Kraken Rider Z

Kraken Rider Z #1

by David Estes, Dyrk Ashton

If there's one thing dragons fear, it's a kraken.

Even lowly hull-scrubber Zee Tarrow knows that. Like everyone on the island kingdom of Tosh, he grew up frightened by fables and horrible tales of the great beasts of the deep. It seems an odd thing to impress upon the children of the realm, because--luckily for the dragons and their riders--no one has seen a kraken in a thousand years.

Then again, Tosh's lifeblood is the sea. Royal Dragon Knights guard the king's ships from the constant threat of pirates, hostile empires, and the monstrous horrors that dwell beneath the waves. It makes sense that the people would fear krakens, even after generations of Knights graduate and take flight from the ramparts of Triumf's Citadel, the country's most elite--and therefore also exclusive--military academy. A school that Zee, who has barely ever had more than two copper pennies to rub together, should have no chance of getting into.

Thing is...Zee has a secret. He's not only seen a kraken...

He saved its life.

When that truth gets out, will Zee be hunted by the Dragon Knights he has always envied and admired, or will he become the first Kraken Rider in history?

From the minds of David Estes and Dyrk Ashton, authors of Fatemarked and The Paternus Trilogy, comes a series perfect for fans of Iron Prince, Mage Errant, and Ascendant. Kraken Rider Z is an action-packed fantasy series with lots of heart, and the kind of unbreakable bond between man and beast that hasn't existed for centuries. Start your adventure today!

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult, High Fantasy

682 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

Get a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3

David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.

Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...

Books by David Estes:

-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.

-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic

-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND

-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.

-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!

-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."

-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.

Reviews

[John Mauro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my Review Roundup on Before We Go Blog.

Kraken Rider Z is a young adult fantasy that reminds me of The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. Both star young boys who begin as assistant pig-keepers but grow into unlikely heroes.

Kraken Rider Z is a lengthy read, but it flies by quickly with David Estes and Dyrk Ashton’s delightful prose. This is a progression fantasy, where Zee and his kraken increase in power by leveling up over time. Brandon Sanderson fans will especially enjoy the hard magic system.

All in all, Kraken Rider Z offers a truly entertaining experience, especially for a young adult audience.

[Dyrk Ashton]

UPDATE Jan. 7, 2024 Thunder Kraken has been released!

I'm very happy to announce that the adventures of Zee and Jessup continue today with the launch of Thunder Kraken, Book 2 of the Kraken Rider Z trilogy! The ebook is available now, with paperback to follow in the next day or two.

Because of the narrator's busy schedule, the release of the audiobook won't be until late Fall this year. I know. That sucks. In our (meager) defense, we don't schedule the audiobook recording, Audible Studios does, and they say this is the best they could do. Very sorry about the wait!

Thank you for all your support. I hope you enjoy the book, you all had wonderful holidays, and the New Year is your best ever!

UPDATE Oct. 15, 2024: KRZ 2: Thunder Kraken Release Schedule

It's coming!

Hello everyone! I know I've been saying that we hoped to release Thunder Kraken in mid-November, a year from the release of KRZ 1, but due to a number of circumstances, including scheduling problems with our fantastic narrator Tim Gerard Reynolds because he is so incredibly busy, we've had to move things back a bit. The good news is Thunder Kraken has been completed and was delivered to Audible Studios in July. The bad news, especially for audiobook listeners, is the release schedules have been pushed. We're very sorry about that, but it's been entirely out of our control :(

So, here is the schedule:

-eBook Preorders: NOW! Yes, the eBook is now up for my preorder on Amazon!

-eBook Release: Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Very sorry for the wait.

-Paperback Preorders and Release: This time, the paperbacks will be available the same day as the eBooks, on January 7. They should go on preorder some time early in November, depending on Amazon's fickle new paperback preorder process.

-Audiobooks: And, argh, here's the bad news. Because of the narrator's busy schedule, the release date won't be until late September or early-ish October of 2025. I know. That sucks. In our (meager) defense, we don't schedule the audiobook recording, Audible Studios does, and they say this is the best they could do. Sorry again, and I hope you all are well.

***

Hi everyone! I won't be rating or reviewing my own book, of course. I just want to jump in and say what a great pleasure it was to work with the amazing David Estes on this book. I had an absolutely fabulous time working on Kraken Rider Z, and am very happy with the way it turned out. I hope you have as much fun reading it as we did writing it. Cheers!

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

Let me begin my review by first stating that I am a huge fan of both Dyrk Ashton's Paternus trilogy and David Estes' Fatemarked series. Both are exceptional examples of fantasy at its most fun and entertaining. When I hear that the two authors were combining forces to put out a new series, beginning with this book KRAKEN RIDER Z, I was so excited to check it out. I had high expectations going in, and maybe that combined with some other things is why I unfortunately didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

I'll start with the good stuff and the aspects that I really liked. The pacing is quick and the action starts from pretty much the beginning of the book. And it never really lets up the entire time. There's not a lot of lengthy dialogue and some of the action sequences are pretty darn heart-stopping. I also enjoyed the worldbuilding quite a bit which wasn't surprising as both of these authors excel at creating new and imaginative worlds that are vast in scope. So those elements I thought were done very well and were a treat for me as the reader.

That being said there were a number of things that didn't work for me and hampered my overall enjoyment to be honest. I kind of had an uh-oh moment the instant that the kraken in the book began to communicate and talk with the main character Zee. This has always been a thing that I don't like in fantasy books. It's just a personal preference but it has to be done perfectly for me to not get completely distracted by it. And unfortunately the scenes where the kraken speaks to Zee just fell flat for me to the point that I almost dreaded getting to those parts in the book. Again, others will not have a problem with this but for me it is something that has ruined many a read.

Another thing that made this not as good a read as I would have liked is the lack of character development. We sort of get thrown into the action, which is good in some ways but not really having much of a backstory to many of the main characters lessened my investment in what happened to them throughout the story. I get that not all books have to be in-depth character studies, I just would have appreciated a little more history to how we got to this current point in everyone's journey. There were also a few other aspects that didn't click and I'm disappointed that I couldn't connect with this book, being such a fan of both authors.

Ultimately this book wasn't what I had hoped it would be. However I know that many readers may enjoy this type of story so please don't be dissuaded from giving it a go on my account. I am hoping that book two might change my mind and bring me back into the fold with this series as that has happened to me with other series in the past. I am definitely not opposed to continuing on and seeing how my feelings might differ (or stay the same) in the next entry.

Original review posted on my blog Out of This World SFF:
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...

[TS Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining and fun read that amps up the classic and well-loved tropes of the outcast and animal companionship in a satisfying way.

I loved Dyrk Ashton's Paternus trilogy which I thought was one of the most clever, and epic, urban fantasies I've read to date. So when he approached me with an advanced reading copy for his new book, written in collaboration with David Estes, I couldn't refuse especially when it came with absolute no obligation on my part to read and review it.

I'm glad I did because it was an enjoyable ride that employed two tropes which I've a weakness for - the outcast and animal companionship. Kraken Rider Z was a vastly different read from Paternus as it's progressive fantasy. The only other progressive fantasy I've read was the Cradle series by Will Wight, and while I loved those books, I sometimes find the mechanics of progression and training montages to bog down the narrative. I did feel the same with this book, but it's something that I've never been particularly fond of and probably the reason I don't read this sub-genre all that much.

The first one-third of the book was hard to put down as it sets up the story of Zee and the kraken he saved, and how their friendship and incredible bond developed, which I absolutely loved. Around the middle part of the book was when the narrative went all out on expositing on how the progression between rider and bonded animal companion works. I also started feeling that the characters were a bit flat. Zee, the main protagonist, was almost too good to be true and hardly had any flaws. In fact, his kraken companion was the more interesting counterpoint to Zee's milder personality. One thing that came across really effectively in this book was why even dragons are afraid of the legendary kraken, and it was frankly, utterly badass!

Notwithstanding some of my gripes above, the payback towards the end of the book was worth it, with some really epic action scenes, and the promise of an even more exciting sequel to come. If Cradle was anything to go by as a progression fantasy that went from good to great, this series definitely has the potential to keep getting better, and I look forward to see how much further Zee and his kraken will progress.

[QuestBoundReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: 5/5
Full Youtube review: https://youtu.be/6tILzdhQKO4


I'm in love. Literary love I mean. You may be too if you read this masterpiece. This book is a cozy progression fantasy that suddenly says F**k this lets go hardcore. It's a big middle finger to traditional progression fantasy and it does it in the best way possible. Let's dive right in.

Story: 5/5
hands down, one of the more original yet classic styles of progression fantasy I've read in a long time. I was sad as the ending of the book approached. The authors did a marvelous job at keeping me hooked from page to page, and although this is a chunky book, I found I read it quite fast.

Characters: 5/5
Zee and Jessup along with Fennix will forever go down as some of my favorite fantasy characters. I love their personalities, their grit and selflessness. I think you will too if you read this book. I also had characters I hated throughout a large part of this story, yet surprisingly forgot about them due to the main characters being so epic.

Writing style: 5/5
I've said it once and I'll say it again. I don't read to go on a mission which entails deciphering the mysteries of the known universe. I read for fun, and in my spare time. Which is why I like reading things that I don't have to put too much thought into. This was written in a manner that everyone can enjoy, even those who like the mysteries of the universe.


Overall Thoughts: Friends, aside from liking and subscribing to my Youtube Channel, go get yourself a copy of this book. Let me know what you think if you've read it. As always, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Happy reading
Javi-QuestBound Reader

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent an eARC copy of this book by Dyrk Ashton who is co-author of this book with David Estes.

This was a 'progression fantasy' story. Progression fantasy is a little bit like Lit-RPG only with less tables and statistics and more emphasis on the experiences of the characters. Characters gain experience through their training and acquire new abilities as they progress through different challenges throughout the novel.

A young boy with breathing difficulties finds eggs on a beach near his home. His parents are poor but they do the best they can to raise Zee in a world where the rich and powerful rule. The eggs turn out to be very rare, and when they hatch Zee's life will be changed forever.

Many of you will have read other books where there are Dragon-Riders and there are a number of those in this book, but could Zee become the first Kraken-Rider?

I enjoyed this book because it was so different than anything else I've read this year. There is a great deal of scope for further books in this series.

I would strongly encourage you to give this book a try when it releases on November 14th 2023.

[David Estes]

Release day! This book was so much fun to work on with my co-writer, the super talented Dyrk Ashton (author of the Patterns Trilogy). As you all know, I usually include dragons and other mythical creatures in my books (like in Fatemarked and Kingfall). But I've never included a kraken, and that's ultimately what makes this book/series unique. That said, I believe it's the main character's (Zee Tarrow) bond with the kraken (Jessup) that is truly special. They don't just care about each other; they would DIE for each other. It's the strength of this bond that I believe will keep you turning the pages as they grow and progress their power in search of their shared destiny! I hope you enjoy the read/listen! Kraken Rider Z is available in both ebook and audiobook formats, and is also free on Kindle Unlimited.

[Phil Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kraken Rider Z by Dyrk Ashton and David Estes establishes new territory in the fantasy genre. It is unlike anything I'd read before - and that's a really good thing! To define what I mean by this new territory, I've had to create a new sub-genre. Where 'grimdark' defines stories of nihilism, dark anti-heroes and worlds ruled by misery, Kraken Rider Z is its antithesis. This is a story full of goodness. People strive to do the right thing. The tone of the story is light, gentle, it's full of hope. I've labelled it 'joy-light' for these reasons.

So much of this positivity arises out of characters supporting one another. So many minor characters are ready to encourage and support Zee and Jessop, our two protagonists. And why not? They're both friendly, eager for a challenge, ready to defend those in need of their help. Attitudes which arise out of the bond they share. The villains of the story are often distant, their threat is very real but we don't encounter it first hand, instead we're eye witnesses. The reader has little contact with them, quite often all we get are the occasional insults, slurs or surprised reactions. Their negativity doesn't enter the world in the way it might normally.

A quarter of the way through the story, I said to Dyrk that I had engaged with the story's two protagonists so eagerly, I couldn't stand for anything horrible to happen to them. I think it's a reflection of how dark fantasy has led us to expect betrayal, suffering, violence that is visceral and unwarranted. What excited me, as the story developed, was how Zee and Jessop dealt with every threat and challenge in such positive ways. It helped them to develop.

This is a story about growth. Zee is a hullscrubber, he's no one. We meet him as a little kid who finds a strange creature in a rockpool and looks after it. His family are poor but Zee yearns to become a Knight and to ride a dragon like the best of them. His growth comes from two aspects of his character. He is curious-minded. Eager to learn, he readily absorbs everything, no matter how difficult it might be. Secondly, he's courageous. For that first quality to truly exist, he needs to be brave. Some learning can be risky, even dangerous. These two qualities are replicated in Jessop, the strange creature he finds. It's partly why their bond forms in the first place, they are kindred spirits. It's Old Yeller but without the tragic ending, or Kestral for a Knave, (also without the tragic ending!) Or perhaps, more accurately, it's Babe - a farmer and his sheep-pig.

Growth also involves developing with the help of others. This is where the 'joy-light' quality is seen early on. After being separated for ten years, the pair find each other again. Their continued growth relies on the support, encouragement and friendship of lother characters. Some of them are people of consequence, others who are simply 'good people'. (Yeah, even though they may be dragons and the like!)

One of the things I love about this book is its magic system. I've deliberately not defined Zee and Jessop so as not to spoil the storytelling. The magic system is partly drived from who and what they are but is also too complex to define in this review. Magic is unlike anything you'll find in any other story. Again, it's magic with a 'joy-light' dimension that is derived from a form of personal energy, reflective of the kind of person they were. It is a magical system with a lot of rules, it needs training and discipline. Much of the story is about how Zee and Jessop progress through these stages. During their development, they encounter people who thwart them, bully them too. But we're never left in any doubt that these experiences will only ever strengthen them.

The most heart-warming part of the story is the relationship between Zee and Jessop. Their's is the kind of friendship we all search for and probably seldom find. There is love. Again, an element so infrequently found in stories. We experience it in their private, shared dialogue, a result of their special bond.

I've chosen to say little about the story because of how it is tied so closely to the development of Zee and Jessop - and their bond. What we see is almost their biography, to highlight an incident is to spoil that event and its significance to the narrative. Part of the joy of this story is being a witness to the development of its two protagonists. Suffice to say, the pace never lets up. It's relentless in leading Zee, Jessup and all the others (plus the reader) to a climax which is breathtaking in its scale and heart-rending in its emotional impact.

I've long been a fan of Dyrk Ashton. His Paternus series remains in my all-time Top Three (alongside Richard Morgan and Raymond Feist). If I'm honest, I really wondered if he could match it. How do you better perfection? The answer sounds simple, it isn't. You write a very different story with a new and original style. One that is like nothing like anyone has done before. That takes real talent and imagination.

This is the first story in a longer tale. I have my ideas about where things will go next and I can't wait to find out. I cannot recommend this story highly enough. Kraken Rider Z is feel-good fantasy at its best. It's exciting, heart-warming and original. Beyond that, it leaves you wishing this world could be just as positive, that people could be as kind, nurturing and supportive as those in this book. Read it, savour it. A new fantasy sub-genre has arrived and it's Joy-Light.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kraken Rider Z by Dyrk Ashton and David Estes is a super fun and quick progression fantasy! I love big tomes that don't feel like long books, but you rather breeze through them and are surprised you're already at the end of almost 700 pages!

I really fell in love with the tone and voice right away. The friendship between Zee and Jessop the Kraken is just wonderful, and I loved the banter and fun just as much as the loyalty.

This book hits on a lot of the basic tropes, and it's a super easy read. So if you're looking for something totally fresh or complex, this isn't for you.
However if you're in for a fun read that just sucks you in and keeps you entertained all the way through? This might be perfect! For me it was the ideal holiday read.

We got the Dragons, the bonds, the strengthening of the core, the poor young boy, the arrogant noble, military training, and a lot of things that make you feel right at home.
But we also have murmen, different kinds of creatures, a disabled dragon, and other bits and pieces that keep it fresh and set it apart from other books.

For me personally the naming of characters was distracting, with so many names lifted from the bookish community, so reading all my "friends" names just distracted me a bit and threw me out of the story. It was fun at first, but just got a little bit over the top for me.

I like how the progression bits are there, so you can see them "leveling up", but it's not pages of stats, like full on LitRPG often has. Instead it's dialed down to different ranks, and training to get higher up the ladder. For me progression like this is the ide balance between the satisfaction of leveling up, but without it becoming repetitive or stale.

All in all a read I enjoyed thoroughly, and I'm already looking forward to book two, before book one is even published! (I got lucky enough to get an ARC)

[The Nerd Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I’m not even a fan of the Progression genre so I was pretty hesitant to read this book when Dyrk reached out to me with an ARC offer. But I am a big fan of Dyrk’s Paternus series, it is my favorite Urban Fantasy series ever, so I gave this book a shot and I’m glad I did!

The book follows a kid named Zee who wants nothing more than to be a dragon rider but he is poor and so his odds are pretty slim since you have to go to an academy to become a dragon rider and that usually requires money or connections that Zee and his family just don’t have.

In this series dragons are sentient beings that can talk just like humans and they too have to go through the training academy to see if they’re up for bonding with a human. In order to use magic and level up you have to be a bonded pair. The leveling up process is the same for both dragon and human as well. The dragon acts as the magical reservoir and the human as the focus to actually use spells and abilities.

The authors do such a great job of seamlessly integrating the Progression elements that I didn’t even realize it was happening. I never got taken out of that movie in my mind as I was learning the progression and magic system and before I knew it we were at that academy stage with Z and his, clearly not a dragon, the book is called Kraken Rider Z after all… and I realized I didn’t need to get out of the story in order to understand the leveling up and how the bonding process worked.

Tons of action and a great story made for a fun read from beginning to end.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of David Estes having started with him back when he was writing the Moondwellers series. So when I heard he was working on a book with Dyrk Ashton about a kraken and his rider, I couldn’t help but be completely intrigued with how that could possibly work.

I’m also a huge fan of bonded dragons and have read all of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, over and over and over… And just finished the Fourth Wing books. So, yes. I do love dragons!

In Kraken Rider Z, we not only have the ONLY mythological kraken in existence, but we have an entire world which includes dragons, military dragon school, and a whole lot of magic. Count me in!!!

And, as I’ve come to expect from David Estes, I was swept away by the story of 7 year old Zee finding and naming a baby Kraken. I was all in from the beginning chapters.

Zee and Jessup are then separated for about 10 years and both have grown into adults. During this time Zee ends up as a hull scrubber on a ship and Jessup survives in a harsh ocean environment trying not to be eaten while he’s young. Zee spends his time dreaming of become a dragonrider.

Without going into spoilers, all I can say is I fell in love with the two protagonists in this progressive fantasy. The action is non-stop and the ending is very satisfying! Although the book starts with a 7 year old, it’s not an MG book. It’s YA, but reads as adult fantasy.

If you enjoy lovable characters, dragons, magic, or incredible world building in your fantasies, this book is for you.

I preordered and listened to Kraken Rider Z on audiobook narrated by the incredible Tim Gerard Reynolds (does the Red Rising series) and I couldn’t get enough. Between the story and Tim’s performance, I listened to this book every second possible and would force myself to turn off the audio late at night so I could sleep.

Really well done to both authors! I can’t wait for book 2!

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was delightful. l have read most of David Estes' series and have enjoyed them. Have had this one on my kindle for a while and have no idea why I haven't read it before now.

This book thrilled and titilated me from start to finish. An unlikely star starts out as a 7 year old undersized boy with breathing issues and a skin condition who lives with his parents and some pigs in a small shack. Zee beachcombs for interesting things and herbs for his mother. Until he discovers the most interesting thing.

Zee has always dreamed of becoming a dragon knight. But alas it's not likely at all.

A great many chuckles and suspense as the tale unfolds about this young boy's travails.

[Zachary Silvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!

Wow! Great book. I didn’t know what to expect when I started this but I can honestly say it blew my expectations out of the water!!

[Jeremy Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kraken Rider Z was my first true "Progression Fantasy" read and I wasn't sure what to expect...but I knew, if David Estes had a part in it, it would be epic! And epic it was 🔥

Zee Tarrow is a young boy living a basic, poor life with his parents and pet pig. With dreams he knows are unachievable, Zee still aspires to be a dragon rider and make his mark in this world! After finding strange creature on the beach during his daily trips helping the family scrape by, Zee and this creature (named Jessup)develop a growing friendship and bond. Word gets out though and this creature ends up being confiscated and taken from Zee. After trying to get Jessup back and finding out what he is, Zee barely manages to release him into the sea before being caught, and sold into basically slave work on the ships. A hard life at sea for years harden Zee and his resolve until a surgeon and friend see him for what he is and can be. During a near death experience, Jessup makes his way back to Zee and our story really begins!

The progression system was different for me as a reader and at times a bit slow...but boy is it worth the time. We get a great handle on the magic system used in this book and the bonds between Rider and beast. Dragons are the main bonded beasts until Jessup is introduced (hence the title Kraken Rider Z) and these bonded beasts can talk just as the humans. Different pairs, levels and abilities range throughout this story and makes for some VERY interesting and intense battles! The ending culminating in quite a sequence to read!

Estes and Ashton create a vivid and intriguing world, a fresh dragon riding trope (with a BIG twist 😏) and a quickly expanding saga in the works! Creativity, intense action and a enemy that can match the power of the mighty Kraken, we are left holding our breath and searching the depths of the sea for a sequel to be released asap!! Great fun, grab your wetsuits and dive into this wild ride! 📚🍻

[Adam darrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Best book I’ve read all year. David Estes has now become my favorite fantasy writer of all time. Just amazing!

[Wolfmantula · Rating 5 out of 5]

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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Advanced Reader Copy

Kraken Rider Z is a rip-roaring progression fantasy with unforgettable characters and tantalizing views.

The story is split into four parts and what I liked about splitting it into parts was that each author was able to take turns putting in their own style to the story. It was a great collaboration and honestly so much fun to read, it reminded me a lot of Paternus in the way that it felt because of Dyrk’s uncanny way of telling such a fun and light hearted story with some edge. I haven’t read anything from David Estes until now, and will add his stuff to my TBR, but based on what he’s previously written and how this story develops, he brought a bit more of a serious tone while still keeping that light hearted feel to it.

How can you not have fun reading something that has Krakens, Dragons and pirates, as well as characters named after authors and reviewers we know and love. Seeing each name pop up was really fun and exciting to see, and I love that it wasn’t hidden or letters mixed up to make you guess, it was straight forward, in your face! That’s not good enough? How about TALKING dragons & krakens! Yes, they speak literally and telepathically. I also liked that there were different types of dragons rather than just different colors of them, even though there were also different colored ones as well, and I also liked that the Gods names were an amalgamation of Roman & Greek mythological gods, that was a nice touch.

“Reach deeper than you could possibly imagine. Farther than you ever have before.
Only at the moment of most dire need will more power come to you. The greatest potential lies with those closest to defeat. The most high will be those with the noblest intent, perhaps most aligned to the divine will of Zhera herself.”

Maybe I should talk about the main characters, Zee and Jessup, just a little bit. First off, love the name Jessup for some reason and every time I had to say his name, I just giggled. But anyways, both of them were fantastic and so lovable, which made seeing their growth so much better from getting to see them start off in the beginning at such a young age and to see them both blossom to young adults. Though I do wish there was a little more touched on in those in between years. While the time jump was definitely needed and we got bits and pieces throughout the rest of the story, I felt like it took some good backstory away from the characters that could’ve shown more of their growth. The side characters that we meet were also great, one in particular I thought I wasn’t going to like very much, but ended up liking quite a bit. Oh, and Midge, I love Midge! Everyone is going to love Midge!

I’m docking this half a point for no Clash of the Titans reference, I mean, how do you have a book about a Kraken and nobody has a “RELEASE THE KRAKEN” line in there!?!? Lol. Just kidding, I would never dock for something like that, but I was really hoping for that Easter egg… maybe book 2. I liked the progression rankings and that there are levels to each so it’s not as if it is just go from one to the next, but because there are so many, I did feel like the progression side of the story did move rather quickly at times. Since this is a trilogy, it does need to move quicker than the way Cradle, which is a 12 book series, moved. Maybe fewer classes and levels would’ve made it work better and not feel so fast moving, regardless of that, this was still absolutely enjoyable and I cannot wait until it’s release so I can hear Tim Gerard Reynolds voice these characters!

[Nils Ödlund]

I've not previously read anything by David Estes, and I should probably do something about. However, earlier this year, I read the Paternus trilogy, by Dyrk Ashton, and so I dug into Kraken Rider Z expecting something similarly dark and brutal.

To my surprise, what I found was borderline wholesome – at least compared to what I'd expected.
Zee Tarrow is a young lad of seven, and he dreams of becoming a knight and riding a dragon. He wants to go to the dragon knight academy, bond with a dragon, and go on adventures. Unfortunately, Zee is from a poor family, and the only thing he's likely to ever ride is a pig. Then, one day, against all odds and expectations, Zee finds a mysterious egg and soon befriends a baby kraken. The rest, as they say, is history, or at least it's the story.

Without giving away any spoilers, things progress as one might expect. On the whole, Kraken Rider Z is a classic fantasy tale about an underdog who find himself the wielder of legendary powers. Some readers might turn their sophisticated noses up at such fare, but it's their loss. A good story is still a good story, and this one's well-written, exciting, and fun. I'll be checking out the next part when it arrives.


What I'll whine about

I've not really read any Progression Fantasy in the past, and while the progression part is actually quite fun, I found some of the “tutorial” bits to be a bit on the lengthy side. The mechanics of the world is explained in detail to ensure the reader gets what's going on, and I felt like I about half of it would have been enough.


What I'll gush about

Classic adventure. This book has all the good stuff you'd expect from this kind of story, and it's a joy to read something that's all about plain good fun. The story isn't trying to be quirky or original, and it doesn't care if it's cheesy or predictable. It just does its own thing, and it does it well.


Final Words

Excellent progression fantasy, with lots of adventure, fun, and friendship.

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Kraken Rider Z is an story that began as a joke and thanks to the genius talents of Dyrk Ashton and David Z. Estes, actually culminated in a story that’s even more fantastical than Dyrk’s debut trilogy. The story as we know is about a Kraken and the boy who finds himself as its rider. But boy there’s a ton of lot more surprises within this story.

The story begins with a young 8-year old child named Zee Tarrow who is happily playing with his pig, his life changes when he chances upon a strange baby creature. This is a far remote corner of the island of Tosh and Zee doesn’t quite know what to call his new found pet. Calling it Jessup, he soon finds that it is a near mythical beast called a Kraken, thus begins the crazy journey that is Kraken Rider Z.

Dyrk Ashton sure knows how to concoct a story unlike most others in the fantasy genre and it was very evident with his debut trilogy and it is evident again with this new series, mixing epic fantasy with nautical action and a whole bunch of amazing characters, this story is bound to drawn you in and then keep you hooked with bond between Jessup and Zee. There’s not only this fantastic bond but also a rich world that’s nautical in origin and the authors make sure to envelop every aspect of this story with the water aspect. From the way what food is consumed to the resources that they have. Plus this story is a fascinating mix of epic fantasy along with progression fantasy, we also get a solid military school angle and to add to that there’s Dragons and a singular Kraken. Such a mix can be a tad jarring but its kudos to messrs Ashton & Estes, the sub-genre aspects fit in smoothly with each other as well as the tropes.

The story is rich in its characterization beginning with Zee and Jessup, their bond is the key to this story and it is indeed a rich one. In Zee Tarrow, we get a character who’s heroic and kind as they come. We get to see him from a young age and throughout certain traumatic events, we get to see him blossom into an adolescent who’s wise an stronger beyond his age. Then there’s Jessup the Kraken, who is a hoot and equally scary when he wants to be. They power the story and not only that, the rich characterization extends to character cast, there’s a bunch of folks from the indie fantasy community who will find themselves immortalized within these pages from authors such Michael R. Fletcher, Phil Tucker, Rob J Hayes, M.L. Spenser, etc to bloggers such as Petrik, and various other folks from the community. It was fun for me to see all the named folks and I hope it will be the same for all the readers too.

The action sequences within the story are top notch and we get a solid mix of under water and above the water ones. The magic system is also one wherein there’s a lot more cool stuff happening be it with the dragons or with the way magic is mined within the story. This aspect of the story ties into the progression aspect of fantasy and for readers more familiar with the genre might find it to their liking. Overall this story has so many cool facets from its magic system to the comedy, to the action to the characters. There’s something for everyone and that’s something really hard to achieve.

CONCLUSION: Epic AF and funny as hell. Ashton and Estes have created a story that's bursting with action and lively banter, as well as imbued with the incredible strength of a unique found-family bond. This is a truly a ‘kraken’ read.

[kris abyad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to get sent an advance copy of this book. So when it came out had to get it.

Zee as a MC is well written and not annoying at all. Not complaining about his lot or how he is treated constantly. And Jessop personality really compliments the story. Couldn’t fault this book at all. Except I’m wanting the next book already. The plot moves at the right pace and the detail is brilliant. Fully recommend

[The Scribblings · Rating 5 out of 5]

When he finds an unusual egg on the nearby beach, young Zee becomes the guardian of a strange little creature that will ultimately change his life.

Disclaimer: This review is based on an ARC copy provided by the author.

One thing to get out of the way first, several tropes are being used in this book. Admittedly they are done well and, in between my reading and this review, I’ve since learned that this is, at least partially, the point. This has the advantage of making the story easily accessible but it does run the risk of making certain plot events easier to foresee.

The book is a fairly straightforward read, benefiting from one of the tropes mentioned above. Since Zee is an inexperienced boy-boy and has lived a relatively sheltered life until he is forced to leave when his new ward is discovered readers get to discover the wider world at the same time and in the same manner that Zee does. Moving from the small township to life aboard a merchant vessel and finally to the elite military academy where the bulk of the storyline takes place, the world and its associated lore expands accordingly.

The relationship between Zee and Jessup, as the kraken comes to be called, takes centre stage throughout the novel, especially since 3/4 is told from Zee’s perspective. Initially, Jessup gives Zee someone to talk to and confide in, something he doesn't seem to have beyond his parents or the family's pig. Later, after they have been forcibly separated for a time, they each provide a sense or symbol of hope to the other that will be reunited. Finally, once they are together again, they give strength to each other, in more ways than one. There is also a downside to their bond as well, which is touched on briefly and, I suspect, will become more prevalent as the prospective series goes on. But, for the sake of spoilers, I won't go into details for now.

Given that this is a progression fantasy, a fair bit of page time is given over to Zee and Jessup learning how to control or manifest their newly discovered abilities. While still very well written, and the magic system is interesting in itself; I did find some of this to be a bit repetitive. I feel like this is more of an issue with me rather than with the book but for those not accustomed to progression fantasy, it might be worth keeping in mind.

Overall, it’s a fun and predominantly easy read that will appeal to readers of multiple age groups. And, if you should happen to follow the authors on social media, a lot of easter eggs to spot.

4.5 out of 5 Dripping Buckets

[David U.]

This is one of those stories that start off as a slog, but you keep reading because you can see the potential. And I’ll tell you, the wait is worth it. The MC had a humble beginning and did suffer quite a bit at the start, but he and his kraken became satisfyingly OP at the end.

I liked the way the cultivation ‘forging’ aspect was introduced, as well as how the human/dragon society has symbiotically developed. However, I wish there was a bit more in the world building aspect, like other kingdoms or a brief history of the world. The characters are also interesting, in particular, I liked how the author moved away from the stereotypical douchbag rival at the start and turned him into a friend. Of course, there was still another 2D rich boy villian in the later chapters, but all stories have them.

Now, I felt that the story had a few plot holes. Like, the red titan king and the deans just get beaten so easily?? And for some reason only the MC was able to meaningfully contribute to the final fight? That’s just plot armour, and I wished that fight could have been written differently. It completely diminished the gravity of being a white/red titan dragon pair.

Overall it was a good story 8/10. Great narration. I’m looking forward to the next one.

[Branden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good progression fantasy. It hit the sweet spot of fast-paced but also had a great character development and excellent worldbuilding. Yes, the trope is familiar in a way. But the writing is excellent, and our MCs (Zee and Jessup) are so damn likeable that it doesnt matter.

Also this has minimal LITRPG elements, which I very much prefer. Part of the reason i love fantasy is because I'm an old school D&D nerd, but when I read a story, I really just want to read a story and not get bogged down with charts, etc. This book conveys the progression in a way that is (to me) reminiscent of Will Wight's "Cradle" series; which is to say that it is done really, really well.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to David Estes for providing an audible code in return for an honest review.

With that being said, when I first saw this book I did what you aren’t supposed to do and judged it but its cover. It had a feel that was very YA and those books usually aren’t in my wheelhouse.

The first part of the story unfortunately had me feeling that exact way. It was the story of a young 7 year old Zee, his pig, and this new creature Jessup that he wasn’t quite sure what it was. It wasn’t until the realization arrived towards the end of that first act of what Zee and Jessup were that started to pique my interest and the story started to get moving for me. Zee’s life on board the ship was one that wasn’t the best, but it helped to create this strong young man 10 years later.

With Zee now being 17 and coming into his own with his new identity was cool to see and the relationship that formed between mentor/teacher/ship surgeon Aemig really helped Zee understand more about who he was. The reunion with Jessup and Zee was great and visualization how big Jessup had become in these past ten years really had my mind wondering! But here is where it hit another snag for me. The move into the city of Tosh was such a slowdown in the story. I completely understand why it was necessary in the progress of the bond between Zee and Jessup, but I was starting to lose interest again.

One cool aspect of this part on the book was the development of rider and beast in an almost LitRPG way. The level up system, abilities gained, powers, and magic system was cool to see. You could feel that Zee and Jessup had this unspoken and misunderstood power because of what they are to each other, it just took some time to get there. Where it really took off was the last part of the book which landed Zee and Jessup into a battle with unknown enemies.

Without spoiling much, the time spent on board the ship training, the battle itself, and then the return to Tosh was my absolute favorites in the book. I wanted to know more about the red eyes enemies, how they came to be, and where they came from. What would their significance be in the overall series? So many questions! The book ended in a great way with how much Zee and Jessup grew and bonded, what they were able to achieve, and the status they rose to.

I look forward to seeing where the story goes and can’t wait for book 2!

[Jordan Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun mix between Dragon Rider coming of age story and a progression fantasy. It reminded me of a cross between Dragon Mage and Cradle, both awesome books.

Zee, the main character dreams of one day becoming a dragon rider, but one day he finds a baby kraken on the beach and secretly takes care of it. His humble upbringing prevents him from joining the elite academy for dragon riders, but his bond to the baby kraken will grow into something unique and powerful. The friendship between Zee and his kraken, Jessup, is endearing and the characters are likeable. There are bits of humor throughout and the prose are entertaining and easy to read.

The pace was a tad slow in parts but my interest never wavered. It's also a comin-of-age story, which is not my favorite trope. Because of the age of the protagonist, it at times feels like young adult, which isn't usually a thing I like. But I found it adult enough to thoroughly enjoy the story overall.

The worldbuilding is interesting and the progression tropes accentuated that nicely. There is a magic/dragon rider academy which is a trope I do really enjoy. The magic was cool and the fights were well written and differentiated.

To sum it up, I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to see a different take on the typical dragon rider story. Fans of progression fantasy and LitRPG will also enjoy Zee's quest to master his magic. This was a fun and entertaining story with likeable characters.

[Nicholas Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun and surprisingly sweet.
What a delight of a read. There's great action. There's an interesting magic system. There's a magic academy and dragon riders and, yes, a Kraken! Because why not, right? It all came together really well. The plot and action are a lot of fun. What really surprised me though was just how sweet the relationship is between Z and his Kraken. They crack little jokes together and deeply care for each other in a way that's beautifully expressed.
The title really sets the expectations for this book. If you're looking for a unique action story of a poor farm boy who grows up to ride an amazing mythological creature, this book delivers!

[Vamshi aruru · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5, while I did enjoy reading it, I'm still kinda disappointed. This is a boy meets dragon (kraken here) story with nautical emphasis and a magic school. I should have loved this to bits. But the pace was excruciatingly slow, with far too many uninteresting info dumps. The book should have been half its size.

I did enjoy it still. good character, good mysteries I'm looking to forward to uncover, and the few intensr sequences it has are immaculately written.

[Lisa Maughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable read. Heartfelt at times, harrowing at other times. Good battle scenes. Loved the characters, great growth between Jessup and Zee. Also loved the way they snuck in names of other Indie authors and their characters.

[Jeffrey Greek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best Progression Fantasy I've ever read, for what it's worth. It was interesting enough that I'll read the second one.

[Evan Derdowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun upbeat cultivation novel. love the story and the way they progressed.

I love the ocean. And I love the newer style of cultivation novels like iron prince and cradle. They make it fun fast and avoid the tropes and hallmarks of the standard cultivation stories. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Alan Behan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krakenly Phenomenal.

Wow, that was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. This book is one of my favourite reads this year, and it had it all, from Dragons, Dragons riders, a big ass Kraken, and a magic military academy.

Kraken Rider Z is the first book in the series, and it's co-written by the amazing Dyrk Ashton and David Estes, known for their brilliant series Dyrks Paternus trilogy and David's Fate Marked series. You knew when these two good authors got together, this was going to be a cracking read. And damn they didn't disappoint.

What I love is when two authors co-write together and the story just flows brilliantly, you can't tell who has written each scene, and it keeps you guessing because it's fast-paced and so action-packed and excellently put together.

The worldbuilding and setting are brilliant, with lots of loveable characters, dragons, and some you will love to hate, but eventually grow on you as the story unfolds. I absolutely love this world Dyrk and David have created for us to live in, a place where authors really do write magical places for fantasy readers to get lost and away from reality for a while.

It's a progression fantasy with a few twist and surprises and two bonded protagonists, a young farm boy Zee and his Kraken Jessup set on a world of vast oceans and terrible monsters lurking in the depths, always looking for their next meal.

Zee has always dreamt of being a dragon rider, bombing around on the farms pig Midge, but being a low born, his chances are very slim. Then Zee comes across a rock pool with a baby Kraken weak from just hatching, Zee does he best to save it, and in doing so, it will create a bond that will last a lifetime.

A secret Zee must keep because Krakens are a fable, stories to scare the children, and one hasn't been seen in thousands of years. So when Zee's father discovers the Kraken, his and the Kraken Jessup's whole lives are about to change forever.

If you love magic military academies, royal dragon riders, pirates, big sea monsters, Wraith riders, and beasts and just some good oul storytelling at it's finest, then look no further than Kraken Rider Z, it's breath of fresh air, and I can not wait for book two, very highly recommended...😁🐙🐉⚡️🔥