One of my favorite things are when an MMC and FMC who think they're opposites slowly learn they're one in the same. You also learn that James is 1-2 inches shorter than Farren and that was honestly giving me Tom Holland and Zendaya vibes. I was here for it and it was done perfectly by only being mentioned a couple of times. This story was vivid and definitely a romantasy, keeping the romance central while still having a strong plot and inspiring character growth. I had so much fun reading this!
In this book:
-academic rivals to more
-off-limits
-forced proximity
-secret crush
-misunderstood MMC
-slow burn
-he's obsessed with her
-fake hating
-dual-POV (first person)
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - damn used frequently, God's name in vain frequently, pr*ck twice, bullsh*t twice, hell 3x, a** twice, and "pissed off" used once
violence - infrequent in the first half and frequent in the second but non-graphic
fantasy - metal crafting, dragons
Potential Content Warnings:
-animal cruelty
-DV/child abuse
-cancer regarding a side character
-bullying/sexual harassment
-classism
June 13, 2026
3.5 stars. Overall I thought this was a cute idea for a book and enjoyed my time with it. It is definitely most suited for a 13-18 year old reading group though as it's a proper YA novel. I loved that it was a standalone because I think we can all agree that committing to multiple books can be hard sometimes. A "one and done" is always appreciated. My only wish was that it was longer. I felt like we skimmed over a lot of the world building rules and I never had a good handle on WHY things were the way they were in this world. Our FMC is hiding her metal crafting level. But it's stated often that people can and do change their level and it's not a massive deal. I didn't understand why it was such a massive secret for our FMC. I loved the dragon racing aspect. But I needed to know MORE about it.
I liked the MMC a lot (I'm a sucker for someone who's been in love with the girl secretly for years). And I definitely appreciate his tragic backstory. But again, because of how short the book was, a lot of it felt glazed over and never dealt with in a more serious manner. I think making the book about 50 pages longer could have fleshed out some things a bit and would have made my rating a little higher.
Overall, a solid read. I do recommend it. Perfect if you want to recommend a book to your teenager. I will say, I think the audiobook for this may make it even more enjoyable. It just has the audiobook "vibe." If that makes any sense at all...
I liked the MMC a lot (I'm a sucker for someone who's been in love with the girl secretly for years). And I definitely appreciate his tragic backstory. But again, because of how short the book was, a lot of it felt glazed over and never dealt with in a more serious manner. I think making the book about 50 pages longer could have fleshed out some things a bit and would have made my rating a little higher.
Overall, a solid read. I do recommend it. Perfect if you want to recommend a book to your teenager. I will say, I think the audiobook for this may make it even more enjoyable. It just has the audiobook "vibe." If that makes any sense at all...
May 26, 2025
Perks of being friends with the author (and also a huge fan of hers) I was sent a PDF copy of her next release and have been devouring it ever since. Admittedly, I’m more of an audiobook reader than an e-book reader, but every time I had time to pick up the book, I was drawn into the world and her writing.
If you loved the Cast in Firelight duology, you’ll love this as well. It’s got Dana’s wonderful humor, character banter, and beautiful writing, but a new world and characters. Farren and James are fantastic POV characters, each with their secrets and coming of age stories within the course of the novel.
I don’t want to give too much away with the release date so far away, but I loved all of the characters in the book, especially the dragons, and the world building and magic was fascinating. I laughed at the humor, cooed over the dragons, and loved watching the characters interact throughout the whole journey. There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It’s the perfect mixture of cozy, budding romance, and dragons, along with breakneck adrenaline and intriguing societal commentary. I can’t wait to discuss this with other fellow readers!
If you loved the Cast in Firelight duology, you’ll love this as well. It’s got Dana’s wonderful humor, character banter, and beautiful writing, but a new world and characters. Farren and James are fantastic POV characters, each with their secrets and coming of age stories within the course of the novel.
I don’t want to give too much away with the release date so far away, but I loved all of the characters in the book, especially the dragons, and the world building and magic was fascinating. I laughed at the humor, cooed over the dragons, and loved watching the characters interact throughout the whole journey. There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It’s the perfect mixture of cozy, budding romance, and dragons, along with breakneck adrenaline and intriguing societal commentary. I can’t wait to discuss this with other fellow readers!
May 31, 2026
Full disclosure, I requested this audiobook on NetGalley because I got influenced on instagram. Do I regret this decision? No. No, I do not. When you start with a Chapter 1 titled: “When you save the boy you hate from certain death”, you know it’s going to be a good one!
This had everything I wanted in a YA fantasy novel. Enemies to lovers (chapter 4 title is absolute perfection), rebelling against strict class systems, a villain that is giving strong Lionel from Zodiac vibes, and dragons. I adored both our main characters, Farren and James. They were adorable in their awkwardness and formidable allies in the face of their enemies. You can’t help but get wrapped up in Farren’s crusade to save the dragons. (Also I love the idea of a dragon veterinarian, can we get more of this?)
The audiobook is incredible and immersive with its dual narration. Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick (who some of you may recognize from one of my favorite books ever, Queen of Faces) and Charlotte Lobdell. I haven’t listened to a book with Charlotte before but I already love her. She IS Farren as far as I’m concerned. (The awkward scenes had me rolling with laughter. She channeled that mortification straight from the teenage years, I swear!)
If you want YA with enemies to lovers, yearning, fighting the system and dragons When Dealing with Dragons is the perfect fit! Grab your format of choice on June 30 when it hits shelves!
Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio ( Drew, you’re the best) and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This had everything I wanted in a YA fantasy novel. Enemies to lovers (chapter 4 title is absolute perfection), rebelling against strict class systems, a villain that is giving strong Lionel from Zodiac vibes, and dragons. I adored both our main characters, Farren and James. They were adorable in their awkwardness and formidable allies in the face of their enemies. You can’t help but get wrapped up in Farren’s crusade to save the dragons. (Also I love the idea of a dragon veterinarian, can we get more of this?)
The audiobook is incredible and immersive with its dual narration. Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick (who some of you may recognize from one of my favorite books ever, Queen of Faces) and Charlotte Lobdell. I haven’t listened to a book with Charlotte before but I already love her. She IS Farren as far as I’m concerned. (The awkward scenes had me rolling with laughter. She channeled that mortification straight from the teenage years, I swear!)
If you want YA with enemies to lovers, yearning, fighting the system and dragons When Dealing with Dragons is the perfect fit! Grab your format of choice on June 30 when it hits shelves!
Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio ( Drew, you’re the best) and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC + ALC Review
4.5⭐️
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the e-arc and Macmillan audio for the alc 🫶
💭: I loved this one! This book was such an interesting mix of having very cozy/whimsical elements but then also having some pretty sad/dark/high stakes moments as well and I really loved the contrast. The magic system was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the different metal based magic for both the dragons and the humans. It was also interesting how the different types of metals played into a hierarchy system within the society. This book also explored young/first love in such a heartwarming way. The last 15-20% had me on the edge of my seat and the story wrapped up in a very satisfying way. I would definitely recommend and will absolutely keep my eyes open for the companion novel when it releases.
🎧: This book is narrated by Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick in a dual style narration. I absolutely loved the audio for this one! The narrators were clear and easy to understand and did a range of voices well. Definitely recommend.
4.5⭐️
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the e-arc and Macmillan audio for the alc 🫶
💭: I loved this one! This book was such an interesting mix of having very cozy/whimsical elements but then also having some pretty sad/dark/high stakes moments as well and I really loved the contrast. The magic system was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the different metal based magic for both the dragons and the humans. It was also interesting how the different types of metals played into a hierarchy system within the society. This book also explored young/first love in such a heartwarming way. The last 15-20% had me on the edge of my seat and the story wrapped up in a very satisfying way. I would definitely recommend and will absolutely keep my eyes open for the companion novel when it releases.
🎧: This book is narrated by Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick in a dual style narration. I absolutely loved the audio for this one! The narrators were clear and easy to understand and did a range of voices well. Definitely recommend.
June 29, 2026
06/23/2026-06/25/2026
Thank you so much Wednesday for the gifted digital proof of “When Dealing with Dragons” by Dana Swift 🐉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming June 30th, 2026)
When Dealing With Dragons was an adorable read, with a unique magic system, a soft and YA filled slowburn and everything you’d need in an adventure full of dragons! 🥹
This book left me as a 990 (if 0 is a human 😜) 💓
Thank you so much Wednesday for the gifted digital proof of “When Dealing with Dragons” by Dana Swift 🐉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming June 30th, 2026)
When Dealing With Dragons was an adorable read, with a unique magic system, a soft and YA filled slowburn and everything you’d need in an adventure full of dragons! 🥹
This book left me as a 990 (if 0 is a human 😜) 💓
July 4, 2026
Many thanks to the St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Farren is the daughter of a dragon veterinarian, and she's after a scholarship that will allow her to pursue an education she can't otherwise afford. On the other side, there's her rival James — a dragon racer and son to a cruel man — who is also after the same scholarship. James' family is rich, so she can't fathom why he'd want the same scholarship beyond wanting to spite her. Both of them carry their own share of secrets, though, and hiding them becomes harder once James decides to intern under Farren's father over the summer holidays.
This book has a really interesting magic system — dragons seem to be imbued with metals such as bronze and silver, which they use as a form of defence when endangered. Humans have an affinity for certain metals, which can also be trained to gain higher control over the dragons. Your metal class also determines your social status — Farren, as a copper crafter, and James, as a silver, are quite a few classes apart and are not meant to mingle.
This story is told from a dual POV, and it's clear from the start that James has harboured a crush on Farren for a long time, of which she is wholly unaware. Part of this is due to her having secrets she wants no one to discover. When she finds out that James is to intern at her home over the summer break, she's especially upset because she thinks of James as a horrible person as well as worrying that he, and by extension his family, could find out about her secrets.
This is overall a fun book, and I think the unique magic system does make it worth picking up, especially if you have a soft spot for dragons, which were nicely included — think along the lines of How to Train Your Dragon. Something about the setting felt really off, though, and I think part of it is the vague world-building. When I hear dragon riders, my mind automatically assumes a medieval-esque setting, and this book initially doesn't share anything that makes you think otherwise. And then, quite unexpectedly, James rocks up in a car — to say I was caught off guard is an understatement. So — are we talking Automobile or Tesla? Are we somewhere in the early 20th century, or is this a contemporary setting? Later there are also mentions of phones and the like, but that didn't help narrow it down.
On a similar note, I found the dialogue far too modern — that is, assuming this isn't taking place sometime in the 21st century. It is a YA book, and I do think that the way the protagonists and parents discussed sex was done in a healthy way, and yet the choice of words and the way it was approached felt very modern. I am not really saying that this is either a good or a bad thing; it's just something I found deeply confusing in regards to what this world actually looks like.
Although a lot of the plot was fairly light-hearted, focusing on domestic life and animal care, it touched on several darker topics. There is family violence and abuse, death, fairly detailed discussions around cancer, classicism, and most notably animal cruelty. While the cruelty is rarely described in great detail, you do know exactly what is going on, and it is often heartbreaking and definitely something I would warn people who are sensitive to animal cruelty about — fantastical or otherwise.
For its uniqueness and the fact that it's both a well-written and well-paced YA novel, I would recommend it to lovers of dragons. While I did enjoy it, I am very sorry to say that the unclear world-building really did bother my reading experience.
June 30, 2026
This is a cute, quick read. The premise is interesting but overshadowed by the angsty teenage romance.
I knew I needed to read this book when I saw Dragon Veterinarians in the brief description. I loved the dragon sanctuary, and the supportive and sweet Walsh family. The dragons themselves are adorable with puppy-like personalities.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book to read and review. This book is dual POV, and the audiobook is dual narrated. I liked the male narrator but did not enjoy the female narrator's portrayal of Farron.
The romance and story between Farron and James took up a large portion of the book’s focus. I was a bit exasperated by the constant internal dialogue of does he like me, do I like him, is he mean, does she hate me, was she looking at me and on and on and on. I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, but realize this book is meant for younger readers (13-16).
This book presented a world where humans are classed based on their ability to craft metals. The more precious the metal, the higher in society that family would be. People can move up the social ladder by bonding with a dragon of higher metal or by practicing crafting advanced metals. I thought this was interesting and would’ve liked to have interacted with more types of metal crafters. This book focused mainly on the elite silver crafters.
This book also touches on dragon racing and the treatment/abuses towards dragons. Dragons are exploited for their metal scales and sold if no longer useful. Dragons are poached from the wild for their metal scales. This book did not provide a large-scale solution to these issues.
Some tropes:
Rivals to Lovers
Forced Proximity
MMC pines for her
This book has steam and no spice.
Overall, this story was entertaining but overpowered by the teenage romance and associated drama.
I knew I needed to read this book when I saw Dragon Veterinarians in the brief description. I loved the dragon sanctuary, and the supportive and sweet Walsh family. The dragons themselves are adorable with puppy-like personalities.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book to read and review. This book is dual POV, and the audiobook is dual narrated. I liked the male narrator but did not enjoy the female narrator's portrayal of Farron.
The romance and story between Farron and James took up a large portion of the book’s focus. I was a bit exasperated by the constant internal dialogue of does he like me, do I like him, is he mean, does she hate me, was she looking at me and on and on and on. I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, but realize this book is meant for younger readers (13-16).
This book presented a world where humans are classed based on their ability to craft metals. The more precious the metal, the higher in society that family would be. People can move up the social ladder by bonding with a dragon of higher metal or by practicing crafting advanced metals. I thought this was interesting and would’ve liked to have interacted with more types of metal crafters. This book focused mainly on the elite silver crafters.
This book also touches on dragon racing and the treatment/abuses towards dragons. Dragons are exploited for their metal scales and sold if no longer useful. Dragons are poached from the wild for their metal scales. This book did not provide a large-scale solution to these issues.
Some tropes:
Rivals to Lovers
Forced Proximity
MMC pines for her
This book has steam and no spice.
Overall, this story was entertaining but overpowered by the teenage romance and associated drama.
July 8, 2026
I enjoyed it very much. Dragons, a love-hate relationship, secret powers—what more could you want?
So we have dragons. Some time ago, people stopped hunting them and discovered they could craft metals and bond with them. Of course, there's a hierarchy based on the type of metal (why would it be any different? It's people, after all), and society is very much class-divided. Gold dragons are long gone; no one has seen one for years. Now, you have a wild choice of career here: you can be a rider, a dragon veterinarian, a medic, and so on. Sometimes your parents want you to be something other than what you want, and sometimes you need to hide your true talents to protect others.
Both Farren and James have their own problems they're facing, and yet they find themselves living in close proximity for the summer. It quickly comes to the surface that they don't really hate each other and that the preconceptions they held aren't true. They are forced to learn to work together to protect the sanctuary and the dragons, especially against James's family.
I enjoyed both the world-building and the romance aspect. Nothing goes overboard here. And it easily could have, as there's a lot introduced throughout the story, but it all feels effortless and the narration flows very well. We have a dual POV here, switching between Farren and James, and it feels good seeing how both of their brains work and how their relationship evolves throughout the story.
I would have liked a bit more of the aftermath, though,maybe a few more chapters?
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
So we have dragons. Some time ago, people stopped hunting them and discovered they could craft metals and bond with them. Of course, there's a hierarchy based on the type of metal (why would it be any different? It's people, after all), and society is very much class-divided. Gold dragons are long gone; no one has seen one for years. Now, you have a wild choice of career here: you can be a rider, a dragon veterinarian, a medic, and so on. Sometimes your parents want you to be something other than what you want, and sometimes you need to hide your true talents to protect others.
Both Farren and James have their own problems they're facing, and yet they find themselves living in close proximity for the summer. It quickly comes to the surface that they don't really hate each other and that the preconceptions they held aren't true. They are forced to learn to work together to protect the sanctuary and the dragons, especially against James's family.
I enjoyed both the world-building and the romance aspect. Nothing goes overboard here. And it easily could have, as there's a lot introduced throughout the story, but it all feels effortless and the narration flows very well. We have a dual POV here, switching between Farren and James, and it feels good seeing how both of their brains work and how their relationship evolves throughout the story.
I would have liked a bit more of the aftermath, though,maybe a few more chapters?
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
July 3, 2026
3.25⭐️
Thank you to Wednesday books for providing access to a free EARC of this book… had a good time reading !!
I quite enjoyed this YA dragon world Romantasy… Iliked the world that they were in and how well they worked with dragons in a sanctuary. Where a dragon vet is forced to work with her school rival. I especially liked the dragons in this story… they made the world they were in more enjoyable. I loved their personalities and cuteness and their own little families.
Also, the magic system was done in a unique interesting way. Humans are classed based off their ability to craft metals. The more precious the metal, the higher in society your family would be. Thought it was interesting how you can rise in the ranks by bonding with a dragon of higher metal or learning advanced metals.
There is a beautiful romance which I think did yearning well being YA… my kind of vibes… and there was a lot of focus on the romance.
Didn’t expect some of the twists in the second half of the book and it also delves into more serious topics as the book goes on but overall a cozy YA fantasy that’s perfect for dragon lovers!
Thank you to Wednesday books for providing access to a free EARC of this book… had a good time reading !!
I quite enjoyed this YA dragon world Romantasy… Iliked the world that they were in and how well they worked with dragons in a sanctuary. Where a dragon vet is forced to work with her school rival. I especially liked the dragons in this story… they made the world they were in more enjoyable. I loved their personalities and cuteness and their own little families.
Also, the magic system was done in a unique interesting way. Humans are classed based off their ability to craft metals. The more precious the metal, the higher in society your family would be. Thought it was interesting how you can rise in the ranks by bonding with a dragon of higher metal or learning advanced metals.
There is a beautiful romance which I think did yearning well being YA… my kind of vibes… and there was a lot of focus on the romance.
Didn’t expect some of the twists in the second half of the book and it also delves into more serious topics as the book goes on but overall a cozy YA fantasy that’s perfect for dragon lovers!
July 6, 2026
4.5 Stars, rounded up just because
In a market full of military-propaganda war dragons, choose veterinarians at the dragon sanctuary instead.
In all honesty, this is a good book. It's hopeful without being cozy. It's fun. It's nice. It's good. And that's all that I'll say here. My full review will be available this Friday, July 10th, 2026 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you're feeling so inclined!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
In a market full of military-propaganda war dragons, choose veterinarians at the dragon sanctuary instead.
In all honesty, this is a good book. It's hopeful without being cozy. It's fun. It's nice. It's good. And that's all that I'll say here. My full review will be available this Friday, July 10th, 2026 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you're feeling so inclined!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
June 30, 2026
Thank you so much to MacMillan audio for my ALC!!
What an incredible feeling when a YA Fantasy delivers exactly what it promises! the premise is incredibly fresh with the primary focus on dragon rearing and dragon sanctuary rather than the dragon riders. I would say this is a medium stakes fantasy with a neat plot line, fantastic execution and a very well developed characterizations.
This lighthearted book navigates several tropes with ease, I absolutely enjoyed the found family, academic rivals and the very appropriate YA romance. The concept of metal crafting hierarchy intertwined with dragon bonding lore was super fun to read, the pacing felt perfect and so was the story progression. I appreciated the fact that it is a well rounded stand-alone where everything wraps up really neatly.
Farren is a driven academic trying to follow her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian, she is also protecting a life changing secret with everything until her snobby academic rival James enters the picture which threatens her precarious situation.Little does she know that the snobby exterior of James is only a cover for his mushy insides and he had been her most ardent secret admirer.The romance was just so adorable, a very YA appropriate sweet chemistry but promises several butterflies in the stomach moments. If you like he fell first and fell hard, this one is going to be a super cute read. I also loved the light thrown on animal abuse because of a corrupt system, it delivered the message without changing the tone of the book to be too sombre. Overall, an easy 5 stars for me.
Audio Notes- I absolutely adored the audiobook, the narration does perfect justice to 17yr old main leads and on top of it, it is a duel narration which is always an added bonus for me. I highly recommend the audio.
What an incredible feeling when a YA Fantasy delivers exactly what it promises! the premise is incredibly fresh with the primary focus on dragon rearing and dragon sanctuary rather than the dragon riders. I would say this is a medium stakes fantasy with a neat plot line, fantastic execution and a very well developed characterizations.
This lighthearted book navigates several tropes with ease, I absolutely enjoyed the found family, academic rivals and the very appropriate YA romance. The concept of metal crafting hierarchy intertwined with dragon bonding lore was super fun to read, the pacing felt perfect and so was the story progression. I appreciated the fact that it is a well rounded stand-alone where everything wraps up really neatly.
Farren is a driven academic trying to follow her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian, she is also protecting a life changing secret with everything until her snobby academic rival James enters the picture which threatens her precarious situation.Little does she know that the snobby exterior of James is only a cover for his mushy insides and he had been her most ardent secret admirer.The romance was just so adorable, a very YA appropriate sweet chemistry but promises several butterflies in the stomach moments. If you like he fell first and fell hard, this one is going to be a super cute read. I also loved the light thrown on animal abuse because of a corrupt system, it delivered the message without changing the tone of the book to be too sombre. Overall, an easy 5 stars for me.
Audio Notes- I absolutely adored the audiobook, the narration does perfect justice to 17yr old main leads and on top of it, it is a duel narration which is always an added bonus for me. I highly recommend the audio.
June 25, 2026
Ok when I saw this cover I thought...ohh I think I am going to need to read this. It really pulled me in. I didn't really read the synopsis and wanted to go in blind. I did know that it would be more in the realm of YA. I am will say though that for it being in the YA I am so pleased with this story! I thought the story was fantastic. I loved the world and the magic system. being able to manipulate metals has always been a favorite of mine. Add dragons and perfect. I do like how there is some dragon racing but the main thing about it is more of care of them and how the outrage of how some people treat them as more of a commodity than living creatures. While yes the two main characters Farren and James are in the YA realm I liked their little romance and how really the whole time Farren thinks James has hated her he really has had a crush on her for pretty much as long as he can remember. I also like that James is nothing like his father and really wants to break the mold. Realistically I could read so many more books set in this world, and I would very happily.
The audio was very well done it is done in dual style and both Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick. They both equally had very good pacing that was easy to listen at any rate of speed and made it easy to understand. The variety of voice used was great and easy to tell when they were reading as different characters and really helped bring all of them to life equally. I would 100% listen to it again.
Thank you to Macmillan audio and SMP/Wednesday books for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The audio was very well done it is done in dual style and both Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick. They both equally had very good pacing that was easy to listen at any rate of speed and made it easy to understand. The variety of voice used was great and easy to tell when they were reading as different characters and really helped bring all of them to life equally. I would 100% listen to it again.
Thank you to Macmillan audio and SMP/Wednesday books for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up When Dealing with Dragons on June 30, 2026.
This was an absolutely delightful adventure from Dana Swift! When Dealing With Dragons follows Farren, a dragon veterinarian forced to work with her school rival, James, for a summer internship at her family's dragon sanctuary. Though she's determined to hate James on sight, Farren doesn't realize that he's been harboring a crush on her for years, and this is his chance to finally grow closer to her.
While the romance was sweet, and I appreciated their moments of connection, I found the other parts of the book even more compelling. The magic system revolving around crafting different types of metals and the dragon scales they come from was so cool, and I appreciated the messages Swift conveyed about classism and elitism through the hierarchy of these metals. I didn't expect the book to get as dark as it did (cw/tw for domestic abuse/child abuse, animal cruelty/death of an animal, relatives with cancer, etc). But it did raise the stakes of this seemingly "cozy" fantasy, and it had me tearing through the audiobook quicker than I expected.
Def pick this up if you want a different type of dragon story (more rehab/vet than dragon racing, though it is a part of it) and a cute rivals-to-lovers romance! This definitely does lean toward a younger YA audience as well.
This was an absolutely delightful adventure from Dana Swift! When Dealing With Dragons follows Farren, a dragon veterinarian forced to work with her school rival, James, for a summer internship at her family's dragon sanctuary. Though she's determined to hate James on sight, Farren doesn't realize that he's been harboring a crush on her for years, and this is his chance to finally grow closer to her.
While the romance was sweet, and I appreciated their moments of connection, I found the other parts of the book even more compelling. The magic system revolving around crafting different types of metals and the dragon scales they come from was so cool, and I appreciated the messages Swift conveyed about classism and elitism through the hierarchy of these metals. I didn't expect the book to get as dark as it did (cw/tw for domestic abuse/child abuse, animal cruelty/death of an animal, relatives with cancer, etc). But it did raise the stakes of this seemingly "cozy" fantasy, and it had me tearing through the audiobook quicker than I expected.
Def pick this up if you want a different type of dragon story (more rehab/vet than dragon racing, though it is a part of it) and a cute rivals-to-lovers romance! This definitely does lean toward a younger YA audience as well.
July 1, 2026
This was very cute. We love a He Falls First (And Harder) always, and James was suchhh a good one.
I also adored the metal magic here, and how it tied into the dragons themselves. Super creative and well executed, throughout the plot.
Farren was such a cutie too. So easy to root for, and her banter and chemistry with James was adorbs.
It was a little slow for me up until things started happening more at the end, but I thought it wrapped up really well.
🎧 Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick did such a nice job with this narration. Perfectly suited for these characters.
This one did read very young to be, in terms of YA, so it’s a little hard for me to rate. Personally, it was more of a good 3 ⭐️ in terms of my reading experience; but I think if I had been more of the target age, 3.5 ⭐️.
I also adored the metal magic here, and how it tied into the dragons themselves. Super creative and well executed, throughout the plot.
Farren was such a cutie too. So easy to root for, and her banter and chemistry with James was adorbs.
It was a little slow for me up until things started happening more at the end, but I thought it wrapped up really well.
🎧 Charlotte Lobdell and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick did such a nice job with this narration. Perfectly suited for these characters.
This one did read very young to be, in terms of YA, so it’s a little hard for me to rate. Personally, it was more of a good 3 ⭐️ in terms of my reading experience; but I think if I had been more of the target age, 3.5 ⭐️.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full review still coming, but I absolutely devoured this book! I really enjoyed the world building with magic being sourced from dragon bonds and metal, and the main rivals to lovers couple is just adorable and my favorite type of pairing.
December 14, 2025
5 Stars.
🐉 The vibes:
- YA romantasy
- Social classes
- Dragons
- Rivals
- Forbidden love
- Closed door
🐉 My thoughts:
I loved this so much. There are some books that have me so giddy, excited, and on the edge of my seat the entire time; books that I cannot put down and pain my soul when I can’t be reading it. This was that book for me. There’s rivals, pining, yearning, and dragons. Say less. It’s standalone which makes it the perfect read to consume and not get involved in a huge commitment.
🐉 The dynamic between Farren and James gave me all of the feelings of first love, but the depth of the characters individually and also together was everything. Farren and James are the most precious little things ever.
🐉 The class system involving metals was really cool. The social classes gave this story such an angst all throughout that I loved. It created a forbidden love situation that had me screaming and wondering how these two would make it work. The dragon veterinary moments were some of my favorites. Farren’s family was such a good part of the story.
🐉 And the action scenes involving the dragons was great. It’s been such a long time since I’ve read a book with dragons that connected for me that didn’t feel overly cheesy or silly. The dragons in this book gave me exactly what I look for in a dragon book. They’re big and strong beasts, but we also see a heartwarming side also.
🐉 This is definitely fantasy because we have dragons, but also there are cars and phones, and the way they talk feels modern. So I guess maybe urban fantasy is what I would classify this as based on that.
🐉 Overall, this is a favorite for me. It had so many elements that just worked so well. The friendships, the romance, the family, the dragons, and the action. I LOVED THIS.
Note- closed door; brief mentions of sex
Release date: June 30, 2026.
Thank you so much to Dana Swift, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
🐉 The vibes:
- YA romantasy
- Social classes
- Dragons
- Rivals
- Forbidden love
- Closed door
🐉 My thoughts:
I loved this so much. There are some books that have me so giddy, excited, and on the edge of my seat the entire time; books that I cannot put down and pain my soul when I can’t be reading it. This was that book for me. There’s rivals, pining, yearning, and dragons. Say less. It’s standalone which makes it the perfect read to consume and not get involved in a huge commitment.
🐉 The dynamic between Farren and James gave me all of the feelings of first love, but the depth of the characters individually and also together was everything. Farren and James are the most precious little things ever.
🐉 The class system involving metals was really cool. The social classes gave this story such an angst all throughout that I loved. It created a forbidden love situation that had me screaming and wondering how these two would make it work. The dragon veterinary moments were some of my favorites. Farren’s family was such a good part of the story.
🐉 And the action scenes involving the dragons was great. It’s been such a long time since I’ve read a book with dragons that connected for me that didn’t feel overly cheesy or silly. The dragons in this book gave me exactly what I look for in a dragon book. They’re big and strong beasts, but we also see a heartwarming side also.
🐉 This is definitely fantasy because we have dragons, but also there are cars and phones, and the way they talk feels modern. So I guess maybe urban fantasy is what I would classify this as based on that.
🐉 Overall, this is a favorite for me. It had so many elements that just worked so well. The friendships, the romance, the family, the dragons, and the action. I LOVED THIS.
Note- closed door; brief mentions of sex
Release date: June 30, 2026.
Thank you so much to Dana Swift, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
June 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ALC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I requested the ALC for this book one week before its release simply because the author is going to be in my town. I was delighted when I got accepted the next mornings Oh my gosh, I read this in two days!!! I was absolutely NOT expecting a 5⭐️ YA romantasy. This book took me by surprise in the best way!!!
The premise was naturally enticing. FMC is the teen daughter of a dragon veterinarian who runs a dragon sanctuary. MMC is the teenage son of a rich and high status dragon racing family, who is set to become the next award winning professional dragon racer on the circuit. Rivals at school, battling for the same scholarship, Farren and James cross paths often in the dragon world but not on the same level or with the same intentions. When Farren unexpectedly saves James’ life during a race gone wrong, everything she’s trying to protect is suddenly at risk. James moves to the sanctuary for the summer to intern and heal, but he’s too close now. He cannot find out what she’s hiding. It doesn’t risk just her life and the sanctuary, but a secret far more precious.
This story is written as dual POVs. A unique metal crafting magic system that creates classes among the people. Dragons and wyverns aren’t just wild beasts. They are trained and loved by many, but some are breed and kept in terrible conditions, descaled for wealth and privilege. Each character js fleshed out and felt so real and unique.
I couldn’t or have been more pleased with the writing style. Dana, you write in a way that makes me feel alive!! I’m pulled into the story, felt like I was in those cold caves, my heart was torn by the cries of tormented dragons, my belly giddy with butterflies at young love, and felt the wind on my face when flying with dragons. This story feels like a standalone, wrapped up with a beautiful bow at the end. BUT I would drop the rest of my TBR to have this world a little longer and read the rest of Farren and James’ story.
I requested the ALC for this book one week before its release simply because the author is going to be in my town. I was delighted when I got accepted the next mornings Oh my gosh, I read this in two days!!! I was absolutely NOT expecting a 5⭐️ YA romantasy. This book took me by surprise in the best way!!!
The premise was naturally enticing. FMC is the teen daughter of a dragon veterinarian who runs a dragon sanctuary. MMC is the teenage son of a rich and high status dragon racing family, who is set to become the next award winning professional dragon racer on the circuit. Rivals at school, battling for the same scholarship, Farren and James cross paths often in the dragon world but not on the same level or with the same intentions. When Farren unexpectedly saves James’ life during a race gone wrong, everything she’s trying to protect is suddenly at risk. James moves to the sanctuary for the summer to intern and heal, but he’s too close now. He cannot find out what she’s hiding. It doesn’t risk just her life and the sanctuary, but a secret far more precious.
This story is written as dual POVs. A unique metal crafting magic system that creates classes among the people. Dragons and wyverns aren’t just wild beasts. They are trained and loved by many, but some are breed and kept in terrible conditions, descaled for wealth and privilege. Each character js fleshed out and felt so real and unique.
I couldn’t or have been more pleased with the writing style. Dana, you write in a way that makes me feel alive!! I’m pulled into the story, felt like I was in those cold caves, my heart was torn by the cries of tormented dragons, my belly giddy with butterflies at young love, and felt the wind on my face when flying with dragons. This story feels like a standalone, wrapped up with a beautiful bow at the end. BUT I would drop the rest of my TBR to have this world a little longer and read the rest of Farren and James’ story.
February 24, 2026
when dealing with dragons by dana swift 🐉🌊🩺
“Humans or dragons? Which would dominate over the other? It’s an age-old question our forefathers debated and why crafting began. But it’s never been one or the other. We were meant to work together.”
★★★★★
Hell yeah. THIS BOOK GETS ALL THE STARS (all five of them!). This one had me deep in my feels. I absolutely devoured this YA romantasy. It felt innocent and wholesome, but the stakes? Surprisingly high for YA. And I was hooked from start to finish. I have the softest spot for Farren and James 🥹
Friends, family, enemies: this is how you do a standalone romantasy 👏🏻 I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going in because it’s YA, but there were some intense moments that gave it a more mature edge without losing that heartfelt sweetness. And the ending? Wrapped up beautifully, full of hope and giddiness for these two cuties.
* The plot? Unique. The metal magic system storyline was so cool!
* The pacing? Chef’s kiss 🤌🏻
* Dual POV?! Dana can do no wrong!
* Rivals-to-lovers? Forbidden romance? Tropes that get me every single time.
* The cover? I gasped! It’s STUNNING.
There is something so refreshing about a YA romance that choses innocence and emotional intimacy. The slow burn simmered beautifully, the tension built naturally, and the tenderness made it impossible not to root for the two of them 🥹
Lastly, authors, I’m begging, PLEASE bring back chapter titles because this book had some of the BEST ones and I loved every second of it.
I didn’t even get to the dragons!!!!!!!! Farren and her family live and work at a dragon sanctuary. I REPEAT, DRAGON. SANCTUARY. Dragon vets are a thing!
Many, many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest, albeit, dramatic review.
“Humans or dragons? Which would dominate over the other? It’s an age-old question our forefathers debated and why crafting began. But it’s never been one or the other. We were meant to work together.”
★★★★★
Hell yeah. THIS BOOK GETS ALL THE STARS (all five of them!). This one had me deep in my feels. I absolutely devoured this YA romantasy. It felt innocent and wholesome, but the stakes? Surprisingly high for YA. And I was hooked from start to finish. I have the softest spot for Farren and James 🥹
Friends, family, enemies: this is how you do a standalone romantasy 👏🏻 I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going in because it’s YA, but there were some intense moments that gave it a more mature edge without losing that heartfelt sweetness. And the ending? Wrapped up beautifully, full of hope and giddiness for these two cuties.
* The plot? Unique. The metal magic system storyline was so cool!
* The pacing? Chef’s kiss 🤌🏻
* Dual POV?! Dana can do no wrong!
* Rivals-to-lovers? Forbidden romance? Tropes that get me every single time.
* The cover? I gasped! It’s STUNNING.
There is something so refreshing about a YA romance that choses innocence and emotional intimacy. The slow burn simmered beautifully, the tension built naturally, and the tenderness made it impossible not to root for the two of them 🥹
Lastly, authors, I’m begging, PLEASE bring back chapter titles because this book had some of the BEST ones and I loved every second of it.
I didn’t even get to the dragons!!!!!!!! Farren and her family live and work at a dragon sanctuary. I REPEAT, DRAGON. SANCTUARY. Dragon vets are a thing!
Many, many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest, albeit, dramatic review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift was such an interesting read—unlike anything I’ve picked up before.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the class system. The idea that a person’s social standing is determined by the type of metal they can magically weild with felt both unique and thoughtfully developed. The fact that the dragons produce this metal—and are sadly taken advantage of and poached for it—added an emotional layer to the story and made the stakes feel even higher.
The world-building was beautiful. I loved discovering the different types of dragons, and the sanctuary in particular was described so vividly that I could picture it perfectly. It felt magical and immersive.
I also really connected with the characters—both human and dragon alike. Farren is such a genuinely good person, always striving to do her best for everyone around her (dragons included), even when it costs her personally. James has so many layers, and it didn’t take long before I was rooting for him and his big heart. The author did a fantastic job giving the dragons their own distinct personalities as well. Hort and Nity will absolutely hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the class system. The idea that a person’s social standing is determined by the type of metal they can magically weild with felt both unique and thoughtfully developed. The fact that the dragons produce this metal—and are sadly taken advantage of and poached for it—added an emotional layer to the story and made the stakes feel even higher.
The world-building was beautiful. I loved discovering the different types of dragons, and the sanctuary in particular was described so vividly that I could picture it perfectly. It felt magical and immersive.
I also really connected with the characters—both human and dragon alike. Farren is such a genuinely good person, always striving to do her best for everyone around her (dragons included), even when it costs her personally. James has so many layers, and it didn’t take long before I was rooting for him and his big heart. The author did a fantastic job giving the dragons their own distinct personalities as well. Hort and Nity will absolutely hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2026
I was influenced by Instagram to request this book. Then I saw a glowing review on GR the day I started it and it made me very excited to read this book. This is, without a doubt, the first time I’ve picked up a book after being influenced by social media and absolutely loved it. I was enthralled every single second while reading this magical book.
Farren and James are so adorable as our main characters. This is YA so no spice but we get tons of yearning. So much teenage longing. The magic system is unique yet still easy to follow. The author really creates an extraordinary world. And the dragons! Oh the dragons. You will love the dragons like they are your own pets. They have their own personalities and families and are characters in their own right.
Everything about this book is amazing! This is the perfect light hearted read for summer and beyond!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the arc!!
Farren and James are so adorable as our main characters. This is YA so no spice but we get tons of yearning. So much teenage longing. The magic system is unique yet still easy to follow. The author really creates an extraordinary world. And the dragons! Oh the dragons. You will love the dragons like they are your own pets. They have their own personalities and families and are characters in their own right.
Everything about this book is amazing! This is the perfect light hearted read for summer and beyond!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the arc!!
Did Not Finish
July 8, 2026Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this book did not work for me. The writing was very juvenile, in my opinion. I could not connect with the way this story was being told. The setting/world was not really explained at all. We have dragon riders, but also cars and phones? This alone wouldn’t bother me if there had been clear world building, but unfortunately there wasn’t. The FMC came off very young and kind of bratty, and her inner monologue was really cringey. The MMC was more likable, and I tended to like the chapters told from his POV better, as he seemed to be able to think somewhat rationally, though I don’t necessarily understand what he saw in the FMC to harbor such a crush.. I also enjoyed the dragons and the magic associated with them. The metal magic was really cool. However those aspects were not enough for me to continue reading. I DNFd at 24%.
Unfortunately this book did not work for me. The writing was very juvenile, in my opinion. I could not connect with the way this story was being told. The setting/world was not really explained at all. We have dragon riders, but also cars and phones? This alone wouldn’t bother me if there had been clear world building, but unfortunately there wasn’t. The FMC came off very young and kind of bratty, and her inner monologue was really cringey. The MMC was more likable, and I tended to like the chapters told from his POV better, as he seemed to be able to think somewhat rationally, though I don’t necessarily understand what he saw in the FMC to harbor such a crush.. I also enjoyed the dragons and the magic associated with them. The metal magic was really cool. However those aspects were not enough for me to continue reading. I DNFd at 24%.
July 7, 2026
This was so good! Finally a dragon book that’s 1000% about the dragons, and dragon husbandry to boot! Instead of dragon riding (while there is some of that as well!)
This is a YA book, and our MCs act like dumb teenagers appropriately.
There are themes of classism throughout and I thought were broached well for the age range.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
This is a YA book, and our MCs act like dumb teenagers appropriately.
There are themes of classism throughout and I thought were broached well for the age range.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
July 4, 2026
Swift does it again!!! She is incredibly talented with crafting an enemies to lovers slow burn that invokes all the yearning you would ever want.
The concept of this story was well thought out. I loved reading about another facet of dragon problems that could arise. I love the metal hierarchy, crafting, and healing portions of this book. My emotions during the de-scaling were so intense it made my skin crawl. I didn’t know I could get so sad for something I’ve never known.
The Walsh family was delightful and a dream. The mc’s were sooo young adult, but still so great to read about. I love. I was fascinated by all the adults in this story. They were complex and left me wanting more.
Don’t hesitate to read this! 🩷
The concept of this story was well thought out. I loved reading about another facet of dragon problems that could arise. I love the metal hierarchy, crafting, and healing portions of this book. My emotions during the de-scaling were so intense it made my skin crawl. I didn’t know I could get so sad for something I’ve never known.
The Walsh family was delightful and a dream. The mc’s were sooo young adult, but still so great to read about. I love. I was fascinated by all the adults in this story. They were complex and left me wanting more.
Don’t hesitate to read this! 🩷
July 4, 2026
This was a really cute, fun YA romantasy. I’ll absolutely be recommending this to my 12-year-old niece. The dragons were great, the worldbuilding was solid, and the yearning was well done.
4.25 stars
4.25 stars
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