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Zara and Lessie's adventure continues in Book 4 of the Dragon Riders of Elantia series, perfect for fans of Eragon, Pern, and Temeraire!

When Zara and Lessie finally make it back to Elantia, the last thing they expect is to find that nearly all the dragons have gone missing.
 
Worse, the Zallabarians are cutting a swathe through the country, mowing down the Elantian soldiers as they head straight for the capital. The only chance Zara and Tavarian have at stopping them from destroying Elantia lie in the recovery of the missing dragons.
 
But finding a horde of dragons that have vanished into thin air is no mean feat, especially when it involves heading straight back into enemy territory. And when Zara stumbles onto a secret regarding the next piece of the dragon heart, she must make a terrible choice between saving all of dragonkind, or saving the world...

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2018

428 people are currently reading
686 people want to read

About the author

Jessica Drake

13 books84 followers
JESSICA DRAKE is the epic fantasy pen name for New York Times bestseller Jasmine Walt. She's always wanted to write epic and sword and sorcery fantasy, and is really hoping that readers will love the new dragon rider series she's put out. When she’s not binge-watching Lord of the Rings or planning her dream vacation, she can be found chained to her computer, feverishly working on her next project. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to drop her a line at jessica@authorjessicadrake.com.

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5 stars
539 (52%)
4 stars
331 (32%)
3 stars
126 (12%)
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20 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
Profile Image for Penny.
3,142 reviews85 followers
October 16, 2018
I’m always afraid that when we reach this point in a series (after about book 3 or 4), an author will start losing focus or run out of story but write anyway. However, that isn’t the case with this one. Zara is still fighting the good fight even after getting obstacle after obstacle thrown in her path. Her relationship with Lessie is by far one of my favorites in the book, along with how I am engrossed from the beginning to the end. I’m anxiously waiting the next one to see what hijinks everyone will get up to next. If you like adventure fantasy, you’ll love this series. Do start from the beginning, however. It’s worth it! Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this, and I voluntarily left a review.
247 reviews3 followers
October 18, 2018
Good addition to the series…waxes and wanes with adventures

Overall, War of the Dragon (Dragon Riders of Elantia, Book 4) by Jessica Drake was a decent book. I had a hard time getting into this book- it wasn’t until around 12% that it picked up enough for me to want to keep reading (which has not been normal for this series- I’ve not wanted to put the previous books down). This book waxed and waned with adventures- it was either fast-paced action or lots of talk about war & strategies, etc./thoughts about Tavarian. The ending and a specific new character were great- these help to redeem any part I felt was too slow. I did enjoy the adventures and Lessie’s snark. I would recommend reading this series- from the beginning.

For those who need a little more info, minimal spoilers below…
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This book is more so about the adventures of Zara, Lessie, and Tavarian. They are trying to find the missing dragons and riders, who have been taken by the Zallabarians. A God enters the story and hangs around- I won’t say anymore than it makes the book entertaining. New and old characters make appearances/problems. As stated above, lots of war talk/strategies/etc. Also a good amount of romance/feelings on Tavarian.

Parental warning/Trigger warnings: a swear word or words such as “dragon’s balls”, severed heads, fawning over a guy (quite a few times), drinking in a bar, killing of animals for purpose of feeding dragon, sex- not detailed “made love” “pushed each other toward an endless wave of bliss”, war (talk, dead humans and dragons, strategies, rape of a woman- not detailed, a mention of it to Zara).

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#Dragons #AmReading #Fantasy #JessicaDrake #WarOfTheDragon #DragonRidersofElantia #books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,070 reviews5 followers
December 12, 2020
*****Spoilers*****

I'm not sure why exactly but I find myself being not quite satisfied with this series. This book in particular I found myself impatient for the story to get on with it already. Salcombe and his quest and turning up whenever is getting exhausting for me so I'm hopeful the dragon heart thing is resolved sooner rather than later. Zara meets a god in this book, Caol who helps her along a couple of times.

Zara spends more time with Tavarian. I found it laughable though that she's trying to keep Tavarian at arm's length when she was more than ready to start a fling with Jallis when she first met him. By the end of the book though, Zara has changed her mind. I don't know if it's because Tavarian expressed that he wants her to the end of time or what but she decides that the distraction Tavarian presents is worth it and she wants him in the same way.

Lessie comes through yet again, saving Zara at the last minute and taking off in flight afterward. The dragon hasn't done much so far because be a taxi and in this book got to breath some flames but I hope she's more involved in future books. But good thing Lessie came for her because Zara was caught out with the piece of dragon heart she got from the mage. It's unfortunate that she killed him but she was fighting for her life as he tried to do the same to her. Protecting the heart is a worthy cause, too bad they couldn't work together but with Salcombe there and closing in, Zara had to act quickly.

Zara and Tavarian manage to rescue the dragon riders that had been captured and have a location and plan to fortify their numbers away from the invading army.
Profile Image for Nicole.
205 reviews7 followers
October 18, 2018
Great book

Note: I received an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really like this series. The focus is a strong female as she gets thrown into chaos as her world is turned upside down. Here we are at book 4. So, if it wasn't obvious you should read books 1-3 before this one. The value of relationships and the importance of certain moments won't have as great as an impact and the overall story won't flow the right way otherwise.

That being said, what did I think of book 4?
Jessica Drake keeps it up with this book, we still get the same speed of the story as the other books and you find yourself in a war that isn't as simple as we first thought. Our main lady keeps getting thrown curve balls at every turn, when she finally thinks she knows what to do and what needs to be done, something happens to change it (both big and small). THAT is the most I will say as I'm a hater of 'spoilers'.
Overall, the pace of the book itself was good, I didn't find myself bored at any particular point and just wanted to keep reading to find out where we'd end up. I certainly didn't foresee how it would end but I am eagerly awaiting now book 5. I love all the moments and how the book's plot turned out and without ruining it it's an adventure to say the least.

If you read the first few books, without a question you have to read this one too. If you're into reading fantasy adventure with a kick-ass female in the lead? It's a great series to get into. Definitely worth reading either way, and it's a series I definitely like too!
Profile Image for Mandy (MP Book Reviews).
4,937 reviews45 followers
October 18, 2018
Zallabar are cutting through Elantia and the dragons appear to have all gone missing when Zara and Lessie make it back. With Elantia defenceless it seems that the war is completely over and all is lost unless Zara and Tavarian can find and recover the missing dragons. Then she is put into a position where she has to either save Elantia and find the dragons or find another piece of the dragon heart and save the world can she do both or which one will she choose?

This was a great next instalment in the series. There was a lot of action and drama with many twists and turns as they worked through the various challenges they had from both finding the dragons and finding the dragon heart piece. She will meet old friends and foes as well some new ones as part of all these challenges which helps with the continuity as well as moving on the story with the adventures they encounter. Lessie is getting bigger and stronger which means her knowledge and wisdom don't feel quite as strange (it's very easy to forget how long she was in an egg experiencing her environment) plus she can still make me laugh. Well written and very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jumms.
178 reviews5 followers
October 19, 2018
To those wanting more of Lessie you definitely get that in this book. Tavarian, Zara and Lessie look to save their missing comrades and a way to save their country. Zara finally gets the respect she deserves.

The book starts not too long after we've left off from book 3. It takes a bit of a slow start as most of it is about recon but key information in the beginning does help out a bit later. We also get a bit of Salcombe who is like a roach that refuses to die. I liked that we get to view things a bit from enemy lines and see that the Zallbarians could be the Elantians if roles were reversed.

There is a new addition that is interesting and I'm not quite sure where that development will take us. The one thing that dis frustrate me was Zara and Tavarian' s relationship. Two steps forward thwn two steps back. They are both too grown to keep playing the guessing game for so long. I am also still very curious about the jolt she experiences when they kiss. It was also nice to make headway w Jarvis.

All in all, not bad and a book that has to be picked up for the series.
482 reviews7 followers
October 21, 2018
Another great instalment in this series. We find out what has happened to the missing dragons and their riders and some old friends and foes make a reappearance. This book is focused more on the war that has hit Elantia and the part that Zara, Lessie and Tavarian have to play in helping their country get through it. This book doesn't shy away from the grim realities of war and Zara is bought face to face with a lot of those. I enjoyed how the relationship between Zara and Tavarian heats up, but they're not jumping into anything quickly. Lessie is still my favourite character, and she's developing and maturing so fast. I love her unquestioning love and loyalty for Zara. One of my favourite things about Dragon books is the bond between the Dragon and their rider. The bond between Zara and Lessie is one of my favourites. Towards the end of this book an advantage was made on Zara, Lessie & Tavarian's side so I'm looking forward to seeing the effect this will have in the future story and any possible consequences for either side of the battle. Another five star exciting read for me.
Profile Image for C. Erani Kole.
1,709 reviews51 followers
October 19, 2018
*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from the author*

It's about a 3.5 - 4 star rating for me.

I liked the concentration on how gritty and sad the war is with losses from both ends. There were a lot of different things going on, sometimes it lagged, other times I was really loving it. I totally call it my bad when I was reading the book thinking it was the last installment, but I really liked the new additions to this series because it moved things along. The writing style is pretty good, pretty lengthy in the sense that it's a lot of A-B-C-ing with Zara's POV. But that's just me. I've been in a terrible reading slump the past few months so it's a wonder that I even managed to really enjoy myself in some chapters. And I like the series in general and the world the author has created, something that I hope gets expanded in other ways. It isn't a shock to say that Lessie is my favorite character in all of this. lol.
Profile Image for Lene Blackthorn .
1,835 reviews7 followers
November 6, 2018
There is nothing that Zara won't attempt to achieve if she has a valid reason.
Searching for a whole army of dragons that vanished out of thin air in the midst of war? No problem. Bargaining with one of the ancient gods? No problem. Trying to stop Salcombe from resurrecting the dragon god? No problem, she's on it.
Clarify her relationship with Tavarian? Well, that might be a problem.
Lessie and Zara would not achieve their progress without the help of the lord of the house they are pledged to. Zara and Tavarian are a formidable force when on a quest, fearing nothing, not stopping short of stepping directly into the heart of enemy territory under various disguises. But trying to settle on a common ground when it comes to their mutual feelings? Hell, that's like approaching apocalypse, hot and cold behavior all around. Maybe one day, when all the fighting will be over and fragile peace restored, Zara will finally make up her mind for good and let herself feel..
Profile Image for Philipp Vollmer.
8 reviews
October 18, 2018
This time the war comes to Elantia and not the other way around. And to know that, you should have read the first three books to get all hints and know all about the principal characters. The universe of the dragon riders is an intense one.

The war brings surprises, new foes and new allies (no spoilers). But as always nothing is sharp and decisive, the foe aren't dumb, irrational poor evil creatures, the allies aren't perfect heroes, it's not a world of black and white. But one of suspense and wit.

No plot holes, no logical fallacies, you are taken on a ride alongside Zara and her dragon and it is a thrilling one. War, slaughter, loss, magic, politics and the two big arcs of the story are driven forward, but is there a hidden third one, a new set of players with their own interests? Fantasy storytelling at it's best. Recommended read.
Profile Image for Zoiy Galloay.
Author 7 books100 followers
July 23, 2024
If you liked the previous books, you'll like this one too. It has all of the same themes, good pacing, a fun story; however, I would give this book 4.5 instead of five because this story is gory and violent. There were a lot of mentions of soldiers being maimed and injured, and battle scenes. There were plenty of scenes that I didn't enjoy in the War of the Dragons.

Triggers: gore, killing, violence, rape

Romance:
It's definitely insta-romance, which I don't like because there aren't enough interactions between the two. When Lord T. kisses her in the third book, I didn't feel realistic since they are separated in most books.

At this point, I can't see why Lord T. likes Zara. While Zara is a great main character, her and Lord T. are too different from one another. He seems too good for her at this point.
Profile Image for D. Messing.
381 reviews5 followers
October 18, 2018
This is by far my favorite out of the entire series. I love how the story has developed and how events have shaped the characters into the brave, bold people they are! ( Even Lessie, lol, she’s sooooo much a person too! ) I am trying so hard not to give anything away, it is sooooooo hard! War of the Dragon is a richly detailed, enthralling story that picks you up from the first sentence and whisks you off for a wild ride, and doesn’t let you go until the breathless conclusion. It has just about everything anybody could ask for, action, intrigue, a smidge of romance, and goddess above, long lost gods that randomly pop in and out! I devoured this entire story in a couple of hours and LOVED it! Thank you for the opportunity to review this jewel, utterly fantastic story!
Profile Image for Erin Remen.
1,047 reviews24 followers
October 18, 2018
Eeeek! Jessica, this installment certainly packs a punch! Wow, I am holding my breath in protest, impatiently awaiting the next one! The excitement, the way the story is unfolding and simply put, that man are all that need to be said about this one! I will mention the dragons, though I really did not think they needed it, but they are simply stunning creatures. Majestic and awe inspiring in their bravery, imparticulary Lessie. The bond Zara and Lessie share is beautiful and I am looking forward to see where they are as a pair when their journey concludes. I adore Travarian and everything he brings to the story. He is certainly worthy of Zara in every way. Thank you Jessica for your tales. I have loved them all ❤
Profile Image for Tala Gilbert.
196 reviews3 followers
October 27, 2018
Great read!

This series keeps getting better and better! This was full of excitement, romance and some great snarky dragon comments from Lessie. Finally Tavarian and Zara figure out what is happening between them and make it real. For once I didn't have to skip whole pages through a sex scene. It was tastefully done and very romantic. My kind of read! I am so looking forward to book five to see how they get to destroy the dragon heart piece. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of our favorite enemy Salcome. And wow, the missing, forgotten gods seem to be more interested in the human race after many years of silence. We'll definitely want to see how that plays out for sure. I love this series and highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Alice Smith.
29 reviews
October 19, 2018
Zara and Lessie are at Lord Tavarian's estate, awaiting his arrival. They were concerned because the dragon riders and dragons had disappeared. Where are they? The dragon riders and dragons have been a force in past wars. But the Zallabarians have developed new weapons-- cannons that can shred the wings of the dragons. What is going to happen? The council have contacted Lord Tavarian to leave with them, which he refuses. Complicating things is the hunt for the Dragon heart. Could Zara find the Dragon's heart piece before Salcombe? What is going to happen? Will they find the dragon riders and dragons?
233 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2018
Zara's country is under attack, but unfortunately most of the dragon riders and their dragons have gone missing. Zara, Lessie and Tavarian are determined to rescue the riders and the dragons, no matter what it takes. How many places can there be to hide huge, hungry and loud dragons? I love Zara. She is loyal, dangerous, intelligent, cunning, brave, determine and willing to take huge risks to get the result she wants. This fast paced book has great characters, action, danger, dragons, airships, magic, fights, loyalty, war, hope, romance and plenty of challenges.
544 reviews2 followers
October 18, 2018
What a fantastic and entertaining follow up to the previous books. I loved the engaging story, the depth of character, the dynamic and adventurous visual detail that brings it all to life. If you like great fantasy with a strong heroine leading the charge, a bit of drama, some curve balls tossed your way, all coupled with an enthralling story that completely pulls you in. Then this is your series.
Profile Image for Roxanne Glawson.
145 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2018
Wow A must read reviewed by Roxanne

This book is absolutely outstanding. Each books just gets more amazing. Zara is still fighting with everything in her. She has been turned into a very skilled rider and soldier. People are realizing she is nobody to be trifled with. She is proving to be a respected and valuable soldier. Will this be enough when riders and dragons come up missing? Will she save them or die trying? Jasmine Walt has truly outdone herself in this series.
Profile Image for Nicole Cunningham.
236 reviews2 followers
February 16, 2019
Satisfying adventure

Even in this fourth installment, the story is still going strong. Lessie, Zara, and Tavarian risk everything to discover what happened to the dragon riders who never returned from their mission. In the meantime, Elantia faces invasion from a well-armed, well-organized army from Zallabar. And Salcombe lurks in the shadows, hunting down the rest of the dragon’s heart. It’s an adventure of epic proportions, and it’s not finished yet.
10 reviews
June 9, 2024
I don’t know what else I can say that I haven’t already said in the previous reviews. I loved this book, I’ve been loving this entire series. I am so intrigued and invested in all of Zara’s adventures and the relationship she makes along the way.
On one hand I want to know what’s going to happen in the end, how everything is going to wrap up, but on the other had, I don’t want it to end.

Definitely recommend!
8 reviews
October 17, 2018
Zara, Lessie and Tavarian shoot across the skies searching to find out what happened to Elantia’s Dragon Rider force that have mysteriously dropped off the map. Now they have a mysterious God on their side in their quest to find the next piece of Dragon Heart. Oh the heat is on...in more ways than one ;)
Profile Image for April Villone.
70 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2018
I love this series and this book I think has been the best since book 1. Zara and Lessie both grew so much during this book. Lessie is everything I would want a dragon to be. Zara is intelligent, determined and everything I hope I'd be in her situation. This book has mystery, gods, war, intrigue, all the best of a fantasy genre. I highly recommend it!
26 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2018
This is my favourite book in the series so far. It was very easy read and i gobbled it up quickly. I really loved how all the characters evolved and how much Lessie and Zara have grown up. A romance finally happens and Zara is seen as the hero she is. I really recommend it and i can't wait until the next one in the series. Top notch work a+++++
Profile Image for Andrea Green.
817 reviews8 followers
October 18, 2018
Zara and Lessie and now with Tavarian continue the adventure and what a wonderful ride it is. There is heartbreak, laughter and passion in this book, parts of the storey are coming together nicely with a few surprises along the way to keep things interesting. This series of books is a must read for any Fantasy enthusiasts out there as its just spellbindingly good.
32 reviews2 followers
October 18, 2018
Quest, wars, and love too

Lord of the rings meets Anne McCaffrey's dragon riders of Pern plus the Star Trek story of old gods dying because of no longer being worshipped. Plus love interest on the side. That said, the story rattles along at a great pace. Obviously another book is yet to come, bit this book stops at a good place.
276 reviews
October 18, 2018
Exciting!

With War taking over Elantia and dragons and riders missing, Zara and Tavarian have to find them and rescue them. Finally we get to see much more of Tavarian and Zara and Tavarian’s relationship progresses. Exciting twists and turn and lot of actions. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Hsu Lee.
1,743 reviews9 followers
October 22, 2018
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
Loved the book!
This is book 4.
Zara + Lessie are not out of the woods yet.
The dragons have gone missing, and Zara + Lessie have to find out why + where.
I loved the storytelling + the characters.
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
324 reviews2 followers
October 27, 2018
Great fast moving story. Keeps you interested from beginning to end.The characters are fantastic.I have ordered book 5 and await it's arrival with anticipation of another special read.

Written above. Guess I put review in wrong place. Sorry 😊 .I have ben reading and reading , enjoying and enjoying -- must have lost my head and heart yo the story.😀
Profile Image for Monique.
907 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2018
Aahh, this book!! Finally getting to see some romantic action for Zara. I really enjoyed this adventure, and how the overall storyline was connected with the previous books. I also really liked the relationship between the dragons and their riders. I’m not overly fond of the actual “war scenes” but I like the inclusion of the gods. I’m curious to find out what will happen next!
2,226 reviews4 followers
November 9, 2018
The quest for the Dragon heart continues but now there's war interfering & Zara & Lessie are right in the middle. The heat level goes up in this book too as Zara & Tavarian grow closer. The suspense, action & introduction of new players keep you on your toes throughout this story, I want the next one now please.
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