Review: An Accident of Dragons
An Accident of Dragons by Cheri Radke
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
An Accident of Dragons by Cheri Radke quietly drew me into Teddy’s life, a middle-aged lord with a dragon companion, just as everything around him began to shift. I found myself noticing the small changes in his body, the unexpected discoveries that stirred up old family troubles again, and the gentle pressure inching in from beyond his island. The story keeps close to Teddy and those around him; every moment and each conversation feels quietly significant. There is always a gentle tension, a sense that something larger is waiting, just out of sight.
Reading it put me in mind of those long evenings spent alone, thinking about past choices, with only the soft hush of the house for company. The book never hurries or shouts. It carries a gentle restlessness, and I kept turning pages, curious about what might change next. I wandered with Teddy through palace corridors, watched the slow rhythms of daily life, and joined him on quiet trips away from the island. The drama always stays just beneath the surface, and the smallest details begin to matter more. The pace is slow, thoughtful, and each scene is given room to breathe.
Most of the time, that sense of warmth and reflection holds steady, thanks to Teddy’s voice. He has a dry humour, but there is a certain heaviness too, as though he bears more than he will ever say. At times, the story feels as if it strays too far along side paths and loses some of its focus; it seems more interested in wandering about than in driving straight ahead.
It is cosy fantasy at heart, with warmth and a touch of magic woven into the everyday, which I have always liked. What sets it apart, though, is the way it lingers over Teddy’s worries as he grows older. It is not all light and whimsy; it is about changing roles, shifting expectations, and that quiet confusion that comes as the years pass, while adventure waits close by.
Teddy starts out caught up in his old habits, but slowly, he comes to understand himself better, making choices that show how much he cares for those around him. His bond with the dragon is not just a bit of magic added for charm; it shapes him, and gives him a sense of belonging. Family and connection are at the centre of it all.
What stayed with me most is the honest way the book looks at relationships as they change. The politics of the story, though, seem to drift around without quite tying into Teddy’s own journey, which can leave the main thread feeling a little unsteady.
The world takes its time to unfold, which gives the magic a sense of being lived-in. Sometimes the details about mind-bonding are a bit tangled, and I found myself waiting for the story to settle them, which could break the flow for a while.
Whenever I reached a chapter title, I felt it revealed a little too much. It would pull me out of the world the story had taken such care to build. Instead of being surprised, the titles gave away the little turns ahead, and I wanted to find things out alongside the characters, to share their uncertainty rather than having the way marked out. Even a single word in a heading could give away what was coming, and I would catch myself trying to guess the next step instead of sinking into the story. I wished for a lighter hand, one that allowed me to discover things for myself.
By the end, I found myself thinking about how tightly we hold on to our old roles, and whether that helps us to change or keeps us stuck, just as family shapes us in ways we do not always see. The book feels much like reading someone’s private journal, with a little adventure, and a gentle, introspective sort of magic.
If you want a dragon story that looks at the people behind the scales, or enjoy gentle, cosy fantasy that explores the quiet changes of growing older, this one is a comfort. If you are looking for quick action or great drama, though, you may need to look elsewhere.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.