As a staunch animal lover, the creatures found in fantasy novels tend to be one of my favorite aspects, and to me, there is nothing better than a book filled with dragons. If you’ve read our blog post about dragon fantasy, then this post shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Dragons started as giant fire breathing beasts in need of slaying. They were the antagonists in their story–hoarding treasure or guarding a princess locked in a tower. Within the last century, there was a shift where dragons became allies to protagonists and dragon riding was born. Neo dragon fantasy is kind of a subgenre of dragon fantasy, with its own tropes and aspects that differentiate it from classical dragon fantasy.
What is Neo Dragon Fantasy?
When it comes to Neo Dragon Fantasy, there aren’t dragons slumbering in caves atop massive piles of treasure waiting to be slain by a knight–these dragons are helpful, friendly, even. While there are still “bad” dragons in this genre, the thing that sets it apart from classical dragon fantasy is that man and dragon have forged a bond that transcends even the most powerful of magicks. As such, dragons and their riders are usually united against a common foe.
Common Tropes
Dragon fantasy is one of those wonderful subgenres that can mesh with almost anything in speculative fiction. You’ll find books with the typical fire-breathing dragons or a dragon that’s the last of their kind, but you’ll also find ones with dragon shifters or elemental dragons. While all those are great examples of dragon fantasy, if we’re talking about common tropes, then three come to mind.
- Bonds with protagonist: The biggest aspect in neo dragon fantasy is the bond between dragon and protagonist. This can be a mix of telepathic, emotional, or magical bonds. Sometimes dragons can only speak with their riders through a telepathic link. Other times, they can feel what their riders are feeling and vice versa–then there is the way being bonded to a dragon gives the rider access to magic they wouldn’t normally have. The dragon/rider bond can feature one or all of these different bonds. In some instances, one cannot live without the other.
- More human than animal: The dragons featured in these stories are intelligent, sentient beings. Most are able to communicate telepathically whether just to their rider or in general. They have feelings similar to their riders, mentor them, and provide them with friendship. They can strategize, think for themselves, and have relationships outside of the one with their rider.
- Last of their kind: Even though dragons tend to be ancient and powerful, with this trope, there is always something that wipes them out, and the dragon the protagonist encounters is the last of their kind. It doesn’t always have to be just one–it could be multiple–but it’s to the point where there are so few, they’re practically extinct. This dragon can be an older dragon, or it could be the last dragon egg.
Why I Like Dragon Fantasy
I have loved dragon fantasy for as long as I can remember. One of my first experiences with it was the movie Dragonheart. I loved the adventure and the friendship between Bowen and Draco. I wanted to find more of that and looked for books and shows that were similar as I grew up–to the point where my own WIP features dragons, their riders, and a race to save a princess’ kingdom from the tyrant that stole it from her. There is something to be said about the adventures in dragon fantasy, the action, and the friendships that are formed. The bond also serves as a way to up the stakes, especially if one can’t live without the other, or if they’ll have some sort of half life if one dies. I also really love the freedom that comes with dragon fantasy. There isn’t a specific box you have to stay in. Besides, who wouldn’t want a giant dragon best friend that can roast your enemies alive?
Why YOU Should Explore Dragon Fantasy
With the endless possibilities that dragon fantasy offers, why wouldn’t you explore it? There’s nothing quite as satisfying as someone being burned alive by dragon fire. I mean, as long as they’re the villain. For those of us that love dragons, we want more fiction with dragons, but we also want new ways that they’re represented. So, explore dragon fantasy and give us a new way to see them.
- Larger than Life: In fiction, dragons are always massive, yes, but they’re also something that strikes fear in the hearts of men. They’re difficult to kill–almost indestructible–and are almost always knowledgeable and ancient. They can hold some sort of significance in the world they live in or they can just be creatures who live in the world. This is something you can weave throughout your story. Were dragons considered gods at one point? Were they worshiped? How do the different races perceive dragons? If you’re dealing with the last dragon, how did something so powerful become extinct?
- Bonds: Dragon fantasy is a great place to explore different kinds of bonds. When it comes to dragons and their riders, is it just a “hey, I choose you” kind of deal, or is there something deeper to their bond? If you’re using a telepathic bond, what does that look like? Is there physical evidence of the bond? Delve into magical or emotional bonds between dragons and the other inhabitants of your world. If they share magic, does it go both ways or just one way? Same thing with emotions. Can a bond be forced? And if so, how are the bonded affected?
- Dragons: The great thing about dragon fantasy is that there are so many different dragons you can use. You can have dragons that only breathe fire, but then you can also have elemental dragons that have other kinds of breath power or magic. They can vary in size, so make them large, but also make them small. Use dragons as allies and antagonists. Use dragons that can shift into a humanoid form if you want. Look into the differences between dragons, wyverns, wyrms, and drakes, then use them all in your story. Don’t let what has been popular before deter you from taking dragons and making them your own.
Dragon Fantasy That We Love
It’s widely known by now due to the HBO series, but Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin is my jam when it comes to dragons. I’m personally not a fan of the friendlier dragons that have been sweeping the genre in recent years, and I love the primal terror inspired by the Targaryens’ beasts of war. For me this finds a great middle ground between the ancient beasts-in-need-of-slaying and the bonded riders we see now. The power imbalances they cause are just fantastic fodder for the politics of Martin’s world.
Cinda Williams Chima’s Flamecaster is a really fun read because it mixes an amazing world, interesting characters, and a thrilling plot. It’s a second series to the original cast of characters. The book takes you into a fantasy world where magic, politics, and personal grudges all come together in a really cool way. The characters feel real and deal with their own struggles, making them easy to connect with. The best addition? Dragons!
One of my favorite dragon fantasy stories, and one that I will read over and over again is Eragon by Christopher Paolini. Don’t let the movie fool you, the book is so much better. It’s about a young boy who finds a dragon egg in the mountains and is thrust into a world he didn’t know about. He has to learn how to raise a dragon, wield magic, and become the face of a rebellion all in a few short months. There are currently five books in this series and a novella. I highly recommend this series as a staple to dragon fantasy!