The beagle, without its metaphors, hyphens, and references. It shook off lyricism and plunged into the shore in a fairytale haze that usurped melancholy step by step. It slightly disrupted stereotypes and placed itself on an equal footing with the Kingfisher. It was pleasant, charming, and completely relaxing.

However, perhaps, perhaps I still wanted just a little bit more.

PS: If you love dragons, be careful, because here they are hunting game!

The beagle's journey seemed to be one of simplicity and yet, there was an underlying depth. As it wandered through this fairytale-like setting, it was as if it was uncovering hidden emotions and secrets. The way it interacted with the environment, both challenging and conforming to expectations, added an element of intrigue.

Despite the overall charm and relaxation it offered, there was that niggling feeling that there could have been more. Maybe a deeper exploration of the beagle's character or a more detailed description of the fairytale world it inhabited.

And for those who have a penchant for dragons, the warning about the hunting game here adds an exciting twist. It makes one wonder what kind of encounters might lie ahead and how the beagle will fare in this potentially dangerous situation.

Overall, it's a story that leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation and a desire to know more.

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons is a highly anticipated, high fantasy fairytale that is filled with mighty dragons, evil wizards, reluctant heroes, craven princes, and a damsel who is far from distressed. In fact, she’s sick of obstinate heroes and can do the rescuing herself, thank you very much!

Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax, known simply as “Robert,” is the resident dragon slayer—or rather, dragon exterminator—in the small kingdom of Bellemontagne. He loathes his job, yet performs it exceedingly well. Duty-bound to take up this cursed mantle from his late father, he experiences immense inner turmoil, both ethically and emotionally. He actually likes dragons and has several secret pet dragons of his own. Moreover, dragon exterminators are held in the same regard as the draconic vermin they are tasked to exterminate, so he clearly wants to be more than that. Robert has ambitious aspirations to become a prince’s valet.

Princess Cerise of Bellmontagne suddenly finds herself under extreme pressure to have the considerable dragon infestation at the castle removed. So, Robert and his services are summoned. The reason for the extermination is to impress the visiting Crown Prince Reginald of Corvinia, a much richer and larger kingdom than Cerise’s own. With love at first sight, Cerise just knows they are destined to be together. But Prince Reginald has his own agenda to deal with before he can consider marriage. He must impress his father, King Krije, and prove his worthiness as a son. After much consideration and planning with Mortmain, his valet, they decide to make a proposal contingent upon slaying a great magical beast to prove his valor and value to the prince’s father. Of course, they decide to go dragon hunting, and they beseech the only one among them with any dragon slaying experience to go along too—poor Robert!

As things quickly spiral out of control for the prince and his valet, an evil wizard previously thought to be dead and gone will descend upon the party of dragon hunters. However, an unsuspecting hero will rise to the occasion to hopefully save them all. This cleverly written satirical fantasy has a prince, a princess, and a humble dragon exterminator all on a quest to escape from their predetermined roles in their fairytale lives. Ostensibly, they do so by slaying a dragon and besting an evil wizard, but actually, they do it by discovering their true hearts’ desires and mastering their newfound selves.

Heartwarming and nostalgically magical, this tale will go down as one of my very favorites. I adored the satirical tone of the story, which reminded me of how The Princess Bride was told. Similarly, the author uses exaggerated fantasy tropes to create a whimsical tale that is laugh-out-loud funny. I found it downright comical how dragons are considered in this book! They are treated with the same amount of disdain and repugnance we reserve for insects, and there is a truly relatable moment in the story where Princess Cerise, a shoe, and a dragon have it out. I also found myself giggling at Dahr, the great and evil wizard. As far as storybook villains go, he was up there with the best of them, posturing and pressing his long-winded machinations on everyone, wasting too much time and missing opportunities to bring his grandiose evil plans to fruition.

Lastly, I feel compelled to call attention to the beautifully illustrated cover. It immediately caught my eye. It is a detailed watercolor painting that depicts a castle on a grassy hill with a thunderous horde of dragons circling overhead and a behemoth of a dragon resting in the foreground. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one was so beautiful that I added it to my TBR pile without hesitation!

I highly recommend reading this latest fantasy adventure from Peter Beagle! It was well worth the wait!

Thank you so much Net Galley and Saga Press for the ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts! All opinions are my own. Publication day is May 14th!

I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is an absolute delight for any fantasy enthusiast. It's a charming and nostalgic read that takes you on a magical journey.

The plot, although seemingly covering familiar ground with a beautiful princess, a handsome prince, and an abundance of dragons, is given a clever and whimsical twist by Beagle. The story centers around Robert, or Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax as his mother would have it, a lowborn dragon exterminator who has a complex relationship with his job. He hates the idea of killing dragons but is somehow stuck in this profession.

Written in an omniscient point of view that is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, Beagle's voice shines with gentle wit and pathos. It makes you laugh out loud at times while also tugging at your heartstrings. While some readers may find this read cozy and comforting, I must caution that it does verge into slightly darker territory on occasion. However, this only adds to the depth and complexity of the story.

In all, I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons is a charming standalone fantasy that combines humor and heart in a truly wonderful way. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

3.5 rounding up!

This was an incredibly delightful book that truly brought back memories of the beloved Enchanted Forest series I adored while growing up. It巧妙地融合了satire and true adventure/fantasy elements, and it possessed a great deal of heart. The reason it didn't reach a 4-star rating or higher was simply that it felt rather rushed and almost a bit incomplete. There were no genuine explanations for anything.

In the kingdom of Bellemontagne, dragons are regarded as annoying vermin, and Robert is the main exterminator. When he is summoned to rid the castle of dragons, it sets him off on an adventure he never anticipated.

There is so much to cherish in this story. The way dragons are perceived, the long-winded nature of the villain, and the side characters who add such vivid color. It's all truly lovely. However, when the climactic scene arrived and I realized that I had no idea how it was unfolding, where the powers were originating from, why Robert was chosen, or any number of things that were never explained, I felt really irritated. I would have preferred this book to be longer so that I could have understood more. Nevertheless, I devoured this book so quickly and laughed out loud on numerous occasions, so I most certainly hope there will be more.