Dragon LitRPG
By Trevor Wells, Editor, Level Up
Dragon LitRPG is a subgenre of LitRPG books that revolve around dragons in some way. Whether the protagonist is a dragon themselves, dragon rider, or the villain is a dragon; one commonalty remains—Dragon LitRPG novels tell powerful stories. But why do readers and authors find themselves fascinated with dragons? The answer is simple; dragons are rooted deep in our mythology. From the Epic of Gilgamesh (2150-1400 BC) in which Humbaba a dragon is slain by the protagonist, to Leviathan in the Book of Job. It is evident that dragons have a special place in the very fabric of our DNA—storytelling that have been passed down for thousands of years. It answers the question of why countless girls and boys consume every dragon book in their library, and further explains why many authors go and pen various dragon books of their own—Yes, I’m looking at you Le Guin and Paolini.
Why read dragon LitRPG books?
Despite the innumerable kinds of dragons our various worlds inhabit, the genre is a rich source for complex storytelling. Whether it is fighting a dangerously powerful dragon that must be thwarted, or an overpowered dragon protagonist that can’t handle their abilities. Authors explore new possibilities under the dragon LitRPG genre. Our fascination with dragons wonderfully integrates into robust and powerful LitRPG game systems, thus driving a strong narrative forward as the story progresses. We also can’t forget that dragon LitRPG books have some of the best book covers. For those who don’t agree, I only have one word— Dracarys!
Good Dragon LitRPG books?
Consequently, finding Dragon LitRPG stories is not a difficult task. However, my pursuit brings me to focus on books that have unique game systems, and more importantly, incorporates a dragon into the story in a meaningful way. The polarizing reality of dragons is that an author can craft an overpowered game system or protagonist, and readers will want to follow the journey. Each one of the authors does something unique to the game system or narrative to end up on my list. Of course, this is not a true dragon LitRPG list without the honorable mention of The Dragon’s Revenge. So, in my humble opinion, this is my list of the top dragon LitRPG stories—Here there be dragons!
Dragon Sorcerer (series)
Sean Oswald
Nico, a young dragon, is chased from his home by murderous adventurers. His magic awakens and is bonded to Cami, a brave woman. But Nico must hide from the adventurers, so he takes human form. To make matters worse, Nico and Cami must attend the Imperial Academy by law. How does Nico hide his dragon sized ego in a dangerous world?
Sean builds a wonderful and robust system in this riveting series. The narrative is fun and is full of snark. While having snark isn’t a requirement for a good dragon LitRPG book, it is very much welcomed. The first book has over 1,200 ratings (as of this writing) on Amazon and stands at a formidable 4.7-star rating. Dragon Sorcerer deserves every praise it receives. I seriously recommend the whole series; it is worth every bit of your time.
A Dream of Wings & Flame
Cale Plamann
The story revolves around a Kobold named Sam. While Kobolds find themselves at the bottom of the food chain, Sam isn’t willing to be like the rest of the Kobolds. For Sam, simply surviving isn’t enough—Samazzar must soar in the sky—the blood of the dragon pumps through his veins.
The biggest testament to Cale’s writing style is the wonderful world building that is on full display. Additionally, the game system is unique, but not crunchy by any means. I still found it to be engaging. While focusing on the progression fantasy elements, readers get a character-driven story that pays off nicely.
Dragon Seed
James Osiris Baldwin
Hector Park embraces an experimental digital transformation. Thus, choosing the difficult path as a Dragon Knight. If Hector is to soar with dragons, he must forge a psychic bond with a dragon hatchling—a connection that Hector may not be ready to handle.
Despite Hector being the only dragon rider on this list, my expectation of the trope wears thin. (Likely due to reading almost every dragon rider book in my formative years.) However, thankfully James gives readers not only a crunchy dragon LitRPG story, but the depth of the game system cannot be understated. More importantly, the book impressed me, which is a difficult feat for a book of the dragon rider variety. It’s easy to tell the inspiration came from Dragonriders of Pern, which can be seen in the world building; thus, finding itself in good company.
Master of the Hoard
Lars Machmüller
Carl, a regular construction foreman dies of a heart attack and is reborn into a dangerous magic-filled world as a dragon. Carl must overcome the winds of change and soar into the sky—better yet Carl needs to protect his hoard and understand why it’s so important. Hostile dragons draw near, Carl must overcome the odds and master his hoard.
Lars does a wonderful job getting readers into the RPG world immediately, which is a warm welcome. The unique premise is that we are given dungeon core mechanics. However, Lars quite literally takes the ‘core’ out of it, thus, giving readers a dragon hoard as a stand in for the dungeon core elements. Master of the Hoard is arguably the most creative and innovative game system on my list. It’s enjoyable and well written.
Drakon Prince
Jamie McFarlane
Theo always wanted something greater than a boring suburban life. When a thug leaves him battered and broken, Theo wakes up to floating game text—inviting him to become a dragon. Even though he rejects the prompt, it always returns. Theo’s life can’t get worse, so he begrudgingly accepts his birthright. He must now level up fast to survive the real world.
Jamie has an interesting perspective when it comes to dragon LitRPG stories. The writing is engaging and while the voice is solid; the game system is not crunchy by any means. Despite that, the story presented is epic in scope, and brings the reader into a well-constructed world. It’s unique and has a stellar book cover, what more could one want?
Dragon Spar (interview with the Mother of Dragon LitRPG)
Keegan Eichelman
We sat down with Keegan, the author of the forthcoming Dragon Spar series. Any excuse to talk about dragons; heck yes, I’m in! We also talk about the craft of writing and dive deeper into the unique world of Dragon Spar. So, without further udo, here is an interview with Keegan, the author of Dragon Spar.
What is it about dragons that made you want to write a story revolving around them?
Oh, dragons…I love them. Who doesn’t? Huge, menacing beasts who can also have quite a bit of personality. I read about all sorts of dragons growing up: fire-breathing and fierce, stoic and wise, comedic… I guess I wanted the challenge of leaning into all of those in one world. The dragon characters throughout the book are a mix of all different types. I wanted them to feel like humans—with a variety of diverse personalities. Of course, I love to lean into a little bit of humor, but I have terrifying ones too. There’s something so mystical and awe-inspiring about the beasts. …Why not?
How fun was building a LitRPG system around Rosabella, your protagonist?
Woot! Incredibly fun!! At first, the task felt a little daunting—I’m not going to lie. This was my first time attempting a LitRPG novel. The hardest part, really, for me was the ‘why’. Why was the system acting as it did? What were the underlying motivations? After I got that nailed down, everything else just pieced itself together. Being an avid classic survival horror video game lover, stats just made sense. …Plus, I had some fun with it and added ‘Swag’ and ‘Baddie’ Points for some humor in the text and a way to have interpersonal connections still be quantified within The Game. …It, at least, gave me a good smile haha.
What is a Dragon Spar?
A Dragon Spar is a fight between two magic-wielding beings—basically the equivalent of a boxing match with loud music hyping up the audience and two magical beings going at it with the sizzle and pop of spells. When two dragons engage, it shakes the treetops—quite a dangerous sight. Now, magic is limited in the book’s world. Only dragons, the Game Maker Class (only one in The Game) and gamers channeling a dragon’s magic can use magic. And gamers can only channel a dragon’s magic by putting their hand in a dragon’s mouth—the ultimate show of alliance and trust.
Did any books serve as your inspiration when writing Dragon Spar?
You know, I read so many dragon books growing up that who could pinpoint exactly what led my mind to wander to this spot? I know that, growing up, I loved The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede. I’m sure those books had a play in my love of the huge beasts which inspired the book.
What is your writing process?
It all starts with a dump truck load of inspiration—or a voice in my head. Sometimes both. Call me crazy, but this inspiration comes from somewhere outside me and compels me to write. Then, I just listen and jot it all down as it flows. The voice is very specific—it’s why I believe my writing style is so different. The words INSIST on coming out a certain way, sometimes poetry-like or with alliteration or a rhythm to them. It’s crazy, even if I attempt to re-write the scene, often I will get the same exact words in the same exact place. …Something’s going on there. Often, I see flashes of images which I expand on as I write. I write and write until the main character is plain ole stuck in the middle of a metaphorical cobweb with a brick wall on every side. And then, I think about it and outline their way out. And that’s it: beginning, middle, end!
Who is your favorite author?
This one is easy; Tamora Pierce. Her tales of lady knights and magic with a heavy emphasis on the female hero taught me that anything was possible and that ‘smart’ and ‘strong’ were good. I blame her for my dream of becoming a household author name. Meg Cabot and her Princess Diaries series also had a huge influence on my writing, teaching me that it was okay to write in a quirky, easy-to-read style—with spunk and fun. …Something I definitely (clearly!) took to heart.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write from the heart. It sounds cliché, overrated or stupid. It’s not. Let the story flow out of you and don’t edit it to death before it even gulps its first breath of air. Your voice is unique—absolutely distinctive to you. Don’t try to fit your writing in any boxes that have worked before. You’ll make your own way. And have fun, people! Writing is about joy—about entertaining others! If you can make yourself laugh, someone else is bound to be chuckling along with you!
Dragon LitRPG FAQ
WHAT DRIVES A GOOD DRAGON LITRPG STORY?
The best dragon LitRPG stories not only have a kickass book cover but are rooted in mythology. Whether it’s in the worldbuilding or the game system, if the most intriguing element of the book is dragons—it likely won’t be a memorable story. (Employ your dragons wisely), good dragon LitRPG stories carry mythic attributes with them. Utilizing a crunchy game system with awesome, and powerful dragon abilities is just a bonus—don’t be surprised if you get burned!
WHAT SUB-GENRE OF LITRPG WORKS WELL WITH DRAGON LITRPGS?
Progression fantasy LitRPG stories fit well with dragon LitRPGs. Because many of these stories feature super powerful beings, skill trees and intricate game systems work splendidly in crafting a well-thought-out story. Additionally, readers will be more likely to follow an overpowered dragon than a human who is overpowered. On the contrary, just the promise of including a dragon (at some point) in your story is enough for a lot of readers—just ask George R.R. Martin.
DOES THE PROTAGONIST HAVE TO BE A DRAGON IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AS DRAGON LITRPG?
Absolutely not! Dragon LitRPG stories only need to revolve around a dragon in some way. Many authors have played with this idea and have produced some awesome books. Despite the many differences in stories, the rules are what we create (there is no gatekeeper.) It can be as simple as featuring a dragon in the antagonist role. Alternatively, integrating a dragon hoard into your complex game system is effective as well. The creative direction is up to the author; I look forward to reading more dragon LitRPG books in the future.
IS THERE A DRAGON LITRPG COMMUNITY?
Want to talk about dragon LitRPG novels? The LitRPG Forum | Facebook is a good place to talk about dragon LitRPG stories. Level Up also has a WhatsApp group to recommend books to each other and chat about all kinds of LitRPG, just request a link via the form on this page.
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