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Dragon Hunter
Prince Caeden of Aericora has spent the past ten years wanting revenge against his kingdom’s enemy, Deovaria, after the Dragon Lord slaughtered his mother and sister in a brutal attack that plunged their kingdoms into war. He’s spent years learning the ins and outs of his role as the future ruler of Aericora, but sitting inside the palace walls isn’t enough to staunch his anger. He’s determined to convince the King’s Court to send him to the battle field to fight alongside their kingdom’s soldiers, but the risks are too high.
As he and the other members of the court watch their kingdom grow weaker, their defeat seems inevitable. As a last resort, the court offers him a deal that could both turn the war in their favor, and give Caeden a chance to take his revenge against the dragon controlling king of Deovaria. He’ll get the training he needs to defeat the Dragon Lord, but he must marry one of three princesses from their neighboring kingdoms to strengthen their army first.
As he and the other members of the court watch their kingdom grow weaker, their defeat seems inevitable. As a last resort, the court offers him a deal that could both turn the war in their favor, and give Caeden a chance to take his revenge against the dragon controlling king of Deovaria. He’ll get the training he needs to defeat the Dragon Lord, but he must marry one of three princesses from their neighboring kingdoms to strengthen their army first.
Paperback
Published April 30, 2025
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191 people want to read
About the author
Mase Evans
3 books20 followersMase Evans is a fantasy and romance author who enjoys a story that immerses readers in new worlds full of fun characters, adventure, and swoon worthy love stories. She primarily writes fantasy romance books geared toward YA an NA audiences.
She grew up in Houston, Texas with her younger siblings and began writing at the age of 10, finishing her first full length novel when she was 14. She continues to live in Texas with her husband and her four fur babies.
She grew up in Houston, Texas with her younger siblings and began writing at the age of 10, finishing her first full length novel when she was 14. She continues to live in Texas with her husband and her four fur babies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 25, 2025
Thank you to Mase Evans for providing me with an ARC!
Publication date is expected April 30th, 2025.
A new take on dragons which was refreshing!
Plot:
This story is about Caedan who desperately wants to fight alongside his people after the death of his mother and sister at the hands of the dragon lord and his dragons. In order to do this, he must marry one of three princesses in exchange for training.
Review:
I found the idea of the story a refreshing new take on dragons. The plot moved along at an okay pace. I feel like there were some things that had me confused. I had to actually go back and look to see how Caedan is described because there was not much focus on his appearance as other characters had. I think there could have been some more world building, it almost didn’t feel like enough. BUT, it was nice to see how the main characters didn’t immediately jump into a lover’s scenario and we got to see the side characters develop a relationship first. This story definitely has potential and I will definitely read the next book to find out more about that ending!
Bear in mind all opinions are my own!
Publication date is expected April 30th, 2025.
A new take on dragons which was refreshing!
Plot:
This story is about Caedan who desperately wants to fight alongside his people after the death of his mother and sister at the hands of the dragon lord and his dragons. In order to do this, he must marry one of three princesses in exchange for training.
Review:
I found the idea of the story a refreshing new take on dragons. The plot moved along at an okay pace. I feel like there were some things that had me confused. I had to actually go back and look to see how Caedan is described because there was not much focus on his appearance as other characters had. I think there could have been some more world building, it almost didn’t feel like enough. BUT, it was nice to see how the main characters didn’t immediately jump into a lover’s scenario and we got to see the side characters develop a relationship first. This story definitely has potential and I will definitely read the next book to find out more about that ending!
Bear in mind all opinions are my own!
May 4, 2025
Thank you to the author, Mase Evans, for the opportunity to read the eARC of her book, Dragon Hunter.
This story follows Prince Caeden, who agrees to an arranged marriage in exchange for being formally trained as a soldier to accomplish his goal of fighting in his country’s war and avenging his mother and sister. His trainer, Eryn, is the best of the best and a renown Dragon Hunter.
The characters in this story were enjoyable, however some lacked depth, especially the three princesses. I also struggled to connect with Caeden throughout the story as he didn’t have much personality outside of being stubborn, immature, and oblivious. Eryn and Ronan were very interesting characters.
The world building and imagery were interesting. The dragons and dragon hunting, although present, are not a main focus of the plot.
The pacing of this story was slow. I struggled to feel invested in the story. The action sequences were from Caeden’s point of view resulting in the reader being left out of some main action events.
The writing was smooth, but at times, repetitive. I found the plot twists to be predictable.
There was no spice or steam in this book. The romance is definitely a slow burn.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars.
This story follows Prince Caeden, who agrees to an arranged marriage in exchange for being formally trained as a soldier to accomplish his goal of fighting in his country’s war and avenging his mother and sister. His trainer, Eryn, is the best of the best and a renown Dragon Hunter.
The characters in this story were enjoyable, however some lacked depth, especially the three princesses. I also struggled to connect with Caeden throughout the story as he didn’t have much personality outside of being stubborn, immature, and oblivious. Eryn and Ronan were very interesting characters.
The world building and imagery were interesting. The dragons and dragon hunting, although present, are not a main focus of the plot.
The pacing of this story was slow. I struggled to feel invested in the story. The action sequences were from Caeden’s point of view resulting in the reader being left out of some main action events.
The writing was smooth, but at times, repetitive. I found the plot twists to be predictable.
There was no spice or steam in this book. The romance is definitely a slow burn.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars.
December 20, 2025
This was a thrill from beginning till end, and I really want to read the second book, so that’s a good sign. A cast of liveable characters and action tension all the way through. Oh and DRAGONS AHHHH
May 3, 2025
Thank you so much Mase Evans for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I absolutely loved this story! The story was so wonderfully paced, I was really engaged from the start! I am so intrigued for more about this world and what will happen next, the ending has me absolutely dying for more!!! I really thought the concept was so intriguing, and it really folded out in an unexpected way for me, besides the romance which I felt I predicted early. I enjoyed how most of the story I wasn’t expecting what’s next, although I do wish we had some more foreshadowing that I was able to pick up on, however I think maybe we will be having more revealed in book 2!
I really loved the way the plot has been set up so far, and how the characters are fitting into the story like puzzle pieces. I cannot wait to have more to read and hopefully have even more world building, magic introductions, and love 🥹. I knew where the romance was going from the start and it had me so giddy the whole time. I really enjoyed the dynamic between all the characters, and I got such ToG vibes which just had me devouring this story! I didn’t want to put it down, and I was always excited for what was happening next!
For my negatives: Definitely there was some language that I just wasn’t the biggest fan of, like some nicknames like “princey’ that were just repetitive and a bit awkward to me personally. I also do wish without giving any spoilers on who and why that the MMC stuck up for himself a bit when it came to some of the princesses and their opinions, I think some of that dialogue was a bit frustrating to read because you just want him to defend his actions a bit! I also do wish we got a bit more information in book 1, but I have a feeling that it’s setting up for something bigger that will be revealed in book 2, so I will be patient about that!
But really just a fun and easy read overall!! Definitely would have loved a bit more world building, but i’m generally happy with the amount information we received in book 1 and I am so excited to gain more information as the story unfolds! On my toes waiting for the next book!!
I absolutely loved this story! The story was so wonderfully paced, I was really engaged from the start! I am so intrigued for more about this world and what will happen next, the ending has me absolutely dying for more!!! I really thought the concept was so intriguing, and it really folded out in an unexpected way for me, besides the romance which I felt I predicted early. I enjoyed how most of the story I wasn’t expecting what’s next, although I do wish we had some more foreshadowing that I was able to pick up on, however I think maybe we will be having more revealed in book 2!
I really loved the way the plot has been set up so far, and how the characters are fitting into the story like puzzle pieces. I cannot wait to have more to read and hopefully have even more world building, magic introductions, and love 🥹. I knew where the romance was going from the start and it had me so giddy the whole time. I really enjoyed the dynamic between all the characters, and I got such ToG vibes which just had me devouring this story! I didn’t want to put it down, and I was always excited for what was happening next!
For my negatives: Definitely there was some language that I just wasn’t the biggest fan of, like some nicknames like “princey’ that were just repetitive and a bit awkward to me personally. I also do wish without giving any spoilers on who and why that the MMC stuck up for himself a bit when it came to some of the princesses and their opinions, I think some of that dialogue was a bit frustrating to read because you just want him to defend his actions a bit! I also do wish we got a bit more information in book 1, but I have a feeling that it’s setting up for something bigger that will be revealed in book 2, so I will be patient about that!
But really just a fun and easy read overall!! Definitely would have loved a bit more world building, but i’m generally happy with the amount information we received in book 1 and I am so excited to gain more information as the story unfolds! On my toes waiting for the next book!!
April 10, 2025
Thank you Mase Evans for this ARC Book! 📚❤️
The book started off slower than most I’ve read. It took me a little while to want to genuinely continue reading but once it picked up I was in love! The world building is great and the writing is very well done. Mase Evans is a very talented writer and I can’t wait to read book 2!!🤞🏼
The book started off slower than most I’ve read. It took me a little while to want to genuinely continue reading but once it picked up I was in love! The world building is great and the writing is very well done. Mase Evans is a very talented writer and I can’t wait to read book 2!!🤞🏼
April 18, 2025
ARC Reviewwww
While slow to get started, I really enjoyed this story and am really looking forward to how it all plays out. The cliffhanger has me ready for book 2 IMMEDIATELY!!
While slow to get started, I really enjoyed this story and am really looking forward to how it all plays out. The cliffhanger has me ready for book 2 IMMEDIATELY!!
November 8, 2025
This is a solid fantasy book, I enjoyed it!
I agree with some of the other reviews - it does start off pretty slow and the world-building feels dragged out. It took me awhile to feel connected to the characters and plot. For the first half of the book, you feel like you are being told things rather than shown things, which is why I think it feels dragged out.
BUT, the last third of the book really starts moving and you start seeing a lot more dimension in the characters. Once I got to this point, I became invested. The ending was so ominous and will make you want to dive into the 2nd book right away! Lucky for me, I have the ARC downloaded to my kindle and will be doing just that 😉
Also, the slooooowwwww burn romance in this book is almost unbearably slow (in the best way) - once I got to the scene at the very end of the book I was giggling and kicking my feet like a teenager 🤭
Rapid Fire thoughts:
✨Ronan = total homie
✨Eryn = badass B, like Black Widow vibes
✨Caeden = needs some therapy and a bit immature but I give him props for trying, I think we’re going to see him grow up a lot in this next book
✨Dragon Lord = from what we know of him, he’s intense bro. Like who hurt you?
I’d recommend this and stay tuned for my review of the 2nd book coming soon 🤗
I agree with some of the other reviews - it does start off pretty slow and the world-building feels dragged out. It took me awhile to feel connected to the characters and plot. For the first half of the book, you feel like you are being told things rather than shown things, which is why I think it feels dragged out.
BUT, the last third of the book really starts moving and you start seeing a lot more dimension in the characters. Once I got to this point, I became invested. The ending was so ominous and will make you want to dive into the 2nd book right away! Lucky for me, I have the ARC downloaded to my kindle and will be doing just that 😉
Also, the slooooowwwww burn romance in this book is almost unbearably slow (in the best way) - once I got to the scene at the very end of the book I was giggling and kicking my feet like a teenager 🤭
Rapid Fire thoughts:
✨Ronan = total homie
✨Eryn = badass B, like Black Widow vibes
✨Caeden = needs some therapy and a bit immature but I give him props for trying, I think we’re going to see him grow up a lot in this next book
✨Dragon Lord = from what we know of him, he’s intense bro. Like who hurt you?
I’d recommend this and stay tuned for my review of the 2nd book coming soon 🤗
November 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Wow! I must say the first few chapters did not prepare me for the rest of the book. It had my entire attention! The Prince and Eryn are such a good combination. I love the banter and the slow burn between the two. The cliffhanger ending, now has me pondering
March 31, 2025
I received an ARC of this, thank you to the author! This book had good bones, and I really wanted to love it, but I ended up rating it 3 stars.
Firstly, the positives- I liked the slow burn between the main characters, but I felt it could use some fleshing out. I did like how it was not insta love though, and the respect Caeden has for Eryn from the get go is a green flag in my book! I also enjoyed the pacing, I thought it had a pretty good overall pacing, maybe a bit slow in the beginning, but once I was in the later parts it maintained my attention for the most part.
The characters, however, felt a bit one dimensional to me. The main character, Caeden, especially felt like he had one major personality trait that was “I really want to fight” but the motivation wasn’t clear, even though he explained it several times. I also really disliked a lot of the side characters and thought their motives and characterizations were unclear, especially the princesses. Kylana in particular feels like a deviation from the main story line that does not make sense to me. It feels like she doesn’t add anything to the story, and that if you removed her altogether the story would operate exactly the same way. I really wanted to like Ronan, but he came off as cringey with the constant nickname of “Princey”. Maybe I’m just not a nickname person, but him working that into practically every sentence really took me out and cheapened their friendship to me.
The constant drinking to the point of drunkenness from every main character felt forced and uncomfortable to me at times. I understand Ronan drinks to oblivion every night, but I didn’t feel the need to see Eryn, Caeden, and Margaid do the same. It felt like a crutch to get characters to admit things instead of finding it in the characterizations to be truthful with their friends.
Overall, I think this series has potential, but the execution needs a bit of work.
Firstly, the positives- I liked the slow burn between the main characters, but I felt it could use some fleshing out. I did like how it was not insta love though, and the respect Caeden has for Eryn from the get go is a green flag in my book! I also enjoyed the pacing, I thought it had a pretty good overall pacing, maybe a bit slow in the beginning, but once I was in the later parts it maintained my attention for the most part.
The characters, however, felt a bit one dimensional to me. The main character, Caeden, especially felt like he had one major personality trait that was “I really want to fight” but the motivation wasn’t clear, even though he explained it several times. I also really disliked a lot of the side characters and thought their motives and characterizations were unclear, especially the princesses. Kylana in particular feels like a deviation from the main story line that does not make sense to me. It feels like she doesn’t add anything to the story, and that if you removed her altogether the story would operate exactly the same way. I really wanted to like Ronan, but he came off as cringey with the constant nickname of “Princey”. Maybe I’m just not a nickname person, but him working that into practically every sentence really took me out and cheapened their friendship to me.
The constant drinking to the point of drunkenness from every main character felt forced and uncomfortable to me at times. I understand Ronan drinks to oblivion every night, but I didn’t feel the need to see Eryn, Caeden, and Margaid do the same. It felt like a crutch to get characters to admit things instead of finding it in the characterizations to be truthful with their friends.
Overall, I think this series has potential, but the execution needs a bit of work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2025
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and even though I just finished it, I already want to reread it to catch what I missed and experience it again. Please go check it out and follow the author @evans_mase
The first and most important thing I want to say is: THAT CLIFFHANGER, WHAT? Even though I considered it after some hints were thrown, I didn’t expect it to be true. I don’t know how I will be able to wait patiently for book 2. I need it now! 😭
The first half of the book moves slows because we are being introduced to the world, and the protagonist, Caeden, begins his training and courtship of three princesses 🤭 However, if you are like me and like otome games, you will truly enjoy it. I loved how the princesses had completely different personalities and looks, but I don’t blame my boy, Caeden. From the banter to the time he spent with who he falls for, he was bound to fall. And, oh boy, he is down bad.
Apart from Caeden, I loved Eryn and her remarks. They made my day 😂.
Chapter 19 had me going: Margaid 😳 you did WHAT?
I have a soft spot for Ronan and loved his remarks and flirting. I hope we can see more of his healing in the next book 🥺.
The writing is amazing. I enjoyed it tremendously, especially the fresh take on dragons, their magic, and the action sequences. OMG, that final fight made me feel stressed, but I enjoyed Caeden’s growth. I also enjoyed how even though the story is mostly from his POV, there were chapters from others’ view.
An important factor that made this book even more enjoyable was how the female lead was strong and badass, and instead of needing protection, she was the one protecting the male lead 🤭
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and even though I just finished it, I already want to reread it to catch what I missed and experience it again. Please go check it out and follow the author @evans_mase
The first and most important thing I want to say is: THAT CLIFFHANGER, WHAT? Even though I considered it after some hints were thrown, I didn’t expect it to be true. I don’t know how I will be able to wait patiently for book 2. I need it now! 😭
The first half of the book moves slows because we are being introduced to the world, and the protagonist, Caeden, begins his training and courtship of three princesses 🤭 However, if you are like me and like otome games, you will truly enjoy it. I loved how the princesses had completely different personalities and looks, but I don’t blame my boy, Caeden. From the banter to the time he spent with who he falls for, he was bound to fall. And, oh boy, he is down bad.
Apart from Caeden, I loved Eryn and her remarks. They made my day 😂.
Chapter 19 had me going: Margaid 😳 you did WHAT?
I have a soft spot for Ronan and loved his remarks and flirting. I hope we can see more of his healing in the next book 🥺.
The writing is amazing. I enjoyed it tremendously, especially the fresh take on dragons, their magic, and the action sequences. OMG, that final fight made me feel stressed, but I enjoyed Caeden’s growth. I also enjoyed how even though the story is mostly from his POV, there were chapters from others’ view.
An important factor that made this book even more enjoyable was how the female lead was strong and badass, and instead of needing protection, she was the one protecting the male lead 🤭
September 19, 2025
This book was so good. The characters are well developed and the world building is excellent.
Prince Caeden is such a well written character, I love that he is strong, fair, playful intelligent and determined. Caeden just wants to learn how to fight o that he can fight alongside of the people in his country, but his father the King is not willing to allow Caeden to learn how to fight and he absolutely is against Caeden joining the war.
Lucky for Caeden he has a best friend that is also a soldier, one that is now the head of castle security. Ronan and Caeden train at night in secret. But the training isn't as often as it should be so Caeden is not making the progress he wants to make.
The war isn't going well, hi people are dying. The king will relent and allow Caeden to learn to fight if Caeden agrees to marry one of the princesses from a neighboring country. Caeden doesn't want to marry but, his country needs additional forces that a marriage would bring and he would be allowed to train so he agrees.
I am not going to go into any further details, but this one is really well written. It had me from the first page to the last. And the ending, man what an ending. There is action, I mean the country is at war. But more than anything you are introduced to the characters as the story unfolds so do their stories. I love how you get to know each of them as the story unfolds. The twists are there too. Action, humor, a touch of romance, danger, spies and dragons. Throw in a and insane king that seems to want nothing more than to kill everyone in Aericora, Caedens kingdom and well, you have a great story. I can not wait for the next book. I need to find out who that spy is, what happens to Caeden, Ronan, Margaid and Eryn
Prince Caeden is such a well written character, I love that he is strong, fair, playful intelligent and determined. Caeden just wants to learn how to fight o that he can fight alongside of the people in his country, but his father the King is not willing to allow Caeden to learn how to fight and he absolutely is against Caeden joining the war.
Lucky for Caeden he has a best friend that is also a soldier, one that is now the head of castle security. Ronan and Caeden train at night in secret. But the training isn't as often as it should be so Caeden is not making the progress he wants to make.
The war isn't going well, hi people are dying. The king will relent and allow Caeden to learn to fight if Caeden agrees to marry one of the princesses from a neighboring country. Caeden doesn't want to marry but, his country needs additional forces that a marriage would bring and he would be allowed to train so he agrees.
I am not going to go into any further details, but this one is really well written. It had me from the first page to the last. And the ending, man what an ending. There is action, I mean the country is at war. But more than anything you are introduced to the characters as the story unfolds so do their stories. I love how you get to know each of them as the story unfolds. The twists are there too. Action, humor, a touch of romance, danger, spies and dragons. Throw in a and insane king that seems to want nothing more than to kill everyone in Aericora, Caedens kingdom and well, you have a great story. I can not wait for the next book. I need to find out who that spy is, what happens to Caeden, Ronan, Margaid and Eryn
March 27, 2025
Thank you so much to Mase Evans for the ARC
It's hard for me to describe just how much i was blown away by this book. As someone who is absolutely obsessed with Fourth Wing and its sequels, I was incredibly excited to get started on this. While there are certainly some similarities, this was a completely different type of story which i am very happy with. With this being the first book in what i assume is a series (I hope!) we got a good peak into the world of dragon hunter without it ever feeling overbearing or too much, we were given enough details for the world to make sense with plenty of room for future books to explore further.
While the world building is nice and very fun, to me where this book shines the most is its characters! All of our main cast are beautifully developed and fleshed out, while still leaving more room for development in later installments. Our MMC has fully fleshed out motivations from the get-go with the rest of the book focusing greatly on his relationships with our FMC as well as his best friend. Speaking of our FMC, she has fully shot up my lists of favorite female characters, she has such an amazing development throughout the story that i was begging for more and more information on her. All of our other main characters as well as some of the support had great details and development as well and i can't wait to learn more about them.
One of the easiest 5/5 i have read this year. I plead for anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially those with a major focus on the characters and their interactions to give this book a try.
It's hard for me to describe just how much i was blown away by this book. As someone who is absolutely obsessed with Fourth Wing and its sequels, I was incredibly excited to get started on this. While there are certainly some similarities, this was a completely different type of story which i am very happy with. With this being the first book in what i assume is a series (I hope!) we got a good peak into the world of dragon hunter without it ever feeling overbearing or too much, we were given enough details for the world to make sense with plenty of room for future books to explore further.
While the world building is nice and very fun, to me where this book shines the most is its characters! All of our main cast are beautifully developed and fleshed out, while still leaving more room for development in later installments. Our MMC has fully fleshed out motivations from the get-go with the rest of the book focusing greatly on his relationships with our FMC as well as his best friend. Speaking of our FMC, she has fully shot up my lists of favorite female characters, she has such an amazing development throughout the story that i was begging for more and more information on her. All of our other main characters as well as some of the support had great details and development as well and i can't wait to learn more about them.
One of the easiest 5/5 i have read this year. I plead for anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially those with a major focus on the characters and their interactions to give this book a try.
May 4, 2025
Thank you to Mase Evans for providing me with an ARC for this book in return for my honest thoughts and opinions!
Dragon Hunter is set to come out on April 30th, 2025. It follows our MMC, Prince Caeden of Aericora, who wants revenge on the Dragon Lord of Deovaria, a rival kingdom, for the death of his mother and sister. He wants to fight in his country's army alongside his subjects but is not allowed by order of his father, the King, who believes it's too dangerous for the kingdom's only heir. Caeden makes a deal with his father that allows him to receive training from our FMC, Eryn, the top dragon hunter in Aericora, in exchange for a business marriage that benefits his kingdom. Our story then ensues.
Now, for my review.
This book is getting 2 out of 5 stars for me. My biggest issue was how monotonous it was. The first 150 to 200 pages of this book were pretty much the same day happening over and over again. Caeden wakes up after not sleeping enough or well and has an uncomfortable breakfast with his father and the three princesses from neighboring kingdoms he is choosing between to marry. He then spends alone time with each said princess and has the same conversation, or lack thereof, with the three of them as the day before. After that he moves on to his training with our FMC, Eryn, with whom he bickers and annoys for a few hours while showing no noticeable improvement. When he's done with that he reads books she's assigned to him as homework before not being able to concentrate and going to his alcoholic friend's house for the rest of the evening. Then, the day starts again and so on and so forth.
After 200 pages of this, the story starts building to its climax, which turns out to be 15 pages of our FMC and MMC running away, having a minor scuffle with four enemies and hiding in a safe room while the real events happen elsewhere. They are retrieved by the castle's head of security, Ronan, who is beaten and bruised the next morning. Even after seeing Ronan like this, we the readers are never informed of what transpired or what was said during this big event. The book then ends on a cliffhanger that I personally found pretty predictable.
Along with the story itself being repetitive, the dialogue was as well. Many instances of the same word or phrase being used multiple times in the same paragraph or even the same sentence. It just yanks you out of the story and back to reality.
I also didn't feel as though the characters or the world itself were really fleshed out. After all 400 pages of this book, I unfortunately didn't care about the characters or where their stories were heading.
With all that being said, some of the things I think the author did well were:
-the premise of the book
-the romance between our main characters not being insta-love
-the MMC being a green flag in regards to women, boundaries and his loyalty and love to his friends
-the gender role switch-up between our MC's with the FMC being the competent trainer and our MMC being realistic about his lack of capabilities at the start.
This book had some solid moments and it's evident that the author was excited about writing it and loved the story, which is SUCH a great trait for a book to have! I do believe it missed the mark in many areas but there is always a possibility for improvement. I will be continuing the series to see how it all plays out!
Dragon Hunter is set to come out on April 30th, 2025. It follows our MMC, Prince Caeden of Aericora, who wants revenge on the Dragon Lord of Deovaria, a rival kingdom, for the death of his mother and sister. He wants to fight in his country's army alongside his subjects but is not allowed by order of his father, the King, who believes it's too dangerous for the kingdom's only heir. Caeden makes a deal with his father that allows him to receive training from our FMC, Eryn, the top dragon hunter in Aericora, in exchange for a business marriage that benefits his kingdom. Our story then ensues.
Now, for my review.
This book is getting 2 out of 5 stars for me. My biggest issue was how monotonous it was. The first 150 to 200 pages of this book were pretty much the same day happening over and over again. Caeden wakes up after not sleeping enough or well and has an uncomfortable breakfast with his father and the three princesses from neighboring kingdoms he is choosing between to marry. He then spends alone time with each said princess and has the same conversation, or lack thereof, with the three of them as the day before. After that he moves on to his training with our FMC, Eryn, with whom he bickers and annoys for a few hours while showing no noticeable improvement. When he's done with that he reads books she's assigned to him as homework before not being able to concentrate and going to his alcoholic friend's house for the rest of the evening. Then, the day starts again and so on and so forth.
After 200 pages of this, the story starts building to its climax, which turns out to be 15 pages of our FMC and MMC running away, having a minor scuffle with four enemies and hiding in a safe room while the real events happen elsewhere. They are retrieved by the castle's head of security, Ronan, who is beaten and bruised the next morning. Even after seeing Ronan like this, we the readers are never informed of what transpired or what was said during this big event. The book then ends on a cliffhanger that I personally found pretty predictable.
Along with the story itself being repetitive, the dialogue was as well. Many instances of the same word or phrase being used multiple times in the same paragraph or even the same sentence. It just yanks you out of the story and back to reality.
I also didn't feel as though the characters or the world itself were really fleshed out. After all 400 pages of this book, I unfortunately didn't care about the characters or where their stories were heading.
With all that being said, some of the things I think the author did well were:
-the premise of the book
-the romance between our main characters not being insta-love
-the MMC being a green flag in regards to women, boundaries and his loyalty and love to his friends
-the gender role switch-up between our MC's with the FMC being the competent trainer and our MMC being realistic about his lack of capabilities at the start.
This book had some solid moments and it's evident that the author was excited about writing it and loved the story, which is SUCH a great trait for a book to have! I do believe it missed the mark in many areas but there is always a possibility for improvement. I will be continuing the series to see how it all plays out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
This is an interesting take on dragons, magic, and royalty. The MMC is a Prince who wishes to fight in a war that has been raging for most of his life. Part of his desire stems from wanting to help his people and part is revenge for the death of his mother. As the only heir, the King does not wish for him to fight or train. A bargain is struck - the Prince will enter a marriage alliance with a Princess from another kingdom in exchange for the opportunity to train.
Enter our FMC - his trainer. I loved that she is the one who trains him. She is stubborn and strong and after learning more of her background, my heart goes out to her.
This story is multi POV from a few different characters. Some of the characters were engaging and interesting while others lacked personality and detail to help me connect as a reader.
The beginning of this story was hard for me to engage in. It seemed like the same events were happening day after day and night after night.
I did enjoy the last part of the book and look forward to reading the next story - cliffhanger warning! I feel that the story was really getting going in the last few chapters and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Content:
- This book is "closed door/fade to black" (no explicit content, but does talk about one night stands, and intimacy is heavily implied- waking up with no clothing next to someone, etc.).
- There is language (f-word a few times).
- Alcohol is consumed frequently and used as a coping mechanism.
I read this as an advanced copy.
Enter our FMC - his trainer. I loved that she is the one who trains him. She is stubborn and strong and after learning more of her background, my heart goes out to her.
This story is multi POV from a few different characters. Some of the characters were engaging and interesting while others lacked personality and detail to help me connect as a reader.
The beginning of this story was hard for me to engage in. It seemed like the same events were happening day after day and night after night.
I did enjoy the last part of the book and look forward to reading the next story - cliffhanger warning! I feel that the story was really getting going in the last few chapters and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Content:
- This book is "closed door/fade to black" (no explicit content, but does talk about one night stands, and intimacy is heavily implied- waking up with no clothing next to someone, etc.).
- There is language (f-word a few times).
- Alcohol is consumed frequently and used as a coping mechanism.
I read this as an advanced copy.
May 1, 2025
Thank you so much for providing me with an ARC copy of dragon hunter! 💕📖(I’m unfortunately writing a review only after/on the release date since I didn’t have time to do to before, really sorry about that)
I tried my best not spoiling the book in this review btw, so don‘t worry if you’re wanting to read it.
I really liked the book, while I usually read thrillers and not that often romance or fantasy books, it was (in my opinion) different from other romantasy books I‘ve read so far, since the MMC and the FMC didn’t immediately jump into a deep romance whilst only knowing eachother for about 1 week, like it other books of the same genre.
It made it more realistic to happen (even tho it was a fantasy book).
I also liked how the rather side characters were explained and we actually could learn something about most of them.
But back to the FMC and the MMC:
How do they get to know eachother? (short explanation)
The MMC wants to fight in a war and the FMC is his trainer.
It was nice to see, the female main character being strong and independent, and not being described with unrealistic proportions like some other authors do.
All in all, I liked the book, the plot was nice but not extravagant, the language was good to read even as a non-native speaker in english like me.
Overall I‘d give dragon hunter 4 out of 5 stars, since I didn’t like the plot that much and the story sometimes felt a little dry.
I tried my best not spoiling the book in this review btw, so don‘t worry if you’re wanting to read it.
I really liked the book, while I usually read thrillers and not that often romance or fantasy books, it was (in my opinion) different from other romantasy books I‘ve read so far, since the MMC and the FMC didn’t immediately jump into a deep romance whilst only knowing eachother for about 1 week, like it other books of the same genre.
It made it more realistic to happen (even tho it was a fantasy book).
I also liked how the rather side characters were explained and we actually could learn something about most of them.
But back to the FMC and the MMC:
How do they get to know eachother? (short explanation)
The MMC wants to fight in a war and the FMC is his trainer.
It was nice to see, the female main character being strong and independent, and not being described with unrealistic proportions like some other authors do.
All in all, I liked the book, the plot was nice but not extravagant, the language was good to read even as a non-native speaker in english like me.
Overall I‘d give dragon hunter 4 out of 5 stars, since I didn’t like the plot that much and the story sometimes felt a little dry.
April 30, 2025
I discovered a brand new world of slow burn romance as the main characters began to discover what their own hearts felt for one another. This definitely was a breath of fresh air in a world where characters are making out by chapter 2. I know the world of dragons of late has been the same outline but believe me you will find this book taking a different spin on what we now expect in dragon books. This is a breath of fresh air.
The author has brought together an interesting bunch of characters but I hope to see more detail about who they are and how they look. The story may seem slow at the beginning but it is building a whole world for you. Also, this is the first book in the series and I understand you need to build to the crescendo of the story but I hope the next book moves along at a faster pace.
Not to give away any spoilers but the main characters the MMC is not what you immediately think he should be as the Prince of the Kingdom and needs help in training from our badass FMC. I loved this twist because so many times it’s the FMC Princess needing help.
My hopes in the second one is immense but I promise you will not regret taking some time and reading this book. I see great potential in this series and believe I have read a ton of the same ole same ole Dragon Story.
The author has brought together an interesting bunch of characters but I hope to see more detail about who they are and how they look. The story may seem slow at the beginning but it is building a whole world for you. Also, this is the first book in the series and I understand you need to build to the crescendo of the story but I hope the next book moves along at a faster pace.
Not to give away any spoilers but the main characters the MMC is not what you immediately think he should be as the Prince of the Kingdom and needs help in training from our badass FMC. I loved this twist because so many times it’s the FMC Princess needing help.
My hopes in the second one is immense but I promise you will not regret taking some time and reading this book. I see great potential in this series and believe I have read a ton of the same ole same ole Dragon Story.
April 21, 2025
(2.75 stars)
this was my first time reading an ARC and i was so excited! this book has a lot of potential, the storyline (especially the twist at the very end) is a great setup for the rest of the series!
i liked that the FMC and MMC didn’t like each other right away and that they grew in mutual respect for one another. the political aspects also intrigued me and i think that they’ll be very interesting going forward.
i did feel as though the storyline dragged for a bit and was hard for me to connect with. the world building was great in some aspects but lacking in others. i only really know what one character looks like (FMC) but not really anyone else. this is more of a personal preference as i really like to know what the characters look like as i can connect better to them that way. i also felt as though i was being told things rather than shown them (this is also a personal preference) which made it hard for me to get into the book. i also felt that the dialogue was a bit clunky sometimes and didn’t feel very natural.
all in all, i think it’s a good start and has a lot of good launching points, but i’m unsure if i would want to read any more books in the series.
this was my first time reading an ARC and i was so excited! this book has a lot of potential, the storyline (especially the twist at the very end) is a great setup for the rest of the series!
i liked that the FMC and MMC didn’t like each other right away and that they grew in mutual respect for one another. the political aspects also intrigued me and i think that they’ll be very interesting going forward.
i did feel as though the storyline dragged for a bit and was hard for me to connect with. the world building was great in some aspects but lacking in others. i only really know what one character looks like (FMC) but not really anyone else. this is more of a personal preference as i really like to know what the characters look like as i can connect better to them that way. i also felt as though i was being told things rather than shown them (this is also a personal preference) which made it hard for me to get into the book. i also felt that the dialogue was a bit clunky sometimes and didn’t feel very natural.
all in all, i think it’s a good start and has a lot of good launching points, but i’m unsure if i would want to read any more books in the series.
April 20, 2025
This book was interesting because it focused on a male main character, versus a female lead that I am used to reading about. The main male character Caeden is the only remaining heir to his throne after his mother and sister are brutally attacked. Which we get a snippet of at the beginning of the story. We then fast forward 11 years later where his kingdom is at war with the Dragon Lord. This book focused mainly on character development of a few main characters and some side characters. Character development seemed to take a front seat to world building as we did not get much in this book. There were several moments of suspense throughout the book, but for me it began to feel like suspense for the sake of suspense. It was a slow start for me, with the action not really picking up until closer to the end of the story. But once we got to the climax I wanted to continue reading to see where the story was headed.
March 28, 2025
Give me a second while I put myself back together after that ending!
I’m just blown away, this was one of those books that just sucks you in and you can’t put down. Caeden is a crown prince who is stuck in his father’s castle durning times of war with the Dragon Lord.
All he wants is to fight in the war and help his people, along with avenge his mother and sister. In order to achieve this he agrees to his fathers and the councils wish to marry one of 3 princesses and in exchange he will be trained my Eryn.
Eryn is the #1 dragon hunter in their army. However, she is not happy about training the princeling.
It’s a must read if you want to know how their story ends….but it is just the beginning.
Oh and let’s not forget our neighborhood drunken warrior Ronan! I’m not going to lie he might be my favorite.
I’m just blown away, this was one of those books that just sucks you in and you can’t put down. Caeden is a crown prince who is stuck in his father’s castle durning times of war with the Dragon Lord.
All he wants is to fight in the war and help his people, along with avenge his mother and sister. In order to achieve this he agrees to his fathers and the councils wish to marry one of 3 princesses and in exchange he will be trained my Eryn.
Eryn is the #1 dragon hunter in their army. However, she is not happy about training the princeling.
It’s a must read if you want to know how their story ends….but it is just the beginning.
Oh and let’s not forget our neighborhood drunken warrior Ronan! I’m not going to lie he might be my favorite.
March 31, 2025
Thankful for my Arc copy!!
Overall, I think this was a decent start! There were a lot of times it really dragged for me. I felt the pacing was a little off through the whole thing but it was especially slow in the beginning.
I was expecting a little more action (and more about dragons), I guess. Overall, I felt like it was a little repetitive in the middle. I also found the switch in POV's to be a little confusing. They weren't consistent, and since they were basically all Caeden except for a handful of them, I felt they didn't add a whole lot to the story.
I also struggled the whole time because of the way Ronan speaks - I immediately imagined him as an old man for some reason... so I struggled to remember he wasn't!
Things I enjoyed:
-LOVED that she trained him - such a switch from a trope I love
-The slow build-up to their romance. it wasn't overly insta love which was nice
-the potential!! There is so many awesome places this book can go and I'm excited for that!
Overall, I think this was a decent start! There were a lot of times it really dragged for me. I felt the pacing was a little off through the whole thing but it was especially slow in the beginning.
I was expecting a little more action (and more about dragons), I guess. Overall, I felt like it was a little repetitive in the middle. I also found the switch in POV's to be a little confusing. They weren't consistent, and since they were basically all Caeden except for a handful of them, I felt they didn't add a whole lot to the story.
I also struggled the whole time because of the way Ronan speaks - I immediately imagined him as an old man for some reason... so I struggled to remember he wasn't!
Things I enjoyed:
-LOVED that she trained him - such a switch from a trope I love
-The slow build-up to their romance. it wasn't overly insta love which was nice
-the potential!! There is so many awesome places this book can go and I'm excited for that!
April 1, 2025
5 ⭐️
Thank you Mase Evans for sending me this E-ARC!! All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my mine and given based on my own feelings 🫶🏽
I knew there was something about this author that I liked. I LOVED this book!! This is the first book I’ve read from her and I really liked that the story was mostly written from Caeden’s perspective. It was refreshing to see the character and plot progression that way. I think that this is a great start to a longer story; but the timespan feels a bit rushed.
The primary plot comes in around ~page 100 or so. From what this book is described as, it definitely meets the standard. Personally, I think this is a great start to a duology or a trilogy maybe?? Besides that I think this was a great book and the story just getting started so there’s much to look forward to; I’m excited for what’s next .
Thank you Mase Evans for sending me this E-ARC!! All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my mine and given based on my own feelings 🫶🏽
I knew there was something about this author that I liked. I LOVED this book!! This is the first book I’ve read from her and I really liked that the story was mostly written from Caeden’s perspective. It was refreshing to see the character and plot progression that way. I think that this is a great start to a longer story; but the timespan feels a bit rushed.
The primary plot comes in around ~page 100 or so. From what this book is described as, it definitely meets the standard. Personally, I think this is a great start to a duology or a trilogy maybe?? Besides that I think this was a great book and the story just getting started so there’s much to look forward to; I’m excited for what’s next .
April 9, 2025
I received this as an arc, thank you for giving me the chance to read this book.
First the books main focus is Prince Caeden, and his want/need to fight. There’s a war going on that started when his mother and sister were killed at a festival.
There is also Eryn Gedding, who is a famous dragon hunter.
Eryn trains the prince to become a soldier all while the prince has to split his time between the 3 princesses, who he is suppose to pick one to marry.
There story was good, it flowed nice, and was easy to read. I did read it all in one day! I do wish the world building was a little more. Described a little more to help picture it in your mind. I also am not sure what Caeden really looks like?
I do look forward to reading the next book to find out what happens. Because, it does end on a cliff hanger.
Overall it was a good story and I did enjoy reading this book!
First the books main focus is Prince Caeden, and his want/need to fight. There’s a war going on that started when his mother and sister were killed at a festival.
There is also Eryn Gedding, who is a famous dragon hunter.
Eryn trains the prince to become a soldier all while the prince has to split his time between the 3 princesses, who he is suppose to pick one to marry.
There story was good, it flowed nice, and was easy to read. I did read it all in one day! I do wish the world building was a little more. Described a little more to help picture it in your mind. I also am not sure what Caeden really looks like?
I do look forward to reading the next book to find out what happens. Because, it does end on a cliff hanger.
Overall it was a good story and I did enjoy reading this book!
May 2, 2025
I enjoyed this book! I liked how the main male character isn’t this big macho guy! He has never been trained to fight, he hasn’t killed anyone. He is just a dude who loves his kingdom and misses his mom and sister. I liked how he was a little softer than most male characters. It’s different and different can be good. It also makes for an interesting dynamic between him and our female main character who is an absolute badass who doesn’t take crap from anyone. I also love Ronan and his relationship with Caeden and Eryn. We love a good drunk character with a tragic backstory. This book was a lot of build up/ understanding the motivation behind why our main character wants to train and fight in the war. Excited to see where book 2 takes us with more action. Thank you so much for an eARC! I was so happy to receive one and get the chance to read this greta book before release day!!
April 8, 2025
This book was a bit of a slow start for me, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Prince Caeden but he grew on me as the book went on. He is hesitant but knows what he wants and works hard for it, he loves his kingdom as any ruler should. Eryn is by far my favorite character in this book. She is strong and determined and everything I love in FMC's. Overall I really liked the story, I wish there was a bit more romance and spice in the book but I have a feeling that will be coming in the next book. The last sentence of the book really threw me for a loop and I have an idea of whom this secret character may be, plus maybe some twists and turns that have not yet been revealed to us.
Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book!
Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book!
April 27, 2025
I got this as an Arc Reader
The premise was interesting to me, and honestly I wanted to like this story. The struggle I had was the way it dragged in the first half of the book. Sure its slow building character development but there was not much to liven it up and make me eager to see certain characters interacting more. It does end on a cliff hanger but I wasn't surprised or shocked by it.
Would I recommend this book to my friends? Maybe. They would have to be in for this sort of slow building character development. The writing style is much more casual than what I typically love. So I didnt have to stop and really stew with much or contemplate the potential hidden meanings/ potential foreshadowing.
A good book to have a nice character focused read.
The premise was interesting to me, and honestly I wanted to like this story. The struggle I had was the way it dragged in the first half of the book. Sure its slow building character development but there was not much to liven it up and make me eager to see certain characters interacting more. It does end on a cliff hanger but I wasn't surprised or shocked by it.
Would I recommend this book to my friends? Maybe. They would have to be in for this sort of slow building character development. The writing style is much more casual than what I typically love. So I didnt have to stop and really stew with much or contemplate the potential hidden meanings/ potential foreshadowing.
A good book to have a nice character focused read.
April 30, 2025
Thank you so much for the ARC copy, Mase Evans!
Dragon Hunter by Mase Evans is an exhilarating fantasy adventure that grips you from the very first page and never lets go. Evans demonstrates masterful world-building, creating a richly imagined realm that feels both ancient and vividly alive. The pacing is tight, the prose is crisp, and the characters are drawn with nuance and emotional depth.
What truly sets this novel apart is its seamless blend of action, mystery, and heart. Evans doesn’t just deliver an epic tale—she weaves in moments of reflection, courage, and discovery that resonate long after the final chapter. Whether you're a die-hard fantasy fan or just dipping your toes into the genre, Dragon Hunter is a thrilling, immersive experience that shouldn't be missed.
Dragon Hunter by Mase Evans is an exhilarating fantasy adventure that grips you from the very first page and never lets go. Evans demonstrates masterful world-building, creating a richly imagined realm that feels both ancient and vividly alive. The pacing is tight, the prose is crisp, and the characters are drawn with nuance and emotional depth.
What truly sets this novel apart is its seamless blend of action, mystery, and heart. Evans doesn’t just deliver an epic tale—she weaves in moments of reflection, courage, and discovery that resonate long after the final chapter. Whether you're a die-hard fantasy fan or just dipping your toes into the genre, Dragon Hunter is a thrilling, immersive experience that shouldn't be missed.
May 24, 2025
The ending…I need the next book! This was honestly a solid fantasy book with kingdoms, fighting, and a little bit of romance. And by a little I mean I was scraping up all the little crumbs I was given. The reason I’m taking off a star is because the entire book honestly felt like a set up book with not much action or romance happening until the very end. I understand that it’s the first book, but it still seemed like there should have been more plot towards the middle of the book. However, the book was very enjoyable overall and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Thank you Mase Evans for sending me an early copy of this book to read as well.
June 21, 2025
Okay, so taking into account this is one of two books currently out by this author, this book is incredibly good. It held my attention, even though some of it seemed slower paced but I kept looking for hints and clues of what could possibly be happening with that information. The MC is a love able idiot of a prince who matures before the reader’s eyes. There are badass female characters in this book and even the annoy ass princesses aren’t awful as characters because they stay true to their character and don’t all of a sudden have a change of heart, which I can’t stand. I’m super excited where the author is going to take the series from here.
October 27, 2025
Yes Please! Dragon Hunter was such an easy read, a perfect intro into fantasy where the story is character driven, it eases you into the world building, and the magic system is incredibly simple to understand.
Our MMC Caeden is a prince who lost his mother and sister to an attack from the Dragon King. Naturally, it is now his life mission to kill the Dragon King to avenge his mother and sister. The problem being, his role as prince is at court not on the battlefield. He makes a deal with his father to marry a princess in exchange for troops and in turn he will be permitted to train in warfare.
We have arranged marriage, forced proximity, found family, trainer/trainee, a touch of bodyguard trope, slow burn, and plot twists. We have a fun little traitor/spy situation going on so if you like to theorize this book is for you. The banter is top tier, the slow burn is SLOW, no spice, the side characters are actually developed as well.
Book two is even better. Great little duology.
Our MMC Caeden is a prince who lost his mother and sister to an attack from the Dragon King. Naturally, it is now his life mission to kill the Dragon King to avenge his mother and sister. The problem being, his role as prince is at court not on the battlefield. He makes a deal with his father to marry a princess in exchange for troops and in turn he will be permitted to train in warfare.
We have arranged marriage, forced proximity, found family, trainer/trainee, a touch of bodyguard trope, slow burn, and plot twists. We have a fun little traitor/spy situation going on so if you like to theorize this book is for you. The banter is top tier, the slow burn is SLOW, no spice, the side characters are actually developed as well.
Book two is even better. Great little duology.
March 29, 2025
I first want to say that this book was sent to me by the Author to read and review.
I just finished this book, I'm left with my mouth hung open. This book for me has everything in it, action, love, banter, sadness and secrets. Oh my goodness it is wonderful! One of my top favorite books this year so far. Mase out did her self with this one for sure. Ronan and Eryn they are my favorite characters in this book. They are witty, strong characters that leave you smiling and all the feels. Such a great book everyone you will want to read this book.
I just finished this book, I'm left with my mouth hung open. This book for me has everything in it, action, love, banter, sadness and secrets. Oh my goodness it is wonderful! One of my top favorite books this year so far. Mase out did her self with this one for sure. Ronan and Eryn they are my favorite characters in this book. They are witty, strong characters that leave you smiling and all the feels. Such a great book everyone you will want to read this book.
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