Ascendant

by Michael R. Miller · 2020

Ascendant, the opening novel of Michael R. Miller's Songs of Chaos series, follows Holt Cook, a lowly kitchen servant in the Order Hall of the Crag. When Holt discovers that dragons mercilessly cull their weak young, he rescues a doomed egg and bonds with the blind dragon that hatches, named Ash. As an undead plague called the Scourge spreads, dragon riders are slaughtered and betrayal looms. Holt must master the mysterious energy of his dragon’s magical core, a hard‑magic system that fuels his growth, to survive, protect Ash, and prove that a servant can become a worthy dragon rider. The story blends classic dragon‑rider adventure with progression fantasy, exploring themes of friendship, social hierarchy, acceptance of weakness, and coming‑of‑age in a high‑fantasy world.