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The Witches of Innsbrook
The Blood of Dragons: Standalone Book 3 in the Witches of Innsbrook
When Nayla wakes up as a giant silver dragon, destroys her own bed, and ruins the front door of her quaint cottage... she realizes that being a witch may not be her true calling. The ability to fly might make up for the inconvenience of the unexpected transformation, except she involuntarily transforms back into a human and tumbles thousands of feet from the sky.
She is desperate for solutions when the good-looking village scholar shows up at her cottage and mentions he is on his way to the dragon-riddled Jagged Mountains, where the key to her transformation lies.
Nolan is kind and nerdy with a chiseled chest and a dashing smile, and she finds herself falling for him - until she discovers that he works for the evil King’s army. The same evil King with a penchant for locking witches in dungeons and stealing their powers. She determines to put aside her growing attraction to him, which would be much easier if he wasn’t always sleeping so close to her.
In a race against time to discover who she is before the dangerously random dragon transformations get her killed, Nayla and Nolan make their way to the Jagged Mountains, encountering soldiers, goblins, and unlikely friendships as they uncover a plot that could make the King more dangerous than ever.
This is the third fast-paced short standalone book in the Witches of Innsbrook series, featuring friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, adventure, self-discovery, and epic dragons.
She is desperate for solutions when the good-looking village scholar shows up at her cottage and mentions he is on his way to the dragon-riddled Jagged Mountains, where the key to her transformation lies.
Nolan is kind and nerdy with a chiseled chest and a dashing smile, and she finds herself falling for him - until she discovers that he works for the evil King’s army. The same evil King with a penchant for locking witches in dungeons and stealing their powers. She determines to put aside her growing attraction to him, which would be much easier if he wasn’t always sleeping so close to her.
In a race against time to discover who she is before the dangerously random dragon transformations get her killed, Nayla and Nolan make their way to the Jagged Mountains, encountering soldiers, goblins, and unlikely friendships as they uncover a plot that could make the King more dangerous than ever.
This is the third fast-paced short standalone book in the Witches of Innsbrook series, featuring friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, adventure, self-discovery, and epic dragons.
322 pages, Paperback
Published August 21, 2025
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 10, 2025
My heartfelt thanks to Viola Nichols for giving me an advance copy of The Blood of Dragons. The standalone third book of The Witches of Inbrook sparked an impulse to binge the first two books; I am thoroughly charmed!
This book delivers on the promise of cozy cottagecore vibes, weaving a delightful tale of witches, midwives, quaint villages, dragons and magical whimsy. It balances a gentle, closed-door romance with just a whisper of spice, keeping things wholesome yet engaging for adult readers. The story is brimming with beloved fantasy trope: shapeshifting, dragons, menacing trolls, an evil king, secret identity, and a found family that warms the heart.
Nayla’s journey to understanding herself anchors a slower pace in the first half of the book, until she meets the main male character Nolan and things begin to get more exciting. I felt the first half of the book really built the setting and brought Nayla to life, while craved a touch more backstory to flesh out the lore. Perhaps reading the first two books would help with that though. The swift pacing in the latter half had me transfixed and turning pages late into the night. I was invested!
My only quibble? I wish it was longer! I’d have enjoyed more time with a certain late-arriving character and a juicy rebellion plot against the dastardly king. (Perhaps the earlier books - or even a sequel - will sate my curiosity!)
It hits all the right spots for fantasy lovers seeking a lighthearted escape.
If you’re in the mood for a magical romp featuring unlikely allies, a tender love story, witches, dragons, and trolls, hidden identity, found family, and a common foe, this book is a fantastic pick. It’s a whimsical, trope-filled delight that pairs beautifully with a cozy blanket and a starry night!
This book delivers on the promise of cozy cottagecore vibes, weaving a delightful tale of witches, midwives, quaint villages, dragons and magical whimsy. It balances a gentle, closed-door romance with just a whisper of spice, keeping things wholesome yet engaging for adult readers. The story is brimming with beloved fantasy trope: shapeshifting, dragons, menacing trolls, an evil king, secret identity, and a found family that warms the heart.
Nayla’s journey to understanding herself anchors a slower pace in the first half of the book, until she meets the main male character Nolan and things begin to get more exciting. I felt the first half of the book really built the setting and brought Nayla to life, while craved a touch more backstory to flesh out the lore. Perhaps reading the first two books would help with that though. The swift pacing in the latter half had me transfixed and turning pages late into the night. I was invested!
My only quibble? I wish it was longer! I’d have enjoyed more time with a certain late-arriving character and a juicy rebellion plot against the dastardly king. (Perhaps the earlier books - or even a sequel - will sate my curiosity!)
It hits all the right spots for fantasy lovers seeking a lighthearted escape.
If you’re in the mood for a magical romp featuring unlikely allies, a tender love story, witches, dragons, and trolls, hidden identity, found family, and a common foe, this book is a fantastic pick. It’s a whimsical, trope-filled delight that pairs beautifully with a cozy blanket and a starry night!
September 20, 2025
Dragons? Yes!
Witches? Yes!
Goblins? Yes!
Magic? Yes!
Self-Discovery? Yes!
Entertaining Read? Yes!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of “The Blood of Dragons.” I had already read the first two books in this standalone series, and as an impatient person I was excited to start the third. I have enjoyed the storyline and I think even more than that, I have enjoyed seeing the authors growth as a writer.
“The Blood of Dragons” is a fast—paced, cozy, fantasy story about Nayla, who is shocked to wake one morning only to find she has turned into a dragon. I love a comforting, whimsical story of self-discovery and this book was no exception. Add in a touch of romance and I am all in.
I highly enjoyed this book and I will always be rooting for the Witches of Innsbrook!
Witches? Yes!
Goblins? Yes!
Magic? Yes!
Self-Discovery? Yes!
Entertaining Read? Yes!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of “The Blood of Dragons.” I had already read the first two books in this standalone series, and as an impatient person I was excited to start the third. I have enjoyed the storyline and I think even more than that, I have enjoyed seeing the authors growth as a writer.
“The Blood of Dragons” is a fast—paced, cozy, fantasy story about Nayla, who is shocked to wake one morning only to find she has turned into a dragon. I love a comforting, whimsical story of self-discovery and this book was no exception. Add in a touch of romance and I am all in.
I highly enjoyed this book and I will always be rooting for the Witches of Innsbrook!
September 14, 2025
This was an ARC that was a great start to my cozy fall reads. Witches, dragons, and cottage core? Sign me up. I enjoyed following the FMC on her journey to learning more about herself and the MMC was a nice boost to the pacing of the second half of the book. It was a bit more of a closed door romance, but their story was still sweet and heart warming. All in all it felt whimsical and cutesy and would be a nice palate cleanser in between more action packed books.
September 12, 2025
*Witches, dragons, goblins, oh my!
*Cottage-core
*3rd Person Limited - FMC's POV
*Flirty comments
Spice: 🫑
What does it mean when your magic isn't as strong as the rest of the women in your family? Obviously it means that you're a dragon, or at least that's what it means for Nayla. Having spent most of her short life trying to fit in amongst the non-magic humans and the magically endowed coven her sister leads, Nayla just wants to relax in her childhood home in the small village of Loews Hollow but quickly comes face to face with harsh truths and even more questions than she returned with. She sets on a quest with an attractive and inquisitive scholar named Nolan who may be more than she seems. Nayla must learn what it means to truly believe in herself as well as listen to her body in order to unlock her true self.
I really wanted to love this book. I did. I've read so many books with dragons that have way too many fight scenes, this year alone, that when I saw an advertisement for a book with dragons and a more cottagecore/soft vibe, I jumped straight into reading this. And while this book wasn't all stabby or stereotypical grumpy MMC's, it just missed the mark.
It took me over four days to read this book, even though it should have been a one day sitting, because the book had many slow parts that felt a bit dragging. At first, the beginning of the book was interesting because we start with Nayla, the FMC, setting off to her hometown to try and find herself and meets a curious stranger, Nolan. But then she has to leave her house because of a life changing transformation and of course she has Nolan because he was conveniently there when she had to leave despite her wanting to keep distance. This happens not once, not twice, but like 4 different times so it got a bit repetitive. But then despite the repetition, the author also incorporated new elements such as the goblins but that also dragged itself out because Nayla just had to bide her time.
I personally believe that if the author had structured this differently, than the book would have been better. There could have been Parts or Acts to help the divide: a small prologue with her decision to go back home, a section where she's at home and tries to get back into her childhood routine before the transformation, a section where she's tries to understand her transformation better and including the hunt for information, and then after she figured out her truth. This is already what Viola had essentially written but I think she tried to make it flow like a river, when really it felt like trying to go down a stream with too little water to keep you going at times.
Now while I did struggle and ultimately gave this book a 3 🌟, I truly believe that this was a good book and could be a nice comfort read if one is tired from heavily action packed books. The author did not force the MC's relationship into a purely sexual relationship which was a nice change of pace as well, as I find myself wanting some books with like 98% plot and 22% romance.
I highly recommend this book for those who want something more softer and whimsical than books like FW and other action packed fantasy's. Also recommend for DND players who like little sidequests 🥰
*Cottage-core
*3rd Person Limited - FMC's POV
*Flirty comments
Spice: 🫑
What does it mean when your magic isn't as strong as the rest of the women in your family? Obviously it means that you're a dragon, or at least that's what it means for Nayla. Having spent most of her short life trying to fit in amongst the non-magic humans and the magically endowed coven her sister leads, Nayla just wants to relax in her childhood home in the small village of Loews Hollow but quickly comes face to face with harsh truths and even more questions than she returned with. She sets on a quest with an attractive and inquisitive scholar named Nolan who may be more than she seems. Nayla must learn what it means to truly believe in herself as well as listen to her body in order to unlock her true self.
I really wanted to love this book. I did. I've read so many books with dragons that have way too many fight scenes, this year alone, that when I saw an advertisement for a book with dragons and a more cottagecore/soft vibe, I jumped straight into reading this. And while this book wasn't all stabby or stereotypical grumpy MMC's, it just missed the mark.
It took me over four days to read this book, even though it should have been a one day sitting, because the book had many slow parts that felt a bit dragging. At first, the beginning of the book was interesting because we start with Nayla, the FMC, setting off to her hometown to try and find herself and meets a curious stranger, Nolan. But then she has to leave her house because of a life changing transformation and of course she has Nolan because he was conveniently there when she had to leave despite her wanting to keep distance. This happens not once, not twice, but like 4 different times so it got a bit repetitive. But then despite the repetition, the author also incorporated new elements such as the goblins but that also dragged itself out because Nayla just had to bide her time.
I personally believe that if the author had structured this differently, than the book would have been better. There could have been Parts or Acts to help the divide: a small prologue with her decision to go back home, a section where she's at home and tries to get back into her childhood routine before the transformation, a section where she's tries to understand her transformation better and including the hunt for information, and then after she figured out her truth. This is already what Viola had essentially written but I think she tried to make it flow like a river, when really it felt like trying to go down a stream with too little water to keep you going at times.
Now while I did struggle and ultimately gave this book a 3 🌟, I truly believe that this was a good book and could be a nice comfort read if one is tired from heavily action packed books. The author did not force the MC's relationship into a purely sexual relationship which was a nice change of pace as well, as I find myself wanting some books with like 98% plot and 22% romance.
I highly recommend this book for those who want something more softer and whimsical than books like FW and other action packed fantasy's. Also recommend for DND players who like little sidequests 🥰
September 22, 2025
Thank you for this ARC! It was a pleasure reading another book in the Witches of Innsbrook series :)
Small & Silly description:
Nayla Isn't Like The Other Witches - so just like every other witch in the sunrise coven, she wants to make it on her own and prove it to the coven She Can.
But then she discovers - SHE'S A DRAGON. No, I mean, literally.
This really cool development is shaken up when she meets an man with amazing abs. He turns out to be a scholar (so basically Jonathan Bailey in Jurrassic Park) who works for the King of Chains!
And Nayla works for freedom, so alas, they are not meant to be.
However, he does have great abs, so it is very hard to concentrate.
Nayla happens to be captured by golems when she thought it would be a good idea to climb a mountain without any kind of climbing gear, so the golems make her clean out the latrine. As you should, I mean, who climbs a mountain without any gear?
Some other stuff happens with the golems, the King's soldiers, more dragons, and there's a HEA so you know how it ends.
My Review:
I'd classify this as a solid 3.5 star book. Perfect for a palate cleanser. Cottagecore, witchy, an original spin on dragons.
This book actually makes golems interesting characters, multidimensional, and I love that !!
I really liked the inquisitive nature of Nolan, he was very convincing as a scholar !
I also loved Nayla's arc throughout the book, finding out who her family was.
What felt off every once in a while was how Nayla kept convincing herself maybe Nolan was one of the good guys because of his * abs *. Seriously, girl. Get a grip.
Other than that, amusing read !
Some favourite quotes:
"All she got was the chill of a dead stick in her hand on a spring afternoon."
"She kept herself distant from nearly everyone, never laughing freely, losing her teper, or showing the messier emotions that mark true closeness."
"She had spent her entire life tryin to be what others expected of her. Now she was loud and bi, and it felt intoxicating."
OR HOW ABOUT THIS ONE!!
"Don't you see how it might be useful to have an explanation grounded in facts and data? Otherwise, all of Innsbrook is at the whim of whatever fool gives the most persuasive speech, and that should not suffice."
Small & Silly description:
Nayla Isn't Like The Other Witches - so just like every other witch in the sunrise coven, she wants to make it on her own and prove it to the coven She Can.
But then she discovers - SHE'S A DRAGON. No, I mean, literally.
This really cool development is shaken up when she meets an man with amazing abs. He turns out to be a scholar (so basically Jonathan Bailey in Jurrassic Park) who works for the King of Chains!
And Nayla works for freedom, so alas, they are not meant to be.
However, he does have great abs, so it is very hard to concentrate.
Nayla happens to be captured by golems when she thought it would be a good idea to climb a mountain without any kind of climbing gear, so the golems make her clean out the latrine. As you should, I mean, who climbs a mountain without any gear?
Some other stuff happens with the golems, the King's soldiers, more dragons, and there's a HEA so you know how it ends.
My Review:
I'd classify this as a solid 3.5 star book. Perfect for a palate cleanser. Cottagecore, witchy, an original spin on dragons.
This book actually makes golems interesting characters, multidimensional, and I love that !!
I really liked the inquisitive nature of Nolan, he was very convincing as a scholar !
I also loved Nayla's arc throughout the book, finding out who her family was.
What felt off every once in a while was how Nayla kept convincing herself maybe Nolan was one of the good guys because of his * abs *. Seriously, girl. Get a grip.
Other than that, amusing read !
Some favourite quotes:
"All she got was the chill of a dead stick in her hand on a spring afternoon."
"She kept herself distant from nearly everyone, never laughing freely, losing her teper, or showing the messier emotions that mark true closeness."
"She had spent her entire life tryin to be what others expected of her. Now she was loud and bi, and it felt intoxicating."
OR HOW ABOUT THIS ONE!!
"Don't you see how it might be useful to have an explanation grounded in facts and data? Otherwise, all of Innsbrook is at the whim of whatever fool gives the most persuasive speech, and that should not suffice."
September 8, 2025
Cozy Witches, Dragons and More! 🐉🧙🏼♀️
The Blood of Dragons- by Viola Nichols
🐉Blurb🐉
When Nayla wakes up as a giant silver dragon, destroys her own bed, and ruins the front door of her quaint cottage, she realizes that being a witch may not be her true calling.
The ability to fly would make up for her unexpected transformation, except she involuntarily transforms back into a human and tumbles thousands of feet from the sky.
She is desperate for solutions when the good-looking village scholar shows up at her cottage and mentions he is on his way to the dragon-riddled Jagged Mountains, where the key to her transformation lies.
Nolan is kind and nerdy with a chiseled chest and a dashing smile, and she finds herself falling for him - until she discovers that he works for the evil King's army. The same evil King with a penchant for locking witches in dungeons and stealing their powers. She determines to put aside her growing attraction to him, which would be much easier if he wasn't always sleeping so close to her.
In a race against time to discover who she is before the dangerously random dragon transformations get her killed, Nayla and Nolan make their way to the Jagged Mountains, encountering soldiers, goblins, and unlikely friendships as they uncover a plot that could make Nolan and King more dangerous than ever.
🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉
This was a super cute and cozy read.
Dragons? Witches? Cozy Cottagecore vibes? Absolutely sold.
Nayla is such a great well-written character and I loved following her journey from struggling baby witch to waking up as full blown dragon! 🐉
Nolan’s character was a fantastic addition to the story and I loved reading about their relationship as it transformed over time.
If you’re a fantasy lover, into cottagecore vibes, witches and dragons.. you’ll love this cute read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the Author, Viola Nichols for allowing me to ARC read this for you!
The Blood of Dragons- by Viola Nichols
🐉Blurb🐉
When Nayla wakes up as a giant silver dragon, destroys her own bed, and ruins the front door of her quaint cottage, she realizes that being a witch may not be her true calling.
The ability to fly would make up for her unexpected transformation, except she involuntarily transforms back into a human and tumbles thousands of feet from the sky.
She is desperate for solutions when the good-looking village scholar shows up at her cottage and mentions he is on his way to the dragon-riddled Jagged Mountains, where the key to her transformation lies.
Nolan is kind and nerdy with a chiseled chest and a dashing smile, and she finds herself falling for him - until she discovers that he works for the evil King's army. The same evil King with a penchant for locking witches in dungeons and stealing their powers. She determines to put aside her growing attraction to him, which would be much easier if he wasn't always sleeping so close to her.
In a race against time to discover who she is before the dangerously random dragon transformations get her killed, Nayla and Nolan make their way to the Jagged Mountains, encountering soldiers, goblins, and unlikely friendships as they uncover a plot that could make Nolan and King more dangerous than ever.
🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉
This was a super cute and cozy read.
Dragons? Witches? Cozy Cottagecore vibes? Absolutely sold.
Nayla is such a great well-written character and I loved following her journey from struggling baby witch to waking up as full blown dragon! 🐉
Nolan’s character was a fantastic addition to the story and I loved reading about their relationship as it transformed over time.
If you’re a fantasy lover, into cottagecore vibes, witches and dragons.. you’ll love this cute read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the Author, Viola Nichols for allowing me to ARC read this for you!
October 25, 2025
A story about dragons, prejudice, and connecting with your past - it’s The Blood of Dragons.
Nayla is a witch. Or rather…she is supposed to be a witch. It’s just her powers aren’t very strong. At all. She feels pretty isolated as a result and decides to return to her home village.
Things are going okay…until she wakes up and discovers she has transformed into a dragon. Needing answers, she goes in search of the two dragons rumoured to live in the mountains. On the way she encounters Nolan, a farmer/scholar, who unfortunately works for the King, and a village of goblins. The big question is, will they help or hinder her in her quest to learn more about herself?
This was a sweet, easy read. It deals with challenging long-held beliefs, acceptance of those different to you, and discovering the truth about who you really are and where home is. One major theme is the death of parents, kidnapping of children and slavery. It is a no-spice book, with a very sweet slow burn relationship. There’s a small amount of innuendo towards the end of the book.
This is book three of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. It would definitely make more sense in the context of the other books. I recommend it for fantasy readers of all ages.
Nayla is a witch. Or rather…she is supposed to be a witch. It’s just her powers aren’t very strong. At all. She feels pretty isolated as a result and decides to return to her home village.
Things are going okay…until she wakes up and discovers she has transformed into a dragon. Needing answers, she goes in search of the two dragons rumoured to live in the mountains. On the way she encounters Nolan, a farmer/scholar, who unfortunately works for the King, and a village of goblins. The big question is, will they help or hinder her in her quest to learn more about herself?
This was a sweet, easy read. It deals with challenging long-held beliefs, acceptance of those different to you, and discovering the truth about who you really are and where home is. One major theme is the death of parents, kidnapping of children and slavery. It is a no-spice book, with a very sweet slow burn relationship. There’s a small amount of innuendo towards the end of the book.
This is book three of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. It would definitely make more sense in the context of the other books. I recommend it for fantasy readers of all ages.
August 31, 2025
ARC review: The Blood of Dragons, by Viola Nichols
I wanted to love this book, I really did!
Spice: 🫑
Tropes:
🐉dragons
🐉magic
🐉witches
🐉coming of age
🐉golden retriever MMC
🐉soft FMC
I was really intrigued by this book because I love me some book dragons, and I had so many expectations for it…It just fell short for me.
This is book 3 of The Witches of Innsbrook series, but a standalone. It is a fast paced read. I loved following Nayla (our FMC) as she comes of age, and how she builds her relationship with Nolan (our MMC). She never felt like she truly belonged with the coven of witches, and was in search to find who she truly is. She is relatable in a lot of ways.
Viola had the right concept and the story has so much potential to be better. It was just hard to get through the first 75% of it, but the last 25% did get better so I am happy that I finished it. If the right changes are made, this story would be so much better. I am happy that I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book, and I plan on following Viola in her upcoming releases for sure 💜
I wanted to love this book, I really did!
Spice: 🫑
Tropes:
🐉dragons
🐉magic
🐉witches
🐉coming of age
🐉golden retriever MMC
🐉soft FMC
I was really intrigued by this book because I love me some book dragons, and I had so many expectations for it…It just fell short for me.
This is book 3 of The Witches of Innsbrook series, but a standalone. It is a fast paced read. I loved following Nayla (our FMC) as she comes of age, and how she builds her relationship with Nolan (our MMC). She never felt like she truly belonged with the coven of witches, and was in search to find who she truly is. She is relatable in a lot of ways.
Viola had the right concept and the story has so much potential to be better. It was just hard to get through the first 75% of it, but the last 25% did get better so I am happy that I finished it. If the right changes are made, this story would be so much better. I am happy that I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book, and I plan on following Viola in her upcoming releases for sure 💜
September 6, 2025
I first want to thank Viola for choosing me as an ARC reader.
This book is very sweet and easy to read, a nice little coming-of-age and finding-your-power story. Nayla goes from a timid but stubborn little witch to discovering her true strength, and I enjoyed following her progress.
Although it’s a quick read, not much happens in the first 50–60% of the book. When relationships were formed or revealed, there wasn’t enough story left to really build a deep connection or get attached to the other characters.
I will give the author credit, though: some parts were written in a way that truly touched me. I just wish the whole book carried that same energy.
If you’re looking for a quick, cute standalone read, this isn’t a bad choice. It made me smile a few times, and the story is fun.
This book is very sweet and easy to read, a nice little coming-of-age and finding-your-power story. Nayla goes from a timid but stubborn little witch to discovering her true strength, and I enjoyed following her progress.
Although it’s a quick read, not much happens in the first 50–60% of the book. When relationships were formed or revealed, there wasn’t enough story left to really build a deep connection or get attached to the other characters.
I will give the author credit, though: some parts were written in a way that truly touched me. I just wish the whole book carried that same energy.
If you’re looking for a quick, cute standalone read, this isn’t a bad choice. It made me smile a few times, and the story is fun.
September 15, 2025
Witches, Dragons, and goblins oh my!
Thank you Viola for allowing me to read an advanced copy!
Nayla’s journey from her coven as she comes into her power was a fun ride. I loved the cozy cottage vibes, the healing magic and her big heart which she shows us time and again on her journey to the mountains.
What I loved most: the layered characters who feel flawed yet real, and the slow build of tension that keeps you guessing at who to trust. Nichols does a great job weaving together fantasy elements with emotional stakes, and it never felt overdone.
The worldbuilding is vivid and immersive—think rich landscapes, dangerous alliances, and just enough hints of lore to make you want more. While there were a couple of spots that felt a little slower in pacing, overall this book delivered an addictive mix of action and heart.
I was left wanting a bit more, I am guessing there is room for a book 2???
minimal spice 🫑
stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5
Thank you Viola for allowing me to read an advanced copy!
Nayla’s journey from her coven as she comes into her power was a fun ride. I loved the cozy cottage vibes, the healing magic and her big heart which she shows us time and again on her journey to the mountains.
What I loved most: the layered characters who feel flawed yet real, and the slow build of tension that keeps you guessing at who to trust. Nichols does a great job weaving together fantasy elements with emotional stakes, and it never felt overdone.
The worldbuilding is vivid and immersive—think rich landscapes, dangerous alliances, and just enough hints of lore to make you want more. While there were a couple of spots that felt a little slower in pacing, overall this book delivered an addictive mix of action and heart.
I was left wanting a bit more, I am guessing there is room for a book 2???
minimal spice 🫑
stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5
September 15, 2025
If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting read with some dragons and goblins thrown in, then look no further than “The Blood of Dragons”.
I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but being a standalone I was eager to give this one a shot. I very much enjoyed Nayla’s character and found her charming and interesting - especially when she woke up as a dragon. Her journey to find answers introduces us to a colourful array of characters and some lovely banter with Nolan (and other new friends and family).
I will add that I found this book to be a little slow and repetitive at the start (but if you’re looking for a light and cozy read, this may be a bonus) and there were a few errors within that could use some tweaking. I personally preferred the pacing of the last 20% of the book more so than the start, but overall the story itself was very creative and kept me reading until the end.
I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but being a standalone I was eager to give this one a shot. I very much enjoyed Nayla’s character and found her charming and interesting - especially when she woke up as a dragon. Her journey to find answers introduces us to a colourful array of characters and some lovely banter with Nolan (and other new friends and family).
I will add that I found this book to be a little slow and repetitive at the start (but if you’re looking for a light and cozy read, this may be a bonus) and there were a few errors within that could use some tweaking. I personally preferred the pacing of the last 20% of the book more so than the start, but overall the story itself was very creative and kept me reading until the end.
September 18, 2025
🐲 Forced Proximity, Enemies-to-Lovers, Dragons, Goblins, Witches, Finding herself, Finding Family, Adventure
This is a cute and cozy fall read. It's an easy read about Gwenneth's younger sister, Nayla. She doesn't have much magic and she returns to her home only to begin discovering things about herself while meeting a man, Nolan, who's a scholar and he works for the enemy. She heads to the mountains to seek more information then becomes a prisoner.
This book is definitely tamer on the romance and spice side for me. You won't get lost if you only read this book and not the others, but I do recommend reading the others.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a cute and cozy fall read. It's an easy read about Gwenneth's younger sister, Nayla. She doesn't have much magic and she returns to her home only to begin discovering things about herself while meeting a man, Nolan, who's a scholar and he works for the enemy. She heads to the mountains to seek more information then becomes a prisoner.
This book is definitely tamer on the romance and spice side for me. You won't get lost if you only read this book and not the others, but I do recommend reading the others.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 stars)
Set in a magic-filled world of witches, dragons, and goblins, this story follows Nayla, a young witch who feels like she doesn’t belong in her powerful family. On a journey of self-discovery, she teams up with Nolan, a compassionate researcher working for a corrupt king who uses magical creatures to hold his power.
Together, they face danger, forge unlikely bonds, and try to find their place in a world on the edge of chaos. With strong themes of identity, belonging, and resistance, this is a solid fantasy with heart—though it takes a bit to fully hit its stride.
A promising read for fans of magic and adventure.
Set in a magic-filled world of witches, dragons, and goblins, this story follows Nayla, a young witch who feels like she doesn’t belong in her powerful family. On a journey of self-discovery, she teams up with Nolan, a compassionate researcher working for a corrupt king who uses magical creatures to hold his power.
Together, they face danger, forge unlikely bonds, and try to find their place in a world on the edge of chaos. With strong themes of identity, belonging, and resistance, this is a solid fantasy with heart—though it takes a bit to fully hit its stride.
A promising read for fans of magic and adventure.
September 17, 2025
Dragons. Goblins. Witches. Oh My! It can't get better than that
I read The Blood of Dragons as an eARC. I enjoyed reading the final book of this series. The main focus was on Nayla and her quest to find who she really is. I loved how the book is more fantasy than romance. This is the second book I've read in this series with Gwenneth. She may just be the heart of Innsbrook
Nayla's journey to the Jagged Mountains is very interesting, to say the least. Along this journey, she undergoes transformations, imprisonment, and healing creatures. She even sees Nolan. He is the one who helps her the most.
I recommend reading this book and the entire series
I read The Blood of Dragons as an eARC. I enjoyed reading the final book of this series. The main focus was on Nayla and her quest to find who she really is. I loved how the book is more fantasy than romance. This is the second book I've read in this series with Gwenneth. She may just be the heart of Innsbrook
Nayla's journey to the Jagged Mountains is very interesting, to say the least. Along this journey, she undergoes transformations, imprisonment, and healing creatures. She even sees Nolan. He is the one who helps her the most.
I recommend reading this book and the entire series
September 23, 2025
This is quick and easy read. It is a bit clunky in the beginning, with dialogue feeling a bit awkward and forced. A lot of the early dialogue seems like it only exists to shoehorn the FMC’s backstory, and it doesn't flow naturally. It does get better though.
There’s a lot going on in a fairly short book, and it feels like character building suffers because of it. I just didn't feel any real connection to any character, and barely felt anything when certain events happened that definitely should have elicited an emotional response.
Still,it was a fun little palate cleanser in between some heavier reads.
There’s a lot going on in a fairly short book, and it feels like character building suffers because of it. I just didn't feel any real connection to any character, and barely felt anything when certain events happened that definitely should have elicited an emotional response.
Still,it was a fun little palate cleanser in between some heavier reads.
September 1, 2025
This was a cutesy fantasy read! I loved following Nayla, our brave fmc, coming of age. A struggling witch who never felt like she belonged in her coven, to suddenly turning into a dragon?? Definitely a new one for me. Watching how her relationship changed with Nolan, our not-so-little golden retriever mmc was adorable.
I do feel like the first 60% of this was a bit slow. But the last 40% was almost perfect! There were a few loose ends that had lingering questions left unanswered. Grammatically and repetitive wording could use a bit of editing. But overall, not bad!
I do feel like the first 60% of this was a bit slow. But the last 40% was almost perfect! There were a few loose ends that had lingering questions left unanswered. Grammatically and repetitive wording could use a bit of editing. But overall, not bad!
September 2, 2025
Nayla is the sister to one of the most powerful witches in her coven. Leaves the comfort and safety of the coven to find her self worth. she could mange simple spell and felt less than her friends and sister. When she returns to her village nothing goes well and the unexpected happens in which she has to journey to find her self and the question that been burning in her of who she really is. She meets Nolan who through their journey helps her believe in herself but she didn’t trust him much because he was a scholar for the mean King. But both help each other. Such a cute magical story.
September 2, 2025
Book three of the Witches of Innsbrook did not disappoint. This time we learn about Nayla’s journey of self-discovery and she has a lot to discover. Feeling inferior to her sister, less of a witch than those held captive by the King of Chains, and with unreliable magic, Nayla sets out to find her own spot in the world. The love she finds gives her the confidence to be her own person. While this is Nayla’s story we continue to learn all the horrific reasons why that king has to go. Looking forward to reading how this vibrant community of women will deal with him once and for all.
September 5, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book. I'll start off with Cozy fantasy, isn't my jive. But this was really good when it really started to get good and into the story! The development that Nayla had from being not comfortable in her own skin to learning that she's actually a freaking dragon was great! She became more confident in herself and even fell for her companion in the end.
Through and through loved this book. And you dont even need to read the other books to enjoy this one because the author sets it up and fills in the blanks where it's needed.
Would recommend!
Through and through loved this book. And you dont even need to read the other books to enjoy this one because the author sets it up and fills in the blanks where it's needed.
Would recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
Thank you for the ARC!
I found it cute and enjoyable, and the main twist was easy for me to spot early on.
What I really liked were the FMC’s struggles—they felt relatable and grounded. Despite uneven pacing, I enjoyed the tone and I’m glad I picked it up.
Since it’s part of a series of stand-alone books, I’m planning to read books one and two soon!
I found it cute and enjoyable, and the main twist was easy for me to spot early on.
What I really liked were the FMC’s struggles—they felt relatable and grounded. Despite uneven pacing, I enjoyed the tone and I’m glad I picked it up.
Since it’s part of a series of stand-alone books, I’m planning to read books one and two soon!
September 11, 2025
It was a light and easy read. Definitely a bit of a palate cleanser kind of book. I struggled to fully connect with most of the characters and their relationships, but I think with more time and development I could've been. Personally, I felt like some sections could’ve been replaced with deeper character building and stronger relationship arcs, though that might just come down to my own preference. That said, I still found it to be a cozy and cute read and I really hope others give it a chance.
September 14, 2025
I was lucky enough to be sent this book to arc read and I thought it was really a fun, quick read.
Could easily be a standalone, though it fits in the series well. The characters were so fun and developed very well.
"She would not deny it: she loved being dangerous."
When Nayla returns home to work on her personal issues, she finds something she never expected. She goes on a journey to learn more about herself and ends up finding a relationship to last a lifetime. Will she discover all she needs to know to feel fulfilled? Will she fall for the boy she can't seem to avoid?
Could easily be a standalone, though it fits in the series well. The characters were so fun and developed very well.
"She would not deny it: she loved being dangerous."
When Nayla returns home to work on her personal issues, she finds something she never expected. She goes on a journey to learn more about herself and ends up finding a relationship to last a lifetime. Will she discover all she needs to know to feel fulfilled? Will she fall for the boy she can't seem to avoid?
September 18, 2025
The third book of the Witches of Innsbrook didn’t disappoint. Nayla has always been different and now she knows why, she’s a dragon shifter. Very whimsical and cozy. Perfect for Fall. Shifting takes a bit to get used to. She shifted back into a human super high in the sky. She’s desperate for help and leans on a local scholar, Nolan. Nolan is very kind with a great smile. Nayla starts to fall for him. Unfortunately he works for the evil king. Dragons, witches, goblins and more. Cottagecore vibes. It’s a light read and a great story. I highly recommend it!
September 6, 2025
ARC REVIEW
This book had a very interesting plot. Whilst I haven’t read the other installments of this series, I did feel like the author did a good job of character introductions as it’s a stand alone.
I liked some aspects of this book but it wasn’t my favorite read of the year.
The story had a lot of build up moments that came to, what I feel, was a flat conclusion.
This book wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a well written piece.
I did enjoy Nayla and Nolan as characters
This book had a very interesting plot. Whilst I haven’t read the other installments of this series, I did feel like the author did a good job of character introductions as it’s a stand alone.
I liked some aspects of this book but it wasn’t my favorite read of the year.
The story had a lot of build up moments that came to, what I feel, was a flat conclusion.
This book wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a well written piece.
I did enjoy Nayla and Nolan as characters
September 12, 2025
I loved that this story developped more of the people living in Innsbrook : gobelins and dragons are a must-have in fantasy, and it was so cool learning more about them!
I also loved the relationship between Nayla and Nolan : it wasn't forced, and we understood clearly where they came from, and why they chose the path they were on.
I can't wait to read the fourth book of this saga, and I hope we'll see the end of the King of Chains soon!
I also loved the relationship between Nayla and Nolan : it wasn't forced, and we understood clearly where they came from, and why they chose the path they were on.
I can't wait to read the fourth book of this saga, and I hope we'll see the end of the King of Chains soon!
September 13, 2025
I really loved this book. I loved getting to know nayla more and to understand her part in the puzzle. The fact how she is so misunderstood by the coven and separated as she is not very advanced at magic. I
Know it says that these books can be read as stand alones but I personally think it helps to read them in order. Or you miss a big part of the world building from book one. Which I think really is important to understand book three !
Know it says that these books can be read as stand alones but I personally think it helps to read them in order. Or you miss a big part of the world building from book one. Which I think really is important to understand book three !
September 17, 2025
The author beautifully captures the struggle to feel belong, facing challenges and navigating the journey to be independent. I also love the support system surrounding the FMC. I was crushed when the meeting with the father shortlived, but glad that the FMC serves a greater purpose and got together with MMC. Engaging storyline, interesting choice of characters, and timely growth of dynamics. I absolutely enjoy the book.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity 🙌.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity 🙌.
October 6, 2025
ARC review.
Last book of the series, I enjoyed it more than the previous one.
A different story of a witch with little powers, a journey of self-discovery for Nayla, and Nolan is all the good you could find in a man. One that recognizes his errors, loves her no matter if she is a witch, a dragon-shifter, and someone who pursues goodness among everything.
Wonderful telled, perfect for the cozy season.
Last book of the series, I enjoyed it more than the previous one.
A different story of a witch with little powers, a journey of self-discovery for Nayla, and Nolan is all the good you could find in a man. One that recognizes his errors, loves her no matter if she is a witch, a dragon-shifter, and someone who pursues goodness among everything.
Wonderful telled, perfect for the cozy season.
August 29, 2025
ARC Review.
DNF at 40%. this book has a lot of really great potential. a cozy fantasy about a witch who just discovers that she can turn into a dragon? I also love her dynamic with the goblin clan that kidnaps her. but the grammatical errors, repetition, and almost childlike overall tone kept pulling me out of the story. once this book gets a good editing, it will be fantastic.
DNF at 40%. this book has a lot of really great potential. a cozy fantasy about a witch who just discovers that she can turn into a dragon? I also love her dynamic with the goblin clan that kidnaps her. but the grammatical errors, repetition, and almost childlike overall tone kept pulling me out of the story. once this book gets a good editing, it will be fantastic.
September 14, 2025
I was lucky to be given the chance to review The Blood of Dragons of my own accord, through being offered an eARC.
I have not read any of the other Witches of Innsbrook stories, but this one can be read all on its own.
A witchy fantasy with a twist of dragons.
A lovely story of self discovery for the FMC, Nayla, in a fantasy world.
I have not read any of the other Witches of Innsbrook stories, but this one can be read all on its own.
A witchy fantasy with a twist of dragons.
A lovely story of self discovery for the FMC, Nayla, in a fantasy world.
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