New D&D Visual Guide “The Book of Dragons” Coming This Summer

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UK book publisher DK is perhaps best known for their line of non-fiction guide books, which have covered pop culture franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars and Warhammer 40K, among others. Over the past few years, they’ve also released a number of Dungeons & Dragons books, including The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary as well as more recent titles like the D&D Pocket Expert and How Not To Get Eaten by Owlbears.

Now, DK is once again returning to the world’s most popular tabletop roleplaying with a new release entitled The Book of Dragons, which is coming out in the late summer of 2025. The book takes a closer look at some of D&D’s most iconic monsters in all their scaly, winged, firebreathing glory. You can pre-order it now from your local game store, book retailer or Amazon.

So just what’s waiting in the pages of this new draconic dossier? Below, we crack open all the details.

What is “The Book of Dragons” about?

The Book of Dragons is a 224-page hardcover that features detailed descriptions and artwork for a variety of dragon species from D&D. Notably, much of the artwork has been featured in past Wizards of the Coast D&D products (including the redesigned dragons featured in the 2024 Monster Manual) and it’s really meant to be more of a coffee table book for fan and collectors, rather than having any specific use in D&D gameplay.

The official blurb on the DK book page reads as follows:

This definitive guide unveils the rich lore, diverse types, and legendary characters of the dragon realm. Essential for every D&D fan, it offers unparalleled insights into these iconic creatures that for decades have been the heart and soul of the game. Elevate your campaigns and deepen your knowledge—discover why The Book of Dragons is a must-have for every adventurer’s collection.

When is “The Book of Dragons” coming out?

The Book of Dragons is scheduled for release on August 19th, 2025. At that time you’ll be able to pick it up in almost all major retailers, including local game stores. Notably this is a little over a month after we’ll see the release of the Dragon Delves adventure anthology which, as the name suggests, is also about all about Dungeons & Dragon’s titular monsters.

How much is “The Book of Dragons”?

The Book of Dragons is retailing for $40 USD (not including any shipping and handling). This is comparable to what we’ve seen with similar DK visual guides. The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary, for example, has a current retail price of $30 USD.

Who is author Michael Witwer?

Michael Witwer is a New York Times bestselling author who is perhaps best known for his non-fiction book Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons. Over the years, Witwer has also authored or contributed to numerous official D&D licensed books, including Art & Arcana, the Heroes Feast D&D cookbook, The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary and Lore & Legends.

Witwer’s work has been nominated for a number of awards, including the Hugo Award, Locus Award and a Diana Jones Award. In addition to his D&D work, he’s also written the novel Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake. Notably, he’s also the brother of noted Hollywood actor Sam Witwer.

Final Thoughts

DK has released some impressive Dungeons & Dragons visual guides over the past few years, and The Book of Dragons looks like another solid entry. If you’re a fan dragons and D&D or looking for a nerdy coffee table book to your collection, chances are you’ll dig this. We’ll be keeping a close eye out and will share our thoughts and a full review when it launches in August.

In the meantime, if you want to snag your own copy, you can pre-order it now from your local game store, book retailer or Amazon.

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