Of Scale and Blood

Drakkon Kin #2

by Keri Arthur

The drakkons have joined the battle, but do they have the power to help win the war?

Princess Bryn Silva is a Strega witch, gifted with the ability to raise fire and mind speak to animals. It is a gift that helped her win the trust of Kaia—a drakkon queen in the prime of her life.

But the drakkons’ only weapons are tooth and claws, and they are useless against an enemy mounted on armored birds, and who possess weapons capable of eating through scale and stone with equal ease. After an aerie is attacked, the drakkons agree to a desperate alliance and the drakkon kin—a force of Strega witches mounted on drakkon back—is formed.

Despite initial success, Bryn quickly realizes that a handful of kin will never defeat the sheer number of gilded riders amassing off Arleeon’s shores.

The drakkons needed a weapon. They needed fire…

But the gilded riders were not the only danger closing in on Esan, the fortress protecting the eastern gateway into Arleeon. The Mareritt, a warrior race and an ancient enemy, also move on them, armed with weapons eerily similar to those the gilded riders use.

Weapons capable of destroying Esan’s mighty walls.

But the biggest threat of all could be the dangerous secrets being held by Bryn’s husband, Damon Velez, heir to the throne of Zephrine and a man she hadn’t wanted to marry but might well be falling in love with.

A man whose magic could give the drakkons fire, or utterly destroy them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Romance, Dragons, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

While not as strong as other series from this talented author, it is still engaging and fun to read. I do think the constant sex sessions and talk are a bit overdone when so much else is needed in the page space and gets overlooked. All those things that give depth and make an actual relationship and world are skimmed too much at times because of it.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, in this second book of the Drakkon Kin series, there was a lot going on, which is typical of this author’s awesome stories. Bryn Silva is recruiting more Strega witches with the ability to raise fire as drakkon riders, and has found more drakkons who are willing to be ridden, so they can fight against the gilded riders that are a danger to Arleeon and the drakkons as well. Her relationship with her new husband is hot and heavy, but she knows he’s not being totally truthful with her and is withholding information. They’ve determined the best way to fight their new enemies, is to find a way to share fire with the drakkons. Unfortunately, even if they can find a way to share fire, it is very risky for them all. An old enemy, the Mareritt, are threatening too, and they’re using weapons that are very similar to those the gilded riders are using. There was a lot of action, which I always enjoy, with the newest drakkon riders learning the best way to work with their new allies, and the younger drakkons learning how vulnerable they are to the weapons used against them, as they have quite a few run-ins with the gilded riders and also the Mareritt. The final battle was very intense, and heartbreaking as well, and there are some very important questions to be answered in the next story, which I will be impatiently waiting to read.

[Nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Keri’s ability to build a new world but this second book fell short after the first one. I enjoyed it but I feel like it could’ve been less back and forth on missions that didn’t really serve the overarching plot.

Regardless I’m looking forward to the next one.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo freaking good!! I'm lovin' this trilogy!

[Lorie Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Scale and Blood is the second book in the Drakkon Kin Trilogy by Keri Arthur. I always know I’m going to enjoy a book written by Keri Arthur. This series features Princess Bryn Silva, the sole child of Esan’s king. But she isn’t your typical princess. Bryn is also a soldier and a Strega witch, gifted with the ability to raise fire and mind speak to animals. In this world drakkons (which are basically dragons) have been hunted to near extinction. Bryn has always been fascinated by them and has spent years tracking their movements and formed a tenuous relationship with a queen drakkon named Kaia

In the first book, Of Steel and Scale, Bryn was promised in marriage to Damon Valez, heir to the throne of Zephrine, and a powerful blood witch. While she was attracted to him, she wasn’t thrilled to be marrying someone she wasn’t in love with, but felt she had no choice. But the hardest part of it all, is leaving behind her home and the drakkons. However, a new brutal and frightening enemy has delayed all of that. Villages have been completely destroyed by riders on armored birds who possess weapons capable of eating through scale and stone with equal ease. These same weapons are used to attack Kaia and her children, so Kaia wants to help Bryn fight them and get her revenge. Bryn also finds Damon to be an unexpected ally.

In Of Scale and Blood more drakkons have joined the battle, and more Strega witches are being trained to ride them. However, the drakkons only weapons are tooth and claws, so most of the attacking is done by the witches riding on their backs. Will that be enough to win this war against a powerful and unknown enemy?

As if that weren’t enough, the Mareritt, a warrior race and an ancient enemy, also attack them, armed with weapons eerily similar to those the gilded riders use. Bryn feels that the drakkons desperately need fire of their own and gets Damon to help look for a way to make that happen—but that too, could be very dangerous for both riders and drakkons. As the battle intensifies, so does Bryn’s connection to her now husband, Damon. Could she be falling in love with him? Or will the dangerous secrets he is keeping from her bring all of their downfall? This book ended with a major and devastating cliffhanger!

I always enjoy Keri Arthur’s books. They are filled with interesting fantasy lore, action, great characters, and a bit of spice. And who doesn’t love dragons! I also love the chemistry between Bryn and Damon, and the snarky drakkon Kaia. I can’t wait to sit down and read book 3, Of Blood and Fire, which was recently released, to find out what happens to Bryn, Damon, and the drakkons.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryn and all are fighting the new enemy that fly the birds with deadly feathers and dung. What if there could be other dragon riders and if they could give the dragons flames. That could really come in handy with the battle to save their land and lives.

Bryn is a strong lead woman. She knows what to do in battle and has ideas that could really help. She also has great people around her to help and make suggestions. She appreciates these amazing people.

We venture to see how things are and find Bryn in battle. BattleS. Yes, with an S. These pages don't stop flipping as I keep reading to see what will happen.

In this middle book of the trilogy we learn more about the enemy and the enemy of long time. There's more about the dragons and something new with magic. I do enjoy fast pace as Bryn keeps moving forward with learning and finding her way to get wounded.

I have the third book ordered and look forward to reading the finally of this trilogy. I have questions and thoughts on Damon, Bryn's husband. There's more to that man than meets the eye. And how will Bryn pick up the pieces of where this book ends? I'm hooked on this series!

[Laurla2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

the beginning went slow and was hard to get into. it picked up the further in i got until the final third when i couldn't put it down. didn't need the romance, especially all the hinting that the romance might be a betrayal. i enjoyed the drakkons.

there is a map at the front, but none of the islands are shown, and cities that are talked about are not shown, so i was confused at times. if you're going to go to the trouble to include a map and talk about the various islands and cities, why aren't they on the damn map?

"do you honestly think any of them would refuse?"
"no, because they are as crazy as you."
"and you're stuck with that crazy, i'm afraid."

"what happened?"
"nothing. everything."
"as statements go, that's definitely not one of your clearer ones."

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!

This was such a great story, so fast paced and interesting…. I couldn’t put it down. I started reading this was done in like 5 minutes. The events in this book feel like an origin story. Centuries from now, Arleeons will wonder how and when people first started bonding with drakkons. Bryn and Kaia will be mythical characters. I really love the story line and characters, and will have to wait, impatiently, for the next book

[Melanie Mcclure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing job!

This was a very strong 2nd book in the trilogy. From the first chapter, I was pulled in and engrossed in the amazing world. Although I don't like cliffhangers, the way this book ended has me dying for the final book!

[Tracy Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters. Not a book

Some day this trend of novellas- worse, a collection of chapters with NO PLOT RESOLUTION will end. Until then, alas... even some of my former favorite authors join in rather than putting out complete stories with any plot line resolution at all.

[STEVE G MCCORMICK · Rating 5 out of 5]

kin

So we know how Drakkons became Dragons with fire abilities. So book 2 is telling how Dragons and humans bonded and became kin. Keri has done an excellent job of developing the characters in this book! Can’t wait to get into book 3.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never go wrong with one of Keri Arthur's books. Very good storyline and I love the connection between Bryn and the Drakkons growing connection. Doesn't really end on a cliffhanger but definitely has me grabbing book 3.

[Isabel Ede · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better. The description of the action in this book is really realistic, and the amount of times I was unable to put the book down as just had to find out what happens next was exceptionable. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Kathy Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book ended too soon. It's so good. Keri Arthur delivers another great story. I was sucked into the story. Love the queen drakkon.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again these are among my favorite books!! Love everything she writes! Can’t wait for the next one to come out.

[mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved

This is a fast paced and I couldn’t put it down! The growing bond between Bryan and Kaia, along with the other riders and drakkons is something. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Kali · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had too much unnecessary plot points to me and essentially no plot. Somehow the plot of one new foe spanned over two books and still took forever to tell a story on

[Kara P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am LOVING this series and highly recommend it for romantasy lovers

[Ariel Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT. Immediately next book.

[Talitha Follett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not as good or gripping as the 1st book in the series, but I feel like it was really setting up book 3. The second half of the book was much more enthralling

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

That boy is being sus👀

I know he’s up to something

[Kat Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love the series, so far, I really hate cliffhanger endings. This one was a doozy.