Dragonsbane

In a kingdom held captive by a terrifying dragon, the earnest young Crown Prince Gareth embarks on a quest to find the legendary Dragonsbane, Lord Aversin. His idealistic vision of a mighty, heroic knight shatters upon meeting Aversin – a middle-aged, bespectacled man ruling a humble mud-village, who readily admits his prior dragon kill was a pragmatic act of poisoning, not a heroic battle. Despite his profound disillusionment, Gareth convinces the reluctant Aversin to face this new, formidable threat. Their perilous company expands to include Jenny Waynest, a witch whose soaring ambitions are constantly undercut by her frustratingly weak magical abilities. This unlikely trio, defying traditional fantasy archetypes, sets out on a journey that forces them to confront not only the monstrous beast but also their own preconceptions about courage, power, and what truly defines a hero. Barbara Hambly masterfully crafts a tale that both honors and subverts classic fantasy tropes, delivering a compelling adventure grounded in deep character exploration and the harsh realities of a world teetering on the brink of destruction. Their success will either forge an enduring legend or lead to their tragic demise.