So since I love a good motley crew, let's start with who they are and how I feel about them!Įmilia was an easy fave, because she's a book nerd who values knowledge above all else.

THE PLOT sees five outcasts (and their dragons) called to compete against one another in a set of trials, the outcome of which will decide the new emperor. I was excited for it, and it did not disappoint.ĭespite the fact that it wasn't at all what I thought it would be. I purchased it on Kindle for $2 and after the first 20 pages went back and purchased the hardcover for my partner. If it sounds at all intriguing, I cannot recommend it enough. The competition and political elements of this book are very present, but this is a very, very character-driven story. Not to give spoilers, but there’s one scene with the “dumb” dragon named dog that genuinely had me scream laughing. We get to learn so much about the different breeds, see each dragons' different personalities, and enjoy the bonds these dragons have formed with their human partners. They were all very well done, even the one who was a pretty classic villain.īut my favorite characters were the dragons. Each character is so different from the others and very well developed, I personally had no complaints about a single one. Personally, I enjoyed all of the perspectives save one, but while hers wasn’t necessarily enjoyable it was interesting. You’re going to follow five different perspectives, which may be a turn off for some. In one instance, it’s not even a member of the royal household but one of their servants who is called. The twist this time, however, is that the eldest children who have trained their entire lives to compete are not the ones chosen. Whoever’s dragon lands on the calling platform is obligated to immediately leave and join a competition to become emperor or empress. When an emperor dies, the eldest child of each of the five houses is “summoned” via a calling ceremony. In this world, there is no line of succession.

House of Dragons starts with their emperor dying. I opened the cover and didn’t emerge from it until I’d finished the very last page. Not only that, I think it’s actually now one of my top 5 books of all time. This is hands down my favorite read of 2020.

Jessica cluess house of dragons