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The Dragon Has Some Complaints is a hilarious yet heartfelt story about a three headed dragon named Garrodigh who takes refuge at a dragon riding academy for food and shelter after he’s wounded. Only for a cheery and eccentric rider named Raina to claim him as her own and tend to his health, all while he plays along to appear as a tame dragon. With war surrounding Garrodigh’s new home and new rider, the three heads, with three different personalities, began to work together to protect Raina and all she cares about.

This was my most anticipated read of 2026, and I was very pleased that it met my expectations. Garrodigh is our main character that we follow, specifically his Centerhead who is the leader among the other heads, Upperhead (who thinks he’s human) and Bottomhead (who is basically a feral cat that likes food and scritches). Centerhead is a grumpy and harsh head who wants to rain death and destruction upon the world like any good dragon should. Because of his wounds however, he can’t do much anymore. So he pretends to be a tame dragon to be rescued and brought to a dragon-rider academy, with plans to recover then continue his plans of destruction. But his plans and patience are put to the test when he is claimed by Raina, the most cheerful human he has ever seen. Raina helps him get better and stronger all while the three heads begin to fall to her charm and kind heartness. During all of this the city they live in is at war with a strong enemy who was originally responsible for Garrodigh’s injuries and moves to take over the academy and city.

This is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. The dialogue specifically between the three heads is what steals the show in my opinion. I actually laughed out loud more than several times. Despite all the humor there is also a great amount of heartwarming moments between Garrodigh and Raina as they help one another grow and being a shoulder for each to lean on especially when the war gets fiercer. Centerhead coming to trust Raina felt believable with how wary and untrustful he originally was at the beginning. The world building was detailed and rich for a single novel. We learn enough at the beginning from Garrodigh about how the world works but we learn more alongside him when he reaches the academy.

I loved every second of this and I would take even more books following Raina and Garrodigh. But if this is the only one, then it was a delight to read about them. 5/5 stars. Thank you DAW and Netgalley for the digital copy of The Dragon Has Some Complaints

It's rare that a book takes me by the lapels and insists I ignore my bedtime to finish the last arc of the story in one go before I sleep, but that's definitely what happened here. I'll do my best to keep my review as spoiler-free as possible, which will be a challenge because John Wiswell has written such a damn fine story, and it's going to be a story you'll want to talk about with other people.

We experience the world through the eyes of Garrodigh, a three headed (once four headed) dragon. Each of his heads has its own personality, experience, and view of the world. Bottomhead is simpler and less conflicted, with food-based priorities. Centerhead views himself as the brains of this operation, with a cynical view of humanity and an equally cynical view of other dragons. And Upperhead...well, he's got a lot going on, too.

The story deftly weaves and subverts fantasy tropes- a missing almost mythical leader, who will surely return in a time of need. A dashing champion rider, and an upstart getting her first chance. They're warm and familiar and written by the hand of someone who loves them enough to playfully spin them around and set them in a new direction.


Overall, this feels like a story about identity. What does it mean to be yourself, and what does it mean to be seen by others, and the messy places where those intersect. It asks, what can you learn about yourself through the eyes of those that see you? How do we remain ourselves when the world wants or us to be a version that doesn't feel comfortable or true? It explores how we come into our own when we accept all the things we can be and choose to step into what we want to be, with the support of those we decide to listen to, who tell us who we are. Garrodigh's internal and external interactions as he decides what being a dragon should mean are at turns poignant, bittersweet, hilarious, and painful.

When I think of John's writing, I think of Geena Davis' quoted approach to create gender balanced movies- add into your screenwriting instructions when a crowd gathers, "half of them are women." It's always a delight to see transgender characters on the page and in the background of a story, and the representation feels fluent and right at home within the world of the story. The winged city of Kardoša is diverse in many different ways, and the text tells us that through easy glimpses of crowds, background characters, and main characters of different races, genders, and disabilities. For a story with the bulk of it set in the air, the descriptions and sense of place and culture are grounded. Kardoša is somewhere I want to spend hours of time outside of the text- exploring its streets, experiencing its culture, making friends with its people.

My favorite types of movies, music, books- any media really- are those where you can see how much those involved enjoyed their craft. "The Dragon Has Some Complaints" clearly was written with a deep enjoyment and excitement for the story the author wanted to tell, and it shines with it. Without spoiling the story for you, this book is an incredible amount of fun. There are so many incredible surprises- you'll want to read it along with a friend so you can turn to each other and yell at each other about them.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

It's weird to think of this as a found-family story, and yet, it sort of is, albeit as well as an external family, the main family that three-headed dragon Garrodigh finds is himself. Garrodigh didn't always have three heads, but his fourth was blown away by a cannonball, in the same fight that damaged his leg and wings. Since then, he's not quite been himself, with his Upperhead thinking that it's human, Centerhead that hates all humans and wants to destroy them, while Bottomhead is just a bit dozy. And yet, by the end of the story, all three personalities of Garrodigh are much more comfortable with, and supportive of, each other, than at the start.

This all happens when Garrodigh opportunistically sneaks into a human city and into the dragonrider academy where he pretends to be an injured, tame dragon to get food. But he doesn't expect Rania, someone who's been waiting for the opportunity to bond with a dragon. Heck, nobody could expect Rania, who keeps garlands of flowers in her satchel just so she has something to fling around, and "can see" auras and thinks that Garrodigh (or Mr Slithers, as she names him) is just the bestest dragon ever. And slowly, as well as healing physically, Garrodigh begins to heal within his soul(s), and to care deeply for Rania.

This was just a delight from start to finish. Each of Garrodigh's three heads has a distinct voice as well as personality. Our PoV is from Centerhead, being the head that's most lucid at the start, despite his hatred of humans. They all miss Lefty, and having lost him, have lost so many memories and parts of themselves. It's never clear if all dragons with multiple heads have distinct personalities, or if that's just part of Garrodigh's trauma, as the only other dragons that talk to Garrodigh in the book have just one head.

The city-state of Kardoša itself is almost my platonic ideal of a state. Formed of immigrants and refugees, they still welcome anyone who is need of help to their borders. Not everyone believes wholeheartedly in this mission, as Rania, who is a refugee from the nation currently at war with Kardoša, finds out, to her sorrow, but even this bullying is more bluster and boredom than hatred.

There are aerial battles between airships and dragons, lots of (human) sex (although all off-page, other than the annoyance the noises cause Garrodigh) and a huge amount of love. Both between Garrodigh and Rania, between the different parts of Garrodigh and between the people and the nation that sheltered them, creating something worth protecting and fighting for. There is a certain amount of eating of people (they all deserved it) but this still a really cosy book where everyone just wants to take care of each other.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A review of a free ARC copy from NetGalley, thank you! All opinions below are my own.

A hydra where only the centre head seems rational.

Mr Wiswell, you delightful creative, I enjoyed every moment of this book.

A three-headed dragon tricking his way into a city to take vengeance on them only to have a change of heart and embark on a journey that is equal parts funny, heartwarming and harrowing.

I loved the flow of the story, characters felt believable and the dragon has three distinct selves which is genuinely impressive. LGBT representation is authentic and genuine and the bond between dragon and rider deeply affectionate.

My only criticism would be I’d have loved a bit more information on the FFR and Leonia, but it doesn’t detract from the story.

A recommend for anyone who loves a lighthearted fantasy tale and Found Family tales.

I think this is my favourite piece of Wiswell’s writing! Also Upperhead is totally a human and I love him.

This was very witty and funny, a truly pleasant read. A story about a dragon with multiple personalities depending on which head is acting was a hilarious premise, and the book delivered on it. The bond between the dragon and the rider / trainer was very adorable as well. I feel cozy fantasy often needs more humor to keep my interest up, but this one had it in spades. John Wiswell has the talent to write about monsters in a way they speak volumes about human nature. It's also a story of struggling with disability and chronic pain, and it was done through such a sympathetic lens.

This standalone is about a dragon who hates humans help them in a war against a human empire.

First of all, being in the head of Centerhead (a head that is a part of the three heads that Garrodigh the dragon has) was a treat. He has a grumpy and sarcastic outlook that makes it really funny. And the dynamic between the heads was a highlight of the book: one is feral head that only wants food and the other believes he is a human and the other heads are aspects of his personality.

I also liked the found family found between the dragon and his dragon rider.

Overall, a very cozy and humorous book where the monster is not as monstrous as he appears.

Another banger from John Wiswell. Will he ever write a book I don't love?

This time, Garrodigh, a three-headed dragon, suffers from PTSD after his fourth head was blown off by a cannon ball during a human war. Each head has it's own personality, so they manage their trauma very different ways: Upperhead believes he's a human and this is all some kind of dream or delusion, Centerhead wants to destroy the humans, and Bottomhead... well, he's a feral doofus (and my favorite one). Their separate ways of dealing with their shared pain provide a lot of comic relief but also serves as a reminder that there's no right way to handle grief, and it's okay that healing is hard.

Rania also has her share of trauma as an immigrant from the very place Kardosa is at war with. She loves and is fiercely loyal to Kardosa, yet the people of Kardosa don't trust her, and some even refuse to be seen with her. She's the kindest and gentlest of all Wiswell's characters, and I was right there with Garrodigh in his quest to see her happy (because yeah, of course she gets even Centerhead to love her).

The world in this book is super engrossing. There's a war raging between two lands, Kardosa and the FFR, and a third offers to help Kardosa only if it bends the knee. There's a lot of tension and a ton of action, especially in the second half, and it was always exciting. But in the midst of this high-stakes war, we also witness the personal relationships and between Rania, Cosmos, Esme, and Oleksiy. It's smaller stakes but still feels so important, not like fluffy filler between action scenes.

If you loved Someone You Can Build A Nest In and/or Wearing the Lion, there's no reason you won't love The Dragon Has Some Complaints. It's got all the humor, heart, and fabulous queer rep I've come to expect from John Wiswell and I want you to read it!

***NOTE: I will post this review on socials and return with links a little closer to release. Thank you!****

Great like all of John Wiswell's books. The main character(s) is very well done, we get his backstory slowly revealed (or most of it?) and see him grow and form new relationships, *plus* there's all the unique world-building and exciting action scenes and other character plots and interactions. Some jaw dropping moments and a few references and allusions that walk the line perfectly between recognizeable and jarring.

Garrodigh is a three-headed dragon with old wounds that never quite healed, memory loss associated with those wounds, and is a social outcast from the other wild dragons because of the perceived previous misdeeds that he doesn't remember. His remaining heads are Centerhead (self-proclaimed most reasonable, very curmudgeonly), Bottomhead (not unlike that one hyena from The Lion King), and Upperhead (thinks he's literally a human with a career and family). Garrodigh infiltrates the city of Kardoša and finds himself begrudgingly beginning to care for his rider, Raina, as well as the other occupants of the city. The horror! He gets more and more wrapped up with their issues and realizes they are more entangled than he realized.

I didn't initially realize that this book was by the same author who wrote "Someone you can build a nest in," but it was great because I ADORED that book. As soon as I began reading this, I knew I'd also love it. I smiled and laughed aloud so often. I was incredibly charmed by all the characters and relationships. I love how grouchy multiple characters were written, but everyone still had hearts of gold. The world-building wasn't immense, but I thought the lore we did get was quite creative and nothing I'd quite seen before. I really did like the ending as well. This is an all-time favorite and this author's fantasy novels will certainly always be an auto-read for me.

As always, John Wiswell brings the humor and the heart. A delight to read.

[NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, my NetGalley feedback is not a blurb or endorsement. If a publisher wishes to use any part of my comments for promotional purposes, please contact me or my agent via email. I would prefer not to include star ratings but NetGalley won't let me post without one, so all will be 5 stars.]

I think I have read the best book of 2026. This book grabbed me from the very first page, and refused to let go. John Wiswell is probably one of the best fantasy writers alive, and this book is a testament to his great storytelling. From now on, this is the book I will recommend to anyone who wants a book about dragons, told from the dragons POV.

I don’t want to give away spoilers, so all I can say is that this novel is written with so much love and joy, and I instantly felt that these characters were mine. The title of the book is perfect, the cover is magnificent, and the story and development is just hands down one of the best I have ever read. I had the biggest book-hangover after reading this, feeling lost and «what do I read NOW?!» after.

This is «How to train your dragon» for adults. Do not skip this book, read it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this chance, and letting me provide my honest feedback.

I was hooked from the cover and description and so glad I was able to read this, it had that fantasy element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into this world and characters. The characters worked well together and was hooked from start to finish and was glad I got into the journey with them. John Wiswell was able to weave a strong storyline and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this. It worked well in the fantasy world and was glad I got to read this.

A sheer delight. John is one of my favourite writers, but this may be my favourite of his books. I can’t choose a favourite head; they’re all wonderful but wonderful in different ways. I am especially fond of all of them but perhaps most especially bottomhead, the golden retriever of the group.

I absolutely loved The Dragon Has Some Complaints. John Wiswell has such a distinct voice, and this book completely showcases his ability to blend humor with real emotional depth. What starts off feeling playful and a little absurd quickly becomes something much more thoughtful, and I found myself completely invested in every moment.

It is rare to find a story that is this funny and this heartfelt at the same time. I could not get enough of it and found myself thinking about it long after I finished. This is easily one of the most memorable and enjoyable reads I have picked up in a long time.

Review of ARC provided by Netgalley.

"It doesn't matter what you are because I've known you your whole life. So, whatever you are, keep being it."

If you've ever wanted to read a full story from the dragon's perspective, then The Dragon Has Some Complaints will scritch that scratch!

You can read the synopsis yourself, but this truly was a wonderful, funny, and cozy-adjacent tale of chronic pain, understanding, empathy, and how we perceive ourselves. I loved the twists and turns, the wordplay, and relationships. The characters are complex and intriguing. I loved it all interactions among Centerhead, Upperhead, and Bottomhead, and I'm pretty sure I am going to slip "She was reduced to a cephalopod of delight" into conversations at least once a week.

Also shout-out to the chapter *specifically* focused on the constant battle of physical therapy. It definitely brought up the deep dark memories of the uphill, slightly improving day-by-day battles.

Also somebody PLEASE confirm with John Wiswell that he was inspired in the slightest by the three headed hydra/dragon meme.

Here I am with no complaints. This book was fantasy perfection. Told from the POV of a dragon but only from one of its multi-personality heads?? I loved the whole premise. Dragons are everything.

Garrodigh, an ostracized wild dragon, memories of human compassion lost along with its 4th head, wants revenge on the humans it believes to have caused all their hardship; he'll sneak into their city to destroy them from the inside. What he doesn't expect to encounter is healing, trust, joy, and true love. All the humans are portrayed as if just slightly unbelievable and kooky, which makes you often feel like you really ARE a dragon. I laughed and cried and then laughed again.

I highly recommend this!

The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell is one of the cosiest novel (with awesome character development and high stakes) that I've read in a long time, and it pulls it off really well. Honestly, Wiswell writes so well in this genre, and his voice is so refreshing -- a true delight to read.

Wiswell weaves an enchanting tale about Garrodigh, a three- (previously four-) headed dragon, who pretends to be tame in order to recieve food and medical treatment from humans. Centrehead (our viewpoint character) vehemently hates humans, and plans to rain fire down upon them (once he's well enough to do so). However, a spanner is thrown into the works when he becomes to care about Rania, the rider rehabilitating him, and wants to help her fight against the invading forces (who hate all queer people, and are horribly organised. Sound familiar?)
Garrodigh and Rania are the perfect balance of emotional vulnerability and comedic relief, and are heavily supported by a wide array of (hilarious) side characters. This novel is heavily character based, which is something that I love in a book, but I would not recommend it for those that are more plot-driven.
If you've read and liked any cosy fantasy/Wiswell's books before, I strongly recommend that you give this a go! Overall, I give The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell five stars. Thank you to DAW for providing The Dragon Has Some Complaints for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

5+ Love this author's writing style and humor. Couldn't miss this one, told from the point of view of a three-headed dragon (four, but there was a loss). Bottomhead is naive, wants breakfast and head scritches, Centralhead is the brains, and wants to infiltrate human society to take them down. Upperhead is convinced he is a human stuck in a dragon's head and should go back to procrastinating, as all good humans do.
The book starts with hilarious moments, centralhead is amazing, great voice and personality. There is a lot of distrust between wild dragons and humans. Of course not all humans are bad, and some are horrible. The war between these two factions of humans will make Centralhead change his mind. The main character is a typical awesome sweet cozy and brave lonely young woman who will heal the dragon in many ways. The book gets more serious with political intrigue, (romance is seen through the dragon's perspective with a lot of eeww lol), dragon history, combat, and war. We have loss, grief, injuriess and trauma, but towards a very sweet and warm hug of an ending found family, restitution, and a sense of home.
Love this author's creativity and take on tropes, can't wait for the next project.

I utterly adored "The Dragon Has Some Complaints", and have already had one of my colleagues ask where they can get their hands on it. In this one, John Wiswell has picked a perspective I'd even considered. Told from the perspective of one of the heads of a three-headed dragon, Wiswell brilliantly captures what it might be like to be both an independent mind while sharing a body with others - the push-pull of biology, personality and agency, with a dose of trauma thrown on top for extra flavour. Both Garrodagh's journey and the world Wiswell's created are beautifully compelling. Wow!
THANK YOU NetGalley for the eARC that brought this book into my life.

Finally, the opportunity to get inside a dragon’s head… well, three heads—and what a ride.
I really enjoyed this book, especially Centerhead’s perspective. The concept of rehabilitating an old, grumpy, injured dragon was engaging and well done.
The author really delivered on multiple fronts. So many things were done well: the political intrigue, the rich backstory, the character growth, and the evolving relationships. The variety and inclusivity of the characters really stood out, too.
The banter was a highlight—witty and funny, it added a lot of personality and balanced the heavier moments.
I’ll admit it took me a couple of chapters to settle in, but once I did, I was hooked and finished it in just a few days.
Honestly, this was just so well done. It was a thoughtful, entertaining story with plenty of heart. Five stars. ⭐️

The Dragon Has Some Complaints is the creative story of a curmudgeonly dragon with three heads, each with a name, quirks, and personalities of his own. Once you acclimate to his three bickering voices, the dragon practically flies off the page feeling like a living, breathing person. (But don’t let him hear you call him that.) The dragon riders are an equally delightful supporting cast, and the worldbuilding is everything you hope for in a fantasy.

The Dragon Has Some Complaints..... but I don't! This book was such a pleasant read. Although a bit confusing since the dragon's heads are literally just Upperhead, Centerhead, and Bottomhead but I mean I got over it. The title and cover of the book is what pulled me in and the storyline is what made me stay. A book where we get to experience the story through the eyes of a dragon, Garrodigh, and the main storyteller is Centerhead who is a grumpy head and seems to be the leader of the three heads. In this book we also get to enjoy the bond that is formed between dragon/rider that who is Garrodigh and Rania. Theres plenty of banter to go around in this book that was enjoyable to read.