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Dragon Rider Academy #0.6
Dragon Discovered
Three street urchins. One stolen pouch of gold.
And a ruthless killer known only as the Executioner.
When a simple heist turns into a deadly chase through the alleys of Harlston, Kael, Lorien, and Dain run for their lives—only to stumble into something far more dangerous than any assassin. Hidden beneath the city lies the tomb of the great dragon Drathnor… and inside, three glowing dragon eggs, long-forgotten and waiting.
But they aren’t alone.
As the Executioner drops down into the cave, he has a choice to make. End the boys and sell the dragon eggs for more gold than he’ll ever see in a lifetime.
Or help them grow into the most powerful dragon riders in all of Nevermere.
This is a prequel novella, telling the backstory of three of the male romantic leads in the upcoming Dragon Lady series. It is not essential that you read it before starting the rest of the story, but it will give you the best understanding of these characters and their challenges. I believe it will make reading the entire series much more satisfying.
And a ruthless killer known only as the Executioner.
When a simple heist turns into a deadly chase through the alleys of Harlston, Kael, Lorien, and Dain run for their lives—only to stumble into something far more dangerous than any assassin. Hidden beneath the city lies the tomb of the great dragon Drathnor… and inside, three glowing dragon eggs, long-forgotten and waiting.
But they aren’t alone.
As the Executioner drops down into the cave, he has a choice to make. End the boys and sell the dragon eggs for more gold than he’ll ever see in a lifetime.
Or help them grow into the most powerful dragon riders in all of Nevermere.
This is a prequel novella, telling the backstory of three of the male romantic leads in the upcoming Dragon Lady series. It is not essential that you read it before starting the rest of the story, but it will give you the best understanding of these characters and their challenges. I believe it will make reading the entire series much more satisfying.
57 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2025
About the author
Sam Hall
83 books2,119 followersAustralian author of paranormal RH novels
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 10, 2026
just found out this is a why choose-- i've never dropped a series faster
February 25, 2026
I picked up Dragon Discovered expecting a fast fantasy prequel. I didn’t expect to care this much about three scrappy boys who start the story running for their lives.
What hooked me wasn’t the dragon eggs, though they’re a strong visual. It was the shift in tone once the Executioner enters the cave. Up until then, the story moves like a chase scene, tight and breathless. Sam Hall writes those early pages with real momentum. You can feel the grime of the alleyways and the desperation behind every decision. The pacing is lean, almost cinematic.
Then everything slows down underground.
That shift is deliberate. The cave becomes a pressure chamber, forcing each character to confront who they are when no one is watching. The Executioner, especially, surprised me. He could have been a stock villain with a predictable redemption arc. Instead, his choice feels uneasy. Practical. Almost reluctant. I appreciated that ambiguity. It made the story feel less like destiny and more like fragile possibility.
The central theme that stayed with me is found family born out of necessity. Kael, Lorien, and Dain aren’t heroic in a polished way. They’re hungry. Afraid. Quick to distrust. Watching them move from survival mode toward something resembling loyalty felt earned. The dragon eggs are symbolic, obviously, but not heavy-handed. They represent potential that doesn’t yet know what it is. That idea lingered with me after I finished: power doesn’t arrive fully formed. It has to be nurtured, often by people who aren’t sure they’re worthy of the task.
If I have one critique, it’s that the novella format limits the emotional depth just when it starts to get interesting. I wanted more quiet moments between the boys. More tension inside the Executioner’s decision. A few beats felt slightly rushed, as if the story knew it had a larger series waiting and couldn’t linger too long.
Still, as a prequel, it does something important. It reframes future “dragon riders” as former street kids who almost didn’t make it. That context adds weight. By the end, I wasn’t thinking about spectacle. I was thinking about how close greatness often is to being extinguished before it begins.
What hooked me wasn’t the dragon eggs, though they’re a strong visual. It was the shift in tone once the Executioner enters the cave. Up until then, the story moves like a chase scene, tight and breathless. Sam Hall writes those early pages with real momentum. You can feel the grime of the alleyways and the desperation behind every decision. The pacing is lean, almost cinematic.
Then everything slows down underground.
That shift is deliberate. The cave becomes a pressure chamber, forcing each character to confront who they are when no one is watching. The Executioner, especially, surprised me. He could have been a stock villain with a predictable redemption arc. Instead, his choice feels uneasy. Practical. Almost reluctant. I appreciated that ambiguity. It made the story feel less like destiny and more like fragile possibility.
The central theme that stayed with me is found family born out of necessity. Kael, Lorien, and Dain aren’t heroic in a polished way. They’re hungry. Afraid. Quick to distrust. Watching them move from survival mode toward something resembling loyalty felt earned. The dragon eggs are symbolic, obviously, but not heavy-handed. They represent potential that doesn’t yet know what it is. That idea lingered with me after I finished: power doesn’t arrive fully formed. It has to be nurtured, often by people who aren’t sure they’re worthy of the task.
If I have one critique, it’s that the novella format limits the emotional depth just when it starts to get interesting. I wanted more quiet moments between the boys. More tension inside the Executioner’s decision. A few beats felt slightly rushed, as if the story knew it had a larger series waiting and couldn’t linger too long.
Still, as a prequel, it does something important. It reframes future “dragon riders” as former street kids who almost didn’t make it. That context adds weight. By the end, I wasn’t thinking about spectacle. I was thinking about how close greatness often is to being extinguished before it begins.
September 7, 2025
Dragon Discovered is the second prequel to Sam's latest upcoming dragon series. This was a nice little read. The story was fast but engaging from the start. Finding out what life was like in Harlston before the war was interesting.
The story centers on three orphan boys getting into all kinds of trouble and doing what they can to survive. It just pulls at the heartstrings. Racing through the city for a daring escape and finding dragons, it looks like fate is at work. The character that grabbed my attention the most was Dain. I'm dying to know more. He's different in a noticeable way; there has to be a story there. As for the rest, the plot twist was nice, but it was the final chapter that caught my interest. The more I read, the more excited I am for this new series. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
The story centers on three orphan boys getting into all kinds of trouble and doing what they can to survive. It just pulls at the heartstrings. Racing through the city for a daring escape and finding dragons, it looks like fate is at work. The character that grabbed my attention the most was Dain. I'm dying to know more. He's different in a noticeable way; there has to be a story there. As for the rest, the plot twist was nice, but it was the final chapter that caught my interest. The more I read, the more excited I am for this new series. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
September 22, 2025
In this second short novella, we meet three youngsters, Kael, Lorien, and Dain.
It took me a moment to figure out the time and place they were in, and what their ties could be to the new story, but that became crystal clear when the three youngsters try to escape the Executioner and seek refuge in a haunted (and well-known to us) tomb. There they find not the shelter they sought, but instead come upon unhatched dragon eggs, Drathnor's unhatched eggs.
(not particularly sure how that came to be, cause it was Drathnor's tomb... and the great dragon's been dead for a very, very long time, but don't care, I'm happy for more dragons :D)
This novella gave us a short glimpse into their lives and provided a pretty good grasp of their backstory.
So with some knowledge of our full main cast under our belts, I'm very much looking forward to the first book in this new series :D
It took me a moment to figure out the time and place they were in, and what their ties could be to the new story, but that became crystal clear when the three youngsters try to escape the Executioner and seek refuge in a haunted (and well-known to us) tomb. There they find not the shelter they sought, but instead come upon unhatched dragon eggs, Drathnor's unhatched eggs.
(not particularly sure how that came to be, cause it was Drathnor's tomb... and the great dragon's been dead for a very, very long time, but don't care, I'm happy for more dragons :D)
This novella gave us a short glimpse into their lives and provided a pretty good grasp of their backstory.
So with some knowledge of our full main cast under our belts, I'm very much looking forward to the first book in this new series :D
September 27, 2025
Dragon Discovered is a novella prequel 0.6 book of The Dragon Lady series written by Sam Hall.
💜 found family
💜 poor conditions
💜 dragons
💜 hope
Kael, Lorien, and Dain were all living together on the streets trying to make it. Right now, they were trying to get food and coin for food for later. It wasn’t noble or good, but they had to do what they had to do. This included going in the tavern and getting some food,hopefully, and a bag of coins. It was risky and would be hard to pull off. Could they do it? Would they get away with food and coins?
This was another fun novella that leads us to a new series. I am so excited I got to read this. The backstory of these guys and their dragons is fun. It definitely grows this world more. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
💜 found family
💜 poor conditions
💜 dragons
💜 hope
Kael, Lorien, and Dain were all living together on the streets trying to make it. Right now, they were trying to get food and coin for food for later. It wasn’t noble or good, but they had to do what they had to do. This included going in the tavern and getting some food,hopefully, and a bag of coins. It was risky and would be hard to pull off. Could they do it? Would they get away with food and coins?
This was another fun novella that leads us to a new series. I am so excited I got to read this. The backstory of these guys and their dragons is fun. It definitely grows this world more. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
October 6, 2025
1/5 Stars – Review for Book 0.6 of The Dragon Lady (Book 2)
I understand that the author may be building up to a full-length novel, but I honestly don't see why this portion of the story warranted a separate release. It feels like this content could - and should - have been included in the first novella. Instead, it comes across as an unnecessary addition, possibly just to add another title to the series.
With only a few more pages, there's not enough substance here to justify its own "book," and certainly not enough to deepen my investment in the characters. After two short novellas, there’s simply not enough story or development to make me care anymore. Disappointing and forgettable.
I understand that the author may be building up to a full-length novel, but I honestly don't see why this portion of the story warranted a separate release. It feels like this content could - and should - have been included in the first novella. Instead, it comes across as an unnecessary addition, possibly just to add another title to the series.
With only a few more pages, there's not enough substance here to justify its own "book," and certainly not enough to deepen my investment in the characters. After two short novellas, there’s simply not enough story or development to make me care anymore. Disappointing and forgettable.
October 6, 2025
Dragon Discovered is the second prequel novella that tells the story of 3 of the men who will play a big part in the upcoming series - The Dragon Lady.
Kael, Lorien and Dain are three boys just trying to survive on the streets of Coalbottom. In an attempt to stay out of the hands of the Executioner, they take refuge in the caves that are not so welcoming to strangers. The boys stumble across 3 dragon eggs just as the Executioner catches up to them.
I thought this was a well written, quick read that gave us a taste of what the boys have been through and it will add some insight before starting the series. I'm really looking forward to the series to find out what happens when the guys meet Fern and her dragon, Auren.
Kael, Lorien and Dain are three boys just trying to survive on the streets of Coalbottom. In an attempt to stay out of the hands of the Executioner, they take refuge in the caves that are not so welcoming to strangers. The boys stumble across 3 dragon eggs just as the Executioner catches up to them.
I thought this was a well written, quick read that gave us a taste of what the boys have been through and it will add some insight before starting the series. I'm really looking forward to the series to find out what happens when the guys meet Fern and her dragon, Auren.
August 30, 2025
These little novellas are packed full of story, action, and a dash of magic. Definitely hyping up the anticipatory nerves for the full story. I loved reading about these 3 boys and their destiny. Really looking forward to finding out more about Dain’s ability, as I think it will be very important to the overall plot/story. I have no doubt Dain, Kael, and Lorien will be groveling, at their dragons’ behest, to woo their mate and her rider from the another. I cannot wait to get my grubby hands on the next dragon book. Sam you’re a genius!
September 21, 2025
DISCOVERING I LOVE DRAGONS
Sam Hall is piquing my interest even further with this second short novella, before the main story hits!! Reading a backstory on a new series is a fantastic way to lure me and I am sure many readers. So, as short as this book is, it packs a punch with a fast paced plot, three delinquent boys who will capture your heart as they struggle to survive and protect each other and writing that is engaging and full of emotion. I am eagerly anticipating the full story, with ending of this book, I have so many questions!
Sam Hall is piquing my interest even further with this second short novella, before the main story hits!! Reading a backstory on a new series is a fantastic way to lure me and I am sure many readers. So, as short as this book is, it packs a punch with a fast paced plot, three delinquent boys who will capture your heart as they struggle to survive and protect each other and writing that is engaging and full of emotion. I am eagerly anticipating the full story, with ending of this book, I have so many questions!
October 11, 2025
Oh I loved this story learning about Kael, Lorien, and Dain. To see how they started off and bits and pieces of their lives. Granted to story is shorter but it is so beautifully written. Each one has their own unique past that I would absolutely love to learn more about. To see and feel their struggles makes you absolutely sad for them as they were younger. The action that runs through this story is huge. It drew me in and didn’t let go. I absolutely cannot wait to see what is going to happen further on. It is definitely a fantastic read.
August 25, 2025
I seriously cannot wait for this full series!! The two novella books are so good! Definitely recommend reading the Dragon Queen series first to fully understand the world. This book introduces us to the MMC (multiple) with their background, which after reading the Dragon Queen series is really interesting. Just like the first novella, I was hooked right away! This series cannot come out fast enough!
August 27, 2025
For a novella, this was surprisingly action-packed with high stakes and I was emotionally invested in the three boys from the start. I wasn’t quite sure at first how this novella was going to tie in with Dragon Chosen, but I just needed to exercise a little patience! There was already so much going on that wasn’t at all what it initially appeared, which was intriguing and kept me guessing. Combine that with seemingly unique dragon history and magical gifts and I can’t wait for the main story!
October 18, 2025
This book was the starting story to Auren's mates. I was a little confused until the end of the book and everything came together. I love the way that you got to know these other characters, and they were a story onto themselves. You can understand why they are the way they are by the end of the book because you get their starting story line. I love this so much and can't wait to have the full-length books. I will be reading more of Sam Hall's work.
December 27, 2025
Discovered Dragons
Well this short story takes us through the young life of three sheet rats that nearly get captured but find the dragons and become riders. After the war the land is being dispersed out to royal riders that have Keal and Fang in an oppositional state of confronting the king about the land they reside in however Fern and her dragon throw a kink in their plans. Cliffhanger to what Sam has planned. But looke forward to the up coming full story
Well this short story takes us through the young life of three sheet rats that nearly get captured but find the dragons and become riders. After the war the land is being dispersed out to royal riders that have Keal and Fang in an oppositional state of confronting the king about the land they reside in however Fern and her dragon throw a kink in their plans. Cliffhanger to what Sam has planned. But looke forward to the up coming full story
September 3, 2025
This was a great novella to ease us into the world and I loved seeing the bond the boys had with each other. Life starts off pretty rough for them but they all show how resilient they are and life starts to look up once they find the dragon eggs. There was plenty of action contained in this short book and I’m looking forward to reading more.
September 6, 2025
I loved having this background insight to the other mmc that will be in the main book. the author did a great job of building anticipation for the main book. I absolutely love the slow build and background into the characters. it was genius to build excitement for the main story. Definitely a must read to provide that in depth look that so many of us want that donr fit in the stories
November 29, 2025
Amazing start!
This is the second prequel, to Sam Hall’s 2nd Nevermere dragon series. Though it is short, it certainly sets me up to want to devour this series. It is gripping, relatable and so well written. You need to read everything this woman has written. It is therapy, smut, and poignant insight.
This is the second prequel, to Sam Hall’s 2nd Nevermere dragon series. Though it is short, it certainly sets me up to want to devour this series. It is gripping, relatable and so well written. You need to read everything this woman has written. It is therapy, smut, and poignant insight.
August 25, 2025
I love the new characters that are introduced in this prequel to Sam Hall’s new series set in her wonderful world of Nevermere. New riders and new dragons. I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
August 25, 2025
An intriguing hint into a back story in preparation for a new series. A further peek into the 'Dragon' world of Sam Hall which we definitely did not have enough of with the existing phenomenal trilogy!
August 26, 2025
Great backstory of 3 males and how they come across their dragons with some good plot twists! I really want to know what happens next and I especially can’t wait to learn more about Dain’s power - I have a feeling that’s going to be important.
August 27, 2025
I'm so excited for another dragon series from Sam Hall! This novella is action packed right from the beginning. By the end of the first chapter I was emotionally invested in the 3 MMC. And that ending left me wanting so much more. I highly recommend Dragon Discovered.
August 29, 2025
I consumed this novella in a hurry! Getting a backstory of the boys finding their dragons and a bit of their brotherhood was awesome! The boys finding their home and building their community into what it becomes was also special. I also loved the moment our man sees his mom! So many feels.
August 30, 2025
Whoa. That was great. It went from 0 to 60 so quick. We got a glimpse of who the guys are in a stressful situation. What a great way to introduce characters! I love all of this buildup to the story. The glimpses of each character and knowing what’s coming… I am so excited!!
August 31, 2025
I’m telling you, that is this was awesome! Quick,fast novella. It’s nice to know a little more about this world and how things happen 😉. This one has me super excited for the series first full book to come out! 5/5 again Sam Hall!
August 31, 2025
A quick read novella but it definitely doesn't mean it's missing anything! The lore and world building and the history of dragons was phenomenal. It only builds anticiation for the main story! It ties in so well with Dragon Chosen!
September 6, 2025
The start of an amazing adventure. Dain, Kael, and Lorien brothers not by blood but through similar up bringing. Even if this short novella you will encounter a few twist of the story and how they find their dragons. An unbreakable bond between all of them. Each character is truly unique.
September 7, 2025
This sweet teaser is somehow able to introduce and intrigue me with characters I can feel connected to in less than 100 pages!! Unfair!! Fortunately Sam Hall historically has moved up release dates and writes like a goddess so I know I won’t have to wait long!!
September 27, 2025
This novella introduces to a few of the other male leads & their dragons. I loved reading the boys' backstory & seeing where they came from. Kael really intrigues me! This was a super fast read that makes me want more more more!
November 4, 2025
Great start to the boys story. Fun, compact, full of action.
If you love Dragons, their riders, underdogs and fast paced, compact stories this is the book for you.
I can't wait to continue this story.
If you love Dragons, their riders, underdogs and fast paced, compact stories this is the book for you.
I can't wait to continue this story.
November 14, 2025
Oh these fellas!
This was a great quick read. I cant wait to learn more about these three and their dragons. They are cheeky and confident. I cant wait to see what they do to win their mate!
This was a great quick read. I cant wait to learn more about these three and their dragons. They are cheeky and confident. I cant wait to see what they do to win their mate!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews