A huge thank you to Netgalley and Yggdrasil Press for the advanced reader’s copy of Dragon Den by Kriss Dean in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when you cross How to Train Your Dragon with Fast and the Furious? You get Dragon Den. As of the writing of this review, I’m only a small way through it, but I’m having fun so far.
It’s interesting to see the parallels to How to Train Your Dragon. The main male character is Markus, who is basically Hiccup, but more adult and Amira is Astrid. I haven’t gotten to the Fast and Furious references yet, though I don’t think I’d be able to spot them as I’ve never seen them.
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The Game Of Thrones Reference
I’m not sure whether one else caught onto this, but there is a Game of Thrones reference with the ‘First of his name’ thing. This is what monarchs that sit on the iron throne have attached to their titles. For example, in Fire and Blood, King Viserys is, King Viserys I Targaryen, First Of His Name and so on.
The Reason For The Rating
I’ve decided to give Dragon Den a four-star rating because of Markus’ obsession with Amira. The first time he mentions her, it is implied he wants to have sex with her. I’m not kidding. I understand that this is an adult romance about dragon riders but come on. Was it totally necessary to give that implication straight away?
Usually, I don’t read reviews but I’ve read a number of reviews where Markus is overall sexist towards Amira. If his characterisation is inspired by Hiccup, this is a far cry from the type of person he is. He might even inspired by one of the characters in the Fast and Furious films. Dom maybe, seeing as he had a one-night stand with Elena and got her pregnant before he married Letty. I only know that because I’ve read things.
Anyway, back to Dragon Den. It’s interesting that the dragons only come out of the volcano one night a year. It’s like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. The school gives off Hogwarts vibes and where the dragons are kept gives off another Game of Thrones vibe with the Dragon Pit.
It would it be a surprise that Magnus’ friends are a copy and paste of Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs and Snotlout? No, it wouldn’t.
I applaud Kriss Dean for her creativity with this book for using dragons in the modern day. Also, well done on the HTTYD references. I enjoyed them immensely.
