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I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
A cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince's valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince's valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
278 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
Peter S. Beagle
214 books3,317 followersPeter Soyer Beagle (born April 20, 1939) is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. He is also a talented guitarist and folk singer. He wrote his first novel, A Fine and Private Place , when he was only 19 years old. Today he is best known as the author of The Last Unicorn, which routinely polls as one of the top ten fantasy novels of all time, and at least two of his other books (A Fine and Private Place and I See By My Outfit) are considered modern classics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
March 11, 2024
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons is a highly anticipated, high fantasy fairytale fraught with mighty dragons, evil wizards, reluctant heroes, craven princes, and a damsel that is in fact not so distressed, is sick of obstinate heroes, and can do the rescuing herself, thank-you-very-much!
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (known as just “Robert”) is the resident dragon slayer---oops, I mean dragon exterminator---in the small kingdom of Bellemontagne. He despises his job, which he, alas, performs exceedingly well, but he is duty bound to take up this accursed mantle from his late father. It’s always been something he experiences immense inner turmoil over, ethically and emotionally. He really likes dragons and has several secret pet dragons of his own. Furthermore, dragon exterminators are held in the same regard as the draconic vermin they are tasked to exterminate, so obviously he wants to be more than that. Robert has ambitious aspirations to become a… prince’s valet.
Princess Cerise of Bellmontagne finds herself under sudden and extreme pressure to have the considerable dragon infestation at the castle removed, so Robert and his services are summoned. The sudden reason for the extermination would be to impress the visiting Crown Prince Reginald of Corvinia, a much richer and larger kingdom than Cerise’s own. With love at first sight, Cerise just knows they are destined to be together. But Prince Reginald has his own agenda to reckon with before he could ever consider a marriage…he must impress his father, King Krije, and prove his worthiness as a son. After much consideration and planning with Mortmain, his valet, they decide to make a proposal contingent upon slaying a great magical beast to prove his valor and value to the Prince’s father. Of course, it is decided that they would go dragon hunting, so they beseech the only one among them with any dragon slaying experience to go along too---poor Robert! As things quickly start to snowball out of control for the prince and his valet, an evil wizard previously thought to be dead and gone will descend upon the party of dragon hunters, but an unsuspecting hero will rise to the occasion to hopefully save them all. This cleverly written satirical fantasy has a prince, a princess, and a humble dragon exterminator all questing to escape from their predetermined roles in their fairytale lives ostensibly by slaying a dragon and besting an evil wizard but actually by discovering their true hearts’ desires and mastering their newfound selves.
Heartwarming and nostalgically magical, this tale will go down as one of my very favorites. I really loved the satirical tone of the story, and it reminded me of how the Princess Bride was told. Similarly, the author uses exaggerated fantasy tropes to create a whimsical tale that is laugh out loud funny. I found it downright comical how dragons are considered in this book! They are treated with the same amount of disdain and repugnance we reserve for insects, and there is such a relatable moment in the story where Princess Cerise, a shoe, and a dragon have it out. I also found myself giggling at Dahr, the great and evil wizard. As far as storybook villains go, he was up there with the best of them, posturing and pressing his long-winded machinations on everyone, wasting too much time and missing opportunities to bring his grandiose evil plans to fruition. Lastly, I feel obligated to call attention to the beautifully illustrated cover since it immediately caught my eye. It is a detailed watercolor painting that depicts a castle on a grassy hill with a thunderous horde of dragons circling overhead and a behemoth of a dragon resting in the foreground. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one was so beautiful I added it to my TBR pile, posthaste!
I highly recommend reading this latest fantasy adventure from Peter Beagle! It was well worth the wait!
Thank you so much Net Galley and Saga Press for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Publication day is May 14th!
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (known as just “Robert”) is the resident dragon slayer---oops, I mean dragon exterminator---in the small kingdom of Bellemontagne. He despises his job, which he, alas, performs exceedingly well, but he is duty bound to take up this accursed mantle from his late father. It’s always been something he experiences immense inner turmoil over, ethically and emotionally. He really likes dragons and has several secret pet dragons of his own. Furthermore, dragon exterminators are held in the same regard as the draconic vermin they are tasked to exterminate, so obviously he wants to be more than that. Robert has ambitious aspirations to become a… prince’s valet.
Princess Cerise of Bellmontagne finds herself under sudden and extreme pressure to have the considerable dragon infestation at the castle removed, so Robert and his services are summoned. The sudden reason for the extermination would be to impress the visiting Crown Prince Reginald of Corvinia, a much richer and larger kingdom than Cerise’s own. With love at first sight, Cerise just knows they are destined to be together. But Prince Reginald has his own agenda to reckon with before he could ever consider a marriage…he must impress his father, King Krije, and prove his worthiness as a son. After much consideration and planning with Mortmain, his valet, they decide to make a proposal contingent upon slaying a great magical beast to prove his valor and value to the Prince’s father. Of course, it is decided that they would go dragon hunting, so they beseech the only one among them with any dragon slaying experience to go along too---poor Robert! As things quickly start to snowball out of control for the prince and his valet, an evil wizard previously thought to be dead and gone will descend upon the party of dragon hunters, but an unsuspecting hero will rise to the occasion to hopefully save them all. This cleverly written satirical fantasy has a prince, a princess, and a humble dragon exterminator all questing to escape from their predetermined roles in their fairytale lives ostensibly by slaying a dragon and besting an evil wizard but actually by discovering their true hearts’ desires and mastering their newfound selves.
Heartwarming and nostalgically magical, this tale will go down as one of my very favorites. I really loved the satirical tone of the story, and it reminded me of how the Princess Bride was told. Similarly, the author uses exaggerated fantasy tropes to create a whimsical tale that is laugh out loud funny. I found it downright comical how dragons are considered in this book! They are treated with the same amount of disdain and repugnance we reserve for insects, and there is such a relatable moment in the story where Princess Cerise, a shoe, and a dragon have it out. I also found myself giggling at Dahr, the great and evil wizard. As far as storybook villains go, he was up there with the best of them, posturing and pressing his long-winded machinations on everyone, wasting too much time and missing opportunities to bring his grandiose evil plans to fruition. Lastly, I feel obligated to call attention to the beautifully illustrated cover since it immediately caught my eye. It is a detailed watercolor painting that depicts a castle on a grassy hill with a thunderous horde of dragons circling overhead and a behemoth of a dragon resting in the foreground. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one was so beautiful I added it to my TBR pile, posthaste!
I highly recommend reading this latest fantasy adventure from Peter Beagle! It was well worth the wait!
Thank you so much Net Galley and Saga Press for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Publication day is May 14th!
February 5, 2024
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is an entertaining and whimsical high fantasy adventure. I don't generally read a whole lot of high fantasy, but I just couldn't resist this one – the title is fun, the cover art is lovely, and who wouldn't want to read about a dragon exterminator who really wants to be a prince's valet?
And, well, I really enjoyed this novel. It wasn't quite as hilarious as I thought it'd be based on the title and description (it's more whimsical than laugh-out-loud funny), but there are still definitely some amusing bits. I especially loved the mostly nameless, romance-seeking princes introduced early on in the novel – it's certainly not easy to woo a headstrong princess!
Robert is a fantastic main character – he's full of heart and bravery and courage, as are his friends and companions (even if some of them don't exactly know it right away). Robert, Princess Cerise, and Prince Reginald all feel trapped in the roles that they were born into, and it's heartwarming to watch them become the people that they were meant to be.
I do feel bad for all of the exterminated dragons, though. *sobs*
Our heroes don't travel all that far on their adventures. They spend most of their time wandering back and forth between the same few places, all within a few days of where they start out from. However, there are monstrous dragons and an evil wizard and acts of bravery and even a little bit of romance, so it's still an epic journey nevertheless.
My one tiny complaint is that this novel feels a bit … unfinished, I guess? It'd be a great candidate for a sequel, as Robert is just starting to learn who he is at the end of the story. Where do his adventures take him next?
My overall rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up. If you like whimsical fantasy adventures with lots and lots of dragons, you should probably give this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
And, well, I really enjoyed this novel. It wasn't quite as hilarious as I thought it'd be based on the title and description (it's more whimsical than laugh-out-loud funny), but there are still definitely some amusing bits. I especially loved the mostly nameless, romance-seeking princes introduced early on in the novel – it's certainly not easy to woo a headstrong princess!
Robert is a fantastic main character – he's full of heart and bravery and courage, as are his friends and companions (even if some of them don't exactly know it right away). Robert, Princess Cerise, and Prince Reginald all feel trapped in the roles that they were born into, and it's heartwarming to watch them become the people that they were meant to be.
I do feel bad for all of the exterminated dragons, though. *sobs*
Our heroes don't travel all that far on their adventures. They spend most of their time wandering back and forth between the same few places, all within a few days of where they start out from. However, there are monstrous dragons and an evil wizard and acts of bravery and even a little bit of romance, so it's still an epic journey nevertheless.
My one tiny complaint is that this novel feels a bit … unfinished, I guess? It'd be a great candidate for a sequel, as Robert is just starting to learn who he is at the end of the story. Where do his adventures take him next?
My overall rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up. If you like whimsical fantasy adventures with lots and lots of dragons, you should probably give this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
May 9, 2024
the man's still got it!
May 29, 2024
I’m pleasantly surprised by how much darker this is than The Last Unicorn.🖤
"Horrifying visions out of the oldest nightmares, with their long jaws stretched wide and their great wings thundering, there was even so a ravenous joy about them, as though they could only barely contain their pride and pleasure in being what they were."
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (aka Robert) is a reluctant dragon exterminator in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, where dragons are as common a pest as rats or mice. Robert is just the first of many characters who do not subscribe to familiar tropes in this book. He holds an unorthodox opinion about dragons and is a compassionate killer, if such a thing can be managed.
Robert finds himself in the company of Princess Cerise, who is anything but a damsel in distress. She hires Robert to rid her family's castle of verminous dragons so that she might woo the handsome Prince Reginald when he comes to visit. Like Robert and Cerise, there is more to Reginald than is apparent at first glance.
This is a story of longing. Of secrets kept and desires held close to the heart. While Robert's adventure with Cerise and Reginald does not take him far from home, it does test his understanding of himself and who he is meant to be. Cerise proves a brave, if stubborn, traveler, and Reginald makes for an intriguing mystery.
They traverse a land where girls are educated and boys are not, where the princes are dandies, and the dragons range from cute and cuddly to downright deadly. Here can be found brave women, a dastardly wizard, buffoonish kings, compassionate young men, and stalwart companions.
Peter S. Beagle's signature writing style is most apparent when the dragons are revealed in lyrical descriptions that range from their bodies having "been dusted with bits of brass and crushed diamonds" to their "great midnight wings" flapping furiously while flames lap from their "blazing red gullet".
Another example:
"The karchee were like nothing else in the market: all rainbows from one angle, shimmering like the sky after a storm; and a deep blue-green from another, as though they were wrapped, head to tail tip, in the sea."
I was very intrigued by the three wise women in the book's prologue and would have loved to see them feature in later chapters.
While the book's climax is not wholly unexpected, it does sway into something surreal and surprising.
Most of the story threads are tied off by the book's conclusion, but some remain quietly unfinished (merely alluded to). A sequel would be most welcome!
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is generally sweet and cozy, but remember, there are dragons here, so be on the lookout for razor sharp teeth and charred corpses. Where are my dragon lovers at? This book is for you!
-
My deepest gratitude to Saga Press for sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Horrifying visions out of the oldest nightmares, with their long jaws stretched wide and their great wings thundering, there was even so a ravenous joy about them, as though they could only barely contain their pride and pleasure in being what they were."
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (aka Robert) is a reluctant dragon exterminator in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, where dragons are as common a pest as rats or mice. Robert is just the first of many characters who do not subscribe to familiar tropes in this book. He holds an unorthodox opinion about dragons and is a compassionate killer, if such a thing can be managed.
Robert finds himself in the company of Princess Cerise, who is anything but a damsel in distress. She hires Robert to rid her family's castle of verminous dragons so that she might woo the handsome Prince Reginald when he comes to visit. Like Robert and Cerise, there is more to Reginald than is apparent at first glance.
This is a story of longing. Of secrets kept and desires held close to the heart. While Robert's adventure with Cerise and Reginald does not take him far from home, it does test his understanding of himself and who he is meant to be. Cerise proves a brave, if stubborn, traveler, and Reginald makes for an intriguing mystery.
They traverse a land where girls are educated and boys are not, where the princes are dandies, and the dragons range from cute and cuddly to downright deadly. Here can be found brave women, a dastardly wizard, buffoonish kings, compassionate young men, and stalwart companions.
Peter S. Beagle's signature writing style is most apparent when the dragons are revealed in lyrical descriptions that range from their bodies having "been dusted with bits of brass and crushed diamonds" to their "great midnight wings" flapping furiously while flames lap from their "blazing red gullet".
Another example:
"The karchee were like nothing else in the market: all rainbows from one angle, shimmering like the sky after a storm; and a deep blue-green from another, as though they were wrapped, head to tail tip, in the sea."
I was very intrigued by the three wise women in the book's prologue and would have loved to see them feature in later chapters.
While the book's climax is not wholly unexpected, it does sway into something surreal and surprising.
Most of the story threads are tied off by the book's conclusion, but some remain quietly unfinished (merely alluded to). A sequel would be most welcome!
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is generally sweet and cozy, but remember, there are dragons here, so be on the lookout for razor sharp teeth and charred corpses. Where are my dragon lovers at? This book is for you!
-
My deepest gratitude to Saga Press for sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2024
The warning came in the form of a great wind, sudden and cold, sweeping out of the western mountains on a perfectly bland and cloudless summer day.
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is the story of people coming together to face this challenge, but more than that, it's the story of these teenagers realizing that they are not who their roles force them to be, and trying to figure out who they are in the face of this danger, what they need and what they want.
Peter S. Beagle's writing is straightforward, though quite descriptive and I think the book is accessible to pre-teens and early teens also. The world-building is more focused on the dragons than on their kingdoms, which I didn't mind.
It is the character development and their individual arcs which really carried the book for me, and the story is very much character driven. I enjoyed seeing Princess Cerise's arc, ostensibly interviewing princes but teaching herself to read, sword fight and even spitball in secret! Prince Reginald also turns out to be a solid character, who doesn't want to be a hero but finds himself to be quite heroic if the situation demands it. Robert's arc from an inherited job of dragon exterminator to not is particularly engaging!
The dragon's gaze held him in a grip far more powerful than that of the wizard, and once again he cried out - or thought he did, "Who am I? What do you want of me?"
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rating for this book is 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars as the book and the whole delivers a good read.
[Half a star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; One star for the story; Half a star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building and description - 3 1/2 stars in total].
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is the story of people coming together to face this challenge, but more than that, it's the story of these teenagers realizing that they are not who their roles force them to be, and trying to figure out who they are in the face of this danger, what they need and what they want.
Peter S. Beagle's writing is straightforward, though quite descriptive and I think the book is accessible to pre-teens and early teens also. The world-building is more focused on the dragons than on their kingdoms, which I didn't mind.
It is the character development and their individual arcs which really carried the book for me, and the story is very much character driven. I enjoyed seeing Princess Cerise's arc, ostensibly interviewing princes but teaching herself to read, sword fight and even spitball in secret! Prince Reginald also turns out to be a solid character, who doesn't want to be a hero but finds himself to be quite heroic if the situation demands it. Robert's arc from an inherited job of dragon exterminator to not is particularly engaging!
The dragon's gaze held him in a grip far more powerful than that of the wizard, and once again he cried out - or thought he did, "Who am I? What do you want of me?"
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rating for this book is 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars as the book and the whole delivers a good read.
[Half a star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; One star for the story; Half a star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building and description - 3 1/2 stars in total].
![Profile Image for Suhailah [Surgery- semi hiatus].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1692068640i/105843363._UX200_CR0,17,200,200_.jpg)
June 6, 2024
A cute, vintage, nostalgic fantasy adventure reminiscent of The Princess Bride and The Princess and the Goblin.
▪︎ A short read
▪︎ Mild humor but high stakes
▪︎ A unique cast of characters that don’t follow social norms
▪︎ LOTS AND LOTS OF DRAGONS!**
▪︎ A story of self discovery
**Beware: The dragon part is a bit sad if you are a dragon lover like me! There is dragon extermination!**
At initial glance, I really thought this would be an easy 5 ☆ read for me, but it turned out to be just average. I really wanted to love this!! It was quite disjointed and just felt off. It wasn’t as effortless to follow as I had imagined it would be. It could be my fault. I’m under a lot of stress right now and will be having surgery in a few weeks. So, I’ve been trying to prepare for that plus work has been extremely exhausting and exacerbating all my health issues! I also listened to it in audio format which may not have been the best choice with this book for me!
I am also new to this author’s work not having previously read his famous book The Last Unicorn. But I’m thoroughly impressed as the author Peter S. Beagle is 85 years old! Apparently, he has also been trying to finish and publish this book since 2007!! Congrats to him!
The ending suggests a possible sequel may be coming in the future, but I’ll most likely have to opt out!!
▪︎ A short read
▪︎ Mild humor but high stakes
▪︎ A unique cast of characters that don’t follow social norms
▪︎ LOTS AND LOTS OF DRAGONS!**
▪︎ A story of self discovery
**Beware: The dragon part is a bit sad if you are a dragon lover like me! There is dragon extermination!**
At initial glance, I really thought this would be an easy 5 ☆ read for me, but it turned out to be just average. I really wanted to love this!! It was quite disjointed and just felt off. It wasn’t as effortless to follow as I had imagined it would be. It could be my fault. I’m under a lot of stress right now and will be having surgery in a few weeks. So, I’ve been trying to prepare for that plus work has been extremely exhausting and exacerbating all my health issues! I also listened to it in audio format which may not have been the best choice with this book for me!
I am also new to this author’s work not having previously read his famous book The Last Unicorn. But I’m thoroughly impressed as the author Peter S. Beagle is 85 years old! Apparently, he has also been trying to finish and publish this book since 2007!! Congrats to him!
The ending suggests a possible sequel may be coming in the future, but I’ll most likely have to opt out!!
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 22, 2024dnf @ 13%
reading a boring book when you’re in a reading slump is no different than being cursed by an evil witch
reading a boring book when you’re in a reading slump is no different than being cursed by an evil witch
May 14, 2024
5/14/24: It’s publication day!!!
Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this!! I am utterly charmed. I have never read "The Last Unicorn", but the movie adaptation was a beloved part of my childhood. I have a specific memory of sitting down in my family room with my friend Rachel and watching the movie (with our special treats of DQ Butterfinger Blizzards!), and it was definitely on repeat in our house in the '80s and '90s. "UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-NI-CORRRRRNNNNN!!!!"
Thus, when I saw this book on NetGalley, all I saw was that it was by the same author who wrote "The Last Unicorn", and I was *all in*. I waited a little while for my request to be approved for an ARC and was actually a little concerned that I would be declined. However, I have been really lucky, I discovered, in that other fans of Beagle's work apparently have been waiting a number of years for this book to be published, and I only had to wait a few weeks. So I have *nothing* to complain about on that score.
So, attention, people who have been waiting years for this: IT IS 100% WORTH THE LONG WAIT.
This is a fairytale for those who love fairytales. It's got a little of everything: a beautiful princess of an age to be married, numerous fawning princes, a handsome prince, a run-down castle, a quest, many species of dragons, and...a dragon exterminator..???
It is also very funny and clever. You will come to love the characters, their backstories and their journeys, and laugh, weep and rejoice with them in turn. I really hope they make a movie or series out of this and do it proper justice.
Read this. Even if you think you're too old for fairytales. It's phenomenal, and I'll be buying a physical copy and reading this over and over again.
5 well-deserved stars.
May 31, 2024
I only found out about this because a friend on GR was reading it and the cover alone was enough to draw me in since I LOVE dragons. Then I found out that it was the new book from an author I‘ve known for decades - the author who penned the story I watched in cartoon form every Christmas when I was a kid; probably the first story I remember taking me away into a different world.
As the title suggests, this is about dragons. Sorta. We‘re in the kingdom of Bellemontagne where dragons are a common occurrence. Most of them are small and pests like rats.
Our intrepid MC is an exterminator by inherited trade - and loathes it. He would much rather save all the cute and very smart dragons he identifies with and feels for so much and/or leave the kingdom altogether to escape just being his father‘s son instead of his own person.
His counterpart is a princess who is tired of all the suitors until the crown-prince of a very specific big kingdom coincidentally passes by and she‘s determined to marry him, whether he also wants it or not.
Suddenly, a clean-up job in Bellemontagne’s castle turns into a quest with the princess and her betrothed crown-prince … and a host of dragons that shouldn‘t exist.
Don‘t get me started on the atrocious things that have been done to Peter S. Beagle. Suffice it to say that it‘s over now and while he‘s already over 85 years old and justice took way too long to be served, it did get served, and now we get to enjoy this man‘s glorious imagination (again).
This was a cute little story about what people are supposed to be, what they appear to be on the surface - and what they truly are. It‘s also about a quirky magical kingdom full of adorable and dangerous dragons. What‘s not to love?!
The cast of characters was eccentric and endearing and the world itself drawing you right in with how nice and cozy it was.
Maybe nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a wonderful feel-good book from start to finish.
As the title suggests, this is about dragons. Sorta. We‘re in the kingdom of Bellemontagne where dragons are a common occurrence. Most of them are small and pests like rats.
Our intrepid MC is an exterminator by inherited trade - and loathes it. He would much rather save all the cute and very smart dragons he identifies with and feels for so much and/or leave the kingdom altogether to escape just being his father‘s son instead of his own person.
His counterpart is a princess who is tired of all the suitors until the crown-prince of a very specific big kingdom coincidentally passes by and she‘s determined to marry him, whether he also wants it or not.
Suddenly, a clean-up job in Bellemontagne’s castle turns into a quest with the princess and her betrothed crown-prince … and a host of dragons that shouldn‘t exist.
Don‘t get me started on the atrocious things that have been done to Peter S. Beagle. Suffice it to say that it‘s over now and while he‘s already over 85 years old and justice took way too long to be served, it did get served, and now we get to enjoy this man‘s glorious imagination (again).
This was a cute little story about what people are supposed to be, what they appear to be on the surface - and what they truly are. It‘s also about a quirky magical kingdom full of adorable and dangerous dragons. What‘s not to love?!
The cast of characters was eccentric and endearing and the world itself drawing you right in with how nice and cozy it was.
Maybe nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a wonderful feel-good book from start to finish.
June 3, 2024
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
by Peter S. Beagle
YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub. Date: May 14, 2024
Saga Press
Ages: 12+
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, or Robert, was trained by his father to be a dragon catcher/exterminator, a job Robert never wanted, he dreamed of becoming a prince's valet, but he inherited the job after his father's death.
While it's a semi-lucrative job since dragons are common, coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, infesting homes and castles, but Robert likes dragons and even keeps a number of them as pets.
But when called to the kingdom's castle to rid the place of a major infestation, Robert finds himself faced with the possibility of becoming a hero.
This is a cute story, but I had a hard time with it, as I was expecting more humor, some on the darker side, with a dash of 'cozy'.
But... there wasn't much 'drama', what was there read more like... 'we walked to the zoo during the day and slept at night,' with a few descriptors inserted here and there, and there wasn't a lot of humor, let alone anything 'dark', so it failed to really grab me and I had to force myself to read it, then fell asleep.
I feel as if this story is written for and aimed toward middle school readers, tweens. There's not a lot of violence, gore, language, or any other 'adult' themes, so it's suitable for younger ages.
2 Stars
by Peter S. Beagle
YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub. Date: May 14, 2024
Saga Press
Ages: 12+
Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, or Robert, was trained by his father to be a dragon catcher/exterminator, a job Robert never wanted, he dreamed of becoming a prince's valet, but he inherited the job after his father's death.
While it's a semi-lucrative job since dragons are common, coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, infesting homes and castles, but Robert likes dragons and even keeps a number of them as pets.
But when called to the kingdom's castle to rid the place of a major infestation, Robert finds himself faced with the possibility of becoming a hero.
This is a cute story, but I had a hard time with it, as I was expecting more humor, some on the darker side, with a dash of 'cozy'.
But... there wasn't much 'drama', what was there read more like... 'we walked to the zoo during the day and slept at night,' with a few descriptors inserted here and there, and there wasn't a lot of humor, let alone anything 'dark', so it failed to really grab me and I had to force myself to read it, then fell asleep.
I feel as if this story is written for and aimed toward middle school readers, tweens. There's not a lot of violence, gore, language, or any other 'adult' themes, so it's suitable for younger ages.
2 Stars
Want to read
November 21, 2023Initially intended to release in 2007 but wasn't for whatever reasons, Tor.com has announced that it will be finally released May 2024.
May 6, 2024
Why even bother writing a review, or reading one? It's a book by Peter S. Beagle; what else do you need to know?
One important thing: The title may lead you to expect comedy. There is humor, sure, but watch out.
And something about the story's preoccupations, maybe. To wit: courage; the desire to have a decent life that doesn't involve heroism; responsibility; doing work that you hate and that is destroying your soul; the varieties of paternal love, including a kind that shows itself in both cruelty and unhesitating self-sacrifice; romantic infatuation and the kind of love that comes with intimacy, respect, the survival together of great trials. Oh, and of course power: who do you become when it turns out you've got some? (Or do you?)
I have one quibble, which is that Robert is the teensiest bit slow on the uptake with respect to the existence of his special relationship with dragons. (This is barely a spoiler, I promise.) So, you know, 4.75 stars. But seriously: Peter S. Beagle.
Thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
One important thing: The title may lead you to expect comedy. There is humor, sure, but watch out.
And something about the story's preoccupations, maybe. To wit: courage; the desire to have a decent life that doesn't involve heroism; responsibility; doing work that you hate and that is destroying your soul; the varieties of paternal love, including a kind that shows itself in both cruelty and unhesitating self-sacrifice; romantic infatuation and the kind of love that comes with intimacy, respect, the survival together of great trials. Oh, and of course power: who do you become when it turns out you've got some? (Or do you?)
I have one quibble, which is that Robert is the teensiest bit slow on the uptake with respect to the existence of his special relationship with dragons. (This is barely a spoiler, I promise.) So, you know, 4.75 stars. But seriously: Peter S. Beagle.
Thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 31, 2024
This a fabulous piece of fantasy involving an unwilling dragon exterminator, an cowed prince trying to be a hero and an obstinate princess. Their paths cross as the cowardly prince is trying to find a big dragon to slay. Not just the small annoying ones. The storytelling is good and the characters engaging, for all their flaws.
This doesn’t have the poetic power or deep charm of “the last unicorn”, so don’t expect that. It is good in its own right though!
This doesn’t have the poetic power or deep charm of “the last unicorn”, so don’t expect that. It is good in its own right though!
March 26, 2024
I loved everything about this book. There was great world building and character development. Indeed, it is a great ensemble cast of characters. I found the story very imaginative with great pacing. There was some very clever wording that was worth rereading. And amongst all that, Beagle manages to work in a good deal of humour and lightness. His social commentary as well did not go unnoticed. Overall this is a great read. Thank you to Netgalley and S&S/Saga Press for the advance reader copy.
February 23, 2024
Peter S. Beagle is, obviously, a legend. So I was very excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of his new book, and I’m delighted to say that it lived up to my internal hype.
The principle protagonist is Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, who prefers to go by Robert. He just inherited his late father’s business as a dragon exterminator. He excels in the job, but also hates it, for the same reason: he feels a strong kinship to dragons, vermin though they are usually considered. One of the two secondary protagonists is the Princess Cerise, who is stunningly beautiful and more annoyed about it than anything else. She’s never had anything but contempt for the endless parade of banal princes vying for her hand … until she sees the equally stunning Prince Reginald (our other secondary protagonist) arrive in the country. Suddenly nothing will do but for the castle to be cleaned up and restored immediately, which necessitates the local dragon exterminator paying a visit. And we’re off to the Plot.
As with many great stories, these three are on a journey of self-discovery. Robert longs to get on a different path, which is made difficult by the fact that he’s really, really good at the one he is on. He needs to deal with his self-loathing and face what his understanding of dragons really means. Cerise needs to understand herself; her role as princess & heir of the kingdom, what she wants out of life, and how to break out of the passivity her life has mostly been. Reginald (who didn’t come to the kingdom looking to court Cerise, actually; he was sent out erranting by his overbearing father, and really just wants to get out from under the weight of expectations) needs to accept that it’s OK for him not to be the hero his father wants him to be, and everyone assumes him to be just because he really looks like one.
Throw in a cheerfully buffoonish king, a prim but secretly very romantic queen, an evil wizard, and a few village-destroying dragons rather larger than the variety Robert is fumigating the Great Hall for, and you’ve got a very compelling story.
Inevitably, anything Peter Beagle writes will be compared to The Last Unicorn. I don’t think this is quite as good as that, but that’s hardly a suggestion that this is anything less than wonderful. It has the same style as The Last Unicorn, as all of Beagle’s work does, but this one doesn’t have the same depth of sadness. Something people who haven’t read many of Beagle’s short stories might not realize (aside: go find and read some of Beagle’s short stories, they’re great) is that not only is his stuff generally beautiful and sad, it’s also freaking hilarious. It’s honestly a rather impressive thing to pull off, but he does it wonderfully. He also does scary very well, as everyone who had nightmares about the Red Bull knows. That’s the case here as well.
A worthy entry in the bibliography of one of the masters of fantasy. Comes out on May 14.
My blog
The principle protagonist is Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, who prefers to go by Robert. He just inherited his late father’s business as a dragon exterminator. He excels in the job, but also hates it, for the same reason: he feels a strong kinship to dragons, vermin though they are usually considered. One of the two secondary protagonists is the Princess Cerise, who is stunningly beautiful and more annoyed about it than anything else. She’s never had anything but contempt for the endless parade of banal princes vying for her hand … until she sees the equally stunning Prince Reginald (our other secondary protagonist) arrive in the country. Suddenly nothing will do but for the castle to be cleaned up and restored immediately, which necessitates the local dragon exterminator paying a visit. And we’re off to the Plot.
As with many great stories, these three are on a journey of self-discovery. Robert longs to get on a different path, which is made difficult by the fact that he’s really, really good at the one he is on. He needs to deal with his self-loathing and face what his understanding of dragons really means. Cerise needs to understand herself; her role as princess & heir of the kingdom, what she wants out of life, and how to break out of the passivity her life has mostly been. Reginald (who didn’t come to the kingdom looking to court Cerise, actually; he was sent out erranting by his overbearing father, and really just wants to get out from under the weight of expectations) needs to accept that it’s OK for him not to be the hero his father wants him to be, and everyone assumes him to be just because he really looks like one.
Throw in a cheerfully buffoonish king, a prim but secretly very romantic queen, an evil wizard, and a few village-destroying dragons rather larger than the variety Robert is fumigating the Great Hall for, and you’ve got a very compelling story.
Inevitably, anything Peter Beagle writes will be compared to The Last Unicorn. I don’t think this is quite as good as that, but that’s hardly a suggestion that this is anything less than wonderful. It has the same style as The Last Unicorn, as all of Beagle’s work does, but this one doesn’t have the same depth of sadness. Something people who haven’t read many of Beagle’s short stories might not realize (aside: go find and read some of Beagle’s short stories, they’re great) is that not only is his stuff generally beautiful and sad, it’s also freaking hilarious. It’s honestly a rather impressive thing to pull off, but he does it wonderfully. He also does scary very well, as everyone who had nightmares about the Red Bull knows. That’s the case here as well.
A worthy entry in the bibliography of one of the masters of fantasy. Comes out on May 14.
My blog
June 14, 2024
Peter S. Beagle demonstrates his extensive experience in crafting compelling narratives in this accomplished and amusing story of dragons, deceit, would-be heroes, people pining after the wrong people and making poor decisions, and romance.
In BellaMontagne, the princess Cerise is unmoved by the many silly princes petitioning for her hand, till she accidentally meets Crown Prince Reginald of nearby Corvinia, a knight sent into the world by his father to find something heroic and valiant to do.
Meanwhile, Robert, the dragon master, lives on a farm with his mother and younger sisters, and several friendly, small dragons that he keeps hidden from others in Bellamontagne.
Reginald’s canny valet Mortman enlists Robert's help in his plan to help Reginald to achieve his father's goal, and also marry the princess.
Reginald approaches Cerise's parents, and states he will kill a dragon then return for Cerise's hand. Cerise has slightly different plans, and organizes a large group of people, food and other useful things, so that she, and the large group, can come with Reginald and Robert.
They discover a number of things about their neighbour Corvinia as they encounter dragons, a scheming wizard, and learn difficult truths about themselves.
Beagle's tone is droll as he introduces his main characters and the small Kingdom of Bellamontagne, where the visiting princes are ridiculous, only girls can read and write, and Robert's dream is to be a valet. But things became darker as Robert, Cerise and Reginald headed out on their mission, and things turned deadly suddenly. And the tone continues to shift, as more terrible things happen before the surprising (though not totally unexpected) ending.
Beagle is adept at all the tonal shifts, as well as the characterization of the trio. There are interesting supporting characters, like Robert's good friends and Cerise's mother, and a really intriguing set of wise women who only feature in the prologue but never again. I would dearly have liked to have seen more of them, as I had expected that they would have a role to play in the story's resolution, but maybe the author had a larger story in mind, and this is but the first entry? I hope so, because through this somewhat silly and cozy story mostly wraps up, I felt that there could be more story to unfold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful narrative, and am happy that this dragon tale was full of teeth and heart.
In BellaMontagne, the princess Cerise is unmoved by the many silly princes petitioning for her hand, till she accidentally meets Crown Prince Reginald of nearby Corvinia, a knight sent into the world by his father to find something heroic and valiant to do.
Meanwhile, Robert, the dragon master, lives on a farm with his mother and younger sisters, and several friendly, small dragons that he keeps hidden from others in Bellamontagne.
Reginald’s canny valet Mortman enlists Robert's help in his plan to help Reginald to achieve his father's goal, and also marry the princess.
Reginald approaches Cerise's parents, and states he will kill a dragon then return for Cerise's hand. Cerise has slightly different plans, and organizes a large group of people, food and other useful things, so that she, and the large group, can come with Reginald and Robert.
They discover a number of things about their neighbour Corvinia as they encounter dragons, a scheming wizard, and learn difficult truths about themselves.
Beagle's tone is droll as he introduces his main characters and the small Kingdom of Bellamontagne, where the visiting princes are ridiculous, only girls can read and write, and Robert's dream is to be a valet. But things became darker as Robert, Cerise and Reginald headed out on their mission, and things turned deadly suddenly. And the tone continues to shift, as more terrible things happen before the surprising (though not totally unexpected) ending.
Beagle is adept at all the tonal shifts, as well as the characterization of the trio. There are interesting supporting characters, like Robert's good friends and Cerise's mother, and a really intriguing set of wise women who only feature in the prologue but never again. I would dearly have liked to have seen more of them, as I had expected that they would have a role to play in the story's resolution, but maybe the author had a larger story in mind, and this is but the first entry? I hope so, because through this somewhat silly and cozy story mostly wraps up, I felt that there could be more story to unfold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful narrative, and am happy that this dragon tale was full of teeth and heart.
June 12, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for an honest review.
A charming, cosy fantasy that I throughly enjoyed. It's a quick, easy read with some delightful prose and some charming humour. If you liked Guards! Guards! or Stardust, then you'll enjoy this.
A charming, cosy fantasy that I throughly enjoyed. It's a quick, easy read with some delightful prose and some charming humour. If you liked Guards! Guards! or Stardust, then you'll enjoy this.
May 19, 2024
What a delight! I may not have understood everything that happened at the end but darn if this wasn’t enjoyable. It had the fun, corniness, and joyful exuberance of The Princess Bride with DRAGONS.
May 15, 2024
I'm afraid this book was not for me. I was eager to read it, expecting a delightful and imaginative story, but unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. Instead of a captivating narrative, the book felt predictable and lacked the creativity I anticipated.
One of the book's major drawbacks was its inconsistent plot development, with several instances where the storyline simply didn't hold together logically. Some characters and potential subplots were not fully explored, which would have given the book more nuance.
Overall, while the book had potential, it fell short of delivering an engaging and fulfilling reading experience for me.
One of the book's major drawbacks was its inconsistent plot development, with several instances where the storyline simply didn't hold together logically. Some characters and potential subplots were not fully explored, which would have given the book more nuance.
Overall, while the book had potential, it fell short of delivering an engaging and fulfilling reading experience for me.
June 24, 2024
While the title suggests fear of them having dragons, I'd be disappointed if they didn't have any! This was so whimsical, loveable and surprisingly dark.
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is the newest fantasy tale by the man who brought us The Last Unicorn, a story treasured and beloved by many. This time around we are invited to the kingdom of Bellemontagne, where dragons are common and come in all sizes and forms. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (don't worry, he prefers Robert anyway) has inherited his late father's job as a dragon exterminator, an occupation he hates because he actually really likes dragons. Fate has its own plans with Robert though as he is summoned by Princess Cerise, who needs him to cleanse her family's castle from some dragons in order for her to be able to make a good impression on Prince Reginald, who is about to come and visit.
None of these characters are quite what you'd expect. I was immensely pleased with how this fantasy story felt both like an ode to the traditional fairy tale as well as a modern and counterintuitive take on the genre. Mind you, Peter S. Beagle is a man in his eighties, so actually writing something that doesn't just repeat his old successes deserves recognition in itself. Princess Cerise is young and lovely, Prince Reginald handsome and gallant, but the more time we spend with them, the more the facade falls apart and we learn that the princess is a far cry from your typical damsel in distress and the prince has a more burdened backstory than one might assume. Robert brilliantly balances the dynamic out, being the likeable and courageous hero of the story who also gets to learn more about his desires and strengths.
It's a feel-good story full of beauty. If you need something to please your inner dreamer, this one is for you. We're being graced with the lyrical prose we've come to love from Peter S. Beagle and while it's not full of jokes per se, there is still humour and amusement in the way the evil wizard for example is just wasting time in order to make his (to us, obviously not so masterly planned) master-plans work. The only let down is that we have to let these characters go so quickly – I feel like we've only just begun to follow the journey of Robert's development and I do wonder if that was on purpose so a sequel could potentially follow or if we've consciously being left with room to dream and ponder on how this world is going to move on from where we've left it.
Definitely worth a read if you like fantasy in general and even if not it's really worth taking a look at the gorgeously painted cover at least!
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is the newest fantasy tale by the man who brought us The Last Unicorn, a story treasured and beloved by many. This time around we are invited to the kingdom of Bellemontagne, where dragons are common and come in all sizes and forms. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (don't worry, he prefers Robert anyway) has inherited his late father's job as a dragon exterminator, an occupation he hates because he actually really likes dragons. Fate has its own plans with Robert though as he is summoned by Princess Cerise, who needs him to cleanse her family's castle from some dragons in order for her to be able to make a good impression on Prince Reginald, who is about to come and visit.
None of these characters are quite what you'd expect. I was immensely pleased with how this fantasy story felt both like an ode to the traditional fairy tale as well as a modern and counterintuitive take on the genre. Mind you, Peter S. Beagle is a man in his eighties, so actually writing something that doesn't just repeat his old successes deserves recognition in itself. Princess Cerise is young and lovely, Prince Reginald handsome and gallant, but the more time we spend with them, the more the facade falls apart and we learn that the princess is a far cry from your typical damsel in distress and the prince has a more burdened backstory than one might assume. Robert brilliantly balances the dynamic out, being the likeable and courageous hero of the story who also gets to learn more about his desires and strengths.
It's a feel-good story full of beauty. If you need something to please your inner dreamer, this one is for you. We're being graced with the lyrical prose we've come to love from Peter S. Beagle and while it's not full of jokes per se, there is still humour and amusement in the way the evil wizard for example is just wasting time in order to make his (to us, obviously not so masterly planned) master-plans work. The only let down is that we have to let these characters go so quickly – I feel like we've only just begun to follow the journey of Robert's development and I do wonder if that was on purpose so a sequel could potentially follow or if we've consciously being left with room to dream and ponder on how this world is going to move on from where we've left it.
Definitely worth a read if you like fantasy in general and even if not it's really worth taking a look at the gorgeously painted cover at least!
July 3, 2024
A fun story but not enough dragons!
June 10, 2024
maybe it's 4.5 stars and maybe the first half is not as amazing as you think a peter s. beagle book should be, but i loved this book. the second half, better. and so for me it's a 5 star book and i am happy that i got to read it. i would definitely recommend it and can only say that it's get better as you go on.
April 22, 2024
This story is incredibly addicting and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. It has the vibes of a quintessential fairytale with several fun twists along the way.
I first want to talk about the Princess Cerise of Bellemontagne who is certainly not a damsel in distress. She gallops into adventure with the best of intentions and isn't afraid to speak exactly what's on her mind to her companions OR to an evil wizard. Whenever she's met with adversity, she faces it even if she's quaking on the inside. There isn't an obstacle that the Princess can't face; however, I felt that she could also be a bit stubborn and short sighted whenever she had her mind made up about someone or something. She has a lot of great character development throughout the book, though, and I would love to read a sequel with her as the main character.
Next is Prince Reginald, Crown Prince of Corvinia, who I thought was a clueless, pain in the neck when I first met him. That is, until I learned more about his backstory with his father, King Krije, and then I started to feel a little sorry for the princeling. He had it tough. People were constantly trying to shove him into a box that he wouldn't fit into. I found myself rooting for him in the end, even if he did frustrate me through the first half of the story.
And then there's Robert Thrax, the reluctant hero and dragon exterminator who lives in the kingdom of Bellemontagne. All he wants to do is step out of his late father's shadow and live a simple life that doesn't include ridding castles of dragonlets, or speaking to them, or embarking on excursions with shoe-wielding princesses. There were times when I wanted to reach into the pages, grab Robert by the shoulders, and shake some sense into him. He is incredibly lovable though (and his best friends, Ostvald and Elfrieda, are so sweet and fun to follow as side characters). I loved learning about the various types of dragons through Robert's dialogue and what made them sentient creatures in the world where the characters lived.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and absolutely adored how much it felt like a fairytale. If you love dragons, adventure, and whimsy, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of this amazing book.
I first want to talk about the Princess Cerise of Bellemontagne who is certainly not a damsel in distress. She gallops into adventure with the best of intentions and isn't afraid to speak exactly what's on her mind to her companions OR to an evil wizard. Whenever she's met with adversity, she faces it even if she's quaking on the inside. There isn't an obstacle that the Princess can't face; however, I felt that she could also be a bit stubborn and short sighted whenever she had her mind made up about someone or something. She has a lot of great character development throughout the book, though, and I would love to read a sequel with her as the main character.
Next is Prince Reginald, Crown Prince of Corvinia, who I thought was a clueless, pain in the neck when I first met him. That is, until I learned more about his backstory with his father, King Krije, and then I started to feel a little sorry for the princeling. He had it tough. People were constantly trying to shove him into a box that he wouldn't fit into. I found myself rooting for him in the end, even if he did frustrate me through the first half of the story.
And then there's Robert Thrax, the reluctant hero and dragon exterminator who lives in the kingdom of Bellemontagne. All he wants to do is step out of his late father's shadow and live a simple life that doesn't include ridding castles of dragonlets, or speaking to them, or embarking on excursions with shoe-wielding princesses. There were times when I wanted to reach into the pages, grab Robert by the shoulders, and shake some sense into him. He is incredibly lovable though (and his best friends, Ostvald and Elfrieda, are so sweet and fun to follow as side characters). I loved learning about the various types of dragons through Robert's dialogue and what made them sentient creatures in the world where the characters lived.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and absolutely adored how much it felt like a fairytale. If you love dragons, adventure, and whimsy, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of this amazing book.
Want to read
February 7, 2024Between this book and Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup, 2024 is the Year of Comedic, Trope-Twisting Fantasy, and I’m Here For It!
May 18, 2024
I loved this slightly grownup take on the fairytale/epic fantasy that isn't too grown up. It's perfect for middle grade, YA, and I enjoyed it as an adult. The story is told mostly from the perspectives of Robert and Princess Cerise, but it also delves into some other secondary perspectives that enrich the tale. I loved the original spin on dragons and princesses in this adventurous story complete with heroes and foes alike. I highly recommend this book for fans of adventure and fantasy. Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advanced ebook.
May 21, 2024
Hello yes this is going to become a comfort read/listen. I loved these characters, this world and this story for all of the characters. It was a fantastic audiobook read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett. This book was such a fun interwoven fantasy and each character stood out on their own and not just because of all the unique names.
Want to read
May 22, 2017Book was withdrawn from release and put on hold indefinitely.
Sadness :(
Sadness :(
July 11, 2024
3.5/5
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is a wild blend of cozy and high stakes fantasy with a band of unlikely allies fighting for their kingdom and for love.
Dragon exterminator Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, otherwise known as Robert, is visited by the King in the dead of night with the demand that he rid the castle of dragons. But that daunting task turns out to be just the beginning of a fiery adventure.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book and its focus on the castle, dragon market, and the different kinds of dragons but then the book took a huge turn and kind of became another story entirely.
I wish, for a book with all these dragons, there was more of a focus on them rather than the romance subplot. I'd definitely read a side story just about the dragon market, the variety of dragons, and all the market vendors. I'd read a whole encyclopedia about the dragons of this world!
Overall, it was a fun read but I just wanted more!
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is a wild blend of cozy and high stakes fantasy with a band of unlikely allies fighting for their kingdom and for love.
Dragon exterminator Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, otherwise known as Robert, is visited by the King in the dead of night with the demand that he rid the castle of dragons. But that daunting task turns out to be just the beginning of a fiery adventure.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book and its focus on the castle, dragon market, and the different kinds of dragons but then the book took a huge turn and kind of became another story entirely.
I wish, for a book with all these dragons, there was more of a focus on them rather than the romance subplot. I'd definitely read a side story just about the dragon market, the variety of dragons, and all the market vendors. I'd read a whole encyclopedia about the dragons of this world!
Overall, it was a fun read but I just wanted more!
May 16, 2024
4.5! This was DELIGHTFUL. Classic fantasy, humour, heart, DRAGONS. A dragon exterminator who hates his job because he loves his dragons!! A promising premise perfectly executed that I can just SEE as an animated film. I’m talking shrek caliber here
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