Bright Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang 

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang is a breathtaking queer fantasy novella that blends dragon-slaying action, tender romance, and Asian-inspired epic worldbuilding. Perfect for fans of She Who Became the Sun and The Mandalorian, this is a powerful story about identity, duty, and choosing love in a world built on fear.

The legendary guildknight of Mithrandon wears armor not just for protection—but to hide who she truly is. Known only by her mask, Yeva was just thirteen when she killed her first dragon. Plucked from her home and trained in the empire's brutal art of dragon-hunting, she has become a living weapon—bound to duty, yet untethered from a true sense of belonging.

When Yeva is sent to the secluded kingdom of Quanbao, she expects to hunt and kill. There, dragons are not feared, but revered. And at the heart of this mysterious realm stands Lady Sookhee, its enigmatic queen.

What begins as wariness between hunter and monarch slowly deepens into something neither of them expected. Yeva, for the first time in years, begins to wonder what it would mean to be seen—not as a weapon, but as a person.

But as she edges closer to truth and connection, a terrible choice awaits: will she betray her mission, or her heart?

Rich in worldbuilding and emotionally resonant, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a striking novella about found family, queer love, and the cost of reclaiming your humanity in a world that demands your silence.