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Titan's Nest
One boy trains to join the Bitten Knights. Another boy trains to kill them. Their paths, and their blades, are destined to collide. No one in the north was surprised when Maximus Duskfell found his hand between the fangs of a dragon hatchling. Maximus proved to be fearless, unyielding, and physically gifted- the ideal Bitten Knight. Maximus' younger brother, however, is the opposite in nearly every way. But, when a freak accident on his way to the capital, Titan's Nest, prevents Maximus from fulfilling his calling, Darren is forced to secretly inherit his brother's dragon, identity, and destiny. Darren may not have the skill, muscle, or even the support of his brother's dragon to help him survive the training, but he may just have the wit and the will. Clear on the other side of the world, a mysterious cult has been quietly rising to power. Darren's own friend, Ryker, has found himself entangled in their ranks. Their purpose? Butcher the Bitten Knights. This story is told in first-person from the perspective of two friends, both unknowingly being trained to kill the other. The reader is forced to choose for themselves which character they believe is on the 'correct side' of the conflict as both parties inch closer and closer to an inevitable war. Titan's Nest wields a plot driven by strained relationships, unpredictable twists, heart wrenching decisions, and a vibrant magical world.
532 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
57 people are currently reading
1428 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 24, 2024
Not only do I have a paperback, but the author offered me an audible code to check out the audiobook! I just wish I had listened sooner.
This is a dragon rider novel that features an underdog, found family, academy-like training, and uneven odds. The characters are fleshed out and the world feels real. I particularly liked that the novel does not tell you which side is the “correct” one to root for.
The dragons imbue their riders with fury, giving them enhanced strength, speed, and dragon scale-like skin. I enjoyed the slight dragonrider twist in that each dragon gives their rider a unique gifted power. Whether it’s lightning, water, fire, or air, the elemental powers felt like The Last Airbender on dragons. The dragons can grow large to riding size at will by their riders imbuing them back with their own pool of fury. It is a 50/50 relationship.
The world could use some additional building, especially because they take up a big portion being trained. But it is only because I am interested that it could use more. I didn’t really find it lacking, just interesting.
I cannot fathom why more of my SFF friends have not picked this book up yet. I know what side I’m choosing. I wonder if you’ll agree.
Personally a 5/5*. Cannot wait for a book 2.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-titans...
This is a dragon rider novel that features an underdog, found family, academy-like training, and uneven odds. The characters are fleshed out and the world feels real. I particularly liked that the novel does not tell you which side is the “correct” one to root for.
The dragons imbue their riders with fury, giving them enhanced strength, speed, and dragon scale-like skin. I enjoyed the slight dragonrider twist in that each dragon gives their rider a unique gifted power. Whether it’s lightning, water, fire, or air, the elemental powers felt like The Last Airbender on dragons. The dragons can grow large to riding size at will by their riders imbuing them back with their own pool of fury. It is a 50/50 relationship.
The world could use some additional building, especially because they take up a big portion being trained. But it is only because I am interested that it could use more. I didn’t really find it lacking, just interesting.
I cannot fathom why more of my SFF friends have not picked this book up yet. I know what side I’m choosing. I wonder if you’ll agree.
Personally a 5/5*. Cannot wait for a book 2.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-titans...
March 6, 2022
I absolutely loved the world building in this book! If you're someone who enjoys a high fantasy story with well though out structure this is the book for you. The lore in the book adds to the complexity of the world the author has created, allowing me to imagine this colorful world while I read it.
The crew of characters is so fun and diverse! There is someone for everyone to connect with. I'm excited to see each storyline build over the course of the next couple of books.
Its a must read for lovers of Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter!
The crew of characters is so fun and diverse! There is someone for everyone to connect with. I'm excited to see each storyline build over the course of the next couple of books.
Its a must read for lovers of Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter!
April 19, 2022
This has become one of my favorite YA books i have ever read. Titan’s Nest has a similar feel to many of my favorite stories of an unimpressive character meeting great heights through determination, yet has so many twists and turns that you can’t really put your finger on exactly what’s going on nor what’s about to happen. Definitely leaves you on the edge of your seat and is a big time page turner.
February 28, 2025
4.75✨
Darren and Tenebros are my new favorite duo! I loved the dry humor and unique world of this story. It felt like the perfect blend of classic fantasy and new ideas. There were moments that had me laughing and moments that had me emphatically saying “no, no, no!” Such a good book! And I can’t wait for book 2!
Darren and Tenebros are my new favorite duo! I loved the dry humor and unique world of this story. It felt like the perfect blend of classic fantasy and new ideas. There were moments that had me laughing and moments that had me emphatically saying “no, no, no!” Such a good book! And I can’t wait for book 2!
September 1, 2024
A new series by one of my favorite authors!! Loved this adventure! Captivating action and moving characters. If you haven’t read a T.D. Orel yet, pick up one of his books!
Can’t wait for the rest of this series!!!!
**reread**
Just listened to the audiobook version of this on audible. Once again, such a fun adventure and the audio was a great way to really experience all the different characters.
Can’t wait for the rest of this series!!!!
**reread**
Just listened to the audiobook version of this on audible. Once again, such a fun adventure and the audio was a great way to really experience all the different characters.
February 22, 2025
This deserves so much more hype than it has gotten. This is such a fun twist on my beloved boy-and-his-dragon trope; the twist being that the dragon does not very much care for his boy, and in fact would rather not be near this boy at all if it could be helped. If you were an Eragon kid and a LOTR kid (or even a Rangers Apprentice kid, although there are fewer of those) pick this up because I think you'll have a great time! It's a refreshing addition to the Dragon-fantasy realm and I can't wait for more. I just loved the dragons & the magic system was so interesting. The characters were all pretty interesting as well, although I wish some of the side characters were explored a bit more. With most multi-POV stories I tend to have a favorite but I really loved every character POV we got, and I can't wait to read more from all of them. I read this as an E-book and I will be getting myself a physical copy for my shelves becuase oh boy does it deserve to be on my dragon shelf with all my other dragon books.
Yes there are some issues, mainly in the first half where I kind of felt like it took a good while for the plot to really get going. But honestly this is nothing that I wouldn't expect from any debut novel, and nothing that would deter me from reading more in the future. I'm so excited for whatever T.D Orel writes next.
Yes there are some issues, mainly in the first half where I kind of felt like it took a good while for the plot to really get going. But honestly this is nothing that I wouldn't expect from any debut novel, and nothing that would deter me from reading more in the future. I'm so excited for whatever T.D Orel writes next.
July 16, 2025
I'll admit the start was a little slow, but Darren grew on me. He has a tenacity that is admirable. His brother was kinda a pain, never did care about him.
Had some How to Train your Dragon vibes and I supported that. Some unique spins on the dragon rider trope. A little predictable, but it honestly worked in this setting. Still trying to figure Roark out. Is he bad? Why seek revenge? Curious to see where 2nd book will take the crew.
Really my one quibble was the editing. Lots of odd hyphens and spacing issues. Heard he is re-releasing the book with better editing. So hopefully he got a little help.
Would recommend if looking for a lighter YA fantasy.
Had some How to Train your Dragon vibes and I supported that. Some unique spins on the dragon rider trope. A little predictable, but it honestly worked in this setting. Still trying to figure Roark out. Is he bad? Why seek revenge? Curious to see where 2nd book will take the crew.
Really my one quibble was the editing. Lots of odd hyphens and spacing issues. Heard he is re-releasing the book with better editing. So hopefully he got a little help.
Would recommend if looking for a lighter YA fantasy.
October 11, 2023
Titans Nest by @titansnestseries
First off... I need book 2 now. That ending was cruel and mean and I just need to carry on reading.
This is such an incredible book for people who LOVE dragon stories (Fourth Wing lovers, hit this up) but also it was such an easy and enjoyable read that I devoured it super quick. There was never a time in the book where I felt confused as to who the people were, what the plot was or what was happening. It was perfectly written so that people who love fantasy and people who are new to fantasy could both read with ease.
I also love that we see alot of sister/twin stories, but I love that this one is about brothers. It's not something I've read alot of and I loved the difference having two male characters!
The cast of characters were brilliant and lovable but also HUGE. There are so many brilliant and unique characters within the story.
Gerrard makes me think of a big burly man (a bit like hagrid) with pockets full of creatures from all over the continent.
He's one of my absolute favorites! Behind Tenebros of course. But I also loved seeing Rykers POV.
The world was lush and the descriptions were so good you could imagine yourself there with ease. Nerium was my favorite place so far. It's home to the royal guard, a guard made up of hummingbirds with riders hidden amongst a thick green forest thriving with life.
I loved the whole overall plot and think that Darren is a character really grew from where he started on his journey and I felt like through the book, I went along his journey with him.
I will 100% be autobuying ANYTHING Tanner writes from now on because he is truly talented and brilliant.
If you haven't picked this up yet, don't put it on a TBR list... Bump it to the top and pick it up now
First off... I need book 2 now. That ending was cruel and mean and I just need to carry on reading.
This is such an incredible book for people who LOVE dragon stories (Fourth Wing lovers, hit this up) but also it was such an easy and enjoyable read that I devoured it super quick. There was never a time in the book where I felt confused as to who the people were, what the plot was or what was happening. It was perfectly written so that people who love fantasy and people who are new to fantasy could both read with ease.
I also love that we see alot of sister/twin stories, but I love that this one is about brothers. It's not something I've read alot of and I loved the difference having two male characters!
The cast of characters were brilliant and lovable but also HUGE. There are so many brilliant and unique characters within the story.
Gerrard makes me think of a big burly man (a bit like hagrid) with pockets full of creatures from all over the continent.
He's one of my absolute favorites! Behind Tenebros of course. But I also loved seeing Rykers POV.
The world was lush and the descriptions were so good you could imagine yourself there with ease. Nerium was my favorite place so far. It's home to the royal guard, a guard made up of hummingbirds with riders hidden amongst a thick green forest thriving with life.
I loved the whole overall plot and think that Darren is a character really grew from where he started on his journey and I felt like through the book, I went along his journey with him.
I will 100% be autobuying ANYTHING Tanner writes from now on because he is truly talented and brilliant.
If you haven't picked this up yet, don't put it on a TBR list... Bump it to the top and pick it up now
March 19, 2025
2.75 kinda predictable. You can def tell that this is a debut YA novel.
September 24, 2025
This book was on my radar for quite a while due to the dragon rider aspect. Come to find out, there was a ton of hype around this because of its take on the trope which had me even more intrigued. When I first started this book, everything seemed to go according to plan, but then we have a huge twist that throws everything on its head and it doesn’t stop there. The twists keep coming and coming all the way until the final chapter. The characters in this book are very well written and developed with compelling backgrounds and are all relatable. The overall story kept me engaged as this is multi POV. Both of these characters who we journey through this story with are very likable and I grew to feel like I knew each of them personally. And in some cases, I was each of them at some point in life. The world is rich in history and tradition and it’s epic in scale but not to a point that was confusing. The take on the dragon rider trope was fantastically different such a breath of fresh air. I was thrown for a loop it seems at every turn and it was a wonderful ride. I was just downed in the pages of this book and loved every second of it.
November 19, 2025
My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genre 📚 Upper YA Fantasy
- Language 🤐 mild
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 violence/killing, domestic abuse, death of family member, past infidelity
This is THE move for an Upper YA Fantasy read! I am so excited to continue on in this series!
What’s not to love? A sick cover design, dragon riding, twists and turns throughout the plot, multiple points of view, weird insect inspired characters. I mean…. come on, the teens are gonna love it.
The main character gave big time Hiccup from How to Train your Dragon! I loved his self deprecating humor and his grit and determination. There’s some great character development and found family. The reader is quickly thrown into fast moving plot, and I was hooked right from the get go. There’s plenty of chapters that end on cliff hangers to keep readers wanting more.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator’s voice reminded me of Paul Sparks, it was a great narration to listen to. Very excited to have this in my list of YA fantasy books I can recommend! I personally recommend this as an upper YA read due to the mild language sprinkled throughout and themes of domestic abuse.
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genre 📚 Upper YA Fantasy
- Language 🤐 mild
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 violence/killing, domestic abuse, death of family member, past infidelity
This is THE move for an Upper YA Fantasy read! I am so excited to continue on in this series!
What’s not to love? A sick cover design, dragon riding, twists and turns throughout the plot, multiple points of view, weird insect inspired characters. I mean…. come on, the teens are gonna love it.
The main character gave big time Hiccup from How to Train your Dragon! I loved his self deprecating humor and his grit and determination. There’s some great character development and found family. The reader is quickly thrown into fast moving plot, and I was hooked right from the get go. There’s plenty of chapters that end on cliff hangers to keep readers wanting more.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator’s voice reminded me of Paul Sparks, it was a great narration to listen to. Very excited to have this in my list of YA fantasy books I can recommend! I personally recommend this as an upper YA read due to the mild language sprinkled throughout and themes of domestic abuse.
May 31, 2024
This has been on my shelf for a while and I’m SO glad I finally read it. I don’t give 5 stars lightly but I think this book was truly deserving of it! The characters, pacing, plot, and WORLD BUILDING were beautifully done. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
I’d recommend this if you enjoy (don’t ask me to explain why): ATLA, the Lightning Thief, dragons, Naruto, underdogs, crying
(I read this as a physical book/audiobook hybrid and would also like to say the audiobook is splendid if you want to read that way)
I’d recommend this if you enjoy (don’t ask me to explain why): ATLA, the Lightning Thief, dragons, Naruto, underdogs, crying
(I read this as a physical book/audiobook hybrid and would also like to say the audiobook is splendid if you want to read that way)
March 21, 2025
So good! Dragons, magic, and major plot twists. Multiple povs. Clean fantasy with a tiny bit of romance. Loved the world he created. New author that deserves more hype 👏. Author is Christian and ends the book with a verse which just made me like him more 😂. Second one is supposed to come out soon according to my husband who messaged the author 🥰.
April 6, 2024
This is the story I’ve been looking for!!!! Perfect fantasy story, it felt nostalgic reading it. I want MORE PLEASE HELLO WHERE WHEN
I am a little bummed cause a couple pages randomly fell out of my book but obviously that has nothing to do with the story 😂
Highly recommend this book regardless, I’m a slow reader and have never read a 500+ book so quickly in my entire life.
I am a little bummed cause a couple pages randomly fell out of my book but obviously that has nothing to do with the story 😂
Highly recommend this book regardless, I’m a slow reader and have never read a 500+ book so quickly in my entire life.
May 12, 2025
This was such a fun and fresh take on the dragon rider origin story. The main character is basically a side character and it is done so well and overall just a fun and engaging read. Can't wait to see what happens next.
October 9, 2023
I am fucking obsessed with this book. Full review to come
November 23, 2025
*tries patiently waiting for book 2 to arrive in the mail*
December 30, 2024
A crybaby hero and a lot of anxiety. Glad to finally find a book where the hero and his dragon do NOT get along 😂 A refreshing read after so many disappointing dragon books!
November 13, 2024
This book deserves to be waaaay more popular!!!!! It's probably one of the best high fantasy's I have read in a long time, it was great reading a book where the plot didn't need romance to be good/distract from plot holes and poor writing. Reading the Titans Nest really brought back the feeling I had when I was 12 years old and reading The Inheritance Cycle for the first time (but let's face it, this was way better in terms of story quality and writing)! I really hope the author continues the series (even if it's just a duology) so I can find out what happens!! I think the mark of a good YA book is that it can be enjoyed by adults too 🥰
I LOVED the way magic (aka fury) and dragons were done in the book! I don't think I have come across a book where dragons could change sizes (referred to switching between their natural form and full size form) depending on whether or not their magic was needed in that way at the moment. You get the best of both worlds: tiny lap dragons and ferocious giants that can be ridden into battle by their human partners. And the way the dragon's magic is related to where in Dazawrath they are from and who they bonded with is a nice touch in addition to size classification because then it doesn't feel repetitive by having the 6 Bitten Knights (and Wards) be almost carbine copies of each other on identical dragons. I also really liked how the training was not instantaneous, which is something that gets on my nerves, 6 months of training post getting chosen by the dragon (it's more like 4 ish for Darren) seemed realistic given the improved strength and senses that happen after bonding but we weren't walked through every step of the process so it didn't feel like a never ending plot point in the book. And I knew Maximus' death (which is not spoilers since the synopsis talks about how Darren must take his brothers place after his death!) was going to happen but damn, it really hits you right in the feels because the tension waiting and wondering when it's going to happen really grows 😂 The author struck the right balance IMO with including Darren's grief over his brother while he tried to step into his brother shoes and I hope that theme doesn't get forgotten when the story continues. Grief is a realistic part off life that we all unfortunately have to experience and it was nice having that represented in a book instead of the MC being an unfeeling robot!
In terms of flow of the writing (descriptions, dialogue, paragraph flow etc), the core story that's the foundation for the writing and the world it's set in I would say it's on par quality wise with other popular fantasy authors whose books I have read; to name a few: Brandon Sanderson, George R. R. Martin, Victoria Aveyard and Cornelia Funke. The banter was really entertaining and funny and the descriptions were detailed but not overwhelming, there was enough left up to the readers interpretation while still giving guidance on how various creatures and places looked. A lot of the creatures share similarities with some creatures from our world so that makes it easier to picture things too.
I do have a few gripes with some formatting issues that made me have to reread dialogue a few times before comprehending that 2 characters were speaking in the same paragraph without a mention that the speaker has changed to a different character than the one that started the paragraph. It doesn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story though!! It's likely that this was just a missed "enter" input before the book was published to paperback since in about half of the instances there were back to back quotation marks like this: "Dialogue." "Dialogue." One other thing that I noticed was that section breaks were used occasionally in the book, but not as much as would have been nice. Sometimes it just felt like I needed a breath in a long chapter that transitioned from something happening so you are shadowing the characters in detail to a long travel sequence and a section break would have really helped. Again though, it in now way took away from my enjoyment of the story so it's still 5 stars for me!!! I know that this is a self published book and its likely that these things were accidently missed. It's still REALLY worth the read and future rereads! I am eagerly and hopefully awaiting the next book in series 😊
I LOVED the way magic (aka fury) and dragons were done in the book! I don't think I have come across a book where dragons could change sizes (referred to switching between their natural form and full size form) depending on whether or not their magic was needed in that way at the moment. You get the best of both worlds: tiny lap dragons and ferocious giants that can be ridden into battle by their human partners. And the way the dragon's magic is related to where in Dazawrath they are from and who they bonded with is a nice touch in addition to size classification because then it doesn't feel repetitive by having the 6 Bitten Knights (and Wards) be almost carbine copies of each other on identical dragons. I also really liked how the training was not instantaneous, which is something that gets on my nerves, 6 months of training post getting chosen by the dragon (it's more like 4 ish for Darren) seemed realistic given the improved strength and senses that happen after bonding but we weren't walked through every step of the process so it didn't feel like a never ending plot point in the book. And I knew Maximus' death (which is not spoilers since the synopsis talks about how Darren must take his brothers place after his death!) was going to happen but damn, it really hits you right in the feels because the tension waiting and wondering when it's going to happen really grows 😂 The author struck the right balance IMO with including Darren's grief over his brother while he tried to step into his brother shoes and I hope that theme doesn't get forgotten when the story continues. Grief is a realistic part off life that we all unfortunately have to experience and it was nice having that represented in a book instead of the MC being an unfeeling robot!
In terms of flow of the writing (descriptions, dialogue, paragraph flow etc), the core story that's the foundation for the writing and the world it's set in I would say it's on par quality wise with other popular fantasy authors whose books I have read; to name a few: Brandon Sanderson, George R. R. Martin, Victoria Aveyard and Cornelia Funke. The banter was really entertaining and funny and the descriptions were detailed but not overwhelming, there was enough left up to the readers interpretation while still giving guidance on how various creatures and places looked. A lot of the creatures share similarities with some creatures from our world so that makes it easier to picture things too.
I do have a few gripes with some formatting issues that made me have to reread dialogue a few times before comprehending that 2 characters were speaking in the same paragraph without a mention that the speaker has changed to a different character than the one that started the paragraph. It doesn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story though!! It's likely that this was just a missed "enter" input before the book was published to paperback since in about half of the instances there were back to back quotation marks like this: "Dialogue." "Dialogue." One other thing that I noticed was that section breaks were used occasionally in the book, but not as much as would have been nice. Sometimes it just felt like I needed a breath in a long chapter that transitioned from something happening so you are shadowing the characters in detail to a long travel sequence and a section break would have really helped. Again though, it in now way took away from my enjoyment of the story so it's still 5 stars for me!!! I know that this is a self published book and its likely that these things were accidently missed. It's still REALLY worth the read and future rereads! I am eagerly and hopefully awaiting the next book in series 😊
May 21, 2025
5 star banger! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content warnings: death, spousal abuse, war, bullying
✨plot: 5/5 🌶️spice: 0/5
✔️dragons/ dragon bonds
✔️ training
✔️multiple POV
✔️elemental magic
✔️second chances
✔️hidden truths
✔️Betrayal
✔️possible emotional damage from the cliffhanger
✔️ Mentor
✔️ chosen one
First off, let me start off by saying I HIGHLY recommend this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The dynamic of the characters was well done and I became emotionally connected to them. Especially Gerard, I mean cmon he’s my favorite. Darren’s growth was wonderful to experience and I was rooting for him from the beginning because he had my type of dry humor so that was a plus. The descriptors and world building was another great aspect to this story. One of the best parts of this book was the unique magic system with the Fury between the dragons and its’ bitten one. I think it was so original as well, the way dragons could transform. The plots twists were top notch and they built upon each other. I mean seriously grab a bowl of popcorn because it was an epic reveal every time.
With all the being said of course here comes the drab. It took a little bit to get into I will say. At least 35 pages or so. Whatever that’s okay. My biggest issue was the editing. There were lots of editing errors, such as hyphenated work breaks that clearly shouldn’t have been there. There were a couple other issues that were eye sores but it didn’t take away from the story. I also wished there would have been a page in the beginning of the book that had the kingdoms elements/signet powers and the 3 types of dragon transformations. That would have been helpful because I had to keep remembering and finally tabbed a page with those two pages of information in the middle of the book. I get it’s self published so ignore this crap and go read the book anyways because I WANT TO READ BOOK 2 like yesterday!
This was an epic adventure and I’m a Bitten Knight waiting for the saga to continue!
*side note: loved the last page with Isaiah; I saw that and thought of the greatest story we all need told to us over and over again.
Content warnings: death, spousal abuse, war, bullying
✨plot: 5/5 🌶️spice: 0/5
✔️dragons/ dragon bonds
✔️ training
✔️multiple POV
✔️elemental magic
✔️second chances
✔️hidden truths
✔️Betrayal
✔️possible emotional damage from the cliffhanger
✔️ Mentor
✔️ chosen one
First off, let me start off by saying I HIGHLY recommend this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The dynamic of the characters was well done and I became emotionally connected to them. Especially Gerard, I mean cmon he’s my favorite. Darren’s growth was wonderful to experience and I was rooting for him from the beginning because he had my type of dry humor so that was a plus. The descriptors and world building was another great aspect to this story. One of the best parts of this book was the unique magic system with the Fury between the dragons and its’ bitten one. I think it was so original as well, the way dragons could transform. The plots twists were top notch and they built upon each other. I mean seriously grab a bowl of popcorn because it was an epic reveal every time.
With all the being said of course here comes the drab. It took a little bit to get into I will say. At least 35 pages or so. Whatever that’s okay. My biggest issue was the editing. There were lots of editing errors, such as hyphenated work breaks that clearly shouldn’t have been there. There were a couple other issues that were eye sores but it didn’t take away from the story. I also wished there would have been a page in the beginning of the book that had the kingdoms elements/signet powers and the 3 types of dragon transformations. That would have been helpful because I had to keep remembering and finally tabbed a page with those two pages of information in the middle of the book. I get it’s self published so ignore this crap and go read the book anyways because I WANT TO READ BOOK 2 like yesterday!
This was an epic adventure and I’m a Bitten Knight waiting for the saga to continue!
*side note: loved the last page with Isaiah; I saw that and thought of the greatest story we all need told to us over and over again.
October 22, 2024
This book is everything I thought it would be and more. I hyped myself up for this book, watching T.D. Orel's instagram reels and posts about it, so I came in with high hopes. By chapter 4, I could not stop thinking about this book. This book has flaws, it does, but it is so good. This is one of the best indie books I've read, and each time I think about this book, I think about how indie or published is just a label because this book blows some published books out of the water.
The world building for this book was great. I will admit, there were some instances where it felt odd, or maybe too 'cliche', like with the characters last name's, or even the origin story itself, which mirrors Song of Ice and Fire or Faithful and the Fallen. However, it needs this to have character, to stand apart. The last names of the Wards seem funny and simple, but it adds to the world more than I thought at first glance.
Titan's Nest has some very memorable characters. Gerald is maybe my favorite out of all of them, he just has such a cozy fantasy vibe that makes him very huggable. Maximus is also a favorite of mine, since his character is very distinct, with how he is the 'stronger' brother and wants to take care of the family.
There are also a handful of errors in this book, whether they be grammatical or spelling, but it didn't break it for me at all. I will admit that there is a chapter in my print that says one POV, but is actually another. That is a little bit of a big deal, but still its whatever. The story is what matters in the end.
Story wise, I feel that some of the training was rushed, but it ended up being fine, it didn't effect it much. I just wish that I got to see more time with the wards growing together, since it took place over many months.
Over all this book is a fantastical dragon rider. There is room to grow, but that just means that Orel's second book will be even greater. This is what makes me love this book so much, itching for the next book. I am happy to be included in the Bitten Knights!
The world building for this book was great. I will admit, there were some instances where it felt odd, or maybe too 'cliche', like with the characters last name's, or even the origin story itself, which mirrors Song of Ice and Fire or Faithful and the Fallen. However, it needs this to have character, to stand apart. The last names of the Wards seem funny and simple, but it adds to the world more than I thought at first glance.
Titan's Nest has some very memorable characters. Gerald is maybe my favorite out of all of them, he just has such a cozy fantasy vibe that makes him very huggable. Maximus is also a favorite of mine, since his character is very distinct, with how he is the 'stronger' brother and wants to take care of the family.
There are also a handful of errors in this book, whether they be grammatical or spelling, but it didn't break it for me at all. I will admit that there is a chapter in my print that says one POV, but is actually another. That is a little bit of a big deal, but still its whatever. The story is what matters in the end.
Story wise, I feel that some of the training was rushed, but it ended up being fine, it didn't effect it much. I just wish that I got to see more time with the wards growing together, since it took place over many months.
Over all this book is a fantastical dragon rider. There is room to grow, but that just means that Orel's second book will be even greater. This is what makes me love this book so much, itching for the next book. I am happy to be included in the Bitten Knights!
March 11, 2025
I have always liked dragon books, and this one brings some new ideas that are very interesting. I really liked the worldbuilding, history, and the way the dragons worked. There was obviously a lot of thought and purpose put into it, and I can really appreciate that.
The writing is pretty good, but the characters felt underdeveloped, and it does read like a debut novel. At first, I was pretty invested in Ryker, but that feeling faded after the first few chapters. I also had trouble connecting to Darren. While I don’t necessarily dislike fearful or cowardly characters, his fearfulness never felt fully explored. It sometimes came across as more of an occasional quirk than a consistent, evolving trait (except in the beginning, where it was handled well with actual consequences, but then not really touched upon again).
I will continue the series and hope that the weaker aspects of this book will be improved on. The dragons themselves hopefully get more of a voice too, especially Tenebros. There’s quite a bit of potential here, and I’m interested to see where the story goes next.
The writing is pretty good, but the characters felt underdeveloped, and it does read like a debut novel. At first, I was pretty invested in Ryker, but that feeling faded after the first few chapters. I also had trouble connecting to Darren. While I don’t necessarily dislike fearful or cowardly characters, his fearfulness never felt fully explored. It sometimes came across as more of an occasional quirk than a consistent, evolving trait (except in the beginning, where it was handled well with actual consequences, but then not really touched upon again).
I will continue the series and hope that the weaker aspects of this book will be improved on. The dragons themselves hopefully get more of a voice too, especially Tenebros. There’s quite a bit of potential here, and I’m interested to see where the story goes next.
March 13, 2023
Wow. Easily one of the best epic YA fantasy books I have ever read. And I promise you I am not exaggerating!
The vibe is reminiscent of titles such as The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Witcher, Game of Thrones and Eragon! Don't be fooled by the YA categorisation, the story is highly complex, with dual POVs and fantastic writing. We read two story lines simultaneously, which start and end together, taking different journeys in between. I think this is my favourite writing style as it keeps me interested and I really enjoy spotting hints and snippet of what's to come.
The characters in this book are so multidimensional and well constructed. YA fantasy can sometimes jump too quickly from a character discovering their power to then suddenly mastering it. However, Orel has constructed characters who had to work to find themselves and are still not perfect or all powerful! The bonds between characters felt authentic, changing alongside changes in the characters. I must say, I really enjoyed the one short chapter from different character's POV. On the topic of bonds, the idea of bonds between dragons and the Bitten was an element I loved, especially with the addition of Fury, the very interesting magic system in the book. The dragons reflected their chosen Ward in such a complementary way that it was evident that the dragons brought out the best in the characters. Who knew that dragons could have such strong personalities?!
There is a political undertone throughout the book, adding another element of intricacy. This was an integral part of the plot, but the author avoided boring political explanation by showing characters interactions rather than info dumping. The world itself in which the book is set is constructed beautifully, with each Bitten Elder/Knight/Ward having specific affinities related to where they come from. The way in which this was written was memorable, meaning I didn't lose track of who could do what (which is often an issue I have!).
I really cannot recommend this book enough, for young adults and adults alike. Truly a masterpiece and I will be eagerly awaiting my reunion with the Bitten!
The vibe is reminiscent of titles such as The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Witcher, Game of Thrones and Eragon! Don't be fooled by the YA categorisation, the story is highly complex, with dual POVs and fantastic writing. We read two story lines simultaneously, which start and end together, taking different journeys in between. I think this is my favourite writing style as it keeps me interested and I really enjoy spotting hints and snippet of what's to come.
The characters in this book are so multidimensional and well constructed. YA fantasy can sometimes jump too quickly from a character discovering their power to then suddenly mastering it. However, Orel has constructed characters who had to work to find themselves and are still not perfect or all powerful! The bonds between characters felt authentic, changing alongside changes in the characters. I must say, I really enjoyed the one short chapter from different character's POV. On the topic of bonds, the idea of bonds between dragons and the Bitten was an element I loved, especially with the addition of Fury, the very interesting magic system in the book. The dragons reflected their chosen Ward in such a complementary way that it was evident that the dragons brought out the best in the characters. Who knew that dragons could have such strong personalities?!
There is a political undertone throughout the book, adding another element of intricacy. This was an integral part of the plot, but the author avoided boring political explanation by showing characters interactions rather than info dumping. The world itself in which the book is set is constructed beautifully, with each Bitten Elder/Knight/Ward having specific affinities related to where they come from. The way in which this was written was memorable, meaning I didn't lose track of who could do what (which is often an issue I have!).
I really cannot recommend this book enough, for young adults and adults alike. Truly a masterpiece and I will be eagerly awaiting my reunion with the Bitten!
July 30, 2024
This was a FANTASTIC read!! It's ERAGON meets STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE, and is everything I love in high fantasy. Fast-paced enough to keep my interest, but plenty of worldbuilding (without getting TOO heavy).
The narrative voice is fantastic for the story--overall, I thoroughly loved the writing. It's perfect for this type of tale! Detailed enough to set the stage and create an immersive world, but doesn't get bogged down and flowery.
The characters are the sweet spot, though. I fell in love with Maximus to start (because big-brother types of my jam), but Darren wormed his way into my heart (as did Tenebros). By the end, I was dramatically cheering them on. I loved Ryker, too! Overall, there's a great cast of characters to enjoy here!
The plot is fascinating and excellently executed. Things at the start of the book are expertly set up for big payoffs by the end. Let's just say I have never been so sad to see random guards die on the battlefield, and I'll leave it at that.
My only complaint about this book is it desperately needs a proofreader. Normally, I might take off a star for this, but dang, I loved the book so much that I couldn't do it. Author, please hire a fantastic proofreader--this book is SO worth it. Readers? IGNORE TYPOS, READ ANYWAY. Seriously! Don't miss out on this.
Content is PG-13, but I'd recommend maybe for older teens and up due to violent scenarios (and minor language, if I recall correctly). Nothing horrendously terrible to worry about in this one, which I'm so thankful for.
I look forward to future books~~~ And I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for high fantasy WITH DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
The narrative voice is fantastic for the story--overall, I thoroughly loved the writing. It's perfect for this type of tale! Detailed enough to set the stage and create an immersive world, but doesn't get bogged down and flowery.
The characters are the sweet spot, though. I fell in love with Maximus to start (because big-brother types of my jam), but Darren wormed his way into my heart (as did Tenebros). By the end, I was dramatically cheering them on. I loved Ryker, too! Overall, there's a great cast of characters to enjoy here!
The plot is fascinating and excellently executed. Things at the start of the book are expertly set up for big payoffs by the end. Let's just say I have never been so sad to see random guards die on the battlefield, and I'll leave it at that.
My only complaint about this book is it desperately needs a proofreader. Normally, I might take off a star for this, but dang, I loved the book so much that I couldn't do it. Author, please hire a fantastic proofreader--this book is SO worth it. Readers? IGNORE TYPOS, READ ANYWAY. Seriously! Don't miss out on this.
Content is PG-13, but I'd recommend maybe for older teens and up due to violent scenarios (and minor language, if I recall correctly). Nothing horrendously terrible to worry about in this one, which I'm so thankful for.
I look forward to future books~~~ And I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for high fantasy WITH DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22, 2025
3.75
What a great start to a YA fantasy saga.
Epic fantasy, Dragons, Journey style fantasy that turns into an Academy Setting. Literally so many things I love all rolled into one, which I thought would be over the top but somehow worked.
The story starts out a little slower paced and kicks up around the 50% mark. I actually really enjoyed the beginning with the timeline of this story because it gave the reader time to immerse in Darren's backstory and the world. That pacing hits the bricks though and I will say the middle felt a little jumbled as your introduced to new characters and the lore of the dragons. Darren has immense challenges and I really like how MOST of them are handled. I do feel at times his character was a bit lacking but I'm hoping we see more of his personality come forth in book 2. I see the potential for him to be unforgettable to me. His dry humor in intense situations was hysterical to me.
Overall this story is clearly well thought out and while it could use a touch of editing to make it a little smoother, I really just had the best time while reading.
If you are looking for a YA fantasy that has a reluctant hero, unique magic, and a world that feels oh so nostalgic you should absolutely pick this up.
What a great start to a YA fantasy saga.
Epic fantasy, Dragons, Journey style fantasy that turns into an Academy Setting. Literally so many things I love all rolled into one, which I thought would be over the top but somehow worked.
The story starts out a little slower paced and kicks up around the 50% mark. I actually really enjoyed the beginning with the timeline of this story because it gave the reader time to immerse in Darren's backstory and the world. That pacing hits the bricks though and I will say the middle felt a little jumbled as your introduced to new characters and the lore of the dragons. Darren has immense challenges and I really like how MOST of them are handled. I do feel at times his character was a bit lacking but I'm hoping we see more of his personality come forth in book 2. I see the potential for him to be unforgettable to me. His dry humor in intense situations was hysterical to me.
Overall this story is clearly well thought out and while it could use a touch of editing to make it a little smoother, I really just had the best time while reading.
If you are looking for a YA fantasy that has a reluctant hero, unique magic, and a world that feels oh so nostalgic you should absolutely pick this up.
May 10, 2025
This book was excellent, anyone who liked Eragon will definitely enjoy this book. The book has excellent characters, Gerald is definitely my favorite, he felt like an extremely well crafted DnD NPC. The book has some very emotional moments as well. You can tell the author is very intelligent and knows how to get you emotionally invested. I am certainly a fan and can’t wait until book 2 releases. You should definitely read it as well. With all that being said though I do have a few complaints. Very minor spoilers ahead. I didn’t really care much at all for Ryker’s chapters, he felt too much like a Murtagh clone, and it would be very hard for anyone to make a character as cool as Murtagh. His power definitely made him come across as a little bit of a Mary Sue as well. Also, the ending felt extremely abrupt. There were some very well written twists that I did not see coming, but it felt like there were some chapters missing from the ending. I was definitely surprised there wasn’t a Ryker chapter for the ending to wrap up his side of the story for book 1. Like I said though, great book, and I’d certainly recommend getting it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
3.5/5
Good with the potential for the rest of the series to be great.
Not bad for a debut author and a self-published/produced work.
If anything it reads very similar to a YA series on Dragon riders. It has a very derivative magic system but still able to keep you interested. The main characters are predictable but enjoyable. I can easily see TDs humor throughout.
My biggest problem with it was the pacing and flow. It reads choppy and is at times trudging along through the plot as one hikes through some feet of snow. I would have like to have read one complete story in one perspective and then the next book in the others. I feel like I needed more development earlier instead of the whole “at the end of the book, he’ll obtain great power beyond belief” trope.
More importantly though, I can honestly see the author’s intent and passion. I really enjoyed this book and it had some twist I honestly didn’t see coming. It would be cool to see this as an anime.
Good with the potential for the rest of the series to be great.
Not bad for a debut author and a self-published/produced work.
If anything it reads very similar to a YA series on Dragon riders. It has a very derivative magic system but still able to keep you interested. The main characters are predictable but enjoyable. I can easily see TDs humor throughout.
My biggest problem with it was the pacing and flow. It reads choppy and is at times trudging along through the plot as one hikes through some feet of snow. I would have like to have read one complete story in one perspective and then the next book in the others. I feel like I needed more development earlier instead of the whole “at the end of the book, he’ll obtain great power beyond belief” trope.
More importantly though, I can honestly see the author’s intent and passion. I really enjoyed this book and it had some twist I honestly didn’t see coming. It would be cool to see this as an anime.
February 2, 2025
If you like dragons you're in for some dragons.
Young adult is not my usual genre, but I do love me some dragons. There are a lot of cool world building elements in this story, and some fun choices that differ from the standard dragon power fantasy.
It suffers a bit from a heavy amount of telling instead of showing. Near the end of the book there are suddenly 5 new POV chapters in which side characters yell their back stories at one of the main POVs. Extra POVs are fun, but I felt like the information from these could have been more naturally woven into the story.
There's clearly a lot of love for the world of this story, and the visuals are clear and well written. The characters just didn't quite do it for me, and it didn't quite evoke any emotion in my read. That said, I think its target audience will gobble it up eagerly with excitement for the sequel.
Young adult is not my usual genre, but I do love me some dragons. There are a lot of cool world building elements in this story, and some fun choices that differ from the standard dragon power fantasy.
It suffers a bit from a heavy amount of telling instead of showing. Near the end of the book there are suddenly 5 new POV chapters in which side characters yell their back stories at one of the main POVs. Extra POVs are fun, but I felt like the information from these could have been more naturally woven into the story.
There's clearly a lot of love for the world of this story, and the visuals are clear and well written. The characters just didn't quite do it for me, and it didn't quite evoke any emotion in my read. That said, I think its target audience will gobble it up eagerly with excitement for the sequel.
April 3, 2025
This was quite the fun read. I was most interested in the school storyline, as I found it the most consistent and intriguing. The secondary antagonist storyline is a cool concept, but the motivations are more difficult to discern. The romance keeping him around, the questions regarding whether the bitten are truly evil, the apparent acceptance of the entire kidnapping… just didn’t quite sit right.
Most of all, the author really captured what it is like to live for someone else. I was constantly struck by the grief and growth that felt consistent throughout the story.
I read this via an ereader, so the formatting might have been impacted, but there are several typos and awkward dialogue breaks. Nothing felt too imperative, but I would have like a bit more fastidiousness.
Plot/Pacing: 3/5; Prose: 3/5; Characters: 5/5; Worldbuilding: 4/5; Personal Investment: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Most of all, the author really captured what it is like to live for someone else. I was constantly struck by the grief and growth that felt consistent throughout the story.
I read this via an ereader, so the formatting might have been impacted, but there are several typos and awkward dialogue breaks. Nothing felt too imperative, but I would have like a bit more fastidiousness.
Plot/Pacing: 3/5; Prose: 3/5; Characters: 5/5; Worldbuilding: 4/5; Personal Investment: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2025
3.4⭐️ I like supporting indie authors, and the story itself hooked me. This book has the satisfying kind of conflict where there’s not an easily identifiable correct side. Two main things could have been improved. First, there was a lot of “telling” as opposed to “showing.” The lore, while quite good, was mostly revealed by characters reading from history books. And several times there was some kind of declaration of love or best friendship towards the end of the book by one of the main characters whose POV I was reading, and it took me completely by surprise. Second, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I’m not quite sure why, but when something bad happened to any of them, I had a hard time caring. But I truly enjoyed the story itself and am looking forward to reading the second book.
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