The Soulbound Saga · Book Three

Emperor's
Dragon

The exhilarating conclusion to Taran Matharu's Sunday Times bestselling Soulbound Saga, in which the war for the empire reaches its breaking point…

Published 19 November 2026 (UK) · 8 December 2026 (US)

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Pre-order now Begin the saga

Emperor's Dragon by Taran Matharu, cover

New York Times bestselling author
Sunday Times bestselling author
3 million+ copies sold
8 million+ reads on Wattpad
Published in 17 languages

Three worlds

Choose your path

Dragons and empires for adult readers. A demon summoning academy. A deadly game on an alien world. Every journey starts with book one.

Adult epic fantasy

The Soulbound Saga

Empires fall. Dragons soar.

Enter

New York Times bestselling fantasy

Summoner

Demons, magic and epic adventure.

Enter

YA fantasy trilogy

Contender

In this game, failure is not an option.

Enter

Adult epic fantasy · Complete in three volumes

The Soulbound Saga

Empires fall. Dragons soar.

Can an orphan captive learn the secrets of the Dragon Riders to stand up and avenge his people?

Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court, ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves.

But conspirators lurk in the shadows, and soon the Sabine Court is in chaos. With his life in danger, Jai uses the opportunity to escape with the Dansk handmaiden, Frida, and a stolen hatchling. Hunted at every turn, he must learn to cultivate magic and become a soulbound warrior if he has any chance of finding safety, seizing his destiny...and seeking his revenge.

Start with Dragon Rider

“A dazzlingly epic and richly complex world of dragons, magic, and rebellion”

Amélie Wen Zhao on Dragon Rider

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New York Times bestselling fantasy

Summoner

Demons, magic and epic adventure.

Touch the circle to summon Ignatius

Summon more demons

One boy's power to summon demons will change the fate of an empire...

Fletcher was nothing more than a humble blacksmith's apprentice, when a chance encounter leads to the discovery that he has the ability to summon demons from another world. Chased from his village for a crime he did not commit, he must travel with his demon to the Vocans Academy, where the gifted are trained in the art of summoning.

Start with The Novice

Reading order

The trilogy runs The Novice, The Inquisition, The Battlemage. The Outcast is set before the events of The Novice, and The Summoner’s Handbook is the illustrated companion guide.

“Fantasy readers should enjoy this entertaining, comfortably familiar-feeling adventure featuring an earnest soldier-schoolboy and his demonic sidekick.”

Kirkus Reviews

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// YA fantasy trilogy

Contender

In this game, failure is not an option.

In a world far from our own, where enemies come in many forms, the ultimate battle for survival is about to begin.

Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Cade is facing a year in reform school when he finds himself suddenly transported to another realm.

Populated by bloodthirsty prehistoric creatures and fierce warriors, Cade's surroundings are full of danger. Along with his fellow students, Cade is forced to become a contender in a deadly game of the highest stakes, controlled by invisible overlords. Who are these brutal rulers, and why did they choose Cade? Before he can find answers, Cade must get ready to fight...

Start with The Chosen

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The author

From Wattpad to the bestseller lists

Taran Matharu was born in London in 1990 and found a passion for reading at a very early age. His love for stories developed into a desire to create his own during early adolescence, beginning his first book at 9 years old.

Keen to explore a new avenue and get inside the publishing world, Taran landed an internship in Digital Sales at Penguin Random House. Thereafter, while taking time off to travel, he began to write the Summoner series at the age of 22, taking part in Nanowrimo 2013. Thanks to Wattpad.com and updating daily, its popularity dramatically increased, reaching over 3 million reads in less than 6 months. To date, he has had over 8 million reads on Wattpad.