Marie Brennan begins a thrilling new fantasy series in A Natural History of Dragons, combining adventure with the inquisitive spirit of the Victorian Age. You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . . All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. "Saturated with the joy and urgency of discovery and scientific curiosity."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Natural History of Dragons An NPR Best Book of 2013 The Lady Trent Memoirs 1. A Natural History of Dragons 2. The Tropic of Serpents 3. Voyage of the Basilisk 4. In the Labyrinth of Drakes 5. Within the Sanctuary of Wings
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Speculative fiction featuring detailed worldbuilding, dragon naturalism, and historical research forms the core of an expansive fantasy bibliography led by the Hugo Award-nominated Victorian adventure series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. Marie Brennan, the pen name of American author Bryn Neuenschwander (born 1980), has published over twenty fantasy novels, more than ninety short stories, poetry, and practical guides on fantasy worldbuilding.
Her work spans historical fantasy, urban fantasy, and collaborative epic series, guiding readers through immersive imaginary worlds in works such as A Natural History of Dragons and The Atlas of Anywhere.
Bryn Neuenschwander grew up in Dallas, Texas, and completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where she studied archaeology and folklore while serving as co-chair of the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association. She pursued graduate studies in cultural anthropology and folklore at Indiana University Bloomington before leaving graduate school in 2008 to write fiction full-time under the pseudonym Marie Brennan.
Over her writing career, Brennan has authored multiple fantasy series, including the Doppelganger duology (comprising Doppelganger and Warrior and Witch) and the Onyx Court series. Writing under the joint pseudonym M.A. Carrick with author Alyc Helms, she co-authored the Rook and Rose epic fantasy trilogy, which began with The Mask of Mirrors. Brennan won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Poem for her piece "A War of Words" and has received nominations for both the World Fantasy and Nebula Awards.
Brennan relies heavily on her academic background in anthropology, archaeology, and folklore to structure fictional societies, religious traditions, and political systems. Rather than treating setting details as superficial decoration, her narratives examine how geography, culture, and social norms shape human and non-human behavior.
Beyond her narrative fiction, Brennan has documented her methodological approach to setting design in the New Worlds series of worldbuilding guides. Recurring themes in her work include scientific inquiry, cultural contact, political maneuvering, and the interaction between folklore and historical reality.
The Memoirs of Lady Trent
