🐉 Book Review: Dragon Chosen: A Dragonrider Romantasy Novella by Sam Hall (Kindle Edition, The Dragon Lady Book 1)
A fiery coming-of-age tale where rebellion meets destiny—Sam Hall launches her romantasy series with a novella that blends dragon bonding, feminist defiance, and magical transformation.
🧠 Overview
Published in August 2025, Dragon Chosen is a 57-page prequel novella to Sam Hall’s The Dragon Lady series, set in the enchanting world of Nevermere. The story introduces Lady Fern, a young noblewoman who’s anything but the delicate ornament her mother wants her to be. Fern prefers books to ballrooms and freedom to forced marriage.
When she flees an arranged match and the sneers of suitors, Fern stumbles into the forest—and into the path of Auren, a majestic golden dragon. Their bond is instant and transformative. Fern becomes a dragon rider, unlocking a power she never knew she had and setting the stage for a life of rebellion, magic, and self-discovery.
🔥 Key Themes & Highlights
- 👑 Feminist fantasy: Fern rejects societal expectations and embraces her inner strength
- 🐲 Dragon bonding: Auren and Fern’s connection is emotional, magical, and central to the plot
- ✨ Romantasy vibes: While romance is subtle in this installment, the emotional intensity and setup hint at deeper relationships to come
- 📚 Series foundation: Introduces key characters and lore that will unfold in future books
“There’s power in her voice, fire in her soul, and when she bonds with the dragon, Fern discovers she was never meant to be ornamental. She was meant to soar.” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.81/5 from early reviews
- 📖 Readers praise Hall’s lush world-building, strong heroine, and emotional depth
- 🧾 Fans of The Dragon Queen series appreciate the callbacks and character connections
- 💬 “Fern and Auren are rebellious queens in every sense. Their bond is fierce, and the writing is magical.” — Goodreads reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Novella format: At under 60 pages, it’s a quick read—best seen as a prologue to the full series
- 📚 Prequel positioning: While it stands alone, reading the full Dragon Lady series will deepen the experience
- 🧠 Light romance: Focuses more on empowerment and fantasy than romantic development in this installment
🏁 Final Verdict
Dragon Chosen is a bold and empowering romantasy novella that sets the stage for a sweeping dragonrider saga. Sam Hall’s writing is vivid and emotionally resonant, making this Kindle edition a perfect pick for fans of strong heroines, magical creatures, and stories where defiance leads to destiny.
