Dragon Rider

YA author Matharu (The Champion) makes his adult debut with a sumptuous story of dragons and vicious intrigue between warring empires. Jai is a hostage ward, growing up in service to Emperor Leonid, who rules over the brutal Sabine Court. Conspiracy and circumstance eventually thrust Jai into the wider world, desperate to survive and return to his native lands. Along the way, he forges alliances, hones his skills as a warrior, and faces off against powerful Soulbound—magic wielders with animal companions. And, of course, he encounters rare and powerful dragons. Narrator Tom Babbage offers a marvelous performance, richly infusing each character with distinctive voices and using spot-on pitch and pacing to help sell the tense moments. Even so, the plot is beset by a sluggish start, and Babbage’s voicing cannot make up for Jai’s frequent lack of agency. Jai often feels reduced to a vehicle to showcase more interesting characters, a device that some may find frustrating. Still, Matharu’s lushly visceral prose weaves an enchanting spell.