Enjoyment:
Style: 5
Rating: 4.88

This wasn't what I was expecting at all! I enjoyed learning more about the mythology of dragons and the differences between the several different kinds depending on where the myths and legends are located in the world. I like how Joel made sure to include the modern iterations from Game of Thrones and the Lord of the Rings movies.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Pocket Book of Dragons by Joel Levy is a nonfiction reference book discussing the history of the depiction of dragons and how the concept of them might have come into being. With many illustrations and images of pop culture dragons, this is meant to be more of an introduction of how dragons are seen around the world versus an in-depth look into how a particular culture uses the mythological creature.

Half of the book is various dragon depictions from the pre-Christian era to Christian depictions to Nordic ideas to Southeast and East Asian concepts all the way to the Americas and then into modern pop culture. Each depiction is given about a page or two, often with some art to help accompany it, so readers can expect to get some entry-level knowledge on new ideas of dragons, which can help give them a place to start for deeper dives. This is a pocket book, so the expectation should be ‘entry level.’ The art helps to sell the idea that dragons look different in different cultures and there is no one idea of a dragon, which makes it hard to pinpoint where they came from and helps to support Joel Levy’s personal theory for why dragons are so common on a global scale.

The other half is the part I found the most interesting because I was familiar with the idea that dragons might be the result of ancient people’s finding dinosaur skulls, which Levy doesn’t completely dismiss, but it doesn’t necessarily explain every depiction or how that particular dragon looks. Levy mentions how the term ‘dragon’ is used to bring a bunch of creatures that on the surface look similar under the same umbrella, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they were all coming from the same place or that it is accurate to classify them all together as ‘dragons.’ It is also posited that dragons really stem from the human imagination as many are made up of aspects of many animals, usually reptiles which are found in many places all over the world.

I would recommend this to fans of dragons and guardians looking for an intro guide to dragons for younger readers (I do recommend flipping through the book first, though, to make sure that the art all feels age appropriate for the individual young reader)

Lots of interesting info about dragons. I liked learning about all the different mythology, and the artwork and photographs were really great!

This is a nice short overview of a history of dragons. There is talk about the inspiration of dragons and an interesting overview from historical to modern depictions of dragons. This includes lots of full color pictures/illustrations included ranging from ancient paintings to modern day movie references. Given the size of this book, it doesn't go into great depths about any particular area, nor would I expect it to.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!

The Pocket Book of Dragons is the perfect informational book for dragon fans everywhere who want to learn more about the myths and legends on where these fearsome creatures came from. From ancient to modern dragons from around the world, this book is easy to dip in and out of with digestible chunks of information. The Pocket Book of Dragons is true to its name with so much information packed into its just under 200 pages, with the addition of beautiful images throughout. You are sure to learn something new!

Such a stunning little book for dragon and fantasy lovers alike! It's perfect for beginners just diving into the world of dragons. It has stunning, colorful illustrations throughout and goes over every type of dragon you could imagine!

It’s not a heavy read, but a whimsical one like flipping through a dragon watcher’s field notes. If you’re looking for detailed lore, this might not be your spellbook. But if you like me absolutely love dragons. this book is a wonderful little guide to keep on the nightstand. #reading #books #reader #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #bookreview

As a lover of fantasy, I grew up wanting to be an author, and my adoration for dragons has not waned in adulthood. I have multiple tattoos of dragons, absolutely love with dragons are central to a good novel's plot, and even find that, despite being otherwise not the greatest artist, I can draw a pretty decent dragon. All of this is to say that when I came across The Pocket Book of Dragons, I was immediately ready to dive in.

Joel Levy has created a brief and digestible overview of dragons in the history of the world. Going from the earliest mentions of dragons to how they appear in mass media today, Levy's book reads like an essay on dragon lore, but one I was thoroughly delighted to read. It's quick to get through, rife with artistic interpretations of dragons throughout the ages, and only served to stoke the fire (pun not intended, but welcomed) of my love for the mythological creatures. Before I even started the second chapter, I placed a preorder of the book; I want to have it on hand as a resource to find inspiration when I begin writing again.

Truly, the only aspect in which I would say the book was lacking was purely because it, as a small book only meant to provide a general understanding of the history of dragons, did not delve deeper into the mythology. I'd have loved to learn more about the actual legends of the civilizations mentioned, and to be able to compare and contrast their differences with more precision. But the book as a reference point to do a deeper dive into such things allows the reader to get a taste before going down the rabbit hole.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who either loves dragons, fantasy, or is curious about the history and lore of the creatures. It's a great starting point for those looking to explore further, or for someone who is simply interested in seeing how pervasive the myths of dragons have been in human history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Final rating: 4.5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: August 6, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/e11a7253-a285-4b45-80fb-0d9f14cf64d5)

I really enjoyed this deeper dive into dragons throughout culture and time periods. There were pictures of existing art throughout that really brought to life some of the things that were being described on page. I like the look into how dragons are depicted in film and book and how cultural or location elements impacted the version of dragons included. This was a really fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is such an interesting read for any dragon enthusiast. I picked it up to expand my knowledge of dragons and surrounding myths as they are a common element in many of the fantasy books I read with so many different characteristics and versions of them.

With a focus on the historical presence of dragons in art, this book covers the myths in several parts of the world throughout history for a majority of the book. Then the last few chapters cover a little about more current uses of dragons in art and tv in series like Game of Thrones.

While I enjoyed the book overall, I was not a fan of the structure of the book and found it somewhat clunky while going through it. I would still recommend for any dragon lover!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This was a delightful look at art history and myth! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical version!

Chock full of interesting info, but layout a bit forbidding.

TL:DR
3.5 stars
Appropriate for 8+
Primary appeal to Teen/Adult
Fans of Dragons, folklore


This "pocket book" is stuffed full of information. I requested this ARC hoping that my dragon loving students would get use out of this. It is too dense for my 3rd-5th graders, but wow would this be great for an older audience.

With a healthy list of books for further reading, online resources, and a well laid out index, the back matter is easily navigable and helpful to the lay person. However, if you are looking for a reference book that gives you a list of their sources - this is not that book. Also, there is nowhere that I saw that tells us why we should trust the information Joel Levy gives.

The layout feels very much like a text book, with large blocks of text opposite an image with a caption. The lack of info boxes and callouts elevate the age range of this book, and narrow the appeal range - potentially eliminating some more casually interested people with the "serious scholar" layout.

However, if the casual dragon and folklore fan dives in anyway, they will probably enjoy this chunks of book dense in imagery, history, and stories - even if they skip around rather than reading straight through.

Suggested for public libraries, and High School/College libraries with high fantasy book circulation, D&D clubs, or general folklore interest.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance digital copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

KC
School Librarian for 3rd - 5th Grade
Storyteller
Lover of cheese & tiny boxes

This highly informative book will delight dragon lovers of all sorts! What stood out the most to me was how well organized the information is since the categories feel natural and intuitive. On top of that, the variety of illustrations included is incredible. Most of the book is categorized by culture from Chinese dragons to Norse wyrms while some is discussed in the context of Christianity and literature. Author Joel Levy even devotes a section to the ubiquity of dragon hunting stories. Although Pocket Book of Dragons is non-fiction, Levy makes learning a pleasure. So if dragons interest you, read this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Prepare to embark on an exhilarating journey through the enchanting world of dragons with this captivating little book! It's a delightful introduction to the history of these mythical creatures across myth, religion, and literature, featuring a tantalizing array of examples. From fierce fire-breathing beasts to wise guardians of treasure, each dragon type comes alive in these pages, along with a fascinating exploration of why they could never physically exist in our world.

I found myself thoroughly enchanted by this book! Although it's a quick read, the chosen examples are intriguing enough to ignite your imagination. I couldn’t help but wish for even more stories and details—just a bit more room to dive deeper into each dragon's lore would have elevated this experience to another level!

This book is an absolute must-have for dragon enthusiasts, fantasy aficionados, and anyone immersing themselves in their dragon era! It brilliantly chronicles the lore behind these magnificent creatures, tracing their roots across cultures for thousands of years. You'll witness their evolution into the dragons we adore in modern classics like *Game of Thrones*, *How to Train Your Dragon*, and the ever-cunning Smaug from *The Hobbit*.

With just a couple of hours dedicated to reading, prepare to linger over the stunning illustrations and might find yourself jotting down titles for your to-be-read list! It's like an encyclopedia of dragons, showcasing how they are depicted around the globe, featuring magnificent art from ancient and medieval periods to contemporary pop culture.

While the spotlight shines predominantly on Western European and Scandinavian dragons, the book thoughtfully explores Eastern representations, too—think powerful Chinese dragons and the mystical thunderbird! The succinct descriptions of epic tales, myths, and folktales featuring these legendary beasts are particularly delightful.

If you revel in encyclopedia-style books that delve into the marvelous realm of mythological dragons, and adore a variety of captivating artwork showcasing how cultures have envisioned these creatures throughout history, then this book is sure to dazzle you.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning, adding an enchanting layer to the narrative that I found to be the highlight of my reading experience. While the information is quite basic, it serves as a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the subject. However, if you're a seasoned dragon fan, you may find yourself yearning for more depth. Either way, this book promises to spark your imagination and reignite your love for dragons!

A compact guide to the evolution of dragon myths through time. It starts with possible origins around the world, moves into folklore, then literary and modern representations. It also covers where you might find dragons in real life via art and architecture.

While not extensive because of its small nature, this book is a great introduction to the myth and legend of this amazing imaginary creature. Lots of artwork and imagery to go along with it.

Yeah i will definitely be buying this when it comes out, this was such an interesting read and i loved the beautiful imagery the author chose to include - sometimes when looking at one of the illustrations chosen I played season 2 white lotus theme in my head. I learned a ton of interesting factoids which i will definitely almost never have an opportunity to share, but they make me happy anyways.

Selecting this book seemed like a no brainer for someone who is fascinated by dragons. The description said it was heavily illustrated so it was unavailable on Kindle. I used the Netgalley reader, but was extremely unhappy that every page had a banner across it: “Copyrighted. Not authorized for distribution.” It was difficult to appreciate the illustrations marred by this banner, and the text (which was often challenging to read) was drier and less interesting than I’d hoped. I’ve never seen another ARC marked like this, and found it very annoying. Very disappointed. I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Iconic in word and image, the dragon enthralls and entertains, spinning its glamor of enchantment for us today as it did for heroes from Marduk to Sigurd, Beowulf to Bilbo."

This handy little compendium tracks the history of dragons, and while I knew some of the lore, I found most of it new and interesting. It's always fascinating to see how the same stories proliferate through different cultures over time. I also recognized a lot of dragon-like forms mentioned from several fantasy series I've read (The Hobbit, Fantastic Beasts, and all three series of the Maasverse for example) without ever really processing their origin - even before getting to the section on Literary Dragons. The illustrations are beautiful (and/or terrifying), and are shown throughout to bring to life the stories they accompany.

For anyone curious about tracking the stories of dragons through time, this is a helpful resource.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

I was so excited to see this one pop up on my account! As a lover of fantasy and dragons, this little pocket reference of lore is a must have for any fantasy lover or DND player. I can't wait to buy this one for our DND Dungeon Master or my fellow Fourth Wing fans when it comes out.

The Pocket Book of Dragons is a great choice for dragon lovers! Its a quick read packed with information and beautiful illustrations depicting dragons from different cultures.