Book Review: Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer

The Gist: Dragon Mage blends deep friendships and powerful dragons, creating a captivating fantasy that, despite minor flaws, left me eager for a reread.

Series: Rivenworld, #1

Release Date: December 19, 2020

Format: ebook

Rating: 4.5-stars

Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer is a standalone (!!!) epic fantasy that follows the journey of Aram Raythe, a neurodivergent boy from a small fishing village, and his best friend, Markus Galliar, the son of the town drunk. Their unlikely friendship is solidified after surviving a traumatic event, propelling them into a conflict that spans multiple worlds in a battle between good and evil. The novel explores friendship, identity, power, and belonging, offering an emotional journey that balances high-stakes magical action with deeply personal relationships.

Friendship and Found Family

My favourite part of Dragon Mage is its nuanced exploration of friendship and the importance of platonic love. The evolving bond between Aram and Markus is not a simplistic, unwavering loyalty but rather a relationship that grows and changes as they grapple with the weight of the world around them. Their friendship is a source of emotional strength and a lifeline for Aram’s mental health and sense of identity. This bond underscores the novel’s emphasis on found family, highlighting how the support of chosen family can help people survive and thrive through unimaginable hardships.

I appreciated that the author also showed Aram’s struggle to develop friendships outside his “core unit,” which I find rare in fantasy books (it always seems like there’s a built-in friend group and no one ever struggles to navigate these relationships, even when the world is ending). His ability to cultivate and maintain meaningful connections with others is explored through the complex political and magical landscape they navigate. The friendships formed aren’t static but evolve through misunderstandings, trauma, and moments of vulnerability, adding layers of realism to the relationships portrayed.

Intricacies of Power

Dragon Mage also delves into the intricacies of power that come with it. Aram, as a once-in-a-(half)millennium dragon mage, wields immense magical abilities that place him at the center of the cosmic battle between good and evil. However, the seemingly limitless nature of Aram’s powers and equally formidable adversaries made the stakes feel not that high because Aram was so capable. As a result, the action scenes towards the end of the story weren’t as impactful. Despite this, the narrative balances these godlike abilities by presenting morally complex adversaries who challenge Aram physically and emotionally.

The portrayal of the principal villain is particularly compelling. Rather than being a one-dimensional antagonist, he is shaped by a history of trauma and a need for validation. His choices are driven by a desire for power that stems from a need to justify the horrific actions he was coerced into committing as a young man. This nuanced depiction of morality adds depth to the narrative, grounding the battle between good and evil in understandably human motivations.

Dragon Bonds

At the heart of Dragon Mage lies the fantastical relationship between dragons and their riders. This bond is portrayed with a depth beyond companionship—dragons are treated with the same reverence and care as any sentient being. The relationship between rider and dragon is symbiotic; when riders die, dragons calcify curled around their rider, accompanying them into the afterlife.

The author skillfully uses this relationship to symbolize the ideological divide between the factions at war. Those who view dragons as equals and partners are aligned with the forces of good, while those who seek to control or harm them for personal gain represent the destructive forces of greed and power. This thematic undercurrent adds a layer of emotional resonance to the narrative, making the fate of the dragons feel as consequential as the fate of the human characters.

In Conclusion

Dragon Mage is an emotionally rich fantasy that excels in portraying the transformative power of friendship, the complexity of power, and the profound bond between dragons and their riders. While Aram’s childlike voice in the early chapters and the rapid pacing of the climactic battle may detract slightly from the overall experience, these minor flaws do not diminish the heart and depth that this story offers. The queer-normative, diverse world-building adds an inclusive and refreshing dimension to the narrative, though a deeper exploration of colourism could have further enriched the story’s complexity.

As my first read of 2025, Dragon Mage sets a high bar for any fantasy that follows. Its exploration of relationships, power, and identity makes it a deeply satisfying and thought-provoking read. Writing this review has only reignited the desire for a reread—proof of the lasting impression it leaves on its readers!

Buy Dragon Mage

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