I approached Dragon Den with high hopes, as I love stories featuring dragons and intricate world-building. While there were aspects of the book that showed promise—such as its unique premise and vivid imagery—I ultimately found it difficult to connect with the characters and the pacing of the story.

I gave it my best shot, but I wasn’t able to finish the book. This might be a case of the story not aligning with my personal preferences rather than a reflection of its overall quality. I believe readers who enjoy a slower burn or a more introspective narrative might have a better experience with this book than I did.

Thank you to the author for their creative effort; I hope this story finds its audience among other fantasy enthusiasts.

This took me by surprise! I decided to read because of the cover - who doesn't love a good dragon book? This plot kept me hooked! I loved the modern twist with dragons! It was a quick, easy read and it left me wanting MORE! Definitely How To Train Your Dragon meets Fast and the Furious!

It was a pretty interesting read, though it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story dives into a fantastical world filled with dragons and adventure, and Dean’s vivid imagery really brought the settings to life.

The characters had potential, but I found their development a bit lacking; some felt one-dimensional, which made it hard to connect with them. The pacing also dragged in parts, particularly in the middle, where I felt the action slowed down too much.

Overall, Dragon Den has some strong world-building and imaginative concepts, but it could benefit from deeper character exploration and tighter pacing. It’s a decent choice if you’re looking for a light fantasy adventure.

DNF I will not be rating this and feel like it isn't appropriate to do so on my part.

Thank you to Netgalley and Yggdrasil Press for this arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of Fourth Wing/Dragons x Fast & Furious was a solid one and it is why I requested in the first place. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't worth my time as there are more quality books out there. Though this does have a lot of potential if the author went back and did some heavy edits. This is not personal at all as writing a book is very hard and mentally taxing. I commend this author for putting their work out there to be critiqued. For this review, I really have nothing to add as other reviewers have stated the same issues that I had with this book. These include poor pacing, lack of connection with the characters, and "alleged" plagiarism.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. The world and characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth. I didn’t find myself being interested in their story or wanting to know how it will end. The premise was very intriguing, since I’m a huge Fast and Furious fan, but the blending just didn’t really work for me.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Markus Fredriksen, the First of His Name, more titles to come, always dreamed of breaking a Black Clubtail and becoming a dragon rider. He fails to break any dragon at all, marking the end of his tenure at Dragild Military Academy.

The commandant unexpectedly offers him a broken dragon, but with a caveat: Markus must infiltrate the clan running the Dragon Den, suspected of hijacking semi-trucks carrying precious obsidian.

He jumps at the opportunity to salvage his dreams. He has no idea what he’s in for, but the clan leader’s daughter is about to become his biggest distraction.

I was excited to read Dragon Den especially since it marketed as a book that Four Wing readers would like.
Unfortunately, Dragon Den fell short. The world building needed more substance and at times it felt like it is a version of the Fast and the Furious movie but with Dragons instead of cars. The characters also lacked development, and overall I didn’t enjoy this book.

Unfortunately this book didn't hit the mark for me - whilst I like the general concept of the story, I felt it needed to be woven together better. Due to the nature of it being a shorter book, there is a lack of a descriptive element which could help immerse a reader better. Poignant moments were often lacking due to this lack of build-up.
I wish I could have liked the book more, but it fell flat for me.

Thank you so much to Yggdrasil Press and NetGalley for the arc copy and for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the book.

This book felt like a roller coaster ride that was a bit too fast and then it’s over and you feel thrilled but also wish there had been a bit more. I really don’t feel as if there was enough development within the plot or characters for me to really get attached. If there had been 100-200 pages more, I think this book could have really benefited.

Any book with dragons will immediately intrigue me, and that was a huge selling point for me, the end did redeem some of my disappointment but overall I felt no real connection to this story.

thanks to netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for a review.

oh boy. this was tough at times. but i did finish it, so three stars. this felt like reading fourth wing but less developed. i had a hard time connecting to any of the characters except for Loki, who was underdeveloped similarly to all of the other characters. i wanted to know more about what Loki had gone through and what that meant for him as a dragon, but that was never told to the reader. this needs both to be longer and edited down, i can't figure out what would be better.

I contemplated DNFing this one but still had hopes for it. Unfortunately, Dragon Den was a miss. From the advertisement of an adult How to Train Your Dragon meets Fast and Furious, I was soooo intrigued and excited but it just didn't deliver. This should've been a YA with the graphic sex scenes cut out because it felt so out of place and honestly the MMC was annoying. It felt like a knockoff Fourth Wing or attempt to be the next FW which I couldn't get passed either.

Literally fast and furious with dragons... storyline was okay, execution could've been better but still and enjoyable story

While this book was a relatively quick read there were certainly things that I didn't enjoy as much about it and that made it feel more like a YA book just with some spice. The dragons themselves were well developed - I particularly like the way that different coloured dragons had different skills but overall I didn't feel any super strong connection with any of the characters and often finding myself forgetting that I was reading this resulting in me not picking it up for a couple of days so I'm giving this book a 3 star rating.

I so so so hate to leave less than 3-star reviews on ANYTHING but especially an ARC. That being said, I despise Markus with every bone in my body and it's been a while since I've read anything with a character I disliked as strongly as him.

There were elements of this I really liked for sure! Urban fantasy is always interesting to me and I found the lore with dragons and Mt Rainier very interesting (I actually didn't know this was urban fantasy until I started reading and thought it was funny that Dragild was near a "Mt Rainier" and thought maybe the author just wasn't very creative with fantasy place names, then realized it took place in Seattle and I was just a silly goose!). I think uncovering a smuggling operation while fighting for your place at a dragon riding academy was an exciting premise and I did enjoy that storyline.

As I mentioned, I found Markus insufferable. i think it's absolutely wild to objectify 2 female characters within the first scene of the book and I found a lot of his dialogue to be juvenile. I also think the way that dragons are treated in this universe and the way that they're "broken" by their riders was quite barbaric and I expected that to be addressed by one of the characters. The whole book had very overt social justice 101 vibes so I was a little surprised that none of the characters felt strongly about that, especially given Amira's apparent love for animals.

The last few chapters picked up really fast and actually made me really interested to read a potential sequel! Whether I'm willing to suffer through more of Markus just to find out what happens is unfortunately TBD.

Thanks NetGalley and Yggdrasil Press for providing the ARC.

Honestly, I don't remember requesting this book but I do like the cover and the description is interesting so a past version of me was in the mood for something like this

But it's a DNF.

How can I be 25% of the way through the book and not really know what is going on.

The writing isn't the best and leaves much to be desired. The characters are so surface level and being inside the mc's head was almost unbearable. If I continued he may have turned insufferable and I can't deal with that.

Sad because I want dragon books but this was just not it .

Dragon Den by Kriss Dean is a unique urban fantasy that is the perfect blend of dragons and romantasy. In a genre in love with Fourth Wing, Dragon Den cleaves out its own space and shines a light right on it. Original characters that are equally relatable and likable, you think there is a similarity, but Dragon Den pulls you in and screams off in a wholly different direction.Fourther Wing did not quite hold my attention, but Dragon Den certainly did! Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Yggdrasil Press and Kriss Dean for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

"Dragon Den" by Kriss Dean is an exhilarating adventure that transports readers to a world filled with mythical creatures, suspense, and unexpected friendships. The story revolves around a young protagonist who stumbles upon a hidden realm inhabited by dragons, leading to a thrilling journey that challenges their bravery and wit.

Dean's writing is engaging and vibrant, painting a vivid picture of the fantastical landscapes and intricate dragon lore that populate the narrative. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers on their toes as they navigate the twists and turns of the plot. The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities and motivations that add depth to the story. The protagonist's growth throughout the journey is particularly compelling, making their struggles and triumphs relatable.

Themes of loyalty, courage, and the importance of believing in oneself resonate strongly, making "Dragon Den" not just an adventure story, but also a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery. The interplay between danger and friendship adds an emotional layer that elevates the tale.

Overall, "Dragon Den" is a captivating read for fans of fantasy and adventure. Kriss Dean successfully crafts a world that is both enchanting and thrilling, ensuring that readers will be eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next. Highly recommended for those looking to escape into a magical realm!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Dragon Den by Kriss Dean is a mixed first person and third person multi-POV romantic urban fantasy set in the Pacific Northwest combining dragons and the races of Fast and the Furious. Markus has only ever wanted to be a dragon rider, but when his chance to become one is derailed on initiation day, he’s given a different shot that could put his relationships in jeopardy. Meanwhile, his longtime crush, Amira, is showing more interest than before as Markus gets close to her brother, Tobias, for his mission.

There is a strong romantic element here, though I wouldn’t call it a fantasy romance. I’m not even sure I’d call it a romantic fantasy because the romance between Amira and Markus is so important that it’s one of the biggest plot threads. It sits firmly between a romantic fantasy and a fantasy romance where the fantasy elements and the romantic elements feel roughly equal.

Markus comes across as a big sap for Amira and we love to see it. He’s intoxicated by her scent, he notices her at all times, he recognizes her brilliance and her position as the first in their class multiple times. It might feel a bit male-gazey for some readers because a lot of emphasis is placed on how good Amira looks, particularly in regards to her butt, but it felt balanced to me because of how much Markus admires her muscles and her strength rather than her softness, and while he does notice her breasts got smaller because of her training, he doesn’t despair about it. It feels roughly on par with a lot of romance novels I have read from the male POV while celebrating a woman who has a more athletic body.

95% of the story is from Markus’ POV, but some chapters open with bits from other POVs, particularly ones that are involved in the raids of the trucks carrying obsidian. The infiltration plot threads are closely tied to Markus getting closer to Amira and Tobias as Tobias is part of illegal dragon racers and has been stealing materials used for dragon collars, though we learn later exactly why he’s doing so. Through Tobias and Amira’s interactions with Markus, we get some discussions of American anti-Black racism, white privilege, and how the system is stacked in a particular way. Because most of the story is from Markus, a white man’s POV, these themes don’t go super in-depth, but the author does recognize and draw attention to how Black people are viewed in a white supremacist society.

Content warning for mentions of racism and police brutality

I would recommend this to fans of The Fast and the Furious who also enjoy fantasy, lovers of dragon books who want something taking place in our world in the modern day, and those looking for a dragon rider romantic fantasy involving a military school that is on the shorter side

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I’m really sad to give such a low rating but I have to be honest.
What I dislike the most about following an MMC rather than an FMC - is to be inside the brain of the MMC. And this particular boy’s (he isn’t a man for sure) train of thoughts was hyper sexual towards Amira & Katie. It just rubbed me the wrong way right from the start.

What drew me to this ARC was that it was for fans of how to train your dragon and I’m a BIG HTTYD fan. I’m not exaggerating - I have a ton of merch and I rewatch the trilogy once a year.

That being said : it felt like a big HTTYD + Fourth wing + fast & furious knock off. The similarities were almost copy pasted. A few elements were changed to make it less obvious but I just felt like I was reading fan fiction from those 3 books/movies.

The thing that really took me out were the characters. They’re extremely unlovable, immature and surface levelled.

The world building is near to nonexistent and there were many plot holes.