The Ballad of Falling Dragons

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

The Ballad of Falling Dragons is the much-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon When the Moon Hatched, featuring an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

“Moonbeam. A moonfall is coming.”

Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor—a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the world will face its most devastating moonfall yet, forcing her to pick a path:

Chase death.

Or life.

Desperate to save his kingdom from ruin, Kaan’s crown has never felt so heavy. His many larks to scattered friends and family remain unanswered, and time is running out.

As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past.

Something … Other.

Something with the knowledge to change it all.

Sarah is an international bestselling autho​r who​ grew up on a farm in New Zealand, where she spent her days getting lost amongst the rolling pasture, building forts in the hedge, climbing trees, and exploring the forest pathways—making up elaborate stories that never lost their grip on her.

​She now lives in Australia with her husband​, dog, three children, and countless plants, and spends her days pouring her stories onto paper rather than throwing them to the wind.

Her genre of choice is epic fantasy romance, and she thrives off dreaming up​ real, ​​complex characters​​ and immersive worlds to get lost amongst.

"When the Moon Hatched is a feast for the senses, a masterclass in lush world-building as well as a stirringly poignant fantasy wherein each page brims with emotion and imagination. Sarah A. Parker’s evocative prose takes the reader on a wild ride that thrills as much as it enchants, and her rich lore is a perfect canvas for her unforgettable characters and intriguing plot, capped off by a steamy romance for the ages. This remarkable book is an instant classic.” - Thea Guanzon, New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

“This book reads like a gift. The layers that unwrap, the peek inside at the hearts of these characters…It’s everything you want to get in a fantasy romance. When The Moon Hatched breathes new, beautiful life into the genre, as Sarah A. Parker weaves lyrical prose with undeniable chemistry. I laughed, I cried, I got everything out of this. It’s an absolutely stunning fantasy world that everyone should sink their teeth into.” - Raven Kennedy, internationally bestselling author of The Plated Prisoner series

"A spellbinding slow-burn, romance-laced fantasy featuring two fascinating protagonists . . . [Readers] will revel in its lavish details and intricate possibilities." - Booklist

“With dragons, doomed lovers and magic, this will be huge.” - Stylist (UK)

“When the Moon Hatched delivers twist on twist among a unique magical system and an immersive world rich with political intrigue … You’ll devour it if you enjoy slow burn romance tinged with angst and witty banter set against a backdrop of epic fantasy.” - Good Housekeeping, UK

In Sarah A. Parker’s sprawling and lyrical fantasy epic, The Ballad of Falling Dragons, the narrative thrusts readers immediately into the bruised and bone-deep aftermath of its predecessor, "When the Moon Hatched". The story opens with its fiercely independent protagonist, Raeve, standing at a monumental crossroads. Her thirst for vengeance continues to burn intensely, and she still wears the fresh blood of Rekk on her hands, marking a brutal turning point in her journey. Despite her hardened exterior and the emotional walls she has built around her heart, Raeve is deeply anchored by her love for Kaan Vaegor, a steadfast beacon from a past she is only just beginning to truly face. As the political and elemental rot of their world threatens to consume them, Raeve is forced to make a profound choice: to continue chasing the familiar comfort of death, or to finally embrace the frightening prospect of life.

Above them, the sky itself is unraveling. The silver moons, which drift through skies beautifully stitched with vibrant aurora ribbons, have begun to wobble ominously. The atmospheric tension reaches a fever pitch when it is revealed that the world is about to face its most devastating moonfall yet. This impending celestial catastrophe acts as a ticking clock, accelerating the stakes for every character involved. Desperate to save his kingdom from total ruin, Kaan finds that his crown as the King of the Burn fits like a heavy, suffocating yoke. Time is rapidly running out, and his frantic efforts to reach his scattered friends and family by sending out parchment larks are met with terrifying silence. The burden of leadership weighs heavily upon him, but his unwavering devotion to Raeve and his people remains his guiding force.

As the external world crumbles, Raeve is forced on a grueling internal journey of self-discovery. Previously known as Elluin Nevan, she must carefully excavate the deeply painful memories that she long ago tucked away in her mind's "icy lake". This slow, emotional unspooling of her past is central to the narrative, bringing devastating truths to the surface. Her dynamic with Kaan oscillates between tender and brutally raw. One of the most quietly devastating aspects of this emotional excavation is the intricate mother-daughter throughline involving Kyzari Vaegor, the Princess of the Shade. Kyzari, the daughter of Kaan and Elluin, adds a deeply human layer to the epic stakes, forcing Raeve to reconcile the woman she is now with the mother she used to be.

The narrative scope expands significantly, weaving multiple viewpoints to capture a world on the brink of war. The dragons of this realm are not mere beasts of burden or simple set dressing; they are fully realized beings possessing deep interior lives, profound grief, and fierce devotion. Creatures like Slátra and Rygun elevate the story, showcasing the profound bonds between rider and dragon. Elsewhere in the kingdom, Grihm embarks on a personal quest to Gondragh, desperately seeking to bond with a Great Silver Sabersythe after his previous losses. Meanwhile, Pyrok struggles with his own dark demons, grappling with severe alcohol addiction while unexpectedly finding a sense of purpose and redemption in caring for a vulnerable baby dragon hatchling. These interwoven character arcs enrich the tapestry of the world, highlighting the personal costs of the overarching conflict.

Rising against Kaan and Raeve is a formidable and deeply complex antagonist: Arkyn, the Scavenger King. As the bastard son of the cruel former King Ostern Vaegor, Arkyn is far from a one-dimensional villain. His bloodlusting agenda is fueled by legitimate trauma and deep-seated familial betrayal, making his actions tragically understandable even as they cause widespread devastation. As allies merge and enemies like Arkyn surge forward with their own ruthless plans, the political intrigue and elemental magic clash in spectacular, explosive ways.

The simmering tensions finally reach a boiling point as the long-forgotten secrets brewing within Raeve's past turn incredibly dangerous. The most significant revelation lies in the icy depths of her fragmented memory: the existence of a mysterious entity known only as the "Other". This ancient, enigmatic presence holds the forbidden knowledge required to alter the devastating course of the coming moonfall and change the entire fabric of their reality. Ultimately, the novel weaves a masterful tapestry of slow-burn romance, heart-wrenching grief, and epic fantasy. It asks its characters to endure unimaginable trials, rewarding them with a deeply emotional and chaotic crescendo that masterfully sets the stage for the final battles to come.