This felt like if you hopped into Fourth Wing at the time of them getting their dragons and then were thrust into a secret mission filled with a good amount of Fast and the Furious “family.” And it was quite a fun ride.

For a debut book it was pretty good. I wish we had more story of Markus and Amira during their first year of school and the build up to why they were friends, rather than being thrust into things in media res, but that did allow for a faster read and I did enjoy the pacing of the story.

There were small bits of worldbuilding happening, but I really wanted more of that and if there is a follow up would love to see the world expanded and talked about more. Loki, Markus’s Gray Dragon was one of the best parts of the book along with Amira being a pretty strong and independent woman in the story. I also loved the social commentary strewn throughout the story.

A Fast and Furious retelling with the dragons, death, and romance of Fourth Wing. If that is your very particular cup of tea, then this will be a fun, quick read. I’m unfortunately lukewarm on both of those properties and couldn’t help a long lolololol when the familiar plot beats of the first FF movie began to appear. Despite my distraction from the strong parallel, I appreciated the quick pace and the straightforward attitude of the main character.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

I personally did not enjoy this book but I can see how some others would like it. It was a little too literal in it's nod to fast and the furious. It was a quick, easy read but not one I would probably recommend.

As a huge fan of The Fast and the Furious franchise and How to Train Your Dragon, this is a action packed romantic fantasy inspired by both. The story is set in a contemporary world where individuals train at the Dragild Military Academy and are expected to get a dragon. Markus Fredrikson has always dreamed about getting a Black Clubtail and becoming a dragon rider, but when he attempts to get one ends badly he gets another chance: he will be given a broken dragon if he can infiltrate the clan running the Dragon Den, who have been suspected of hijacking semi-trucks carrying` precious obsidian. Markus knows getting close to the deadly Tobias and his crew wont be easy, especially as he is falling for Tobias's completely off limits little sister, Amira. Markus will have to decide where his loyalties lie as he grows closer to Amira and the crew... and if everything he knew about his world is true or if he is in for a shock. This book is a near replica of Fast and Furious haha, I mean if you are looking for an exact copy but instead of cars its dragons, then yeah I would absolutely recommend this for you. It's a short read and it's ending leaves it open to a sequel. While I am a hardcore Fast and Furious fan, this one just kind of missed the mark for me. The characters weren't all that fleshed out and the actual story felt a bit boring. I was hoping for something a bit more, something that was inspired but different but what this was was such a close copy to the actual original story that I just didn't actually end up enjoying it all that much unfortunately. While this one was a miss for me, if you want a Fast and Furious copy but with dragons, give this one a go!

Release Date: June 20, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Yggdrasil Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I DNF'd the book at 20% in
The story took off really fast without any explanation to how the world works or any relationship building besides that the main character likes Amira but is friendzoned for whatever reason and probably has hooked up with other classmates that he is no longer interested in.
the racing was fun, indeed similar to fast and furious but i dont think it was for me...
overall the story seemed quite surface level and just relying lot on the hype that booktok has with dragons thanks to Fourth Wing

Dragon Den By @krissdeanwrites
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review of "Dragon Den"
By @krissdeanwrites

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy/Action

I extend my gratitude once more to @netgalley and yggdrasil press for providing me with the opportunity to read this advance review copy.

The decision to choose this book was driven by my deep admiration for all things dragon-related, making the captivating cover an immediate draw. Further exploration of the synopsis revealed intriguing parallels to the adrenaline-fueled world of "Fast and Furious," adding an extra layer of excitement.

As I delved into the pages of this novel, I found myself transported back to the captivating realm of fourth wing, where dragons and the complexities of a unique school setting thrived. Simultaneously, elements reminiscent of the high-octane rush of "Fast and Furious" intertwined seamlessly within the narrative.

The storyline boasted a thrilling combination of the fast-paced action synonymous with "Fast and Furious" and the enchanting allure of fourth wing, resulting in a truly engrossing read. Would I revisit this book in the future? Absolutely. The prospect of a sequel to witness the progression of the story, character development, and the author's evolving style excites me.

#dragonden #krissdean #yggdrasil #greenbook #dragons #fastandfurious #thefourthwing #book #dragonbook #urbanfantasy #actionbook #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks

I thought this book was super interesting. It was a really nice take on modern day meets Fourth Wing, and it being set in the Pacific Northwest. There were times during the book where it was kind of slow, but when everything kind of came down to the nitty-gritty towards the end, it was super good.

Markus' dragon-riding dreams come crashing down in an instant when he fails to tame a wild dragon on his own, forfeiting his placement in a prestigious military academy. His hope is restored when the commandant offers to overlook his failure in exchange for Markus' cooperation in finding the culprit behind several hijackings, with the suspect's own children being two of his own fellow students. The only problem is, one of them already hates Markus, and the other already has Markus' heart.

This book has an interesting concept and a tight, no-frills style of writing. The author's ideas for dragons and the bonds shared between them and a dragon rider were cool, and it’s clear that the story takes inspiration from popular action movies. Though the story starts slowly, it picks up near the end of the book and sets itself up nicely for a sequel. It’s also nice to see a main character with real flaws that impact how others interact with him.

Unfortunately, the reader is seemingly thrown in at the middle point of the story, by which time all of the character relationships have already been established. Very little worldbuilding or backstory is given at any point beyond a bare-bones explanation, and I think it could have really helped flesh the story out and give it a unique identity. The book occasionally tried to have conversations about race that were a bit too complex for the text, and it ended up coming off as tone deaf, which, to me, is worse than not addressing these issues at all. However, if you're looking for a quick, vibes-only read that mixes drag racing and dragons, this might be for you. Many thanks to NetGalley and Yggdrasil Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

2/5 The vibes were there, but the worldbuilding struggled to catch up.

This is a cross between Fast and Furious and How to train your dragon. If those are your vibe, then this book is for you. It’s was a good story, though it was a bit slow in the beginning for me to get into, and I didn’t connect with the characters very well. I would suggest giving it a read for yourself.

Dragon Den by Kriss Dean is a thrilling blend of the fast-paced world of a Dragon War College and the high-octane excitement of Fast and the Furious, all with a touch of the magic and wonder of How to Train Your Dragon. The story takes readers on a thrilling ride through a world where dragons and humans coexist, and the action never lets up.

The story is packed with intense action sequences and unexpected plot twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall, Dragon Den is a captivating and exhilarating read that will appeal to fans of both fantasy and fast-paced action. Kriss Dean has created a unique and immersive world that readers won't want to leave, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an adrenaline-packed adventure. Highly recommended!

This unfortunately did not meet my expectations. I feel that the character development and world building is quite lacking. This had potential but I feel it fell flat.

I ended up really liking this one. As information was revealed, things unfolded into something much bigger than what was going on at the school.

Markus failed to break a dragon. The biggest disappointment of his life. But by chance, he's able to get a dragon anyway, for working for the commandant. Markus and Loki are a match made in heaven, and their bond grows as things continue to unfold.

Markus and Amira also become close, and eventually he has to choose how he will lose her, because he's in an impossible position. When things go wrong, he reveals everything to Amira and they do their best to save everyone. The aftermath is still unfolding as we wait for book 2!

This had potential but ultimately wasn’t as developed and well thought out as i wanted. There could have been much stronger world building and character development. felt a little juvenile.

Thank you to Net Galley and Yggdrasil for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available 6/20/24!!

So this is an adult urban fantasy that is like Fast and Furious but will dragons.

Unique premise right? Unfortunately it fell flat for me. I wished so much for this to be something I would enjoy but I just couldn’t get I to it.

DNF

I started but after having some issues with the writing I discovered the author blatantly copies lines from Fast and the Furious and clearly didn't utilize sensitivity readers if Amira's experiences were left in like this...

I'm not a fan of direct copying of a movie. In this book, which is supposed to be 'inspired' by Fast and the Furious, the story is the same...down to specific language and scenes used in the movie. The characters , the back story, all of it. The only new thing is the dragons that replace the cars. Loki is excellent!
After the 3rd or 4th time of reading actual quotes used in the movie, I DNF'd at 57%

This quite an enjoyable read. I loved the dragon dialogue; they were quite sassy and ready to take on the world. I loved Loki’s story near the end and Apepe’s short but deadly warning. Every now and then a husband comes along like the author’s who has a great suggestion. I am quite familiar with “The Fast and the Furious” and having the characters roughly in the late teens to 20’s (I’m guessing) made it action packed. The one thing I didn’t care for was one dragon Zeus was a she when the deity was a male.

Seeing it in Oregon was interesting as well. With the mountains it worked well with the dragons.

eARC from netgalley :)

I thought that this book had so much potential, an urban setting with dragons and a dragon-riding school? sign me up and the cover is super gorgeous.
unfortunately not my favourite read, for a few reasons.

PLOT - we definitely feel as though we’ve been thrown in the deep end and are experiencing this world pretty dry. the plot doesn’t really feel as though there are any real stakes (possibly due to my non-existence attachment to the main character and lack of any real world-building) and most of the time the MMCs mind is just on what he wants to do to his girlfriend when he gets home.

CHARACTERISATION - not really there? markus is generally very unlikeable, consistently sexualising amira with every thought he has and somehow simultaneously having the worst self-esteem in the world and being incredibly full of himself. I really wanted to love amira and i was almost there, but she often just reads as a plot device and markus’ eye candy desire, when she could have been so much more. i feel like most of the characters were pretty much just easy stereotypes: markus is the good guy (questionable) with a crush on his best friend, amira is the pretty best friend who is super smart but secretly badass, theo is the hacker friend (who is mentioned to be gay like one time and then nothing is built on it), tobias is the cool older brother who hates the MMC. these would have been fine if there was some significant character development throughout the book, but the arc is only 180 pages and it does feel like it. gonna repeat this, i really wanted to love amira but she was so underutilised other than just being hot-smart-girl-he-wants-to-bone. also i dislike markus xD
I’m not black, so i can’t comment on how the ‘theme’ of racism was discussed, but it didn’t really appear in the narrative other than like one scene? so i dont really know in this case, but amira in general should have had so much character development and racism as a more key theme could have been one of the ways to do so.

DRAGONS - okay they were pretty cool, in concept and sometimes in practise. i did love loki, he could be very funny and just wanted to race and eat, and good for him. linking to the world-building, the emergence of dragons is just, they were alive with the dinosaurs and live in a volcano when they’re wild. like, one single volcano? all of them? also, the way they were ‘broken’ by forcibly having collars put on them and then belonging to the human who did that to them was quite icky to me.

overall, not the greatest reading experience, though I did manage to get through it quite quickly (180 pages) while reading a physical book alongside it. the potential is so there i just didn’t care for most of the execution.

The allure of "Dragon Den" initially captured my attention with its intriguing title and captivating cover art. The promise of a tale reminiscent of "How to Train Your Dragon" for adult audiences, along with comparisons to "Fourth Wings," sparked my curiosity. The journey through this book proved to be a thrilling and entertaining ride, though not without its flaws.

The story follows Markus, a character labeled as a 'bad boy' but who harbors softer sentiments for the good-hearted Amira, sister to the protective Tobias. Set against the backdrop of Seattle and Portland, the world-building introduces dragons coexisting with humanity, surviving a mass extinction event. While the concept is fascinating, the lack of thorough explanation about the dragons and their magical connection leaves the reader wanting.

Goldwing Academy serves as the setting for Markus's ambitions as a dragon rider, but his aspirations take an unexpected turn during a solstice event. Amira's timely intervention reveals her prowess, casting Markus in a less flattering light. The narrative also touches on gender dynamics in dragon naming conventions, which I found to be an unnecessary reinforcement of patriarchal norms.

The book draws heavy inspiration from various sources, such as "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Fast and the Furious," sometimes to its detriment. The repetitive use of certain phrases and direct quotes from other media felt jarring and detracted from the originality of the story.

Amidst these critiques, the novel does offer moments of excitement and intrigue, with themes of racism and societal privilege adding depth to the narrative. However, I felt that Amira's character had untapped potential and was primarily relegated to the role of love interest and motivation for Markus.

Despite its flaws, "Dragon Den" delivers a fast-paced, action-packed adventure filled with dragons and excitement. While I enjoyed the read, I couldn't help but wish for more depth in character development and originality in storytelling.

4.5 Stars - Fourth Wing x Fast and Furious!

Dragons, academy, romance, bad ass female leads and politics!

I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed being dropped right into the action but I do agree with others that there was a lack of world building and character building. If more of this was done it definitely would add depth to the book but I still overall enjoyed it. I also feel like we barely know Marcus and his backstory. I did love Amira as a character and how bad ass she is! Overall great characters but hard to see their depth due to the little information we had.

I loved the dragons aspect and it does give Fourth Wing vibes (like a lottt). Definitely would recommend and excited to see where the story goes!

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC copy!