The Dragon's Bargain
Three hundred years ago, humanity made a deal with the dragons. In exchange for protection from the Void that threatened to consume the world, the dragons demanded a tribute: one child from each generation, chosen by lottery, taken to the Dragon Spire and never seen again. Mira has just turned seventeen, the age of selection, and her name has been drawn. As she is carried to the Spire on dragon-back, she expects to die. Instead, she finds a tower full of living tributes from the past three centuries, each one changed by their years among dragons. Some have grown scales. Some can breathe fire. Some have lost their minds entirely. The dragons have been preparing humanity for a war they never told them about, and Mira is the last tribute they will ever need. But the Void is coming sooner than expected, and the dragons' plan may not be enough.
📖 Story Synopsis
Three hundred years ago, humanity made a deal with the dragons. In exchange for protection from the Void that threatened to consume the world, the dragons demanded a tribute: one child from each generation, chosen by lottery, taken to the Dragon Spire and never seen again. Mira has just turned seventeen, the age of selection, and her name has been drawn. As she is carried to the Spire on dragon-back, she expects to die. Instead, she finds a tower full of living tributes from the past three centuries, each one changed by their years among dragons. Some have grown scales. Some can breathe fire. Some have lost their minds entirely. The dragons have been preparing humanity for a war they never told them about, and Mira is the last tribute they will ever need. But the Void is coming sooner than expected, and the dragons' plan may not be enough.
✎ Editor's Review
Soraya Khalil breathes new life into the dragon genre with this inventive, emotionally complex tale. The concept of tributes being transformed rather than consumed is brilliant, and the Dragon Spire is a fascinating setting. Mira's growth from frightened sacrifice to confident warrior is earned through genuine hardship. The dragons are properly alien rather than scaly humans. An exceptional fantasy that earns its high rating.
