Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Dragon Rider 

 

Author: Taran Matharu 

 

Book Series: The Soulbound Saga book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: Character who uses a wheelchair 

 

Recommended For...: adult book readers, epic fantasy, high fantasy 

 

Publication Date: April 23, 2024 

 

Genre: Epic Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual innuendo, death, parental death, war, language, animal hunting, animal injury, prejudice/racism, slavery, alcohol consumption, etc.) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at about 25% in. In that timespan, I observed the following: sexual innuendos. Death and parental death. On-going war, prejudice, racism, and slavery. Strong language. Animal hunting detailed and injury to an animal. Alcohol consumption shown on page. 

 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

 

Pages: 576 

 

Synopsis: Can an orphan captive learn the secrets of the Dragon Riders to stand up and avenge his people? Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court—ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves. When the emperor’s son and heir is betrothed to Princess Erica of the neighboring Dansk Kingdom, she brings with her dragons. Endemic to the northern nation, these powerful beasts come in several forms, but mystery surrounds them. Only Dansk royalty know the secret to soulbonding with these dangerous beasts to draw on their power and strength. This marriage—and the alliance that forms—will change that forever. But conspirators lurk in the shadows, and soon the Sabine Court is in chaos. With his life in danger, Jai uses the opportunity to escape with the Dansk handmaiden, Frida, and a stolen hatchling. Hunted at every turn, he must learn to cultivate magic and become a soulbound warrior if he has any chance of finding safety, seizing his destiny…and seeking his revenge. 

 

Review: I was really disappointed in this book. I was a fan of Taren Matharu's other series (Contender) and I expected that the series would be a lot like that other one. I was really excited to read it and then I actually read this. This book feels like it's trying way too hard to be Game of Thrones. You have to read the synopsis to understand what is going on in the first part of the book and it doesn't even really entirely explain what the hell is going on. I felt very confused and frustrated by having to constantly work. My brain really hard to understand what I was reading and it just wasn't something that I was looking forward to anymore after about 10% in. I did last until about 25% but I was not a happy reader. The happiest that I was when reading that book was when I decided to stop reading it. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but it might be for you.