I've never read anything by Peter S. Beagle before, but somehow his latest novel, I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons (#1,275) made it onto my radar. What a fun read! It's a romantasy, to use the current phrase, that doesn't take itself seriously, and that's the point.
Who wouldn't love a novel where the hero is named Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax? He's inherited the job of dragon exterminator from his late father, but he loathes his job. He secretly enjoys the company of dragons and keeps some at his own home. But he's summoned to the castle for a rush job when the beautiful Princess Cerise appears to have met the handsome Prince of her dreams in the woods. Everything at the palace must be perfect when he arrives at the castle to claim her hand from the King and Queen of Bellemontagne. The courtship doesn't proceed exactly as planned, and therein lies the tale.
Of course there are deadly dragons, and an evil wizard to boot. The Princess is feisty, Prince Reginald looks perfect in every way, but is full of doubts, and Robert (as Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus prefers to be known) discovers unknown powers within himself. It's all seriously entertaining. I was sorry to see this book end.
Not only was the cover art perfect for this book, but the endpapers as well are lavishly decorated with beautiful dragon artwork. Worth a look for that alone!
Don't miss it! (Especially if The Princess Bride is one of your all-time favorite reads!)
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