House of Dragons, written by Jessica Cluess, is the first book in a new YA fantasy series. The second book is expected to be published in 2021.
Short Summary:
When an emperor dies, the first-borns from each of the five noble houses are normally called to compete in the Emperor’s Trial. Yet, something different happens upon the death of Emperor Erasmus. Three second-borns, a bastard, and a servant are called to participate in the competition for the throne. Hyperia, a first-born who has spent her life training for the Emperor’s Trial, must take matters into her own hands in order to ensure that she is able to compete. Not only must the competitors somehow survive the Emperor’s Trial, but they must also discover while they were called to compete in the first place.
My Thoughts:
House of Dragons is a promising start to a new series. It is easy to relate to each of the main characters’ desires and insecurities. If you were like me, you were most likely rooting for all of the characters (or at least most of them) to survive the Emperor’s Trial by the end of the novel. I was very happy with the decision regarding the winner of the Emperor’s Trial.
Unfortunately, the phenomenal world-building and character development does impact the pacing of the novel. The story starts slow, leaving the bulk of the action to take place within the last 1/4th of the novel. That being said, I still found House of Dragons to be an enjoyable read. I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series! I need more scenes with Dog!
Please note that the novel does contain quite a few scenes of graphic violence. As always, read stories that are within your comfort level.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Similar Books: I focused on books in which the main characters must compete for the throne.
– Three Dark Crown series by Kendare Blake; the first book in the series is Three Dark Crowns
– Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes; the first book in the series is Falling Kingdoms
Have you read House of Dragons? I would love to hear your thoughts about the book.
Always,
Bookish Lovers
(Danielle)
Always, Bookish Lovers 