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DragonForged

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You can get a free e-copy of DragonForged at brightfantasybooks website!

Three sibling dragons, banished from their home, are forced to fly over an endless sea.

They forge their own land, sewing life in all forms across it.

But not all three are willing to live the rest of their lives in peace. The one who caused their banishment dreams of returning in vengeance and fury.

He will stop at nothing to make this dream come true.

Language: English

I saw in the acceptable sources for covers and book data that a screen capture is acceptable for a placeholder cover. It does not appear that I can add it to this thread. Can you please advise and I will be happy to get the placeholder image to you promptly.

Hardcover

Published June 1, 2026

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Justin C. Orr

4 books6 followers

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Book.Dragon.Page1.
350 reviews13 followers
June 18, 2026
This was a great novella! I'm a sucker for dragons and this felt like we're being told how the world came to be. And so far I really like this world and can't wait to read what happens next!
Profile Image for Robert Monjar.
22 reviews6 followers
May 27, 2026
I can’t thank author Justin C. Orr enough for sending me a copy of this to review, because it was awesome!

It’s only 50 pages, but it makes an impression.

The story tells the origin of the world of PryaKonis and the dragons that forged it. HailBringer, EarthBreaker, and LifeBearer are three siblings who were banished from their home and forced to create a new land for themselves. Like all siblings, they bicker, argue, and fight—and that sick art on the cover? Yeah, that’s in the first chapter! Each character felt distinct, and they all have unique powers that were fun to imagine.

What I really loved about this is how it almost felt like myth. Like a story that was passed down through generations. Centuries pass in these pages. The main saga will clearly begin with the first full novel coming later this year, but I loved that this story goes back and exposes the foundations of that world.

This was a great introduction to the Banished Saga, and after reading the first two chapters of the first novel included in this book, I’m eagerly awaiting its release. I’m super excited to see where this saga goes!
Profile Image for JoesFantasyBooks .
62 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me the eARC of this novella in exchange for a review.

I feel this prequel novella was a great introduction novella. Elemental dragon siblings who have been banished, roaming the world, finding their way, all with different motives/goals, and creating unique lands and life during their journey - a very cool & unique origin story of what's to come in the broader story.

I'm excited to read Book 1 in The Banished Saga - DragonGods when it releases later this year. This promises to be an exciting series!
Profile Image for Lloyd Earickson.
284 reviews8 followers
June 13, 2026
As mentioned in our recent recommendation post, one of the fellow writers in my writing group is striking out on his own with his first independently published novella, DragonForged.  Since I personally know the author and provided feedback on earlier drafts, I am not assigning a star rating here (I think Good Reads will force me to select a star rating, so I will default to five stars); however, I will still strive to provide some useful thoughts on the final version (which I did not read prior to its being released into the wild).



Speaking of drafts, Orr's writing process is proof the "cut 10%" rule doesn't apply to everyone.  His earliest drafts are more like extended narrative outlines, and his process involves progressively flushing out the story with more details and substance in subsequent revisions.  That's certainly the case with DragonForged, although he also made a few notable cuts from the original version to the published version, including what was originally the opening scene, so in total what was cut may have constituted 10% of the work, but with at least an additional 10% added elsewhere.  That difference between the opening scenes is probably the biggest change - the events still take place, presumably in much the same way, but they now take place off-page.  It might seem strange to put such a pivotal event outside the scope of the written story, but I think it was the right decision.  Readers don't need to know exactly what happened in that scene to make sense of the story and the characters, and it saves the story from being bogged down in details of draconic culture and whatever the dragon version of anthropology is (dracothology?), about which we are still left with some extant questions.





Often, I praise how a novel or novella represents a self-contained story, even within a larger series, but that's definitely not the case here.  Orr wrote this piece to deliberately provide amplification on the backstory for the world we will encounter in his forthcoming series, and released it as an appetizer for the epic fantasy feast (epic in story scope, not in word count) which will begin publication in December 2026.  In that sense, it's almost not its own story at all.  There is no traditional plot arc or character arc to follow.  It is a kind of light fantasy interpretation and rendering of a creation story (as discussed at greater length in my recommendation post).





The three sibling dragons in the story are, essentially, gods in the context of the upcoming series, bequeathed with massive powers of elements (loosely defined: you won't find these elements listed by Aristotle or the periodic table) which they use somewhat inconsistently throughout the story.  Their roles in the world to come require them to be somewhat iconic in nature, unchanging and static in their personalities, but in a novella focusing upon them it makes for sometimes odd structural beats.  In my opinion, the novella would also benefit from more time with the brewing antagonist, who is probably the most dynamic and interesting of the three, rather than the main focus on the other two dragons.  He's a little more unique and distinctive than his siblings, a little more independent of his story-assigned role.





You can read DragonForged now, even receive it as a free ebook by signing up for Orr's newsletter, but you might appreciate it more if you read it as a companion novella in six months, with the release of the first full book in the series.  Alternatively, you could read it now, and read it again when DragonGods comes out in December.  Orr's prose and storytelling approach is fast and light, so reading it twice shouldn't be much of an imposition.

Profile Image for Chloe the Reader.
91 reviews12 followers
June 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This novella felt less like reading a story and more like hearing an ancient myth passed down through generations. I could practically picture myself sitting around a campfire, listening to someone recount the legend of how this world came to be—the rise of dragons, the forging of land from endless seas, and the seeds of a conflict that would shape everything that followed.

The atmosphere was easily my favorite part. The writing had a timeless, almost fable-like quality that made the story feel grand despite its short length. I loved the idea of three sibling dragons creating a new world together, and the tension between them gave the narrative an underlying sense of tragedy and inevitability.

At times, I wished for a little more depth and emotional connection to the characters, which is the main reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me. But as an introduction to a larger series, it absolutely succeeded. It was an enjoyable, immersive read that left me curious about the history of this world and eager to see where the rest of the series goes.

If you enjoy fantasy that reads like mythology and stories that feel as though they’ve been whispered beside a fire for centuries, this is definitely worth picking up.
31 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2026
Despite being a novella, DragonForged never feels rushed. Every scene serves a purpose, and not a single page feels wasted. The story follows three exiled dragon siblings as they begin rebuilding their lives after exile, and I quickly found myself invested in each of their journeys.

One of the novella's greatest strengths is its worldbuilding. Being in an intriguing fantasy setting while keeping the story focused and approachable. Each sibling has a distinct personality and voice, making it easy to connect with them as individuals rather than viewing them as a group.

This novella seems to serve as a prologue to the author's upcoming novel, DragonForged does exactly what a prequel novella should do. It introduces the world, establishes compelling characters, and leaves readers eager to discover what comes next. By the final pages, the hints of future events had me completely hooked.

If you're looking for a quick fantasy read featuring dragons, engaging worldbuilding, and characters you'll want to spend more time with, DragonForged is well worth checking out. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the full novel when it releases later this year.
1 review
June 2, 2026
DragonForged was a really great little story. It read fast, kept my attention for all 55 pages plus the bonus chapters in the paperback I purchased. I liked seeing the creation of the world, one I could see vividly through the descriptions. They weren't overly long, just enough to set the scene and let my imagination do the rest.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dragons, epic fantasy, and stories that have complex family dynamics. The sibling dragons each have their own personality and they all shine. Justin does a good job making each sound and think in a unique way.

Knowing how the story ends, combined with the two extra chapters, it will be really fun to see the world expand beyond the dragons and into the next era for PryaKonis. I already pre-ordered the next book in the saga, DragonGods, and can't wait to be back in this world when it comes out this December.
Profile Image for Michael.
41 reviews
June 10, 2026
If you have not checked out Justin C. Orr's novella, I highly recommend it! This fantastic novella, DragonForged: The Banished Saga Novella, can be appreciated by readers who were fans of Eragon, Wings of Fire, Dragon God, and so many more dragon centered reads.

DragonForged: The Banished Saga Novella was an 4/5 stars.

This novella opens as three sibling dragons, HailBringer, LifeBearer, and EarthBreaker, are flying over the endless ocean following their banishment due to HailBringer's deceptive actions. HailBringer and EarthBreaker get into an intensely physical confrontation full of ice and fire, and it ends with the three choosing to live on separate sections of an island EarthBreaker raises from the ocean floor. As they all go their separate ways, HailBringer secretly plots a sinister plan to end his banishment.

This was such a fun, quick read that dealt with dragons and magics concerning storms, fire, and creating life. Each dragon had their own unique personalities and power sets that made them all interesting.

DragonForged: The Banished Saga Novella could easily be the origin story for so many tales that have dragons. It explained the reasons for the fauna on the island, the creation of the geography, and how humans came to be created.

This novella is one that I definitely recommend!
2 reviews
June 1, 2026
Thank you so much for the read! This is for all the myth lovers out there! This short read gives you an in depth look to how a world is created, using classic powerful beings to create a complex and deep world, but with a twist. Instead of Greek gods we have exiled dragons as creators! So, if you enjoy myth prequel short stories, give this one a read : )
1 review
June 2, 2026
A stunning cover for a stunning story! I absolutely love the world building and am excited for the later books that will get to expand on this world. I love the dynamic between the siblings and how their powers create a severe dynamic between them. I highly recommend for a good fun read that gets you excited for the story to come.
Profile Image for Danielle Leora.
22 reviews
June 7, 2026
This story feels ancient, like watching history unfold. I enjoyed the otherworldly feel of each of the dragons and their personalities. I will be looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book! This was a great setup to what feels like an epic tale in the making.
1 review
June 16, 2026
This book is a fantastic mythic creation story for the world of PryaKonis. Seeing how these immensely powerful dragon siblings interact with each other and their elemental creation abilities is a sight to behold. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone who enjoys a truly unique fantasy world and the wondrous creatures who inhabit it.
Profile Image for Connor Olsen.
30 reviews6 followers
May 13, 2026
DragonForged is a fun novella that tells of the relationship between three powerful elemental dragons (who are siblings!) that have been banished from their homeland. This story follows them as they create a land they can live on and breathe life into their own creations. In a sense, it is the Book of Genesis for the world of The Banished Saga. Only these behemoth dragons may not end up being benevolent and just rulers over their creations...
Profile Image for Tyler.
13 reviews3 followers
June 17, 2026
DragonForged may be a novella, but it reads with the confidence and scope of a much larger fantasy epic.

From the opening pages, Justin C. Orr demonstrates something many fantasy authors spend entire novels trying to achieve: the ability to make a world feel ancient, lived-in, and steeped in history without drowning readers in exposition.

Instead of lengthy lore dumps or chapters of setup, DragonForged opens with action and conflict. Three dragon siblings—HailBringer, EarthBreaker, and LifeBearer—have been banished from their homeland and are forced to forge a new future beyond an endless sea. The circumstances surrounding their exile immediately create intrigue, particularly because the siblings themselves disagree about what truly happened and who bears responsibility.

That disagreement forms the emotional core of the novella.

The sibling rivalry between HailBringer and EarthBreaker is one of the strongest aspects of the story. Their conflict feels authentic because it is driven by deeply held convictions, pride, resentment, and competing visions of the future. Neither dragon sees themselves as the villain of the story, which makes their interactions all the more compelling.

I also appreciated the novella's structure. By giving dedicated chapters to each dragon, Orr allows readers to understand their individual motivations, ambitions, strengths, and weaknesses. Their unique powers never feel arbitrary; instead, they seem like natural extensions of their personalities and roles within the story.

Beyond the characters, the lore is incredibly promising.

There is a mythological quality to the world-building that frequently reminded me of Tolkien. Not because Orr imitates Tolkien's style directly, but because he understands one of Tolkien's greatest strengths: making readers feel as though they are glimpsing a small chapter of a much larger history. References to ancient events, powerful figures, and larger cosmic forces create the impression that these dragons inhabit a world far bigger than the pages of the novella. It leaves the reader curious about what else Pyrakonis holds within it.

No figure embodies this better than the mysterious CelestialDragon.

Though much remains unexplained, every mention of this character heightened my curiosity. The CelestialDragon casts a long shadow over the story, serving as both a source of mystery and a tantalizing promise for what lies ahead in DragonGods. I finished the novella eager to learn more.

Another aspect I greatly admired was Orr's philosophy behind what he calls "Bright Fantasy." His mission—to inspire, encourage, and help readers persevere through difficult seasons of life—is evident throughout the novella. While the story contains conflict, pride, betrayal, and hardship, hope remains at its center. There is a genuine belief that growth, redemption, and purpose are possible.

That spirit feels refreshing in a fantasy landscape often dominated by cynicism and despair.

Finally, a huge thank you to Justin himself for making DragonForged available free of charge. It's a remarkably generous gesture and one that speaks volumes about his confidence in the story and his desire to earn readers' time and trust before asking them to invest further in the series.
As a result, I can confidently say that DragonForged accomplished exactly what a prequel novella should accomplish.

It introduced compelling characters, established fascinating lore, raised intriguing questions, and left me genuinely excited for the next installment.

I'll absolutely be picking up DragonGods when it releases.

The dragons have taken flight, and I have every intention of following them.
Author 1 book14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 21, 2026
I received DragonForged as an ARC from Justin. I'm a huge fan of kaiju monsters, and this very short story had plenty. The novella sets up the conflict between this family of giant dragons and explains the creation myth for this new fantasy world. The entire story is from the POV of the dragons, and so I'm very curious what book one of his series will feel like, shifting to the POV of regular people in this world.

The novella sets up the next book in such a way that it really feels more like a long prologue than a complete story. However, the depth of this long prologue has me intrigued about what's going to happen next in this world.

If you are interested in kaiju and an epic sweeping scope, told over thousands of years, check out this novella!
Profile Image for Whitney Casarez.
38 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 27, 2026
This novella is a very short read, roughly 54 pages?
So, if you just need a little pick me up and you love dragons, this is perfect!

I really enjoyed this story! If I had to semi explain it, I would say it is like the book of genesis written by dragons! Ha! Imagine!
It’s not biblical and no biblical references but the similarities are in the way that the world building is, how the dragons created the lands and the first humans to roam the islands, is somewhat similar. Lots of world building by the way!
Each dragon has their very own personalities, each are very different and that’s where the “drama” comes in.

This is a little back story about how the dragons forged these lands and the story that has yet to unfold! I can’t wait to read more about The Banished Saga!!
Profile Image for Noelle.
244 reviews20 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 29, 2026
It is quite amazing the story this short novella tells. It's just over 50 pages longs but spans the length of over 850 years. It was written as a companion novel that provides a deeper understanding and history of the world and the dragons who created it... and it does just that. You get a strong sense of each dragon sibling and who they are - they're all vastly different and I'm quite interested to see how the story continues to play out. The concept behind the world building is fascinating and one I've never read!

Thank you again to the author for this early advanced copy and I look forward to Dragongods and the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Alexandra.
53 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2026
​⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫 4.5 stars!

​A brilliant, fast-paced appetizer for a brand-new epic fantasy series!

Dragonforged tells the gripping origin story of a world born from banishment and built by three dragon siblings. Justin C. Orr balances beautiful, grand-scale world-building with intense character conflict.

​The tragic shift from creation to a quest for vengeance feels entirely earned, even in a shorter novella format. It breathes fresh life into classic dragon lore and creates a perfect foundation for DragonGods (Book One).

I read through it so quickly and can't wait to see how the fallout of this sibling rivalry plays out for Prince BiaDar TalaRog, and SvitCita in the full-length novel this December!

Thank you to Justin C.Orr for intrusting me with a copy of this novela.
1 review
June 1, 2026
WOW! This book is an amazing find! If you like big dragons and big magic and big action, this is definitely for you! The beautiful cover does not disappoint!! The three dragon siblings create a world and life of their own, reflecting each of their individual values and goals. What a catching origin story for the new world space, set up for fantastic adventures to come! The prose is beautiful, wonderfully majestic like the godly dragons, but not difficult or dry to read. I can't wait for the next book of this epic saga to come out later this year!
Profile Image for Dadreadsanreviews (james).
102 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 24, 2026
Thanks for sending a copy to offer an unbiased review. This opening novella introduces a fantasy world forged 3 sibling dragons exiled from their homeland. There is sibling rivalry, betrayal, magic, and seeing a world built from the ground up. The prose is a little stilted as it harkens to classic epic fantasy (think Tolkien or Lewis). Overall, it is a really interesting concept and works, and I’m excited to see what the first novel reveals!
Profile Image for Alicia.
54 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 24, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for a gifted copy! All thoughts are my own!

I loved this peek into a fascinating fantasy world created by ACTUAL dragons! The world-building is phenomenal! Orr has created a truly unique world that I absolutely cannot wait to be immersed in! The prose is vivid and descriptive, and I physically NEED to know more. This is a captivating introduction into what I have no doubt will be a thrilling fantasy series, and I’m so excited to read it!
59 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 28, 2026
This book was a fun and quick little read! I loved the characters, and the perspectives! I thought it was quite unique and I love the way the siblings interacted with each other in such a realistic way! It was cool to follow along on their journey in the beginning and then see the way they built a life/world for themselves, but helped each other out in the process! I also really loved the writing style and am excited to see what else Justin C. Orr has up his sleeve!
1 review
June 19, 2026
A great introduction to what promises to be an epic fantasy saga! It delivers everything a dragon fan could want (massive dragons, incredible magic, rich world-building, and a truly unique creation story).


Despite its short length, the story feels grand in scope, almost like reading an ancient myth brought to life. The prose is vivid and engaging, the action is exciting, and the ending left me eager for more.


I can’t wait to see where The Banished Saga goes next!
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 27, 2026
I had the opportunity read this story as an advanced copy prior to publication. A beautiful story that focuses on character development in addition to world building. The dragons each embody different qualities that are relatable. There is something for everyone in this novella and it leaves you yearning for more. I can’t wait to see what else the author writes! I’m hear for the journey!
1 review
June 18, 2026
This was a fun novella to read. As an avid lover of good stories, I feel like it was fun to see hints of other stories in this. I think that is often the mark of a good story, it vaguely reminds you of other stories, because it pulls you in like other stories. I really thought it was a unique and intriguing tale that I am excited to continue with the future books.
Profile Image for Jazmin Lister.
83 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 17, 2026
What a fascinating ‘creation’ type story: three dragons, a world to build, one full of hatred, one full of war, the last full of life.
Profile Image for Justyna.
479 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 18, 2026
What a unique and absolutely intriguing creation story! Justin C. Orr has crafted a fascinating world built by dragons, each wielding their own distinct, incredible powers. Dragonforged delivers it all: fierce sibling rivalry, raw anger, beautiful moments of hope, and the promise of new beginnings. With an impending war on the horizon, the stakes are incredibly high, and I am officially hooked. I cannot wait to see where this epic journey goes next! 🐉🔥
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews