The Ballad of Falling Dragons is the much-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon When the Moon Hatched, featuring an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.
“Moonbeam. A moonfall is coming.”
Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor—a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the world will face its most devastating moonfall yet, forcing her to pick a path:
Chase death.
Or life.
Desperate to save his kingdom from ruin, Kaan’s crown has never felt so heavy. His many larks to scattered friends and family remain unanswered, and time is running out.
As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past.
Sarah is an international bestselling author who grew up on a farm in New Zealand, where she spent her days getting lost amongst the rolling pasture, building forts in the hedge, climbing trees, and exploring the forest pathways—making up elaborate stories that never lost their grip on her.
She now lives in Australia with her husband, dog, three children, and countless plants, and spends her days pouring her stories onto paper rather than throwing them to the wind.
Her genre of choice is epic fantasy romance, and she thrives off dreaming up real, complex characters and immersive worlds to get lost amongst.
My review aged like milk but it's okay cuz I GOT THE ARCCCCCCCCC. Immediately starting this!!! My most anticipated read of the year 😭 __ BRO- OCT'25 😭😭 THAT SOOOO LONGGG 😔 I NEED IT RN!!
✧⋄⋆ pre-release notes ⋆⋄✧ ⤷ 01/08/24┊I'm not even finished with the first book but I already know I'll be going feral waiting for this. ⤷ 25/08/24┊Thinking about this at least once a day🧍🏼♀️ ⤷ 18/12/25┊I’m still yearning for this book!
I absolutely loved the first book. But this is extremely unprofessional to keep pushing the date back both for the readers AND author... July to October to February to April and now May 19th. If we can even believe that at this point?
I agree with what others said about being okay to give the author/editors time to make the book great. But other publishers are able to manage that process without giving 4 false release dates! Get it together HarperCollins.
ARC Review: I am so incredibly thankful to the author for allowing me to read this book early, in order to work on some art work for its upcoming release.
The Ballad of Falling Dragons completely drew me in from the very beginning. The writing is lyrical and atmospheric, bringing the world to life in a way that feels vivid and almost tangible, as though you are moving through it rather than simply reading.
What stayed with me most is the depth woven throughout the story. It unfolds with care, balancing an intricate plot with characters who feel real in all their complexity. The dragons and creatures are also a big part of why this book is so precious, they are described with such clarity that they linger in your mind long after. And of course, Kaan, steady, patient, and deeply devoted, he brings a quiet strength that makes his presence unforgettable.
This book carries a wide range of emotions. It is intense, at times darker than the first, and filled with tension as well as heart. I did find myself frustrated with some of Raeve’s choices, but it felt intentional, part of a larger emotional arc that ultimately made the story resonate even more, and have so much more impact.
Everything comes together with a quiet precision, like a carefully woven story where each piece gradually falls into place. It is immersive, emotional, at times heartbreaking, and truly breathtaking.
I would wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who love high fantasy and fantasy romance, richly imagined worlds, and stories that balance epic scale with deeply personal emotion, especially if you are drawn to romances that feel all consuming.
As an artist, I am already thinking of so many scenes I want to bring to life.
The anticipation for this sequel is brutal. I thought I’d only have to wait a year. SIKE. it’s been pushed to 2026. 😭 THE AGONY. But I guess it’s better than being rushed, producing a subpar sequel…not that it makes the wait any easier. I’ll just be over here, curled in a fetal position after this news.
5 stars. Are we surprised? Ballad put me through every emotion possible. We get a ton more action, more character POV’s, and all the heart wrenching moments. Raeve? One of the strongest FMC’s I’ve ever read. This is a character that you’re always encouraging and wanting to give the world and just….hug. I love this character so much. Kaan? The absolute best. This book was poetic & beautifully written. This is going to be on my ming for a long time.
This review is for The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker which releases in the UK on the 19th May! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When the Moon Hatched was such a good read for me, that I knew I needed to read this next one in the series as soon as possible, and thank god Harper Voyager had me on auto-approve otherwise they might have been bombarded by my emails 😂😂
This book lived up to every single expectation I had for it, and if life hadn’t have got in the way, I would have easily demolished this in one sitting. The world building was as beautiful and lyrical as the first, the descriptions for the settings and characters kept me hooked for the entire time. It’s full of twists and turns that keep you on your tippy toes just waiting to see what happens next. And that ENDING SARAH??? How could you do this to me 🥹
I loved the characters in this as much as the first, perhaps even more, as you get to see so much more depth to them as the story progresses. Especially my boy Pyrok, pls give this man a break. Actually, give all of them a break, they deserve it 😂 The way Sarah writes brings all characters to life, even the more minor ones, and you feel so much empathy for them and their struggles. I was in tears for most of the ending… you’ve been warned 😂
I honestly could not recommend this series enough, the hype over the first book was very justified and if you enjoy a good fantasy book with dragons and magic, then you will hopefully love it too. One of my fav series for this year and I will be waiting with bated breath for the last in the series.