farisainherfeels's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved the dynamic between the two leads here but the romance took a backseat to the overarching plot. Also, the author keeps dropping breadcrumbs of what could be but doesn't follow through on them - like this FMC being told she has hidden powers/ potential but there being no leads on that in this book. I assume (HOPE!) it will manifest in the last book of the series but it really should've been in her own story, the book feels unfinished without the followthrough.
Also, wayyy too many ftb scenes when this wasn't a problem with the first book! (So really this book should be 3 stars but I genuinely loved the two MCs together on-page lol.) I'm also nervous about the next book because I'm not a fan of the way Meira was characterised in this book - a damsel in distress who wants coddling.
Also, wayyy too many ftb scenes when this wasn't a problem with the first book! (So really this book should be 3 stars but I genuinely loved the two MCs together on-page lol.) I'm also nervous about the next book because I'm not a fan of the way Meira was characterised in this book - a damsel in distress who wants coddling.
jeanmarier's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smitch29's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
This was difficult to rate. In part, it was difficult to get through the beginning. I think it comes down to me not liking the romance aspects of book. The ending, the action, the intrigue with that was good. It made me want to maybe read the next book, but then I remembered how hard it was to keep reading the beginning of the story. I almost put the book down multiple times. I can't even pinpoint what went so wrong, but I really struggled to care for the first 2/3rds of the book.
This was difficult to rate. In part, it was difficult to get through the beginning. I think it comes down to me not liking the romance aspects of book. The ending, the action, the intrigue with that was good. It made me want to maybe read the next book, but then I remembered how hard it was to keep reading the beginning of the story. I almost put the book down multiple times. I can't even pinpoint what went so wrong, but I really struggled to care for the first 2/3rds of the book.
ich_saint's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
raven168's review against another edition
3.0
Unlike what seems to be the vast majority of readers, I do not like characters like Skylar. I don't mind a strong woman, but I hate it when they have the attitude she does. It aggravates me to no end when these characters think that because they can fight a little that they can take on the world by themselves and don't need to listen to anybody else.
Needless to say, I didn't much like Skylar. At least in the beginning. I was sort of getting mad at how she wouldn't even listen to Kasia about what was going on, instead she assumed that she knew everything and there was no way that her sister would ever willingly mate a dragon. Really, she refused to listen to anything anyone there had to say. Fortunately, she eventually calms down enough to open her eyes and ears to pay attention to what's really going on. Unfortunately, Ladon is practically trying to claim her from the moment she came into the room which only feeds her desire to fight him.
Ladon already has a lot on his shoulders and now a crazy phoenix has also landed in his lap. He knows that he must mate her before the rotting king can find out, but that isn't the only reason he wants her. Her spunk and fight having him wanting nothing more than to claim her. But we know that a phoenix chooses their mate as well and there's no way she's going to do that willingly. Or maybe there is.
Skylar is willing to let Ladon show her that not all dragons are like the one who killed her mother and that he is truly doing everything for his people and not for the power. He doesn't want to mate a phoenix in order to be the high king, heck, he doesn't even want to be king. But he wants to put an end to his people's suffering and the unfair claiming of mates by those in higher power. If he can show her this, she's willing to mate him. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she is incredibly attracted to him.
Their time table gets pushed way up when certain things happen and they need to mate ASAP. Skylar acts like an aloof bitch, but deep down she actually is afraid she's going to kill him. Lucky for everyone, she does not. Quite a bit happens after that. Ladon and Brand find an ally in another king and together they plan to reclaim Brand's thrown. The rotting king has found out about the sister with the wolves, so she needs to be found and protected. And when Skylar ends up being kidnapped, we meet an interesting new dragon who's been locked up his whole life and that I really want to learn more about.
I'm having a hard time pinning down the red king's brother though. He's an odd one, to be sure, but apparently also a genius. What has me going back and forth is when he does things to help his horrible brother, but then does something to thwart him.
Like I said, I really disliked Skylar at the beginning. So I was glad when she did manage to change for the better a little bit after she mates Ladon. She still has that attitude I hate so much from time to time, but she does start to learn that she isn't always right or the strongest and that if she works together with people a lot more can be accomplished. So yay for that.
The couple I am most looking forward to getting is Meira and Samael. We only just meet Samael, so we learn little about him, but I am already liking him. And as for Meira, we find out that she was sent to live with gargoyles. Which is kind of cool. But the reason I'm looking forward to their book is because of what we're told of Meira's personality. She knows she's not a fighter, and she admits to wanting a male who will take care of her and to protect her. I'm pretty sure their book is not next as Samael is not a green dragon, but I still hope we get more of them.
There was one thing here that really, really ticked me off though.
Definitely not a favorite, but this one was still good and I look forward to more.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
Needless to say, I didn't much like Skylar. At least in the beginning. I was sort of getting mad at how she wouldn't even listen to Kasia about what was going on, instead she assumed that she knew everything and there was no way that her sister would ever willingly mate a dragon. Really, she refused to listen to anything anyone there had to say. Fortunately, she eventually calms down enough to open her eyes and ears to pay attention to what's really going on. Unfortunately, Ladon is practically trying to claim her from the moment she came into the room which only feeds her desire to fight him.
Ladon already has a lot on his shoulders and now a crazy phoenix has also landed in his lap. He knows that he must mate her before the rotting king can find out, but that isn't the only reason he wants her. Her spunk and fight having him wanting nothing more than to claim her. But we know that a phoenix chooses their mate as well and there's no way she's going to do that willingly. Or maybe there is.
Skylar is willing to let Ladon show her that not all dragons are like the one who killed her mother and that he is truly doing everything for his people and not for the power. He doesn't want to mate a phoenix in order to be the high king, heck, he doesn't even want to be king. But he wants to put an end to his people's suffering and the unfair claiming of mates by those in higher power. If he can show her this, she's willing to mate him. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she is incredibly attracted to him.
Their time table gets pushed way up when certain things happen and they need to mate ASAP. Skylar acts like an aloof bitch, but deep down she actually is afraid she's going to kill him. Lucky for everyone, she does not. Quite a bit happens after that. Ladon and Brand find an ally in another king and together they plan to reclaim Brand's thrown. The rotting king has found out about the sister with the wolves, so she needs to be found and protected. And when Skylar ends up being kidnapped, we meet an interesting new dragon who's been locked up his whole life and that I really want to learn more about.
I'm having a hard time pinning down the red king's brother though. He's an odd one, to be sure, but apparently also a genius. What has me going back and forth is when he does things to help his horrible brother, but then does something to thwart him.
Like I said, I really disliked Skylar at the beginning. So I was glad when she did manage to change for the better a little bit after she mates Ladon. She still has that attitude I hate so much from time to time, but she does start to learn that she isn't always right or the strongest and that if she works together with people a lot more can be accomplished. So yay for that.
The couple I am most looking forward to getting is Meira and Samael. We only just meet Samael, so we learn little about him, but I am already liking him. And as for Meira, we find out that she was sent to live with gargoyles. Which is kind of cool. But the reason I'm looking forward to their book is because of what we're told of Meira's personality. She knows she's not a fighter, and she admits to wanting a male who will take care of her and to protect her. I'm pretty sure their book is not next as Samael is not a green dragon, but I still hope we get more of them.
There was one thing here that really, really ticked me off though.
Spoiler
I do not understand, at all, how the two white dragons that Ladon captures start to treat and speak to Skylar like she is their queen. It makes no sense. Just because she is the offspring of a former ruler does NOT automatically make her their queen. And if we go by that thinking, they have 4 queens then? No sense at all.Definitely not a favorite, but this one was still good and I look forward to more.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
pplasas18's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. The chemistry between the main characters is soo good. It had some funny bits in it as well. And the story is somewhat the same as the first book but has some nice twist in it.
Overal a nice read and I'm looking forward to the next book.
Overal a nice read and I'm looking forward to the next book.
melissasfandomworld's review against another edition
4.0
A delicious read hehe! If you're into dragon-shifter pnr, this series is definitely a fun one to pick up.
Good chemistry between the romance interests,
a fun group of minor characters,
solid story line
and a good amount of politics.
I'm a FAN!
The writing is easy to love and lose yourself in so this is a perfect book to pick up any time really!
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, hopefully soon!
Good chemistry between the romance interests,
a fun group of minor characters,
solid story line
and a good amount of politics.
I'm a FAN!
The writing is easy to love and lose yourself in so this is a perfect book to pick up any time really!
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, hopefully soon!
shai3d's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booklvrkat's review against another edition
3.0
I'll have to stick with 3 stars on this one. These stories are so long, and very reptitious and I'm only in the 2nd book. I picked the stories up because I like dragons, but truly, 100+ pages could be chopped off of each story if I'm going to be honest.