Hearts of Bark and Scale

by Nicole Leland

The world is blood and pain, but still there’s love.

All Kvisti has ever wanted is to protect her desert village in a way that would make the Mother Tree proud. Unfortunately, an old injury has left her once-potent dryad powers broken, and she can’t even stop the ruthless magic poachers that invade her village for the scraps of magic she still holds.

Snake shifter Iason is bound to a criminal snake den for the sake of his rare healing magic. But the magic poachers want his magic, too. When the poachers throw Kvisti in the same magic-proof cell as Iason, the two are inexorably drawn together, bonding over past traumas. In their isolation, they begin to heal each other, finding a connection deeper than they imagined possible.

But when disaster strikes the poachers, Kvisti and Iason are abandoned in their cell with no hope for freedom.

In a world that thrives on cruelty and despair, love may be their only salvation. Can Kvisti and Iason break free of their prison and the pasts that haunt them before their connection is torn apart? Will the delicate new feelings taking root in their hearts bloom, or will the desert bury them? When blood and pain are a constant, love is a fragile thing—but one worth fighting for.

Genres: Romance

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2025

Reviews

[Mandy Enchantedbookduo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating
3.5 💎
0.5 🌶️

Quick Summary
🪽This book opens with a gripping, high-stakes scene and dives deep into the emotional journeys of two trauma-scarred characters, especially the MMC who struggles with PTSD. Through raw emotion and a slowly building bond, the story beautifully explores healing, connection, and the power of love when both characters learn to lean on each other

Reading Thoughts
📕This books opens up in the first chapter with our FMC bleeding out and dragged off to some poacher den, talk about starting with a bang
📕These characters have gone through some trauma, more so the MMC who is battling some serious PTSD
📕The FMC is the perfect person to help our MMC through his pain if he will allow it
📕The emotions that they feel is all confusing and it is very interesting to read how they work through this for each other.
📕The book does a great job of ensuring you feel how the bond between these characters is formed

Words that linger
🍷For a moment the experience opened an ache inside him, a need and desire and desperate regret.
🍷One surprise or moment of startle, a fear too strong for my human instincts to control, and the snake takes over.
🍷The consequences of others harming you are not your fault.”
🍷“If you touch Iason, I will kill you myself,” she said, her voice somehow fire and ice at once.
🍷He was so lean, hungry for more than just food—hungry for affection and connection and intimacy and love.

Tropes
🌿Forced proximity
🌿Fierce FMC
🌿Shifters
🌿Trauma Bonding

[Stephanie Keijzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this little romantasy. It was so wholesome and sweet. But in a dark and brutal world. Loved the main characters and their growth througout the story. And the fact that the MMC was the scared, vulnerable and scared one in such a heavy way was original. Haven't read one of those yet. The story was also original, loved the magic, their world and their connection. I felt all the emotions. Highly recommend this story to all the romantasy lovers out there who love a shorter read with some dark elements.

📚 Dryad and snakeshifter
📚 Abuse/Trauma/PTSD
📚 Healing journey
📚 Love
📚 Captives

Favorite quotes📖✍

"The consequences of others harming you are not your fault."

"He trapped me in a collar of hope, and I went willingly."

"Kvisti wanted to gather Iason up in her arms right then and there, to hold this fragile and sweet man together, to help his pieces fit back together."

[Magnolia]

I DEVOURED this book in one day. Just couldn't put it down.

I just love the author's detailed and evocative writing style, as well as her skills at crafting interpersonal dynamics that just pull the reader in. Their interactions are just pure perfection. I also like that the effects of trauma are not glossed on and don't magically disappear just by the Power of Love. I see it as a sign of respect for the story, the characters, and ultimately the readers.

I think the author's knowledge and love of plants shines through the portrayal of Kvisti's thoughts, actions, and functioning as a dryad. I just love this care for detail, I think it always adds something more to a character, and a story as a result. As for Iason, I have a soft spot for gentle men in fiction, and he is a sweet heart who has gone through unspeakable hardship, so I really felt for him. To sum up, Kvisti is an amazing blend of strength and kindness and Iason needs to be protected at all cost.

Overall, this author just crafts amazing characters and worlds, and I just love all the sensory details, the minutiae of the environments and the richness of the language.

I received Hearts of Bark and Scale as an ARC, and opinions are fully my own.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh I love love loved this story. It had everything I needed - magic, suspense, mystery, angst, trauma, love and so much more. There were times I was squirming in my seat reading it as well as times that tugged at my heart strings. I need more from this author!

[Sara Pazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearts of Bark and Scale by Nicole Leland is a beautifully written romantasy that blends pain, healing, and love in a harsh desert world. The story follows Kvisti, a dryad scarred and weakened after a brutal attack, and Iason, a rare snake shifter trapped by magic poachers for his healing abilities. When the two are locked in a magic-proof cell together, what begins as mutual distrust slowly turns into something deeper — a fragile bond born out of survival, trust, and shared trauma.

What I loved most about this book is how it explores vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Both characters carry emotional and physical wounds, and watching them learn to see each other beyond those scars felt tender and real.

The pacing is mostly steady, with a good balance of emotional tension and action. A few slower sections near the middle slightly dulled the momentum, but the emotional payoff in the second half more than made up for it. I also appreciated how the romance didn’t feel rushed — it unfolded naturally, full of quiet moments and cautious hope.

Overall, Hearts of Bark and Scale is an evocative, character-driven fantasy about healing and finding love in unexpected places. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-burn romantasy, unique magical creatures, and stories where love feels both earned and transformative.

[Asulley4785 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted fantasy full of heart, danger, and unexpected love.
Hearts of Bark and Scale completely swept me away from the very first page. Nicole Leland has created a lush, vivid world where nature and magic intertwine—and where every heartbeat feels like it could change the fate of kingdoms.
The story balances adventure, emotion, and romance in such a seamless way. The characters feel real—flawed, brave, and achingly human even when surrounded by dragons and danger. I loved the tension, the slow-burn chemistry, and the underlying message about loyalty, sacrifice, and finding your strength when everything feels impossible.
Leland’s writing is poetic but grounded, full of sensory detail that makes you feel like you can see the forests, hear the rustle of scales, and feel the pull of destiny on every page. The pacing was perfect—never rushed, but never dragging—and by the end, I was both satisfied and desperate for more.
If you love stories with fierce heroines, breathtaking worldbuilding, and just the right amount of emotional punch, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
✨ Fans of Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, or Carissa Broadbent will eat this up.✨

I received this as an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Jenna Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Spice 🌶️

“The world is blood and pain, but still there’s love.”

That line alone sums up everything I felt while reading this story. This book gutted me in the best way. Set in a harsh, sand-swept world where cruelty and beauty coexist. It follows Kvisti, a dryad whose magic has been fractured; and Iason, a snake shifter chained by circumstance. Both are broken in their own ways, scarred by loss and survival, yet somehow still capable of tenderness. When they’re trapped together in a cell built to strip them of hope, something unexpected blooms between them: healing, connection, and a love that feels defiant in a world that thrives on despair.

The writing is lush and aching, full of grit and heart. Every page feels heavy with emotion and tension, and the romance…slow, raw, and quietly powerful—made me believe in love even when everything hurts.

If you love romantasy with wounded souls, survival against impossible odds, and the kind of intimacy that feels like redemption, this story will stay with you long after you close the last page.

[K.V. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wholesome story about two people overcoming their trauma and learning how to work together. Kvisti was a powerful dryad with the ability to grow and control plantlife but had her powers dampened by people who feared her. Iason was a human born with life (healing) magic but was forcibly turned into a snake shifter at a young age and made to do terrible things to serve his den.

Much of this story takes place in a prison cell, but despite that, it was never boring. The lush descriptions of the nature and life magic being performed by both characters, the backstories, the bonding... It was all very magical and relatable.

As someone who has experienced trauma, I appreciated how realistic and well-paced the story was in regards to both characters' healing. Iason was such a sweet, strong character and I teared up reading about his past. Kvisti was an inspiration and I loved the descriptions of her plantlife. I wish for sequels because I can't stop thinking about these two...

[Sammyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started out quite dramatic and bloody with Kvisti a dryad being dragged through the sands by poachers. She is put in a prison cell with a snake shifter Iason. They both have emotional issues but Iason especially so. For most of fhe book the interactions are in the cell and Kvisti becomes fiercly protective of Iason. Together they form a bond that is beautiful to read, healing and heartfelt. Kvisti has had her magic stripped back but her abilities in plant magic is unique
Iason's magic is powerful, poachers wanting his abilities but when they are left abandonded they must try to escape the cell.
Althoigh a fairly short read, it packed a punch! Loved the interactions and the unique storyline. A lighter fantasy book but I would recommend for the fact that the heroine is the protector.
Thanks to Nicole for the ARC opportunity.

[Phoenix Fyreheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

One broken dryad. One snake shifter. Magic poachers after them both. Trauma bonding...and healing. Can they break free together, or will they be torn apart? They know two things. Pain is constant and love is fragile. But it's worth the fight.

Hearts of Bark and Scale was a really interesting read. A good portion of the story took place in one little cell, and yet somehow the author kept it from becoming mundane. Only in the last couple of chapters did the scenery change, becoming as open and fresh and new as the budding relationship itself. It was both literal and metaphorical in the most perfect way. My deepest kudos to the author, and I would very much recommend this story. Five sssssssstars!

Ravenheart Rating: 10/10
Spice Factor: Level 3.5

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet and poignant story of love blooming in the worst of circumstances. I was particularly intrigued that the main character is a dryad! How cool is that? There’s a fun twist on the “just one” trope that is too sweet to spoil and definitely pushes the characters to a new level of closeness! This is a romantasy built on a dark foundation of abuse and torment leading to slavery, but is also so full of light and hope that it diminishes the horror elements. While the general premise is that of magical beings enslaved for the use of their magic, all of that is just a backdrop for the development of Iason and Kvisti’s relationship. I wouldn’t market this as horror, and I think many “dark romantasy” readers would feel this was more “dusk” than “dark.” That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read a sequel to find out what happens next!

There are no “spice” scenes, and I think this story could be marketed for YA readers with just one caveat/trigger-warning.

In chapter 14 there is a discussion of off-page sexual assault of a male and more than one female in a twisted scheme perpetrated by a violent villain. It makes sense within the story, but it is shocking and maybe a little much for younger YA readers.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bite sized beauty!

The plot style reminds me of a Dungeons and Dragons one-shot in the sense that you have one "task" as the entirety of the book. However, you get all of the back ground and world building you need within that.

Its dark subject matter, but handled respectfully. You have a tortured soul, and a bad *ss being. There's fear, power, magic, and sheer determination.

I did not put it down, and honestly, I appreciate that its a stand alone (or at least can be read as one). It was well written, and the flow between dialog and thought from the different characters was incredible.

I definitely recommend!!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few of this author's stories and she is becoming a fast favorite. I absolutely love this world she created and the character dynamic between Iason and Kvisti was a refreshing take on the hero. The other aspects I enjoy include the botany. Even though it's a fantasy I LOVED reading Kvisti talking/thinking about these plants and how they utilized them. This book left me feeling hopeful. I do recommend for individuals who enjoy fast paced dark fantasy stories. The story lines do involve serious subject matter and there are content warnings.

[LisaJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Leland stole my attention and dragged me into her own world from the first page! With such a gripping introduction to the FMC and the dark world itself it became so hard to put the book down and go to work!
There is a deep emotional journey that happens for the FMC and even the MMC that kept me rapt at attention. This story explores their slow healing and troubles they face, adding in the romantasy moment and compelling plot was thrilling! Seeing the MMC is a different light to traditional ones was also such an amazing touch and unique aspect that had me falling for him so quickly!

[Arriana Yezzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin this review I’d like to say I was provided a free ARC copy of this book. I found this book to be a rather light read in length with some heavy undertones in terms of content. Despite some of the heavier themes, the author did a great job of creating lots of heartfelt and inspiring moments. The main characters will definitely hit home for those who love a protective and emotionally strong FMC and a shyer MMC who is finding himself.

[Layne KOs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Leland knows how to write beautiful fantasy romance in less than 200 pages.

Even if the world building isn't expensive, there's a lot of context and you understand well the atmosphere and the living conditions.
We follow two characters who both have sweet natures and powerful magic. Together, they learn how to trust each other and themselves, they heal together.

It's sad and melancholic but love gives healing and growth.

*Thank you Nicole Leland for the ARC.

[Sabrina Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, heart warming read. Managed to give me enough character depth for both main characters to be cheering them on and want the best for both of them. Iason was so fragile yet so caring and willing to push past his own comfort levels to help Kvisti.
Left me with a happy ending and a good feeling inside

[Kellys.bookcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book but well paced for the plot.
The characters are enjoyable it’s was interesting to read about a FMC with a possessive protection of a haunted and broken MMC. Most of the book takes place in the small cell with lots a heavy themes.

There is no spice in the book but the odd flirty banter between the characters is just a start to building their emotional intimacy.

[Lisa Gainers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing book! This story starts out with some awful triggers, how we can be deceived by the ones closest to us, to only remind us there are rainbows that come after the storms. I absolutely loved reading this story of Kvista and Iason. 

[Marilyn Formosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful short story about finding oneself and each other after years of trauma and abuse.

[Isa Ottoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, soft, intimate and heartbreaking.
Highly recomend it.

[Jake Vanguard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts of Bark and Scale makes the reader feel so many emotions while following Kvisti and Iason - it's incredible.

I'm most impressed with how much we learn about the characters and their past while the book's set in a single underground prison cell (almost) the whole duration. Only through the characters' behavior, dreams, conversations, and memories, we learn so much about their past and traumas.
I'm especially fond of Iason, a man who's been abused for so long, scared of himself most of all, and a true gentle soul.

The magical system and overall worldbuilding was fascinating, too. Overall, I absolutely loved Hearts of Bark and Scale and would always recommend it.


I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy but I'm freely leaving this review. All opinions are my own.