We have to talk about dragons. ONYX STORM is book three in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, and it's releasing on 21st January. This book is one of the biggest romantasy releases scheduled for 2025 - and I can guarantee there will be a social media takeover, and more than a few bookshops will be holding all night long publishing events. Not sure what this series is? You've probably heard of book one, FOURTH WING.
It's been a huge publishing phenomenon in romantasy and this book has caught the imagination of a whole new generation of readers. Is it perfect? No. But no book is and if this has inspired a whole load of people to pick up books and become readers, then I'm all for it!
THE EMPYREAN SERIES has also brought dragons out of hibernation, and there's been a surge of readers wanting books about these amazing fantasy creatures. In the world of fantasy romance, they come in three broad flavors: evil villains who need to be defeated, magical beasts with fantastic riders they're somehow connected to, and dragon shifters.
What's a dragon shifter, I hear some of you ask... It's a creature that shifts between human and dragon form. They're hot. Seriously hot. Usually well-endowed if the book is spicy and they tend to be morally grey, dark, and brooding characters with possessive instincts who go nuts when their love interest is threatened.
So, without further adieu, here are some book recommendations for those who want to celebrate ONYX STORM's release by reading more dragon-based romance books from other authors, or are looking to pick one up for any other reason (and why do we even need a reason when these books are very, very good).
SERPENTS OF SKY AND FLAMES
Rebecca F. Kenney published this in 2024 and it is a really fun read. It ends on a cliffhanger and if you start this series then I bet book two goes onto your TBR. The premise is deliciously simple. Dragon captures a maiden to save his people. The maiden makes his life hell. Absolute hell. And refuses to give in.
Meanwhile, an enchantress is supposed to be turning the human women into dragons, but instead she ends up giving the dragons the ability to shift into men. The banter is sharp, some of the situations hilarious, and the cliff will make you plunge right into book two. A great book if you want a quick and light hearted read, but definitely not one for epic fantasy purists.
THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE
This book is just stunning. Beautiful. Exquisite. It's one of those books that words don't do justice to, and it deserves all the critics' praise and more. It's an enthralling, epic fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons - and the women who must lead the fight to save it. Think Game of Thrones but with a female-driven narrative and dragons. To say this is what Lord of the Rings would have been if it were written by a woman is not an understatement.
In the hands of a lesser writer, this book would have been sprawling and cumbersome - but it is just elegant. There are multiple storylines, complicated characters, intricate ideas, and a detailed and incredible world that will suck you in and refuse to let you go. And like the great Ursula Le Guin's books, it's magnificent in its own right and it’s a commentary on life and some of its more challenging aspects.
Yeah, I'm fan-girling here. But find me a fantasy or romantasy writer who doesn't wish they wrote this book and I'll question their sanity.
SPARK OF THE EVERFLAME
When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn. In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended their cruel, magic-wielding offspring Diem yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village. Her mother suddenly disappears and Diem discovers a dangerous secret about her past, seizing the opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.
This book was a hit for Penn Cole because it's beautifully written, with a great plot and good world-building - and Penn has a sense of pace that I admire. It was lifted into the bestseller list by the thousands of recommendations from small social media accounts, not by a marketing strategy that relied on big influencers or money. That tells you this book is good enough to capture readers' imagination and enthusiasm, and it's easy to see why it was such a hit.
DRAGONFALL
This book starts with a chapter from the dragon's POV and catches your imagination like a fire that won't extinguish. It's a beautiful world, that is LGQTB+ accepting and the writing is exquisite. You'll find intricate world-building that will leave you sighing in awe of its beauty and a great plot with a shocking ending - that sets up rather perfectly for book two of this duology.
This is a great read for fans of the forbidden romance trope and the erotic tension is palpable. It's also quite different from the usual dragon books you'll find, so if you want to try something a little different, then give this one a go.
A FIRE IN THE SKY
If you're looking for something lighter than all the high fantasy dragon books, then you wouldn't do much better than to give A FIRE IN THE SKY a go. It's fun, fast-paced and you'll fly through this one, and it's an excellent quick and easy read if that's what you're looking for.
There's a man who needs taking down more than a peg or two (and who doesn't love it when it finally happens), an arranged marriage, and a woman who might be more than she seems. You'll find a wonderful 'Touch her and I'll end you' moment in this book.
DRAGON RIDER
This book reminds me of the books I grew up reading, but it's a grown-up version that hits all the right notes. There's a princess and a boy forced to serve the rulers who killed his parents, and then the unthinkable happens - he steals a dragon egg and tries to bond with a dragon.
It's dazzling and epic, and I screamed at this book and punched the air on more than one occasion (yes - my husband rushed in to defend me, yes - he was armed with a broom). There's a splash of slow-burn spice in this one and, in case you missed it from my reaction, the battles will have you on the edge of your seat.
THE HOBBIT
No list of books about dragons would be complete without including THE HOBBIT. The prequel to THE LORD OF THE RINGS is a classic and Smarg is the epitome of the evil dragon the heroes set out to slay. JRR Tolkien is one of the authors who made me a fantasy reader and writer, and THE HOBBIT is a much easier read than his other books. There's not much romance at all and the cast is exclusively male - so if you're looking for a love story, you won't find it in this one. But you will find something magical and it’s a book that is so much better than the film.
And that’s a round-up of some books about dragons. Some of them are high fantasy and some of them are much lighter reads with some serious spice! There is something for everyone when it comes to this sub-genre of fantasy and if FOURTH WING, IRON FLAME, and ONYX STORM have caught your imagination, then give one of these a go!
CJ Holmes writes paranormal and fantasy romances with sizzlingly hot heroes and strong, sassy women. Her first two series have reached the top ten category bestseller lists on Amazon and she has recently signed a four-book deal with City Owl Press. You can expect a strong dash of dry British humor, enough action and adventure to keep you turning the pages, and spice that might be too hot to read in public.
You’ll find CJ hanging out in one of her local cafes or walking somewhere in the UK countryside, invariably inappropriately dressed for the weather. If she isn’t there, she’ll be in a bookshop adding to her TBR list and book collection, and she considers herself fortunate that her husband is also an avid reader.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy