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Through the Dragons Gate
They caged her for her magic.
Now her flames will burn kingdoms to the ground.
Locked away since childhood for the fire in her veins, Princess Mariah has been treated as a monster, a curse, and a burden. When her father drags her from the tower and offers her to a cruel prince, Mariah sees only one future—chains disguised as vows. But Mariah refuses to be anyone’s prisoner again. Her desperate escape leads her through a portal into a hidden kingdom where dragons still rule the skies and magic thrives in every breath of air. There, she uncovers the truth about her bloodline, her power, and the bond that ties her fate to a man as dangerous as he is devoted. To claim freedom, Mariah must embrace the fire she once feared—and decide whether her destiny will save a kingdom… or reduce it to ash.
Dark, sensual, and spellbinding, Through the Dragon’s Gate is a tale of survival, power, and the courage to set the world alight.
Now her flames will burn kingdoms to the ground.
Locked away since childhood for the fire in her veins, Princess Mariah has been treated as a monster, a curse, and a burden. When her father drags her from the tower and offers her to a cruel prince, Mariah sees only one future—chains disguised as vows. But Mariah refuses to be anyone’s prisoner again. Her desperate escape leads her through a portal into a hidden kingdom where dragons still rule the skies and magic thrives in every breath of air. There, she uncovers the truth about her bloodline, her power, and the bond that ties her fate to a man as dangerous as he is devoted. To claim freedom, Mariah must embrace the fire she once feared—and decide whether her destiny will save a kingdom… or reduce it to ash.
Dark, sensual, and spellbinding, Through the Dragon’s Gate is a tale of survival, power, and the courage to set the world alight.
185 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2025
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 26, 2026
I rated this 2.25 stars.
I’m a little torn on this one because it starts so strong. The premise is great, the opening chapters move fast, and the tension in the beginning really pulled me in. The short, punchy sentences added pressure in a way that worked perfectly for a novella, and the worldbuilding felt surprisingly full for such a short book. I honestly thought I’d found a new favorite novella setup.
The ALC narration was another bright spot. Lucy Vale grew on me as the story went on, and she really captured Mariah’s youth and uncertainty. There was a little background noise, but it didn’t bother me.
The first half is where the book shines. Mariah’s backstory is emotional and heavy, and the danger around her escape feels real. The pacing is tight, the stakes are clear, and I was fully invested.
The second half shifts pretty dramatically, though, and that’s where it stopped working for me. The tone changes a lot. The first half is tense and intense, so I expected a slower, more trauma‑aware romantic arc. Instead, the second half reads much more YA in tone, with training sequences, time jumps, and a softer, lower‑tension vibe. Because of that shift, the open‑door scenes felt out of place. I usually enjoy spice, but here the romance moved really fast and didn’t feel earned. Honestly, I think the story would’ve been stronger with fewer open‑door scenes, or with those moments handled more sparingly. The groundwork was already there, and the pacing might’ve benefited from letting those scenes have space or even keeping them closed door.
There were also some continuity issues that pulled me out of the story, along with several name choices that felt a little too similar to each other. The worldbuilding around the dragons and the magic system also got harder to follow as the story went on. The pacing shifted from fast and focused to broad and summarized, with months passing in just a few paragraphs. I found myself losing connection to the characters during this stretch.
All that said, there is something here. The premise is good, the opening is strong, and the author clearly has a vision for this world. With more space to develop the relationship, clarify the worldbuilding, and smooth out the pacing, this could be a really engaging romantasy. I’m glad I got the chance to listen to the ALC, and I’m always excited to see new voices in this genre.
Thank you for this ALC.
I’m a little torn on this one because it starts so strong. The premise is great, the opening chapters move fast, and the tension in the beginning really pulled me in. The short, punchy sentences added pressure in a way that worked perfectly for a novella, and the worldbuilding felt surprisingly full for such a short book. I honestly thought I’d found a new favorite novella setup.
The ALC narration was another bright spot. Lucy Vale grew on me as the story went on, and she really captured Mariah’s youth and uncertainty. There was a little background noise, but it didn’t bother me.
The first half is where the book shines. Mariah’s backstory is emotional and heavy, and the danger around her escape feels real. The pacing is tight, the stakes are clear, and I was fully invested.
The second half shifts pretty dramatically, though, and that’s where it stopped working for me. The tone changes a lot. The first half is tense and intense, so I expected a slower, more trauma‑aware romantic arc. Instead, the second half reads much more YA in tone, with training sequences, time jumps, and a softer, lower‑tension vibe. Because of that shift, the open‑door scenes felt out of place. I usually enjoy spice, but here the romance moved really fast and didn’t feel earned. Honestly, I think the story would’ve been stronger with fewer open‑door scenes, or with those moments handled more sparingly. The groundwork was already there, and the pacing might’ve benefited from letting those scenes have space or even keeping them closed door.
There were also some continuity issues that pulled me out of the story, along with several name choices that felt a little too similar to each other. The worldbuilding around the dragons and the magic system also got harder to follow as the story went on. The pacing shifted from fast and focused to broad and summarized, with months passing in just a few paragraphs. I found myself losing connection to the characters during this stretch.
All that said, there is something here. The premise is good, the opening is strong, and the author clearly has a vision for this world. With more space to develop the relationship, clarify the worldbuilding, and smooth out the pacing, this could be a really engaging romantasy. I’m glad I got the chance to listen to the ALC, and I’m always excited to see new voices in this genre.
Thank you for this ALC.
April 26, 2026
Through the Dragons Gate by Kayla Johns ⭐⭐⭐⭐
First, thank you so much to Kayla Johns for gifting me a copy of the audiobook. I truly appreciate the opportunity to listen to and review it.
Through the Dragons Gate is a romance fantasy, but I would definitely categorize it as a lighter fantasy read. If you’re going into this expecting epic high fantasy with heavy world-building and a complex magic system, this is not that kind of story. Instead, it’s a quick, easy-to-follow fantasy romance that leans much more heavily into the romance side of things.
The story follows Princess Mariah, who has spent most of her life imprisoned and isolated after her mother’s death. Her father is largely absent, uncaring, and only reappears on her eighteenth birthday to inform her that she will be marrying a complete stranger. From there, the story moves quickly as Mariah takes control of her fate.
Mariah was a strong FMC—smart, determined, and easy to root for. The pacing is very fast, and once the story picks up around the 15% mark, it really doesn’t slow down. This audiobook is fairly short, and the plot spans several years, so everything moves quickly and without a lot of extra detail.
My main critique with the story is that I wanted more from the fantasy elements. I wish there had been deeper world-building, more exploration of the magic system, and a little more detail overall. There were a lot of interesting ideas here that I would have loved to see expanded on. I’m hoping future books in the series dive deeper into those aspects.
As for the audiobook itself, the narrator did an okay job overall, but I do think the production could have been stronger. Much of the performance felt very whispery and somewhat monotone, and I would have liked a bit more emotion and variation in the delivery. A stronger narration style would have helped bring some of the scenes to life even more.
The romance is definitely the stronger focus here, and there are some darker moments, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings beforehand.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. It was entertaining, fast-paced, and easy to listen to. If you enjoy low fantasy with a strong romance focus and a quick-moving plot, this could be the perfect read for you.
First, thank you so much to Kayla Johns for gifting me a copy of the audiobook. I truly appreciate the opportunity to listen to and review it.
Through the Dragons Gate is a romance fantasy, but I would definitely categorize it as a lighter fantasy read. If you’re going into this expecting epic high fantasy with heavy world-building and a complex magic system, this is not that kind of story. Instead, it’s a quick, easy-to-follow fantasy romance that leans much more heavily into the romance side of things.
The story follows Princess Mariah, who has spent most of her life imprisoned and isolated after her mother’s death. Her father is largely absent, uncaring, and only reappears on her eighteenth birthday to inform her that she will be marrying a complete stranger. From there, the story moves quickly as Mariah takes control of her fate.
Mariah was a strong FMC—smart, determined, and easy to root for. The pacing is very fast, and once the story picks up around the 15% mark, it really doesn’t slow down. This audiobook is fairly short, and the plot spans several years, so everything moves quickly and without a lot of extra detail.
My main critique with the story is that I wanted more from the fantasy elements. I wish there had been deeper world-building, more exploration of the magic system, and a little more detail overall. There were a lot of interesting ideas here that I would have loved to see expanded on. I’m hoping future books in the series dive deeper into those aspects.
As for the audiobook itself, the narrator did an okay job overall, but I do think the production could have been stronger. Much of the performance felt very whispery and somewhat monotone, and I would have liked a bit more emotion and variation in the delivery. A stronger narration style would have helped bring some of the scenes to life even more.
The romance is definitely the stronger focus here, and there are some darker moments, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings beforehand.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. It was entertaining, fast-paced, and easy to listen to. If you enjoy low fantasy with a strong romance focus and a quick-moving plot, this could be the perfect read for you.
April 28, 2026
I received an advance audiobook copy from the author, and I really enjoyed this story.
The world building pulled me in right away. I could clearly picture the magic, the battles, and the tension throughout the story. It felt very immersive, especially in audio.
Mariah’s journey stood out to me the most. Her strength and resilience made her easy to root for, and I liked seeing her grow into her power and realize she was more than what she had always been told.
There were a few twists that genuinely surprised me, especially everything involving her power, her pregnancy, and what that could mean moving forward. It added a deeper layer to the story.
Janiya was also a standout for me. That reveal stayed with me and added something unique to the overall story.
The narrator did a great job bringing everything to life and made the experience even more engaging.
Overall, this was a strong fantasy story with magic, dragons, and a character-driven journey that kept me interested the whole way through.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkVD4GcF/
The world building pulled me in right away. I could clearly picture the magic, the battles, and the tension throughout the story. It felt very immersive, especially in audio.
Mariah’s journey stood out to me the most. Her strength and resilience made her easy to root for, and I liked seeing her grow into her power and realize she was more than what she had always been told.
There were a few twists that genuinely surprised me, especially everything involving her power, her pregnancy, and what that could mean moving forward. It added a deeper layer to the story.
Janiya was also a standout for me. That reveal stayed with me and added something unique to the overall story.
The narrator did a great job bringing everything to life and made the experience even more engaging.
Overall, this was a strong fantasy story with magic, dragons, and a character-driven journey that kept me interested the whole way through.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkVD4GcF/
February 9, 2026
Was luck enough to get to read this and I absolutely loved it! I know there’s been stuff added that makes the story even better but the plot and the story is truly amazing! You’re drawn into the world and the tension and who doesn’t love a new take on fated mates?!?! You won’t regret reading 🥰
April 29, 2026
🐉🔥 A fire-wielding princess, a hidden dragon kingdom, and a story with massive potential that didn’t fully stick the landing. 🔥🐉
Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Single narration
Series: Standalone
HEA: Yes
Through the Dragon’s Gate had me in the first half I’ll absolutely give it that.
The premise is strong: an imprisoned princess with dangerous magic, an arranged marriage she desperately wants to escape, a hidden dragon kingdom, and a heroine discovering the true extent of her power. On paper? This should have been an easy win for me.
And honestly, the opening chapters really delivered.
Mariah’s backstory feels genuinely emotional, the abuse she experiences is heartbreaking, and the desperation behind her escape feels urgent and real. The pacing in the first half moves quickly, the stakes feel clear, and I was fully invested in seeing where this story would go.
Unfortunately… that second half took a pretty sharp turn.
The Story
Mariah has spent most of her life imprisoned because of the fire magic in her veins. Feared by her own family and treated like a curse, she’s spent years trapped until her father decides to use her in a political marriage.
Rather than trade one prison for another, Mariah escapes.
Her journey leads her through a portal into a hidden kingdom where dragons exist, magic thrives, and long-buried truths about her bloodline begin unraveling.
And this is where the story started losing me a bit.
The tone shifts pretty dramatically in the second half and starts feeling much younger in execution (almost YA in certain moments) while simultaneously including more explicit spice. That contrast felt slightly mismatched and made the overall tone feel inconsistent.
There were also some continuity issues that pulled me out of the story, along with several character names that felt far too similar to each other, which occasionally made things unnecessarily confusing.
And while the romance had potential, I wanted much more development between the characters to really feel invested in their connection.
The groundwork was absolutely there… it just needed more refinement.
What I Liked
✔️ Strong opening chapters
✔️ Emotional backstory for Mariah
✔️ Fun dragon fantasy concept
✔️ Fast-paced first half
✔️ Hidden kingdom storyline with real potential
✔️ A heroine learning to embrace her power
🎧 Narration
Performed by Lucy Vale.
The narration was fine overall, but I do think the audiobook would have benefitted significantly from either dual narration or duet narration
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ Dragon Fantasy
✔️ Hidden Kingdom
✔️ Escaping an Arranged Marriage
✔️ Imprisoned Princess
✔️ Hidden Powers
✔️ Portal Fantasy
✔️ Forbidden Magic
✔️ Touch Her and Burn Everything Energy
Final Thoughts
This one is frustrating because there’s so much potential here.
The premise is genuinely interesting. The first half is strong. The world itself feels like it could become something really compelling.
But the tonal inconsistencies, pacing issues in the second half, and underdeveloped romance kept it from fully landing for me.
This feels very much like a book where the vision is there, it just needed stronger execution to fully bring it to life.
And honestly? With tighter editing, stronger world-building consistency, and a more dynamic audiobook performance, this could have been a very different rating.
Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Single narration
Series: Standalone
HEA: Yes
Through the Dragon’s Gate had me in the first half I’ll absolutely give it that.
The premise is strong: an imprisoned princess with dangerous magic, an arranged marriage she desperately wants to escape, a hidden dragon kingdom, and a heroine discovering the true extent of her power. On paper? This should have been an easy win for me.
And honestly, the opening chapters really delivered.
Mariah’s backstory feels genuinely emotional, the abuse she experiences is heartbreaking, and the desperation behind her escape feels urgent and real. The pacing in the first half moves quickly, the stakes feel clear, and I was fully invested in seeing where this story would go.
Unfortunately… that second half took a pretty sharp turn.
The Story
Mariah has spent most of her life imprisoned because of the fire magic in her veins. Feared by her own family and treated like a curse, she’s spent years trapped until her father decides to use her in a political marriage.
Rather than trade one prison for another, Mariah escapes.
Her journey leads her through a portal into a hidden kingdom where dragons exist, magic thrives, and long-buried truths about her bloodline begin unraveling.
And this is where the story started losing me a bit.
The tone shifts pretty dramatically in the second half and starts feeling much younger in execution (almost YA in certain moments) while simultaneously including more explicit spice. That contrast felt slightly mismatched and made the overall tone feel inconsistent.
There were also some continuity issues that pulled me out of the story, along with several character names that felt far too similar to each other, which occasionally made things unnecessarily confusing.
And while the romance had potential, I wanted much more development between the characters to really feel invested in their connection.
The groundwork was absolutely there… it just needed more refinement.
What I Liked
✔️ Strong opening chapters
✔️ Emotional backstory for Mariah
✔️ Fun dragon fantasy concept
✔️ Fast-paced first half
✔️ Hidden kingdom storyline with real potential
✔️ A heroine learning to embrace her power
🎧 Narration
Performed by Lucy Vale.
The narration was fine overall, but I do think the audiobook would have benefitted significantly from either dual narration or duet narration
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ Dragon Fantasy
✔️ Hidden Kingdom
✔️ Escaping an Arranged Marriage
✔️ Imprisoned Princess
✔️ Hidden Powers
✔️ Portal Fantasy
✔️ Forbidden Magic
✔️ Touch Her and Burn Everything Energy
Final Thoughts
This one is frustrating because there’s so much potential here.
The premise is genuinely interesting. The first half is strong. The world itself feels like it could become something really compelling.
But the tonal inconsistencies, pacing issues in the second half, and underdeveloped romance kept it from fully landing for me.
This feels very much like a book where the vision is there, it just needed stronger execution to fully bring it to life.
And honestly? With tighter editing, stronger world-building consistency, and a more dynamic audiobook performance, this could have been a very different rating.
May 3, 2026
This was a great read. The author created some interesting characters. Some are very likable and some were not. My favorite thing in a story is good villains and this one has some good ones and they certainly made my blood boil.
Mariah was a princess who was locked away in a tower for eight years by her father because of the fire that runs through her veins. She had no visitors and the days passed slowly. She decided that she would learn to control her fire. So she spent her days practicing. Then one day it happened, her father finally came to see her and delivered some news. He had arranged a marriage for her. When she met her husband to be she wanted to cry. At first she was happy thinking it was an escape from captivity but she soon learned as her skin began to crawl under her betrothed gaze, it was just a new captor. Her heart told her there would be no escape and she would simply be a play thing for her husband and his brother. This made the fire course through her veins and she decided to attempt an escape. She ran for her life and when it seemed she would fail a strange light caught her attention. It ended up being a door so she ran through. It disappeared and she discovered safety and a place for dragons to exist. She was found by a young man who told her of her heritage and secrets kept from her by the man she called father. Mariah knew the evil man she was suppose to marry would come for her and she vowed to never be a prisoner again.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great fantasy.
Mariah was a princess who was locked away in a tower for eight years by her father because of the fire that runs through her veins. She had no visitors and the days passed slowly. She decided that she would learn to control her fire. So she spent her days practicing. Then one day it happened, her father finally came to see her and delivered some news. He had arranged a marriage for her. When she met her husband to be she wanted to cry. At first she was happy thinking it was an escape from captivity but she soon learned as her skin began to crawl under her betrothed gaze, it was just a new captor. Her heart told her there would be no escape and she would simply be a play thing for her husband and his brother. This made the fire course through her veins and she decided to attempt an escape. She ran for her life and when it seemed she would fail a strange light caught her attention. It ended up being a door so she ran through. It disappeared and she discovered safety and a place for dragons to exist. She was found by a young man who told her of her heritage and secrets kept from her by the man she called father. Mariah knew the evil man she was suppose to marry would come for her and she vowed to never be a prisoner again.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great fantasy.
April 25, 2026
Through the Dragons Gate is a spicy romantasy novella featuring Princess Mariah of Aurelithys. When she discovers she has the ability to wield fire at age 10, her father, the king, is horrified. He executes her mother and locks Mariah up for the next 8 years. She is only released when the king offers her hand in marriage to Prince Mickiah of Nyxvarren. The Prince has no respect for her and only intends to use her for his pleasure... and to share with his brother. She has no desire to trade one cage for another so when Mariah sees an opportunity she runs. She manages to find her way into a portal that transports her to Draykon, a land with magic and dragons.
Mariah first meets Janiah who recognizes her as the heir to the throne. He intends to train her before she assumes leadership of their realm. He is respectful and patient and kind. Mariah cannot help but fall for him, and he for her.
While she is finally free, evil looms in the background. Prince Mickiah wants what was offered to him and is not prepared to walk away. He will fight for what he deems as his.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lucy Vale. I enjoyed Lucy's voice, however I could not connect with the characters and felt the storyline was overly dramatized. Other than the spice factor, I would say the writing style is more for a YA audience.
Mariah first meets Janiah who recognizes her as the heir to the throne. He intends to train her before she assumes leadership of their realm. He is respectful and patient and kind. Mariah cannot help but fall for him, and he for her.
While she is finally free, evil looms in the background. Prince Mickiah wants what was offered to him and is not prepared to walk away. He will fight for what he deems as his.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lucy Vale. I enjoyed Lucy's voice, however I could not connect with the characters and felt the storyline was overly dramatized. Other than the spice factor, I would say the writing style is more for a YA audience.
March 5, 2026
The FMC accidentally discovers her powers at a devastating cost. Locked away and then sold by the father she’s always known. Will she survive the cruel Prince and his brother or will she run in attempt to save herself from the future she has been sold into? Will a kingdom rise or will it fall because of a man’s obsession? Will a Princess claim her throne and fight back for her family and the kingdom her parents gave everything to protect? Will love be strong enough to save them all?
K. Johns has written a story filled with action, drama, magic, self-empowerment, romance, and dragons! Who doesn’t love dragons? It was a delightful story. Pacing seemed rather fast, but it seemed to work with the storyline. We mainly received the background story for the FMC, as the book revolves around her. I do wish there was a little more background story for other characters introduced. I feel it would’ve helped me connect with them a bit more. Overall, a good read!
The ending leans on the fact our FMC’s story will continue. Excited to see what the author has in store for us!
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
K. Johns has written a story filled with action, drama, magic, self-empowerment, romance, and dragons! Who doesn’t love dragons? It was a delightful story. Pacing seemed rather fast, but it seemed to work with the storyline. We mainly received the background story for the FMC, as the book revolves around her. I do wish there was a little more background story for other characters introduced. I feel it would’ve helped me connect with them a bit more. Overall, a good read!
The ending leans on the fact our FMC’s story will continue. Excited to see what the author has in store for us!
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
March 6, 2026
🌙🐉 5/5 — OVER THE MOON 🐉🌙
Through the Dragons Gate – K. Johns
This book completely pulled me in and did not let go. From the very beginning the story had that addictive pull where you keep saying “just one more chapter”… and suddenly half the night is gone. 📖✨
The plot was strong and engaging, with enough world-building and tension to keep things interesting the entire time. Nothing felt slow or dragged out. Every chapter kept the story moving forward and had me wanting to know what would happen next.
And the plot to spice ratio? Perfectly balanced. 🔥
The spice didn’t overpower the story, but when it showed up it definitely delivered. It added to the chemistry and intensity instead of distracting from the plot.
I love when a fantasy read manages to blend magic, tension, and romance in a way that keeps you hooked, and this one absolutely did that.
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 — Over the Moon
📖 Plot: Strong and addictive
🔥 Spice: Just the right amount
⏰ Sleep lost reading: Absolutely worth it
If you enjoy fantasy with romance, tension, and a story that keeps you flipping pages, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🐉✨
Through the Dragons Gate – K. Johns
This book completely pulled me in and did not let go. From the very beginning the story had that addictive pull where you keep saying “just one more chapter”… and suddenly half the night is gone. 📖✨
The plot was strong and engaging, with enough world-building and tension to keep things interesting the entire time. Nothing felt slow or dragged out. Every chapter kept the story moving forward and had me wanting to know what would happen next.
And the plot to spice ratio? Perfectly balanced. 🔥
The spice didn’t overpower the story, but when it showed up it definitely delivered. It added to the chemistry and intensity instead of distracting from the plot.
I love when a fantasy read manages to blend magic, tension, and romance in a way that keeps you hooked, and this one absolutely did that.
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 — Over the Moon
📖 Plot: Strong and addictive
🔥 Spice: Just the right amount
⏰ Sleep lost reading: Absolutely worth it
If you enjoy fantasy with romance, tension, and a story that keeps you flipping pages, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🐉✨
April 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I honestly don’t even know where to start with this one… this story completely pulled me in and did not let go.
What begins as tension and preparation quickly turns into something so much bigger—war, sacrifice, love, and legacy. Kayla Jones did an incredible job building the emotional depth, and the relationships felt earned through everything they went through.
The magic system—especially the connection between her flame power and the dragons—was beautifully done, and the final act had me hooked.
If you love:
- dragons 🐉 (so many dragons… what’s not to love??)
- powerful magical bonds
- high-stakes fantasy
- slow burn romance with spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
this is definitely worth the read.
The ending was satisfying but still left me NEEDING a sequel.
Thank you to Kayla Jones for the ALC—this one will stick with me.
I honestly don’t even know where to start with this one… this story completely pulled me in and did not let go.
What begins as tension and preparation quickly turns into something so much bigger—war, sacrifice, love, and legacy. Kayla Jones did an incredible job building the emotional depth, and the relationships felt earned through everything they went through.
The magic system—especially the connection between her flame power and the dragons—was beautifully done, and the final act had me hooked.
If you love:
- dragons 🐉 (so many dragons… what’s not to love??)
- powerful magical bonds
- high-stakes fantasy
- slow burn romance with spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
this is definitely worth the read.
The ending was satisfying but still left me NEEDING a sequel.
Thank you to Kayla Jones for the ALC—this one will stick with me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
This audiobook offers a mix of romance and light fantasy, though it may not be for everyone. It’s worth checking trigger warnings beforehand, as certain moments particularly involving the king’s attempt to marry her off can feel uncomfortable.
The story itself leans at times toward a younger, almost YA style romance in tone, but the more explicit “spice” contrasts with that and may feel mismatched for some listeners. Overall, the plot is decent, though not especially standout.
The narration is steady and consistent throughout, delivered in a single, even voice that keeps the story easy to follow, though it doesn’t add a wide range of character distinction.
If you’re looking for a romance with a touch of fantasy, this audiobook could still be an enjoyable listen.
The story itself leans at times toward a younger, almost YA style romance in tone, but the more explicit “spice” contrasts with that and may feel mismatched for some listeners. Overall, the plot is decent, though not especially standout.
The narration is steady and consistent throughout, delivered in a single, even voice that keeps the story easy to follow, though it doesn’t add a wide range of character distinction.
If you’re looking for a romance with a touch of fantasy, this audiobook could still be an enjoyable listen.
November 24, 2025
Through the dragons gate felt like an adult fairytale with a Princess locked away, a hidden kingdom, dragons, and a spicy fated love. I found myself captivated by Princess Mariah's will to survive as well as her strength to flea her horrible life allowing her to know about everything she was meant to have despite the evil that has vowed to find her. I love all of the magic and dragons, but I am a sucker for a good fated mate especially when that mate will burn the world down for his love. This story is a fast read, but it was definitely not lacking in the spice, danger, mystery and romance.
February 10, 2026
For me this was a fun, quick read. A mother killed for her powers , a daughter locked away because of hers. A evil King and even more evil men from a neighboring kingdom. A women coming into her powers with the help of someone who wants nothing more then for her to succeed. Dragons showing her how to utilize her powers along with teaching her about her new kingdom. Realizing she is mated to the man she admires and she alone has the chose to choose whether or not to accept the mating. Destroying all who come after her and her kingdom. Great quick read.
February 4, 2026
Through the Dragon’s Gate is a fantasy romance that completely pulled me in. The world felt vivid and easy to picture, and the writing made the story come alive in a way that kept my attention the entire time. The romance was intense and emotional, with some spicy moments that fit naturally into the story rather than feeling forced. A few scenes genuinely gave me goosebumps. I absolutely loved reading it.
April 24, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this read! It was fast paced but Kayla still did a beautiful job at world building. I loved the characters and the fated mates tropes. I would have liked it to be a bit longer but that was only because I wanted to know more of their story. It had a great novella vibe. The narrator, Lucy Vale, did a great job with pace and emotion. I recommend this audiobook and read to everyone.
February 5, 2026
I love this story! It was dark and enchanting. The characters have great chemistry and the spicy level is just right. The author did a great job of balancing heart gripping text with heart warming text. She uses fun creative language and the story always feels forward moving! I would definitely reread this one.
April 22, 2026
I received this book as an ALC here is my honest and voluntarily review.
I really the audio book 📕 I loved watching the FMC grow stronger as the story unfolds. The lost of her mother being lock away and then sold like nothing by the person she called father this hooked me from the beginning. I liked the world building and the fast paced. Will continue reading more of the Authors books 📕.
I really the audio book 📕 I loved watching the FMC grow stronger as the story unfolds. The lost of her mother being lock away and then sold like nothing by the person she called father this hooked me from the beginning. I liked the world building and the fast paced. Will continue reading more of the Authors books 📕.
April 28, 2026
I was fortunate enough to receive an ALC version of this. I loved the storyline so much! It was a short novella, so the timeline seemed a bit rushed and cramped. It reminded me of a retelling of Rapunzel but with dragons and spice. The narrator did a great job despite the background noise. There was A LOT of spicy scenes. It’s a great quick read.
April 25, 2026
Rated this 2.5 stars. The couple's only interactions were all about sex. The dragon's had to tell them they were mates. Not my cup of tea, but if you like dragons and fated mates, it may be yours.
I received an ALC for this story and didn't care for the way the narrator did the story. The only time there ever felt like there was enotion was when the FMC was getting off and it just sounded too dramatic.
I received an ALC for this story and didn't care for the way the narrator did the story. The only time there ever felt like there was enotion was when the FMC was getting off and it just sounded too dramatic.
April 23, 2026
Holy wow! This had me loving it from the very beginning. Wish the narrator was a little different with the voices but overall pretty easy to listen to. Definitely a great read, just maybe not while at work 😉
December 3, 2025
This book had me hooked from the jump, if you want the fairy tail story with powers, dragons , spice and mated love story line this is it. Fast paced but the right amount of details !
April 24, 2026
This is an amazing world. There’s so much world building that is so good to get a picture in your mind. I loved the characters and the performance of this audiobook is brilliant.
January 4, 2026
Fast paced in parts
The book was good overall. There were parts that seemed very fast paced while others seem to drag on. Battle scenes seem to be rushed.
The book was good overall. There were parts that seemed very fast paced while others seem to drag on. Battle scenes seem to be rushed.
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