When Dealing with Dragons

Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal--now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other, from Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight.

Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father's footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse--plus, he's the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.

When James strongarms his way into interning at her family's dragon sanctuary for the summer, it puts everything at risk. Farren isn't just the plain copper-crafter she seems. She's hiding a secret that could not only change her life, but their society as a whole. And James, trying to find refuge from his controlling father, harbors his own secret, years-long crush on Farren. Hating James might be harder than she thought, but Farren can't risk getting too close: the fate of an endangered species is at stake.

When Dealing with Dragons is a delightful young adult dual-POV romantasy about cross-class romance, finding family, and creating a better world for creatures big and small.

Author: Dana Swift
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: 06/30/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.41h x 6.01w x 1.21d
ISBN: 9781250402431
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2026
School Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 79
Booklist 06/01/2026

About the Author
DANA SWIFT started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn't stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and goldendoodle, Kala, who's antics inspired the dragons in When Dealing With Dragons. Her debut, Cast in Firelight, and its sequel, Bound by Firelight, were published with Delacorte Press. You can learn more about Dana at www.danaswiftbooks.com.