Book picks similar to
The Bonding by Vickie Knestaut


fantasy
dragons
young-adult
action-adventure

The Dragon Wakes


Sarah Dalton - 2016
    Powerful brothers at war. An orphan girl sold as a bride. Long ago, the Kingdom of Estala was a place of dragons and sorcerers. Those with magical powers were more than human, they were Menti. But now Menti sorcery is outlawed by the capricious king, and those who wield it are hunted down by the fanatical Order of Insight to be made into slaves, or worse, executed. Two young heroes find themselves unwillingly thrown into the centre of these uncertain times. Prince Luca, King Davead’s second son, has always been the sickliest of the royal children, but in a shocking turn of events, Luca finds himself at the heart of a magical power so great it may consume him forever. If he fails to control those powers, he could be put to death by his own father. Reva Avalon grew up believing she would marry her childhood friend, Prince Luca. But after she is orphaned in the Menti uprising, the King of Estala sells her to his most feared general instead. Young and frightened, but still strong-willed, Reva must survive a harsh new life away from the palace. And in the realm rebellion looms, as do the return of the mighty dragon shifters. Some long for the return of the dragons… others fear it will be the end of the world as it is known.

Slayer


J.A. Armitage - 2018
    Dragons have terrorized Julianna's village for generations. Nothing will stop her from succeeding in her first dragon hunt. Until she meets one, that is. He isn't what she was told to expect. Big, angry beast? No. Normal looking man?Um...yeah. Ash is just as surprised by his first "dragon slayer." She's not big and tough. Sure, she's got a fire diamond sword--which she's very proud of--and some really uncomfortable looking armor, but her heart is bigger than she's willing to admit. The war between their two races is only getting bigger and bloodier. Danger hides behind every bush, rock, and inn. As the two of them come together, they realize they have more in common than their leaders want them to notice. Together, Julianna and Ash might be able to discover what the real purpose of this war really is and find a way to stop it. For the sake of all their people: dragons and dragon slayers alike.

Golden Age


James Maxwell - 2016
    In order to gain entrance to heaven, Solon is building a tomb—a pyramid clad in gold—and has scoured his own empire for gold until there’s no more to be found.Now Solon’s gaze turns to Chloe’s homeland, Phalesia, and its famous sacred ark, made of solid gold. The legends say it must never be opened, but Solon has no fear of foreigners’ legends or even their armies. And he isn’t afraid of the eldren, an ancient race of shape-shifters, long ago driven into the Wilds.For when he gets the gold, Solon knows he will live forever.

Fledgling


Nicole Conway - 2013
    Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy—a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid’s case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future. While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.

Son of Soron


Robyn Wideman - 2015
    But fate had something else in mind Soron and Velaina left the royal life behind, with all its intrigues and dangers, for the small village of Elderwood. For fourteen years, they lived a peaceful and simple life, until one day their son Nathan showed signs of possessing magical abilities, and all their plans were thrown into question. Before they could share their secret pasts with their son, a tragic series of missteps by an ambitious duke leads to tragedy. Nathan's quest finds him pitted against deadly bandits, vicious mythical creatures, and a northern king who will either kill him or call him grandson. Watch as the young boy leaves a sheltered childhood and enters into perilous adventures with life or death situations threatening his very existence.

Trials of Magic


Thomas K. Carpenter - 2016
    Ever since our parents were killed I knew exactly which hall was for me. Aurelia "Aurie" Silverthorn is one of the best and brightest to ever apply to the Hundred Halls, the only magical university in the world. To be accepted, she must pass grueling trials that claim the lives of aspirants every year. But more than her desire to practice magic is at stake. Aurie's little sister has been courting powerful forces in hopes of protecting herself from the beings that killed their parents, but alliances come with complications. As things spiral out of control, and dangerous foes arise at every turn, Aurie knows the only way to protect her sister is to pass the trials-even if it means making a terrible sacrifice.

Heroes of Issalia: Rogues and Runes Edition


Jeffrey L. Kohanek - 2018
    A desperate quest for a lost relic. The final battle to save humanity from extinction.This boxed set includes:______________________________________The Buried Symbol: Runes of Issalia, Book 1The Emblem Throne: Runes of Issalia, Book 2An Empire in Runes: Runes of Issalia, Book 3Rogue Legacy: Origins of Issalia, Book 0.5 Meet the Heroes of Issalia:______________________________________Brock is a downtrodden teen-turned-thief. With a kind heart and big dreams, he enters a school for the elite under a false identity and soon discovers latent magical abilities unlike anything ever recorded. Or so he believes. Brock's compassion and gregarious nature draw others toward him, forming a squad who will become the hope against a tide of destruction.Ashland is training to become a master healer until she discovers the secrets the Ministry is protecting. She relies on her intelligence and spirit as she strives for a better future. If only she can escape her troubled past.Cameron is an imposing warrior with legendary bloodlines and the natural ability to become the greatest swordsman who has ever lived. His calm demeanor and courage make him a rock that others can lean on. But can he escape his father's shadow?Benny is an engineer whose optimism is overshadowed only by his brilliance. His inventions amaze his peers and superiors...and when he combines magic with science, he changes his world forever. If only he realized the destruction he would cause.Parker -- the son of a powerful Empire leader -- is on a path to follow in his father's footsteps. However, his desire for independence alters his future. What will the man do when Parker chooses his friends over his future in the Ministry?Lyra is a rogue and a survivor, overcoming every obstacle in her path until she stumbles across a plot for world domination. Her tenacity might be the only thing that can reshape destiny and create a new legacy._____________________________________These heroes join a far larger cast of characters, young and old. Read on and discover what readers call "A classic underdog fantasy adventure, filled with magic, mystery, and monsters."

Forager


Peter R. Stone - 2013
    Is this part of a larger plan that could spell the town's doom?Meanwhile, the last thing Ethan expects when he and his companions rescue a two-car convoy from the Skel is a Japanese teenage girl with an outlandish dress-sense, who after they take her back to Newhome, goes to great lengths to ingratiate herself into his life. But is it in gratitude for saving her life or is she seeking something more?And what a quandry she places him in, for he knows the rules, that no man is permitted to be alone with an unmarried woman. But how can he drive such a gentle soul away when she touchs his heart so deeply, even though she clearly carries the pain of a broken heart.At the same time, Newhome's police force, the Custodians, are suspicious of Ethan's foraging team's successes and are pulling out the stops to find out which member of his team has the illegal mutant ability that gives them an edge over the other teams. Should these peacekeepers discover Ethan is the mutant they seek, they will haul him away and dissect him like a frog.

The North


Sean Cummings - 2014
    Escape the City. Stay Alive.Sixteen-year-old David Simmons is on a mission to save his eight-year-old sister. In a smoldering world infested with walking cadavers, the survivors of Simmons infantry reserve unit are going hatches down in a pair of armoured personnel carriers and everyone knows that it’s only a matter of time until their fuel runs dry. There’s a weak short wave radio signal from a place called Sanctuary Base and it’s supposed to be zombie-free. But there’s more than a thousand miles to cover, a biting, unforgiving cold, armed survivalists, legions of the living dead and someone called SUNRAY. They’re outgunned, outnumbered and out of time. This tense thriller for teens offers a terrifying and brutal vision of survival in a post-apocalyptic world where the bonds of friendship and family are the only things left that are worth fighting for.

Rise of Magic Complete 2-ARC Omnibus:: Includes the first EIGHT books in the Epic Fantasy series!


C.M. Raymond - 2020
    

Archer


Jacky Gray - 2010
    Shoot an apple off his friend’s head or lose his food, horse and clothes? Some decisions require little thought.Archer is the sort of boy things happen to. Orphaned as a baby, his gifts make him different to other kids. He doesn't understand why he's so much stronger and faster than other boys; why a sword feels so right in his hand; or how every arrow he looses at a target will hit the centre, even if his eyes are closed.At the Beltane ritual, he must fight his friends to see who is most worthy. But his real battle is with an enemy whose callous disrespect for the natural order brings dangerous consequences.This swashbuckling romantic fantasy will appeal to fans of action-adventure, jousting and magical realism.

Brotherhood of Dragons


Sarah J. Stone - 2019
    And he’s the only one who can save me. Jason Crane. A high-profile bodyguard. Strong, mesmerizing, and hard as steel. I want to run my fingers all over his chiseled chest. On paper, he’s perfect. Normal. But he has a secret. He’s been alive for over four centuries. A dragon shifter. And I’ve been thrown into a safe house with him. Away from the serial killer who’s stalking me. He’ll stop at nothing until he finds me. My only hope? Jason’s protection. Will he be able to snatch me from the jaws of death? Book One: Jason Book Two: Drake Book Three: Chase Book Four: Miles Book Five: Kris Book Six: Jonathan Book Seven: Luke Book Eight: Leo Book Nine: Ben Book Ten: Liam

Aranya


Marc Secchia - 2014
    Falling a league into the deadly Cloudlands is not a fate she ever envisaged. But what if she did not die? What if she could spread her wings and fly?Long ago, Dragons ruled the Island-World above the Cloudlands. But their Human slaves cast off the chains of Dragonish tyranny. Humans spread across the Islands in their flying Dragonships, colonising, building and warring. Now, the all-conquering Sylakians have defeated the last bastion of freedom–the Island-Kingdom of Immadia.Evil has a new enemy. Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Dragon Shapeshifter.

Clouds of Venus


Jeff Tanyard - 2017
    He's lucky; he lives in one of the walled cities for the nation's elite, and life is pleasant. He expects to graduate and find employment in his uncle's company.Everything changes when he's framed for murder. He's tried, convicted, and sentenced to hard labor in the prison colony on Mercury.He ends up in Hesperus instead, a flying city that soars eternally through the acidic skies of Venus. His goal now is to find a way to clear his name and return to Earth before Hesperus erupts in civil war. He also must battle the harsh realities of the planet itself. Because if the Hesperans don't kill him, Venus probably will.

Dragon's Future


Kandi J. Wyatt - 2015
    Twins Ruskya & Duskya are selected as children to join this elite group, leaving their home and all that is familiar to train for their new lives.Fast forward fifteen years--dragons are becoming extinct and riders are rare. When Ruskya learns of a plot that could destroy the remaining dragon population, he and his friends must fight for their dragons' future.Join Ruskya on his quest of courage and friendship in this young YA series being hailed as a thrilling ride.