The Fight for Dragon Isle

by David Gray

Escape into a world of unlikely heroes and evil villains, of brave dragons and fairytale kisses.

Blaze is a Dragonhunter, finding isolated dragons and introducing them to the world-spanning collective of secret dragon enclaves. He’s embarking on his most challenging mission yet, to rescue an entire race of dragons from the dark mage Cicely, his magic school nemesis. He enlists a lost love, the weather witch Omar, to penetrate the powerful wards isolating the dragons’ island. Now they must gain the trust of these dragons and together vanquish their vile oppressor.

THE FIGHT FOR DRAGON ISLE is a short stand-alone novel with gay romance and a happy ending. It is the third in a series of Dragon Enclave Adventures, which may be read in any order. This book is intended for adult readers.

storybook gay romance ~ kisses-only MM spice ~ fun and easy low angst ~ friendly dragons and evil mages ~ hunky dragon shifter and handsome weather witch ~ second chance love ~ happily ever after

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

David Gray is a retired scientist who finally has time to explore the adventure of writing fiction. His novels and short stories live somewhere in the intersection between romance, fantasy, and science fiction, with cozy themes and happy endings. He lives with his husband in sunny San Diego, where they dote on their jungle kitty Bagheera.

Reviews

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and entertaining story to read. I didn't read the first two books but I didn't feel lost reading the story. I will go back and read those two books now anyway.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. My favourite character? Ember. So incredibly and adorably sweet. I liked all the characters, but Ember was just SO SUPER SWEET.

Okay, so this book is a second chance love story wrapped up in an adventure. That doesn't mean action, though, as there's not a lot of that until nearer to the end of the book, but it works, and it works well. Most of the book focuses on getting to know the characters, their re-blooming love for one another, and Blaze's role as a dragon hunter, which includes a friend/boss who's a large, red wise-cracking grandmotherly dragon.

The thing I think I liked best about the book, other than Ember, were the relationship-building narratives, between Blaze (Ember) and Omar, as well as those between Omar and the island dragons, and Blaze and the island dragons. Also… DRAGONS! Who wouldn't love to be on an island with talking dragons? And baby dragons learning to fly!

Now it's not all fun, love, and friendship, as there is a mission involved, and those usually involve danger or adversity of some kind. So, like a lot of the cartoons we watched as children, this story comes with a bully-turned-evil-mage who is easy to hate. At first, I thought that would bother me because people aren't born evil, and we all have good and bad in us, but this character, she was evil to the core. Maybe in her story she started out good, but the story isn't about her. She has a role in it, but that's it.

This is a beautiful MM romance with minimal spice, but tons of innuendo. Without the on-page blow-by-blow, the idea is still super clear: Blaze and Omar have a lot of chemistry and make the most of it.

I was given the opportunity to read this book through BookSirens. This review is my honest opinion. With that said, I'd recommend the book, and I'll be reading more from this author soon.

[Tonje Lien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaze and Omar, I love them! The scenario when they met in high school and Blaze were bullied and Omar did'nt feel he did anything to help.. This is so real, such a real experience for many.

The day they share a kiss, a kiss they both never forget..the bully saw them and was an asshole basically, Blaze suddenly retaliates against his bully and he's taken away from school.. and Omar never saw him again.. Until later when they're adults and Blaze has a job offer to Omar, an offernhe simply cannot refuse. I was like can he not refuse it because he maaaybe wants to be closer to Blaze perhaps? 😊

I kinda figured that Blaze thought that Omar was to smart, nice and good looking for him and also Omar thinks that Blaze is so handsome and way out of his league.. They're both so insecure in different ways as adults and that's so normal! I really think it's so good to bring up insecurities like this and make it be seen that in many ways they're mostly in our heads.

I looved that they are dragonhunters and that they get decked with gadgets in 007 style and are off to fight like their, well, arch nemesis from high school (who became this evil dark mage) and save an entire race of dragons. It's so agent, 007, superhero story, with two guys who's working together and has a very, very good eye to eachother.. And the slow burn and tension, angst and longing between them was so well written.

And also: this book has dragons and a dragon shifter, mages and weather witches.. What more could you want??

Such a cute, exciting love story full of adventure!

I received an advance review copy for free and I'm leaving this review voluntarily!

[Raven Fort · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up having so much fun with this book 🐉✨

The Fight for Dragon Isle is a cozy, adventurous MM fantasy romance with dragons, magic, second chances, and a genuinely lovable trio dynamic between Blaze, his dragon Ember, and weather witch Omar.

Blaze/Ember was easily my favorite part of the story. Blaze is this huge stoic dragon shifter while Ember is confident, dramatic, mischievous, and absolutely obsessed with Omar from the beginning. Their shared internal conversations added so much humor and heart to the book. Ember honestly stole every scene he was in.

The romance between Blaze and Omar was sweet and easy to root for. I normally struggle with second-chance romances, but this one worked for me because their separation felt natural rather than forced drama. Their history together gave emotional weight to the relationship without making the story overly angsty.

I also loved the fantasy elements:

dragon enclaves
weather magic
isolated native dragons
an evil mage pretending to be a goddess
dragon eggs being sacrificed
found family vibes
magical island adventure

The tone stayed light, warm, and fun while still having enough stakes to keep me invested. The native dragons naming Omar “Littlebreeze” and Blaze/Ember “Blazingfire” was honestly adorable.

If you like:

low angst fantasy romance
dragon shifters
kisses-only spice
magical adventures
humorous banter
second chance romance done right
cozy fantasy vibes with action

then this is definitely worth checking out.

I’ll absolutely continue reading more books set in this universe.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaze is a Dragonhunter. His job is to find dragons and brings them back, introducing them to the secret dragon enclaves. His newest mission is to save an entire island of dragons from an evil mage named Cicely, who happens to his magic school bully. He will need the help of Omar, a powerful weather witch to help penetrate the wards around the island. Omar was his first crush and both men are excited to work together. It will not be an easy task trying to get the island’s dragons to trust them and help them.

This was such a sweet story with the romance between Blaze and Omar as well as Blaze’s dragon half, aptly named Ember. Their task was not an easy one but they were determined. Cicely had not changed at all but had moved on to unimaginable evil. Blaze, Ember, and Omar were perfect for the job. There was plenty of danger and more than a few twists. It was beautiful to watch them realize their new potentials. The conversations between Blaze and Ember made for wonderful reading. Looking for something sweet with a punch? The Fight for Dragon Isle is perfect for you
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Tony Farnden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fight For Dragon Isle is part of the Dragon Enclave Adventures series. It is a second chance romance and a rescue story. The two main characters are Blaze and Omar who had one kiss at magic college before being split up. Blaze is a dragon hunter and a rare dragon shifter, maybe the only one out there. Omar is a weather witch, a powerful one, but a modest person. Blaze and Omar meet up when Blaze needs help in finding an island where a society of green dragons exists. What they discover leads them to launch a rescue and removal of a dark witch controlling the dragons.

There are surprises along the way, some welcome ones and some decidedly not. This is an enjoyable read set in a world full of magic and magical beings. It is mostly light hearted but there are some very dark themes and a quite horrific resolution, deserved as it is. The characters are well drawn and the action is well handled.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PalenMisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romp with an action/adventure plot that kept everything moving at a good pace. Omar and Blaze were very cute together as a couple, with a strong focus on their relationship since any spice was fade to black. This is the kind of story that would make an excellent adventure movie and it was a great introduction to this author for me (especially since I didn't notice any typos or continuity errors). The thing that stopped me from entirely loving this story was Blaze's dragon who frequently acted like a spoiled brat. Thankfully never to the point of being completely insufferable, but just enough to be mildly irritating at times. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for a sweeter romance with a fun adventure story.

***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.***

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fight for Dragon Isle is a charming, fast-paced fantasy that feels like stepping into a cosy fairytale with just enough adventure to keep things exciting. The story blends action, magic and a gentle second-chance romance, all wrapped up in a low-angst, feel-good package. Blaze and Omar’s history adds emotional depth without weighing the story down, making their reunion easy to root for.

The dragons are a joy, especially Ember, whose playful nature and warmth bring real heart to the tale. The villain is satisfyingly easy to hate, which makes the heroes’ victory all the more rewarding. Short, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable, this is a lovely standalone that leaves you wanting more from the series.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Fight for Dragon Isle" is the third book in David Gray's Dragons Enclave Adventure series.They can all be read as standalones, in any order. This is a fast paced swashbuckeler of a tale. Blaze is a Dragon Hunter whose job it is to relocate dragons to safer habitats. His next job is too big to do along, so he enlists his ex, Omar. There's an evil mage, who was a villain when they were in school, and has only gotten worse. The dragons who are trapped under the mage's power, are sweet.
It's a fun ride, a quick paced adventure and second chance romance. I hope that the author revisits Blaze and Omar in future books. They made wonderful MCs and it made for an exciting read.
I received an advanced copy from GRR and this is my review.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This One drew me into the story quickly and kept me turning the pages right till the end. Blaze has contacted Omar to enlist his help to free a group of dragons on an isolated island in the Pacific. Blaze needs Omar's control of the weather to safely approach the island and penetrate the wards that surround it. Blaze disappeared after their first kiss in magic school just as Blaze found his dragon. Through the story they rediscover each other and the bond that started with the kiss, but the real driving force of the story is the rescue and rehabilitation of the dragons on the island who've been abused by Cicely, a dark mage, also from their school days.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Helen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, delightful action-adventure story featuring brave heroes and a truly despicable villain. I was thoroughly charmed and read it with a huge smile on my face the entire time. The interplay between Omar, Blaze, and Ember is spirited and engaging. Ember has a childlike mind (in the best way) and a sly sense of humor, and I especially love how he calls Omar “my treasure.” The inner conversations between Blaze and Ember are intriguing since they are two very different personalities inhabiting the same body. Now I really want to read the first two books in this series. Highly recommended!

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunting dragons to help them

I was a bit confused when I read that Blaze is a Dragonhunter until I saw that he hunts them in order to help them. He reconnects with Omar in order to help the dragons on a lovely tropical island. I must say that I think this book was better than I thought it would be. David Gray does a fun job with a nasty situation and sends these two on an exciting adventure and has given us a great read. This is apparently book three of a series that can be read in any order which is nice especially since it’s the first one that I have read. I will definitely be looking into the other books and reading them.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! Blaze and Omar are old friends that lost touch but now they are working together to help the Dragons regain their island from the evil Cicely. David Gray does a wonderful job in incorporating the theme of magic and the power of the human/animal dynamic. You see Blaze is a dragon hunter who enlists the help of his longtime crush Omar, who is a weather witch. Together, they test the limits of their powers and realize that their is nothing better than feeding off each other's talents to gain confidence in their own abilities to fight off evil, I truly enjoyed this read. Would definitely recommend!!

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really creative and interesting take on a dragon and magical romance.

I really enjoyed both Blaze and Omar. These almost teenage lovers, driven apart years ago, are reunited on a critical mission to save an island of dragons against their mutual school foe.

It’s creative, and I really enjoyed that aspect that Blaze, the human and his dragon were two different but connected people. It’s not uncommon for their shifter side to be ‘other’ but here they are individuals, and it’s fun to listen to their inner monologues!

The ‘case’ they were on was also really interesting.

I would love to see more from them and the others in the world.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding adventure! Cicely, bullied Blaze and Omar in school. When she threatened Omar, Blaze reacted and pushed Cicely. He was banished and it is 15 years before Blaze and Omar reconnect. Blaze invites Omar on a grand dangerous adventure that will test his skills and make him test himself. Blaze is fun and Omar works his role like a rock star. Delightful story and Ember is a hoot. You spend a lot of time gripping your kindle in anticipatory excitement. Great story, excellent flow, nice cover art! Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DENICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLAZE/EMBER – DRAGON SHIFTER AND OMAR – HUMAN

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.

This story is about bullies, shifters, humans and pure dragons that find that not everyone is as they seem. It is well written and takes the reader through the twists and turns of the evil of humans with their trafficking and soulless exploitation of the dragons. I loved the way Blaze/Ember felt about Omar and Omar’s abilities and determination to help a species that didn’t trust him. This story was wonderful!

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this mix of heroic fantasy quest and romance. The world building of the dragon island and its oppression caught my interest immediately as did the conflict between Blaze and Cicely. The idea of finding lost groups of dragons and helping them connect with other dragons and their sanctuaries was interesting. The romance between Blaze (in both shifted and unshifted form) and Omar had me rooting for them all the way.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaze and Omar became acquainted because of a bully when they were young.
Blaze has found Omar as adults in order to have him join in a mission.
As they train and then begin the fight against the same bully from childhood, their friendship develops and then becomes so much more.
The description of the mating dance was wonderful.

[smatchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. It was an interesting take on dragons being real and in the world with humans. The constant shifting and changes in “voice” between Ember and Blaze got a little muddy at times, but it was good to have the different perspectives. I’m still not sure how Blaze was created, and is he the only one in the world?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a beautiful job of writing this story. I absolutely love the characters in the book. I felt such a connection with them. This was a great read and I highly recommend this book.

[Adoraboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it!