Dragonmeat is a novella set in the Eterean Empire universe created by Angela Boord, set thousand of years before Fortune's Fool, which has a really interesting premise, and who has captivated me with the voice of its main character. Famine has taken control over Medeas, and Peri has become proficient at stealing food by applying her useless academic talents; all because she's trying to take care of her ill dad.

But despite being extremely successful at it, one day her thievery starts a riot over Medea, and she's saved by a mysterious stranger, Frost, who offers her food in exchange for meeting him. Peri's in a crossing, as this will mean having to leave the safety of her hiding, but at the same time, her situation can't last forever.
Angela Boord takes this premise and uses it to create a really detailed world, a city which feels alive and where our main character is just a drop in the water; the setting is delicious due to its Italian roots, but at the same time, it's full of horror as a consequence of the iron hand of the governor, and shaped by the necessity of keeping dragons placated.

Peri's voice is quite unique, captivating at many points; her struggle as a carer is relatable, even in such a fantasy setting, and it's impossible to not develop a bond with her. Using a first person POV for this novella was a great choice, as I don't feel it would have been as impactful if it was told using a close third person.

However, I felt that this novella could have benefited using more pages, as there's an enormous amount of potential that it's not used due to the limitations of a novella; outside of Peri, it's difficult to connect with other characters, as most of them appear in a single scene.

Dragonmeat is a great novella,a perfect example of Angela Boord's writing skill; I would love seeing her writing more novels/pieces in this state of her Eterean Empire. If you like character driven fantasy, give it a try!

Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.