| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Eragon |
| Best Debut Novel | Seraphina |
| All-Time Classic | The Hobbit |
| Best for Kids | Dragon Rider |
| Best Fictional Memoir | A Natural History of Dragons |
| Best for Preteens | Dealing with Dragons |
| Best Historical Fiction | His Majesty’s Dragon |
Perhaps every bookworm often reads fantasy books to escape reality. Readers can completely immerse themselves in a different world in the best fantasy literature. Escapism gives you a break from the confusion and tension in your life by allowing you to forget about your issues while attending to someone else’s.
Fantasy dragons can take many different forms. Sky-high serpentine forms, leaders, animal buddies, and warships. To the delight of fantasy lovers, there’s a vast selection of books and different kinds of dragons to choose from.
Looking for your next dragon must-read? Check out our picks for the best fantasy-genre dragon books around. Readers highly regard these books, which have topped bestseller lists won numerous awards.
Check Amazon- Uncommon depiction of dragons in fantasy.
- Great world building.
- The first book in a series of two.
Check Amazon- A classic masterpiece.
- Popularized the fantasy genre.
- The first novel set in Middle-earth, and the predecessor to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Check Amazon- Good for fantasy-phobic readers
- The perfect blend between fantasy and science
- Young readers will learn the importance of following one’s passion.
- The first book in a series of five.
Check Amazon- Strong female protagonist.
- A breath of fresh air from the regular fairy tales.
- The first book in a series of four.
Check Amazon- Well-researched literary work.
- Historical events featured in plot.
- The first book in a series of nine.
A-Z Animals Top Picks for Books About Dragons
#1 Best Overall: Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Our selection as the best overall book about dragons is Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
This internationally acclaimed, New York Times bestselling book is the first book in the Inheritance Cycle series which was written by Christopher Paolini.Â
Set in the mythical land of Alagaësia, this book follows the journey of a classic hero and revolves around Eragon, a young farm kid from a poor family who finds what turns out to be a dragon egg. The child and his dragon hatchling must flee when an evil monarch comes looking, starting his path to becoming a legendary dragon rider.
Having sold 20 million copies as of May 2011, Christopher Paolini was recognized as the Youngest Author of a Bestselling Book Series by the Guinness Book of World Records. Eragon won the ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults award in 2012.
Unfortunately, some reviewers reported that they found the pacing of the book to be a little slow in some places.
Pros and Cons of Eragon by Christopher Paolini
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is a New York Times bestseller. | Some reviewers found the book to be a little slow in some places. |
| It is the first book in a series. | |
| It tells the story of a young child who finds a dragon egg. He and the hatchling then have to flee from an evil monarch. |
2. Best Debut Novel: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
The best debut novel is Seraphina by Rachel Hartman which won the William C. Morris award in 2013.
The story of Seraphina, a court musician who is 16 years old, is set in the kingdom of Goredd. On the eve of the treaty’s 40th anniversary, which put an end to the conflict between humans and dragons, a murder takes place. When Rufus, the Crown Prince of Goredd, is discovered with his head severed in a way that suggests he was killed by dragons, Seraphina becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. In this world, dragons can assume human shape, but human emotions perplex them. This only contributes to the ongoing mistrust and hostility between them and humans.
This two-part series has earned different awards and nominations. It won the 2012 Cybils Award for the best young adult fantasy or science fiction novel. This book was also shortlisted in the teen book category for the 2013 Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize. Â It is available in Kindle, audio, paperback, and hardcover editions.
Again the only drawback to this book is that some reviewers thought it was a little slow in some places.
Pros and Cons of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book tells of a mythical world which dragons can assume human forms but a perplexed by human emotions. | Some reviewers thought it was a little slow in some places. |
| It has won numerous awards. | |
| There are Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback editions available. |
- Uncommon depiction of dragons in fantasy.
- Great world building.
- The first book in a series of two.
3. All-Time Classic: The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
Most lovers of fantasy books know the classic book The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien which is the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
This popular fantasy novel serves as many readers’ first exposure to dragons. this classic centers on the dragon Smaug. A huge hoard of golden treasures that Smaug took from the kingdom of the dwarves more than 150 years ago is zealously guarded by him deep within the deserted mountain. The dwarves, along with a wizard and a small thief, intend to take it back. Thus, his reign as Middle-earth’s biggest gold hoarder is about to end.
Beginning with a stage production by St. Margaret’s School in Edinburgh in March 1953, The Hobbit has been adapted numerous times for a wide range of media. The Hobbit received a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for the year’s best juvenile fiction as well as a nomination for the Carnegie Medal in 1938. It also came in at number 14 on School Library Journal’s selection of the top 100 children’s books of 2012. it is available in Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback formats.
Pros and Cons of The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This books is a popular fantasy novel which centers on a dragon called Smaug. | None |
| It has won numerous awards | |
| It is the prelude for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. | |
| There are Kindle, hardcover, paperback, and audio editions available. |
- A classic masterpiece.
- Popularized the fantasy genre.
- The first novel set in Middle-earth, and the predecessor to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
4. Best for Kids: Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
The best option for children is Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke.
This book follows the adventures of a silver dragon named Firedrake, a human boy, Ben, and their canine friend, Sorrel, as they search for the mythical Himalayan mountain range known as the Rim of Heaven. On the trip to find a secure location for Firedrake’s family to live, they encounter fantastical creatures as well as a cunning adversary.
Following its English-language publication, the book enjoyed tremendous success and spent 78 weeks at the top of The New York Times list of bestsellers for children. It suitable for children aged nine to 12 and is available in Kindle. audio, paperback, and hardcover editions.
Pros and Cons of Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book follows the adventures of a dragon, a boy, and a dog as they search for a mythical mountain range. | |
| It is a New York Times bestseller. | |
| It is suitable for children aged nine to 12 years old. | |
| There are Kindle, audio, paperback, and hardcover editions available. |
- Great for young minds.
- Perfect as a bedtime story.
- The first book in a series of three.
5. Best Fictional Memoir: A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
The best fictional memoir on the list is A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan.
This thrilling story tells the experiences of Isabella or Lady Trent as she tries to bring the study of dragons into harmony with contemporary science. The protagonist is a Victorian aristocrat who defied patriarchy to become a world authority on dragon science.
A Natural History of Dragons is the first of the Lady Trent Memoir series written by Marie Brennan. It combines elements of a coming-of-age story, a critique of social mores, and an homage to pacesetters like the 19th-century paleontologist, Mary Anning. If you’re wary of fantasy novels, but still want to read about dragons (in this case, with a bit of science), this book is a great starting place. It is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats.Â
Unfortunately, some people found the book a little difficult to read due to the style of writing and the use of some scientific words.
Pros and Cons of A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a thrilling story about a Victorian aristocrat who studies dragons. | Some people found it difficult to read due to the style of writing and the use of scientific words. |
| It is the first book in a series. | |
| There are Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions available. |
- Good for fantasy-phobic readers
- The perfect blend between fantasy and science
- Young readers will learn the importance of following one’s passion.
- The first book in a series of five.
6. Best for Preteens: Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
The best option for preteens is Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede.
The first novel in Patricia Wrede’s sweeping young adult fantasy series, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, introduces Cimorene. Cimorene is a princess who begins acting strangely and not at all as an actual princess should.
Cimorene does something incredibly unexpected and out of the usual because she is unhappy with her life, bored, and irritated. She departs from her luxurious mansion, filled with wealth and amenities, to live in the wild with a dragon. She is aware of the excitement, freedom, and danger all around her.
Dealing With Dragons was listed as a 1991 Best Fiction for Young Adults by the American Library Association, a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, and a Best Book for Teens by the New York Public Library. This book is suitable for children between the ages of 10 and 12. It is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions.
Pros and Cons of Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a story about a princess who goes to live in the wild with dragons. | None |
| It is suitable for children aged between 10 and 12 years old. | |
| There are Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions available. |
- Strong female protagonist.
- A breath of fresh air from the regular fairy tales.
- The first book in a series of four.
7. Best Historical Fiction: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
If you’re a lover of historical fiction then check out His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik.
In this first part and the rest of the popular series, Naomi Novik constructs a complex and satisfying alternate history. This creates an entire global culture based on interesting dragon characters. It details the exploits of Captain Will Lawrence and the dragon egg he discovers while boarding a French ship. He decides to give up his naval career and join Britain’s great fleet of dragon-borne “aviators” after the hatchling within leaves its mark on him.
His Majesty’s Dragon won the 2007 Compton Crook Award. It was also nominated for the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It is available in Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback editions.
Pros and Cons of the His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is the first book in a popular series. | None |
| It follows the exploits of a ship captain who discovers a dragon egg. | |
| There are Kindle, audio, hardcover, and paperback editions available. |
- Well-researched literary work.
- Historical events featured in plot.
- The first book in a series of nine.
Choosing the Best: What to Look For
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a book about dragons. Let’s take a closer look below.
Intended Audience
Consider who the book is going to be for. It is for an adult or is it for a child. If it’s for a child then consider the reading age of the child. Younger children may find books with lots of pictures and simple text easier to understand. However, older children may be able to cope with longer books and more complex words.
Type of Book
Consider the interests of the person that the book is for. Do they prefer a fictional novel, a non-fiction book, and a more scientific encyclopedia?
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Eragon |
| Best Debut Novel | Seraphina |
| All-Time Classic | The Hobbit |
| Best for Kids | Dragon Rider |
| Best Fictional Memoir | A Natural History of Dragons |
| Best for Preteens | Dealing with Dragons |
| Best Historical Fiction | His Majesty’s Dragon |
The Best Books About Dragons for Fantasy Lovers FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the most important factor to consider when choosing a book about dragons?
You should always consider the intended audience. If the book is for a child then you also need to consider their reading age and level of interest.
What are the different types of books about dragons?
There are fictional novels, non-fiction books, and children’s picture books.
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