Member Reviews

Sharp, witty, and endlessly entertaining, The Drunken Dragon flips the epic fantasy genre on its head with a delightfully snarky dragon’s-eye view. Draco’s biting commentary on knights, quests, and the absurdity of heroism delivers both laugh-out-loud moments and surprisingly insightful reflections on the fantasy tropes we take for granted. George Morrison’s satire is equal parts clever and chaotic, although some jokes land better than others. but the sheer fun of it all makes this a must-read for anyone who loves (or loves to poke fun at) classic fantasy tales.

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3.5 stars.

This was a fun read that blended a well thought out fantasy satire with a deeper, more serious reflection of alcoholism. And who are we?, if not the stories and lore we leave behind?

You only have to turn to the obligatory fantasy map to know what you're in for - the place names are hilarious. While there were plenty of funny, witty, laugh-out-loud moments, there were also parts of the prose that felt jarring. I loved the friendship that formed and Draco was definitely the best part.

While this was a fun run I thought it could have been shorter. I'd be interested to see more by Jim Morrison. This was certainly an interesting entry to his work.

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This is a fun send up of fantasy quests and adventures. Told amusingly by our titular dragon with a drinking problem, Draco. We follow him as he gets himself into various scrapes after a few too many flagons of mead, as he meets a hapless knight Sir Wilbur. The two become friends and set off on various quests. It's entirely ridiculous (just look at the place names.on the map and you'll get the gist of.what kind of tale this is.)

My favorite part is Draco. He's amusing. He's fun. His narrative voice is great. It was definitely an amusing book, though I think it did go on a bit too long for my tastes (I prefer my ridiculous satire to be shorter it seems). Definitely worth reading if you both enjoy fantasy stories and want to poke fun at them.

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For whatever reason, it took me a long time to get into this book. Maybe it was a lack of romantic elements and I’ve been on a romantasy kick for a bit. However, this was really fun and entertaining. I laughed out loud a few times even, so I did enjoy the book, it just didn’t suck me in as much as I thought it would.

The plot is a little squiggly and has a couple of different main trails, but it’s easy enough to follow and understand what is happening with the two and how they connect. It’s an interesting concept, and unique to me as I’ve never read from the dragon’s perspective. The characters are pretty hilarious at times, but can seem a bit one dimensional, but that’s entirely because of how Draco sees them. It’s obvious they have more than just one facet to them. The writing is pretty easy to read, but not “fluffy” really. This is pretty typical in my experience reading male authors. Women tend to be a bit more flowery and descriptive, while men seem to be a bit more dry. It isn’t an issue at all, just an observation I’ve had.

All in all I did enjoy this, especially the last 25% of it. 3.75⭐️

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Ever wondered what it's like to be a dragon? Well, this book takes you through the trappings of being a dragon, but with a twist. The entire book takes the piss out of the trope, through a Drunken Dragon's POV.

Being a dragons isn't what it seems, and this book gives a take on not judging a dragon by its scales, through Draco Mundani's POV. Though the story is full of satire and has a light-hearted approach to the life of an "ordinary dragon" (literally the Latin translation of our protagonist name), it has an undercurrent of how tough it actually is to be a magical creature, especially one as feared, admired, and hated as dragons.

Personally, I have always thought that being near immortal won't be all fun and games, because it leaves you with a long memory of all the terrible things that can happen in life over and over and over again. In this story the dragons have taken to alcohol to dull the emotions from a life of strife and misunderstandings, they otherwise don't know how to cope with.

I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read about dragons, to those who likes reading a a beloved trope turned on its head, and to those who likes stories that tackles heavy subjects (alcoholism) in an satirical fashion.

This book redefined my perception of dragons, and I'm going to go read more dragon stories with this book in mind!

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This was a perfect read in between things when you want to take a break from high fantasy or books that you have to focus intently to catch things. This was such a unique story and I can't say that I have read anything remotely similar. There is a ton of satire in this book and while not all of it hits the mark, I think it is consistent.

The story follows Draco who is an alcoholic that often finds himself in difficult situations from being too inebriated. One of the worse mistakes he makes is letting a wizard cast the "German Spell of Obedience" on him after Draco is passed out from drinking too much. I think some of the stories felt a little insignificant to the overall story and sometimes things seemed a bit repetitive. Such as him stealing food or getting arrested for a crime. Seriously, how does a dragon get arrested so many times?! Regardless, it was still such a fun read and I loved that it was from a dragon's perspective.

While there are hints to some serious topics like alcoholism, I think the satire does a wonderful job of keeping things from getting too dark. Draco has to learn to fight his battles and become the dragon he is always meant to be. Thank you to Netgalley, Tennin Books, and George Morrison for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

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We've all read stories of knights and fair maidens, but how does the dragon feel about the whole situation?
Follow Draco, a dragon who likes to drink a little too much and it gets him in trouble. Join him on his quest to remove a curse, quest with a knight, rescue fair ladies, and drink at every tavern along the way.
Will Draco get out of his predicament?

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The Drunken Dragon offers a lighthearted fantasy satire with a surprisingly serious core. Narrated by a dragon battling alcoholism, the story follows his quest to break a terrible curse. While the premise is whimsical, the narrative delves into the harsh realities of addiction. Readers will find themselves invested in the dragon's journey as he confronts his personal demons and struggles against the story's antagonists.
However, the portrayal of the dragon feels less like a majestic creature and more like a caricature of an irresponsible alcoholic. His negligence and self-destructive behavior, driven by his dependence on alcohol, create a sense of tragic inevitability. While this realism adds depth, it also strips away any sense of the formidable dragon one might expect.
The book's light tone is sometimes undermined by an overreliance on slang, particularly in the early chapters. Phrases like "din-din," "woolies," and the ambiguous "ninnie" feel forced and detract from the narrative's wit. Similarly, the inclusion of modern references like Texas Hold'em, the Darwin Award, and pig-latin clashes jarringly with the fantasy setting, even within a satirical context, and disrupts immersion.
Despite these issues, The Drunken Dragon ultimately delivers a compelling story that effectively blends humor and drama, showcasing the dragon's compelling character arc.

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I found this a fun read and gave me a break from my normal reading,
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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