Book Review: Season of the Dragon

Reviewed by Alexandria Ducksworth

Magic, dragons, and ancient mysteries

There are some books you wish you could read forever. For me, Natalie Wright’s Season of the Dragon is one of them. The author writes with a deft hand, ensnaring us in the mystery that is our great heroine.

Season of the Dragon opens with Quen, a Solian desert merchant’s daughter. She was born with two different eye colors and two souls. 

Her other soul is one of a darker nature she must calm with magic. Animals fear Quen whenever she approaches them, and the townspeople keep their distance from her. One day, a mysterious woman approaches Quen’s father, announcing secrets about Quen and her deceased mother. The angry father casts the woman out of sight before Quen can learn more. Later, a dragon burns down Solia, killing Quen’s father. 

The strangest part about this tragic event? Dragons aren’t even supposed to exist. 

Quen and her brother Rhoji go on a quest to kill the mythical dragon, and she plans to discover the source of her second soul once and for all. She is more than she has believed before. 

Quen is a genuinely inspiring protagonist. She isn’t afraid to fight or stand up for herself. If a royal leader is not respectable, Quen has no reason to bow down to them if they don’t deserve it. People have tried to put Quen in her place as a woman and an outsider. For example, Quen’s older brother Lio advised Quen to stay in Solia to become a tribesman’s wife, but Quen isn’t having that. She is built different—an adventurer and a fighter.

The Indrasi world is absolutely captivating. Wright has created a land with great cities, memorable characters, and curious customs. It feels alive. The lore and religion of the Indrasi might be my favorite aspect of the book’s worldbuilding. The people are so incredibly devoted to their deities. It’s a top priority to both lower and higher Indrasi citizens. Readers will learn the world’s lore through the characters without having the readers drown in too much information. Wright has done a great job doing this. 

Reading the Season of the Dragon is an exciting experience. Get ready to laugh, cry, and gasp in succession. Those who loved Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina and other beloved dragon fantasies will enjoy this one and look impatiently forward to the next installment.

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