Court of Flame and Ashes (Dragonborn Book 1) by T.L. Christianson
You know that moment just before you wake up and the day is full of possibilities? Yeah. I didn’t wake up like that. I woke up shivering. My head was throbbing, and my tongue was so dry that it stuck to the roof of my mouth. The first thing I noticed was the smell – that cloying scent of mildew that plagued basements and caves. Shifting on the cold, grit-covered floor, I realized that my hands were bound. I held my wrists in front of my face, trying to peer at the thick manacles, but they were shrouded in darkness. I wanted to panic, but panicking wouldn’t save me. I had to take stock of the situation, observe, plan. My hip hurt, but I seemed to be intact and untouched other than a rip in my shirt. Searching my hazy thoughts, I tried to recall the last thing I remembered before waking up here.