Rylan Holbrook is a talented dragon handler, the illegitimate son of a regional imperator, and a bit of a scoundrel. Leveraging his cover as a dragon handler, he gains access to places off-limits to others, managing to pilfer a good number of things over the years. It doesn't hurt that he's secretly bonded to an indurium dragon, a metallic dragon outlawed by the church. Having the ability to see and feel what's happening where the dragon is and having a secret dragon ready to come to your rescue can be quite useful to a rogue on the go.
Amidst the friction between various factions in the realm, the Empire, growing large and oppressing those they take over, clashes with the more agrarian people of the Holt. The strong, overbearing church, intertwined with the Empire, results in checks and balances, but within the church, a sect of "chosen" extremists reveals hidden depths. As The Dragons of Deepwood Fen progresses, the enigmatic "Hissing Man" manipulates events from the shadows and the literal underground, running his operation from the catacombs beneath the city. A world of discord with many moving pieces is perfect for a scoundrel looking for opportunities, as long as they don't grow a conscience or find a cause to fight for.
So, Rylan seems do be doing well enough for himself until he gets into a tumble with Lorelei Aurelius, essentially a police investigator in the city who crosses paths with him a couple of times. That can be inconvenient for someone like him. The thing is, over time, he finds himself liking her, which can be even more inconvenient. When it turns out that there's deep corruption and dangerous events being set in motion, these two end up being unlikely allies - but can they trust each other?
Meanwhile, yet another faction that is pivotal in the story is the "Red Knives." This resistance group fights against the Empire using guerilla tactics and pushes to free the Holt from its control. The Red Knives have been around for quite a while, and, so far, the primary outcome of the resistance and conflicts has been violence and general degradation of living conditions on both sides. However, the leader of the Red Knives has a plan to strike a costly blow against the Empire, involving a huge concentration of magical energies unleashed at once, while bringing his sister back from the dead to aid in his effort.
The Dragons of Deepwood Fen delivers an immersive experience, blending top-notch worldbuilding with a compelling magic system. The intricate web of alliances and betrayals sets the stage for a captivating narrative. While the story within this book is captivating, it leaves readers eagerly anticipating future installments. If you crave dragons, magic, and political intrigue, The Dragons of Deepwood Fen is a must-read.
