Dragon's Mark: An Epic Dragon Rider Fantasy (Chronicles of Alcabaza Book 1)

Dragon's Mark: An Epic Dragon Rider Fantasy by Morgan Lee Clasper kept me captivated on the first page! Set in Paradon, aristocrats need to form a bond with a dragon to be considered worthy. When Isiah is pushed through the ceremony and ends up failing horribly, he is left with a "dragon's mark" from his failure and removed from his family. Determined to correct everything, he sets off to find an oasis in the Badlands (which is no easy feat) that will supposedly heal him, and again, this desert is NOT kidding around. It has raiders, eagle-riding treasure hunters, hostile nomadic tribes and even dragon attacks because of the mark he got. Talk about having nowhere to turn. The reason why this book is so amazing is that it grabs hold of you immediately and never lets go. This is young adult epic fantasy at its best, filled with adventure, fast paced action and suspense to get you turning the pages far beyond your bedtime. World building is fantastic, and you can almost feel the heat of those two twin suns and smell the danger all over the sand dunes of the Badlands. The writing is raw and vibrant, and both the chaos of the Badlands and the mountain city of Alcabaza feel extremely realistic. Isiah's journey isn't just about finding a cure for himself, but also learning who to trust and battling his own fears. As a first installment in the Chronicles of Alcabaza series? Absolutely mind blowing! I loved every second of it and I am already excited for reading the next book!