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Dance with the Devil #5
Sword of the King
Dragons are amongst the most feared creatures in the paranormal world, nigh unbeatable and barely controllable. Every year, countless men and women who bear dragon potential are stolen away and turned into beasts, their former lives lost forever. They are drugged to compliance and trained to fight in the notorious D Pits for the profit of the crime lords who breed them.
Blaze has been a pit fighter all his life, and it is a life he hates. The only thing that keeps him going is that if he stops, he risks losing the only thing that matters to his dragon, Erie. Though pit rules say it's a bad idea to get too close to the dragons, Blaze has never been able to help it. He'll do anything to protect Erie.
Ken and his dragon Nevada were once victims of the pits, stolen from their normal lives and made to fight. Now, they work to bring down the pits they despise, though the battle seems futile. Everyone who has ever tried has wound up dead. Stopping the pit fights once and for all would take a miracle—or a legend.
Blaze has been a pit fighter all his life, and it is a life he hates. The only thing that keeps him going is that if he stops, he risks losing the only thing that matters to his dragon, Erie. Though pit rules say it's a bad idea to get too close to the dragons, Blaze has never been able to help it. He'll do anything to protect Erie.
Ken and his dragon Nevada were once victims of the pits, stolen from their normal lives and made to fight. Now, they work to bring down the pits they despise, though the battle seems futile. Everyone who has ever tried has wound up dead. Stopping the pit fights once and for all would take a miracle—or a legend.
215 pages, ebook
First published April 10, 2012
29 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
283 books2,945 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
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meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 15, 2012
2.5 stars
Of Ms. Derr's books that I've read, this is the least favorite one.
At the end, this was just a little bit more than okay reading to me. Ms. Derr writing still flows nicely, though.
Of Ms. Derr's books that I've read, this is the least favorite one.
At the end, this was just a little bit more than okay reading to me. Ms. Derr writing still flows nicely, though.
September 27, 2016
FIRST RE-READ 25 September 2016
I'm a little disappointed that my favorite book the first time around is the first one that didn't live up to my expectations on re-reading. Although, I loved this one so much the first time that being a little let down may have been inevitable.
Everything I enjoyed about it the first time through was still delightful. This time I found myself annoyed that there were two relationships being developed in the one book. I hadn't remembered that Ken and Amr were such a big part of this, and found myself wishing I could just spend more time with Blaze and Rafael, and Erie and Conway.
Also
Some Favorite Quotes:
"You are remarkably stoic."
Cam shrugged. "I get that a lot. I can try to freak out if it'll make you feel better."
"So keep your opinions in your head where they can't hurt you or anyone else, please."
"There's no way, after collapsing like a fucking wuss, that any god would be kind enough to let me die."
ORIGINAL REVIEW 22 November 2012
Without question my favorite of the series so far! Definitely among my favorite books I've read this year.
I'm having such a hard time finding actual words to sum up just how much I loved this. I've adored dragons since I was little, and after the glimpses we got of Nerin and Troyes in Midnight, I was hoping we'd get to see more of the dragons. (And perhaps get some glimpses of what Barra, Nerin and Troyes kept behind closed doors... :P)
Add to that the fact that I totally geek out about anything remotely Arthurian-legend related, and it would have been surprising if I didn't totally love this book.
But it wasn't just that! Blaze was an intriguing, fantastic character that I totally fell in love with right from the start. He and Erie together made me smile, and his guilt over his attraction to Raf just melted me. (Speaking of that attraction... wow! SO hot! That first scene in the kitchen was AMAZING!)
Another of my favorite things (ugh, what about this book WASN'T one of my favorite things...) was that there were so many fun fight scenes, but it never actually FELT violent. Blaze and Erie and all of the other men and their dragons were so confident in their abilities that the fight scenes only ever felt fun and exciting.
The only thing that I wish were different was that I wish we'd seen more of the relationship between Ken and Amr. It started well, I LOVED the set-up for the enemies-to-lovers story for them, but it never seemed to reach its potential, and then suddenly they're working together and sharing powers. I would love to see another book, or even a short, showing more of their lives together.
I'm a little disappointed that my favorite book the first time around is the first one that didn't live up to my expectations on re-reading. Although, I loved this one so much the first time that being a little let down may have been inevitable.
Everything I enjoyed about it the first time through was still delightful. This time I found myself annoyed that there were two relationships being developed in the one book. I hadn't remembered that Ken and Amr were such a big part of this, and found myself wishing I could just spend more time with Blaze and Rafael, and Erie and Conway.
Also
Some Favorite Quotes:
"You are remarkably stoic."
Cam shrugged. "I get that a lot. I can try to freak out if it'll make you feel better."
"So keep your opinions in your head where they can't hurt you or anyone else, please."
"There's no way, after collapsing like a fucking wuss, that any god would be kind enough to let me die."
ORIGINAL REVIEW 22 November 2012
Without question my favorite of the series so far! Definitely among my favorite books I've read this year.
I'm having such a hard time finding actual words to sum up just how much I loved this. I've adored dragons since I was little, and after the glimpses we got of Nerin and Troyes in Midnight, I was hoping we'd get to see more of the dragons. (And perhaps get some glimpses of what Barra, Nerin and Troyes kept behind closed doors... :P)
Add to that the fact that I totally geek out about anything remotely Arthurian-legend related, and it would have been surprising if I didn't totally love this book.
But it wasn't just that! Blaze was an intriguing, fantastic character that I totally fell in love with right from the start. He and Erie together made me smile, and his guilt over his attraction to Raf just melted me. (Speaking of that attraction... wow! SO hot! That first scene in the kitchen was AMAZING!)
Another of my favorite things (ugh, what about this book WASN'T one of my favorite things...) was that there were so many fun fight scenes, but it never actually FELT violent. Blaze and Erie and all of the other men and their dragons were so confident in their abilities that the fight scenes only ever felt fun and exciting.
The only thing that I wish were different was that I wish we'd seen more of the relationship between Ken and Amr. It started well, I LOVED the set-up for the enemies-to-lovers story for them, but it never seemed to reach its potential, and then suddenly they're working together and sharing powers. I would love to see another book, or even a short, showing more of their lives together.
April 25, 2012
Just less than 4 stars
This book started really strong for me and then it kind of went somewhere else. Not necessarily in a bad way, just in an unexpected way. Blaze is a pit fighter and he fights with his dragon Erie (Eros). He is working towards a life where he and Erie no longer have to fight and put Erie in danger. Erie is a very powerful flame dragon and Blaze is a natural "master". Together they make a formidable team. I expected this story to be about pit fighters, but there was really only one pit fight at the beginning and that was it. Then the story become much more complex.
We are next introduced to Ken and his dragon Nev. They are not pit fighters, but they are working towards freeing pit dragons. Then we meet Rafael and Conway. Conway is an ice dragon that belongs to Rafael's brother and pit boss, Leo but they clearly have feelings for each other. Finally we meet a new dragon, Cam, who has not yet shifted but seems more powerful than any dragon they've met before. Finally we meet Amr, the man who trained Blaze in the pits.
There are a lot of characters in this story and I can totally understand why some of the reviews I read did not enjoy this aspect of the book. Not only do masters and their dragons have relations, but they can also have relationships with other humans and their dragons will not get jealous. The number of MCs in the book did not bother me at all. I like it when books have many different robust characters. I will say it did bother me a bit that there was so much sex with the dragons and their masters. Since the dragons spoke in broken english and incomplete sentences, they felt more like children or pets to me and not equals. That's why I didn't really connect with the whole master/dragon sex concept. Or I would've been okay with it even if you find the dragon that is meant to be "your" dragon and you love and cherish your dragon enough to have sex with him. But then bringing in other people just gets a little too much for me.
Overall though, I did really enjoy the concept and I liked all the characters. I felt the characters were well developed and the book was definitely long enough to do that. The ending was a bit rushed to me. There are a few niggles towards the end but I enjoyed it the book overall. I think when I first finished the book it was between 4 and 5 stars for me but as I sit and dwell on it, it becomes just less than 4 stars.
This book started really strong for me and then it kind of went somewhere else. Not necessarily in a bad way, just in an unexpected way. Blaze is a pit fighter and he fights with his dragon Erie (Eros). He is working towards a life where he and Erie no longer have to fight and put Erie in danger. Erie is a very powerful flame dragon and Blaze is a natural "master". Together they make a formidable team. I expected this story to be about pit fighters, but there was really only one pit fight at the beginning and that was it. Then the story become much more complex.
We are next introduced to Ken and his dragon Nev. They are not pit fighters, but they are working towards freeing pit dragons. Then we meet Rafael and Conway. Conway is an ice dragon that belongs to Rafael's brother and pit boss, Leo but they clearly have feelings for each other. Finally we meet a new dragon, Cam, who has not yet shifted but seems more powerful than any dragon they've met before. Finally we meet Amr, the man who trained Blaze in the pits.
There are a lot of characters in this story and I can totally understand why some of the reviews I read did not enjoy this aspect of the book. Not only do masters and their dragons have relations, but they can also have relationships with other humans and their dragons will not get jealous. The number of MCs in the book did not bother me at all. I like it when books have many different robust characters. I will say it did bother me a bit that there was so much sex with the dragons and their masters. Since the dragons spoke in broken english and incomplete sentences, they felt more like children or pets to me and not equals. That's why I didn't really connect with the whole master/dragon sex concept. Or I would've been okay with it even if you find the dragon that is meant to be "your" dragon and you love and cherish your dragon enough to have sex with him. But then bringing in other people just gets a little too much for me.
Overall though, I did really enjoy the concept and I liked all the characters. I felt the characters were well developed and the book was definitely long enough to do that. The ending was a bit rushed to me. There are a few niggles towards the end but I enjoyed it the book overall. I think when I first finished the book it was between 4 and 5 stars for me but as I sit and dwell on it, it becomes just less than 4 stars.
June 22, 2025
I was in the mood for Dragons, and this one gave me plenty.
I adored all the dragons, they were both cute and adorable but strong and aggressive too.
The story line was interesting and at times quite violent.
The pairings worked well for me, although Amr and Ken was the most obvious.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, and I really enjoyed the way the big showdown went.
I did sometimes feel the Dragons had a little too much childishness going on for such sexual creatures, there was also a few times that I felt it was skimming the beastiality line. Rest assured it never crossed it, but I couldn't help squirm just a little. But I'm sure that is just my own take on things.
I did enjoy the King Arthur legend mixing in, especially the take on Excalibur. And I really loved the idea of the Dragons having a special something they craved, so cute.
An exciting action packed tale I would love to read more on. I'm really curious how things turned out, plus these sort of Dragons I could read all day.
ETA Still as enjoyable. I hope the newer additions were better edited though. An awful lot of mistakes especially in names. I hope in the next book I get more detail on Cam. I'm curious as to how human he is now he changed.
ETA See Above
ETA Still one of my favourites despite the sex lol.
I adored all the dragons, they were both cute and adorable but strong and aggressive too.
The story line was interesting and at times quite violent.
The pairings worked well for me, although Amr and Ken was the most obvious.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, and I really enjoyed the way the big showdown went.
I did sometimes feel the Dragons had a little too much childishness going on for such sexual creatures, there was also a few times that I felt it was skimming the beastiality line. Rest assured it never crossed it, but I couldn't help squirm just a little. But I'm sure that is just my own take on things.
I did enjoy the King Arthur legend mixing in, especially the take on Excalibur. And I really loved the idea of the Dragons having a special something they craved, so cute.
An exciting action packed tale I would love to read more on. I'm really curious how things turned out, plus these sort of Dragons I could read all day.
ETA Still as enjoyable. I hope the newer additions were better edited though. An awful lot of mistakes especially in names. I hope in the next book I get more detail on Cam. I'm curious as to how human he is now he changed.
ETA See Above
ETA Still one of my favourites despite the sex lol.
November 23, 2013
Did I just read fluffy puppy play and menage in a syndicate war with dragon shifters and Knights of the Table Ronde? Yep. It seems I just did.
Ms Derr is a kinky fairy...
Odd and entertaining.
July 25, 2017
4 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
I was hesitant about this book because it sounded good, but I never read series out of order. Each book is, I think, about a different story with different characters though (except this one and the next, which do share a couple characters), and the general consensus was that you could easily read this one without having read the previous books. Now that I've read it, I can say that there might've been more to the world that I didn't know about or something, but I absolutely was not confused in any way, nor did I feel like I was missing any information. So if you're concerned about jumping into the series at Book 5 like I was, don't be. Just go for it.
As for the book itself, it was great! It felt longer than it was, and I mean that in a good way. There were two romantic couples in the story instead of one, plus the four dragon-owner bonds, plus a non-romance plot, but nothing felt rushed or underdeveloped. And all of it was interesting and kept my attention.
As I've seen many other reviewers for this book mention, there was a kind of grey area when it came to the humans sleeping with the dragons. Fortunately, I happen to think gray areas are the best areas when it comes to books. But yes, it was a little strange because, although they had a human form, the dragons were still more dragon than human (and more cat than dragon sometimes). They didn't like being in human form, they mostly communicated like Tarzan with growls and two word sentences, they liked to curl up on the floor with each other or with their head in their masters' laps, etc. And the relationship among the main characters and their dragons is one that I can't find any comparable real life relationship for. It wasn't romantic, it wasn't the same as human friendship, but it was sexual, and there was definitely love and care and protectiveness in there. Almost like a pet, but there was more depth/comprehension since they could communicate, and obviously sex. It was something new, and I think either you can accept this unique bond as part of the world, or not. Considering I was already accepting the premise of dragons, I didn't find it particularly difficult.
Speaking of the dragons, this was definitely a unique portrayal. A bit dark, but interesting. Also, they each have a fixation on some sort of food, for example, strawberries or mint, and I can't help but think, I'm obsessed with pomegranates... *whispers* Maybe I'm a dragon...
Another thing, there were quite a few sex scenes *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*, but Megan Derr knows how to write them, and they never broke the flow of the story, so I didn't mind.
Last but not least, all the main characters were likeable, and I sympathized with their struggles and wanted them all to have a happy ending.
So overall, the dragons and the dragon-owner bonds were interesting, the characters were likeable, the romances were sweet, and I really enjoyed this book!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes M/M, paranormal/urban fantasy, dragons, and sexy times.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
I was hesitant about this book because it sounded good, but I never read series out of order. Each book is, I think, about a different story with different characters though (except this one and the next, which do share a couple characters), and the general consensus was that you could easily read this one without having read the previous books. Now that I've read it, I can say that there might've been more to the world that I didn't know about or something, but I absolutely was not confused in any way, nor did I feel like I was missing any information. So if you're concerned about jumping into the series at Book 5 like I was, don't be. Just go for it.
As for the book itself, it was great! It felt longer than it was, and I mean that in a good way. There were two romantic couples in the story instead of one, plus the four dragon-owner bonds, plus a non-romance plot, but nothing felt rushed or underdeveloped. And all of it was interesting and kept my attention.
As I've seen many other reviewers for this book mention, there was a kind of grey area when it came to the humans sleeping with the dragons. Fortunately, I happen to think gray areas are the best areas when it comes to books. But yes, it was a little strange because, although they had a human form, the dragons were still more dragon than human (and more cat than dragon sometimes). They didn't like being in human form, they mostly communicated like Tarzan with growls and two word sentences, they liked to curl up on the floor with each other or with their head in their masters' laps, etc. And the relationship among the main characters and their dragons is one that I can't find any comparable real life relationship for. It wasn't romantic, it wasn't the same as human friendship, but it was sexual, and there was definitely love and care and protectiveness in there. Almost like a pet, but there was more depth/comprehension since they could communicate, and obviously sex. It was something new, and I think either you can accept this unique bond as part of the world, or not. Considering I was already accepting the premise of dragons, I didn't find it particularly difficult.
Speaking of the dragons, this was definitely a unique portrayal. A bit dark, but interesting. Also, they each have a fixation on some sort of food, for example, strawberries or mint, and I can't help but think, I'm obsessed with pomegranates... *whispers* Maybe I'm a dragon...
Another thing, there were quite a few sex scenes *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*, but Megan Derr knows how to write them, and they never broke the flow of the story, so I didn't mind.
Last but not least, all the main characters were likeable, and I sympathized with their struggles and wanted them all to have a happy ending.
So overall, the dragons and the dragon-owner bonds were interesting, the characters were likeable, the romances were sweet, and I really enjoyed this book!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes M/M, paranormal/urban fantasy, dragons, and sexy times.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
October 15, 2012
As much as I enjoyed the previous four books set in this universe, this one was hard going for me. I just couldn't keep anyone's identity straight, I kept forgetting who was who and who belonged with whom. There were just too many couples and combinations. So confusing. And also, it creeped me out that the guys had sex with their dragons. The dragons are portrayed as very basically sentient pets, so you can see why that would be discomforting.
March 10, 2023
Re-read 03/2023
I love the Dance With the Devil series as a whole, and I always loved Sword of the King before, but this time around it didn't work for me as much as I'd like. I'm not sure if it's because of too many POVs, too many sex scenes, or if I just wasn't in the mood for Derr's brand of fluff right now...
I love the Dance With the Devil series as a whole, and I always loved Sword of the King before, but this time around it didn't work for me as much as I'd like. I'm not sure if it's because of too many POVs, too many sex scenes, or if I just wasn't in the mood for Derr's brand of fluff right now...
June 3, 2025
Accidentally started with book five in the series because I was clearly feeling chaotic, and honestly? No regrets. Do I know everyone’s backstory? Not even slightly. Did I still fall face-first into my feelings over dragons, found family, and emotionally constipated murder boys? Absolutely.
Anyway. Is this book perfect? No. Does it sometimes rely on vibes over logic? Absolutely. But did I devour it while internally screaming? Also yes.
Amr and Cam? I knew it.
Ken being a snarky mess with a gooey centre? Bless him.
And Blaze — sweet, self-hating, absolutely unprepared Blaze — I would kill for you.
This book is messy in the best way — part heist, part revolution, part love story, with syndicate corruption, pit fighting, telepathic dragon bonds, and a slow-unfurling web of loyalty and power. It’s queer, it’s feral, it’s romantic, and it’s crowded (in a good way — the kitchen scenes alone are a riot of dragons, daggers, and declarations).
Ken, in particular, broke my heart a little — always the outsider, never quite chosen, until someone finally sees him and says you belong. And means it.
And Rafael’s love language is apparently “kiss everyone in reach while the dragons loudly denounce hierarchies of ownership.” Syndicate bosses could never.
Will I now go back and read the rest of the series in the correct order like a reasonable person? No promises.
But probably yes.
Anyway. Is this book perfect? No. Does it sometimes rely on vibes over logic? Absolutely. But did I devour it while internally screaming? Also yes.
Amr and Cam? I knew it.
Ken being a snarky mess with a gooey centre? Bless him.
And Blaze — sweet, self-hating, absolutely unprepared Blaze — I would kill for you.
This book is messy in the best way — part heist, part revolution, part love story, with syndicate corruption, pit fighting, telepathic dragon bonds, and a slow-unfurling web of loyalty and power. It’s queer, it’s feral, it’s romantic, and it’s crowded (in a good way — the kitchen scenes alone are a riot of dragons, daggers, and declarations).
Ken, in particular, broke my heart a little — always the outsider, never quite chosen, until someone finally sees him and says you belong. And means it.
And Rafael’s love language is apparently “kiss everyone in reach while the dragons loudly denounce hierarchies of ownership.” Syndicate bosses could never.
Will I now go back and read the rest of the series in the correct order like a reasonable person? No promises.
But probably yes.
August 4, 2013
Sword of the King by Megan Derr, the fifth book in the Dance with the Devil series, is an amazingly well crafted, in-depth creation of an alternate world that quite frankly I would love to visit! However, this novel was jammed full of characters and introductory material so I am going to structure this review a little differently from my others.
First, please don’t be put off by the enormity and expansive nature of the book—it is SO worth the read! Let’s begin as one might when reading a play—with a cast list of characters.
Dragons: Before I introduce these lovely creations to you, you need to know a few facts. Dragons, for the most part, start as humans and can switch between human and dragon form at will. They, unfortunately, are normally kidnapped as younger men and force-fed a drug—the “changer” drug that brings their dragon side to the fore and allows it to genetically dominate the human side. They are then forced to fight in “pits” where they either dominate or die as the case may be. There are several different types of dragons, each with unique gifts that allow them to be successful in the fighting pit. Let’s meet some of these amazing creatures.
Cam: The Holy Pendragon—all others bow before him and rightfully so as he is a killing machine, capable of defeating any other dragon. He is so rare that only three others like him exist in this phenomenal world where Masters or “Owners” are linked both emotionally and sexually to their dragons. Amr owns him—more on him in a moment.
Erie: A Fire Dragon who heats up the life of his owner, Blaze. He is unique due to the fact that he was an “egg dragon” and never required the drug or “changer” in order for him to change form. Together they are an unbeatable team in the “Pits” where they battle other dragons in money-related matches. Unfortunately, their love for each other must remain hidden or they will suffer the wrath of the man who holds them under his thumb, Rust, a syndicate boss who controls one of the many fighting pits in the city. Blaze is determined one day to escape the pits with Erie and live a normal life together.
Nev (Nevada): A Steel Dragon, and best friend of Ken, and who has made it his mission to close down the fighting pits and see the dragons freed. Ken and Nev were childhood friends when the two of them wee kidnapped and, at the age of 14, forced to fight in the pits as dragon and master. They survived due to Nev’s amazing strength, but the year in the pits left both of them scarred and, thankfully, in love. They were rescued by a member of one of the clans, groups of knights that are steeped in tradition and myth. Ken was “adopted” into the clan but never fully accepted, leaving he and Nev with no real place to call home and Ken with a raging insecurity and pain over never being wanted or loved by anyone other than Nev.
Con (Conway): An Ice Dragon and not yet fully mated to an owner. He is controlled by the evil Leo, a syndicate boss. But Con’s heart belongs to Rafael, Leo’s brother, who has an amazing talent for working with the dragons. Often physically abused by his brother (whom I really loathed), Rafael is very much in love with Con but has kept it hidden as he knows that if Leo found out Raf would be forced to watch as Con was tortured to death. Yes Leo is that evil—truly the best “bad guy” I have ever seen written in a novel. These two, Con and Raf, do a delicate dance—loving yet hiding, never fully able to give in to their affections for one another, hiding their love from the world…hmmm, I think the clever Ms. Derr has used these characters to reflect with real clarity the plight of many gay couples and the very sad reality of hiding their relationship from the world. Well done Ms. Derr, this couple was heartbreaking and made me want to stand up on behalf of their rights.
Raf and Con are entrusted with the care of Cam who, when our story begin,s has been kidnapped and is being force fed changer drugs to no avail. He is unable to shift to his dragon form, for you see it is later revealed that a pendragon will only change when they finally find their owner. And that brings us to the masters or owners in this novel.
Owners or masters: These are men who are uniquely gifted to be mated to a dragon for life. Some are called knights, others simply men. Then there is that one strange creature that often is unable to mate with a dragon but who trains others how to be a master. Amr is just such a man. He is of the Mordred clan, a clan that was exiled long ago by the rest of the clansman because they exposed the dragons to the world rather than keep them hidden. Amr is also a powerful magician and he was responsible for training Blaze as to the art of both being a master and training his dragon how to fight in the pits.
These owners, Amr, Rafael, Ken, and Blaze all converge at Rafael’s home to discuss one issue—the safety of the pendragon and their own freedom from the syndicates that own half of them. The story really heats up here—not that it was doing so shabby in the action area prior to this point. But it is here where new relationships are drawn and we are made aware that dragons do not care if their master also mate with another master, creating a foursome of sexually active and loving men and their dragons.
So let’s talk sex. For those of you who have been reading this Dance with the Devil series, you are well aware that sex plays a secondary role to the storyline in those books. Not so with this one. In fact, where most of the books in this series take chapters to reveal a sexual encounter, Sword of the King smacks us in the face with it right away and oh my, never has a slap in the face been so good!! The intimacy between the dragons and their masters is not only hot but very physical with lots of “marking” –-physical bites, nips, scratches, all done in a remarkably sensual way by the deft hand of the author.
I could go on and on with plot points but suffice it to say that this is a taut, action-packed novel that had me mesmerized from start to finish! Stunning—Sword of the King is a stunning novel. It can be read independently of the others in the series—I highly recommend this gem to you! It IS a 5 star read!
First, please don’t be put off by the enormity and expansive nature of the book—it is SO worth the read! Let’s begin as one might when reading a play—with a cast list of characters.
Dragons: Before I introduce these lovely creations to you, you need to know a few facts. Dragons, for the most part, start as humans and can switch between human and dragon form at will. They, unfortunately, are normally kidnapped as younger men and force-fed a drug—the “changer” drug that brings their dragon side to the fore and allows it to genetically dominate the human side. They are then forced to fight in “pits” where they either dominate or die as the case may be. There are several different types of dragons, each with unique gifts that allow them to be successful in the fighting pit. Let’s meet some of these amazing creatures.
Cam: The Holy Pendragon—all others bow before him and rightfully so as he is a killing machine, capable of defeating any other dragon. He is so rare that only three others like him exist in this phenomenal world where Masters or “Owners” are linked both emotionally and sexually to their dragons. Amr owns him—more on him in a moment.
Erie: A Fire Dragon who heats up the life of his owner, Blaze. He is unique due to the fact that he was an “egg dragon” and never required the drug or “changer” in order for him to change form. Together they are an unbeatable team in the “Pits” where they battle other dragons in money-related matches. Unfortunately, their love for each other must remain hidden or they will suffer the wrath of the man who holds them under his thumb, Rust, a syndicate boss who controls one of the many fighting pits in the city. Blaze is determined one day to escape the pits with Erie and live a normal life together.
Nev (Nevada): A Steel Dragon, and best friend of Ken, and who has made it his mission to close down the fighting pits and see the dragons freed. Ken and Nev were childhood friends when the two of them wee kidnapped and, at the age of 14, forced to fight in the pits as dragon and master. They survived due to Nev’s amazing strength, but the year in the pits left both of them scarred and, thankfully, in love. They were rescued by a member of one of the clans, groups of knights that are steeped in tradition and myth. Ken was “adopted” into the clan but never fully accepted, leaving he and Nev with no real place to call home and Ken with a raging insecurity and pain over never being wanted or loved by anyone other than Nev.
Con (Conway): An Ice Dragon and not yet fully mated to an owner. He is controlled by the evil Leo, a syndicate boss. But Con’s heart belongs to Rafael, Leo’s brother, who has an amazing talent for working with the dragons. Often physically abused by his brother (whom I really loathed), Rafael is very much in love with Con but has kept it hidden as he knows that if Leo found out Raf would be forced to watch as Con was tortured to death. Yes Leo is that evil—truly the best “bad guy” I have ever seen written in a novel. These two, Con and Raf, do a delicate dance—loving yet hiding, never fully able to give in to their affections for one another, hiding their love from the world…hmmm, I think the clever Ms. Derr has used these characters to reflect with real clarity the plight of many gay couples and the very sad reality of hiding their relationship from the world. Well done Ms. Derr, this couple was heartbreaking and made me want to stand up on behalf of their rights.
Raf and Con are entrusted with the care of Cam who, when our story begin,s has been kidnapped and is being force fed changer drugs to no avail. He is unable to shift to his dragon form, for you see it is later revealed that a pendragon will only change when they finally find their owner. And that brings us to the masters or owners in this novel.
Owners or masters: These are men who are uniquely gifted to be mated to a dragon for life. Some are called knights, others simply men. Then there is that one strange creature that often is unable to mate with a dragon but who trains others how to be a master. Amr is just such a man. He is of the Mordred clan, a clan that was exiled long ago by the rest of the clansman because they exposed the dragons to the world rather than keep them hidden. Amr is also a powerful magician and he was responsible for training Blaze as to the art of both being a master and training his dragon how to fight in the pits.
These owners, Amr, Rafael, Ken, and Blaze all converge at Rafael’s home to discuss one issue—the safety of the pendragon and their own freedom from the syndicates that own half of them. The story really heats up here—not that it was doing so shabby in the action area prior to this point. But it is here where new relationships are drawn and we are made aware that dragons do not care if their master also mate with another master, creating a foursome of sexually active and loving men and their dragons.
So let’s talk sex. For those of you who have been reading this Dance with the Devil series, you are well aware that sex plays a secondary role to the storyline in those books. Not so with this one. In fact, where most of the books in this series take chapters to reveal a sexual encounter, Sword of the King smacks us in the face with it right away and oh my, never has a slap in the face been so good!! The intimacy between the dragons and their masters is not only hot but very physical with lots of “marking” –-physical bites, nips, scratches, all done in a remarkably sensual way by the deft hand of the author.
I could go on and on with plot points but suffice it to say that this is a taut, action-packed novel that had me mesmerized from start to finish! Stunning—Sword of the King is a stunning novel. It can be read independently of the others in the series—I highly recommend this gem to you! It IS a 5 star read!
August 9, 2025
3.5⭐
I often enjoy Derr's takes on fantasy, and the dragons here are definitely interesting. The dragons can be born dragon or transformed from humans and they are not quite human. They are a bit pet-like so I can get that people can be iffy about the whole sex-thing, but they're definitely sentient enough for me (they even speak).
I was sucked into this story and liked it for the most part. But this is definitely one of the Derr books where all the potential was not tapped. It's fighting, fucking, loredump, fighting, fucking, loredump. And that doesn't make the book bad by any means. But we have 3-8 main characters here (3 PoV human plus 1 human LI and all of their dragons), depending how one looks at it. Some slower build up here would have been needed. And there's honestly way too little of menage happening for a story like this.
The next book is a continuation for Ken's story but I've gathered even more love interests will be thrown into the mix, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'd hoped for slowing down and focusing on the budding relationship.
I often enjoy Derr's takes on fantasy, and the dragons here are definitely interesting. The dragons can be born dragon or transformed from humans and they are not quite human. They are a bit pet-like so I can get that people can be iffy about the whole sex-thing, but they're definitely sentient enough for me (they even speak).
I was sucked into this story and liked it for the most part. But this is definitely one of the Derr books where all the potential was not tapped. It's fighting, fucking, loredump, fighting, fucking, loredump. And that doesn't make the book bad by any means. But we have 3-8 main characters here (3 PoV human plus 1 human LI and all of their dragons), depending how one looks at it. Some slower build up here would have been needed. And there's honestly way too little of menage happening for a story like this.
The next book is a continuation for Ken's story but I've gathered even more love interests will be thrown into the mix, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'd hoped for slowing down and focusing on the budding relationship.
March 1, 2024
Let's see... Ultimately, this fills in a plot point or three in the overall series. I liked the characters well enough, too. But, I skimmed mundane actions and travel, and several sex scenes, so as to finish reading rather than let the less than stellar editing bog me down. (That's what all the highlights & notes are, typos.) The biggest flaw, though, is that it's all setup until 35% in. (!) There were still some boring, and some less well thought out, parts, but at least things were happening.
It's possible I might've stopped reading the series here, but I already own them, so onward to #6.
It's possible I might've stopped reading the series here, but I already own them, so onward to #6.
September 16, 2016
First Read: Nov 15, 2015
So this just might be my favorite book in this series so far! I just plain love dragons, and the dragon shifters in this are just kick ass. I really enjoyed this take on dragons as even in their human forms they still have the draconian nature. I adored how the idea of dragons hoarding "treasure" was incorporated into this tale. There is such a Chinese triad/yakuza feel to the syndicates here and that made for a really interesting vibe as well.
I really loved all the characters in this story. The way they call came together could have been cause for even more distrust between them, but their love for their dragons gave them a bond the most of of the people the dealt with in their normal world just didn't have. This is a brutal world of pit fighting and dragons being considered little more than a weapon for sport, so for someone like Blaze who grew up in the pits and has seen little else, Ken is a shocking breath of fresh air. He's finally able to relax a little and allow someone else to see how he really is with his dragon.
In this book we get a good long look at the twisted nature of the syndicates and their pit dragons. They've created quite a network for themselves pitting their fighters against each other for prestige and money. Each syndicate has their strengths and rules their little section of the world. But Blaze, Ken, Raphael and Amr are determined to do something about it. The dragons deserve better and the kidnap discovery of a Pendragon brings everything to a head.
This book is heavy on the polyamory which may disturb some people but felt very natural with the way the relationship between the men and their dragons is described. The bond with the dragons is necessary for the dragon and the love between them is real, but it isn't the same bond you would form with another human. This requires allowing for poly relationships to be the norm. Altogether it worked well for me, but definitely upped the ante on the sexual content than in a lot of other Megan Derr books.
My favorite of the series so far, and I really loved this look at the world.
So this just might be my favorite book in this series so far! I just plain love dragons, and the dragon shifters in this are just kick ass. I really enjoyed this take on dragons as even in their human forms they still have the draconian nature. I adored how the idea of dragons hoarding "treasure" was incorporated into this tale. There is such a Chinese triad/yakuza feel to the syndicates here and that made for a really interesting vibe as well.
I really loved all the characters in this story. The way they call came together could have been cause for even more distrust between them, but their love for their dragons gave them a bond the most of of the people the dealt with in their normal world just didn't have. This is a brutal world of pit fighting and dragons being considered little more than a weapon for sport, so for someone like Blaze who grew up in the pits and has seen little else, Ken is a shocking breath of fresh air. He's finally able to relax a little and allow someone else to see how he really is with his dragon.
In this book we get a good long look at the twisted nature of the syndicates and their pit dragons. They've created quite a network for themselves pitting their fighters against each other for prestige and money. Each syndicate has their strengths and rules their little section of the world. But Blaze, Ken, Raphael and Amr are determined to do something about it. The dragons deserve better and the kidnap discovery of a Pendragon brings everything to a head.
This book is heavy on the polyamory which may disturb some people but felt very natural with the way the relationship between the men and their dragons is described. The bond with the dragons is necessary for the dragon and the love between them is real, but it isn't the same bond you would form with another human. This requires allowing for poly relationships to be the norm. Altogether it worked well for me, but definitely upped the ante on the sexual content than in a lot of other Megan Derr books.
My favorite of the series so far, and I really loved this look at the world.
September 19, 2012
I really should just start a new shelf for Megan Derr. . .
Anyway I loved Ms Derr's whole new take on dragons, and this wonderful addition to the world of Sable Brennus. I probably shouldn't call it that since it isn't really, but damn if I'm not biased towards him.
As usual her writing is exceptional and a pleasure to read. It just makes me want to float around and dance really, with how nicely it flows. . . Anyway as for the book itself, I only have one thing to say.
Dragons = Sex Kittens
Not complaining.
However I think the official version of this book (I'm pretty sure this book was a rewritten and expanded version of one of her unpublished stories) doesn't quite explain the characters as much. I was really hyped to read about Rick and the brothers and everything when I bought the ebook as I read the "first" version (which was basically like a book made up of little novellas from each of the Cross brothers' point of view plus other dragon owners. There was, however, no story focused on Nevada and Ken, though there was one on how they became owner/dragon etc in the first version).
I can also see where some people may be confused by this new addition of Sable Brennus's world with all these new, unexplained characters. The book changed so much from the original which was a big -but happy- surprise for me. What also was a surprise was the fact that she chose to focus on Blaze/Erie and Nev/Ken, seeing as Rick and his brothers are sort of the "earlier" generation and it would explain a lot. . .
One really awesome thing however, is that this book clears up a lot of inconsistencies that were present in the first version (sometimes to the point where I think this book feels like a bit of a explanation/clearing up for the first version).
Exquisite world as always though, lovely lovely characters and an engaging plot. As always. Definitely recommended for Megan Derr fans. (And to think I wasn't even into menages until now. *groan* What has she done to me.)
Anyway I loved Ms Derr's whole new take on dragons, and this wonderful addition to the world of Sable Brennus. I probably shouldn't call it that since it isn't really, but damn if I'm not biased towards him.
As usual her writing is exceptional and a pleasure to read. It just makes me want to float around and dance really, with how nicely it flows. . . Anyway as for the book itself, I only have one thing to say.
Dragons = Sex Kittens
Not complaining.
However I think the official version of this book (I'm pretty sure this book was a rewritten and expanded version of one of her unpublished stories) doesn't quite explain the characters as much. I was really hyped to read about Rick and the brothers and everything when I bought the ebook as I read the "first" version (which was basically like a book made up of little novellas from each of the Cross brothers' point of view plus other dragon owners. There was, however, no story focused on Nevada and Ken, though there was one on how they became owner/dragon etc in the first version).
I can also see where some people may be confused by this new addition of Sable Brennus's world with all these new, unexplained characters. The book changed so much from the original which was a big -but happy- surprise for me. What also was a surprise was the fact that she chose to focus on Blaze/Erie and Nev/Ken, seeing as Rick and his brothers are sort of the "earlier" generation and it would explain a lot. . .
One really awesome thing however, is that this book clears up a lot of inconsistencies that were present in the first version (sometimes to the point where I think this book feels like a bit of a explanation/clearing up for the first version).
Exquisite world as always though, lovely lovely characters and an engaging plot. As always. Definitely recommended for Megan Derr fans. (And to think I wasn't even into menages until now. *groan* What has she done to me.)
dnf
April 15, 2012I'll probably finish this eventually, as Megan Derr is one of my favorite authors, but it'll be hard. The book isn't bad, it just isn't quite to my taste. A quick rundown:
April 19, 2013
As with the rest of this series, I seem to love each installment more than the last...and I really love this one. If there were more than five stars to give, I would. I have a thing for dragons -- be it shifters or dragons in their natural form. And this book is going in my top ten favorite dragon stories.
I'm no longer surprised by how much I adore each character that Megan Derr creates. They are strong and beautifully written. In this book, Blaze, Erie, Ken, Nev, Rafael, Conway, Amr, and Cam each have such significant, well-defined roles. They are all vastly different characters, save for the dragons, but there are reasons for that.
I have always loved the stories of Camelot - King Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table...I could go on and on. It's fascinating. But the way this author plays with the myth of Camelot and turns it into a dragon fantasty...I absolutely love it. This is definitely my favorite of all the stories I've read that have been a spin of Camelot. Sword of the King is unique, creative, and fantastic. It's definitely on my re-read list.
I have loved this world since the first book in the series. It's a darker world filled with monsters and the stuff of nightmares, but it's powerfully unique and wonderfully creative. One of my favorites, by far.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I am completely and utterly addicted now.
Highly Recommended.
I'm no longer surprised by how much I adore each character that Megan Derr creates. They are strong and beautifully written. In this book, Blaze, Erie, Ken, Nev, Rafael, Conway, Amr, and Cam each have such significant, well-defined roles. They are all vastly different characters, save for the dragons, but there are reasons for that.
I have always loved the stories of Camelot - King Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table...I could go on and on. It's fascinating. But the way this author plays with the myth of Camelot and turns it into a dragon fantasty...I absolutely love it. This is definitely my favorite of all the stories I've read that have been a spin of Camelot. Sword of the King is unique, creative, and fantastic. It's definitely on my re-read list.
I have loved this world since the first book in the series. It's a darker world filled with monsters and the stuff of nightmares, but it's powerfully unique and wonderfully creative. One of my favorites, by far.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I am completely and utterly addicted now.
Highly Recommended.
November 4, 2022
Reread 2022
Still my least favourite of the series
I think there was just too many people involved here and so not enough time was spent on each couple. Also Ken was so antagonistic and it annoyed me at times
3.5 Stars
Not as strong as the rest of the series
I loved the idea of this story, who doesn't like dragons, but I just felt it was the weakest of the series, which is disappointing. It is far more brutal than the other books, but with the background of the pits it is understandable. All of the book was a lead up to the fight with the syndicate but I felt that the ending was wrapped up very quickly and quite easily, with too much still up in the air. What happens now to the rest of the dragons and the other syndicates that hold them?
The multi MCs didn't worry me, but not enough time was spent on the actual relationships. They all just seemed to fall together too easily.
Still my least favourite of the series
I think there was just too many people involved here and so not enough time was spent on each couple. Also Ken was so antagonistic and it annoyed me at times
3.5 Stars
Not as strong as the rest of the series
I loved the idea of this story, who doesn't like dragons, but I just felt it was the weakest of the series, which is disappointing. It is far more brutal than the other books, but with the background of the pits it is understandable. All of the book was a lead up to the fight with the syndicate but I felt that the ending was wrapped up very quickly and quite easily, with too much still up in the air. What happens now to the rest of the dragons and the other syndicates that hold them?
The multi MCs didn't worry me, but not enough time was spent on the actual relationships. They all just seemed to fall together too easily.
January 23, 2018
Somehow I accidentally skipped the fourth and went to the fifth - this one was much different than the first three but fun and over the top in a colorful way I loved. We have four unique people coming together to fight their own demons and for their dragons - seeing them mesh in friendship and bonding was a joy. Ken with his sense of feeling lonely, Amr with his rejected status and uptight manner, Blaze with his tough-guy attitude trying to escape the pits, and coffee maker Raf who has to wiggle out of his abusive brother's thumb. At first I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much because the pits were nauseating and the set-up not exciting, but once they all come together at the house it's full out fun from there. I think it helped reading it directly after the third, Midnight, because my mind was already on Dragon Mode and clan origin from that one. Full review to come.
August 16, 2016
Honestly, this was kinda... weird. On the one hand, the story was interesting and characters too. Polyamory always gets a "yay"! from me if written well and here it was.
On the other hand... While dragons were cute, the way they were handled and treated was actually kinda horryifing, yet nobody seemed to have problems with it? "Oh, you have certain kind of DNA, so since this moment now on we wont treat you as a person! Yay!"
Like, i know this kinda shit happens in reality too, but nobody seemed much pertrubed by it in this book? Uhm? Even with "good owner", the dragons were still treated like overgrown pets.
Talk about uncomfortable.
Also that bit with Arhturian legends felt kinda weird, non-fleshed and it didnt make sense properly.
I have a mixed feelings about this book.
On the other hand... While dragons were cute, the way they were handled and treated was actually kinda horryifing, yet nobody seemed to have problems with it? "Oh, you have certain kind of DNA, so since this moment now on we wont treat you as a person! Yay!"
Like, i know this kinda shit happens in reality too, but nobody seemed much pertrubed by it in this book? Uhm? Even with "good owner", the dragons were still treated like overgrown pets.
Talk about uncomfortable.
Also that bit with Arhturian legends felt kinda weird, non-fleshed and it didnt make sense properly.
I have a mixed feelings about this book.
June 1, 2012
I really liked the book. I've always been a fan of dragons ever since Megan's first versions, and I was really happy to see all the characters come back into one story, and she managed to incorporate them them well with a fitting plot.
There were a few things that let it down though: it was predictable and there was too much focus on the inter-human relationships rather than the owner-dragon relationships, I felt they came third after the human "damn, I want to fuck him", and friendships.
The other issue was the editing of the book... words missing, name changes within 4 sentences (driver's name from Mike to Ben), punctuation.
This is not to say that I stopped reading it to go to bed.
There were a few things that let it down though: it was predictable and there was too much focus on the inter-human relationships rather than the owner-dragon relationships, I felt they came third after the human "damn, I want to fuck him", and friendships.
The other issue was the editing of the book... words missing, name changes within 4 sentences (driver's name from Mike to Ben), punctuation.
This is not to say that I stopped reading it to go to bed.
September 17, 2013
This book is just as well written and fun to read as the rest of the books in the series, but it lacks a fullness to it that the others have. Much of that is caused because there is a lot of missing back story that would have given the main characters a bit more history and depth. The story reads like a spare moment out of the character's lives, instead of as a full story, because the reader is missing so much information.
My review will probably changed whenever Megan Derr writes the prequel to this story and those issues are solved.
My review will probably changed whenever Megan Derr writes the prequel to this story and those issues are solved.
February 13, 2015
I love Megan Derr's books. I was little hesitant about this one since there were a few mixed reviews from some of her regular fans, so I wasn't sure what was in store. But I loved it - there are some great dynamics between the characters and a solid storyline (fantasy based of course :) that moves smoothly and at a good pace. A couple of the characters were a bit self-pitying, but with their background and circumstance, it completely fit the mood. ...And the dragons are delightful!!!
July 25, 2012
This is a WONDERFUL and sexy adventure about knights and dragons and mages living in modren day America; I fell in love with all eight protagonists as they fell in love with each other. I hope something casts a spell on Megan Derr, so she can never stop writing stories set in this magical world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
4.75 stars
4.75 stars
April 12, 2012
3.5 stars
Pretty amazing plot-line but unfortunately this story involves Megan's common "multiple couples" trick, that I am not so fond of. One romantic pairing per story is all I can handle.
Pretty amazing plot-line but unfortunately this story involves Megan's common "multiple couples" trick, that I am not so fond of. One romantic pairing per story is all I can handle.
December 2, 2016
3.5 stars
March 22, 2019
I really like the world the author has created: magic, magical creatures, normals and abnormals. It's all very entertaining and exciting to read with all of the action and battles and different types of characters popping up.
This story gave us more info on Amr (who I think we first read about a few stories back), and gave us more insight as to what goes on in the fighting pits with dragons. The pits had been mentioned in earlier books, so it was nice to be able to go a little deeper and actually have an MC who is a pit fighter with his dragon.
There were a lot of MCs in this book: Blaze, Ken and Raphael (along with their dragons) were the most prominent, and when there are so many main characters things can get messy... but not this book. I liked how more characters kept being added because it just added more dimension and background to the world that we've been reading about in the last 4+ books.
I'm having a good time reading these books and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
This story gave us more info on Amr (who I think we first read about a few stories back), and gave us more insight as to what goes on in the fighting pits with dragons. The pits had been mentioned in earlier books, so it was nice to be able to go a little deeper and actually have an MC who is a pit fighter with his dragon.
There were a lot of MCs in this book: Blaze, Ken and Raphael (along with their dragons) were the most prominent, and when there are so many main characters things can get messy... but not this book. I liked how more characters kept being added because it just added more dimension and background to the world that we've been reading about in the last 4+ books.
I'm having a good time reading these books and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
December 29, 2022
This is the first time I've read one of her books, rather than listening to it, and while I enjoyed it both ways I think I prefer listening. Overall I did enjoy the story, and I liked the characters, but it's missing some final polishing. It could have used one last edit as there were some words missing or in the wrong tense, and some phrasing ended up really weird or needed to be edited out, like she was going to use a different thought then didn't. I think my biggest gripe with her writing as a whole is her over use of the word c*ck during sex scenes. There's so many other words she could use, or simply not repeat what it is at all. It's very distracting when it's used five or six times in a row. It almost feels like shes afraid of using a different descriptor. And maybe it's just me, but they kiss a LOT. Like, all the time. Also I'm salty we didn't get an Amr/Ken scene. 🥲😤
May 8, 2017
This could have been so much better. For me the world building was sloppily done and I kept questioning where we were in the scheme of things (i.e. was this back in the day, was this in the future?) It becomes clearer when one of the MCs puts on jeans and architecture is described but not completely. I also felt that way about the MCs. There are four of them - two men and two dragons and a host of secondary characters. Again, as a reader I needed more back story.
February 23, 2020
This had a paranormal mob feel to it. I liked getting to see all the dragons, they are rather adorable for shapeshifting weapons. There was a solid plot and a good mix of characters.
The story does have some editing issues (enough to be really noticeable).
The story does have some editing issues (enough to be really noticeable).
August 19, 2020
Cussing
I like the books but you use the GD word to much. This book so far had it in there the most. Writers who use this word and similar words usually put me off of reading other books written by them.
I like the books but you use the GD word to much. This book so far had it in there the most. Writers who use this word and similar words usually put me off of reading other books written by them.
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