After the Fall of the Dragon King

Fall of the Dragon King #1

by Shaquilla Lunsford

All Silivia wanted was to escape her father's paranoia and go off to college to do all the things normal seventeen year old's did. Then, a powerful organization appears, murders her parents, and kidnaps her sister instead of her. Now Silvia finds herself navigating the world of Fenriel where creatures she'd only read about in books abound, and everything - and everyone - wants her dead.

Caught between two Fae warriors, one sweet, burly male, and one the King of Shadows, she fights to master her new power. But will she be in time to save her sister?

Genres: Fantasy

362 pages, Hardcover

First published June 27, 2023

About the author

Shaquilla (shuh-kee-luh) M. Lunsford, or better known as the "Dragon Queen", is known for writing fantasy worlds full of romance, magic, and majestic creatures. She enjoys the complexity and creativity required to develop an entirely new world with its own set of rules and characters. With her love of dragons, they usually make an appearance in her writing or daily life. She also draws inspiration from Greek and Roman mythology to create some creatures and characters, and sheer imagination for others. Despite Shaquilla's passion for fantasy, poetry is her first love, and those incorporated in her books are usually her own.

Shaquilla currently lives in North Carolina with her "mini zoo", consisting of three types of reptiles, a cat, and a dog.

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 ⊹
╰ ✦ •

Wow!! This was amazing!!

Fall of the Dragon King is an intriguing fantasy story with excellent world-building seamlessly woven into the plot.

This journey was captivating. A world filled with magic, intrigue, and the timeless struggle between good and evil. It starts with a gripping opening, immersing us in a richly detailed tapestry of characters and settings that are both mesmerizing and complex.

I loved the characters so much!!

FMC was great, she's strong yet a little stubborn.
Ghost is the perfect MMC, he's strong, mysterious, and swoon-worthy!!
I loved their budding romance.

-I'm not sure how I felt about the love triangle though... I do like Ty though!
-This definitely needed editing, misspelled words/ incorrect word usage, and maybe a little formatting
-One thing I really disliked was the use of quotations for character thoughts. It would have been better if their thoughts were italicized. The current setup makes it a little difficult to distinguish between dialogue and thoughts at times.


Besides these shortcomings, I really enjoyed the story!


────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥moderate spice
❥enemies to lovers
❥forced prox
❥adventure
❥fae
❥talking dragons
❥shapshifters
❥magic

Thank you for the ARC, Shaquilla!
_________________________________
After the Fall of the Dragon King | Review
Rise of the Phoenix Queen | Review

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[Mylene Daigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Though i have to say that there was some missing information and elements to the whole story. Not enough information on the important details and there was more on the not so important details. The characters are really great. I am definitely going to read more cause i want to know what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Serena Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4/5

• Enemies to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Found Family and Friendships
• Love Triangle
• Multiple POV
• Dragons
• (Soul) Mates
• Lost Heir
• Tragic Backstories

Summary: This book was entertaining and enjoyable to read, especially as the story progressed. We start off by meeting Silivia, a seemingly normal 17-year-old who lives with her parents and younger sister in the human world. Silivia doesn’t understand her father’s paranoia and why he won’t let her live life like a normal teenager. However, one fateful night changes everything, and her world is burned to the ground. Everything Silivia thought she knew has been a lie. After a group of unknown beings slay her parents and take her sister, whom they mistook for Silivia, she is left with no choice but to follow the evil clan into a parallel fae world, Fenriel, in hopes of rescuing her sister. In this new world, Silivia faces numerous enemies, learns to wield a newfound power and finds herself falling for two warrior fae.

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of this book. When I initially started reading, I enjoyed that Shaquilla did not waste time getting into action. I was shocked at the traumatic experience Silivia had in the first chapter! That drew me in. Throughout the book I appreciated many of the characters we met and I’m hoping to see more of them in the second book, especially the ones that were seemingly forgotten about as the book went on. My FAVORITE aspect of the book was the enemies to lovers trope. It was so swoon worthy and I found myself awing at the moments of the slow burn romance between the FMC and MC. I wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle but I understand why it was necessary. The plot was amazing and although the pacing was sometimes slow, I appreciated it for giving Silivia enough time to properly prepare for the task of saving her sister. It was realistic. The ending was somewhat predictable but it was written in a way that left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get to know more characters. I just know book two is going to be full of action now that Silivia has worked so hard to become a warrior herself!

Character Development: 3.5/5
While I love a good multiple POV, I feel like I didn’t get to connect with Silivia as much as I would have liked. I still love her. She went from being doubtful of herself to strong willed. I also appreciated her stubbornness. Ghost is my favorite character by far and has shown great development throughout the book along with the help of Siliva. I appreciate that. I also love a moody, shadow daddy!

Engagement/Pacing: 4/5
Shaquilla kept me reading. At times the pacing was slower but it was enough to keep me engaged. I’d say the last 30 percent of the book really kept me on edge and I read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.

World Building: 5/5
I enjoyed Shaquilla’s style of world building. I was taken on a journey throughout the book that really allowed me to get to know Fenriel and believe I was there. The creatures, characters and places were all detailed thouroughly. This book had world building until the end in a very enjoyable way. I am excited to see what adventures will happen in book 2.

[Alexander Halliwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fall of the Dragon King" is an enthralling journey through a world brimming with magic, intrigue, and the age-old battle between good and evil. The novel begins with a bang, plunging readers into a richly woven tapestry of characters and settings that are as mesmerizing as they are intricate.

**Plot Overview:**

The story revolves around the Kingdom of Drakenwald, a land ruled by the mighty Dragon King, Seraphiel. His reign, marked by both fear and reverence, is threatened by a prophecy foretelling his downfall. The protagonist, Elara, a young, spirited warrior with a mysterious past, finds herself at the heart of this turmoil. Tasked with uncovering the truth behind the prophecy, Elara's journey is one of self-discovery, courage, and unexpected alliances.

From the verdant forests of Elaria to the treacherous peaks of the Dragonspine Mountains, Lunsford's world-building is nothing short of spectacular. Each location is brought to life with vivid descriptions, making readers feel as if they are traversing the lands alongside Elara and her companions.

**Characters:**

Elara is a compelling heroine whose growth throughout the novel is both believable and inspiring. Her determination and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds make her a character readers will root for from start to finish. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted. Seraphiel, the Dragon King, is a complex antagonist whose motives and backstory are revealed in tantalizing layers, making him more than just a one-dimensional villain. Other notable characters include Kael, the brooding yet loyal warrior with a hidden heart of gold, and Lyra, a sorceress whose mysterious past and potent magic add depth and intrigue to the narrative.

**Themes:**

"Fall of the Dragon King" delves into themes of power, destiny, and the often-blurry line between right and wrong. Lunsford expertly explores the idea that history is written by the victors, and that heroes and villains are often two sides of the same coin. The novel also touches on themes of friendship, loyalty, and the sacrifices required to achieve true greatness.

**Writing Style:**

Lunsford's prose is both lyrical and engaging, drawing readers into her fantastical world with ease. Her ability to balance action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and character development is impressive. The pacing of the novel is well-maintained, with each chapter ending on a note that compels the reader to continue.

The dialogue is sharp and natural, revealing much about the characters' personalities and motivations without ever feeling forced. Lunsford's knack for crafting realistic and relatable interactions adds an additional layer of depth to the story.

**Final Thoughts:**

"Fall of the Dragon King" is a masterful blend of fantasy and adventure, with a cast of characters that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned. Shaquilla Lunsford has created a world that feels both timeless and refreshingly original, making this novel a standout in the genre. Whether you're a longtime fan of fantasy or new to the genre, this book is a must-read. Its rich narrative, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes ensure that it will be remembered as a classic in the years to come.

In conclusion, "Fall of the Dragon King" is not just a story about the rise and fall of a kingdom but also a poignant exploration of human nature and the enduring power of hope and redemption. Shaquilla Lunsford has penned a tale that is as heartwarming as it is thrilling, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her next literary endeavor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading this the moment I saw it and it was not disappointing at all.
The world building was excellent & plot was entertaining.
I will be happily recommending this to others who I know will love it too upon release ☺️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great easy to follow fantasy! Had one of my favorite tropes with enemies to lovers and also had a good love triangle were you’re rooting for both love interests! The twist at the end has me eager to see what happens in book two!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate Pazanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow burn romantasy. The first couple of chapter where difficult for me to get into but once I did I could put it down. This book as me wanting to live on to book two.
I can't wait to see what the author does.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Magic, dragons, enemies to lovers. The progression of the book was quick as well. The twist at the end was a great segway to book two!

[Kassidy Skidmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little wary when starting this book. It had a very YA reading the first couple chapters. However, I absolutely LOVED this book! The plot was fantastic! I could not put it down! I read this book in one sitting and immediately wanted to start the next in the series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[h palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, what can i say? this book really hooked me from the beginning until the very end! the plot was fantastic, the characters were splendid and the way the story progressed was *chefs kiss* i cannot wait to start the next book in the series!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to get this book in the mail. Im proud of my friend

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – If being hunted, hot Fae warriors, and sudden badass energy call to you—this is your ride.
Whew. Where do I even begin with After the Fall of the Dragon King by Shaquilla Lunsford? Let’s just say this: Silvia is that girl. The one who didn’t ask for chaos, but when fate slammed it into her, she didn’t just survive—she grabbed a sword, wrestled some destiny, and made it hers.
At first, I was vibing with Silvia for the most relatable reason: She just wanted to be a normal teen. Not some chosen one. Not some magical anomaly. Just a girl dreaming of college, freedom, and maybe a little peace away from her overprotective father. But of course, that dream goes up in flames—literally—when an underground power swoops in, slaughters her parents, and takes her sister instead. Cue the trauma and a crash-course in Fae politics, deadly magic, and survival.
And y’all—Fenriel? It’s brutal, beautiful, and bonkers. Picture a fantasy realm where everything is trying to kill you (seriously, even the hot ones), and nothing is as it seems. Silvia goes from grieving sister to power-wielding force in training, and every step of the journey is tense, messy, and addictive. I didn’t just read—I held my breath.
Now, let’s talk about the two Fae warriors who made my Kindle sweat. There’s the sweet, soft-yet-deadly protector (the burly cinnamon roll, be still my heart)… and then there’s the King of Shadows—broody, dangerous, probably kissed by death and heartbreak, and 100% the reason my inner “touch-her-and-die” alarm went off. This man has secrets, power, and that impossible-to-resist pull that spells trouble... and I’m here for all of it.
And Silvia? She’s not just some helpless girl trapped between two alphas—she’s rising. She’s questioning everything, claiming her own power, and fighting like hell to get her sister back. And as someone who loves messy heroines with raw emotion and real stakes, I was in it with her. Bleeding for her. Cheering for her.
This book gave me:
✔ A portal fantasy that actually feels high-stakes
✔ A heroine balancing grief, fury, and destiny
✔ Magic that hurts as much as it empowers
✔ Fae boys to ruin your life and your reading schedule
✔ And a story that says: survival isn’t enough—you get to fight for more
If you’re like me and love dark fantasy with heart, danger, slow-burn romantic tension (that sizzles), and a plot that grabs you by the collar and drags you through otherworldly wreckage—you need this book.
Final thoughts? I came for the dragons, but I stayed for the girl who refused to break.
I’m all in for whatever fire Silvia unleashes next.

[Heather A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was an interesting read for me. In general, the author has created an enchanting world with a unique magic system. However, there were some problems with execution.

1) Silivia has very little baseline back story, and so it is very challenging to connect with her and to understand her motivations. She goes through this extremely traumatic event right at the beginning of the book, but we know very little about what her life was like before that, aside from her constantly complaining about training with her father. She has a handful of nightmares, but otherwise does not grieve the loss of her entire family for some unexplained reason. She finds out that she has a dragon, which would make almost anyone squeal with glee, but she reacts with anger and rudeness aimed at her dragon for some reason that is also not clear. Perhaps with some backstory, Silivia would be more relatable, and her decisions and reactions would appear less random. I also have difficulty feeling for her when she spends so much time complaining!

2) It really bothered me that the characters endlessly refer to each other as "the female" and "the male". Nobody talks like that and it just made the internal dialogue feel very insincere and robotic.

3) The whole book had a very heavy YA feel to it, which made the one spicy scene feel out of place.

4) The love triangle feels forced. When Silivia needs to say things like "I still like Ty" to remind the reader that there is supposed to be a love triangle, clearly she already knows where her feelings lie. I don't understand how this adds to the story.

5) The author uses quotation marks to indicate speech/dialogue, but also to indicate internal thoughts. This is extremely confusing!

6) I found it very difficult to stay engaged with the story when there are just so many spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and problems with punctuation that change the meaning of sentences. I'm not sure if it is just the digital copy that I received, but it desperately requires several rounds of basic editing to improve readability.

These issues aside, I really do think that there is something captivating here. It just needs some polishing! I want to learn more about this world, the history of Silivia's family, the various Fae bonds (Fae-dragon, Fae-Fae shadow bonds, etc), mysterious Master Marcus, and more! I am intrigued.

[Emelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaquilla has done her research and has great depth of knowledge about all kinds of Fae and faeries. I was really interested in this book, and found the summary interesting. When I started reading the book, there were a few things that I did struggle with.
I would have appreciated a little more worldbuilding or context with Silivia and her family. I didn’t immediately connect with her because I didn’t feel I understood her, other than that she thought her dad’s training was boring and unnecessary. I felt this way for the initial 10 chapters of the book, and other than her being understandably scared and worried for her sister, I didn’t feel connected to her inner dialogue. In contrast, when Ghost was introduced using a flashback, I felt like I understood him immediately because it was clear that he had experienced something traumatic at the hands of bad people and that he is living his life out of spite. I also found the dialogue to be a bit dry. I am a fan of banter between characters, and Tyrian and Teslia did have some good conversations with Silivia, but Silivia regurgitated the same three thoughts whenever we were in her perspective. It wasn’t until she went to the Reflection Pool on Spirit Mountain that I felt like there was any improvement to her inner voice.
There were some chapters and scenes that felt like they could have been cut as they didn’t add to the story or help the characters develop in any meaningful way. If you enjoy the hidden princess trope, then this might be a good book for you!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars out of 5. It was interesting enough to finish, but there were a lot of things that just ruined my enjoyment of the book.
The biggest thing I had trouble with was the typos! I don't know if it was just my digital copy of the book, but I found myself guessing at words and having to fill in the blank so often that I became distracted by the sentences themselves rather than the story as a whole. The narrative is based heavily on clichés that repeat themselves often as exact or nearly exact phrases.

The plot is a pretty typical YA novel with a type of "chosen one/ lost princess" that drives the story and a fated romance to thicken it up. The way fae powers work in this book was pretty cool, but she didn't really struggle for it the way I was hoping she would. Within a week of discovering her powers, she's able to create moving animals to help her chase down her moody soulmate who has hated her guts and wanted her dead for the first 2/3 of the book. The idea of an enemies-to-lovers trope is present, but the male lead is just too kind for that. His hatred of what she symbolizes gets buried under the fated mates thing that is honestly a character all by itself. The ending felt a little rushed, but it was an appropriate setup for book 2.

One thing I really liked about the book was the little poems at the beginning of each chapter. They serve as a kind of summary / preview for the chapter, and some of them are cool enough to be song lyrics.

Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 because I feel like the story elements work, but it was easy to get distracted by formatting and minor plot holes.

[Melissa HP · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Fall of the Dragon King starts off with some intense and traumatic conflict that gets you invested in the main characters’ cause and ropes you in from the get go. The dual POV allows you to understand the struggles these very stubborn FMC and MMC experience throughout the book and witness their growth and maturity as they work through their fears and try to embrace who they are.

I appreciated that this first book focused on Silivia’s training and that she had to put in the time and effort to slowly build her strength and technique instead of all of a sudden becoming a powerful warrior (especially for someone who didn’t take training seriously at all when she was younger).

I do wish however, that we were given more of a glimpse at Silivia’s back story, her life in the human world, and her relationship with her parents and sister. I would have also liked to witness more of her discovery of the fae realm and how the world works along with the magic system in her early days there. The beginning felt a little rushed and I think fleshing this out a bit could have contributed to her growth story and the world building.

I’m curious to see where book 2 takes us, and I hope in this book we get to see more of the dragons as I would love to see how those bonds strengthen and grow over time and their continued interactions with the main characters.

It took some time to get used to the writing style of having the main character’s inner thoughts presented within quotations. And there were a few typos throughout that sometimes took me out of the flow of the book (not sure if this is just in the digital copy that I have). But otherwise it was a quick and easy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

After The Fall Of The Dragon King is a portal fantasy featuring Silivia. She grew up in the human world, never knowing that she was half fae, and that her father had been a king who left everything behind for her human mother.

After her parents are murdered and her younger sister is kidnapped, she leaves the human world behind in search of Master Marcus who might be able to help her find her sister. She is not prepared for how different everything is in Fenriel, a world filled with magic and mayhem.

In searching for Master Marcus, Silivia meets others from the Resisti, an organization who are trying to defeat the Blood Clan, those who are responsible for her parents' death and her sister's abduction. Three key individuals who assist in her training and helping her find her way in this new land are Tyrian, Teslia and Ghost. While Ty and Tess are kind to her, Ghost does not hide his disdain for this half-breed.

This book is just the first half of Silivia's story. In addition to discovering this new world, and a found family, she also learns more about herself. This fantastical story also has an overlapping enemies-to-lovers story that is quite compelling.

I enjoyed the author's world building as well as the characters who are tough and determined but also have inner demons they battle and are loathe to share their softer sides.

I am keen to jump into Rise Of The Phoenix Queen to see where the author takes Silivia on her journey. Will she be able to rescue her sister, or is she lost forever?

I definitely recommend checking this one out!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silvia's world is turned upside down when a powerful organization murders her parents and kidnaps her sister instead of her. What follows is a thrilling journey into Fenriel, a realm teeming with mythical creatures straight out of legends. Silvia, initially yearning for a normal college life, finds herself thrust into a perilous existence where survival hinges on mastering newfound powers and navigating treacherous alliances.
The narrative unfolds with gripping intensity as Silvia grapples with her own identity and destiny. Caught between two Fae warriors—one a gentle giant, the other the enigmatic King of Shadows—she must harness her abilities swiftly to rescue her sister before it's too late. As she battles adversaries’ intent on her demise, Silvia's journey becomes a quest for strength, courage, and ultimately, redemption.
Fall of the Dragon King is a captivating blend of fantasy and suspense, where every chapter unveils new layers of intrigue and danger. The author crafts a vivid world filled with rich descriptions of mythical beings and landscapes, drawing readers into a realm where danger lurks around every corner and trust is a scarce commodity.
Overall, a must-read for fans of fantasy fiction, offering a compelling protagonist, intricate world-building, and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

[Meg Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE how we are thrown almost immediately into the action. Silivia does not hang about!! 👏 I love that Silivia doesn’t wait around for someone to come help her she just gets up after an incredibly traumatic experience and off she is to find her sister. I already in the first few chapters can tell how determined and fierce she is. “I suppose I could concede just this once, but that’s only because I would hate for you to ruin that suit by begging on your knees”. 👏
“I am darkness and you are light”. - I am SOBBING. actual tears. I loved this book so much. Silivia is amazing , at times throughout I really felt her incredulous feelings that she had. “You brought me here to look in a mirror?” HA she’s so done with his bullshit! The dual POV is amazing, and I loved seeing inside ghosts head and his internal struggle.
The world building is INCREDIBLE. It’s so descriptive and beautiful it really pulled me in and felt like I was there, with Silivia, experiencing the same things she was. The world of Fenriel is stunning. It is complex and unique and I loved being taken into it. There are scenes in this book I wish to have tattooed on my brain okay! 👌 no spoilers though you’ll have to find out for yourself!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through book sprout and I am voluntarily leaving this review

[Mim_Who _Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Engaging Start to a Fantasy Series
After the Fall of the Dragon King is an engaging fantasy adventure that captivates you once the initial setup is out of the way. The story kicks off with Silivia’s world being upended, dragging her from an ordinary life into the magical and dangerous land of Fenriel. Though the beginning rushes a bit and leaves some of her backstory unexplored, the narrative really finds its footing once Silivia enters this new land. The characters do standout in this book, particularly Silivia and the two Fae warriors she becomes entangled with. Ghost is also a compelling character, and the tension between him and the King of Shadows adds layers of intrigue and complexity to the plot. Silivia’s struggle to master her newfound powers while striving to save her sister kept me hooked, and I appreciated the balanced mix of action, mystery, and romance.

Though the pacing is uneven at first, the story ultimately proves to be a rewarding read for any fantasy lover. I’m excited to see where Silivia’s journey takes her next. If you’re a fan of fast-paced fantasy with compelling characters, this one is worth picking up.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raynbow Corleone · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚💻📚
**Book Review** AFTER THE FALL OF THE DRAGON KING by @shaquillalunsford This book was published on June 27, 2023.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Wow! I enjoyed this book. The story of the MFC and the MMC and then of the two mixing, beautifully done. My love for dragons just makes it so much better. I’ve said it before and will say it again, communication will make things so much better but… it will take away a lot of character development… this book only covers a year and some change but you see a lot of growth and a lot of emotional demons. A fighting of the heart, a love triangle, dragons, fae and many more creatures, fantasy lands through a tree in the human world (I wish). Alpha dominance. A very teeney tiny bit of spice. But trust me it’s not needed… Read the books!!!
👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽😍👏🏽
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[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silivia just wanted to be a normal 17-year-old, planning to go off to college. Instead, she had a father who was always paranoia about keeping her safe and making sure that she trained (with swords) every day after school. One night a powerful dark clan murders her parents and mistakenly kidnaps her sister instead of her. Silivia is forced to navigate a world she never knew existed, a power she can’t control, and a budding love triangle between two alpha warriors (one cinnamon roll, one shadow daddy) to try and save her sister.

The writing style and pace were enjoyable, and the plotline was intriguing. The story flowed seamlessly, and I found myself deeply connected to the characters. Complex characters, great dialogue, adventure, a unique magic system, family secrets, fated mates, forced proximity, slow burn romance, dragons with mind speak. I just truly enjoyed this book!

This was a great debut novel, a good introduction to a new fantasy romance trilogy and I'm excited to see what will happen next 🤍 This romantasy is sure to captivate a wide range of readers.

Rating: 4.5/5

[Marharyta · Rating 3 out of 5]

💕 I enjoyed this book but I have to say that I didn’t love it. I had a hard time connecting with the main character. The books starts off with an impactful tragic story that pulls her from everything she’s known and thrusts her into an unknown world that shouldn’t exist. It was a great start.
At first, there’s a lot of her learning about the place, finding the people she’s looking for, and then training and trying to unlock her powers. Kind of what you’d expect from a book 1 fantasy series.
I kept waiting for this big epic scene where she unlocks her powers or an epic battle scene with the dragon king before I realized there was no dragon king.
What this book does have though, is a love triangle. Now, I loved the King of Shadows and the dragons. Ghost, with his tragic past and constant need to keep things in check were fabulous. He’s a great character. The love triangle though, I could have gone without. Ghost and Ty were opposites, enemies, rivals, brothers, and best friends all in one. But something about their centuries old relationship felt off.
What I did love? I love the strength of Tess’s character. She was a major bad*ss. I wish there was more of Tess and frankly less of Ty. Overall, the story was good. It just wasn’t able to pull at my emotions and suck me in like I would have wanted.

[Anastey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you BookSprout, and Shaquilla Lunsford for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There were times that it was hard to get through this book for various reasons. A TW would have been nice to have, because we didn't get very far in before we got a graphic scene of Ghost's female family members being SA'd and murdered, that was replayed several times through the whole book.

Overall this books was slow, and there were whole sections where it felt like very little happened. If you like your fantasy books with a lot of slice of life stuff, this might be a good one for you. It did pick up in the last 15% of the book, and the big twist ending was a surprise.

The romance is incredibly slow burn, and for most of the book Ghost and Silivia went back and forth abusing each other. It was very off-putting with how far Ghost went out of his way to physically and verbally abuse her.

I really wanted to love this book, because I enjoyed the previous book I read by this author. Unfortunately this book was a miss for me.

[Kathleen Macalalag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Received a free copy of this book through Booksprout in exchange for a review.

This book started off with quite disturbing scenes which are designed well to draw the reader in. The way these scenes are described helps the reader feel the sincere pain of 2 of the main characters.

Fair world building. Descriptive enough where I was able to envision this alternate realm quite vividly. However, I feel that certain things were out of place/choppy. The dragons were introduced as quite vital characters to the FMC and MMC. However, at some point in the book, they just disappeared. And then they didn’t reappear until one of the final chapters for a short scene. There was also one spicy scene which felt very out of place since the book was very much YA throughout.

The love triangle was depicted well. However, the romance just wasn’t enough for me personally in this book. I would say this is still worth the read, as it had an interesting plot twist ending.

[Fran_reads1007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silivia loses her entire family. Her sister is taken away and her parents killed and the house set on fire. She manages to escape and walks towards a tree.... She then appears in a strange land she has never seen before, along with creatures she has only read about.
Before walking to the tree her dad told her to find someone. She had no idea how to find this person or where to start. Little did she know that things would eventually start falling into place, very slowly. So she can try and save her sister.

Some romance in the book, one scene but not detailed. Great storyline to the book and I couldn't put It down.

I loved the back and forth between the two main characters. Ghost and Silivia. If you love fantasy, dragons, fighting then this book is for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silivia's story of claiming her destiny is part epic quest, part found family, part enemies-to-lovers, and a lovely journey of self-discovery.

When her parents are brutally m*rd*red and her little sister is kidnapped into another realm, Silivia vows to stop at nothing to rescue her. On the way she encounters strange, magical creatures and a dark, moody, angry shadow daddy. The banter and angst between the two builds all the way through the end of the book... which leads seamlessly into the next.

The plot is intriguing and keeps you going. The formatting (I read on Kindle) made it challenging sometime to determine who was speaking, and there were quite a few grammatical errors that distracted from the main story. However, if you can get past those this is a fun story that you'll want to follow through the rest of the trilogy!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: .5🌶️

[Alex Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected, although as I am typing this I can’t even remember what I expected from this book. I can say that I was hooked I couldn’t put it down, I didn’t even want to put it down to sleep and any book worm can contest that even when you know you need to put the book down and get some sleep it can be almost impossible to put it down and actually get the sleep you need, that’s what I faced while reading this book. Silivia is the most dynamic of the characters and surprisingly enough the character I could relate to the most. This book started normally enough, but I could never have predicted how this book was going to end. Now I HAVE to read book two and I am looking forward to it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being first-born comes with more responsibilities than perks
Like our MC, I am also the elder child so it did fall upon me to watch out for and to protect my brother. And as the eldest of the CA cousins, I was raised to be an example to the rest. Yeah, no pressure!
Silivia has the added burden of weapons training and other self-defense methods. And then her family tragedy. And then being whisked off…and then… This poor gal! If I were her, I would have given up and hidden amongst the trees and the wind.

Fave line:
‘We all have our scars, even if you don’t see them.’
No matter your despair, don’t allow it to destroy your fond memories or to make you ‘disappear into the shadows’.


I’m all set to start the sequel soon - ‘Rise of the Phoenix Queen’ (expected 26 January).

[Beth DeLong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read! The author wastes no time getting the story started, and it's easy to get immersed in the world she's created. There's plenty of world-building, but not so much it's hard to follow.

I'm enjoying this cast of characters, even if the 18-year-old FMC sometimes irritates me with her antics...she IS 18 after all. :D But it's easy to fall in love with Tess and Ghost -- who doesn't love a broody and protective Shadow King?

The story flows smoothly, so it's a pretty quick read. Looking forward to the next one in the series!


Notes for readers:
Occasional cursing
One brief open-door scene, a few kissing scenes
War and violence, mild gore


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.