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Darkbirch Academy 3: Fire and Shadows
Esme escaped the dragon realm of Draethys with her life—barely. A king is dead. A usurper has taken the throne. And an army beneath the earth is preparing to rise.
But the worst thing Esme brings home isn’t the news.
It’s Dayn Draxion—an exiled dragon king with molten-gold eyes, a talent for making decisions for her, and a bond that won’t stop tightening around her...
But Esme was trained to be a weapon. Not a bride.
Darkbirch wants her to shoulder the cost of survival through the treacherous Ide Trials. Dayn wants to stop the war before it starts.
And the dead keep whispering the same thing:
Only you two together can prevent what’s coming.
Complete your union...
But the worst thing Esme brings home isn’t the news.
It’s Dayn Draxion—an exiled dragon king with molten-gold eyes, a talent for making decisions for her, and a bond that won’t stop tightening around her...
But Esme was trained to be a weapon. Not a bride.
Darkbirch wants her to shoulder the cost of survival through the treacherous Ide Trials. Dayn wants to stop the war before it starts.
And the dead keep whispering the same thing:
Only you two together can prevent what’s coming.
Complete your union...
- GenresRomantasyDark Academia
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2026
103 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 14, 2026
This book was fast paced and nail biting! I barely managed to put it down. The third in the Darkbirch Academy series and the story hasn’t slowed down, it’s sped up and I need the fourth book now!!
January 14, 2026
THESE BOOKS ARE TOO SHORT!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️ If Darkbirch Academy was dangerous before… this is where everything burns. 🔥
This is book three in a four-book series, and the story has officially shifted from dark academia into high-stakes fantasy chaos, complete with dragons, witches, and ghosts.
What I loved:
• Fast-paced with nonstop tension and real emotional stakes
• Picks up seamlessly from the end of book two
• Super bingeable writing—easy to sink into and hard to put down
• The slow burn is finally catching fire 🔥 Just enough payoff without overdoing the spice
• That cave scene… yeah.
• We get more development for Brynne and Chad, and I’m invested
What didn’t quite work for me:
• The great-grandmother’s ghost meddling (still side-eyeing that)
• The ending—because I blinked, reminded myself to breathe… and it was over
Thankfully, the wait won’t be long. Book four (the finale!) comes out later this year, and I need answers.
If you love:
• Dark academia that evolves into full-scale fantasy war
• Slow-burn romance driven by tension, not spice
• A morally gray FMC finally stepping into her power
• Magic that always comes with a cost
Add this series to your TBR immediately.
Huge thanks to Krista for the chance to read early. I love this series!
This is book three in a four-book series, and the story has officially shifted from dark academia into high-stakes fantasy chaos, complete with dragons, witches, and ghosts.
What I loved:
• Fast-paced with nonstop tension and real emotional stakes
• Picks up seamlessly from the end of book two
• Super bingeable writing—easy to sink into and hard to put down
• The slow burn is finally catching fire 🔥 Just enough payoff without overdoing the spice
• That cave scene… yeah.
• We get more development for Brynne and Chad, and I’m invested
What didn’t quite work for me:
• The great-grandmother’s ghost meddling (still side-eyeing that)
• The ending—because I blinked, reminded myself to breathe… and it was over
Thankfully, the wait won’t be long. Book four (the finale!) comes out later this year, and I need answers.
If you love:
• Dark academia that evolves into full-scale fantasy war
• Slow-burn romance driven by tension, not spice
• A morally gray FMC finally stepping into her power
• Magic that always comes with a cost
Add this series to your TBR immediately.
Huge thanks to Krista for the chance to read early. I love this series!
January 14, 2026
4.25⭐
Another book, another slay, and once again I am personally victimized by how short these books are. Why are they ending just as I’m getting comfortable??? I swear I pick one up thinking I’ll read a couple chapters and next thing I know I’ve finished the entire thing in one sitting. Blink and it’s over. Krista, I'm begging you, PLEASE 😭🙏🏻
That said, this series continues to eat every single time. The pacing is fast but never sloppy. Sure, at times I wish things were given more time but that only hit me after I already finished the book (hence not five stars). The plot is thickening in ways that have me stressed, and the stakes are higher than ever. Every book makes me fall harder for these characters and I need more of them.
The only thing keeping me sane is knowing the next book isn’t too far away, because the way I need to know what happens next?? Unacceptable.
Another book, another slay, and once again I am personally victimized by how short these books are. Why are they ending just as I’m getting comfortable??? I swear I pick one up thinking I’ll read a couple chapters and next thing I know I’ve finished the entire thing in one sitting. Blink and it’s over. Krista, I'm begging you, PLEASE 😭🙏🏻
That said, this series continues to eat every single time. The pacing is fast but never sloppy. Sure, at times I wish things were given more time but that only hit me after I already finished the book (hence not five stars). The plot is thickening in ways that have me stressed, and the stakes are higher than ever. Every book makes me fall harder for these characters and I need more of them.
The only thing keeping me sane is knowing the next book isn’t too far away, because the way I need to know what happens next?? Unacceptable.
January 15, 2026
ARC
Darkbirch Academy book 3
This picks up where we left off, but now everyone is all together ready for this epic battle, with trials and betrayals
Constant challenges arise and they keep having to pivot to keep up
As always the world building and the character development is great, but keeping the fast pace, high stakes vibe as we move through the story
The professor/student dynamic moves on a little but he certainly gives her a lesson, helping the slow burn finally spark hot 🔥
Tensions keep building and there is still so much more to the story cant wait for book 4
I also love the sneak peek of book 4s cover... stunning 😍
Darkbirch Academy book 3
This picks up where we left off, but now everyone is all together ready for this epic battle, with trials and betrayals
Constant challenges arise and they keep having to pivot to keep up
As always the world building and the character development is great, but keeping the fast pace, high stakes vibe as we move through the story
The professor/student dynamic moves on a little but he certainly gives her a lesson, helping the slow burn finally spark hot 🔥
Tensions keep building and there is still so much more to the story cant wait for book 4
I also love the sneak peek of book 4s cover... stunning 😍
January 13, 2026
I was so grateful to receive this arc as I had been dying to find out what happened after book 2.
It did not disapoint. This is the third book of the series and the last one will be out this year. Thank god because I was so upset I finished this so fast.
If you love Dark acadameia and fantasy this series is for you with Dragons and witches.
There is slow burn and tension with a perfect sprinkle of spice.
Absolutley loved they we got more from Brynn and Chad in this book (I think they might be my fav).
Cannot wait to read book 4 to see where their stories go.
It did not disapoint. This is the third book of the series and the last one will be out this year. Thank god because I was so upset I finished this so fast.
If you love Dark acadameia and fantasy this series is for you with Dragons and witches.
There is slow burn and tension with a perfect sprinkle of spice.
Absolutley loved they we got more from Brynn and Chad in this book (I think they might be my fav).
Cannot wait to read book 4 to see where their stories go.
January 17, 2026
3.75 stars!
I adore this world and this story, I just wish the books were longer.
Once I finally get back into the story and fully absorbed, I'm practically finished with the book and that leaves me just wanting more !
This story is so gripping and fast paced, that it will still have you hooked at every page! I cannot wait for the fourth and final book.
So happy to have followed the author from her very first book and see her grow ! Will continue to support her and all her future works !
I adore this world and this story, I just wish the books were longer.
Once I finally get back into the story and fully absorbed, I'm practically finished with the book and that leaves me just wanting more !
This story is so gripping and fast paced, that it will still have you hooked at every page! I cannot wait for the fourth and final book.
So happy to have followed the author from her very first book and see her grow ! Will continue to support her and all her future works !
January 13, 2026
omg. this book was freaking amazing. read it in about 6 hours. Couldn't put it down. The longing, the banter, the action . Absolutely cannot wait for Book 4. Highly recommend this for all the Romantasy fans.
January 16, 2026
Amazing, each book just pulled me in further and further. This one so far is my fav one. I enjoy the heck out of the yearning and tension from both sisters.
Thank you to the nerd fam for this wonderfull arc
Thank you to the nerd fam for this wonderfull arc
January 13, 2026
I am loving this series.... however, I did just realize that this is not a complete series. Excited to see where the rest of the series goes... in June.
January 13, 2026
2.75⭐️
January 15, 2026
Oh gosh, that ending
Okay, this series gets better by book. Like the writing is brilliant and the stakes were so high. I need book four like yesterday!
Okay, this series gets better by book. Like the writing is brilliant and the stakes were so high. I need book four like yesterday!
January 16, 2026
good read! fast paced and i finished it in one sitting but i think this series would be better in a trilogy of longer books vs a lot more shorter ones
Review of advance copy received from Author
We pick up right where book two, Embers & Secrets, ended.
Esme barely escaped the dragon realm of Draethys with her life.
A king is dead, a usurper has taken the throne, and an army of dragons is preparing to rise.
This series just keeps getting better.
Krista continues to do an excellent job with both character and world-building, creating a world that’s easy to lose yourself in.
The slow burn tension between Esme and Dayn is finally starting to heat up, and I loved getting additional POVs from Brynn and Chad.
I’m also very curious about Esther, the spirit of Esme’s grandmother—there’s definitely more going on there.
What to expect:
Enemies to lovers
Shadow magic
Slow burn romance
Dragons, witches, vampires, demons & ghosts
I can’t wait for the next book.
Esme barely escaped the dragon realm of Draethys with her life.
A king is dead, a usurper has taken the throne, and an army of dragons is preparing to rise.
This series just keeps getting better.
Krista continues to do an excellent job with both character and world-building, creating a world that’s easy to lose yourself in.
The slow burn tension between Esme and Dayn is finally starting to heat up, and I loved getting additional POVs from Brynn and Chad.
I’m also very curious about Esther, the spirit of Esme’s grandmother—there’s definitely more going on there.
What to expect:
Enemies to lovers
Shadow magic
Slow burn romance
Dragons, witches, vampires, demons & ghosts
I can’t wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews