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SERIES REVIEW: To Kill A King by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
To Kill A King: Dragon’s Dawn – Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
For nineteen years, I have carved myself into a dutiful son, a courtier of unimpeachable wit, and a genuine delight at a tea party. Now that my success in society has planted me in the path of Mikhail Vasiliev, itโs clear Iโd have been better off keeping my head down.
Prince Mikhail is the second son of a traitor. Third in line to the throne, he has a reputation for violence, debauchery, and being a thorn in the side of his cousin, King Dmitri. That is, until the king decides to get him out of the wayโby marrying him off.
To me.
Suddenly prince of a brutal, frozen land, I have no choice but to spy on my fatherโs behalf. From the morning of our wedding, my beastly husband and I have been at odds, but if I cannot win him over, Iโll find myself in the jaws of his colossal red dragon.
By the time I realize there is more between us than hostility and mistrust, it is too late. The die has been cast, the knife thrust, and our private battle is set to topple the whole kingdom.
Beauty gets tied to a real beast in this MM high fantasy romance, featuring: the cutest companion mink to ever bite the hand of a prince, two reluctant husbands who hate each other everywhere but between the sheets, and a heap load of court intrigue to ensure things go perfectly wrong for our murderhimbo and his slinky courtier beau.
Rating:
2 Stars โ itโs a struggle to finish the damn bookSoundtrack: Stole My Heart
Artist: Beasts With No Name
Album: Pretty Fool
To Kill A King: Dragon’s Dusk – Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
I have been a runt, a disappointment, and a monster. Now, I am simply a man.
This wouldnโt be so strange, if yesterday, I werenโt a dragon.
Locked away and isolated after a vicious attack left a princess blind, my greatest joy has been my bonded rider, Kostya.
My Kostya is a prince with the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. When his world begins to crumble, a witch offers me the chance to escape my cell and stand beside him.
But on two legs, without my scales and claws, Kostya doesnโt recognize me. He fears his dragon was stolen, and when suspicion turns my way, I learn that there are prisons darker and more dangerous than a dragon pen.
A little very big dragon finds his voice, two legs, and some delightful human appendages beyond in this MM high fantasy romance, featuring: one forlorn dragon-riding prince, a dragon who just wants to kiss the boy, two incredibly self-sacrificing doofuses, a road to pain paved with all the best intentions, and a plot to upend a kingdom.
Rating:
4 Stars โ minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: With Me All Along
Artist: Bronze Radio Return
Album: Entertain You
To Kill A King: Dragon’s Descent – Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
In my life, I have loved a boy, a prince, a king, and a madman. Now, I must let him go.
King Dmitri was once a prince of flowers, but when his father was murdered in a treasonous plot by his own family, all of Dimaโs hope and innocence shattered. At his lowest point, he took the crown and bonded the land, and in the process, he lost himself.
Now, the boy I once loved is brutal and cruel, and the best I can do for his kingdom is to put us both out of our misery before he destroys it all.
Join our valiant knight as he fights to thaw the icy heart of a mad king in this MM high fantasy romance, endless pining, so much trauma, a griffin-rider with a heart of gold, a wilting flower prince, more than a little fire, and the end of a kingdom.
Rating:
4 Stars โ minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Feel Alive
Artist: Half Alive
Album: Now, Not Yet
To Kill A King is another fantasy series by acclaimed writer duo Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes. Set in the harsh lands of Veronyesh(?), a kingdom ruled by the silver-haired dragon-riding Vassilievs, Russian Targaryans, if you will, minus the incest.
In this world, people are soul-bonded to various creatures, the more powerful the creature, the greater the power, with dragons being the most powerful. The kingdom is ruled by the mad King Dmitri, bonded to a dragon, and the very land itself.
And so on the king’s mercurial moods depended the well-being of the Veronyesh(?). Which right now is reflecting his bleak mood.
The backstory of the Vassilievs, much like the Targaryens, is rife with intrigue and drama. The king’s cousins are Prince Mikhail, a.k.a. Misha, Prince Konstantine, a.k.a. Kostya, and their sister, Princess Zoya, a blood witch. Their father, Prince Piotr, killed the former king and, in turn, was executed by King Dmitri.
Dima’s twin sister, Princess Dasha, was accidentally blinded by Kostya and his dragon, Kirian. The king held a deep grudge against them and would rage at the mention of Kirian.
Dragon’s Dawn opens the series, dropping us right in the middle of an arranged marriage forced down the throats of Prince Mikhail and Yevgeny, a 19-year-old courtier from a prominent family. There is minimal world-building here, just enough to know about soul bonds, the mad king, and that the two would-be grooms were strangers to each other.
A very intriguing set-up but to my surprise, this turned out to be my least favorite series opener. The plot runs on miscommunication, a trope I hate. If handled correctly, it would have been tolerable, but it ran for almost the entire story, the characters cycle from bad thoughts about each to fucking then back again with barely any development.
To make matters worse, both MCs were completely uninteresting. Genya was vapid, self-absorbed, and spectacularly naive. The story insists he is clever and witty while showing no evidence of such. Misha was a boor and a brute, an alphahole without the charm.
I would have DNF’ed this, but I wanted to see this series through because I was super curious about Dima.
Dragon’s Dusk picks up immediately after the events of Book 1, And thank the gods, it’s a complete turnaround!
Here we have the most adorable, most precious cinnamon roll puppy dragon I’d protect with my life!
Kostya is the eldest Vassiliev, a morose man with the weight of the world on his shoulders and the guilt of hurting the sweet Princess Dasha, despite the princess already declaring she forgave him and his dragon Kirian.
After that tragic incident, Kirian is not allowed out of the stables, feared by the stable hands as a crazy, feral beast. In truth, the dragon was the sweetest, gentlest creature made of pure sunshine and Kostya’s only joy in life. So much so that Zoya decides to use her blood magic and turn Kirian into a human to be with his Kostya. Because the mutual pining between these two…!!!
A heart-wrenching use of the miscommunication trope but hell of a lot more compelling. I was hanging on to every scene!
Kostya found Kirian in his human form but didn’t recognize him. At the same time, the prince was devastated to discover his dragon was missing. And because Kostya is one of the kindest people in the kingdom, he housed, clothed, and fed the stranger and kept him by his side. While searching high and low, calling his dragon’s name.
Human Kirian hasn’t gain human speaking abilities yet and could only speak with his eyes and action. That scene in the snow where he was silently beseeching Kostya, holding the man’s hand to his heart, that he, Kirian, is right here! here! will forever live in my memory.
These two dorks blame themselves for everything going wrong in the kingdom. And some more suffering before Kostya realizes his Kirian is there all along. Their story isn’t perfect but it’s unforgettable.
Dragon’s Descent is why I started this series. I was curious about the loyal knight who helplessly watched his beloved flower prince descend into madness.
In the first two books, Dima is portrayed as the villain. First forcing Misha’s marriage and then punishing Kostya and Kirian for the accident, then the slew of executions. Whenever Dima’s harsh actions are shown, his loyal bodyguard’s reactions are also mentioned. A pained, heartbroken expression of a man hopelessly in love but could do nothing.
Arkadii was assigned to then Prince Dmitri when they were both teenagers. He is the son of the captain of the royal guard and his mother instilled her strong sense of duty into him. He and the prince became lovers, the prince was a carefree, joyful creature that flowers bloom wherever he goes.
Things took a turn when the old king was murdered, along with Arkadii’s mother, who died on duty. Dima was hit hard and barely recovered. After he bonded to the land with blood magic that went awry, he became worse, and Veronyesh(?) slowly began to decline.
This is also a difficult read, the mad king’s thoughts full of dismal paranoia, frequently hurting Arkadii who’s already at his wit’s end, but still doggedly performs his duties. Dima tends to circle the same dark topics, making the writing repetitive. It’s quite a challenge to redeem this character, and it doesn’t happen quickly.
But Dima’s recovery did happen, a slow uphill battle but gaining ground nonetheless, giving Arkadii hope that his flower prince is still there. The thing with Arkadii and Dima is that everyone knows they are a unit and assumes they will always be a unit. No one ever brought up the topic of the king marrying a woman and producing heirs.
Stoic, steadfast Arkadii devoting his life to his Dima almost to the point of martyrdom is hella romantic. I loved this type of seme in BL manga, and Arkadii cut a striking figure in his armor. That closing scene of him and Dima surrounded by springtime flowers is dreamy and magical. A hard-won, much-awaited HEA!
To Kill A King should be read in order. The books are not standalone. While Dragon’s Dawn might be a struggle to finish, Dragon’s Dusk and Dragon’s Descent are both highly entertaining and better executed. There are threads of betrayal running across the series, but the real villains are deployed like afterthoughts so meh. However, we get two swoony romances, so it’s still a win.
Overall, a moving saga of royals, dragons, lost souls, and unbreakable bonds.
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TO KILL A KING: Kindle
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SOUNDTRACK: Stole My Heart by Beasts With No Name, With Me All ALong by Bronze Radio Return & Still Feel by Half Alive
Soundtrack to To Kill A King: Dragon’s Dawn by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
Stole My Heart by Beasts With No Name for a forced marriage, an ongoing animosity and an unexpected attraction.
When did all fall apart in your hands
Chemistries tell me we should be friends
I dont know how Iโm gonna pretend
I dont know how Iโm gonna pretendYou stole my, oh my heart
You stole my, you stole my
Iโm so high, I come apart
You stole my, you stole my
HeartIโm a bullet stopped dead in the air
Smoke hanging silver, caught in your stareSoundtrack to To Kill A King: Dragon’s Dusk by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
With Me All Along by Bronze Radio Return for a book about a man looking for the missing half of his soul and found it was there right beside him all along.
Youโve been with me all along, all along
Always on my side, youโve never gone
Youโve been with me all along
And youโve been holding on, holding on for so long
When others would be gone, you stayed with me all alongYouโve been with me when I laugh or cry
Anywhere I stood, youโd be standing by
With me when Iโm fine, with me when Iโm not
With me when Iโm giving everything I gotSoundtrack to To Kill A King: Dragon’s Descent by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes
Still Feel by Half-Alive for a book about a man untethered finding his way back to himself.
When Iโm furthest from myself (far away)
Feeling closer to the stars (outer space)
Iโve been invaded by the dark (canโt escape)
Trying to recognize myself when I feel Iโve been replaced
When Iโm furthest from myself (far away)
Feeling closer to the stars (outer space)
Iโve been invaded by the dark (canโt escape)
Trying to recognize myself when I feel Iโve been replacedI can feel a kick down in my soul
And itโs pulling me back to earth to let me know
I am not a slave, canโt be contained
So pick me from the dark and pull me from the grave
โCauseI still feel alive
When itโs hopeless
I start to notice
That I still feel alive -
When did all fall apart in your hands
Chemistries tell me we should be friends
I dont know how I’m gonna pretend
I dont know how I’m gonna pretendYou stole my, oh my heart
You stole my, you stole my
I’m so high, I come apart
You stole my, you stole my
HeartI’m a bullet stopped dead in the air
Smoke hanging silver, caught in your stare
Hanging on when I know you don’t care
Hanging on when I know you don’t careYou stole my, oh my heart
You stole my, you stole my
I’m so high, I come apart
You stole my, you stole my
HeartYou took my love, you left the rain
I still wait, I still wait
I’m holding on, you walk away
I still wait, I still wait
You took my love, you left the rain
I still wait, I still wait
I’m holding on, you walk away
I still wait, I still waitYou stole my, oh my heart
You stole my, you stole my
I’m so high, I come apart
You stole my, you stole my (heart)
You stole my, oh my heart
You stole my, you stole my
I’m so high, I come apart
You stole my, you stole my
Heart
HeartYou’ve been with me all along, all along
Always on my side, you’ve never gone
You’ve been with me all along
And you’ve been holding on, holding on for so long
When others would be gone, you stayed with me all alongYou’ve been with me when I laugh or cry
Anywhere I stood, you’d be standing by
With me when I’m fine, with me when I’m not
With me when I’m giving everything I gotWith me all along, not a cameo
Every scene, every episode, in every video
Skip no scenario, there anywhere we goYou’ve been with me all along, all along
Always on my side, you’ve never gone
You’ve been with me all along
And you’ve been holding on, holding on for so long
When others would be gone, you stayed with me all alongYou’re still with me, and I hope you stay
We’ve come a long way since the early days
Always had a spot in the escapades, and a suitcase for the getawayAnd all along you were always down
Showed up, and would hang around
Singing loud, standing out in every crowd
And you’re still here nowYou’ve been with me all along, all along
Always on my side, you’ve never gone
You’ve been with me all along
And you’ve been holding on, holding on for so long
When others would be gone, you stayed with me all alongThey’re not all like you, no
Some blow away in a fair weather gust
Disappear in a cloud of dust
Leave you in the rain to rust, betraying your trust
Say you’re pretty good, but not good enough
The ones you thought you knew well
But I guess not well enoughBut that’s not you, that’s not you
You never put me in the rearview
I wouldn’t be the same without you
So I thank you, I thank you
You never put me in the rearview
And I wouldn’t be the same without youAlways on my side, you’ve never gone
You’ve been with me all along
And you’ve been holding on, holding on for so long
When others would be gone, you stayed with me all alongYou’ve been with me
You’ve been with me all along, all along, all along
You’ve been with me
You’ve been with me all along, all along, all alongWhen I’m furthest from myself (far away)
Feeling closer to the stars (outer space)
I’ve been invaded by the dark (can’t escape)
Trying to recognize myself when I feel I’ve been replaced
When I’m furthest from myself (far away)
Feeling closer to the stars (outer space)
I’ve been invaded by the dark (can’t escape)
Trying to recognize myself when I feel I’ve been replacedI can feel a kick down in my soul
And it’s pulling me back to earth to let me know
I am not a slave, can’t be contained
So pick me from the dark and pull me from the grave
‘CauseI still feel alive
When it’s hopeless
I start to notice
That I still feel alive
Falling forward
Back into orbitSo when I lose my gravity in this sleepy womb
Drifting as I dream, but I’ll wake up soon
To realize the hand of life is reaching out
To rid me of my pride I call allegiance to myselfI can feel a kick down in my soul
And it’s pulling me back to earth to let me know
I am not a slave, can’t be contained
So pick me from the dark and pull me from the grave
‘CauseI still feel alive
When it’s hopeless
I start to notice
That I still feel alive
Falling forward
Back into orbitI still feel alive
When it’s hopeless
I start to notice
That I still feel alive
Falling forward
Back into orbitI can feel a kick down in my soul
It’s pulling me back to earth to let me know
And this heart that beats inside of me will show
It will showFloating in outer space
Have I misplaced
A part of my soul
Lost in the in between
Or so it seems
I’m out of control
Floating in outer space
Have I misplaced
A part of my soul
Lost in the in between
But I can’t keep me
Asleep for long, ’causeI still feel alive (I can feel it)
When it’s hopeless (it ain’t hopeless)
I start to notice (start to notice)
I still feel alive (I can feel it)
Falling forward (falling forward)
Back into orbit (back into orbit)I still feel alive (I can feel it)
When it’s hopeless (it ain’t hopeless)
I start to notice (start to notice)
I still feel alive (I can feel it)
Falling forward (falling forward)
Back into orbitI still feel alive
I can feel it
It ain’t hopeless
‘Cause I start to notice
I still feel alive
I can feel it
Falling forwardI still feel alive
I still feel alive