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Royal Houses #1
House of Dragons: A Royal Houses Book 1
House of Dragons is an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantasy that has been called ‘Fourth Wing meets Throne of Glass’, from No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author K. A. Linde.
Ten years ago, half-Fae, half-human Kerrigan Argon was discreetly dropped off at the steps of Draco Mountain with nothing but a note. Her life changed completely as she was swept into the care of the House of Dragons – an elite training programme for gifted Fae.
On the year of their seventeenth name day, each student is chosen by one of the twelve tribes of Alandria to enter society. This year, everyone is chosen, except Kerrigan.
So, she strikes a bargain with the Dragon convince a tribe to select her or give up her birthright forever. With the unlikeliest of allies – Fordham Ollivier, the cursed Fae prince who escaped his dark throne – she has to chart her own destiny to reshape the world.
Introducing the Royal Houses the story of Kerrigan Argon, a half-Fae, half-human, as she seeks her place in an unforgiving world filled with magic, mayhem and romance. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black and Rebecca Yarros.
Discover the second heart-pounding book in the series, House of Shadows.
Ten years ago, half-Fae, half-human Kerrigan Argon was discreetly dropped off at the steps of Draco Mountain with nothing but a note. Her life changed completely as she was swept into the care of the House of Dragons – an elite training programme for gifted Fae.
On the year of their seventeenth name day, each student is chosen by one of the twelve tribes of Alandria to enter society. This year, everyone is chosen, except Kerrigan.
So, she strikes a bargain with the Dragon convince a tribe to select her or give up her birthright forever. With the unlikeliest of allies – Fordham Ollivier, the cursed Fae prince who escaped his dark throne – she has to chart her own destiny to reshape the world.
Introducing the Royal Houses the story of Kerrigan Argon, a half-Fae, half-human, as she seeks her place in an unforgiving world filled with magic, mayhem and romance. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black and Rebecca Yarros.
Discover the second heart-pounding book in the series, House of Shadows.
479 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2020
817 people are currently reading
22988 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Linde
93 books11.2k followersK.A. Linde is the New York Times, USA Today, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wren in the Holly Library. She is prolific in both romance and fantasy and loves the blend of the two.
She has a Masters degree in political science and bachelors in philosophy from the University of Georgia. In her previous life, she was a head campaign worker for a presidential campaign and the coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, and son.
She has a Masters degree in political science and bachelors in philosophy from the University of Georgia. In her previous life, she was a head campaign worker for a presidential campaign and the coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
October 5, 2020
I see the words "Dragons" and "Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and V.E. Schwab"......
I am excited!!!
Update:
Ok..I can see it. I can totally understand why they would recommend this book for SJM fans. Kerrigan gives me total Aelin vibes..she is badass, reckless, unapologetic and I totally dig her.
House of Dragons is the perfect fantasy read.It has everything I want in a fantasy romance..it’s adventurous, has wonderful characters, it is high in magical elements; be it magical flicks of wonder or fantastic magical creatures. The escapades in House of Dragons is fun, reckless (at times), epically adventurous.
When it comes to romance, House of Dragons is a slow burn romance which tingles your senses by capturing your attention without distracting you from the storyline that includes betrayals, friendships, social politics, misfortunes, pride and prejudices.
I cannot wait for book 2!
November 25, 2025
3.5 stars
What Lit My Mood
Half-Fae, half-human, cursed prince, dragons, and magic!! That’s an open invitation for me to grab my broom and glide straight into the story. Toss in a dragon academy for magically gifted Fae, and I’m already cackling and flipping pages well past the witching hour.
At seventeen, every gifted Fae is chosen and sponsored by one of the twelve houses of Alandria.
Everyone is chosen… except Kerrigan.
Who tries to hide her identity as she is deemed an outcast as Kerrigan ends up shadow-dancing through danger. The mix of politics, prejudice, and old power structures gives the story some bite, and then there’s the cursed prince. Kerrigan feels drawn to him in a way that feels just a little too magical to ignore…
Between the secret identity threads, political scheming, and characters clawing for a place in a world that decides who belongs and who doesn’t, the story serves up tension and magic.
Where My Mood Flicked
Like many fantasy series openers, the world-building starts slow. It’s easy to follow, which I appreciated, but I still found myself zooming around on my broom without a clear direction now and then.
It’s a YA romantasy, and not as dark as this twisted witch would've liked.
Witchy Mood Meter
Right Book, Okay Energy – The spell hit, but the vibes flickered. Needed a touch more spark here and there.
Verdict
A fun, magic-swirled start with fae, danger, and a heroine worth rooting for. Not a perfect spell, but definitely one I’m glad I cast.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
What Lit My Mood
Half-Fae, half-human, cursed prince, dragons, and magic!! That’s an open invitation for me to grab my broom and glide straight into the story. Toss in a dragon academy for magically gifted Fae, and I’m already cackling and flipping pages well past the witching hour.
At seventeen, every gifted Fae is chosen and sponsored by one of the twelve houses of Alandria.
Everyone is chosen… except Kerrigan.
Who tries to hide her identity as she is deemed an outcast as Kerrigan ends up shadow-dancing through danger. The mix of politics, prejudice, and old power structures gives the story some bite, and then there’s the cursed prince. Kerrigan feels drawn to him in a way that feels just a little too magical to ignore…
Between the secret identity threads, political scheming, and characters clawing for a place in a world that decides who belongs and who doesn’t, the story serves up tension and magic.
Where My Mood Flicked
Like many fantasy series openers, the world-building starts slow. It’s easy to follow, which I appreciated, but I still found myself zooming around on my broom without a clear direction now and then.
It’s a YA romantasy, and not as dark as this twisted witch would've liked.
Witchy Mood Meter
Right Book, Okay Energy – The spell hit, but the vibes flickered. Needed a touch more spark here and there.
Verdict
A fun, magic-swirled start with fae, danger, and a heroine worth rooting for. Not a perfect spell, but definitely one I’m glad I cast.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
September 28, 2025
3.75 stars
Fae + Dragons? Yes, please! Throw in a dangerous tournament and you're ticking all my boxes.
⚔️ YA romantasy
🐲 Fae, dragons, magic, and a dangerous tournament
⚔️ Great chemistry
🐲 Kick ass FMC
⚔️ Shadow power MMC
🐲 Book 1 of a completed 4 book series, now being traditionally published
I was very excited for House of Dragons as I've loved reading The Wren in the Holly Library and The Robin on the Oak Throne by K. A. Linde this year. Fae tribes, the House of Dragons, a rigid class system, and discrimination against humans and half fae made for a vibrant and gripping world full of injustice. I loved what we saw of the dragons and can't wait to see more. The chemistry between Kerrigan and Fordham was brilliant and I loved their story arc. Their bunch of friends made for a fun time too.
Meanwhile, I felt the tournament was under-utilised and a little rushed, with most of the key action taking place outside of it. House of Dragons is YA and the characters are a bit younger, which perhaps explains why some of their plans and actions aren't the best!
That said, I am very much looking forward to continuing with the series; K. A Linde has established a great basis to kick off from. I am very intrigued by Kerrigan's heritage and identity, to see the expansion of the world, learn more about the dragons, and see where our rebellious FMC will go next!
I'd also recommend the audiobook.
Fae + Dragons? Yes, please! Throw in a dangerous tournament and you're ticking all my boxes.
⚔️ YA romantasy
🐲 Fae, dragons, magic, and a dangerous tournament
⚔️ Great chemistry
🐲 Kick ass FMC
⚔️ Shadow power MMC
🐲 Book 1 of a completed 4 book series, now being traditionally published
I was very excited for House of Dragons as I've loved reading The Wren in the Holly Library and The Robin on the Oak Throne by K. A. Linde this year. Fae tribes, the House of Dragons, a rigid class system, and discrimination against humans and half fae made for a vibrant and gripping world full of injustice. I loved what we saw of the dragons and can't wait to see more. The chemistry between Kerrigan and Fordham was brilliant and I loved their story arc. Their bunch of friends made for a fun time too.
Meanwhile, I felt the tournament was under-utilised and a little rushed, with most of the key action taking place outside of it. House of Dragons is YA and the characters are a bit younger, which perhaps explains why some of their plans and actions aren't the best!
That said, I am very much looking forward to continuing with the series; K. A Linde has established a great basis to kick off from. I am very intrigued by Kerrigan's heritage and identity, to see the expansion of the world, learn more about the dragons, and see where our rebellious FMC will go next!
I'd also recommend the audiobook.
September 7, 2025
Fourth Wing meets Fear the Flames. No, not the Game of Thrones show.
Addictive, spunky, fun.
Half-fae Kerrigan was left in the care of the House of Dragons, the home of Fae training to be selected by the different powerful tribes.
Not only is she not chosen, Kerrigan is assigned to escort the dangerous Shadow Fae in the highly anticipated Tournament where the chosen will become a dragon rider.
I read this in one sitting.
There are crime lords, fighting rings, amazing found family.
The slow burn is SLOOOOW.
The dragons are not a huge feature of this book PSA.
”Someone once told me that if you master your fear, you’ll do great things. So for most of my life, I’ve walked right into every fear I’ve had. I face them and embrace them. I don’t want to have any fears holding me back on my way to greatness.”
“Hmm,” Fordham said. […] “Well, that doesn’t sound like you aren’t afraid of anything. It sounds like you’ve learned to live with your fears every day of your life. Which means you’re afraid all the time, of everything, but no one can see it.”
What I also appreciated was the conversation around prejudice and racism (in terms of fae and human). Whilst it was heavy handed at times, I liked how this was interwoven into the story and the heroine is shown she isn’t the worst off either.
It is a fun romantasy that had me turning the pages. Yes, it was very predictable, but I will continue on for a good time.
”They’re nearly as insufferable as you are.”
“And what does that make you, princeling?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Suffering.”
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
(If you saw this review on another book also called House of Dragons before switching to this, no you didn’t).
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Addictive, spunky, fun.
Half-fae Kerrigan was left in the care of the House of Dragons, the home of Fae training to be selected by the different powerful tribes.
Not only is she not chosen, Kerrigan is assigned to escort the dangerous Shadow Fae in the highly anticipated Tournament where the chosen will become a dragon rider.
I read this in one sitting.
There are crime lords, fighting rings, amazing found family.
The slow burn is SLOOOOW.
The dragons are not a huge feature of this book PSA.
”Someone once told me that if you master your fear, you’ll do great things. So for most of my life, I’ve walked right into every fear I’ve had. I face them and embrace them. I don’t want to have any fears holding me back on my way to greatness.”
“Hmm,” Fordham said. […] “Well, that doesn’t sound like you aren’t afraid of anything. It sounds like you’ve learned to live with your fears every day of your life. Which means you’re afraid all the time, of everything, but no one can see it.”
What I also appreciated was the conversation around prejudice and racism (in terms of fae and human). Whilst it was heavy handed at times, I liked how this was interwoven into the story and the heroine is shown she isn’t the worst off either.
It is a fun romantasy that had me turning the pages. Yes, it was very predictable, but I will continue on for a good time.
”They’re nearly as insufferable as you are.”
“And what does that make you, princeling?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Suffering.”
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
(If you saw this review on another book also called House of Dragons before switching to this, no you didn’t).
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October 18, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I wanted to read 🎧︎📚House of Dragons for a while now. So when the opportunity came for me to listen to it on audio, I took the plunge. Narrated by Amy McFadden 🎧︎📚House of Dragons introduced the reader to a world of faes, dragons and elemental magic.
I had a great time with 🎧︎📚House of Dragons, which came as no surprise. I trust the author to deliver an engaging tale, whether its contemporary romance, paranormal romance or fantasy. She did not disappoint. The Royal House series is off to an exciting start.
🎧︎📚House of Dragons introduces Kerrigan, a half-Fae, half human. Ostracized by her father, because of her human side, he left her at Draco Mountain. Soon the House of Dragon took her under their wings. As she grew older, she learns of the prejudices and the hatred against her because of her human side. In this world, humans are inferior and its worse for half breeds. Kerrigan hopes to be selected by one of the twelve tribes. However, when she wasn’t chosen, she had to find a tribe to select her or face being stuck at The Society forever.I found the world Linde created fascinating. We have elemental magic, dragons bonding with their riders and so much more. Although based on fantasy, the world created mirrored reality with its prejudices and racism. Linde explored hard hitting issues in this incredible story.
I enjoyed getting to know Kerrigan. Such an awesome and kick ass character. She is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs and refuses to allow her fears to hinder her. The story brought Kerrigan’s loyalty, strength, courage, and determination to life.
The introduction of Prince Fordham Olivier, a dark fae from the House of Shadows, made for some interesting moments. Fordham and Kerrigan made a great team. Their relationship began on rocky ground, but throughout the story an alliance and ultimately friendship developed between them. Sparks burned between them and I kept hoping for their romance to develop. Alas, it did not materialize, because of complications on both their parts.
Besides this, Kerrigan finds herself embroiled in a mystery surrounding the death of a friend. I enjoyed the mystery, which kept me guessing as it unfolded. Throughout it all, Kerrigan discovers secrets about herself and her heritage. The story featured several surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant.
The story ended on an interesting note. Although not a cliff hangar, it left me with several questions, leaving me eager for the next book.
Narration
Amy Mcfadden’s narration was pure perfection. This was my first time listening to her narration I would definitely listen to her again. She brought each of the characters to life and she made it easy to distinguish between each of their voices. The narration made my journey into this world of dragons and faes doubly exciting.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
I wanted to read 🎧︎📚House of Dragons for a while now. So when the opportunity came for me to listen to it on audio, I took the plunge. Narrated by Amy McFadden 🎧︎📚House of Dragons introduced the reader to a world of faes, dragons and elemental magic.
I had a great time with 🎧︎📚House of Dragons, which came as no surprise. I trust the author to deliver an engaging tale, whether its contemporary romance, paranormal romance or fantasy. She did not disappoint. The Royal House series is off to an exciting start.
🎧︎📚House of Dragons introduces Kerrigan, a half-Fae, half human. Ostracized by her father, because of her human side, he left her at Draco Mountain. Soon the House of Dragon took her under their wings. As she grew older, she learns of the prejudices and the hatred against her because of her human side. In this world, humans are inferior and its worse for half breeds. Kerrigan hopes to be selected by one of the twelve tribes. However, when she wasn’t chosen, she had to find a tribe to select her or face being stuck at The Society forever.I found the world Linde created fascinating. We have elemental magic, dragons bonding with their riders and so much more. Although based on fantasy, the world created mirrored reality with its prejudices and racism. Linde explored hard hitting issues in this incredible story.
I enjoyed getting to know Kerrigan. Such an awesome and kick ass character. She is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs and refuses to allow her fears to hinder her. The story brought Kerrigan’s loyalty, strength, courage, and determination to life.
The introduction of Prince Fordham Olivier, a dark fae from the House of Shadows, made for some interesting moments. Fordham and Kerrigan made a great team. Their relationship began on rocky ground, but throughout the story an alliance and ultimately friendship developed between them. Sparks burned between them and I kept hoping for their romance to develop. Alas, it did not materialize, because of complications on both their parts.
Besides this, Kerrigan finds herself embroiled in a mystery surrounding the death of a friend. I enjoyed the mystery, which kept me guessing as it unfolded. Throughout it all, Kerrigan discovers secrets about herself and her heritage. The story featured several surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant.
The story ended on an interesting note. Although not a cliff hangar, it left me with several questions, leaving me eager for the next book.
Narration
Amy Mcfadden’s narration was pure perfection. This was my first time listening to her narration I would definitely listen to her again. She brought each of the characters to life and she made it easy to distinguish between each of their voices. The narration made my journey into this world of dragons and faes doubly exciting.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
January 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
when bloom sent me this arc, i was expecting a fun YA adventure with dragons, and that is quite literally exactly what you get. the characters and their motivations are a bit surface level, but again, they're supposed to be young, so that makes sense. the plot is also a bit convenient at times, but sometimes that's an enjoyable reading experience too. I also appreciated that this was a dragon book where the main characters actually interact with the dragons frequently.
I do think that this world is still quite confusing in terms of magic system / stakes / structure, but I hope to see more about it in the next book.
**thank you to bloom for the ARC copy**
when bloom sent me this arc, i was expecting a fun YA adventure with dragons, and that is quite literally exactly what you get. the characters and their motivations are a bit surface level, but again, they're supposed to be young, so that makes sense. the plot is also a bit convenient at times, but sometimes that's an enjoyable reading experience too. I also appreciated that this was a dragon book where the main characters actually interact with the dragons frequently.
I do think that this world is still quite confusing in terms of magic system / stakes / structure, but I hope to see more about it in the next book.
**thank you to bloom for the ARC copy**
October 23, 2024
i love dragons yay
January 19, 2025
This had so much promise. But where are the dragons?? So many “dragon” books and yet there aren’t dragons 😭😭😭 also the ending was way too convenient it was annoying. But I liked the characters, and will probably see where this goes
(Catching up on books I forgot to add, sorry this review is subpar lol)
(Catching up on books I forgot to add, sorry this review is subpar lol)
October 3, 2023
This book started off a little slow for me, but once I got 25% in, I was hooked. I can't wait to see where this story will go next.
October 22, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, I flew through this! Super fast-paced and easy to read, action-packed and fun! The main character Kerrigan is reckless and stubborn, trying to survive in a world that really does not want her to. I have to say, the worldbuilding, while expansive, was very confusing - there are so many different Houses and houses within Houses, that I completely lost track of what was what and who was where; by the end they were saying house names and I was just like, okay sure, because I had no idea what it meant. I did really love the author's writing, and the romance was fun and full of banter, which I love. I'm also pleased that dragons did feature quite a lot - not as much as I'd hoped, but I think they will feature even more heavily in the next book. I found the murder mystery plotline interesting, but I was disappointed with how it ended up playing out. I will definitely continue this series though!
Wow, I flew through this! Super fast-paced and easy to read, action-packed and fun! The main character Kerrigan is reckless and stubborn, trying to survive in a world that really does not want her to. I have to say, the worldbuilding, while expansive, was very confusing - there are so many different Houses and houses within Houses, that I completely lost track of what was what and who was where; by the end they were saying house names and I was just like, okay sure, because I had no idea what it meant. I did really love the author's writing, and the romance was fun and full of banter, which I love. I'm also pleased that dragons did feature quite a lot - not as much as I'd hoped, but I think they will feature even more heavily in the next book. I found the murder mystery plotline interesting, but I was disappointed with how it ended up playing out. I will definitely continue this series though!
July 24, 2022
L’univers des Sociétés est intéressant à suivre et il y a bien des Dragons, qu’on va sûrement voir davantage par la suite. L’héroïne se fourre trop dans les problèmes, elle m’a parfois énervée surtout qu’elle entraîne ses amis qui lui sont loyaux. J’avais peur d’un triangle amoureux mais non. L’intrigue est bien développée. La fin est un peu précipitée mais c’est assez courant. Hâte de lire la suite.
February 3, 2026
„Ich wünschte, ich bräuchte keinen Schutz, um ich selbst sein zu können.“
Haus der Drachen hat so vieles was ich in Fantasy Büchern liebe.
Eine Halb-Fae, ein verfluchter Prinz, ein Wettbewerb mit erbarmungslosen Konkurrenten, eine Drachen Akademie und viele tolle magische Elemente.
Das Ganze ist von Anfang bis Ende ein Abenteuer mit vielen tollen Figuren und Freundschaften und tollen Drachen, die toll eingebracht waren und von denen ich gerne mehr gelesen hätte. Dazu Themen wie Ausgrenzung, Machtstrukturen und ein striktes Klassensystem, Vorurteile, Stolz und Diskriminierung. Dazu kommt eine gute Mystery.
Kerrigan ist eine Protagonistin mit der man wirklich mitfiebern kann. Sie ist abenteuerlustig, loyal, lässt sich nicht einschüchtern und kämpft gegen ihre Ängste. Aber sie ist auch manchmal leichtsinnig und man weiß nicht genau in welche Richtung das ausschlägt.
Vor allem als Team mit Fordham hat sie mir wirklich gut gefallen. Und Fordham insgesamt, mit dem Fluch und dem verbannten Haus aus dem er stammt, sowieso.
Die Slow Burn Romance, wird nebenbei eingeflochten und nimmt keinen zu großen Teil der Story ein. Was sich da langsam zwischen den beiden entwickelt wirkt natürlich und da ist auch noch viel Potential für die nächsten Bände.
„Hass folgte keiner Logik. Er war einfach.“
Auch wenn, wie in den meisten Reihenstarts, das Worldbuilding die Story etwas langsamer macht, lässt sich das Buch wegen des YA Schreibstils sehr leicht und schnell lesen.
Eigentlich hat mir der Stil gut gefallen, weil ich Spaß hatte, mir alles bildhaft vorstellen konnte und nur so durch die Seiten geflogen bin. Natürlich sind einige Dinge vorhersehbar, Vieles konnte mich aber im Verlauf der Story wirklich überraschen und insgesamt konnte mich die Story wirklich mitreißen und hat es geschafft immer mehr Spannung aufzubauen.
Abzug gibt es für mich nur, weil hier, typisch YA, Gefühle oft direkt benannt werden, statt die Emotionen über Dialoge und Handlungen wirken zu lassen. Das passt zum Stil, war mir aber oft zu viel, da dieses erklären statt zeigen eigentlich nicht nötig wäre.
Außerdem hat mir Kerrigans Umgang mit Lyam nicht gefallen. Sie war fies und hat dann später zwar gut gehandelt aber Reue dafür kommt nicht wirklich auf. Und gerade weil hier Gefühle direkt benannt werden, hat mir das wirklich gefehlt.
Einige Fragen sind noch unbeantwortet und das Buch ist insgesamt ein toller Start in eine Reihe, die ich unbedingt weiterlesen möchte. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Teil und darauf zu sehen in welche Richtung die Story geht.
Außerdem habe ich nun auch die Ascension-Reihe auf meiner Wunschliste, die im selben Universum spielt.
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und Lübbe für das Rezensionsexemplar
Haus der Drachen hat so vieles was ich in Fantasy Büchern liebe.
Eine Halb-Fae, ein verfluchter Prinz, ein Wettbewerb mit erbarmungslosen Konkurrenten, eine Drachen Akademie und viele tolle magische Elemente.
Das Ganze ist von Anfang bis Ende ein Abenteuer mit vielen tollen Figuren und Freundschaften und tollen Drachen, die toll eingebracht waren und von denen ich gerne mehr gelesen hätte. Dazu Themen wie Ausgrenzung, Machtstrukturen und ein striktes Klassensystem, Vorurteile, Stolz und Diskriminierung. Dazu kommt eine gute Mystery.
Kerrigan ist eine Protagonistin mit der man wirklich mitfiebern kann. Sie ist abenteuerlustig, loyal, lässt sich nicht einschüchtern und kämpft gegen ihre Ängste. Aber sie ist auch manchmal leichtsinnig und man weiß nicht genau in welche Richtung das ausschlägt.
Vor allem als Team mit Fordham hat sie mir wirklich gut gefallen. Und Fordham insgesamt, mit dem Fluch und dem verbannten Haus aus dem er stammt, sowieso.
Die Slow Burn Romance, wird nebenbei eingeflochten und nimmt keinen zu großen Teil der Story ein. Was sich da langsam zwischen den beiden entwickelt wirkt natürlich und da ist auch noch viel Potential für die nächsten Bände.
„Hass folgte keiner Logik. Er war einfach.“
Auch wenn, wie in den meisten Reihenstarts, das Worldbuilding die Story etwas langsamer macht, lässt sich das Buch wegen des YA Schreibstils sehr leicht und schnell lesen.
Eigentlich hat mir der Stil gut gefallen, weil ich Spaß hatte, mir alles bildhaft vorstellen konnte und nur so durch die Seiten geflogen bin. Natürlich sind einige Dinge vorhersehbar, Vieles konnte mich aber im Verlauf der Story wirklich überraschen und insgesamt konnte mich die Story wirklich mitreißen und hat es geschafft immer mehr Spannung aufzubauen.
Abzug gibt es für mich nur, weil hier, typisch YA, Gefühle oft direkt benannt werden, statt die Emotionen über Dialoge und Handlungen wirken zu lassen. Das passt zum Stil, war mir aber oft zu viel, da dieses erklären statt zeigen eigentlich nicht nötig wäre.
Außerdem hat mir Kerrigans Umgang mit Lyam nicht gefallen. Sie war fies und hat dann später zwar gut gehandelt aber Reue dafür kommt nicht wirklich auf. Und gerade weil hier Gefühle direkt benannt werden, hat mir das wirklich gefehlt.
Einige Fragen sind noch unbeantwortet und das Buch ist insgesamt ein toller Start in eine Reihe, die ich unbedingt weiterlesen möchte. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Teil und darauf zu sehen in welche Richtung die Story geht.
Außerdem habe ich nun auch die Ascension-Reihe auf meiner Wunschliste, die im selben Universum spielt.
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und Lübbe für das Rezensionsexemplar
February 7, 2024
Are you KIDDING MEEEE😍
I’m absolutely obsessed with this book. The will-they-won’t-they, super back and forth of Ker and Ford kept me wanting more. The action wasn’t overbearing, world building was perfect, everything about this story is fantastic.
I’m absolutely obsessed with this book. The will-they-won’t-they, super back and forth of Ker and Ford kept me wanting more. The action wasn’t overbearing, world building was perfect, everything about this story is fantastic.
November 28, 2020
4.5 Stars / 1 Steam Fans
I will never doubt the skill and amazing writing of K.A. Linde. I never thought I would enjoy a YA fantasy so much until I dove into House of Dragons. Kerrigan, Fordham, and the entire hosts of characters were very diverse and interesting. An underlining social commentary was interesting, not preachy or tilted in any one direction other than equality. I am very excited for the rest of the series and learn the connection of this series with K.A. Linde's other fantasy series.
Video review available in Week 45: Nov 1 – Nov 7 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
I will never doubt the skill and amazing writing of K.A. Linde. I never thought I would enjoy a YA fantasy so much until I dove into House of Dragons. Kerrigan, Fordham, and the entire hosts of characters were very diverse and interesting. An underlining social commentary was interesting, not preachy or tilted in any one direction other than equality. I am very excited for the rest of the series and learn the connection of this series with K.A. Linde's other fantasy series.
Video review available in Week 45: Nov 1 – Nov 7 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
May 4, 2024
4,5⭐
reread so i can continue with the series
still solid read, great start of the series, but i am excited about what is to come, i enjoyed it
reread so i can continue with the series
still solid read, great start of the series, but i am excited about what is to come, i enjoyed it
November 12, 2025
Omg the banter, emotional turmoil. action packed, assassin's, addicting.
Also, the audio is amazing! No notes
Feelings of abandonment, outcast, being unwanted, having no real place in the world .
TOG with dragon vibes.
Also, the audio is amazing! No notes
Feelings of abandonment, outcast, being unwanted, having no real place in the world .
TOG with dragon vibes.
September 29, 2025
1 ⭐️
I was so excited to read this book, and then it left me extremely disappointed. From the beginning, you’re just sort of confused. It throws you into the world, does relatively no world building, you’re confused about the magic/power system that’s in place, the FMC is a badass fighter and then suddenly she’s bad at fighting, somewhat of a damsel, etc. and needs the help of some shadow man…literally. It makes the FMC extremely unlikable. Almost the entirety of the book you question how she’s the main character because she’s essentially just helping some dude succeed in a trial…like where’s her story? It just gets dull. There’s a couple moments in the book I enjoyed and there is promise, but I kept saying UGH and if it wasn’t an audiobook I read during an 8+ hour drive, I would have given up on it.
I was so excited to read this book, and then it left me extremely disappointed. From the beginning, you’re just sort of confused. It throws you into the world, does relatively no world building, you’re confused about the magic/power system that’s in place, the FMC is a badass fighter and then suddenly she’s bad at fighting, somewhat of a damsel, etc. and needs the help of some shadow man…literally. It makes the FMC extremely unlikable. Almost the entirety of the book you question how she’s the main character because she’s essentially just helping some dude succeed in a trial…like where’s her story? It just gets dull. There’s a couple moments in the book I enjoyed and there is promise, but I kept saying UGH and if it wasn’t an audiobook I read during an 8+ hour drive, I would have given up on it.
November 2, 2020
Scales!!! What did I read? I am utterly bewitched. Wow!!! K.A. Linde has cast a spell on me with an incredible and brilliant story, House of Dragons. A deeply entrancing tale, intriguing me as a reader and taking me on a journey of magic and fantasy. I am a huge fan of fantasy. Lord of Rings being one of my favourite movie trilogies ever made but I am new to reading it. Let me tell you, K.A. Linde swept me away with a beautiful, exciting and captivating world with thrilling storyline and impeccable characters. House of Dragons is simply titillating.
House of Dragons is the enchanting first book in the Royal Houses series written by K.A. Linde, who takes you on a journey with a book filled with mayhem, magic, action and power. House of Dragons opens my eyes to a breathtaking world of adventure and wonder. House of Dragons pulls me into a spectacular world with a sensational storyline and fantastic characters. Spell Binding. Stunning. Magical. House of Dragons is a mesmerizing fantasy romance that catapults your heart into the world of faes and dragons. A YA/NA fantasy novel with an enthralling story of betrayals, friendships, rollercoaster twist and turns, fast paced suspense and social and political issues set in an alluring world full of splendour. K.A. Linde creates a fascinating story that truly possessed both my heart and soul. Mystical. Other worldly. House of Dragons is extraordinary.
House of Dragons introduces you to Kerrigan Argon, a half human, half fae exceptional woman who navigates her life as she tackles her life in the fae world, makes friendships and goes through struggles. Kerrigan is feisty, strong, reckless but with a wild spirit that made me fall in love with her so much. She is a remarkable character that I admired so much. Along the way she meets and friends Fordham Olivier from the House of Shadows. He is cold, aloof and dangerous. Together they form a bond with so much chemistry. I am so excited for Kerrigan and Fordham’s adventures together. It is going to be exciting.
As a reader who doesn’t read fantasy novels, I was truly enchanted by House of Dragons. I can’t wait for more adventures in the Royal Houses series.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
House of Dragons is the enchanting first book in the Royal Houses series written by K.A. Linde, who takes you on a journey with a book filled with mayhem, magic, action and power. House of Dragons opens my eyes to a breathtaking world of adventure and wonder. House of Dragons pulls me into a spectacular world with a sensational storyline and fantastic characters. Spell Binding. Stunning. Magical. House of Dragons is a mesmerizing fantasy romance that catapults your heart into the world of faes and dragons. A YA/NA fantasy novel with an enthralling story of betrayals, friendships, rollercoaster twist and turns, fast paced suspense and social and political issues set in an alluring world full of splendour. K.A. Linde creates a fascinating story that truly possessed both my heart and soul. Mystical. Other worldly. House of Dragons is extraordinary.
House of Dragons introduces you to Kerrigan Argon, a half human, half fae exceptional woman who navigates her life as she tackles her life in the fae world, makes friendships and goes through struggles. Kerrigan is feisty, strong, reckless but with a wild spirit that made me fall in love with her so much. She is a remarkable character that I admired so much. Along the way she meets and friends Fordham Olivier from the House of Shadows. He is cold, aloof and dangerous. Together they form a bond with so much chemistry. I am so excited for Kerrigan and Fordham’s adventures together. It is going to be exciting.
As a reader who doesn’t read fantasy novels, I was truly enchanted by House of Dragons. I can’t wait for more adventures in the Royal Houses series.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2023
I didn't know what to expect from this author with a fantasy romance book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think the story got better as the series went on, and now I'm waiting for book 4 eagerly.
It's sort of a magical school, with fae and dragons. Our FMC is a half-fae (read 'not part of either group') "orphan" who's trying to become a member of the ruling, dragon-riding, magic-using, policy-making group through a long apprenticeship, etc.
The back drop is the social unrest caused by friction between the fae and humans. Where the humans want equality, and some fraction of the fae want the humans to be serf-like...
Of course of FMC is special somehow, three books in and stuff is still being revealed...
It's sort of a magical school, with fae and dragons. Our FMC is a half-fae (read 'not part of either group') "orphan" who's trying to become a member of the ruling, dragon-riding, magic-using, policy-making group through a long apprenticeship, etc.
The back drop is the social unrest caused by friction between the fae and humans. Where the humans want equality, and some fraction of the fae want the humans to be serf-like...
Of course of FMC is special somehow, three books in and stuff is still being revealed...
Read
June 8, 2020Yay! So exciting! This looks super cool... Can’t wait :)
October 7, 2025
3.75⭐️
Okay so… I really did like this!! Like, genuinely had a great time reading it. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t make me wanna throw the book just a little bit. 😭
I picked this up because everyone’s been hyping the series, and the plot sounded like something I’d totally vibe with — and yeah, I did enjoy it! But the writing and dialogue? Kinda gave “YA in its purest form,” which isn’t bad, just… maybe I’m growing out of it?? Still, if I were 16 again, this would’ve been my entire personality for a week.
Now, Kerrigan and Fordham??? I loved them. Their chemistry? Chef’s kiss. Their banter? Had me giggling. But um… why are we calling this enemies to lovers? Be so for real. 😭 It’s giving “mildly irritated to lovers.” Like yes, his court hates half-fae, but Fordham himself? Man’s bark had zero bite. I needed more “I hate you but my heart says otherwise” tension! Still, I adored their dynamic and their little princeling/halfling nicknames — precious behavior.
Kerrigan herself is such a queen though. Girl takes no one’s crap and handles business. Love that she’s independent but still has a supportive friend group who actually calls her out sometimes (rare in YA fantasy tbh). Also, shoutout to the squad for existing purely to make me laugh.
And are we gonna talk about the fact that dragon books always kill off someone named Liam (or Lyam)?????? Like if I had a nickel for every time it happened, I'd have two nickels and all that… 😭😭😭
Now the tournament. It had so much potential but felt kinda rushed and undercooked. Most of the action happens outside it?? Excuse me?? That’s illegal. And don’t even get me started on Fordham’s character setup — he’s introduced as this terrifying Dark Court dude everyone fears, but then he’s just... kinda chill? I needed more “second trial Fordham” energy. You know, the one who dislocates his arm mid-trial and just pops it back in like he’s changing a lightbulb. THAT guy. Also, him writing poetry? I love that for him. Scary dark boy with soft poet energy? Iconic.
Writing-wise… yeah, the sentence structure was giving middle school essay sometimes. Lots of repetition, choppy dialogue, and unnecessary POVs (looking at you Clover and Isa 🙄). I didn’t care about them enough to read entire chapters from their perspective, sorry. Also, the villain??? Bro showed up just to lose repeatedly. I couldn’t take him seriously — he was giving “participation award energy.”
And where. are. the. DRAGONS??? The title is House of Dragons and yet I saw like… one and a half dragons. Be so for real 😭. The ending was also a little too convenient — like the author just said “we’re out of pages, wrap it up.”
But still! I loved the characters, I loved the vibes, and I loved Kerrigan’s whole “fine, I’ll do it myself” energy. The worldbuilding had so much promise — Houses, Society, dragons (in theory) — but it just needed a bit more depth.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and Amy McFadden KILLED IT. Every voice was distinct and she made even the meh parts fun.
So yeah, overall? House of Dragons has amazing bones, messy execution, and characters I would literally die for. I’m absolutely reading the next one because I’m hooked and I need more of my poetry boy Fordham 🥲🐉💔
Okay so… I really did like this!! Like, genuinely had a great time reading it. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t make me wanna throw the book just a little bit. 😭
I picked this up because everyone’s been hyping the series, and the plot sounded like something I’d totally vibe with — and yeah, I did enjoy it! But the writing and dialogue? Kinda gave “YA in its purest form,” which isn’t bad, just… maybe I’m growing out of it?? Still, if I were 16 again, this would’ve been my entire personality for a week.
Now, Kerrigan and Fordham??? I loved them. Their chemistry? Chef’s kiss. Their banter? Had me giggling. But um… why are we calling this enemies to lovers? Be so for real. 😭 It’s giving “mildly irritated to lovers.” Like yes, his court hates half-fae, but Fordham himself? Man’s bark had zero bite. I needed more “I hate you but my heart says otherwise” tension! Still, I adored their dynamic and their little princeling/halfling nicknames — precious behavior.
Kerrigan herself is such a queen though. Girl takes no one’s crap and handles business. Love that she’s independent but still has a supportive friend group who actually calls her out sometimes (rare in YA fantasy tbh). Also, shoutout to the squad for existing purely to make me laugh.
And are we gonna talk about the fact that dragon books always kill off someone named Liam (or Lyam)?????? Like if I had a nickel for every time it happened, I'd have two nickels and all that… 😭😭😭
Now the tournament. It had so much potential but felt kinda rushed and undercooked. Most of the action happens outside it?? Excuse me?? That’s illegal. And don’t even get me started on Fordham’s character setup — he’s introduced as this terrifying Dark Court dude everyone fears, but then he’s just... kinda chill? I needed more “second trial Fordham” energy. You know, the one who dislocates his arm mid-trial and just pops it back in like he’s changing a lightbulb. THAT guy. Also, him writing poetry? I love that for him. Scary dark boy with soft poet energy? Iconic.
Writing-wise… yeah, the sentence structure was giving middle school essay sometimes. Lots of repetition, choppy dialogue, and unnecessary POVs (looking at you Clover and Isa 🙄). I didn’t care about them enough to read entire chapters from their perspective, sorry. Also, the villain??? Bro showed up just to lose repeatedly. I couldn’t take him seriously — he was giving “participation award energy.”
And where. are. the. DRAGONS??? The title is House of Dragons and yet I saw like… one and a half dragons. Be so for real 😭. The ending was also a little too convenient — like the author just said “we’re out of pages, wrap it up.”
But still! I loved the characters, I loved the vibes, and I loved Kerrigan’s whole “fine, I’ll do it myself” energy. The worldbuilding had so much promise — Houses, Society, dragons (in theory) — but it just needed a bit more depth.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and Amy McFadden KILLED IT. Every voice was distinct and she made even the meh parts fun.
So yeah, overall? House of Dragons has amazing bones, messy execution, and characters I would literally die for. I’m absolutely reading the next one because I’m hooked and I need more of my poetry boy Fordham 🥲🐉💔
May 22, 2023
4.5/5
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2022/0...
C'est lors de ma précommande pour la PopUp store de juin dernier que j'ai littéralement craqué pour Les amants maudits de K.A. Linde. Il faut dire qu'entre sa couverture, beaucoup trop canon et le fait qu'il soit question de dragons, j'étais déjà à moitié conquise. A noter que ce titre est une avant-première et est prévue pour septembre/octobre en numérique et papier. Et notez bien cette sortie, parce qu'elle vaut clairement le coup.
D'ailleurs, pour ceux qui se poseraient la question, les dragons font partie intégrante de l'histoire et on fait plus que les croiser ! Ils ne sont pas juste là pour attirer les lecteurs. Pour ma part, j'étais jusque-là souvent déçue par les autres romans mettant en avant les dragons, pour ne pas les voir finalement des masses durant mes lectures. Ici, ce n'est pas le cas, ils sont bien présents !
Dans Le maisons des dragons, nous faisons la connaissance de Kerrigan. Mi-fae, mi-humaine, elle a été abandonnée très jeune à cause de sa nature. Depuis, elle a trouvé refuge dans la maison des dragons, une tribu dans laquelle les faes sont formés et prodiguent des soins et s'occupent des dragons. Ainsi, au fil des années, Kerrigan a tout fait pour s'intégrer au mieux et faire partie de Bénis des dragons. Elle s'apprête à faire son entrée dans la société afin d'être quelqu'un et surtout de s'affranchir des autres. Etre libre. Mais rien ne va se passer comme prévu. Disparitions, cérémonie qui tourne au désastre et invité de dernière minute, Kerrigan va devoir tout faire pour être choisie comme tribu avant le délais impartis et c'était sans compter ses visions du Prince de Ombres, Fordham Ollivier, un ennemis qu'elle va devoir suivre comme son ombre.
Clairement, ce premier tome pose les bases d'une histoire plus que fascinante. J'ai rapidement été happé par les événements. Il faut dire que notre héroïne Kerrigan, ne manque pas d'intérêt. Bien sur, son passé et le fait qu'elle ait été abandonné très jeune, ajoute au capital sympathie. Sa nature de sang-mêlé pèse aussi dans la balance. Elle n'a jamais réussi à se sentir totalement à sa place au sein de la Maison des dragons. Certes, son lien particulier avec les Dragons est comme une soupape pour elle, mais elle n'en reste pas moins différente des autres. Et pour cause, si elle a quelques amis et alliés, elle reste malgré tout une "anomalie" face aux Faes. Alors, chaque jour, elle va dans les Bas-Fonds, et affronte toute sorte d'individus sur le ring des Rebuts. Kerrigan est donc une héroïne attachante, qui au fil des pages se dévoilent. Pour autant elle n'en ai pas moins forte et courageuse, bien au contraire. Elle a une force de caractère à toute épreuve, elle est déterminée à s'en sortir, elle dispose non seulement d'une force physique mais aussi de magie. Elle ne se laisse pas marcher sur les pieds et on apprécie clairement cela. Sans pour autant tomber dans l'excès. Pas de tête brûlée ici.
Je l'avoue, le démarrage à de quoi effrayer. Dans le sens où l'univers est dense et assez complexe. On est plongé dedans et il faut un petit temps d'adaptation pour comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de cette histoire. Moi-même, j'ai eu quelques passages où je n'étais pas sûre de tout bien comprendre sur le coup, mais ensuite, cela s'éclaircit et on est totalement happé par les rebondissements et l'action. Passé les cents premières pages qui donnent les bases de l'histoire, on est embarqué dans celle-ci jusqu'à la toute fin. Il faut dire que le futur de notre héroine est incertain. Le fait fait qu'elle n'est pas été choisie lors de sa cérémonie vient tout remettre en cause. Et voilà que pour être libre, elle va devoir convaincre les autres tribus. Mais comment convaincre quand on est regardé de haut et si différente.
Comme si cela ne suffisait pas, le tournoi qui se déroule au même moment va s'ajouter aux problèmes de Kerrigan. Un tournoi dans lequel un candidat de chaque tribu va devoir passer des tests pour avoir la chance d'arriver à l'épreuve finale et repartir avec un dragon. Et comme dans sa vision, Fordham Ollivier, le Prince des ombres débarque pour y participer. Un ennemis mortel pour Kerrigan, la Maison des ombres étant réputée et exclue depuis des années pour la cruauté et le massacre dont ils ont fait preuve. D'autant que ce Prince semble l'avoir prise en grippe.
Le duo improbable qu'ils forment est épique ! Clairement, ces deux-là sont si opposés que les voir, devoir composer l'un avec l'autre est aussi drôle et plein de tension qu'on peut s'y attendre. Fordham est clairement irrité par la présence de Kerrigan et inversement. On sent que les préjugés ont la vie durent. Après-tout, ils sont ennemis depuis tellement longtemps qu'il est difficile de faire abstractions de tout ce qui les opposent. Et pourtant, cette obligation de "travailler" l'un avec l'autre va les amener à changer doucement mais surtout de point de vue l'un sur l'autre. J'ai d'ailleurs apprécié cette lente évolution de leur relation. On sent la romance qui arrive doucement mais surement en arrière plan. Et qu'est-ce que j'ai aimé chacune de leurs confrontations !
Côté suspense et rebondissements on est plus que servis. Comme je vous le disais plus haut, passé les premiers chapitres, on est happé par l'histoire et l'action qui monte crescendo. Entre les combats sur le ring des Rebuts, les manigances de chacun, les disparitions de personnages, les attaques surprises et toute l'intrigue autour du tournoi, on est vraiment embarqué du début à la fin. Fae, magie, humains sont au rendez-vous et la touche dragon est plus que réussie d'ailleurs. J'ai apprécié ce lien qui doit se faire entre le cavalier et son dragon et la façon dont tout cela se déroule. Je ne pourrais vous en dire plus car le mieux est de découvrir soi-même au fil des pages mais sachez que ce premier tome nous tient en haleine comme il se doit. Quant à la fin de ce premier tome, je dois dire que j'ai tout simplement adoré ! Pas mal de révélations pour ce premier volet et quelles révélations ! La suite promet son lot de surprises et comment vous dire à quel point je suis pressée de la découvrir. Clairement, on est sur une fin de tome à la hauteur de mes attentes.
En conclusion, j'ai adoré ma lecture des Amants maudits de K. A. Linde ! Je suis passée à pas grand chose du coup de coeur pour ce premier tome. Un univers riche et passionnant, des personnages attachants mais avec de forts caractères, une romance qui s'annonce plus que prometteuse et encore pas mal de rebondissements à venir ! J'ai été séduite par l'histoire et en redemande !
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2022/0...
C'est lors de ma précommande pour la PopUp store de juin dernier que j'ai littéralement craqué pour Les amants maudits de K.A. Linde. Il faut dire qu'entre sa couverture, beaucoup trop canon et le fait qu'il soit question de dragons, j'étais déjà à moitié conquise. A noter que ce titre est une avant-première et est prévue pour septembre/octobre en numérique et papier. Et notez bien cette sortie, parce qu'elle vaut clairement le coup.
D'ailleurs, pour ceux qui se poseraient la question, les dragons font partie intégrante de l'histoire et on fait plus que les croiser ! Ils ne sont pas juste là pour attirer les lecteurs. Pour ma part, j'étais jusque-là souvent déçue par les autres romans mettant en avant les dragons, pour ne pas les voir finalement des masses durant mes lectures. Ici, ce n'est pas le cas, ils sont bien présents !
Dans Le maisons des dragons, nous faisons la connaissance de Kerrigan. Mi-fae, mi-humaine, elle a été abandonnée très jeune à cause de sa nature. Depuis, elle a trouvé refuge dans la maison des dragons, une tribu dans laquelle les faes sont formés et prodiguent des soins et s'occupent des dragons. Ainsi, au fil des années, Kerrigan a tout fait pour s'intégrer au mieux et faire partie de Bénis des dragons. Elle s'apprête à faire son entrée dans la société afin d'être quelqu'un et surtout de s'affranchir des autres. Etre libre. Mais rien ne va se passer comme prévu. Disparitions, cérémonie qui tourne au désastre et invité de dernière minute, Kerrigan va devoir tout faire pour être choisie comme tribu avant le délais impartis et c'était sans compter ses visions du Prince de Ombres, Fordham Ollivier, un ennemis qu'elle va devoir suivre comme son ombre.
Clairement, ce premier tome pose les bases d'une histoire plus que fascinante. J'ai rapidement été happé par les événements. Il faut dire que notre héroïne Kerrigan, ne manque pas d'intérêt. Bien sur, son passé et le fait qu'elle ait été abandonné très jeune, ajoute au capital sympathie. Sa nature de sang-mêlé pèse aussi dans la balance. Elle n'a jamais réussi à se sentir totalement à sa place au sein de la Maison des dragons. Certes, son lien particulier avec les Dragons est comme une soupape pour elle, mais elle n'en reste pas moins différente des autres. Et pour cause, si elle a quelques amis et alliés, elle reste malgré tout une "anomalie" face aux Faes. Alors, chaque jour, elle va dans les Bas-Fonds, et affronte toute sorte d'individus sur le ring des Rebuts. Kerrigan est donc une héroïne attachante, qui au fil des pages se dévoilent. Pour autant elle n'en ai pas moins forte et courageuse, bien au contraire. Elle a une force de caractère à toute épreuve, elle est déterminée à s'en sortir, elle dispose non seulement d'une force physique mais aussi de magie. Elle ne se laisse pas marcher sur les pieds et on apprécie clairement cela. Sans pour autant tomber dans l'excès. Pas de tête brûlée ici.
Je l'avoue, le démarrage à de quoi effrayer. Dans le sens où l'univers est dense et assez complexe. On est plongé dedans et il faut un petit temps d'adaptation pour comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de cette histoire. Moi-même, j'ai eu quelques passages où je n'étais pas sûre de tout bien comprendre sur le coup, mais ensuite, cela s'éclaircit et on est totalement happé par les rebondissements et l'action. Passé les cents premières pages qui donnent les bases de l'histoire, on est embarqué dans celle-ci jusqu'à la toute fin. Il faut dire que le futur de notre héroine est incertain. Le fait fait qu'elle n'est pas été choisie lors de sa cérémonie vient tout remettre en cause. Et voilà que pour être libre, elle va devoir convaincre les autres tribus. Mais comment convaincre quand on est regardé de haut et si différente.
Comme si cela ne suffisait pas, le tournoi qui se déroule au même moment va s'ajouter aux problèmes de Kerrigan. Un tournoi dans lequel un candidat de chaque tribu va devoir passer des tests pour avoir la chance d'arriver à l'épreuve finale et repartir avec un dragon. Et comme dans sa vision, Fordham Ollivier, le Prince des ombres débarque pour y participer. Un ennemis mortel pour Kerrigan, la Maison des ombres étant réputée et exclue depuis des années pour la cruauté et le massacre dont ils ont fait preuve. D'autant que ce Prince semble l'avoir prise en grippe.
Le duo improbable qu'ils forment est épique ! Clairement, ces deux-là sont si opposés que les voir, devoir composer l'un avec l'autre est aussi drôle et plein de tension qu'on peut s'y attendre. Fordham est clairement irrité par la présence de Kerrigan et inversement. On sent que les préjugés ont la vie durent. Après-tout, ils sont ennemis depuis tellement longtemps qu'il est difficile de faire abstractions de tout ce qui les opposent. Et pourtant, cette obligation de "travailler" l'un avec l'autre va les amener à changer doucement mais surtout de point de vue l'un sur l'autre. J'ai d'ailleurs apprécié cette lente évolution de leur relation. On sent la romance qui arrive doucement mais surement en arrière plan. Et qu'est-ce que j'ai aimé chacune de leurs confrontations !
Côté suspense et rebondissements on est plus que servis. Comme je vous le disais plus haut, passé les premiers chapitres, on est happé par l'histoire et l'action qui monte crescendo. Entre les combats sur le ring des Rebuts, les manigances de chacun, les disparitions de personnages, les attaques surprises et toute l'intrigue autour du tournoi, on est vraiment embarqué du début à la fin. Fae, magie, humains sont au rendez-vous et la touche dragon est plus que réussie d'ailleurs. J'ai apprécié ce lien qui doit se faire entre le cavalier et son dragon et la façon dont tout cela se déroule. Je ne pourrais vous en dire plus car le mieux est de découvrir soi-même au fil des pages mais sachez que ce premier tome nous tient en haleine comme il se doit. Quant à la fin de ce premier tome, je dois dire que j'ai tout simplement adoré ! Pas mal de révélations pour ce premier volet et quelles révélations ! La suite promet son lot de surprises et comment vous dire à quel point je suis pressée de la découvrir. Clairement, on est sur une fin de tome à la hauteur de mes attentes.
En conclusion, j'ai adoré ma lecture des Amants maudits de K. A. Linde ! Je suis passée à pas grand chose du coup de coeur pour ce premier tome. Un univers riche et passionnant, des personnages attachants mais avec de forts caractères, une romance qui s'annonce plus que prometteuse et encore pas mal de rebondissements à venir ! J'ai été séduite par l'histoire et en redemande !
October 9, 2025
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just re-released on October 7th called, House of Dragons. This was about Kerrigan, who has spent her life being mistreated and looked down on because she is half human and half fae. At 5 years old she was abandoned by her father and dropped off at the House of Dragons, where they took her in and cared for her, she grew up around dragons and being trained alongside fae in their training program. When she is of age to leave House of Dragons, her and the others her age participate in choosing day, where one of the twelve houses chooses them to be accepted into their house to then enter society under their house name. But no house chooses Karrigan. So she begs her superiors for one month more to convince a house to choose her. But when complications arise, suddenly getting a house to choose her is no longer her priority, it's trying to solve a murder before she's next. All her friends have been chosen and left for different houses, so she ends up getting help from Fordham, a dark and mysterious fae prince from the House of Shadows.
This book was such a fun ride! (Get it? Dragons, dragon riding? 😉) It gave me some Harry Potter vibes and Fourth Wing vibes too! It had elemental magic, different houses, a choosing ceremony, fighting and training, competing in a tournament with trials and tests, dragons and flying and a bonding ceremony. This is a slow burn YA romantasy with found family, and an enemies to lovers storyline. This was book one of a four book series, and I'm so excited for the story to continue! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of House of Dragons, in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a fun ride! (Get it? Dragons, dragon riding? 😉) It gave me some Harry Potter vibes and Fourth Wing vibes too! It had elemental magic, different houses, a choosing ceremony, fighting and training, competing in a tournament with trials and tests, dragons and flying and a bonding ceremony. This is a slow burn YA romantasy with found family, and an enemies to lovers storyline. This was book one of a four book series, and I'm so excited for the story to continue! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of House of Dragons, in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
3.5/4 maybe! It was really fun but maybe a little too YA for me? I’m not sure! But still a good time!
March 10, 2026
4.5 stars
October 12, 2025
I really enjoyed reading House of Dragons. This book has elemental magic, bloody fights, lots of tension and stunning plottwists. It is a really good fantasy book and I haven't read anything like this before. A shadow prince, a half-fae and the choice between life and death. This book just has it all.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
February 28, 2026
Ich dachte wirklich über längere Zeit, dass es ein fünf Sterne Buch für mich werden wird. Es gab dann aber leider doch noch ein paar kleine Enttäuschungen, die dazu führten, dass es "nur" vier Sterne gibt.
Insgesamt hat es mir aber sehr viel Spaß gemacht und ich freue mich schon auf die Fortsetzung.
Please remember Reading is subjective.
Insgesamt hat es mir aber sehr viel Spaß gemacht und ich freue mich schon auf die Fortsetzung.
Please remember Reading is subjective.
October 14, 2020
4.5 stars!!
House of Dragons is set in a world where full-blooded Faes are at the top. Humans and half-Faes are on the bottom, and they are the ones who must fight for their place in the world and Kerrigan is among them. She is half-Fae who doesn’t really belong anywhere. She was left at Draco Mountain when she was a child to be a Dragon Blessed and at the age of sixteen she can be chosen by a tribe to join their clan. However, things don’t go as planned when it’s her turn at the ceremony and she isn’t chosen. Now she must figure out how to convince a tribe to take her or she will be bound to the Dragon Society forever.
It’s been ages since I have read fantasy and I am so glad that this is the one that brought me back into a mystical world full of magic, mystery, murder and mayhem. The vivid imagery transported me to Alandria and gave me a whole new world to captivate me along with wonderful characters who drew me in.
Kerrigan is a fantastic character. I love that she takes things into her own hands and doesn’t let fear stop her. She does what she needs to do stay alive and make a place for her in this world. Her fight is constant but she never backs down. I love her perseverance. With obstacle she encounters, her determination to overcome it gets stronger. She’s not perfect though and gets help along the way form the most unlikely of characters.
Fordham is of the House of Shadows, the group of Dark Fae who were cast out of the land. They are known for their brutality to all who are not full-blooded Fae. He comes to Alandria for personal reasons, set on keeping to himself, and ends up spending way more time with Kerrigan than he imagined.
Kerrigan and Fordham are awesome together. They begin as enemies but slowly form an alliance. They are both hiding secrets and have their own vulnerabilities and insecurities. I liked seeing the trust build between them and the start of a what could be a wonderful romance. However, there are complications that won’t allow them to pursue the feelings that are growing and I was curious if they could ever make it work.
The mystery is well written and keeps you guessing as the story unfolds. There are heroes and villains, friends and foes. Characters who want to lift Kerrigan up and those who want to tear her down. And we can’t forget about the crime lord, Dozan, who wants to own her.
I loved the way the characters are weaved together and all the magic surrounding them. I loved the dragons and connection they have to the characters. I loved the competition, the challenges and the action packed fighting. I wanted to know all of the secrets and enjoyed all of the twists and turns the story took. It’s an exciting new series to get obsessed with, and I couldn’t put it down.
I love that we are not left with a gut wrenching cliffhanger. We still have questions and the ending promises more of this world Linde has created. More Kerrigan and Ford. More magic and dragons. And more of everything I love in this book! I can’t wait, House of Shadows is coming next year!
*ARC generously provided by the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions*
House of Dragons is set in a world where full-blooded Faes are at the top. Humans and half-Faes are on the bottom, and they are the ones who must fight for their place in the world and Kerrigan is among them. She is half-Fae who doesn’t really belong anywhere. She was left at Draco Mountain when she was a child to be a Dragon Blessed and at the age of sixteen she can be chosen by a tribe to join their clan. However, things don’t go as planned when it’s her turn at the ceremony and she isn’t chosen. Now she must figure out how to convince a tribe to take her or she will be bound to the Dragon Society forever.
It’s been ages since I have read fantasy and I am so glad that this is the one that brought me back into a mystical world full of magic, mystery, murder and mayhem. The vivid imagery transported me to Alandria and gave me a whole new world to captivate me along with wonderful characters who drew me in.
Kerrigan is a fantastic character. I love that she takes things into her own hands and doesn’t let fear stop her. She does what she needs to do stay alive and make a place for her in this world. Her fight is constant but she never backs down. I love her perseverance. With obstacle she encounters, her determination to overcome it gets stronger. She’s not perfect though and gets help along the way form the most unlikely of characters.
Fordham is of the House of Shadows, the group of Dark Fae who were cast out of the land. They are known for their brutality to all who are not full-blooded Fae. He comes to Alandria for personal reasons, set on keeping to himself, and ends up spending way more time with Kerrigan than he imagined.
Kerrigan and Fordham are awesome together. They begin as enemies but slowly form an alliance. They are both hiding secrets and have their own vulnerabilities and insecurities. I liked seeing the trust build between them and the start of a what could be a wonderful romance. However, there are complications that won’t allow them to pursue the feelings that are growing and I was curious if they could ever make it work.
The mystery is well written and keeps you guessing as the story unfolds. There are heroes and villains, friends and foes. Characters who want to lift Kerrigan up and those who want to tear her down. And we can’t forget about the crime lord, Dozan, who wants to own her.
I loved the way the characters are weaved together and all the magic surrounding them. I loved the dragons and connection they have to the characters. I loved the competition, the challenges and the action packed fighting. I wanted to know all of the secrets and enjoyed all of the twists and turns the story took. It’s an exciting new series to get obsessed with, and I couldn’t put it down.
I love that we are not left with a gut wrenching cliffhanger. We still have questions and the ending promises more of this world Linde has created. More Kerrigan and Ford. More magic and dragons. And more of everything I love in this book! I can’t wait, House of Shadows is coming next year!
*ARC generously provided by the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions*
September 26, 2020
I'm at a loss of words here. I just wasn't ready for it to finish.
This is my first read from this author but I'm already hooked. It's so different to what I normally read but it was so refreshing. Whilst it has a small romance element, that is definitely not the front focus of the book and it's more N/A-Y/A vibe but it was so freaking good.
There is so many things I love about this book but the first and most important things are the fact that there is a pronunciation guide and glossary type information in the beginning so you can better understand how this world works. Love that.
Kerrigan is a great heroine period. Despite her young age she has already lived some real hard lessons in life which toughened her up. She's smart resourceful and determined which is a leathal combination for a young woman set out to prove everyone wrong. She's hardened and lethal in many ways but she's also vulnerable due to her insecurities and painful past experiences. She's super depthy and I really enjoyed reading the many layers to her character throughout the story.
This book is a masterpiece that's carefully woven and flows seamlessly from one page to the next. The story is multidimensional with so much depth and substance there was never a moment of reprieve. The characters all play great parts and held my interest immediately from the beginning, each one super dynamic and strong in there own right. I love the unique and very original world this author created and as far as a first book of a series goes I feel like she just layed all the right foundations down for what is going to be phenomenal series.
The build up and suspense was everything here. I feel like the story progressed at a perfect pace with just the right amount of action and emotionally impactful moments to give you all the feels whilst reading. This is a absolute rollercoaster in the best ways. Its climatic it's drama filled and full of surprises. It has a sweet budding forbidden frenemies romance that I was living for!. It just had everything I wanted and then some. I'm living for the fae/ dragon aspect of this world and the conflicts between half fae and the fae!. So fucking fascinating.
I'll probably come back and add more/ change this so it makes better sense later but these are just my immediate thoughts after reading.
This is my first read from this author but I'm already hooked. It's so different to what I normally read but it was so refreshing. Whilst it has a small romance element, that is definitely not the front focus of the book and it's more N/A-Y/A vibe but it was so freaking good.
There is so many things I love about this book but the first and most important things are the fact that there is a pronunciation guide and glossary type information in the beginning so you can better understand how this world works. Love that.
Kerrigan is a great heroine period. Despite her young age she has already lived some real hard lessons in life which toughened her up. She's smart resourceful and determined which is a leathal combination for a young woman set out to prove everyone wrong. She's hardened and lethal in many ways but she's also vulnerable due to her insecurities and painful past experiences. She's super depthy and I really enjoyed reading the many layers to her character throughout the story.
This book is a masterpiece that's carefully woven and flows seamlessly from one page to the next. The story is multidimensional with so much depth and substance there was never a moment of reprieve. The characters all play great parts and held my interest immediately from the beginning, each one super dynamic and strong in there own right. I love the unique and very original world this author created and as far as a first book of a series goes I feel like she just layed all the right foundations down for what is going to be phenomenal series.
The build up and suspense was everything here. I feel like the story progressed at a perfect pace with just the right amount of action and emotionally impactful moments to give you all the feels whilst reading. This is a absolute rollercoaster in the best ways. Its climatic it's drama filled and full of surprises. It has a sweet budding forbidden frenemies romance that I was living for!. It just had everything I wanted and then some. I'm living for the fae/ dragon aspect of this world and the conflicts between half fae and the fae!. So fucking fascinating.
I'll probably come back and add more/ change this so it makes better sense later but these are just my immediate thoughts after reading.
January 13, 2026
3.75-4
This was surprisingly fun and a very good start into the series!
What you get in this book: fae, dragons, dragon riders, a mysterious & good looking guy appearing out of black smoke and creating a bit of chaos, underground fights, a cute romance, a tournament, rebels (the kinds we don’t like), more mysterious characters, an assassin on the loose.
Kerrigan is a great main character. Her relationship and the slowly developing romance between her and Fordham was incredibly cute!
While there is a tournament happening during the course of the book, Kerrigan isn’t actually taking part in it! She, literally, sits in the sideline and reports what is happening while solving her own little mystery.
The writing is great! It’s easy to get into the book and it’s very fitting for the plot and characters!
While mostly told from Kerrigan’s pov, there were a handful of chapters from other characters pov, which were well placed and added another sprinkle of mysteriousness to the plot.
For a book that is called “House of Dragons”, I expected a bit more of the dragons to be present. The parts that did have dragons in them were great though!
There were a couple of scenes that didn’t flow as nicely and I feel like they were only meant to get a certain point across. A conversation with Audria (who I’m not sure if should be trusted at all) in the second half during a party comes to mind about Kerrigan’s past, as well as one or two conversations with Fordham. One specifically at the very end of the book about what will probably be the plot of the sequel.
I will say that I think this book leans more towards the younger side of YA, think like Prison Healer-ish.
This was my first book from K.A. Linde and with the way House of Dragons ended, and especially with the bonus chapter from Fordham’s pov, I am excited to see how the story continues in the sequel, House of Shadows.
Thank you to Tor Bramble for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was surprisingly fun and a very good start into the series!
What you get in this book: fae, dragons, dragon riders, a mysterious & good looking guy appearing out of black smoke and creating a bit of chaos, underground fights, a cute romance, a tournament, rebels (the kinds we don’t like), more mysterious characters, an assassin on the loose.
Kerrigan is a great main character. Her relationship and the slowly developing romance between her and Fordham was incredibly cute!
While there is a tournament happening during the course of the book, Kerrigan isn’t actually taking part in it! She, literally, sits in the sideline and reports what is happening while solving her own little mystery.
The writing is great! It’s easy to get into the book and it’s very fitting for the plot and characters!
While mostly told from Kerrigan’s pov, there were a handful of chapters from other characters pov, which were well placed and added another sprinkle of mysteriousness to the plot.
For a book that is called “House of Dragons”, I expected a bit more of the dragons to be present. The parts that did have dragons in them were great though!
There were a couple of scenes that didn’t flow as nicely and I feel like they were only meant to get a certain point across. A conversation with Audria (who I’m not sure if should be trusted at all) in the second half during a party comes to mind about Kerrigan’s past, as well as one or two conversations with Fordham. One specifically at the very end of the book about what will probably be the plot of the sequel.
I will say that I think this book leans more towards the younger side of YA, think like Prison Healer-ish.
This was my first book from K.A. Linde and with the way House of Dragons ended, and especially with the bonus chapter from Fordham’s pov, I am excited to see how the story continues in the sequel, House of Shadows.
Thank you to Tor Bramble for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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