Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Here Be Dragons #4

Conspiracy of Dragons

Rate this book
There’s only one person I trust…

It’s no secret that I’m hard to handle. People get annoyed by me. Sometimes they’re amused, but not for long. It’s not easy to deal with a paranoid conspiracy theorist, and I stretch everyone’s patience.

Everyone except Wil. He was there at the beginning, when I left my old life behind, and he’s stuck with me since. He’s been my friend when no one else wanted to. Patiently taught me how to fit in. He’s the one person I know I can rely on.

He’s the only man I can see myself ever being with. The only man I would want to spend eternity with.

But when my past rears its ugly head and the stuff of my nightmares rises from the dead, the hope of a happy future rapidly fades. I need him more than ever, but I can’t risk him. I can’t let anyone use him against me.

Torture doesn’t have to be physical to hurt. And I’m not going to let myself be hurt again.

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published November 9, 2022

182 people are currently reading
384 people want to read

About the author

Louisa Masters

75 books1,586 followers
LOUISA MASTERS started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was sneaking romance novels in and working out how to read them without being discovered. She’s spent most of her life feeling sorry for people who don’t read, convinced that books are the solution to every problem. As an adult, she feeds her addiction in every spare second, only occasionally tearing herself away to do things like answer the phone and pay bills. She spent years trying to build a “sensible” career, working in bookstores, recruitment, resource management, administration, and as a travel agent, before finally conceding defeat and devoting herself to the world of romance novels. Louisa has a long list of places first discovered in books that she wants to visit, and every so often she overcomes her loathing of jet lag and takes a trip that charges her imagination. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she whines about the weather for most of the year while secretly admitting she’ll probably never move.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,216 (54%)
4 stars
762 (34%)
3 stars
216 (9%)
2 stars
28 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,061 reviews419 followers
October 16, 2025
This was a remarkable story. I never would have imagined at the outset that Steffen would become such a wonderful character for me. And to complement him, there is the utterly delightful Wil. An engaging plot that is truly exceptional. And what I find most astonishing are the hoards of these two dragons, with Steffen's being simply incredible.
Did I cry? Yes, pretty much from the beginning, in the middle, and at the end.
This book is so different from what I expected, and the relationship between Steffen and Wil is one of a kind.
I can't say more without giving everything away. It's best to enjoy this book without knowing what you're getting into.

Wil is the only person in existence who thinks of me first. The only one who ever has. To him, I’m not too much work. I’m not a pain in the ass, or a problem. He loves me completely, and from the day we met, I’ve known I can trust that he’ll be with me.
Brandt saved me, but Wil is the reason I kept going after.
🐉🐉🐉😭😩😪🤧🐉🐉🐉
Profile Image for Meags.
2,476 reviews694 followers
October 27, 2025
4 Stars

The love story between dragons Steffen and Wil was a story I honestly wasn’t prepared for, nor expecting, but now that I have read it, I’m 110% here for it!

If someone would have asked me my favourite character in this series, during the first three Here Be Dragons books, I would have emphatically said STEFFEN. Every single time the head of security was on page, all suspicious of every new character and throwing out absurdly (funny to me) paranoia of evil afoot, I was tickled pink and adoring of his unique, high-strung personality. I couldn’t get enough of him on-page.

NOW, if you’d ask me who my favourite character of the series is since I’ve finished, the answer would still be a resounding STEFFEN. But, good lord, this time for a whole other set of reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with him being quirky or funny, and everything to do with the life he’s lived/survived and the man he is because of it.

Here, we finally learn about Steffen’s backstory—all the how’s and whys of his uptight, fiercely protective, and obsessively paranoid behaviour. And, I must admit, it broke my god damn heart and made me see him in a whole new light, that both surprised and impressed me... and made me want to cry, if I’m being frank.

This story had a lot more plot to it; that’s the biggest take away I had here. Where the previous three books in the series obviously still had plot, they were more light-hearted and meandering (in a fun way), focusing mostly on the quirky dragon characters and the lovely relationships they made with each new subsequent couple.

This time around, the couple in question played a backseat to the larger story. You’d think this could potentially be a deterrent for me, but it wasn’t. I still absolutely adored the romance between Stef and Wil (which I can’t go into detail over without revealing major spoilers), but I found myself extremely pleased to be reading, what was to me, an engrossing plot, full of twists and turns and delightful reveals that I never saw coming.

Even though I enjoyed the first three books, Conspiracy of Dragons wins best in series, at least in terms of story arc and my utter fixation on the story being told, start to finish. Romance wise, I adored Stef and Wil, only balking over the fact we didn’t get to spend even more time with this very loving and perfectly matched couple.

As book four in a series, I would not recommend this be read as a standalone. To be fair, I wouldn’t even recommend starting this series at all without having first read all four books in the previous series, Hidden Species. This alt-world Masters has created, with its fantastical beings, charming romances, and riveting whole-world excitement, is rich and wonderful in its telling, with an ever-growing ensemble cast and ongoing multi-series arc that makes it NECESSARY to read it all in the order it was intended to be read.

For now, I sit a very satisfied reader, having immensely enjoyed the experience had reading both interconnected series. Naturally, reading the third ongoing series set in this world, Demons-in-Law, will be next on my reading schedule, and I have no reservations I’ll continue to delight in Masters’ storytelling, with her perfect blend of humour and heart.



Here Be Dragons Series

Book 1 - Dragon Ever After (4.5 Stars)
Book 2 - The Professor's Dragon (3.5 Stars)
Book 3 - The Dragon Experiment (3.5 Stars)
Book 4 - Conspiracy of Dragons (4 Stars)
Profile Image for Jazer (catching up on TBRs).
272 reviews17 followers
November 21, 2024
A serious dragon/dragon couple was a nice change! I still enjoy the ridiculousness of Fabian, and in extension, Alistair from CSG, but I liked the pace this book set. I knew it would have a serious mood with Steffen's paranoia from previous books but I actually enjoyed his relationship with Wil. Calm, confident, and trusting of each other despite the misgivings. Also, a bit heartbreaking in some parts. Got teary-eyed in a few scenes, too! 🥲❤️
Profile Image for Dani.
1,658 reviews312 followers
December 16, 2023
Steffen and Wil are my favourite couple in this story universe.

I loved how strong their relationship is, and seeing Stef's character growth just made my heart happy.

I'm eager to read the next spin-off now!
Profile Image for Alex.
1,160 reviews16 followers
November 14, 2022
I liked this story, one of the best in this series (really some of the other books are too silly 🙃)
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,994 reviews435 followers
November 13, 2022
Steffen's past broke my heart but his love for Wil is everything

Never would I have guessed the plot twist which occurs in this book.

So needless to say, I won't be spoiling it for anyone else. I'll just say that it was a clever idea and I loved the way it played out.

I also loved finding out more about security expert Steffen, the one who's come across as a bit of a cold and somewhat stiff and hard-nosed dragon.

Here we find out why and it'll break your heart just like it did mine, I wanted to envelope him in the fluffiest blanket and give him a giant hug - after getting his permission of course. I don’t want chucking across the room like he did with Fabian

Thankfully though, he has Wil, wonderful Wil, his second in command and the secret love of his life.

The way they're weaved and interconnected is a key plot element and I loved how that was developed.

There's some really lovely parts with the rest of the wider dragon family, as well as the couples from the other species and I liked how they all rallied around Steff too.

With some huge developments on the go here, things are left with a solid happy ending and a nice open arc to take forward into the new series coming next year.
Profile Image for Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included).
735 reviews300 followers
June 6, 2024
Tropes: established relationship, secret relationship, paranormal romance
Feels: 4.5/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: past abuse, trauma induced paranoia, PTSD

Steffen is a dragon who is about 5,000 years old. He has a really traumatic origin story. He was abused and held captive for the first couple hundred years of his life. He was rescued and he's in a good place now with good people around him, but he's left with PTSD and paranoia, it's affected how he's lived his whole life, he's really struggled to trust people around him and be close to people. One of the only people that is close to him is Wil, another dragon that was part of the agency that rescued him. Wil saw him at his darkest and helped him recover which was a long process. Eventually their relationship turned sexual and romantic. They have been together for 4000 years. In secret though, because Steffen is paranoid that people know how much he cares about Wil, they will use it against them and they will hurt Wil.

I don't want to say much about the plot because I don't want to reveal twists and spoilers. But I liked the plot. I really loved the relationship between Steffen and Wil. These guys were completely solid as a couple. There was no wavering, no hesitancy. They were 100% loyal to each other and had each other's backs. There was also a very intimate relationship between them, they were each other's comfort. And that's one of my favorite tropes. They reached out with their magic to hold each other, they passed their magic and entwined it between them so that they could be as close as they could be. And of course they were hot for each other, but there was a lot of steam, and it was very loving and affirming sex which was a nice break from the toxic dark romances I've been reading lately lol. Not very spicy, explicit, gratuitous but still passionate.

I also loved the dynamic of the secret relationship. It created a nice tension running through the book. And I love the payoff moment of a secret couple coming out as a couple.

I identified a lot with Steffen too. The way that his mind works against him, the rigidness in how he processes things, was umcomfortably familiar to my neurodivergent brain. Didn't really think I'd be identifying with a 5,000-year-old dragon with his traumatic past. Surprised me. Plus there were a lot of moments of comedic relief with the author's usual humor sprinkled in.

Some notable moments:

"“Does anyone have a choice about being friends with Alistair? My paranoia is convinced he’s on a mission to take over the world by squirming into everyone’s life. Then when he declares himself supreme overlord or whatever, everyone will be so relieved he’s found a hobby that they’ll go along with it.”"

The way Wil has his back! "“No, I’d cut them out if they refused to accept your perspective and allow you to live your life the way you choose. You don’t harm anyone, Steffen. In fact, you go out of your way to help whenever you can because of some misplaced sense of inherited guilt.” I regret saying that the second the words are out of my mouth and race on. “Nobody gets to harangue you or make you feel bad because you’d prefer not to have someone in your life. They might not fully understand why, but that’s their problem, not yours. They don’t get to force their preferences on you.”"


*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡.
1,542 reviews105 followers
October 19, 2022
I absolutely adored Steffan and Wil. It's definitely the most romantic in the series. Usually, Masters books are very plot based, but here I felt the relationship between Wil and Steffan was the main focus. I really loved reading about how these two felt for one another. Their love was powerful and it played a major role in both their lives. It was common for them to think of the other before any major actions and their respect for one another was apparent. I loved getting to read the scene of how they met even though it broke my heart to learn all Steffan had been through in his past. I was so happy he had Wil to look out for him after everything he'd been through.


"Wil is the only person in existence who thinks of me first. The only one who ever has. To him, I'm not too much work. I'm not a pain in the ass, or a problem. He loves me completely...Brandt saved me, but Wil is the reason I kept going after."


It was enlightening to finally understand why Steffan was the paranoid dragon he is. I was proud of how hard he worked not to let his paranoia define his entire life. Numerous moments a day were spent reassuring himself that everything was okay, that there were no horrible catastrophes on the horizon. It must have been exhausting, but Steffan did it. Like he said, he was a survivor and I couldn't agree more. He was also a protector, but of no one more so than Wil.


"I will never, ever let anyone hurt Wil. Not even if I have to sacrifice the universe to prevent it."


If that isn't true love, I don't know what is.
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,796 reviews30 followers
November 12, 2022
Oh man, Steffan. I did not see that coming. Not so funny after all. Stef and Will were sweet together. It was a shame they couldn't show everyone they were together. I liked the support. Gideon's survivor comment and Alistair being Stef's new best friend. The twin I'm not so sure on. That felt sudden, but I did like that Will immediately knew he was a fake. It was comical that Fabian knew all along. Another fun series. I'm looking forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zen.
2,980 reviews
May 31, 2025
I did enjoy this last book in the series, but not as much as I expected. I am not sure how I feel about a secret relationship that lasts as long as this one. Personally, I'm outwardly affectionate enough that hiding a relationship would be emotionally hurtful. I'm glad that in the end, there is some give for Wil, but imo, I almost want to say that it still isn't enough.
Profile Image for Rachel.
941 reviews72 followers
March 21, 2023
I can't believe that's the last of the Here Be Dragons series, I NEED MORE. I'm so not ready to say goodbye to this madcap group! Stefan and Wil were perfection <3
Profile Image for Dan.
1,730 reviews50 followers
November 26, 2022
We started with a plot twist from the first moment and kept up the surprises until the end. Oh my! I loved it so much! Sad the series is over, but glad we're getting another spin off
Profile Image for Shelby.
3,332 reviews94 followers
September 24, 2025
Oh boy I was so curious how this book was going to go. I love Steffen and yet his paranoia was something we knew very little about except for how extreme it could get. I absolutely adored the way it was handled in this book. And oh my god I loved Will and his understanding and acceptance of the man he's loved for millenia. Their relationship is so lovely. Steffen's past is heartbreaking and his paranoia makes total sense as a result of everything he's been through. This story gives validity and weight to his paranoia while also accepting that it is limiting to him and pushes understanding and expanding past what his paranoia wants to tell him is truth, even as so many of his fears are actually happening.

I loved this story. I loved Steffen and Will together. Will is the perfect partner and you can see how strong their relationship truly is. With Steffen's biggest paranoia fears suddenly happening and needing to get to the bottom of this threat to the entire community of course they're going to be right in the middle of it all. The twist was great, but also one I was expecting was coming.

I wish there was more coming in this series. I love this world and would come back here anytime.
Profile Image for TeeReads.
623 reviews23 followers
August 4, 2024
4.5 stars

This was a great conclusion to the series. I think Steffen and Wil are my favorite pairing. We learn so much more about Steffen after seeing his paranoia and conspiracy theories throughout the series. We discover that he has a rather tragic past. Wil has always been there for him. They have such a beautiful and supportive relationship. This last book took a very interesting turn. My only qualm is that the last 25% or so felt a bit rushed. I think another chapter or two could have helped with that. All that to say, I really enjoyed myself. I was entertained to no end with the usual shenanigans, and I'm glad this series ended on a bit of a high note.
Profile Image for Ronie Reads.
1,550 reviews29 followers
March 20, 2024
Thus felt like a nice place to bookmark. The dragons are still adventuring around planet Earth. Families are forming. Magic is growing.
Profile Image for Sammy Higgins.
440 reviews8 followers
September 17, 2024
I can't believe that this series has come to an end, but what an amazing end it was! I fell in love with these amazing dragons and the men they love, especially Brandt & Percy. Then, Steffen comes along and breaks my heart. His backstory is so sad; he is a cinnamon roll and he needs protecting at all costs. I'm just glad that Wil & Brandt are there for him.

I knew Steffen would break my heart, and he of course did. What he went through on his younger years was heartbreaking, and I now wish the bad guys from the first series suffered more! Wil is so amazing with Steffen, he just knows what he needs and is always been there for him. I was amazed that

This book focused on Steffen & Wil's relationship, but also about selected which humans will learn magic. I loved that Steffen's conspiracy theories help him be so amazing at his job. He shows people again and again, that his theories sometimes have merit. He is very smart and head of security for a reason.

We see some of Steffen's past, appear in his present. It finally reveals all of Steffen's past, and what he is still worried about. It just broke my heart and explains why he thinks like he does; it's basically a coping mechanism.

Steffen & Wil are just made to be together, and they strengthen each other. They have a beautiful relationship and you can see their love shine through! The sexy times are both sexy and heartwarming. I loved their dynamic both in, and out of bed. Steffen has come a long way, and it's thanks to Wil that he has.

I loved the epilogue and it was sad to see it end. I'm glad that we get a spin-off, and I hope we get to see Brandt & Percy's daughter at some point too. I've loved every book in this series and wish it could go on forever!

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
513 reviews15 followers
November 9, 2022
We are now at the end of a long road that Louisa took us on through 2 series, starting with Sam and Gideon in ‘Demons Do It Better’, Hidden Species series. This was an amazing finish to the story. Humans need to be reintroduced into learning about magic and everyone, but especially Steffen, is not exactly happy about this. Ever vigilant Steffen introduces mass screenings to discover which humans can be trusted and he uncovers a true conspiracy!

Amidst all this, we learn how much Steffen is a serious sweetheart who has been through so much. He’s been a character who has been easily laughed at in previous books due to his paranoia and conspiracy theories, but you can see how much he is loved by his friends in how they accept his paranoia and try to accommodate it as much as possible. Discovering his history and why he is this way, was incredibly sad. Thank god for Wil and Brandt who have been there from the beginning for him. Wil, what a beautiful and patient dragon you are! You love Steffen with all your heart and accept him with zero attempts to change him. They truly are perfect for one another. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Profile Image for Debby.
1,728 reviews78 followers
November 11, 2022
Conspiracy of Dragons is Steffen’s story and it is incredible. Steffen knows he is annoying to many after a while but his past left him with paranoia, something he is learning how to handle. He does have a long-time lover, Wil, but no one knows of their relationship. Steffen is afraid he will put Wil in danger. He is the only one he can trust and love. When his past returns threatening his present and future, Steffen needs Wil more than ever but he does not want to risk him.

We learn so much about Steffen in this book. His past is truly the stuff that causes nightmares, but his past did not break him. It may have left him with some mental health issues but he is truly a survivor. Wil can take some credit for that as well. The two together bring light and happiness into each other’s lives. It does not get better than Conspiracy of Dragons. There is enduring love, paranormal surprises, danger, and suspense. We also get to visit with all the friends we made during the reading of this series. Pick it up and be prepared to be entranced and intrigued.
2,107 reviews17 followers
November 9, 2022
Steffen, a dragon shifter in charge of security agrees to advise how to reintroduce humans to magic. He has a secret relationship with his second in command, Wil. When Wil's phone is hacked the fun begins. I enjoy how everyone tries to tread lightly around Steffen's paranoia showing how much they love him. This "Here be Dragons" series has continuing characters and is a light hearted fantasy world with dragons, elves and witches. Light in sexy times but heavy on love, this series continues to bring joy in every book. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for A.G..
248 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2024
Completely unexpected!

Most of this series has been a hit or miss for me, but even the hits weren't groundbreaking. They were good, easy reads, but nothing I'd go out of my way to push anyone towards. And honestly, I didn't care for Stef going into this, but...

This was the best in the series, hands down for me. Wil is book boyfriend perfection, he's so understanding and sweet and patient, and he's spent his entire life putting Stef first. Their love was the relationship I didn't know I needed, and I couldn't put it down once I got started. Hearing about Stef's background was heartbreaking, and the twist was unexpected.

Loved.
Profile Image for Bookloversofantastic.
595 reviews17 followers
November 13, 2022
4,5⭐️

I already love Steffen from the previous books, we can see that the safety of Brand and all the dragons are his number one priority. His mind analyses situations in this weird way that is related to his profound paranoia, but it only gives him an endearing vibe. It’s not possible to forget how much he suffered, however, he’s clearly strong and always can count on Wil to support and love him.

The relationship between the two is just so so sweet and cute, we can see that they truly love each other. But their relationship has been a secret for thousand years and seeing their friends happy in love distressed Wil who wants to share his love for Steffen with everyone.
As Steffen’s paranoia plays with him, they will be obstacles to overcome and Steffen’s past back to haunt him.
Profile Image for Monique.
444 reviews4 followers
February 1, 2023
my fav of this series

Wil and Stef were everything!!!!

You could feel their love rolling off the pages and could understand both sides of keeping their relationship a secret. I’m so happy that everything worked out and that they got to live their HEA in the open.

Stef’s background story broke my heart but it makes sense as to why he was always so paranoid. Wil is his rock and everything and is so patient with Steffen. They know they are each others whole world, so I’m glad that there wasn’t really angst between them.
Profile Image for Kelan.
172 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2023
It amused me, and it fixed plot holes in an earlier book in the series. So far, this one is my favorite of them as the ones before this were a little obsurdism. While this one was still a little out there, it has been the best put together and really wholesome as it wasn't a how they got together. It was a couple that had been together a long time going thru something together. I would like more books like that. I enjoy the how they get together stories, but give me more a power couple that can get through an interesting plot together.
Profile Image for Lyndsay TC.
2,236 reviews6 followers
November 20, 2023
My absolute favorite book in the series. Steffen was always a funny little afterthought in the prior books, but once his life story was broken down you saw how much he really cared and why he was so protective of his clan. I loved Wil and his never-ending patience with Steffen and his quick to defend him against anyone who said anything badly about Steffen. I definitely recommend this book and the entire series which should be read in order for full enjoyment.
Profile Image for Theresa Derwin.
1,135 reviews44 followers
December 28, 2022
Fighting to save the future and paranoia

An awful lot happens on this one, which of course follows on from the events in the previous books.
So it's difficult to say without spoilers other than - you know that phrase, is it a conspiracy if it's real?
Well, paranoid dragon Steffen finds out things that his theories have nothing on.
He is also struggling with being in a secret relationship, again, with his paranoia at the heart of it, but we finally learn why he's so he paranoid.
However, there are lots of bright spots and humour along the way as well as dealing with past trauma.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.