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Under Gorse and Stone
Cary Sutton isn’t surprised when his boyfriend walks out on him during a holiday in Cornwall at Christmas. It’s far from the first time that someone's accused him of being cold — both inside and out. Cary’s spent his whole life feeling like he’s separated from the world by a sheet of glass. Nothing touches him. Nothing moves him.
Which is why it’s so strange to find himself drawn to a small Cornish beach and the man he meets there. Sigurd Arvesen is handsome and charming, but he also holds a secret — one that’s big enough to overturn Cary’s whole world.
Sigurd is a centuries-old dragon, and Cary is his mate.
Whisked into Sigurd’s magical world, Cary meets strange and wonderful creatures that he’s only ever read about in books. The mystical realm is both enchanting and dark, but even scarier are the warm feelings that Sigurd brings out in Cary.
What will happen when Christmas Eve dawns and Cary must go home?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a magical Christmas story about a lonely dragon and his one true love.
Which is why it’s so strange to find himself drawn to a small Cornish beach and the man he meets there. Sigurd Arvesen is handsome and charming, but he also holds a secret — one that’s big enough to overturn Cary’s whole world.
Sigurd is a centuries-old dragon, and Cary is his mate.
Whisked into Sigurd’s magical world, Cary meets strange and wonderful creatures that he’s only ever read about in books. The mystical realm is both enchanting and dark, but even scarier are the warm feelings that Sigurd brings out in Cary.
What will happen when Christmas Eve dawns and Cary must go home?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a magical Christmas story about a lonely dragon and his one true love.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2025
277 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Lily Morton
78 books3,339 followersLily is a bestselling gay romance author.
She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?
Her latest release is Under Gorse and Stone, which is a magical Christmas story about a centuries-old dragon and his human mate.
https://getbook.at/UnderGorseAndStone
You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter
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She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?
Her latest release is Under Gorse and Stone, which is a magical Christmas story about a centuries-old dragon and his human mate.
https://getbook.at/UnderGorseAndStone
You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000...
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lilymortonauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/LilyAuthor
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/lily-morton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
December 8, 2025
As an Arthurian mythology nerd, a Folklore geek and a devotee of all things Dragon, I don't think Lily could have written a more perfect book for me (okay, other than Spring Strings which she literally wrote for me!) than this festive romance set in Cornwall.
It had everything I love about this time of year, a little bit of mystery, a little bit of magic, a pair of compelling characters that I fell in love with pretty much instantly, and a wonderful bunch of supporting players who brought depth and drama in all the right places.
Even if you have no knowledge of any of the things I've mentioned though, this book will still work for you because there's plenty of explanation given without things ever feeling like an information overload.
From the moment the book starts and Cary (his mother loved The Princess Bride, didn't we all!) Sutton wakes up in a Cornish hotel with his "boyfriend," who's also his boss, bitching at him for falling asleep tipsy instead of having sex, I was sold.
Once we got to the slightly mysterious elements, the sexy naked man on the beach and the odd interactions which Cary kept having, I was invested in their story and things just got better as it went on.
There's nods to Cornish fables, there's Arthurian connections, there's a whole bunch of backstory that could quite easily fit into any history of Albion and there's a super sweet and incredibly steamy love story at the heart of it all.
I love it when authors write a contemporary with a side swipe of magical realism and this book delivers in spades.
Now, Marin the Mer Prince next please Lily?!
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRRTours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
It had everything I love about this time of year, a little bit of mystery, a little bit of magic, a pair of compelling characters that I fell in love with pretty much instantly, and a wonderful bunch of supporting players who brought depth and drama in all the right places.
Even if you have no knowledge of any of the things I've mentioned though, this book will still work for you because there's plenty of explanation given without things ever feeling like an information overload.
From the moment the book starts and Cary (his mother loved The Princess Bride, didn't we all!) Sutton wakes up in a Cornish hotel with his "boyfriend," who's also his boss, bitching at him for falling asleep tipsy instead of having sex, I was sold.
Once we got to the slightly mysterious elements, the sexy naked man on the beach and the odd interactions which Cary kept having, I was invested in their story and things just got better as it went on.
There's nods to Cornish fables, there's Arthurian connections, there's a whole bunch of backstory that could quite easily fit into any history of Albion and there's a super sweet and incredibly steamy love story at the heart of it all.
I love it when authors write a contemporary with a side swipe of magical realism and this book delivers in spades.
Now, Marin the Mer Prince next please Lily?!
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRRTours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
December 26, 2025
Pros:
~ fascinating run-down of Anglo-Saxon folklore;
~ magic/fantasy (including magical library with Shakespeare's First Folio!);
~ dragons & merpeople;
~ Jul/Yul;
~ romance (soooo swoony & sweet);
~ HEA (featuring a ring made by Merlin - yes Arthur's Merlin).
Cons:
~ one-dimensional characters;
~ no conflict;
~ no relationship development (Sig & Cary are fated mates);
~ no slow burn/UST;
~ random scenes vs. a cohesive plot;
~ cutesy but no substance.
~ fascinating run-down of Anglo-Saxon folklore;
~ magic/fantasy (including magical library with Shakespeare's First Folio!);
~ dragons & merpeople;
~ Jul/Yul;
~ romance (soooo swoony & sweet);
~ HEA (featuring a ring made by Merlin - yes Arthur's Merlin).
Cons:
~ one-dimensional characters;
~ no conflict;
~ no relationship development (Sig & Cary are fated mates);
~ no slow burn/UST;
~ random scenes vs. a cohesive plot;
~ cutesy but no substance.
January 1, 2026
My last read of 2025 and it was absolutely wonderful.
Truly if I wasn't so busy with holiday and family stuff this would have taken me only a few days to finish.
Some of Ms. Morton's works lately had been good but not amazing like I know this author can do, but her past few works have that spark back. I absolutely loved this one and it was a wonderful Christmas story.
It wasn't entirely focused on Christmas, per se, but it takes place during Christmas and it had, overall, a lightheartedness that you expect with Christmas stories.
Cary is a researcher, and he goes on holiday with his 'boyfriend' (although they haven't even had sex yet, we find out, so they were barely dating, really) and said boyfriend breaks up with him straight away in this.
Cary is planning to then leave the next day and cut the trip short when a waitress tells him in a eerie way to still go to Cornwall and the sites he and Adrian, his ex, were going to visit. And Cary feels a strange compelling feeling in his body to do it, and so he does, even as he's telling himself to leave.
The strange pull leads him to a beach, where he sees strange things before a beautiful, very naked man comes out of the ocean and walks up to him.
This is Sigurd, and unbeknownst to Cary he is a Dragon, who is thousands upon thousands years old (we don't know his exact age) and who has been waiting a long time for his true mate to come into his life.
How lonely Sigurd must have been all his life waiting for the one for him. I mean, he wasn't a monk by any means, but actual companionship and love he was missing all his life.
There is an instant connection between these two and I absolutely loved them together. The chemistry was on fire and I had no problem believing the want and affection they had for each other. This author wrote some of her best sex I've ever read from her in this book.
We didn't get a ton of sex, but what we got was *chefs kiss* amazing. I didn't want more sex in that it felt like this was lacking, but more that I loved what we got of these two together so much that I just wanted more of it.
We get three sex scenes total and they were all amazing. The romance was top notch too and I was swooning with these two.
The only conflict in this one, really, was Cary having to learn of Sigurd's dragon status and this whole magical world he and humans never knew about and the fact that Sigurd isn't telling Cary that Cary is his true mate. For good reason, and I like that he waited to tell Cary, because it felt more natural on Cary's side to have him fall for Sigurd fully and completely without the knowledge that they're fated.
We don't get Sigurd's POV in this, but it translated his feelings for Cary SO well that it wasn't needed - even if dual POV's is always wanted, of course - like this man is head over heels in love with Cary, no question.
There's also a little side quest involving Mer people and these two helping to find a missing mermaid, but it didn't detract from this at all, and just let us get to know this world better and these two better.
I absolutely highly recommend this, it was a wonderful holiday/fantasy tale with sizzling heat and wonderful chemistry and romance between our main couple.
I feel like Ms. Morton has gotten her spark back in writing and I can't WAIT for more from this author, I'm sure whatever she releases next will be absolutely amazing.
Until then! ❤️😘
Truly if I wasn't so busy with holiday and family stuff this would have taken me only a few days to finish.
Some of Ms. Morton's works lately had been good but not amazing like I know this author can do, but her past few works have that spark back. I absolutely loved this one and it was a wonderful Christmas story.
It wasn't entirely focused on Christmas, per se, but it takes place during Christmas and it had, overall, a lightheartedness that you expect with Christmas stories.
Cary is a researcher, and he goes on holiday with his 'boyfriend' (although they haven't even had sex yet, we find out, so they were barely dating, really) and said boyfriend breaks up with him straight away in this.
Cary is planning to then leave the next day and cut the trip short when a waitress tells him in a eerie way to still go to Cornwall and the sites he and Adrian, his ex, were going to visit. And Cary feels a strange compelling feeling in his body to do it, and so he does, even as he's telling himself to leave.
The strange pull leads him to a beach, where he sees strange things before a beautiful, very naked man comes out of the ocean and walks up to him.
This is Sigurd, and unbeknownst to Cary he is a Dragon, who is thousands upon thousands years old (we don't know his exact age) and who has been waiting a long time for his true mate to come into his life.
How lonely Sigurd must have been all his life waiting for the one for him. I mean, he wasn't a monk by any means, but actual companionship and love he was missing all his life.
There is an instant connection between these two and I absolutely loved them together. The chemistry was on fire and I had no problem believing the want and affection they had for each other. This author wrote some of her best sex I've ever read from her in this book.
We didn't get a ton of sex, but what we got was *chefs kiss* amazing. I didn't want more sex in that it felt like this was lacking, but more that I loved what we got of these two together so much that I just wanted more of it.
We get three sex scenes total and they were all amazing. The romance was top notch too and I was swooning with these two.
The only conflict in this one, really, was Cary having to learn of Sigurd's dragon status and this whole magical world he and humans never knew about and the fact that Sigurd isn't telling Cary that Cary is his true mate. For good reason, and I like that he waited to tell Cary, because it felt more natural on Cary's side to have him fall for Sigurd fully and completely without the knowledge that they're fated.
We don't get Sigurd's POV in this, but it translated his feelings for Cary SO well that it wasn't needed - even if dual POV's is always wanted, of course - like this man is head over heels in love with Cary, no question.
There's also a little side quest involving Mer people and these two helping to find a missing mermaid, but it didn't detract from this at all, and just let us get to know this world better and these two better.
I absolutely highly recommend this, it was a wonderful holiday/fantasy tale with sizzling heat and wonderful chemistry and romance between our main couple.
I feel like Ms. Morton has gotten her spark back in writing and I can't WAIT for more from this author, I'm sure whatever she releases next will be absolutely amazing.
Until then! ❤️😘
dnf
December 21, 2025DNF @ 25%
This should've worked for me. I normally love Lily's books. But I'm kind of bored. And it's kind of weird in a weird way. Idk. Whatever the case it's just not working for me right now.
This should've worked for me. I normally love Lily's books. But I'm kind of bored. And it's kind of weird in a weird way. Idk. Whatever the case it's just not working for me right now.
December 26, 2025
If not for the sass and the usual bad ex-lover I almost wouldn't recognized that it's a Lily Morton book. The start could lead to anything from romantic horror to a dreamy fairytale but of course it didn't go either way. It soon became an innocuous magical sight-seeing to Cornish myth with a kind, gorgeous, rich, considerate and devoted dragon. If you like whimsical tales where nothing bad or dangerous happens and the protagonist is even able to talk shop with sea witches, this book should be a delight. Latest at the scene with the merfolk I only could imagine the story as a Disney movie and wonder if Lily Morton would come up with song texts and music if that would be possible.
December 21, 2025
2.5 rounded down
This was... fine? IDK, I do think this was partially me and that this wasn't the kind of story I was in the mood for, but it also just didn't quite click. I liked the characters and their connection, and the fantasy/mythology aspect was interesting, but something about the story just never fully came together for me.
This was... fine? IDK, I do think this was partially me and that this wasn't the kind of story I was in the mood for, but it also just didn't quite click. I liked the characters and their connection, and the fantasy/mythology aspect was interesting, but something about the story just never fully came together for me.
January 14, 2026
Ohhhhhh MY HEART!
I adored this book! I listened to the audio and really loved Joel narrating this one - he's so perfect for all the English accents!
Cary just broke up with his boyfriend when he discovers an area of beach in Cornwall, and is introduced to a whole world filled with magic, King Arthurian legends, fantasy creatures, and Sigurd - an ancient dragon shifter.
The entire book is told from Cary's POV, which I can see why some people have some mixed reviews about that. There are things that we, and Cary, are never told, since we don't ever get Sig's POV. I feel like overall it worked for me since we're on the same journey that Cary is throughout this book. I do wish we would have gotten something from Sig's POV since he's so interesting and I would have loved to have known his thoughts when he first met Cary and during the story.
Cary and Sig - just melted my heart with the sweetness. Their chemistry and connection was instantaneous and so well written. The romance was swoony, the story and worldbuilding was beautiful and so vividly described, and I just LOVED this fantasy romance. Beautiful writing, wonderful story, and a world I would love to revisit.
I received an audio review copy, and this is my honest review.
I adored this book! I listened to the audio and really loved Joel narrating this one - he's so perfect for all the English accents!
Cary just broke up with his boyfriend when he discovers an area of beach in Cornwall, and is introduced to a whole world filled with magic, King Arthurian legends, fantasy creatures, and Sigurd - an ancient dragon shifter.
The entire book is told from Cary's POV, which I can see why some people have some mixed reviews about that. There are things that we, and Cary, are never told, since we don't ever get Sig's POV. I feel like overall it worked for me since we're on the same journey that Cary is throughout this book. I do wish we would have gotten something from Sig's POV since he's so interesting and I would have loved to have known his thoughts when he first met Cary and during the story.
Cary and Sig - just melted my heart with the sweetness. Their chemistry and connection was instantaneous and so well written. The romance was swoony, the story and worldbuilding was beautiful and so vividly described, and I just LOVED this fantasy romance. Beautiful writing, wonderful story, and a world I would love to revisit.
I received an audio review copy, and this is my honest review.
January 12, 2026
I love Lily Morton writing fantasy! Under Gorse and Stone has most of the Lily Morton tropes I adore, the hurt/comfort is always beautifully done, but this fated mates aspect is wonderful. Sigurd's character is fascinating and I was thrilled every time more of his story was revealed.
The audio version of Under Gorse and Stone is nicely performed by Joel Leslie.
an audiobook copy of Under Gorse and Stone was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
The audio version of Under Gorse and Stone is nicely performed by Joel Leslie.
an audiobook copy of Under Gorse and Stone was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
January 13, 2026
Absolutely brilliant! 🤩
I adored Cary and Sigurd’s story - I know this is a first for Lily Morton writing this genre, and she pulled it off with excellence!
This is my ‘go to’ genre when I’m in a slump and it definitely ticks all the boxes for me ❤️
I highly recommend this book/audio (which is exceptionally narrated by the amazing Joel Leslie).
💯 gets 5🌟
I REALLY hope this isn’t the only book, that maybe the merman Marin gets a HEA after too, that Sig and Cary get cameo’s in it! Hint hint 😉 😉 to Ms Morton 😁👍🏼❤️❤️🥰🥰
I adored Cary and Sigurd’s story - I know this is a first for Lily Morton writing this genre, and she pulled it off with excellence!
This is my ‘go to’ genre when I’m in a slump and it definitely ticks all the boxes for me ❤️
I highly recommend this book/audio (which is exceptionally narrated by the amazing Joel Leslie).
💯 gets 5🌟
I REALLY hope this isn’t the only book, that maybe the merman Marin gets a HEA after too, that Sig and Cary get cameo’s in it! Hint hint 😉 😉 to Ms Morton 😁👍🏼❤️❤️🥰🥰
did-not-finish
December 17, 2025DNF @ 75% - After skimming for most of this book, I thought it was probably time to call it quits.
January 2, 2026
3.5 B-
I liked the world Ms Morton builds here, and the characters are enjoyable as always, but the some things are getting just too predictable. The banter, the perfection of both characters, the quick resolution of any conflict are a few areas that need freshening up.
I love the idea of this story and the settings, but we needed some messy parts, some angst, some barrier that was not easily gotten over.
I liked the world Ms Morton builds here, and the characters are enjoyable as always, but the some things are getting just too predictable. The banter, the perfection of both characters, the quick resolution of any conflict are a few areas that need freshening up.
I love the idea of this story and the settings, but we needed some messy parts, some angst, some barrier that was not easily gotten over.
December 19, 2025
3.5 stars
I wish I liked this more. On the surface, it has many things I feel like I should enjoy, like a richer magical background and cast of characters than most romances. I typically complain that so many romances involving shifters don't even have shifting in the story or affecting the plot. This wasn't one of those.
I think there were three aspects that made it tough for me to enjoy this more. One was that Cary was always so perfect in every way that he came off as a Mary Sue. Also, the mystery surrounding Sigurd and his relationship to Cary wasn't anywhere near as mysterious as it was treated in the story. I also found the magical elements setting up the beginning of the story a bit tough to enjoy. It felt like a portal fantasy, only not involving a portal at all. I didn't enjoy the dreamlike state that the reader was subjected to so often.
I would read other books in this series if there are more, but this isn't one I would relish re-reading.
I wish I liked this more. On the surface, it has many things I feel like I should enjoy, like a richer magical background and cast of characters than most romances. I typically complain that so many romances involving shifters don't even have shifting in the story or affecting the plot. This wasn't one of those.
I think there were three aspects that made it tough for me to enjoy this more. One was that Cary was always so perfect in every way that he came off as a Mary Sue. Also, the mystery surrounding Sigurd and his relationship to Cary wasn't anywhere near as mysterious as it was treated in the story. I also found the magical elements setting up the beginning of the story a bit tough to enjoy. It felt like a portal fantasy, only not involving a portal at all. I didn't enjoy the dreamlike state that the reader was subjected to so often.
I would read other books in this series if there are more, but this isn't one I would relish re-reading.
December 23, 2025
Loved It
I'm rounding this up from 4.5 but I absolutely loved this story. It was so interesting and very entertaining to read. I loved Cary and Sig together and I just could not put this down.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I'm rounding this up from 4.5 but I absolutely loved this story. It was so interesting and very entertaining to read. I loved Cary and Sig together and I just could not put this down.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
December 20, 2025
Not my favourite I think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
Another magical and sweet Christmas story from Lily Morton.
Cary is dumped whilst on holidays in Cornwall. Taking a final walk on the beach, he meets Sigurd and there is CHEMISTRY...
Sigurd is a dragon shifter and Cary is his mate. There is a small mystery, plenty of magical creatures and a helping of folklore and myth. Honestly, whenever I read one of Lily's books I want to rush out and study classics back at uni 😂
Cozy and low angst.
Cary is dumped whilst on holidays in Cornwall. Taking a final walk on the beach, he meets Sigurd and there is CHEMISTRY...
Sigurd is a dragon shifter and Cary is his mate. There is a small mystery, plenty of magical creatures and a helping of folklore and myth. Honestly, whenever I read one of Lily's books I want to rush out and study classics back at uni 😂
Cozy and low angst.
January 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ gladly rounding up for the sheer fun I had.
Under Gorse and Stone was very much a “brain needed today” read for me, and on that front, it absolutely delivered. Set in Cornwall at Christmastime, it follows Cary Sutton, a man nursing a broken heart, who stumbles upon a hidden world of magic on a quiet beach. Cary encounters all manner of strange and wonderful creatures he’d only read about in stories, and only some of them want to eat the human...
The highlight for me was actually the humour of it all, since that worked perfectly well for my mood: absurd in the best way, a little dumb, but affectionate dumb. The kind that feels intentional rather than sloppy. There’s a warmth to this story that made it feel like it genuinely wanted to be kind to its reader, and I really appreciated that.
I also loved how much folklore knowledge is woven into the book. You can feel the research behind it, which made the whole experience even more fun and grounding. It gave the magic a sense of place rather than just vibes, and that really worked for me.
The banter between Cary, who is adorably sceptical, and Sigurd, with his dapper old-world charm, also leads to some funny exchanges. Sigurd’s slightly archaic way of speaking and earnest manner contrast with Cary’s modern snark in a very endearing way. Their relationship is full of teasing, as well as a few extremely swoon-worthy moments and Sigurd's catchphrases that made me smile.
The side characters are wonderfully quirky and often hilarious. My absolute favourite has to be Wilfred, a tiny pixie-like creature. Wilfred completely stole the show for me whenever he appeared. He’s cheeky, chatty, and just the right amount of ridiculous – the kind of character who flits in, causes a bit of mischief, and leaves you grinning. Every time Wilfred showed up (sometimes at the most unexpected moments), I knew we were in for a laugh. Despite being a mythical creature, he has this very British, matter-of-fact sense of humour that I absolutely adore. All these whimsical side characters add a lot of lightheartedness to the tale. Even when the plot wanders a lot, the charm of the characters and the playful dialogue kept me engaged. I just wish the potential would have been used a bit better…
That said, I did feel the story’s tension dip in the middle. One issue for me was that a major relationship development – essentially the big secret of who Sigurd is and what Cary means to him – is revealed pretty early on. Once that card is on the table, there isn’t a whole lot of emotional beats left to uncover, which made the middle of the book feel a bit low on tension. The couple is more or less on the same page emotionally for a good chunk of the story (no will-they-won’t-they doubt, since fate pretty much decided it for them!). While that was refreshing in terms of avoiding melodrama, it also meant the story lost momentum after the initial burst of excitement. I kept waiting for a twist or some deeper conflict to test them, but the stakes remained fairly gentle.
So, once that cards are on the table, it felt like the story didn’t quite know how to continue…it had a slight “well… now that this cat is out of the bag, what next?” energy to it. Thus, the book introduces a quest/adventure element – there’s a mission involving the magical community that Cary and Sigurd undertake together. This part had plenty of charming moments, however, I have to admit it didn’t carry as much weight or mystery as I hoped. The quest felt straightforward, and the obstacles were resolved pretty easily (sometimes a bit too conveniently). Compared to the magical discovery in the first half, this latter plot line felt a little superficial emotionally. I found myself wanting a bit more complexity or challenge for the characters to overcome.
It’s not that the second half is bad (I actually enjoyed the positive, conflict-light interactions our heroes had with various mythical friends during this segment); it just lacked a certain oomph to keep the tension high.
If the second half had maintained the momentum and emotional stakes of the first, this easily could’ve been a solid 4+ star read for me. In any case, I can comfortably say I liked this book. It’s a light, magical romp that I’d recommend to anyone in the mood for a playful paranormal romance with a big heart.
Under Gorse and Stone was very much a “brain needed today” read for me, and on that front, it absolutely delivered. Set in Cornwall at Christmastime, it follows Cary Sutton, a man nursing a broken heart, who stumbles upon a hidden world of magic on a quiet beach. Cary encounters all manner of strange and wonderful creatures he’d only read about in stories, and only some of them want to eat the human...
The highlight for me was actually the humour of it all, since that worked perfectly well for my mood: absurd in the best way, a little dumb, but affectionate dumb. The kind that feels intentional rather than sloppy. There’s a warmth to this story that made it feel like it genuinely wanted to be kind to its reader, and I really appreciated that.
I also loved how much folklore knowledge is woven into the book. You can feel the research behind it, which made the whole experience even more fun and grounding. It gave the magic a sense of place rather than just vibes, and that really worked for me.
The banter between Cary, who is adorably sceptical, and Sigurd, with his dapper old-world charm, also leads to some funny exchanges. Sigurd’s slightly archaic way of speaking and earnest manner contrast with Cary’s modern snark in a very endearing way. Their relationship is full of teasing, as well as a few extremely swoon-worthy moments and Sigurd's catchphrases that made me smile.
The side characters are wonderfully quirky and often hilarious. My absolute favourite has to be Wilfred, a tiny pixie-like creature. Wilfred completely stole the show for me whenever he appeared. He’s cheeky, chatty, and just the right amount of ridiculous – the kind of character who flits in, causes a bit of mischief, and leaves you grinning. Every time Wilfred showed up (sometimes at the most unexpected moments), I knew we were in for a laugh. Despite being a mythical creature, he has this very British, matter-of-fact sense of humour that I absolutely adore. All these whimsical side characters add a lot of lightheartedness to the tale. Even when the plot wanders a lot, the charm of the characters and the playful dialogue kept me engaged. I just wish the potential would have been used a bit better…
That said, I did feel the story’s tension dip in the middle. One issue for me was that a major relationship development – essentially the big secret of who Sigurd is and what Cary means to him – is revealed pretty early on. Once that card is on the table, there isn’t a whole lot of emotional beats left to uncover, which made the middle of the book feel a bit low on tension. The couple is more or less on the same page emotionally for a good chunk of the story (no will-they-won’t-they doubt, since fate pretty much decided it for them!). While that was refreshing in terms of avoiding melodrama, it also meant the story lost momentum after the initial burst of excitement. I kept waiting for a twist or some deeper conflict to test them, but the stakes remained fairly gentle.
So, once that cards are on the table, it felt like the story didn’t quite know how to continue…it had a slight “well… now that this cat is out of the bag, what next?” energy to it. Thus, the book introduces a quest/adventure element – there’s a mission involving the magical community that Cary and Sigurd undertake together. This part had plenty of charming moments, however, I have to admit it didn’t carry as much weight or mystery as I hoped. The quest felt straightforward, and the obstacles were resolved pretty easily (sometimes a bit too conveniently). Compared to the magical discovery in the first half, this latter plot line felt a little superficial emotionally. I found myself wanting a bit more complexity or challenge for the characters to overcome.
It’s not that the second half is bad (I actually enjoyed the positive, conflict-light interactions our heroes had with various mythical friends during this segment); it just lacked a certain oomph to keep the tension high.
If the second half had maintained the momentum and emotional stakes of the first, this easily could’ve been a solid 4+ star read for me. In any case, I can comfortably say I liked this book. It’s a light, magical romp that I’d recommend to anyone in the mood for a playful paranormal romance with a big heart.
December 21, 2025
Cary Sutton ist kein Boyfriend-Material. Das weiß er selbst und sehr schnell verliert er das Interesse an dem neuen Mann in seinem Leben. So verwundert es ihn auch nicht, dass ihn sein Freund im Urlaub einfach sitzen lässt und abreist. Auch Cary hat nicht vor zu bleiben. Doch die Schönheit und die Wildheit von Cornwall lassen ihn nicht los. Schon seit Kindheit an, ist er von diesem Landstrich fasziniert. Sein Vater hat vielen Geschichten schon in Carys Kindheit die Saat dazu gelegt. Er selbst wird immer wieder von merkwürdigen Träumen heimgesucht und immer wieder verspürt er ein seltsamen Ziehen in seinem Herzen, das er nicht benennen kann. An seinem letzten Tag in Cornwall begegnet ihm auf dem Strand ein mysteriöser Fremder. Attraktiv, charmant und einnehmend. Und verdammt nackt!
Sigurd Arvesen ist nicht von dieser Welt und doch gehört er ihr schon soviele Jahre an. Sigurd ist ein mystisches Wesen und plötzlich taucht sein Gefährte auf, auf den er schon nicht mehr zu hoffen gewagt hat. Doch Sigurd ist ist großzügig, freundlich und damit fast schon sein ärgster Feind. Denn Sigurd glaubt an den freien Willen. Und niemals würde er sich Cary aufzwingen; oder ihn in ein Leben ziehen, für das er nicht bereit ist.
Under Gorse and Stone ist eine wunderbare, berührende und bezaubernde Weihnachtsgeschichte. Lily Morton - eine meiner Lieblingsautoren - hat sich wieder einmal selbst übertroffen. Cary und Sigurd sind so ein niedliches Paar, wie es unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnte. Das Setting - Weihnachten in Cornwall - ist großartig gewählt und man hat das Gefühl mittendrin, statt nur dabei zu sein. Leider gibt es hierzu noch kein Hörbuch. Aber ich habe das Buch in kurzer Zeit verschlungen.
Die Autorin entführt uns also nach Cornwall und schubbst den Leser in eine Welt voller Mythen, sagenhafter Geschöpfe und Intrigen. Neben einem schon genannten Drachen gibt es auch das Volk aus dem Meer und Pixies. Das sind eine Art Kobolde und ja, man kann sich schon so seinen Teil dazu denken. Auch nimmt die Autorin immer wieder Bezug auf den legendären König Arthur und seinen Zauberer Merlin.
Großartig geschrieben und wunderbar erzählt. Eine wirklich wunderschöne Weihnachtsgeschichte, die mich mit einem Lächeln zurückgelassen hat.
Sigurd Arvesen ist nicht von dieser Welt und doch gehört er ihr schon soviele Jahre an. Sigurd ist ein mystisches Wesen und plötzlich taucht sein Gefährte auf, auf den er schon nicht mehr zu hoffen gewagt hat. Doch Sigurd ist ist großzügig, freundlich und damit fast schon sein ärgster Feind. Denn Sigurd glaubt an den freien Willen. Und niemals würde er sich Cary aufzwingen; oder ihn in ein Leben ziehen, für das er nicht bereit ist.
Under Gorse and Stone ist eine wunderbare, berührende und bezaubernde Weihnachtsgeschichte. Lily Morton - eine meiner Lieblingsautoren - hat sich wieder einmal selbst übertroffen. Cary und Sigurd sind so ein niedliches Paar, wie es unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnte. Das Setting - Weihnachten in Cornwall - ist großartig gewählt und man hat das Gefühl mittendrin, statt nur dabei zu sein. Leider gibt es hierzu noch kein Hörbuch. Aber ich habe das Buch in kurzer Zeit verschlungen.
Die Autorin entführt uns also nach Cornwall und schubbst den Leser in eine Welt voller Mythen, sagenhafter Geschöpfe und Intrigen. Neben einem schon genannten Drachen gibt es auch das Volk aus dem Meer und Pixies. Das sind eine Art Kobolde und ja, man kann sich schon so seinen Teil dazu denken. Auch nimmt die Autorin immer wieder Bezug auf den legendären König Arthur und seinen Zauberer Merlin.
Großartig geschrieben und wunderbar erzählt. Eine wirklich wunderschöne Weihnachtsgeschichte, die mich mit einem Lächeln zurückgelassen hat.
December 27, 2025
1.5-2 stars
thoughts n feelings:
-ok started out kinda good but quickly got so deeply boring I skimmed the last third
-the plot was bizarre, like after the main couple got together he basically took him around the town and every single person was like 'oh wow he's so polite, dragon man, we're so glad u found him' and it got SO OLD. plus also there was the subplot with the merpeople that was just completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story for me. i think the author wanted to build this like, lush and complicated world but this was not the story to do it within I fear.
-cary took way too fuckin long to realize shit was magical....like dude basically willfully had his eyes closed. also how many times can people accidentally almost call cary sigurd's mate without him being like 'hey.......ur all keeping some shit from me and I can tell.' like cary is extremely well-read and aware of local folklore but somehow misses everything that's right in front of his face? it's just not realistic brother
-miscommunication trope, as I have said 10000o000000000x, is tired and boring and lets not do it ever again thanks
-the things they both claimed were keeping them apart didn't hold up well in my opinion....just not high enough stakes despite them both ACTING like the stakes were high
thoughts n feelings:
-ok started out kinda good but quickly got so deeply boring I skimmed the last third
-the plot was bizarre, like after the main couple got together he basically took him around the town and every single person was like 'oh wow he's so polite, dragon man, we're so glad u found him' and it got SO OLD. plus also there was the subplot with the merpeople that was just completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story for me. i think the author wanted to build this like, lush and complicated world but this was not the story to do it within I fear.
-cary took way too fuckin long to realize shit was magical....like dude basically willfully had his eyes closed. also how many times can people accidentally almost call cary sigurd's mate without him being like 'hey.......ur all keeping some shit from me and I can tell.' like cary is extremely well-read and aware of local folklore but somehow misses everything that's right in front of his face? it's just not realistic brother
-miscommunication trope, as I have said 10000o000000000x, is tired and boring and lets not do it ever again thanks
-the things they both claimed were keeping them apart didn't hold up well in my opinion....just not high enough stakes despite them both ACTING like the stakes were high
December 20, 2025
Loved this one
Under Gorse and Stone by Lily Morton was amazing. I loved everything about this one: the dreaminess, the meeting, the magic, and of course the fated mates. I could not put this one down. Cary and Sigurd are fated mates and have been destined to be brought together. I love how Cary found Sigurd and the little clues that were sprinkled in. The magical world was fabulous and I found myself wondering if we would get stories from some of the side characters. I can find myself rereading this one many times. I did appreciate that the usual snarkiness of Lily’s characters was there but tamed way down. It fit this story so well. This was just a very enjoyable holiday story.
I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review.
Under Gorse and Stone by Lily Morton was amazing. I loved everything about this one: the dreaminess, the meeting, the magic, and of course the fated mates. I could not put this one down. Cary and Sigurd are fated mates and have been destined to be brought together. I love how Cary found Sigurd and the little clues that were sprinkled in. The magical world was fabulous and I found myself wondering if we would get stories from some of the side characters. I can find myself rereading this one many times. I did appreciate that the usual snarkiness of Lily’s characters was there but tamed way down. It fit this story so well. This was just a very enjoyable holiday story.
I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review.
January 2, 2026
Absolutely adored this. By genre, this is a fantasy romance, not a paranormal romance. It is magical and mysterious and joyful. There honestly isn’t much Christmas in it, other than the fact that it takes place in the week before, so it is good for the holidays but also all year round reading.
I loved Cary and Sigurd. Lily Morton always writes such bright and lively characters (with great banter always), but Cary and Sig stand on their own as characters and don’t read as overly similar to the previous books I’ve read from her. Cary is a wonderful character to see the world through, his wonder and joy at discovering the magical world that was previously hidden to him was infectious.
I had a lovely time reading this book. It was a great way to start 2026!
I loved Cary and Sigurd. Lily Morton always writes such bright and lively characters (with great banter always), but Cary and Sig stand on their own as characters and don’t read as overly similar to the previous books I’ve read from her. Cary is a wonderful character to see the world through, his wonder and joy at discovering the magical world that was previously hidden to him was infectious.
I had a lovely time reading this book. It was a great way to start 2026!
January 29, 2026
A perfect book
The characters, the story, and the writing itself are pure magic that made every minute reading this book an enchanting delight. I will definitely be rereading this every holiday season.
The characters, the story, and the writing itself are pure magic that made every minute reading this book an enchanting delight. I will definitely be rereading this every holiday season.
December 25, 2025
Beautiful, simply beautiful!
December 18, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Lily Morton is one of my favorite authors, and one of the things that she excels at is creating a detailed setting and sense of place with her books. Under Gorse and Stone is another example of that, made particularly fun for me as I have been lucky enough to visit many of the places featured in the book. I spent time in Cornwall a few years ago and found it an absolutely magical place, and it is the perfect setting for a story the combines the modern day world with one of fantasy and legend.
This book is unlike most of Morton’s work in that it leans very heavily into the paranormal/fantasy realm. While it takes place in our present day, modern world, it is steeped in fantasy. Sigurd shares with Cary not only the world of magic, but the fact that many of the legends Cary grew up hearing are also based in truth. Cornwall is an area steeped in Arthurian legend, and we see that play out here, but also just local stories that turn out to be based on real supernatural and fantasy beings. There are a lot of fun and clever details in how the two worlds are blended together here.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Lily Morton is one of my favorite authors, and one of the things that she excels at is creating a detailed setting and sense of place with her books. Under Gorse and Stone is another example of that, made particularly fun for me as I have been lucky enough to visit many of the places featured in the book. I spent time in Cornwall a few years ago and found it an absolutely magical place, and it is the perfect setting for a story the combines the modern day world with one of fantasy and legend.
This book is unlike most of Morton’s work in that it leans very heavily into the paranormal/fantasy realm. While it takes place in our present day, modern world, it is steeped in fantasy. Sigurd shares with Cary not only the world of magic, but the fact that many of the legends Cary grew up hearing are also based in truth. Cornwall is an area steeped in Arthurian legend, and we see that play out here, but also just local stories that turn out to be based on real supernatural and fantasy beings. There are a lot of fun and clever details in how the two worlds are blended together here.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
December 21, 2025
A lovely magical read for the holidays from Lily Morton!
My favorite thing about this story is the magic of Cornwall and that beautiful countryside, and the magical world the dragon hero, Sigurd, unveils for the human hero, Cory. The immersive sensory descriptions put you in the scenes with the MCs as the magic all around is revealed and the beings most humans can’t see appear to greet and get to know and embrace Cory, and the reader is swept right this enchanting world. The connection between the heroes is enjoyable as Sigurd takes Cory to different magical places, including the undersea world of Mer people (with some rather fraught and hilarious royal machinations going on) and into his own incredible home in the cliffside. I would love to live in Sigurd’s library.
The book does start off with a cliché breakup, which has become so common for this author I’ve come to expect it, and Cory wasn’t put in the best light for me for getting involved with that guy at all (it’s his boss…? And he’s an asshole…? So, why…?). And then, unfortunately for me, peppered throughout about 2/3 of the read are unneeded and annoying references to Cory having slept with oh, SO many people. Sig too, though his was more of a yeah, he’s been alive for millennia so of course he has a past. Sig’s past was kept more nebulous/matter of fact and wouldn’t have been so intrusive if mentions hadn’t kept coming up, for no reason I could discern after the first reference, about Cory. It bumped me out of several moments and began annoying the F out of me to the point that I started cringing every time and am devoting an entire paragraph to it. Yeah, yeah, Me. So I didn’t enjoy the read as much as I would have if Cory’s internal thoughts could have just STFU about it after the first mention or even two. Sigh.
I was also annoyed with Sigurd’s reticence about revealing what Cory is. He never does! I didn’t get his whole “free will” shtick. How is it free will if Cory doesn’t even have the full scope of the picture to make his own choice? And then the entire thing was made moot anyway by someone else revealing it, so, what was the point? That seemed dumb and undercut the entire romantic conflict. Huh?!
I also wanted more sense of...why did Sig have to wait so long for Cory? What was the point? I mean...he's like a couple thousand years old. Why CORY, why NOW...? Hrmph.
But I loved all the secondary characters and their unique mannerisms and priorities, and how the way Cory responded to each kept revealing his character to everyone. They were all fascinating and dangerous in their own ways, and seeing Cory naturally navigate the world successfully simply by being himself was a lot of fun and helped show why he and Sig were a match.
Oh, and Sigurd turning into a dragon? Flying together? Fantastic!!!
Overall, a lovely feel-good read.
HEA, fated mates, huge age gap years-wise (though Sig stopped aging at about 25 years), magical fantasy romance. Starts with OM drama as Cory’s boss stomps off and breaks up with him because they haven’t managed to have sex yet. Otherwise, no specific others at all, no one is named. Just all the mentions of copious experience that I could have done without. Safe enough for me. Recommended.
My favorite thing about this story is the magic of Cornwall and that beautiful countryside, and the magical world the dragon hero, Sigurd, unveils for the human hero, Cory. The immersive sensory descriptions put you in the scenes with the MCs as the magic all around is revealed and the beings most humans can’t see appear to greet and get to know and embrace Cory, and the reader is swept right this enchanting world. The connection between the heroes is enjoyable as Sigurd takes Cory to different magical places, including the undersea world of Mer people (with some rather fraught and hilarious royal machinations going on) and into his own incredible home in the cliffside. I would love to live in Sigurd’s library.
The book does start off with a cliché breakup, which has become so common for this author I’ve come to expect it, and Cory wasn’t put in the best light for me for getting involved with that guy at all (it’s his boss…? And he’s an asshole…? So, why…?). And then, unfortunately for me, peppered throughout about 2/3 of the read are unneeded and annoying references to Cory having slept with oh, SO many people. Sig too, though his was more of a yeah, he’s been alive for millennia so of course he has a past. Sig’s past was kept more nebulous/matter of fact and wouldn’t have been so intrusive if mentions hadn’t kept coming up, for no reason I could discern after the first reference, about Cory. It bumped me out of several moments and began annoying the F out of me to the point that I started cringing every time and am devoting an entire paragraph to it. Yeah, yeah, Me. So I didn’t enjoy the read as much as I would have if Cory’s internal thoughts could have just STFU about it after the first mention or even two. Sigh.
I was also annoyed with Sigurd’s reticence about revealing what Cory is. He never does! I didn’t get his whole “free will” shtick. How is it free will if Cory doesn’t even have the full scope of the picture to make his own choice? And then the entire thing was made moot anyway by someone else revealing it, so, what was the point? That seemed dumb and undercut the entire romantic conflict. Huh?!
I also wanted more sense of...why did Sig have to wait so long for Cory? What was the point? I mean...he's like a couple thousand years old. Why CORY, why NOW...? Hrmph.
But I loved all the secondary characters and their unique mannerisms and priorities, and how the way Cory responded to each kept revealing his character to everyone. They were all fascinating and dangerous in their own ways, and seeing Cory naturally navigate the world successfully simply by being himself was a lot of fun and helped show why he and Sig were a match.
Oh, and Sigurd turning into a dragon? Flying together? Fantastic!!!
Overall, a lovely feel-good read.
HEA, fated mates, huge age gap years-wise (though Sig stopped aging at about 25 years), magical fantasy romance. Starts with OM drama as Cory’s boss stomps off and breaks up with him because they haven’t managed to have sex yet. Otherwise, no specific others at all, no one is named. Just all the mentions of copious experience that I could have done without. Safe enough for me. Recommended.
December 20, 2025
Here's Lily Morton's latest: "Under Gorse and Stone."
["Cary Sutton isn’t surprised when his boyfriend walks out on him during a holiday in Cornwall at Christmas. It’s far from the first time that someone's accused him of being cold — both inside and out. Cary’s spent his whole life feeling like he’s separated from the world by a sheet of glass. Nothing touches him. Nothing moves him.
Which is why it’s so strange to find himself drawn to a small Cornish beach and the man he meets there. Sigurd Arvesen is handsome and charming, but he also holds a secret — one that’s big enough to overturn Cary’s whole world.
Sigurd is a centuries-old dragon, and Cary is his mate.
Whisked into Sigurd’s magical world, Cary meets strange and wonderful creatures that he’s only ever read about in books. The mystical realm is both enchanting and dark, but even scarier are the warm feelings that Sigurd brings out in Cary.
What will happen when Christmas Eve dawns and Cary must go home?"]
I’ve dreamed of writing a book like this for so long. Hidden ruins that are thinned vails to a different, magical world. A world that you belong to, one that remembers you even if you don’t remember it, a world that loves and accepts all for the weird and strange parts of yourself that you’ve never been able to explain. Plus fated love. Allll of the yes.
It was magical in all of the ways, eyes wide open to old tales and new loves. New friends, old loves, sales of fantasy come alive. It was beautiful and filled deeply with Norwegian and Viking history. Plus tales of Arthur and Merlin.
These two were beautiful as hell. Instantly drawn to each other, magic alive in the air around them, everyone knowing what they were/are to each other, even if Cary didn't see it yet. It was deep and adorable and spicy, all a perfect balance wrapped up in a Christmas bow.
#grr #arcs #arcteammember
#undergorseandstone #lilymorton #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["Cary Sutton isn’t surprised when his boyfriend walks out on him during a holiday in Cornwall at Christmas. It’s far from the first time that someone's accused him of being cold — both inside and out. Cary’s spent his whole life feeling like he’s separated from the world by a sheet of glass. Nothing touches him. Nothing moves him.
Which is why it’s so strange to find himself drawn to a small Cornish beach and the man he meets there. Sigurd Arvesen is handsome and charming, but he also holds a secret — one that’s big enough to overturn Cary’s whole world.
Sigurd is a centuries-old dragon, and Cary is his mate.
Whisked into Sigurd’s magical world, Cary meets strange and wonderful creatures that he’s only ever read about in books. The mystical realm is both enchanting and dark, but even scarier are the warm feelings that Sigurd brings out in Cary.
What will happen when Christmas Eve dawns and Cary must go home?"]
I’ve dreamed of writing a book like this for so long. Hidden ruins that are thinned vails to a different, magical world. A world that you belong to, one that remembers you even if you don’t remember it, a world that loves and accepts all for the weird and strange parts of yourself that you’ve never been able to explain. Plus fated love. Allll of the yes.
It was magical in all of the ways, eyes wide open to old tales and new loves. New friends, old loves, sales of fantasy come alive. It was beautiful and filled deeply with Norwegian and Viking history. Plus tales of Arthur and Merlin.
These two were beautiful as hell. Instantly drawn to each other, magic alive in the air around them, everyone knowing what they were/are to each other, even if Cary didn't see it yet. It was deep and adorable and spicy, all a perfect balance wrapped up in a Christmas bow.
#grr #arcs #arcteammember
#undergorseandstone #lilymorton #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
December 31, 2025
Magically Delightful Story & Audible Listen🎧 4.5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Under Gorse and Stone
By: Lily Morton
Narrated by:Joel Leslie
Lily Morton pens another amazing story, a fascinating paranormal romance with a dragon shifter and other magical beings that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. Christmas is a magical time of the year, especially for Cary Sutton, who is on holiday in Cornwall, despite his boyfriend breaking up with him and leaving him there. His holiday turns into an adventure after being drawn to a beach in Cromwell, and he meets a gorgeous man, a man of mystery and intrigue, Sigurd Arvesen. Lilly Morton takes you along on Cary’s adventure with Sigurd as they dive deeper into his magical world. Sigurd is no ordinary human being, but a dragon shifter who, after many years, found his fated mate, Cary. Sigurd, an absolute sweetheart, shows Cary his world and, instead of asking him to stay, he only hopes he does, wanting him to make his own decision. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out in this magical world adventure and super steamy romance that has the perfect balance of drama, angst, heartwarming moments and heartfelt emotions. I loved the inclusion and mention of familiar magical creatures, too. As always, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Lily Morton, thank you for this wonderfully entertaining story, the magical adventure and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Joel Leslie did an amazing job bringing these characters to life, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. I love how he takes each role and makes it his own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. His portrayal of the characters is always spot on, and he handles the back-and-forth dialogue naturally and with ease, never missing a beat. Joel Leslie is an entertaining storyteller, and his captivating performance keeps you glued to the story.
Under Gorse and Stone
By: Lily Morton
Narrated by:Joel Leslie
Lily Morton pens another amazing story, a fascinating paranormal romance with a dragon shifter and other magical beings that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. Christmas is a magical time of the year, especially for Cary Sutton, who is on holiday in Cornwall, despite his boyfriend breaking up with him and leaving him there. His holiday turns into an adventure after being drawn to a beach in Cromwell, and he meets a gorgeous man, a man of mystery and intrigue, Sigurd Arvesen. Lilly Morton takes you along on Cary’s adventure with Sigurd as they dive deeper into his magical world. Sigurd is no ordinary human being, but a dragon shifter who, after many years, found his fated mate, Cary. Sigurd, an absolute sweetheart, shows Cary his world and, instead of asking him to stay, he only hopes he does, wanting him to make his own decision. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out in this magical world adventure and super steamy romance that has the perfect balance of drama, angst, heartwarming moments and heartfelt emotions. I loved the inclusion and mention of familiar magical creatures, too. As always, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Lily Morton, thank you for this wonderfully entertaining story, the magical adventure and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Joel Leslie did an amazing job bringing these characters to life, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. I love how he takes each role and makes it his own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. His portrayal of the characters is always spot on, and he handles the back-and-forth dialogue naturally and with ease, never missing a beat. Joel Leslie is an entertaining storyteller, and his captivating performance keeps you glued to the story.
January 4, 2026
It’s the end of the year and that means it’s time for Lily Morton’s Christmas story, which more often than not will have a magical leaning. This year it was inspired whilst the author was on holiday and saw a large rock formation that looked like a dragon.
Lily’s ability for storytelling through strong character narration is what draws me to their books when I’m looking for something lighter but this book was a miss for a few reasons.
1. Whilst this is a romance there was no consistency with developing this throughout the story. I found it would jump between the mate bond, introducing Cary to the vast magical population, and the ‘rescuing’ of a mermaid - none of which felt fully flushed out or concluded particularly well.
2. The character dialogue was flat and unfortunately went the way of a lot of contemporary romances by trying to cover the lack of character connection with copious amounts of sex. But what I found the most frustrating was Cary - Lily is the queen of bold, sassy character narration and this book started off well with Cary comedically passing out drunk in the hotel bedroom whilst on a romantic holiday, this leads to his love interest calling him cold and distant before ending their relationship. However, once we are introduced to Cary outside of this scene he is overtly nice and polite, with sub characters consistently referring to him as well mannered, and thanking him for being the only person to have realised the solution to their problems *dramatic eyeroll*
3. The fantasy/magical element to this book is centred around Cornish folklore and the author tries to cram in as many of these mythical creatures as she could with little regard to the flow of the story and without really ever explaining them in any depth.
On the whole this book delivers what was expected of it: romance, fantasy and predictably. However, everything about this book felt rushed. On a positive note, it has sparked my interest in learning more about the myths, legends and folklore of my country.
Lily’s ability for storytelling through strong character narration is what draws me to their books when I’m looking for something lighter but this book was a miss for a few reasons.
1. Whilst this is a romance there was no consistency with developing this throughout the story. I found it would jump between the mate bond, introducing Cary to the vast magical population, and the ‘rescuing’ of a mermaid - none of which felt fully flushed out or concluded particularly well.
2. The character dialogue was flat and unfortunately went the way of a lot of contemporary romances by trying to cover the lack of character connection with copious amounts of sex. But what I found the most frustrating was Cary - Lily is the queen of bold, sassy character narration and this book started off well with Cary comedically passing out drunk in the hotel bedroom whilst on a romantic holiday, this leads to his love interest calling him cold and distant before ending their relationship. However, once we are introduced to Cary outside of this scene he is overtly nice and polite, with sub characters consistently referring to him as well mannered, and thanking him for being the only person to have realised the solution to their problems *dramatic eyeroll*
3. The fantasy/magical element to this book is centred around Cornish folklore and the author tries to cram in as many of these mythical creatures as she could with little regard to the flow of the story and without really ever explaining them in any depth.
On the whole this book delivers what was expected of it: romance, fantasy and predictably. However, everything about this book felt rushed. On a positive note, it has sparked my interest in learning more about the myths, legends and folklore of my country.
Review of advance copy
All I want for Christmas is an ancient dragon to call me elskling and set me loose in his magical library.
Lily’s books are so lovely and immersive, and the Christmas ones seem like an extra special holiday treat. We get to inhabit a fanciful world where strange dreams bring true love, and time spent in a library reveals that magic and legends are real. I spent the entire time reading with a big smile on my face, completely charmed by the history and setting of Under Gorse and Stone.
Cary keeps romantic partners at arms-length, never getting too invested or falling in love. He’s charmingly open and kind to those he meets, so he never lacks for options, but he struggles to let people in. It's like he's meant for someone very special... like a centuries old dragon who has been waiting far too long for his mate to be born. Sigurd is a well-respected member of the magical community but he's desperately lonely waiting for Cary to find him. I'm not sure why he couldn't go find Cary himself, but that's not how these things work and then we'd get a boring story set in a major city instead of beautiful Cornwall. These two are completely adorable together and I absolutely loved this holiday read from Lily Morton. I hope it's a tradition that carries on forever because it put me in the Christmas spirit after a rough year 🥰.
and a bonus quote because I couldn't help myself... 🥵🔥🥵
Rating: 5
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 3.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review
I’m like a well-contained island drifting along in a big sea, and I have no idea how to change that state of being.
Lily’s books are so lovely and immersive, and the Christmas ones seem like an extra special holiday treat. We get to inhabit a fanciful world where strange dreams bring true love, and time spent in a library reveals that magic and legends are real. I spent the entire time reading with a big smile on my face, completely charmed by the history and setting of Under Gorse and Stone.
It’s as if my whole life I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other, plodding on determinedly, because this was always at the end of my journey—this man and that extraordinary secret.
Cary keeps romantic partners at arms-length, never getting too invested or falling in love. He’s charmingly open and kind to those he meets, so he never lacks for options, but he struggles to let people in. It's like he's meant for someone very special... like a centuries old dragon who has been waiting far too long for his mate to be born. Sigurd is a well-respected member of the magical community but he's desperately lonely waiting for Cary to find him. I'm not sure why he couldn't go find Cary himself, but that's not how these things work and then we'd get a boring story set in a major city instead of beautiful Cornwall. These two are completely adorable together and I absolutely loved this holiday read from Lily Morton. I hope it's a tradition that carries on forever because it put me in the Christmas spirit after a rough year 🥰.
I sigh in pleasure at the feel of his warm body. It seems to heat all the endless cold spots in me. He warms me from the top of my head to my toes.
and a bonus quote because I couldn't help myself... 🥵🔥🥵
All the while, his cock piercing rubs over my prostate, lighting me up like the national grid.
Rating: 5
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 3.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review
January 14, 2026
M/M
Fantasy
Mystical
Magic/mind control
Mermen/Witches/Giants/Vikings/Pixies/Royalty/even the Kraken
Human/Dragon shifter
Fated mates
Arc audio review
Story = 2.5 stars
Narration = 5 stars
I enjoyed both of the MCs and thought they made a good couple. Cary is snarky like a lot of Lilys past characters that I have loved so I really enjoyed that and Sigurd was sweet and protective which I also loved. I felt like it was a very slow burn though and very little relationship development. Other than then getting along and being fated mates, I didn't feel any sparks between the 2 MCs.
The world building in this story is great. Lilys descriptive words make you feel like you are in this magical land. This was both a pro and a con at times. I found parts to be very wordy and I lost interest. There is a lot of deception in this book which I wasn't fond of and I wish it had been written in a way where the same outcomes occurred but in a truthful way which could have been easy to include. There are so many side characters dropped in without any reason that do nothing for the plot other than filler and there are so many folklore tales told. I did find it somewhat interesting but also unnecessary.
I really had to force myself to finish this. I wouldn't recommend it and I'm not going to read it again. It really should have been chopped down to half and released as a quick fated mates novella where there is open honesty from the start. This just mainly frustrated and bored me.
Joel did a fantastic performance as always. He has a pleasant voice to listen to and kept a good pace. He expressed all the emotions wonderfully and brought the story to life. He gave all the characters, including the side characters their own distinct voice that suited them perfectly and made it easy to follow the story. It was a wonderful listen.
Fantasy
Mystical
Magic/mind control
Mermen/Witches/Giants/Vikings/Pixies/Royalty/even the Kraken
Human/Dragon shifter
Fated mates
Arc audio review
Story = 2.5 stars
Narration = 5 stars
I enjoyed both of the MCs and thought they made a good couple. Cary is snarky like a lot of Lilys past characters that I have loved so I really enjoyed that and Sigurd was sweet and protective which I also loved. I felt like it was a very slow burn though and very little relationship development. Other than then getting along and being fated mates, I didn't feel any sparks between the 2 MCs.
The world building in this story is great. Lilys descriptive words make you feel like you are in this magical land. This was both a pro and a con at times. I found parts to be very wordy and I lost interest. There is a lot of deception in this book which I wasn't fond of and I wish it had been written in a way where the same outcomes occurred but in a truthful way which could have been easy to include. There are so many side characters dropped in without any reason that do nothing for the plot other than filler and there are so many folklore tales told. I did find it somewhat interesting but also unnecessary.
I really had to force myself to finish this. I wouldn't recommend it and I'm not going to read it again. It really should have been chopped down to half and released as a quick fated mates novella where there is open honesty from the start. This just mainly frustrated and bored me.
Joel did a fantastic performance as always. He has a pleasant voice to listen to and kept a good pace. He expressed all the emotions wonderfully and brought the story to life. He gave all the characters, including the side characters their own distinct voice that suited them perfectly and made it easy to follow the story. It was a wonderful listen.
January 16, 2026
A Bit Too Much
Phew this book was tough to get through. I have to give the author props on just how many folklore and historical references there were but wow was it a bit too much for me. Im all for the main characters in the books I read to be passionate about their job or hobbies and to maybe even teach me a few things, but this book often felt more like I was in a class than enjoying an entertaining read.
Cary and Sigurd were fun together but a lot of their conversations drove me nuts with frustration. The main method used by the author to drag out the whole “fated mate” reveal was deflection and it wasn’t even done well, there are a few too many moments where Cary just shrugs off Sigurd’s deflection with no question. Combine that with the seemingly random use of “old fashioned” language and it was just too much for me to really remain engaged with the story.
The spice was alright but nothing very special. There were fewer scenes than I would have expected from this type of story and I was surprised that the one scene with knotting was brushed aside so quickly considering it was such a big moment for both characters. I also don’t understand why basically every single character in this book was described as being so promiscuous. I’ve got nothing against people who are but it just seemed ridiculous by the end how many main or side characters were described as sleeping with endless people.
I enjoyed the premise and I enjoyed the interesting side characters but as a whole I can’t say I’m going to recommend this book to anyone going forward.
Tropes: Fated Mates, Dragon Shifter, Age Difference, Magic, Folklore, Knotting
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️ 1/5
Relationship: MM
Phew this book was tough to get through. I have to give the author props on just how many folklore and historical references there were but wow was it a bit too much for me. Im all for the main characters in the books I read to be passionate about their job or hobbies and to maybe even teach me a few things, but this book often felt more like I was in a class than enjoying an entertaining read.
Cary and Sigurd were fun together but a lot of their conversations drove me nuts with frustration. The main method used by the author to drag out the whole “fated mate” reveal was deflection and it wasn’t even done well, there are a few too many moments where Cary just shrugs off Sigurd’s deflection with no question. Combine that with the seemingly random use of “old fashioned” language and it was just too much for me to really remain engaged with the story.
The spice was alright but nothing very special. There were fewer scenes than I would have expected from this type of story and I was surprised that the one scene with knotting was brushed aside so quickly considering it was such a big moment for both characters. I also don’t understand why basically every single character in this book was described as being so promiscuous. I’ve got nothing against people who are but it just seemed ridiculous by the end how many main or side characters were described as sleeping with endless people.
I enjoyed the premise and I enjoyed the interesting side characters but as a whole I can’t say I’m going to recommend this book to anyone going forward.
Tropes: Fated Mates, Dragon Shifter, Age Difference, Magic, Folklore, Knotting
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️ 1/5
Relationship: MM
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