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Dragonsbane
For subjects of the impervious project, what doesn't kill them actually does make them stronger.
Children purchased in their youth are involuntary subjects of a dragonblood transfusion, which gave them unexpected results where they developed adaptive imperviousness. They'd be unstoppable.
Ven Yashke is a boy genius who's about to attend Harvard Medical when a mysterious woman arrives at his home, offering to share information regarding the sudden death of his parents. He suspects they were murdered, but nobody believes him except for her.
But there's a kicker.
He must help her take down the facility running these illegal dragonblood tests, but the facility is through a portal to a whole different world, one that he's been to before without even knowing.
He wonders what lengths he would go to in order to get the answers he seeks.
Children purchased in their youth are involuntary subjects of a dragonblood transfusion, which gave them unexpected results where they developed adaptive imperviousness. They'd be unstoppable.
Ven Yashke is a boy genius who's about to attend Harvard Medical when a mysterious woman arrives at his home, offering to share information regarding the sudden death of his parents. He suspects they were murdered, but nobody believes him except for her.
But there's a kicker.
He must help her take down the facility running these illegal dragonblood tests, but the facility is through a portal to a whole different world, one that he's been to before without even knowing.
He wonders what lengths he would go to in order to get the answers he seeks.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2024
972 people are currently reading
11035 people want to read
About the author
Brady Hunsaker
10 books384 followersBrady was born in a stronghold at the base of the Rocky Mountains. He currently resides there with his wife, their two daughters, and a few domesticated house lions of a rare breed. He set out with the goal to write fantasy that anybody could read, with characters who face real life struggles. Everyone deserves to feel like there is hope.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
June 27, 2024
3.5, but maybe 4 though 🤣🤔
First of all, I want to say that I love the fact that this is a YA fantasy book that does not focus on romance. There is love between friends, a bit of blossoming love between teenagers, but it is never the focus. It is easy to read, fast-paced, and fun.
I do have to say that I think this book is a preview of bigger things to come. A (great) introduction to the world, and I think the next books will be even better. The reason I say this is because the questions Ven (and we) had at the start of the book are almost no closer to getting explained. Also, the "bad guy" in this book was not so much a big ominous presence (think a big company, an evil lord etc.), but a "regular" person they had to fight against. So, like I said, I think this book is more of a firm foundation for the story to take off. That's not to say that I did not enjoy it. The characters are loveable and grow during the story, it has some interesting things going on with the dragon blood theme, and I just can't wait to see how the next part is going to play out!
Also, personal growth and mental well-being is woven into this story and even though I love this (it makes for awesome quotes about self worth and mental health) I do think Ven is sometimes a bit wiser than his (17 year) age. But oh well 🤷♀️
In short: if you are looking for a YA fantasy, with a fast story, loveable characters and NO smut (and almost no romance either) you should definitely give this a try!
I was honoured to have received an ARC! ✨️
First of all, I want to say that I love the fact that this is a YA fantasy book that does not focus on romance. There is love between friends, a bit of blossoming love between teenagers, but it is never the focus. It is easy to read, fast-paced, and fun.
I do have to say that I think this book is a preview of bigger things to come. A (great) introduction to the world, and I think the next books will be even better. The reason I say this is because the questions Ven (and we) had at the start of the book are almost no closer to getting explained. Also, the "bad guy" in this book was not so much a big ominous presence (think a big company, an evil lord etc.), but a "regular" person they had to fight against. So, like I said, I think this book is more of a firm foundation for the story to take off. That's not to say that I did not enjoy it. The characters are loveable and grow during the story, it has some interesting things going on with the dragon blood theme, and I just can't wait to see how the next part is going to play out!
Also, personal growth and mental well-being is woven into this story and even though I love this (it makes for awesome quotes about self worth and mental health) I do think Ven is sometimes a bit wiser than his (17 year) age. But oh well 🤷♀️
In short: if you are looking for a YA fantasy, with a fast story, loveable characters and NO smut (and almost no romance either) you should definitely give this a try!
I was honoured to have received an ARC! ✨️
January 21, 2025
the premise of this book sounded so good but unfortunately it did not deliver. i feel like it was underdeveloped and the pacing was off. the dialogue didnt seem natural and the storyline felt forced.
June 6, 2024
I had the pleasure of ARC reading this book! I don’t want to give too much away in this ARC review because I truly believe everyone should go read this! Such an amazing blend of fantasy elements, lovable characters, and overall amazing writing and storytelling!
June 25, 2024
This YA dystopian sci-fi/fantasy novel is good. Easy to read and easy to follow. The characters are also interesting. What a unique concept of using dragon’s blood. Like most discoveries it can bring out the best in people or the worst. Ven is our boy wonder. A 17 year old tho just lost his parents under mysterious circumstances. He ends up forming an alliance with Mia, living in a different world that he finds himself in, Yeah, wild! The climax of book one had my emotions all over the place. At one point a few chapters from the end the author got me to gasp out loud. Mia wants Ven to do what? No way! The hook for book two is a good one. Dayelle’s explanation of what happened to Ven’s parents was a little unsatisfying but I think we will learn more in book 2 (why don’t I fully trust her?). I don’t think Ven has any idea what’s awaiting him and it’s not Harvard, if I had a guess.
I want to thank the author for an ARC. I fell in love with his first trilogy and I’m sure this will rank right up there with it. They are so different. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given. I recommend to all.
I want to thank the author for an ARC. I fell in love with his first trilogy and I’m sure this will rank right up there with it. They are so different. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given. I recommend to all.
June 25, 2024
Dragonsbane by Brady Hunsaker is book one in the Impervious Series. When I saw this book was going to be released I was ecstatic as I’ve read other books by this author and loved every one of them. This is a fantasy young adult book that moves quickly. But not in the was where things get muddled or lost. I read this book in about a day; my interest was caught from the start and each chapter just kept it going. The storyline is unique and intriguing at the same time especially with all the twists and turns. I mean, aspects of science and experimentation were written so well. Hands down my favorite part of the book was the characters, I loved them. Ven and Mia were amazing; their feelings for each other was great and natural. The banter in this book was fun and just flowed. This took my emotions on such a journey ranging from smiling to the point I was gripping my kindle so tight. The worldbuilding was very well done; it was easy to imagine everything the characters were experiencing. The plot while moving quick still kept a steady and addictive Rhythm. Needless to say I’m a fan of this book and I’m looking forward to more from Brady Hunsaker. I definitely recommend checking out this book or any other from this author. Two thumbs up!
Final review:
5 out of 5 stars
Final review:
5 out of 5 stars
June 25, 2024
Dragonsbane is a portal fantasy centering around 17-year-old doctor Ven and 17-year-old human experiment Mia. Ven is hired to take down a research facility that is running unethical experiments on humans, including Mia. Ven has his own reasons for taking this job, but soon forms personal attachments that threaten to get in the way of doing what needs to be done. When things get out of hand, he has to choose between finishing the job and staying true to his convictions.
The book gets off to a bit of a rough start, as the first few chapters contain a lot of info-dumping. This isn’t the only problem with the start of the book, either. The biggest issue is you are thrown directly into the main plot of the book, meaning you have no baseline for our two main characters. It is hard to feel that you really know either of them, or that you can fully appreciate their growth throughout the story, because you have no idea how they act on a normal day. I feel especially for this type of story, with all the drastic changes the characters endure, a baseline was really important and a missed opportunity.
If you push past these few chapters though, you get an amazing story. Dragonsbane has not only an intriguing plot that makes you want to keep reading, but great world-building, which is the trademark of any great fantasy. Aside from the main storyline, every scene adds to the story meaningfully; there is no wasted page. I also loved the different povs, which, aside from giving us insight to the two main characters, gives us insight into to the original antagonist of the book, and another key character at the end, leading to a deeper understanding of all characters, not just our protagonists.
One problem arises with the FMC, however. The book takes on a large task by introducing a character who has been raised in a lab, and in some ways fails to reliably portray the character. Her knowledge/lack of knowledge seems very inconsistent at times, such as the fact that she perfectly understands romantic attraction and relationships(though never seeing a couple interact) but struggles to understand the basic concept of money.
Other than this, however, the book has great internal consistency and development of sub-plots across the book. Plot twists are the kind that make everything you’ve read make more sense, which really adds to the story.
Finally, despite my love for the story, I found the ending disappointing. It is not HEA, and I personally felt that the ending betrayed the character development of our MMC, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the conclusion.
Overall, however, I had a lot of fun reading this book and would definitely recommend.
The book gets off to a bit of a rough start, as the first few chapters contain a lot of info-dumping. This isn’t the only problem with the start of the book, either. The biggest issue is you are thrown directly into the main plot of the book, meaning you have no baseline for our two main characters. It is hard to feel that you really know either of them, or that you can fully appreciate their growth throughout the story, because you have no idea how they act on a normal day. I feel especially for this type of story, with all the drastic changes the characters endure, a baseline was really important and a missed opportunity.
If you push past these few chapters though, you get an amazing story. Dragonsbane has not only an intriguing plot that makes you want to keep reading, but great world-building, which is the trademark of any great fantasy. Aside from the main storyline, every scene adds to the story meaningfully; there is no wasted page. I also loved the different povs, which, aside from giving us insight to the two main characters, gives us insight into to the original antagonist of the book, and another key character at the end, leading to a deeper understanding of all characters, not just our protagonists.
One problem arises with the FMC, however. The book takes on a large task by introducing a character who has been raised in a lab, and in some ways fails to reliably portray the character. Her knowledge/lack of knowledge seems very inconsistent at times, such as the fact that she perfectly understands romantic attraction and relationships(though never seeing a couple interact) but struggles to understand the basic concept of money.
Other than this, however, the book has great internal consistency and development of sub-plots across the book. Plot twists are the kind that make everything you’ve read make more sense, which really adds to the story.
Finally, despite my love for the story, I found the ending disappointing. It is not HEA, and I personally felt that the ending betrayed the character development of our MMC, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the conclusion.
Overall, however, I had a lot of fun reading this book and would definitely recommend.
June 4, 2024
thank you again Brady for the opportunity to arc read & review this book! i loved it.
˗ˋˏ Dragonsbane ˎˊ-
☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑ Author: Brady Hunsaker ☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑
₊˚⊹♡ Rating: 4 / 5 Stars ₊˚⊹♡
⋆˚✿˖° Review:
at first, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book as I haven't read many portal/alternate worlds as it seemed uninteresting to me, but boy was my mind blown! i loved this book! the setting and plot was very interesting and always had me wanting to read more. I enjoyed the vulnerability of characters, and Brady did a great job at making the characters feel authentic and real. the premise was exciting, and overall a great, enjoyable read!
♡ What I Loved:
- authenticness of the characters
- dragon/fantasy elements
- multiple povs were done well
- writing was very easy to follow, and transitions were described great
- plot of the experiments and ending had me gasping!
.ᐟ What I Didn't Like:
- it was rare, but very few times the POVs not being labeled or starting out with a bit of context of who the pov came from, very minimal and tiny amount of times it happened so not a big deal
- again, very rarely but pacing felt off on maybe 2 times, again, a very small amount of times
- i couldn't find many things to dislike, it is personal but i wouldv'e loved a bit more flirting between mia and ven! it is just a personal preference
-
જ⁀➴ Spice Level: 0/5, YA so I didn't expect any spice!
— ୨୧₊˚ Would I Recommend It?:
yes, i think the book is extremely well written and was very enjoyable. I found no grammar or english errors. i loved the writing style, it felt very modern and easy to follow. the ending is great and i am soooo excited for the next book! definitely recommend this book, this author, and other works. I was pleasantly surprised and loved it!
₊˚⊹♡ Conclusion:
i am very glad i took the chance to read something that I wasn't sure was going to be my vibe, it was a great read and definitely opened my eyes. i am excited to add another indie author to my list, and excited to recommemd and review future works! I will definitely keep an eye on this series, author, & recommend it. if you want an enjoyable, dystopian fantasy, id add this to your TBR
₊˚⊹♡
˗ˋˏ Dragonsbane ˎˊ-
☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑ Author: Brady Hunsaker ☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑
₊˚⊹♡ Rating: 4 / 5 Stars ₊˚⊹♡
⋆˚✿˖° Review:
at first, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book as I haven't read many portal/alternate worlds as it seemed uninteresting to me, but boy was my mind blown! i loved this book! the setting and plot was very interesting and always had me wanting to read more. I enjoyed the vulnerability of characters, and Brady did a great job at making the characters feel authentic and real. the premise was exciting, and overall a great, enjoyable read!
♡ What I Loved:
- authenticness of the characters
- dragon/fantasy elements
- multiple povs were done well
- writing was very easy to follow, and transitions were described great
- plot of the experiments and ending had me gasping!
.ᐟ What I Didn't Like:
- it was rare, but very few times the POVs not being labeled or starting out with a bit of context of who the pov came from, very minimal and tiny amount of times it happened so not a big deal
- again, very rarely but pacing felt off on maybe 2 times, again, a very small amount of times
- i couldn't find many things to dislike, it is personal but i wouldv'e loved a bit more flirting between mia and ven! it is just a personal preference
-
જ⁀➴ Spice Level: 0/5, YA so I didn't expect any spice!
— ୨୧₊˚ Would I Recommend It?:
yes, i think the book is extremely well written and was very enjoyable. I found no grammar or english errors. i loved the writing style, it felt very modern and easy to follow. the ending is great and i am soooo excited for the next book! definitely recommend this book, this author, and other works. I was pleasantly surprised and loved it!
₊˚⊹♡ Conclusion:
i am very glad i took the chance to read something that I wasn't sure was going to be my vibe, it was a great read and definitely opened my eyes. i am excited to add another indie author to my list, and excited to recommemd and review future works! I will definitely keep an eye on this series, author, & recommend it. if you want an enjoyable, dystopian fantasy, id add this to your TBR
₊˚⊹♡
June 25, 2024
4.5 ❤️
This story has such a unique blend of fantasy/magic and science in a world that feels both modern and medieval.
Following the mysterious death of his parents, 17 year old Ven finds himself transported to a totally different world. A world where dragonsblood is taboo but has the power to make a human nearly invincible. What if one of these subjects, impervious to harm and desperate to destroy, escapes the facility where they were created? In addition to seeking answers about his parents, Ven must also use his unique skills to try to shut down the facility and locate the escaped subject before it's too late.
This book has it all:
🧬 Portals to other worlds
🐉 Dragons & dragonsblood
🧬 Science & experimentation
🐉 Subjects impervious to harm
🧬 Sword fighting/grappling/action
🐉 Long journeys
🧬 Thought provoking themes
🐉 Just a touch of clean romantic attraction
The book is the beginning of a YA portal fantasy series. It's very easy to follow and kept my attention throughout. Ven felt maybe a *little* wise/mature for his age at times, but he is supposed to be a boy genius, so I suppose it's explainable. I love that the setting felt both clinical/sterile and archaic at once. It's clear there is a bigger world out there that hasn't been touched yet, but this book is laying a great foundation and setting up even more adventure to come. I look forward to getting my hands on book two after that ending!
Finally, please consider this my vote to officially name the horse "Horsey." It would be totally raz.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.
This story has such a unique blend of fantasy/magic and science in a world that feels both modern and medieval.
Following the mysterious death of his parents, 17 year old Ven finds himself transported to a totally different world. A world where dragonsblood is taboo but has the power to make a human nearly invincible. What if one of these subjects, impervious to harm and desperate to destroy, escapes the facility where they were created? In addition to seeking answers about his parents, Ven must also use his unique skills to try to shut down the facility and locate the escaped subject before it's too late.
This book has it all:
🧬 Portals to other worlds
🐉 Dragons & dragonsblood
🧬 Science & experimentation
🐉 Subjects impervious to harm
🧬 Sword fighting/grappling/action
🐉 Long journeys
🧬 Thought provoking themes
🐉 Just a touch of clean romantic attraction
The book is the beginning of a YA portal fantasy series. It's very easy to follow and kept my attention throughout. Ven felt maybe a *little* wise/mature for his age at times, but he is supposed to be a boy genius, so I suppose it's explainable. I love that the setting felt both clinical/sterile and archaic at once. It's clear there is a bigger world out there that hasn't been touched yet, but this book is laying a great foundation and setting up even more adventure to come. I look forward to getting my hands on book two after that ending!
Finally, please consider this my vote to officially name the horse "Horsey." It would be totally raz.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.
June 5, 2024
This is a great fantasy/sci-fi blend with a bit of a dystopian feel to it. To basically sum up everything I’m about to say, Dragonsbane is unique in the best way possible.
So let’s get into it. I have NEVER read a portal fantasy with an alternate world anything like this one. You have your castles and swords and whatnot, but you also have scientific development that makes the world seem eerily similar to ours. The only caveat: this alternate world blends science with magic. Super cool.
I think my favorite thing about Dragonsbane, though, is the way it made me THINK. I read a lot of books, and a lot of them make me think about things or ponder difficult questions, but Dragonsbane was something completely new in this way. Hunsaker presents the idea that there is a select group of humans who are practically invincible and do not have the same physical limitations any regular person would, and then he proceeds to pummel the reader with questions. Are these people still human? More importantly, do they still think of themselves as human? What is stopping them from tearing apart those who are weaker than them? Should such impervious people even have the right to stay alive, given the danger they might pose?
Seriously, it was incredible. This is not your average portal fantasy- it is a profound study of cruelty and capability and what it means to be human. The stark difference between the developments of two impervious characters comes largely from one of them being given a connection to humanity, while the other only disconnects further as the book goes on.
You will not regret reading this book. The story is thrilling, the content is deep, and the ending both broke my heart and had me overjoyed at the same time. If any of you have read and loved Hunsaker’s Ringdweller trilogy, so have I, and I’m telling you right now, this is even better. Looking forward to book 2!
*Disclaimer: I am writing this review as a person who received a free ARC for this book, but please know that this review is entirely honest and is not biased in any way. As an ARC reader, if I hate or DNF a book, I do not write a review at all, so the very fact that this review exists should stand as a testament to the quality of the novel.
So let’s get into it. I have NEVER read a portal fantasy with an alternate world anything like this one. You have your castles and swords and whatnot, but you also have scientific development that makes the world seem eerily similar to ours. The only caveat: this alternate world blends science with magic. Super cool.
I think my favorite thing about Dragonsbane, though, is the way it made me THINK. I read a lot of books, and a lot of them make me think about things or ponder difficult questions, but Dragonsbane was something completely new in this way. Hunsaker presents the idea that there is a select group of humans who are practically invincible and do not have the same physical limitations any regular person would, and then he proceeds to pummel the reader with questions. Are these people still human? More importantly, do they still think of themselves as human? What is stopping them from tearing apart those who are weaker than them? Should such impervious people even have the right to stay alive, given the danger they might pose?
Seriously, it was incredible. This is not your average portal fantasy- it is a profound study of cruelty and capability and what it means to be human. The stark difference between the developments of two impervious characters comes largely from one of them being given a connection to humanity, while the other only disconnects further as the book goes on.
You will not regret reading this book. The story is thrilling, the content is deep, and the ending both broke my heart and had me overjoyed at the same time. If any of you have read and loved Hunsaker’s Ringdweller trilogy, so have I, and I’m telling you right now, this is even better. Looking forward to book 2!
*Disclaimer: I am writing this review as a person who received a free ARC for this book, but please know that this review is entirely honest and is not biased in any way. As an ARC reader, if I hate or DNF a book, I do not write a review at all, so the very fact that this review exists should stand as a testament to the quality of the novel.
June 14, 2024
I had the pleasure of reading this e-ARC, and I absolutely loved it!
Brady's writing is so easy, it just flows, and you feel like you're watching a movie.
It has the perfect mix of fantasy, suspense and romance. And it's so fast paced, it is hard to put down.
The characters are extremely likable who face real life struggles. It was beautiful seeing life through Mia's eyes.
And the ending set a really amazing tone to the next book.
Thank you, Brady!
Brady's writing is so easy, it just flows, and you feel like you're watching a movie.
It has the perfect mix of fantasy, suspense and romance. And it's so fast paced, it is hard to put down.
The characters are extremely likable who face real life struggles. It was beautiful seeing life through Mia's eyes.
And the ending set a really amazing tone to the next book.
Thank you, Brady!
May 17, 2024
I received the book as ARC reader and I loved it.
It was truly easy read (though as not native English speaker there were few words new for me but I see it as a plus). Characters are well written, you will find out that you’ll think „what will he/she do?” after few first chapters. World is nicely pictured and I didn’t need a lot of time to find myself in this book :) I new what will happens at the end but it was very satisfying ending and it opened some possibilities for next books.
It was truly easy read (though as not native English speaker there were few words new for me but I see it as a plus). Characters are well written, you will find out that you’ll think „what will he/she do?” after few first chapters. World is nicely pictured and I didn’t need a lot of time to find myself in this book :) I new what will happens at the end but it was very satisfying ending and it opened some possibilities for next books.
June 13, 2025
couldn't finish it. very lazy writing.
July 1, 2025
DRAGONSBANE by BRADY HUNSAKER
Well HECK was this a fabulous read! Was it thrilling? Heck yes! Was it immersive? Heck yes! Was it captivating? Heck yes! Was the plot awesome? Heck yes! This book really started off very engaging, shrouded in a mysterious death and a young teen who's convinced it wasn't an accident. Ven, the mentioned teen, immediately tugged at my heartstrings, his loss and depression so vividly described, I just wanted to hug him. Everything he knows, everything he knew, was a lie and he swears he will get to the bottom of it. His whole life has been rendered asunder by this event and when a stranger approaches him, his life takes a turn he could never have imagined, nor been prepared for. What he undertakes, what he discovers, is far worse than he could have imagined. A facility he's been asked to infiltrate, a facility he's been asked to dismantle, a facility doing the most heinous of experiments with a forbidden substance, is enough to blow anyone's mind, especially after he sees the effects when he's assigned to Mia.
Ven surprised me, countless times, I like how the author captured his character, so plausibly, almost as a child genius, he IS 17.... and one does not expect such insight from a normal 17 year old; he's more versed, more knowledgeable, more proficient, just more. So are the other characters in this amazing story, more that is. I kept thinking I had them figured out but nope, Hunsaker led me on up an incline, a perilous path with so many turns. That's what makes this so awesome, the NOT knowing, the anticipation, not knowing who to trust, not knowing for certain if they had alterior motives, because, believe me they did! What I particularly like are the grey characters, where the line is so blurred, it's delicious! There are a few that are really hardcore characters, particularly Dami, but was it REALLY his fault he turned out as he did? The entire reason Ven undertook this quest changed dramatically for him, his inherent compassion and respect of all is maintained throughout, as dire as his situation is, he never waivers, never falters in doing the right thing.
Good golly, if I was sympathetic towards Ven, I was completely distraught at Mia's situation! Abused, experimented on most of her life, one would think she harbours anger and vengeance but quite the opposite, she's so humane and caring. I loved the awakening she experiences when she meets Ven. Initially suspicious of his motives, she soon embraces the warmth he shows her, the affection she's never had. Her emotional turmoil almost brought me to tears. I loved her sass and fierceness and her fighting skills are pretty awesome! I loved how she faught an inner battle with herself, yet still she chose righteousness over dominance. I'm not going to comment on all the characters, just know they are all unique, all do the right thing for the wrong reasons, or rather, the wrong thing for the right reasons... I'm finding it hard to relinquish them, I want more, I want to discover more.
The intrigue this author spins engulfed me completely, the twists threw me off the path I treading so carefully on, landing me firmly on my behind! Towards the end, my mouth got so dry from hanging open, my soul was screaming so loudly, I thought it would wake up my husband! What incredible world building! What an incredible plot! And good golly was it an incredibly EXCELLENT read! I loved everything about EVERYTHING! A warning though, do not start this book at night, I did and it was after 2am when I finally sighed, both in contentment and a burning need for the next book, as I read the final sentence.... but I couldn't for the life of me put it down! But once I had, I fell asleep with the knowledge that Brady Hunsaker is an author who will be an automatic read for me, his storytelling so beguilingly magical, an author I'll be stalking with relish!
Well HECK was this a fabulous read! Was it thrilling? Heck yes! Was it immersive? Heck yes! Was it captivating? Heck yes! Was the plot awesome? Heck yes! This book really started off very engaging, shrouded in a mysterious death and a young teen who's convinced it wasn't an accident. Ven, the mentioned teen, immediately tugged at my heartstrings, his loss and depression so vividly described, I just wanted to hug him. Everything he knows, everything he knew, was a lie and he swears he will get to the bottom of it. His whole life has been rendered asunder by this event and when a stranger approaches him, his life takes a turn he could never have imagined, nor been prepared for. What he undertakes, what he discovers, is far worse than he could have imagined. A facility he's been asked to infiltrate, a facility he's been asked to dismantle, a facility doing the most heinous of experiments with a forbidden substance, is enough to blow anyone's mind, especially after he sees the effects when he's assigned to Mia.
Ven surprised me, countless times, I like how the author captured his character, so plausibly, almost as a child genius, he IS 17.... and one does not expect such insight from a normal 17 year old; he's more versed, more knowledgeable, more proficient, just more. So are the other characters in this amazing story, more that is. I kept thinking I had them figured out but nope, Hunsaker led me on up an incline, a perilous path with so many turns. That's what makes this so awesome, the NOT knowing, the anticipation, not knowing who to trust, not knowing for certain if they had alterior motives, because, believe me they did! What I particularly like are the grey characters, where the line is so blurred, it's delicious! There are a few that are really hardcore characters, particularly Dami, but was it REALLY his fault he turned out as he did? The entire reason Ven undertook this quest changed dramatically for him, his inherent compassion and respect of all is maintained throughout, as dire as his situation is, he never waivers, never falters in doing the right thing.
Good golly, if I was sympathetic towards Ven, I was completely distraught at Mia's situation! Abused, experimented on most of her life, one would think she harbours anger and vengeance but quite the opposite, she's so humane and caring. I loved the awakening she experiences when she meets Ven. Initially suspicious of his motives, she soon embraces the warmth he shows her, the affection she's never had. Her emotional turmoil almost brought me to tears. I loved her sass and fierceness and her fighting skills are pretty awesome! I loved how she faught an inner battle with herself, yet still she chose righteousness over dominance. I'm not going to comment on all the characters, just know they are all unique, all do the right thing for the wrong reasons, or rather, the wrong thing for the right reasons... I'm finding it hard to relinquish them, I want more, I want to discover more.
The intrigue this author spins engulfed me completely, the twists threw me off the path I treading so carefully on, landing me firmly on my behind! Towards the end, my mouth got so dry from hanging open, my soul was screaming so loudly, I thought it would wake up my husband! What incredible world building! What an incredible plot! And good golly was it an incredibly EXCELLENT read! I loved everything about EVERYTHING! A warning though, do not start this book at night, I did and it was after 2am when I finally sighed, both in contentment and a burning need for the next book, as I read the final sentence.... but I couldn't for the life of me put it down! But once I had, I fell asleep with the knowledge that Brady Hunsaker is an author who will be an automatic read for me, his storytelling so beguilingly magical, an author I'll be stalking with relish!
October 4, 2024
this is certainly a unique plot to me! i loved mia’s kindheartedness despite her upbringing, and ven’s compassion and refusal to harm any innocent lives. not a lot of dragons yet, but there’s maybe hope for some in the next book?
i received dragonsbane as a eArc, my first ever! thank you so much Brady Hunsaker!
thoughts while reading
5%: this is strange
19%: mia loves climbing? she’s my kinda girl (or my brother’s more specifically if we’re being honest)
22%: omg why do they know him why do they know him!?? i’m almost certain this is not good news. what did ven’s parents get up to with the facility? and what is motive for being involved?
25%: yeah this unfiltered violence is exactly what zein was worried about
32%: ohh my god they’re dead? ✨no!✨
(this is a social media reference by the way, just for anyone who doesn’t live on the internet)
cause two can keep a secret if everyone else is dead 🫡💀
63%: ooft busted
65%: noooo yubo can’t
95%: yeah ok, of course , not
96%: shoot maybe
i received dragonsbane as a eArc, my first ever! thank you so much Brady Hunsaker!
thoughts while reading
5%: this is strange
19%: mia loves climbing? she’s my kinda girl (or my brother’s more specifically if we’re being honest)
22%: omg why do they know him why do they know him!?? i’m almost certain this is not good news. what did ven’s parents get up to with the facility? and what is motive for being involved?
25%: yeah this unfiltered violence is exactly what zein was worried about
32%: ohh my god they’re dead? ✨no!✨
(this is a social media reference by the way, just for anyone who doesn’t live on the internet)
cause two can keep a secret if everyone else is dead 🫡💀
63%: ooft busted
65%: noooo yubo can’t
95%: yeah ok, of course , not
96%: shoot maybe
December 15, 2025
This was a 3.5 leaning closer to 4 star read. It was a good YA sci-fi fantasy that had a cool story line and was an easy read and nicely paced. I feel like with this concept it would have been cool to read it in a more adult righting style but I’m content with it. I will say that there was a few parts that I didn’t really vibe with but overall it was a good read. I did think the ending was a little too easy tho
June 20, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
The premise of the story peaked my interest, but the story itself definitely needs some work. The pacing feels waaaaay too fast, trying to give us all the key details right from the get go without really introducing the characters or letting us get to know them, and there's not a lot that's really giving me motive to keep reading. There's no details to life, it all feels barren and I wanted to taste something.
The premise of the story peaked my interest, but the story itself definitely needs some work. The pacing feels waaaaay too fast, trying to give us all the key details right from the get go without really introducing the characters or letting us get to know them, and there's not a lot that's really giving me motive to keep reading. There's no details to life, it all feels barren and I wanted to taste something.
May 22, 2024
Welcome into the life of Ven, a rising medical student who is grieving the unexpected loss of his parents. He’s immediately challenged by a mysterious woman who quite literally changes his entire life. He’s brought into a world unlike his own and is working undercover to discover the truth of what happened to his parents.
Enter Mia. A beautiful but calculating and tactical young woman with a secret. The two work together, forming bonds of trust while fighting some common enemies.
Hunsaker graced us with some comical dialogue and multiple POVs, making this a quick and thrilling read for any who enjoy a good fast paced fantasy/adventure.
Filled with twists and characters who leave you wanting more, Dragonsbane was an excellent first novel into the strange world of Orund and the impossibility of the Impervious.
I’ll end my review with a huge thank you to Brady Hunsaker for the opportunity to read and review Dragonsbane as a selected advanced reader. I’m excited to purchase my physical copy for the stunning cover artwork while I eagerly anticipate the sequel to see what trouble finds Ven next. Will it be at Harvard, Orund, or somewhere else entirely? We’ll see!
Enter Mia. A beautiful but calculating and tactical young woman with a secret. The two work together, forming bonds of trust while fighting some common enemies.
Hunsaker graced us with some comical dialogue and multiple POVs, making this a quick and thrilling read for any who enjoy a good fast paced fantasy/adventure.
Filled with twists and characters who leave you wanting more, Dragonsbane was an excellent first novel into the strange world of Orund and the impossibility of the Impervious.
I’ll end my review with a huge thank you to Brady Hunsaker for the opportunity to read and review Dragonsbane as a selected advanced reader. I’m excited to purchase my physical copy for the stunning cover artwork while I eagerly anticipate the sequel to see what trouble finds Ven next. Will it be at Harvard, Orund, or somewhere else entirely? We’ll see!
May 23, 2024
***ARC Review***
It’s hard to write a review without giving away spoilers but let me try my best here.
What do you get when you put science and medieval magic together in a book ?
You get Dragonsbane
Portals -sold
Secret research facility-sold
Subjects with super inhuman power going rogue -sold
Dragons -sold
I really loved the book and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series. The characters were well written, the story was fast paced and so intriguing that all I could think about was finishing this book. The world building was simple yet captivating. The events and its timeline could not have been put in a better way. All the bits and pieces in the entire story meshed together at the end and yet the mystery entailed. The POVs of the main characters was very well thought off, where two different people from two different worlds shared the same moral sentiments. I have to say this is one of the best YA books I’ve read this year.
P.S. I want to thank Brady Hunsaker for giving me this free ARC. Though I received this book for free I have been honest in my review. Eagerly waiting for book 2.
It’s hard to write a review without giving away spoilers but let me try my best here.
What do you get when you put science and medieval magic together in a book ?
You get Dragonsbane
Portals -sold
Secret research facility-sold
Subjects with super inhuman power going rogue -sold
Dragons -sold
I really loved the book and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series. The characters were well written, the story was fast paced and so intriguing that all I could think about was finishing this book. The world building was simple yet captivating. The events and its timeline could not have been put in a better way. All the bits and pieces in the entire story meshed together at the end and yet the mystery entailed. The POVs of the main characters was very well thought off, where two different people from two different worlds shared the same moral sentiments. I have to say this is one of the best YA books I’ve read this year.
P.S. I want to thank Brady Hunsaker for giving me this free ARC. Though I received this book for free I have been honest in my review. Eagerly waiting for book 2.
April 25, 2025
Stiff
There was a lot of set up for stuff that didn't really go anywhere, and the pacing was all over the place.
Repeatedly just following orders of some adult, and then stumbling into more trouble, while somehow having way more info than possible.
They keep trying to stop this guy, do nets not exist? No matter how strong someone is, leverage matters. They made him watch for almost an hour while some one is drowned, but don't worry, he knows the stats for a lab to know she's not gonna die for 4 more minutes. Is that how drowning works?
I really thought the concept sounded cool, but it was just very off and frustrating.
There was a lot of set up for stuff that didn't really go anywhere, and the pacing was all over the place.
Repeatedly just following orders of some adult, and then stumbling into more trouble, while somehow having way more info than possible.
They keep trying to stop this guy, do nets not exist? No matter how strong someone is, leverage matters. They made him watch for almost an hour while some one is drowned, but don't worry, he knows the stats for a lab to know she's not gonna die for 4 more minutes. Is that how drowning works?
I really thought the concept sounded cool, but it was just very off and frustrating.
May 16, 2024
I told myself this year I would read some books outside of my usual genre. I am so happy I did, this book was fantastic!
This book is so fast paced it was hard to put down. The writing is amazing, it’s emotional at times, action, and twists & turns.
I don’t want to give anything away, I was definitely mind blown at times.
I recommend so much! ♡
"𝐼𝓉 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓈 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌."
This book is so fast paced it was hard to put down. The writing is amazing, it’s emotional at times, action, and twists & turns.
I don’t want to give anything away, I was definitely mind blown at times.
I recommend so much! ♡
"𝐼𝓉 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓈 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌."
May 20, 2024
Hunsaker has done it again! This was very well done, I loved how he introduced this world. There is just enough information to not get lost, but leave out little information to keep you intrigued. The tension between Mia and Ven is incredible, the ending is something that makes you want to cry to. It is honestly such an amazing story.
June 25, 2024
I love the premise of this book and how fast paced it is. The world building was great and this book is one of the best setups for an installment series I’ve read. I had a small problem with the ending because we never get an actual answer to the main question, but still a great book and I’m so glad I read it
October 2, 2025
Well written and engaging! Hunsaker is easy to read and takes you on an adventure with a purpose. It does read towards a young adult population, but the main characters are teenagers, so it makes sense as to why it reads this way. I wonder if hell get more in depth in the researches in the next book and include more dragons. I definitely will continue to read the series and look forward to it!
May 17, 2024
I’ll write a full review soon but here is my video review in the meantime:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRwE1GTn/
I am blown away by this book! I couldn’t put it down! Absolutely incredible… add it to your TBR immediately. Very different from his last series but just as incredible!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRwE1GTn/
I am blown away by this book! I couldn’t put it down! Absolutely incredible… add it to your TBR immediately. Very different from his last series but just as incredible!
June 6, 2024
This urban fantasy was thrilling, heart wrenching, and sweet!
Yen Yashke is getting ready to attend Harvard Medical School once he graduates high school, but the details surrounding his parents sudden and unexpected death leaves him feeling uneasy. When a stranger offers him a chance to learn the truth about his parents death, he takes it under one condition, take down a facility that is using dragonsblood testing on human subjects. Then he can learn the truth about his parents. Yen poses as a doctor in the facility but soon discovers that those being held captive are in desperate need of help. Yen does what needs to be done, but loses even more pieces of his heart along the way.
This story held me captivated from beginning to end! The sweet love story brewing between Yen and Mia, to the sinister intentions of Dami, and the fierce resolve of Mia to save others and herself, was so powerful to watch! The ending leaves the reader with a twist that I didn’t see coming, and I am beyond excited to read book 2!
Romantic Content: Clean, Mild Innuedos
TW: Abuse, Human Testing, Trauma, Murder
Yen Yashke is getting ready to attend Harvard Medical School once he graduates high school, but the details surrounding his parents sudden and unexpected death leaves him feeling uneasy. When a stranger offers him a chance to learn the truth about his parents death, he takes it under one condition, take down a facility that is using dragonsblood testing on human subjects. Then he can learn the truth about his parents. Yen poses as a doctor in the facility but soon discovers that those being held captive are in desperate need of help. Yen does what needs to be done, but loses even more pieces of his heart along the way.
This story held me captivated from beginning to end! The sweet love story brewing between Yen and Mia, to the sinister intentions of Dami, and the fierce resolve of Mia to save others and herself, was so powerful to watch! The ending leaves the reader with a twist that I didn’t see coming, and I am beyond excited to read book 2!
Romantic Content: Clean, Mild Innuedos
TW: Abuse, Human Testing, Trauma, Murder
December 31, 2024
The ending wasn't quite as satisfying as I hoped it would be. Its leaving plenty of space for a second part, while I felt like most things had been closed nicely.
This book had a bit of an issue of spelling things out. Perhaps I'm simply used to pining and long winded love stories, but the journey from 'meeting' to 'falling in love' was very, very quickly. In the end, it was even mentioned all of the book happened in 2 months. Thats a very fast love story!
Still, overall, I enjoyed reading this.
This book had a bit of an issue of spelling things out. Perhaps I'm simply used to pining and long winded love stories, but the journey from 'meeting' to 'falling in love' was very, very quickly. In the end, it was even mentioned all of the book happened in 2 months. Thats a very fast love story!
Still, overall, I enjoyed reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2025
*3.5* a little bit too fast faced in parts and seemed like it was mostly intended to set up for books following so the plot of this one kind of got lost but really interesting idea and i do believe that the series has a lot of potential
June 3, 2025
3.2 ⭐️
December 13, 2025
Such a great concept that truly delivers! Love all of Brady’s books! Can’t wait for book 2.
May 23, 2024
I love a good portal fantasy, and the premise of this one was just so cool.
I absolutely loved Mia and Ven, and that ending left me utterly heartbroken. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
I absolutely loved Mia and Ven, and that ending left me utterly heartbroken. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
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