We will find the culprit and I will see them weep on their knees before you.
Bound by Dragons
Alisha Klapheke
Bound by Dragons, book one
Kindle edition, 246 pages
Published June 30, 2023
ASIN B0C415N992
This grumpy/sunshine fantasy romance about a feisty peasant and a dragon-riding Fae knight will keep you up until dawn!
I was born to ride dragons and no one can steal my fate...
All half-Fae Tahlia ever wanted was to become a Mist Knight, a dragon riding warrior defending the kingdom's wild north coast. Sadly, she never had the right blood, the right ancestors, the right anything. But when an opportunity to take her employer's place arises, she's willing to risk death by fire and sneak into the tournament that will name the next Mist Knight.
Second in command of the Mist Knights, full-blooded Fae noble Marius prides himself on living a strictly disciplined life. He has his Wed the commander's daughter. Rise to his father-in-law's role when the time is right. But he never saw Tahlia coming... Tahlia is determined to burn her way into the Mist Knights' world and take that handsome Marius along for the ride.
*This is an upper YA/NA novel with mature situations and language. Though this book stands on its own, you will get more Tahlia and Marius in books coming up, and the heat level will rise with each book. Bound by Dragons is the fifth book in the Starry Kingdoms of the Fae Collection. These books are all standalones written by your favorite fantasy authors and are the perfect read for your summer vacation. Prepare to be swept away into magical worlds with tropes you obsess over and swoon-worthy romance.
Tahlia is a Fae/human mix convinced that she belongs in the sky.
Marius is the High Captain of the Mist Knights, the second ranking rider in the regime and his dragon, Ragewing, is the alpha of the beasts.. He is rigid in his expectations. Whether it be a rider's well kept, unwrinkled uniform or the meticulous care of their dragons, he will suffer no excuse for the failure to maintain standards. He is, also, a Fae with a plan: To marry the Commander's daughter and one day take his place. Duty demands it. His Mistgold blood requires it.
Tahlia wanders into his path when she arrives at the stables. She doesn't know who he is and he doesn't care enough to enlighten her. But then she throws herself between his dragon and Ragewing's kin, and he goes from leaping after Tahlia to giving her the scolding only the fool that she is would deserve.
If "my bad" were human incarnate, it would be Tahlia. Half-human anyway.
And then she's erroneously submerging herself in the men's bathing pool while he's there and yeah, fortune's not working in her favor in that regard. She chuckles, blushes, excuses herself with the sincerest of apolgies, and hightails it out of there.
And he almost smiles.
Oh, she is charming him.
And she's kind of charming me, too. The woman is adorable.
Tahlia ultimately passes Marius's inquiry, earning her a place to compete to be a Mist Knight. But just as she changes her fate, her lies are discovered and she'll face the dire consequences of her deception.
And Marius will choose to sacrifice everything to stand beside her.
This is a whirlwind romance built heavily on mutual attraction. Maybe fated mates? No mention of it, but there's a charged air, instant attraction, and an instinctual wrist grab that certainly supports it. Also, what do you mean, the heat level will rise? Marius' imagination is doing just fine with the spice.
The reviews are a bit mixed on this one, so it ended up being better than I had anticipated. Ate it up in one day.
4 out of 5 stars.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
Also part of the Lady of the Skies omnibus:
2025/36
