Dragon's Blood

Blood of the Covenants #1

by Leah E. Welker

C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia meets YA romantasy in this dual point-of-view, slow-burn romance.

Two races, one blood . . . .

Sarah Lind thinks her biggest problems are picking a college and helping her large family. Until she falls into the perilous Six Realms, inhabited by human-dragon shapeshifters who fight for their survival against the monsters of Earth’s myths. If Sarah is to find her way home, she will have to work with their Heir, who is kind and handsome enough to put her in a different kind of peril.

Koriben Sunfilled thinks his biggest problems are finding a cure for his beloved father and redeeming the magical Covenants that are the basis for his people’s existence (in that order). Until he finds Sarah, an entrancing Earthren who is just the person he needs to help him avert disaster.

Yet even greater shadows creep across the horizon. If the Six Realms and Earth are to endure, both Sarah and Ben will have to embrace their destiny—before the Devourer consumes their worlds.

Readers who love Brandon Sanderson’s hope-filled, immersive fantasy (but, let’s be honest, crave a bit more romance) will “devour” Dragon's Blood , Book 1 of the Blood of the Covenants Series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Romantasy, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Young Adult

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2024

About the author

Leah E. Welker began crafting stories almost from the moment she learned to speak. One of her very first novels was a fantasy retelling of Robin Hood, emailed to her siblings and best friend chapter by chapter.

Though she voraciously read all sorts of fantasy, she found her home in the full-fantasy realms of Gail Carson Levine, Patricia C. Wrede, Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, Christopher Paolini, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien. She hopes The Blood of the Covenants, her young adult fantasy series, pays homage to these greats (with an added dash of romance, too).

Leah lives in the DC area with her family and a handsome rescue Australian shepherd, Wes. You can find out more about her (and Wes!) at leahewelker.com.

Reviews

[Lael Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so light-hearted. Yes, the characters face danger and nearly die on multiple occasions. However, there is a sunny quality to the story and tone that I find encouraging and refreshing.

All the characters are vibrant and three-dimensional. Sarah is a sweet, selfless, courageous girl from the modern world of Pennsylvania, yet she has something of value to contribute to the drakón in this strange new place. She underestimates herself, worries about her newfound friends, and is at first adorably clueless to her role in this adventure. I appreciate her normality and how she’s willing both to take responsibility for others and also hand over responsibility (and potential glory) to “worthier” people.

Koriben, our second protagonist, is so patient with everyone but himself, always underestimating his ability to take proper care of those he loves. He’s quick to judge himself, and he worries easily. Yet all that self-deprecation comes from a sweetness towards other people and a desire to do the right thing. There are other important characters, of course, such as sly, clever, well-meaning Kor, fierce, bad-tempered Yvera (also good-hearted) and the King, an excellent leader and father. I also really like Svyer, a gentle, friendly female drakón.

There were some typos, but other than that, the writing is good, as well as the pacing. Welker’s style is rather informal, using narrative italics and “normal teenager” talk in her dialogue, but that is a nice change from some other books I have read. She knows how to add layers to her dialogue, leaving implications and hints that say more than the characters themselves. There are hints of upcoming danger and potential darkness, but the plot itself is wholesome and easy to follow.

I love the language and the time system. I find myself wanting to learn to speak the former, and the latter feels crafted casually yet well. Deks and dekens are two examples of said time system, and they are referenced by characters in the most natural way. Each of the seven worlds have their own star, and the history of the worlds as explained in the book is very interesting; the setting of the story feels like it was formed with great care.

The budding romance between Sarah and Koriben was squeaky clean and utterly adorable. They’re exactly what the other person needs, and the way they tried to ignore their feelings for each other greatly amused me (and Kor). This book is definitely a romantasy, and that works in its favor! I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dragons and journeys to other worlds, soft celestial magic, and sweet, responsible characters.

[Emily M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a big dragon reader (they're sort of like horse books, which I never got into), but my insatiable fantasy readers are always looking for new series. The comparison to Narnia here is just basically your standard human dropped into a fantasy world. It could have used a whole lot of Lewis's economical storytelling, which would have cut this book down to about four chapters leading into the rest of the series. It felt bloated and a bit indulgent, with a lot of sitting around talking about things and very little action. (I can always do with less interior monologues of young adults.) This book finally ends with a call to action cliffhanger that, at the pace the story is going, will take several books to complete. I don't have the stamina or interest in dragons to continue on, but a reader with more free time would.

The characters are your standard fantasy types, but I do have to say that there is a goodness and hopefulness to the heroine and hero (and hero's dad) that reflects the author's LDS faith. An evil Devourer is coming for the kingdom, but it's not hopeless. Unlike some dark fantasy I quit because I didn't believe Good would triumph over Evil, this series is one that clearly will have a satisfying conclusion. And while the author describes her work as romantasy, it is mercifully devoid of the foul language and smut one normally associates with that category.

I also must give a nod to the use of sunlight as an energy source for the dragon folk. It's an interesting explanation for how they use their magic, and having read too much fantasy (including, cough, Harry Potter, cough) that grants magical powers without any source or consequence for use, I appreciate world building that makes it something you store and use up.

Two and a half stars for me personally, but I have a kid who could get more into it than I did.

[Kit Trzebunia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshingly sunny, high-stakes romantasy driven by endearing characters, this one delivers all the feels.

Leah Welker’s website sports the tagline “Authoring works of light,” and Dragon’s Blood certainly qualifies as such a work. There’s a hopeful note that sings right from chapter one, while our protagonist is entangled in the menial work of caring (and locating macaroni necklaces) for a brood of siblings. That’s before she falls through a crack in the worlds, nearly ends up under the sacrificial knife of a group of ogre-like monsters, and gets rescued by a gigantic dragon.

The story is full of likable characters each trying to do the right thing in their own way. My favorite is bright, sweet Sarah, whose position within a large family has taught her to put others’ needs before her own; yet underneath, she is solid and strong as an iceberg. Kor, with his cleverness and wit, might be my second favorite—but I trust him about as far as I could throw him in his drakón form. You know exactly where you stand with straightforward Yvera, the BAMF who would relish a reason to punch your lights out. Then there’s Ben, a golden, sun-filled teddy bear with a savior complex who also happens to be Heir to the Six Realms. Less-than-worthy personas must surely exist, but everyone showcased in this book makes me smile. Maybe fighting against an encroaching evil bent on devouring all life as we know it tends to foster solidarity.

While there is plenty of action, the interactions among all the characters drive this romantasy. Ben and Sarah are pretty cute as they fall into first love, fighting it all the way, and it’s touching to watch their friendship develop. Though I am all for using dialogue to convey information, I did bog down in chapter nine. The 20+ straight pages of meandering conversation is absolutely believable, as well as plot-relevant, but it’s still just a lot. The narrative also employs too many italics for my taste, yet the exaggerated tone fits here.

Welker’s website bio states that she majored in English (linguistics, not literature) and minored in modern Hebrew. Not only does this make her one of my personal heroes, it explains why the bit of fantasy language sprinkled through Dragon’s Blood has an authentic ring to it. The story climaxes with a big reveal of just how high the stakes are, but even so it manages to end on a buoyant note, and fans will wait impatiently for book two.

// Note: I had the privilege of reviewing an ARC of this book on Reedsy Discovery. The above repost of that review reflects my honest opinion.

[K.M. Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice fun read

Sometimes I've just wanted to read a fantasy with dragon shifters that wasn't just erotica. Aside from Marc Secchia, I haven't had much luck in that regard. So this book was a refreshing change. Sure, it has the hot dragon prince, the soul bond, the insecure human girl who may or may not have powers. But it's not raunchy and the other characters are fun, the worldbuilding is interesting, and there's some action-adventure. Very nice change from the usual slop you see everywhere.

[Bella (volcano) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like absolutely nothing happened. I was just hoping for more. And I felt like the characters were unrealistic. All Koriben (Ben) cared about was keeping Sarah (our Earthren ) alive. His entire POV seemed to revolve around her being comfortable. Sarah seemed to be really sweet and all, but that was all that was to her. Like she wasn’t super special. Yvera was kinda js a bitch, and Kor was just there bc he’s smart. Kor was also a bitch.

[Jessica Pangborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great light read fantasy! Very creative and has a bit of everything.

Young readers: no spice, foul language

[Thumpercottontail · Rating 1 out of 5]

6 books released within June 2024 to November 2024. 😑

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
Dragon’s Blood by Leah E. Welker blends YA romantasy with classic fantasy vibes, creating a story where two very different worlds collide. Sarah Lind is an ordinary teen worried about family and college until she’s pulled into the Six Realms, a dangerous land filled with dragon-shifters and creatures from Earth’s myths. To get home, she must work with Koriben “Ben” Sunfilled, the Heir determined to save his people and his father while uncovering the truth behind their magical Covenants. Together, they face growing threats as the shadow of the Devourer looms.

The premise is creative, and I enjoyed the dual point-of-view and the slow-burn romance at the heart of the story. The world-building had some intriguing touches, especially with the Covenants and the idea of humans living alongside dragon-shifters. However, the pacing felt uneven, with some sections dragging, and I didn’t always feel fully connected to the characters despite their depth. While it has plenty of potential and moments of charm, the story didn’t completely captivate me. Still, readers who enjoy immersive fantasy with a touch of romance may find it worth exploring.

[Khursten Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came upon this book and was drawn in with a description that said "Brandon Sanderson-esque" with a little more romance. The fact it was also described as "clean" romantacy was also a draw (Read the full review for a caveat, but possible spoiler*). I quickly read and enjoyed the entire series. Book 1, admittedly, has a somewhat slow start (true to the Sanderson-esque promise), but once the excitement begins, it's very difficult to put the book, and the 5 consecutive ones, down. Since I read all 6 books back to back it's difficult to review them individually, as I am thinking of the story as a collective whole. However I will try my best.

Welker does a really great job of giving you small tidbits of each character at a time, slowly developing them into dynamic, lovable friends you deeply identify with.

I won't say her world building is earth-shatteringly creative, but while there are common themes with other series in this genre, she has truly created a unique world all her own, complete with combined magical/sci fi components that are indeed fun to discover along with the characters.

Where Welker really excelled in this series was in weaving the spiritual and relational ideals into the plot line in a way that was both heart warming and inspirational. I found the relationship she designed between Sarah and Ben to be relatable in many ways, since my and my husband of 20 years were also the only partners we've had, and we've always seen our relationship as a God-ordained adventure (if not much, much less dangerous 🤣 or world-changing).

As a mother of 4 and two of those being tween/teen daughters, I also appreciated the many wholesome themes and morals held/pursued by the characters. Such as wrestling with free will and choice vs trusting God's (the Trees) Sovereign will, the blessings that come with faithfulness vs the downfalls of turning away from truth and goodness, finding your inner strength, learning to trust your instincts, the importance of mental and physical well being, the importance of supportive community, believing in yourself, having hope for redemption, learning that you are lovable and valuable apart from anyone else's approval, self control--with power, abundance, and bodily desires, selflessness for the greater good, etc.

*One warning I do feel readers should be aware of, is that as you read through the series, the relationship between Ben and Sarah does become increasingly intimate. Know this before you or your kids get too attached! While I *mostly* find the interactions to be mild and even aspirational, I think the definition/description of "clean" might be debatable among some folks, especially parents who are trying to keep their kids innocent as long as possible. I made the mistake of letting my daughters get hooked on this series, only to get to the 5th book and realize the "honeymoon" bedroom scenes, while tasteful and triumphant in a way, and not in any way pornographic, are still much too arousing for teens trying to keep themselves pure. If I'm being completely honest, some of the make-out scenes in all of the books are probably even too much for some teens/tweens in that sense.

I do really appreciate the kind of romantic relationship that the characters emulate, because it gives young people something truly worthy and beautiful to strive and hope and *wait* for. I just think it's a stretch to call this series "clean", because of the all too realistic way she is able to describe the sensations and desires and gestures between the two lovers. As someone who is happily married, I found it to be sweet, exciting, celebratory, and beautifully emotional. But I do think my 15 and 12 year olds need a little more time to mature before they are ready for that level of intimate description (in book 5).

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this book! There is magic, dragons, ogres, Lycan-like creatures and some dark oppressive being that is so colossal, it takes up about a third of the sky. Very strong Lovecraftian vibes with that one.

As another dual-POV (I am seemingly gaining a whole appreciation for these) it jumps between the perspective of Koriben (Ben) and Sarah. Including Earth, you get to experience three different worlds, each with their own characteristics and ecology.

The world building was phenomenal. Learning about the history and the political state of the book was quite interesting. How each clan is both independent and dependent on the others, as well as their rocky pasts amongst each other gives credence to the path the main characters find themselves traversing. There is a great sense of loss and regret amongst the surviving clan members that is woven in the story and world that breaks your own heart as the reader. The spiritual guides in this world come in the form of trees. These beings communicate with not just one another but attempt to give guidance to the rulers of the clans. Similar to God in our own world, it is up to the heirs to heed their warnings or ignore them completely. Per their own turbulent and destructive pasts, choosing to go down your own path can have astronomical consequences.

The Devourer is the ultimate antagonist and the fear that masks the faces of those who simply hear its name is sobering. To think there exists a being so powerful, it can wipe out not only civilization as everyone knows it, but whole worlds and planets themselves. He relies heavily on his own minions to do is bidding as he can only physically emerge himself when the clans and the trees are weakened. Unfortunately for the citizens of the universe, that deadline becomes plain in this book.

Ben is the heir of the Sunfilled clan and is quite tall at a staggering 7 1/2 feet tall. He is exponentially bigger in his dragon form. At the beginning, I was afraid he was going to be another bratty main protagonist, but I saw the true nature of his character as time went on. Burdened with the sheer weight of trying to not only save his father, but the clans themselves, it is no wonder how he has not lost himself in the stress. He takes his roles and responsibilities with the utmost respect and seriousness he can muster. That is evident from the beginning and is only solidified when Sarah comes crashing into his life. As the book goes on, his leadership, courage, and patience are constantly being put to the test. Sure, there are some instances in which he may have crossed the line, but he shows his humility by apologizing over and over for his moments of weakness, particularly when it comes to Sarah's safety and wellbeing. Continuing with his humble side, he is the first to admit that he is not ready to take over the head of his clan, so he is all but willing to seek answers from those he deems wiser including the Tree of Fire and his own father himself. He stays true to himself and to his companions regardless of the circumstances they find themselves.

Sarah is the human Earthling of the group. On Earth, she seems to be one of the more responsible members of her larger family, taking over the brunt of the housekeeping, and childcare while her parents are busy with their jobs. One such moment in which she is prioritizing the desires of one of her younger siblings, she finds herself transported into a whole new world of mythical beings and magic beyond her own imagination. Regardless of all the uncertainties about her situation, she always seems to have a positive mind set and attitude. A very "it is what it is" mentality that was refreshing to read. She ends up discovering the very reasons she was dropped into this world and how integral her role is to the survival of basically everything, including her home planet Earth. Experiencing the dangerous beasts and situations of the world through her innocent eyes, was both fascinating and exciting to read. You truly feel connected with Sarah since you feel like you are learning and processing the severity of the whole situation right there with her. As she becomes aware of her true nature and comes to terms with the difficult choices she will ultimately have to make, she remains steadfast and welcome to any feedback those around her can muster.

The romance between Ben and Sarah is quite slow-paced. One of Sarah's true purposes, particularly when it comes to Ben is hinted at many times, but nothing is made entirely clear to the reader. I was fine with this since I wanted to get a clearer picture of the world itself before I wanted to focus on the romance which I thought the author accomplished nicely. They do share some tender moments with each other but neither of them dares to open themselves up to the possibility of romance. The quest is too important for distractions like that.

Yvera and Kor are Ben's "wings" (basically his protectors). They have made oaths to protect him along with the realm. They are about as different as night and day. Yvera is the muscle, so she is domineering physically as well as emotionally. She tends to put people in their place and not think twice about hurting anybody's feelings. She is hyper aware of everything going on around them which is both a positive and negative trait as her senses can be blinded at times. She clearly has a trust issue, especially with Sarah, somebody who Yvera blames for continuously putting Ben in danger. Kor is the scheming spy of the group. He is able to gather intel and secrets without anybody even realizing he is reading and digging for information. I found myself questioning his motives more so than any other character in this book. His attitude seems very nonchalant, but he seems to be hiding something darker underneath. Compared to Yvera's broody personality, his was a breath of fresh air. He acted much more welcoming towards Sarah, probably for his own purposes of studying her, but he was much more forthcoming with answering her questions.

The only unenjoyable aspects of this book that come to mind are the conversations. At times they are very circular and seemingly never-ending where the characters repeat themselves but word it in slightly different ways. In times of stress, these conversations were making me restless and a bit annoyed like they could not have thought of a better time to have this conversation. Also, there are some drawn out inner monologues that could and should have been an actual conversation, particularly when it would help the situation.

This being only the first book in a series of six, I am pumped to see where the story continues. Not only with the romance but the world itself. Will the characters be successful in saving the worlds from the clutches of the devourer? Or will history repeat itself but destroy everyone and everything this time around?

Unfortunately, this book was the only one in the series included with my Kindle unlimited subscription, but I fully intend to either hunt these books down in my library or bite the bullet and buy them. I am too invested not to continue on with the story.

[Lucee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragon's Blood (I'm not typing the rest of that title, what the frick) wasn't particularly unique, but it provided some solid characters and a setting I'm curious to explore further.

Considering how little happened in this book, I'm shocked at how well the author kept my interest. Our main character, Sarah — I wish we had an even somewhat unique name there, but okay — was sucked into the Six Realms pretty much immediately and finds herself in imminent peril. She is rescued by our second POV character and glaringly obvious love interest, Koriben (or Ben), and the adventure begins. Sarah and Ben had more of a connection than many romantic pairings in some series, and I'm glad the author is taking the time to develop it! My only gripe is that Ben's bodyguard and friend, Yvera, has a raging crush on him, which he is oblivious to. He also accepts a lot of disrespect from both of his close aides, seemingly blind to the fact that Yvera (and possibly Kor) wouldn't think twice before killing the person he's trying so hard to keep alive, Sarah.

Sarah herself is a level-headed, competent heroine, if a bit prone to self-disparagement. She very much feels like a stereotypical middle child. I'm curious to see what happens when the other members of her family come into the story — will she try to step back and thrust her more attention-seeking siblings into the limelight, or accept her importance in this world and with Ben?

The other installments aren't available through my library or Kindle Unlimited right now, and I don't quite feel tempted enough to buy the ebook copy of the sequel yet, but I plan on getting around to the rest of this series!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but fantasy must not be my genre. Like I'm kind of curious what happens next, but 5 or so books is daunting, especially since this one seem to have set up a mindless quest for them to go on that will fill up the next book before we get back to the main plot. Still, maybe I'm just being pessimistic?

I really liked Ben and Sarah - Although there names are agonizingly boring. (and the fact that ben is short for Koriben, while his leftwing is named Kor, really confused me for the first couple of chapters.)

Yvera and Kor were less pleasant. Yvera was actually better for me. She was awful, but was very outward about her distain and priorities, where Kor was... well, there's a part of me that thinks he's secretly a bad guy. I hope it doesn't go that direction, but I wouldn't be that suprised. Yvera, it's just clear that she has a crush on Ben and doesn't like all the attention new girl is getting. Kor is just kind of a jerk? My tip for Ben would be to fire both of them. Not for being terrible, but for not aligning with his interests. He has a singular goal of keeping Sarah alive and they are not only not willing to help, but would probably kill her without much probing.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting concept and detailed world-building, unfortunately it was sooo long, with a lengthy prologue before anything got started and sooo much internal monologue from all the characters that by the end of this very lengthy book, very little had actually happened. The whole thing needs an editor to take a knife to it and cut out half the content so there is actually a plot left behind.
Also, I'm not a fan of the big, tall male lead treating the female like a child who needs constant supervision and protection, and gets all angry and emotional is the does something without his permission - a terrible start to what is leading towards a romantic relationship.
Finally, the audio narration was terrible. It was impossible to tell the characters apart by the voices. The narrator seemed to try to put on a 'male' voice at times for Ben, but that would disappear in the middle of a sentence where he ended up sounding like a squealy girl. It was all over the place and far from professional.

[veetheworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn’t much I have to say about this book. I simply liked it, and I’m going to continue with the series. The story lacks a sense of realism in its characters, especially in Yvera’s personality. I find it highly unlikely that she would have been given the position of right wing, her paranoia is excessive and causes more trouble than it helps. Other than that, I’m enjoying the story, as well as Sarah’s learning curve and growth. Whenever it feels too idealistic or simplistic, I remind myself that it’s a YA book, and that’s to be expected from the genre.

So far, what I’m enjoying the most are the different worlds and the magic. Fantasy worlds do that to me—they transport me and make me wonder. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next books; I’ve already started the next one.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contained an interesting new world but I didn't love the newly invented time and distance measurements, I felt like that unnecessarily took you out of the story when trying to understand basic references being made... The characters were fun, and the premise of numerous worlds was intriguing. My main issue with this was that I listened to the audiobook, and while it's apparently narrated by the author, it was so lackluster and did such a disservice to the material - I found it to be so stilted and timid and wanted to quit listening as soon as I started it. I only powered through because I had seen such positive reviews of this book, but the narrator really tanked it for me and I'm not too interested to continue - this wasn't quite the story for me.

[Tracey Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Dragon’s Blood by Leah E. Walker. The story pulled me in quickly with its vivid world and fast-moving plot. I especially liked how the characters grew throughout the book—flawed but believable, and easy to root for. The dragon lore was a definite highlight, and the magical elements felt well thought out. There were a few moments where I guessed what would happen next, but it didn’t take away from the fun. Overall, a gripping fantasy with heart and imagination—I’m definitely interested in reading more from this series.

[Seth J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, my only peeve would be the repetitive use of certain phrases or descriptive words used throughout the book in places wheee it feels like those could have varied a little more. I know some of the phrases used were intended to be a type of curse word used by the dragons but then there’s the word mollified which is used quite often.

Otherwise a very engaging story with good description of the characters and environments throughout the story. I am looking forwards to reading further books in this series.

[Dari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I had high hopes… too high I guess. It was just too cheerful considering the end of the worlds and all that. Ever character was too nice, like cringy nice. And the romance. Oh my. I just have a low tolerance for instant love and this one was especially hard to swallow.
However, the CONCEPT and magic were fascinating. I was interested enough to google the synopsis for the rest, but I will not be finishing this series.

[Suki Rickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 1

Book 1 was an interesting read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well. The plot is a bit predictable and drags a bit. The characters are likeable enough and are repetitive with some information. It does get annoying with all the random clues, but no explanation until the last chapters of the book and even then it does not explain or wrap up a lot of the problems.

[Teresa Woodis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Read it for a summer weekly challenge. The challenge was to pick a book that the title started and ended with the same letter. While perusing my stacks of books, I ran across this lovely one. And since I’m head over heels with dragons right now, this one seemed obvious. What I didn’t realize is that that there are 5 or 6 more. WHAT??? You mean I’ll have to buy more books?!?! Oh darn! I have really enjoyed the first book and can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.

[deej.i.y · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

This book was cute. It was nice to read and almost light hearted, I enjoyed it a lot and may go look up the rest of the series. The author spent a good portion of the novel building the universe, lots of detail and interesting for sure. Would definitely recommend for young readers.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original and gripping

Avva, Koriben and Sarah are such nice people that I wish we could be friends. Their worlds are believable and their Trees are amazing. I look forward to joining them in the fight to save them. (I wonder how much help the wings will be.)
Leah Welker kept me reading late and early to find out what happened next.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Loved every bit of it. Characters are unique, the world detailing was so perfect. Everything was just perfectly written compared to some of the books I've read. The entire book was amazing especially the fact that it was CLEAN 😁, thank you for sharing this wonderful story with the world.

[Annemaria Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story in this book but the pacing needs work. Each time the characters get through some difficulty (big or small), there’s a substantial lull that breaks the flow of the storyline. I get that the characters need to recover and rest after battles but this time was used more to cram in background and filler.
Wanted to give it 3.5 stars but will give the second book a try.

[Alesa Bernat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

This was a lighthearted, but adventurous read! I loved the characters. The fantasy concepts felt fresh and new. Somehow, this author managed to create a fantasy that was not stressful despite constant action. It had mystery, friendship, adventure, and magic. No spice, but it was great without it.

[Saidah Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting was novel and engaging so I decided to read this book. Plus, I love dragons. I can read sub-par books if there's dragons in it. This was not a sub-par book. There were a few typos here and there but the plot was interesting especially the worldbuilding. The romance was formulaic but I didn't care about that.

[S.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So… I typically hate audiobooks, but I loved this one. It had a very nostalgic feel to it, like I definitely would have devoured this back when I was in my Percy Jackson/ Narnia/ Ranger’s Apprentice era. It’s a little older age wise than those, but the vibe is the same.
I really liked the world building in this but I especially loved the magic system. I feel like magic systems are typically geared around the stars, so gearing it around the sun was a cool nod to that, but still remained unique.
Really cool story, and a good audiobook (that was, interestingly enough, narrated by the author). 9.5/10 for that slow burn.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a new world crashing into the present with histories and characters that pull you in. My only complaint is the waste of words. Many sentences could have been shorter and clearer. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book.

[Brittany Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

So beautifully written, and I absolutely love that the male lead is super strong AND has real feelings about stuff! Very refreshing.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the green flags for Koriben.