/scaly/ Literature Club
aka some anons' incredibly obscure fiction book collection
This list currently only compiles published novels but I might create a seperate rentry for web novels when I have time.
Note
Try to keep the sections in alphabetical order please.
(Ignoring instances when the title begins with "The")
Also, include ISBN (first novel of series) after description when possible.
Dragons
Info
Rating system is getting a redo. (eventually)
- DC (Dragon-centricity): How much the plot revolves around dragons.
- CA (Character Agency): How much dignity dragons are given.
- PS (Philosophy/Spirituality): How much the story focuses on what it means to be a dragon.
Avonoa Series (2014-2021) by H. R. B. Collotzi
Fantasy (xenofiction)
In this world, dragons maintain an ancient tradition of refusing to speak in front of humans to hide their true intelligence. Each dragon must pass the Krucible, a test of silence that acts as a sort of coming of age trial which indicates that a dragon has enough maturity to be allowed to venture beyond dragon territory. The story is told in a split POV, with 60% following Dak, who, having failed the Krucible many times, decides to sneak out after hearing that Tog, his friend, and Priya, a dragoness whom he has promised his heart to, has left with a group on a mission and the other 40% revolving around a reasonable prince, having inherited the throne, trying to deal with a "dragon problem" and the return of his long-lost sister. For maximum enjoyment, only read the first two books.
The Secret of Avonoa
ISBN-10 1499758537
ISBN-13 978-1499758535
DC 4/5
CA 4/5
Contains some basementanoning.
PS 3/5
Has some interesting xenoanthropology/biology about dragon souls and their mating customs.
Bound in Scales (2017) by Steven De Luca
Fantasy (TF/xenofiction)
A scientist/wizard in a fantasy world turns himself into a dragon in order to study their society (basically the plot of Avatar but actually done well). If you enjoyed this novel, you should try Bound in Black (2020) which is an equally well-written sequel. For a more spoilery synopsis, check out the tvtropes page.
ISBN-10 1973440571
ISBN-13 978-1973440574
DC 4/5
Humans only really show up in the beginning, before the protag becomes a dragon and also as (mostly-faceless) antagonists for about 1/4 of the novel.
For its sequel I would give it a 4.75/5 as this is one of the few cases in which humanity becomes less prevalent as the series progresses.
CA 4.75/5
There's a section that involves some dragons being tortured (to show how evil the antagonists are) but besides that, the dragons in the story are generally free to make choices that drive the plot in a meaningful fashion.
Dragons live in a stereotypically utopic, primitive society with a chieftan and tend to avoid humans.
PS 5/5
The Dragon's Call (2020) by Peter Dressler
Urban/Dark Fantasy (TF)
A novella that straddles the line between escapist fantasy and an occult primer for esoteric knowledge. (Sorry author) Wouldn't recommend unless you are either morbidly curious or a diehard spiritual transhumanist/otherkin. For maximum enjoyment, pay close attention to the "meat" (meaning) of the story that is hidden in symbology and metaphor. Why did the author make these specific choices, and what greater themes and ideas (beyond the personal beliefs directly stated by the author) do they allude to?
ISBN-13 979-8639085284
DC 3.75/5
As with most urban fantasy settings where dragons have gone into hiding.
CA 4/5
Should be noted that dragons are described to be physically agender as a species.
PS 5/5
Gets a bit abstract.
The Dragon Knight (1976-2000) by Gordon R. Dickson
Alternate History/Historical Fiction?/Fantasy (isekai, body swap, transformation)
Very popular for its time, it would be accurate to describe as a staple of fantasy literature during the 70s-80s that made its way into the libraries of many avid young readers. The first novel of this nine book series would go on to receive an animated movie, The Flight of Dragons, a decade after its initial publication. It follows a typical portal fantasy-esque plot. Two college researchers, Jim and Angela Eckhert, astrally project themselves by accident into magical historical england after an experient goes awry. Jim, now having found himself in the body of a dragon, must rescue his wife from the Dark Powers that threaten the world.
The Dragon and the George
ISBN-10 0345350502
ISBN-13 978-0345350503
DC 3/5
Although the POV is from a human trapped in a dragon's body struggling with his now dragon-instincts, there is another dragon companion in the group that gets a fair share of character development.
CA 3/5
Fairly unbiased, dragons are treated as characters as much as everyone else, even though some major deaths do occur.
PS 2/5
This is mainly a sword and sorcery adventure with some sarcastic meta-commentary on fantasy tropes. On the positive side, the dragons are sufficiently dragon-like in mentality while maintaining their intelligence, having been upgraded to the eschelon of standard race picks for a player party.
Dragon Dreams (2021) by C.B. Morgan
Urban Fantasy (TF/xenofiction)
A boy meets a dragon in a dream... then becomes one himself. Forced to hide from humanity, he journeys to a sanctuary that they have created, mentored by the dragon from his dreams. Note: This is the author's first published novel and also happens to be adapted from the DA fic that he wrote several years ago. (Although the prose is decent)
ISBN-13 979-8766514879
DC 4/5
In addition to his family, the protag meets a few other humans along the way.
Personally I would have given this a 4.5 but the underlying conflict is both directly resulted from and partially, subsequently solved by humanity.
CA 5/5
Dragons live in a stereotypically utopic, primitive society with a chieftan and tend to avoid humans. (also so far the only species that can wield magic).
PS 4/5
Mating Flight: A Non-Romance of Dragons (2015) by Bard Bloom
Fantasy (xenofiction)
Pretty strange book but quite fun to read. The author clearly had fun writing it too. Its a comedy about a set of misfit young dragons who go on a interdimensional trip to fight over who will marry who. Can be a bit of a difficult read at times, deliberately so. Had to refer to a dictionary several times. The dragons are presented as quite alien in their thinking in their thinking and society but in a pretty understandable way? Also unbelievably powerful. Some anons might not like how they are presented as not being wise paragons of virtue, but very amoral from a human standpoint and the flaws in their society are pretty clear to see. But if that doesn't bother you then then book is absurd, witty and explores some interesting themes. The book doesn't really have an ending its sequel is clearly meant to be read as one book.
ISBN-13 978-1514840528
DC 4.5/5
Dragons are the central focus of the book, non dragons exist but as clear inferiors to the dragons or side characters. No humans.
CA 5/5
"How much dignity dragons are given?" No one is really given much dignity in the book but they are clearly far and large the most powerful/ important beings in the setting.
PS 4/5
Not really sure how to rate this. Its a comedy so their entire outlook and philosophies are mostly played for laughs but it does have interesting worldbuilding and detailed explorations as why the dragons are the way they are. Interesting themes about power.
Scales and Honor: The Dragon's Paladin (2018) by Justin Lee
Fantasy (dragon riding)
When a human and a dragon love each other very, very much
The author's self-insert encounters a devilishly handsome, young male drake
In a setting heavily inspired by DND, a paladin meets a dragon and they go on a quest to find the latter's stolen book. Currently, only the first novel is two novels are published but the series spans 7 complete books which you can read for free on the author's SF account. (Also his DA and FA which have been discontinued)
ISBN-10 0692154825
ISBN-13 978-0692154823
DC 2/5
While the iconic duo is the main focus of the series, the POV often switches to many of the other non-dragon characters on their own adventures.
CA 3.75/5
Despite being a rider novel, dragons are treated surprisingly well but are (reasonably) curbstomped when they fall victim to hubris
PS 2/5
As a whole, but one of the books in the series deserves a 4/5
Scaleshifter (2019) by Shelby Hailstone Law
Fantasy (TF)
Following a war between two kingdoms involving artificial dragons, a child is drafted into the military and experimented on. After being turned into one, he escapes and comes under the tutelage of a real dragon who teaches him about their way of life. This novel is part of a 4-book series, with The Black Dragon (2020) about a dragoness in a similar situation.
ISBN-10 169342889X
ISBN-13 978-1693428890
DC 4.5/5
Besides the beginning, generic humans only really show up as part of the army hunting the protag after he escapes.
4/5 for the second novel but by the third and fourth this drops to a 2/5, focusing too much on human intrigue.
CA 4/5
If you consider the torture of fake (human-turned) dragons equivalent to real ones.
Dragons live in a stereotypically utopic, primitive society with a council of elders and tend to avoid humans.
PS 4/5
Songs of Chaos (2020) by Michael R. Miller
Fantasy (dragon riding)
Ongoing series currently on books 2 of 5. Ascendant and Unbound are the two already released. Servant boy saves blind dragon from death and the two become companions to grow stronger and defeat an upcoming apocalyptic threat. Lots of high fantasy and adventure influenced by cultivation tropes. Really nice wholesome relationship between the two main characters, rider and dragon.
Ascendant
ISBN-10 1913695042
ISBN-13 978-1913695040
DC 3.5/5
Dragons are full fledged characters and act as the driving force behind most of the plot. Gets even more pronounced from book 2. But the POV is not from the dragons'.
CA 4/5
As above.
PS 3/5
The magic system is a central focus and is a product of the dragon's soul.
Tooth and Claw (2003) by Jo Walton
Alternate History? (xenofiction)
Interestingly, the winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 2004. Set in a victorian setting, using victorian-era character archetypes and narrative structure, this novel attempts to worldbuild an alien society of dragons with their own social structure and customs. Notably, confession and absolution are regarded a high form of sin, and it is customary to feast upon not only the deceased, but any perceptibly weaker dragons whose continued existence is regarded as a degradation of the species as a whole. The novel follows the immediate aftermath of the death of a dragon clan's patriarch, the ensuing trouble upon dividing up his family's inheritance, and the consequences in seeking reparation thereof.
ISBN-10 0765319519
ISBN-13 978-0765319517
DC 5/5
Probably the only novel on this list that (technically) does not feature any human characters, whatsoever.
CA 5/5 see above
PS X/5
As a victorian novel, the author intentionally follows the genre convention of having a (human) moral message at the end.
Temeraire (2006-2017) by Naomi Novik
Alternate History (dragon riding)
Have you ever wondered what the Napoleonic Wars would be like if it were fought with dragons? Well, starting with His Majesty's Dragon (2006), the series focuses on a British Navy Captain who ends up becomming a dragon rider for the Britain's Aerial Corps after taking possession of a hatchling.
His Majesty's Dragon
ISBN-10 0593359542
ISBN-13 978-0593359549
DC 2/5
As with most books focused on dragon riding.
CA 2.5/5
Western dragons become feral if they do not imprint on a rider and are mostly treated as fodder rather than actual people. There are some exceptions, such as the main duo and dragons are worshipped in some places outside of Europe.
PS 1.5/5
Vainqueur the Dragon (2019) by Maxime J. Durand
Fantasy (isekai/litrpg)
Part of a 4 book series originally adapted from the royalroad webnovel. Probably the only litrpg on this list, purely because it is a self-aware satire/parody of common litrpg tropes. Also due to popular demand.
ISBN-10 1660990572
ISBN-13 978-1660990573
DC 3/5
Besides the eponymous dragon, there are also many other /scaly/s such as kobolds.
CA 3/5
Can't say much without spoiling, although Vainqueur gets a lot of good character development despite being your stereotypical dragon.
PS 1/5
The War of Embers (2019) by James Duvall
Fantasy/Urban Fantasy (TF/isekai)
Western isekai portal fiction, which is to say, isekai but without the usual isekai cliches. Although this is poorly rated by /scaly/ standards, it is still an incredibly good fantasy novel on its own. The only reason why this is on the list (besides nepotism) is because it delves deep into the main protag's mental state and personality changes after they are turned into a dragon and has some very interesting worldbuilding. For a better synopsis, see the tvtropes page here.
ISBN-10 1795086289
ISBN-13 978-1795086288
DC 2/5
Only two of the characters in the "main" cast are dragons and they take human form half of the time.
CA 3.5/5
Outside of the main cast, most of the other dragons remain in the background, but they have their own kingdom and maintain their sovereignty.
PS 2/5
Wings of Fire (2013-2022) by Tui T. Sutherland
Fantasy (xenofiction)
Yes, this is the same author who was part of the Erin Hunter team who wrote Warrior Cats. Comprised of 15 novels and a side series that spans 3 arcs, this is the definitive /scaly/ indoctrination machine published by Scholastic intended for a YA audience. Set in an alien world where dragons have organized into tribes as the dominant species on the planet, the first arc focuses on a war of succession and a multi-tribal friendship of dragonets who are the subject of a prophecy of peace.
The Dragonet Prophecy
ISBN-10 0545349230
ISBN-13 978-0545349239
DC 4.75/5
Humans do exist in this setting but as a bronze age, endangered species and are mostly a footnote for the first arc. By the third arc, this is a 3/5, however.
CA 4.5/5
A human does kill a dragon but most of the plot is driven by the main cast who happen to all be dragons. In arc 3, this is debatably a 4/5 and features one instance of dragon riding and another single unrelated dragon who gets captured and tortured (its complicated and not what you think).
PS 2/5
Though, there is a novel in arc 3 that rightfully deserves a 3/5.
Dinosaurs
Info
There is no rating system.
This section is expanded upon anons' requests.
The Deadlands (2023-) by Skye Melki-Wegner
Action-Adventure (xenofiction)
Advertised as "Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park", this 3 book series (as of writing this) follows an alternate timeline where dinosaurs evolved intelligence, forming their own kingdoms and waging wars. At the center of this is Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, exiled along with several herbivores from the last two kingdoms to the eponymous deadlands, where they uncover a sinister plot.
Hunted
ISBN-10 1250827698
ISBN-13 978-1250827692
The Dinosaur Mafia Mysteries (2000-2005) by Eric Garcia
Detective Mystery
In this offbeat detective novel series, there are dinosaurs living among us, disguised in human suits. Los Angeles part-time private investigator and full-time velociraptor, Vincent Rubio finds himself investigating what at first appears to be a simple insurance case but quickly finds himself in the middle of a full-on murder mystery complete with turgid affairs and mistaken identity. He only makes it through by the edge of his large talons.
Anonymous Rex
ISBN-10 0425178218
ISBN-13 978-0425178218
Dinoverse (1999-2000) by Scott Ciencin
Alternate History [late Cretaceous period] (isekai/xenofiction)
Wake up, its the late Cretaceous period, and several middle school students just got isekai'd into bodies of dinosaurs. Now they must find their way back, lest they wind up trapped forever (oh no). Originally released as a single book, it was then split and republished under 2 novels. The author would rapidly-publish 5 additional novels the following year, each with its own set of characters, bringing the final count up to 7.
I Was a Teenage T. Rex
ISBN-10 0679888438
ISBN-13 978-0679888437
Quintaglio Ascension Trilogy (1992-1994) by Robert J. Sawyer
Science Fiction (xenofiction)
(Section pending review)
Far-Seer
ISBN-10 0441225519
ISBN-13 978-1988415345
Raptor Red (1996) by Robert T. Bakker
Historical Fiction? [late Cretaceous period] (xenofiction)
The story of a young female Utahraptor by paleontologist Robert T. Bakker, who served as one of the fact-checkers for the film version of Jurassic Park. It was written as a sort of companion novel to his non-fiction book The Dinosaur Heresies, in which he exposed his then-revolutionary ideas about dinosaurs being a little more active and birdlike than the popular imagination's vision of them as big, stupid lizards. It's written as a kind of nature documentary that allows some insight into the animals' thoughts.
ISBN-10 0553575619
ISBN-13 978-0553575613
Anthros
Info
(Basically lizardfolk, dragonborn and kobolds)
There is no rating system.
This section is expanded upon anons' requests.
A Dream of Wings and Flame (2022) by Cale Plamann
Fantasy (kobolds)
(Section pending review)
ISBN-13 979-8356838996
Ren of Atikala: Kobolds (2013-2016) by David Adams
Fantasy (kobolds)
(Section pending review)
ISBN-10 1492335045
ISBN-13 978-1492335047
Wings of War (2015-2020) by Bryce O'Connor
Fantasy (dragonborn)
(Section pending review)
Child of the Daystar
ISBN-10 0998810614
ISBN-13 978-0998810614
Backlog
Info
Which means that if another anon does not get to writing a review,
it will be added.... eventually....
Dragons
Age of Fire (2005-2011) by E.E. Knight
Fantasy (xenofiction)
Dragon Champion
ISBN-10 0451463633
ISBN-13 978-0451463630
Battle Dragons (1992-2022) by Christopher Rowley
Fantasy
Brazil Broketail
ISBN-10 0451452062
ISBN-13 978-0451452061
Bitterwood (2007-2018) by James Maxey
Fantasy
Bitterwood
ISBN-10 1502967170
ISBN-13 978-1502967176
Burning Stars (2019-) by Rurik Redwolf
Fantasy (xenofiction)
Afterdark
ISBN-10 1098940288
ISBN-13 978-1098940287
Celestial Heir (2022-) by Chester Young
Fantasy (xenofiction)
Tail of Revenge
ISBN-13 979-8364666987
Dragon's Envoy (2022) by James Haddock
Fantasy
ISBN-13 979-8438248910
Dragoncharm (1996) by Graham Edwards
Fantasy (xenofiction)
ISBN-10 0061056472
ISBN-13 978-0061056475
DragonFire (2021-2022) by LJ Davies
Fantasy
Sphere of Eternity
ISBN-13 979-8748103343
Dragonriders of Pern (1967-) by Anne McCaffrey, multiple authors
Fantasy (dragon riding)
Dragonflight
ISBN-10 0345335465
ISBN-13 978-0345335463
The Dragons of Solunas (2016-) by H. Leighton Dickson
Fantasy (dragon riding)
Dragon of Ash & Stars
ISBN-10 1530934591
ISBN-13 978-1530934591
Dragons Wild (2014-) by Robert Asprin
Urban Fantasy (TF)
ISBN-10 0425272052
ISBN-13 978-0425272053
The Inheritance Cycle (2002-2011) by Christopher Paolini
Fantasy (dragon riding)
Eragon
ISBN-10 0375826696
ISBN-13 978-0375826696
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (1991) by Bruce Coville
Urban Fantasy
ISBN-10 0152062521
ISBN-13 978-0152062521
Knight's Wyrd (1992) by Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald & Sherwood Smith (introduction)
Fantasy
ISBN-10 0152015205
ISBN-13 978-1250877703
Kraamlok (Dragon Planet) (2020) by Sharon Plumb
Fantasy (xenofiction)
ISBN-10 0991879228
ISBN-13 978-0991879229
The Last Dragon Chronicles (2001-2013) by Chris d'Lacey
Urban Fantasy
The Fire Within
ISBN-10 0439672449
ISBN-13 978-0439672443
New Dragon City (2022) by Mari Mancusi
Urban Fantasy
ISBN-10 031637668X
ISBN-13 978-0316376686
The Remembered War (2021-) by Robert Vane
Fantasy (xenofiction)
A Dragon's Chains
ISBN-10 0999265822
ISBN-13 978-0999265826
The Shadow Dragon's Stream (2012) by Peter Dressler
Fantasy (xenofiction)
ISBN-10 1466330899
ISBN-13 978-1466330894
Silver, Sand, and Silken Wings (2023) by Heiko Ehlers
Fantasy (xenofiction)
ISBN-13 979-8399504315
Scales of Fate: The Chosen Prince (2024) by Shaidan Barnes
Fantasy (Erotica)
ISBN-13 979-8876982476