Shadow of Flame

Dragonsworn #2

by Caitlyn McFarland

It's been two months since Kai Monahan's life changed forever. Retrieved from a suddenly unsafe Colorado by Rhys and taken to Eryri, the dragons' home in the South Pacific, she lives a secret existence. Rhys—for all his awe-inspiring power—is afraid to reveal to his people that he's heartsworn to a human. One he's quite possibly in love with.

Kai hasn't forgotten the terror or pain of the moment Rhys first took control of her mind and her magic, but neither has she forgotten the fire of his kiss. When she's discovered, dragon politics—not to mention spies and ex-lovers—threaten her growing feelings. Rhys has more enemies than he can guess, and someone close to him is playing right into their hands.

The war Rhys never wanted is coming. For either of them to survive, Kai must open her mind to him as never before. This time, there will be no turning back.

Book two of the Dragonsworn trilogy

98,000 words

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2015

About the author

After spending most of her adult life in UT, Caitlyn McFarland has returned to the Midwest and currently lives by a lake in Missouri with her husband and three daughters. She has a Bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she's not writing romantic fantasy, Caitlyn can be found wandering the woods, crafting, or playing TTRPGs.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow of Flame is book two in the Dragonsworn series by Caitlyn McFarland. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley, Carina Press and Caitlyn McFarland.



First, let me just say that I just this minute finished this book. My heart rate is probably triple time right now. My emotions are swirling and I’m a mess. Yes, Ms. McFarland, you did this to me. And I love it!



The book starts out about six weeks after the previous one left off. Kai is at home in Colorado with Juli and Juli’s heartsworn, Ashem. It has been miserable for both Kai and Rhys to be apart but at the same time, Kai needs this time, both to let her family know she is ok and also, to get herself together. But when Rhys gets information that Kai is in danger, he knows it is time to bring her home, to his home in Eryri.



Once there, he tries to keep their heartswearing a secret. It would pit many of the council against him if they knew he was heartsworn to a human. But things work against him and before he can present Kai in his own way, she is found out.



For the first part of this book, Kai is keeping her mental walls up and won’t let Rhys in. Both of them are keeping their feelings to themselves. There were times I wanted to give them both a good smack and then make them kiss and make up. It was so obvious they cared deeply for each other. But now, after the fact, I see that perhaps this slow pace they took in opening up to each other was a good thing. Because when the walls did come down, it was awesome. And the love they shared, I believe, was stronger than ever.



Apart from the attempts Rhys and Kai are making to spend time together, Rhys is a King. And things are not going well in Eryri. Now so many dragons are against him since he is heartsworn to a human. They have a spy in their midst and he can’t figure out who it is. Then we have Owain who wants to kill Rhys and rule himself. But, if he rules, humans will die. We have poor Cadoc that is trying everything to find a way to break the curse that forces him to want to murder his own King Rhys. And we have Mair who is pulling the puppet strings on everyone and orchestrating her own resolution.

As in the first book, Caitlyn McFarland builds and builds until the epic finale that will have you gasping for breath. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. And yes, there is a cliff hanger. But thankfully, we won’t have but about two months for the finale of this trilogy to come out, Truth of Embers. So if you haven’t started already, now is your chance to start at the beginning and read book one, Soul of Smoke, then this one, to get all ready for the final book. I, for one, can’t wait.

“I love you forever, Fire of my soul, flame of my heart.”

[Vippi · Rating 3 out of 5]

~Thanks Netgalley for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest review~

Actual rating: 2.75 stars

I have mixed feeling towards this book. Although I appreciated the overall plot and rooted for some characters (aka Cadoc, he remains my fav), it was not as good as Soul of Smoke and I didn't get completely into the story.
There were some good twists Kavar/Juli/Ashem and Mair's double-crossing, but I saw too many flaws as well:

• for most of the story Kai remained the same immature moron girl we had met in book 1 she finally recognized that she loved Rhys, and it was terribly clear that Rhys loved her the same way back, but she still kept her mental barrier:

Again, she thought about dropping the wall. Again, stupid fear stooped her.

• there wasn't enough character development and at times the protagonists' behaviours didn't sound totally realistic
• I love multiple POVs, however this time they were a few too many, slowing the pace and making some passages a little bit boring

Summary: idea 5 - stars, execution - (sadly) only 2.5

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so lucky to have gotten an early copy of this book! I loved the first one, but I DIED over the second. The pacing picks up so much and the romance is so swoon.

Kai is strong and funny and Rhys just pulls on my heartstrings. This is a must read! I love this series. Seriously LOVE IT! You must read this.

[BabyMooSaysWhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review :

**** 4 STARS ****



I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Let me first start off by saying, I did not want to read this book. I only realised after I requested it that I had read the first book and hated it. That being said, I have found that life is filled with happy coincidences.

Oh holy smokes, I swear that this book feels like it isn't even written by the same author. It is so much better than the first one, I just can't even believe it.

The writing flows so much better than the first book and the characters have real growth and grit to them.

Unfortunately, Kai, the main female character, is still ridiculously annoying. I'm pretty sure that if it was possible, I would reach through the pages and strangle her for being so stupidly weak. That being said, the other characters really shine in this book and I was absolutely thrilled to see the focus on other characters more than just Kai.

The plot is good and fast paced, although the city hanger ending just about killed me. I hate cliffhangers. I feel as if I should go pound my head into a steel door when I read them.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised to say I will definitely be reading the third in this series and I'm glad I made time for this one as well.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial reaction at book's conclusion: "No!!!"

After: Wow! Talk about action, suspense, drama, and fantasy, this story had it all. It was a super fast gut punch from beginning to end. My mind was spinning by the time I saw what was really at play.

I loved the characters. Rhys and Kai had something special, but my heart was and is all set for Cadoc and Seren to finally touch. It's inevitable. Please! And that weird, crazy love triangle, I need to understand it. I have tons of questions that need answers. Must have more! (said in my voracious reader, she-wolf voice/Grr...)

There is so much more to this story and so much more for all of these wonderful characters. If I said it once, I'll say it again...I am well and truly hooked on this series. Bring on book 3! I've got to have it NOW!

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A, YA, NA
Status: Fantasy, Romance
Stand Alone: Yes (recommend reading book 1 first though)
Series: Yes (Book 2/3)
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Romance/Intensity: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
Re-read: Yes!
Hard copy or e-copy: Both
Keeper: You better believe it!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this book! I literally could not put it down because I was so invested in the story!
In the second installment of the Dragonsworn trilogy Kai finds herself in the middle of the war and closer to Rhys than ever. But with prophecies looming, a curse to break and a spy in their ranks is Kai ready to be Queen of the Dragons, more importantly will they even accept another Wingless Queen?

I really can't write a coherent review for this book because I am still reeling from that ending! I need to next book like now! Also OMG the author has put Juli through TOO MUCH I cannot believe what she is going through and ahhh I don't want to spoil anything but ghlahgflouirgberg!!! I am so glad that we got to see more of Cadoc and can't wait to see what he does in the next book, I just really need to know what happens next!

At times Kai was frustrating but the side characters were able to carry the story and she got a lot better towards the middle of the book, her personality was good but there was a little too much slow burn for me. Other than that I thought this was such a great read and really delved into the political side of the world and developed the plot to it's climax. Ending at both the perfect point leaving so much for the last installment but also the worst for me because I have to wait for the next book!


Anyway, go and check out the first book which I highly recommend this book if you love a good epic fantasy with a large romance aspect that is based around bonds between a human and a dragon. Plus, if you love the high stakes and will-they-won't-they trope combines with a diverse and dynamic set of side characters.


Thank you to Book of Matches Media and author for giving me a copy of the book, this did not impact my review, and all thoughts are my honest opinions.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Their fated touch ignites a destiny that could leave them both burned.

Shadow of flame is the second book in a completed trilogy. It features fated mates and dragon shifters and a secret world that is in the middle of a dragon war! I really enjoyed this series and I can’t wait to read the third and final book. This book did feel a little slower than the first book but overall it was a good addition to the trilogy and there were important plot advancement points leading up to what Im sure is going to be a really epic battle in the third book.

In soul of fire we meet two best friends juli and Kai, and in shadow of flame we see a lot more of the two of them because Juli Joins in on the fated mates with a dragon theme! In fact, this book felt like it was more about Juli than it was about Kai. Here we learn a lot more about what it means to be mates to a dragon. There were a lot of twists and turns and betrayal in this Installement. Some things I saw coming and some I did not. Overall, this was a good bridge the gap between the foundation in book 1 and the culmination of the war that we are setting up for in book 3. And if you loved Kai and Rhys from book 1 you will love them even more in this book. If you are a fan of fantasy worlds embroiled in war, dragon shifters and fated mates check out this trilogy.

[Spigot · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, while the faults here are pretty similar to Soul of Smoke, this gets much less leeway from me. And that's because this is the second book of a series, when shit needs to get serious and complex and as twisted as a pretzel. McFarland didn't really get there.

That's not to say that the plot doesn't mature. It does, quite a bit, and there are enough twists on paper to satisfy its fantasy heritage.

The problem is in the planning - the hints, the subtle nudges, the confusing glimpse of shadow before you're unwittingly bludgeoned to death by a plot twist. Granted, this is hard for any writer to successfully pull off. But with McFarland, she takes the easy route in a lot of her set-up. All foreshadowing is pretty much executed in characters having "uneasy" feelings, only to dismiss those feelings for being silly or whatever, and she does nothing to hide the fishy smell of her red herrings. Her plot twists set off an airhorn and toss confetti in your face before beating you over the head a few times with a shovel. I will give McFarland points for Mair's end-game, though. That was the only twist I didn't immediately see coming (unlike, say, the Juli/Ashem/Kavar "twist" you obviously knew was going to happen the moment Ashem and Juli met.) It was only once Mair's plans had actually begun moving forward that I realized what was happening and figured out her motives for it. So, A+ there.

Character development is also not really a thing that's happening. There's some acknowledgment to Kai acting more mature about various things, but it never had much impact. Probably because it's mostly related to her relationship to Rhys and, really, at the end of the day, you're telling a young twenty-something woman to be more mature about a relationship she had no choice in.
Otherwise like 95% of the conflict here is external. Which is fine, it works - I, personally, tend to prefer more character work.

Then on a technical aspect, this could have used a few more rounds of even the most basic of editing. A lot of typos. Not enough to pull me out of the story, but enough to make an impact and they're obvious errors, too, that should have been easily fixed.

But, if you became attached enough to the characters while reading the first book, you'll probably be able to overlook a lot of this and still enjoy Shadow of Flame immensely. I know I enjoyed it, despite all the asshole criticism I spewed above.

Anyways, not bad, especially for a $2.99 self-published series. McFarland definitely has the potential to do some great things, and I'm attached to these characters enough that I'm looking forward to seeing how this all ends. Which, at the end of the day, is all that really matters.

[Vesper Vesper · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been two freaking months of a wait for this book, damn it. I was so happy to have seen this on NetGalley, and I nearly jumped out of my chair and squealed with glee (I would have if I wasn't at work). As the second installment in Dragonsworn, Shadow of Flame definitely does not disappoint. I have a thing with sequels, as they tend to not be as good as the first. Though, with that said, it still wasn't, but came very close to being just as good.

Much like Soul of Smoke, everything flowed very smoothly. Nothing was too fast or too slow, and things connected as they should. Ms. McFarland knows exactly how to keep her readers guessing when it came to the subtle mystery behind everything that happens in Shadow of Flame. It was really great to read about the dragons again, I was starting to have major withdrawals. The whole idea and concept about these dragons is... (more via website)

[Kimberly Vanderhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really, really good at guessing plotlines. I'm the one who knows who the murderer is before anyone else. I know how the book is going to end before I even get to the middle. It is SUPER hard to surprise me. And McFarland did so time and time again. Though the story has a steady, building pace, I was in suspense nearly every moment. And I LOVED it.

I also loved the richly detailed world-building, the gorgeous descriptions that pulled me deep into the characters' points of view, and the fact that the main characters finally stop being such adorkable morons and are honest with each other in just the way I'd been hoping they would. Though it ends on a brilliant, terrifying cliffhanger, this book was satisfying on a very deep level for me and I can't wait for book three to come out.

[Hope Sloper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, I saw all the reasons this book would do well as a fantasy series. While I didn’t read the first in the series, I had no trouble following along. It’s a very quick, easy read. The dragons and all the intrigue is what kept me going in this book. I loved the dynamic of the world. There are loads of exciting turn of events.

Read full review at: http://wordgurgle.blogspot.com/2015/0...

[Priscila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Shadow and Flame picks up a couple of months after Soul and Smoke left off, when Rhys returns for Kai and brings her home, tensions run high. The dragons aren't likely to accept their king being heartsworn to a human, with a traitor in their mists things aren't going well for our couple.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.

Happy Reading!

[*Book Euphoria * · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I would like to thank Netgalley, Carina Press and the author Caitlyn McFarland for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion**

There might be some light spoilers.

Shadow of Flame is the sequel in Caitlyn McFarland Dragonsworn trilogy. It starts off a month after Soul of Smoke ended. Kai and Rhys are spending time away from each other. Kai is trying to be with her family as much as she can before she'll have to go to Eryri. Meanwhile Rhys wants to find the right time to tell the Council that he's Heartsworn to a human. He's afraid they aren't ready for a Wingless queen, that they won't accept her.

In this sequel, Kai is taken to a new world, the world of dragons Eryri, its here on earth but the dragons keep it hidden from humans. Not only is she in a new place she's still working on her relationship with Rhys. She's kept as a secret until she's caught and mistaken for a spy. Since then things don't go well in Eryri. Some of the dragons are gone and are missed. Owain is still out there causing problems, sending spys and planning, some of the characters are acting suspicious and shady, let's not forget mommy dearest Mair, she has plans of her own.

Rhys has a lot on his plate. He wants to really be with Kai, and you can see that they both want the same, but Kai wants to get to know him more. He's the king so he has to make some tough decision. Rhys wants to help the dragons without losing supporters and causing a war with humans and other dragons, but that's not what Owain has in mind.

Many things happen, there are a couple of marriages :-) death threats, a spy that is closer than you think, there are dragon battles, where Kai gets involved and does her best with her powers. There's reunions, people are captured or kidnapped. There are some cute moments with Kai and Rhys, there are some betrAshem ooohh the Betrayals , There's just a lot of action :-)

Through out the book we read through many of the secondary characters POV. We see what is happening with Cadoc, Seren, Owain, and even Kavar. I really liked getting to see what's in their heads, cus some of these characters just keep things to themselves, you would've never have guessed what they were thinking.

At first Kai wants to resist her feelings towards Rhys. But she soon sees that he does care and that she wants to try even if she's scared. She has a hard time controlling her power, she's still getting used to it and is some what understanding how it works. There's times when she had to use fire to defend herself, it really affected her. Not many liked that she is human, she wants to prove herself worthy of being their Queen and show them that she can learn their ways and be strong and fight their wars along side their king. I think Kai was brave in wanting to fight dragons. She's still learning how to control her powers and she willingly went to war.

From the beginning we see Rhys feels about Kai. He yearns to be with her. He wants to protect her and show her that being with him won't be as bad as she thinks, well at least he hopes it isn't bad. But when his people find out he lied to them. Many don't see him fit for King, some even want him dead. Rhys and Kai get their moments alone and I thought those moments were cute. They get to know each other more. I liked that they took their time, they didn't rush into things. And now they are closer, they trust each other and have each other back. Rhys isn't afraid to fight for what he believes in.

Juli and Ashem were very cute. At first they liked to argue and mess with each other, but that just led to make out sessions and more ;-) maybe they argued on purpose. As much as it was cute, something happens and I just feel bad for both of them, they are a mess. And it looks like there's no way to fix it.

Oh Cadoc, poor Cadoc , he's lonely, crippled, cursed, has a forbidden crush on somebody, can't go home. He's just a mess. I feel bad, cus I like this guy, he was always just innocently flirting with Kai, (okay I'm not really sure if you would call him innocent, but just go with it :-) ) You just want him to come home and be loved. He was so sad and lonely you can feel it :-(

Deryn , was always acting suspicious to me, she was stubborn, did what ever she wanted, would sneak off and just get in trouble. Seren , is Rhys and Deryn older sister, she has visions, but is lonely cus of her duties she isn't allowed to leave or heartswear. I liked this girl, she did what she felt she had to do. She was there for her people and her family. Poor Ffion is all I got to say. Owain , like always just wants power, and doesn't care what he has to do to get it. Kavar , well he's interesting, I want to see what happens with him. And Mama Mair , well she is up to something and I don't like it. There's also the spy, you never know who you can trust.

I really enjoyed reading Shadow of Flame. This series is really getting me into dragons, I never thought I would be. I think it's just the way its written, the way everything is described, it really paints an image of the dragons, what they look like and what they can do, and of Eryri. I can imagine how it might look like just because of the details. I have gotten into this series so it's sad that it's almost over. The characters are growing on me and I've already have gotten used to this world. I definitely recommend these books to any who wants to read about dragons and actions with a touch of romance. You start having feelings for these characters, you just want the best for them, even though they are fiction :-) Overall I really enjoyed reading Shadow of Flame and I can't wait for Truth of Embers.

***

[Tracey Magruder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Caitlyn McFarland’s Dragonsworn Trilogy, Shadow of Flame, picks up a couple months after the first book’s conclusion. Kai, the main female character, is forced to leave behind her home in Colorado and travel to the home of the dragons in the South Pacific so she can be kept safe by her heartsworn, Rhys. She is once again thrust into the war between two dragon kings who want very different things for their kind.

Much like the first book, the plot of Shadow of Flame moves along at a good pace. It is told primarily from Kai and Rhys’ perspectives, but the narrative does bounce around a bit to other characters. I was a bit torn on this, as I liked getting the perspective of some of the supporting characters, but at the same time I think it slowed the book down from time to time. Secret identities and plot twists were revealed much earlier than I expected due to the narration jumping around, and I would have preferred to have the big reveal towards the end.

However, I still very much enjoyed the book. It’s exciting with a lot of intrigue and plot twists throughout its pages. It builds on Soul of Smoke and moves the whole plot along towards the final installment of the trilogy. It leaves the reader wanting more, and with a bit of a cliff hanger to keep the audience engaged.

McFarland’s writing continues to be solid. I did notice a few minor mistakes in the Kindle Unlimited version which could have been avoided with further editing. When I encountered these errors it would take me a moment to figure out what the author was trying to say, yet the story overall is so good that I was able to push through.

I love how connected I felt to the characters, and that’s a testament to McFarland’s writing. She crafts them in such a way that you can’t help but keep reading to find out what happens to Kai, Rhys, and all the others that are stuck in a war for freedom. It makes it really easy to overlook any of the other topics I might otherwise choose to nitpick.

I continued to truly love the characters in this book, and Kai and Rhys’ chemistry is absolutely amazing. However, I discovered a new character in this book who was only mentioned in book one, Seren the Gold Dragon and Seeress.

Seren is someone who is isolated due to her position and powers. She is Rhys’ sister and a seer, which is rare among the dragons, and must keep herself apart from others. If she were ever to become heartsworn, which occurs through skin to skin contact, she would lose the right and Rhys would lose the ability to predict his enemies moves. Yet she is very much in love with another dragon and that unrequited love makes her a very interesting character to get to know. Personally, I can’t wait to see what happens with her in the final book.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out 5 stars. It is slightly spicier than Soul of Smoke, but the scenes are written in such a mild way that I only gave it 1.5 peppers. The chemistry between the characters more than makes up for it though, and you will not be left wanting. If you like fantasy romance and dragons, check out The Dragonsworn Trilogy!

[Ali R · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shadow of Flame" is the second book in the Dragonsworn series that promises more adventures and romance while providing a closer look at how the war between Owain and Rhys has influenced dragon politics. This is especially evident since recently heartsworn Kai finally gets to see the Dragon King in his royal element.

Something I appreciate about this series is that even though it centers around ancient mate-bonding magic AKA heartswearing, it does not trespass into insta-love territory for the two main characters as could be expected.    Instead, Rhys and Kai's romance develops in a wonderful slow burn, allowing both characters to discover more about each other, learn to trust one another, and forgive each other of their mistakes if necessary.

While Ashem and Juli's newfound relationship does fall into more of a love-at-first-sight category, it provides an interesting contrast to the caution and careful pacing of Rhys and Kai's relationship. Ashem and Juli are depicted as one of the fortunate couples who found love with each other in addition to being heartsworn. From the first novel, I somehow became super invested in their romance, thus I enjoyed seeing more of them in the second book. What I adored most was glimpsing the little moments between the couple that showed how their bond had strengthened over several weeks. When a shocking conflict in the series threatens to shake things up between these two, I admit I was pretty devasted.

One of my other favorite characters, Cadoc, returns in this sequel as well. Things aren't easy for him, however, as he goes out on his own personal quest, for his horrific ordeal from the last book has left mental and physical scars that still haunt him.  Readers will also discover who Cadoc has carried a torch for all these centuries (as was hinted at in "Soul of Smoke,") but of course, it's a sad kind of forbidden love story filled with secret pining and heartache. All things considered,  my own heart really went out to Cadoc in this one. What I missed the most was seeing him happy and interacting with his Vee/family. I just hope he gets his happy ending in the last novel.

I would say I enjoyed this book probably even more than the first one. Since I was already familiar with the characters and their world, I could just jump right into it. The overall pacing kept me engaged, yet it was the final chapters that were incredibly hard for me to put down. There's so much excitement, shocking reveals, and twists to uncover! And with such a cliffhanger of an ending, I'm already reaching for my Kindle to start the third installment.

[Sara (thebookwebb) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dove straight into this book after book 1 and it was another one I could not put down. This series is amazing and it astounds me that I have not heard of it before. It has been out for a while and has recently undergone a revamp with new covers. The plot line is edge of your seat exciting, the characters are amazingly well crafted and relatable, and the romance is to die for. The relationship between Kai and Rhys is so well done. Rhys is such a lovely guy and I appreciate how the author has taken the time to build up their romance rather than going straight in for insta love. It is slow burn and utterly romantic. When they do finally take the next step, there are no graphic scenes or smuttiness but this makes it all the more romantic. It is so very well done. Similarly the relationships between the other characters are brilliant. We have Juliet and Ashem who are perfect for each other, but are now navigating the intrusion of his twin brother, Kavar. However the ones to watch for me are Cadoc and Seren. They are clearly made for each other, but how their relationship is going to play out, considering how much Seren would have to give up, is anyone's guess. Caitlyn McFarland really does have a knack for creating amazing character relationships, and added to fantastic world building and a fast paced, exciting plotline, she is inserting herself as one of my favourite authors.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second novel of McFarland's trilogy continued to evoke the same mixed emotions as the first, not being particularly drawn to the central couple Rhys and Cai, but being compelled by the dangers and crisis of the dragon war and a people divided, as well as drawn in by a supporting cast of characters I cared about, particularly Cadoc, Seren, Juli and Ashem. The world of dragon society McFarland creates is complex and nuanced. But she never lets the reader up for air, things going wrong a constant assault. Clearly where Rhys and Cai are concerned McFarland is a believer in drawing out the romantic tensions as long as possible, but in this case it may have been a misstep. With both Rhys and Cai being so tentative, with circumstances so frequently keeping them at a distance literally and emotionally, they never get developed as a couple to care about and be invested by the reader, so when they finally but not fully come together and then are torn apart, instead of impacting the reader it just feels like more of the same. The personal crises of Cadoc and Juli and Ashem were far more powerful and evocative. And so I kept turning the pages unable to put down the book.

[Ashley Gallaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨- 5 stars

This is book 2 in the Dragonsworn series! I was so excited to start this book and continue to find out what was going to happen. We start off with Kai back at home with her parents and she has closed herself off from Rhys. Rhys realizes that Kai is in danger so he goes after her and then brings her back to Eryri. This books starts right off with action though and brings you into the story. I love that this story is told from different points of view. You even get it from the other characters in the book. The author does a great job with the different points of view. The action does not stop through out the book. You also get to see Kai and Rhys relationship grow and o can’t wait to see what happens in the next book! I go back and forth with giving this book 4.5 or 5 stars because of Kai and Rhys relationship in the beginning of the book and how they both handled things with each other, and how they handled their relationship with others as well. Overall though this book is fantastic and if you are looking for an epic dragon book you need to pick this series up!

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadow of Flame picks up right where Soul of Smoke leaves off, diving straight back into the chaos and danger of Kai and Rhys’s world. The pacing is quick again, and there’s plenty of action, tension, and fantasy drama to keep things moving. It’s an easy read, and I liked seeing more of the dragon world unfold.

That said, the same weaknesses from the first book are still here. The characters don’t feel much more developed, and some of the emotional beats that should hit hard just… don’t. The story moves so fast that there’s not enough time to sit with the characters’ feelings or really feel the stakes of what’s happening between them. I wanted to care more than I actually did.

Even so, I did enjoy reading it. It’s fun, easy to follow, and has that escapist quality that makes it perfect for when you’re in the mood for a light romantasy with dragons and danger. Just don’t expect the depth or emotional pull of something like ACOTAR or TOG.

[Leah ❂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great continuation in a series with all the dragons!

I enjoyed book one in this series, but book two was better! The overall storyline and character development in this one really drove home the overall narrative for me!

I found myself enjoying the additional POVs from some our villainous characters in this story — I liked the little glimpses into their heads and the ways it added to the story line.

Kai had so much growth as a main character and as a queen in this book, she is really growing into herself and it is lovely to watch. She has become such a powerful force to be reckoned with and I’m curious to see how she continues to thrive in book 3.

Rhys, dear sweet Rhys. He has made so many mistakes, but my heart goes out to him. He’s tried so hard for his people but wat often brings out the worst in us.

I’m excited to read the final book in this series!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhilarating read... but it does contain the element I hate most in stories

I absolutely hate when the reader knows the truth but misunderstandings due to lies and deceit lead the key characters to do things that make you want to shout into the paper "No, you idiots!" SO frustrating.

But it does make for an extremely frantic, all-consuming need to race through the final third of the book to get to the point where all is revealed and everyone finally knows everything.

Caitlyn has created crafted another gem that begins slow, and then, 5% of the way into the thing, grabs you and doesn't let go, just *daring* you to put the book down. Which you can't. I suspect a third fast-paced thriller will follow....

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons in battle, a marriage or two, a brief honeymoon, deception, kidnapping, and betrayals. This one was a bit more exciting to me than the previous book. The situation looked bad for the heroes at the end, but that's pretty standard for the second book in a series. I expect that everything will work out.
Typo: This sentence didn't make sense to me, due to missing or extra words or commas: "Most of them the rogues had fled the island when [spoiler] died and Ashem's defense crumbled, but a few stayed."

[Freda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting middle book, keeps up the suspense! The second book of this trilogy continues with the development of the main and secondary characters, as well as the powers the human half of a couple, known as "Wingless" brings to the table. It leaves our lead characters in a terrible place, so you want to get the last book and read it immediately!

[Sabrina Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooo. The Juli/Ashem storyline is soooo intriguring. I love how I love the side characters in this one. it is fun to see the main characters too. I will say there are several grammar errors that even I notice in the books bought through Google Play that I am noticing. Driving me nuts but I shall trudge on.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cliffhanger Alert

I read the first book in the series and it was ok. Cliffhanger. Next, 2 nd book. Cliffhanger. I'm done. The story was not strong or interesting enough to have the amount of angst, as well as drawn out emotional drama. I'm sorry but I don't read any more books in this series.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension keeps up through this middle book of the trilogy. Such an addictive read, you never quite know who is going to be the next victim to the authors ‘kill her darlings’ attitude. All I can say is #teamcadoc all the way!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because it was there and I didn’t feel like going to sleep, kind of the way I might eat a crappy supermarket cupcake because it was there and I wanted some chocolate. It was not the best thing I’ve ever read, though it was somewhat entertaining.

[Maren Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was still really invested in the characters in this second book, but there were moments where I was confused, plot-wise. I felt like I needed more information, so the climax lost some impact for me. But I will definitely read the third book!

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

¡Bastante mejor que la primera parte!

[Bethany Kok · Rating 3 out of 5]

More world-building and character development somewhat make up for the ratchety first book.