Do I need to read the Dragonbound Chronicles in order?

Yes. The series has a continuous narrative arc, evolving character relationships, and significant world-changing events (such as "The Change"). Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points.

Where is the best place to start reading Bryan Fields?

The best starting point is Life with a Fire-Breathing Girlfriend , which introduces the main characters and establishes the comedic tone of the series.

Is True Flame connected to the Dragonbound Chronicles?

No. True Flame is a standalone urban fantasy novel featuring a different cast of characters, specifically detectives Jennifer "Red" Hood and Glinda Locke, and can be read completely independently.

Are the short stories like 'Mine' required reading?

No, they are standalone pieces. Stories like Mine , Hearts Before Diamonds , and The Circle of the Thirteenth Cat are independent of his novels and can be read at any time.

What genre are Bryan Fields's books?

Bryan Fields writes urban fantasy that heavily blends romance, geek culture, and comedic satire of classic fantasy tropes.

Bryan Fields Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For readers diving into the whimsical and humorous urban fantasy of Bryan Fields, the best place to start is at the very beginning of his main series. Because his work relies heavily on character growth, changing world mechanics, and evolving relationships, reading his books in publication order is highly recommended.

Here is the ideal path to follow:

Start with the Dragonbound Chronicles: Read books one through four in sequence to follow the journey of David Fraser and his dragon partner, Rose.
Explore the Standalone Novel: Dive into True Flame (2019) for a different adventure in the same fantasy style, featuring a detective duo solving a dragon egg heist.
Read the Standalone Short Stories: Enjoy his short fiction (The Circle of the Thirteenth Cat, Hearts Before Diamonds, and Mine) at any point as quick, lighthearted palette cleansers.

The Dragonbound Chronicles

The core of Bryan Fields's bibliography is The Dragonbound Chronicles, a comedic urban fantasy series that follows David Fraser, a pagan gamer turned demon-slayer, and his dragoness partner, Rose Drake. The series is celebrated for its sharp banter, clever subversion of classic fantasy tropes, and heartfelt romance.

1. Life with a Fire-Breathing Girlfriend (2014)

This is the book that started it all. Readers are introduced to David Fraser and Rose Drake, a dragoness living in human form. Rose has traveled to Earth to absorb local energy to ensure she can hatch healthy offspring when she eventually returns home. However, domestic bliss is hard to maintain when the couple must simultaneously navigate a pesky homeowners' association, investigate a friend's murder, and stop a genocidal unicorn from turning the Earth into a radioactive wasteland.

2. The Land Beyond All Dreams (2014)

Picking up after the events of the debut, the sequel follows David and Rose as they settle further into their relationship. A simple solstice ritual goes awry, triggering a sequence of magical complications that begins with the arrival of a highly unusual, mysterious cat and quickly escalates into another high-stakes adventure where David must once again save the day.

3. Dragon's Luck (2015)

In the third installment, the setting shifts to Las Vegas—fittingly, the author's own birthplace. David and Rose find themselves at a gaming convention where magic and reality collide. Packed with jokes about fantasy gaming culture, the book features elves, dragons, and humans navigating chaotic situations in the heart of Sin City.

4. Born With Wings (2018)

The fourth book shows a world deeply impacted by "The Change," a massive magical event that has turned a significant portion of the human population into fantasy races like elves, dwarves, and orcs. David is now a recognized hero, and he and Rose are raising his four-year-old daughter, Aparna, who has actual wings. The plot combines high fantasy stakes with domestic comedy when Aparna's birth mother—who has transformed into a humanoid tiger—returns to demand custody.

Standalone Novels

True Flame (2019)

Away from the main continuity of the Dragonbound Chronicles, True Flame is a standalone urban fantasy novel featuring detectives Jennifer "Red" Hood and Glinda Locke. The duo has only two days to find three stolen dragon eggs before a village is destroyed by angry dragons. Along the way, they uncover a conspiracy pointing to the return of Queen Umbra IV, a dark sorceress believed to have been executed centuries ago. It is an excellent entry point for readers who want a complete, self-contained mystery story in a magic-filled setting.

Standalone Short Stories and Novellas

In addition to his full-length novels, Fields has written several standalone short stories. While they do not feature the characters from the Dragonbound Chronicles, they share his signature comedic timing and fantasy elements.

The Circle of the Thirteenth Cat (2014): A whimsical short story that explores magic and mystery through a lighthearted lens.
Hearts Before Diamonds (2014): Another 2014 release, offering a quick, romantic fantasy story.
Mine (2014): A standalone short story that features unique steampunk elements, marking a fun departure from his usual urban fantasy style.

What to Know Before You Start

While the Dragonbound Chronicles blends modern settings with magical creatures, it behaves more like a progressive fantasy series where the world transforms over time. Reading Born With Wings out of order will spoil the major world-altering events that occur in the earlier books. Therefore, do not skip ahead to the later books.

Furthermore, because there are other authors named Bryan Fields (including academic and professional writers), fantasy fans should verify the cover art or publisher details to ensure they are getting the work of the Denver-based urban fantasy novelist.