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The Ballad of the Last Dragon
"A bard never reveals her secrets, only everyone else's."
There is no place for elves in this world, but Sylvaine knows she's destined for greatness—a world-famous bard entertaining the finest nobility as far as Lindale. Unfortunately, performing in her local tavern off the beaten path lends scant opportunity to distinguish herself.
Until a group of adventurers arrive, promising fame, wealth, and glory when they slay the last dragon of their age and find the lost hoard. Syl convinces them they’ll need a bard to spread word of their heroics, and if she can claim some honor for herself along the way, well no one could fault her for recognizing a mutually beneficial arrangement. Even if it means ignoring the glaring disapproval of the hulking warrior assigned to protect her.
Jaromir is rude and ill-tempered. He makes no effort to hide his distaste when she joins their group. But as they grow closer, and are unable to deny the heat of their attraction, she discovers there's more to him than his poor manners. He brings her passion, peace, and safety in a world in which she’s never felt welcome.
When the group suffers a great loss, they must use the power of a convincing story to keep their quest alive. A future that once seemed impossible, is suddenly within reach with Jaromir by her side. But even the ballads of love are rife with sorrow. Syl must slay her own dragons before she has a chance at surviving this journey and writing the ending she yearns for. Every bard knows the victorious ending comes at a price. Syl will see this tale through, no matter what it costs her…
There is no place for elves in this world, but Sylvaine knows she's destined for greatness—a world-famous bard entertaining the finest nobility as far as Lindale. Unfortunately, performing in her local tavern off the beaten path lends scant opportunity to distinguish herself.
Until a group of adventurers arrive, promising fame, wealth, and glory when they slay the last dragon of their age and find the lost hoard. Syl convinces them they’ll need a bard to spread word of their heroics, and if she can claim some honor for herself along the way, well no one could fault her for recognizing a mutually beneficial arrangement. Even if it means ignoring the glaring disapproval of the hulking warrior assigned to protect her.
Jaromir is rude and ill-tempered. He makes no effort to hide his distaste when she joins their group. But as they grow closer, and are unable to deny the heat of their attraction, she discovers there's more to him than his poor manners. He brings her passion, peace, and safety in a world in which she’s never felt welcome.
When the group suffers a great loss, they must use the power of a convincing story to keep their quest alive. A future that once seemed impossible, is suddenly within reach with Jaromir by her side. But even the ballads of love are rife with sorrow. Syl must slay her own dragons before she has a chance at surviving this journey and writing the ending she yearns for. Every bard knows the victorious ending comes at a price. Syl will see this tale through, no matter what it costs her…
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
81 people are currently reading
2157 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Farran
5 books125 followersC.A. Farran is an emerging author of dark fantasy. She’s addicted to video games, Kit Kats, and energy drinks.
Farran grew up by the sea on a steady intake of fairytales, renaissance fairs, and mythology. She’s always felt a profound connection to horror and dark fantasy, spending her childhood searching the woods for monsters and magic.
Now, she spends her days photographing nature in Maine with her two cats; Commander and Demon, her husband, and their wildling.
This is C.A.’s first novel, but her short story "Safe Travels" can be found in the anthology "Frontiers: Past, Present, and Future" by Owl Hollow Press.
To stay updated on her shenanigans, check out cafarran.com
Farran grew up by the sea on a steady intake of fairytales, renaissance fairs, and mythology. She’s always felt a profound connection to horror and dark fantasy, spending her childhood searching the woods for monsters and magic.
Now, she spends her days photographing nature in Maine with her two cats; Commander and Demon, her husband, and their wildling.
This is C.A.’s first novel, but her short story "Safe Travels" can be found in the anthology "Frontiers: Past, Present, and Future" by Owl Hollow Press.
To stay updated on her shenanigans, check out cafarran.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
March 12, 2025
Absolutely devoured. If you've ever thought, "I'd love a romantic comedy set in a medieval setting" boy are you in for a treat. I didn't realize this was a genre I was missing until now and I wish I had a dozen more to consume.
If you love romance and you love fantasy and you love cozy taverns and bards and ale and knights and quests... please PLEASE pick up this book. Farran has such a descriptive and beautiful way of writing, I felt like I was on the journey with Syl and the crew. I laughed out loud many times (Syl is my GIRL) and the romance was so adorable (and spicy!) I can't recommend this enough!
grumpy & sunshine
quest for a dragon
lyrical fmc
broody mmc
adorable side characters
tender moments
hilarious moments
standalone
spicy
If you love romance and you love fantasy and you love cozy taverns and bards and ale and knights and quests... please PLEASE pick up this book. Farran has such a descriptive and beautiful way of writing, I felt like I was on the journey with Syl and the crew. I laughed out loud many times (Syl is my GIRL) and the romance was so adorable (and spicy!) I can't recommend this enough!
grumpy & sunshine
quest for a dragon
lyrical fmc
broody mmc
adorable side characters
tender moments
hilarious moments
standalone
spicy
April 21, 2025
My favourite author of all time has written another of my favourite books of all time! This book! Gah! It is beautifully written and oh-so-funny, but there are unexpected depths. Syl is a character who buries her many traumas and wears her wit as a suit of armour. And what wit it is. If I was half as hilarious as Syl... Her vulnerability, when exposed, is endearing and charming. She is fierce and wounded and kind and loyal, AND. SO. FUNNY. Have a mentioned her wit? HAVE I TOLD YOU HOW DAMN FUNNY SYL IS? This books is brilliant. So brilliant. Half the time I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so I chose both, so engrossed in the story was I.
The romance is heart pounding and gut punching and so beautiful, I was in tears. The best grumpy/sunshine I have ever read. I am so in love with these vibrant, vivid characters. This beautiful story of found family. Of overcoming trauma and allowing love in. 100/10.
The romance is heart pounding and gut punching and so beautiful, I was in tears. The best grumpy/sunshine I have ever read. I am so in love with these vibrant, vivid characters. This beautiful story of found family. Of overcoming trauma and allowing love in. 100/10.
March 4, 2025
I love MCs who are wildly different to me and Syl was just that. She's outspoken and sociable and the type of character you can't help but love even when she's annoying the ever loving hell out of the others. I'm always a sucker for found family and as the author has done in her previous fantasy series, she has nailed the found family trope in this one. The story was fun, heartfelt, romantic, heated, and filled with just enough action to keep you turning pages quickly. I felt, many times, The Ballad of the Last Dragon had a perfect pace and storyline, that felt fresh and modern all whilst also being perfectly cozy, timeless, and like fantasy lore of yesteryear. I applaud Farran for this as it's not an easy balance to achieve. So, do yourself a favor. Pour a tankard, put on some tavern music, and lose yourself in the story of an elven bard and a quest.
September 25, 2025
well, this is how you ruin a solid book with unnecessary other women drama. this would’ve been a four-star read, if not for the second half of the book, which extremely pissed me off and completely killed the story for me.
slight spoilers below. this book is not safe so if anyone hates the ow bullshit as much as i do, you should know this before you pick this book up.
the start of this book was amazing. the writing was good, the story was engaging and the characters were likeable. there was chemistry between the fmc and the mmc and i really enjoyed their back-and-forth. the story also fits my likings well - a medieval rom-com and a group on a quest is something right up my alley. and i’m really disappointed of how it turned out in the end, because i was loving the first half.
there were a few things that bothered me a little - in particular, the amount of mentions of other women in regard to the mmc: his past, the attention he was getting at every single tavern they visited etc. i hate seeing this shit and i can’t comprehend why authors still do that. i don’t want to see or hear about other women when i’m reading a romance. it’s not romantic, it’s not sexy, it’s very irritating and always takes me out of the story.
still, i could do with mentions, it would definitely lower my rating, but the rest was good enough. however, at 65% this book blows out with other woman drama, when it turns out that the mmc is betrothed and forgot to mention it the entire time. the characters were basically together at this point, he said that he was hers and then this shit happens.
and the thing that angered me the most wasn’t even the fact that he was engaged. it was that he was passive in this whole thing. he said that he loved the fmc and wanted to be with her and was ready to forget about his responsibilities and yet the whole time he was going to go through with the wedding? it was the result of his guilt about his brother’s death and the feeling of being responsible for his wife and children (the ow is the deceased brother’s wife), but it was exhausting. how can i believe that he truly loved the fmc if he was going to marry the other woman the whole time even if he loved someone else? and for fucks sake, he didn’t even try to find another solution. basically, he feels like he has to marry her because the inheritance goes to him and he wants to provide for his fiancé/sister-in-law and this is apparently the only way. he makes no effort to actually find a different solution, he doesn’t even think about it! at the end it’s the heroine who comes up with the idea after (attention!) thinking about the problem for one fucking minute. it was pathetic. there was also no grovel. what the hell.
so, that’s basically it. i’m very disappointed, because like i’ve said, plot-wise this book totally worked for me and i was really enjoying it. however, i can’t stand the other woman thread. i hate when authors do this shit and i wish they stopped, because it never brings anything to the story except unnecessary and irritating drama.
i may think about picking up another book by this author in the future, but i’m still hesitant, considering that i don’t know if this is a one-time thing or is ow drama a standard. we’ll see i guess.
slight spoilers below. this book is not safe so if anyone hates the ow bullshit as much as i do, you should know this before you pick this book up.
the start of this book was amazing. the writing was good, the story was engaging and the characters were likeable. there was chemistry between the fmc and the mmc and i really enjoyed their back-and-forth. the story also fits my likings well - a medieval rom-com and a group on a quest is something right up my alley. and i’m really disappointed of how it turned out in the end, because i was loving the first half.
there were a few things that bothered me a little - in particular, the amount of mentions of other women in regard to the mmc: his past, the attention he was getting at every single tavern they visited etc. i hate seeing this shit and i can’t comprehend why authors still do that. i don’t want to see or hear about other women when i’m reading a romance. it’s not romantic, it’s not sexy, it’s very irritating and always takes me out of the story.
still, i could do with mentions, it would definitely lower my rating, but the rest was good enough. however, at 65% this book blows out with other woman drama, when it turns out that the mmc is betrothed and forgot to mention it the entire time. the characters were basically together at this point, he said that he was hers and then this shit happens.
and the thing that angered me the most wasn’t even the fact that he was engaged. it was that he was passive in this whole thing. he said that he loved the fmc and wanted to be with her and was ready to forget about his responsibilities and yet the whole time he was going to go through with the wedding? it was the result of his guilt about his brother’s death and the feeling of being responsible for his wife and children (the ow is the deceased brother’s wife), but it was exhausting. how can i believe that he truly loved the fmc if he was going to marry the other woman the whole time even if he loved someone else? and for fucks sake, he didn’t even try to find another solution. basically, he feels like he has to marry her because the inheritance goes to him and he wants to provide for his fiancé/sister-in-law and this is apparently the only way. he makes no effort to actually find a different solution, he doesn’t even think about it! at the end it’s the heroine who comes up with the idea after (attention!) thinking about the problem for one fucking minute. it was pathetic. there was also no grovel. what the hell.
so, that’s basically it. i’m very disappointed, because like i’ve said, plot-wise this book totally worked for me and i was really enjoying it. however, i can’t stand the other woman thread. i hate when authors do this shit and i wish they stopped, because it never brings anything to the story except unnecessary and irritating drama.
i may think about picking up another book by this author in the future, but i’m still hesitant, considering that i don’t know if this is a one-time thing or is ow drama a standard. we’ll see i guess.
July 11, 2025
4.75⭐️
This book was absolutely delightful.
If you love some cosy fantasy books like Assistant to the Villain and The Spellshop but with 🌶️ this book is for you. If you also love the characters going on an adventure this is a must read. The story focuses on a group of misfits on a mission to slay a dragon and tell the tale across the lands.
Syl our FMC is an elven bard who is tasked with spreading the word of this great adventure through her music and storytelling while they are on the way to slay the dragon.
I really loved her character journey. The way she presents herself is refreshing for an FMC. She is funny, talkative, confident, self assured all on the exterior but internally goes through a lot of self doubt, inner turmoil, self sabotage etc.
It’s got some of my favourite book tropes like one horse, found family, grumpy x sunshine and full of lots of hilarious banter.
The chemistry between the two main characters is wonderful. There is a lot of sizzle between them and the side characters are all wonderfully written and each have their own growth and journey through the story. I wish this was getting more attention. It seems like very few people have read this book. I hope it gets a bit of love.
This book was absolutely delightful.
If you love some cosy fantasy books like Assistant to the Villain and The Spellshop but with 🌶️ this book is for you. If you also love the characters going on an adventure this is a must read. The story focuses on a group of misfits on a mission to slay a dragon and tell the tale across the lands.
Syl our FMC is an elven bard who is tasked with spreading the word of this great adventure through her music and storytelling while they are on the way to slay the dragon.
I really loved her character journey. The way she presents herself is refreshing for an FMC. She is funny, talkative, confident, self assured all on the exterior but internally goes through a lot of self doubt, inner turmoil, self sabotage etc.
It’s got some of my favourite book tropes like one horse, found family, grumpy x sunshine and full of lots of hilarious banter.
The chemistry between the two main characters is wonderful. There is a lot of sizzle between them and the side characters are all wonderfully written and each have their own growth and journey through the story. I wish this was getting more attention. It seems like very few people have read this book. I hope it gets a bit of love.
August 3, 2025
2.75⭐️ (two stars feels low but three feels generous)
Ok soooooo this had a lot of potential. I don’t feel like it made it there BUT I did read this in one sitting so it was doing something right.
There is a plucky little manic-pixie elf bard who goes on an adventure with a band of mercenaries and their rich benefactor. She obviously doesn’t like the super hot grumpy one and he seems to dislike her too. Or…maybe they wanna make out?
It went from hate to hand down your pants a little to fast for my taste but that’s just me. And the third act conflict totally caught me off guard but was kinda resolved ok.
Basically I wanted to like this more than I did. Maybe if it was dual POVs I would have connected more.
Also NOT cozy. This is an adventure Romantasy, with some dicey moments and deaths. Not the darkest thing ever but not a warm hug of a book.
Ok soooooo this had a lot of potential. I don’t feel like it made it there BUT I did read this in one sitting so it was doing something right.
There is a plucky little manic-pixie elf bard who goes on an adventure with a band of mercenaries and their rich benefactor. She obviously doesn’t like the super hot grumpy one and he seems to dislike her too. Or…maybe they wanna make out?
It went from hate to hand down your pants a little to fast for my taste but that’s just me. And the third act conflict totally caught me off guard but was kinda resolved ok.
Basically I wanted to like this more than I did. Maybe if it was dual POVs I would have connected more.
Also NOT cozy. This is an adventure Romantasy, with some dicey moments and deaths. Not the darkest thing ever but not a warm hug of a book.
Read
July 8, 20252.5 I don't want to round this to 2 or 3 because neither option seems fair haha.
This has the unfortunate timing of being read while I was reading another book that was far too similar in style. ( Dungeons and Dragons based romance of characters that go on a journey and fall in love ) I think I would have felt the same about this book either way but reading the other really highlighted to me the downfalls of this story.
I think with a bit of work on the overall plot and a bit on the story telling you could really have something here.
Unfortunately the plot felt very weak and I eventually really did not care about it because it felt like an afterthought. The main focus of this book is the insta attraction romance between our main characters. We very quickly enter a cycle of flirting, bad thing happening, Jaromir saving Syl, them cavorting around in a tent / inn and repeat.
Jaromir also is the same brooding tall grumpy man but in a way that felt so flat I did not have an ounce of care for him. I actually like Syl as a character. She has the fun personality of a bard and her internal voice felt true to her character. I think with a bit of character work on Jaromir and more work put into the overall plot of the story this would actually work really well, but as for how it stands now this did not work for me. I don't think I would have finished this if I wasn't currently working on a list of D&D style romances.
This has the unfortunate timing of being read while I was reading another book that was far too similar in style. ( Dungeons and Dragons based romance of characters that go on a journey and fall in love ) I think I would have felt the same about this book either way but reading the other really highlighted to me the downfalls of this story.
I think with a bit of work on the overall plot and a bit on the story telling you could really have something here.
Unfortunately the plot felt very weak and I eventually really did not care about it because it felt like an afterthought. The main focus of this book is the insta attraction romance between our main characters. We very quickly enter a cycle of flirting, bad thing happening, Jaromir saving Syl, them cavorting around in a tent / inn and repeat.
Jaromir also is the same brooding tall grumpy man but in a way that felt so flat I did not have an ounce of care for him. I actually like Syl as a character. She has the fun personality of a bard and her internal voice felt true to her character. I think with a bit of character work on Jaromir and more work put into the overall plot of the story this would actually work really well, but as for how it stands now this did not work for me. I don't think I would have finished this if I wasn't currently working on a list of D&D style romances.
February 5, 2025
Thank you so much to C.A. Farran for the ARC. This was SUCH a fun and lovely read!
I positively adored our protagonist Syl, a snarky bard who joins four warriors on a quest to slay the last dragon. Aside from a few seriously heart-wrechning moments, I had a happy little grin on my face the entire time I was reading this. The writing is absolutely lovely and the characters are so easy to root for. Syl and Jaromir captured my heart and I loved watching their relationship grow. 10/10 I had such a good time.
I positively adored our protagonist Syl, a snarky bard who joins four warriors on a quest to slay the last dragon. Aside from a few seriously heart-wrechning moments, I had a happy little grin on my face the entire time I was reading this. The writing is absolutely lovely and the characters are so easy to root for. Syl and Jaromir captured my heart and I loved watching their relationship grow. 10/10 I had such a good time.
June 4, 2025
4.5⭐️
The Ballad of the Last Dragon is a delightfully charming romantasy that had me hooked from the very first page. C.A. Farran delivers a story full of heart, humour, and just the right amount of spice. The characters are vibrant and lovable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey. The plot is engaging and well-paced, balancing romance and fantasy in a way that feels cozy yet compelling.
Highly recommend if you’re a fan of warm, whimsical romantasy books.
The Ballad of the Last Dragon is a delightfully charming romantasy that had me hooked from the very first page. C.A. Farran delivers a story full of heart, humour, and just the right amount of spice. The characters are vibrant and lovable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey. The plot is engaging and well-paced, balancing romance and fantasy in a way that feels cozy yet compelling.
Highly recommend if you’re a fan of warm, whimsical romantasy books.
February 14, 2025
I’ve just finished this and my heart feels so full! What an adventure. Farran is without any question an auto-buy author for me. Every book I’ve picked up has been beautifully, and thoughtfully crafted. Her characters are all so vivid, and each finds a way into my heart. She is a master at crafting FMCs that I adore and Syl is just divinely written. This is a standalone book and told from Syl the bards perspective, and it though it carries plenty of moments of intense and hard hitting content (check TWs!) it’s woven together with a lightness and humour that keep you laughing and smiling throughout.
I loved every moment and can’t wait to see it on my shelf. 🙌👏👏👏❤️
I loved every moment and can’t wait to see it on my shelf. 🙌👏👏👏❤️
June 25, 2025
Ugh. What I wanted out of this book was an immersive fantasy story centering around a female bard, venturing on a quest with her found family to find and defeat the last dragon in the land. What I got was a cheesy eye rolling romance in a fantasy backdrop. Truly 75% of this book was about Syl and Jaromir’s relationship. I enjoyed Syl as a character- sarcastic and witty bard. Jaromir on the other hand was so….typical. Gruff, stoic, mysterious big guy with chiseled jaw and a beard. I really had no interest in their love story and wanted to focus on the rest of the cast and their mission, but alas it was just chapters and chapters of Syl and Jaromir pining over each other, fighting with each other, him saving her over and over again, and her always running into his arms and nuzzling her face into his strong chest. Bleghhhh just not want I wanted out of this story.
April 23, 2025
This was my first time reading C.A. Farran’s work, and holy heck, it will not be my last! The Ballad of the Last Dragon is an easy 5 stars from me. Every element is crafted with such care: the vivid, immersive worldbuilding, the lyrical voice of our FMC, Syl, the electric chemistry between her and the MMC, the heartfelt found family dynamics, the pulse-pounding action, and the tender, quieter moments in between. It’s all woven together so seamlessly, so beautifully. I was completely enchanted from start to finish.
The story is overflowing with adventure and magic. As the characters embark on their quest to find and slay the last dragon, we slowly uncover their histories and motivations, but the pace never falters. It’s a hard balance to strike: giving depth without dragging, and Farran pulls it off perfectly. I felt deeply connected to each member of the party, both main and side characters, and loved watching their relationships evolve throughout their journey.
There’s a perfect blend of action-packed, high stakes questing and tender, romantic moments - a mix that keeps your emotional equilibrium deliciously off-kilter.
Syl is an incredible FMC, and I adored her from the start. She’s a beautifully written mix of fierce and vulnerable: confident in her role as a bard, with a razor-sharp wit she wears like armor, yet there's an ache beneath her strength that longs to be seen. And then there’s Jaromir - oh my lordy lord, I love this man so damn much. He’s broody and quiet, a bit rough around the edges, but inside he’s all heart: thoughtful, protective, and so achingly soft where it counts. Their banter, the grumpy x sunshine dynamic, the small acts of love... the buttercups. I was a puddle. Their relationship felt so raw, real, and intense - it took my heart on a complete rollercoaster.
And Aeron - oh my sweet Aeron. I absolutely adored him. He’s so authentically himself, it’s impossible not to love him. It’s easy to see how he became the glue that held the group together. Cadoc and Neith are fantastic additions too, each adding their own weight and warmth to the party, making the found family feel whole.
I am so excited to read more from Farran. I'm immediately moving on to Songs of the Wicked!
The story is overflowing with adventure and magic. As the characters embark on their quest to find and slay the last dragon, we slowly uncover their histories and motivations, but the pace never falters. It’s a hard balance to strike: giving depth without dragging, and Farran pulls it off perfectly. I felt deeply connected to each member of the party, both main and side characters, and loved watching their relationships evolve throughout their journey.
There’s a perfect blend of action-packed, high stakes questing and tender, romantic moments - a mix that keeps your emotional equilibrium deliciously off-kilter.
Syl is an incredible FMC, and I adored her from the start. She’s a beautifully written mix of fierce and vulnerable: confident in her role as a bard, with a razor-sharp wit she wears like armor, yet there's an ache beneath her strength that longs to be seen. And then there’s Jaromir - oh my lordy lord, I love this man so damn much. He’s broody and quiet, a bit rough around the edges, but inside he’s all heart: thoughtful, protective, and so achingly soft where it counts. Their banter, the grumpy x sunshine dynamic, the small acts of love... the buttercups. I was a puddle. Their relationship felt so raw, real, and intense - it took my heart on a complete rollercoaster.
And Aeron - oh my sweet Aeron. I absolutely adored him. He’s so authentically himself, it’s impossible not to love him. It’s easy to see how he became the glue that held the group together. Cadoc and Neith are fantastic additions too, each adding their own weight and warmth to the party, making the found family feel whole.
I am so excited to read more from Farran. I'm immediately moving on to Songs of the Wicked!
February 10, 2025
Classic quest, a sarcastic, quick-witted FMC, the right mix of humor and heart.
I loved this book. Syl as a character is a breath of fresh air - instead of swords, her weapon is words. This book left me emotional and fulfilled at the same time. I laughed, I cried (multiple times).
This story was a bit of a carthasis of grief for me. The found family vibes are immaculate. Highly recommend!
Thank you to CA Farran for an advanced reader copy of this perfect book!
I loved this book. Syl as a character is a breath of fresh air - instead of swords, her weapon is words. This book left me emotional and fulfilled at the same time. I laughed, I cried (multiple times).
This story was a bit of a carthasis of grief for me. The found family vibes are immaculate. Highly recommend!
Thank you to CA Farran for an advanced reader copy of this perfect book!
August 3, 2025
I absolutely adored everything about this book! Easy 5 stars and the spice and tension was DELIGHTFUL!
Syl is the sassy bard propositioned by Aeron to tell his story on his epic quest to defeat the fabled last dragon and make a name for himself. She’s quick-witted and had me cackling like a madwoman throughout the entire book. I loved the way she teased the broody, always scowling, “grunts instead of speaking” Jaromir. The tension and chemistry between those two was 🔥🔥and watching her peel back his layers and get under his skin and into his heart was EVERYTHING. Seriously, still swooning over that man and his buttercups. 😮💨
If you love these things, you will love this book! 👇
Cozy Romantasy
Medieval RomCom
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Tavern Ambience
Sarcasm as a Love Language
Quest
“Who did this to you?”
Semi-unreliable Narrator
One Horse 🥵 🌶️
Laugh Out Loud Banter
Found Family
I feel so attached to all of these characters and the found family aspect of this story was so incredibly sweet and well done. I shed some tears over it, ngl. They all endured pretty terrible things in their lives and you can’t help but feel for them. Some parts of this story will punch you so hard in the heart that your chest will physically ache, and then other parts will have you wiping tears away from laughing so hard. (The scene where they fall into the water or the “cursed prick.” Iykyk 🤣👀) The ending was bittersweet and wholesome and wrapped up the story beautifully.
I immediately added every CA Farran book I could find to my TBR because I am obsessed with her storytelling. I wish I had read this sooner!
Thank you to the author and RR Book Tours for the review copy!! I had a feeling I would love this one and I absolutely did!!
Syl is the sassy bard propositioned by Aeron to tell his story on his epic quest to defeat the fabled last dragon and make a name for himself. She’s quick-witted and had me cackling like a madwoman throughout the entire book. I loved the way she teased the broody, always scowling, “grunts instead of speaking” Jaromir. The tension and chemistry between those two was 🔥🔥and watching her peel back his layers and get under his skin and into his heart was EVERYTHING. Seriously, still swooning over that man and his buttercups. 😮💨
If you love these things, you will love this book! 👇
Cozy Romantasy
Medieval RomCom
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Tavern Ambience
Sarcasm as a Love Language
Quest
“Who did this to you?”
Semi-unreliable Narrator
One Horse 🥵 🌶️
Laugh Out Loud Banter
Found Family
I feel so attached to all of these characters and the found family aspect of this story was so incredibly sweet and well done. I shed some tears over it, ngl. They all endured pretty terrible things in their lives and you can’t help but feel for them. Some parts of this story will punch you so hard in the heart that your chest will physically ache, and then other parts will have you wiping tears away from laughing so hard. (The scene where they fall into the water or the “cursed prick.” Iykyk 🤣👀) The ending was bittersweet and wholesome and wrapped up the story beautifully.
I immediately added every CA Farran book I could find to my TBR because I am obsessed with her storytelling. I wish I had read this sooner!
Thank you to the author and RR Book Tours for the review copy!! I had a feeling I would love this one and I absolutely did!!
March 3, 2025
What an adventure. Seriously. Entertaining. Funny. Witty. Clever. Sad. All of it. A boiling kettle of emotions that spills everywhere, but let's you feel each one as it's meant to be felt.
Our main character is brave and so sure of herself. Charming and someone I'd love to meet. Her thoughts are so beautifully written and in some places, very poetic. I could almost hear her voice in the taravn. I wish I had a beer so I could sit back and listen.
This book is full of adventure and magic, full of all things that make your heart sing and it's written so well, so vividly that you can fall into the book and be there among the characters themselves.
While I do sometimes find myself getting lost with fantasy novels, this one is pretty straight forward. There's enough world building and character development for things to make sense.
I'm an awfully distracted person for television, however this reminded me of the snippets I did catch of The Witcher. So if you liked that, then this has similaritys in adventure / vibe. However, it does have its own uniqueness to it.
And also, can we talk about the cover? Stunning!!
Our main character is brave and so sure of herself. Charming and someone I'd love to meet. Her thoughts are so beautifully written and in some places, very poetic. I could almost hear her voice in the taravn. I wish I had a beer so I could sit back and listen.
This book is full of adventure and magic, full of all things that make your heart sing and it's written so well, so vividly that you can fall into the book and be there among the characters themselves.
While I do sometimes find myself getting lost with fantasy novels, this one is pretty straight forward. There's enough world building and character development for things to make sense.
I'm an awfully distracted person for television, however this reminded me of the snippets I did catch of The Witcher. So if you liked that, then this has similaritys in adventure / vibe. However, it does have its own uniqueness to it.
And also, can we talk about the cover? Stunning!!
August 10, 2025
The Ballad of the Last Dragon follows Sylvaine, who is an elf and a bard who enjoys singing and sharing amazing stories. She dreams of being the most famous bard where people from all over the world travel just to see her perform. Her life has never been easy, especially as an elf, whose kind is often discriminated and hated upon. Syl stumbles upon an amazing opportunity, where she joins a group of adventurers on a journey to slay the last dragon. Syl’s role is to sing and spread work of their heroic deeds. She is excited to be part of the journey despite also having to be in the company of Jaromir, the grumpy and rude warrior assigned to protect her. This was a fun read and I loved Syl’s antics throughout the book. I felt like the group on this journey was a good mix of silly and seriousness. This story is definitely about the journey and not the destination. I also loved the found family and sunshine/grumpy trope in here. The only issue for me was the pacing was slow at times. I highly recommend for those who enjoy Romantasy! Thank you to R & R Book Tours for the arc ✨
August 6, 2025
The best grumpy/sunshine that I’ve read! I often find the sunshines annoying and “too much” (I’m a grumpy 😂 ) but Syl was absolutely hilarious and I fell in love with her right along with the grumpy MMC. A great combination of some of my favorite tropes (quest, 1 horse, touch-her-and-d*e) but with several twists that I did NOT see coming!
May 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
May 4, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (ARC read for review)
The Ballad of the Last Dragon by C.A. Farran is a fast-paced romantasy that delivers adventure, heart, and a touch of heartbreak in a world where elves are unwelcome and stories hold the power to shape destinies.
Sylvaine—witty, determined, and wholly herself—is a bard with big ambitions. She dreams of performing for the finest nobility, but instead finds herself singing in a modest tavern, waiting for her chance at something greater. That chance arrives when a band of adventurers sets off to slay the last dragon and claim its legendary hoard. Seeing an opportunity, Syl convinces them that every heroic tale needs a bard to spread their legend—though she has every intention of making a name for herself in the process.
Among the adventurers is Jaromir, a warrior as gruff and ill-tempered as he is formidable. His initial disapproval of Syl is obvious, but as they journey together, their slow-burning attraction reveals a different side to him—one that offers passion, safety, and a sense of belonging Syl has never known.
The adventure is filled with humor, loss, friendship, and moments of deep personal growth. The story doesn’t just follow the quest for a dragon—it explores what it means to chase dreams, battle personal demons, and face the price of achieving the life one yearns for. Syl’s journey is one of courage and self-discovery, proving that the most powerful stories are the ones we write for ourselves.
While the pacing is quick and keeps the plot moving, there are moments I wished had been explored in more depth—especially certain emotional beats and relationship or character building that could have been drawn out to hit even harder. That said, The Ballad of the Last Dragon is a fantastic read for anyone who loves strong-willed heroines, slow-burn romance, and an adventure filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of sorrow. C.A. Farran weaves a tale that will have you cheering, laughing, and maybe even shedding a tear.
The Ballad of the Last Dragon by C.A. Farran is a fast-paced romantasy that delivers adventure, heart, and a touch of heartbreak in a world where elves are unwelcome and stories hold the power to shape destinies.
Sylvaine—witty, determined, and wholly herself—is a bard with big ambitions. She dreams of performing for the finest nobility, but instead finds herself singing in a modest tavern, waiting for her chance at something greater. That chance arrives when a band of adventurers sets off to slay the last dragon and claim its legendary hoard. Seeing an opportunity, Syl convinces them that every heroic tale needs a bard to spread their legend—though she has every intention of making a name for herself in the process.
Among the adventurers is Jaromir, a warrior as gruff and ill-tempered as he is formidable. His initial disapproval of Syl is obvious, but as they journey together, their slow-burning attraction reveals a different side to him—one that offers passion, safety, and a sense of belonging Syl has never known.
The adventure is filled with humor, loss, friendship, and moments of deep personal growth. The story doesn’t just follow the quest for a dragon—it explores what it means to chase dreams, battle personal demons, and face the price of achieving the life one yearns for. Syl’s journey is one of courage and self-discovery, proving that the most powerful stories are the ones we write for ourselves.
While the pacing is quick and keeps the plot moving, there are moments I wished had been explored in more depth—especially certain emotional beats and relationship or character building that could have been drawn out to hit even harder. That said, The Ballad of the Last Dragon is a fantastic read for anyone who loves strong-willed heroines, slow-burn romance, and an adventure filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of sorrow. C.A. Farran weaves a tale that will have you cheering, laughing, and maybe even shedding a tear.
January 31, 2025
This book was so much FUN!
I was very lucky to get the opportunity to read this as an ARC, and having read this authors other two books, I knew I was in for a really good time.
This is a tale of a quest – the questiest quest that was ever quested. Syl is brilliant - her wit, homour, and snark fit the group perfectly as something they never knew they needed.
The writing style is brilliant - the dialogue, the world building, the way the story is told. It is just done so well!
Syl and Jaromir are great - I love a grumpy x sunshine, and when the sunshine character matches my level of sarcasm... winner!
I cant wait to buy this in print - the cover is amazing and could not suit this story more. And to also have the wee chapter art/mid chapter breaks in print will be so good - everything about this book was great!
I was very lucky to get the opportunity to read this as an ARC, and having read this authors other two books, I knew I was in for a really good time.
This is a tale of a quest – the questiest quest that was ever quested. Syl is brilliant - her wit, homour, and snark fit the group perfectly as something they never knew they needed.
The writing style is brilliant - the dialogue, the world building, the way the story is told. It is just done so well!
Syl and Jaromir are great - I love a grumpy x sunshine, and when the sunshine character matches my level of sarcasm... winner!
I cant wait to buy this in print - the cover is amazing and could not suit this story more. And to also have the wee chapter art/mid chapter breaks in print will be so good - everything about this book was great!
September 25, 2025
Beautiful cover, wasted potential. The story started off strong, our band of adventurers had great energy between them and there were good discussions about the value of storyelling. As soon as we got deeper into the relationhip and its drama is where everything quickly fell flat. I really wanted to enjoy this since I love bard characters but alas.
Also, what right does someone have to get pissed about another person receiving attention from others when they’re not even in a relationship, nor have they confessed or defined anything between them? If nothing has been spoken, promised, or acknowledged, then there’s no claim, no grounds for jealousy, and no betrayal. It just comes across as petty and entitled.
Also, what right does someone have to get pissed about another person receiving attention from others when they’re not even in a relationship, nor have they confessed or defined anything between them? If nothing has been spoken, promised, or acknowledged, then there’s no claim, no grounds for jealousy, and no betrayal. It just comes across as petty and entitled.
January 21, 2025
Read as a beta reader - full review to come.
This book is worth your time!!!
This book is worth your time!!!
January 30, 2025
4.5 ✨ rounded up.
First of all: thank you so much C.A. Farran for the ARC!
The best way to describe this book is to look at its cover. It’s rare to have a cover that is such a perfect match to the story!
This book is incredibly sweet and fun, with enough emotional moments to make sure that the stakes remain high. The medieval/ bard/ lyrical vibes were on point. Syl is an absolutely perfect character.
The writing plays a big role in setting the mood: the dialogues are very beautifully written but never dull, and oh so entertaining.
I wish I had Syl in my life!
First of all: thank you so much C.A. Farran for the ARC!
The best way to describe this book is to look at its cover. It’s rare to have a cover that is such a perfect match to the story!
This book is incredibly sweet and fun, with enough emotional moments to make sure that the stakes remain high. The medieval/ bard/ lyrical vibes were on point. Syl is an absolutely perfect character.
The writing plays a big role in setting the mood: the dialogues are very beautifully written but never dull, and oh so entertaining.
I wish I had Syl in my life!
June 16, 2025
unfortunately i have fallen victim to a pretty cover. the plot was boring i wasn’t curious about the ending at all, i found most of the characters annoying, the romance had no build up honestly i wasn’t rooting for them at all, and this book said to have ‘found family’ and i see the potential but other characters were barely there. for me neith was the most interesting character and maybe cadoc but like i said the book didn’t focus on side characters. it was heavy on the romance and unfortunately i didn’t like the romance in this.
May 3, 2025
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵.”
𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬. 𝘜𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬.
“𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘈𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦?”
“𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴”
“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘚𝘺𝘭. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦.”
“𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦?”
“𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴.”
“𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶… 𝘚𝘺𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.”
“𝘈 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮? 𝘕𝘢𝘦, 𝘚𝘺𝘭. 𝘠𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳.”
✨ Tropes ✨
- D&D vibes
- Found Family
- Taverns, Knights and Bard
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- He falls first
- Touch her and die
OH MY GOD! This book was AMAZING!
You follow an Elven bard called Sylvaine on her journey to try gain notoriety in the world after being looked down upon for so long due to being an elf. She gets picked up by a group of adventurers, Neith, Cadoc, Aeran and Jaromir, to slay a dragon and take its hoard. But the journey to that end has obstacles in its path and OH MY GOD, the story was amazing and I felt like I was witnessing a D&D campaign.
Sylvaine is a wonderful character with a really sad backstory and I adore her so so much, especially when she over shares and goes on rants. I love her. I love the growing bond between her and Jaromir, ESPECIALLY the tension between them both, oh my god, and even the obstacles that came between them and just both of them together made my heart bleed I swear it, through the good and the bad. Neith, Cadoc and Aeran were also so well written and I adore all three of them, with their own stories for how they met eachother and the lore they share. That the ending really just felt bittersweet honestly and I was sad that it really was an end. This has definitely got to be up in one of my favourites, I devoured this book and I feel a little bit hollow now that I’ve finished it.
It has certainly spurred me on to play a bard in baldurs gate 3 now 😌🖤
𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬. 𝘜𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬.
“𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘈𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦?”
“𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴”
“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘚𝘺𝘭. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦.”
“𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦?”
“𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴.”
“𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶… 𝘚𝘺𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.”
“𝘈 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮? 𝘕𝘢𝘦, 𝘚𝘺𝘭. 𝘠𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳.”
✨ Tropes ✨
- D&D vibes
- Found Family
- Taverns, Knights and Bard
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- He falls first
- Touch her and die
OH MY GOD! This book was AMAZING!
You follow an Elven bard called Sylvaine on her journey to try gain notoriety in the world after being looked down upon for so long due to being an elf. She gets picked up by a group of adventurers, Neith, Cadoc, Aeran and Jaromir, to slay a dragon and take its hoard. But the journey to that end has obstacles in its path and OH MY GOD, the story was amazing and I felt like I was witnessing a D&D campaign.
Sylvaine is a wonderful character with a really sad backstory and I adore her so so much, especially when she over shares and goes on rants. I love her. I love the growing bond between her and Jaromir, ESPECIALLY the tension between them both, oh my god, and even the obstacles that came between them and just both of them together made my heart bleed I swear it, through the good and the bad. Neith, Cadoc and Aeran were also so well written and I adore all three of them, with their own stories for how they met eachother and the lore they share. That the ending really just felt bittersweet honestly and I was sad that it really was an end. This has definitely got to be up in one of my favourites, I devoured this book and I feel a little bit hollow now that I’ve finished it.
It has certainly spurred me on to play a bard in baldurs gate 3 now 😌🖤
August 18, 2025
5⭐️ | 2🌶️
Thank you to @rrbooktours and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
“𝙰 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜, 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎’𝚜.”
The perfect blend of cozy fantasy, found family, and epic adventure with a whirlwind of emotional banter. I absolutely devoured this book. @c.a.farran and this medieval setting rom com was the book I never knew I needed. It was actually a VERY much needed change of pace from my regular selection of genres.
If you’re a fan of 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘑𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘳 from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳, and/or just want 𝘋𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘴 vibes, I highly recommend this book!
The writing was phenomenal, pacing was perfect, and the vibes were immaculate. The humor was totally my cup of tea, and it had me laughing out loud soo many times throughout. The romance was exquisitely delicious & steamy; I quite literally felt like I was part of the crew.
Syl is so full of wit and was just so hilarious. I yearn to be her friend and she was such a breath of fresh air. This fantasy lore of taverns and friendship, love and loss, adventure and quests, was simply timeless.
Thank you to @rrbooktours and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
“𝙰 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜, 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎’𝚜.”
The perfect blend of cozy fantasy, found family, and epic adventure with a whirlwind of emotional banter. I absolutely devoured this book. @c.a.farran and this medieval setting rom com was the book I never knew I needed. It was actually a VERY much needed change of pace from my regular selection of genres.
If you’re a fan of 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘑𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘳 from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳, and/or just want 𝘋𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘴 vibes, I highly recommend this book!
The writing was phenomenal, pacing was perfect, and the vibes were immaculate. The humor was totally my cup of tea, and it had me laughing out loud soo many times throughout. The romance was exquisitely delicious & steamy; I quite literally felt like I was part of the crew.
Syl is so full of wit and was just so hilarious. I yearn to be her friend and she was such a breath of fresh air. This fantasy lore of taverns and friendship, love and loss, adventure and quests, was simply timeless.
April 11, 2025
4.75 ⭐
This cozy fantasy is a must read for all my fantasy lovers!
The story follows Sylvaine who is an elven bard on a quest with four other warriors to slay a dragon. You get a medieval setting, cozy taverns, songs at the campfire, fights with monsters while on the road but also some very beautiful romance.
I loved all the characters and I had such a good time following them on their adventure. It gave me The Witcher and The Elder Scrolls vibes and I couldn't get enough of the author's beautiful writing.
I loved Syl's ballads throughout the book and the story was a great mix between humour and serious topics making me wish for more stories in this medieval world.
what more to expect:
• grumpy x sunshine
• found family
• he falls first
• standalone novel
• all the cozy vibes
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
This cozy fantasy is a must read for all my fantasy lovers!
The story follows Sylvaine who is an elven bard on a quest with four other warriors to slay a dragon. You get a medieval setting, cozy taverns, songs at the campfire, fights with monsters while on the road but also some very beautiful romance.
I loved all the characters and I had such a good time following them on their adventure. It gave me The Witcher and The Elder Scrolls vibes and I couldn't get enough of the author's beautiful writing.
I loved Syl's ballads throughout the book and the story was a great mix between humour and serious topics making me wish for more stories in this medieval world.
what more to expect:
• grumpy x sunshine
• found family
• he falls first
• standalone novel
• all the cozy vibes
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
May 23, 2025
This was whimsical and adventurous, and I just adored everything about it. If you're looking for an epic adventure with a witty smart mouthed elf, a band of misfits, and a broody adventurer, then this is the book for you!
This was so much fun to read between the witty comebacks and banter to the epic battles and strangers who became family. There are also so many parts that will pull at your heartstrings and even some moments that will have you swooning.
The writing was so beautiful and had me fully immersed in this world. It wasn't overly complicated and was very easy to read and become attached to the characters. The tension and slow burn between the fiesty FMC and the broody MMC was everything! It had me giggling and kicking my feet.
I absolutely loved everything about this story. It was a cozy, epic fantasy and all the slow burn and adventure you could want.
This was so much fun to read between the witty comebacks and banter to the epic battles and strangers who became family. There are also so many parts that will pull at your heartstrings and even some moments that will have you swooning.
The writing was so beautiful and had me fully immersed in this world. It wasn't overly complicated and was very easy to read and become attached to the characters. The tension and slow burn between the fiesty FMC and the broody MMC was everything! It had me giggling and kicking my feet.
I absolutely loved everything about this story. It was a cozy, epic fantasy and all the slow burn and adventure you could want.
December 20, 2025
I really didn't like this book. I bought it because I liked the cover and the DnD-ish premise (bard goes on a dragon hunting adventure). But I felt that the writing was pretty bad (repetitive phrases, incorrect idioms etc.) and the plot was just a senseless amalgamation of romance tropes. None of the characters acted according to consistent motivations, so the things they did and said did not make sense to me. There was a lot of "I can't possibly do this because it goes against everything I stand for" followed on the next page by "I will do this because it is the right thing to do". The worst of all for me was a smutty sex scene immediately after the main character gets assaulted... I curse my compulsive completionism - I really should have stopped reading this when I realised I did not enjoy it.
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