How to Read the Dragon Blood Series
Set on the war-torn planet of Magroth, Lindsay Buroker's Dragon Blood series is a beloved mix of steampunk action, military adventure, and lighthearted romance. The world features dogfights in steam-powered fighter planes, forbidden sorcery, ancient ruins, and sentient, snarky soulblades. Because the series follows a continuous, chronological narrative with escalating stakes, it is highly recommended to read the books in order.
For the absolute best experience, readers should follow the publication order of the main novels while weaving in the novellas at their chronologically appropriate points. Below is the ultimate recommended reading path for the series.
The Recommended Reading Order
- Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Book 1): Start your journey here. This novel introduces Colonel Ridgewalker Zirkander, a charming and debonair ace pilot sent to command a remote mountain outpost, and Sardelle Terushan, a sorceress awakened from a 300-year stasis who must hide her magic in a world where magic-users are hunted. We also meet Jaxi, Sardelle's sentient, telepathic soulblade.
- Deathmaker (Book 2): This installment shifts the primary focus to Tolemek, a brilliant pirate-scientist and apothecary, and Cas, a lethal, sarcastic sharpshooter. While it introduces new viewpoints, it runs concurrently with the overarching plot and is essential for character development.
- Blood Charged (Book 3): The narrative brings Ridge and Sardelle back to the forefront as the threat of Sardelle's magical exposure increases, empires clash, and the main party members begin to cross paths and form a tight-knit team.
- Patterns in the Dark (Book 4): The political stakes escalate as Ridge is pulled into royal court conspiracies. Meanwhile, Sardelle must confront dangerous enemies targeting the remaining magic in the world.
- The Blade's Memory (Book 5): Ancient dragon lore comes to light as the crew uncovers secrets buried deep within Magroth's history, preparing the stage for a wider war with the Cofah Empire.
- Under the Ice Blades (Book 5.5 Novella): A side story focusing on Cas, the sharpshooter. Set in the frozen north, this novella provides valuable character development before the events of the next major novel.
- Raptor (Book 6): Ridge and Sardelle face intense military conflicts as the war with the Cofah Empire heats up, and real dragons begin to return to the skies of Magroth.
- Soulblade (Book 7): The explosive climax to the primary story arc. This book wraps up the main war and resolves the immediate threats facing Ridge, Sardelle, and their companions.
- The Fowl Proposal (Book 7.1 Novella): A humorous collection of four short scenes originally shared on the author's blog. It follows Ridge as he desperately seeks advice from his friends on how to propose to Sardelle, while navigating the snarky comments of her soulblade, Jaxi.
- Shattered Past (Book 7.5 Novella): A standalone adventure set between books seven and eight. It stars Ridge's bookish cousin, paleontologist Professor Lilah Zirkander, and the disgraced elite forces officer Colonel Vann Therrik, who must team up to investigate ancient, cursed dragon bones.
- Oaths (Book 8): The official final book of the original series. It ties up remaining loose ends, addresses the political aftermath of the war, and provides a satisfying conclusion for the main cast.
Chronological vs. Publication Order: Where Does "Dragon Rider" Fit?
In addition to the main books, Lindsay Buroker wrote a prequel novella titled Dragon Rider (often categorized as Book 0.5). This story takes place more than a thousand years before the events of Balanced on the Blade's Edge, focusing on the historical era when dragons and magic-users were prominent on Magroth.
While chronologically first, it is best enjoyed after you have read at least the first few novels of the series. Reading it later gives the historical references more weight and preserves the mystery of Magroth's lost magic that Ridge and Sardelle slowly unravel in the main books.
The Sequel Series: Heritage of Power
Once you finish Oaths, you do not have to leave the universe behind. Lindsay Buroker penned a direct spin-off and sequel series titled Heritage of Power, which takes place a few years after the events of the original Dragon Blood run. While it centers on a new set of protagonists, fans of the original books will enjoy cameos and supporting appearances from Ridge, Sardelle, Kaika, and Jaxi.
The five-book sequel series should be read in this order:
- Dragon Storm (Book 1): Introduces Telryn "Trip" Yert, a pilot trying to hide his emerging magical abilities in an army that fears them, and Rysha Ravenwood, a scholar-turned-soldier determined to join the elite commandos.
- Revelations (Book 2): Trip and Rysha deal with escalating threats as Trip's unique dragon heritage begins to manifest.
- Origins (Book 3): The duo digs deeper into the ancient history of the elder dragons to understand Trip's true lineage.
- Unraveled (Book 4): Prepares the ground for the final confrontation as the magical factions on Magroth collide.
- Gold Dragon (Book 5): The grand finale of the sequel series, bringing Trip and Rysha's character arcs to a definitive close.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Balanced on the Blade's Edge, keep these key points in mind:
- Not Standalones: Unlike some fantasy series where each book tells a completely self-contained story, Dragon Blood is a serialized epic. Reading the books out of order will result in major spoilers and confusion.
- Steampunk Meets High Fantasy: The setting of Magroth blends technology and sorcery. You will see dogfights, airships, and advanced alchemy alongside ancient spells and magical swords.
- Witty Character Dynamics: A hallmark of Buroker's writing is quick-witted dialogue and lighthearted banter. The relationship between Ridge and Sardelle, combined with the telepathic interruptions of the soulblade Jaxi, keeps the tone fun and engaging even during high-stakes battles.