HOUSE OF DRAGONS

A half-human, half-Fae girl learns to chart her own path after her plans go awry.

Ever since 17-year-old Kerrigan Argon was left at the base of Draco Mountain at age 5, she’s been training to be chosen during the Dragon Blessed ceremony by one of the 12 houses that form Alandria’s ruling class. Unfortunately, a last-second betrayal seems to leave her with just one option: remain with the Dragon Society and forfeit the secure future she imagined. As Kerrigan battles for agency against the forces at work against her, the spark between her and Prince Fordham Ollivier grows; he’s surly but beautiful and the subject of the prophetic visions that attract the interest of those who would use her powers for their own ends. Though the expansive plot gets a bit overwhelming, the well-woven political intrigue, convincing slow-burn love story, extensive but solid secondary cast, and presence of dragons add appeal. A problematic age and power imbalance between Kerrigan and an ex with whom she was sexually involved when he was 20 and she was 16 dampens the impact of the socially conscious elements of this long but suspenseful tale. Kerrigan and Fordham read white, and the supporting cast brings diversity in race and sexual orientation. Kerrigan loves getting drunk with her friend Clover, who’s queer, has brown skin, and smokes “an addictive drug” to help with chronic pain from her disability.

A dense, tense, and mostly enjoyable fantasy.