Last Updated on November 16, 2023 by Louisa
I love a good fantasy book, and I’ve been on a dragon rider kick lately. Dragons are a creature that has always captivated me; their intelligence, ruthlessness, and power.
I love how in every dragon rider book I read, the stories and author’s descriptions of these mythical creatures are always diverse and different.
But one thing remains the same; they are packed with adventure and action!
If you’re looking for great books about dragon riders to add to your reading list, then take a look at 15 of my favorites.
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The Best Books About Dragon Riders
Are you ready to see the best books on dragon riders? Then take a look at my top 15 favorites!
1. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) – Christopher Paolini
Eragon was the first dragon rider book I read and was what got me hooked on the genre.
It is the first book in the four-part series, The Inheritance Cycle, and was even made into a motion picture.
Fifteen-year-old Eragon discovers a polished blue stone in the forest. When the stone turns out to be a dragon, he realizes he has discovered an ancient legacy.
Overnight his simple, farm-boy life has turned upside down.
Gifted with an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is about to embark on an adventure of magic, glory, and power.
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2. Dragon Rider Series – Cornelia Funke
The dragon rider series is a great first chapter book for second graders as it’s written for ages 6-10.
The story follows a lonely boy named Ben and a brave young dragon named Firedrake. The pair set out on a magical adventure to find the place where silver dragons can live in peace.
They fly over seas, mountains, and through the moonlight, encountering fantastic mythical creatures along the way.
When they meet a ruthless villain with an ancient grudge, Ben must summon the courage he didn’t know he had.
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3. Dragon School – Sarah K. L. Wilson
Dragon School is a series of 12 books written by USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah K.L. Wilson. The story follows the adventures of a disabled teen and her dragon.
Sixteen-year-old Amel has been rejected from society because of her disability. Not wanting to burden her family or peers, she travels to Dragon School for one last chance to gain respect.
If she can find a place among the Dragon Riders here, she will leave with respect. If she fails, she dies.
But when Raolcan, an empathetic dragon chooses her as his rider, everything changes.
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4. Dragonriders of Pern – Anne McCaffrey
From the New York Times best selling author, Anne McCaffrey, The Dragonriders of Pern is a fantasy series about a world called Pern which is under attack.
Only Lessa, an outcast and strong woman, who shares a telepathic bond with a dragon can save the world.
The Dragonriders Series is one of the world’s most beloved science-fiction series about dragon riders and should not be missed off any dragon fans reading list!
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5. The Dragonwalker Series – D.K. Holmberg
Dragons have not been seen in the world for centuries, though their power is still felt.
A war that took place a thousand years ago removed the threat of dragons, allowing fire mages to harness the magic within their bones to protect the empire. This lasted for a millennium until the dragons finally disappeared.
The empire has a fragile peace, held together by ancient magic.
Fes has longed for stability; he was raised in the slums and taught to steal and hurt others to make his way in life.
One day the Emperor’s chief mage discovers him and he is given a chance to use his gift to gather lost dragon relics.
Fes travels to the Dragon Plains in order to avoid being caught by his enemies.
If he survives, he may be able to find information that will help keep the empire safe. This could also mean more wealth and freedom for him.
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6. Joust – Mercedes Lackey
Joust is a series of four books by Mercedes Lackey. The story is a combination of a vivid, dynamic fusion of the cultures of ancient Egypt and the legendary Atlantis.
With a few dragons thrown in for good measure.
In the first book, we meet a young slave who dreams of becoming a jouster; someone who can actually ride a flying dragon.
Meanwhile, he is also raising his own dragon in secret…
If you love books with mythical creatures in them, this series is for you!
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7. His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
His Majesty’s Dragon is about the Napoleonic Wars with dragons instead of planes.
When HMS Reliant captured a French ship, they find an unhatched, precious dragon egg.
But it is Captain William Laurence who bonds with the dragon and chooses him as his dragon rider.
The story follows the captain and his dragon, Temeraire, as they not only enter the war but learn to understand one another.
Can they work together to prevent the success of Napoleon?
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8. Hatch – James Stevens
Ammon’s job is to care for the dragon eggs in the nest.
It’s meant to be an easy job, until one day the sun rose after a hatch and he made an enemy of the most powerful man in the land…
But that was the least of his worries…for there was an even bigger evil awaiting…
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9. Fireborne – Rosaria Munda
Fireborne is the dragon version of Game of Thrones meets Red Rising.
The story follows Annie and Lee who were just children when a revolution changed the world they lived in. Now, everyone has a chance to test the governing class of dragon riders.
Now both rising stars in a new regime, the pair must learn to accept their new positions and each other.
Annie was from a lowborn family and her parents were executed by dragon fire, while Lee’s high-born family was murdered by revolutionaries.
But when survivors from the old regime rise up to reclaim the city, which sides with they fight on?
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Related Reading: Books like Red Rising
10. The Legend of Huma – Richard A. Knaak
The Legend of Huma is part of the Dragonlance series. It was the only novel not written by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman to hit the New York Times best-seller list.
When goblins start roaming the nearby woods, Huma Dragonbane, a Knight of the Crown, is sent to fend off the chaos.
He stumbles on a tortured minotaur named Kaz, who he frees from vicious goblin captors.
They begin a powerful friendship — one that will put Huma and Kaz into a battle against the Knights of Solamnia and the dark goddess Takhisis.
With the power of the legendary Silver Dragon at their side, they face strong numbers.
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11. Fledgling – Nicole Conway
Jaevid Broadfeather grew up as a war refugee in hiding because of his mixed racial heritage.
His future is bleak, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy.
The Academy is usually forbidden to anyone but the royals and the rich. But Jaevid’s case is special because his dragon has chosen him.
Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a stern man with a mysterious past, is his instructor and takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future.
Struggling with the physical demands of training and the prejudice from his peers, things are going badly.
Then he witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping, and when no one offers to help him, he alone must go on a quest to help him.
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12. The Dragon Keeper – Robin Hobb
The Dragon Keeper series is a four part series about the resurgence of dragons in a world that needs and fears them.
The serpents, guided by the dragon Tintaglia, came from the sea to fight the Rain Wild River where they can reclaim their ancestral hatching grounds.
But the fledglings that are hatched from the cocoons are the dragons of old.
Flightless and dangerous, they are a danger to all and must be moved.
Thymara, a Rain Wilder, answers the call to become a dragon keeper and accompany them upriver.
Their destination is the legendary Elderling city of Kelsingra, but no one knows if it’s real.
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13. How To Train Your Dragon – Cressida Cowell
How to Train Your Dragon is a children’s book series about Hiccup, the young son of the chief who finds a dragon in the woods.
The tribe usually fears dragons as they steal their sheep and burn their villages, but Hiccup starts to observe and understand the dragons.
When he befriends a dragon named Toothless, he seeks to change the minds of his villagers about dragons and shows them they are not to be feared.
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14. The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire Series) – Tui T. Sutherland
Another great book about dragon riders for kids is Wings of Fire, from The Dragonet Prophecy Series.
It follows a boy named Clay and his friends, who grew up under a mountain and were secretly raised by the Talons of Peace to fulfill a prophecy.
The five young dragons are prophecized to end the war of the tribes of Pyrrhia, but not every dragonet wants a destiny.
When one of the group is threatened, Clay and his friends decide to escape and risk everything…
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Related Reading: Books like Wings of Fire
15. Dragon Prince – Melanie Rawn
The Dragon Prince series is an epic fantasy series about dragons, power games, and magic.
The story follows Rohan who is destined to become the new prince of the Desert, ruler of the kingdom his family has long reigned since the Long Sands spewed fire.
When he takes the crown, has two goals in mind. First, bring permanent peace to his world of divided princedoms.
Second, to become the sole champion of dragons.
Paired with his bride, Sioned, the Sunrunner witch who can master sunlight and moonglow, the pair must battle to protect their kingdom and themselves.
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Final Word on Books About Dragon Riders
So there you have it, those are 15 books about dragon riders that will please any fantasy lover!
Whether you’re looking for a heroic storyline or something with a lot of action, there’s something for everyone on our list.
Do you have a dragon rider book to add to our list? Let us know in the comments.
