Bonding Fire

The Throne of Dragons #1

by Ava Richardson

Only a dragon prince and a disgraced healer can save the kingdom…

When Prince Tagaris shows up on Gwen’s doorstep asking for help, she’s tempted to shut the door in his face. After all, the dragon lord banished her from court—alongside her mentor—when they failed to heal the dying king five years before. But Gwen can’t deny his request.

Tagaris’s niece, Comnena, has been stricken with the same mysterious disease that killed the king. And Gwen soon realizes the young woman isn’t sick—she’s been poisoned. The dragon queen insists her daughter’s condition be kept secret, so Tagaris devises a solution to hide Gwen’s true a fake courtship.

He’s the last person on earth Gwen could ever love, but he’s the only one she can rely on to help her cure Comnena. And there’s more to Tagaris than she imagined. As she finds herself getting closer to him, their fake courtship begins to turn into something dangerously real.

But can Gwen truly forgive the dragon lord? And can they work together to stop the kingdom from going up in flames?

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Mystery, Magic

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2024

About the author

Ava Richardson writes epic page-turning Young Adult Fantasy books. She creates lovable characters and drops them into intricate worlds that are barely contained within your eReader. Ava has written 21 YA dragon fantasy series, including her bestselling series Return of the Darkening and her recent series, Destia's Dragon Shifter War.

She grew up on a steady diet of fantasy and science fiction books handed down from her two big brothers – and despite being dog-eared and missing pages, she loved escaping into the magical worlds that those authors created. Her favorites were the ones about dragons; where they’d swoop, dive and soar through the skies of these enchanted lands.

Reviews

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➸ 4 stars

“Poisonous snakes are sometimes beautiful, that doesn’t make them any less deadly.”

Five years ago the King was killed by a mysterious decease no healer could heal, not even Gwen’s mentor, banishing them both from the kingdom. That is, until the prince shows up at her doorstep asking for help, his niece, heir to the throne has been struck with the exact same decease. Determined to heal the princess, Gwen must do what no other healer could accomplish, time is running out and she must figure out what the condition is and find a cure.

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐘𝐀 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐯
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜
𓍢ִ໋ ˖ 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

This was my first Ava Richardson book and definitely not my last! I had so much fun reading this and absolutely loved the book! The characters were very likeable and I was constantly rooting for them! The mystery had me hooked from the start and I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to figure out who was behind everything! I did figure out who it was around halfway through but I still wanted to figure out the why! There is still some things left unfinished and I can’t wait to see how this series continues!! (the small cliffhanger at the end?! I need the second book now!)

➸ quotes

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ "𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲?" 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝.”

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ “𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐬. 𝐒𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝.”

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ "𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬."

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?”

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ “𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.”

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭…𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞. 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝. 𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

𓍢ִ໋ ˖ “𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.”

—

THE ENDING?! I NEED MORE I NEED ANSWERSS!! anyways this was so fun rtc!!

𓍢ִ໋ ˖🐉 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⊹𖧧 ࣪ - i haven’t read a dragon book in a while, this one sounds promising so hoping it delivers!

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok. I was not the target audience, definitely felt like a YA fantasy book. Which there are some in that genre I still really enjoy. I just got bored with this one and about halfway through skimmed to the end. I did think it was a bit silly that Tagaris has been trying to find a healer for his niece...they'd gone through quite a few experienced healers. Then Gwen shows up and within two minutes is able to figure out what is wrong. Come on now...how is it possible not one of the previous healers figured out that the niece had the same illness as her grandfather who died from it just five years before lol

Content: Clean

[Shania Snelgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kept me on my toes trying to figure out who the bad guy was😅 but also, some of the twists and turns in this book. Oof. And nice cliffhanger ending.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and easy clean YA romantasy read. The plot and pacing were good, and the main characters were likeable (IMO), but I generally prefer some more depth to the characters, as well as more world building in a fantasy book. Although, it sounds like there is a potential for greater world building in the next book of the series. I liked the development of the relationship between the two main characters and how that impacts Gwen and Tagaris's individual magical abilities.

The book doesn't end on a cliff hanger, but does make you interested to see what the Gwen and Tagaris discover in the next book.

I rate Bonding Fire 3.5/5 stars, rounded up. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, light, clean romance with a little magic involved. Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen, the female human witch lead, is a graduated healer, though she continues to work with her adopted mother long after their exile from court for not successfully healing the dragon shifter king.

When Tagaris, the dragon shifter prince male lead, who cut her adopted mother’s hand off as punishment for her failure, comes to request their healing services again, she’s not interested. She doesn’t like or trust him, but there’s no option.

Then she’s spotted in court and they need a reason for her presence. Now they need to mimic a successful relationship, heal a Princess, and find the source of her illness.

This story is dual POV, well written and edited, and an interesting, detailed, fake relationship, clean fantasy romance. I don’t normally read truly clean romance but this story was intriguing and engaging and I definitely enjoyed it. I enjoyed Gwen’s confidence in herself and her lack of regard for Tagaris’ status. I enjoyed Tagaris’ gradually revealed complexities. I enjoyed their relationship development. I enjoyed the highly integrated secondary characters, especially the princess Gwen was attempting to heal, and the strong non-romance plot. I enjoyed the clever ending that was both a satisfactory resolution to their romance and left me waiting with interest for the next in the series (I loathe a genuine cliffhanger - this was perfect).

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me constantly guessing, as I eagerly tried to unravel the mystery of the antagonist amidst a labyrinth of twists and turns. The cliffhanger ending left me yearning for more, a testament to the author's skill in crafting suspenseful narratives.

Written from dual perspectives, the story is impeccably executed with seamless transitions between characters. It presents a captivating blend of fantasy and romance, characterized by a meticulously detailed portrayal of a fake relationship. The prose is polished, and the narrative is flawlessly edited, ensuring a smooth and immersive reading experience.

What truly captivated me was the dynamic between the protagonists, Gwen and Tagaris. Gwen's unwavering confidence and disregard for Tagaris' societal status added depth to her character, while Tagaris' multifaceted nature gradually unfolded, revealing layers of complexity.

The evolution of their relationship was a delight to witness, enriched by well-integrated secondary characters. The non-romantic plot line added depth and dimension to the story, further enhancing its appeal.

As the story drew to a close, I found myself both satisfied with the resolution of the romance and eager for what lies ahead in the series. While every aspect of the narrative is neatly tied up by the final chapter, there's a tantalizing sense of possibility lingering in the air, hinting at future adventures awaiting Gwen and Tagaris. Overall, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment in their captivating journey.

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

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonding Fire by Ava Richardson is an amazing new dragon tale from one of my favorite authors! Bond Fire follows Gwen, a healer, as she is taken to the capitol city by dragon shifter Prince Tagaris to heal a mystery patient of a mystery illness. The patient turns out to be the crown-princess and she is suffering of the same disease that killed the king 5 years ago. Also the same case that caused Gwen’s mentor to have her hand cut off for failing to heal the king, landing both of them in the dungeon 5 years ago and having to relocate their healing clinic to the far borders afterwards.

Gwen goes with the Prince because she has no choice but is determined to do the best for her patient despite the location and company. The resulting affection and trust that developes between the Prince and Gwen is a true redemption story for them both. I loved every second of this book. Every aspect of the story is wrapped up by the concluding chapter, but it definitely leaves opportunity for their story to continue in another book!

Genre(s): Fantasy, Dragon, Shape-shifter
Bad Language: none
Intimate Scenes/Reference: mild for kissing
Violence: a few fight scenes without explicit details or gore
Substance Abuse: none
Mental Health: none
Addiction: none.

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

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Richardson is always a must read for me!

Bonding Fire is book one in The Throne of Dragons series. We follow Gwen, a healer and castle outcast, after the disastrous death of the last king under the care of her mentor. Now a healer in her own right, she's been helping her mentor with healing, as her hand was cut off due to the death of the king.

Then one day five years after the incident, the son of the king and scary dragon shifter, Prince Tagaris, returns for their help as another has fallen ill with the same symptoms. Due to it being a member of the royal family, they want to keep the illness a secret. So as Gwen tries to heal, she also must pretend to court Tagaris to keep anyone from guessing the true reason for her presence.

I was so caught up in this story. At times it slows down, but it felt relevant and went along with the story. The budding romance, the mystery illness, and the whodunnit aspect all kept me awake half the night to keep reading. I love the shifters, introduction to magic, and unique healing aspects of this world. While this story arc wrapped up in the book, a huge question is left at the end leading into the next book. I can't wait!

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

[Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen is, now, a full fledged healer and works under the tutelage of her mentor Albertha who was once the Shifter's Court healer. Something happened when the former King died of a mysterious illness that resulted not only in Alberta losing her position but also her healing hand.

Now, 5 years later, when they are treating a young owl shifter in the small community of Kala's Well, the prince arrives at their door with his arrogant personality demanding to be received immediately, when a line of waiting patients is patiently seeking the services of the healers.

After waiting most of the day, Tagaris, the prince , lays out his mission and demands that Albertha accompany him back to the Capital where her services are needed urgently. Albertha, with her healing hand missing, decides that Gwen will go in her place.

As with all her books, the author uses her gift to mix intrigue, Treachery, vengeance, love, ambition, magic, murder and mystery to capture, from the start, the readers attention and make this a highly recommended page turner that I award 5 Stars.

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an advanced reader copy from hiddengems for giving my two cents. Wr meet healer Gwen who was banished 5 years ago with her mentor after failing to heal the king. They've been healing those who need it in a small village. However all that changed when Prince Taragis arrives to ask for assistance. Gwen thinks back tp that fearful day when her mentor Abertha lost her healing hand. Gwen reluctantly agrees to go with the prince but is warned from Abertha not to overdo her healing anf not to use both hands. On arrival Gwen learns it's the Queens daughter who is ill and needs healing. The princess reminds Gwen of their apprentice and vows to help. Taragis is not what Gwen remembers from 5 years ago and there is some softness in him when it comes to his neice. Gwen has grown into a woman and Taragis has taken notice. To keep the people less suspicious, a rouse is set that Taragis is courting Gwen so then they can wander about looking for herbs and possibly bad folk who wish to do harm. Gwen visits the nearby ambassador to learn about a mage who could poison someone. He is not forthcoming but his assistant, Strake is helpful. There are forces at play that don't want the princess healed and don't want the Queen on the throne.,,but whom? It's a race against the clock for Taragis and Gwen to find the cure. Weird happenings between the two lead to more questions than answers.

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen and Abertha had been banished from the court and Abertha lost her healing hand because they couldn’t save the king’s life. Tagaris showed up at their infirmary to get Abertha to go with him to heal his niece but Gwen was sent hopefully she wouldn’t loose her life taking to save Comnena took awhile to figure out that she poisoned the same as the king. Tagaris and Gwen had accidentally bonded also they went looking for answers, wrong person accused thrown in the dungeon then had help getting out. Realized that Tagaris had access to her healing power so she started a diversion for him to get in Comnena’s room went to see if she could help him when she was told who had been cursing her every time no one was around because it was a wizard shifter that was a gnat she hit him with a spark that killed him when he changed forms. They left the court. Good book!.

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

[Megan (BookWorldFox) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonding Fire By Ava Richardson is a fantasy tale of dragons, healers, and wizards. It is a story of love, betrayal, and friendship that grips readers' hearts. Gwen is an orphan who grew up learning her healing craft by the best. Tagaris is a dragon prince with a soft heart on the inside and has a bit of a hot head. The heir to the realm is deathly ill with the same illness that killed the previous king. The two must learn to work together and overcome past perceptions of each other to find the poisoner and save the royal line. In the world of shifters and magic can one human full of love and compassion make a difference? I truly enjoyed the characters and the story felt fresh and unique compared to others in this genre. I recommend this book to readers looking for a YA-style fantasy romance with mystery and intrigue. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen was there when Abertha lost her healing hand for failing to save the old King, and now Prince Tagaris has come to their door demanding another healer as if their kingdom deserves their return. Since Gwen was through with her apprenticeship, Abertha told the Prince that he would be taking Gwen back with him. After all, what good is a healer without a healing hand?

There are many a dark intrigues afoot back in the kingdom, and Gwen and the Prince are right in the middle of them.

This is another of Ava Richardson’s wonderful adventures rife with dragons and magic. It’s exciting, well written with great characters and a plot that keeps you guessing from beginning to end. There are no life and death cliffhangers, but we can tell the story goes on and we want to be there!.

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

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Prince Tagaris shows up at the home where Gwen lives with her mentor and teacher looking for help, Gwen is definitely not willing to help, especially because Tagaris is the person who cut off her friend's hand when she could not heal the King. But her healer's oath will not allow her to ignore his request. When she discovers who her patient is, the Queen's daughter, Comnena, she realizes that she will do anything to help her.
During this time she sees the devotion that Tagaris has for his young niece and she begins to wonder if she was wrong about him. When nothing seems to help, she goes in search of answers and discovers more than she anticipated.
A real page-turner that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

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

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncovering a Killer . . .

Five years ago, healer Gwen and her mentor Abertha were banished from court in disgrace when they were unable to save the King. Now it appears that Comnena, Prince Tagaris’ niece and the Dragon Queen Eupraxia’s daughter, has contracted the same illness and needs help as Tagaris brings Gwen back to save her. This time, Gwen realizes it is not an illness and that Comnena has actually been poisoned! To keep this information hidden at the Queen’s request, Tagaris pretends to be courting Gwen to explain her presence while they try to save Comnena. Working together, will Gwen and Tagaris begin to see each other in a different way? Are they falling in love? Can they save Comnena and find out who is trying to kill her? Or will the next attack be on Gwen?

[Barbara Salfelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book to be intriguing, with the mysterious illness of the princess and the back and forth of the prince with Gwen how they started out being weary of each other then growing closer treating the illness and trying to find the assassin. The added complexity of dealing with a Queen who eats people who she loses patience with. There is some dragon action, there is a romance blooming. It is well written, well edited and worth reading. Though it is a series and some mysteries have to wait for the next in serious. I will be reading the next one.

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

[Carol Ardeeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, it's almost like the fairy tales I've always loved and I couldn't put it down. As Gwen is summoned to court by the prince to heal an unknown patient, she cringes due to the terrible experience five years ago. Her mentor and the one who raised her cannot stop the return. As the story unfolds the patient is revealed as the prince's beloved niece and the event of the five years past is learned. As the prince and Gwen work together the plot thickens and the action begins. Don't miss this captivating read! I can't wait for book 2!.

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

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is riveting and quite a page turner! It has something for everyone; with magic, wizards, romance, court intrigue or dragons. I loved the awesome characters, great world building and the ethical oath the healers take. Despite what happened in the past, Gwen reluctantly travels back to the court, with the disliked Prince, to heal an important patient. Things become complicated fast and she fears for her life! This action-packed story is filled with danger, shifters, magic, wizards, royalty, healers, potions, spells, touch-healing, bonding, sickroom, intrigue, dungeons, prophesy, family, romance, battles, and more!

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen is a healer. She was an apprentice to Abertha and now Nesta is her apprentice. Abertha lost her healing hand to the dragon royals because she couldn’t save the King from his illness and he died. Prince Tagaris shows up and requests Abertha’s help. However, since she doesn’t have a healing hand and she is old, she sends Gwen in her place. This book is an emotional roller coaster with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of quips that are hilarious. I actually got nauseous a few times while reading when I realized who the bad guy was. So much happens in the book and I can’t wait to see what happens next. We find out so many interesting things about this world of shifters, mages, etc.

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

[Rukshy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonding Fire is the first in a series. Prince Tagaris arrives at healer Gwen's door wanting her mentor to heal his niece from a mysterious illness. Unfortunately, previous dealings with Tagaris lead to mistrust as he amputated her mentor's healing arm after she failed to heal his father, the King. What ensues is a tale of intrigue and mystery and Gwen strives to heal the young princess, a very sweet child as well as discover the source of the illness. The writing is well done and the characters are delightful. 5/5 stars.

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

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!

This was such a great solid read. The world building was fantastic and the plot was at a good steady pace. I really did not expect the ending of this one, when you think it’s one person behind the evil and it turns out to be another, perfect!
I really enjoyed reading the dual pov���s in this book and I love that it gave me more insight into the characters thoughts.
The romance was a nice slow burn in this one and I loved that you find out that they had unknowing bonded through their interactions.
The characters were well written and I found that they had a good depth to them.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Although I enjoyed the book enough to read to the end . I found the some of the pacing in the book to be very slow. but the author did give me enough to want to reach the end . I am glad i did not only because the pace pick up. It has made me want to know what happens in the future. this part of a series. its the 1st book. 2nd book has no date yet. disclaimer i dont usually like books in the romance genre but because i have been following the author for a while I gave it a chance. I am glad i did.

[Carla Zanghellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story about healing and i loved every ounce of it. It's complicated to reach a goal under pressure, but the main character is completely absorbed by her mission and won't let anything distract her from her duty.
Don't expect the story to be mainly about shifters, but more about healing and the trust that grows slowly among the group involved. I look forward to hearing how the story develops.

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

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonding Fire is another masterpiece from the queen of Dragon writers, Ava Richardson. Once again she has created an excellent coming of age story set in a fantasy world alongside dragons. The story was compellingly written with characters that came into their own by stepping into situations they were not expecting. Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t stop until I finished. Now I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment to see what comes after Bonding Fire.

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

[martina h · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure I would like this one, but I loved it!! Gwen is a healer that is brought to Basilicos by prince Tagaris to heal his niece Comnena. She has a disease that has resisted all healing attempts-- a disease that also took the life her grandfather. Can Gwen overcome her wariness of the prince and heal Comnena? This is a different take on dragon bonds that is awesome! Can't wait to read the next book in the series!.

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

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen never wanted to see Prince Tagaris again, but destiny has other plans for her and she is going to be dragged back into his court and the politics of it all. Gwen is a healer, so it's not like she would want to refuse to try and heal someone, and she is not going to deny Comnena her skills to spite her Uncle (Prince Tagaris). I loved the characters, twists, betrayals, drama and the way the story just pulled me in, but I have to know the answer to the next question.

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

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

FMC is 22, MMC was 100 in dragon years ( approx 26)

I think with their ages I was hoping for more NA but this was straight YA. Both had age-appropriate skills and their friendship was slow burn romantic. Just sort of fell flat both on the romance and action/ suspense. I read this to see if it would be a good book for my son but it focused too much on the romance that I know he wouldn't enjoy. Not that romance is bad but it just kind of felt like they didn't really DO anything other than think mushy thoughts about each other.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

BONDING FIRE is the first of a new Series from Ava Richardson. If it's possible for Epic Fantasy to be comfortable and cozy, this is it. Yes, there is some gore, but in context and goes to show the violence of the ruling culture. Rife with Shifters, the characters are well-approached and rendered appealing.

BONDING FIRE.
Ava Richardson.
THE THRONE OF DRAGONS, Book 1.
Release: February 28, 2024.

[Kelly Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Throne of Dragons promises to be a great series! The main characters, Gwen & Tagaris are interesting and also complex, can they overcome their differences and find a cure together? The story has twists and turns that keeps you guessing about what will happen next. Looking forward to the next book in the series! Thank you Ava!.

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

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although all different, Ava Richardson’s books have a similar feel, and like here they are all fun reads. This is a fantasy story you can relax with. Familiar fantasy themes, surrounding a smooth satisfying centre. The only minor downside for me was the ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that’ stumbling search for a cure. But that didn’t spoil the whole. Thank you to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.