The Last Dragon House

by Liv Mae Morris

A spellbinding middle-grade debut about a magical boarding house for dragons and the unlikely siblings destined to save it

Siblings Olly and Jenny Atwood have never met a dragon—Olly doesn’t even think they’re real. But when the strange and brilliant Dr. Lady Abernathy offers Olly a job at her mysterious house, the Atwoods learn that these incredible beasts are very much alive—and they need help.

Dragons have been forced into hiding, and as caretakers of the Dragon House, Dr. Lady and Olly are the only protectors these magnificent creatures have left. But when evil forces conspire to poison Dr. Lady, Olly and his dragon friends find themselves locked in a race against time, political conspiracies…and one very large corgi. Can Olly recover the antidote before it’s too late? And can Jenny harness her stirring powers to keep Dr. Lady alive until then? Or could this be the end of the Dragon House—and dragons—as they know it?

The Last Dragon House is a showstopping novel full of fast-paced, laugh-out-loud adventure and endearingly flawed characters. It’s also about how our seemingly impossible problems will ultimately be solved: Not by waiting for a Chosen One, but by banding together and sharing our unique strengths. Another word for those strengths? Magic.

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, Young Readers

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Liv Mae Morris was a 2022 Lambda Literary Fellow and 2024 recipient of the Binc Foundation’s Susan Kamil Prize for Emerging Writers; equally importantly, she is the steward of two cats and one beautiful, chaotic husky/chihuahua/German shepherd mix. Originally from Kentucky, she now lives with her wife in Boston, where she works as an indie bookseller as well as a writer.

Reviews

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The early part of the book follows Olly as he is expected to find a job after finishing the fifth grade. He answers an ad for a job opening even though the description says death is a possibility. Readers will be fascinated by the personalities he encounters at the sanctuary for dragons. He’s greeted at the door by a bat-dragon that can translate most dragon languages. Olly’s jobs include wearing down the back scales on Onyx, a stone dragon, and polishing the scales on a giant, deadly wyrm named Amy. Olly must be alert when helping Amy, because she might eat him or add him to her hoard if he’s careless. Amy adds humor to the story, as she often threatens to eat other characters. A smaller, fairy-dragon adores Olly’s hair and becomes an enthusiastic companion.
The author subtly hints at societal problems before revealing the main conflict. Most children must work to help pay for their families’ needs, since rampant poverty is a major issue. Dr. Lady created the Dragon House because humans were killing them for no reason. Onyx tells Olly about humans blowing up the mountain where he lived, killing his entire family living in caves. Many humans died while mining the mountain, and then the mines closed. It didn’t make sense to Onyx. Dragons once lived peacefully among humans until the rich and powerful became angered by how the dragons helped the powerless. Today, wealthy individuals still bribe the ruler to get laws and decisions favorable to their companies and fortunes. Readers slowly learn that the conflict has arrived at the Dragon House.
The synopsis hints at Jenny’s role in the plot, but she doesn’t make a significant appearance until the book’s second half. Early in the book, she finds a creature hidden near the family garden, but her family doesn’t believe her description of a dragon. Jenny’s transformation into performing magic happens slowly and doesn’t become significant until after Dr. Lady is poisoned. The author introduces another character later in the plot who changes the dynamics. Trev doesn’t seem to like Olly and constantly scowls and says everything is stupid. His negativity stands in stark contrast to the cooperation of other characters, but his character provides an opportunity to teach readers a lesson about understanding.
What didn’t work as well:
The story includes many amusing footnotes, but they’re not shared until the end of the chapters. Readers might prefer to see them at the bottom of individual pages, so that the context will be fresh in their minds. The number of dragons can be overwhelming, but the author takes the time to highlight the main characters. Including scenes that feature them individually helps readers differentiate and understand their personalities.
The final verdict:
This is a charming book about the highs and lows of human-dragon relations with underlying messages relevant to today’s society. Olly is the main character, and his compassion, bravery, and honesty make him an admirable, honorable protagonist. Dragon lovers or those looking for adventure will obviously enjoy this book, and I recommend you check it out for yourself!

[Lou Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh dear where to start with this one. This is everything that little me loved about the Last Dragon Chronicles, but a lot more tailored to the target audience: Kids.

I will read anything that has dragons on the book cover. This was very well wrote, the language used was perfect for kids who love to read, especially the younger audience that thsis book is aimed at: don't let the size of this book put you off. I loved how the characters each have their own silly little mannerisms. It was charming and equally comedic.

Another thing to note, is that in books on the subject of dragons, and works of fiction, that dragons love to murmur, this book was no different, and I personally loved that small detail. The whole concept of Dragon House, how they live, how the residents and employees interact with each other, the dilemma's.

I don't recommend The Last Dragon Chronicles anymore. But this? This is what I want to see for kids of the age range it is aimed at. Brilliant worldbuilding, perfectly crafted for the target audience:

Overall- if your child is a bookworm and loves dragons, they will without hesitation love this book. I grew up also on the Eragon books which is for a slightly older audience: This is a brilliant book to bridge the gap between early readers, and advanced reading (such as the eragon series.)

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would like this book just from reading the first page. Middle school fantasy book, but if you are older don’t let that stop you reading this endearing and humorous book. There’s enough for readers of every age to get their teeth into. (Just like the fairy dragons have a tendency to do.)

Yes! There are dragons! (The book’s title sort of gives that away) Lots of them - not all of them bite, some threaten to eat you. So before you start reading collect a polishing cloth or a book of poetry, those things might be the saving of you.

And Wizards, and lots of magic, and adventure, and lots of funny footnotes. Hot topic, footnotes. Don’t worry the footnotes won’t burn you, just make you laugh. Unlike some other feet I could mention. (But their owner is trying very hard to stop that happening.)

I hope this review has given you an idea that this is a fun book to spend time with. It’s a complete story, but I’m sure the author has ideas for another.

Thank you to ABRAMS kids and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Jan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everyone or everything fits or is even supposed to fit in the world, real or imaginary. This is a very good thing, and at the heart of “The Last Dragon House” not to mention everyone who will read this book. The dragon and good hearted character drenched book is laced with evergreen themes perfect for those who love early middle grade fantasy with a gentle touch. We want to have a place with dragons, kindness, and family when so many seek to tear us to shreds. “The Last Dragon House” will hopefully be the beginning of a new series that needs to be on library and bookstore shelves for those who need to find dragons and kindred spirits.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Dragon House is a well written and engaging tale of two siblings and their simultaneous encounters with dragons. On the surface, it is a sweet tale of good versus evil. In this world, there are a myriad of dragon types, each with its own biome and needs. Dr. Lady Abernathy has created a sanctuary for them and hires 11 year old Olly as her new successor/apprentice. Jenny, Olly's 9 year old sister finds a dragon hiding in her family's garden and befriends him. There are a lot of political themes under the surface of the story. It was off-putting in a middle grade story.

I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this with my 9-year-old who said this was his favorite of our together reads so far. I love dragons, and I love the way various dragons are integrated into this story. Olly, while kind of a bland-ish character to start, ends up being quite enjoyable. We adored his sister Jenny, though. While the stakes seem pretty high, the actual adventure feels pretty cozy. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute and fun read. I loved all the characters, especially the dragons.

My only complaints were it took me awhile to get into it and the footnotes seemed completely unnecessary. Im not a fan of footnotes in fiction.

This book is great for young fantasy readers and adults alike. Dragons have always been a favorite of mine, so I’m always thrilled when a new series starts that features them. You can tell this is just the first book in what will be a series, and I can’t wait to read more.

[Manu · Rating 4 out of 5]

mi sono immaginata di leggerlo come favola della buonanotte ai miei figli e non voglio nemmeno avere bambini
(grazie a netgalley per l'e-arc!)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give it 6 stars if I could.

[Althea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a lot of fun with a great amount of heart. Definitely would recommend it to kids that want cozy books or stories about dragons.

[Jenna W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my 6th grader and we both enjoyed it. It has adventure and good character development. Good reflection on what's important and how to stand up for the right thing.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story for young readers. I think Amy might be my favorite death wyrm. But in general it was a cute story with a round family.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus