Welcome to Tuesday TBR, your weekly dose of bookish recommendations perfectly paired with a cuppa and your favourite biscuits. This week, we're celebrating the magnificent creatures that have captivated fantasy readers for generations: dragons. Whether you're still recovering from Onyx Storm withdrawal or simply craving more fire-breathing adventures, we've curated five spectacular reads to add to your ever-growing TBR pile.
From BookTok phenomena to award-winning epics, these dragon fantasy novels offer something for everyone, whether you prefer your dragons as mounts, moons, or ancient gods. Grab your tea, settle in, and let's discover your next favourite read.
When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall Series) by Sarah A. Parker
Genre: Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Dark Fantasy
The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity's grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons. They certainly did not expect them to fall. As an assassin for the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve's job is to kill and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter shatters her world, she finds herself imprisoned by the Guild of Nobles, a group of powerful fae who intend to turn her into a political statement. Meanwhile, Kaan Vaegor, a brokenhearted dragon rider who took the head of a king and donned his melted crown, stumbles upon her in a notorious prison whilst hunting for something to ease his never-ebbing grief.
This BookTok sensation took the romantasy world by storm and earned a traditional publishing deal after its initial success. Sarah A. Parker weaves a truly original dragon mythology where dead dragons become moons that might one day fall, creating a hauntingly beautiful world unlike anything else in the genre. The slow-burn romance between Raeve and Kaan spans timelines and memories, building to revelations that will leave you desperate for the sequel.
Why You Should Read It
Completely unique dragon mythology you won't find anywhere else
New York Times bestseller that dominated BookTok
Dual timeline narrative with devastating reveals throughout
Immersive world-building with detailed lore and gorgeous prose
Slow-burn romance with star-crossed, doomed lovers energy
The sequel, The Ballad of Falling Dragons, arrives in 2026
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Feminist Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Fantasy
A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years, believing the Queendom's survival depends on the bloodline continuing. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction, but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court who secretly protects Sabran with forbidden magic whilst remaining loyal to a hidden society of mages. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since childhood, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
Samantha Shannon delivers the feminist epic fantasy readers have been craving, spanning multiple continents and weaving together Eastern and Western dragon mythology in ways that feel fresh and thought-provoking. This standalone tome has been called the female Game of Thrones, featuring secret wyrm-slaying priestesses, a gorgeous sapphic romance, and political intrigue that keeps you guessing until the final pages. With over a million copies sold and a prequel now available, this is essential reading for any dragon fantasy fan.
Why You Should Read It
Million-copy bestselling standalone epic fantasy
Brilliant exploration of both Eastern and Western dragon mythology
Beautiful sapphic romance woven throughout the narrative
Multiple POV storytelling across a richly detailed world
Named one of the best fantasy novels by Amazon, Kirkus, and more
A Day of Fallen Night provides a stunning prequel adventure
Fireborne (Aurelian Cycle) by Rosaria Munda
Genre: YA Fantasy, Political Fantasy, Dragon Riders
Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone, even the lowborn, a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders. Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn't be more different. Annie's lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, whilst Lee's aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet. But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.
Drawing inspiration from Plato's Republic and classical tragedy, Rosaria Munda crafts a politically sophisticated dragon fantasy that asks difficult questions about class, revolution, and whether the ends justify the means. The Aurelian Cycle received four starred reviews and has been praised for its complex characters and the genuine bond between dragons and riders. If you want dragon fantasy with intellectual depth and moral complexity, this complete trilogy delivers.
Why You Should Read It
Four starred reviews praising its political sophistication
Complete trilogy (Fireborne, Flamefall, Furysong) ready to binge
Complex exploration of class, revolution, and meritocracy
Rivals-to-lovers tension between Annie and Lee throughout
Dragons with genuine personality and meaningful bonds
Perfect for readers who love Game of Thrones political intrigue
Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern) by Anne McCaffrey
Genre: Science Fantasy, Classic Fantasy, Dragon Riders
On a beautiful world called Pern, Lessa is an outcast survivor, her parents murdered, her birthright stolen, a fierce young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. That is, until an ambitious young dragonrider, F'lar, offers her something even greater: the chance to lead Pern at his side by Impressing a golden dragon with whom she will share a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. But Lessa's fierceness and courage will be put to the test when an ancient scourge returns to the land: a deadly silver spore called Thread that falls from the sky, destroying all it touches.
Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series is where modern dragon riding was conceived, and fifty years later, it remains a foundational text that shaped generations of fantasy writers. McCaffrey was the first woman to win both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, and her telepathic dragon bonds have influenced everyone from Christopher Paolini to Rebecca Yarros. If you've loved Fourth Wing or Eragon and haven't yet visited Pern, you're missing the grandmother of all dragon rider stories.
Why You Should Read It
The foundational dragon rider series that inspired the entire subgenre
Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author's masterwork
Praised by Brandon Sanderson, Cassandra Clare, and countless others
Over twenty books in the series if you want to stay on Pern forever
Telepathic dragon bonds that set the standard for the genre
Recently released in beautiful new editions for modern readers
Fourth Wing (Empyrean Series) by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Romantasy, Military Fantasy, Dragon Riders
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life amongst books and history. But when her mother, the commanding general, orders her to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become elite dragon riders, Violet must trade books for brutal combat training at Basgiath War College. Smaller and frailer than her fellow cadets, Violet has two choices: survive graduation or die trying. To complicate matters, Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant, has marked her as a target. His reasons might be personal, his ## hatred runs deep, and Violet knows nothing is fair in love and war.
If somehow this BookTok phenomenon has escaped your notice, consider this your formal invitation to join the millions of readers who've been consumed by the Empyrean series. Rebecca Yarros delivers military academy drama, morally grey love interests, and dragons with attitude in a package that's proven utterly irresistible. With Onyx Storm's recent release leaving readers desperate for more, there's never been a better time to discover why Fourth Wing became a cultural moment.
Why You Should Read It
Over twelve million copies sold across the Empyrean series
The BookTok sensation that launched a thousand dragon rider readers
Enemies-to-lovers romance with Xaden Riorson, the internet's favourite
Dragons with distinct personalities who choose their riders
Prime Video TV adaptation currently in development
Three books available now with more on the way
Time to Start Reading
There you have it; five fantastic dragon fantasy reads to fuel your TBR this week. Whether you're drawn to the haunting moon-dragons of When the Moon Hatched, the feminist epic of The Priory of the Orange Tree, or the cultural phenomenon that is Fourth Wing, there's something here for every reader who believes the only good dragon is one you're reading about.
Dragons have captured human imagination for millennia, and fantasy literature continues to find new ways to make them soar. Want more bookish goodness? Sign up to our newsletter for upcoming releases and reading insights, and join us next Tuesday for another cosy round of Tea & Biscuit Reads.
Happy reading!
Books Featured in This Article
When the Moon Hatched
by Sarah A. Parker
The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity's grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons. They certainly did not expect them to fall. As a valued Elding Blade of the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve's job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve's world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles-a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free. Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore's notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands. The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can't ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time. However. There's more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths ... They're too poisonous to swallow. When the Moon Hatched is a fast-paced fantasy romance for fans of witty banter and strong, sassy protagonists. Beneath the cover is an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.
The Priory of the Orange Tree
by Samantha Shannon
The New York Times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of Game of Thrones" (Bustle).NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY:AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy) * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * BOOKPAGE * AUTOSTRADDLEA world divided.A queendom without an heir.An ancient enemy awakens.The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.
Fireborne
by Rosaria Munda
The brutal revolution that overthrew the Dragonlords may have orphaned Annie and Lee, but it's brought new hope to their city. Now anyone--including the lowborn--can have wealth, an education, and even test into the governing class of dragonriders. Aristocratic by birth and with his identity concealed, Lee's confidence and air of power have made him a rising star in the very regime that slaughtered his family. Annie, a former serf, is as bold a rider as they come--in the air. On the ground, she struggles with self-doubt. Now, after seven years of friendship, Annie and Lee are rivals for the top position in the city's fleet. All the riders have been preparing to lead their people into the future, yet no one is ready when survivors from the Dragonlord families resurface with dragons of their own, bent on reclaiming the city. With war looming and their relationship growing, Annie and Lee will both have to confront wavering loyalties. Lee will be forced to choose between killing the only family he has left, or betraying everything he's come to believe in, while Annie will have to decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.
Dragonflight
by Anne McCaffrey
One of the author's early Dragonrider adventures, set on the planet Pern, where deadly "thread" falls from the sky and puts all living creatures at risk. The symbiotic relationship of dragon and rider is the planet's only hope for survival. Dragonflight is the story of Lessa, the last of the noble bloodline of Ruatha Hold. The dragonriders rescue her from servitude while searching for likely candidates to impress the new dragon queen. Lessa is successful at imprinting Ramoth, the new queen, which makes her the leader of the Weyr and the mate of F'lar. As rider of the bronze dragon Mnementh, he is most suitable to lead the on-going struggle against the dreaded thread.
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Don't miss out on the series that everyone can't stop talking about! 'Pure escapism - think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades' -The Sun 'We weren't expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, but we very much are - and we're not alone . . .' -Sunday Times Style'I couldn't put it down!' -Millie Bobby Brown'This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn't warn you' -Glamour'Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter' -Mail on SundayWelcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College . . .Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general - also known as her tough-as-talons mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don't bond to 'fragile' humans. They incinerate them.With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter - like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.Everyone at Basgiath has an agenda, and every night could be your last. So, sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION READERS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN FOURTH WING FIVE STARS. ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE WORLD OF BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE? 'If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one' 'I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again' 'This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read''FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating' 'There are some