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The Dragoneer #1
The Bonding
Trysten has a special bond with the dragons of Aerona. But will that bond be enough to save the dragons and the village when her father is crippled and his dragon mortally wounded?
All her life, Trysten has wished to follow in her father's footsteps and lead the dragons of Aerona into battle, but the title of Dragoneer has always gone to a male heir since the beginning of history. As war approaches with the changing of the season, Trysten must prove to her father, the village and the other dragon riders that she is an able leader and a fierce warrior of legendary capabilities.
Fantasy fans will love this thrilling dragon ride! This coming of age story features strong women, hope, and a compelling story-telling style appropriate for most ages.
All her life, Trysten has wished to follow in her father's footsteps and lead the dragons of Aerona into battle, but the title of Dragoneer has always gone to a male heir since the beginning of history. As war approaches with the changing of the season, Trysten must prove to her father, the village and the other dragon riders that she is an able leader and a fierce warrior of legendary capabilities.
Fantasy fans will love this thrilling dragon ride! This coming of age story features strong women, hope, and a compelling story-telling style appropriate for most ages.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2018
About the author
Vickie Knestaut
27 books51 followersAll books are also with her husband Danny Knestaut
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
January 24, 2021
I'm not sure how to relay why this is a 5-star read, other than to say it is. Adventure, excitement, a strong female lead, dragons....
This epic made me smile, smirk, rage, scream, cry, and cheer out loud for Trystan and her magnificent dragon Elevera. I can't wait to read book two!
This epic made me smile, smirk, rage, scream, cry, and cheer out loud for Trystan and her magnificent dragon Elevera. I can't wait to read book two!
February 27, 2019
I was disappointed in this book. The concept sounded promising for young adult fantasy fiction, but the characters were flat, the story predictable, and the writing tedious and often grammatically poor. What bothered me most was that I didn't much like the central character. Spoiled and obnoxiously entitled at the start she somehow manages to become a brilliant battle general despite having no training whatsoever. She walks all over everyone else's feelings and has a very narcissistic world view. I won't bother continuing with the series.
April 23, 2020
At first this book didn’t hold my interest. The beginning takes a while to get into and lacks much interest in all honesty. You could even call it boring. But it was worth the push thru to the second half of the book where everything picks up the past and keeps building. I’m now super excited to read book two and see where this intriguing story goes.
June 5, 2026
Read: May 26th - June 5th
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 Stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I cannot properly express how ANGRY I am at this book. It was a 2 star for the first 60%, then 4 stars for the final 40% (which is why it averages to 3 stars). And that's so frustrating, because that means I want to keep on with the series, but I'm also terrified that it's just going to be more of the 60% that actually had me wanting to DNF this book.
This book would have been SO MUCH BETTER if there was less time in the first 60% going over the same argument over and over again instead of showing why Trystan has the skills with dragons she does. Not the connection, but the physical capabilities. Or even if we just did anything besides "why can't I be the Dragoneer" over and over and over again.
I was SO DONE with hearing that the third time in a row, but we get it, like, seven times or something. She's go from talking to her father about it to her mother about it to her friend about it, and I just...
But then the last 40% was just SO GOOD. There were so many interesting world things revealed, while also making yourself question the true origins of Trystan's abilities. And there was just some really good character moments as well as battle moments. I was also cheering her on proving herself to everyone. Like, was everything here perfect? No. But it was so fun and good and something that I'd want to follow along with.
The ending, though... It has me so convinced we're just going to go into another book where she's arguing with someone about being able to be Dragoneer.
I'll probably try at some point, because there's so many things about this book's latter half that I liked, and the dragons in general were just always fabulous. It just may not be for a while, and I do not imagine myself sticking it out if it's just as frustrating in its start as this one was.
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 Stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I cannot properly express how ANGRY I am at this book. It was a 2 star for the first 60%, then 4 stars for the final 40% (which is why it averages to 3 stars). And that's so frustrating, because that means I want to keep on with the series, but I'm also terrified that it's just going to be more of the 60% that actually had me wanting to DNF this book.
This book would have been SO MUCH BETTER if there was less time in the first 60% going over the same argument over and over again instead of showing why Trystan has the skills with dragons she does. Not the connection, but the physical capabilities. Or even if we just did anything besides "why can't I be the Dragoneer" over and over and over again.
I was SO DONE with hearing that the third time in a row, but we get it, like, seven times or something. She's go from talking to her father about it to her mother about it to her friend about it, and I just...
But then the last 40% was just SO GOOD. There were so many interesting world things revealed, while also making yourself question the true origins of Trystan's abilities. And there was just some really good character moments as well as battle moments. I was also cheering her on proving herself to everyone. Like, was everything here perfect? No. But it was so fun and good and something that I'd want to follow along with.
The ending, though... It has me so convinced we're just going to go into another book where she's arguing with someone about being able to be Dragoneer.
I'll probably try at some point, because there's so many things about this book's latter half that I liked, and the dragons in general were just always fabulous. It just may not be for a while, and I do not imagine myself sticking it out if it's just as frustrating in its start as this one was.
April 7, 2019
Wow, did not expect to find a book like this on kindle unlimited. On top of that, it has almost no reviews?? After reading a bunch of cheesy YA novels to pass the time, this was a breath of fresh air.
The characters were 3 dimensional and there was a unique motivation driving each one. The story was plot driven instead of romance driven. Thank goodness. In fact, there was no romance at all, which is usually a risky endeavor with authors, but I respected him for doing it. Not everything needs a love story, and I would rather read about her connection with the dragons if anything.
I also really liked that although there was some gender inequality in the novel, it wasn't the focus of all the heroine's actions. It existed, but the scenes were not written to make you feel, woe is me I am a woman and the whole world is out to get me. The heroine acted selflessly and courageously, and people grew to respect her for her actions.
Bravo! Look forward to reading the rest of the author's books.
The characters were 3 dimensional and there was a unique motivation driving each one. The story was plot driven instead of romance driven. Thank goodness. In fact, there was no romance at all, which is usually a risky endeavor with authors, but I respected him for doing it. Not everything needs a love story, and I would rather read about her connection with the dragons if anything.
I also really liked that although there was some gender inequality in the novel, it wasn't the focus of all the heroine's actions. It existed, but the scenes were not written to make you feel, woe is me I am a woman and the whole world is out to get me. The heroine acted selflessly and courageously, and people grew to respect her for her actions.
Bravo! Look forward to reading the rest of the author's books.
January 1, 2026
Dragons!
Awesome read if you’re into Dragons and the bond that comes about with humans. Makes you want to get out of the chair, climb aboard a dragon then wisp away into the air.
Awesome read if you’re into Dragons and the bond that comes about with humans. Makes you want to get out of the chair, climb aboard a dragon then wisp away into the air.
February 24, 2023
The Dragoneer Book 1
Really great first book, the role of first Dragoneer comes to a young woman. The prediction of not being a man, is central but as events unfold, the attacks and conflicts show that this Dragon rider has proven herself more than capable. Tristan can communicate with better than anyone, she can bond dragons better than anyone else! Tristan has become a Dragon Lord.
Really great first book, the role of first Dragoneer comes to a young woman. The prediction of not being a man, is central but as events unfold, the attacks and conflicts show that this Dragon rider has proven herself more than capable. Tristan can communicate with better than anyone, she can bond dragons better than anyone else! Tristan has become a Dragon Lord.
August 10, 2019
I really enjoyed the idea behind this book: a land where hordes of dragons and their riders, led by a Dragoneer who is bonded to the alpha dragon, defend their villages from enemy dragon hordes. The book itself is a safe read for any age, and the writing to me felt more middle grades than young adult.
Overall, the book was enjoyable, but at times it did drag and some thoughts seemed repetitive. The main character Trysten wants to be a Dragoneer like her father, but there’s one problem: everyone tells her it’s against the law for women to bond with dragons. Though her character shows courage and resilience at this limitation, at times she seemed whiny and very disrespectful of her elders. I did enjoy the gradual revelations of why she has such a strong bond with the dragons, and the ending does make me curious about what’s in store for her and her village in the next book. My favorite parts of this book were definitely the dragons, and I could easily read an entire book about their thoughts alone.
3.5/5
Overall, the book was enjoyable, but at times it did drag and some thoughts seemed repetitive. The main character Trysten wants to be a Dragoneer like her father, but there’s one problem: everyone tells her it’s against the law for women to bond with dragons. Though her character shows courage and resilience at this limitation, at times she seemed whiny and very disrespectful of her elders. I did enjoy the gradual revelations of why she has such a strong bond with the dragons, and the ending does make me curious about what’s in store for her and her village in the next book. My favorite parts of this book were definitely the dragons, and I could easily read an entire book about their thoughts alone.
3.5/5
June 6, 2026
Tell me a book is about dragons and you’ve instantly got my attention!
Trysten has spent her whole life dreaming of becoming the dragoneer of her village, but is told no repeatedly that women do not bond with dragons. When the new alpha dragon of her village chooses Trysten anyway, she is launched headfirst into nonstop training getting the horde ready for the upcoming fighting season.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The first 2/3 felt sooo slow and Trysten was honestly kind of obnoxious. I was very close to DNFing it a couple of times. But the end completely made up for it when the battles started. I may continue this series at some point because I am intrigued about how things will go.
Audio-wise, the narrator did a great job and helped make it easier to get through the slower spots.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Trysten has spent her whole life dreaming of becoming the dragoneer of her village, but is told no repeatedly that women do not bond with dragons. When the new alpha dragon of her village chooses Trysten anyway, she is launched headfirst into nonstop training getting the horde ready for the upcoming fighting season.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The first 2/3 felt sooo slow and Trysten was honestly kind of obnoxious. I was very close to DNFing it a couple of times. But the end completely made up for it when the battles started. I may continue this series at some point because I am intrigued about how things will go.
Audio-wise, the narrator did a great job and helped make it easier to get through the slower spots.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
May 24, 2026
Stories containing dragons and dragon riders are my jam, and a young woman having to stand up for herself in a male dominated field? Sign me up! Books with special bonds to fire breathing fantasy creatures is one of the tropes I just love and I had expectations going in, okay! The whole premise is just what I need to clench my thirst for dragon fantasy novels. Despite my previous description of said genre, the book disappointed. Some stuff I liked but a lot more was underdeveloped and I wanted to bang my head against the table because I wanted to enjoy this book so much!
Trysten is our "strong FMC" in her coming of age story. Yes it is a coming of age story, yes she has an undeniable bond with the dragons never seen before in her village, and yes she has strong opposition in a society with male only dragon riders - all of which I adore. The strong FMC description? Yes, strong and wilful miscommunication with her father... It was so difficult to understand where their wires were crossed except for it being deliberate on both parts. She has strong feelings on how she wants things to happen, and complains about how the society is structured but constantly changes how whe approaches this. I found her childish because she wanted to become leader so much but never actually worked to understand what the title included besides having the title, riding her dragon, and fighting the warmongering neighbouring country. I wanted to bang my head against the table when it dawns on Trysten that a lot of responsibilities comes with leadership.
The dragon behavior was very well fleshed out and very unique to what I've read before so definite thumbs up to that! Sadly, the rest of the worldbuilding was shallow, and what I think should have been known to Trysten was suddenly thrown at her as if she had lived in a bubble that suddenly burst in the second half of the book. Despite all the new information dumps I would expect to see character development but only got self pity and doubt where before she was all bluster.
I wanted a strong female character, and Trysten definitely had the potential to be strong but there is a difference between a strong character and a stubborn one. I would have been okay with the stubborn trait if I saw character development, but I did not.
I listened to the audiobook and Stacy Gonzalez did the best she could and definitely brought the story to life with what she had to work with. There was great flow, and I could tell the characters apart. But all my frustrations with the story carried through to the narration. I don't know if it was a positive or a negative that I got this story through narration rather than pages.
2 stars.
Thank you to Tantor Media, and the authors for the audio ARC through NetGalley. The opinion is my own.
Trysten is our "strong FMC" in her coming of age story. Yes it is a coming of age story, yes she has an undeniable bond with the dragons never seen before in her village, and yes she has strong opposition in a society with male only dragon riders - all of which I adore. The strong FMC description? Yes, strong and wilful miscommunication with her father... It was so difficult to understand where their wires were crossed except for it being deliberate on both parts. She has strong feelings on how she wants things to happen, and complains about how the society is structured but constantly changes how whe approaches this. I found her childish because she wanted to become leader so much but never actually worked to understand what the title included besides having the title, riding her dragon, and fighting the warmongering neighbouring country. I wanted to bang my head against the table when it dawns on Trysten that a lot of responsibilities comes with leadership.
The dragon behavior was very well fleshed out and very unique to what I've read before so definite thumbs up to that! Sadly, the rest of the worldbuilding was shallow, and what I think should have been known to Trysten was suddenly thrown at her as if she had lived in a bubble that suddenly burst in the second half of the book. Despite all the new information dumps I would expect to see character development but only got self pity and doubt where before she was all bluster.
I wanted a strong female character, and Trysten definitely had the potential to be strong but there is a difference between a strong character and a stubborn one. I would have been okay with the stubborn trait if I saw character development, but I did not.
I listened to the audiobook and Stacy Gonzalez did the best she could and definitely brought the story to life with what she had to work with. There was great flow, and I could tell the characters apart. But all my frustrations with the story carried through to the narration. I don't know if it was a positive or a negative that I got this story through narration rather than pages.
2 stars.
Thank you to Tantor Media, and the authors for the audio ARC through NetGalley. The opinion is my own.
May 31, 2026
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, as it was marketed YA. I was unexpectedly surprised!! I can’t believe that I haven’t heard of this series sooner. There were a couple instances in which the main character wore me out a little bit, but beyond that, I was hooked. I did listen to the audiobook, and it was narrated perfectly. I thought that the book was very well written, the plot was easy to follow, and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series now. The ending definitely made me want to continue on. I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.
October 19, 2022
A GREAT ADVENTURE!
I would like to share my opinion of this Great Adventure! I would recommend all ages to read & ride this Dragoneer adventure! It Is Well Worth Your Time To Read And Well Worth The Cost To Be Able To Enjoy This Amazing And Well Written Book! I Did Feel That I Was There And Part Of This Adventure!
I would like to share my opinion of this Great Adventure! I would recommend all ages to read & ride this Dragoneer adventure! It Is Well Worth Your Time To Read And Well Worth The Cost To Be Able To Enjoy This Amazing And Well Written Book! I Did Feel That I Was There And Part Of This Adventure!
February 24, 2024
Oh wow, best dragon book I've read in ages! Trysten has a special bond with her dragon Elevera, indeed with all dragons. Girls are not even supposed to ride dragons, much less lead them, but the men don't have much choice since she's the one their dragons follow. I'll be starting the next book in the series almost immediately, after I get a bit of sleep tonight, rather morning.
August 19, 2019
This book. I don't even know how to start reviewing the Dragoneer, book 1: the Bonding. If you like strong female leads and dragons, you'll like this.
The book is separated into two parts, both of which have story arcs that could make it two separate books merged in to one. I read both parts in one day.
It's a story that follows Trysten, the only child of Maroc, the village's former Dragoneer. She's a girl. Girls aren't supposed to bond with dragons. Especially not dragons that will become the alpha of the horde (aka group of dragons). In fact, they aren't even supposed to be able to.
Normally I don't easily get attached to characters especially in the first half of the book. Now I don't know if it was because I'd drank an entire bottle of wine or what, but I am so emotionally involved in the success of Trysten at this point that I legit cried at her internal and external struggles in the first part of this book.
I gave this book five stars. Not only did I enjoy it, but I will recommend it to others and I will read the next one (already started and almost done with actually XD).
The book is separated into two parts, both of which have story arcs that could make it two separate books merged in to one. I read both parts in one day.
It's a story that follows Trysten, the only child of Maroc, the village's former Dragoneer. She's a girl. Girls aren't supposed to bond with dragons. Especially not dragons that will become the alpha of the horde (aka group of dragons). In fact, they aren't even supposed to be able to.
Normally I don't easily get attached to characters especially in the first half of the book. Now I don't know if it was because I'd drank an entire bottle of wine or what, but I am so emotionally involved in the success of Trysten at this point that I legit cried at her internal and external struggles in the first part of this book.
I gave this book five stars. Not only did I enjoy it, but I will recommend it to others and I will read the next one (already started and almost done with actually XD).
October 18, 2018
Book 1
Book 1 had errors throughout and dragged on for about 60% of the book. The main character complained throughout the book and only started to grow up towards the last few chapters, with hints of her whining mixed in. The plot is interesting, but the characters are not fun to read about. I would not recommend this book.
Book 1 had errors throughout and dragged on for about 60% of the book. The main character complained throughout the book and only started to grow up towards the last few chapters, with hints of her whining mixed in. The plot is interesting, but the characters are not fun to read about. I would not recommend this book.
October 21, 2018
Brilliant page turner
I enjoyed the book from page 1. And was devastated when I got to the last page. The description of the environment made me feel like I could be living in it. I just love everything from the characters to the story line. Will definitely read the next book
I enjoyed the book from page 1. And was devastated when I got to the last page. The description of the environment made me feel like I could be living in it. I just love everything from the characters to the story line. Will definitely read the next book
May 25, 2026
The Bonding is a different take on the classic Dragon Rider trope, as this time our super special protagonist is not alone and is forced to square off against other super special dragon riders.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly.
Meet Trysten, totally not Tristan the mythological figure, because her name is spelled with a Y, which comes across so well in audio. She has a special bond with the dragons in her village’s horde. She is an adult in their society — we don’t hear an age. I’m guessing 15 or 16 based on her attitude and how older characters treat her. Trysten is headstrong, takes inane risks, and in general, acts like a driven teenager who has never had to face consequences.
In their society, the Dragoneer is the human who has bonded with the alpha dragon from the horde. The relationship between the horde and the humans is clever. After an alpha dies, the beta becomes the new leader. But if they don’t bond with a human, the horde will abscond. This is a problem, as “The Western Kingdom” will be sending its dragons over during the fighting season. They sound similar to some cultures where a group of men goes off to fight every year.
Maroc is the Dragoneer of their village, which is one of the closest villages to where the Western Kingdom’s attacks will come from. He is a mix of gruff leader and surprisingly nice father. He has an interesting character in the story. Maroc was injured when his mount broke her leg and crushed him. As the alpha of the dragon horde, his mount held together the horde. And this is a problem approaching war season, as this alpha is dying from her injuries. As Dragoneer, Maroc must name a successor, and he has his preferred champion.
Cage (I swear the audio says Page and was expecting we were seeing some gender flipping on named with Tristan as the lady and Paige as the fella — authors, consider audio listeners when you name your characters, s’il te plait.) Cage is a decent fella who doesn’t have what it takes to be Dragoneer and doesn’t want the position. So it is a complete shock when our protagonist goes all protag mode.
Trysten and Cage were childhood friends, with Trysten’s parents having taken the lad in after the death of his father. It was so refreshing to see the obvious power pairing of being friends and respecting each other, rather than being shoved together. MAJOR SPOILER:
Like most dragon-riding books, the beginning is slow while we do whatever the setup is to get the bonding to happen. The title of this book is The Bonding, so we know it is coming, and it took half the novel to reach. The first half of the audio performance wasn’t holding me, so I kept increasing the speed until it worked for me. Then the lore ramps and the secrets are revealed.
One last thought: these books were indie-published on Kindle back in 2018. These are short in scale (no pun intended) and tiny compared to many of the other books in the genre.
3 3/4 stars. If the punches had come earlier, it might have been a 4-star. This was a good introduction to a series and hopefully continues to be a different take on the dragon rider genre.
Many thanks to Tantor Media and Netgalley for providing an Audio ARC/ALC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly.
Meet Trysten, totally not Tristan the mythological figure, because her name is spelled with a Y, which comes across so well in audio. She has a special bond with the dragons in her village’s horde. She is an adult in their society — we don’t hear an age. I’m guessing 15 or 16 based on her attitude and how older characters treat her. Trysten is headstrong, takes inane risks, and in general, acts like a driven teenager who has never had to face consequences.
In their society, the Dragoneer is the human who has bonded with the alpha dragon from the horde. The relationship between the horde and the humans is clever. After an alpha dies, the beta becomes the new leader. But if they don’t bond with a human, the horde will abscond. This is a problem, as “The Western Kingdom” will be sending its dragons over during the fighting season. They sound similar to some cultures where a group of men goes off to fight every year.
Maroc is the Dragoneer of their village, which is one of the closest villages to where the Western Kingdom’s attacks will come from. He is a mix of gruff leader and surprisingly nice father. He has an interesting character in the story. Maroc was injured when his mount broke her leg and crushed him. As the alpha of the dragon horde, his mount held together the horde. And this is a problem approaching war season, as this alpha is dying from her injuries. As Dragoneer, Maroc must name a successor, and he has his preferred champion.
Cage (I swear the audio says Page and was expecting we were seeing some gender flipping on named with Tristan as the lady and Paige as the fella — authors, consider audio listeners when you name your characters, s’il te plait.) Cage is a decent fella who doesn’t have what it takes to be Dragoneer and doesn’t want the position. So it is a complete shock when our protagonist goes all protag mode.
Trysten and Cage were childhood friends, with Trysten’s parents having taken the lad in after the death of his father. It was so refreshing to see the obvious power pairing of being friends and respecting each other, rather than being shoved together. MAJOR SPOILER:
Like most dragon-riding books, the beginning is slow while we do whatever the setup is to get the bonding to happen. The title of this book is The Bonding, so we know it is coming, and it took half the novel to reach. The first half of the audio performance wasn’t holding me, so I kept increasing the speed until it worked for me. Then the lore ramps and the secrets are revealed.
One last thought: these books were indie-published on Kindle back in 2018. These are short in scale (no pun intended) and tiny compared to many of the other books in the genre.
3 3/4 stars. If the punches had come earlier, it might have been a 4-star. This was a good introduction to a series and hopefully continues to be a different take on the dragon rider genre.
Many thanks to Tantor Media and Netgalley for providing an Audio ARC/ALC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 3, 2026
The Dragoneer
Book 1 – The Bonding
by Vickie Knestaut; Danny Knestaut
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
Rating: 5 star rating
I really enjoyed The Bonding, the first audiobook in The Dragoneer series by Vickie Knestaut and Danny Knestaut. If you like dragon rider stories with a strong female lead, then this one is worth a listen.
The story takes place in the kingdom of Aerona, where dragons and humans have lived together for generations. The position of "Dragoneer" is one of the most respected roles in society because the Dragoneer leads the dragons and their riders during times of war.
Trysten, is the only child of the current Dragoneer. She has spent her life learning about dragons and developing a unique connection with them. However, tradition dictates that only men may inherit the title of Dragoneer. When her father is seriously injured and unable to continue leading, a successor must be chosen before the kingdom's enemies become a threat again.
Trysten struggles against centuries of tradition, she becomes involved in an important dragon-bonding process that could determine the future leadership of both dragons and humans.
Elevera is a powerful dragon who becomes one of the most memorable characters in the book. Elevera is far more than a simple animal companion and has a strong personality of her own.
Trysten's Father, the current Dragoneer, whose injury creates the succession crisis. He loves his daughter but must balance family loyalty with long-standing traditions.
Trysten's Childhood Friend, chosen as the potential successor despite Trysten's qualifications. His relationship with Trysten is complicated by friendship, duty, and expectations.
One of my favorite parts was the relationship between the dragons and their riders, especially Elevera, who felt like a real character rather than just a dragon and her connection with Trysten.
The book wraps up with them fighting a dragon hoard from a far different location. This leaves enough unanswered questions to make me interested in continuing the series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, family-friendly fantasy with memorable characters, dragons, and a strong coming-of-age story. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Tantor Media, Vickie Knestaut, Danny Knestaut, and narrated by Stacy Gonzalez for the audiobook review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#TheDragoneer
#VickieKnestaut
#DannyKnestaut
#StacyGonzalez narrator
#TantorMedia
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
This is a review of the audiobook.
Book 1 – The Bonding
by Vickie Knestaut; Danny Knestaut
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
Rating: 5 star rating
I really enjoyed The Bonding, the first audiobook in The Dragoneer series by Vickie Knestaut and Danny Knestaut. If you like dragon rider stories with a strong female lead, then this one is worth a listen.
The story takes place in the kingdom of Aerona, where dragons and humans have lived together for generations. The position of "Dragoneer" is one of the most respected roles in society because the Dragoneer leads the dragons and their riders during times of war.
Trysten, is the only child of the current Dragoneer. She has spent her life learning about dragons and developing a unique connection with them. However, tradition dictates that only men may inherit the title of Dragoneer. When her father is seriously injured and unable to continue leading, a successor must be chosen before the kingdom's enemies become a threat again.
Trysten struggles against centuries of tradition, she becomes involved in an important dragon-bonding process that could determine the future leadership of both dragons and humans.
Elevera is a powerful dragon who becomes one of the most memorable characters in the book. Elevera is far more than a simple animal companion and has a strong personality of her own.
Trysten's Father, the current Dragoneer, whose injury creates the succession crisis. He loves his daughter but must balance family loyalty with long-standing traditions.
Trysten's Childhood Friend, chosen as the potential successor despite Trysten's qualifications. His relationship with Trysten is complicated by friendship, duty, and expectations.
One of my favorite parts was the relationship between the dragons and their riders, especially Elevera, who felt like a real character rather than just a dragon and her connection with Trysten.
The book wraps up with them fighting a dragon hoard from a far different location. This leaves enough unanswered questions to make me interested in continuing the series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, family-friendly fantasy with memorable characters, dragons, and a strong coming-of-age story. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Tantor Media, Vickie Knestaut, Danny Knestaut, and narrated by Stacy Gonzalez for the audiobook review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#TheDragoneer
#VickieKnestaut
#DannyKnestaut
#StacyGonzalez narrator
#TantorMedia
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
This is a review of the audiobook.
May 23, 2026
🎧 Audiobook Review — The Dragoneer: Book 1 – The Bonding
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
Authors: Vickie Knestaut & Danny Knestaut
This book may not be new, but the AUDIO? Oh, it just woke the story up like a dragon stretching after a long nap. By the wilds, I had a blast with this one.
The story’s been around since 2018, but the 2026 audiobook release finally gives it the voice it deserved from day one. And honestly? Fantasy just hits different when someone talented is breathing life into it.
🔥 Narration: Stacy Gonzalez — the real MVP
Stacy didn’t just narrate this book.
She performed it.
She brings:
- grit with a soft edge
- clean, distinct character voices
- smooth pacing that never drags
- emotional clarity that makes every moment land
She gives Trysten that perfect “I’m tired of y’all but I’m still gonna win” energy.
And the dragons? She makes them feel sentient, not just set dressing.
This is one of those narrations where you can tell she said: “Oh, I’m going to elevate this.”
🐉 The Story: Men and their egos… bless their hearts
This book is basically a case study in:
“A woman is clearly the most qualified person in the room… so naturally the men panic.”
Trysten shows every single quality of a dragoneer courage, instinct, connection, actual dragon approval and the men still gather like a council of insecure roosters to say, “No, tradition says a man must do it.”
Meanwhile the dragons are over here like:
“We literally choose her. Y’all can sit down now.”
It’s frustrating in that fantasy patriarchy doing the absolute most way, but it works because the tension is baked into the world. And hearing it in audio? Whew. The disrespect hits harder, but so does Trysten’s determination.
🌟 Why the audiobook makes it better
Fantasy thrives on atmosphere, and audio adds:
- texture to the world
- urgency to the danger
- weight to the emotional beats
- and a whole lot of ‘I’m rooting for her, not these dusty men’ energy
Stacy’s performance turns the story into something you feel, not just follow.
Audio due to release October 2026
🙏 NetGalley Thanks
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advance listening copy.
This audio release was absolutely worth the wait.
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
Authors: Vickie Knestaut & Danny Knestaut
This book may not be new, but the AUDIO? Oh, it just woke the story up like a dragon stretching after a long nap. By the wilds, I had a blast with this one.
The story’s been around since 2018, but the 2026 audiobook release finally gives it the voice it deserved from day one. And honestly? Fantasy just hits different when someone talented is breathing life into it.
🔥 Narration: Stacy Gonzalez — the real MVP
Stacy didn’t just narrate this book.
She performed it.
She brings:
- grit with a soft edge
- clean, distinct character voices
- smooth pacing that never drags
- emotional clarity that makes every moment land
She gives Trysten that perfect “I’m tired of y’all but I’m still gonna win” energy.
And the dragons? She makes them feel sentient, not just set dressing.
This is one of those narrations where you can tell she said: “Oh, I’m going to elevate this.”
🐉 The Story: Men and their egos… bless their hearts
This book is basically a case study in:
“A woman is clearly the most qualified person in the room… so naturally the men panic.”
Trysten shows every single quality of a dragoneer courage, instinct, connection, actual dragon approval and the men still gather like a council of insecure roosters to say, “No, tradition says a man must do it.”
Meanwhile the dragons are over here like:
“We literally choose her. Y’all can sit down now.”
It’s frustrating in that fantasy patriarchy doing the absolute most way, but it works because the tension is baked into the world. And hearing it in audio? Whew. The disrespect hits harder, but so does Trysten’s determination.
🌟 Why the audiobook makes it better
Fantasy thrives on atmosphere, and audio adds:
- texture to the world
- urgency to the danger
- weight to the emotional beats
- and a whole lot of ‘I’m rooting for her, not these dusty men’ energy
Stacy’s performance turns the story into something you feel, not just follow.
Audio due to release October 2026
🙏 NetGalley Thanks
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advance listening copy.
This audio release was absolutely worth the wait.
May 26, 2022
I must admit that I love books about dragons, and have read many over the years, but this series has gripped me from the start and I am really in love with this amazing trilogy. Trysten is a young girl who lives in the village where her father is the dragoneer, and where they have a weyr and she understands dragons like no one else does. She aspires to take on the role of dragoneer when her father or his dragon pass on, however when an accident takes place whereby her father is injured and his dragon dies she is forbidden from taking on the role, since according to tradition no woman had ever done so and no woman could bond with a dragon. However when Trysten realises that unless she steps in, and she knew she could bond with the alpha and become the next dragoneer, the dragons would abscond. The village would be undefended during the next fighting season and they would lose the weyr, so Trysten defies her father and everyone else as she takes the alpha dragon Elevera and their horde of dragons to the skies into the fight against the western kingdom. Trysten comes back with not only a larger dragon horde but prisoners from the west which is totally unheard of, but though lauded as a hero in Aerona, her troubles are far from over as she is challenged by one of the western prisoners who escapes to take the news to the King in the City. Trysten's defiance could put all of Aerona in danger? Can she stand up to the King and survive? I love that Trysten is such a powerful heroine, ready to break with tradition and bring about the much needed change in mentality in order to defend her village and the kingdom. She is courageous and very powerful and her bond with the dragons goes beyond what any other dragoneer had before her! I just could not put this trilogy down, it is amazing!
May 13, 2025
This Dragoneer series had a unique take on humans & dragons. There is a human dragoneer. He bonds with the alpha dragon. The alpha dragon keeps the rest of the weyr dragons in line. When the dragoneer enters the weyr, all of the dragons (not just the alpha) immediately react to his presence by breathing in unison.
Our protagonist is the child of the current dragoneer. So far, so good.
Except this child is a girl. Women are forbidden not only being the dragoneer but are not allowed to even ride the any dragons of the weyr.
Our protagonist Trysten not only is a female, but she can sense what the dragons are feeling. She can't read their minds, per se, but she knows when they are curious, when you have earned their trust, etc. etc.
Of course, the book opens when her father has already been gravely injured in the last battle. His alpha dragon is dying, and he needs to name a successor immediately. And Trysten already has a strong bond with the beta dragon (the alpha dragon's successor). [She had never been allowed to ride a dragon, of course, but she had helped care for the dragons while growing up.]
My first love, of course, is Anne McCaffery's dragons where each dragon has a telepathic bond with his or her dragonrider. This series comes close in that Trysten can sense what the dragons are feeling (although no one else in the weyr can, even her father).
Highly recommended for Anne McCaffrey fans, series fans, dragon fans, and feminist fans who believe that girls can do anything boys can do, given the chance!
Our protagonist is the child of the current dragoneer. So far, so good.
Except this child is a girl. Women are forbidden not only being the dragoneer but are not allowed to even ride the any dragons of the weyr.
Our protagonist Trysten not only is a female, but she can sense what the dragons are feeling. She can't read their minds, per se, but she knows when they are curious, when you have earned their trust, etc. etc.
Of course, the book opens when her father has already been gravely injured in the last battle. His alpha dragon is dying, and he needs to name a successor immediately. And Trysten already has a strong bond with the beta dragon (the alpha dragon's successor). [She had never been allowed to ride a dragon, of course, but she had helped care for the dragons while growing up.]
My first love, of course, is Anne McCaffery's dragons where each dragon has a telepathic bond with his or her dragonrider. This series comes close in that Trysten can sense what the dragons are feeling (although no one else in the weyr can, even her father).
Highly recommended for Anne McCaffrey fans, series fans, dragon fans, and feminist fans who believe that girls can do anything boys can do, given the chance!
May 31, 2026
Dragons? Say less.
ALC provided by NetGalley.
This may be the most aligned ARC I’ve picked up so far.
The vibes were very Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass adjacent, but it still felt like its own story. The worldbuilding reminded me a lot of Shield of Sparrows because the lore unfolds naturally throughout the book instead of dumping everything on you in the first few chapters. The world is much deeper than I expected, and now I need the rest of the series in audio immediately. 🤣
There isn’t much romance yet, but I think the chemistry is starting to build. This is definitely more of a fantasy-first story with chosen-one energy, dragons, and a FMC who is stronger than everyone realizes. The pacing was excellent too. The first half flew by just as fast as the second, which doesn’t always happen in fantasy.
The narration was one of the strongest parts for me. The voices fit the characters, there was actual acting involved, and I never struggled to tell who was speaking. While this one didn’t have a huge emotional impact, it kept me engaged the entire time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 stars
Who should read/listen: Fans of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, Shield of Sparrows, dragon riders, chosen-one stories, and fantasy readers who like their worldbuilding woven into the story instead of dumped on them all at once.
BS Meter: 🟢 Low BS. Most questionable decisions can be explained by the FMC being young, powerful, and a little hot-headed. 😂
ALC provided by NetGalley.
This may be the most aligned ARC I’ve picked up so far.
The vibes were very Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass adjacent, but it still felt like its own story. The worldbuilding reminded me a lot of Shield of Sparrows because the lore unfolds naturally throughout the book instead of dumping everything on you in the first few chapters. The world is much deeper than I expected, and now I need the rest of the series in audio immediately. 🤣
There isn’t much romance yet, but I think the chemistry is starting to build. This is definitely more of a fantasy-first story with chosen-one energy, dragons, and a FMC who is stronger than everyone realizes. The pacing was excellent too. The first half flew by just as fast as the second, which doesn’t always happen in fantasy.
The narration was one of the strongest parts for me. The voices fit the characters, there was actual acting involved, and I never struggled to tell who was speaking. While this one didn’t have a huge emotional impact, it kept me engaged the entire time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 stars
Who should read/listen: Fans of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, Shield of Sparrows, dragon riders, chosen-one stories, and fantasy readers who like their worldbuilding woven into the story instead of dumped on them all at once.
BS Meter: 🟢 Low BS. Most questionable decisions can be explained by the FMC being young, powerful, and a little hot-headed. 😂
May 31, 2026
The Bonding leans fully into classic YA dragon fantasy, and the formula still has plenty of charm. Trysten is young, stubborn, selfish, and constantly being handed lessons she has no interest in learning the easy way. She gets her way more often than she probably should, but there’s enough runway in an eight-book series for those choices to catch up with her. Her parents are just as frustrating, which makes her rebellion feel less like teenage dramatics and more like a fight to be heard.
The dragons were my favorite part. They feel like wild beasts with their own instincts and agendas, not polished fantasy pets waiting around to be emotionally bonded into obedience. That gives the whole dragoneer setup more danger and consequences, especially as the story starts hinting at older mysteries and a much bigger world beyond the village. The scope here starts small, but it leaves plenty of room for the series to grow.
🎧 Stacy Gonzalez does a great job with the audiobook. She gives Trysten the right mix of emotional depth and young naivety, while still handling the surrounding cast clearly across multiple characters. It’s fresh, easy to settle into, and exactly the kind of dragon fantasy that makes you want to see where the fight is headed next.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, the narrator Stacy Gonzalez, and the authors Vickie & Danny Knestaut for providing me this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The dragons were my favorite part. They feel like wild beasts with their own instincts and agendas, not polished fantasy pets waiting around to be emotionally bonded into obedience. That gives the whole dragoneer setup more danger and consequences, especially as the story starts hinting at older mysteries and a much bigger world beyond the village. The scope here starts small, but it leaves plenty of room for the series to grow.
🎧 Stacy Gonzalez does a great job with the audiobook. She gives Trysten the right mix of emotional depth and young naivety, while still handling the surrounding cast clearly across multiple characters. It’s fresh, easy to settle into, and exactly the kind of dragon fantasy that makes you want to see where the fight is headed next.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, the narrator Stacy Gonzalez, and the authors Vickie & Danny Knestaut for providing me this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
Thank you so much to Tantor Media, the author, and NetGalley for the eArc.
The Dragoneer: Book 1 – The Bonding by Vickie and Danny Knestaut is a classic dragon-rider fantasy with a strong coming-of-age story at its heart. Trysten, the daughter of a dragoneer, has always shared a special connection with the dragons of Aerona, but when her injured father must choose a successor, tradition stands in the way of her ambitions. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the dragon lore is easily the highlight of the book. I loved Trysten, a determined, capable heroine and highlight the strong themes of perseverance, friendship, and challenging outdated traditions. The pacing is steady, with plenty of dragon-centered action and an unfolding mystery that keeps the story moving, while romance takes a backseat to Trysten’s personal journey.
The audiobook narration by Stacy Gonzalez was a great fit for the story. She brings energy and emotion to Trysten’s character, making it easy to connect with her hopes, frustrations, and triumphs. Gonzalez does a solid job differentiating the cast and keeping the story engaging throughout, especially during the bonding and action scenes. Her performance adds warmth and personality to the narrative, enhancing what is already an enjoyable fantasy adventure.
The Dragoneer: Book 1 – The Bonding by Vickie and Danny Knestaut is a classic dragon-rider fantasy with a strong coming-of-age story at its heart. Trysten, the daughter of a dragoneer, has always shared a special connection with the dragons of Aerona, but when her injured father must choose a successor, tradition stands in the way of her ambitions. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the dragon lore is easily the highlight of the book. I loved Trysten, a determined, capable heroine and highlight the strong themes of perseverance, friendship, and challenging outdated traditions. The pacing is steady, with plenty of dragon-centered action and an unfolding mystery that keeps the story moving, while romance takes a backseat to Trysten’s personal journey.
The audiobook narration by Stacy Gonzalez was a great fit for the story. She brings energy and emotion to Trysten’s character, making it easy to connect with her hopes, frustrations, and triumphs. Gonzalez does a solid job differentiating the cast and keeping the story engaging throughout, especially during the bonding and action scenes. Her performance adds warmth and personality to the narrative, enhancing what is already an enjoyable fantasy adventure.
June 3, 2026
The Dragoneer: The Bonding had all the ingredients of a story I should have loved, dragons, high stakes, and excellent audiobook narration but it never quite came together for me.
The biggest issue was the central conflict surrounding whether a girl can become a dragoneer. The outcome felt so predictable that much of the tension disappeared, leaving me waiting for the story to catch up to what seemed inevitable. Combined with slow pacing, this made it difficult to stay fully engaged, even though the ending finally delivers some excitement and a genuinely thrilling note.
I also struggled with the naming conventions. Several names felt out of place within the setting, which repeatedly pulled me out of the world and hurt immersion.
The standout aspect was the audiobook narration. The narrator brought energy, emotion, and distinct character voices that elevated the material and kept me listening even when the story itself wasn’t fully working for me.
Overall, The Dragoneer: The Bonding is lifted by excellent narration and flashes of potential, but its predictable plot, sluggish pacing, and immersion-breaking names ultimately outweigh its strengths, making it a disappointing start to what could have been a much stronger dragon fantasy.
The biggest issue was the central conflict surrounding whether a girl can become a dragoneer. The outcome felt so predictable that much of the tension disappeared, leaving me waiting for the story to catch up to what seemed inevitable. Combined with slow pacing, this made it difficult to stay fully engaged, even though the ending finally delivers some excitement and a genuinely thrilling note.
I also struggled with the naming conventions. Several names felt out of place within the setting, which repeatedly pulled me out of the world and hurt immersion.
The standout aspect was the audiobook narration. The narrator brought energy, emotion, and distinct character voices that elevated the material and kept me listening even when the story itself wasn’t fully working for me.
Overall, The Dragoneer: The Bonding is lifted by excellent narration and flashes of potential, but its predictable plot, sluggish pacing, and immersion-breaking names ultimately outweigh its strengths, making it a disappointing start to what could have been a much stronger dragon fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ALC! I really enjoyed this one, though it definitely skews toward a younger YA vibe to me. The story follows Trysten, who wants nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps and lead the dragons of Aerona into battle. The catch? The title of Dragoneer has always gone to a male heir, or so she has been told. But when war approaches and her father is left crippled with his dragon mortally wounded, she has to step up and prove to the village that she can actually lead.
Honestly, the pacing is really good and it keeps you engaged from start to finish, so you don't get bored at all. The world itself is super interesting but there isn't a ton of heavy world-building, you just kind of figure things out as the story goes along.
I really liked Trysten, even if she can seem a bit naive at times. She wants to be the dragoneer so bad, but she hasn't really learned much beyond just flying the dragons yet, so watching her navigate all the other parts of being a leader is a bit interesting. The plot is mostly centered just around her, but we do get to know some of the secondary characters a smidge, which was a nice touch.
The ending definitely left me very curious to see what will happen next! If you love a classic dragon-rider coming-of-age fantasy, you'll definitely want to check this out.
Honestly, the pacing is really good and it keeps you engaged from start to finish, so you don't get bored at all. The world itself is super interesting but there isn't a ton of heavy world-building, you just kind of figure things out as the story goes along.
I really liked Trysten, even if she can seem a bit naive at times. She wants to be the dragoneer so bad, but she hasn't really learned much beyond just flying the dragons yet, so watching her navigate all the other parts of being a leader is a bit interesting. The plot is mostly centered just around her, but we do get to know some of the secondary characters a smidge, which was a nice touch.
The ending definitely left me very curious to see what will happen next! If you love a classic dragon-rider coming-of-age fantasy, you'll definitely want to check this out.
May 26, 2026
Trysten is the chosen one — bonded to the dragons of Aerona, daughter of the dragoneer, the obvious heir to a title that's never gone to a woman. Then her father is wounded, his dragon dying, and he chooses her childhood friend instead. Great setup.
Where it stumbled for me was Trysten herself. She came across as bratty more than fierce — ignoring her mentors, lying to people she respects. The Knestauts could have given her the same fire without the eye-rolls and the book would have been stronger for it. Stacy Gonzalez's narration was otherwise solid, but her voicing of Trysten leaned whiny in a way that amplified the bratty read rather than working against it.
The worldbuilding is the best thing here — Aerona, the weyr, an alpha dragon with ideas of her own — and that's also a clue to who this book is really for. The reading level doesn't match the YA label. Sentence rhythms, conflict complexity, character interiority — all of it tracks closer to upper middle grade.
3 stars from me. Hand it to a dragon-loving 5th or 6th grader and it might fly.
Where it stumbled for me was Trysten herself. She came across as bratty more than fierce — ignoring her mentors, lying to people she respects. The Knestauts could have given her the same fire without the eye-rolls and the book would have been stronger for it. Stacy Gonzalez's narration was otherwise solid, but her voicing of Trysten leaned whiny in a way that amplified the bratty read rather than working against it.
The worldbuilding is the best thing here — Aerona, the weyr, an alpha dragon with ideas of her own — and that's also a clue to who this book is really for. The reading level doesn't match the YA label. Sentence rhythms, conflict complexity, character interiority — all of it tracks closer to upper middle grade.
3 stars from me. Hand it to a dragon-loving 5th or 6th grader and it might fly.
January 25, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book and ordered book #2 to read about further action and what happens to Trysten and the dragons. In the beginning of this story, I thought she was acting like a child and not as a grown person. I also wondered about how quickly she used hand commands when she's made it abundantly clear that she's not been taught anything regarding the dragons. Her perseverance has paid off by the end of the book. She has a more mature outlook and seems to handle problems better. I must have missed something, though. At the very end, there are prisoners who escaped and were recovered. From where did these dragon riders come? The story ended abruptly, which leaves the reader with a choice. One can say 'yep, this was a decent story' and go on to read another book or one can say 'I want to know what happens next' and buy book #2 in this series. All in all, it's a good, solid read that's not too challenging. I rate it four stars.
May 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC of The Dragoneer
Trysten has grown up around dragons as her father is the Dragoneer; the leader
bonded to the alpha of the dragon horde. Following a battle, his dragon suffers a fatal wound and is nearing death. Without a son to take over and bond with the next alpha, Trysten’s father is determined to choose another man in their village to be his successor. Trysten is certain she should be the next Dragoneer though, and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
This is an easy read, fast-paced, I enjoyed the premise and the main character’s determination. The plot shows lots of promise for the rest of the series and I definitely think it’s a great option for younger readers. Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, the audiobook is very well performed and super easy to follow along, with great pacing and unique character voices.
Trysten has grown up around dragons as her father is the Dragoneer; the leader
bonded to the alpha of the dragon horde. Following a battle, his dragon suffers a fatal wound and is nearing death. Without a son to take over and bond with the next alpha, Trysten’s father is determined to choose another man in their village to be his successor. Trysten is certain she should be the next Dragoneer though, and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
This is an easy read, fast-paced, I enjoyed the premise and the main character’s determination. The plot shows lots of promise for the rest of the series and I definitely think it’s a great option for younger readers. Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, the audiobook is very well performed and super easy to follow along, with great pacing and unique character voices.
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