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Dragon Racer #1
Rider of Dragons
DRAGONS. RACING. ROMANCE.She wants to race dragonsGenevieve's family is dead set against her joining the deadly dragon races. But she won't let them stop her.
He's the trainer she doesn't want, but needsWithout her family's money, nobody will train her. Desperate for help, she agrees to a terrible Qais, an alleged member of a dragon poaching gang, will train her to win the races, if she agrees to give him her prize money.
Every race could be their lastThe dragon races aren't just about being the fastest. In these races, sabotage, attacks and all out violence aren't just allowed, they're encouraged. The devastatingly handsome Qais will teach her to be cunning and cruel, and Genevieve will be forced to answer a devastating to win, is she willing to lose everything?
THE FIRST PART OF A THRILLING NEW ROMANTASY DUOLOGY FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BABY DRAGON CAFE
He's the trainer she doesn't want, but needsWithout her family's money, nobody will train her. Desperate for help, she agrees to a terrible Qais, an alleged member of a dragon poaching gang, will train her to win the races, if she agrees to give him her prize money.
Every race could be their lastThe dragon races aren't just about being the fastest. In these races, sabotage, attacks and all out violence aren't just allowed, they're encouraged. The devastatingly handsome Qais will teach her to be cunning and cruel, and Genevieve will be forced to answer a devastating to win, is she willing to lose everything?
THE FIRST PART OF A THRILLING NEW ROMANTASY DUOLOGY FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BABY DRAGON CAFE
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Aamna Qureshi
15 books1,073 followersAamna Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American who adores words. She is an award-winning and USA Today, Amazon, and Times bestselling author who grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion). Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. Through her writing, she wishes to inspire a love for the beautiful country and rich culture that informed much of her identity.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026DNF 27%.
maybe it's just a me thing, but i couldn't get into this book at all. the world building is scarce, and the characters feel so one dimensional. i don’t understand their actions and motivations.
the fmc’s logic? it doesn’t exist. she claims to hate gangs and anything that sounds remotely illegal, but her plan is to win an illegal dragon race with no rules where people literally die? plus, she has never raced before, the first race is in a few weeks, and she suddenly remembers she needs to get a trainer? what?
nothing about this timeline or her motivation makes a lick of sense. literally, one day she's upset about taking so long to find a trainer, the next she sleeps in because she feels she deserves it, and the day after she’s stressed about taking the night off from training. make up your mind, girl.
even the family dynamics and relationships felt superficial.
the idea is definitely there, but the execution isn’t my favorite.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
maybe it's just a me thing, but i couldn't get into this book at all. the world building is scarce, and the characters feel so one dimensional. i don’t understand their actions and motivations.
the fmc’s logic? it doesn’t exist. she claims to hate gangs and anything that sounds remotely illegal, but her plan is to win an illegal dragon race with no rules where people literally die? plus, she has never raced before, the first race is in a few weeks, and she suddenly remembers she needs to get a trainer? what?
nothing about this timeline or her motivation makes a lick of sense. literally, one day she's upset about taking so long to find a trainer, the next she sleeps in because she feels she deserves it, and the day after she’s stressed about taking the night off from training. make up your mind, girl.
even the family dynamics and relationships felt superficial.
the idea is definitely there, but the execution isn’t my favorite.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
March 28, 2026
2.5
The biggest issue with Rider of Dragons is how this has been marketed for me. Calling it a 'dark' and 'thrilling' romantasy set me up with some very different expectations, and I think that mismatch is going to leave a lot of people disappointed. This is not the dark romantasy that I was expecting but rather a cosy, rainy afternoon read with a blanket and a cup of tea. Unfortunately for me, the tea was lukewarm.
One of the main problems was the lack of world-building. Even though the world itself is relatively simple, that doesn't excuse how underdeveloped it feels. If I need to rely on another series to fully understand the world, something has gone wrong and it doesn't push me to read her other series either.
The romance also didn't work for me at all. It felt rushed and underdeveloped, with very little build-up before suddenly jumping to 'horny teenagers' territory around the 70-80% mark that took me out of the story completely. The "you can't trust me" was overdone and didn't work when the red flags were that obvious.
And unfortunately, the romance is following a trend I've noticed A LOT lately. Book one introducing a love interest who clearly isn't endgame. I would love to be wrong but the signs are there. It's becoming predictable and frustrating and I'm getting bored with it.
The writing leans heavily into telling rather than showing which I loathe with romance development and probably why I didn't connect to the main couple at all.
I did enjoy the premise and the conflict with Genevieve's family was one of the stronger aspects of the story, although she was a bit too forgiving considering how little support she received from any of her family. And the women in this book felt a little too male-centric for me.
The championship element was fun as well, though it did become repetitive around the middle of the book.
The plot twist at the end was unfortunately, very predictable.
I would consider picking up book two...maybe? With tighter editing, some world-building and a stronger romance, this could easily be a four or even five star read. Otherwise, the marketing needs to shift to reflect what this book actually is... a cosy romantasy.
I was fortunate enough to receive a ALC from the publisher and I have to say, the narrator saved the book for me. As I said, if the goal was cosy and light she absolutely nailed it. I'm not sure I would have made it through the first 20% of this book without her.
I received an advanced listening and reading copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The biggest issue with Rider of Dragons is how this has been marketed for me. Calling it a 'dark' and 'thrilling' romantasy set me up with some very different expectations, and I think that mismatch is going to leave a lot of people disappointed. This is not the dark romantasy that I was expecting but rather a cosy, rainy afternoon read with a blanket and a cup of tea. Unfortunately for me, the tea was lukewarm.
One of the main problems was the lack of world-building. Even though the world itself is relatively simple, that doesn't excuse how underdeveloped it feels. If I need to rely on another series to fully understand the world, something has gone wrong and it doesn't push me to read her other series either.
The romance also didn't work for me at all. It felt rushed and underdeveloped, with very little build-up before suddenly jumping to 'horny teenagers' territory around the 70-80% mark that took me out of the story completely. The "you can't trust me" was overdone and didn't work when the red flags were that obvious.
And unfortunately, the romance is following a trend I've noticed A LOT lately. Book one introducing a love interest who clearly isn't endgame. I would love to be wrong but the signs are there. It's becoming predictable and frustrating and I'm getting bored with it.
The writing leans heavily into telling rather than showing which I loathe with romance development and probably why I didn't connect to the main couple at all.
I did enjoy the premise and the conflict with Genevieve's family was one of the stronger aspects of the story, although she was a bit too forgiving considering how little support she received from any of her family. And the women in this book felt a little too male-centric for me.
The championship element was fun as well, though it did become repetitive around the middle of the book.
The plot twist at the end was unfortunately, very predictable.
I would consider picking up book two...maybe? With tighter editing, some world-building and a stronger romance, this could easily be a four or even five star read. Otherwise, the marketing needs to shift to reflect what this book actually is... a cosy romantasy.
I was fortunate enough to receive a ALC from the publisher and I have to say, the narrator saved the book for me. As I said, if the goal was cosy and light she absolutely nailed it. I'm not sure I would have made it through the first 20% of this book without her.
I received an advanced listening and reading copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 28, 2026
Rider of Dragons by Aamna Qureshi
Book Blurb: DRAGONS. RACING. ROMANCE. She wants to race dragons
Genevieve's family is dead set against her joining the deadly dragon races. But she won't let them stop her.
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Fun, Intrigue, Excitement
Style: Fantasy, Dragons, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance
First published September 1, 2026 : 384 pages
Themes & Setting: This was a really interesting setting in that you had alot of stratification of the society that was in existence. Families that had (dragons and wealth) and those that did not (some of which poached dragons and went to jail or worse.) Gangs roam about procuring people what they need and basically running the illegal dragon racing entertainment that everyone participates in. The vibe was sort of newer medieval with more advancements. Themes included finding who you want to be, rebelling against family expectations and going against all odds.
FMC: Genevieve is definitely the spoiled little rich girl who wants what she wants at the start. Its interesting to see her decide what truly matters, why and what she will do to see things through.
MMC: Qais is dark, moody and got the whole "Im not good for you" vibe going on. Will anyone listen to him? You will have to read to find out !!
Conclusion: High flying fun and thrills !! Rivalry that turns to that oh so sweet will they won’t they moments !!! I really enjoyed this setting of dragons being raised to race and families with their rivalries. It gave a Romeo / Juliet vibe between the families. Lots of political intrigue and drama going on in the storyline which gave the read a lot excitement! I absolutely loved the dragons in this book and the bond they shared with their riders. It made for such a special sweet aspect of this book among all the human machinations. Overall just a really enjoyable, adventurous read with characters I can’t wait to read more about !!!
This book has:
Dragon Racing
Deadly Trials
Family Rivalry
Rival Gangs
Trainer x Trainee
Forced Proximity
Animal Bonds
Slow Burn
Book Blurb: DRAGONS. RACING. ROMANCE. She wants to race dragons
Genevieve's family is dead set against her joining the deadly dragon races. But she won't let them stop her.
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Fun, Intrigue, Excitement
Style: Fantasy, Dragons, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance
First published September 1, 2026 : 384 pages
Themes & Setting: This was a really interesting setting in that you had alot of stratification of the society that was in existence. Families that had (dragons and wealth) and those that did not (some of which poached dragons and went to jail or worse.) Gangs roam about procuring people what they need and basically running the illegal dragon racing entertainment that everyone participates in. The vibe was sort of newer medieval with more advancements. Themes included finding who you want to be, rebelling against family expectations and going against all odds.
FMC: Genevieve is definitely the spoiled little rich girl who wants what she wants at the start. Its interesting to see her decide what truly matters, why and what she will do to see things through.
MMC: Qais is dark, moody and got the whole "Im not good for you" vibe going on. Will anyone listen to him? You will have to read to find out !!
Conclusion: High flying fun and thrills !! Rivalry that turns to that oh so sweet will they won’t they moments !!! I really enjoyed this setting of dragons being raised to race and families with their rivalries. It gave a Romeo / Juliet vibe between the families. Lots of political intrigue and drama going on in the storyline which gave the read a lot excitement! I absolutely loved the dragons in this book and the bond they shared with their riders. It made for such a special sweet aspect of this book among all the human machinations. Overall just a really enjoyable, adventurous read with characters I can’t wait to read more about !!!
This book has:
Dragon Racing
Deadly Trials
Family Rivalry
Rival Gangs
Trainer x Trainee
Forced Proximity
Animal Bonds
Slow Burn
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This pains me because I truly enjoyed the dragon races and thought the arch was overall well done. However this is overshadowed by the abysmal romance.
I didn't mind that it's a love triangle, but the fact that it wasn't well done at all. Ginny is horny for both Qais and Xavier (Zavier? I listened to the audiobook), even when she is already in love and says that she is. We get gems like "heat flickered down my spine" when she hears the second love interest is jealous of her boyfriend. Why is she getting horny over someone who is not the man she loves. Well, I do know why. It's painfully obvious he's going to be the endgame in book two. The fact I could tell 1/3 into the book is not good thooo.
There was no build up to the romance at all. Ginny is into Qais from the moment she met him and there was no tension to their relationship at all. That is why I liked Xavier better at first because the first two times they meet we get the gist of how they were almost friends as children but forbidden to be, and I thought that was cute and had potential. But noo, the guy was made out to be some womanizer, who Ginny slutshames constantly (including calling him a man whore), which is RICH coming from the horniest MC I ever had to read. Like she is horny all the time. Horny for two men at the same time!!! Horny from the guys simply talking to her, no not even dirty talk!
Xavier is clearly a rip-off from Xaden from Fourth Wing (their names even resemble), we even get the hair so beautiful it makes men speechless scene. Also the scene from the Cruel Prince where carden is kissed but can't take his eyes of Jude is reused here.
A rule to writing says: show don't tell. I personally don't mind it when an author tells sometimes, but when it came to the relationships, it was all tell, no show. And that's why it didn't work. There's no palpable chemestry between the characters because it's all tell, tell, tell.
This quote really shows that:
"His smoldering gaze snagged hers. His eyes very purposefully not dropping lower. She could see it took him a great effort to do so. Blood rushed in her ears. She wondered if he would give into this tension between them."
Don't TELL me there's tension between them, SHOW ME!!!
Also don't have the character who is going to betray the MC keep telling her not to trust anyone, even him. I knew he would betray her from the first time he mentioned it, but he kept on saying it. Also OO can we be done with the betrayal trope by the end of book 1 in a romantasy series. It is sooo overdone at this point.
At the end of the audiobook there was an QA and I found out this is a spin-off book to her cozy fantasy books set in the same world. This does explain why there is zero world building and I who haven't read the other books was left confused why this was a modern world with phones and such, but no female has ever won the dragon races. (So Ginny can be the first. I guess we're not over the MC having to be super special and not like other girls.) Also sometimes there was sexism, but not always. Like women can go to clubs, drink, and have sex, but they can't dragon race???
The world building seriously needs to be explained because I'm sure a lot of readers who haven't read her other books are going to read this one.
The audiobook narrator was bomb, no notes, you rock girlie. I love your voice and you were the reason I finished!
I didn't mind that it's a love triangle, but the fact that it wasn't well done at all. Ginny is horny for both Qais and Xavier (Zavier? I listened to the audiobook), even when she is already in love and says that she is. We get gems like "heat flickered down my spine" when she hears the second love interest is jealous of her boyfriend. Why is she getting horny over someone who is not the man she loves. Well, I do know why. It's painfully obvious he's going to be the endgame in book two. The fact I could tell 1/3 into the book is not good thooo.
There was no build up to the romance at all. Ginny is into Qais from the moment she met him and there was no tension to their relationship at all. That is why I liked Xavier better at first because the first two times they meet we get the gist of how they were almost friends as children but forbidden to be, and I thought that was cute and had potential. But noo, the guy was made out to be some womanizer, who Ginny slutshames constantly (including calling him a man whore), which is RICH coming from the horniest MC I ever had to read. Like she is horny all the time. Horny for two men at the same time!!! Horny from the guys simply talking to her, no not even dirty talk!
Xavier is clearly a rip-off from Xaden from Fourth Wing (their names even resemble), we even get the hair so beautiful it makes men speechless scene. Also the scene from the Cruel Prince where carden is kissed but can't take his eyes of Jude is reused here.
A rule to writing says: show don't tell. I personally don't mind it when an author tells sometimes, but when it came to the relationships, it was all tell, no show. And that's why it didn't work. There's no palpable chemestry between the characters because it's all tell, tell, tell.
This quote really shows that:
"His smoldering gaze snagged hers. His eyes very purposefully not dropping lower. She could see it took him a great effort to do so. Blood rushed in her ears. She wondered if he would give into this tension between them."
Don't TELL me there's tension between them, SHOW ME!!!
Also don't have the character who is going to betray the MC keep telling her not to trust anyone, even him. I knew he would betray her from the first time he mentioned it, but he kept on saying it. Also OO can we be done with the betrayal trope by the end of book 1 in a romantasy series. It is sooo overdone at this point.
At the end of the audiobook there was an QA and I found out this is a spin-off book to her cozy fantasy books set in the same world. This does explain why there is zero world building and I who haven't read the other books was left confused why this was a modern world with phones and such, but no female has ever won the dragon races. (So Ginny can be the first. I guess we're not over the MC having to be super special and not like other girls.) Also sometimes there was sexism, but not always. Like women can go to clubs, drink, and have sex, but they can't dragon race???
The world building seriously needs to be explained because I'm sure a lot of readers who haven't read her other books are going to read this one.
The audiobook narrator was bomb, no notes, you rock girlie. I love your voice and you were the reason I finished!
August 18, 2026
I wanted to like this one so much! I didn’t realize this was in the same world as the Baby Dragon Cafe, so I felt like I came in a little lost. I was hoping for the high-stakes excitement of dragon races, and unfortunately I didn’t feel I got it. The setting was also very anti-women and it was so hard to get past that as the mechanic because we didn’t get an explanation as to WHY women were considered lesser or unable to compete. It was just told to us. I think if I’d already been a fan of this world, I would have enjoyed it more. Coming in cold, it wasn’t compelling enough for me to be drawn in.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
aamna when i catch you, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME
Want to Read
July 6, 2026🐉🔥 Rider of Dragons 🔥🐉
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. Honestly this was a 6 star read for me!!
🏁 What to Expect
• Dragon racing
• Forced proximity
• Trainer x trainee
• Deadly Competition
• Family opposition
_ _ _ _
🎧 Narration Style: Solo (Amelia March)
📅 Pub Date: August 27, 2026
📝 Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio, Harper 360, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. Honestly this was a 6 star read for me!!
🏁 What to Expect
• Dragon racing
• Forced proximity
• Trainer x trainee
• Deadly Competition
• Family opposition
_ _ _ _
🎧 Narration Style: Solo (Amelia March)
📅 Pub Date: August 27, 2026
📝 Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio, Harper 360, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 12, 2026
ARC REVIEW VIA NETGALLEY-
4.3/5 stars from me for this one.
I really enjoyed the cosy vibes mixed with the brutal side of the racing. That ending as well😤🤯
I haven’t read any other books by Aamna but I believe this is set in the same world as her baby dragon books, and I’m glad it was still easy to follow the world building without reading them.
This is perfect for lovers of dragons, illegal racing and a couple of hot men as well! Genevieve was such a perfect main female character, I loved the strong feminist vibe she gave through out the book and her unapologetic nature as well which was refreshing to read!
Cannot wait for the next one to come out and excited to see what ginny and fang are up to next
4.3/5 stars from me for this one.
I really enjoyed the cosy vibes mixed with the brutal side of the racing. That ending as well😤🤯
I haven’t read any other books by Aamna but I believe this is set in the same world as her baby dragon books, and I’m glad it was still easy to follow the world building without reading them.
This is perfect for lovers of dragons, illegal racing and a couple of hot men as well! Genevieve was such a perfect main female character, I loved the strong feminist vibe she gave through out the book and her unapologetic nature as well which was refreshing to read!
Cannot wait for the next one to come out and excited to see what ginny and fang are up to next
August 4, 2026
You know that book that you think is going to be good just from looking at it. And then you read it and it surpasses what you thought and has you hooked through every page? This is that book.
It’s got dragons, dragon racing, fights on dragons, fights by dragons, a slow burn romance (not including any dragons), and plenty of backstory that doesn’t leave you thinking ‘give me the next action part please’
Everything has its place in this and I loved it so much.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
It’s got dragons, dragon racing, fights on dragons, fights by dragons, a slow burn romance (not including any dragons), and plenty of backstory that doesn’t leave you thinking ‘give me the next action part please’
Everything has its place in this and I loved it so much.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
September 26, 2026
3 stars! ✨✨✨ it was good and interesting but it could be better and epic. some things just didn't seem logic to me. 🤷♀️
September 11, 2026
What the hell was that ending?!!!!
Dragon Rider is the spin off series of The Baby Dragon series and I enjoyed it.
Ginny was amazing in the book. She was tenacious, hardworking and stubborn. All she wanted was to participate on Dragon race, which is a male dominated illegal sport. Initially even I doubted her capability but later on I also started cheering for her.
This one had a pretty tough love triangle. On one side we have Zaviyar who is Ginny’s childhood friend turned nemesis. He is also kinda showy and manwh*re. But boy, does that man have heart of gold. I loved their past connection.
Then we have the broody, tortured, mysterious trainer Qais. I can’t say more about him because of spoilers.
As the story progressed, the intensity of the races and stakes started increasing. I enjoyed the second half more.
But I did get irked at Ginny at certain instances involving Qais and Zavi. Girl stick to one and stop responding to both. She needed more character depth. Needed more world building too.
The ending genuinely upset me. I did guess some part right but not the whole picture. And I’m so so mad at one particular character. Can’t wait to read book 2 next year.
-Romantasy.
-Forced proximity.
-Dragon races.
-Love triangle.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Dragon Rider is the spin off series of The Baby Dragon series and I enjoyed it.
Ginny was amazing in the book. She was tenacious, hardworking and stubborn. All she wanted was to participate on Dragon race, which is a male dominated illegal sport. Initially even I doubted her capability but later on I also started cheering for her.
This one had a pretty tough love triangle. On one side we have Zaviyar who is Ginny’s childhood friend turned nemesis. He is also kinda showy and manwh*re. But boy, does that man have heart of gold. I loved their past connection.
Then we have the broody, tortured, mysterious trainer Qais. I can’t say more about him because of spoilers.
As the story progressed, the intensity of the races and stakes started increasing. I enjoyed the second half more.
But I did get irked at Ginny at certain instances involving Qais and Zavi. Girl stick to one and stop responding to both. She needed more character depth. Needed more world building too.
The ending genuinely upset me. I did guess some part right but not the whole picture. And I’m so so mad at one particular character. Can’t wait to read book 2 next year.
-Romantasy.
-Forced proximity.
-Dragon races.
-Love triangle.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
February 19, 2026
Tropes: slow burn, enemies.. to friends to lovers
Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Genevieve, our FMC, is full of determination & perseverance. She is all the things I love in a strong and powerful FMC.
This story of illegal dragon racing raises the stakes from the traditional cozy feel of the previous Baby Dragon books. There’s high stakes, secrets, and Genevieve with her eye on the prize, the Dragon Riders’ Championship. This story does a great job at highlighting the struggle women go through in our current world when it comes to proving our worth vs. a man.
We have an MMC, Qais, who has an utterly tragic backstory, who becomes Genevieve’s trainer while she prepares for the race that her family are adamantly against.
Provider by Sleep Token was stuck in my head throughout the entirety of this book, and it sums Qais up perfectly. The romance is FULL of slow burning tension & yearning. But trust me. If steam is what you want, just you wait 🔥
The dragons are arguably my favorite part of this story, because nothing quite beats the bond between a rider and their dragon.
The ending… I have sobbed for 20 minutes straight trying to fathom waiting for book 2. Incredible. I truly have no words for how much I loved this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Genevieve, our FMC, is full of determination & perseverance. She is all the things I love in a strong and powerful FMC.
This story of illegal dragon racing raises the stakes from the traditional cozy feel of the previous Baby Dragon books. There’s high stakes, secrets, and Genevieve with her eye on the prize, the Dragon Riders’ Championship. This story does a great job at highlighting the struggle women go through in our current world when it comes to proving our worth vs. a man.
We have an MMC, Qais, who has an utterly tragic backstory, who becomes Genevieve’s trainer while she prepares for the race that her family are adamantly against.
Provider by Sleep Token was stuck in my head throughout the entirety of this book, and it sums Qais up perfectly. The romance is FULL of slow burning tension & yearning. But trust me. If steam is what you want, just you wait 🔥
The dragons are arguably my favorite part of this story, because nothing quite beats the bond between a rider and their dragon.
The ending… I have sobbed for 20 minutes straight trying to fathom waiting for book 2. Incredible. I truly have no words for how much I loved this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating - 4.5⭐️
This was such a fun book! I enjoyed the audiobook so definitely consider trying it! This is an adult romantasy book where Genevieve dreams of taking part in the dragon riding races and hires a mystery gang member to be her trainer on a deal that when she wins the championship, he’ll get her prize money as payment.
This book was definitely more action-packed and intense than the author’s previous books but it still had a cozy, wholesomeness to it that feels like the author’s signature vibe. The plot had a ton of races which I crave and expected in a book that has dragon racing as the sole focus. The races may be repetitive to some but for me, I didn’t mind it at all.
The FMC, Genevieve is raised as a pampered princess in her family BUT she wasn’t annoying and I loved her determination to do what she’s always dreamed of even though her family were against her dream. I also really loved her bond with her dragon Fang, they have a cute dynamic that made me “aww”🥹 a lot.
The love triangle was so much funnnnn!!! Ginny has undeniable chemistry with both mmcs but obvs one stole my heart away instantly. Qais is mysterious but is actually the biggest soft boy ever, he was adorable with his quiet and calm nature. And the other… ZAVIYAR MY MAN‼️ He stole the spotlight every time he was on the page. I was already intrigued when I saw his moodboard on the authors page. Then when he first showed up on the page? I was already falling. I loved the SLOW SIZZLING tension between him and Ginny.
I felt proud that I predicted the ending very early on the book hehehe🤪. BUT THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH? WAS DIABOLICAL‼️ AAMNA WHEN I CATCH YOU‼️
This was such a fun book! I enjoyed the audiobook so definitely consider trying it! This is an adult romantasy book where Genevieve dreams of taking part in the dragon riding races and hires a mystery gang member to be her trainer on a deal that when she wins the championship, he’ll get her prize money as payment.
This book was definitely more action-packed and intense than the author’s previous books but it still had a cozy, wholesomeness to it that feels like the author’s signature vibe. The plot had a ton of races which I crave and expected in a book that has dragon racing as the sole focus. The races may be repetitive to some but for me, I didn’t mind it at all.
The FMC, Genevieve is raised as a pampered princess in her family BUT she wasn’t annoying and I loved her determination to do what she’s always dreamed of even though her family were against her dream. I also really loved her bond with her dragon Fang, they have a cute dynamic that made me “aww”🥹 a lot.
The love triangle was so much funnnnn!!! Ginny has undeniable chemistry with both mmcs but obvs one stole my heart away instantly. Qais is mysterious but is actually the biggest soft boy ever, he was adorable with his quiet and calm nature. And the other… ZAVIYAR MY MAN‼️ He stole the spotlight every time he was on the page. I was already intrigued when I saw his moodboard on the authors page. Then when he first showed up on the page? I was already falling. I loved the SLOW SIZZLING tension between him and Ginny.
I felt proud that I predicted the ending very early on the book hehehe🤪. BUT THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH? WAS DIABOLICAL‼️ AAMNA WHEN I CATCH YOU‼️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Rider of Dragons we follow Genevieve, who grew up protected in a rich dragon family. Her family doesn't let her participate in the dragon races, as they are too dangerous. So when she decides to do just that, she looses everything. She knows very little about the races, so she needs to learn everything from the start, including being cruel and violent. And her trainer Qais is more then willing to teach her. The story takes place in the same world as The Baby Dragon Cafe.
Rider of Dragons unexpectedly blew me away. At first, I was irritated by Genevieves naivety, but when she developed during the story I came to like her. The story shows that with hard work and dedication, a lot is possible.
The romance is a great addition and actually adds to the story and building of characters and plot. There is some spice but not that much and very decently written.
The book is fast-paced, keeping you hooked to the story the whole time. And then the ending, it totally blew me away. I knew something was still in the shadows but I didnt expected this! (Or didn't wanted to). I need the second book... like yesterday! I am having a book hangover that needs to be fixed.
Its a true page turner so a well deserved 5⭐️
Release date: 27th of August 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and author A. T. Qureshi for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. It's been a pleasure.
Rider of Dragons unexpectedly blew me away. At first, I was irritated by Genevieves naivety, but when she developed during the story I came to like her. The story shows that with hard work and dedication, a lot is possible.
The romance is a great addition and actually adds to the story and building of characters and plot. There is some spice but not that much and very decently written.
The book is fast-paced, keeping you hooked to the story the whole time. And then the ending, it totally blew me away. I knew something was still in the shadows but I didnt expected this! (Or didn't wanted to). I need the second book... like yesterday! I am having a book hangover that needs to be fixed.
Its a true page turner so a well deserved 5⭐️
Release date: 27th of August 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and author A. T. Qureshi for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. It's been a pleasure.
September 26, 2026
This was a fun read and I enjoyed being back in the world of the Baby Dragon series. However, I'm unsure as to why this is being marketed as a different series? Yes, it's a little grittier but there were so many connections back to the Baby Dragon series that I feel you'd lose a lot of the context if you'd not read those books?
While I did really enjoy the excitement of dragon racing but I'm not sure this book quite managed to be it wanted to be. The life of dragon racing was meant to be brutal and deadly but it was set in a world known to be cute and cosy, thanks to its companion series, which felt a little confusing. I finished this wanting more from the story and I think I may have got that had it not been set in the Baby Dragon world.
All that being said, I did enjoy my time with this book and it's one I'd recommend for readers who loved the original series but are looking for something a little darker.
While I did really enjoy the excitement of dragon racing but I'm not sure this book quite managed to be it wanted to be. The life of dragon racing was meant to be brutal and deadly but it was set in a world known to be cute and cosy, thanks to its companion series, which felt a little confusing. I finished this wanting more from the story and I think I may have got that had it not been set in the Baby Dragon world.
All that being said, I did enjoy my time with this book and it's one I'd recommend for readers who loved the original series but are looking for something a little darker.
September 1, 2026
Dragons, female empowerment, and dragon racing I was sold to ask for an Arc of the story. I also didn't realize the book coexists in the same world as The Baby Dragon Cafe series.
This was a really fun read for me and gave me the Fourth Wing vibes with the dragon racing and forced proximity.
Unfortunately for me I got bored around fifty percent mark of the book because the main female character was getting on my nerves. She came across as incredibly sheltered, spoiled, naive, and so determined to prove herself that she didn't always seem to understand the reality of what she was getting herself into. I did slowly grow to like her but my hope is for much more character growth for her in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an early copy to give my honest review.
This was a really fun read for me and gave me the Fourth Wing vibes with the dragon racing and forced proximity.
Unfortunately for me I got bored around fifty percent mark of the book because the main female character was getting on my nerves. She came across as incredibly sheltered, spoiled, naive, and so determined to prove herself that she didn't always seem to understand the reality of what she was getting herself into. I did slowly grow to like her but my hope is for much more character growth for her in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an early copy to give my honest review.
August 21, 2026
ARC REVIEW:
Overall, this all just felt very mediocre. The writing, the pacing, the character development.. it all felt like this needed more time to flesh everything out.
The saving grace? The cliffhanger at the end
With so many other dragon rider romantasy novels out there, I think I would just skip this one unfortunately.
Overall, this all just felt very mediocre. The writing, the pacing, the character development.. it all felt like this needed more time to flesh everything out.
The saving grace? The cliffhanger at the end
With so many other dragon rider romantasy novels out there, I think I would just skip this one unfortunately.
September 2, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Here is my honest review.
I really struggled to get into this book. It had a lot of "im telling you this" but not a lot of showing. For example- why were women not allowed/ supposed to be in the races? We got told multiple times that it just didnt happen, with no explanation.
Once I got about 30 percent in it, it started to pick up and then the twist at the end saved it for me. Making it a 3 ⭐️ rather than a 2 ⭐️
I would be interested in picking up the second book to see what happens next between our FMC and MMC.
I really struggled to get into this book. It had a lot of "im telling you this" but not a lot of showing. For example- why were women not allowed/ supposed to be in the races? We got told multiple times that it just didnt happen, with no explanation.
Once I got about 30 percent in it, it started to pick up and then the twist at the end saved it for me. Making it a 3 ⭐️ rather than a 2 ⭐️
I would be interested in picking up the second book to see what happens next between our FMC and MMC.
July 18, 2026
OH.MY.GOD! Whaaat have I just read!?!
This book was like a drug, I could not put it down! I read it in a day and I don’t quite know how to verbalise just how good this was!!
Ginny wants to follow in her brother’s footsteps to race in and hopefully win the Dragon Riding championships. With him no longer here she has many reason to want to do this, but she desperately wants to make him proud. Despite having zero support from her family, no experience of the competition or racing and a threat to be cut off completely by her father, Ginny finds a way to get a trainer to try and make this happen.
The world building and description of the races in this was excellent, there were so many details that were vivid and helped to feel immersed in the book. I love a book with Dragons, Fang was super lovable, what a gem! I absolutely loved how involved the dragons were throughout this story. The characters were well developed and it was really special that Ginny found a friend in Vaneeza, despite the hot / cold relationship she has with her brother, Zavi.
Gunny faces a hellish journey of trying to accomplish her dream but with Qais beside her, supporting and training her she feels strong and confident. The slow burn tension between the two of these was painful but in a positive way. They unravelled each other with such tenderness. Qais is mysterious and we get very little about him and his character until slightly further in the book but when he starts to open up I felt for him.
I cannot comprehend the ending 😪! I screamed NOOOO at my kindle in the final chapter, I was in utter disbelief and definitely nearly cried. I wasn’t expecting any of what happened and I was shell shocked! I don’t want to say too much as I cannot spoil the impact of that ending for anyway. It ended on such a cliffhanger and I am DESPERATE for the next book. 2027 where you at?!
What an amazing book, if you’re looking for a fantasy book, full of dragons, family drama, slow burn romance then I cannot recommend this enough.
This book was like a drug, I could not put it down! I read it in a day and I don’t quite know how to verbalise just how good this was!!
Ginny wants to follow in her brother’s footsteps to race in and hopefully win the Dragon Riding championships. With him no longer here she has many reason to want to do this, but she desperately wants to make him proud. Despite having zero support from her family, no experience of the competition or racing and a threat to be cut off completely by her father, Ginny finds a way to get a trainer to try and make this happen.
The world building and description of the races in this was excellent, there were so many details that were vivid and helped to feel immersed in the book. I love a book with Dragons, Fang was super lovable, what a gem! I absolutely loved how involved the dragons were throughout this story. The characters were well developed and it was really special that Ginny found a friend in Vaneeza, despite the hot / cold relationship she has with her brother, Zavi.
Gunny faces a hellish journey of trying to accomplish her dream but with Qais beside her, supporting and training her she feels strong and confident. The slow burn tension between the two of these was painful but in a positive way. They unravelled each other with such tenderness. Qais is mysterious and we get very little about him and his character until slightly further in the book but when he starts to open up I felt for him.
I cannot comprehend the ending 😪! I screamed NOOOO at my kindle in the final chapter, I was in utter disbelief and definitely nearly cried. I wasn’t expecting any of what happened and I was shell shocked! I don’t want to say too much as I cannot spoil the impact of that ending for anyway. It ended on such a cliffhanger and I am DESPERATE for the next book. 2027 where you at?!
What an amazing book, if you’re looking for a fantasy book, full of dragons, family drama, slow burn romance then I cannot recommend this enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.25 stars
Sadly this book didn’t deliver for me. I was expecting an adult romantasy in the dark world of dragon racing but this mostly felt like YA trying to be adult. There never really felt like there was peril or danger despite the nature of the sport. The book is set in the same world as the Baby Dragon Cafe series with a lot of the same characters that we are presumed to know. This meant the world building was lacking as I did not have this prior knowledge. Ginny was an ok FMC but very naive and one note. She didn’t have any character progression and wasn’t particularly compelling.
The plot itself felt very repetitive. It was race after race with not a lot of story in-between despite there being 10 days between each race. The love triangle was boring as nothing really distinguished the two love interests. Overall a quick read but I won’t be continuing the duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for access to this ARC.
Sadly this book didn’t deliver for me. I was expecting an adult romantasy in the dark world of dragon racing but this mostly felt like YA trying to be adult. There never really felt like there was peril or danger despite the nature of the sport. The book is set in the same world as the Baby Dragon Cafe series with a lot of the same characters that we are presumed to know. This meant the world building was lacking as I did not have this prior knowledge. Ginny was an ok FMC but very naive and one note. She didn’t have any character progression and wasn’t particularly compelling.
The plot itself felt very repetitive. It was race after race with not a lot of story in-between despite there being 10 days between each race. The love triangle was boring as nothing really distinguished the two love interests. Overall a quick read but I won’t be continuing the duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for access to this ARC.
September 2, 2026
Okay.
I need to talk about this book.
Actually, I need to talk about THE ENDING.
No.
First, let's behave and start at the beginning...
Genevieve comes from a wealthy family where her future has essentially already been decided for her. She's supposed to work in a library, behave appropriately and certainly NOT participate in the incredibly dangerous dragon races that the men in her family have been allowed to compete in.
There's only one tiny problem.
Genevieve has absolutely no intention of doing what she's told.
She doesn't want to simply ride her dragon. She wants to race. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her older brother and the other champions in her family, and after losing the brother she was closest to, the one who actually supported her questionable life choices, she becomes even more determined to prove she can do it.
Her family disagrees.
Strongly.
Especially her father. (sighh)
And eventually Genevieve chooses the race over her family's wishes, gets kicked out of the house, loses access to her money and discovers that finding someone willing to train her is nearly impossible.
Cheers, Dad. Excellent parenting. Clap! Clap!
Enter Qais.
Qais is exactly the sort of person Genevieve probably shouldn't trust: bad reputation, connected to the rival gang behind the races, and associated with stealing and poaching dragons.
Perfect trainer material, obviously. (sighhh again...)
He agrees to train Genevieve in exchange for her prize money if she wins, and suddenly she's living with him, training with him and spending A LOT of time with a man who's desperately trying to maintain some distance between them.
Good luck with that, sir.
Because somewhere between the dragons, training and forced proximity, these two actually become friends.
And then... considerably more than friends.
I was ROOTING for them.
I loved watching Qais slowly lower his walls and seemingly begin to trust Genevieve enough to show her more of himself. Their quieter moments together were probably some of my favorites, and I genuinely became invested in their relationship.
Meanwhile, we have DRAGON RACING.
And these aren't exactly friendly little competitions where everyone shakes hands afterward. Sabotage and violence are part of the game, and Genevieve has to learn very quickly that wanting to race and surviving the race are two completely different things.
I do wish we'd gotten more of this side of the story. For a book built around deadly dragon racing, I wanted even more detail about the competitors, their dragons and that whole world.
There were also moments where the plot felt a little too easy or straightforward, and I would've loved more development around Qais, his brother and their history.
But overall?
I was having such a good time.
Dragons. Dangerous races. Forced proximity. Training. Family drama. Romance.
Cute little dangerous romantasy adventure.
RIGHT?
WRONG.
WHAT.
THE.
HELL.
WAS.
THAT.
ENDING.
😭😭😭
I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.
There are twists where you go, “Ohhh, that's clever.”
And then there are twists where you stare at your book like it has personally betrayed you.
THIS WAS THE SECOND KIND.
I have attempted to examine the situation from several angles.
I have considered the reasoning.
I have considered the circumstances.
I have considered whether forgiveness should be extended.
My conclusion:
No.
Absolutely not!!!
Genevieve, please give someone the boot.
Actually, borrow another three or four boots from the neighbors while you're at it.
I swear, the song These Boots Are Made for Walkin' was made for Qais specifically!
I am FURIOUS.
And somehow I'm even angrier with her father now, because perhaps if he'd spent slightly less time being a misogynistic asshole determined to control his daughter and slightly more time actually supporting and protecting her, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
And now apparently I'm supposed to wait for Book 2???
Bruh.
BRUH.
I need answers.
Anyway...
4⭐
Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
I need to talk about this book.
Actually, I need to talk about THE ENDING.
No.
First, let's behave and start at the beginning...
Genevieve comes from a wealthy family where her future has essentially already been decided for her. She's supposed to work in a library, behave appropriately and certainly NOT participate in the incredibly dangerous dragon races that the men in her family have been allowed to compete in.
There's only one tiny problem.
Genevieve has absolutely no intention of doing what she's told.
She doesn't want to simply ride her dragon. She wants to race. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her older brother and the other champions in her family, and after losing the brother she was closest to, the one who actually supported her questionable life choices, she becomes even more determined to prove she can do it.
Her family disagrees.
Strongly.
Especially her father. (sighh)
And eventually Genevieve chooses the race over her family's wishes, gets kicked out of the house, loses access to her money and discovers that finding someone willing to train her is nearly impossible.
Cheers, Dad. Excellent parenting. Clap! Clap!
Enter Qais.
Qais is exactly the sort of person Genevieve probably shouldn't trust: bad reputation, connected to the rival gang behind the races, and associated with stealing and poaching dragons.
Perfect trainer material, obviously. (sighhh again...)
He agrees to train Genevieve in exchange for her prize money if she wins, and suddenly she's living with him, training with him and spending A LOT of time with a man who's desperately trying to maintain some distance between them.
Good luck with that, sir.
Because somewhere between the dragons, training and forced proximity, these two actually become friends.
And then... considerably more than friends.
I was ROOTING for them.
I loved watching Qais slowly lower his walls and seemingly begin to trust Genevieve enough to show her more of himself. Their quieter moments together were probably some of my favorites, and I genuinely became invested in their relationship.
Meanwhile, we have DRAGON RACING.
And these aren't exactly friendly little competitions where everyone shakes hands afterward. Sabotage and violence are part of the game, and Genevieve has to learn very quickly that wanting to race and surviving the race are two completely different things.
I do wish we'd gotten more of this side of the story. For a book built around deadly dragon racing, I wanted even more detail about the competitors, their dragons and that whole world.
There were also moments where the plot felt a little too easy or straightforward, and I would've loved more development around Qais, his brother and their history.
But overall?
I was having such a good time.
Dragons. Dangerous races. Forced proximity. Training. Family drama. Romance.
Cute little dangerous romantasy adventure.
RIGHT?
WRONG.
WHAT.
THE.
HELL.
WAS.
THAT.
ENDING.
😭😭😭
I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.
There are twists where you go, “Ohhh, that's clever.”
And then there are twists where you stare at your book like it has personally betrayed you.
THIS WAS THE SECOND KIND.
I have attempted to examine the situation from several angles.
I have considered the reasoning.
I have considered the circumstances.
I have considered whether forgiveness should be extended.
My conclusion:
No.
Absolutely not!!!
Genevieve, please give someone the boot.
Actually, borrow another three or four boots from the neighbors while you're at it.
I swear, the song These Boots Are Made for Walkin' was made for Qais specifically!
I am FURIOUS.
And somehow I'm even angrier with her father now, because perhaps if he'd spent slightly less time being a misogynistic asshole determined to control his daughter and slightly more time actually supporting and protecting her, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
And now apparently I'm supposed to wait for Book 2???
Bruh.
BRUH.
I need answers.
Anyway...
4⭐
Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 23, 2026
This book sounded right up my aisle but unfortunately did not deliver. It is a great startling point but severely underdeveloped in several areas. Sadly, all of those are areas that make of break a book for me. Character development, plot/pacing and world building. Let’s get into it!
Starting with our MC Ginny, she comes from a one of the main families to raise dragons and wants to follow in her older brothers foot steps by racing dragons. Love this! However, coming from a family that is well versed in dragons and dragon racing, she doesn’t seem to have the slightest clue what’s going on. I understand her family doesn’t want her racing, but for someone who has wanted to do this particular thing her entire life, her knowledge is lacking. Along with that, she’s 24 years old and I found her mannerisms and behavior to match that of a character around 17/18 years. Aside from winning a race she is extremely unqualified for, all she seems to care about is getting daddy’s approval. There’s no character development either. Her placing in the races improves but it feels like her dragon is doing most of the work.
The MMC, Qais comes along to be her trainer. Teacher/student relationship? Age gap? Im here for it. Except not only was the relationship one dimensional, he was too. He’s supposed to be dark and mysterious, he’s actually so mysterious that we don’t see much of him outside training. They spend all this time together, but the time the read gets to see is completely devoted to training. There’s no little glances, lingering touches, unsaid words, yearning, tension, anything. They train and suddenly they are in love and can’t be apart? Hard to believe. There are so many training scenes that anything from that list could have been used to slowly build their relationship.
Along with lack of character and relationship development, the plot is lacking. The pacing is steady, a bit slow but steady. What really gets me here, with the plot, is the races. We have the Entrance Stake and Grand Duo Stakes 1-13. The Entrance Stake felts too easy for someone with no racing experience. I was under the impression it was high stakes, life threatening and challenging. The flew in a straight line, start to finish. To make matters worse, there are 13 races after the riders make it past the Entrance stake and 12 of these 13 are in the exact. same. track. Literally not one change. 60% of this book is the races, and it’s the same thing every time. AND the cherry on top was grand finale, where it is the same race as the previous 12 with two changes. You’ve got to be kidding.
Where was the world building? The creativity? There are so many things within each of those events that could have been construct to better the plot. The gangs running the race could have added booby traps, surprise changes to the tracks, obstacle courses, timed trials, specific tasks, deadly encounters, more battles between riders, etc. The options are endless.
This who book felt like reading an outline. It has strong ideas and a general sense of direction but needs more depth. If you are new to the fantasy or romantasy genres and not sure where to start, this is a great gateway book.
⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️/5
Starting with our MC Ginny, she comes from a one of the main families to raise dragons and wants to follow in her older brothers foot steps by racing dragons. Love this! However, coming from a family that is well versed in dragons and dragon racing, she doesn’t seem to have the slightest clue what’s going on. I understand her family doesn’t want her racing, but for someone who has wanted to do this particular thing her entire life, her knowledge is lacking. Along with that, she’s 24 years old and I found her mannerisms and behavior to match that of a character around 17/18 years. Aside from winning a race she is extremely unqualified for, all she seems to care about is getting daddy’s approval. There’s no character development either. Her placing in the races improves but it feels like her dragon is doing most of the work.
The MMC, Qais comes along to be her trainer. Teacher/student relationship? Age gap? Im here for it. Except not only was the relationship one dimensional, he was too. He’s supposed to be dark and mysterious, he’s actually so mysterious that we don’t see much of him outside training. They spend all this time together, but the time the read gets to see is completely devoted to training. There’s no little glances, lingering touches, unsaid words, yearning, tension, anything. They train and suddenly they are in love and can’t be apart? Hard to believe. There are so many training scenes that anything from that list could have been used to slowly build their relationship.
Along with lack of character and relationship development, the plot is lacking. The pacing is steady, a bit slow but steady. What really gets me here, with the plot, is the races. We have the Entrance Stake and Grand Duo Stakes 1-13. The Entrance Stake felts too easy for someone with no racing experience. I was under the impression it was high stakes, life threatening and challenging. The flew in a straight line, start to finish. To make matters worse, there are 13 races after the riders make it past the Entrance stake and 12 of these 13 are in the exact. same. track. Literally not one change. 60% of this book is the races, and it’s the same thing every time. AND the cherry on top was grand finale, where it is the same race as the previous 12 with two changes. You’ve got to be kidding.
Where was the world building? The creativity? There are so many things within each of those events that could have been construct to better the plot. The gangs running the race could have added booby traps, surprise changes to the tracks, obstacle courses, timed trials, specific tasks, deadly encounters, more battles between riders, etc. The options are endless.
This who book felt like reading an outline. It has strong ideas and a general sense of direction but needs more depth. If you are new to the fantasy or romantasy genres and not sure where to start, this is a great gateway book.
⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️/5
August 31, 2026
4⭐️
🌶️.5
3rd POV
Book 1 of planned duology
This was a very fast-paced book with vibes of Fourth Wing meets medieval in modern day vibes.
As the story’s told, there is dragon racing every year and there are certain rules in order to enter and of course during the races (I don’t want to give away all the details so you can read for yourself). But basically, you’ve got 13 races and between each race is a 10 day “rest” (healing and training period). The winner wins the title, trophy, loads of money, and basically honor for their own family. Genevieve aka “Ginny” (FMC) wants to race so badly, but her family forbids it. So what does she do anyways? Enters the dragon racing and finds herself in the process. 😆
Now, I do have to admit… the first 30–40% of this book had me seriously considering DNFing it. Ginny was getting on my last nerve. She came across as incredibly sheltered, spoiled, naive, and so determined to prove herself that she didn’t always seem to understand the reality of what she was getting herself into. There were several moments where I just wanted to shake her. I did slowly grow to like her okay, but my hope is for much more character growth for her in book 2.
Once the story really got into the dragon racing and Ginny started being forced to face the consequences of her choices, this became a much better read.
We do in fact have a bit of a love triangle going on. You’ve got Zaviyar (rival family in the dragon races to FMC) and Qais (mysterious MMC who becomes her trainer for dragon races). I am honestly unsure which team I’m on, so I’ll wait until book 2 is out and I read it to decide! 🤣
My favorite character was Ginny’s dragon, Fang. Maybe I’m a bit biased, but he reminds me of my sweet boy dog I have. Fang has fairly high emotional intelligence as a dragon and it shows throughout the book. He feels and seems to know what to do when something is wrong with Ginny. He really does remind me of my boy dog!
Tropes + atmosphere:
Dragons
Dragon x human bond
Deadly races
Family drama
Love triangle
Forbidden love
Slow burn
Morally grey MMC
Forced proximity
Trainer x trainee
Secret identity
Found family
So while this wasn’t quite a 5⭐️ read for me, it ended up being a very solid 4⭐️. I went from “I can’t EVEN with this FMC for a good portion of this book” to “well, now I want to read book 2!”
A bit thank you to Harper360 for the eARC via NetGalley.
🌶️.5
3rd POV
Book 1 of planned duology
This was a very fast-paced book with vibes of Fourth Wing meets medieval in modern day vibes.
As the story’s told, there is dragon racing every year and there are certain rules in order to enter and of course during the races (I don’t want to give away all the details so you can read for yourself). But basically, you’ve got 13 races and between each race is a 10 day “rest” (healing and training period). The winner wins the title, trophy, loads of money, and basically honor for their own family. Genevieve aka “Ginny” (FMC) wants to race so badly, but her family forbids it. So what does she do anyways? Enters the dragon racing and finds herself in the process. 😆
Now, I do have to admit… the first 30–40% of this book had me seriously considering DNFing it. Ginny was getting on my last nerve. She came across as incredibly sheltered, spoiled, naive, and so determined to prove herself that she didn’t always seem to understand the reality of what she was getting herself into. There were several moments where I just wanted to shake her. I did slowly grow to like her okay, but my hope is for much more character growth for her in book 2.
Once the story really got into the dragon racing and Ginny started being forced to face the consequences of her choices, this became a much better read.
We do in fact have a bit of a love triangle going on. You’ve got Zaviyar (rival family in the dragon races to FMC) and Qais (mysterious MMC who becomes her trainer for dragon races). I am honestly unsure which team I’m on, so I’ll wait until book 2 is out and I read it to decide! 🤣
My favorite character was Ginny’s dragon, Fang. Maybe I’m a bit biased, but he reminds me of my sweet boy dog I have. Fang has fairly high emotional intelligence as a dragon and it shows throughout the book. He feels and seems to know what to do when something is wrong with Ginny. He really does remind me of my boy dog!
Tropes + atmosphere:
Dragons
Dragon x human bond
Deadly races
Family drama
Love triangle
Forbidden love
Slow burn
Morally grey MMC
Forced proximity
Trainer x trainee
Secret identity
Found family
So while this wasn’t quite a 5⭐️ read for me, it ended up being a very solid 4⭐️. I went from “I can’t EVEN with this FMC for a good portion of this book” to “well, now I want to read book 2!”
A bit thank you to Harper360 for the eARC via NetGalley.
August 26, 2026
Perfect for fans of:
🐉 Dragon-filled fantasy
🔥 Romantasy
⚔️ Deadly competitions
🖤 Morally grey characters
💕 Forbidden romance
🏆 High-stakes challenges
✨ Fantasy adventures
A Thrilling Romantasy Filled with Dragons, Danger, and Forbidden Ambition
If you love dragons, deadly competitions, forbidden romance, morally grey characters, and high-stakes fantasy, this sounds like an exciting start to a brand-new romantasy duology.
Genevieve has always dreamed of competing in the deadly dragon races, but her family has forbidden her from even attempting to enter. Determined not to let their rules dictate her future, she sets out to prove that she belongs in the races—even if it means making a dangerous bargain.
Without her family’s money and influence, finding someone willing to train her seems impossible. Then she meets Qais, a devastatingly handsome and mysterious man with a troubling reputation. Rumoured to be involved with a dragon-poaching gang, Qais agrees to train Genevieve on one condition: if she wins, he gets her prize money.
It’s a deal neither of them can afford to take lightly.
The races themselves sound absolutely brutal. This isn’t simply a competition where the fastest rider wins. Sabotage, attacks, violence, and deadly encounters are all part of the game, meaning Genevieve will have to learn how to fight dirty if she wants to survive. And Qais is determined to teach her exactly how to do that.
I love the dynamic between Genevieve and Qais. She’s stubborn, ambitious, and determined to prove herself, while Qais brings a darker, more dangerous edge to the story. Their relationship has all the ingredients for plenty of tension, especially when Genevieve has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice in order to win.
The biggest question at the heart of the story is a compelling one: how much are you willing to lose to achieve your dreams? As the races become increasingly dangerous, Genevieve may discover that victory comes with a price far greater than she ever expected.
With its combination of dragon racing, deadly competition, forbidden ambition, dangerous romance, betrayal, and morally grey characters, this promises to be an exhilarating romantasy adventure.
A fast-paced and dangerous fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, a mysterious trainer, spectacular dragons, and races where losing could mean more than simply missing out on the prize. This sounds like a fantastic choice for romantasy readers looking for something with plenty of action, tension, and high stakes. 🐉🔥🏆
🐉 Dragon-filled fantasy
🔥 Romantasy
⚔️ Deadly competitions
🖤 Morally grey characters
💕 Forbidden romance
🏆 High-stakes challenges
✨ Fantasy adventures
A Thrilling Romantasy Filled with Dragons, Danger, and Forbidden Ambition
If you love dragons, deadly competitions, forbidden romance, morally grey characters, and high-stakes fantasy, this sounds like an exciting start to a brand-new romantasy duology.
Genevieve has always dreamed of competing in the deadly dragon races, but her family has forbidden her from even attempting to enter. Determined not to let their rules dictate her future, she sets out to prove that she belongs in the races—even if it means making a dangerous bargain.
Without her family’s money and influence, finding someone willing to train her seems impossible. Then she meets Qais, a devastatingly handsome and mysterious man with a troubling reputation. Rumoured to be involved with a dragon-poaching gang, Qais agrees to train Genevieve on one condition: if she wins, he gets her prize money.
It’s a deal neither of them can afford to take lightly.
The races themselves sound absolutely brutal. This isn’t simply a competition where the fastest rider wins. Sabotage, attacks, violence, and deadly encounters are all part of the game, meaning Genevieve will have to learn how to fight dirty if she wants to survive. And Qais is determined to teach her exactly how to do that.
I love the dynamic between Genevieve and Qais. She’s stubborn, ambitious, and determined to prove herself, while Qais brings a darker, more dangerous edge to the story. Their relationship has all the ingredients for plenty of tension, especially when Genevieve has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice in order to win.
The biggest question at the heart of the story is a compelling one: how much are you willing to lose to achieve your dreams? As the races become increasingly dangerous, Genevieve may discover that victory comes with a price far greater than she ever expected.
With its combination of dragon racing, deadly competition, forbidden ambition, dangerous romance, betrayal, and morally grey characters, this promises to be an exhilarating romantasy adventure.
A fast-paced and dangerous fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, a mysterious trainer, spectacular dragons, and races where losing could mean more than simply missing out on the prize. This sounds like a fantastic choice for romantasy readers looking for something with plenty of action, tension, and high stakes. 🐉🔥🏆
September 1, 2026
I’m not quite sure why my review was deleted… but it’s really fucking annoying because this has happened a few times now!
I will say that I think the marketing was a bit off for this, but I don’t think that that is the fault of the author because Lord knows they don’t decide how the publisher is gonna market it.
I think that A.T. Is really known for cozy fantasy romances set in a fantasy version of the modern world, and that her series with the baby dragons is extremely well loved for that reason.
It’s a very low stakes series that always ends in a happy ending with fun fantasy elements
In this duology, she does up the steaks and death is a very real possibility. There is also some elements of a dark romance, but that really only comes into play at the very end of the book. Which I’m not gonna do any spoilers here, however, I think if you are going to market it as a dark romance, it does need to be throughout the entire entirety of the book and that is not present here.
I think if they had marketed this as a cozy enemies to lovers dragon racing book that would have not only gotten a lot readers who don’t necessarily like dark romance interested, and it wouldn’t have had the confusion with all of the people who do like dark romances, who didn’t feel that this lived up to it.
OK now onto the actual book itself- I love the world that A.T. has created and because I’ve read all of the baby dragon books I really didn’t need any world building but if you didn’t read the other series, I feel like you might be lost.
The romance started off with strong but I’m really not happy with how the book ended. I could see it was probably going to end that way and of course it’s a big cliffhanger and again I’m not gonna spoil it, but I really wish it went a different way.
All that being said, I did actually enjoy the book and I’m very excited for the next one.
I will say that I think the marketing was a bit off for this, but I don’t think that that is the fault of the author because Lord knows they don’t decide how the publisher is gonna market it.
I think that A.T. Is really known for cozy fantasy romances set in a fantasy version of the modern world, and that her series with the baby dragons is extremely well loved for that reason.
It’s a very low stakes series that always ends in a happy ending with fun fantasy elements
In this duology, she does up the steaks and death is a very real possibility. There is also some elements of a dark romance, but that really only comes into play at the very end of the book. Which I’m not gonna do any spoilers here, however, I think if you are going to market it as a dark romance, it does need to be throughout the entire entirety of the book and that is not present here.
I think if they had marketed this as a cozy enemies to lovers dragon racing book that would have not only gotten a lot readers who don’t necessarily like dark romance interested, and it wouldn’t have had the confusion with all of the people who do like dark romances, who didn’t feel that this lived up to it.
OK now onto the actual book itself- I love the world that A.T. has created and because I’ve read all of the baby dragon books I really didn’t need any world building but if you didn’t read the other series, I feel like you might be lost.
The romance started off with strong but I’m really not happy with how the book ended. I could see it was probably going to end that way and of course it’s a big cliffhanger and again I’m not gonna spoil it, but I really wish it went a different way.
All that being said, I did actually enjoy the book and I’m very excited for the next one.
September 6, 2026
Thank you so much to Avon for sending me a beautiful gifted physical copy!!
Rider of Dragons by A.T. Qureshi
Dragon Racer book 1 (planned duology)
Narrated by Amelia March
I grabbed this audio from Libby so I could do an immersive read and and so glad I did! Amelia did a great job bringing these characters to life and brought so much emotion to them! Audio note: My brain needs faster speeds for audio and this narration/recording sounded great at higher speeds.
Dragon racers
Love triangle
Feminine rage
Breaking glass ceilings
This one sucked me in this afternoon and didn't let me go! I felt so much for Genevieve! She has such a journey from pampered princess to rage of not being supported because her family says racing is too dangerous for a woman. Set in the same world as Baby Dragon Café with some familiar characters, including Genevieve, but with danger and higher stakes! I'm calling this a love triangle since I saw two possible MMCs and I'm not telling you which one I picked but I'm glad I did! And come on, the dragons are amazing. Another book where they don't talk but absolutely understand and I just want to cuddle them! Also - what an ending! Ahhhh!!! I need book two pretty pleaseeeee!! I will be eagerly awaiting it!
Rider of Dragons by A.T. Qureshi
Dragon Racer book 1 (planned duology)
Narrated by Amelia March
I grabbed this audio from Libby so I could do an immersive read and and so glad I did! Amelia did a great job bringing these characters to life and brought so much emotion to them! Audio note: My brain needs faster speeds for audio and this narration/recording sounded great at higher speeds.
Dragon racers
Love triangle
Feminine rage
Breaking glass ceilings
This one sucked me in this afternoon and didn't let me go! I felt so much for Genevieve! She has such a journey from pampered princess to rage of not being supported because her family says racing is too dangerous for a woman. Set in the same world as Baby Dragon Café with some familiar characters, including Genevieve, but with danger and higher stakes! I'm calling this a love triangle since I saw two possible MMCs and I'm not telling you which one I picked but I'm glad I did! And come on, the dragons are amazing. Another book where they don't talk but absolutely understand and I just want to cuddle them! Also - what an ending! Ahhhh!!! I need book two pretty pleaseeeee!! I will be eagerly awaiting it!
Read
July 29, 2026Thank you Harper360 for the ARC!
I went into Rider of Dragons expecting a dragon-filled romantasy with high stakes, romance, and plenty of action. While I definitely had fun with parts of it, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
The dragon races were easily the strongest part of the book. They were exciting, dangerous, and kept the story moving at a fast pace. I flew through this one because there was always something happening, and it made for a really quick read.
That said, I don’t think this felt as much like a romantasy as it was marketed. The romance didn’t have the depth I was hoping for, and there were a few moments that felt a little immature, making it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. I also found myself wishing the story had gone through a few more rounds of edits, as some scenes and dialogue felt a bit underdeveloped.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read by any means—it just didn’t completely land for me. It was still an entertaining, fast-paced story with dragons, action, and a touch of spice, but I came away wanting a little more depth from both the romance and the characters.
I went into Rider of Dragons expecting a dragon-filled romantasy with high stakes, romance, and plenty of action. While I definitely had fun with parts of it, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
The dragon races were easily the strongest part of the book. They were exciting, dangerous, and kept the story moving at a fast pace. I flew through this one because there was always something happening, and it made for a really quick read.
That said, I don’t think this felt as much like a romantasy as it was marketed. The romance didn’t have the depth I was hoping for, and there were a few moments that felt a little immature, making it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. I also found myself wishing the story had gone through a few more rounds of edits, as some scenes and dialogue felt a bit underdeveloped.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read by any means—it just didn’t completely land for me. It was still an entertaining, fast-paced story with dragons, action, and a touch of spice, but I came away wanting a little more depth from both the romance and the characters.
Did Not Finish
September 20, 2026DNF at 25%
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the digital galley of this book!
En realidad siento que es más por una cuestión mía que del libro, porque la premisa es bastante buena. Jinetes y carreras de dragones, nuestra protagonista quiere competir incluso aunque su familia se opone abiertamente, pero su sueño es convertirse en jinete. Me dió esas vibras al principio de How To Train Your Dragon que amo tanto, así que a pesar de todo, sí es un tipo de libro que recomendaría, sobre todo para alguien que está iniciando en la fantasía y le gustan las aventuras. Puntos extras a la portada que está preciosa!
Sin embargo, y personalmente, me ha costado mucho engrancharme, y eso que he tratado varias veces de volver a empezar y retomar, cosa que suele funcionarme, pero en este caso no siento que esté conectando con los personajes como me gustaría. Quizá en algún punto decida darle otra oportunidad, pero por el momento creo que es mejor si pauso por ahora.
Muchas gracias nuevamente por la oportunidad!
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the digital galley of this book!
En realidad siento que es más por una cuestión mía que del libro, porque la premisa es bastante buena. Jinetes y carreras de dragones, nuestra protagonista quiere competir incluso aunque su familia se opone abiertamente, pero su sueño es convertirse en jinete. Me dió esas vibras al principio de How To Train Your Dragon que amo tanto, así que a pesar de todo, sí es un tipo de libro que recomendaría, sobre todo para alguien que está iniciando en la fantasía y le gustan las aventuras. Puntos extras a la portada que está preciosa!
Sin embargo, y personalmente, me ha costado mucho engrancharme, y eso que he tratado varias veces de volver a empezar y retomar, cosa que suele funcionarme, pero en este caso no siento que esté conectando con los personajes como me gustaría. Quizá en algún punto decida darle otra oportunidad, pero por el momento creo que es mejor si pauso por ahora.
Muchas gracias nuevamente por la oportunidad!
October 9, 2026
Thank you to @aamna_qureshi and @booksparks #FRC2026 for the #gifted book!
This fast-paced read kept me hooked from beginning to end. This is the first book in the Dragon Racer duology.
Ginny’s strength and perseverance shine as she trains for the dragon races. When her parents forbid her from racing and then kick her out, Ginny finds a way to pay the entry fee and secure a trainer, Qais. I loved watching their relationship develop as she competed in race after race, and their slow-burn romance was just right.
Ginny’s bond with her dragon, Fang, was another highlight. Their connection made them a formidable team on the track. The strategy, politics, and sabotage surrounding the races added plenty of intrigue, while the vivid race descriptions pulled me right into the action.
The ending delivered a twist I never saw coming and left me eager to find out what happens next. I’m already looking forward to the next book.
If you enjoy dragons, tension, and a little romance, this book is available now.
This fast-paced read kept me hooked from beginning to end. This is the first book in the Dragon Racer duology.
Ginny’s strength and perseverance shine as she trains for the dragon races. When her parents forbid her from racing and then kick her out, Ginny finds a way to pay the entry fee and secure a trainer, Qais. I loved watching their relationship develop as she competed in race after race, and their slow-burn romance was just right.
Ginny’s bond with her dragon, Fang, was another highlight. Their connection made them a formidable team on the track. The strategy, politics, and sabotage surrounding the races added plenty of intrigue, while the vivid race descriptions pulled me right into the action.
The ending delivered a twist I never saw coming and left me eager to find out what happens next. I’m already looking forward to the next book.
If you enjoy dragons, tension, and a little romance, this book is available now.
May 6, 2026
Anyone know where I can get a dragon?
This was so much fun, I haven't had the pleasure of reading Qureshi's previous work but found this to be fast paced, fun and filled with action and adventure. There were plenty of cameos from the 'Baby Dragon' series but these were introduced in a way that didn't make you feel you were missing something if you haven't read those yet (like me).
Fang (Ginny's Dragon) was the highlight of the story for me, and watching him bond and grow alongside Ginny was a great adventure. There's enough dragon riding to do the title justice, and it's convinced me to pick up the baby dragon series!
One part I did struggle with was the love interest and think this one will definitely fall into the rapidly rising tamlin effect (first love interest is not endgame). However, I could be wrong? (I'm probably not) It's also definitely not a dark romantasy but an enjoyable mostly action-based cozy fantasy with a love interest and plenty of adventure.
This was so much fun, I haven't had the pleasure of reading Qureshi's previous work but found this to be fast paced, fun and filled with action and adventure. There were plenty of cameos from the 'Baby Dragon' series but these were introduced in a way that didn't make you feel you were missing something if you haven't read those yet (like me).
Fang (Ginny's Dragon) was the highlight of the story for me, and watching him bond and grow alongside Ginny was a great adventure. There's enough dragon riding to do the title justice, and it's convinced me to pick up the baby dragon series!
One part I did struggle with was the love interest and think this one will definitely fall into the rapidly rising tamlin effect (first love interest is not endgame). However, I could be wrong? (I'm probably not) It's also definitely not a dark romantasy but an enjoyable mostly action-based cozy fantasy with a love interest and plenty of adventure.
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