rannum's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
stitchnlich's review
The smut was not good enough to justify pushing through how bad it was
leo_kitty's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dianawolfess's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Stars: 4.5
FMC:
MMC(s): Kirby, Mordecai (Cai), Harlen
Tropes: Fish out of water, telepathic bond, magic, nonbinary dragons, grumpy/sunshine, chosen one
> Reviewer add: Poly (MMM), sexual flexibility, hero worship, mating rituals
Perspective: First, single
Plot or character driven: Both
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes.
> Detailed? Yes.
> Multiple, with only one character? No.
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes.
> Personal favorite? On the table.
> Anything else to note?
Burn speed: Fast
Can this be read as a stand-alone: It is the first in a series.
Re-Readability: High
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: Peril, homophobia (parental), bullying, bullying related to classism, family dynamics.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.
“My addled mind finally registers his expression. He is smiling. Not smirking or sneering. A true genuine smile that shows all of his joy. He loves riding. Out here he is free. Free and happy.
It melts my heart and steals my soul. I’m done for and I don’t even care. Mordecai is a demigod and I’m going to worship him forever.”
Kirby receives an invite and ends up in the Welsh countryside as a dragon is ready to choose their rider. An unlikely choice, no one expects him to be chosen, and to begin training to close the portals that keep violating airspace. Cai and Harlen are the Flight and Wing Commanders (respectively) that have ~history, and they’re very willing to bring Kirby into it.
This author was new to me, and I settled down for this story. There’s quite a bit of hero worship in there which both made me grin and chant ‘gay, gay, GAAAAAAAAY’ in my head (you might need to be queer to understand). But I thought it was really cute, and I liked how the relationships between the dragons was mirrored by their riders. THAT ENDING ALMOST BROKE MY HEART THOUGH. And I freaking cannot wait for the next one to come out.
My little monstrous heart is sad about some things here, but my little queer heart is happy. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
tambrilyn_dvorski's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
buffyloverlori's review
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
reidmoore's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Kirby, Cai and Harlen find camaraderie (and more) in dragon-rider school in the hills of Wales. Kirby doubts whether he belongs or not as he is not borne into the dragon-rider dynasty, but proves himself by submitting to... destiny. Yeah, that's it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content