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Realm Breaker #1
A Breaking of Realms: Realm Breaker, Book 1
On a continent where riders build kingdoms, she breaks them to build empires.
Realm-Building is open to all. On the continent of Elondria, anyone may become the next legendary dragon rider by building the greatest towns, cities, and even kingdoms.
Skálda Branwright dreams of leaving the Longcold and becoming the first Dragonlord to build an official realm. Only no dragon egg has ever hatched for her.
When a hatchling falls to her from another world, begging for rescue, she must decide whether to surrender her dragon to death or become the worst criminal of all—a rogue rider.
But this is no ordinary dragon. By the time Skálda realizes what she holds in her hands, it is much too late.
Stealing this hatchling will come at a steep cost—breaking the republic she is sworn to serve... and eliminating the elf that created the rules for Realm-Building. The same war machine that manufactures humans into riders to serve the elves.
A Queen will rise out of blood and dragonfire... and this is how it begins.
Includes A Quest of Rangers, a novella in the Realm Breaker series.
Realm-Building is open to all. On the continent of Elondria, anyone may become the next legendary dragon rider by building the greatest towns, cities, and even kingdoms.
Skálda Branwright dreams of leaving the Longcold and becoming the first Dragonlord to build an official realm. Only no dragon egg has ever hatched for her.
When a hatchling falls to her from another world, begging for rescue, she must decide whether to surrender her dragon to death or become the worst criminal of all—a rogue rider.
But this is no ordinary dragon. By the time Skálda realizes what she holds in her hands, it is much too late.
Stealing this hatchling will come at a steep cost—breaking the republic she is sworn to serve... and eliminating the elf that created the rules for Realm-Building. The same war machine that manufactures humans into riders to serve the elves.
A Queen will rise out of blood and dragonfire... and this is how it begins.
Includes A Quest of Rangers, a novella in the Realm Breaker series.
Audible Audio
First published October 2, 2023
2128 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jasmine Young
13 books166 followersReceive A Descent of Dragons (Realm Breaker 0.5) by joining Jasmine Young's Dragon Riders Guild mailing list at https://www.jasmineyoungauthor.com/su...
Jasmine Young is the nobledark fantasy author of over 15 titles to date.
When she was thirteen, she first dreamed of becoming published after devouring Eragon in a few days on Grandma's couch. As a once painfully anxious introvert, her exposure to fantasy started with hiding out in the library with a great book.
Thirteen years later, her tomboy dreams came true.
Today, she is known worldwide as a part time hermit and a full time rebel. She is also the proud mother of birds. The family currently lounges in Florida.
When she’s not reminiscing about her gaming days or getting lost in old epics like LOTR, Jasmine writes a blend of epic, romantic, and dark fantasy to entertain and empower, especially the underdogs.
Visit the Dragonfyre Bookstore for signed and special edition books!
https://jasmineyoungauthor.myshopify....
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JOIN OUR MEMBER COMMUNITIES
Fan-Made Discord Channel: Realm Breakers: The Official Guild
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Facebook Group for Dragon Fantasy Fans: Dragon Riders Guild Reader Group
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Jasmine Young is the nobledark fantasy author of over 15 titles to date.
When she was thirteen, she first dreamed of becoming published after devouring Eragon in a few days on Grandma's couch. As a once painfully anxious introvert, her exposure to fantasy started with hiding out in the library with a great book.
Thirteen years later, her tomboy dreams came true.
Today, she is known worldwide as a part time hermit and a full time rebel. She is also the proud mother of birds. The family currently lounges in Florida.
When she’s not reminiscing about her gaming days or getting lost in old epics like LOTR, Jasmine writes a blend of epic, romantic, and dark fantasy to entertain and empower, especially the underdogs.
Visit the Dragonfyre Bookstore for signed and special edition books!
https://jasmineyoungauthor.myshopify....
Follow on AMAZON for release updates
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
Connect on INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/jasmineyoun...
Connect with me on TIKTOK
https://www.tiktok.com/@jasmineyounga...
JOIN OUR MEMBER COMMUNITIES
Fan-Made Discord Channel: Realm Breakers: The Official Guild
https://discord.com/invite/ZrGkNnjxGb
Facebook Group for Dragon Fantasy Fans: Dragon Riders Guild Reader Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/31687...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
October 19, 2023
I might have just read my favourite high fantasy book of 2023. There is simply no way for me to articulate all my thoughts surrounding this book into one short review, but I'm going to try.
A Breaking of Realms is so many things. It's a Scandinavian inspired world with dragons and the feel of an RPG game. It had me thinking Elvenar from the moment I read the overview of the Realm Building Enterprise. I'm going to say this loudly...this book needs a game based on it!!!!
The world has a blend of elves, half elves, humans and dragons. The War of Treason decimated the continent, and in the aftermath, The Building Enterprise rose to protect the continent from a second war.
Skálda is our FMC, and she hunts her namesake the Skáldwolves for extra coin. Skálda is brave, strong, tenacious and can fight like hell with an axe. But still, no dragon egg hatches for Skálda. In a turn of events, a hatchling falls from the sky, and not a moment after, Skálda and the dragon are being hunted by a psychotic judge of the Realm. Skálda and Bale find an unlikely ally in the Queen's Ranger, and together they try and find a way to survive their journey. Will Skálda stay loyal to the Replublic or will she uncover secrets that make her go rogue?
There is not a single moment in this book where something isn't happening, it's action upon action. We get multiple pov's, witty banter, and there is political intrigue. We come to realise how certain races are discriminated against, and we see another deadly war starting to break out. The worldbuilding is so good, I simply can't find the right word for it. Characters are well written and friendships endure the most trying situations.
The author also gives us something quite unique and resembling Tolkien's LoTR. At the end of the book we get a thorough overview of The Realm-Building Enterprise. If we visit the author's website, we also get a detailed explanation of the different types of dragons. There is a short prequal to ABoR and a little snippet of the next book, A Banishing of Kings at the end of the book. There is no stone left unturned in this world.
ABoR has it all...I cannot find a single thing a didn't like.
It does end on a crazy cliffhanger, but luckily we don't have to wait long to see what happens if we decide to not read the snippet for ABoK.
••••
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and this review wasn't influenced in any way.
A Breaking of Realms is so many things. It's a Scandinavian inspired world with dragons and the feel of an RPG game. It had me thinking Elvenar from the moment I read the overview of the Realm Building Enterprise. I'm going to say this loudly...this book needs a game based on it!!!!
The world has a blend of elves, half elves, humans and dragons. The War of Treason decimated the continent, and in the aftermath, The Building Enterprise rose to protect the continent from a second war.
Skálda is our FMC, and she hunts her namesake the Skáldwolves for extra coin. Skálda is brave, strong, tenacious and can fight like hell with an axe. But still, no dragon egg hatches for Skálda. In a turn of events, a hatchling falls from the sky, and not a moment after, Skálda and the dragon are being hunted by a psychotic judge of the Realm. Skálda and Bale find an unlikely ally in the Queen's Ranger, and together they try and find a way to survive their journey. Will Skálda stay loyal to the Replublic or will she uncover secrets that make her go rogue?
There is not a single moment in this book where something isn't happening, it's action upon action. We get multiple pov's, witty banter, and there is political intrigue. We come to realise how certain races are discriminated against, and we see another deadly war starting to break out. The worldbuilding is so good, I simply can't find the right word for it. Characters are well written and friendships endure the most trying situations.
The author also gives us something quite unique and resembling Tolkien's LoTR. At the end of the book we get a thorough overview of The Realm-Building Enterprise. If we visit the author's website, we also get a detailed explanation of the different types of dragons. There is a short prequal to ABoR and a little snippet of the next book, A Banishing of Kings at the end of the book. There is no stone left unturned in this world.
ABoR has it all...I cannot find a single thing a didn't like.
It does end on a crazy cliffhanger, but luckily we don't have to wait long to see what happens if we decide to not read the snippet for ABoK.
••••
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and this review wasn't influenced in any way.
March 10, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up!
This is such an accessible fantasy story, where the characters give you someone to root for and you don't feel lost and confused the entire time. The audiobook is fantastic and really adds to the game of thrones vibe of it. And if you need more sassy dragons in your life?? This one is for you!
Disclaimer: I am the marketing assistant for Jasmine Young, but this is my unbiased review.
This is such an accessible fantasy story, where the characters give you someone to root for and you don't feel lost and confused the entire time. The audiobook is fantastic and really adds to the game of thrones vibe of it. And if you need more sassy dragons in your life?? This one is for you!
Disclaimer: I am the marketing assistant for Jasmine Young, but this is my unbiased review.
April 30, 2024
Expect to be thrown into a beautifully intricate world of humans, elves, and dragons. There’s political intrigue, war campaigns, interesting well rounded characters, and a compelling FMC with a quest to save her dragon from those who deem her wild dragon too dangerous to live. The novel is a multiple POV with each chapter shifting into a different POV. However, the storyline is firmly centered on our FMC Skalda and her brother Eyrekvald. Each POV chapters are ensnaring and i found myself captured by both of their interwoven storylines. Ultimately this novel is a beautiful foray into High Fantasy for fans of fierce dragon riders, captivating realms, and court politics such as in the show House of Dragons 🐉⚔️
September 18, 2024
This is one I picked up as a judge for #SPFBO and it was a strong contender at first, ticking so many of the things I like to see in fantasy. We follow Skálda who is a young lady determined to win the day and prove her worth, she lives in the back end of the world and she doesn’t really have much going on day to day besides hunting wolves. Her brother left long ago leaving her with her mother (who is full of secrets it seems) and so she’s slightly trapped in this small town, however she’s always dreamed of leaving and starting to Realm-build and follow her destiny like her brother did.
This book focuses on the idea of an Enterprise called Realm-Building. The concept is that anyone can prove themselves by getting a dragon to ride, and then building up their rider collection, towns, cities and eventually kingdoms if you’re truly great. However, only a few manage to build up their dragon’s stories with chapters and truly become great.
Magic is looked down on a lot in this world and mages aren’t commonplace, although elves are a big part of the culture along with humans and they tend to rule over everyone.
There’s various factions of the elves and also different kingdoms who are all vying for territory. They tend to claim land by fighting in war zones and proving their worth over time by claiming more territory.
Although I really liked Skálda on first impression I became more interested once she met a stray dragon. This is certainly something I like to see in books, the development of a bond and friendship between a dragon and human, but actually this wasn’t the only focus of the story.
Overall, I liked Skálda and the world was interesting for how everyone can supposedly prove themselves, but as you go on you do see that maybe it’s all a bit too good to be true. There’s a lot of politics and in the latter half of the book an awful lot of warfare and fighting between all the different groups. I felt as though the story got a bit overwhelmed with the politics and the battles by the end, so this didn’t quite pan out as I had hoped. I wanted a bit more of Skálda’s story with her dragon and less of the big battles by the end. 3*s so 6/10 for #SPFBO
This book focuses on the idea of an Enterprise called Realm-Building. The concept is that anyone can prove themselves by getting a dragon to ride, and then building up their rider collection, towns, cities and eventually kingdoms if you’re truly great. However, only a few manage to build up their dragon’s stories with chapters and truly become great.
Magic is looked down on a lot in this world and mages aren’t commonplace, although elves are a big part of the culture along with humans and they tend to rule over everyone.
There’s various factions of the elves and also different kingdoms who are all vying for territory. They tend to claim land by fighting in war zones and proving their worth over time by claiming more territory.
Although I really liked Skálda on first impression I became more interested once she met a stray dragon. This is certainly something I like to see in books, the development of a bond and friendship between a dragon and human, but actually this wasn’t the only focus of the story.
Overall, I liked Skálda and the world was interesting for how everyone can supposedly prove themselves, but as you go on you do see that maybe it’s all a bit too good to be true. There’s a lot of politics and in the latter half of the book an awful lot of warfare and fighting between all the different groups. I felt as though the story got a bit overwhelmed with the politics and the battles by the end, so this didn’t quite pan out as I had hoped. I wanted a bit more of Skálda’s story with her dragon and less of the big battles by the end. 3*s so 6/10 for #SPFBO
January 14, 2024
Thank you to the author for the eARC. This is an honest review.
This book presents a blend of intricate world-building and complex characters. The narrative revolves around Skálda's aspirations to become a dragon rider and build her realm. An unexpected arrival of a wild hatchling alters her trajectory.
I would argue that this is a grimdark and epic fantasy. There is a blurring of the lines between good and not-so-good characters, creating a sense of ambiguity. The initial lighter tone quickly transforms into a gripping tale of unforeseen challenges and consequences.
Skálda's connection with Bale adds incredible emotional depth and that was my favorite part. As the story unfolds, leaving all of the characters in dire straits, I'm eager to unravel the next chapter of this enthralling dragon rider epic.
This book presents a blend of intricate world-building and complex characters. The narrative revolves around Skálda's aspirations to become a dragon rider and build her realm. An unexpected arrival of a wild hatchling alters her trajectory.
I would argue that this is a grimdark and epic fantasy. There is a blurring of the lines between good and not-so-good characters, creating a sense of ambiguity. The initial lighter tone quickly transforms into a gripping tale of unforeseen challenges and consequences.
Skálda's connection with Bale adds incredible emotional depth and that was my favorite part. As the story unfolds, leaving all of the characters in dire straits, I'm eager to unravel the next chapter of this enthralling dragon rider epic.
September 24, 2025
A Breaking of Realms by Jasmine Young is a gripping and immersive fantasy that masterfully blends dragons, magic, and high-stakes adventure. The worldbuilding is very vivid and intricate. The protagonist is ambitious, determined, and morally complex, and her bond with a dragon adds emotional weight and tension to the story. The pacing has a satisfying balance between action, politics, and reflective moments that deepen character development.
The supporting characters are just as compelling, each with their own goals, flaws, and motivations that bring depth to the conflicts and alliances. Themes of loyalty, ambition, and the consequences of tough choices give the story a resonance that goes beyond its fantastical setting.
And then there’s Bale—absolutely unforgettable. I love his fierce loyalty, wild spirit, and the way he brings both danger and heart to the story.
Overall, A Breaking of Realms is a richly imagined, character-driven fantasy that will captivate readers of epic storytelling and morally gray heroes, leaving them eager to continue the journey in the next installment.
The supporting characters are just as compelling, each with their own goals, flaws, and motivations that bring depth to the conflicts and alliances. Themes of loyalty, ambition, and the consequences of tough choices give the story a resonance that goes beyond its fantastical setting.
And then there’s Bale—absolutely unforgettable. I love his fierce loyalty, wild spirit, and the way he brings both danger and heart to the story.
Overall, A Breaking of Realms is a richly imagined, character-driven fantasy that will captivate readers of epic storytelling and morally gray heroes, leaving them eager to continue the journey in the next installment.
November 4, 2023
Wow! What a complex and densely plotted world! In fact there is so much of it you could see yourself in one of these litRPG games, battling elves and levelling up your dragon. I loved the idea of a dragon having chapters and gaining more chapters to build their 'story' and with more experience, battles won, the rider gains access to more spells and dragon fuelled power.
I first met Skalda, and fell in love with Bael her dragon, in A Descent of Dragons, (a free prequel if you sign up to Young's newsletter) and Bael remains as cute and adorable as expected, (his piteous 'helps' are heartbreaking!) even though you know he is going to turn into that mighty beast found on the cover. And what a cover! Bael is gorgeous.
This story weaves together a complicated world of realms, kings and dominant elves. I have many questions! Lots and lots of questions, beginning with what does Skaldar's mother know and why the hell didn't she tell her daughter?
All is definitely not as it seems as we venture into the war torn world of realms and kings, where elves dominate and humans toil. There is much to be revealed before we can make sense of it all. I'm not convinced who is 'good' and who is 'bad' here, though all sides are committing atrocities.
Beautifully written, keeps you turning the pages into the early hours. Skaldar is a fearsome heroine and I can't wait to see how she gets herself and Bael out of the pickle at the end.
Can't wait to read book 2: A Breaking of Kings which is currently on preorder.
I first met Skalda, and fell in love with Bael her dragon, in A Descent of Dragons, (a free prequel if you sign up to Young's newsletter) and Bael remains as cute and adorable as expected, (his piteous 'helps' are heartbreaking!) even though you know he is going to turn into that mighty beast found on the cover. And what a cover! Bael is gorgeous.
This story weaves together a complicated world of realms, kings and dominant elves. I have many questions! Lots and lots of questions, beginning with what does Skaldar's mother know and why the hell didn't she tell her daughter?
All is definitely not as it seems as we venture into the war torn world of realms and kings, where elves dominate and humans toil. There is much to be revealed before we can make sense of it all. I'm not convinced who is 'good' and who is 'bad' here, though all sides are committing atrocities.
Beautifully written, keeps you turning the pages into the early hours. Skaldar is a fearsome heroine and I can't wait to see how she gets herself and Bael out of the pickle at the end.
Can't wait to read book 2: A Breaking of Kings which is currently on preorder.
June 4, 2024
WOW. This book deserves the highest of praise! A true epic fantasy with vivid, immersive worldbuilding, a healthy dose of adventure, and DRAGONS. It is clear from reading this how much time the author must have put into planning and creating this high fantasy world, the compelling characters, and the various types of dragons inhabiting it. Absolutely one of my favorite epic fantasy reads to date.
October 2, 2023
Amazing. Jasmine continues to grow as an Author and her world building combined with character developing is absolutely fantastic to behold. I recommend this new series to all ages!
July 17, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this opening volume of a fresh, complex, sweeping, epic fantasy stuffed with dragons, magic, political intrigue, and rich lore.
The writing is vivid and clear. The characters are memorable and complicated, with flaws and strengths in abundance. The different dragon types and their general magic is interesting. I will say I’m not a gamer, nor do I seek out progression-style books where “leveling up” is part of the plot. But Young’s magic system is well handled, and felt less “game-like” than others of its type. I found the chapters and dragonscript aspects well thought out. Readers who enjoy litRPG/progression-type epic fantasy, don’t miss this one!
My favorite characters are easily Skalda, Bale (the baby dragon), and Aesir. They’re each compelling, and felt fleshed out and real. They each make mistakes, but those mistakes are well within their characters and add to the dynamics. Their victories feel earned. Their journey together elevated the book from good to great as I read.
I had mixed feelings regarding the rest of the cast, especially the Ivarion, which I suspect is the author’s intent. I do feel a bit nervous about what’s in store. I don’t mind morally gray characters, but I do hope I can trust at least a few characters throughout the series to ultimately make the right decision. Hopefully Skalda retains her rightful place as the heroine.
The pace is excellent. It doesn’t let up, but also gives us moments to know the characters and feel things deeply. It wraps up well, while giving plenty of hints for what’s to come. I have theories about what lies in store, but only time will tell. I look forward to continuing the Realm-Breaker series soon.
Content: Violence/death, including animal death. Non-detailed open-door love scenes and mild innuendo. Trauma and madness. In-world swearing only (“By Fingolfa!” Or “Skit myself.”)
The writing is vivid and clear. The characters are memorable and complicated, with flaws and strengths in abundance. The different dragon types and their general magic is interesting. I will say I’m not a gamer, nor do I seek out progression-style books where “leveling up” is part of the plot. But Young’s magic system is well handled, and felt less “game-like” than others of its type. I found the chapters and dragonscript aspects well thought out. Readers who enjoy litRPG/progression-type epic fantasy, don’t miss this one!
My favorite characters are easily Skalda, Bale (the baby dragon), and Aesir. They’re each compelling, and felt fleshed out and real. They each make mistakes, but those mistakes are well within their characters and add to the dynamics. Their victories feel earned. Their journey together elevated the book from good to great as I read.
I had mixed feelings regarding the rest of the cast, especially the Ivarion, which I suspect is the author’s intent. I do feel a bit nervous about what’s in store. I don’t mind morally gray characters, but I do hope I can trust at least a few characters throughout the series to ultimately make the right decision. Hopefully Skalda retains her rightful place as the heroine.
The pace is excellent. It doesn’t let up, but also gives us moments to know the characters and feel things deeply. It wraps up well, while giving plenty of hints for what’s to come. I have theories about what lies in store, but only time will tell. I look forward to continuing the Realm-Breaker series soon.
Content: Violence/death, including animal death. Non-detailed open-door love scenes and mild innuendo. Trauma and madness. In-world swearing only (“By Fingolfa!” Or “Skit myself.”)
November 20, 2024
This is one of the best books I have read in a while (finished it in a single night as I could not put it down). The book has such a unique take on dragon riders but still feels familiar for those who love books like Eragon and Fourth Wing (this book feels like a great blend of the two plus its own uniqueness). The characters are so well written and you feel for many of the characters and can’t wait to see what unfolds next. The lore and history is absolutely fascinating with very strong world building that really makes you invested in the world and the history.
The world feels alive with all the kings, politics, wars, schemes, loyalties and rule of law. The details truly transport you into the world and you can imagine yourself in the world.
It is always a pleasure seeing new takes on how dragons work and the magics that surround them or the magic in the world. And the way A Breaking of Realms handles dragons is so much fun (definitely gives off some Eragon vibes but also its own uniqueness).
The history of the humans and elves and others are so well done. It is always great to read a book that really takes the time to flesh out the world building and history so you understand why characters are how they are and why they see the world the way they do.
Usually I am not the biggest fan of having multiple viewpoints (mostly because I usually like a specific character the most and just want to read their point of view). But this book has so many well done characters and the different viewpoints adds so much to the story and the world that I actually enjoy all the viewpoints.
If you are a fan of dragon rider books (or really fantasy books with a great story/characters/world) then you should 100% give this a read.
The world feels alive with all the kings, politics, wars, schemes, loyalties and rule of law. The details truly transport you into the world and you can imagine yourself in the world.
It is always a pleasure seeing new takes on how dragons work and the magics that surround them or the magic in the world. And the way A Breaking of Realms handles dragons is so much fun (definitely gives off some Eragon vibes but also its own uniqueness).
The history of the humans and elves and others are so well done. It is always great to read a book that really takes the time to flesh out the world building and history so you understand why characters are how they are and why they see the world the way they do.
Usually I am not the biggest fan of having multiple viewpoints (mostly because I usually like a specific character the most and just want to read their point of view). But this book has so many well done characters and the different viewpoints adds so much to the story and the world that I actually enjoy all the viewpoints.
If you are a fan of dragon rider books (or really fantasy books with a great story/characters/world) then you should 100% give this a read.
August 27, 2024
What a month this has been for me. Doing a themed TBR and choosing dragons was one of the funnest things I've done with reading lately. Can't go wrong with dragons!
I read the short story, A Descent of Dragons, and absolutely was hooked. So it was no shocker that I had to jump into A Breaking of Realms. This book is many things in one. You get a Scandinavian world with dragons fused with political intrigue and elements of an RPG type world building game. It's crazy sounding, and it works! Very intricate world building, complex and easily likable and easy to hate characters, and a challenging plot full of twists and turns.
I had a blast reading this, and with the cliffhanger at the end, dragon month is probably being extended. Because I need to dive into the short story A Quest of Rangers and book 2 of the Realm Breaker series, A Banishing of Kings.
I read the short story, A Descent of Dragons, and absolutely was hooked. So it was no shocker that I had to jump into A Breaking of Realms. This book is many things in one. You get a Scandinavian world with dragons fused with political intrigue and elements of an RPG type world building game. It's crazy sounding, and it works! Very intricate world building, complex and easily likable and easy to hate characters, and a challenging plot full of twists and turns.
I had a blast reading this, and with the cliffhanger at the end, dragon month is probably being extended. Because I need to dive into the short story A Quest of Rangers and book 2 of the Realm Breaker series, A Banishing of Kings.
May 11, 2025
I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did!! It took me a good few chapters to get the names of people and places solidified in my head. The story is fast paced, and alot of information is given, but is relatively easy enough to follow.
The FMC Skalda is fab - she definitely grew on me throughout the book. I was in tears at the very end! Im so intrigued by her. I feel there is sooo much we have yet to find out about her.
Bael for me makes the story. The way he speaks with Skalda is so adorable. It was nice seeing him soften Skalda.
Aesir and Baels banter cracks me up. Im hoping we get more of Aesir in the next book. I need him to kick some Elf ass because I'm still so annoyed by what happened to him!
A 4star read for me. Im looking forward to reading the next instalment.
The FMC Skalda is fab - she definitely grew on me throughout the book. I was in tears at the very end! Im so intrigued by her. I feel there is sooo much we have yet to find out about her.
Bael for me makes the story. The way he speaks with Skalda is so adorable. It was nice seeing him soften Skalda.
Aesir and Baels banter cracks me up. Im hoping we get more of Aesir in the next book. I need him to kick some Elf ass because I'm still so annoyed by what happened to him!
A 4star read for me. Im looking forward to reading the next instalment.
June 14, 2024
To bind with a dragon
This was a wonderful story! Epic levels of worldbuilding, I love how the author wove in the details like learning a new game in conversation. The dual story lines of Skalda and he Brother Eyrekvald to show what was going on in different places as their timelines twisted around one another. Bael is great and hands down he was my favorite part,
I will say that this is a story you have to pay attention to. As with most good fantasy there are lots of names, characters and places. It’s easy to get lost in the details.
Definitely Action packed adventure that will leave you wanting more!
This was a wonderful story! Epic levels of worldbuilding, I love how the author wove in the details like learning a new game in conversation. The dual story lines of Skalda and he Brother Eyrekvald to show what was going on in different places as their timelines twisted around one another. Bael is great and hands down he was my favorite part,
I will say that this is a story you have to pay attention to. As with most good fantasy there are lots of names, characters and places. It’s easy to get lost in the details.
Definitely Action packed adventure that will leave you wanting more!
November 24, 2024
Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this book! I am very supportive of Skálda and her dragon, Bale. What a difficult choice she had to make on whether to work at saving him, or allowing him to be killed due to what he actually was, a realm breaker, not an actual regular dragon (not that I am saying a dragon is just a regular old thing). I love how tough Skálda actually is and how she can pretty much hold her own, or be even better than others. She has an amazing character that finds herself in difficult situations, but manages to overcome. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series, “A Banishing of Kings.” Did I mention that I hated putting this book down to sleep? It is amazing!
December 3, 2024
Absolutely amazing! Loved every bit of this book. Just mind blowing! Onto the next one!
September 8, 2025
A Breaking of Realms is the first book in Jasmine Young’s Realm Breaker series, and it hooked me right away. Skálda Branwright dreams of becoming a Dragonlord, but no egg has ever hatched for her—until a wild hatchling literally falls from the sky. Saving it changes everything, throwing her into danger, rebellion, and a bond with a dragon that’s far more than it seems.
I loved the mix of action, emotion, and morally gray choices. Skálda feels real—flawed but determined—and Bale is both adorable and terrifying. The idea of dragons having “chapters” in their soul as a way of growing stronger is such a cool twist, and as a fan of LitRPG fantasy, I found this system especially fun and original.
The author’s note at the end is worth reading too—it goes into the tone of the book (including what nobledark means) and makes the story feel even richer.
Great characters, clever worldbuilding, and a brutal cliffhanger—I’m already excited for book two!
I loved the mix of action, emotion, and morally gray choices. Skálda feels real—flawed but determined—and Bale is both adorable and terrifying. The idea of dragons having “chapters” in their soul as a way of growing stronger is such a cool twist, and as a fan of LitRPG fantasy, I found this system especially fun and original.
The author’s note at the end is worth reading too—it goes into the tone of the book (including what nobledark means) and makes the story feel even richer.
Great characters, clever worldbuilding, and a brutal cliffhanger—I’m already excited for book two!
July 2, 2025
DNF @ 38% - Unfortunately I was really enjoying this book until the pro-life lore dropped. A very sad DNF.
January 11, 2025
Une vraie épopée
Un très bon livre, un bon début d'aventure, on a envie de plonger dans le suivant directement! Un lexique sur le langage spécifique à ce monde pourrait être utile, bien qu'après quelque temps on fini par comprendre les chapitres, les livres, les cycles... Ce n'est pas une romance, mais on n'oublie pas d'inclure les sentiments de nos héros et c'est appréciable! Je recommande à ceux qui ont aimé Eragon, Louis le Galoup, Throne of glass, et même Ewilan!
Un très bon livre, un bon début d'aventure, on a envie de plonger dans le suivant directement! Un lexique sur le langage spécifique à ce monde pourrait être utile, bien qu'après quelque temps on fini par comprendre les chapitres, les livres, les cycles... Ce n'est pas une romance, mais on n'oublie pas d'inclure les sentiments de nos héros et c'est appréciable! Je recommande à ceux qui ont aimé Eragon, Louis le Galoup, Throne of glass, et même Ewilan!
March 29, 2025
DNF- 17%
The start to this series was promising unfortunately there were a lot of issues I just could not get passed. I tried to stick it out to atleast 50% but I just couldn’t not make myself.
First main issue for me is lack of any character descriptions. We get the men are “big” but other than that?? Nothing. All we get about our FMC is she’s small with white blonde hair. Not even a description of her best friends. However we do get descriptions about food layouts on tables??
Secondly— the “glossary” aka the cop out on flowing world building. There are random word drops of what I’m assuming to be world centric details to lore which the author expects you to flip back to the glossary and read about instead of weaving it in. Glossary’s are supposed to be supplemental not a crutch. And don’t get me started on all the Nordic overly complex names.
Another main issue is the brother and Skaldas initial introduction to their relationship. Skalda is a wolf hunter, she lives in squalor and often near famine. She is a hardened individual and a loaner. Her brother, almost a king and living the life of luxury without wanting. So you’re going to tell me, that when her brother returns she is just a doey eyed sister? He literally has left his sister and mother to practically starve and live in a shack while he’s one of the most highest ranking individual in the court. BS. This does not make sense for either of their characters as they were described and introduced. Just a very glaring contradiction that ultimately led me to DNF.
Anyways— adding this to my ever growing list of DNFs this year.
The start to this series was promising unfortunately there were a lot of issues I just could not get passed. I tried to stick it out to atleast 50% but I just couldn’t not make myself.
First main issue for me is lack of any character descriptions. We get the men are “big” but other than that?? Nothing. All we get about our FMC is she’s small with white blonde hair. Not even a description of her best friends. However we do get descriptions about food layouts on tables??
Secondly— the “glossary” aka the cop out on flowing world building. There are random word drops of what I’m assuming to be world centric details to lore which the author expects you to flip back to the glossary and read about instead of weaving it in. Glossary’s are supposed to be supplemental not a crutch. And don’t get me started on all the Nordic overly complex names.
Another main issue is the brother and Skaldas initial introduction to their relationship. Skalda is a wolf hunter, she lives in squalor and often near famine. She is a hardened individual and a loaner. Her brother, almost a king and living the life of luxury without wanting. So you’re going to tell me, that when her brother returns she is just a doey eyed sister? He literally has left his sister and mother to practically starve and live in a shack while he’s one of the most highest ranking individual in the court. BS. This does not make sense for either of their characters as they were described and introduced. Just a very glaring contradiction that ultimately led me to DNF.
Anyways— adding this to my ever growing list of DNFs this year.
December 11, 2023
This book hooked me quite fast. It is lush with complex characters, advanced worldbuilding and a backstory I found engaging.
The story got more exciting as it progressed, so much so that not only have I made it to the end, but felt eager for more and bought the second book.
The heroine is certainly very complex and I'd say a bit of a gray character, having plenty of growth to do in the next books. It gives the reader the feeling that there is much potential there to be explored further.
I couldn't give the book 5 stars for two reasons:
- too many things bear a name and it makes it confusing if one doesn't take notes. Everything is carefully mentioned, probably in the hopes that it would add realism but in fact, it adds confusion - every mountain, river, valley, dragon post, lake, region or kingdom is mentioned by a name. And there are plenty of those, throughout the book. Also, some names are just unclear to me still - is there a difference between the Elenntarien and the Eldari? I still don't know. The author seems to use them interchangeably.
- Some scenes seem rushed, superficially glossed over.
All in all, a very satisfying read! Looking forward to reading about more adventures and twists in the following books.
The story got more exciting as it progressed, so much so that not only have I made it to the end, but felt eager for more and bought the second book.
The heroine is certainly very complex and I'd say a bit of a gray character, having plenty of growth to do in the next books. It gives the reader the feeling that there is much potential there to be explored further.
I couldn't give the book 5 stars for two reasons:
- too many things bear a name and it makes it confusing if one doesn't take notes. Everything is carefully mentioned, probably in the hopes that it would add realism but in fact, it adds confusion - every mountain, river, valley, dragon post, lake, region or kingdom is mentioned by a name. And there are plenty of those, throughout the book. Also, some names are just unclear to me still - is there a difference between the Elenntarien and the Eldari? I still don't know. The author seems to use them interchangeably.
- Some scenes seem rushed, superficially glossed over.
All in all, a very satisfying read! Looking forward to reading about more adventures and twists in the following books.
March 22, 2025
That would have thought a man wrote this.
Very disappointing, especially since I bought it. You can't even pronounce the names, much less try to keep everything straight.
I didn't even finish reading the book, So of course I definitely won't be investing in the series.
I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in any of the main characters. They were all whoremongers, justifying their murderous tendencies. It became so hard to care what happened to them one way or another, I quit reading it! That's a first.
This was a book with very few redeeming qualities.
However, one man's feast is another man's famine. If you have a black embittered heart, give it a shot, you may love it.
Very disappointing, especially since I bought it. You can't even pronounce the names, much less try to keep everything straight.
I didn't even finish reading the book, So of course I definitely won't be investing in the series.
I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in any of the main characters. They were all whoremongers, justifying their murderous tendencies. It became so hard to care what happened to them one way or another, I quit reading it! That's a first.
This was a book with very few redeeming qualities.
However, one man's feast is another man's famine. If you have a black embittered heart, give it a shot, you may love it.
Read
February 12, 2024This is the type of book you should listen to on audible because reading it took forever and I still DNF. There were so many weird names for everything and everyone and half of the time I had to look up pronunciations or descriptions and then I'd loose track of where either was and have to start a page over again.
It's beautifully written with fantastic world building and really fleshed out characters but I just couldn't get into the book. It felt more of a chore trying to decipher everything and I've read romance of the three kingdoms so that should tell you something.
It's beautifully written with fantastic world building and really fleshed out characters but I just couldn't get into the book. It felt more of a chore trying to decipher everything and I've read romance of the three kingdoms so that should tell you something.
February 23, 2025
3.5 stars? Maybe? Might change this.
Pretty sure this book just called me stupid...
There were so many places, names and POVs, I got so damn confused.
And almost every conversation felt like they were speaking in tongues.
I liked Skalda though, wish it was only in her POV tbh. And love love love Bale 💕
Pretty sure this book just called me stupid...
There were so many places, names and POVs, I got so damn confused.
And almost every conversation felt like they were speaking in tongues.
I liked Skalda though, wish it was only in her POV tbh. And love love love Bale 💕
January 26, 2024
Very good read, I have not read this author and find very entertaining! Well worth diving into the and scooping handfuls of enjoy ful pleasure.
August 18, 2024
4.5 stars. thoroughly enjoyed this. was immediately invested in this story. it’s about dragons and dragon riders so like what’s not to like ??
minus points for no map though !?
minus points for no map though !?
August 20, 2025
This story swept me into a richly imagined world of politics, danger, and unlikely alliances. It was an epic fantasy full of momentum—balancing fast-paced action with quieter, emotional beats that let the characters breathe. While there were moments where the sheer scale of the world-building and the writing style held me back a little, the core cast carried the story in such a compelling way that I was hooked from start to finish.
—
🙌 What I Liked
The standout strength was undoubtedly the characters. Skálda, Bale, and Aesir were my clear favourites—they were complex, flawed, and achingly human, even in the midst of an epic backdrop. Their bond gave the story a wonderful found-family dynamic that elevated every scene they shared. I loved how their mistakes felt true to who they were, and how their victories always felt earned. Bale, in particular, was ridiculously endearing—I could hardly handle how adorable he was.
Eyrek was a more complicated case. Reading his point of view alongside chapters where other characters perceived him as a clear villain created a fascinating duality. From his perspective, his choices made sense—even if morally questionable—and I couldn’t help but understand his motives. It took skill to write a character who could be seen so differently depending on the angle. His final actions pushed him closer into villain territory, and I am both nervous and intrigued to see how this fallout, especially with Skálda, will play out.
Beyond the characters, the story itself was entertaining as hell. It was packed with the kind of twists, betrayals, and bursts of triumph that I love in a sweeping high fantasy. There were exhilarating highs, gut-punching lows, and moments of tension where the weight of impossible choices pressed down on the characters. It leaned into all the hallmarks of the genre—epic battles, political scheming, hidden histories, and ancient rivalries—while still keeping the narrative character-driven.
The pacing was another highlight. The story never dragged, but still made space for emotional depth and character development. By the end, it wrapped up satisfyingly while planting plenty of hooks for what was to come.
❌ What Didn’t Hit
The world-building was massive, and while it was undeniably impressive, it sometimes felt overwhelming. There were countless names, places, and political factions introduced early on, often with long or difficult-to-remember names that came with nicknames. Scenes like the council conclave, where multiple named characters appeared at once, left me confused about who was who and how they all fit into the bigger picture. After a while, I decided to stop trying to understand every little detail and just focus on the main narrative—which worked well enough for me, but I could see this level of density being off-putting for some.
The writing style also took some adjustment. It took me quite a while to settle into the rhythm. More than once, I had to re-read sentences because the structure or punctuation made them clunky on the first pass. The story itself kept me engaged, but I did think a smoother flow would have lifted the book even higher.
👀 Do I Recommend It?
Absolutely. Despite a few bumps, this was a sweeping, ambitious start to a series that left me excited for what's next. The character dynamics were strong, the pacing was addictive, and the stakes felt genuinely high. I plan to dive into the prequel and novella before continuing with book two—especially since one is Aesir-centric (yes, please!). If you enjoy sprawling fantasy with morally grey characters and a found-family thread at its heart, this is one to pick up.
—
🙌 What I Liked
The standout strength was undoubtedly the characters. Skálda, Bale, and Aesir were my clear favourites—they were complex, flawed, and achingly human, even in the midst of an epic backdrop. Their bond gave the story a wonderful found-family dynamic that elevated every scene they shared. I loved how their mistakes felt true to who they were, and how their victories always felt earned. Bale, in particular, was ridiculously endearing—I could hardly handle how adorable he was.
Eyrek was a more complicated case. Reading his point of view alongside chapters where other characters perceived him as a clear villain created a fascinating duality. From his perspective, his choices made sense—even if morally questionable—and I couldn’t help but understand his motives. It took skill to write a character who could be seen so differently depending on the angle. His final actions pushed him closer into villain territory, and I am both nervous and intrigued to see how this fallout, especially with Skálda, will play out.
Beyond the characters, the story itself was entertaining as hell. It was packed with the kind of twists, betrayals, and bursts of triumph that I love in a sweeping high fantasy. There were exhilarating highs, gut-punching lows, and moments of tension where the weight of impossible choices pressed down on the characters. It leaned into all the hallmarks of the genre—epic battles, political scheming, hidden histories, and ancient rivalries—while still keeping the narrative character-driven.
The pacing was another highlight. The story never dragged, but still made space for emotional depth and character development. By the end, it wrapped up satisfyingly while planting plenty of hooks for what was to come.
❌ What Didn’t Hit
The world-building was massive, and while it was undeniably impressive, it sometimes felt overwhelming. There were countless names, places, and political factions introduced early on, often with long or difficult-to-remember names that came with nicknames. Scenes like the council conclave, where multiple named characters appeared at once, left me confused about who was who and how they all fit into the bigger picture. After a while, I decided to stop trying to understand every little detail and just focus on the main narrative—which worked well enough for me, but I could see this level of density being off-putting for some.
The writing style also took some adjustment. It took me quite a while to settle into the rhythm. More than once, I had to re-read sentences because the structure or punctuation made them clunky on the first pass. The story itself kept me engaged, but I did think a smoother flow would have lifted the book even higher.
👀 Do I Recommend It?
Absolutely. Despite a few bumps, this was a sweeping, ambitious start to a series that left me excited for what's next. The character dynamics were strong, the pacing was addictive, and the stakes felt genuinely high. I plan to dive into the prequel and novella before continuing with book two—especially since one is Aesir-centric (yes, please!). If you enjoy sprawling fantasy with morally grey characters and a found-family thread at its heart, this is one to pick up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
author’s note: baby dragon is evil
Readers should be forewarned that the baby dragon is evil. The author’s note at the end explains: “We can all blame Bale for the “dark” in the series’ “nobledark”. He, unlike any other dragon I’m aware of in the traditional dragon rider fantasy niche, is not inherently noble and good. Because the main dragon is an anti-hero, we see the FMC facing a lot of tough decisions and moral dilemmas in the name of protecting her dragon, the one she loves most.”
As for our FMC, the author also says, “But that’s why many on Elondria would see Skálda as a villain, and they wouldn’t entirely be wrong.”
The author writes her characters as morally gray, to the point where she has to explain in the author’s note at the end who the villain is. “You might also have unresolved questions about Eyrek. My friend, I hope you’ve seen enough of Eric to know this: as the Lord prince’s best friend, he is his overlord‘s righthand thrall and the central villain of A Breaking of Realms (and with the split, A Vanishing of Kings)… Let’s just say he’s a complicated character who’s not black-and-white evil… And because we are navigating through a nobledark world, also consider that he’s not entirely good or evil. He’s human, and every human lives on a moral spectrum. Without question he is a villain.”
So our FMC: villain, MMC: villain, and the baby dragon: pursues evil, aka villain.
I would not consider this to be nobledark. Noble/Grim refers to the main characters’ morality. Bright/Dark refers to the overall pleasantness of the setting. If all of the main characters can be referred to as evil/dark/villain, and the continent is ruled by sadistic killers with whole towns and cities being leveled, then you have a grimdark novel.
As a reader, I am sick and tired of authors trying to convince everyone that it is okay to be “sometimes evil”. The author repeatedly talks about how ”every human lives on a moral spectrum” and “It’s not as simple as telling an animal to fight against what is in their nature. We are all wired a certain way.” and “Characters carrying gray morals”. Nowadays a character will murder his neighbor and set his house on fire, but hey, he saved the puppies….sooooo morally gray. Or in this case, the “good-ish” characters murder puppies, with the FMC doing this for a living. (BTW, if you are a fan of dogs, don’t read this series, they all get slaughtered, as do most of the dragons you will meet.) But geez, at least she promises to never write with curse words! SMH
Also, I find the author’s writing style to be clunky and a bit confusing. Here are a few examples:
“It shall be a most pleasant journey we’ve ahead, you and I” Just oddly worded.
“Pink evenfall diffused through the vaporous air, gently warming his hands.” I have no idea how his hands are getting warm.
“the Elvish blade had touched her above her throat stone.” There is no explanation for what a “throat stone” is on a human woman. I am a human woman, and I have never heard of this anatomical feature. Do I have a “throat stone”? Am I missing my “throat stone”? (There is no indication that she could be referring to an Adam’s apple)
Readers should be forewarned that the baby dragon is evil. The author’s note at the end explains: “We can all blame Bale for the “dark” in the series’ “nobledark”. He, unlike any other dragon I’m aware of in the traditional dragon rider fantasy niche, is not inherently noble and good. Because the main dragon is an anti-hero, we see the FMC facing a lot of tough decisions and moral dilemmas in the name of protecting her dragon, the one she loves most.”
As for our FMC, the author also says, “But that’s why many on Elondria would see Skálda as a villain, and they wouldn’t entirely be wrong.”
The author writes her characters as morally gray, to the point where she has to explain in the author’s note at the end who the villain is. “You might also have unresolved questions about Eyrek. My friend, I hope you’ve seen enough of Eric to know this: as the Lord prince’s best friend, he is his overlord‘s righthand thrall and the central villain of A Breaking of Realms (and with the split, A Vanishing of Kings)… Let’s just say he’s a complicated character who’s not black-and-white evil… And because we are navigating through a nobledark world, also consider that he’s not entirely good or evil. He’s human, and every human lives on a moral spectrum. Without question he is a villain.”
So our FMC: villain, MMC: villain, and the baby dragon: pursues evil, aka villain.
I would not consider this to be nobledark. Noble/Grim refers to the main characters’ morality. Bright/Dark refers to the overall pleasantness of the setting. If all of the main characters can be referred to as evil/dark/villain, and the continent is ruled by sadistic killers with whole towns and cities being leveled, then you have a grimdark novel.
As a reader, I am sick and tired of authors trying to convince everyone that it is okay to be “sometimes evil”. The author repeatedly talks about how ”every human lives on a moral spectrum” and “It’s not as simple as telling an animal to fight against what is in their nature. We are all wired a certain way.” and “Characters carrying gray morals”. Nowadays a character will murder his neighbor and set his house on fire, but hey, he saved the puppies….sooooo morally gray. Or in this case, the “good-ish” characters murder puppies, with the FMC doing this for a living. (BTW, if you are a fan of dogs, don’t read this series, they all get slaughtered, as do most of the dragons you will meet.) But geez, at least she promises to never write with curse words! SMH
Also, I find the author’s writing style to be clunky and a bit confusing. Here are a few examples:
“It shall be a most pleasant journey we’ve ahead, you and I” Just oddly worded.
“Pink evenfall diffused through the vaporous air, gently warming his hands.” I have no idea how his hands are getting warm.
“the Elvish blade had touched her above her throat stone.” There is no explanation for what a “throat stone” is on a human woman. I am a human woman, and I have never heard of this anatomical feature. Do I have a “throat stone”? Am I missing my “throat stone”? (There is no indication that she could be referring to an Adam’s apple)
August 18, 2025
A Breaking of Realms is a bit of a mash up between progression fantasy with levelling up like an RPG game and epic fantasy on the scale of A Game of Thrones in terms of the politics, back-stabbing and over-throwing that is going on. There were elements of it that I really enjoyed, particularly the smaller story depicted in the character of Skálda and her dragon of doom and elements that I struggled more to engage with like the wider scale politics and the levelling system. I do wonder if this is partly a me problem, as this isn't the first epic fantasy I've struggled to engage with this year, but it did mean I was constantly waiting for the story to come back to Skálda.
On the smaller, personal story level, Skálda's tale really caught me. There's a lot of character development on display and the constant danger they find themselves in after Skálda (possibly fool-hardedly) decides to rescue a 'wild' dragon rather than leave it to its fate made for nail-biting reading. The narrative opens out to the wider world as Skálda and her companion find themselves hunted by a frankly psychotic Judge and you get a feel for both the world and the lore as Bale levels up gradually throughout their travails. I liked the push-pull between Skálda and Bale and the build-up of the morally grey dragon, although I'd have loved to see more of this.
I struggled more with the wider narrative. There are so many names and factions and places and rivalries and betrayals. I really struggled to keep track of who was who and why they were important which meant I was never fully invested in this half of the novel. New characters would be introduced and I'd be there trying to recall if maybe they'd been mentioned earlier, old characters would be brought back in different contexts and I wouldn't twig until half way through the chapter. Even after finishing it, I couldn't really tell you who was who in the set-up with the exception of Skálda's brother and the psychotic Judge guy, who make appearances in both narrative lines.
I also struggled with the world-building concept behind this. The idea of Realm-Building was interesting and could have worked, but when combined with the RPG style progression of the dragons and how this interlinked, it often drew me out of the narrative rather than developing my understanding. There is a glossary at the back of the novel, but I didn't twig this until I got there, so the early novel felt incredibly confusing until the concepts of dragon chapters and the chapters fit into Realm-Building were explained. This would have been better either significantly simplified so you don't have to rely on a glossary you don't know exists or more intrinsically explained early in the novel. I'd probably go with simplified as the chapters element felt forced to me.
So, this didn't quite work for me. Whilst the more individualistic tale of Skálda and Bale caught me and I was invested in seeing how that turned out, it was dwarfed by the larger epic narrative that spreads itself too thin and over too many characters, places and complex dynamics. This is definitely a personal perspective though as it seems to have worked for many readers, so don't just take my word blindly.
On the smaller, personal story level, Skálda's tale really caught me. There's a lot of character development on display and the constant danger they find themselves in after Skálda (possibly fool-hardedly) decides to rescue a 'wild' dragon rather than leave it to its fate made for nail-biting reading. The narrative opens out to the wider world as Skálda and her companion find themselves hunted by a frankly psychotic Judge and you get a feel for both the world and the lore as Bale levels up gradually throughout their travails. I liked the push-pull between Skálda and Bale and the build-up of the morally grey dragon, although I'd have loved to see more of this.
I struggled more with the wider narrative. There are so many names and factions and places and rivalries and betrayals. I really struggled to keep track of who was who and why they were important which meant I was never fully invested in this half of the novel. New characters would be introduced and I'd be there trying to recall if maybe they'd been mentioned earlier, old characters would be brought back in different contexts and I wouldn't twig until half way through the chapter. Even after finishing it, I couldn't really tell you who was who in the set-up with the exception of Skálda's brother and the psychotic Judge guy, who make appearances in both narrative lines.
I also struggled with the world-building concept behind this. The idea of Realm-Building was interesting and could have worked, but when combined with the RPG style progression of the dragons and how this interlinked, it often drew me out of the narrative rather than developing my understanding. There is a glossary at the back of the novel, but I didn't twig this until I got there, so the early novel felt incredibly confusing until the concepts of dragon chapters and the chapters fit into Realm-Building were explained. This would have been better either significantly simplified so you don't have to rely on a glossary you don't know exists or more intrinsically explained early in the novel. I'd probably go with simplified as the chapters element felt forced to me.
So, this didn't quite work for me. Whilst the more individualistic tale of Skálda and Bale caught me and I was invested in seeing how that turned out, it was dwarfed by the larger epic narrative that spreads itself too thin and over too many characters, places and complex dynamics. This is definitely a personal perspective though as it seems to have worked for many readers, so don't just take my word blindly.
September 14, 2025
What stands out more than anything for me about this book is how it encapsulates the Viking-inspired dragon-rider culture that “How to Train Your Dragon” (with its Scottish-speaking pseudo-Vikings) utterly failed at. The authors really creates a believable blend of the raider and warfaring Vikings from our world with dragons instead of longships. Add to that the Progression Fantasy element of the dragons’ development and growth, and I was utterly spellbound.
I also enjoyed the characters. Skálda made for a main character I could root for and whose adventure glued me to the pages. Additionally, her brother Eyrek added some fantastic elements to contrast what Skálda goes through, and which puts important elements of the culture and the warped social system into perspective.
The court intrigue is relatively well done and brought in some surprising aspects for the world in general and to the plot more specifically, although there were times where I didn’t quite follow the significance of the unfolding events. I think, if the author had remained focused on the two main characters and their emotions, especially when the courtly manoeuvring impacted their hopes and dreams directly, I would have been more thoroughly invested.
Unfortunately, I felt the author could have done more to bring out the sibling element between her two primary characters, to illustrate how even though they come from exactly the same place, their choices have led them in opposite directions, turning them into foils for each other. Additionally, a third character’s point of view is brought in without warning for just two chapters at the two-thirds mark, which made no sense to me as what is revealed in those “asides” seemed almost irrelevant as the information was almost entirely revealed elsewhere. Bringing in extra characters with no rhyme or reason is one of my pet peeves, and the pointlessness of hose chapters detracted quite a bit from the reading experience.
Lastly, although there are a lot of battle and fight scenes, I was left with far too many logistical problems for me to truly be able to buy into the battle tactics and even the overall strategy of some of the players at the level of decision-making, which made quite a few of those unfolding scenes disappointing.
All things considered, I give this series starter 3.5 stars
I also enjoyed the characters. Skálda made for a main character I could root for and whose adventure glued me to the pages. Additionally, her brother Eyrek added some fantastic elements to contrast what Skálda goes through, and which puts important elements of the culture and the warped social system into perspective.
The court intrigue is relatively well done and brought in some surprising aspects for the world in general and to the plot more specifically, although there were times where I didn’t quite follow the significance of the unfolding events. I think, if the author had remained focused on the two main characters and their emotions, especially when the courtly manoeuvring impacted their hopes and dreams directly, I would have been more thoroughly invested.
Unfortunately, I felt the author could have done more to bring out the sibling element between her two primary characters, to illustrate how even though they come from exactly the same place, their choices have led them in opposite directions, turning them into foils for each other. Additionally, a third character’s point of view is brought in without warning for just two chapters at the two-thirds mark, which made no sense to me as what is revealed in those “asides” seemed almost irrelevant as the information was almost entirely revealed elsewhere. Bringing in extra characters with no rhyme or reason is one of my pet peeves, and the pointlessness of hose chapters detracted quite a bit from the reading experience.
Lastly, although there are a lot of battle and fight scenes, I was left with far too many logistical problems for me to truly be able to buy into the battle tactics and even the overall strategy of some of the players at the level of decision-making, which made quite a few of those unfolding scenes disappointing.
All things considered, I give this series starter 3.5 stars
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