Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
a floating island separated from the mainland of Darkenfel, and home to the last of the dragonriders. They have settled in the city of Goldenspine and allowed the rest of the world to forget them. At 16 years old, Daxon knew he was too old to be chosen to be a dragonrider. On his way home one night he was surprised when a wild dragon's egg was left in his care by the largest dragon he had ever seen. Agreeing to raise and protect the as yet unhatched egg, his hopes to become a dragonrider once more blossom, but again, fate intervenes. When the young dragon hatches, Daxon's world is turned upside down and thrown into chaos. After learning of a mysterious orb and the possibility that it might hold all the dragonrider's dragons in thrall, he is determined to not let the same fate befall his young charge. He must find a way to protect the hatchling from the fate of the other dragons and a way off of Daegonlot before it's too late.

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

64 people are currently reading
540 people want to read

About the author

Shanlynn Walker

3 books56 followers
I am the author of the Dragons of Daegonlot series. Goodreads caught my eye when I randomly googled my name and saw my book pop up on here, and after looking over the website, I loved it and thought I would join!

Aside from being a new author, I love to read. I've always been an avid Stephen King fan, among many others, including Terry Brooks and David Farland. I mostly like horror, fiction, and fantasy books, and what I love most about this website is that you can rate them and recommend them. Anyway, I hope to really enjoy my time here, as I hope everyone else does as well. So, let's keep reading!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
85 (50%)
4 stars
44 (26%)
3 stars
27 (15%)
2 stars
10 (5%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Bill Tillman.
1,672 reviews81 followers
January 20, 2018
Wow this is a series that started in 2010 to 50,000 years into the future, but that future contains elves as dragon riders. Then a sixteen year old considered too old to be a bonded rider is given an egg by its dying mother. Wonderful start!
Profile Image for K.S. Marsden.
Author 21 books741 followers
July 26, 2016
Growing up in Goldenspine, Daxon wants nothing more than to be picked as a dragonrider. After years of rejection, he finally has a chance when a wild dragon egg is entrusted to him. Draxon must now learn the truth about Goldenspine, and what he must do to protect the dragons.

I downloaded this book for free from Amazon, and it was surprisingly good.
I really liked the original approach Walker makes to the whole dragon-riding tale, which is a sub-genre that sometimes feels like it's been all done before. In this short story she not only establishes a whole new mythology, but brings up serious questions about it.

Daxon is a nice enough character, but it's only when he's alongside the wild baby hatchling, Drakthira, that he really shines. The two have a great friendship, and it was immensely enjoyable to read about them. It is made clear from the start that the two of them do not have an official dragonrider pairing, and they are only spending time together for convenience.
The truth is, all other dragonrider pairs seem to dull in comparison to Drakthira and Daxon.

Drakthira is stubborn and independent and definitely not one of the tame-bred dragons from Goldenspine. I like that this story is as much her adventure as Daxon, she is not a glorified steed or quiet side character.

The only downside was how short it was, and how abruptly it finished.
I know, with only 139 pages, I should have been expecting it. But I was so swept up in the story, I didn't realise how swiftly the end came.
It just ended. And it felt a little jarring, as it was less of a natural conclusion to the book, and more like the rounding up of the chapter.
Looking back, I suppose they achieved a major aim stated in the story, but it didn't feel like there was a climax to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the author's style and can't wait for the next part!
Profile Image for E.P..
Author 24 books116 followers
February 1, 2016
This is a charming novella with an intriguing premise: there is a dragon-riding community, but it has split (literally and physically) away from the rest of the world and lives on an isolated island in the sky. The humans there raise tame dragons, which they pair up with human children early on, instead of having the dragons raised by their own kind. Meanwhile, there are also wild dragons, who are (we discover) larger, brighter, and...wilder than their domesticated cousins. Nobody questions this until a dying wild dragon brings her egg to a human family to be raised. Our teenage hero brings up the baby dragon, and ends up (through adventures that I won't go into for fear of spoilers) venturing with her off into the Rest of the World...

The story combines both very standard (dragon-riders) and unusual (is dragon-riding unethical?) elements in a refreshing fashion. The central dragon-boy pairing is sympathetic and the action movies swiftly, building suspense about the unraveling mystery of the history of dragon-riding. I really enjoyed the concept and am curious to see how the story unfolds; as is often the case with these kinds of introductory novellas, I wanted it to be more detailed and fleshed out (I tend to prefer the epic over the brief), but it suggests a lot of promise for a fun fantasy series that might also raise interesting issues about the ethics of domesticating (aka exploiting) sentient beings.
Profile Image for Segilola Salami.
Author 7 books115 followers
March 5, 2016
The book starts off with a very old, wild, dying dragon giving her last egg its best chance of survival. The egg hatches and the baby dragon stays in the town amongst tame dragons, humans, dwarves and elves. As the first part of the series, we see a small unravelling of events past and a glimpse of what is to come.

When I started reading, I got distracted by the formatting. I don't know how else to explain it. That didn't stop me from continuing. There was negligible typos in the book, so that made for easy reading and the text flowed well.

For the most part, it was not the most exciting read for me (bearing in mind that I have read a LOT of dragon books that follow a similar plot). It was also definitely NOT boring to read. From the way the book ended, I envisage that there would be more/better adventures in the next book. In the early parts of the book, it read the way I would imagine the book "how to train your dragon" was written. Basically, at the beginning it read like it was geared for children in the way things were described.

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who was just starting out in the genre. For someone who has read a lot of dragon books, I am not so sure I would recommend this.

Ps: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Christie Powell.
Author 29 books71 followers
December 10, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, and the premise is really interesting: why would a dragon want to associate with humans, let alone carry them around and do what they say?

The subchapters took a little time to get used to, but I loved the quotes from our real world that started each one. I thought they added a great touch and tied in really well to the story.

Dax’s struggle to achieve his dream was relatable, but it was when he discovered the tie in to our own world that I was really drawn into this story. I love how she gave a hint of the two different worlds and enjoyed looking at our own from a different perspective. The descriptions were well done, and the setting was unique and interesting. The characters felt like real people, and I love how you get the sense that the world exists beyond just the one story being told, which is a big requirement for me in fantasy.

I enjoyed all of the build-up and the introduction to a new world at the end, especially the new characters, but I feel like the story didn’t stand on its own. I’d like to see more of a climax and resolution for this book in addition to the unanswered questions and conflicts that will carry over into other books.
Profile Image for Gin Hunt.
203 reviews11 followers
June 27, 2016
SUCH A GREAT BOOK!

I'm haven't been a young reader for a long time but I love Dragon books so even though it was also kinda short...I did and I couldn't be happier.from the beginning the author sets you in the story. You don't just connect with them, you live with them.I was so deeply into the book that I couldn't believe it when I got to the end-thought my kindle was messing up because the rest of the pages were not showing up and I'm not ready too stop reading this story! Yes the author to some extent did leave me hanging but he did it so well. There is a book two which I already have so I am hoping this is one of those brilliant authors who doesn't need to force people to buy his books by stopping on a cliff. She really is an absolutely wonderfully talented and creative author. I'm hoping she use that talent and kinda finish up Waco book enough that the reader can feel good at the last page not frustrated. Should you buy this book? Yes! Do you have to be a teen or young adult to thoroughly enjoy it? No! This is a great book and I highly recommend it-especially if you like dragons and other such things. :)


HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! :D.
Profile Image for Ana Meyer.
Author 3 books98 followers
November 8, 2015
Ok I know nothing about dragons...well unless you count what I picked up from the Harry Potter series. So I was prepared to be lost in this book but Shanlynn makes it easy to follow. The writing is smooth and makes for a quick read. The story tells of a young man who wishes to be a dragon rider but no dragon will chose him. Until a wild dragon choses him to care for her egg. Drax (The boy) raises the dragon but does not bond the way the other dragons do, as this is a wild dragon not a tamed one. The story takes several twists as we are uncovering the mystery behind the dragons being tamed. The ending leaves us with a "what's going to happen next" moment and I am eagerly awaiting that result.
Profile Image for Merissa (Archaeolibrarian).
4,214 reviews119 followers
December 16, 2016
Dragon Orb is a short novella that sets the scene for the Dragons of Daegonlot series. It begins with Dax, a 16-year-old from unknown beginnings. He was taken in by two dragonriders and raised as their own. All his life, he has talked of becoming a dragonrider, but has yet to be chosen. One day, a wild dragon flies down before him, and charges him to take care of her egg. Dax does so, and this starts him on a whole new journey.

For only a short book, there is plenty of backstory and history to be gained, plus a host of captivating characters. I loved how Dax and 'Thira interacted with each other, and would love to know more. This is a teaser, a taster, that will definitely leave you wanting more.

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Profile Image for Joe Jackson.
Author 22 books181 followers
October 2, 2016
This is a fun and good-paced young reader about a boy who wants more than anything to become a dragonrider. After being "rejected" by dragons for most of his young and adolescent life, he comes in contact with a wild dragon, who normally never choose or allow a rider, who tasks him with guarding her sole surviving egg. What follows is a tale of friendship and trust, as Daxon and Drakthira begin to explore a bond that goes beyond that of dragon and rider.

It's a bit short, but a good intro to the series, setting up some mystery and some conflict, while never losing its focus on the relationship that is its lifeblood.
1 review
October 5, 2015
I don't normally read fantasy books, but I decided to give this one a shot, and I'm glad I did! It's a quick read, but the author packed in an interesting plot and well-developed characters. I got caught up in the story and enjoyed making discoveries alongside Daxson. I'm really looking forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Becky Herington.
1 review
Read
May 23, 2016
This was an awesome book! I loved the characters in the story, they really came alive. Daxon and Trakon are my favorite characters. Daxon is very funny and Trakon is the serious one. I am currently reading the second book and love this one just as much. I cannot wait to see how it ends. I look forward book three.

Thanks
Gage Herington
Profile Image for Aly.
1,902 reviews69 followers
September 25, 2015
I'm not sure I would've picked this book up on my own but I was impressed with the book. I enjoyed the characters and the plot kept me wanting to read more. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
96 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2015
I love female dragons

It was really good book but really wish there was more and I really wish there was love of a type between female dragon and male human and am looking foward to book 2
Profile Image for Amanda Kern.
726 reviews8 followers
February 9, 2016
Good book

I like this book. It is a bit short. I read it in one setting. I am excited to see what will happen next. For in the next book we are going into the myst as the title suggests.
32 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2016
Good book.

I liked the setting for the story . Since I am from Kentucky it was interesting to read a book that had dragons and their human riders talking about Kentucky and not knowing what Kentucky was.
Profile Image for Starr Shorter Tarelli.
1 review
September 17, 2015
I loved this book. great concept with many twists to keep me on edge. I'm addicted. I can't wait to see what's in store for book 2 I just hope it's longer.
Profile Image for Janie.
87 reviews3 followers
July 23, 2016
Dragon views

I found d the book very enjoyable but it needs some filling in. Flesh it out a little and lengthen it a bit more.
Profile Image for rusty r.ridenour.
90 reviews
July 28, 2016
Good reading

This was good book to read and I enjoyed reading it .But there was a mistake on page 129 other then that smooth sailing I finish it off in2 days
Profile Image for Johan.
188 reviews35 followers
November 24, 2017
Well, what a fun little read this was. Enjoyed this little novella quite a lot as well as what could be achieved in such a short frame of words

Pleased to have found it

Peace out
51 reviews
January 15, 2018
I want to continue

Let's continue the journey. I found the book to be fascinating. I would like to continue the journey with Dax and Thira. Thank you for the adventures!!!
3 reviews
May 8, 2020
this book kept me interested

I've read a lot of dragon tales. it's hard to continue to find a book about dragons that's fresh and unique. looks like I found one.
1 review
August 18, 2020
Great book

Perfect for a quick read. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next one! Looking forward to the adventure that awaits.
1,457 reviews26 followers
July 30, 2017
Daxon longs to be chosen by a dragon, to be a dragon rider, as so many are in his home of Daegonlot. But at sixteen, he's old enough that he's starting to accept it won't happen. Then a wild dragon appears, gives him her egg, and provides him with a unique opportunity. Although the hatchling refuses to bond with him, they can still be friends . . .

This is well written and interesting, weaving a few layers of mysteries into an otherwise straightforward story. The summary encompasses most of the story, actually, which is the main thing that bothers me. It's so short! And the end doesn't feel like any sort of conclusion, more like the break before a next chapter.

That said, I liked the world. The dragon riders have their own town in the mountains, but it's on a floating island. However, since the story begins from the point of view of a very old wild dragon, she provides some history on the various races of elves, dwarves, and men. The wild dragons are a lot more interesting than the tame ones---deliberately so. And the story of the first dragon rider has some interesting twists.

I didn't think the quotes heading up each chapter were particularly relevant (and the fact that most of them were from Earth people was a bit incongruous . . . I would have preferred some kind of dragon rider lore), but they didn't really detract because they were so short.

I would like to continue the series, but I may wait until the third book drops, since the second one also looks to be relatively short, and I doubt Daxon will actually find answers to some of the biggest questions in so little time. I rate this book Recommended.

See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
Profile Image for Gayreth Walden.
439 reviews10 followers
August 10, 2020
An interesting and entertaining tale.

Dragonlot, home of the last Dragon Riders. Home to tame dragons and wild dragons. A floating island the world has forgotten. Daxon, dreams of someday becoming a Dragon Rider, yet he knows that he is now too old to be chosen. Leave it t fate to change things! Out of nowhere a wild dragon leaves her last egg with Daxon to care for..... This book is character driven and even though there is not a lot of action, I found it interesting and entertaining. I do want to read the next book.
Profile Image for Annezo.
299 reviews6 followers
June 29, 2021
A delightful trio (so far) of books with original ideas and interesting characters. This is a short read, a novella, not a novel, but works as a great introduction to the other books.

Daegonlot is a floating island, separated from the mainland of Darkenfel. On it live the last of the dragon riders who have isolated themselves to preserve the last of the dragons. As the story unfolds through the first three books, there's humor, drama, dangers, and quite a complex story to follow. A good read.
5 reviews
September 6, 2023
Fresh Read for Young Adults

Dragon Orb was a very pleasant and easy read. It quickly catches the reader's attention and keeps it. The plot is easy to follow and keeps you looking forward to the next adventure. For the more advanced reader a little bit more time could have been spent on character development and character interactions at the dragon school! But overall a delightful read.
Profile Image for James H.
42 reviews4 followers
August 19, 2024
To Short!

It's a short, quick expose into this world. I am intrigued! I will definitely be finishing this series. This easily could be a 600 page book and I'd go to read it really quick. It was annoyed when I realized the book was over. I wanted more! Guess I'll just have to wait for the next book!
2 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2025
Amazing

I stumbled upon this book. Looking for books for my son. I'm blown away by the world building and amount of history built in this book. Absolutely amazing I'm excited to read there other books as soon as I can get them. absolutely amazing. The mystery the uniqueness of this world.
199 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2019
Awesome book by an awesome author. Looming forward to discovering more of Shanlynns writings in the near future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.