Book Review: Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis

Today’s review is a bit of a departure from some of the more theology-heavy content I normally cover. Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis is a Christian fantasy novel, but it’s lighter on theology and more focused on story, an enjoyable change of pace, even if it comes with a few caveats worth discussing.

A Modern Arthurian Fantasy with Dragons

At its core, Raising Dragons is a retelling of the Arthurian legend set in modern times, but with a fiery twist: dragons. And yes, the dragons are real. The title and cover would be false advertising otherwise.

Geared toward a younger audience (think middle school through early high school), this is what you’d call a middle-grade fantasy novel. That said, as someone well past that target demographic, I still found it enjoyable. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe I’m just a sucker for clean, engaging fantasy stories. Either way, it works.

There’s something enduringly valuable in fiction that captures wonder without needing to be gritty, grim, or hyperrealistic.

Christian but Not Preachy

One of the most refreshing things about Raising Dragons is that it is a Christian book, but it’s not simply a biblical retelling. That’s not a knock on retellings (I have several reviews on books like that, and I enjoyed them), but it’s refreshing to see Christian fiction that tells an original story while still weaving in Christian themes.

Too often, Christian fantasy gets reduced to “Bible stories with elves.” Davis avoids that trap. He builds a new world (well, our world with dragons) and brings Christian themes into it without making the entire story feel like a simple retelling of Scripture.

Scripture is referenced. God is honored. But the story leads. The theology is there, but it’s not the plot.

Two Cautions: Prophecy and Simplicity

There are two potential drawbacks readers should be aware of.

1. A Predictable Prophecy

Early in the story, there’s a prophecy. That’s not unusual in fantasy, but this one is easy to interpret, perhaps too easy. If you’re older or more genre-savvy, you’ll likely figure out the major plot arc based on this prophecy alone. That may not be a problem for some, especially younger readers, but it could reduce suspense.

Personally, I don’t mind. I’ll reread books and rewatch movies I love over and over (The Lord of the Rings films? At least 25 times). I care more about the experience than the surprise. But if you’re the type of reader who wants to be shocked, just know this element may feel a little too transparent.

2. Theological Thinness and a Theological Tension

The book is theologically sound, but not theologically deep. It’s “clean Christian fiction,” not doctrinal exploration. That’s fine for what it is, but I would have loved to see more intentional theological development. It is possible to have strong theology woven throughout a work without it being preachy. I don’t think Davis had to go deeper; however, I think it would have made the book stronger.

One aspect that does deserve a closer look is the nature of the prophecy. This isn’t a fantasy world with its own mythology. It’s our world, with our Bible, our God, and (surprisingly) dragons. The prophecy is portrayed as a divine revelation with world-shaking significance. In a truly fictional universe, that would be fine. But if we’re staying within a world that has our Bible, that raises a theological issue:

Is the canon closed or not?

I affirm that the canon is closed. Scripture itself affirms this as clear as day (I will write a short book on this someday to show what I mean). While I do believe prophecy can still exist today, I reject the idea that new, public revelation on the level of Scripture is still being given. A prophecy that announces world-changing events in a universe with the real Bible borders on functional canon-extension, even if unintentionally.

Again, most readers (especially the younger target audience) may not notice. But we must be cautious. What we consume—even fiction—shapes what we believe. And in this case, it subtly introduces a category confusion between inspired Scripture and fictional prophecy.

A Theological Highlight: New and Old Testaments

Despite that caution, there’s one quote in the book that made me smile:

“You cannot understand the new without the old, right William?”

This line (spoken by Professor Hamilton) highlights one of the most neglected truths in modern Christianity: the New Testament doesn’t abolish the Old, it builds on it. The New Covenant is not a replacement covenant. It is the fulfillment of what came before. Too many Christians treat the Old Testament as outdated or irrelevant, but you cannot understand the gospel rightly unless you grasp the covenantal foundation beneath it.

Kudos to Davis for including that moment. It’s a brief line in the book, but a powerful truth.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

Raising Dragons isn’t perfect. It’s a bit predictable. It’s theologically light. And the use of prophecy in a world with the real Bible could raise questions for discerning readers.

But it’s also fun, clean, engaging, and refreshingly Christian in a genre that desperately needs more of that. I’d give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars—not because it’s flawless, but because it succeeds at what it sets out to do.

If you enjoy Christian fantasy, or you’re looking for something appropriate for younger readers that still respects their intelligence, this is a great choice.

A Note from the Reviewer

If you enjoyed this review, I’d love to invite you to check out my own work:

Theology and Apologetics – A scholarly yet accessible book exploring how theology and apologetics intersect. It challenges modern assumptions and argues that apologetics has become too narrow for how Scripture and logic actually operate. It is also available in a textbook edition, perfect for homeschooling or Bible studies.

The Silent Killer – Available now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited (will go wide soon), this book explores the danger of religious freedom utilizing 3 types of writing: poetry, fantasy, and theology.

You can find my other books at your favorite retailer. Stay tuned for more reviews and reflections. As always, thank you for reading.

God bless.