Recs if you like The Dragon Keeper...

I'm quite experienced in the man-hating field. These books made me hate men more than I already did.

Many of these are the beginning of series, but all of them are about academics in fantasy settings. All cross genres are welcome.

Fantasy where plants, herbs, forests and green places aren’t just set dressing: they drive character choices, magic systems and plot. Expect hedgewitches and apothecaries, sentient woods and green men, tea alchemists, orchard bargains and kitchen gardens that meddle in human affairs. The tone ranges from cozy cottagecore to gently thorny fairytales sprinkled in. If you crave stories that smell like rain on soil and sound like wind in leaves, start here!

I know there are a couple other dragon lists out there, but a lot of them were missing some of my favourites, so I'm just making my own!

These books the dragons will play a significant role in the plot, even if the focus of the book isn't dragons themselves (like the Hobbit).

For books in a series, I'll only be adding the first one.

Feel free to drop suggestions! I'm trying to include all the dragon books I can.

A compendium of books featuring dragons

Just an absolute butt-tonne of dragon books, baby!!

Dragons everywhere. From tiny, mischievous hatchlings to wise, ancient sky-soarers, these books are packed with scales, sparks, and heart. Expect warmth, wonder, and at least a little fire.

Robin Hobb's 'The Realm of the Elderlings' in order (my goal is to read them all... if anyone wants to do the same I made this list so the order of the books is the right one hehehehe)

robin hobb reading order

The complete (as of Jan. 2026) Realm of the Elderlings series. Novels only, not short stories.

A list for people who don't want to be left waiting for the next book release.

• Includes: First books in completed series, standalones, interconnected standalones*

• Subgenres: Fantasy-first books with a romance subplot - some of these romances are very slow burn or don't appear till later in the series

Books - mostly fantasy, but some scifi - with fantastical creatures. 🐉🦄🐦‍🔥

• Features first book of series or first book in the series that creature(s) appear.
• Avoiding romantasy as there are many recommendation lists.
• Elves, fae, vampires, dwarves, weres, etc are Beings, not Creatures imo. So not included.

Dragons, Wyrms and all those other fire-breathing creepy crawlies! Even if not all the dragons in these books breathe fire in the first place (only the first book of a series is added to this list)

Books featuring humans bonding with dragons or dragon riders as a major plot point.

Katie McGrath recommendations

Fantasy book club!

Books involving dragon riders, magic, and adventure

Some dragons do not want your gold or your friendship. They want your worship—or your silence. These are the apex predators of history, the shadow-casters who burn cities to settle an argument and rule from thrones of scorched bone. They are the ancient law and the final executioner. We call them... the Tyrants.