Image via Scholastic By Tyler B. Searle Published Jul 29, 2026, 11:03 PM EDT Born with Autism (formerly classified as Asperger syndrome), Tyler B. Searle has been obsessed with storytelling since he was old enough to speak. He gravitated towards fairy tales, mythology, the fantasy genre, and animated movies and shows aimed at family audiences. When not writing, Tyler enjoys watching more cartoons and reading fantasy books in his home in Ontario, Canada. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Listen Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Since the release of Game of Thrones in 2011, audiences around the world have become obsessed with the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise by George R. R. Martin . Though the show ended in one of the worst-received final seasons in television history, the franchise keeps people coming back thanks to its rich worldbuilding, gripping political intrigue, and stunning visuals, especially regarding the dragons . Two spin-offs have since come out: House of the Dragon , which focuses on a civil between House Targaryen that sees dragons burning entire armies, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms , set many decades later, after the dragons are gone.
While iconic thanks to their size, bonds with their riders, and ties to magic, Martin's dragons are far from the best in fantasy media , partially because Martin wanted the dragons to be more realistic, with only four limbs instead of six, and keeping their intelligence closer to animals than sentient, ancient creatures. Thus, they lack the presence and personality of dragons from J. R. R. Tolkien 's Middle-earth, or the ancient majesty of the dragons of Ursula K. Le Guin 's Earthsea. But another series has dragons that can stand alongside them in terms of their design and execution: Jennifer Rowe 's (under pen name Emily Rodda ) Deltora Quest .
The dragons of Deltora fly through the sky Image via Scholastic The titular land of Deltora is part of a larger universe made up of Rowe's other fantasy series, including Rowan of Rin , The Three Doors , and the sequel series Star of Deltora . It is notable for the seven different tribes of people who live on it, each of whom possesses a magic gemstone : a diamond, emerald, lapis lazuli, topaz, opal, ruby, and amethyst. Prior to Deltora's unification under its first king, Adin, it was known as the Land of Dragons because of how many of the beasts lived there. They, too, were divided based on the seven tribes, resulting in unique visual distinctions, something further emphasized through illustrator Marc McBride 's beautiful work, which not only gives the dragons vibrant colorations , but appearances that are inspired by marine life .
Like most fantasy series, the dragons of Deltora are sentient creatures , and their personalities vary based on their tribes. Topaz dragons are loyal and thoughtful; Ruby dragons are kind and good-natured; Opal dragons are meticulous and observant; Lapis Lazuli dragons are impulsive and eccentric; Emerald dragons are honorable and stubborn; Amethyst dragons are philosophical and wise; and Diamond dragons are aggressive and dutiful. Their diets are also different, such as Lapis Lazuli hunting vicious Sand Beasts from the Shifting Sands, Topaz hunting cruel gray-furred creatures called Granous who love to bite the fingers and toes off their…