• Not All Dragons

Not All Dragons

by David Ly

May 19, 2026 | ISBN 978-1-998408-42-9 | 300 Pages

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What is it that you are, Rhys?

In a land of magic and myth, Rhys awakens on the shore of Lanilia with mysterious wounds on his back and no memory of his life before. Disoriented, he stumbles on the Mernese estuary protected by the mermaid Delia, who is quickly intrigued by this male who doesn’t smell like any Lanilian she’s ever met and who is unable to answer questions about himself. Determined to figure out his past, Rhys convinces Delia to help, and begins a dangerous journey to discover who he is, or was, and who he might become as they hunt for the truth beneath story and prophecy.

David Ly brings readers a fascinating and fresh take on dragons and destiny in this captivating debut novel.

 

“David Ly’s Not All Dragons is a contemporary saga that takes readers on adventurous explorations of family, belonging and self. Ly builds a world full of magic and wonder, weaving Vietnamese mythology and epic fantasy to bring to life the quest of an unforgettable protagonist as he journeys toward homecoming. Propulsive and gripping, this debut novel is endlessly readable.” – Vinh Nguyen, author of The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse

“Not All Dragons is a thrilling and evocative exploration of reclaiming one’s identity, memory, self and kin from acclaimed poet David Ly. The debut fantasy novel brims with lush world-building, epic adventure, powerful magic and rich mythological creatures, making it a compelling and unforgettable quest narrative. Danger is omnipresent and omnipotent in Ly’s feral universe; otherworldly enemies injure and maim, while allies help shape the perilous trajectory of the dual protagonists. Long after you read the last page, you will be awestruck by Ly’s multifaceted imagination.” – Lindsay Wong, Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies

“In David Ly’s debut novel, a fast-paced adventure and unforgettable characters unfold like dragon wings in striking, shining prose. Throughout, Ly reveals insightful truths about the role of story, memory and family in reclaiming self. In the end, the act of falling becomes a process of becoming.” – Tanya Boteju, author of Bruised and Messy Perfect

“Not All Dragons is an invitation into a wholly original magical world, a world of mermaids, monsters, witches and dragons. Ly’s prose is infused with a poet’s lyricism and a terrific storyteller’s gift for spinning a sparkling tale. An evocative debut novel, steeped in memory and myth, exploring all those parts of ourselves we try to reject, and all those parts of ourselves we try to reclaim.” – Anuja Varghese, Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author of Chrysalis

“Lush world-building, gripping adventure and luminous imagery come together as one in Not All Dragons, David Ly’s dreamy fiction debut. Lovers of fantasy are sure to be irresistibly drawn in by this tale of dragons and witches, haunting myths and ancient magic, and Ly’s emotionally resonant characters are sure to linger in his readers' minds long after they turn the last page. Reminiscent of the works of Patricia McKillip, Charles de Lint and Indra Das, Not All Dragons is a beautiful addition to the lineage of emotionally powerful, poetic fantasy that leaves you wiser for having read it.” – Kai Cheng Thom, author of Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl’s Confabulous Memoir

Events with David Ly

    • Writer’s Block: David Ly (All Lit Up, 20-May-2026)
      “I hope readers come away wondering what constitutes endings and beginnings.”
    • E494 with DAVID LY (Jamie Tennant, Get Lit, 6-May-26)
      David chats with Jamie about Not All Dragons.

  • David Ly is the author of Mythical Man (Anstruther Books, 2020) and Dream of Me as Water (Anstruther Books, 2022), both shortlisted for ReLit Awards for Poetry. He co-edited, with Daniel Zomparelli, Queer Little Nightmares: An Anthology of Monstrous Fiction and Poetry (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2022). David’s poems have appeared in publications such as Arc Poetry Magazine, Best Canadian Poetry, PRISM International and The Ex-Puritan, where he won the inaugural Austin Clarke Prize in Literary Excellence for Poetry, as well as in the Pan MacMillan anthologies He, She, They, Us: Queer Poems (2024) and You’re Never Too Much: Poems for Every Emotion (2025). He is the Poetry Editor at This Magazine.