Jai has only ever known the life of being a political prisoner and serving the emperor after his father's failed rebellion that resulted in his death. Being third in line to his father's throne, his life has always been inconsequential. In a continued quest to conquer surrounding lands and building alliances, the emperor arranges a marriage between his son and the northern territory's princess Erica. This alliance comes with the promise of dragons and potentially the opportunity to bond with one. However, after an arranged marriage between the emperor's son and the Dansk princess goes wrong, Jai finds himself on the run with Erica's handmaiden, Frida, and a dragon egg.

The pair go on an epic adventure across territories in hopes of making it back to their respective homes. Along the way, Jai finds himself newly bonded to the dragon hatchling and must learn how to properly channel his newly found mana through soul breathing if they hope to survive.

While Dragon Rider doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the fantasy genre, I did enjoy the story. Matharu's writing is engaging and I overall liked the direction the story was going. I enjoyed the relationships that Jai built while on the road and appreciated the time that Matharu took to explain the magic system. My biggies qualm was with how quickly Jai was able to move through the levels of being soul bound. I would have liked to see more struggles instead of him just being able to "learn quickly".

Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next installment!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

not as good as i had hoped, unfortunately.

the writing is unremarkable, as are the plot, characters, and themes. what sets it apart from other dragon books? i have no idea. i would have excused this had it been well written, because all this would not have mattered if it were executed well, yet all the novel's shortcomings are highlighted by the lack of skill and poor execution.

A fantasy filled with dragons, magic and politics among kingdoms can never be boring and this one got me hooked into this series that I now eagerly wait for the next installment. Jai was a very endearing normal MC with a purpose in his life and constantly growing in personality. Dragon riders are always fascinating and when there is some mystery involved, it makes it an even better read. After reading this one, there will be many fans of Winter and it would be interesting to see how Jai's bond with Winter grows. Cant wait for the next one!

Ok. Let me start off by saying I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review. This has dragons which is why I had to read it.

This book was okay, it was fine, but the think it’s not my style of book. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, I did. But it wasn’t a favorite and it didn’t grip me like other reads.

You’re following an orphan (Jai) whose father was killed in a war by the people he is now enslaved by. He works as a manservant for the emperor’s father. He and his people are treated poorly and like they are disposable.

There is a marriage treaty with a northern kingdom that goes wrong after the emperors son has a nefarious plot and Jai goes on the run with the Princess handmaiden to escape and he accidentally bonds to a dragon.

There journey is sad, miserable, tedious, but with a few interesting or funny moments. I felt like this was more character than plots focused and it felt a little meandering with the plot and they just stumble from one horrible situation to another. And I don’t think the characters develop that much in the process.

I liked the dragons and the soul bonding aspects because you can bond with many creatures and that idea is really cool. When you’re soul bonded with a creature, you can be stronger than another depending on the creature and you can soul breathe to gather manna and become stronger. If you ascend, you’re REALLY strong. All of that was really cool and once you’ve grown more as a soul bonded you can use magic.

This is the authors debut adult fantasy but I feel like the author was like “how do I make the leap between YA and adult? I know! I’ll just add really crude talk, random talk of genitalia, cussing, and a bunch of gross gore.” I don’t usually have a big problem. With those things individually or when it makes sense for the context, but it felt like it was out of place and forced because it was “adult”. lt seemed pointless and I didn’t like it.

Overall I’m curious about the dragon and where the story will go even though the ending bugged me. I will continue.

I enjoyed every bit of this read! If you're a fan of dragons, intense politics, and gripping action, this book is for you!

From the start, you're plunged into a world filled with complex power struggles, with Jai as our compelling protagonist—a prisoner in a castle, navigating treachery and revenge. When political alliances threaten to shatter, Jai's journey takes a thrilling turn as he bonds with a dragon egg, unlocking magical abilities and embarking on a breathtaking adventure for freedom.

The bond between Jai and his dragon, Winter, is beautifully portrayed, pulling readers through dark and dangerous moments. The world-building is expertly crafted, with vivid descriptions of magic and the brutal realities of survival. While some aspects like magical mechanics and character depth could be further explored, the overall narrative is a rollercoaster of betrayal, courage, and unexpected alliances.

For fans of fantasy that's both heart-pounding and immersive, this book delivers on all fronts. Dive into this insane world of political intrigue, magical creatures, and unyielding determination—you won't be able to put it down!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

The past few yeares have been my dragon era I guess between Fourth Wing, When the Moon Hatched and now Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu. The beginning was slow to me, a lot of world building and political intrigue which I dont mind but it did take me a bit to get into. I really enjoyed Winter she was adorably fierce. If you like epic fantasty dragon books, youll enjoy this.

Dragon Rider is a fantasy adventure with magical, mythical creatures. It starts slowly but the action picks up once we get to see what's going on with Jai, Leonid, Titus, Magnus, Princess Erica and her handmaiden Frida. Then there's the dragon hatchling, Winter, and a character named Rufus whose origins are a mystery. Somehow, it all comes together for an exciting conclusion! Not everything is resolved, leaving an opening for the next book in this Soulbound Saga. I'm eager to find out what happens next on Jai's epic adventure.

4.5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

"How are battles won?"
"The battle is won not when the last enemy is dead, but when the first enemy is routed."

Dragon Rider is the first novel in the adult fantasy series, The Soulbound Saga. Set in the world of the Sabine Empire, we follow Jai, a young man who has been forced into servitude for the empire after his father's failed rebellion led to his execution and Jai's confinement (and his brothers'). With a new marriage alliance on the horizon to bring peace to the realm, a new treasure enters the playing field - dragons. Once soulbound to an individual the opportunities are endless but only the Dansk royalty know the secret.

When a coup throws the court into chaos, Jai escapes to return to his people...but he also takes along a few things - the Dansk handmaiden...and a dragon. If he can over the secrets and the magic of soulbonding Jai may have a way to save and protect his people. If he succeeds he can change his (and his people's) destiny...or fall prey to the powers that will bring the world to a ruin.

Jai is fantastic character to dive into. He has been fortunate (given the circumstances) to be serving the elderly emperor...and the man who ended his father. Leon imparts a lot of knowledge onto Jai so he is far from ignorant of the world around him and that becomes a clear asset. I appreciated his need to survive but also his ability to adapt as he moves forward. I felt he was an easy character to connect with.

There is a good variety of side characters that help bridge this story together. I felt we got a really good sense of the world here with character like Leonid, Jai's brothers, and Constantine. I ADORED Winter and want her desperately. I felt she really saved Jai in so many ways and the bond of their relationship is a powerful motivator. Titus is horrible and that is all you need to know. Frida is a curious character that I feel we only touched the surface on; same with Rufus. What I really enjoyed about all these characters is how equally flawed they are - there is no sugar coating them and the realness that cam with characters kept me going.

"He let go of the hate. Let o of the rage. he wanted her to remember him in only one way.
"With love."

In terms of story and world, I found we got a good introduction to the world. The struggles, the conquering are not glorified and the struggle the characters feel under its pressure is evident. The soulbinding with creatures fascinate me and the magic system has a good balance to it with the cost of it. This world is gritty and the impact of each choice is truly felt. I will say the first third of the book is slow as we are getting out bearing with the world. This exposition helped us understand the various characters and their motivation but it also meant not much happened for the plot specifically. Once we get to the coup part we see more action and growth. I enjoyed the survival journey, the fights, the unravelling of magic, and then we get some great tension in the second half with the hunt and onwards. This book very much felt like the beginning of a series but that ending has me incredibly excited for the next book because it built things up so well for me.

For those who loved books like Eragon but wanted an older more mature character who understood the world better, this book offers you so much. I loved the dragons, the world, and the journey and cannot wait to continue this series!

Thank you Harper Voyage for this arc!

3.5 ⭐ rounded up.

I believe this is Taran Matharu's first foray into adult fantasy. He has a previous YA fantasy series that I've always heard positive things about, and with the premise of Dragon Rider sounding up my alley, I was really excited to jump in.

Jai is a prisoner of war and has spent years as the previous emperor's personal assistant. After travesty and political machinations strike, we find ourselves on the road with Jai and some new companions.

The last few years we have found ourselves with dragon books a plenty and it can be hard to keep things fresh. While I do like that soul binding existed with other creatures in this book, I didn't particularly find it to be any different than the bond we see from most dragon riders and their dragons in other books. I was also frustrated with Jai. He came across as much younger than he was supposed to be and wasn't exactly a compelling protagonist.

Don't get me wrong, this definitely had some pretty mature content and themes. It'll be interesting to see how things play out in the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review Dragon Rider

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

While the story is filled with political intrigue, wild magic and DRAGONS (as well as other creatures that the humans can soul-bond with)! It is the characters that kept me from DNFing this story. While the plot was a tad predictable, and the middle got a bit to slow for my liking…. The characters kept me reading. Jai is bar far one of the most heart-string-tugging heroes I have read about in a very long time. I can not fathom anyone not routing for this boy and his heart-rending story.

From the opening chapter I was hooked on Jai’s story and the untenable situation he finds himself in. I actually wish there had been more time with him in the setting of the early chapters!

A solid first book and I will be watching for the rest to find out what happens in this heroes tale.

I’m a big lover of epic fantasy, and like most fantasy lovers, also have a soft spot for dragons. I was really excited to read to this book, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I don’t mind trope-y books as quick, fun reads, but this book didn’t have enough redeeming factors to look past the tired structure and predictable plot lines.


What did work for me:

- Magical creatures and soulbounding are always fun concepts to explore, and I appreciated that there was consideration of how those things change from culture to culture within the world.

- At a sentence level, the writing was clear and easy to read.

What didn’t work for me:

1) The pacing and sequence of events felt off, especially in the beginning of the book. We would make a tiny step forward in progress, only to be shoved back two for about the first 25% in a way that felt unnecessary and confusing. The latter 3/4 of the book went more smoothly.

2) There was some hyper-specific world building in some areas (i.e., specific military maneuvers or battles, speciality goods from different regions), but it felt like some very simple and essential facts were overlooked or oversimplified (i.e., basic character motivations beyond ‘being evil’)

3) A lot of the side characters felt like accessories that were designed to create impact and build Jai’s character, but there wasn’t enough follow through in his feelings or in actual consequences that made me want to care about them beyond being told that they were important.

4) Speaking of side characters, I did not appreciate the depictions of female characters within this book. They felt hollow, their personalities and motivations one-dimensional, and, somehow, Jai talks about genitals (either his or theirs) almost every single time a woman is on page.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for approving my request for an e-ARC of this book! I downloaded it this morning to have it ready to read on a flight tomorrow - and somehow found myself sucked in and up to chapter three within minutes! I’m excited to see where this book goes.

Initial thoughts after finishing this on the plane - WOW! I loved this book and cannot wait for the second one! 5 stars!

2.5 on StoryGraph.

Characters:
I felt like Jai was pretty stupid and in a way that really just annoyed me. I understand that he's pretty naive, but when he would have a plan laid out, he inevitably ALWAYS did something different to mess up the plan and then would be like "Ah dang, that didn't work out..." yeah dude, because you didn't follow the plan.

Frida was fine, but I didn't feel anything particularly strong toward her either. I just didn't feel engaged with the characters much at all. Winter was obviously cute and fun, though.

Plot:
The middle part of this slogged on, for me. I'm not the biggest fan of training sequences and it felt like from the 30 or 40% mark all the way through like 80% was just incessant practice with mana and all that. How to restore mana. How to soulbreathe. Over and over. Legitimately nothing else happened for a huge portion of the book. It just wasn't all that interesting to me -- I'm not that kind of reader who eats up extensive and repetitive magic explanations and practice and training like that.

I really enjoyed most of the beginning -- the first 20ish% with the set up of the politics... and the ending had some action at least (again, with Jai being just kind of dumb to me). But yeah I honestly wanted to dnf at like 50% and would have had I not already dnf-ed a few NetGalley arcs this year.

Also the big secret was incredibly obvious pretty much immediately.

The tone of this also read a bit younger to me, and all of the dick & balls talk seemed to be trying to make it more adult. Penis talk alone does not an adult tone make, in my opinion.

3.5 stars!

This was simultaneously the slowest pace but quickest read I think I’ve ever encountered. Not a lot happened over the course of the story but there was LOTS of world building to help with the slower pace of the story. The magic system was super interesting as well as Jai’s relationship with his dragon, Winter. I think the next book will be much more entertaining now that so much of the base storyline and world has been set up in book one.

Thank you, Harper Voyager, Taran Matharu, and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you like Game of Thrones and Fourth Wing, this is the perfect book for you!

The writing was exceptional, and I was hooked from the start. The MMC is essentially a political prisoner, turned dragon rider. The magic system is explained really well, and there are some very strong training scenes. The politics and world building were well thought out and I found myself holding my breath during quite a few moments.

While there is essentially no spice, the book didn't need it. There is a potential love interest and I am looking forward to seeing where that goes.

I can't wait for book 2 in The Soulbound Saga! Thank you to Taran Matharu, Netgalley and HarperVoyager for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Harper Voyager, for the eARC and the physical ARC of this book!

Rating - 5/5 🌟

First off, I'm going to say I loved this book! This book is in 3rd person, and I usually have a rough time with that POV, but this book read so different.

This is such a unique story, and the magic and the bond between the humans and creatures are amazing and so creative!

Cannot wait to see where this story will go!

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of epic fantasy books and this really didn't disappoint. There’s great world building and politics as well as a great magic system. I liked the in depth explanation of the magic system and how it works. You also can’t go wrong with the bonding of creatures/dragons. I did find the tittle a little misleading though, I was expecting there to be actual dragon riding, but the dragon is a baby and is too small at this point. I’m assuming we will get to that later in the series though. Overall, I am excited to see where the storyline goes in future books and can’t wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.

“Jai is a prisoner, one living in a castle serving the elderly royal who murdered his father. He was born a third string prince to a people at war, but has lived most of his life as a hostage. His two older brothers become companions of a sort for the Sabine prince Titus, but Jai rarely leaves the palace. The Dansk royals come to marry their princess off to Prince Titus to protect the fragile peace between their nations. Jai meets the princess' handmaiden and by luck, she saves his life. Things quickly become bloody, and it's clear that Titus has no intention of allowing a peaceful future. With Jai's life now at risk, he attempts to flee and warn the Dansk of the horrors intended for them.During his escape he discovers a dragon egg and soul bonds with it. Individuals can soul bond with certain animals in order to gain the ability to use mana. They must cultivate it within themselves through a painstaking process. The mana allows them to use magic. Fire, light, speed, and strength are all available to those who have bonded with such a creature. In fact, the Sabine royal family has a deadly group of soldiers who are soul bound to Gryphon and they strike fear into the hearts of any who encounter them. The process is incredibly secretive and intended only for the elite.From there it's an epic journey of survival, endearing love for his baby dragon Winter, and determination to finally be free. Jai and the handmaiden Frida team up to escape with their lives. They encounter starvation, extreme elements, battles for their life, and one man who promises to help them survive- at a high price.”


I cannot believe the way I ate this book up. I picked up on a Saturday and did not put it down until I finished on Sunday afternoon. Everything about this book was amazing, the characters, the action, the relationship with the dragons and other animals. Some books tend to struggle with pacing especially featuring a traveling portion but I didn’t have this problem with this book like others. That ending has me dying for book 2

Overall I enjoyed this book. The first and last 20% especially had a good mix of character and setting building combined with events that moved the plot along. Jai and Frida are compelling characters, and their growth as allies throughout the middle section of the book kept me reading.

The things I didn't like were fairly minor but distracting enough to make this a book I only mostly liked. Primarily the slow pace of the middle of the book after a fairly intense start at the beginning. The details of the magic system and learning its use became a bit monotonous to me. Rufus as a character I also thought could have been detailed more during that slower part of the book which would have made him more compelling to read about.

Overall the world-building, interesting plot points, and setup for the next book will have me picking up the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.

I really liked this book, but for me personally - the focus on the politics within the fantasy world is what made me rate it as 3 stars!
The first 30% of the book was a bit slow - but that’s normal for when you enter a new fantasy world as you have to attune to the writing and the world itself - I enjoyed learning about the world, meeting Jai (also cool we have a MMC and the focus is on him) and the relationships he builds with the dragons, He’s SO RESILIENT!!!
All in all, I did enjoy the book as a whole and the plot, but the ending and focus on the politics is what got me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.