Daughter of the Desert (Instanolde Chronicles, #0.5)

Before the throne, before the curse, there was the desert and there were cardants--and Lystra would do anything to take part in the yearly racing events. She has trained her reptiles and assembled her team, but she is young and untested, and the races are not for the faint of heart. From the dangerous desert canyons to the gilded halls of the palace of Instanolde's new young king, Lystra must learn to navigate race politics and treacherous alliances as well as the hopes of her own heart.