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Titan's Nest: Book 1 in the Titan's Nest Saga
Every century, six dragon eggs inexplicably fall from the heavens. Once hatched, each dragon bites a young adult, forever merging their souls, granting them an elemental ability, and creating the next generation of Bitten Knights.
No one in the north was surprised when Maximus Duskfell found his hand between the fangs of the newest dragon hatchling, as he had proven to be the ideal Bitten Knight-fearless, unyielding, and filled with unlimited potential. But when a twist of fate diverts Maximus' path, his unlikely brother, Darren Duskfell, is forced to secretly inherit his sibling's identity, destiny, and dragon... a dragon that loathes his very existence. If the training doesn't kill him, the Swarmborne, the half-human, half-insect warriors might. He may not have any of his brother's physical talents, but he may just have the wit and the will.
Meanwhile, clear on the other side of the world, their friend Ryker has become entangled in a deadly cult that claims to have uncovered the dark truth of the Bitten Knights. They've aligned with the Swarmborne in hopes of accomplishing their butcher the Bitten Knights and resurrect their scaly gods.
No one in the north was surprised when Maximus Duskfell found his hand between the fangs of the newest dragon hatchling, as he had proven to be the ideal Bitten Knight-fearless, unyielding, and filled with unlimited potential. But when a twist of fate diverts Maximus' path, his unlikely brother, Darren Duskfell, is forced to secretly inherit his sibling's identity, destiny, and dragon... a dragon that loathes his very existence. If the training doesn't kill him, the Swarmborne, the half-human, half-insect warriors might. He may not have any of his brother's physical talents, but he may just have the wit and the will.
Meanwhile, clear on the other side of the world, their friend Ryker has become entangled in a deadly cult that claims to have uncovered the dark truth of the Bitten Knights. They've aligned with the Swarmborne in hopes of accomplishing their butcher the Bitten Knights and resurrect their scaly gods.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2025
83 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 27, 2025
T.D. Orel takes the best parts of Dragon fantasy and adds his own flare, making it so much more than rehashed tropes. A brilliant world filled with unique magic, dragon bonds, and lurking secrets. Orel writes Brotherhood with such heart, making you love these characters instantly.
December 30, 2025
A fun dragon rider adventure with a piece-of-work dragon haha
Narrative Voice: 1st person (dual)
Cussing/profanity: 1/5
Drug/alcohol use: 1/5
Kissing: 0/5
Sex/nudity: 0/5
Violence/gore: 2/5
I’m a sucker for dragon rider books, and once I saw the new, gorgeous cover art, I had to read it!
I’m also a sucker for “sorting” in this case, each kingdom has their own elemental aptitude, from fire and water to plant life and shadow, and of course, a corresponding color palette which makes visualizing so pretty.
There was a plot twist early on that I was totally not expecting, which was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the parallel stories on both sides of the conflict.
Speaking of parallels, I love how the two POVs are opposites. Their last names, color palettes, and fury. It’s never addressed [yet?], so it’s like a genius Easter egg, and I love things like that!
With plenty of dragons, dragon training, battles, and of course, elemental magic aka fury, this is a fun dragon-riding story done right!
Can’t wait for the sequel!
4/5 would recommend
*7 damn, 2 dammit, 3 bastard
Narrative Voice: 1st person (dual)
Cussing/profanity: 1/5
Drug/alcohol use: 1/5
Kissing: 0/5
Sex/nudity: 0/5
Violence/gore: 2/5
I’m a sucker for dragon rider books, and once I saw the new, gorgeous cover art, I had to read it!
I’m also a sucker for “sorting” in this case, each kingdom has their own elemental aptitude, from fire and water to plant life and shadow, and of course, a corresponding color palette which makes visualizing so pretty.
There was a plot twist early on that I was totally not expecting, which was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the parallel stories on both sides of the conflict.
Speaking of parallels, I love how the two POVs are opposites. Their last names, color palettes, and fury. It’s never addressed [yet?], so it’s like a genius Easter egg, and I love things like that!
With plenty of dragons, dragon training, battles, and of course, elemental magic aka fury, this is a fun dragon-riding story done right!
Can’t wait for the sequel!
4/5 would recommend
*7 damn, 2 dammit, 3 bastard
January 23, 2026
I believe this is T.D Orel's debut and what a fantastic introduction this was. It's split primarily into two POV's and what brought this from a five star to a four star is simply that I did not care quite as much about the second prominent POV. I understand it's importance, but each time I got to those chapters all I could think about is how I couldn't wait to get to the other POV.
January 23, 2026
Solid debut novel and first book in a series
3.5/5 stars
I love this author on social media, so I decided to give his book a try. Overall, the world-building is really interesting—the lore and dragons are awesome, and I especially enjoyed the side characters (Gerard in particular). The villain was intriguing with a solid backstory, and I appreciated how clear the characters’ motivations were. The dual first-person POV also worked well and kept the storyline moving smoothly.
The main reason I can’t rate this higher is because I found the main character completely insufferable. He felt like the YA male version of Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing—constantly annoying and difficult to like. He does improve a bit, but not until the final few chapters.
That said, I really enjoyed the revelations and plot twists at the end; they were well executed and made the conclusion strong. I do plan to continue the series and would recommend it to fans of YA fantasy, even if it wasn’t a personal favorite. I also have to remind myself that the protagonist is a 15-year-old boy, so the jokes and quips probably just aren’t meant to land for me—a 33-year-old mom.
3.5/5 stars
I love this author on social media, so I decided to give his book a try. Overall, the world-building is really interesting—the lore and dragons are awesome, and I especially enjoyed the side characters (Gerard in particular). The villain was intriguing with a solid backstory, and I appreciated how clear the characters’ motivations were. The dual first-person POV also worked well and kept the storyline moving smoothly.
The main reason I can’t rate this higher is because I found the main character completely insufferable. He felt like the YA male version of Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing—constantly annoying and difficult to like. He does improve a bit, but not until the final few chapters.
That said, I really enjoyed the revelations and plot twists at the end; they were well executed and made the conclusion strong. I do plan to continue the series and would recommend it to fans of YA fantasy, even if it wasn’t a personal favorite. I also have to remind myself that the protagonist is a 15-year-old boy, so the jokes and quips probably just aren’t meant to land for me—a 33-year-old mom.
January 27, 2026
Is Darren unlikable? Yes. Is Darren weak? Yes. But does Darren redeem himself by the end? Not really.
I enjoyed the world-building and the lore, there were a couple fun subversions with Darren accidentally becoming the chosen one, Maximus dying, and Ryker opposing, but the dialogue took was jarring, Darren very annoying, and the conclusion was a mess.
Still interested to read the 2nd one, though.
I enjoyed the world-building and the lore, there were a couple fun subversions with Darren accidentally becoming the chosen one, Maximus dying, and Ryker opposing, but the dialogue took was jarring, Darren very annoying, and the conclusion was a mess.
Still interested to read the 2nd one, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
What if we made book one Frickin Sick?
January 6, 2026
Easily one of the best debuts I've ever read!
I thoroughly loved this book. Easily one of the strongest debut novels I’ve ever read, and one of the most engaging fantasy books I’ve read, period. This story delivers exceptional character development, crystal-clear motivations, and immaculate pacing. There isn’t a wasted word or scene. The narrative remains tightly focused while still feeling expansive and immersive.
The worldbuilding is breathtaking: vivid, imaginative, and seamlessly integrated into the story. The setting, magic, and lore feel alive rather than just a set piece, pasted over an unrelated plot. Most fantasy books I read have limited to no cohesion between the story and the fantasy elements. The world and story of Titan's Nest are inextricably linked.
The magic system, in particular, is outstanding. It's thoughtfully designed, internally consistent, and deeply personal. The bonded animal companions (dragons) and the way their powers are tailored to the characters is especially compelling and beautifully executed. I won't give away too much detail as to avoid spoilers, but any fan of Digimon, Pokemon, or anime where powers are derived from hard work and bonding with creatures will be extremely happy.
Multiple POVs are handled with remarkable skill, even from a first-person perspective, which is no small feat. The midpoint shift to multiple wards' perspectives was a delightful surprise that significantly enriched the worldbuilding. Characters, creatures, locations, fighting styles, dragons, and their abilities are all written with beautiful clarity and imagery.
It’s rare to find a debut this confident, polished, and imaginative. I immediately purchased the sequel and cannot wait to continue the series. A truly exceptional read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7/5 stars)
I thoroughly loved this book. Easily one of the strongest debut novels I’ve ever read, and one of the most engaging fantasy books I’ve read, period. This story delivers exceptional character development, crystal-clear motivations, and immaculate pacing. There isn’t a wasted word or scene. The narrative remains tightly focused while still feeling expansive and immersive.
The worldbuilding is breathtaking: vivid, imaginative, and seamlessly integrated into the story. The setting, magic, and lore feel alive rather than just a set piece, pasted over an unrelated plot. Most fantasy books I read have limited to no cohesion between the story and the fantasy elements. The world and story of Titan's Nest are inextricably linked.
The magic system, in particular, is outstanding. It's thoughtfully designed, internally consistent, and deeply personal. The bonded animal companions (dragons) and the way their powers are tailored to the characters is especially compelling and beautifully executed. I won't give away too much detail as to avoid spoilers, but any fan of Digimon, Pokemon, or anime where powers are derived from hard work and bonding with creatures will be extremely happy.
Multiple POVs are handled with remarkable skill, even from a first-person perspective, which is no small feat. The midpoint shift to multiple wards' perspectives was a delightful surprise that significantly enriched the worldbuilding. Characters, creatures, locations, fighting styles, dragons, and their abilities are all written with beautiful clarity and imagery.
It’s rare to find a debut this confident, polished, and imaginative. I immediately purchased the sequel and cannot wait to continue the series. A truly exceptional read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7/5 stars)
January 23, 2026
Rank C+
Personal Tags: BookClub, Dragon Rider, 2X POV, YA?
Pretty middling read at a 3-star for me overall. The premise is pretty standard, with dragon eggs choosing their riders and going from rags to riches. Darren being pushed into a role meant for his brother, especially with a dragon that clearly doesn’t want him, is a genuinely interesting hook. The dragon bonding system and elemental magic are easily the strongest parts of the book. There are a lot of really cool creatures introduced along the way, but unfortunately, many of them are brought up once and then never mentioned again. It felt like missed potential, especially when some of those creatures were more interesting than the main conflict. Emotionally, the story didn’t quite land for me. I just couldn’t find myself rooting for Darren, which made his struggles harder to connect with. Another thing that really pulled me out was the enemy army somehow going unnoticed, especially since we get insight through Ryker’s POV. With that perspective, it made no sense that such a major threat wasn’t spotted earlier. The pacing is uneven, and while the story has some good ideas, not all of them get the payoff they deserve. I did especially enjoy the last few chapters but I was kind of checked out by then. Overall, it’s an okay read with a cool dragon premise and flashes of something better. I don’t regret reading it, but it didn’t fully stick with me, and I’m pretty neutral on whether I’ll continue the series.
Personal Tags: BookClub, Dragon Rider, 2X POV, YA?
Pretty middling read at a 3-star for me overall. The premise is pretty standard, with dragon eggs choosing their riders and going from rags to riches. Darren being pushed into a role meant for his brother, especially with a dragon that clearly doesn’t want him, is a genuinely interesting hook. The dragon bonding system and elemental magic are easily the strongest parts of the book. There are a lot of really cool creatures introduced along the way, but unfortunately, many of them are brought up once and then never mentioned again. It felt like missed potential, especially when some of those creatures were more interesting than the main conflict. Emotionally, the story didn’t quite land for me. I just couldn’t find myself rooting for Darren, which made his struggles harder to connect with. Another thing that really pulled me out was the enemy army somehow going unnoticed, especially since we get insight through Ryker’s POV. With that perspective, it made no sense that such a major threat wasn’t spotted earlier. The pacing is uneven, and while the story has some good ideas, not all of them get the payoff they deserve. I did especially enjoy the last few chapters but I was kind of checked out by then. Overall, it’s an okay read with a cool dragon premise and flashes of something better. I don’t regret reading it, but it didn’t fully stick with me, and I’m pretty neutral on whether I’ll continue the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2026
I would rate this about a 4 because of slight grammar mistakes. I loved the story though and I also liked the characters a lot. I am still currently reading it but am almost finished with it. I especially love Darren. I root for the underdogs or main characters that get underestimated and then prove everybody wrong.
The only frustrating part was seeing how vulnerable he is/was. Imagine your sibling has everything and you have nothing, but you don't want what they have. You are content with what you have. This is Darren in a nutshell. It almost felt inhuman. I would have felt a bit of jealousy. That's my humanity talking. At the same time, Darren is very humane. Kind of like a double edged sword. Anyway I think I ranted too much but very much enjoyed! I LOVE A GOOD DRAGON FANTASY. I didn't know T.D had a youtube channel until after I got interested in his debut novel. Also he's an indie author?! The cover for the second edition is just gorgeous! Okay this is the end of my review. It's hard for me to do a review without spoiling so this is all I could say. Bye peeps :)
The only frustrating part was seeing how vulnerable he is/was. Imagine your sibling has everything and you have nothing, but you don't want what they have. You are content with what you have. This is Darren in a nutshell. It almost felt inhuman. I would have felt a bit of jealousy. That's my humanity talking. At the same time, Darren is very humane. Kind of like a double edged sword. Anyway I think I ranted too much but very much enjoyed! I LOVE A GOOD DRAGON FANTASY. I didn't know T.D had a youtube channel until after I got interested in his debut novel. Also he's an indie author?! The cover for the second edition is just gorgeous! Okay this is the end of my review. It's hard for me to do a review without spoiling so this is all I could say. Bye peeps :)
January 18, 2026
The world-building, character development, plot are amazing. The dragons and magic system fit into the story in a fresh and unexpected way. I appreciate a coming-of-age story with no romance, so I was able to read aloud to my sons & they were obsessed! Best of all, we never guessed the twists. We spent so many mornings wondering aloud about the back story of a mysterious character, or comparing what we think Aerotras is like. We ordered Sigra’s Roost before even finishing Titan’s Nest. We LOVE this book.
I gave this work 4 stars because it’s in need of professional proofreading. There were lots of typos: misused homophones, paragraph breaks in the middle of a sentence, missed pluralization, etc. I have the urge to redline it for the love of the game.
Despite that, we devoured this book & Sigra’s Roost & can’t wait for the third installment to be released!
I gave this work 4 stars because it’s in need of professional proofreading. There were lots of typos: misused homophones, paragraph breaks in the middle of a sentence, missed pluralization, etc. I have the urge to redline it for the love of the game.
Despite that, we devoured this book & Sigra’s Roost & can’t wait for the third installment to be released!
January 16, 2026
So. Good.
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while and it did not disappoint. This may be one of my favorite dragon-rider fantasy books of all time.
From the beginning, it took a turn I didn’t expect. I loved following Darren as he fought to show (and understand) his value.
Gerard is my favorite.
Although, Acheel and his yaks were a close second.
I’m finding that my favorite story pacing is when there is some action, but not so much that it’s overwhelming. The pacing of this book was perfect. I felt engaged but not rushed. The details and “visuals” were well described, and I pictured everything vividly as I read and listened.
I’m so excited to continue this series, and I will definitely be rereading in the future!
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while and it did not disappoint. This may be one of my favorite dragon-rider fantasy books of all time.
From the beginning, it took a turn I didn’t expect. I loved following Darren as he fought to show (and understand) his value.
Gerard is my favorite.
Although, Acheel and his yaks were a close second.
I’m finding that my favorite story pacing is when there is some action, but not so much that it’s overwhelming. The pacing of this book was perfect. I felt engaged but not rushed. The details and “visuals” were well described, and I pictured everything vividly as I read and listened.
I’m so excited to continue this series, and I will definitely be rereading in the future!
January 21, 2026
The perfect blend of familiar fantasy elements and a brand new spin! Whimsical, exciting, well paced, the characters are well rounded, have great personalities that either mesh or clash in the best ways! The dragons are the perfect mix of “primordial, old god” and “just a lil guy”. Book 2 gets here in two days for me and that is not soon enough! 522pg book and it only took me 3 days! I stayed up late yesterday just to finish it!
There were some typos, but not enough to be distracting and certainly not enough to remove a star! These mostly consisted of misplaced comas or apostrophes, as well as some accidental paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences. The issue was minor and I take that as a sign of an indie book made with love. The wabi sabi, as it were.
There were some typos, but not enough to be distracting and certainly not enough to remove a star! These mostly consisted of misplaced comas or apostrophes, as well as some accidental paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences. The issue was minor and I take that as a sign of an indie book made with love. The wabi sabi, as it were.
February 10, 2026
This is such an impressive debut!!
Any time I thought I had a gripe with the writing I was swept back up into the magic in the following sentence. I cannot wait to watch this author grow!
Fantastic story with characters that were far too easy to care for, brilliant. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to put together the Duskfell VS Dawnrose thing. Cheeky.
The lineage reveal truly threw me off guard and I pride myself on being unsurprised by plot twists. Well done.
Just an over all great read, I had so much fun
Can’t wait for more!! I’ve done myself a great disservice by not getting the books as a set 🥲
Any time I thought I had a gripe with the writing I was swept back up into the magic in the following sentence. I cannot wait to watch this author grow!
Fantastic story with characters that were far too easy to care for, brilliant. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to put together the Duskfell VS Dawnrose thing. Cheeky.
The lineage reveal truly threw me off guard and I pride myself on being unsurprised by plot twists. Well done.
Just an over all great read, I had so much fun
Can’t wait for more!! I’ve done myself a great disservice by not getting the books as a set 🥲
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2026
Titan’s Nest scratches that classic YA dragon-rider itch. The dragon bonding system and elemental affinities are easily the strongest parts, and there’s an early twist I didn’t see coming that gave the story some nice momentum. I was less invested in one of the two main POVs, and the protagonist grated on me more than I’d like for most of the book, though he does improve by the end. Not reinventing the wheel, but a solid pick for YA fantasy fans who want dragons, magic systems, and a familiar rise-from-nothing setup.
January 28, 2026
Best book I’ve read this year. It’s been a while since I’d read anything with dragons but I have to guess this has to be up there with the best inclusion of the creatures. I would put the book down and yet couldn’t stop living in Dazawrath. I’m a huge fan of the main character as he reacts to most situations like any normal person would but when the rubber meets the road he can be quite daring… My God.
February 6, 2026
This books is good, the main character unfortunately feels insufferable for a good chunk of this book, with glimpses of greatness spread though out the book, but it is well made up for by all the other characters that this book uses for its various perspective jumps.Even with my gripes with the main character he eventually feels deserving of the lead narrative role he is given and leads well into the second book of the series!
December 30, 2025
I expected I would like this book but I didn't expect to love it! This was a great spin on dragon riders with unique magic and creatures. I regret choosing to listen to the audiobook — not because of the narration, which was wonderful — because I struggle with that format and this was such a rich, high fantasy that I really wanted to soak in each detail. I cannot wait to read more.
January 26, 2026
Nothing better than a book that you think you know what is going to happen and you are totally wrong! Loved the plot twists. Loved each of the characters. I am not typically a fan of fantasy novels and I am completely hooked!
November 2, 2025
It’s kind of hilarious that my high school bully wrote a book with bullying in it. Nostalgic for the wrong reasons.
December 11, 2025
I don’t think this was a literary masterpiece by any means but it was a super fun read. There were plenty of points that I did not want to put the book down, a cool setting, and likable characters.
December 30, 2025
Oh my goodness! Usually I’m a romantasy girly but this truly made me feel like a kid again reading my lovely early year YA books. Lord Commander T.D Orel, thank you. Truly one of my favorite reads of 2025
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews