What do you think?
Rate this book
Hoard: The Witch Bleeds. The Dragon Answers.
A pregnant witch is offered to a dragon as a sacrifice.
He does not devour her.
He hoards her.
Hoard is a feral winter myth about shame, hunger, and ancient magic.
The story of a woman unraveling beneath fate's grip, a dragon who mistakes possession for protection, and the dangerous territory where fear and desire become indistinguishable.
Blood remembers what the body tries to forget.
In a land of endless winter and prophecy, refusing what calls you can be as deadly as surrendering to it.
He does not devour her.
He hoards her.
Hoard is a feral winter myth about shame, hunger, and ancient magic.
The story of a woman unraveling beneath fate's grip, a dragon who mistakes possession for protection, and the dangerous territory where fear and desire become indistinguishable.
Blood remembers what the body tries to forget.
In a land of endless winter and prophecy, refusing what calls you can be as deadly as surrendering to it.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 18, 2026
Nat's writing is poetic and beautiful, and paints a stunning, unique series of scenes into an engrossing and fascinating story.
I feel compelled to also include what I hope is constructive (and subjective) critique: the poetic language was sometimes to the detriment of the plot. In some places the language became redundant, and in others it felt flowery but lacking of important context. I found myself asking: "Wait, WHAT is happening? WHERE are we? WHY is this happening?" I felt there were scenes that could have been more fleshed out, including the in-betweens, to help prevent the reader from getting too lost.
A beautiful puzzle, with some missing pieces. I was still very impressed and I'm proud of Nat for writing this in such a relatively short amount of time! I am excited to read what's next!
I feel compelled to also include what I hope is constructive (and subjective) critique: the poetic language was sometimes to the detriment of the plot. In some places the language became redundant, and in others it felt flowery but lacking of important context. I found myself asking: "Wait, WHAT is happening? WHERE are we? WHY is this happening?" I felt there were scenes that could have been more fleshed out, including the in-betweens, to help prevent the reader from getting too lost.
A beautiful puzzle, with some missing pieces. I was still very impressed and I'm proud of Nat for writing this in such a relatively short amount of time! I am excited to read what's next!
February 17, 2026
I was unfamiliar with the fantasy genre when I started reading Nat Strawn’s amazing story. HOARD took me on an unexpected magical adventure in a cave. I was mesmerized from start to finish with the snowy winter setting and the captivating descriptions of the surroundings and characters. I felt as if I was in the cave with the witch and dragon. I experienced their trials and tribulations and rooted for them. This talented author did a fantastic job of capturing my attention and expanding my imagination. Her magical storytelling powers have cast a magic spell on me. I can’t wait to read her next book.
February 17, 2026
ARC Review
I don’t usually read fantasy books like this, but Nat Strawn’s prose had me gripped for the entire book like nothing else i’ve ever read! Overall this was a really refreshing read with a compelling plot and perfect spice, I loved every bit of it!!
I don’t usually read fantasy books like this, but Nat Strawn’s prose had me gripped for the entire book like nothing else i’ve ever read! Overall this was a really refreshing read with a compelling plot and perfect spice, I loved every bit of it!!
March 3, 2026
Reads like an epic poem.
May 15, 2026
ARC Review.
I have never read such a unique book, both in the writing style and the story! Nat’s writing is truly poetic and quite beautiful. The story she has created is dark, raw, and magical. I was grateful that the book started off running- jumped right into the chaos and wasn’t at all slow to start. There was never any knowing or expectation of what was to come next, and that type of unpredictability is so hard to come by. Sometimes I got a little lost on what was going on due to the prose this story is written in, but it is a beautiful debut novel nonetheless!
Thank you for sharing this with us Nat, and looking forward to the next one!
I have never read such a unique book, both in the writing style and the story! Nat’s writing is truly poetic and quite beautiful. The story she has created is dark, raw, and magical. I was grateful that the book started off running- jumped right into the chaos and wasn’t at all slow to start. There was never any knowing or expectation of what was to come next, and that type of unpredictability is so hard to come by. Sometimes I got a little lost on what was going on due to the prose this story is written in, but it is a beautiful debut novel nonetheless!
Thank you for sharing this with us Nat, and looking forward to the next one!
April 18, 2026
Disclosure: I worked with Nat on this manuscript in a developmental capacity. This review is honest, and I would not be posting it if I did not mean every word.
★★★★½ — A myth brought back to life
Hoard opens mid-contraction, mid-raid, on a woman being dragged up a mountain to be sacrificed to a dragon. And somehow, impossibly, it gets more ambitious from there. What looks on the surface like a captive romance with a monster love interest is, in execution, a literary dark fantasy built on one of the most original structural arguments I've read in the genre: that the most powerful magic in the world lives in the body that bleeds, that feeds, that opens to let life through and then closes and keeps going.
The heroine
Uksa is the heroine this genre has been waiting for. Exiled healer, seer, survivor, new mother, and absolutely not a woman who was going to let being given to a dragon be the defining fact of her life. The power balance between her and Eirik tips constantly. She commands, she provokes, she chooses when to yield. Her distrust is never treated as an obstacle to the romance; it's treated as the reasonable response of a woman whose body has been used against her. When she finally goes to him, it's earned through her agency, not his persistence. That distinction is what makes this book morally serious rather than just dark.
The prose
The prose reads like old myth brought back to life. There's a simile in the village chapter about that I am still thinking about days later. There's a stream-of-consciousness dragon POV chapter that does more character work in three pages than most novels manage in three hundred. The Norse-Sami-rooted setting is rendered with cultural specificity that trusts the reader to absorb the rules by watching them lived: the aurora, the sauna, the closing-of-the-bones ritual, the red thread on the birch.
Spice: 4/5. Frequent in the back half, inventive, and occasionally feral in the best way.
Content warnings: sexual assault (handled with care, never gratuitous), captive dynamics, postpartum physical trauma, reproductive coercion imagery. Please go in prepared. Some of this will land hardest for readers who have lived near it.
★★★★½ — A myth brought back to life
Hoard opens mid-contraction, mid-raid, on a woman being dragged up a mountain to be sacrificed to a dragon. And somehow, impossibly, it gets more ambitious from there. What looks on the surface like a captive romance with a monster love interest is, in execution, a literary dark fantasy built on one of the most original structural arguments I've read in the genre: that the most powerful magic in the world lives in the body that bleeds, that feeds, that opens to let life through and then closes and keeps going.
The heroine
Uksa is the heroine this genre has been waiting for. Exiled healer, seer, survivor, new mother, and absolutely not a woman who was going to let being given to a dragon be the defining fact of her life. The power balance between her and Eirik tips constantly. She commands, she provokes, she chooses when to yield. Her distrust is never treated as an obstacle to the romance; it's treated as the reasonable response of a woman whose body has been used against her. When she finally goes to him, it's earned through her agency, not his persistence. That distinction is what makes this book morally serious rather than just dark.
The prose
The prose reads like old myth brought back to life. There's a simile in the village chapter about that I am still thinking about days later. There's a stream-of-consciousness dragon POV chapter that does more character work in three pages than most novels manage in three hundred. The Norse-Sami-rooted setting is rendered with cultural specificity that trusts the reader to absorb the rules by watching them lived: the aurora, the sauna, the closing-of-the-bones ritual, the red thread on the birch.
Spice: 4/5. Frequent in the back half, inventive, and occasionally feral in the best way.
Content warnings: sexual assault (handled with care, never gratuitous), captive dynamics, postpartum physical trauma, reproductive coercion imagery. Please go in prepared. Some of this will land hardest for readers who have lived near it.
A book about what it means to become a mother inside a body that has been used, claimed, sacrificed, and reborn. The bones are exceptional. The fire is already there.
May 7, 2026
This book was really worth reading. Very interesting and complex ideas , characters and concepts. It's refreshing to have a romance with the woman being an adult person , definitely more relatable that the usual 19 year old innocent who saves the world haha.
I'm excited to see what the next book brings.
5 stars because it's so worth reading but I do feel that it could have maybe done with another edit or perhaps a more critical editor idk anything about the process I just feel like sometimes threads where maybe not fully explained to the reader , maybe I just wanted the book to be longer. I think it does read as a first self published book so I suspect the next one will have less issues.
I'm excited to see what the next book brings.
5 stars because it's so worth reading but I do feel that it could have maybe done with another edit or perhaps a more critical editor idk anything about the process I just feel like sometimes threads where maybe not fully explained to the reader , maybe I just wanted the book to be longer. I think it does read as a first self published book so I suspect the next one will have less issues.
July 3, 2026
Honestly, I did not enjoy this read, it felt very… I don’t know how to word it, it started out with a real rough in your face situation, and then it just became slow and boring, I found myself personally not really taking in what was happening, and would often find myself being confused why all of a sudden something or someone was there, I felt lost a lot of the time, I felt board a lot of the time.
Seems like Nat was dealing with some stuff and then put it in a book to get herself through it.
Anyways for me personally not keen, won’t be reading the other books part of this series, and probably wouldn’t suggest to others to read it.
Sorry.
Seems like Nat was dealing with some stuff and then put it in a book to get herself through it.
Anyways for me personally not keen, won’t be reading the other books part of this series, and probably wouldn’t suggest to others to read it.
Sorry.
March 16, 2026
amazing!
The tension and build up were delicious. So different than a lot of books I’ve been reading (I’m a serial romance reader). Excited to see what else this new author puts out!! With all the high fantasy themes, I may even ask my husband to listen to the audiobook with me!!
The tension and build up were delicious. So different than a lot of books I’ve been reading (I’m a serial romance reader). Excited to see what else this new author puts out!! With all the high fantasy themes, I may even ask my husband to listen to the audiobook with me!!
March 15, 2026
I love let's get haunted so I was so excited to see nat was coming out with a book. a lot of fantasy books I read tend to blend together, so it was refreshing to read something with a different story but also written so beautifully. this book was so unique. I can't wait for more!
June 16, 2026
What a read!
Not my typical read, but I'll support anything by the Queen Strawn.
Enjoyed the fantasy, lore and dark tones. Nicely paced - interested to see where this trilogy goes.
Not my typical read, but I'll support anything by the Queen Strawn.
Enjoyed the fantasy, lore and dark tones. Nicely paced - interested to see where this trilogy goes.
May 24, 2026
I was very confused
I wanted to like this book but as I read ‘ I had no idea what was going on. Maybe im just not intellectually inclined enough to understand the authors writing but I didn’t enjoy anything. Sorry but I will not be continuing this series.
I wanted to like this book but as I read ‘ I had no idea what was going on. Maybe im just not intellectually inclined enough to understand the authors writing but I didn’t enjoy anything. Sorry but I will not be continuing this series.
July 2, 2026
First, I want to congratulate Nat on publishing a debut novel. Writing and releasing a book is an incredible accomplishment, and that's something to be genuinely proud of. There is so much potential on display here, and I can already see the unique voice she's bringing to fantasy.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its prose. Nat has a gift for descriptive writing, creating scenes that you can vividly picture, smell, and almost physically experience. The language is often lyrical and poetic, giving the story a dreamlike quality that feels distinct from many other fantasy novels. I also loved the underlying theme of balance within the magic system. The interplay between the divine feminine and divine masculine was beautifully woven throughout the story. In particular, the relationship between the witch and the dragon, continually sustaining one another by sharing magic when the other needed it most, was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. It was a beautiful idea executed with a great deal of heart.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!
That said, I found myself wanting more development in several areas. While the descriptive prose was gorgeous, there was comparatively little dialogue—both spoken and internal. Much of the dialogue that did appear relied heavily on metaphor and symbolism, which sometimes made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. As a result, they never felt as fully realized as I wanted them to, and I think the emotional impact of the plot suffered because of it.
Similarly, the poetic style occasionally became repetitive and, at times, obscured rather than clarified what was happening. There were several key plot points that left me confused even after finishing the book. I never fully understood what Eirik had actually done wrong, nor why the protagonist harbored such deep resentment toward him at the beginning of the story. I kept expecting a specific memory or revelation that would provide the emotional foundation for that hatred, especially considering her repeated desire to return to the villagers who had willingly sacrificed a pregnant woman to a dragon. That contrast never quite made sense to me.
There were also a few lingering questions that I hoped would receive more concrete answers. I wasn't entirely sure why the baby was out on the ice while he was also sleeping or what exactly that implied. Was the child also becoming a dragon? The recurring references to the wolves also seemed to hint at something significant, but that thread never felt fully explored. Finally, introducing a second male love interest in the final thirty pages felt abrupt. Because he appeared so late and had relatively little page time, I never felt invested enough to experience the intended emotional tension. I think introducing him much earlier would have made that dynamic much more compelling.
Overall, I think this story has amazing bones. The world, the atmosphere, and the central themes are all incredibly compelling, and Nat clearly has a beautiful writing style. For me, the novel was simply missing some of the connective tissue—deeper character development, clearer motivations, and a bit more follow-through on several plot threads—that would have elevated it from good to truly exceptional.
I'm excited to see what Nat writes next as she continues to grow as a writer.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its prose. Nat has a gift for descriptive writing, creating scenes that you can vividly picture, smell, and almost physically experience. The language is often lyrical and poetic, giving the story a dreamlike quality that feels distinct from many other fantasy novels. I also loved the underlying theme of balance within the magic system. The interplay between the divine feminine and divine masculine was beautifully woven throughout the story. In particular, the relationship between the witch and the dragon, continually sustaining one another by sharing magic when the other needed it most, was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. It was a beautiful idea executed with a great deal of heart.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!
That said, I found myself wanting more development in several areas. While the descriptive prose was gorgeous, there was comparatively little dialogue—both spoken and internal. Much of the dialogue that did appear relied heavily on metaphor and symbolism, which sometimes made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. As a result, they never felt as fully realized as I wanted them to, and I think the emotional impact of the plot suffered because of it.
Similarly, the poetic style occasionally became repetitive and, at times, obscured rather than clarified what was happening. There were several key plot points that left me confused even after finishing the book. I never fully understood what Eirik had actually done wrong, nor why the protagonist harbored such deep resentment toward him at the beginning of the story. I kept expecting a specific memory or revelation that would provide the emotional foundation for that hatred, especially considering her repeated desire to return to the villagers who had willingly sacrificed a pregnant woman to a dragon. That contrast never quite made sense to me.
There were also a few lingering questions that I hoped would receive more concrete answers. I wasn't entirely sure why the baby was out on the ice while he was also sleeping or what exactly that implied. Was the child also becoming a dragon? The recurring references to the wolves also seemed to hint at something significant, but that thread never felt fully explored. Finally, introducing a second male love interest in the final thirty pages felt abrupt. Because he appeared so late and had relatively little page time, I never felt invested enough to experience the intended emotional tension. I think introducing him much earlier would have made that dynamic much more compelling.
Overall, I think this story has amazing bones. The world, the atmosphere, and the central themes are all incredibly compelling, and Nat clearly has a beautiful writing style. For me, the novel was simply missing some of the connective tissue—deeper character development, clearer motivations, and a bit more follow-through on several plot threads—that would have elevated it from good to truly exceptional.
I'm excited to see what Nat writes next as she continues to grow as a writer.
March 31, 2026
🐉 What to Expect
• MMF why choose
• Spice: 🌶️
• Dragons x witch
• Graphic Imagery
• Extreme slow burn 🥵
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My final rating is 3.5 Stars mostly because I like that she went into great detail about birth and menstruation unlike other fantasy series. It was very flowery and poetic, but I felt it didn’t have a lot of character depth. The characters felt very 2D. I wish we knew what they were thinking. I didn’t feel very connected to the characters. There was a lot of describing. After every chapter I literally said out loud “wait, what the fuck? What is happening?” I don’t know if that was because I was listening to the audio version and I was so mesmerized by Nat’s voice or it was hard to follow the story. There were a lot of secondary locations, and I could not keep track of that dam baby. I felt like I was going crazy keeping everything straight.
***SPOILERS***
I loved her journey and growth throughout the story. The slow burn was excellent! Probably one of the better slow burns I’ve ever read. I think overall, I want a few things explained, but for her first book it was really good and I can’t wait to see how she grows as an author.
• MMF why choose
• Spice: 🌶️
• Dragons x witch
• Graphic Imagery
• Extreme slow burn 🥵
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My final rating is 3.5 Stars mostly because I like that she went into great detail about birth and menstruation unlike other fantasy series. It was very flowery and poetic, but I felt it didn’t have a lot of character depth. The characters felt very 2D. I wish we knew what they were thinking. I didn’t feel very connected to the characters. There was a lot of describing. After every chapter I literally said out loud “wait, what the fuck? What is happening?” I don’t know if that was because I was listening to the audio version and I was so mesmerized by Nat’s voice or it was hard to follow the story. There were a lot of secondary locations, and I could not keep track of that dam baby. I felt like I was going crazy keeping everything straight.
***SPOILERS***
I loved her journey and growth throughout the story. The slow burn was excellent! Probably one of the better slow burns I’ve ever read. I think overall, I want a few things explained, but for her first book it was really good and I can’t wait to see how she grows as an author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
If you are looking for a read that isn't a cookie cutout of every other romantasy novel out there, you've found it in Hoard.
I love Nat Strawn's style of writing, which has beautiful prose and makes use of metaphors and similes that almost seem poetic to tell the story. The writing isn't oversimplified and it doesn't stick to tropes that have been done a thousand times over. It was so refreshing to read something new where I couldn't predict where the story was going. I was hooked from start to finish.
My only complaint is that in some chapters, I felt that a few more descriptive sentences were needed to flesh out a scene completely, and my mind had to fill in blanks occasionally to make the scene make sense or feel more complete. But, this only happened a couple of times, which for a debut author I can forgive, and this literally is my only complaint (and I am forcing myself to include even the tiniest flaws to complain about to give you guys the most honest and unbiased review I can).
The use of magic in this world was captivating, and I found the link between magic and motherhood really interesting. I would have liked to see that explored more. The main characters have great flaws and development that create the perfect tension and keep you reading and wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel to see how they continue to change and grow.
If you are looking for a read that isn't a cookie cutout of every other romantasy novel out there, you've found it in Hoard.
I love Nat Strawn's style of writing, which has beautiful prose and makes use of metaphors and similes that almost seem poetic to tell the story. The writing isn't oversimplified and it doesn't stick to tropes that have been done a thousand times over. It was so refreshing to read something new where I couldn't predict where the story was going. I was hooked from start to finish.
My only complaint is that in some chapters, I felt that a few more descriptive sentences were needed to flesh out a scene completely, and my mind had to fill in blanks occasionally to make the scene make sense or feel more complete. But, this only happened a couple of times, which for a debut author I can forgive, and this literally is my only complaint (and I am forcing myself to include even the tiniest flaws to complain about to give you guys the most honest and unbiased review I can).
The use of magic in this world was captivating, and I found the link between magic and motherhood really interesting. I would have liked to see that explored more. The main characters have great flaws and development that create the perfect tension and keep you reading and wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel to see how they continue to change and grow.
June 14, 2026
HOARD - Witch, Magic, Motherhood, Dragon, Lust and Love. A captivating and exhilarating book
Nat Strawn’s book HOARD will have you on the edge. From worrying about a pregnant mother and her soon to be born child, in a cold, snowy, beautifully harsh setting, to bracing yourself when the dragon first enters the story and the real journey starts to take place.
The characters are very well written, while I was worried for Uksá. I felt that she was not going to be made anyone’s prisoner.. or plaything against her permission and own willingness. And the Dragon for being such a dark, forceful, and demanding presence, I never felt like that was truly all there was to him, keeping me interested to learn more about both of them throughout. The Romance and let’s say other spicy topics in this book were done so very tastefully. It was just another part that kept me glued to the story. But be warned it is still graphic.
This book absolutely takes you on an adventure with Amazing highs while having some low points. But for being Nat’s first foray in writing a novel I can only imagine how much she will improve in her future work. I’m anticipating what she has planned for the next book.
Nat Strawn’s book HOARD will have you on the edge. From worrying about a pregnant mother and her soon to be born child, in a cold, snowy, beautifully harsh setting, to bracing yourself when the dragon first enters the story and the real journey starts to take place.
The characters are very well written, while I was worried for Uksá. I felt that she was not going to be made anyone’s prisoner.. or plaything against her permission and own willingness. And the Dragon for being such a dark, forceful, and demanding presence, I never felt like that was truly all there was to him, keeping me interested to learn more about both of them throughout. The Romance and let’s say other spicy topics in this book were done so very tastefully. It was just another part that kept me glued to the story. But be warned it is still graphic.
This book absolutely takes you on an adventure with Amazing highs while having some low points. But for being Nat’s first foray in writing a novel I can only imagine how much she will improve in her future work. I’m anticipating what she has planned for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy Review
.
Nat Strawn’s debut novel centers around a witch cast out by her village; given as sacrifice to the legendary dragon that resides in the mountain. The dragon in turn, accepts her - and the babe in her womb - as an addition to his beloved hoard. What follows is an imaginative and original story focusing on the beauty and complexity of womanhood, motherhood, and love.
.
Strawn has written a gorgeous tale that makes you feel as though you’re walking through a dream. Her writing style is poetic and impassioned, and the story she has created is divine. Hoard has such an original concept with a unique magic system and compelling characters.
.
Normally I enjoy something with a bit more dialogue to help move the story along, but in all fairness this was so beautifully done it was easy to fall into. The book is full of moments of deep introspection, lovely devotion, and even bits of humor thrown in to offer some levity.
.
An absolutely wonderful read, I wish you all the success with this story and I cannot wait for any future writings you release.
.
Nat Strawn’s debut novel centers around a witch cast out by her village; given as sacrifice to the legendary dragon that resides in the mountain. The dragon in turn, accepts her - and the babe in her womb - as an addition to his beloved hoard. What follows is an imaginative and original story focusing on the beauty and complexity of womanhood, motherhood, and love.
.
Strawn has written a gorgeous tale that makes you feel as though you’re walking through a dream. Her writing style is poetic and impassioned, and the story she has created is divine. Hoard has such an original concept with a unique magic system and compelling characters.
.
Normally I enjoy something with a bit more dialogue to help move the story along, but in all fairness this was so beautifully done it was easy to fall into. The book is full of moments of deep introspection, lovely devotion, and even bits of humor thrown in to offer some levity.
.
An absolutely wonderful read, I wish you all the success with this story and I cannot wait for any future writings you release.
June 18, 2026
This book is described as atmospheric, and that is a perfect adjective! The prose is captivating, painting a vivid picture on every page that is haunting and beautiful and immersive. The world has an ancient Nordic aesthetic with magic woven into everything--the land, the mountain, and the tether between the two main characters. Nat's writing creates tension and drama that makes you want to keep reading and uncover the mysteries of the supernatural elements in this world, and follow along with the choices Uksa (FMC) makes under extreme circumstances.
If you like a mysterious, atmospheric world, evocative writing, magical tethers, and sexy-man dragons, I definitely recommend this book!
If you like a mysterious, atmospheric world, evocative writing, magical tethers, and sexy-man dragons, I definitely recommend this book!
April 3, 2026
Dark. Intense. Surprising.
This book reminds me of an Assasins Creed scene; scorched lands, darkness, snow and ice, a village at the base of a mountain…
The world of this book is cruel and unforgiving but protection is found where we least expect it.
Can’t wait for the next book.
Uksá forever.
This book reminds me of an Assasins Creed scene; scorched lands, darkness, snow and ice, a village at the base of a mountain…
The world of this book is cruel and unforgiving but protection is found where we least expect it.
Can’t wait for the next book.
Uksá forever.
June 14, 2026
Bought the book as a whim, was pleasantly surprised how good it was for an initial outing, excited forore
April 28, 2026
Knowing the author, I knew I would love this book and I was right. This book has everything; magic, snow, aurora borealis, yearning and longing. Our witch's journey is one taken by many; a journey of finding one's self again. It's a beautiful and tortuous journey but so worthwhile. BRB, gonna reread this book. Byyyeeeeeee
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews