The Dragons of Alvernmast: The Dragon Lands Book 1

by ML Conklin

My life is finally where I want it. My pet supply store is thriving, my dream house is peaceful, and my cat, Fizzle, is perfect.
When an elf stumbles into my shop, desperate to escape her abuser, everything changes. In trying to help her, I get shoved through a portal and find myself in a magical land.

While fighting to survive, I free an intelligent creature from an abusive captain and steal a magical key. I think I’ve hidden it well until a charismatic elf drags me to a sham trial and locks me away.

If I want to go home, I’ll have to risk the mercy of dragons, learn to fight, and rescue the remaining creatures. My only hope is that I survive long enough to go home.

504 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragons of Alvernmast by M.L. Conklin is an imaginative and well-crafted start to The Dragon Lands series, full of rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and of course—dragons. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with a strong coming-of-age arc, this book delivers a satisfying blend of magic, mystery, and character-driven storytelling.

From the very beginning, the world of Alvernmast feels alive. The author does a fantastic job weaving in history, politics, and magical lore without overwhelming the reader. There's a sense of depth and care behind the creation of this universe that makes it easy to get lost in. The dragons themselves are fascinating powerful, majestic, and woven into the narrative in ways that feel fresh rather than cliché.

The main characters are compelling, especially as they begin to unravel their destinies and confront the roles they are meant to play in a world much larger than themselves. There are secrets to be uncovered, ancient forces stirring, and the stakes feel real without being rushed. Conklin allows the characters room to grow, which gives their relationships and personal arcs more emotional weight.

If there's one critique, it's that the pacing in the early chapters can be a bit slow as the foundation is being laid. Some readers might find themselves waiting for the action to truly kick in—but once it does, it’s well worth the buildup. The writing is clear and smooth, with moments of lyrical description and solid dialogue throughout.

Overall, The Dragons of Alvernmast is a strong and promising beginning to what looks to be an exciting series. With its intriguing world, layered characters, and the ever-present thrill of dragon lore, it’s a great pick for fans of classic fantasy with a modern, character-driven twist.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and wow — what a ride! While I mostly laughed my way through it, there were also moments that tugged at my heart. I was completely rooting for Addie and couldn’t stop reading to see how she’d turn things around. I’ll admit, there were a few characters I wanted to slap (in the best way!), but that was part of the fun.

The author does a wonderful job fleshing out her characters. Their reactions feel genuine and consistent with who they are and what they’ve been through. Even the secondary characters were realistic, flawed, and entertaining — I loved getting to know them just as much as the main ones.

The dialogue is sharp and witty, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and Addie’s snarky internal monologue made her instantly lovable. The world-building is rich and immersive, with just the right mix of history, politics, and magic to make the setting feel alive. The dragons are powerful and majestic, woven into the story in a way that feels new and exciting.

I laughed, cried, and cheered my way through this book. It’s emotional, clever, and full of twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The only small downside is that the beginning moves a little slowly while setting the stage — but once the story picks up, it’s impossible to put down.

Overall, The Dragons of Alvernmast is a captivating and beautifully written fantasy filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addie's life is tuned upside down when an elven woman enters her pet supply shop. The desperate woman looks as if she is running from an abuser, so Addie does what she can to help the woman. Unfortunately, Addie is soon kidnapped by a very large male elf and shoved through a portal into a magical realm she didn’t even know existed. When she steals a magical key while rescuing an intelligent and magical animal, she will soon find herself tried and convicted. She quickly realizes that nobody can help her, and it will be up to her to free herself if she ever wants to see her home again.

I loved the way the characters developed, they are so entertaining and realistic that I fell in love with most of them, especially Addie. I absolutely adored her, and her sometimes snarky attitude. Even the “bad” guys where fascinating and even though I wanted to strangle them myself it was impossible to put this book down. The dialogue is fast-paced, believable, sometimes made me laugh out loud, and Addie’s internal dialogues were sometimes hysterically funny. Lots of magic and magical creatures, a plot with many twists and turns, violent confrontations, and a reluctant yet stubbornly determined heroine kept me deeply engrossed in this book until the end. I adore this author and will highly recommend this book to other readers. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Book Sprout.

[Herta Neufeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became a fan of ML Conklin while reading her Paranormals of Ahl series and when this book came across my radar, I just had to give it a chance....and, boy, am I glad I did! This book was a fantastic urban fantasy blending our world with a magical continent hidden from the rest of society. The FMC is a strong, snarky 40 year old who doesn't like to be told what to do, while the MMC is a conflicted indivudual who is trying to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie and what that looks like. Both MCs react and grow through their circumstances in a real and organic way.

The author did a great job of fleshing out her characters and their reactions to situations they find themselves in are realistic and in keeping with their personalities as well as the circumstances they have lived through. The secondary characters were just as realistic and flawed as the MCs and I enjoyed getting to know them as much as the MCs.

I laughed, I cried, I raged, I rejoiced. I felt such a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the whole thing and I was there for it all. I could barely put the book down and will eagerly await the next in the series.

Read it! You will not be disappointed.

**Trigger Warning: Abuse/Torture scenes**.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. I love this author. So, full disclosure. This was a fun and sad book. Addie has been completely ostracized from her clan. Though, she is loved by her friends and family she is always on the outside looking in. Addie is thrown into another realm without any survival skills. I loved how she puts aside her anger and hurt to help those that truly do not deserve it. She is put in impossible situations yet continues to rise to the occasion. Putting other's needs before her own even with the threat of death.

I really hope that Addie and Ryvian can find their way to each other. They both are in for a run for their money if they are to find forgiveness and save a realm so full of distrust and ugliness. The action is fast, and each character was so lively and interesting. I am super excited for the next step of their journey.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with my personal bias - I strongly dislike fae/elven folks. They are always so pompous and self centered. I accepted this book from my arc offers mainly because of the word Dragon in the title.

That being said - I enjoyed the book quite a lot. The world building was excellent. The characters sucked you in and made you worry about them.

This - the first in the series - taught you a lot about the world you find yourself in and the different tribes found there.

My bias still stands; I still dislike the elven.

I look forward to the next in series as I now need to know how Addie handles her quest.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

ML Conklin wrote this well and was engaged from the first page, it was a strong start to the Dragon Lands series. it had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. The characters had that overall feel that I was wanting and enjoyed the concept and how it uses the urban fantasy element in the storyline. It uses the enemy to lover concept and used that perfectly. I enjoyed this as a opening chapter and am excited to read more in this universe.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new series. While I mostly laughed my way through it, it did have some sad times but it was so well written I was rooting for Addie and hooked to see how she would get the upper hand. I was entertained and wanted to slap a few characters but that was part of the fun. The world building, characters, and story was amazing and fun to watch it all play out. Plus what is to come in the series next has me wanting them now.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read. It’s a great fantasy read, and I love that it doesn’t just rush into romance and spice. It has some but it’s not overwhelming. I love the theme and the actual story, it’s so in depth and unique that I hope there are more books in this universe. Must read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra J · Rating 5 out of 5]

dragons and shifters and more

You’ll love this book. I love the character. She went through a lot in this book so it was kind of hard to read at times, but she came out so strong. It was amazing.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline was interesting and world building was detailed. The story had its funny moments among some emotional ones and I liked the snarky FMC.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!

I didn't want this story to end. The characters were great, the emotions hit hard. I really hope more is to come.