Squeaky Hatchling: A veterinarian with rather unusual patients

by S.K. Burkman, Sofia Geck (Editor)

A protective mother dragon, a sick hatchling, and a noisy medical mystery. Just another day at the clinic for the Dragon Doc.

Veterinarian Jordyn Blackstone doesn’t just treat your average pets — her patients come with scales, wings, and a habit of scorching her eyebrows. But when a distressed hatchling arrives squeaking like a creaky door, Doc knows she’s in for a special kind of headache.

Doc has never encountered a dragon malady like this before, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. With the baby’s life on the line and his overbearing mother lurking in the shadows, Doc has to unravel the mystery quickly — before things get too heated. Literally.

To make matters worse, Doc’s eight-year-old daughter, Ember, insists on helping with a risky procedure. Now, Doc’s got a sick hatchling to heal, a grumpy dragon mom to appease, and a pint-sized assistant with a knack for complicating things.

But hey, what’s a little danger when you’re a doctor for dragons?

Dragon enthusiasts and fans of House in the Cerulean Sea, Legends and Lattes, and The Lady Trent Memoirs will be captivated by this heartwarming sequel to the Dragon Doc’s first novel, Wings and Wounds.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Cozy Fantasy

58 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2022

About the author

On a summer day long ago, Dr. S. K. Burkman climbed a mountain, got sick, and hallucinated a dragon. Thus began a lifelong fascination with dragons, and many exhaustion-fueled musings on what they might be like as patients.

Originally from Colorado and British Columbia, Dr. Burkman earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine at Colorado State University. As a busy veterinarian, Dr. Burkman keeps her sanity by writing about dragons. Many of her own adventures and misadventures are woven into her novels.

Outside of work and writing, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking, travel, cake baking and decorating, and looking for dragons. She has been married to Joshua for over twenty years, and they have one child. Dr. Burkman and her family reside in Idaho with their motley assortment of pets, and maybe, just maybe, a dragon or two.

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
✅ mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional

PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
✅ gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown

WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
✅ OK
🔲 nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story

ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
✅ fine
🔲 immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book

PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down

Coming from a veterinary family I wanted to love this story, but the execution was underwhelming imo :\

[Jo Ericksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

How enjoyable, a story of a dragon in present time. Fun short story. Will continue to read the series.

[M.T. DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered the Dragon Doc Tales on Twitter and was immediately hooked because, a doctor who works on dragons in modern day. Yes, please, thanks, bye.

This story is either available to purchase on Amazon or free to newsletter subscribers, so newsletter I went, and this is an adorable tale about a dragon that, yes, squeaks. But there's a reason, which I would tell you, but spoilers and all. Anyway, a great introduction to the story world, and I've since grabbed the novel to read--very much looking forward to it!

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. The author lays out the unlikely scenario, but if you know the Frank Church wilderness area - maybe, could be?? A great connection between mother and daughter. Certainly strong contribution by the Doc to support an underappreciated and unknown species.

This story will definitely leave you with a feel good feeling.

[A.R. Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute story that made me want to read more about this awesome veterinarian who helps dragons. I love the family feel to the story, the scientific spin, and the portrayal of dragons as intelligent and considerate creatures rather than rampaging brutes.

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story about Veterinarian Jordyn Blackstone and the dragons she cares for. Jordyn is escorting her 8 year old daughter, Ember to their car and sitting near the parking lot is a very, very large red dragon and a baby dragon making odd noises. The mother answers Jordyn's questions in one word answers. After assessing the baby, she tells the mom what she needs to do and ... I gave this very cute story 5 stars. If you want to find out how it ends, read the book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read of about 50 pages. A cross between a children's book about dragons and a medical procedure with a cute ending. Lots of chat between mother and daughter during the medical procedure which (as a medical professional) was hard to accept. But a sweet story none the less. Nice for something to read while you wait for appointments.

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, cute little tale. After 20 years of treating dragons in secret, our intrepid veterinarian thought she had seen it all. But one night a quick cookie run with her daughter proves that isn't so. This is a very short little tale I got for free that will send me looking for more from this author ;-) Recommended

[Carl H Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An author provided e-book. Many smiles and a lot of enjoyment reading Squeaky Hatchling. The writer is a knowledgeable veterinarian who details an unique surgury, maybe a little too detailed. A Mother and Daughter story with Cookies and Dragons. I am certainly interested in reading more from this author.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, cute little introduction to the world and characters of being a dragon vet. It also mentions the reality of being a vet: dangerous patients, injuries, budgeting for patients who don’t have people to pay their bills, etc. Overall, nice, short and sweet.

[jeanie c. riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love dragons? This is a cute little dragon story!

A dragon brings her baby to the doctor ! Mom dragon did not just drop the baby off And leave! She stayed to table him home cute little story!

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew dragons liked cookies? Another great tale, I laughed and smiled!

[Lianka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's original, endearing, and a pleasant read.

[Monica M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the writing. But i kind of bored in the medical procedure parts, probably because the many medical terms that makes me hard to imagining the scene. Overall enjoyable.

[aem · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE DRAGON DOC TALES, SQUEAKY HATCHLING, is a cute novelette. I enjoyed it.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squeaky Hatchling is a delightful story about a baby dragon who is helped by a veterinarian (and her daughter) who treats dragons, as well as pets. It is fun, suspenseful and has a great ending. I would love to read more about this fascinating, new specialty in veterinary medicine and the doctor who secretly works with these fire-breathing beasts.