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Dragon Riders of Osnen Prequels #1
The Price of Honor
Some traditions are meant to be broken.
Lailani has always known that being a woman means that she will never be a dragon rider, but when a messenger shows up demanding that all dragon riders must prepare for war, Lailani knows that her father’s crippling illness will get him killed. She must choose between two paths: let him go and die or put on his armor and go in his place.
Disguising herself as a boy, she joins the dragon riders and finds herself facing danger at every turn. With her father’s dragon the only friend she can trust, Lailani must learn to be a warrior and fight to save her homeland … if she can keep her secret that long.
Mulan meets Eragon in this epic tale!
Lailani has always known that being a woman means that she will never be a dragon rider, but when a messenger shows up demanding that all dragon riders must prepare for war, Lailani knows that her father’s crippling illness will get him killed. She must choose between two paths: let him go and die or put on his armor and go in his place.
Disguising herself as a boy, she joins the dragon riders and finds herself facing danger at every turn. With her father’s dragon the only friend she can trust, Lailani must learn to be a warrior and fight to save her homeland … if she can keep her secret that long.
Mulan meets Eragon in this epic tale!
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2022
About the author
Richard Fierce
194 books134 followersRichard Fierce is a fantasy author with a passion for storytelling that dates back to his childhood. He first ventured into publishing in 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. His books are filled with dragons, adventure, and the kind of epic journeys that transport readers to new worlds.
In 2000, Richard was named Poet of the Year for his poem The Darkness, and his love for literature extends beyond just writing—he co-founded the Acworth Book Festival in Georgia to help bring authors and readers together. Though he originally worked in retail, he eventually transitioned to the tech industry, balancing his career with his writing.
Richard lives in Northwest Georgia with his family and a lively mix of pets, including four dogs (huskies!). He often jokes that his house feels like a zoo, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
His love for fantasy started in high school when he was gifted a copy of Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman—a book that sparked a lifelong love for dragons and epic quests.
Whether he’s writing about dragon riders, lost civilizations, or ancient prophecies, Richard Fierce continues to craft stories that pull readers into unforgettable adventures.
In 2000, Richard was named Poet of the Year for his poem The Darkness, and his love for literature extends beyond just writing—he co-founded the Acworth Book Festival in Georgia to help bring authors and readers together. Though he originally worked in retail, he eventually transitioned to the tech industry, balancing his career with his writing.
Richard lives in Northwest Georgia with his family and a lively mix of pets, including four dogs (huskies!). He often jokes that his house feels like a zoo, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
His love for fantasy started in high school when he was gifted a copy of Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman—a book that sparked a lifelong love for dragons and epic quests.
Whether he’s writing about dragon riders, lost civilizations, or ancient prophecies, Richard Fierce continues to craft stories that pull readers into unforgettable adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 22, 2025
"The Price of Honor" is a book that does not know what it wants to be or who it is intended for. Its graphic violence and extremely mature themes are not suitable for readers younger than fifteen; however, all technical aspects of the novel, from its short word count to its infantile writing style, demand a young audience, probably ten or eleven years of age at most. Even accounting for a young reader, the writing is insultingly juvenile with static, boring sentence and paragraph structure, wooden dialogue, and a whole lot of repetition. The setting can loosely be described as “Japan with dragons” but in practice is just as lacking as the writing. The book’s world is a poorly described, dull, and lifeless generic fantasy setting. Characters are boring and wooden. There is no insight to their thoughts or actions, none have anything remotely approaching individuality, and they simply exist to say and do things. Even the main character, Lailani, is flat and could easily have been switched out with any other named person without changing anything of significance. The plot, illogical in structure, is little more than a series of loosely connected events. The book does attempt to tackle some interesting themes, several too mature for the audience as mentioned above, but there are far too many themes. Sporting at least a dozen topics, the story doesn’t have time to explore any of them, making them feel shoehorned in and preachy rather than organic and intriguing. It doesn’t succeed in what it sets out to accomplish and can’t even cobble together a marginally interesting or even coherent tale. I do not recommend this book to anyone of any age. If the premise sounds interesting, watch "Mulan" (the animated version). It takes the same material and handles it infinitely better.
October 29, 2025
Did I finish this book in less than a day? Yes. Was I confused when the book described the dragon with wings, but the front of the book showed no wings? Also yes. Was I completely knocked out of the story when Lai later stated that she’s never seen a dragon with wings?!?! Absolutely!
I was very annoyed to find a book I paid a decent amount of money still held so many errors. That’s not the only one that stayed in the book, but it ticked me off the most. I just confusedly forced past the others and giggled at another part, that maybe made more sense later.
Simple, quick, adventure filled read. Still enjoyed it for what it was and gave many hours straight of reading time devouring it.
Here’s my proof. Pg 3. Last paragraph. “He flapped his powerful wings, lifting them steadily higher until they were soaring over the Sea of Colisle.”
Pg 125 “She'd heard some of the other men say that there were dragons in Osnen that had wings. Wings! What kind of dragon had wings?
If that were true, they probably looked odd.”
Pg 87,88,and before that was a mess of figuring out when something would be. The writing kept saying the ceremony would be pushed back while clearly meaning it was being pushed forward, taking place early, training cut short, etc.
That held me up for a while. I had a few questioning thoughts of the authenticity of this book being written by human alone. Maybe the author can fix these inaccuracies with a reprint.
I was very annoyed to find a book I paid a decent amount of money still held so many errors. That’s not the only one that stayed in the book, but it ticked me off the most. I just confusedly forced past the others and giggled at another part, that maybe made more sense later.
Simple, quick, adventure filled read. Still enjoyed it for what it was and gave many hours straight of reading time devouring it.
Here’s my proof. Pg 3. Last paragraph. “He flapped his powerful wings, lifting them steadily higher until they were soaring over the Sea of Colisle.”
Pg 125 “She'd heard some of the other men say that there were dragons in Osnen that had wings. Wings! What kind of dragon had wings?
If that were true, they probably looked odd.”
Pg 87,88,and before that was a mess of figuring out when something would be. The writing kept saying the ceremony would be pushed back while clearly meaning it was being pushed forward, taking place early, training cut short, etc.
That held me up for a while. I had a few questioning thoughts of the authenticity of this book being written by human alone. Maybe the author can fix these inaccuracies with a reprint.
March 25, 2026
Lailani has grown up with a dragon. Her father was a dragon rider. Changes are coming to the homeland. A messenger arrives informing all dragon riders that they are to prepare for war. Lailani knows that her father can't ride his dragon into war; his illness is too severe. So she rides her father's dragon and reports for war. Since girls aren't allowed to be dragon riders, Leilani disguises herself as a boy. Can she fool the instructors?
This is a coming-of-age story with dragons! Leilani overcomes her size and lack of training, eagerly rising to the challenge. She also does the impossible - bonding with and flying a dragon. Richard Fierce delivers a lively, exciting fantasy, rich in detail. From his detailed description of the various types of dragons to the method of bonding a dragon to its rider, readers will be fascinated. The book is hard to put down, and the ending occurs much too soon. As with any good book, it leaves the reader wanting more. Read this story alone, with kids, or in a book club and enjoy Richard Fierce's imagination.
This is a coming-of-age story with dragons! Leilani overcomes her size and lack of training, eagerly rising to the challenge. She also does the impossible - bonding with and flying a dragon. Richard Fierce delivers a lively, exciting fantasy, rich in detail. From his detailed description of the various types of dragons to the method of bonding a dragon to its rider, readers will be fascinated. The book is hard to put down, and the ending occurs much too soon. As with any good book, it leaves the reader wanting more. Read this story alone, with kids, or in a book club and enjoy Richard Fierce's imagination.
August 8, 2024
"The Price of Honor" by Richard Fierce was pitched to me as "Mulan with dragons," and what an apt description that was! This YA dragonrider fantasy features a driven young woman motivated by love for her ailing father, enough to sacrifice herself to the distant emperor's war. Lailani steals not only her father's armor, but also his dragon.
This story is very fast-paced with short chapters and quick-hitting scenes. Lailani starts as a trainee, completely lost and discomfited, and must face her greatest fears very quickly in order to save the empire. This book could be enjoyed by a young reader looking to find bravery in their own skin.
This story is very fast-paced with short chapters and quick-hitting scenes. Lailani starts as a trainee, completely lost and discomfited, and must face her greatest fears very quickly in order to save the empire. This book could be enjoyed by a young reader looking to find bravery in their own skin.
December 25, 2025
This is a prequel novel in the Dragon Riders of Osnen universe. It follows Lailani, a young woman who has grown up knowing one unbreakable rule: women cannot become dragon riders. When a royal messenger arrives demanding that all riders prepare for war, she realizes her father already weakened by illness will be sent to his death if he answers the call. Refusing to let that happen, Lailani disguises herself as a boy, dons her father’s armor, and joins the dragon riders in his place. With only her father’s dragon as a true ally, she must navigate danger, secrecy, and the brutal realities of war. Her journey becomes a test of courage, identity, and the cost of protecting the ones she loves.
September 11, 2024
Really good YA coming-of-age fantasy with dragon riders.
The plot goes more or less how I expected from the blurb, but was still a fun read along the way, with good characters. I am interested in more books in this world.
It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it definitely feels like part 1 of a story - there are quite a few longer plot lines that are only beginning.
The plot goes more or less how I expected from the blurb, but was still a fun read along the way, with good characters. I am interested in more books in this world.
It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it definitely feels like part 1 of a story - there are quite a few longer plot lines that are only beginning.
December 13, 2022
Great story!
This is a great book if you want to read a light hearted story about a young woman growing into herself.
This also has sword fighting and dragons. Plus more exciting events.
Give it a try. You won't regret it.
This is a great book if you want to read a light hearted story about a young woman growing into herself.
This also has sword fighting and dragons. Plus more exciting events.
Give it a try. You won't regret it.
August 13, 2023
3.5 it was a good book but the mc feels more like 12-13yold which doesn’t really fit in my opinion.
Great book otherwise :)
Great book otherwise :)
May 20, 2026
Whelp nice author I met at the GalaxyCon. The book needs more character development, more descriptive language, and more story development.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews