Book Review: I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

Posted on by Jami Fairleigh
Image description: Cover of novel I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons over an image of a misty castle

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons: S&S/Saga Press (2024)
288 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org

Book Description

Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…

Review

Spoiler alert: If you’re out looking for negative reviews of I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle… you won’t find one here. In fact, prepare yourself because I loved this book.

For those of you who find the author’s name vaguely familiar, it’s because he wrote the fantasy classic, The Last Unicorn.

Before you get too excited, let me warn you about something. Beagle did not write I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons in the same manner or style with which he wrote The Last Unicorn. Where The Last Unicorn is full of haunting descriptions, melancholy vibes, and bittersweet lyrical prose, Beagle has filled I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons with jokes and hijinks. Lest we fall into the trap of comparing two completely different books, let’s move on.

Now that we’ve agreed on what I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons isn’t, we can talk about what it is.

It is a classic fairy tale, but this is no retelling. Rather, it is a unique, original story that provides everything we love about fairy tales; high fantasy with cozy vibes.

There are castles. Dragons. Whimsy. Wonder. Adventuring princes. Classless heroes that rise from nothing. Beautiful Princesses. Dastardly villains. Unrequited love. Magic. Swords. Awe. Battles. Death. Oh, and some more dragons.

Sounds great, right?

But wait, there’s more!

As much as this story includes everything you want in a classic fairy tale, the people occupying the roles are somehow more. The prince isn’t a cardboard cutout. The hero doesn’t always act heroic. And this princess is a force of her own. High fantasy with cozy vibes.

Not only did Beagle craft a tale any fantasy lover can enjoy, he wrote this fairy tale for a modern audience.

If you enjoyed how Gaiman’s Stardust and Goldman’s The Princess Bride poked fun at fairy tales while delivering cracking stories, you’re going to love I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons, too.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content Warning

Death, Gender Stereotypes, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Cederic Vandenberghe on Unsplash 

Have an opinion? Tell me more!

3 thoughts on “Book Review: I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle”

  1. There is a reason it’s not like anything else he wrote. He did not create the story. It was created by Connor Cochran years before he met Peter Beagle. If you want to know the facts look here:
    https://www.imafrsidyouvegotdragons.com

    I know this will anger a lot of fans, but unfortunately they have been fed lies since 2015. It was never about elder abuse. It was always about money.

    Reply

    1. Oh dear. Thank you for letting me know. I’ve reached out to Connor and am waiting to hear back.

      Reply