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The Empty Crown #1
Dragon Slayer
Ingram is a coward and weakling—at least according to his father, the king, and the royal court. He cannot use a sword, he faints at the sight of blood, and even his brilliant abilities as a strategist are not enough to overcome his failings. When his father loses a bet to the notorious Lord Mallory over the matter of a dragon slaying, he pays his debt by ordering Ingram to marry him.
Then his father reveals that he is putting Ingram to a greater purpose, giving Ingram one last chance to prove he is not worthless. All it requires is betraying his new husband.
Then his father reveals that he is putting Ingram to a greater purpose, giving Ingram one last chance to prove he is not worthless. All it requires is betraying his new husband.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
July 7, 2013
This was a lovely story and I loved every minute of it. First of all, it has forced marriage trope. I liked that idea -- it was always fun to read.
Ingram had my heart from the get go. I felt so much for Ingram and wanted to console him when his father treated him badly. Ingram was loyal to his father first, even if his father thought of him as coward and weak, simply because Ingram was more of a thinker rather than a knight on the field. Urgh, I wanted to kick the King's ass on Ingram's behalf.
I loved Ingram's self-journey to become a stronger man, after realizing his feeling for Mallory (his new husband) and that blind loyalty could result in wrong act.
Although this was written from Ingram's perspective (3rd person), I found myself easily care for Mallory as well. The little moments that they had gave me clues about what Mallory felt for Ingram (like when he showed Ingram the piano, or when they played chess, or how he often visited Ingram in his room), and that Mallory didn't come into the marriage with his hands tied.
I loved the world-build and loved the portrayal of the lives Ingram and Mallory had at Winterveil, including how Ingram slowly gained the respect from Mallory's friends and loved ones. I am looking forward to the sequel -- whenever that may be :)
PS: All sex happened off page. Sorry, smut fans :)
Ingram had my heart from the get go. I felt so much for Ingram and wanted to console him when his father treated him badly. Ingram was loyal to his father first, even if his father thought of him as coward and weak, simply because Ingram was more of a thinker rather than a knight on the field. Urgh, I wanted to kick the King's ass on Ingram's behalf.
I loved Ingram's self-journey to become a stronger man, after realizing his feeling for Mallory (his new husband) and that blind loyalty could result in wrong act.
Although this was written from Ingram's perspective (3rd person), I found myself easily care for Mallory as well. The little moments that they had gave me clues about what Mallory felt for Ingram (like when he showed Ingram the piano, or when they played chess, or how he often visited Ingram in his room), and that Mallory didn't come into the marriage with his hands tied.
I loved the world-build and loved the portrayal of the lives Ingram and Mallory had at Winterveil, including how Ingram slowly gained the respect from Mallory's friends and loved ones. I am looking forward to the sequel -- whenever that may be :)
PS: All sex happened off page. Sorry, smut fans :)
August 14, 2020
A wonderful tale of kings and princes and dragons lol.
I really enjoyed this wonderful medieval tale. From the first pages it kept me hooked. By the exciting climax at the end I was reading as fast as I could.
Ingram is a delightful character that had me wanting to hug and protect him. While Mallory was a hero right from the start.
There is no on page sex in this book, which is a plus for me, but the feelings that developed over time between Mallory and Ingram gave me the perfect fix of M/M romance.
While this story is complete in that we get a HEA for Ingram, this story is not over. While not a cliffhanger ending, there is certainly a part two waiting to be read.
A great read, especially if you are getting a bit jaded by the sameness of the M/M genre.
Would of liked a heads up in the book blurb that this was the first part in a series though, just to of given me fair warning.
ETA Still a great read but I seemed to have more trouble with the inconsistencies this time around. Really bad editing plus a few confusing moments story wise. I'm resigned to filling in my own ending as the sequel seems to be lost to time :( removing a star from my original 5
I really enjoyed this wonderful medieval tale. From the first pages it kept me hooked. By the exciting climax at the end I was reading as fast as I could.
Ingram is a delightful character that had me wanting to hug and protect him. While Mallory was a hero right from the start.
There is no on page sex in this book, which is a plus for me, but the feelings that developed over time between Mallory and Ingram gave me the perfect fix of M/M romance.
While this story is complete in that we get a HEA for Ingram, this story is not over. While not a cliffhanger ending, there is certainly a part two waiting to be read.
A great read, especially if you are getting a bit jaded by the sameness of the M/M genre.
Would of liked a heads up in the book blurb that this was the first part in a series though, just to of given me fair warning.
ETA Still a great read but I seemed to have more trouble with the inconsistencies this time around. Really bad editing plus a few confusing moments story wise. I'm resigned to filling in my own ending as the sequel seems to be lost to time :( removing a star from my original 5
July 2, 2013
This was quite a fabulous fantasy story about a Prince, Ingram, forced by his father to marry a dragon slayer, Mallory, who is the warden of their kingdom's northern territories.
There was some interesting world building and I enjoyed the build up of the characters and their relationship. I loved Ingram from the beginning and it while it took me a bit to warm to Mallory, he became a richer, more substantial character for me as I read on. Sex is fade to black and that definitely works for the story. I found myself really invested in Ingram's journey and how he and Mallory built a life at Winterveil and there were quite a few twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming that I loved.
There's a great setup for the next story that left me wanting more but not in any way dissatisfied with this book, I just can't wait to see what happens next. If you love M/M stories with dragons the dragons are definitely secondary here and only lightly touched on but I could see their role bumping up in the next book. There's a great story here with solid world building and characters to care about. Recommended.
There was some interesting world building and I enjoyed the build up of the characters and their relationship. I loved Ingram from the beginning and it while it took me a bit to warm to Mallory, he became a richer, more substantial character for me as I read on. Sex is fade to black and that definitely works for the story. I found myself really invested in Ingram's journey and how he and Mallory built a life at Winterveil and there were quite a few twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming that I loved.
There's a great setup for the next story that left me wanting more but not in any way dissatisfied with this book, I just can't wait to see what happens next. If you love M/M stories with dragons the dragons are definitely secondary here and only lightly touched on but I could see their role bumping up in the next book. There's a great story here with solid world building and characters to care about. Recommended.
July 29, 2016
abandoned at 95 percent, because sometimes you can get over fade-to-black sex if there's a proper story going on, but not if the story makes hardly any sense and hinges on finger-wiggling sorcery and dumb secrets and very little else.
this publisher is dreadful. i am 0-for-5.
this publisher is dreadful. i am 0-for-5.
July 2, 2013
Oh the intrigue and adventure, the secrets and plots, the lying. But there was also the love and sweetness, the caring and adventure and dragons.
Ingram, his father the king is an asshat, treats Ingram poorly and at first opportunity marries him off to a wild looking dragon slayer from a far off land.
Ingram actually takes all of this well, considering and actually starts to like his new home and husband, but you know you can't fill the pages with peace and prosperity.
Like in a lot of these kind of stories from LT3 the sex is practically non-existent ( it's hinted at once I think) but that's ok I enjoyed it a lot, but there is a lot more to be solved and the story will continue. I look forward to the next one in the series, I just wonder if it will be about Mallory and Ingram and continue with their story or maybe...Orion?
Ingram, his father the king is an asshat, treats Ingram poorly and at first opportunity marries him off to a wild looking dragon slayer from a far off land.
Ingram actually takes all of this well, considering and actually starts to like his new home and husband, but you know you can't fill the pages with peace and prosperity.
Like in a lot of these kind of stories from LT3 the sex is practically non-existent ( it's hinted at once I think) but that's ok I enjoyed it a lot, but there is a lot more to be solved and the story will continue. I look forward to the next one in the series, I just wonder if it will be about Mallory and Ingram and continue with their story or maybe...Orion?
June 19, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I really have grown to love Isabella Carter's books. So I was really excited for this one, which not only promises to be an in-depth story because it's the first of a series, but also that I know she likes to really dig into her fantasy worlds. In many ways you can see that this book is a setup, but if you didn't know it was the first book of a series, I think you'd find that it felt like a whole book. It isn't just setup, but it does a really good job of giving us the story and leaving the ending open. So yes, it's important to know that this is the first of a series so that even though you get some resolution, you won't be surprised that there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
Ingram has become the weakling that his father has always accused him of being. Though he's learned that nothing he does can make his father -- the king of Abelen -- proud, he's found his own strengths. They aren't in what a prince is expected to be, strong at swordplay, but he has a fine mind and has shown himself to be an expert strategist with the King's miliary.
Abelen is still growing and recovering from a rebellion little more than twenty years previously. The country and King has become more insular, with the Lords abandoning their keeps to spend most of their time in the capital of Solberg. The royals have grown further apart from their people. But, an old feud lingers from Winterveil, the northernmost region of Abelen. Lord Mallory is a young man, but has inherited the feud. He makes a wager with King Roderick, that if he kills the red dragon who has gone into madness and is killing indiscriminately, that he will wed one of the King's children. When he brings the head of the dragon to court and Roderick casually gives him Ingram, Ingram is hurt and scared to be thrown away to such a dangerous man.
But more is work in such an alliance, on both sides. The King gives Ingram a mission, one that finds him at an impasse when he learns just how wonderful Mallory is, and how much living in a place like Winterveil is more like home than his own family.
There is so much that I could say about this book, but it really should be experienced while reading it and… honestly there is so much going on in the book, so many characters with each one having their own machinations in place that it was a little hard for me to keep up. This is a book that does well as the first of a series -- it holds up. Still, for those of you who like to get a lot of the action and information at once and don't want to wait for the sequel, you might want to do that this time. Because while I really loved this book and I was totally sucked into it, I also feel like there is a lot of subtlety that will benefit from a second or even third read and will also make more sense after I can read the next book in the series. Hopefully, that will be soon!
I know a lot of you who are fans of Less Than Three Press like I am, and this is really their kind of book, the quintessential LT3 fantasy, though maybe a little less sweet than many of them. Ingram goes through quite a bit of angst about his relationship with his father. It's tough to watch, not only because I grew to care about him, but also because it makes for difficult reading at times. I want him to realize what is happening to him. But we're privy to information that he isn't, and he also has to deal with a lifetime of manipulation by the people around him, the people he cares most about. So, while his choices and thoughts are frustrating, they're also true to his character.
There's one more point I'd like to touch on. The relationship between Ingram and Mallory in this book is very light. I imagine that the relationship arc is going to take place over the whole series, so don't expect much romance in this first book. Mallory does court Ingram, in his own way, but it's a very slow getting-to-know-you kind of thing. It's actually very sweet, and it's a very slow-burn romance.
So, I definitely recommend this one. Unless you want to wait, I say go ahead and get this now and read it. I'm so glad I didn't wait and decided to read it right away, because it was a really fun read for me.
I really have grown to love Isabella Carter's books. So I was really excited for this one, which not only promises to be an in-depth story because it's the first of a series, but also that I know she likes to really dig into her fantasy worlds. In many ways you can see that this book is a setup, but if you didn't know it was the first book of a series, I think you'd find that it felt like a whole book. It isn't just setup, but it does a really good job of giving us the story and leaving the ending open. So yes, it's important to know that this is the first of a series so that even though you get some resolution, you won't be surprised that there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
Ingram has become the weakling that his father has always accused him of being. Though he's learned that nothing he does can make his father -- the king of Abelen -- proud, he's found his own strengths. They aren't in what a prince is expected to be, strong at swordplay, but he has a fine mind and has shown himself to be an expert strategist with the King's miliary.
Abelen is still growing and recovering from a rebellion little more than twenty years previously. The country and King has become more insular, with the Lords abandoning their keeps to spend most of their time in the capital of Solberg. The royals have grown further apart from their people. But, an old feud lingers from Winterveil, the northernmost region of Abelen. Lord Mallory is a young man, but has inherited the feud. He makes a wager with King Roderick, that if he kills the red dragon who has gone into madness and is killing indiscriminately, that he will wed one of the King's children. When he brings the head of the dragon to court and Roderick casually gives him Ingram, Ingram is hurt and scared to be thrown away to such a dangerous man.
But more is work in such an alliance, on both sides. The King gives Ingram a mission, one that finds him at an impasse when he learns just how wonderful Mallory is, and how much living in a place like Winterveil is more like home than his own family.
There is so much that I could say about this book, but it really should be experienced while reading it and… honestly there is so much going on in the book, so many characters with each one having their own machinations in place that it was a little hard for me to keep up. This is a book that does well as the first of a series -- it holds up. Still, for those of you who like to get a lot of the action and information at once and don't want to wait for the sequel, you might want to do that this time. Because while I really loved this book and I was totally sucked into it, I also feel like there is a lot of subtlety that will benefit from a second or even third read and will also make more sense after I can read the next book in the series. Hopefully, that will be soon!
I know a lot of you who are fans of Less Than Three Press like I am, and this is really their kind of book, the quintessential LT3 fantasy, though maybe a little less sweet than many of them. Ingram goes through quite a bit of angst about his relationship with his father. It's tough to watch, not only because I grew to care about him, but also because it makes for difficult reading at times. I want him to realize what is happening to him. But we're privy to information that he isn't, and he also has to deal with a lifetime of manipulation by the people around him, the people he cares most about. So, while his choices and thoughts are frustrating, they're also true to his character.
There's one more point I'd like to touch on. The relationship between Ingram and Mallory in this book is very light. I imagine that the relationship arc is going to take place over the whole series, so don't expect much romance in this first book. Mallory does court Ingram, in his own way, but it's a very slow getting-to-know-you kind of thing. It's actually very sweet, and it's a very slow-burn romance.
So, I definitely recommend this one. Unless you want to wait, I say go ahead and get this now and read it. I'm so glad I didn't wait and decided to read it right away, because it was a really fun read for me.
March 27, 2014
A sweet fantasy romance with enough real danger to keep it from being too much. I really liked the main character, and seeing how he grew over the course of the story. His love interest is strong, but not controlling, or overbearing. I'm looking forward to reading more.
September 24, 2013
This was a very enjoyable m/m fantasy read about a prince who is shuffled off into a marriage to a Lord, under his jerky father’s orders to act as a spy. But poor Ingram soon realizes that everything is not as it seems--his new husband is more than a dragon-slaying brute, his father’s demands are rooted in baseless paranoia, and he even finds within himself aspects and depths and courage that he never realized he had.
I liked Ingram and Mallory very much; they have a slow, but sweet developing romance. It’s the kind when weighted looks mean so much, even if the person being looked at doesn’t realize it yet. (But the reader does.)
This is a very fun, light read--it has some angst as Ingram deals with his low self-confidence and the verbal abuse from his father, but overall, it’s not dark, and the mood is like a mix of fairy tales and a Jane Austen-level of romance (where things are a slow build, often based on dialogue and growing trust as opposed to heaving, smutty sexy times.)
For sexy times, it’s romantic, but very “clean”--at the level of kisses, hand-holding, and maybe something fade-to-black. Don’t go in wanting in-depth sexy times. Go in for a sweet, developing romance in a fantasy setting. (In a way, this could also be enjoyed by someone looking for a m/m YA fantasy as well--it's that level of clean.)
As for the ending, it ends on a HFN with more story to come. I read some reviews that mentioned a cliffhanger ending, and from my view, it doesn’t read that cliffy. There’s still looming Danger and unresolved questions, but the MCs are solid, and I left off both satisfied with this story, and excited to read more whenever the next one comes out.
Recommended for those who especially like light fantasy with their m/m, and are fine with a more sweet romance. Recommended, and a very fun read. This was my first book I've read by Carter, and I'll definitely check out more.
I liked Ingram and Mallory very much; they have a slow, but sweet developing romance. It’s the kind when weighted looks mean so much, even if the person being looked at doesn’t realize it yet. (But the reader does.)
This is a very fun, light read--it has some angst as Ingram deals with his low self-confidence and the verbal abuse from his father, but overall, it’s not dark, and the mood is like a mix of fairy tales and a Jane Austen-level of romance (where things are a slow build, often based on dialogue and growing trust as opposed to heaving, smutty sexy times.)
For sexy times, it’s romantic, but very “clean”--at the level of kisses, hand-holding, and maybe something fade-to-black. Don’t go in wanting in-depth sexy times. Go in for a sweet, developing romance in a fantasy setting. (In a way, this could also be enjoyed by someone looking for a m/m YA fantasy as well--it's that level of clean.)
As for the ending, it ends on a HFN with more story to come. I read some reviews that mentioned a cliffhanger ending, and from my view, it doesn’t read that cliffy. There’s still looming Danger and unresolved questions, but the MCs are solid, and I left off both satisfied with this story, and excited to read more whenever the next one comes out.
Recommended for those who especially like light fantasy with their m/m, and are fine with a more sweet romance. Recommended, and a very fun read. This was my first book I've read by Carter, and I'll definitely check out more.
July 4, 2013
NOOOOOOO too soon to end! Nooooo... more more MORE!
Ingram and Mallory were amazing! Love Ingram, and hate how he was treated by his own father, the king.
To a fantasy book, it's a great mystery story
Love the mystery... cues were all around the book, telling me the truth about both men, but just near the last page I connect all the dots and discover it!
I ADORED all the dragons! Yeah! Plural... more than one!!! LOVE THEM ALL!
I loooooves the magic! It will take a while to start to be mentioned, but it's there... if you like fantasy books with magic and magic creatures (dragons) believe me this is perfect for you!
The romance is a little odd... I prefer (PERSONAL PREFERENCE; NOT a problem of the book) more struggle and more angst before two characters fall in love, so Ingram and Mallory were almost to sappy to my personal taste. One moment they are strangers, the next they are proclaiming their love (with great scenes, as Mallory so inebriated with Ingram odor... I admit I like it a lot!). I repeat, it's not bad, it's just (my personal opinion) a waste of a big opportunity, to make both "fight" against their feelings more, before the romance.
It's a pity it ended with a cliffhanger because the story is not very long, and I wish it would go on!
I can't give less than 5 stars!
P.S: some editing problems were there, but it didn't bother me much so I will not take out stars because of it
Ingram and Mallory were amazing! Love Ingram, and hate how he was treated by his own father, the king.
To a fantasy book, it's a great mystery story
Love the mystery... cues were all around the book, telling me the truth about both men, but just near the last page I connect all the dots and discover it!
I ADORED all the dragons! Yeah! Plural... more than one!!! LOVE THEM ALL!
I loooooves the magic! It will take a while to start to be mentioned, but it's there... if you like fantasy books with magic and magic creatures (dragons) believe me this is perfect for you!
The romance is a little odd... I prefer (PERSONAL PREFERENCE; NOT a problem of the book) more struggle and more angst before two characters fall in love, so Ingram and Mallory were almost to sappy to my personal taste. One moment they are strangers, the next they are proclaiming their love (with great scenes, as Mallory so inebriated with Ingram odor... I admit I like it a lot!). I repeat, it's not bad, it's just (my personal opinion) a waste of a big opportunity, to make both "fight" against their feelings more, before the romance.
It's a pity it ended with a cliffhanger because the story is not very long, and I wish it would go on!
I can't give less than 5 stars!
P.S: some editing problems were there, but it didn't bother me much so I will not take out stars because of it
June 21, 2013
4.2 stars. As promised to my dear Vio, I took the plunge first with this one and thoroughly enjoyed it. Before seeing Cole's review, I was not aware 'Dragon Slayer' was the initial part of a series; luckily, I was prepared for some sort of cliffhanger or 'to be continued' ending, so I refrained from unladylike noises of interrupted reading/frustration at the end...
The story was very well written, with a quite fast paced plot, solid world building and engaging characters. I liked Ingram's vulnerability and quiet strength, how Mallory gently courted him and showed that Ingram was important to him, the subtle mystery around Mallory, how Ingram grew confident enough to fight for what he believed in and the people he loved. The action and romance were quite well balanced, though things seemed to develop more quickly towards the end. I should mention that the sexy scenes are only hinted at and not depicted explicitly.
I became completely immersed in the story from the beginning and could not put it down. It does lay the foundation for subsequent book(s), some aspects are revealed and some will probably be resolved later. Nevertheless, I was happy with how much this instalment offered me, mostly due to Ingram and Mallory's gentle romance and lovely relationship. And there are dragons, including a terrifying one as the villain... I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel!
The story was very well written, with a quite fast paced plot, solid world building and engaging characters. I liked Ingram's vulnerability and quiet strength, how Mallory gently courted him and showed that Ingram was important to him, the subtle mystery around Mallory, how Ingram grew confident enough to fight for what he believed in and the people he loved. The action and romance were quite well balanced, though things seemed to develop more quickly towards the end. I should mention that the sexy scenes are only hinted at and not depicted explicitly.
I became completely immersed in the story from the beginning and could not put it down. It does lay the foundation for subsequent book(s), some aspects are revealed and some will probably be resolved later. Nevertheless, I was happy with how much this instalment offered me, mostly due to Ingram and Mallory's gentle romance and lovely relationship. And there are dragons, including a terrifying one as the villain... I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel!
February 13, 2015
Too many twists and turns made for a rushed ending
3.0 Stars
I was loving this book up through the 85% mark. The world building was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. There are a plethora of characters so I found myself using the search function on my Kindle a number of times. I honestly didn't mind because the cast of characters made for a robust story. It wasn't unexpected since experience has taught me that fantasy books are often chock full of interesting characters. What was unexpected was the ridiculous number of twists and turns in the last 15% of the book. In and of themselves, the plot twists were okay but they came so quickly one on top of another that it made the ending feel rushed and unsatisfying.
Bottom line: wonderful start and an intriguing world but a very rushed ending was a let down.
3.0 Stars
I was loving this book up through the 85% mark. The world building was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. There are a plethora of characters so I found myself using the search function on my Kindle a number of times. I honestly didn't mind because the cast of characters made for a robust story. It wasn't unexpected since experience has taught me that fantasy books are often chock full of interesting characters. What was unexpected was the ridiculous number of twists and turns in the last 15% of the book. In and of themselves, the plot twists were okay but they came so quickly one on top of another that it made the ending feel rushed and unsatisfying.
Bottom line: wonderful start and an intriguing world but a very rushed ending was a let down.
November 18, 2024
First thing's first: this book ends on a semi-cliffhanger and the series seems like it's been abandoned. The romance plotline does get concluded but the big fantasy conflict (including the threat of the big villain) is still in full swing by the time the story ends. This was supposed to be the first in a series but it looks like the author stopped publishing in 2013, with this book being her last. If a lack of resolution regarding non-romance plotlines bothers you, I suggest skipping this one entirely.
Onto my actual review:
This was a disappointment because the first two-thirds of the book was a sweet, slow burn romance with great characters and just enough fantasy elements that it made the world feel interesting. Unfortunately, the focus switched in the final third and way too much happened at once and it left me confused. In addition, the romance was shoved onto the backburner and I ended up feeling that the romance missed the final arc that I wanted to see.
The writing and the characters were really wonderful and I was sure this was going to be a 4 star read for the majority of the book. Ingram and Mallory were both awesome characters and their romance was a sweet slow burn that I really enjoyed. I was initially worried that there was going to be a big age gap between them and the blurb made it seem as if Mallory would be a cold, arrogant person and Ingram would be shoved into the role of helpless damsel-in-distress but that's not what happened. I was thrilled when it turned out that Mallory is only a few years older and he genuinely likes Ingram. He's happy about their marriage but he also realizes that Ingram didn't have much choice in it and that Ingram also didn't want to leave his siblings and home so Mallory does his best to make Ingram feel comfortable. Along the way, the author added in small bits of dragon lore and other worldbuilding info but it all fit very nicely in the slow, comfortable pace of the story.
I also really liked how the author handled the whole will-Ingram-betray-Mallory-or-not plotline that was in the book summary. Since Mallory was such a likeable character and was fully committed to taking his marriage to Ingram seriously, it was wonderful having Ingram be in a position where he'd be the bad guy if he went through with his father's plans. The situation wouldn't have been nearly as interesting if Mallory hadn't been such a great guy (it would have been easy for both Ingram and readers to support the king's plan) and that's why I liked how the whole things happened. Ingram was really torn over his loyalty to his family versus how much he liked Mallory and his new life in Winterveil and this added a nice dose of angst into the quiet, sweet progression of his relationship with Mallory. I also appreciated that Ingram's unintended deception wasn't drawn out to the point of getting annoying. The situation builds very nicely and gets resolved right when it makes sense for it to be, which was great.
Then the last third of the story starts and everything flips. It's as if the author decided that the romance had enough page time and now it was time to go hardcore into the fantasy plotlines and I hated this jarring switch. The last bit of romance development we had between Ingram and Mallory was them finally kissing but then the focus switches to the fantasy stuff and then we get random throwaway lines to indicate that Mallory and Ingram are now sleeping together and are acting like husbands. It made me feel as if the author had skipped over some steps in Mallory and Ingram's romance and I didn't like that. Not only that, but the fantasy stuff moved way too fast and left me confused but also disappointed.
Through the entire story, Ingram had been struggling with feelings of inadequacy due to his father (the king) looking down on him. Ingram has never been good at any form of physical fighting but he's apparently an intelligent tactician and he's spent his entire life trying to make his father respect those abilities. During the first part of the story, Ingram continues demonstrating that he's a smart, capable man who prefers using his brain over using his fists and this was something Mallory really respected about him. For example, . But in the last part of the story, there are multiple situations where Ingram plays the role of hero, but it's always in a physical way. For example, . In other situations, Ingram jumps into situations with no plan and ends up looking like an idiot. Like when . All of this made Ingram look like a dumbass and I thought the whole point of the story was that he would triumph by using his brains and combining them with Mallory/others physical skills.
But this sudden change in the direction of Ingram's character arc was even more pronounced by the huge amount of plot that the author crammed into the last third. Let me give a summary:
All of this was crammed into the last few chapters and it left my head spinning. There were a few things that I did enjoy. For example, . I also liked that Mallory gave Ingram the special dragon necklace to protect him. Everything about the necklace, like how it was made and its history was really cool and I liked that.
But everything else was way too much information crammed into too few pages. Not to mention that a lot of it was pointless.
I had additional issues in the final third. Such as how Mallory was barely present except the very end. And my biggest problem:
THE STORY ENDS ON A SEMI-CLIFFHANGER. Although Mallory and Ingram have settled into their marriage (I wish this had been concluded more on-page but at least it was resolved), the whole situation with is left completely open. This book was basically just the setup, in which the characters learn about the threat they're facing. Since this was published back in 2013 and the author hasn't published anything since, I doubt we're going to see anything more of this.
It's really too bad because the writing was very enjoyable and I did love the first two-thirds of it. But as it stands, I'm not going to give this more than 3 stars because the story isn't complete and I felt a lot of the fantasy stuff that was crammed into the final third wasn't necessary.
Onto my actual review:
This was a disappointment because the first two-thirds of the book was a sweet, slow burn romance with great characters and just enough fantasy elements that it made the world feel interesting. Unfortunately, the focus switched in the final third and way too much happened at once and it left me confused. In addition, the romance was shoved onto the backburner and I ended up feeling that the romance missed the final arc that I wanted to see.
The writing and the characters were really wonderful and I was sure this was going to be a 4 star read for the majority of the book. Ingram and Mallory were both awesome characters and their romance was a sweet slow burn that I really enjoyed. I was initially worried that there was going to be a big age gap between them and the blurb made it seem as if Mallory would be a cold, arrogant person and Ingram would be shoved into the role of helpless damsel-in-distress but that's not what happened. I was thrilled when it turned out that Mallory is only a few years older and he genuinely likes Ingram. He's happy about their marriage but he also realizes that Ingram didn't have much choice in it and that Ingram also didn't want to leave his siblings and home so Mallory does his best to make Ingram feel comfortable. Along the way, the author added in small bits of dragon lore and other worldbuilding info but it all fit very nicely in the slow, comfortable pace of the story.
I also really liked how the author handled the whole will-Ingram-betray-Mallory-or-not plotline that was in the book summary. Since Mallory was such a likeable character and was fully committed to taking his marriage to Ingram seriously, it was wonderful having Ingram be in a position where he'd be the bad guy if he went through with his father's plans. The situation wouldn't have been nearly as interesting if Mallory hadn't been such a great guy (it would have been easy for both Ingram and readers to support the king's plan) and that's why I liked how the whole things happened. Ingram was really torn over his loyalty to his family versus how much he liked Mallory and his new life in Winterveil and this added a nice dose of angst into the quiet, sweet progression of his relationship with Mallory. I also appreciated that Ingram's unintended deception wasn't drawn out to the point of getting annoying. The situation builds very nicely and gets resolved right when it makes sense for it to be, which was great.
Then the last third of the story starts and everything flips. It's as if the author decided that the romance had enough page time and now it was time to go hardcore into the fantasy plotlines and I hated this jarring switch. The last bit of romance development we had between Ingram and Mallory was them finally kissing but then the focus switches to the fantasy stuff and then we get random throwaway lines to indicate that Mallory and Ingram are now sleeping together and are acting like husbands. It made me feel as if the author had skipped over some steps in Mallory and Ingram's romance and I didn't like that. Not only that, but the fantasy stuff moved way too fast and left me confused but also disappointed.
Through the entire story, Ingram had been struggling with feelings of inadequacy due to his father (the king) looking down on him. Ingram has never been good at any form of physical fighting but he's apparently an intelligent tactician and he's spent his entire life trying to make his father respect those abilities. During the first part of the story, Ingram continues demonstrating that he's a smart, capable man who prefers using his brain over using his fists and this was something Mallory really respected about him. For example, . But in the last part of the story, there are multiple situations where Ingram plays the role of hero, but it's always in a physical way. For example, . In other situations, Ingram jumps into situations with no plan and ends up looking like an idiot. Like when . All of this made Ingram look like a dumbass and I thought the whole point of the story was that he would triumph by using his brains and combining them with Mallory/others physical skills.
But this sudden change in the direction of Ingram's character arc was even more pronounced by the huge amount of plot that the author crammed into the last third. Let me give a summary:
All of this was crammed into the last few chapters and it left my head spinning. There were a few things that I did enjoy. For example, . I also liked that Mallory gave Ingram the special dragon necklace to protect him. Everything about the necklace, like how it was made and its history was really cool and I liked that.
But everything else was way too much information crammed into too few pages. Not to mention that a lot of it was pointless.
I had additional issues in the final third. Such as how Mallory was barely present except the very end. And my biggest problem:
THE STORY ENDS ON A SEMI-CLIFFHANGER. Although Mallory and Ingram have settled into their marriage (I wish this had been concluded more on-page but at least it was resolved), the whole situation with is left completely open. This book was basically just the setup, in which the characters learn about the threat they're facing. Since this was published back in 2013 and the author hasn't published anything since, I doubt we're going to see anything more of this.
It's really too bad because the writing was very enjoyable and I did love the first two-thirds of it. But as it stands, I'm not going to give this more than 3 stars because the story isn't complete and I felt a lot of the fantasy stuff that was crammed into the final third wasn't necessary.
June 4, 2016
3.5 stars. Average fantasy m/m romance, quite a few typos, sex scenes are off camera. The end got a little confusing and felt rushed.
Prince Ingram is unloved and derided by his father King Roderick. He finds himself married to Lord Mallory as reward for Mallory slaying a troublesome dragon.
"I saw him, I spoke to him. There is a traitor in your midst, Father, a real one, not one if your imagination. And he is feeding on your paranoia until you dance like a puppet on a string. You aren't a king, but a fiddle. Playing your same old songs under the hands of a skilled maestro."
Prince Ingram is unloved and derided by his father King Roderick. He finds himself married to Lord Mallory as reward for Mallory slaying a troublesome dragon.
"I saw him, I spoke to him. There is a traitor in your midst, Father, a real one, not one if your imagination. And he is feeding on your paranoia until you dance like a puppet on a string. You aren't a king, but a fiddle. Playing your same old songs under the hands of a skilled maestro."
September 26, 2013
This is a great little fantasy|politcal intrigue novella. Ingram is the classic introspective unassuming hero, sneered at by his warrior father who sees him as worthless.
Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but when he is bundled off to a far off land with a potential traitor, Ingram is determined to get his father's approval.
Mallory is a mystery. But the story is not long enough to keep up his engimatic front. It doesn't take long for Ingram to have to question his loyalities.
Book one ends with more still to be resolved. Intriguing and absorbing. All smex off page.
Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but when he is bundled off to a far off land with a potential traitor, Ingram is determined to get his father's approval.
Mallory is a mystery. But the story is not long enough to keep up his engimatic front. It doesn't take long for Ingram to have to question his loyalities.
Book one ends with more still to be resolved. Intriguing and absorbing. All smex off page.
February 26, 2018
3.7 Stars
Despite the lack of sexy-times I was really digging this story. I loved the world-building and mythology created, plus both MCs were growing on me...and then it was over and I realized there was no Book 2! WTF? Considering that ending (very cliff-hangery) I expected there to be more, but it's been more than 5 years since this was published so I guess not. Very disappointed.
Despite the lack of sexy-times I was really digging this story. I loved the world-building and mythology created, plus both MCs were growing on me...and then it was over and I realized there was no Book 2! WTF? Considering that ending (very cliff-hangery) I expected there to be more, but it's been more than 5 years since this was published so I guess not. Very disappointed.
June 23, 2013
Dragon Slayer is a lovely and sweet read, one with more storyline and depth than I had previously imagined. I had started reading with the idea that this would be some happy-go-lucky fluff, however what I got was, well.. more I suppose. Of course, this novel was not some dark and gritty story, it was still quite fluffy, however it had a solid and somewhat intriguing storyline that most definitely hints at a sequel.
Although this book is obviously fantasy, its taste is somewhat different to what one might expect from fantasy, or more strictly, M/M fantasy. Of course, if you're a fan of LT3 like me, this taste is by familiar, and tinged with fondness on my part. The world was no surprise, but the building of it was solid and strong.
The romance itself was a slow and gentle development, one that of course brings many delighted smiles to mind. The characters, though they may not be the most amazing or my favourites, well likeable enough and I certainly would consider reading the sequel with them in it.
This is quite an enjoyable read, one that may be easy to put down, but lovely nonetheless.
Rating: 3.5
Recommendation: neutral; if you're interested, go for it!
Although this book is obviously fantasy, its taste is somewhat different to what one might expect from fantasy, or more strictly, M/M fantasy. Of course, if you're a fan of LT3 like me, this taste is by familiar, and tinged with fondness on my part. The world was no surprise, but the building of it was solid and strong.
The romance itself was a slow and gentle development, one that of course brings many delighted smiles to mind. The characters, though they may not be the most amazing or my favourites, well likeable enough and I certainly would consider reading the sequel with them in it.
This is quite an enjoyable read, one that may be easy to put down, but lovely nonetheless.
Rating: 3.5
Recommendation: neutral; if you're interested, go for it!
May 18, 2014
I need more! This book was so good and I was so engrossed in the characters and the plot and I thought it was just really good, and then the ending happened. It didn't take away from the book or anything, but I am so annoyed that the sequel isn't out. But I think there will be a sequel at some point, because Goodreads says this is the first in a series, so I will wait patiently for more from these characters. I hope it will be these characters, at least.
This was sweeter than I thought it would be. I really liked that. Don't worry about the sweetness, though, it really wasn't overly sweet. But it had that niceness to it that made this such an enjoyable read for me. Ingram and Mallory were just, ugh, they were just so good together. I really liked them together and neither of them were annoying or unlikable. Actually, I really got to enjoy them as characters and I was always looking forward to them having scenes together.
Definitely a book I would recommend. You don't even have to like fantasy or magic to enjoy this book. I just think it would be good for reading when you want something not overly dramatic, but like a bit of adventure in their reading.
This was sweeter than I thought it would be. I really liked that. Don't worry about the sweetness, though, it really wasn't overly sweet. But it had that niceness to it that made this such an enjoyable read for me. Ingram and Mallory were just, ugh, they were just so good together. I really liked them together and neither of them were annoying or unlikable. Actually, I really got to enjoy them as characters and I was always looking forward to them having scenes together.
Definitely a book I would recommend. You don't even have to like fantasy or magic to enjoy this book. I just think it would be good for reading when you want something not overly dramatic, but like a bit of adventure in their reading.
December 27, 2015
Desperate for a sequel
Fantastic. Fade to black sex scenes but the world building is top notch. Great characters. Ingram showed true progress as a character. Sequel please!
Fantastic. Fade to black sex scenes but the world building is top notch. Great characters. Ingram showed true progress as a character. Sequel please!
August 6, 2016
This review can be found at The Blog of Sid Love.
4.5 stars
According to the King, Ingram is worthless as a prince. He can’t use a sword, barely knows how to fight and faints at the sight of blood. But under that ‘weakling’ exterior, he’s a magnificent strategist with a soft heart that just wants what’s best for his kingdom. When the King loses a bet to a foe, Ingram suddenly finds himself wedded to Lord Mallory and his life turns upside down. Not only does he have to leave his home, and his beloved siblings, for Mallory’s lands but he finds himself forced to play spy for his father to accuse Mallory of a rebellion that hasn’t even happened yet. As time progresses and Mallory and Ingram get closer, will Ingram be able to betray his husband or will he finally stick up for himself and do what’s right?
These characters were fun to read about. I loved Ingram because of how naive he was in the beginning. He just wanted to be loved and accepted by the King but everything he accomplished and did never lived up to the King’s expectations. He’s sweet but innocent and I loved the journey in his development of who he was and the courage that was always inside of him. Mallory is more of a mystery. From the beginning Ingram constantly questions why Mallory chose him and that made me wonder as well. I liked Mallory, although I wished we knew more about him, but I loved that while he didn’t verbally tell Ingram about his feelings, it was there in his actions and his expressions with his courtship. The two of them together are just so sweet and their personalities fit perfectly, IMO.
The story revolves, at first, around uncovering whether Mallory is using Ingram and whether he’s starting a rebellion. As the story progresses, however, we slowly get into Ingram’s self-discovery and his developing relationship with Mallory. It’s a slow read that doesn’t have the traditional sense of romance. I’d consider it ‘light’ in romance even though there is an obvious courtship that spans the whole book. It’s the start of a new series so there’s, of course, the build up to what I imagine will come next. It’s filled with surprises and I kept wondering what would happen next and the last half of the book literally had been an anxious mess with the intensity and twists associated with it. By the end, while it leaves with a set up for the next book, I couldn’t help but feel I was taken on a wild ride that I can’t wait to continue. More than that, I adored the secondary characters as well. Ingram’s siblings were touching while Mallory’s people, Aiden and Eirlys, were enchantingly grumpy individuals that had me chuckling a few times over their antics.
While I loved this story, I can’t deny it had its faults. For one, I was confused a lot on who or what some of the characters were talking about because no explanations were given on it. For instance, well into the story, Mallory brings up Cormac a few times but we don’t know who that is. More than that, I had to wonder, considering Ingram’s heritage, why did it take so long for him to come into his powers when Ella was able to use hers so freely? In regards to Ingram, there are a lot of questions I still have left over that I’m hoping will be answered in the sequel. My only other issue is that when things were just getting interesting, the scene would end and Ingram would wake up somewhere else which left me wondering what happened during the blacked out period. I’m not referring to sex here but fighting scenes and the like. I was a tad disappointed that we didn’t get to see things played out between those lags of time.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. It’s a slightly slow book that is light on romance but sweet in its intensity all the same. I loved the characters and I loved how much potential depth there is to the world this author created. I was on the edge of my seat a few times and the farther I got into the story, the more I wanted to know what happened next especially since it gets intense in the last half of the book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and I think readers who enjoy fantasies that are easy to read will enjoy this one as well.
4.5 stars
According to the King, Ingram is worthless as a prince. He can’t use a sword, barely knows how to fight and faints at the sight of blood. But under that ‘weakling’ exterior, he’s a magnificent strategist with a soft heart that just wants what’s best for his kingdom. When the King loses a bet to a foe, Ingram suddenly finds himself wedded to Lord Mallory and his life turns upside down. Not only does he have to leave his home, and his beloved siblings, for Mallory’s lands but he finds himself forced to play spy for his father to accuse Mallory of a rebellion that hasn’t even happened yet. As time progresses and Mallory and Ingram get closer, will Ingram be able to betray his husband or will he finally stick up for himself and do what’s right?
These characters were fun to read about. I loved Ingram because of how naive he was in the beginning. He just wanted to be loved and accepted by the King but everything he accomplished and did never lived up to the King’s expectations. He’s sweet but innocent and I loved the journey in his development of who he was and the courage that was always inside of him. Mallory is more of a mystery. From the beginning Ingram constantly questions why Mallory chose him and that made me wonder as well. I liked Mallory, although I wished we knew more about him, but I loved that while he didn’t verbally tell Ingram about his feelings, it was there in his actions and his expressions with his courtship. The two of them together are just so sweet and their personalities fit perfectly, IMO.
The story revolves, at first, around uncovering whether Mallory is using Ingram and whether he’s starting a rebellion. As the story progresses, however, we slowly get into Ingram’s self-discovery and his developing relationship with Mallory. It’s a slow read that doesn’t have the traditional sense of romance. I’d consider it ‘light’ in romance even though there is an obvious courtship that spans the whole book. It’s the start of a new series so there’s, of course, the build up to what I imagine will come next. It’s filled with surprises and I kept wondering what would happen next and the last half of the book literally had been an anxious mess with the intensity and twists associated with it. By the end, while it leaves with a set up for the next book, I couldn’t help but feel I was taken on a wild ride that I can’t wait to continue. More than that, I adored the secondary characters as well. Ingram’s siblings were touching while Mallory’s people, Aiden and Eirlys, were enchantingly grumpy individuals that had me chuckling a few times over their antics.
While I loved this story, I can’t deny it had its faults. For one, I was confused a lot on who or what some of the characters were talking about because no explanations were given on it. For instance, well into the story, Mallory brings up Cormac a few times but we don’t know who that is. More than that, I had to wonder, considering Ingram’s heritage, why did it take so long for him to come into his powers when Ella was able to use hers so freely? In regards to Ingram, there are a lot of questions I still have left over that I’m hoping will be answered in the sequel. My only other issue is that when things were just getting interesting, the scene would end and Ingram would wake up somewhere else which left me wondering what happened during the blacked out period. I’m not referring to sex here but fighting scenes and the like. I was a tad disappointed that we didn’t get to see things played out between those lags of time.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. It’s a slightly slow book that is light on romance but sweet in its intensity all the same. I loved the characters and I loved how much potential depth there is to the world this author created. I was on the edge of my seat a few times and the farther I got into the story, the more I wanted to know what happened next especially since it gets intense in the last half of the book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and I think readers who enjoy fantasies that are easy to read will enjoy this one as well.
June 27, 2013
4.5 Stars!
After searching so long, I finally found a fantasy novel that lived up to my fantasy novel expectations. Forget the MM genre on this one! This is a truly great first installment to what would be a fantastic series.
First off, this is the first I've read of Isabella Carter and after this I will simply go to her profile page and become a fan.
I love fantasy books, had been in love with them since I was first introduced to the ultimate of dragon books - McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern. Since then, I would scour the bookshelves to find other authors who could join my collection and only ended with three after thirty years (not going to reveal my age folks!).
Let it be said now, Dragon Slayer by Isabella Carter has joined that shelf as my fourth favorite fantasy author. Regardless of the MM genre it is currently under.
Dragon Slayer has ZERO erotica rating and this is great for the story as this allowed the characters to go through that get-to-know-each-other phase before going one step further. This is just Book 1 so I know that the following installments will show the culmination of the budding love between Mallory and Ingram.
As with all Book 1s, this one introduces to us the main characters, both human and dragons, as well as the side characters who are surely going to see more action as the series develops.
The mysteries that unfolded and remained unresolved when the book ended only left me with satisfaction. This is a style and reaction I get when reading fantasy novels. There is always something left hanging at the end - usually the epilogue - that would tip me of what is to be expected in the next installments.
I do not think this is going to be a short series either. This has the making of a longish series that will continue to solve old mysteries and see the revelation of new ones. With what the epilogue left us, I really want to know what comes next and how Ms. Carter is going to write these for us.
Going to her profile page now!
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
After searching so long, I finally found a fantasy novel that lived up to my fantasy novel expectations. Forget the MM genre on this one! This is a truly great first installment to what would be a fantastic series.
Ingram is a coward and weakling—at least according to his father, the king, and the royal court. He cannot use a sword, he faints at the sight of blood, and even his brilliant abilities as a strategist are not enough to overcome his failings. When his father loses a bet to the notorious Lord Mallory over the matter of a dragon slaying, he pays his debt by ordering Ingram to marry him.
Then his father reveals that he is putting Ingram to a greater purpose, giving Ingram one last chance to prove he is not worthless. All it requires is betraying his new husband.
First off, this is the first I've read of Isabella Carter and after this I will simply go to her profile page and become a fan.
I love fantasy books, had been in love with them since I was first introduced to the ultimate of dragon books - McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern. Since then, I would scour the bookshelves to find other authors who could join my collection and only ended with three after thirty years (not going to reveal my age folks!).
Let it be said now, Dragon Slayer by Isabella Carter has joined that shelf as my fourth favorite fantasy author. Regardless of the MM genre it is currently under.
Dragon Slayer has ZERO erotica rating and this is great for the story as this allowed the characters to go through that get-to-know-each-other phase before going one step further. This is just Book 1 so I know that the following installments will show the culmination of the budding love between Mallory and Ingram.
As with all Book 1s, this one introduces to us the main characters, both human and dragons, as well as the side characters who are surely going to see more action as the series develops.
The mysteries that unfolded and remained unresolved when the book ended only left me with satisfaction. This is a style and reaction I get when reading fantasy novels. There is always something left hanging at the end - usually the epilogue - that would tip me of what is to be expected in the next installments.
I do not think this is going to be a short series either. This has the making of a longish series that will continue to solve old mysteries and see the revelation of new ones. With what the epilogue left us, I really want to know what comes next and how Ms. Carter is going to write these for us.
Going to her profile page now!
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
August 25, 2015
As the blurb states, Ingram’s father, the King, orders Ingram to marry Lord Mallory, the dragon slayer, to pay the father’s debt. More interested in strategy then taking the sword, Ingram is a disgrace to his father. But the King suspects Mallory of treason and says Ingram can redeem himself if he finds evidence of Mallory’s betrayal and turns him over to the King.
This is par for the course really for Ingram and his father, so what really concerns Ingram is how easily Mallory is taking this arranged marriage. Mallory is kind and tries to get to know Ingram and I loved the beginning of the story. Mallory hints at one point that they have met before but Ingram has no memory of it. So part of my anticipation was waiting for that shoe to drop.
The world building was exceptional. A dragons, a menagerie of interesting characters, dragons, a mystery, Ingram deciding what to do about his fathers demands, and did I say dragons? Okay, dragons are talked about more than they appear but the author did a good job blending in the secret of the dragons without to many hints as to their secret.
Unfortunately the romance takes a huge hit. It’s non existent. Ingram and Mallory talk, marry, talk, and finally progress to kissing. I don’t care if sex is not part of a story, but I want progression of the relationship. The kissing fades to black abruptly with little or no hint about what happened next. I still don’t know for certain if the two consummated the marriage or not. What I wanted was more interaction between the two. More romance, touching, talking, attraction, affection. Something.
4 on the world building, 1.5 on the romance.
This is par for the course really for Ingram and his father, so what really concerns Ingram is how easily Mallory is taking this arranged marriage. Mallory is kind and tries to get to know Ingram and I loved the beginning of the story. Mallory hints at one point that they have met before but Ingram has no memory of it. So part of my anticipation was waiting for that shoe to drop.
The world building was exceptional. A dragons, a menagerie of interesting characters, dragons, a mystery, Ingram deciding what to do about his fathers demands, and did I say dragons? Okay, dragons are talked about more than they appear but the author did a good job blending in the secret of the dragons without to many hints as to their secret.
Unfortunately the romance takes a huge hit. It’s non existent. Ingram and Mallory talk, marry, talk, and finally progress to kissing. I don’t care if sex is not part of a story, but I want progression of the relationship. The kissing fades to black abruptly with little or no hint about what happened next. I still don’t know for certain if the two consummated the marriage or not. What I wanted was more interaction between the two. More romance, touching, talking, attraction, affection. Something.
4 on the world building, 1.5 on the romance.
March 14, 2014
This is the book I would have liked to have had when I was first reading fantasy. It has all the elements I love -- dashing heroes, smart main characters, dragons -- and a really sweet romance between the main characters, both guys. Seriously, if you know a young gay guy who's into fantasy & scifi, give them this book. Or an old gay guy, for that matter, because despite the fact that the main characters are in their early 20's, the book can be enjoyed by anyone. Highly recommended.
Notes score: 4*
* Another low score for a favorite book I can only blame on the fact that I was too busy reading the book to enjoy the writing.
Favorite quotes:
"There's no such thing as an acceptable loss," Ingram argued. "The only people that claim that are the ones who aren't dying. Who haven't lost someone."
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Locations 454-455). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
The beauty of bullies in Ingram's opinion was that they never expected their prey to fight back.
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Locations 940-941). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
"Would you like me to kiss your ego and make it better?"
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Location 2151). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
Notes score: 4*
* Another low score for a favorite book I can only blame on the fact that I was too busy reading the book to enjoy the writing.
Favorite quotes:
"There's no such thing as an acceptable loss," Ingram argued. "The only people that claim that are the ones who aren't dying. Who haven't lost someone."
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Locations 454-455). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
The beauty of bullies in Ingram's opinion was that they never expected their prey to fight back.
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Locations 940-941). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
"Would you like me to kiss your ego and make it better?"
Carter, Isabella (2013-06-18). Dragon Slayer (Kindle Location 2151). Less Than Three Press. Kindle Edition.
May 28, 2016
This book was AWESOME!!
The book had a lot of things i like. For example:
A beautiful prince, a badass lord/dragon slayer, forced marriage, dragons, magic and magicians, sirens and a cute love atory. Did I mention the dragons? Yeah cause they cannot be forgotten. I really really want a book 2 but so far there's nothing in the horizon. I specially loved to see Ingram turn from an insecure, emotionally abused person to someone strong enough to protect what was his. It would have been better if they were some love scenes. The author only gives a very very subtle hint that they had sex. Ughh why Isabella Carter? Why are you so cruel?
The book had a lot of things i like. For example:
A beautiful prince, a badass lord/dragon slayer, forced marriage, dragons, magic and magicians, sirens and a cute love atory. Did I mention the dragons? Yeah cause they cannot be forgotten. I really really want a book 2 but so far there's nothing in the horizon. I specially loved to see Ingram turn from an insecure, emotionally abused person to someone strong enough to protect what was his. It would have been better if they were some love scenes. The author only gives a very very subtle hint that they had sex. Ughh why Isabella Carter? Why are you so cruel?
July 6, 2013
This book NEEDS a sequel, like yesterday....c'mon!
March 15, 2022
1.5 stars
Not a bad story, but this read like a first draft at best, more like an outline of a story. Because of how short it is everything happens so quickly and easily that it's not believable at all.
So a nice, underdeveloped idea.
Not a bad story, but this read like a first draft at best, more like an outline of a story. Because of how short it is everything happens so quickly and easily that it's not believable at all.
So a nice, underdeveloped idea.
August 8, 2013
I am inspired by reading really good fantasy adventure so I was excited to read this story when I read the description. Not to mention there are dragons and a dragon slayer! Wow! This story was also filled with court intrigue, backstabbing, revenge, a two faced monarchy, and a love story. The writing was intense, crisp and clean with the storyline being unusual enough to really grasp my attention and dig in.
Ingram is the second son to the king, a brilliant strategist who can't use a sword and faints at the sight of blood. It's no surprise that his father calls him a coward and demeans him at every opportunity, but it's hopelessly sad when all Ingram wants is approval from his father. It doesn't keep him down, though, and Ingram works hard to ignore the hurt and pain but he is also a realist and recognizes the king's character flaws. I thought it was interesting that a prince who doesn't have much to do with court, is still one of the best at recognizing betrayal and lies even though Ingram is incapable of either behavior. Ingram is such a wonderfully good man that I couldn't help but adore him.
Lord Mallory is a mystery, which makes him even more attractive. He's an honorable man, who takes protecting his home and his people to be his main priority as lord, although for Ingram that attitude comes as a welcome change to what he's witnessed in the capital. Mallory is fighting hard to protect his people against bandits and even the so-called king's men at the encampment. I liked Mallory, very much. He was real and honest regardless of being a noble, with a true heart worthy of loving Ingram.
Now it stands for Ingram to figure out and decide whether the king, his father, is lying to him or if he can truly trust in this man he is married to. For the king wishes to gain control of Mallory's territory and the dragons that live there and it would seem he will stop at nothing including bullying and threatening disinheritance on Ingram if the king doesn't get it. Ingram is going to have to battle his own deepest fears in order to protect the man and people he's grown to love and both he and Mallory will have to wage their biggest fight yet against a creature of myth and legend. There are a lot of secrets that appear to have been hidden for many, many years and Ingram, with Mallory, is going to have to discover them in order to defeat the evil creeping across the land.
I adored this story and the very best part is I'm pretty sure there are going to be more books so I can't wait to read more about this world.
NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Ingram is the second son to the king, a brilliant strategist who can't use a sword and faints at the sight of blood. It's no surprise that his father calls him a coward and demeans him at every opportunity, but it's hopelessly sad when all Ingram wants is approval from his father. It doesn't keep him down, though, and Ingram works hard to ignore the hurt and pain but he is also a realist and recognizes the king's character flaws. I thought it was interesting that a prince who doesn't have much to do with court, is still one of the best at recognizing betrayal and lies even though Ingram is incapable of either behavior. Ingram is such a wonderfully good man that I couldn't help but adore him.
Lord Mallory is a mystery, which makes him even more attractive. He's an honorable man, who takes protecting his home and his people to be his main priority as lord, although for Ingram that attitude comes as a welcome change to what he's witnessed in the capital. Mallory is fighting hard to protect his people against bandits and even the so-called king's men at the encampment. I liked Mallory, very much. He was real and honest regardless of being a noble, with a true heart worthy of loving Ingram.
Now it stands for Ingram to figure out and decide whether the king, his father, is lying to him or if he can truly trust in this man he is married to. For the king wishes to gain control of Mallory's territory and the dragons that live there and it would seem he will stop at nothing including bullying and threatening disinheritance on Ingram if the king doesn't get it. Ingram is going to have to battle his own deepest fears in order to protect the man and people he's grown to love and both he and Mallory will have to wage their biggest fight yet against a creature of myth and legend. There are a lot of secrets that appear to have been hidden for many, many years and Ingram, with Mallory, is going to have to discover them in order to defeat the evil creeping across the land.
I adored this story and the very best part is I'm pretty sure there are going to be more books so I can't wait to read more about this world.
NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 14, 2015
Dragon Slayer (The Empty Crown, Book I)
By Isabella Carter
Four stars
It takes skill to pull off a fantasy with dragons, and Isabella Carter has done it very neatly.
In a typically quasi-medieval world (where, oddly, they smoke cigarettes and wear ties) we have an increasingly paranoid King Roderick, his never-quite-good-enough younger son Prince Ingram, and a brooding provincial nobleman, Lord Mallory. Ingram can never do the right thing to please his father; and Mallory’s wild behavior has King Roderick twitching with worry. The King’s solution is to force Mallory to marry his feckless son (in a world where same-sex relations are acknowledged but looked down upon).
The set-up is better than it might sound, because by that point, early on in the action, we have already gotten well into Ingram’s head, and understand that he is smart, loyal, and quite gay. Marriage, for him, is a political tool, so he mildly accepts his father’s bizarre deal with Mallory, having no idea that Mallory might have other than political reasons to join his life with Ingram’s.
Carter takes us through the fantasy politics and builds a vivid physical and emotional landscape peopled with quirky characters of both good and not-so-good kinds. The emerging trust between Ingram and Mallory is carefully sketched out and filled in; but there are surprises along the way, as there are with the overarching political plot.
In a world long spoiled by Lord of the Rings (never to be matched, whether we liked it or not), it takes guts to attempt to create yet another variation on the theme of dragons, swords and mountain fortresses. But Carter’s style and imagination make this addition to the genre of fantasy romance good enough to earn her a place in the pantheon of such writers.
The fact that she writes a m/m romance without any onscreen sex (beyond some passionate kissing) might disappoint some of her audience; but I feel it might just open up this series (and, thankfully, there will be more) to fantasy readers who might not be quite ready for the physical reality of gay romance.
With the truly awful “Fifty Shades of Gray” raking in millions in the bookstores and the movie theaters, I’m happy with anything that expands the world’s embrace of gay romance. Thanks, Isabella. I look forward to seeing where Ingram goes next.
By Isabella Carter
Four stars
It takes skill to pull off a fantasy with dragons, and Isabella Carter has done it very neatly.
In a typically quasi-medieval world (where, oddly, they smoke cigarettes and wear ties) we have an increasingly paranoid King Roderick, his never-quite-good-enough younger son Prince Ingram, and a brooding provincial nobleman, Lord Mallory. Ingram can never do the right thing to please his father; and Mallory’s wild behavior has King Roderick twitching with worry. The King’s solution is to force Mallory to marry his feckless son (in a world where same-sex relations are acknowledged but looked down upon).
The set-up is better than it might sound, because by that point, early on in the action, we have already gotten well into Ingram’s head, and understand that he is smart, loyal, and quite gay. Marriage, for him, is a political tool, so he mildly accepts his father’s bizarre deal with Mallory, having no idea that Mallory might have other than political reasons to join his life with Ingram’s.
Carter takes us through the fantasy politics and builds a vivid physical and emotional landscape peopled with quirky characters of both good and not-so-good kinds. The emerging trust between Ingram and Mallory is carefully sketched out and filled in; but there are surprises along the way, as there are with the overarching political plot.
In a world long spoiled by Lord of the Rings (never to be matched, whether we liked it or not), it takes guts to attempt to create yet another variation on the theme of dragons, swords and mountain fortresses. But Carter’s style and imagination make this addition to the genre of fantasy romance good enough to earn her a place in the pantheon of such writers.
The fact that she writes a m/m romance without any onscreen sex (beyond some passionate kissing) might disappoint some of her audience; but I feel it might just open up this series (and, thankfully, there will be more) to fantasy readers who might not be quite ready for the physical reality of gay romance.
With the truly awful “Fifty Shades of Gray” raking in millions in the bookstores and the movie theaters, I’m happy with anything that expands the world’s embrace of gay romance. Thanks, Isabella. I look forward to seeing where Ingram goes next.
April 23, 2015
I enjoyed this audiobook a lot. I'm familiar with this narrator from Wood, Screws, & Nails and All The Colors Of Love, but I liked him much better here. His tone and the quality of his voice matched this world very well.
The story is a bit of a familiar one, from other fantasy novels I've read. Forced marriage but of course they fall in love and discover some treachery then need to save the kingdom. But that familiarity did not lessen my enjoyment at all. It was great to watch Mallory develop feelings for Ingram. I was very concerned there would be some stupid miscommunication, but really things went rather smoothly on that front. Our boys are left safe and stable by the end, although the world itself is in upheaval and I was a little bummed to realize book 2 is not out yet. But fear not dear readers, it isn't a cliffhanger, just a series with an overarching plot.
Despite knowing that there was no sex in this book, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. I'm okay with no sex, but I would at least like it talked about so I feel I'm fully informed. They made a point of not having sex initially, so I found that once the first kiss occurred, I had no idea what was going on in their relationship. Which I did not like. I have no idea when they finally did they deed, although I'm almost certain they did. So that is one niggle. If your going to fade-to-black, at least make it clear what's gonna happen in the black.
But if you're a lover of fantasy and some intrigue, with a side of MM romance, this is totally for you. The audio version was great and between my morning/afternoon commute, errands, chores, and a late night, I finished this in one day. Which is kinda crazy. I'm eager for book 2, and hope that by the time it comes out I still have a connection with these guys. I'll prob re-listen to this one if 2 is more than a year off. Recommended!
Audiobook received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
The story is a bit of a familiar one, from other fantasy novels I've read. Forced marriage but of course they fall in love and discover some treachery then need to save the kingdom. But that familiarity did not lessen my enjoyment at all. It was great to watch Mallory develop feelings for Ingram. I was very concerned there would be some stupid miscommunication, but really things went rather smoothly on that front. Our boys are left safe and stable by the end, although the world itself is in upheaval and I was a little bummed to realize book 2 is not out yet. But fear not dear readers, it isn't a cliffhanger, just a series with an overarching plot.
Despite knowing that there was no sex in this book, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. I'm okay with no sex, but I would at least like it talked about so I feel I'm fully informed. They made a point of not having sex initially, so I found that once the first kiss occurred, I had no idea what was going on in their relationship. Which I did not like. I have no idea when they finally did they deed, although I'm almost certain they did. So that is one niggle. If your going to fade-to-black, at least make it clear what's gonna happen in the black.
But if you're a lover of fantasy and some intrigue, with a side of MM romance, this is totally for you. The audio version was great and between my morning/afternoon commute, errands, chores, and a late night, I finished this in one day. Which is kinda crazy. I'm eager for book 2, and hope that by the time it comes out I still have a connection with these guys. I'll prob re-listen to this one if 2 is more than a year off. Recommended!
Audiobook received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
September 25, 2013
This novel by Isabella Carter set in the fantasy world of Abelen tells the story of young prince Ingram and his ongoing pursuit of winning his father's love and respect. Unfortunately for the prince, it seems his efforts are futile because the King thinks him weak and incompetent simply for not being able to wield a sword. Despite the prince's efforts to compensate for this with his brilliant intellect, the King is blind to his accomplishments. But when a visit from a mysterious nobleman claiming a reward for a favor to the king puts the young prince in an unexpected marriage, Ingram is later faced with a difficult choice to continue proving his worth or follow his heart.
The actual world building was simple but enough to give me a feel of the setting. The author clearly favors the main setting of Wintervell among the rest since this where most of the story takes place because the description here is more vivid. But I think the author did a better job in creating the mythology which became the basis of the story,
The characters were quite many which I think kept the author from having a good character sketch of everyone apart from the main characters. I had to stop and recall who was who whenever a scene featured several supporting characters at once. Since the story is told in Ingram's voice, the satisfaction of getting to know other characters like Lord Mallory and Orion was limited. I really wish I could get into Lord Mallory's head because his character was my favorite among the rest.
I forgave the occasional typo errors of the story since there were a generous amount of plot twists and secrets revealed by the end of the book. I wish the story was a wee bit longer to accommodate the plot though because it seemed that most of the excitement was stuffed in the last chapter and Epilogue.
The story was enjoyable mostly because of the tender moments between the main characters and the slow build of their relationship development which made me emotionally invested in the story. Overall, I give this story a thumbs up.
June 22, 2013
4.5 Stars
I've always loved stories with dragons in them and I was totally captivated by this one. The author revealed just the right amount of mystery, intrigue and action with each turn of the page that you can't help but read on. There were very well written characters you can't help but love, hate or be heartbroken with. This was more of an adventure than a love story. The intimacy between the main characters was mostly off page so I'm a little disappointed because it could have been so much more intense if there was more passion between the MC's.
Love this book. I will be anticipating the next one :)
I've always loved stories with dragons in them and I was totally captivated by this one. The author revealed just the right amount of mystery, intrigue and action with each turn of the page that you can't help but read on. There were very well written characters you can't help but love, hate or be heartbroken with. This was more of an adventure than a love story. The intimacy between the main characters was mostly off page so I'm a little disappointed because it could have been so much more intense if there was more passion between the MC's.
Love this book. I will be anticipating the next one :)
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