Song of the Dragon Rider

The Dragon's Ballad #2

by Karina Espinosa

My life's taken a dive straight into an episode of "Game of Thrones"—minus the cool graphics. Here I am, Cat, Hollywood stunt double turned unwilling guest in Damien Drakonar's dragon-infested soap opera. Yep, that Damien—the hot, broody dragon shifter prince who's as infuriating as he is mysterious. And guess what? He's decided to keep me around because of some cosmic joke involving twin flame marks. Apparently, we're destined to be together—talk about a plot twist!

As I try to wrap my head around our supposed bond, this little secret of ours doesn't stay quiet for long. We've got a traitor in our midst, causing more trouble than a season finale of your favorite reality TV series. Now, every step I take in Damien's world draws me closer to him. My heart, that traitorous little thing, seems to forget I'm more into Netflix and chill than fire and brimstone.

Caught between a return ticket to my comfy old life and the fiery gaze of a man who's equal parts danger and allure, I've got decisions to make. With alliances shifting like sand beneath my feet, it's hard to tell friends from enemies. Will I ever zip back to my world, or will Damien's world—with its dark charm and hidden threats—become my new norm? As we face the ultimate showdown, I have to Can love truly conquer all, or am I just playing a part in a story that might not get a sequel?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2025

About the author

Karina Espinosa is a Colombian-American author best known for the Mackenzie Grey series, the Blood Weaver Trilogy, and her latest romantasy hit, The Dragon’s Ballad. When she’s not writing fierce heroines and magical chaos, she’s globe-trotting, bingeing Asian dramas, or teaching college students how to write essays—with a coffee in hand and fictional body count on the rise.

Follow her for more coffee-fueled chaos and character heartbreak.

Reviews

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series The Dragon’s Ballad. It seamlessly flows from where the first book, Song of the Shadow Prince, ended.

In a world of doppelgängers, dragons, warlocks, witches and faeries, danger is looming for Damien and Cat. All the while tension is heating up between Damien and Cat. Back on Earth, Cat’s doppelgänger, Lady Arya is raising hell! Will Damien get his freedom? Will Damien and Cat find out why the twin flame mark came to Cat in a dream? Will Lady Arya make her way across the realm having both in one side causing an imbalance in the realm? Will Cat and Damien succumb to their feelings for each other??

The vividness of the author’s writing kept me engaged throughout. I was glued to it! I felt completely immersed in the story. So far this is a 5 star series and I can’t wait for the next book to see how the rest of this story unfolds.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book cover fits well with book one and definitely fits the “olde worlde” world of Elaria very well too.

The book picks up with Cat extremely annoyed that Damien “rescued” her from her attempt to find the portal to return her home by jumping in the River Elaria during a lightening storm. Lightening storms are supposed to be the times when the portals between worlds are open and active. Now Cat has no idea when the next storm will occur or how she will access the portal with Damien threatening to keep her on the island with him so she cannot leave him. Damien has yet to reveal the full importance of the twin flame and the real reasons he needs her to stay with him. Cat manages to cajole him into allowing her to go back to the Ryder Residence, reasoning her absence would cause more issues.

Damien, Lady Arya/Cat & Prince Thorne meet to discuss a way of stopping the vampires. A plan is made and carried out, though it turns out not everything goes as planned.
Maeve continues to help Cat be “Lady Arya” helping her dress and act the part to avoid raising suspicions of anyone in the Ryder home.

Theres a lot going on at the Ryder Residence with the return of the son Jacob who has been serving in the Emperors Army. Maeve, Cats servant has a rather large crush on Jacob and is delighted he is home. There are other changes at the Ryder residence, it seems that Gianna has suddenly found favour with her father over Cat/Lady Arya.

Jacob chooses to take Lady Arya/Cat to the Emperors event to celebrate the return of his army. Unfortunately, Prince Julian is still looking to get back at Lady Arya/Cat for getting the better of him at their last meeting, where Lady Arya/Cat fought back and Uncle Bai also intervened. This time Prince Julian ends up temporarily getting the upper hand, by ordering his servant to continually slap Jacob across the face as a punishment for Lady Arya/Cat.
After the incident at the event welcoming the Emperors Army home, the Emperor speaks to Cat/Lady Arya’s father. Lord Ryder orders that Cat/Lady Arya is given lashes to teach her a lesson. Jacob rushes to the garden where the flogging is taking place and manages to talk their father into allowing Lady Arya/Cat to have a healer attend her. Lady Arya/Cat refuses and insists she wants only the Warlock Garrick to attend to her. Garrick arrives and though he agrees to help he informs her there could be some lasting side effects.

We also learn what the real Lady Arya as Cat in the modern world has been coping…..lets say it isn’t very well! She has been in a coma for a month and wakes up in a hospital, something totally alien to her and a stark contrast to her own world. Everything is new and weird to Lady Arya in Cat’s world from the hospital, then the “metal contraption” aka the car that Angie picks her up from the hospital to take her to her/Cat’s home. Though she does have the help of Cat’s best friend Angie to navigate it all, even though she tends to treat Angie as she would treat Maeve in her own world. Lady Arya as Cat deals with Cats cheating ex-boyfriend Fernando and splits up with him and sends him packing which was hilarious to read. Lady Arya certainly put Fernando in his place and out of Cat’s life! Theres quite a comedic “friendship” building between Lady Arya and Angie.

I loved the increasingly familiar and romantic relationship between Cat and Damien. I enjoyed their escapade and Dargon & Dragon Rider and hope we get more of that. I felt horror and sorrow for the poor girl singing the Song Of The Dragon Rider at the Emperors event.

When I was reading book one, I longed for an insight as to what was happening with Lady Arya in the modern world. Sadly, I found Lady Arya in the modern world quite irritating, though I guess that means she lived up to the descriptions of her from Elaria and her interaction with Fernando was amusing/ I did find myself disappointed when it was her POV chapters and eager to get back to chapters from POV of Damien & Cat. Having said that by the end of the book I was warming to Lady Arya a little more. I guess I preferred the Damien & Cats POV as I am more invested in their part of the story as I am more familiar with it too.

Throughout this book both Cat and Damien are told to be careful of whom they trust and when they realise who has betrayed them it does shock them both! I have to admit I was quite distrusting of this person already so, yep I sniffed out the “wrong ‘un”. I could really “go off on one” about this character and how evil they seem to be underneath the veneer they initially present to Elaria. They certainly do not deserve to succeed in their plan. Lets hope Cat and Damien come up with a counter plan fairly quickly, as it won’t only be the end of their budding romantic relationship, it will be the end of Cat’s chances of getting home!
I’m intrigued to find out who the “real father” is too. Though I won’t say whose and give too anything away!

My immediate thoughts were Oooo, more secrets revealed & betrayals unearthed in this instalment of The Dragons Ballad. It appears that both Damien & Cat need to be very careful whom they choose to trust & allow into their inner circle of growing power so that it will not be stifled.

Summing up, I’m looking forward to the conclusion even though I’m not entirely sure how I want it to end. Part of me wants a happy ever ending with Damien and Cat whether that’s them together either in Elaria or somehow in the modern world. Then I wonder how that will that look for Lady Arya in the modern world. So many scenarios to deal with! How will it all come together in one final book!!!

[BloodyKelpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

08/10

Fuck—who cares about Arya’s POV? Not me, that’s for damn sure. Every time it switches to her, I want to scream. The girl is nothing but trouble, and she’s about to make Cat’s life on Earth a living hell. And Damien? Oh, he’s gone full dragon-psycho. Man loses his mind the second Cat tries to go home. He’s panicking, desperate, and straight-up kidnaps her. Yeah, that’s not romantic, that’s felonies-on-fire crazy. And Cat? She’s livid. “Angry” doesn’t even come close. The man’s lucky she only broke his nose.

And the worst part? Damien’s excuse for all this nonsense is pathetic. “You belong with me.” That’s it. Bro, maybe explain the apocalyptic prophecy or something? She’s not going to take “because I said so” from a man with scales and trauma. He’s trying to protect her, sure, but gods, his communication skills are so bad it’s almost tragic. Then, just when you think he’s going to make sense, he blurts out a proposal. Marriage. In the middle of chaos. My man, your timing is worse than a code blue at shift change.

I remained seated on the cold stone bench, my posture stiff, every sense heightened and attuned to the environment and the man standing persistently before me. When will this bastard leave, already? I wanted to lock myself in my room and wallow. If only Elaria had Wi-Fi, I’d be binge watching Grey’s Anatomy. Because no one’s life was worse than Meredith Grey and everyone else on that show.

Girl, you have no idea. No idea. I love Cat so much it hurts. She’s basically narrating my internal monologue before every hospital shift. “If only Elaria had Wi-Fi”—yeah, same, babe. I need my comfort series too.

Anyway, back to Arya: she’s still insufferable. Sure, she has her funny moments, but I can’t stand her self-righteousness. At least she verbally bodied Fernando—that was satisfying. Meanwhile, Klaus? I LOVE him. His chemistry with Cat is ridiculous. Their banter could power a small city. He’s all teasing confidence, and she keeps up with him flawlessly. They’re chaos personified, and I love it.

Gianna though? No. I don’t buy the “sweet innocent sister” act. There’s something off about her. No one is that good. I can smell the evil from miles away, and I’ll die on that hill.

When I heard his footsteps approach the door, I scampered back across the room and vaulted onto the bed, my heart hammering from the fear of getting caught eavesdropping. By the time he opened the door, I was sprawled on the bed like some dramatic Victorian heroine recovering from a fainting spell. One leg was awkwardly crossed over the other, and my hand rested on my forehead as if I was moments away from reciting Shakespeare. Subtlety? Who needed it?
Damien paused in the doorway, his sharp gaze cutting through my Oscar-worthy performance. His eyebrows arched slightly, and I could practically see the gears turning in his dragon brain: *She’s an idiot, but she’s my idiot.*

Hahahaha, I swear, Cat and Damien are pure gold. I love every ridiculous, dramatic, hilarious second of them. And all her references to House of the Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon? Iconic. She’s one of us—a chaotic millennial trapped in a fantasy novel.

Finally, Arya manages to convince Cat’s best friend Angie that she’s not actually Cat—about damn time. And then… thank the gods, THEY FINALLY FUCKED. And it was worth the wait. Fans self. Hot, satisfying, and emotionally loaded.

But then—Cat gets flashed, and Klaus doesn’t come to her rescue. And that’s weird. Klaus never lets anyone touch what’s his, and she’s absolutely HIS friend…yeah FRIEND being the key words, ladies and gentlemen… no happy RH for us poor mortals in this book. Not even close. But anyway, where the hell is he? Did something happen at the castle? Did the emperor imprison him? I’m spiraling.


And what about Damien’s heritage? Is his father a fae??? I swear, I think he is. It makes so much sense.



The ending caught me off guard. Not a huge twist, but still a betrayal I didn’t expect. Didn’t break my heart though—the traitor wasn’t one of my favorites anyway. Still, it set up the next book perfectly. And of course, I’m downloading it immediately.

Also… I’m still crushing on Klaus. Hard. Don’t get me wrong, I love Damien too, but now that he and Cat are official, the author better keep their spark alive. If their relationship gets boring, I’m switching teams.

This book was chaos, hilarity, and heat wrapped in dragon wings. Cat’s still my emotional support gremlin, Damien’s a lovesick golden retriever with claws, and Klaus? A walking temptation with a smirk, yeah my new favorite problem hahahahaha . I laughed, yelled, and maybe hissed at Arya’s chapters more than once. But then… the final blow. I thought the series was complete. It’s NOT. DAMN ME TO THE PITS. I never start unfinished series, and now my anxious ass has to WAIT. Wait for the next book. Wait for my peace. I swear, I’d sell my soul—or at least my next day off—to time-travel and read the rest

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat, ex-military, stunt woman extraordinaire had some how ended up in a realm totally different then her home on Earth. She had tried to play nice bidding her time, until she could escape, but she wanted/needed to return to her own time. She’d almost made it, until Damien swooped in to grab her from the water preventing her from making her escape.
If you step out of your time, your natural world, you could change not only the strange world you are held in but your own as well. By bringing her beliefs, practices, experiences and knowledge to this less technological realm she has already begun to cause chaos. This world is ruled by magical tyrannical beings, that intend to hold onto their power and fear that she will be the catalyst that will change everything.
In the realm of Elaria there appears to have been a long-promised prophecy of a rightful king that will bring about change for all. It began with Damien the Shadow Prince when on his twentieth birthday the mark of the twin flame, a dragon and phoenix intertwined, appeared on his arm. He doesn’t want to rule, he only wants his freedom. But others fear him. When Cat landed in Elaria, he realized that she was his fated mate, his escape to freedom but all she wanted was to go home. In her time in Elaria pretending to be Lady Arya she has made a number of enemies but also a few dangerous friends. Klaus, the grandson of the old King of the fae, wants to free his people from the Faelight Forest boundaries and he has found a way to slip out of the forest with Cat’s help. There are rumors too that the fae are planning a rebellion against the emperor. It isn’t long before Cat realizes that Lady Arya is caught up in a scheme with vampires and some nobles who were using captives to fill their coffers. Pitting men against each in a fight ring. Now she would aid Damien to put a stop to it. But their plan has consequences when someone sees them in the sky.
There is a full cast of characters that have joined the fray but whose side are the on? There are four dragon clans but so far, we have only heard their names. There are the Nightwings Army loyal to Emperor Valenor, that includes Lady Arya’s beloved brother, Jacob, Garrick, a disgraced healer, who Cat befriends. While at first Arya’s father allowed Cat great freedoms he was starting to be swayed by Gianna’s jealous, hateful whispers in his ear of Cat’s misbehavior that appear to be fueled by her friendship with Damien. There is high adventure, danger, jealousy, envy, betrayal and hatred. Some wear masks that conceal their true feelings, while others are open with their contempt and hatred of the common people and Damien himself. There is also a slow-growing romance, Cat’s growing uncertainty of where she belongs and her feelings for Damien. He has promised to help Cat return to her world if she agrees to marry him so he might be free at last. In truth, he will have a hard time letting her go. He has come to care for her in spite of her resolve to escape, placing herself and others in danger.
Meanwhile, back on Earth Lady Arya is throwing temper tantrums, trying to convince Cat’s best friend, Angie, that she is a royal from another world. Her hatred of modern-day Earth, its surroundings and people while she demands Angie’s help to return to her own world. Those around her only see Cat and think she has become too temperamental, refusing to work with the movie crew. If Cat ever gets back, she may not have much left to come back too.
In this continuation of the tale that started with “The Song of the Shadow Prince”, there is a lot of action, danger for all, we start to see behind the masks of those who may have their own agenda. While Lady Arya may be closer to finding her way home. If she does with both women in the same realm will the balance be thrown off? Will Damien succeed in freeing himself? There are plots we didn’t see coming, more secrets are starting to be whispered. The action, danger, plotting and romance are all heating up, building up to the next book. I can’t wait to see what Karina has in store for the characters, Elaria and her readers. I highly recommend this tale.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Cat is still hilariously snarky, and I loved Arya's chapters way more than I should have, the plot wheels started coming off the bus a little bit in this installment. Of note:

*Cat is actively impersonating Arya - and we're told it's important that people believe she IS Arya. She's been in Elaria for a month now and knows how the locals talk, yet she continues to speak and act the same way she always does, making no effort to fit in...even though she's an "actor" by profession and should know better. She continues to be herself and do things that make everything worse. She and Damien wouldn't be in half the hot water they're in if she could just be bothered to keep her mouth shut and her hands to herself.

*We're told Damien can escape his island volcano exile and wander the mainland so easily because he's a) a black dragon (apparently this means he can't be seen in the dark and can therefore regularly fly past the "hundreds" of men - some of which I would assume are also dragons and would be capable of sensing/smelling him - guarding his home without them knowing) and b) he's the Shadow Prince - capable of slinking around unseen and mostly unknown to the people of the town. Only he doesn't ever actually slink around. He's out and about ALL THE TIME - has private rooms at multiple establishments - AND he's spent the last ten years courting Arya's sister AS HIMSELF on his third Sunday okay days, so plenty of people know him as the third prince. Tell me again, how is it that no one recognizes him?

*There is at least one scene where Damien refers to Cat by her real name when he's talking to someone who only knows her as Arya.

*Cat and Damien have a very damning conversation about the twin flame marks - something that they're supposed to be keeping a secret from literally everyone - while in a carriage with Arya's brother who is badly beaten but still conscious.

*When faced with the dilemma of how to shut down an illegal fighting/betting ring, their brilliant plan is to steal all the bad guys' ill-gotten gains and burn the place down...as if the people involved wouldn't just relocate to some abandoned warehouse somewhere the next week.

*Both Damien and Cat have a habit of yelling about personal things when stealth/secrecy is required.

*I low-key don't blame Gianna for being salty about Damien and Cat. Damien strung her along for TEN years (which is child's play to a dragon who can expect to live for hundreds if not a thousand years, but not to a human with a normal human lifespan) then dropped her like a hot potato as soon she ws no longer useful to him/he realized Cat had the twin flame mark. And the kicker is that he wasn't even nice about it. He was downright cruel on multiple occasions. Newsflash Damien. You ARE the asshole.

Add to that the borderline abusive control issues Damien has in the first part of the book and how they're awkwardly swept under the rug/explained away when it's convenient and, yeah, squick factor achieved. At the same time, I think the hostage bit is way overplayed. Sure, Damien stopped Cat from going through the portal and took her back to his lair. Once. Big whoop. He let her go back to her pretend family mere hours later. Cat knows how to get back to her world and has powerful friends who can help make that happen when the time comes. She's not nor has she ever been a hostage. Stockholm Syndrome does not apply.

All that being said, I'm enough invested in the story to read the next book. #sorrynotsorry

Heat index: surprisingly, there's just one fairly brief sex scene.

Profanity meter: fairly frequent harsh profanity.

[Courtney (Bookish Blonde Barista) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Epic, Twisty Ride Through Elaria and Beyond!
Karina Espinosa continues to enchant with Song of the Dragon Rider, the second installment in The Dragon’s Ballad series—and what a ride it is! From the very first page, we dive back into the stormy world of Elaria with Cat, who is rightfully furious after Damien "rescues" her mid-lightning-storm (aka portal-hopping attempt). With the portals between worlds closed again and Damien keeping her close, the tension is immediate and unrelenting.
The cover art is stunning and fits the aesthetic of book one perfectly—so “olde worlde,” so Elaria!
This book does a great job of deepening the stakes. From covert vampire-planning sessions between Cat, Damien, and Prince Thorne, to the political maneuverings at the Ryder residence with the return of Jacob (who is crushing hard on Maeve, much to her delight), there’s no shortage of drama, danger, and deception. Oh, and let’s not forget Gianna’s sudden rise in status—what’s that all about?
One of my favorite parts was the duality of the doppelgängers—Cat in Elaria and Lady Arya in modern-day Earth. While I initially found Lady Arya a bit grating (she really leans into the whole medieval princess bit), her journey navigating Cat’s world was hilarious and oddly endearing by the end. Her interactions with Angie and Cat’s trash ex Fernando? Pure gold. Arya might not understand cars, but she definitely knows how to give a man the boot.
The romance between Cat and Damien is heating up beautifully and naturally. They’re finally letting their guards down, and I loved every moment between them—especially anything dragon-related. 🐉
Garrick and Klaus are both standouts (can we get spin-offs please?), and the twists… wow. Just wow. I knew something was off with a certain character and when the betrayal hit, it still gutted me. That “veneer of charm hiding the villainy” trope? Done so well here.
The tension is high, the secrets are many, and by the end, I found myself desperate for book three. There’s still so much to uncover—like who someone’s real father is (!!!), whether Cat will ever get back home, and what the twin flame mark really means for her and Damien.
If you're into magic, dragons, court intrigue, doppelgängers, and enemies-to-lovers tension with a dash of comedy—this series is a must-read. Song of the Dragon Rider is an addictive blend of fantasy and emotion that keeps you turning the pages.
I’m not sure how I want this story to end—do I want Cat to stay in Elaria with Damien or find her way home? Either way, I’ll be first in line for book 3. Bring on the fire, the feels, and the finale!


🖤Length: 304 Pages
🖤Genre: Fantasy Romance
🖤Spice: 🌶️🌶️
🖤Violence: 🔥🔥
🖤Series: The Dragon's Ballad
🖤Ending: Cliffhanger

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, let me just say that starting this book right after the first one was essential.

The author did a fantastic job of building on the events and character development from the first book, drawing me back into this world with ease.

I appreciated how the author crafted the element of suspense, making every character interaction loaded with potential danger. It heightened the stakes and kept my heart racing as I flipped through the pages.
The pacing was spot-on, and the tension was palpable, making it hard for me to put the book down.

What truly resonated with me was Cat’s internal struggle. Here she is a girl more accustomed to the drama of Hollywood than the fire and fury of dragon shifters, grappling with feelings that seem to defy logic.

The chemistry between them is electric, yet their interactions are laced with tension and uncertainty. I found myself rooting for their connection, despite how infuriating he could be. Damien is anything but predictable, and his secrets kept me on the edge of my kindle.

The stakes are high in this book. With a traitor lurking in the shadows, every twist and turn feels like a life-or-death scenario that would fit perfectly in a reality TV show.

In conclusion, "Song of the Dragon Rider" successfully builds on the foundation laid in the first book, intertwining romance, action, and suspense in a way that kept me eagerly turning pages.

If you enjoyed the first book, trust me, this sequel will not disappoint.

With its cliffhanger ending and the promise of more adventures to come, I am on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Cat’s journey. So grab your wings, folks; this ride is just getting started!

Oh…. And let’s not forget Arya!

🦋

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat is back and just as humorous as before. Seriously, the sarcasm and pop culture references are some of the things I look forward to the most. She's still pretending to be "Lady Arya," and now she's in the thick of it. There's family drama; Arya's brother has returned home, and Gianna is out for blood, and that's not including the political intrigue or the twin flame prophecy. She also has a very dark dragon who is very determined to get his way. Damien could have handled things a lot better than dragging Cat back, but let's face it, he and Cat were always going to fight it out in the end. Though I'm not exactly sure who's winning. There's a level of attraction between the pair that wasn't in the previous book. Something is most definitely starting to develop between them.


She's baaaaack. Arya isn't finished by a long shot. We get chapters from her perspective while she tries to navigate Cat's world. Seeing things from her POV was eye-opening. Yes, she's as bad as everyone says, but I also have to give Arya some credit. She pulled off something pretty impressive in her world. She's beyond stubborn and has a backbone of steel—something else that she shares with Cat other than her face. Her chapters were entertaining, to say the least.


OMG! Song of the Dragon Rider was amazing! There are so many components, so many moving pieces, that it's hard to see the bigger picture. However, I don't need anything to tell me shit is about to hit the fan. It was the twists that made it. Like, wow! So many unexpected revelations and I just know there's more to come.

[CelticMoonGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying book 1 in the series it was great to totally emerge myself again in this supernatural world beautifully created by the author.
The two main protagonists of Cat and Damien draw you in and there is a great mix of enemies to allies to more between them. Cat is a wonderful character in the book and the humour that the author merges into the fantasy world with current human world references are perfectly poised in the story and add strength to her character, strength, courage and wonderful, strong female heroine.
The other characters are more than just background as the ensemble of minor but relevant characters add another layer to the story with some interesting characters that add to the humour, mystery and draw you in to get wrapped up in the intrigue, mystery and unexpected twist and turns.
Cannot wait for next unfolding of what happens next especially for Cat as she continues to adjust, adapt and figure out this unfamiliar realm she ends up in.
Another exciting, engaging and magical adventure series from Karina Espinosa.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Song of the Dragon Rider is a wildly entertaining return to Karina Espinosa’s dragon-filled world, where politics are deadly, dragons are real, and the sarcasm is non-stop. Cat is back—still snarky, sharp-witted, and totally out of her element—as she’s once again thrown into Damien Drakonar’s tangled, power-hungry world.

Espinosa continues to masterfully blend fantasy action with laugh-out-loud humor and pop culture gold. Cat’s inner monologue is a highlight, bringing levity to the intense stakes she faces. As a stunt double turned accidental heroine, she leans on her cleverness and street smarts to survive in a court where everyone’s out for blood—or fire.

The banter, the mystery, and the sizzling tension between Cat and Damien keep the pages turning. If you love dragons, drama, and a heroine who never loses her edge, this series is a must.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the series - AMAZING!

The story of Cat and Damien just sucks me in from the first page. Damien, the cursed dragon prince finds his twin flame. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows since Cat doesn't belong in this world. Just when Cat thinks she's found a way back home, Damien snatches her up and forces her to stay. He needs to break his curse and he needs Cat to make that happen. Only Damien's evil father, the emperor, isn't going to let that happen anytime soon. So many twists and turns and we don't know who we can trust! Our girl Cat is just trying to survive in one piece, especially after she and Damien are betrayed by someone close to them. I'm hoping the friends she's made so far come in clutch for her, if not, those betrayals are going to hurt.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Cat, a young women from our world, who has literally been transported to a world of fantasy and court intrigue. She has to rely on her wits and background to navigate a world where everyone wants power by any means necessary. Cat is witty and doesn’t back down. I like her character. It doesn’t come across as forced but genuinely how you might think someone in her situation would behave. I love all the references, they bring humor and levity.

If you are into dragons, magic and magical bonds then this is a fantasy series for you. I am excited to see how the next book plays out.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Roach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Song of the Dragon Rider didn’t disappoint. Solid 4 ⭐️ read for me.

This book continues straight after the book 1 cliffhanger where there’s Prince Damien, another storm and Cat trying to get home.

Things I loved in this book was more of Lady Arya’s POV. She was definitely the comedic relief. I loved how Cat and Damien’s characters grew. Garrick and Klaus are also favourite characters and I can see how they will feature in book 3.

There were some captivating plot twists in this book that I was like WOW.

I am so excited for book 3 and how this adventure will play out. Will Cat stay in Elaria or head home to mobile phones and her stunt double career?!!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this line says it best for book 2, "A return ticket to my comfy old life and the fiery gaze of a man who's equal parts danger and allure!" I am OBSESSED with this series! It is such a unique concept with the FMC being a modern girl traveling to this magical and fantastical world only to find herself bonded to a dragon prince! I mean, this is the stuff of every reader girlie's dreams! lol I mean, I think I know which one I would choose, but there are definitely elements to consider as dangers seem to surround every corner of this world. But Cat is taking the world by storm, and Damien is one heck of a man! I cannot WAIT to dive into book 3!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Dragon's Ballad series and after finishing the first book in the series in one day, I couldn't wait to read this book and I was definitely not disappointed. Once again, this book pulled me into the story from the beginning and never let go, so I couldn't put it down. Cat and Damien are wonderfully written and I loved their character development and growth and also that you got to read more about the other characters. I can't wait to read the third book in the series!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amber Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! There were dragons, warlocks, witches fairies and doppelgängers I just ate this up! I loved the flow of the story I was completely immersed in this world! I loved cat and Damon’s chemistry. And cats internal struggles seeing her overcome them. Damien so unpredictable can be infuriating but u are rooting for them at the same time. I can’t wait for the next book and continue the story, to continue cats and Damien’s journey and also Arya!

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

You really need to read the first book before diving into this one.
The author has created a fabulous character in Cat, full of snark, dark humour. Her pop culture references have me snickering like a teen behind the substitute teachers back.
With steam, political machinations, betrayals, and actions this book really has it all.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was even better than book 1!

I love Cat, she's hilarious. Especially when she throws in pop culture references and everyone is like are you ok? Hahaha.

There are some very unlikeable characters who are just mean.

And a lot of betrayal goes on in this! So many secrets to be uncovered.

Looking forward to the next book!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Espinosa’s tale she has woven. I’m absolutely captivated by the characters and storyline. Just not knowing who to trust as I was reading kept me on edge while reading this book. I’m convinced Cat’s maid is working against her but I’m probably wrong. Guess I just have to wait and keep reading.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hlophe amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stockholm syndrome.
Oh I was mad, fuming I tell you. I had to continously remind myself that this book is fictional and these people don't actually exist.
I hate absolutely despise the trope of bratty, badass heroine and then at the first sight of man she loses her essence. That being a said the book was really good and I can't wait for the third book. Lol don't judge me.

[Delilah Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

um i dont know what it is but this book is just missing something im not a fan. anyway damien is literally just trying to get cat to like him the whole time and then at the end shit goes down with his brother proposing to cat and then his father revealing that hes not actually his father and what not

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features an equally intriguing storyline with strong characters. Prepare to feel a range of emotions. If you love dragons and books taking place in a second world, this is the read for you.

"Sometimes there are worse things lurking in the shadows than tyrants."

[Haydee Otero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am OBSESSED!!!!!

I LOVE this story!! It’s nonstop action! I love that Cat is so relatable! Book 2 had so many twists n turns. And we got a few sneak peeks into what’s happening with the real Arya on Earth. Karina Espinosa is a brilliant author! I can’t wait for book 3!

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and it picks up where book 1 left off. There were some surprises, revelations and plot twists to keep things interesting. Can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lindsee Vickers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Will finish series

[kayleegreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel. I really liked the Arya chapters and hope to see more of her in book 3!

[Annelin De Gols · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m unwell this ending.. I just can’t! In the middle of the book I started like seeing some kind of betrayal but I never excepted this!

This book was so good! You will laugh, support Cat and at the same time you will be shocked by some turns that the book wil take.
I also really enjoyed seeing Arya in the modern world.

[Malikha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dint rmber nothign😔