The Last Rift Dragon

by Shami Stovall

The City of Bridgehaven is under attack.

The nation to the west intends to murder Bridgehaven’s last three remaining dragons, rendering them extinct. They’ll stop at nothing to crush the eggs, flay the dragons, and burn Bridgehaven to the ground.

But Richter Whitlock is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen. He joins the Knights of the Silver Fog—individuals dedicated to protecting Bridgehaven, and the dragons, at all costs—in the hopes of caring for a fragile dragon egg, so that one day he may bond and fight back.

But there are traitors in Bridgehaven, and enemies are circling close.

If Richter hopes to save his home, and his egg, he’ll have to master his magic, learn to craft magitech, and become one of the greatest Knights anyone has ever seen…

Genres: Fantasy

374 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2026

About the author

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

Reviews

[Kealyn]

The Last Rift Dragon (The Knights of the Silver Fog, #1) by Shami Stovall

4/5 stars

The Last Rift Dragon is another amazing book by Shami Stovall. It's a fast paced young adult novel where a lot happens. But even though a lot is happening the story doesn't get messy and the storyline is overall really easy to follow. Which made it an amazing read which I literally flew through. I almost read it in one go, which was an incredible feeling.

The book starts with Richter Whitlock and his best friend Lex hurrying to the assessment. They are knights in training and want to join the Knights of the Silver Fog. If they are accepted they will become dragon riders. But the dragons are severely diminished and only 3 dragons are left. Those three provided for 7 eggs and all 7 knights in training want to earn one. Though there is a small catch. 2 eggs are misshapen and faulty and nobody wants those eggs. So all the boys hurry to the assessment in hope to finish in the top 5 in order to get a healthy and thriving egg. But the second they arrive bad news hits them. One of the healthy eggs perished and only 4 healthy ones are left and that is exactly what kickstars this fast paced story.

I really loved the tiny plot twists in those early chapters. At times I was thinking ahh this will happen and then it suddenly changed into a whole new direction. It happened several times and I really loved that. The story kept me on my toes and the mini plot twists made it an addictive read.

During the assessment something vital happens which changes the lives of all the knights in training. They need to care for their eggs until they hatch. And bond immediately after with the dragons.

I love how this book had several distinct parts in it. The book changes scenery constantly and I really loved that. It made it such a vivid book to read and I could easily visualise this one like a clear picture in my mind. 

Enemies are introduced, the fight to keep Bridgehaven safe is introduced, the hunt for dragon eggs, the truth and their loved ones pushes this story forwards.

I love the tight relationships in this book and I really adored Lex's bond with his dragon. I love how kind and open his heart is. The chapters had the perfect length that kept me turning the pages.

I really, really loved this one to pieces. I only wished it had a bit more emotional depth. Certain things happened and my heart was in it. But I didn't really feel the events and the following emotions in my gut or soul. And I missed that little bit throughout the entire book. 

So that is why I am rating it 4 beautiful and shining stars out of 5! ♥ If you love Young Adult books with dragons, then definitely give this one a chance. ♥

[MikeLikesBooks]

I was gifted a copy of the author’s book and I was eager to read it but once I saw there was an audiobook too, I went ahead and purchased it to do an immersive read. I am so glad I did because the narration was excellent. I felt the action and story line never lagged or got sluggish. It’s an action packed dragon story with some really good heroes and a really evil villain. I think this is the most fun I’ve had with a book for a long time. If you like fantasy, dragons, obstacles, magic and superior world building I think you should pick up this book.

I want to thank the author for a paperback copy of her book. My review is totally voluntary but highly praiseworthy deserving all the accolades it is getting.

[Tessa Talks Books]

Dragons!!! Magic!!! Knights!!! Honestly, The Last Rift Dragon had me at dragons, and then it just kept piling on everything I love in fantasy until I was completely hooked.

Richter Whitlock wants to become a Knight of the Silver Fog and protect Bridgehaven’s remaining dragons, but there is so much more happening here than simply training, learning magic, and caring for a dragon egg. There’s war looming. There are traitors somewhere inside Bridgehaven. And there’s the very real possibility that the dragons could disappear forever. That underlying danger gave the entire story this wonderful sense of urgency without making it feel relentlessly heavy.

I especially loved the world building. There’s quite a lot to learn between the dragons, magic, magitech, politics, and the Knights, but I never felt like I was sitting through a fantasy history lesson. Thank goodness. 😂 Stovall works everything into the story naturally, giving us what we need when we need it. Before long, I felt completely settled into Bridgehaven and understood why protecting it, and especially its dragons, mattered so much.

But the characters may have been my favorite part. Richter has layers. He has strengths, flaws, doubts, ambitions, and plenty of growing to do, which made watching him develop incredibly satisfying. And that complexity extends beyond him. Relationships shift, motivations aren’t always obvious, and with the possibility of betrayal hanging over everyone, I found myself paying very close attention to people I wasn’t sure I should trust.

Then there’s the pacing. Once this story gets moving, it moves. Training, magic, danger, battles, discoveries, dragon eggs… I kept thinking I’d read one more chapter and suddenly several had disappeared. The second half especially flew by. There’s a terrific balance between character development and the bigger action/adventure side of the story, so even the quieter moments feel like they’re building toward something.

And yes, I am absolutely emotionally invested in the dragons. 🐉 I apparently need them protected at all costs now.

The Last Rift Dragon gave me the kind of fantasy reading experience I love most: a world I wanted to disappear into, characters I cared about, real stakes, plenty of magic, and enough action to keep me glued to the page. Five stars easily.

Now I just need Dragon Fog because I am nowhere near ready to leave this world.

Floral Verdict: 🌹 A Rose
An easy recommendation for fantasy readers who love dragons, magical training, knights, adventure, and characters who grow right alongside the world around them.

[karla_bookishlife]

The Last Rift Dragon by Shami Stovall
Ultimate Blog Tour
Book Info
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Young Adult
Number of Pages: 340 Pages
Publication Date: July 20, 2026
Themes: Dragon bonding, magical progression, military training, political betrayal, and magitech crafting.
Audiobook: An audio version is available on Audible, narrated by the popular voice actor Luke Daniels.
Review:
The Last Rift Dragon is an outstanding addition to the progression fantasy and YA dragon-bonding subgenres, successfully launching Shami Stovall’s brand-new series, The Knights of the Silver Fog. Known for her expansive world-building in the Frith Chronicles, Stovall delivers a tightly paced, emotionally resonant, and action-packed narrative that will delight both her long-time fans and newcomers.
The novel establishes a compelling, high-stakes premise right from the opening pages: the City of Bridgehaven is on the brink of ruin, and its remaining dragons are targeted for absolute extinction. This imminent threat provides an excellent backdrop for the traditional "military training academy" trope. Instead of a slow-paced school setting, the training feels vital and hurried because an army is actively marching toward the gates.
For progression fans, the book introduces a highly satisfying advancement loop. Richter isn't just a warrior; he must master magic to engineer advanced magitech, adding a creative, analytical layer to the combat. Furthermore, the bond isn't instantaneous—the narrative heavily emphasizes the vulnerability of nurturing a fragile dragon egg amidst absolute chaos.
While Richter is a strong protagonist, the supporting cast shines brightly. A favorite is Lex, a kind-hearted ally who chooses a "wonky" dragon egg that others reject, simply wanting to love and protect the creature. Lex's storyline brings a beautiful theme of unconditional acceptance to an otherwise high-octane, tense military adventure.
The Last Rift Dragon strikes a perfect balance between explosive battles and tender, character-driven moments. It is a highly imaginative, clean, and gripping YA adventure that is a must-read for fans of magical progression. #thelastriftdragon #shamistovall ##thewritereads

[Eric Smith]

Such great storytelling, you are teleported to another world

Love the magic system in this book, I cannot wait for the next book to come out already! Stovall does such a great job with her storytelling that you feel like you got transported into her world. Check out her other book series like Knightmare Arcanist, you will not be disappointed!

[Azrah]

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I was provided with a digital copy of the book for a blog tour with The Write Reads Tours in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, blood, injury, murder, death, animal harm/death, death of parents (off page), war, grief, religious bigotry
--

If you like your fantasy books full of dragons, friendship and non stop adventure vibes then you have got to check this book out!

The Last Rift Dragon follows Richter Whitlock who alongside a couple of other young, enthusiastic individuals is set to join the Knights of the Silver Fog, a group dedicated to protecting the city of Bridgehaven and its last remaining dragons. However, upon their initiation tragedy strikes at the hands of the enemy neighbouring nation of Whettin, who see dragons as an abomination and are hellbent on destroying them. Thus Richter finds himself in an even more dire situation and must step up, especially when his personal magical ability - gyfts bestowed to all in Bridgehaven by the silver fog that comes from a dragon's breath - may prove to be vital in saving his home.

This is a story that jumps right in, pulling you in both by the absolutely captivating worldbuilding and lore that gets more and more interesting with each turn of the page and also with the high stakes, non-stop action of the plot.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that this YA book switched up the usual coming of age storyline, introducing us to these characters as they are at the final stage of their training and stepping into their roles of responsibility. Though the characters are not without their moments of impulsiveness and naivety, it was great to see them start to grow and put aside their differences following the circumstances they are facing. I loved the friendship between Richter and Lex so much.

I don't want to give too much away about what actually goes down over the course of this first book but I was blown away by all the magic, how it shaped the environments it touched and the fresh take on dragon breeds and bonds! I was also gobsmacked at how BRUTAL things got right away.

Additionally, this is a story where nothing is really black and white despite the outright maliciousness of the leading antagonists and their giant magical centipedes.

The contention between the two opposing nations is based around faith particularly with regards to these dragons and this becomes an even more interesting point of exploration around morals and ethics for Richter and his friends who are in positions of authority when other factors come into play that challenge their worldview. It'll be interesting to see how this all develops in the next book!

[Charlotte (thepennotthesword)]

What a brilliant start to a fantasy series! I genuinely didn’t put this book down once. I picked it up, got completely sucked into the story, and before I knew it… I had finished it!

One of the things I loved most was just how much of an easy read it was for a fantasy book! Fantasy books can sometimes feel quite heavy and convoluted at the beginning, when you are trying to get your head wrapped around a whole new world, magic systems, characters, creatures and world history. However this book didn’t feel like that at all.

Shami Stovall manages to give you everything you need - the world-building, the characters, the history, and most importantly, the dragons(!!!) - without ever making it feel like information overload. The world developed naturally as the story progressed. Which meant I could just enjoy learning more and being captivated by the search for dragons and the fight for the survival of Bridgehaven.

The characters were engaging, the dragons and the different species drew me to this read initially and there was more than enough action, tension, and intrigue to keep the pages turning. This was my first step into this series and I need to know how this story continues!

[Helen]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Dan Mackison]

This Book Skips Straight to the Good Stuff

*The Last Rift Dragon* takes a very common story, skips over the parts we already know, then slams us with several surprises.

In Tamora Pierce's *The Song of the Lioness*, Alanna becomes a knight in book 3 of the series. In the *Protector of the Small* quartet, the pattern repeats, and Kel becomes a knight at the beginning of book 4. However, in *The Last Rift Dragon*, chapter one *starts* with what would normally be the 3/4 point of Richter's coming-of-age story: the final exam that determines which of the seven finalists will get to choose an egg first, immediately prior to becoming a knight.

Richter lives in the city of Bridgehaven, where a magical fog gives everyone magical gyfts. The source of that fog is the breath of dragons. Where once Bridgehaven contained hundreds of dragons, only three remain—two earth dragons and a sterile storm dragon. Richter is a noble whose parents were both bonded to magical dragons as Knights of the Silver Fog before they and their dragons died. The protagonist with the tragic past is joined by his best friend, Lex, whose wind-manipulation gyft mirrors his persistently optimistic personality. Lex wants to be the first person born as a commoner to become a knight. Both friends succeed in being among the seven finalists to bond with seven earth dragon eggs… Then chapter one begins.

Starting where it does, *The Last Rift Dragon* feels fast-paced while still keeping readers from feeling lost, with room for twists I guarantee readers won't see coming.

Everyone I have spoken to who has read it has loved it. After finally reading it myself, I wholeheartedly agree.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

4.5
Book source ~ TWR Tour

Oh, Shami, Shami, Shami. How I love you your books! You bring it all to the pages. This Fantasy is well-written with excellent characters, an awesome world, and a great plot. Add in danger, action, loyalty, betrayal, and dash of humor and you’ve cooked up an absolutely entertaining tale keeping me glued to the pages for hours. I always have a book hangover when I’ve finished one of your books. I close the book, look around, and think…”Well, shit.” No, seriously. Ok, maybe sometimes I use fuck instead of shit. But you get the idea. I’ve been so immersed that I forget it’s fiction and not real life. My only teeny tiny observation is that Richter can be a bit of an idiot sometimes. I know, I know! He’s young and this is an extremely stressful situation. I can’t help it. If I were there I’d have to smack him with my Croc™.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book if you like Fantasy, magic, and dragons.

[A Military Nerd]

Shami Stovall has absolutely mastered her craft with The Last Rift Dragon.

Richter joins the Knights of the Silver Fog with hopes of becoming a Dragon Knight, and from there, things get wild. Dragons, magic, friendships, danger, and an act of ultimate betrayal that forces Richter and his allies to fight for their kingdom, their dragons, and themselves.

But the dragons stole the show for me. Shami’s take on the different types of dragons, their abilities, personalities, and bonds with their riders was so much fun.

And after reading Knightmare Arcanist and now The Last Rift Dragon… I can definitely say Shami Stovall has become a “Must Read” author for me.

[Tabitha Tomala]

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Last Rift Dragon

Thank you to Write Reads for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Bridgehaven was once a place filled with dragons and magic. With each dragon's breath, magic misted the air and granted the people who lived among them abilities. Yet over time, as the Knights of the Silver Fog crossbred dragons, they created powerful but sterile ones. Now with only a few remaining eggs left, Richter and his group of initiate knights must bond with them to ensure their home’s survival. For lurking outside their borders are those who would see the last of the dragons annihilated, and the people who bond with them. But as Richter and his fellow knights take their chosen eggs, one of their very own will betray them, causing what may very well be the downfall of Bridgehaven.

There was a level of nostalgia that came over me while reading The Last Rift Dragon, and I couldn’t help but think of the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. While there may not be any silver thread or science fiction aspects, the desperate quest to save their home and being transported to another world really hit the mark, not to mention the beautiful bond that forms between dragon and knight during hatching.

The worldbuilding of The Last Rift Dragon is carefully woven into the story. The opposing cultures have a foundation in differing religious beliefs, yet it never feels like the story is focusing solely on this piece. Instead, it is used as a catalyst for character actions and blends well into the background and emotionally charged rivalry. And as Richter embarks on his quest, the way Shami Stovall is able to give the reader a world filled with magic, fierce wild dragons, and developing friendships will hook the reader. And this wouldn’t be an action-packed read without the charged aerial combat and do-or-die situations. Richter will be forced to push past his known limits and drive his fellow knights to reach new heights in order to survive.

The Last Rift Dragon will start to take readers down a well-known path, and suddenly throw them into a twist that will keep them turning the pages. This is a sure-fire read for those who enjoy stories with bonded dragons and fierce rivalry. The ultimate goal of survival when all else seems lost will be sure to hook you. I am already eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

[Bookish Coffee UK]

This is a seriously epic tale. I fully enjoyed this from the first word to the very last! It's beautifully written and created to the point I was getting rather angry when someone tried to talk to me in real life, whist reading this! 🤭

I sat on the edge of my chair in the action scenes screaming into the bed like that will change the next words somehow. I was fully emerced into this world and I will be rather eager to jump back in when the next book is ready!

Fav quote - "The vessrik landed on its back, its exoskeleton rupturing like an overstuffed sausage. Bluish-green blood splattered outward in every direction and the creature weakly writhed." I was having sausages for my dinner. Eating them with mash as I read this and I was like eww lol..

[Danielle]

It’s always a treat to dive into a Shami Stovall book, and this is no exception, a fantastic read and great start to the series!

The terrific storytelling immerses us in the fast-moving plot from the start. It has a wonderfully flowing narrative that sweeps us away into the incredible world crafted with a punch of realism. It’s a multi-layered story, and it was amazing peeling back those layers and unravelling all the different threads.

I loved the dragon lore and the dragon characters, their quirky personalities and clever way they communicate with their bonded partners. The author’s conjured a brilliant magic system that I enjoyed learning about and seeing all the intriguing gyfts play out.

It comprises compelling characters who are raw and well-crafted. We follow them on their meaningful journeys and see their growth throughout. They have such heart and obstacles to overcome but they never give up and always do the best for Bridgehaven.

When betrayal disrupts the order of the Knights we see their heartbreak, and how their bravery and forceful fight for survival kicks in.

The Last Rift Dragon is an emotional story about friendship, found family, high stakes, sacrifice, and justice with twists and turns you won’t see coming! If you enjoy an action-packed read full of adventure and surprises, with dragons and magic you’ll love, this is the read for you.

With thanks to @The_WriteReads and @GameOverStation for my place on the Tour.

[Leslie | Books Are The New Black]

Thank you, Shami Stovall, for the gifted copy and goodies!! Thank you, The Write Reads, for having me on this tour! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

There are SO many dragons! I love it. If you want a book full to the brim with dragons and dragons of all kinds, this is for you. Richter was a character that I really enjoyed. He’s joined the Knights to try and protect the dragons at all costs.

Stovall has created a great world with magic, dragons, knights, politics, and even religion. She does a great job of weaving these bigger topics throughout the story without it becoming too preachy. There is so much action throughout the book that had me flipping the pages. The second half is much quicker paced than the first half. I loved the dragons, but I loved the characters more! Richter is complex and has many layers. He’s honest about his doubts and ambitions. He has a lot of flaws, but I enjoyed watching his character grow and become much stronger and more confident by the end.

I flew through this book much quicker than anticipated, and that’s all credit to Stovall’s writing. I have heard another book by her (Time-Marked Warlock, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this one too, and I was right! Thank you so much for the personalized book and goodies!! ❤

[JoesFantasyBooks]

This was a really good YA dragon rider story with a unique perspective on dragon and rider bonds and magical systems. In a realm where magical powers stem from their dragon protectors, Richter and his companions train to become human members of the protectors of Bridgehaven, The Knights of the Silver Fog, tragedy strikes the land. Everything known is threatened and a desperate chance to explore unknown powers is seemingly the only hope to save both Bridgehaven and its dragon protectors. The danger and action that ensue is contagiously addictive and I found myself glued to the pages. It all ended too soon and I’ll enthusiastically be awaiting book 2 in The Knights of the Silver Fog series.

Side note, this was the first book of Shami Stovall’s I’ve ever read and after reading The Last Rift Dragon, I find myself asking what took me so long. I’ll be checking out Stovall’s other series asap!

[ReadItRichard]

Shami Stovall has done it again! Another great book that is fn to read and yet surprisingly deep and emotional. Richter and Lex are in training and want to join the knights of the silver fog, who protect (and yes ride) dragons!

But only 3 dragons still survive and the knights in are attempting to prove worthy of one of their increasingly rare and precious eggs. There’s some great worldbuilding and character relationships in this and the magic is cool. I can’t really fault it. Great read! Thank you to the writereads for another brilliant book on tour!

[Toni Everett]

This was such an awesome read! 😎🐉

I went into this expecting a pretty straightforward YA dragon-filled fantasy adventure, and for the first part I thought I had a good idea of what kind of book I was reading… and then Chapter 9 happened. 😳😂 This got a bit darker than I was expecting, and suddenly the stakes felt very real. I definitely wasn’t prepared!

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, especially the way the dragon lore and magic were explained throughout the story without it ever feeling like a massive info dump. There are so many little details that seem simple at first but end up having a much bigger impact later.

The magic was definitely one of my favourite parts. I loved how the different dragons have their own abilities and how the bond between Knight and dragon actually means something beyond simply having a dragon companion. 🐉✨

I also really enjoyed the little lessons and morals woven throughout the story. There’s a lot about loyalty, hope, determination and choosing to protect the people (and dragons!) you care about. 💙

And can we talk about “dastard”?! 🤣 I absolutely loved this word. The story gets pretty violent, but somehow manages to do it all without much swearing, and dastard feels like the perfect fantasy way of getting away with it. 😂

I loved seeing Richter grow into his role, and the relationships between the Knights and their dragons were another of my favourite parts.

From the first page until the last page I was absolutely invested, and I’m very much looking forward to another book because I am definitely ready to see where this goes next. 🤩🐉

[Andrew B.]

I had an incredible time reading this book. It delivers everything I enjoy in fantasy—action, dragons, magic, and a protagonist whose journey immediately pulled me in.

Richter begins his path by joining the Knights of the Silver Fog with the dream of bonding with a dragon. When betrayal devastates the order, leaving countless knights and dragons dead, his future is forever changed. A life-altering injury prevents him from wielding a sword with his dominant hand, forcing him to redefine what it means to be a hero. Instead of giving up, Richter discovers that the magic of the Silver Fog has granted him an extraordinary gift: the ability to summon the last Rift Dragon. From there, his adventure to protect the remaining dragons and save his homeland becomes impossible to put down.

The story strikes a great balance between exciting action, compelling world-building, and meaningful character growth. Richter is a protagonist worth rooting for, and watching him overcome adversity rather than letting it define him made his journey all the more satisfying. The dragon lore and magical elements were especially engaging, and every chapter left me eager to see what would happen next.

By the time I reached the final pages, I was completely invested and genuinely on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see where the story goes next, and Book 2 has immediately become one of my most anticipated reads. If you enjoy epic fantasy with dragons, magic, and unforgettable adventures, this is a book you won't want to miss.

[Chad Cloman]

With a Nod to Anne McCaffrey

When I first started reading this, I couldn't help but notice so many of the similarities between The Last Rift Dragon and the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. Fortunately, this book diverged enough to make an interesting and unique story.

This novel is written for young adults and the protagonists are young adults. It's a kid's book, and it shows. Not quite a bully academy, but similar enough in terms of the maturity level of the characters and their interactions. The author did a great job of writing it at that level, but in recent years I've found myself growing beyond it, and now, more often than not, find the immaturity level to be annoying.

The story is well done. The literary universe is interesting. The characters are your typical fantasy-novel teens thrown into major events. The writing flows well, and my level of immersion was solid. The protagonists aren't perfect. They make mistakes and poor decisions. They get wounded or crippled, and sometimes even die. They don't always beat the bad guys. That level of injected realism is what sets this apart from fantasy novels of the past (such as McCaffrey's Pern).

I originally rated this at four stars, because it's targeted for teens and young adults, and that style is beginning to fall out of favor with me. But that's not the author's fault. It's categorized as a young adult novel, and for that age group it's quite good. So I've revised my rating.

Recommended for teens, young adults, and most adults. I give it 5/5 stars.

[Shakib]

All action, all. adventure. with dragons!

The Last Rift Dragon is all action, all adventure, and should be a blast for the young adult crowd. It’s always a treat diving into a Shami Stovall story, and I absolutely loved getting those Frith Chronicles vibes again. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced adventure with loads of dragons, give this one a shot!

[Robert Ritter]

The Last Rift Dragon was a really fun book to listen too! Fast paced, great character interaction and building, action, excitement, heartbreak! It’s all in there!
Dragons are a vital for survival for the people of Bridgehaven. The silver fog powers technology and helps keep Bridgehavens borders secure from Shadow Ritters(wait???that’s my last name🤣🤣🤣) After years of crossing breeding dragons to get powerful specialized dragons, the knights are in trouble. These dragons do not produce eggs. It is time for new young knights to choose their dragon eggs from the few remaining of which 2 are malformed. What happens after the choosing of eggs is where things get crazy! I won’t spoil anything! Guys go get your copy of The Last Rift Dragon! The audio was fantastic! Luke Daniel’s does a great job! Thank you Shami Stovall for my audio book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Stacy Bradley]

Its action packed full of challenges and dragons,great magic mastery, telepathic connections and mutual protection between knights and dragons.
It loosely reminds me of house of dragons and eragon, accept the knight chooses the dragon, there are many different gyfts, it engaging and doesnt feel heavy on the world building and progression.
I enjoyed reading it.

[Chelsea | Mrs Viking Reads]

This was such an easy, engaging read. I flew through it and really enjoyed how quickly I was pulled into the world.

The world-building was excellent, especially learning about the different types of dragons and how the magic system works. I also loved the magitech elements and seeing Richter gradually learn more about his abilities. The war and political side of the story added another layer that kept things interesting and made the stakes feel much bigger.

There’s still so much about the world, magic, and dragons that I want to know, which has definitely made me excited to continue the series. And after that cliffhanger ending, I need book two ASAP!

[The One True Rob]

The Last Rift Dragon was released on July 20, 2026, to worldwide fanfare and celebration, with some countries reportedly declaring a week-long national holiday so that all their citizens, regardless of their reading abilities, would have ample time to really just savor and enjoy another Queen Shami Stovall classic.


I'll admit that there have been reports, mostly from unverified and sketchy sources, that have contended I am prone to just give Queen Shami a rubber-stamped five-star review, for a wide variety of laughably speculative reasons ranging from the slightly amusing "Rob is just too soft on people named Shami" to the ludicrously laughable "Shami has obviously kidnapped Rob's entire year's supply of tacos and has threatened to turn them into nachos if he doesn't comply with her wishes."


First, Shami would need to have the entire population of Uganda working non-stop for seven months to take an entire year's supply of tacos from me.  Why Uganda, you might ask, confused as to the reason I would single out Uganda specifically?

I cannot go into precise details, for security reasons, but as a security precaution, I pick a different country each year whose citizens are the sole people authorized to act as my taco valets.


Anyone else will find an undisclosed security measure being liberally applied to their personage with extreme prejudice.


This year, it just happens to be Ugandans.


There are, of course, additional security measures that I will not disclose, but this soundly defeats any claims that Shami is blackmailing me with the continued well-being of my tacos.


As for the preposterous claim that "Rob is just too soft on people named Shami," one need only look at my scathing article about Mohammed Shami and his inability to bowl a googly to discredit that line of attack.  If that doesn't convince you, because your sanity is clearly hanging on by the barest of threads, I would only have to point you to my verbal disemboweling of none other than Shami Chakrabarti for her choice to serve as Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales.  I said it before and I'll say it again, "Shadows do not need a lawyer, and even if they did, there is no need to also make them Generals!"


As further proof that Queen Stovall of Stovallia has no magic strings that control me and my actions, I will offer a completely valid criticism of the series name "Knights of the Silver Fog," which made me so angry I ate a strawberry without spending the three weeks necessary to harvest a varietal of the Oishii Omakase Berry grown on Io, Jupiter's moon, at the Pele Horticultural Works, heated by the moon's own tidal-driven volcanism, then macerate it on the spot in a 2.4 g centrifuge chamber that forces a splash of the diamond-and-gold-encrusted Henri IV Dudognon cognac into every cell wall in minutes, then cruise through the gravity-free dark while it's acoustically levitated and coated in chocolate conched for 72 hours, infused with Kopi Luwak coffee grounds, tempered to a perfect, footless shell, and briefly exposed to the sun's corona for a caramelization of the demerara sugar crust that solar physicists still can't fully explain, then restore standard gravity just long enough for the fussy work of placing crushed Neptunian pistachio grown at the Triton Geyser Conservatory, a single flake of salt hand-harvested from the evaporite flats of a three-billion-year-dry Martian sea and run through the ship's ClearSalt Bioreclamation Array™, a colony of perchlorate-reducing bacteria force-cycled through several thousand generations in the time it takes to steep a tea bag, into edible chloride salt, a whisper of Venusian saffron-infused gold ganache grown at the Venus High-Altitude Aerostat Gardens, a scraped Titatian Tahitian vanilla bean grown at the Tahitian Colonial Artificial Biosphere Botanical Gardens, irrigated with water drawn from Titan's subsurface ocean, and a sheet of 24-karat gold painstakingly hand-flaked from 16 Psyche, then flash it for two seconds in the 2.7-Kelvin vacuum of deep space itself, and finally run it through the ship's Absolute Zero-Sweetness Resonance Field™, shattering the third law of thermodynamics with reckless abandon, all in the name of reaching Flavor Town. Anyway, back to my completely valid and not at all overly picky criticism of our beloved monarch: the way Shami describes the fog in Bridgehaven makes it absolutely crystal clear that the fog is definitely more of a shiny metallic light to medium gray and not silver, as the series name so erroneously declares.


Not only that, but her main character cannot even figure out how to use his powers to become the single most powerful warrior the world has ever known.

It's probably unrealistic of me to expect Richter to share my genius-like insightful, umm... insight—yeah, that's the ticket—into new and creative ways to slaughter his enemies, while also maintaining the sheer, unabashed, radiant humility I just exude at all times, but I feel that if I can do it, he should do better.


I hope that doesn't spoil the book for anyone, but it needed to be said and because I am the greatest living ally of truth, I said it.


Let's move on to all the reasons you should absolutely buy this book.


Fast-paced action that will leave you trying to catch your breath as new and exciting things continuously happen at a pace so rapid you will exclaim "Whoa!" no less than fifteen times for every one thousand words you read!


Surprising twists and turns that will elicit no fewer than thirty-six exclamations of "Damn, I didn't see that coming," at various volumes, ranging from a whisper to a shout that rattles your windows.


Characters that are so uniquely fascinating that you will question all of your life's choices that led you away from the possibility of ever being them.


Villains so dastardly that you will actively begin plotting their downfall and messaging the author with ideas on how to dispatch them, which leads to the awkward situation where they tell you "Getting a little dark there, lol," simply because you mentioned that maybe they could just teleport someone's head away from their body. Sure, then it ended up slightly straying to just teleporting a thin cross-section of their neck away from their body, but that was all about efficient use of power, because power consumed is based on mass and distance and a thin slice of a neck has less mass, ergo less power draw. I suspect their only real objection is that they were upset they didn't think of it first, because they haven't yet come to understand the deeply insightful depths of my insightfully insightful insights.


Will provide you with an unheard-of quantitative value of nine hundred forty-seven dollars of entertainment value for each dollar spent, on the internationally lauded One True Entertainment Ratio Scale™.


In summary: If you buy one book in the next decade, it should be this one. Also, you should buy a bunch of additional books because you don't want to be "that guy" who only buys one book a decade.

[Melou]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love dragons as much as me you'll want to read this!

Thank you to the author Shami Stovall and The Write Reads for having me join the book tour and giving me a copy to read.

This new YA series invites us to the city state of Bridgehaven. Where dragons are treasured and protected, and in turn they get access to magic. Because a dragon's breath creates a silver fog that contains magic. So the citizens of Bridgehaven all inhale this and end up with gyfts, magical signatures of their own. They even learned to use this magic to develop magi-tech that runs different machinery and such. Cool new magic system!

However, countless wars have reduced the dragon population from thousands to 3, plus 7 eggs. That's it. It means the fog is dimming, magic is scarce and the enemy state of Whettin wants to kill all dragons, for religious reasons.

Richter is a Knight-in-training for the Knight of the Silver Fog and we begin with the most important day of his life: the end of their training, being ranked, and getting to pick which egg they will bond with. A big deal! There are 7 trainees, 7 eggs (but two are deformed), so the stakes are high.

The story quickly turns up the pace and never slows down. This is a high pace, action packed, amazing fight scenes, and lore galore story. It is brutal and doesn't hold back. You'll be at the edge of your seat, holding your breath.

This world is lush with so much dragon lore that is unique and intriguing! There are different types of dragons (earth, fire, air, water etc.) divided into primes and hybrids. Primes are fertile, but create infertile hybrids if they mate with another type of prime. E.g. an air and a water dragon create a Storm dragon. Whatever element/subspecies they are is embodied on them visually. There's a fungus one with spores all over. Earth dragons have thick rock-like hides. And so on. There is a lot more and it is nicely spread out in the book so it doesn't overwhelm. The world itself is easy to picture and follow along with.

Richter's best friend Lex is such a great side character. One a stable boy, now turned family and also a Knight-in-training. He is funny, loyal, and a good-hearted person.

A sidenote is the lack of female representation. There are some girls who are knights-in-training but in general the focus is on the boys and the dragons are all males too. The girls have gyfts that are viewed as "weaker" and could even be described as having a very classic "feminine" signature. It does seem that book 2 will rectify this and brings a better balance. I hope so.

World 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍/5
Plot 📝📝📝📝📝/5
Characters 👥👥👥👥/5
Dragons 🐉🐉🐉🐉/5

My review is my own honest opinion.

[Gina Rae Mitchell]

Shami Stovall takes something as familiar as fantasy and dragons and makes it feel completely her own in The Last Rift Dragon.

One of my favorite things about this book is how naturally Stovall builds the world of Bridgehaven. We don't spend chapters learning its history, magic system, or every detail we might eventually need. Instead, she gives us information when it matters. We jump straight into the story and learn as we go, yet I never felt lost or needed to backtrack to understand what was happening. The world-building simply works.

Richter Whitlock is a hero with heart. He genuinely cares about the dragons and their eggs, his home, and the people around him. I especially enjoyed his relationships with Zilvio Underveil and his best friend, Lex Thorn. Those relationships bring warmth and loyalty to a story filled with danger, deception, and increasingly high stakes.

And then there are the dragons! They aren't simply impressive fantasy creatures added for excitement. The dragons and their eggs are integral to Bridgehaven, its magic, and its survival. With their numbers dwindling toward extinction, every dragon and every egg matters.

Stovall balances the danger with sarcastic humor and witty dialogue that should appeal especially well to young adult fantasy readers. Add inventive magic, mystery, treachery, friendship, and some epic battles, and I had a very difficult time putting this book down.

The Last Rift Dragon is a fantastic beginning to The Knights of the Silver Fog series. It's immersive without being overwhelming, exciting without sacrificing its heart, and populated by characters I genuinely wanted to root for.

I flew through this one and am already looking forward to returning to Bridgehaven in Dragon Fog.

5 stars | CAWPILE 9.1/10

Read more of my book reviews at
Gina Rae Mitchell • Championing Indie Authors & Stories Worth Discovering

[Torrie Lennon]

Dragons!!! Magic!!! Knights!!! OH MY!!!!!!

The Last Rift Dragon had me at dragons, and then it just kept giving me more of everything I love in fantasy.

I had such an incredible time reading this book. It gave me that feeling I’m always chasing when I pick up a fantasy novel, where I actually want to disappear into the world and stay there for a while.

We follow Richter Whitlock, who wants to become a Knight of the Silver Fog and help protect Bridgehaven and its remaining dragons. He joins the Knights hoping to care for a dragon egg, with the hope that one day he’ll be able to bond with a dragon and fight alongside it. But there’s so much more happening in Bridgehaven than simply training to become a Knight. There are traitors within the city, enemies closing in, and the future of the dragons is at stake.

I really loved how much there was to get invested in.

The dragons were obviously a huge draw for me, but I also really enjoyed the magic and the world Shami Stovall has created. There’s a lot happening between the Knights, dragons, magic and everything surrounding Bridgehaven, but I never felt overwhelmed.

I really enjoyed following ritcher as well, his journey and watching him figure things out as the story progressed. He still has plenty of room to grow, and I loved that because it made me even more invested in seeing where his story goes next.

I loved the balance between the character development, magic, dragons and action, and by the time I reached the end, I was completely invested in this world.

Basically, this book ticked so many of my fantasy boxes.
Dragons, Magic, Knights, and a world i felt fully imersed in

the second book in The Knights of the Silver Fog series, has immediately gone onto my most anticipated reads list because I NEED to know where this story goes next.

[Country Mama]

The Last Dragon Rift by Shami Stovall is another awesome read by the author. This book is a fantasy read about dragons and the Bridgehaven world where someone is trying to destroy the last dragons and their eggs. Our MC is Richter Whitlock who is determined to protect the dragons, he is determined to protect the last female egg. Richter lives in the city of Bridgehaven, where everyone has magical gyfts and he is a noble. The story is fast paced and really easy to get into, I especially liked Richter's friend Lex. Lex has a special gyft with wind, he has a dream to become the first common born person to become a knight. I love this part of the story, it tells the reader that anyone can do anything. You can guard a dragon's egg and be a part of something bigger in your life! Even Richter has a special gyft in this world and you can't help but to root for him and want him to save the dragons. I love how the characters are written in a realistic way where they make mistakes like any normal person. That is what I find makes this story and her other books so great, that the characters are human(even when they are sometimes not;) I can not wait to see where book 2 heads to in the story, this was a very entertaining read!

[Iseult Murphy]

The heart of the story is Richter’s friendship with his best friend, fellow knight, Lex. They both love dragons, geek out about their qualities, and are loyal friends.

The dragons, of course, are lovable characters. Similar in personality to the human they have bonded with, the dragons are a nice mix of the humans and other animal traits.

The smooth writing easily pulls the reader into the world and carries them along for the journey. The narrative stays firmly within Richter’s head, and within the moment, so there are no dull spots.
The world building, the dragons, the magic, and the sense of discovery, curiosity, and hope are the strengths of this book. It is a world that the reader wants to get lost in, learning about the dragons, their abilities, and their environment. Richter and Lex’s friendship is sweet, and their dragons, especially Lex’s dragon, Diamond, are lovable.

Those who loved the spin off tv show to ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, ‘Race to the Edge’, will love this book. The close friendship between Richter and Lex is reminiscent of the bond between Hiccup and Fishlegs. The range of dragon varieties, all with their different appearances and abilities, and Richter’s attempt to catalogue them, recalls Hiccup’s similar attempts in the series. The combination of friendship, animals, adventure, and moments of peril that made ‘Race to the Edge’ so good are all present in ‘The Last Rift Dragon’, which will be sure to endear the book to fans of the show.
A gripping adventure that begs to be read in one sitting, ‘The Last Rift Dragon’ is a strong start to the series. It will be interesting to see how the story, world, and characters develop throughout the following books.

Thank you to The Write Reads and the publisher for a free copy of the book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.