Curse of the Dragon Shadow

Shadow Dragon Saga #1

by Selina A. Fenech

Into a haunted realm a creature unlike any is born.

Orphaned and struggling to survive in an underground refuge, Riony only wants to keep her adopted sister safe.

In a land where unicorns have been hunted to extinction and dragons are the exclusive possession of the dragonlords, Riony's life becomes complicated when she finds herself the caretaker of a unique and precious creature: a dragon-unicorn hybrid.

But when her sister is kidnapped, Riony sets out on a dangerous journey into the shadowdragon cursed overworld, faced with an impossible challenge. Can she save her sister and also protect the newborn creature?

Or will she have to sacrifice one for the other?

Fans of Priory of the Orange Tree and The Dragon Prince will love this young adult fantasy set in a realm of heroines, magic, and dragons.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Dragons, LGBT, Young Adult, Queer

Unknown Binding

About the author

Selina A. Fenech writes quirky, positive, and powerful tales where love always wins. With laugh out loud moments, epic danger, twists, and unique magical worlds, her stories are perfect for a reader looking for something different.

Selina A. Fenech lives in Australia with her husband and daughter and loves food, gardening, geekery, and all things fantasy.

She is also a professional fantasy artist, and you can find her large range of coloring books and art books under her artist name, Selina Fenech.

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Elundrae after the war between the Dragonlords and the Alderkin, an elven race driven to extinction, a curse was placed on the land in the form of the Shadow Dragon. The Shadow Dragon is a mysterious creature in mourning who raises the dead in the area every time it touches ground. These revenants plague the land and can only be killed by dragon fire.

Refuges escaping the horrors above ground have created a settlement in an underground cavern called the Undercity. Here our heroine Riony lives with her adoptive sister Lyrrin after escaping enslavement and the death of her parents. Doing every thing to survive, she often wanders above ground to scavenge for trade.

When Riony stumbles across a dragon’s nest she uses the last drop of silvernix, rare unicorn blood that has been passed down through her family, to save the only surviving egg. Unexpectedly, this baby hatches as a unicorn dragon hybrid.

When Lyrrin is kidnapped by child snatches, Riony must set off on a journey across the overworld to rescue her sister while shielding this newborn creature. But protecting both her sister and the dragon-unicorn creature might prove to be an impossible challenge. Especially since the revenants are growing stronger, no longer tamed by dragon fire.

—

I had so much more fun reading this than I anticipated! Riony is a crass muscular lesbian ginger with a sword and as a Gideon Nav lover how could I not instantly fall in love with this loser. She’s snarky, soft at heart, and a little dumb. I need 12 more of these little bitches fr.

This felt really nostalgic in a way as it reminded me of a lot of older YA series. It felt familiar but also unique in its own way and I flew through it. Some of the twists were obvious but it didn’t dull my enjoyment one bit. Overall it was really well written and opts to reveal world building lore over the span of the story rather than by info dumping at the start.

I’m interested to see how the romance will play out as there seems to be hints of a love triangle which we honestly don’t get very often in sapphic books! I’m really excited to pick up the sequel

[Nathalie Josefine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's my first time reading from this author and I found myself to really enjoy the writing style and the characters!.

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

[Stefoni Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was charming. The storyline flowed well until the last chapter or two when it seemed rushed. I look forward to the 2nd book in the series and see where the characters go.

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

[Liandri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love learning about a new world and this is definitely a good one. It was such a fun read, getting to know Riony (fierce and sassy) and Lyrrin (stubborn and brave) and their bond. Some of the characters annoyed me a bit in the beginning but they definitely grow on you the more you read.
I also loved the description of colours, it's clear this is written by an artist.

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

[Callie Borland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first ARC to review so was unsure what to expect. Here is my spoiler free review -
The writing style is easy to follow, the storyline was easy to digest as information was delivered throughout the story so it was not heavy on world building at the start (we all know how tough it can be to get through heavy world building at the start of a book!). I hope to learn more about the world it’s set in in later books. The characters are interesting, you learn more about them as you go. I would say there is a small amount of character development so it will be interesting to see if there is more of that in the next book.

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

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one not knowing much about it but I knew that I really enjoyed several of the authors other books so I was happy to give this one a go. It's a really good, fairly unique story. It made me want to know more about this world and the creatures in it; not just what the main character is going to get up t.! It was a fun, quick and easy read. My only issue was that it ended too soon; I felt like things were just getting going when it ended. Thankfully there will be more books to continue the story. Once they're out I would definitely read this one again!

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

[Jo Durand · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mix of humour, action, dialogue and landscapes.

I really enjoy being transported into another world and Curse of the Dragon Shadow delivered a story in an exciting landscape, with interesting characters and a fast-paced storyline. I could follow the action, hear the pithy dialogue and felt satisfied at the end of the story, however, I finished the book too soon!.

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

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!
I love how the backstory of the characters and the world are slowly introduced rather than having. A ton of exposition early on.
The characters are all 3-dimensional with traits to like and to despise. The lore surrounding the magic and non-human characters is well thought out.
I would recommend this to most people who enjoy a good fantasy novel with hints of post-apoc.

[Ann M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curse of the Dragon Shadow is the 1st book in the Shadow Dragon Saga series by Selina A. Fenech. This is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian YA fantasy featuring runes, curses, magical items, dragons, revenants, and unicorns with healing blood. It also carries hints of a Sapphic romance to come later in the series.

In a world haunted by the Shadow Dragon, where unicorns have been hunted to extinction because of their blood and dragons are owned by dragonlords, a creature unlike any is born – a dragon carrying unicorn blood. Orphaned and struggling to survive in an underground refuge, Riony wants to keep her adopted sister Lyrrin safe, but suddenly she is also the caretaker of the precious creature. When her sister is kidnapped together with other kids, Riony sets out on a journey with a few others into the cursed overworld where she faces one danger after the other. The Shadow Dragon's curse seems to be much more powerful than it once used to and survival is not guaranteed for anyone. Can she save her sister and protect the newborn creature or will sacrifices have to be made?

It was a fast-paced and quick read full of action, so you didn’t really have time to get bored. The writing style of the author is mostly easy to follow and the flow of the story is good. The world building is done throughout the book, so you don’t get too much information all at once. There are some interesting descriptions of the landscape, which give quite a good overall picture and the idea behind it is unique enough. The backstory is slowly introduced revealing the complicated relationships between different characters, yet there are some big gaps left, which will probably be addressed in the next books as the story evolves. The characters are realistic, with positive traits as well as negative ones. Riony is fierce, sassy, absurdly strong and tends to act before she thinks, her adopted sister Lyrrin is quieter, but brave, logical and rather stubborn. She has a soft spot, but hides it well. Both of them carry some history and have a mystery surrounding them. There are a number of promising side characters too, who will probably play a bigger role later in the story. However Rionys attitude towards Aishen (a delver on the mission with her) felt a bit forced and unrealistic…didn’t come naturally and made her seem rude and well…annoying. So, there is no romance in book, but there will probably eventually be a Sapphic romance. All in all, this book kind of shows the essence of humanity…at its worst. There is so much cruelty and the nature is off-balance. I cannot wait to see, what will become of Dracuni. The book is part of a series, but I guess it can be read as a stand-alone too, however you will want to know more in the end.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next book to see where the story goes from here.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carinkla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written in the style of an All-knowing narrator.


The story revolves mainly around refugees, in particular Riony. She lives, with her adopted sister Lyrrin, in an underground world (underworld) where people are living in caves created by an old civilization, Alderkin. 


All the refugees live on the highest level, nearest to the surface, where they originally fled from (overworld). There are still layers of caves and corridors under them, but according to rumors they are cursed. They are also filled with useful items, which are retrieved by a kind of elite workforce called delvers.


Riony apparently stole her sister Lyrrin as a baby when she herself was only 10. They live in squalor so Riony has her hopes set on becoming a delver, which is well paid job.  But in the meantime she goes up to the dangerous overworld from time to time to collect  fresh herbs for personal use and to sell 


The book is hard to put down since from the start there are hints about a strange pendant in Riony's possession and parts in the appearance of Lyrrin that have to remain hidden. Its clear that both girls carry their own mystery and you want to know more about them. 


One day, after a foraging for herbs in the overworld, everything slowly starts to change. Riony almost dies when she encounters an untamed dragon and has to make a difficult choice. Her sacrifice is rewarded in an unexpected way and she finds herself a surrogate parent to a very strange dragon baby. 


When Lyrrin and other kids are taken, she joins forces with a few others ( one of them, a girl Riony has a crush on), who are also interested in getting the children back. To do so they have to venture into the most dangerous part of the overworld. And a kind of classic, but original quest tale begins. They come across dangers, known and unknown, friends and foes, and a old nemesis. They are also attacked by a shadow dragon, a creature who was created by the Alderkin. It was made to curse the land it lands on in a very specific way. But something seems to be wrong, the Shadow dragon's curse is much more powerful than it used to be.


Although this book is part one of the shadow dragon saga, it can be read as a stand-alone. But for readers who are curious to read about further adventures: Part two, “Legend of the drogon soul” is already announced at the end

[Katie Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read anything by this author yet (though all of her books are on my tbr because they look fantastic!), so this was my first by her! I'd rate it a 4.8 stars. The characters were all distinct, had their own motivations and voices, and were interesting. The worldbuilding was definitely unique and was one of the things that kept me reading as we learn about it very gradually.

It was especially interesting once the characters went above ground! And when the book title finally made sense... mind blown. That was CRAZY. The climax was great, unpredictable, and I was seriously concerned for the main characters (and certain baby dragon/unicorn especially!!) through the majority of the book, but especially the last third or so.

The only thing I didn't like was her fixation on Aishen. Who she literally describes as ghoulish to the reader. But she's obsessed with her? There was never a reason to. It felt extremely unrealistic to me for her to be so obsessed with this weirdo chick—but especially after she and her brother did some *unspeakable things* that absolutely broke her and her sister's hearts. And then she just ignores that they ever did that and have painted themselves as terrible, heartless, violent people? The MC has a rough past, but I wouldn't say it's troubled enough to make her look for love in the absolute worst places. She still seems reasonably put together.

So yeah, hated that part of the book. Hopefully there will be less of it in the next one, but idk, if Riony moved past what Aishen did so easily I don't have a lot of hope that she will ever move on to a reasonable love interest. Heck I'd rather see her have Stockholm syndrome with her long-time enemy who currently rides around on a wolf. Anyone but Aishen.

This is getting long, sorry! Anyway I did enjoy the book and am looking forward to the rest of the series, and recommend it to anyone who can look past the MC having a crush that makes you want to whack them in the head because they're otherwise very intelligent. Great adventure, high stakes, intriguing world, unique creatures!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY interesting world here. There is a post-apocalypse feel to these people living in a cave, hiding from the world. But, the fantasy element is really strong here. I mean, hey, there are dragons!

I enjoyed the MC and yeah she likes women, but there's no action there. It's just kind of there. It's a normal part of her character, not emphasized, not minimized either. It's normal.

The writing is really good. It feels real (which is always an odd thing to say in a fantasy book). What I mean is that given the initial parameters, it fits together.

I like a strong MC, but not over the top. Check. She hurts. She struggles. She perseveres.

I like it when relationships shift and change, and develop, with us learning more and more and more about the people. Check.

I don't like sex in a book. Check. Unless it's alluded to or skimmed over. I do like a budding romance. There was none here, at least in the first book. But that's okay too. It will come. Or not.

I like a story where it isn't just presented to you. It develops, with you learning a bit more, and a bit more. But there's nothing deliberately left out to shock you in the end either. Check. For example, I wondered from the beginning why they were living in a cave. Maybe it's climate change or a plague. Maybe it's that they are persecuted. You find out there are multiple reasons, unique to everyone. I won't say more except that you learn bits and pieces over time. It's a very satisfying way to develop a story. Well done!

I also like it when it ends without a cliffhanger. That seems like a blatant, obvious device to just sell books. Check. In this case it ends satisfactorily. But you know there is going to be more story. There is just so much the MC wants to do, after all.

I'm off to find the next book in the series.

[Jodie Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Curse of the dragon shadow is a fast paced, action packed fantasy story centred around two sisters who are barely surviving this harsh apocalyptic world in the undercity, where they don’t have much but are at least safe from slavery to the dragon riders or death from the dragon shadows and their revenants.

There are characters to love, characters to hate and characters who you have mixed feelings about, but all of them have you completed invested in their story. Even the characters like Kess, who just seems to be an evil little ferret, where we know enough about her back story to feel empathy for her.

The sisterly love of our two main characters is complicated, as all sibling relationships tend to be, but also powerful and heartwarming to witness.

Riony, the elder sister has lived above ground both as a slave and, for a time, freely. She managed to get her younger sister safely to the underground when her parents were killed where she now keeps her fed and protected. Despite her often harsh exterior we see the depth of kindness in Riony as she collects others in need, never turning away from anyone and her cheeky, playfulness as she flirts with Aishena even in the most inappropriately unsafe situations!

Lyrrin, the younger sister is fiery, stubborn and a fierce advocate for the under-dog, often bringing home stray animals. It is her sense of justice that lands these sisters in trouble!

This author is masterful at drip feeding us the back story of the characters and the information for the world building as we follow the story on the edge of our seats. This seems to be a world with no hope, one humans have ruined but one we can vividly picture and understand.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, unable to put it down and devouring it very quickly. My only complaint is that there wasn’t enough! I want more, more of these characters, more of this world and thankfully I see that there are many more books planned for this series.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold onto your fire-breathing lizards, fantasy fans, because "Curse of the Dragon Shadow" is a book that'll set your imagination ablaze! Gone are the days of damsels in distress – Riony's the kind of heroine who kicks down doors and takes names, all while rocking a sarcastic quip and a fierce love for her adopted sister.
The world Fenech has built is a delicious combination of fantasy goodness. Familiar elements – dragons, magic, societal hierarchy – get a fresh twist, leaving you hungry for more. The magic system, with its lost runes and forgotten knowledge, adds a layer of mystery that kept me turning pages faster than a cave otter finding snacks (don't ask, just read the book).
And then there's Dracuni and Lyrrin, Riony already had her hands full but now with her little family literally outgrowing their home what will she do? Lyrrin has come so far emotionally from the young kid we meet in the beginning of the story to the fierce protector she's pushed to be by the end. Though we don't get a lot of detail on Dracunis' growth what we do get shows that the unidragon has far more capabilities than expected and I can't wait to see just how deep the bond with Riony goes. But let's be honest, teenagers are a handful, and the thought of them hitting that rebellious phase makes me grateful they're not mine (sorry, Riony!)
Overall, "Curse of the Dragon Shadow" is a fantastic read that left me wanting more. It's got action, adventure, heart, and a heroine who'll make you believe you can slay any dragon (metaphorical or otherwise).

[J A Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unicorn dragons are a hybrid that we’ve been waiting for. This book is charming in many ways and would be well suited for a teen growing into fantasy.

It has some great messaging about being true to your beliefs and yourself, family isn’t necessarily the one your born into and what putting your entire self behind your convictions can achieve.

The opening lines of the book made me giggle, and was a great way to break the ice into a tense setting for the character who is living in an underground space once occupied by a long extinct race.

As an older reader the beats were a little formulaic. This feeling was created by clunkiness of how relationships and interactions between characters were established. Early on these felt forced, and clunky. The conflicts were triggered from simple things and I didn’t quite believe the intimidation of status the other characters were suppose to have in order to pull off some of the main early conflict points that drive the story.


I am still a little confused about a number of the world building structures, such as what the actual curse of the dragon shadow is, why society has been split to above worlders and the below ground refugees, the role of the Dragonlorda, the purpose of subjugating dragons, and a few other things, and I’m curious enough to see how these things play out, so the author has done their job there.

As a younger reader, I would have slotted this book between my exploration of Tamora Peices ‘immortals’ series and Paolini’s ‘eragon’.

[Leyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always happy to find new sapphic fantasy, and the world in this one has me very intrigued! It reminded me slightly of the universe “daughter of no worlds” is set in, with the power imbalances and the medieval yet also post apocalyptic vibes! But it has sapphics and dragons, so in my books this premise wins.

The writing has some pros and cons for me. In general I like it fine, dialogue and storytelling is pretty solid but there are some issues with pacing and repetition. The characters are stuck in conflicts for far too long, and keep pivoting in and out of them again and make nonsensical decisions. The sister runs away, promises to not run away, yet runs away AGAIN for a very silly reason. the MC gets caught, gets freed, gets caught and then gets freed again all in the span of like an hour. Why?? I’m intrigued enough in the world and overall vibe of the plot for this to slide but it’s definitely not a sign of great writing in my opinion.

I like the MC, but sometimes the whole lesbian himbo (I know himbo sounds like it has to be a man but I’m telling you now that that’s not true) stick goes a little too far for my second hand embarrassment. Especially because she’s not always super cocky, so when she suddenly starts going all out with it it feels slightly out of place and I can’t handle the cringe hahaha. I do want her to win all the hearts she desires tho so if this strategy works, who am I to judge.

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

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riony was young when she kidnapped a baby, Lyrrin. Now they live below ground. She goes on trips to above ground to search for herbs to sell when she does a dragon. She is injured getting away from the dragon and happens upon dragon eggs. When she is found and taken to here home her "sister" , Lyrrin listens to her as she mum's. Unfortunately she tells the two worse people what her sister said. Now Riony had to go try to rescue the eggs. Unfortunately she gets there too late. After the two people leave she discovers an egg that use damaged. When the baby dragon comes out she gives it her prized possession -- unicorn blood. The mother dragon returns and sees the ruin of her best and goes beat and severely injuries her. But the baby dragon cries unicorn blood on her and heals her. When she returns with her baby her sister goes volatile and rubs out of the house. She finds the two creeps who destroyed the eggs searching for their brother. They then discover that the slavers took the children. Now they are on a mission to find her sister and the brother. Will they be in time before something bad happens to the children? Will the baby dragon help her? Will she find her sister?
A fast paced adventure story.

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

[Martin Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book! From the very first chapter, I was hooked by its unique worldbuilding and heartfelt character arcs. Riony is such a compelling protagonist—strong, determined, and driven by love for her sister Lyrrin in a world that’s as dangerous as it is fascinating. Between undead creatures, dragon-riding rulers, and a shadow dragon cursing the land, the stakes are constantly high, and yet the story manages to be filled with hope, magic, and even a bit of whimsy (a dragon-unicorn hybrid? YES PLEASE).

The writing is excellent—fluid, immersive, and emotionally resonant. I flew through the pages, completely captivated by the world and the characters. There's also a mysterious ancient race and magical runes that hint at secrets still waiting to be uncovered—I'm a sucker for a hidden history plotline, so I really hope we get more in the next book.

While the ending felt a little abrupt, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. In fact, it only made me more eager for the sequel. There’s still so much to learn, especially about the intriguing Delver siblings and the world’s deeper lore.

Highly recommend this one to any fantasy lover who enjoys strong heroines, rich worldbuilding, and stories full of heart.

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

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to a new urban fantasy series. The story of a young woman who worked hard to provide for her and her adopted sister. Riony, a former slave living in an underground city of refugees had dreams of becoming more.

This story takes us on a journey of the power of love. Riony went through so much to keep her impulsive, hardheaded sister safe, but things become complicated really quick when she stumbles upon a destroyed dragon's nest with one surviving dragonling. Now she has to work to keep her rare dragonling secret as well as the secrets surrounding her little sister.

When the unthinkable happens and Riony's sister is kidnapped; she finds herself traveling through the cursed shadow dragon lands in search of her sister as well as other children who have gone missing. Off on a perilous journey with a baby dragonling that must stay hidden and protected at all costs as well as fighting her way through monsters, slavers and other dangerous enemies will Riony have what it takes to keep her dragonling safe and save his sister before she is sold off to the highest bidder?

What to expect:

World Building
Dragons
Unicorns
Shadow Dragons
Revenants
Epic Battles
Sisterly Love
Betrayal
Child Abduction
Magic Wielding

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in Selina Fenech’s Shadow Dragon Saga of young adult epic fantasy and adventure. The setting is an interesting post-apocalyptic fantasy world featuring runes, curses, magic items, dragons, zombies, and unicorns with magical blood, and I can’t wait to explore it further.

All of the characters are interesting. The main character, Riony, is an escaped slave determined to protect her little sister after their parents are killed. She’s stubborn, sarcastic, proud of her physical prowess, and can’t resist making ridiculous lewd comments to attractive females. Her little sister collects inappropriate pets, which lends additional comedic relief in a story that can sometimes be very dark and violent. I love how the other characters they interact with are complex and not always clearly friends or foes. Also, I appreciate the queer and disability representation.

There is no romance in this first book, but it’s apparent that there will eventually be a Sapphic romance.

I recommend this story to those who enjoy YA epic fantasies, stubborn sarcastic characters, and slow-burn Sapphic romances.

I received an ARC from the author via BookSprout, and I volunteered to provide an honest review.

[Monika Gotthardt-Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the start; a sapphic fantasy with dragons? Count me in! I wasn't sure I would be able to read and review in time as I'm a mood reader and usually prefer audio and reading at the same time but I gave it a shot and I honestly couldn't put it down.

Riony is everything I could want from a main character, witty, queer and would do absolutely anything for her family including pushing herself beyond her limits. I loved her attitude and sassiness, it added some needed comical relief to a reasonably serious plot.

The setting was also really interesting, I really liked the idea of a community set underground living in stalagmites and stalactites, and the mix of different fantasy creatures was intriguing, I can definitely relate to Lyrrin and her obsession with collecting new pets!

There was never a dull moment, I wanted to know what would happen next constantly and I definitely didn't see a few of the plot twists coming which is always a sign of a good book to me.

I think readers who enjoy fantasy with dragons, family tropes, grumpy/sunshine dynamics and queer banter will love this book!

I'm excited to see where book 2 takes us, highly recommend!.

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

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riony is like an anti-paladin. As in she does all the stuff you would expect a paladin to do but she is far to crass, mercenary, and stubborn to ever be a classic paladin. I enjoyed the way this book unfurled, introducing characters and aspects of the world as the drama and danger in the storyline built. It's almost an early Poul Anderson meets Priory of the Orange Tree. Old, deprecated, lost tech (or is it magic?) from a previous time, a heavily stratified society, a young heroine with way more than anyone her age should ever be saddled with taking it in stride - sometimes I think only because no one was there to tell her it was too much.

I like that she is big and strong - not some delicate waif. Younger sister Lyrrin is exuberance shrouded in mystery and an incredible character in her own right. Other friends, enemies, frenemies? that come into the story add a nice complexity where as more history is revealed nothing fits quite where it initially seemed to.

This was a fast moving adventure that ended in a satisfying place but left me wanting way more of these characters and this world.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riony Eyfarr is a snarky scrapper with a wicked sense of humour. She is the ultimate survivor who has never heard of giving up. She is already raising an adopted younger sister and then unexpectedly acquires a second mouth to feed, a unique dragon-unicorn hybrid. When her sister is kidnapped along with a number of other children, Riony sets out to rescue them.
I thought the world building was very good. The author created a world that is believable and well-described. Maps are also provided. I thought the premise of the shadowdragon was excellent and a very unique concept.
The story is fast moving and full of suspense and surprises with quite a bit of humour thrown in. I really wanted to read this book slowly to savour every bit of it but instead found myself reading faster and faster as the tension increased over the course of the book. The content advice on language, violence etc. is accurate.

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

[Anya Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riony and her sister Lyrrin are trying to cope in a very dystopian world, with dead revenants, shadow dragons, dragon riders above ground, they are forced to liv underground in tunnels and spaces once owned by a race of magic users. Strange artifacts with runes are priceless leftovers from these days.
In her struggle to survive and put some food on the table Riony ends up with a hybrid baby dragon/unicorn. Taking care and being able to feed the little hatchling proves to be difficult. Especialy because she is after the kidnappers of her little sister, while meeting up with a Nemesis of her past.

I found this first book in the series a good read! great world building and developing characters make this story worth your while. I only wished she would have found a way to feed the hatchling sooner. Other then that: recommended!

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

[Redreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this YA sapphic fantasy story based in a world full of mythical creatures. You have a devastated world above ground and survivors living underground.

We follow Riony as she works hard to keep her adopted sister alive but when she is kidnapped by slave traders she must travel above ground with two others (who all share a dislike for one another) to save their siblings.

In a world where unicorns have been destroyed and hunted for the magic their blood possesses Riony ends up care taker for a unicorn- dragon hybrid and must hide her secret while traveling to save her sister.

This book was a very easy read I was able to finish in just over a day. Selina’s writing is wonderful and flowed easily. I will say the constant references that Riony was interested in women could have been dialled down a little but I did think the double entendres were hilarious.

I can’t wait to see what happens in book two

[Andrew Agnew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book. This was a first for me in so much as a civilization living underground, on little or no recognizable food, surrounded by areas infested by zombie like creatures, and others who still had slaves and flew dragons.
Riony is the MC. She is in her later teen years, with an adopted sister, who is “special”, but they must hide her specialty from outsiders. Riony had been a slave, but had escaped, but she meets up with her cruel owner throughout the book. And even she has something that makes her different (I won’t spoil the surprise)
Slavers take Riony’s sister and other orphaned children, and with the help of 2 other teens, whose brother was also taken, hunt them down. Clashes with the undead, and slavers ensue. And the whole time, Riony is carrying a special gift. And we meet the Shadow Dragon, the curse of the area.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Great world building
- Dystopian
- Dragons

I was absolutely enthralled with this book. The author does an amazing job describing the world in such a way that I felt I was there. As the first book in this series, world building is a must - and the balance between description and story was perfect.

In a world where humans are nearly extinct, Riony and her sister Lyrrin are barely surviving. Riony hopes to be chosen to be a delver - a job that pays fairly well.

However, when Lyrrin is taken, along with some other children, Riony focuses on rescue attempts. Further complicating her quest is a dragon hybrid she saved.

Action packed and rich in detail, this book is a fantastic start to what promises to be a thrilling series.

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

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Struggling to Survive . . .

Survival is not guaranteed as the strong female Riony tries to protect her sister while the two of them struggle to survive in an underground refuge. Unicorns have now become extinct. Yet somehow, a unique creature is born, a cross between a dragon and a unicorn! Dracuni is the only one of its kind and must be protected at all costs. Then Riony’s sister Lyrrin is captured, putting Riony in a difficult situation. Will she be able to find and save her sister? And can she do this while keeping the rare dragon-unicorn safe from enemies? Or will they all face death far too soon on this mission? Be ready for surprises throughout the story and constant danger to be dealt with. The suspense will keep the reader eagerly following Riony’s journey as she tries to do her best for those she cares about.

[Willow Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a World where most humans have been forced underground, we meet a young woman fighting for survival, to keep her sister safe and to keep family secrets safe.
This page turner takes you along with her, leaving you hungry for more. Selina Fenech has created a new heroine for our times, who is as complex as she is relatable. Fans of fantasy series such as Dragons of Pern will find this first novel in the series has similar strong themes such as family loyalty, danger and mythical creatures appealing.
With relatable characters, with LGBTQ community treated with the respect, I personally can not wait for the next installment in this series.

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

[Rukshy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riony is a midwife skilled in healing herbs with a tendency to adopt strays. She interrupts the destruction a dragon nest and rescues the last egg - that is cracked with the baby struggling to stay alive. She uses unicorn blood on it and creates a new creature - Dracuni - part dragon, part unicorn.

There are some elements of a great story here. The part dragon/unicorn is really exciting and has great potential. However, there are parts of Riony that are find difficult to read. She is very aggressive in hitting on females, that I find a bit off putting, however at the same time, there are some beautiful aspects to her character. An interesting read. 4/5 stars.

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