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Slave to the Dragon Prince #1
The Serpent's Chains
Sabine thought being sold as a magical slave was the worst thing that could happen—until a fearsome dragon chose her.
Claimed by Prince Cole, the ruthless War Dragon and heir to the throne, Sabine braces for cruelty, but behind the brutal exterior lies a man at odds with the future forced upon him and a dragon with plans of his own.
As dangerous magic stirs in the east and royal pressure builds, Sabine and Cole are drawn together in a bond neither expected that could change everything.
Perfect for fans of slow-burn romantic fantasy, reluctant royalty, and dragons with secrets.
Claimed by Prince Cole, the ruthless War Dragon and heir to the throne, Sabine braces for cruelty, but behind the brutal exterior lies a man at odds with the future forced upon him and a dragon with plans of his own.
As dangerous magic stirs in the east and royal pressure builds, Sabine and Cole are drawn together in a bond neither expected that could change everything.
Perfect for fans of slow-burn romantic fantasy, reluctant royalty, and dragons with secrets.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Sylvia Conley
1 book3 followersSylvia Conley is an award-winning ghostwriter with over 30 nonfiction titles to her name and a lifelong passion for fiction. After years of ghostwriting for others, she's stepping into the spotlight, bringing her character-driven fantasy and science fiction stories to life, with a focus on rich worldbuilding, inclusive casts, and morally complex characters whose journeys captivate and challenge readers. Drawing on her experience ghostwriting serial fiction, she knows how to craft stories that keep readers hooked from beginning to end.
When she’s not creating new worlds, Sylvia enjoys quiet moments with her dog, a book, and a cup of tea, contemplating multiverse theory.
When she’s not creating new worlds, Sylvia enjoys quiet moments with her dog, a book, and a cup of tea, contemplating multiverse theory.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 31, 2025
Couldn’t put it down! Great characters, gripping scenes ( some spicy ones too but not over the top for an adult) and told in the voices of the 2 main characters which kept the story interesting. I can’t wait for a sequel!
September 22, 2025
This book has a lot of good things going for it. Complex and rich storylines and character arcs, dragons, political intrigue and magic, just to name a few.
Where it lost me, was in a few key areas as outlined below:
Pacing: while this was mostly okay, the ending felt rushed and had little impact given the long winding path we took to get there. I’d have liked a little more struggle given to the two key moments instead of them feeling like they’re just being swept under the rug.
The sexy scenes: I know that there are a lot of varying levels of sex scenes out there, all the way from fade to black to epic smut. This was definitely a slow burn romance, but the sex scenes were overly flowery and smacked of mills & boon type language. This detracted heavily from an otherwise enjoyable story.
The other aspect of the sex scenes I think needs addressing is the way in which everything sexual is perfect. Everyone orgasms and is a master at pleasing the other person or persons in their bed. A little more realism would give these characters a little more for readers to grab hold of.
The editing: This copy might be an earlier version than what has been published (I sure hope that the published version is better edited!) but the overall finish of the writing needs work. There’s a bunch of things I’ve listed below, but also repetition of the same words used several times in the same paragraph, superfluous language is used that can be stripped and there’s scenes that could do with trimming.
I enjoyed exploring the different types of magic, and especially how Sabine had to work to understand things. The relationship between Wyatt and everyone around him was an interesting thing to behold. I’d definitely be keen to read more about him.
Cole was broody and emotional, which initially irked me, but as I continued to read I became aware of the things he had dealt with and his broodiness made sense. His tattoos also seemed very cool.
Sabine was a good character. I liked her spunk and the way she rose to the challenges put to her with her values and beliefs firmly in her grasp she never wavered.
You’ll find within the covers of this book, the bones of a good story that simply needs a bit more polish to truly shine.
Some things I noticed:
10% - “You’re (Your) Highness.”
11% - …beat the air with low a(a low) whomp.
20% - …why are they fears(feared)?”
21% - some odd font changes and font size changes between paragraphs.
23% - … push him to(o) hard and you’ll kill him.
31% - The mages who captured (me) stood nearby…
38% … your attentions is (‘attention is’ or ‘attentions are’) better spent…
41% - …crinkling Tissue (no need for capitalisation) paper back…
47% - …and dawned (donned) a robe…
50% - …request on and(an) update…
51% - …on his word(sword) hilt.
53% - …breathed on the souls(soles) of my feet…
55% - some formatting issues with dialogue between Reinier and Cole. Two likes of dialogue from either party in same line.
56% - well being or well-being?! Both are used in the same sentence.
57% - …gift Sabine(.) Friends give…
58% - Master Reiner(Reinier) was the last…
62% - …change’s (changes) a king’s priorities.
64% - …so much Master Reinier can’t (can) teach me.”
66% - …like hers don’t not (don’t or do not) go away quietly…
67% - …Rainier’s (Reinier’s) assessment…
72% - …with (the) amount of blood you’ve spilled, War Dragon”
73% - …I saw him an(in) various states of undress…
75% - …heading west(.) Above, a sliver…
-formatting error in dialogue between Sabine and Wyatt. His and her dialogue in the same paragraph of text. (Discussion about unweaving the spell on a collar)
- …of me didn’t except(expect) her to.”
76% - …are you worried she (can’t or won’t) carry out the next…
81% - font sizing change for a paragraph starting with ‘I gripped the heated flesh…’ and further down ‘His hips rose…’
82% - After rapping(wrapping) the edges…
86% - She was already (with?) Verill.
89% - …river through a broken damn(dam)…
- …held (a) vial beneath my…
91% - …and would banish (her) from Telasia…
- …creaked open and (I) reached for the dagger…
94% - …she took (the) heart of our people…
96% - Is it her? (Should be italicised as its Talon speaking to Cole).
97% - talon’s speech to Cole needs italicising.
*Note: I was provided an electronic copy of the book from the Author.*
Where it lost me, was in a few key areas as outlined below:
Pacing: while this was mostly okay, the ending felt rushed and had little impact given the long winding path we took to get there. I’d have liked a little more struggle given to the two key moments instead of them feeling like they’re just being swept under the rug.
The sexy scenes: I know that there are a lot of varying levels of sex scenes out there, all the way from fade to black to epic smut. This was definitely a slow burn romance, but the sex scenes were overly flowery and smacked of mills & boon type language. This detracted heavily from an otherwise enjoyable story.
The other aspect of the sex scenes I think needs addressing is the way in which everything sexual is perfect. Everyone orgasms and is a master at pleasing the other person or persons in their bed. A little more realism would give these characters a little more for readers to grab hold of.
The editing: This copy might be an earlier version than what has been published (I sure hope that the published version is better edited!) but the overall finish of the writing needs work. There’s a bunch of things I’ve listed below, but also repetition of the same words used several times in the same paragraph, superfluous language is used that can be stripped and there’s scenes that could do with trimming.
I enjoyed exploring the different types of magic, and especially how Sabine had to work to understand things. The relationship between Wyatt and everyone around him was an interesting thing to behold. I’d definitely be keen to read more about him.
Cole was broody and emotional, which initially irked me, but as I continued to read I became aware of the things he had dealt with and his broodiness made sense. His tattoos also seemed very cool.
Sabine was a good character. I liked her spunk and the way she rose to the challenges put to her with her values and beliefs firmly in her grasp she never wavered.
You’ll find within the covers of this book, the bones of a good story that simply needs a bit more polish to truly shine.
Some things I noticed:
10% - “You’re (Your) Highness.”
11% - …beat the air with low a(a low) whomp.
20% - …why are they fears(feared)?”
21% - some odd font changes and font size changes between paragraphs.
23% - … push him to(o) hard and you’ll kill him.
31% - The mages who captured (me) stood nearby…
38% … your attentions is (‘attention is’ or ‘attentions are’) better spent…
41% - …crinkling Tissue (no need for capitalisation) paper back…
47% - …and dawned (donned) a robe…
50% - …request on and(an) update…
51% - …on his word(sword) hilt.
53% - …breathed on the souls(soles) of my feet…
55% - some formatting issues with dialogue between Reinier and Cole. Two likes of dialogue from either party in same line.
56% - well being or well-being?! Both are used in the same sentence.
57% - …gift Sabine(.) Friends give…
58% - Master Reiner(Reinier) was the last…
62% - …change’s (changes) a king’s priorities.
64% - …so much Master Reinier can’t (can) teach me.”
66% - …like hers don’t not (don’t or do not) go away quietly…
67% - …Rainier’s (Reinier’s) assessment…
72% - …with (the) amount of blood you’ve spilled, War Dragon”
73% - …I saw him an(in) various states of undress…
75% - …heading west(.) Above, a sliver…
-formatting error in dialogue between Sabine and Wyatt. His and her dialogue in the same paragraph of text. (Discussion about unweaving the spell on a collar)
- …of me didn’t except(expect) her to.”
76% - …are you worried she (can’t or won’t) carry out the next…
81% - font sizing change for a paragraph starting with ‘I gripped the heated flesh…’ and further down ‘His hips rose…’
82% - After rapping(wrapping) the edges…
86% - She was already (with?) Verill.
89% - …river through a broken damn(dam)…
- …held (a) vial beneath my…
91% - …and would banish (her) from Telasia…
- …creaked open and (I) reached for the dagger…
94% - …she took (the) heart of our people…
96% - Is it her? (Should be italicised as its Talon speaking to Cole).
97% - talon’s speech to Cole needs italicising.
*Note: I was provided an electronic copy of the book from the Author.*
September 12, 2025
⭐ 3.5/5
The Serpent's Chains was a layered read for me. The premise, a girl sold as a magical slave and claimed by the dragon prince, isn't an easy entry point. Although I have to say that The Serpent's Chains itself is an easy entry point for fantasy readers. There's something ironic about commoners watching others being prodded and sold as if they weren't one step away from it themselves.
Once the story found its footing, I was drawn in. We start in Sabine's POV, and then Talon (Cole's War Dragon) literally drops into the scene and demands his prince claim her (dragons have no sense of boundaries lol). The perspective shift to Cole is abrupt, almost jarring at first, but once adjusted, the political tension and worldbuilding pulled me right along.
What really works for her is the dragon-bound hierarchy. Cole's father is tied to the Heart Dragon, Cole himself to Talon, the War Dragon. It adds depth and structure to the kingdom, and the way these bonds influence politics and war kept me invested. Sabine herself is also compelling, resilient, cautious, and yet surprisingly strong. And while the intimacy didn't quite work for me(one line calling her body "the gates of paradise" made me cringe), the emotional weight of her connection to Cole and Talon kept me reading.
The pacing is another highlight. It's bingeable, the kind of book where you think you'll read a chapter and end up pushing through three. Even with the rough edges (occasional grammar slips, abrupt POV shifts, and sex scenes that felt more clinical than passionate), it was entertaining.
The writing style is straightforward, less lush than other fantasy romance books I've read, but there is an energy to it that makes the pages move. If you love dragon romance novels with politics, battles, and flawed but fascinating characters, you'll probably have fun with this one.
By the end, I felt like the story wasn't quite finished (there has to be a sequel, right?). But overall, imperfect yet engaging. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving a dragon romance book.
The Serpent's Chains was a layered read for me. The premise, a girl sold as a magical slave and claimed by the dragon prince, isn't an easy entry point. Although I have to say that The Serpent's Chains itself is an easy entry point for fantasy readers. There's something ironic about commoners watching others being prodded and sold as if they weren't one step away from it themselves.
Once the story found its footing, I was drawn in. We start in Sabine's POV, and then Talon (Cole's War Dragon) literally drops into the scene and demands his prince claim her (dragons have no sense of boundaries lol). The perspective shift to Cole is abrupt, almost jarring at first, but once adjusted, the political tension and worldbuilding pulled me right along.
What really works for her is the dragon-bound hierarchy. Cole's father is tied to the Heart Dragon, Cole himself to Talon, the War Dragon. It adds depth and structure to the kingdom, and the way these bonds influence politics and war kept me invested. Sabine herself is also compelling, resilient, cautious, and yet surprisingly strong. And while the intimacy didn't quite work for me(one line calling her body "the gates of paradise" made me cringe), the emotional weight of her connection to Cole and Talon kept me reading.
The pacing is another highlight. It's bingeable, the kind of book where you think you'll read a chapter and end up pushing through three. Even with the rough edges (occasional grammar slips, abrupt POV shifts, and sex scenes that felt more clinical than passionate), it was entertaining.
The writing style is straightforward, less lush than other fantasy romance books I've read, but there is an energy to it that makes the pages move. If you love dragon romance novels with politics, battles, and flawed but fascinating characters, you'll probably have fun with this one.
By the end, I felt like the story wasn't quite finished (there has to be a sequel, right?). But overall, imperfect yet engaging. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving a dragon romance book.
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January 10, 2026The Serpent’s Chains is a gripping romantic fantasy that blends danger, desire, and destiny with a steady, slow-burn intensity. Sylvia Conley crafts a compelling dynamic between Sabine and Prince Cole, where power, fear, and reluctant trust evolve into something deeper. The dragon lore adds intrigue without overwhelming the emotional core, and the tension—both political and personal—keeps the stakes high. A satisfying read for fans of reluctant royalty, enslaved-to-empowered heroines, and dragons who are far more than they seem
May 23, 2025
A moderately paced political, slow burn romantic fantasy. The world feels full and thought out without too much exposition or infodumping. A great read for anyone who likes dragons, magic, mad kings, fantasy worlds, and high stakes tension with slow burn romance.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews