Jen has taken us back to Kortright University with her first book in the Hidden King series. Dragon Mate centers on Jade as she struggles to overcome her past, reach for her future, and meets a few familiar faces along the way.
I will admit Jade isn't my favorite out of all of Jen's main female characters. Jade is human and while she knows martial arts and is a strong fighter she also has been abused for years both physically and emotionally by her Aunt while her mother sits on the sidelines. This, of course, has caused some trauma, she's quick to anger, doesn't communicate well, mistrusts others, and has a lack of confidence among other issues. However, I liked that she got the courage to leave and wants to stand on her own while creating a better future for herself. The problem is she's holding herself back, she wasn't really willing to open up to anyone even when they kept trying. Her issues had made her wish-washy with her actions and she was a little annoying but she got better towards the end. By the end of the book, Jade had turned a corner for me.
If Kortright sounds familiar it's because it's the college that Sadie and the gang from Jen's Wolf Born trilogy attended, however, this time the story centers more on my favorite dragon, Egan who happens to be Jade's Mate. Some really interesting mythology is revealed about dragon shifters and I loved seeing Egan again, I truly loved him the best out of all the guys in Wolf Born and I'm so happy he got his own series and that I get to see more of his personality. Egan is just as gentlemanly, kind, and caring as he was before but now there is a nervousness, and a lack of confidence but there is also attentiveness, possessiveness, and passion. I liked seeing these new layers of Egan and hope to learn more.
Through all the relationship drama that both he and Jade had, Sadie and everyone else from their group are very much present in the story, trying to help. I loved how involved they are but as supporting characters, seeing them again, seeing their lives after the previous events, and seeing them from another person's perspective was great. Sadie is still kind, the group is closer than ever, and Roxy is still Roxy. The dynamics of the group are even more interesting when Jade is added to the picture.
Dragon Mate was very entertaining if not frustrating at times (looking at Jade). It was interesting seeing a main character that wasn't an alpha type, who was just trying to hold her life together, and seeing a love interest that I already know go into a new relationship. I have some serious questions about Jade's family history, it may be nothing but more than one thing is off there. Then there is the mystery surrounding the dragon shifters, I got just a taste of what Egan has been hiding and I'm dying for more. Hidden Mate had a dramatic ending and I have a feeling the extra drama will continue in the next book Dragon Heir.