Lies that Blemish (The Ember War #3)

Yes, wife, you are.

Available at Amazon.com

Lies that Blemish
Leia Stone
The Ember War, book three
ebook, 338 pages
Published March 2, 2025
ISBN 9781951578510


To save her people, Aisling must question everything—even herself.

Blinded by betrayal, Aisling's heart burns for revenge against Kohen, the man she once trusted. But war looms on two fronts—Luska and Imbria—and her people are caught in the crossfire. As battle lines are drawn and alliances tested, Aisling faces an impossible to side with the lesser evil or risk everything for her people’s survival.

Amid the chaos, truths begin to unravel. With every step closer to victory, Aisling is haunted by one: Could Kohen have been right all along?

Kohen Badshah is a character you either love or hate. The end will justify his means but at least he seems to take the path of the least amount of damage. It is what it is, but let's face facts: Kohen is the only one that can see the chess board in this entire ridiculous crusade.

And Aisling has inherited a position she has long been groomed for. That of a villain.

Despite its many missed opportunities and gag worthy side steps, this has been a story I've been anxious to see through to the end. Where was it going? Where has it been? What were the many lies that shaped its foundation and how would these dazed and simple minded characters set it right?

It's been two months since Kohen's betrayal was brought to light and war was declared on Imbria.

The privilege of the reigning family continues its abuse as Valor, Aisling's sister and heir, is allowed to venture into the Wilds alone at a mere fourteen years of age to bond a magical creature.

Kohen intervenes by sending his brothers to protect and guide her and eventually all three come away bonded to a trio of dragons. Dragons that are daughters to Maxim's twin sister's bonded creature. Although that detail isn't an issue for very long. Oof.

Meanwhile, Kohen's visions are no longer focused on a singular timeline but instead have branched to include multiple outcomes and in more and more he sees himself losing Aisling. To Alec. To Maxim. To death.

He's wearing down. And Aisling's mantra of threats against his life was wearing me out.

Meanwhile, Aisling has practically ordered a draft by way of an emergency lottery to include all citizens aged eighteen to twenty-five. They tear down the wall near Luskia to lure more Talanagi to their lands. And in what spare time comes in the evening, she finally, finally, has begun looking into the veracity of Kohen's claims that her father had been an active threat to her life.

Thankfully the former emperor was a looney toon that kept evidence of his terroristic plots in a safe for over a decade.

Aisling's reaction? Immediate and intense. The woman gave me whiplash.

Then Kohen... Stars above, I was in bizarro land. The man invented a gun.

And Maxim's army wields a nuclear bomb.

I can't with this.

What. Is. Happening?!

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series:

2026/11

Lies that Bind (The Ember War #2)

My love, it will always just be you and me, not us and them.

Available at Amazon.com

Lies that Bind
Leia Stone
The Ember War, book two
ebook, 340 pages
Published December 28, 2024
ISBN 9781951578473


When empires fall, love is the ultimate sacrifice.

When Aisling ascends the throne as empress, the weight of the crown is heavier than she ever imagined. Her father’s brutal murder leaves her with two burning purposes: find the killer and make them pay.

But her quest for vengeance leads to an act of retaliation that shifts the tides of war—and awakens a formidable new enemy.

Through the chaos, Kohen is her anchor. His unwavering love and loyalty are the only constants in her life. Yet when a shocking revelation emerges, Aisling is forced to question everything she believed to be true—even the bond she thought unbreakable.

In a world where trust is a fragile weapon, can Aisling hold her empire together, or will her pursuit of justice cost her everything?

At the close of book one, the emperor had been assassinated. And why Aisling wasn't side eyeing Meera I have no clue. I suppose her bias and prejudice against the Luskins is just that strong.

Aisling is now empress, tasked with avenging her father and leading her people forward. Bear in mind, the Amerseans are very much the problem at the heart of this story. Imbria has been conquered and is now controlled with miniscule rations from their overseer and Luska—

Luska fights for a fair share of the ember that fuels the land's energy sources. It's a noble fight and I haven't managed the slightest urge to condemn them for it.

As I said in my book one post, if Kohen is here playing the long game, I'm here for it.

This sequel is the typical bridge. It's the stepping stone that furthers the story to its inevitable conclusion. Aisling is adjusting to her new role, giving orders, training, and taking cover. It was in this installment that it cemented for me that I was experiencing the story through a side character's POV. Kohen is the main character. He's the one making moves. He has the plot. Aisling is purely reactive.

And now we know why Kohen was so deeply disturbed by Alec.

I appreciate Aisling. She's a young woman virtuous enough to save herself for marriage while also being a combatant that's not above war crimes. And although war and death bears heavy weight, this is a strong Young Adult themed tale that can't help but sink into shallow and downright juvenile scenarios. A new threat rises to power, demanding bloodshed or submission by way of marriage, and the answer her loyal governess and most trusted adviser proposes as a response: Steal his underwear.

Gods smite me now.

Stop it.

The assassin is revealed. Nothing unanticipated there.

Amersea presently faces war on two fronts. Luska is now led by Maxim, an unknown with two bonded creatures and a twin sister aware of Aisling's hidden power.

And with Imbria. Kohen, Anika, and the others have retreated home, declared sovereignty, and proclaimed Kohen their rightful king.

Kohen orders Aisling's death. And as she dies, expected to be reborn in three days' time, his message is resounding. Everything he has done is to protect her. Seek the truth. He'll be waiting.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series:

2026/10

Lies that Bleed (The Ember War #1)

My stars, Aisling, you’re my best friend
and you don’t even know it yet.

Available at Amazon.com

Lies that Bleed
Leia Stone
The Ember War, book one
ebook, 412 pages
Published June 23, 2024
ASIN B0CYCW6KH8
ISBN 9781951578367


For tonight, we either lived or died in The Wilds. Nothing else mattered.

As the daughter of the emperor, Aisling Everhart was born into privilege. She has trained her entire life to go into The Wilds and have a chance at bonding with a creature that can give her unknown power. Half of the candidates will die the first night, and only a few will make it out. Those who survive the bonding are quickly conscripted into the Imperial Fleet to join the war.

What Aisling never could have prepared for, was Kohen Badshah, former prince of Imbria, her father’s sworn enemy. When Kohen proposes an unlikely alliance, she accepts. They enter The Wilds together, and Aisling realizes that she was woefully unprepared, especially when nothing goes to plan.

After barely surviving, she’s thrust into the Imperial Fleet to learn how to control her new gifts, but as her power grows, so do the dangers—including multiple attempts on her life. When you don’t know who is friend or enemy, it’s hard to trust, but Kohen Badshah appears to be protecting her.

It’s that or he’s playing one excellent long game. Which one, only time will tell.

As future empress, Aisling has long prepared for the day she would enter the Wilds and risk her life to bond with a magical creature that would bestow upon her, and all other worthy candidates, a magical power that could be used not just in the war against Luska but also grant the lesser privileged a higher standing within society.

As her father's heir, her chance is a given. For others, the opportunity is left to a lottery. And to the rigging by the powers that be. Aisling is well aware of her father's schemes. First, to have her betrothed enter the Wilds with her, ensuring their mutual success would also provide a stronger rule. And secondly, to have the son of the late infamous traitor be put to death without any political backlash.

What Aisling is unprepared for, however, is meeting Kohen Badshah, her best friend's name being pulled in the lottery, and her betrothed's infidelity. The latter of which blamed entirely on a man's need to "scratch an itch". And for the love of all things worthy must we be so cliché?!

Kohen enters the Wilds alongside a number of his fellow Imbrians with a reputation steeped in violence.

And it's a rep that Aisling is practically questioning from the onset. His every act, his every word, has her second guessing the long held prejudice spawned from stories circulated by his enemies and pounded into her by her father.

Three days. Survive three days in the Wilds, claim a beast worthy of an empress (but not a challenge to the reigning emperor) and keep her bestie safe. That's it. That's the goal.

Kohen's motivations are similar. Survive. Survive not only his rival candidates and the beasts of the Wilds but also the many assassins the emperor has sent after him. Protect his kin, those he claims as his family. And bond with a creature that can give him the power he so desperately needs.

While Aisling intends to steer clear of the legendary Talanagi beasts, Kohen is focused on bonding nothing less.

By a third of the book, Aisling has sparked a tentative friendship with Anika (Kohen's steadfast friend and passionate supporter), ensured her best friend has survived and bonded to wolf, commits treason by killing off two of her father's men when they nearly take out Kohen, witnesses that same Kohen fight and bond to a dragon, and she herself bonds to a firebird. Which results in her burning up in a ball of fire, dying, and rising from the dead inside of a bodybag after Kohen carries her corpse from the forest.

Oh, Kohen. That boy had my heart throughout.

From his bonded dragon, Onyx, Kohen inherits a power of fire but also the much feared power of foresight. He can see a future of battles and death but with them, visions of he and Aisling together as lovers. He struggles to reconcile his feelings of possessiveness and the urge to protect her with the very unfortunate present wherein they are strangers to one another and, by extension of her father, practically enemies.

As he contends with the weight of this power, Kohen desperately seeks the connection that has not yet come to fruition. His future lover and best friend wants only to keep him at a distance.

Aisling, meanwhile, has her own powers to conceal. While becoming a living fireball may be a praiseworthy skill, her ability to control one's mind would see her terminated by her very own people for being too strong a threat.

Add on that Aisling's firebird raised Kohen's dragon as if he was her own hatchling and these two main characters have more red strings tying their fates than your average YA leads.

And it all ends on a cliffhanger.

“I want you to remember something, okay?” he breathed.
All I could do was nod.
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to my ear. “Remember that no matter how things may seem, everything I do is to protect you.”

4 out of 5 stars. Immediately diving into book two and a small part of me is very much hoping that Kohen is indeed playing the long game. Metal Slinger has ruined me for life.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Next in the series:

2026/09

Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns #1)

You know nothing of what it's like to be enslaved.

Available at Amazon.com

Empire of Flame and Thorns
Marion Blackwood
Flame and Thorns, book one
ebook, 366 pages
Published October 21, 2024
ASIN B0DD5V1NXJ
ISBN 9789198904260


A fae rebel.
A ruthless dragon commander.
And a deadly trial that will turn their lives upside down.

Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them.

There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose.

He symbolizes everything that she hates, and if he finds out that she is also a member of the secret fae rebellion, he will not only mess with her chances to win, he will kill her. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.

And nothing is more dangerous in a lethal trial than a distracted heart.

Especially one that beats for the enemy…

First test: Get inside the palace.

Second test: Show your power.

This had to be some kind of initiation on Imar's part. Some form of dragon shifter hazing. Because the entire exercise seemed targeted at torturing the guy.

But when it's Selena's turn, Draven volunteers himself in Imar's stead. Though confident at first, Selena finds she cannot find the "typical" emotions she'd expected. No smugness. No boredom. Nothing. So... she goes for shock and whips her shirt off. And the strike lands. Draven staggers back and she siezes on the panic that follows until he's bumbling and cursing like a fool in front of the entire assembly.

Shocked and scandalized.

Even more so when she makes him laugh.

At the ball, he asks her to dance. Claims it's to put a target on her back. That may be so in terms of her competitors, but I was far more entertained at the idea of what message it sent to his fellow dragons. (Spoiler alert: It's never mentioned so perhaps they don't care.)

Trial one: Stay in the circle.

Basically they battled it out until only a chosen number remained. Culling the herd as it is.

Trial two: Get out of the maze.

Carry a glass egg through a maze without having it shatter. I rolled my eyes at this but it was the first blatant display of sabotage on Draven's part so I let it go with only a lingering suspicion that the prize for the Atonement Trials may not be what Selena expects.

Trial three: Collect a coin.

Not a fan of this one. However, it allowed Selena's magic to shine as she basically willed the "volunteer" to surrender her coin without harm.

Trial four: Retrieve a ring.

The climax of the event. The MCs are still very much enemies, still very much hot for one another, and so... the inevitable comes to fruition. The spice. The win. An unexpected fall through the forest floor into a land long forgotten but it's a simple hike out and the book closes on the revelation of the true purpose of the Atonement Trials.

Surprise, surprise, their slavery levels up.

And I'm still left wondering how she ended up in his bed.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Next in the series:

2026/04

Storm of Flames (Bound by Dragons #4)

I have my cruelty planned and it doesn't include you.

Available at Amazon.com

Storm of Flames
Alisha Klapheke
Bound by Dragons, book four
Kindle edition, 105 pages
Published April 3, 2025
ASIN B0F2J8JPDK


Tahlia, Marius, Fara, and the rest of the dragon-riding Mist Knights are off on another mission...

When the order flies north to fight the pirates harassing the coastline, they discover the infamous Eelsmen have a new high captain.

Not only is this individual unknown, he is an Unseelie—a powerful Seer from the Realm of Night.

And Tahlia's weaver magic sees a dangerous connection between this enemy and her dearest friend, Fara.

What does this mean for the Healer? For the order?

Dive into this bonus book today to enjoy runic magic, new enemies to lovers romance, banter, sea monsters, spicy romance, and of course, dragons!

"Who is he?"

Fara! Gurrrrl! It's your time to shine.

Tahlia may be mated to the Commander of the Mist Knights, but Fara's intended is so much more powerful than Marius.

He's bored by him, too.

Teague, an Unseelie, pops up in this story as the new pirate Captain with his own plan of vengeance ready to be enacted. But first, he needs to steal away his mate.

It's simple. It's quick. But when it's done then the real spice happens because *finally* the author delivers on what she oh so dastardly skipped over in the second book: the consummation of Marius and Tahlia's relationship.

It's a bonus scene that shan't be missed!

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | audiobook

Previously in the series:


Also part of the Lady of the Skies omnibus:

2025/39

Crown & Dragon (Bound by Dragons #3)

Please stop cataloguing my sounds.

Available at Amazon.com

Crown and Dragon
Alisha Klapheke
Bound by Dragons, book three
Kindle edition, 215 pages
Published October 24, 2024
ASIN B0DB2TF19X


What do tomatoes, scowling, and artifacts that could end the entire world have in common?

You guessed it—Tahlia and Marius.

When the Fae king sends dragon riders Tahlia and Marius on an undercover mission to recover the invisible crown, an artifact that gives the wearer the ability to control minds—and a host of other nasty things—it’s clear there will be danger.

For one thing, the madman currently in possession of the crown has a bit of a god complex. But danger is nothing new. And the mission will finally allow Tahlia a chance to cross the Veil and explore the world of humans, not to mention making Marius wear a ridiculous costume, which is pretty much Tahlia’s favorite part of the whole thing.

Tahlia is fairly certain they’ll win the day. But when they discover the crown is hidden behind a labyrinth of deadly traps, her hope withers. If they don’t succeed, her soul-bonded dragon will never fly again. She might even die.

So yeah, failure isn’t an option.

Crown and Dragon, Bound by Dragons Book Three, is a lighthearted fantasy romance with Fae, boatloads of banter, spice, and page-turning excitement. Great for fans of Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, this series will have you gasping and grinning at every turn!

This story was just silly and odd with a bit of spice thrown in.

Undercover on a secret mission to collect a magical crown during a Tomato Festival, Marius gets attacked by an imaginary minotaur and nearly drowned by a siren. After that, he was done with the bs and being surrounded by humans. Slamming doors. Smashing locked boxes. The typically cool and collected Commander wants this thing done.

They finally find the crown, just as the king with evil intentions walks into the room, and Marius shoves the crown onto his head. Thus giving him the power of mind control. And how does our dear Tahlia respond?

"This is great!" Tahlia whispered. "Oooh, tell me to do something. I want to see how it feels."

Smh. She truly is a ray of fucking sunshine.

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series:


Also part of the Lady of the Skies omnibus:

2025/38

Kingdom of Spirits (Bound by Dragons #2)

I will shout for you, my lady. Does that please you?

Available at Amazon.com

Kingdom of Spirits
Alisha Klapheke
Bound by Dragons, book two
Kindle edition, 302 pages
Published May 30, 2024
ASIN B0CJK44VQK


Her life, or her love. Tahlia can’t have both.

When Tahlia’s commander dies under mysterious circumstances, the only suspect is her former mentor’s daughter…their new commander. If Tahlia accuses her without proof, she’ll lose everything she’s worked for. Including her soul-bonded dragon.

To make matters worse, something is wrong with her captain. Marius won't meet her gaze, and he won't utter one word about the new commander. Like, not a syllable. As if maybe he isn’t able.

But Talia can't just walk away from him. A pull deep within her says they might be fated mates, and he is about to set off on a secret mission. She can't let him go alone, not with that creepy, clouded look in his eyes. And not with the fate of the dragon riders resting in such dangerous hands.

Dark magic and evil forces are rising in Kingdom of Spirits, and Tahlia is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means risking her life.

If you liked Fourth Wing, but are searching for a lighter-hearted read with humor and just a dash of spice, this series is perfect for you.

This is NOT a standalone! Check out Bound by Dragons Book One for Talia and Marius's first encounter.

With fae, dragons, dragon riders, banter, found family, and touch her and die, this fantasy romance will have you flipping pages all night long.

***This series is upper YA/NA and contains mature language and situations.

It's been two weeks, and for the most part, Tahlia is getting along fine in her new role as a Mist Knight. Although being accepted by her fellow knights proves itself an obstacle to be overcome. On a positive note, she has fully bonded to her Seabreak dragon, Vodolija.

Meanwhile, Marius, the planner that he is, is scribbling a q&a that is probably considered a red flag by today's generation. What would you change about your past? Do you like to travel? If so, where? Younglings? Younglings?

Marius Leos Valentius. Chill out, my guy. Just two weeks ago, you asked for Ophelia's hand in marriage. This isn't an episode of The Bachelor.

So the plot for this sequel fell flat for me. Commander Gaius ends up dead. Tahlia questions Ophelia's version of events of allegedly finding the body. And Marius ends up cursed by Ophelia via runes, unable to divulge said curse and his touching of Tahlia would lead to her death.

Yeah. No. Sorry, not sorry. I'm not impressed with the curse bit.

But at least the Katk livened things up with a battle and we got to have a wedding.

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series:


Also part of the Lady of the Skies omnibus:

2025/37

Bound by Dragons

We will find the culprit and I will see them weep on their knees before you.

Available at Amazon.com

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

To Kill a Fae (Dragon Portal #1)

If one more person questions me, people are going to start dying.

Available at Amazon.com

To Kill a Fae
Jamie A. Waters
Dragon Portal, book one
Kindle Edition, 338 pages
Published September 26, 2019
ASIN B07TW9JG8N
ISBN 9781949524178
Amazon Free Read

The darkness holds more than just secrets...

Marked for death, Sabine escaped from her home more than ten years ago.

But the Wild Hunt will never give up.

It should have been easy to stay hidden. All Sabine had to do was keep her head down, avoid telling anyone about her past, and above all else -- not let her glamour drop.

Even the best-laid plans eventually fall apart.

When a charismatic stranger arrives in the city, Sabine finds herself unwittingly drawn to him and the power she can sense hidden within him. Keeping her distance is nearly impossible, especially after a life debt is called due and she’s tasked into helping steal a rare artifact.

Sabine is the only one who can break the magical barriers protecting the item, but that means revealing the truth about her identity and exposing her darkest secrets.

Unfortunately, the Fae aren’t the only ones hunting her.

And the most dangerous monsters aren’t always confined to the dark.

When Sabine is attacked by four men looking for a payout for her assassination, she makes quick work of two. The third manages to draw blood but is easily dispatched alongside his companions. When she turns for the fourth, Sabine discovers him in a pool of blood at the feet of a stranger.

A tall, dark-haired, lethal male with a deep blue aura being escorted by the town goblin? Things just got interesting.

Malek Rish'dan. Captain Malek Rish'dan. A man who possesses Fae knowledge without any Fae appearance. Not quite human but something else Sabine can't pinpoint. A man with sensitivity to magic, or so she summizes as he tracks her glamouring her assailant's tattoos and enchanting a wooden coin for a lanky child on the street.

Sabine's power had called to him from the moment of his ship's arrival at the dock. When she offers to honor the debt of his aide, he strategically negotiates a simple dinner.

To ask for more than what's due would have negated the debt entirely.

In a world with demons and trolls, goblins and fae, it's Sabine whose spoken name silences a room. No one dares cross her. No one dares touch her. If she isn't enough of a threat on her own, then it's the demon, Dax, whose protection she is under that would give them pause. If not him, then surely his estranged brother, Bane. Heads of the thieves guild and assassins guild, respectively.

When the goblin, Pozgil, informs Dax of the attack against Sabine it becomes clear that heads are going to roll and limbs are going to tear.

When Dax finds Sabine's mark on Malek's wrist the threat of violence is just as imminent.

The book occasionally shifts from Sabine to Malek's POV and it's a feature I adored because Sabine can't fingure him out. And even Malek withholds his true identity and intentions from the reader for most of the story.

Leave it to Bane to finally solve the mystery.

Malek is a dragon. Not the average ship captain nor common smuggler. He's hunting Fae artifacts to mend the failing seal on the closed portal. Should it fall completely, war will return to their kinds.

This is a good read for anyone into kickass females surrounded by overprotective alpha males and all the pixies, witches, goblins, demons, and dragons one could hope for. That said, it's merely an introduction to the series that will span about six books. This installment ends just as Sabine's twin brother, Rhys, has recalled the Wild Hunt to track her down. He wants her dead in order to claim the magic he believes her existence has stolen from him. Sabine, accompanied by Bane, flees Akros aboard Malek's ship and that's where book one closes.

Without waiting for a response, she turned away from the demon and walked toward a dragon. And behind her, the city continued to burn.

Dax. Bane. Jacoby. This author watches a lot of American television. Malek. Riven. Rhys. Now she's just teasing outright.

3 out of 5 stars.



Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

2025/15