Tag: dragons

Book Review: Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 578 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Long ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.

Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker—one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.

Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan’s people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown—even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.

Dragged into Reave’s glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens—and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire—she will have to make a

To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world…

Or to burn it all down from within.

MY NEW OBESSION.

It’s been a minute since I feel like I have LOVED a SM Gaither book. But that feeling is back and I must tell you to get on this book NOWWWWW.

I have been begging that romantasy universe to bring back the slow burn. And I was stunned in the best ways to find that this was a slow burn. I think it could have been dragged out even longer but I was just happy to get this much. There was immaculate banter and heat that built chapter over chapter. I loved that Raeve and Arowyn got to actually know each other and let down those walls and communicate. That man is down baaaad.

And I love Gaither’s fierce heroines. Arowyn is not different. That woman gets up again and again to stand stronger each time. I loved her relationship with her dragon. The female friendships are incredible too. I love the loyalty they offer each other. There were many notable side characters that I am 100% attached to now.

The pacing and action beats were just right. It took me a week to read this purely because I was savoring it. Every time I picked it up I was locked into every word. I loved the world building and the reveals caused me to have to know what happens next. I must have book two! I need answers!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mass loss of life, weapons/physical violence, war themes

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC/ALC Book Review: Fire to the Stars by Morgan J. Watchorn

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Morgan J. Watchorn
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a kingdom cursed to turn people into dragons, two teens from opposite worlds, each with nothing left to lose, form an uneasy alliance. Told in dual perspectives, this sweeping debut follows their search for redemption and the slow-burning bond that could save them both.

Every month, the kingdom of Florent braces for the Ignition: a solar event that turns ordinary humans into vicious dragon shifters. And anyone can be a dragon’s next victim.

Claire knows this all too well because the Ignition consumed her and her father, her town, and the life she thought she’d have. Now, she’s scraping by on her wits as part of a sisterhood of thieves—lying, stealing, her heart locked tight—until she tracks down a disgraced dragon slayer who may be the one person who can give her back the life she once had.

Abel has been shunned by the prestigious Slayers Guild for conducting research that’s too…unorthodox to condone. But there’s no one Claire trusts more than a rulebreaker, and that research might be the one thing that could help her. So when Abel reveals he is hunting again, Claire tries to hire him under false pretenses. Abel, however, is reluctant to accept a job from a criminal, no matter how charming she is. And yet…he really needs the money.

Together, Claire and Abel will race through Florent and uncover dangerous secrets in their quests for forgiveness—and survival. But that knowledge may cost them the very thing they’ve grown desperate to protect: each other.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREAT READ.

🎧: I loved the audiobook! The dual narrators were amazing and did a fantastic job. Highly recommend this format!

I also did eyeball read a chunk of this and enjoyed that format too. You really can’t go wrong with your formatting decisions.

Now to the book! I thought this was a great upper young adult fantasy romance standalone. There is some content I would advise for younger teens so older teens are more the right audience (but as always, do your own research!).

I loved that from the get go Abel and Claire are stuck with each other. I love a reluctant allies x forced proximity moment. Especially for a standalone this helped the progression of their relationship and getting to actually see it on page. Some good banter and care taking moments too.

Also this book has DRAGONS. And I thought a very interesting dynamic surrounding them too. The major plot reveals at the end made everything click together and I thought it was an interesting world and magic system (with only a few holes). I enjoyed the side characters and the traveling journey didn’t bug me all that much. I felt like things were still progressing well enough that it kind of fades into the background.

With characters I liked seeing grow and change from past mistakes and a mystery worth solving, I definitely recommend this book to others!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: very light innuendo; quick fade to black scene
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, mentions of torture (recounted), physical/weapon altercations, mild blood/gore

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Olivia Rose Darling
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The second novel in Olivia Rose Darling’s thrilling and steamy romantic fantasy series, following Fear the Flames.

In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them.

Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he’s determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he’s ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience.

Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she’d ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father’s only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game.

Navigating the shifting allegiances amongst all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cutthroat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they’ve gained, or risk losing everything.

Delving deeper into a vast and ever-changing world, Wrath of the Dragons will take you on a journey filled with epic battles and a tender, angsty love for the ages.

SO I LOVED THIS?

Note: I read the first book when it was indie and the Wrath audiobook mentioned that I should go back and read the traditional version of Fear the Flames first because of the changes. I didn’t do that and honestly had no issues. Any continuity questions didn’t bug me enough to go back. I rolled with it and it was still amazing.

I just LOOOOVE a man down bad so dang hard. Cayden can truly see nothing in front of him but Elowen and I love that for him. This was heavy on the romance side and I was cool with allllll of it. There was also an uptick in action and intrigue and all the things. And there were some swoooooony scenes.

NOT TO MENTION the audiobook is DUAL narration which is always the superior choice. It really made the book and you have to read it this way. I’m looking forward to the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4+ open door
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ALC Book Review: When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Dana Swift
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: June 30th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal―now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other, from Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight.

Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father’s footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse―plus, he’s the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.

When James strongarms his way into interning at her family’s dragon sanctuary for the summer, it puts everything at risk. Farren isn’t just the plain copper-crafter she seems. She’s hiding a secret that could not only change her life, but their society as a whole. And James, trying to find refuge from his controlling father, harbors his own secret, years-long crush on Farren. Hating James might be harder than she thought, but Farren can’t risk getting too close: the fate of an endangered species is at stake.

When Dealing with Dragons is a delightful young adult dual-POV romantasy about cross-class romance, finding family, and creating a better world for creatures big and small.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

THIS IS WHAT I MEAN.

This is what I mean when I think about young adult fantasy standalones. WDWD was flipping cute and I was obsessed from start to end (not surprising because I also loved Dana Swift’s previous duology). The audiobook is great and you should definitely go with that format.

The romance was adorable. I loved that she was taller than him?? I loved the banter. The guy is DOWN SO BAD Y’ALL. From the minute you get his POV. And I’m obsessed with those kind of dynamics. I liked the themes and discussions between them and how they learned to work together. Farren learns that there’s a lot more to James and it’s just sweet.

I loved all of the dragon content. I will say, don’t squint too hard at the world building. Some of it didn’t quite click but I overlooked it for how much enjoyment I was getting out of everything else. Back to the dragons, loved them. Loved the metal magic system and how that operated. I was very attached and very upset at a lot of things (complimentary).

Seriously a wonderful young adult fantasy. I loved Farren’s family too!! Supportive, strong families are such a gem and I loved that they were included too. It’s a book I’m going to be throwing at everyone to read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Langauge: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: animal abuse (on page), child abuse (recounted), weapons violence

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph