Dragon Rider

Dragon Rider: A Novel by Taran Matharu
The Soulbound Saga — Book #1
Epic Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
 
Tropes:
Dragon‑bond / soulbonding
Revenge / vengeance arc
Escape and flight / fugitives on the run
 
Summary:
Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court ever since his father — leader of the Steppefolk — led a failed rebellion and was executed.
When the emperor’s son is bethrothed to a princess from the northern Dansk Kingdom, she arrives with a dowry of dragons — magical beasts that only Dansk royalty can soulbond with to draw on their power.
But when conspiracies erupt and chaos consumes the Sabine Court, Jai seizes his chance. He escapes alongside a Dansk handmaiden, Frida, stealing a dragon egg in the process — a decision that will change his destiny.
Hunted at every turn, Jai must learn to cultivate magic and become a soulbound warrior if he hopes to survive, find safety — and enact revenge against the empire that destroyed his people.