10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds that Pre-Date Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing has captivated readers for many reasons, but Violet’s relationship with her dragons is at the top of the list. Sure, we love a spicy enemies-to-lovers romance, and Yarros definitely delivers that. But Basgiath War College wouldn’t be the beloved setting it is without its dragons and their uniquely magical connections with their riders. One of the best known series quotes is, “A dragon without its rider is a tragedy; a rider without their dragon is dead” for a reason, after all.
While The Empyrean series might be the latest buzzy fantasy series to center on dragons and their riders, it’s hardly the first. Sure, dragons are infamous enemies in much of fantasy, from Lord of the Rings to Dungeons & Dragons. Who could forget Bilbo’s encounter with the formidable Smaug or their first time facing off against a Red Dragon at the D&D table? And indeed, to many of the characters in A Song of Fire and Ice, Dany’s formidable dragons are anything but friendly.
But for many readers, dragons are at their most compelling when they’re working alongside humans, through unique dragon rider bonds and beyond. After all, dragons like Saphira from Eragon tend to get a lot more page time, and a lot more dialogue. We get to know them on a deeper level, connecting with them right alongside their human partners. So it’s no surprise that there are plenty of great stories about dragon and human bonds that well pre-date Fourth Wing, and we’ll likely see many more to come.
Dragonflight (1969)
by Anne McCaffrey
When it comes to books about dragonriders, Anne McCaffrey is often credited with creating the blueprint. Her Dragonriders of Pern series, which began with the 1969 release of Dragonflight, is the go-to example for series that center the relationship between dragons and their riders. Much of what McCaffrey lays out here laid the foundation for modern dragonrider tropes.
In Dragonflight, we find an early example of dragons that forge telepathic bonds with their human riders. This would go on to become a core way for dragons and humans to communicate and grow their connections in dragonrider stories like Fourth Wing. Like in many of these stories, the dragons and riders in Dragonflight are tasked with protecting their world from a terrible threat. The first book introduces readers to Lessa, an outcast who bonds with a golden dragon, starting an iconic series full of adventure and a dash of romance. For fans of a good dragonrider story, this series is a must-read.
You can purchase Dragonflight 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
How to Train Your Dragon (2014)
by Cressida Cowell
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Little Brown Books for Young Readers</figure>
Before it was adapted into the beloved animated film and the live-action adaptation that followed, How to Train Your Dragon was a book. Or, more accurately, a full-fledged series of 12 books aimed at younger readers. For those seeking a less spicy book that still features heartwarming connections between dragons and humans, How to Train Your Dragon will definitely fit the bill.
Dragon enthusiasts will no doubt recognize some familiar characters from the movies here, including Hiccup and Toothless. And like in the movie, Hiccup bonds with Toothless despite the fact that his clan typically prefers to catch and kill dragons, not befriend them. But whether you love the movie or just want a good series about unlikely friendships between dragons and humans, How to Train Your Dragon has plenty to offer. The book series has a total of 12 books, so there’s plenty of new lore and material even for longtime fans of the movies.
You can purchase How to Train Your Dragon 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
A Clash of Kings (2002)
by George R.R. Martin
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Random House Worlds</figure>
Daenerys Targaryen isn’t called the Queen of Dragons for nothing. Her dragon hatchlings are technically born at the end of A Game of Thrones, the first book in A Song of Fire and Ice. However, we don’t really get to see as much of their growing connection with Dany until A Clash of Kings. So if you’re looking for that good human/dragon bonding, this book is where it really starts to sink in.
Dany’s relationship with her dragons is a bit different from your typical dragonrider story. She doesn’t have a telepathic connection with the dragons. Instead, there seems to be an instinctive and intuitive connection between them, one that is tested over time. Still, the Targaryens and their dragons are a quintessential example of the complicated relationships humans and dragons can build together.
You can purchase A Clash of Kings 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
Eragon (2003)
by Christopher Paolini
As an iconic fantasy series for young readers, The Inheritance Cycle introduced many of us to the bonds between dragons and riders. It all begins with Eragon, where we first meet Eragon and his dragon friend, Saphira. The book draws on many beloved fantasy tropes to create a coming-of-age story that centers the growing connection between dragon and rider.
Though they are written for a younger audience, Eragon and the following books in The Inheritance Cycle don’t shy away from high fantasy. Along with dragons, Eragon introduces us to dwaves, elves, and magic, creating the foundation for a sweeping series that, like Harry Potter, grows with its readers to encompass bigger, more complicated themes. But rest assured, Eragon is a fast-paced adventure of a read that will captivate young and older readers alike.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir of Lady Trent (2014)
by Marie Brennan
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Tor Books</figure>
As its title suggests, A Natural History of Dragons is written as a fictional memoir. Set in the Victorian age, it follows the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist in her early days as a young woman enamored with dragons. The relationship between dragons and humans here is a bit different from typical dragonrider stories. Rather than connect with specific dragons, this book instead deals with one woman’s love of dragons and desire to learn more about them.
Though it is very much fiction, this is a great book for those who want a story where the bond between dragons and humans mimics our own connection with much of the natural world. Think Jane Goodall and her connection with chimpanzees, but dealing with 19th-century dragons, instead. Lady Trent does encounter plenty of actual dragons in this book and the series, but they are often a bit more at a distance than in a dragonrider narrative. Still, there’s plenty for the dragon enthusiast to like in these pages, and plenty more in the series if book one leaves you hungry for more.
You can purchase A Natural History of Dragons 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019)
by Samantha Shannon
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For fans of some Game of Thrones-level political intrigue with plenty of dragons in the mix, The Priory of the Orange Tree is a must-read. This is the first book in The Roots of Chaos series, which is still ongoing. So be warned, those who fall in love with Tané and her dragon may have a while to wait before a true sequel arrives. But if book one is any indication, it’ll be worth the wait.
In The Priory of the Orange Tree, we follow several characters through alternating POVs, and not all of them have bonded with dragons. However, Tané and the dragon she bonds with do play a central role in the story, so there’s plenty of human/dragon connection to be had. And while the sequel hasn’t yet released, Shannon has published two prequels that offer plenty more in the way of dragons and their complicated relationships with humanity.
You can purchase The Priory of the Orange Tree 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
Dealing with Dragons (1990)
by Patricia C. Wrede
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Clarion Books</figure>
In Dealing with Dragons, readers get a new twist on the classic princess and dragon dynamic. Rather than being captured by a dragon and waiting for rescue in the traditional sense, Cimorene instead chooses to serve as a dragon’s princess. This will keep her well away from those meddling princes, even if it poses its own challenges.
In Dealing with Dragons, we meet a princess determined to escape the life laid out for her and a powerful dragon who becomes her friend and companion. This isn’t a typical dragonrider story, but instead a twist on the dragon and princess myth. But rest assured, Kazul and Cimorene forge a unique connection alongside their role as employer and employee. Plus, Dealing With Dragons is packed with fun references to the dragonrider stories of old, including Anne McCaffrey’s classics.
You can purchase Dealing with Dragons 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
His Majesty’s Dragon (2006)
by Naomi Novik
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Del Rey</figure>
Tired of the tried-and-true fantasy realms beset by magical foes that serve as the foundation for many dragonrider stories? Enter His Majesty’s Dragon. This book, which begins the Temeraire series, instead sees dragons as key components to the Napoleonic Wars. That’s right: the dragons in this book are battling in an alternate version of the war between Britain and France.
Our main character, Capt. Will Laurence, has spent his life at sea. But when he forges an unexpected bond with the dragon Temeraire, he finds himself among the Aerial Corps. There, he and Temeraire learn to wage battles against Napoleon’s own dragon army to help turn the tides of the war. As far as unique takes on dragon/rider bonds go, this is certainly an unexpected one. Yet somehow, it works.
You can purchase His Majesty’s Dragon 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
Dragon Keeper (2009)
by Robin Hobb
In Dragon Keeper, Traders vowed to care for dragons as a thank you to the powerful one that saved them long ago. But the dragons in question hatch weak and unable to fly, putting both them and the Traders at risk. Thus, a select group of Traders are tasked with taking them back to their homeland… provided they can find it.
This journey serves as the foundation for the relationship between our main characters and the dragons they’re meant to protect. Rather than focusing strictly on the singular bond between one dragon and one rider, this story explores the connection between a group of keepers and the dragons they’re guiding back home. Both dragons and their human companions are outcasts in their own way, giving this story a found family vibe.
You can purchase Dragon Keeper here.
Dragon School: First Flight (2017)
by Sarah K.L. Wilson
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Sarah K.L. Wilson</figure>
In terms of Fourth Wing read-a-likes, Dragon School has plenty to offer. Like Violet, our protagonist has a disability that makes her bond with a dragon somewhat unlikely. However, Amel is determined to survive training and become a dragon rider. This YA series is told across a variety of “seasons,” with Season One centered on Amel and her dragon, Raolcan.
The series focuses on the relationship between Amel and Raolclan, a powerful and somewhat snarky dragon who chooses her as his rider. It is set at Dragon School, making it perfect for those who want a school setting like Basgiath in Fourth Wing. What it doesn’t share with Yarros’ story, however, is the spice. There’s some mild romance as the series progresses, but it doesn’t come close to what Violet and Xaden have going on. Depending on the reader, that could be a pro or a con for this one.
You can purchase Dragon School: First Flight 10 Best Books About Human/Dragon Bonds.
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