Ruby Dragon

Riders of Fire #0.7

by Eileen Mueller

Tonio’s juggling with fire—a dying mother, two vengeful gang leaders breathing down his neck, and a tough dragon master hunting him down. Not to mention his step-brother who’s always looking for an excuse to wield a birch switch.

When Tonio tells his friend, Sam, that Ma is dying of the wasting sickness, Sam comes up with a brilliant idea, and they sell secrets to rival street gangs to earn enough for his mother’s healing tonic. But the gang leaders, Biter and Half-Ear, are ruthless, and it’s only a matter of time until they discover Sam and Tonio are double-crossing them.

If only Sam’s ideas weren’t so dangerous.

If only Tonio’s drunken step-brother, Marius, wasn’t constantly beating him.

Then a ruby dragon arrives in Naobia. A tough dragon master, as sharp as a blade, has come to town—a spymaster who hunts down Tonio and Sam and tempts them to go on a dangerous hunt for his dragon’s stolen egg.

Anyone in their right mind would turn him down.

Unless they were desperate for coin…

Coin that could buy Ma’s healing tonic in a flash.

Genres: Fantasy

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2020

About the author

Eileen Mueller is a USA Today multi-award-winning author of heart-pounding fantasy novels that will keep you turning the page.

Dive into her worlds, full of magic, love, adventure and dragons! Eileen lives in New Zealand, in a cave, with four dragonets and a shape shifter, writing for young adults, children and everyone who loves adventure.

Visit her website at www.EileenMuellerAuthor.com for FREE books, new releases or to become a Rider of Fire!

Awards:
2019 Two Storylines NZ Notable Book Awards - Ezaara & Dragon Hero
2017 Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best New Talent
2016 Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Youth Novel
2017 finalist, Romance Writers New Zealand Chapter Short Story contest.
2013 winner, SpecFicNZ Going Global
2013 co-winner, New Zealand Society of Authors’ NorthWrite Collaboration
New Zealander of the Year Local Hero medalist.

Reviews

[Sara Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm not one of Tonio's biggest fans, but this story was super fun. I loved the mischievous boys two-timing the merchants and then the gangs. Mix that up with a missing dragon egg and there is no way the boys will take the simple path to rescue it. But as much fun as that was, learning Tonio's motivation was moving and heartbreaking. The best part of the story was the darling baby dragon. Maybe baby dragons are always wonderful, but the things that it said were sooooo cute! As always, I love everything Eileen Mueller writes and can't wait to read more!

I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.

[Clairisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about Tonio & Sam two friends who tries to make money for a tonic for Toni's grandmother. Not only that they need to find a Dragon egg that was stolen by a Mage and it's not easy because two gangs are also involved. It was great to see how they outsmarted everyone to get that Dragon egg. I also love the little surprise of the Dragon Egg hatching and bonding with Tonio very cute. A really great short read.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nasty dystopian society

The sad story of Tonio's life before Antonika. Sam is a wonderful friend. It's a sorry world in which they live. Even those intended to protect and help others look out only for themselves.

Action-packed. Entertaining. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

I received a copy of this book as a gift.  This is my honest review.

[Mrs. J.P. Cantle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby dragon

Ruby Dragon is a prequel to the Riders of Fire series. It tells the story of how Tonio manages to find a list dragon's egg. He is last seen riding of to Dragon Valley with a tiny Dragon on his shoulder. As they grow they are both trained as bonded pair. Antonia is a beautiful ruby red . Tonio ends up as the. Dragon Council's spymaster.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick introduction to the life of dragon's and dragon riders. A sneak learns that life can be different but it is a difficult lesson in life. His future looks rosy and with a dragon by his side for his next adventures.

Definitely a fun read if you enjoy dragons, particularly the ones brought to you by this author.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great second book in the series, a very different storyline to the first one with some sad bits but thrills and excitement thrown in too, it depicts the start of Tonio’s journey as a dragon rider and how he first connects with his dragon with all the ups and downs in between

[Quilting Tangent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming of age adventure.
In this fast paced, easy to read, short story, you read about Tonio's exciting, crazy life before he bonds with a spunky dragon and comes to Dragons Realm.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good prequel.

This tale tells about Tonio and his challenge to find a red dragon's egg and what happens to him and the egg.

[William J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me guessing

I enjoyed this Prequel giving me some insight into the later series which I thoroughly loved reading as I went from book to book to discover what happened next.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred this prequel to the first one.
No horses were eaten

[Francesco Tehrani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short story but I felt that it should have been longer and not so rushed.

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was stronger than 'Bronze Dragon' and I liked the action and intrigue. Again I felt as though the emotional impact of the story was somewhat stilted and too rushed, but it did build on the world and offered glimpses of the potential in the wider world-building.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tells a bit about Tonio and how he was willing to do anything to help his sick mother. But things change for him after his mother dies and he is bonded to a dragonet and where his life will lead him. How some of the other characters within the books come about.