It was the title that snagged my attention with this offering. And that eye-catching cover – after all… dragons, people! I’ve heard of Beagle, but never read any of his writing so was intrigued to tuck into this one.
BLURB: A cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
REVIEW: This is an interesting read. Especially in the beginning, the story reads a bit like a fairy tale. So the characters are very much archetypes, each fulfilling a very familiar set-piece role within the narrative. We have the bossy, very talkative king, the manipulative and wise queen, the stunningly beautiful princess beset by hordes of desperate suitors. And the noble, incredibly handsome prince, who somehow is not swept away by the princess’s stunning good looks.
However, at the heart of the story is Robert, who was christened Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, and is a dragon exterminator, having taken over the business since his father’s sudden death. Having been apprenticed to his father since he was knee-high to a hen, he’s extremely good at the job, but loathes it as he really likes dragons and hates having to kill them. But he’s trapped in the job as he also has a family relying on his wages – his mother and sisters. Not to mention all those dragons he keeps rescuing that need feeding. He is our protagonist. He also loves the princess, though he knows that’s pointless.
Each of the characters – including the evil wizard – are trapped within their roles and what’s expected of them. Though the writing is amusing and smart, this is a far darker book than it first appears. While dragons are clearly very clever and trainable – Robert has them performing domestic chores at home – they are also butchered as pests. But when a huge beast appears and lays waste to a village, Prince Reginald vows to go and kill it in a bid to try to prove himself to his tyrannical father. The expedition, organised by the beautiful and very capable Princess Ceris, starts off with everyone in high spirits singing songs and thoroughly enjoying themselves. It doesn’t end that way – and the wrong man ends up the hero of that particular encounter.
It’s a book that can be read on several levels – as a straightforward, if quirky, modern fairy tale after the style of the Grimm Brothers. But it’s also a comment on how we see ourselves and how quickly we can become trapped and defined by what we do. Any niggles? The pacing and narrative is wonderfully handled throughout, until the ending, which seems a bit abrupt. However, it’s not a dealbreaker in a book that brims with energy, lovely writing and rather desperate characters. Highly recommended for fans of classic fantasy. While I obtained an arc of I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Brainfluff 
The title alone sounded intriguing enough, and your review confirmed my initial impression. And besides… dragons!!! 😉
Thanks for sharing
Ooh this sounds good. I was put off a little by the title, which makes it seem like the wrong kind of humor for me. But I think I’d enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your review!
You’re welcome, Tammy:). I’ll be honest – while the title attracted me, it doesn’t quite match the tone of the book. I can’t think of anyone within the story who’d say that.