Epic fantasy
The Dragonbone Chair
A kitchen boy in a great castle grows up in the shadow of a dying king. When the old order collapses and something ancient stirs in the north, he is swept into a war far bigger than anything he imagined.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1988
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 668
- Format
- Book 1 of 4 in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
Read this if you like long, patient epic fantasy that takes its time building a world and a hero you grow up alongside.
Skip this if you want a quick start, because the early chapters are slow and the plot only fully opens up later.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Dragonbone Chair
- What is The Dragonbone Chair about?
- A kitchen boy in a great castle grows up in the shadow of a dying king. When the old order collapses and something ancient stirs in the north, he is swept into a war far bigger than anything he imagined.
- Who should read The Dragonbone Chair?
- Read it if you like long, patient epic fantasy that takes its time building a world and a hero you grow up alongside. Skip it if you want a quick start, because the early chapters are slow and the plot only fully opens up later.
- How long and how fast is The Dragonbone Chair?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 668 pages, first published in 1988.
- Does The Dragonbone Chair have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, War.
- Can I borrow The Dragonbone Chair for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Dragonbone Chair; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Dragonbone Chair?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Eye of the World, Assassin's Apprentice, A Game of Thrones.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved The Dragonbone Chair
-
The Eye of the World
Another classic farm-boy-to-epic quest, with a similarly slow-burn, travel-heavy structure.
-
Assassin's Apprentice
A lonely royal servant's son growing up, but told in a more intimate, emotional first person.
-
A Game of Thrones
A comparable castle-and-succession crisis, written with far more brutality and politics.
Epic fantasy
