-
RELEASE BLITZ: Devoted by Lark Taylor
-
SERIES REVIEW: RELIC by Maz Maddox
RELIC – Maz Maddox
Smash & Grab: My standard issued lab badge reads ‘Simon’ but it really should say ‘unexciting nerd with no social life’
Don’t get me wrong — I love what I do with a passion, but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else.
Especially romance.
While chipping away at my work, I’m suddenly the person between hired cartel muscle and the fossil that will define my career.
Which isn’t the most insane part of the story.
My savior is a chaotic, bat-wielding punk with a bubble gum pink mohawk and a killer smile.
In a mad dash to escape the thieves, my knight in studded armor sweeps me across the country while hitting every tourist trap along the way.
While smuggling a fossil, might I add.
Oh, and did I mention this pink punk can shift into a dinosaur?
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Tonight, Tonight
Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Sink Or Swim: Trapped on a cruise ship with a man I absolutely hate is not how I wanted to spend this fake honeymoon. Especially when my “fiancé” has a deadly ex on the same boat.
Jackson is everything I’m not: brash, careless and a former fossil thief. But he’s my ticket to getting what I want — the original Spinosaurus fossils that have been lost for decades. Now I have to play the part, win the fossils and try not to kill him in the process.
The danger of being caught, tortured or killed isn’t what scares me.
Navigating the waters of this fake relationship is threatening to pull me under.
And I’m terrified of sinking.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: You Were Right
Artist: Rufus du Sol
Album: Bloom
King & Queen: Running into your one night stand is always awkward.
It’s especially awkward when said hunky hookup pulls you into a secret war over fossils and a kidnapped, newly awakened Albertosaurus shifter.
As if my life wasn’t already a mess (understatement), now I’m cruising through Canada hunting down an ancient monster who tried to kill us, attempting to get my social media career off the ground, and ignoring my feelings for my one time fling.
Royal is hot as fire, funny, brilliant and has a thing for dinosaurs almost as much as I do.
Probably because he is one.
Bonus.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Found Me
Artist: Men I Trust
Album: Oncle Jazz
Lost In Amber: Being alive for millions of years means I’m rarely surprised.
In the long expanse of my existence, I’ve been rescuing fossils for only a breath. During that time, my path has crossed with many different people — shifter and human alike.
Some friendly, some nefarious.
A hundred years ago, one such man graced me with his presence.
He was one of the few to have almost killed me.
Imagine my surprise when I see him again, buying the rarest amber fossil to have ever been discovered.
Precious. Beautiful. Unique.
A true treasure millions of years in the making.
I won’t let him get away again.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Loon
Artist: Bears and Lions
Album: Wild and Free
Gardens & Ghosts: For the past few years, I’ve been living with a ghost. My husband – my mate – was lost because of choices I made. As one of only a few tyrannosaur shifters on this planet, I have resigned myself to an immortality alone, married to my work. I am more than happy to keep my walls up, heart guarded, and my focus set on my missions. That was until a compassionate, plant obsessed man stomped into my life. Henry is everything I don’t have time young, reckless, eager to prove himself, and desperate to push all of my buttons. Some of those buttons he hits with expert precision. When we learn about a rare, and life changing shifter fossil being traded on the black market, Henry and I set out into the concrete jungle of Chicago to steal it back. The treasure is heavily guarded, worth a fortune, and sought after by all manner of deadly adversaries. If we can keep our heads down and maintain a professional relationship, we might make it through this alive. Henry has other plans.
****Gardens & Ghosts can be read as a standalone, but it is highly recommended you read King & Queen (RELIC #3) so you get all the story!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Bloom
Artist: The Paper Kites
Album: Woodland
I don’t even like Jurassic Park. Nothing against dinos; I just hate movies in which animals are the bad guys only because humans foolishly disturb them in their territory.
Maz Maddox came this close to making me rewatch the damn movie for the sheer joy of watching the mighty beasts in all their fearsome glory.
RELIC is a sci-fi/paranormal romance series featuring dinosaur shifters on their mission to retrieve stolen artifacts and find their mates along the way. As far as I know, this is the only MM dino-shifter romance series (if there’s another one, please let me know), and an outstanding specimen at that! I consider this a classic (if there’s a better word for this, let me know too), much like how Necessary Evils is a classic in the queer billionaire psycho-vigilantes niche.
RELIC stands for Reclaiming Extinct Lineage from Illegal Collectors and currently has 5 members. The lore is that there are creatures since the beginning of time who can shift into many forms. For many, the form that spoke to them the most is their dinosaur form. These creatures slept for millions of years, only to wake as humans, and can now only shift to the one that resonated with them the most.
The author created some of the most unforgettable, lovable characters in MM romance, and my only regret is not reading the series sooner. Every time the characters shifted, I was in awe. You can practically see the magnificent beasts wreaking havoc.
The topic is well-researched, and the writing made it easy to digest the science and imagine the dinosaurs coming alive. The books are in dual, 1st person POVs. Although there are some violent scenes, the overall vibe is humorous
Dalton “Utah” – chaotic knight in spikey jacket and doc martens with bubblegum pink mohawk, how could you resist this irreverent, child-like punk charming who rescued Simon and took him on a road trip (while dodging bad guys) to various dino park tourist attractions. He’s a utahraptor and that pink mohawk gets me all the time!
Simon – a renowned paleontologist living a humdrum life who was suddenly caught up in the exciting if dangerous world of stolen artificts and dino shifters. He tends to be socially awkward and reserve but nonetheless a sweet guy. And with the patience of a saint to deal with Dalton’s ADHD. His secret weapon is his dimples that shot arrows straight to Dalton’s heart.
Dalton and Simon starred in Smash & Grab, a road trip/on-the-run romance. This book introduces us to the secret world of shifters and fossil black market. Simon was ridiculously adorkable! The OTT antics, the thrilling adventure, and the swoony if chaotic way Dalton wooed his adored paleontologist made this one of the best books in the series.
Baha “Egypt” – big, badass, grumpy and hella intelligent if a bit lonely, Baha is an Egyptian spinosaurus tasked to retrieve a precious spinosaurus fossil aboard a cruise ship. He was partnered with a Texan fossil thief (reformed) Jackson. Baha might be slow to unclench but when he’s in, he’ll give you the world. He’s also very devoted to his shifter family and tutored their newest member Henry in everything from self-defense to algebra.
Jackson – the sunshine in Baha’s world, super laidback, snarky, unflappable with an extra inch in height that made his boyfriend’s eye twitch the first few times they met. Jackson is also a shifter but not a dinosaur. His other form is imposing enough to stand toe to toe with a spinosaurus. The courting scene where Jackson in shifted form was squee-ing at Baha’s shark offering was so adorbs!!
Baha and Jackson starred in Sink or Swim, where they posed as fake fiances on a cruise ship hosting a black market auction. The USTs are chef’s kiss, and I loved that the author paired two mighty beasts. One is the ruler of the air, and the other is the ruler of the sea. Grumpy Baha won me over because who knew the man was a closet romantic, and Jackson was such a charmer!
Royal “Calgari” – superhacker and mentor to Dalton, Royal is the calmer version of our favorite punk but just as bad a troublemaker if not more. He loves anime, movies, games and pop culture in general. This triceratops shifter considers YOI’s Victor his husbando. Normally working behind a computer, Royal was tasked to visit a new fossil site in case another of their kind would appear there. Along the way, he stopped at a club and had an anonymous encounter. To his surprise, he met the same individual, Blaise, in the fossil site live streaming his dino fight with two other dinosaurs.
Blaise – a fabulous, sassy, science geek and sometimes drag queen hoping to make it big as a science communicator. Lucky to be at the right place at the right time, his (hopefully) big break came with his video of men shifting to dinosaurs then having a dino royal rumble. He and Royal went on a merry chase looking for the new shifter and dodging bad guys.
Royal and Blaise starred in King & Queen, another road trip romance, but this time, in search of the missing artifact and a runaway shifter. The snark and sass were a riot! I loved how Royal’s colorful geeky wardrobe complemented Blaise’s creative clothes. The drag scene was so hilarious I wished there were more moments of the MCs in drag. This book introduced a new MC, Henry, who promptly latched on to Blaise.
Yu – a free spirit and most mysterious member of RELIC, this yutyrannus is almost as old as Montana and had roamed the fields of Mongolia and China. His first meeting with Lance was 100 years prior as a bandit whom the smaller man shot for invading their fossil site. The kind-hearted Lance then nursed him back to health and gave him hard candy, a treat that Yu still enjoyed to the present day. Yu had many loves throughout his long lifetime, but he never forgot the first one who shot him.
Lance – a shy, awkward man of multiple doctorates working as the geneticist for the rival group, Origin. His shifter form is a troodon and brace yourself for the cutest protect-my-boyfriend-against-the-bad-guys scene! He and Yu were on a mission to retrieve the most important fossil from the black market.
Yu and Lance starred in Lost in Amber, a second-chance romance set primarily in China where Yu was to retrieve a rare artifact. I loved the idea of two nearly immortal creatures finding each other again after a century of pining. Lance is also adorkable, and his 1920s bowtie fashion gave me joy. Yu has such a wuxia prince-turned-fashion model vibe! Their candy connection is sweet in many ways. This book also revealed unlikely alliances and key elements that would shake the RELIC boys to their core.
Montana – big daddy T. Rex a.k.a. Captain America, perpetually grieving his dead husband while running a tight ship in RELIC and being big bro to everyone. Montana has such a cowboy vibes that strangers assume he’s one. He’s the oldest shifter and has the biggest form, being a T. Rex. He’s intimidating and well-respected, even by his nemesis from Origin. His latest mission is to retrieve the very important stolen artifact connected to Yu’s mission and he reluctantly takes Henry with him.
Henry “Horseshoe” – the newest member and an albertosaurus shifter still learning the ways of the human world under Baha’s strict tutelege. Henry is a plant daddy and has a child-like POV, a bit naive but also surprisingly knowledgeable too, and fervently in love with Montana. His problem is that Montana is spectacularly oblivious, seeing Henry only as their youngest brother. His initial attempts to woo the T. Rex were hilarious disasters and so he resolved to go with Montana on his mission.
Montana and Henry starred in Gardens & Ghosts, the longest book in the series and has everything we love about RELIC. From the forced proximity trope and second chance romance, the heist and the car chases, the thrilling shifts and dinosaur rampages, and, of course, the determined and heart-melting way our albertosaurus won over his T. Rex, this is one heck of a series finale!
A bit spoilerish, but I know some readers care about such things. The biggest elephant in the room is that while our shifters are practically immortal, their human mates will age. This part hit Dalton hard, and my heart went out to our favorite punk dinosaur. One of my favorite aspects of the story is that a question I had since the beginning was finally answered!
RELIC is one of the funniest and most entertaining series I’ve ever read. I binged the entire series because I didn’t want the boys’ adventures to end. The author crafted a fascinating world, and I’m excited to learn that she has other shifter books.
Overall, it’s a modern gem and a prehistoric delight!
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of RELIC. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
COVER REVEAL: Luca by Eryn Hawk
-
NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Diplomatic Liability by Rebecca Cohen (Excerpt & Giveaway)
-
REVIEW: Bump in the Night by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne
Black Oasis: Bump in the Night – Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne
You never know what’s hiding in your closet…At twenty-six, Ivy has their life figured out. They have a decent paying job at the London office of Somnus Entertainment–the gaming company behind the wildly popular game Black Oasis–a draughty flat they inherited from their wild great aunt, and a few select friends to pass the time. They’re a responsible adult, thank you very much, and while they might get lonely at times, they know better than to put too much stock into that fanciful notion known as love.
But when a skeevy encounter during a fun night at the pub devolves into a violent hate crime, their life changes forever.
Waking up in a demon dimension, beaten within an inch of their life, is bad enough. But add a snarky, haughty healer with the universe’s worst bedside manner, and Ivy knows they’re in for a long, excruciating recovery. Lau the Dreamwraith is prickly, arrogant, and entirely infuriating, but for some strange reason, he seems hellbent on nursing Ivy back to health. Despite Lau’s whinging over their “inferior human qualities,” there is a heat building between them that neither are able to fight. Like a match meeting kerosine, their chemistry ignites, but Ivy’s stay in the demon world is temporary and fire always burns out eventually.
Love is a dream, after all; it has no business in nightmares. Right?
Join Ivy and Lau as they nurture the sparks between them until they explode into an unexpected passion that crosses dimensions in Bump in the Night, the second book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.
Bump in the Night is an M/X monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a fiery Brit and their arrogant sleep demon. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details
Black Oasis, the dark and humorous monster romance series by Nikole Knight and Lily Mayne, is also the name of the MMORPG game about monsters. The first book, Whispers In The Dark, gave us the cinnamon roll Texan gamer, Cody, and his adoring monster boyfriend, Nor.
I recalled the hilarious scene in Whispers In The Dark when Nor’s best friend, the then shit-faced Lau, made cryptic complaints about humans. I was thrilled to find out why in this sequel!
Bump in the Night stars computer programmer Ivy, who works for Somnus Entertainment, the developer of Black Oasis. Ivy is non-binary and wears either pants or a dress. One night, on their way home from a club, they were targeted by haters and left for dead in an alley.
Then they woke up to find themselves in another dimension with a broken leg and more, under the care of an arrogant lilac-skinned sleep demon, Lau. The demon, who’s also the town healer, complains about how inferior humans are while tenderly nursing Ivy’s injuries, even gently shampooing their hair while they bathe.
I lived for the scenes where Lau would fuss and get all annoyed because Ivy was around. The next day, Ivy would find Lau had made him some crutches or retrieved a book from the human world because of a casual comment Ivy had made. The demon is always so careful about Ivy’s broken leg, even during passionate moments.
There was also the scene that tickled me pink, where Ivy found Lau sneaking back to bed and being super cagey. By morning, they discovered Lau secretly changed the tea can labels from demon language to English because he learned Ivy was trying to make tea the day before but didn’t know which can was which.
Also, secretly repairing Ivy’s torn dress that they wore during that fateful night.
And true to his tsundere form, our dorky Lau had apparently been stalking Ivy for months before their attack, then became skittish as a cat when Ivy turned around and returned his very loud unsaid feelings.
So far, the first two books have not delved deeply into the world-building. However, the first book had a darker, angstier tone while the second had a lighter, cozier vibe.
The opening and later chapters focus on Ivy’s mundane life in London. The story employs the forced proximity trope, with most scenes taking place inside Lau’s house as Ivy recuperates. This setting felt somewhat claustrophobic, as I wished to explore more of Lau’s world.
The plot is mostly domesticity, comfort, and healing, with the authors weaving their monster romance magic in the amusing and squee-tastic antagonistic dynamics between the clearly besotted demon and the quickly-falling-for-that-demon human.
The banter was made me chuckle and Lau’s bold declarations of his superiority as a demon were hilarious. My heart, along with Ivy’s, melted at the easy way he accepted Ivy’s non-binary identity, which of course, came with him declaring he is a he as in “He is Lau, the fearsome sleep demon!”
And this is why Ivy and Lau gave Cody and Nor a serious run for their money! If you ask me which couple is my favorite, I loved them both so much!
Lau, our favorite tsundere demon, is a grumpy grump who grumbles, but inside, his heart is as mushy as our sweet sleep demon Nor! I highly recommend audiobooking this because Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance of Lau was spot-on, capturing the bravado and vulnerability so convincingly!
Another favorite part is Vary, Lau’s himbo brother, who frequently crosses over to the human world. Why? It’s a happy surprise! I hope Vary’s book is next.
Bump in the Night is a story where a whole lot of grumpiness delivered the tenderest care. Funny and heartwarming, the deep connection and the poignant moments between two delightful characters is a reminder that even in the dark, there’s always room for love, sass, and a cup of tea.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Bump In The Night
Artist: Skittish
Album: The Perfect Shade of Green IIP.S.
Black Oasis should be read in order. Befriend that lonely monster under the bed in Whispers In The Dark.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Bump In The Night. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
BUMP IN THE NIGHT: Kindle | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
BOOK BLAST: The Amphitheater of Souls by Patrick Bryce Wright (Excerpt & Giveaway)
-
REVIEW: Whispers In The Dark by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne
Black Oasis: Whispers In The Dark – Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne
You never know what’s hiding under your bed…
At twenty-four, Cody has already lost hope of having a life of his own. All his time is spent playing nurse to a dying, spiteful step-father and maid to his bully half-brother. His only escapes are playing his favorite online fantasy game, Black Oasis, and talking to the strange, unearthly presence under his bed that may or may not actually exist.
But everything changes when his nightly visitor, who introduces himself as Nor, starts talking back.
As their connection deepens, Nor invites Cody into the surreal world existing just beyond his nightmares, filled with haughty demons, passion-killing pet bugs named Gef, and a dark landscape that is oddly familiar. With his sweet but monstrous companion by his side, Cody might finally gain the life of freedom and adventure that he’s always wanted.
Join Nor and Cody as they unearth the true meaning of hope, passion, and a love of endless depths that spans between worlds in Whispers in the Dark, the first book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.
Whispers in the Dark is an M/M monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a redheaded Texan and his precious, six-fingered Deepdweller. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details.
I swear, this book was inspired by that cute meme where an anxious sleeper sought comfort by holding the hand of the creature under their bed.
Whispers in the Dark is the opener of Nikole Knight and Lily Mayne‘s monster romance series, Black Oasis. Downtrodden Cody, whose diabetic father hated him for being queer as much as he depended on him for his basic needs, and whose half-brother bullied him as much as he leered at him, discovered a sleep demon nesting under his bed.
Nor, a gigantic, six-fingered creature with dark, leathery skin and a tail, is protective of the young man he followed from dream to this world. Sensing that the unseen demon meant no harm to him, Cody started sharing everything from random things to his most embarrassing secrets.
Soon the two became friends and Nor became comfortable enough to come out from under the bed. These interactions were Cody’s only solace from a life of drudgery and abuse. Until one day, things took a turn for the worst and Cody and Nor had to get away from this world fast.
Both MCs were endearing and very likable. It’s hard not to root for Cody, even though I wished he would just walk out of his toxic family. Our boy’s trying. Nor was a surprise! He was this big scary claws and teeth sleep monster ready to rip anyone who’d dare harm his little rabbit, Cody. He kept his mystique until they’re back in his world, and he turned out to be a himbo! I loved this big dork!
Admittedly, I was underwhelmed. This story badly needed an adventure or a quest. Half of the plot takes place mostly in Cody’s bedroom while the rest happens in Nor’s world. There’s a “nothing going on” feel to it.
The bedroom scenes were pretty much standard human meets scary monster, scary monster becomes boyfriend. Cody and Nor kept the momentum going despite oft-repeated scenarios. Their dynamic was sweet and accepting. Together they kept me thoroughly invested in the book.
Cody’s jaunts to Nor’s world and then his permanent stay felt like missed opportunities to explore and create more action-centric scenes. Instead, the two mostly holed up in Nor’s hovel playing house a.k.a. fuck, which wasn’t very exciting.
My itch to explore Nor’s world is because of this huge but semi-low-key mystery the authors threw in. Black Oasis, the online game Cody played looked eerily similar to Nor’s world. This was mentioned a couple of times and then left by the wayside. Argh!
World-building wasn’t very detailed but it reminded me of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous. I imagined it’s set before the interdimensional rift of Monstrous happened and the game Black Oasis somehow caused it. It would be awesome if these series are related, they have a lot in common.
I’m sure answers will be revealed as the series progresses. Still, would be nice if we got more clues.
My favorite parts are Cody’s interactions with Lau, Nor’s best friend and self-proclaimed smartest creature in their world. Nor, bless this lovable himbo demon, whole-hearted believes that, much to Cody’s exasperation.
Cody and Lau love pushing each other buttons and these are the funniest scenes. Cody knows the demon is a blow-hard and feels protective of Nor. Lau loudly declares he hates humans and feels protective of his best friend.
The cocky demon is made for an enemies-to-lovers romance because we all know he has it bad for a human. Who? I’m dying to find out.
Whispers in the Dark is a sweet slow-burn romance about finding solace and acceptance in unlikely places. While it may lack some elements, overall, it is as heartwarming as the strange comfort of holding the hand of the monster under the bed.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Monster (Under My Bed)
Artist: Call Me Karizma
Album: The Gloomy Tapes Vol. 2
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Whispers In The Dark As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
WHISPERS IN THE DARK: Kindle I Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: The Assassin’s Dragon by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns
Fire and Valor: The Assassin’s Dragon – W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns
In Atheldinas, everyone’s secrets have been uncovered. Tristram is a half-dragon, Nicholas is a villain scheming to take the throne from his cousin Roland, and eternally sharp Bet is nothing less than a hero.
The cost has been high, and now Tristram is forced to amass the armies of Llangard to save his king from Jarl Vidar, the mysterious figure who’s hellbent on tearing Llangard in two. To get his king back and defeat the impending Tornish invasion, Tris will need the help of not only all his Llangardian allies, but the dragons of the Mawrcraig Mountains. If he cannot bring his two peoples together, no other stands a chance.
But one last secret remains hidden in the harsh north, and uncovering it might be the undoing of all that Tristram and his allies have fought to protect.
It’s unfair to compare every high fantasy to LOTR, just like it’s unfair to associate every magical academy plot to Harry Potter. However, I couldn’t help imagining the scenes from Return of the King when reading the war scenes of The Assassin’s Dragon.
The 3rd book of Fire and Valor pulled out all the stops in this series finale. Last we know, King Roland was captive of Jarl Vidar, and Bet and Tristram are setting out for a rescue mission.
Meanwhile, Princess Gillian is at the helm and trying her best to work with the dragons. Sidone and Rhiannon, with child mages-in-training in tow, arrive at Atheldinas to warn them of feral beasts about to attack the city.
The story continues to cycle through several POVs, and by this time, everything flowed seamlessly.
Bet Kyston – still shadowy and surly and working overtime to keep the Lord Regent, his beloved Tristram, safe from yet another assassination attempt. Bet’s relationship with King Roland is one of my favorite parts in the entire series. Since the 1st Book, The King’s Dragon, the half-elf has been kind to the neglected boy, and he fought to protect the young king to the very end.
Tristram Radcliffe – Tris is now more settled and more comfortable with his dragon self. Loving the dynamics between him and his newly discovered dragon brother and father. Like Bet, Tris was fond of Roland since the beginning, and they are the two people the young king fully trusts.
Sidone – the fierce protector and honorable knight, along with her lady dragon, Rhiannon, is helping the city prepare for war. If I knew how to draw, I’d make a fanart of her astride her dragon. Most anime/game female knights are horribly, impractically dressed, so I’m loving the image of Sir Sidone in full proper armor with her lovely copper hair in braids. So cool!
Rhiannon – She is back in fighting form! Also, standing side by side with her brother Maddox against Jarl Vidar’s army. Rhiannon plays city defender and mediator between the rather difficult Queen Halwen, her dragons, and Atheldinas.
Maddox – this dragon prince took me a while to warm up to, but Maddox eventually won me over after he got along with Tristram. His mom, Queen Halwen, was a tough nut to crack, but Maddox was stubborn enough to break through her walls and strong enough to lead the dragons to war. It’s time for a dragon king!
Princess Gillian – Girl gave me the high-level spells I’ve been dying to see! She not only saved the city, she saved the entire country! She could have been Queen of Llandgard. She’d rather be the Mother of Dragons.
Bowen – the grizzled warrior continues his life mission to protect the young and the weak. Bowen is the definition of competence and strength. He is a close confidant of the dragon Queen Dorteia, who saw the warrior could use some spark of joy in his life. She helped him finally come to terms with his feelings for the young dragon, Hafgan.
Hafgan – this twink has an old dragon wrapped around his little finger. Hafgan is protective of the dragon eggs they retrieved from the Jarl, having lost his entire clan previously. In Book 2, The Prince’s Dragon , he was forced to leave his brother, Dragon, behind. The much-awaited reunion between the two did not disappoint.
Rhys – dragon daddy is the first to admit he’s not a warrior, but the mage scholar still fought fiercely in the final battle. Took Rhys a couple of decades, but I’m glad he finally has his entire family together.
Roland – this king is only nine-years old but has seen things that would turn most adults’ stomach. Super amused with how this young boy could run circles around a centuries-old enemy. His POV, along with Dragon’s, is my favorite. I loved how it was written as a child’s perspective but with wisdom well beyond his age.
Dragon – Dragon’s POV is my most anticipated of all! The most cinnamon roll of cinnamon rolls, this poor child has been held captive for years and purposefully underfed to keep him under control. Roland befriended him while the king was also a prisoner of the Jarl. Their scenes were the most moving, especially that feather quill, that thing hurt my chest!
There were some parts, especially in the first chapters, where my attention waned. Past that hiccup, the story flowed smoothly and swiftly. It was also more action-packed. The multi-specie horde, with the feral dragon beasts, is why LOTR comes to mind.
The battle scenes were short and to the point. I loved that it spared me the tedious details, but they were almost too short for me to savor the badassery of the characters. The fight scenes were over before I knew it. Still, it was a spectacular finale.
The Assassin’s Dragon unites former enemies to fight against the real enemy of Llandgard. This heart-stopping conclusion to an epic series has the kind of thrilling scenes that would make every high fantasy geek swoon!
Here be dragons, knights, assassins, mages, royals, and one clever boy king holding the fate of Llandgard in their hands!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Freedom
Artist: Ado
Album: KyougenFire and Valor should be read in order.
There’s something sinister brewing in Atheldinas in The King’s Dragon.
Secrets are not so much as coming out, but more like, hurtled into the open in The Prince’s Dragon
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of The Assassin’s Dragon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
THE ASSASSIN’S DRAGON: Kindle | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
BLOG TOUR: Tooth and Nail by Patricia Logan (Excerpt & Giveaway)
-
RELEASE BLITZ: Tooth and Nail by Patricia Logan (Excerpt & Giveaway)
