Royals and Ruses

The Weary Dragon Inn #10

by S. Usher Evans, Deborah Balm (Narrator )

The Annual Pigsend Harvest Festival has arrived once again, and this year's may prove to be more exciting than last. Rumor has it Queen Meandra herself will be coming to oversee the festivities, a fact that has both confused and excited the rural citizens. Bev's got her hands full, both tending to the out of town guests at the Weary Dragon, and also helping Ida Witzel with the festivities.

But when Sheriff Rustin doesn't show up for work, and more Pigsend citizens go missing, Bev's on the case once again. Can she figure out who or what's snatching the citizens of Pigsend before the entire town disappears—or there's no one left to help with the Harvest Festival when the queen finally arrives?

Royals and Ruses is the final book in the Weary Dragon Inn series.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction

Audiobook

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a "real job" as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.

Reviews

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's over and I am BIG SAD but oh man was that a fun ride. If you've enjoyed Bev up until this point then BUCKLE UP because this last book is a wild ride! (Don't worry, this is a cozy fantasy after all.) Plus we FINALLY learn Bev's secret that she didn't even know she was hiding. You guys aren't ready!

[Selina⚔️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on Fable


https://fable.co/review/3e0a0c2b-6a4c...

[Mattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a finish to the series! I’m really bummed that it’s ended and I kind of feel like there was at least one or two more books that could have been made in this series, especially with how the end of this book was so rushed. It felt like quite a lot was hand waved away in a few paragraphs and that didn’t really feel as satisfying after the big rising action.

Overall, though, this is a great cozy fantasy series and perhaps more elaboration on the ending would have led us a little far away from the cozy vibes of Pigsend and its Harvest Festival.

Lillie, the pobyd baker has a series of books now, so I’m off to read those!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bev's adventures finally come to an end as we bid farewell to her, Pigsend, and The Weary Dragon Inn.

When I started reading this series at the beginning of the year I had no idea it would quickly become one of my favorites, and though a spin-off series is coming, it is still sad to see the series end.

That being said, this final mystery certainly kept me guessing, and I freely admit that my original suspicions were proven only half true (with all the talk of the Queen but no sign of her, I expected the twist reveal to be that Bev was secretly the Queen in hiding and that the machinations of her soldiers were something altogether different- I was wrong of course, but someone important secretly hiding in plain sight was true, so I'm taking half a point). Likewise, the revelation of Bev's true identity at long last made sense and was fitting for her character as well as what little we'd learned along the way.

If I had any complaint about this book, it's that the ending was kind of rushed. The revelation of Bev and others identities as well as what comes next could have easily filled several chapters. Instead, the crux of events happens 'off-screen' and takes up a few paragraphs before bringing us to the conclusion. I get that this is at its core a cozy mystery fantasy series, but if you're going to have something like that happen, maybe spend a little extra time on it. Or maybe that's just me.

All in all, a great end to a great series, and while I'm looking forward to the spin-off, I wouldn't say no to a return visit to Bev and The Weary Dragon Inn in the future.

[Jennifer Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it! a little fast on the wrap up satisfying none the less!

I will miss the people of Pigsend and the quirky protector! The end wrap up was a bit fast and furious but it kinda had to be to keep it cozy. I may have to start a reread now that all has been revealed!

[Ursula Fricke · Rating 1 out of 5]

WTF did I just finish?

This is the first time I give only one star for a book I didn't abandon.

And I'm really disappointed. Not in the author (well, that, too, there was so much potential), but in myself. By book 3 I started complaining about the characters, by book 6 I was contemplating not following the series anymore. Should have trusted my gut.

No character growth, important parts (it's a revolution, ffs!) dealt with in just a few sentences and again the happenings suggest days way longer than 24 hours.
The "dénouement" was so simplistic it was dumb. The only real surprise (among the citizens of Pigsend) was Rustin and potions as deus ex machinas was not what I wanted to read.
And of course Bev goes back to being just an innkeeper.
A series that does more to raise my blood pressure than keep me entertained is anything but cosy to me. I really should have known better and stopped reading way back in November 2023.

[TenshiMari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 10 book bundle that I got on Kobo doesn't have a GoodReads page, so I'll be writing my review for the entire series here. At first glance, this seems like a good cozy fantasy series. The mysteries are done well, there's lots of vibrant characters, there's a cute animal companion, so why am I giving it only two stars? Normally, cozy fantasy is known for it's warm, wholesome feels. Books that feel like a warm hug. Looking at this series a little more critically, a recurring issue in every single book is how selfish and sometimes outright cruel the characters are. No one seems to really care about the wellbeing of each other or the town. Even Bev herself seems largely indifferent about whatever crisis is affecting the town and seems more troubled by whether it delays her chores and her daily running of the inn. This makes all of the characters, including the protagonist, very unlikeable. Even though the mystery is done well and the worldbuilding of this fantasy setting seems interesting, it was the selfishness of the characters that prevented me from really enjoying this series. Despite that, they were okay enough and very easy to binge due to their good pacing, so I binged through the entire 10-book bundle in a matter of days.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Harvest Festival has once again come to Pigsend! This year, they are scrambling, because apparently the Queen is coming to it! Bev has been enlisted by Mayor Hendry and Ida for the committee, and she now has to deal with snotty judges, and an influx of Queens soldiers invading their town. On top of this, people are going missing! What's a simple Innkeeper to do?

I loved this conclusion to the series. It kept to the cozy theme,while giving a satisfying wrap up. I LOVE that the reveal of Bev's past is an aside, and the story is just another adventure in Pigsend. I also love the reappearance of many of the guests from the past. I am happy I decided to read the whole series.

The only thing I didn't like was the new judges. They were buttheads.

[BRANDON]

The Weary Dragon Inn is kind of a ridiculous series, it focuses on relatively low stake mysteries in a tiny little village full of gay couples and closeted magical creatures. It plods along, slow but comfortable for nine books, no murder no 'all hope is lost' moments. Finally, in the last book, number ten, things get really dark, uncomfortably dark (or maybe it just feels that way because I live in America in 2025) only to be wrapped up in a chapter. Any other series would have focused on the events of the final chapter, but no Bev's got bread to bake. I loved it. With everything going on right now in the world and in my personal life, I couldn't wait to escape to Pig's End at the end of the day. I'd pick up my phone, open my reader app and say, "Come on Bev, take me away."

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice ending to an interesting series. I finally got the answers to all the questions that had been piling up over here course of the series, and I am quite satisfied with the outcome. There were some good surprises along the way, although some of my pet peeves from earlier in the series were maintained.

As cozy fantasy goes, it’s good enough and the worldbuilding, while not brilliant, had some fun elements to it. The mystery in this volume was as good as ever, and really kept me guessing. As it turned out, I was completely wrong about who was occasioning all the disappearances, so that made for a wonderful surprise. And the ending was thoroughly satisfying.

[Chandler Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars——This series was a lovely albeit s l o w paced listen, like a cup of tea on a Sunday morning. The characters and village of Pigsend become familiar staples as a larger plot unfolds in the periphery, all culminating in this final iteration! Given the build up (9 books) the ending felt very hurried (last 20 pages in book 10). We didn’t get to really relish in the secret we finally learned about our beloved innkeeper. It felt a bit like ordering a delicious pastry and being asked to eat it in 10 seconds or less…Maybe a limited series will be released down the road exploring what was glazed over and wrapped up in a bow?

[MegK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah… what? Like…actually what? I loved this series but the ending is just WHAT? It felt a lot like a cop out. It’s like when you think a series will have smexy times and then it’s just all fade to black. Only here it was the epic war and reconciliation. “And then we won, yeehaw!” with zero details is just….a bit disappointing. I get it because it’s against the feeling and concept of the series. But why even lead the series this way and then just be like “hee hee enjoy vague non details.” 😑 And everyone else lived in the meantime and was fine.

I’ll probably be bitter about this for a while.

[Lestat Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sincerely enjoyed this series more than I thought I was going to. I loved this ending, I loved Bev, I loved how simple the story stayed. There is such bittersweetness to this series ending, but I'm very glad I took the journey.

Spoilers below.
I was surprised that Rustin was the King, but I had suspected for a few books that there was something peculiar with him, caught me off guard! I was completely off in my assumption that Zed was doing an elaborate double cross haha

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 bk 2. The series is done, but hopefully the ones we love will show up in the follow up series. I did enjoy the ending and how the author brought all the ties together - but felt the story was rushed. I would have liked to know a little more about the joint efforts to overthrow the queen, but hope the follow up will have some answers. An excellent cozy fantasy read with likeable (and unlikeable) characters.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bev and the folks in Pigsend have finished with their regular calamities and adventures. The time has come to bid them all and The Weary Dragon Inn a fond farewell. The actual overthrowing of the Queen felt too fast in wrapping up with less detail than I'd have liked, however it stayed cozy and true to the feel of the series so far so it was satisfying nonetheless.

Overall a great series and one I will likely revisit.

[aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here it is, the final book in the Weary Dragon Inn. I've really enjoyed this series so I am sad to see it end but really enjoyed the journey. This book finally reveals the overall mystery of the series, the identity of Bev. I wasn't surprised but then again, I don't care because it continued on the fun, coziness of the series. I'm enjoying the other series in Evan's world and would love to see more Bev in the future.

[Kimthebookishbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible conclusion to a great series! I wish there was more but I'm happy for Bev's conclusion. For a cozy story, this book certainly had me on the edge of my seat. And the plot twists! I did not see several things coming that happened in this story. Really just a great series, one I definitely recommend for cozy readers everywhere.

[Bryan Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book. I wish it wasn't ending, though. My only complaint is that I wanted more details of the 2 months that get breezed over near the end. There wasn't the sense of satisfaction I was hoping for at the end. There was a bunch of build up to the fight, series long secrets revealed. Then 2 months later.... Overall, it's a fun series, though.

[Carolyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grand Finale

The truth is finally revealed, and it is a doozy. We find out some of our familiar characters are not exactly who we thought they were, and neither are some of the newest visitors. Yet one thing remains the same, Pigsend is in danger, and it is up to Bev to save it.

[Ashleigh Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book in the Weary Dragon Inn series warns that the stakes will be higher, and they are! I love how the story wraps up, and how it skips over a bunch of crazy action and adventure to get back to the boring, slow bits at the inn. As I was reading this series, I called it my "side quest" novels, and the final instalment didn't disappoint.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved this series so much! It's so cozy and I really became attached to the characters. I was really surprised how things got tied up so neatly and I was really satisfied with all the character resolutions. I'm looking forward to the spin off series that is coming in March.

[Allison Ketchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful end to a delightful series. I wasn’t sure how the author was going to wrap up all the threads of this ten-book series but they all came together nicely in a satisfying conclusion. And there’s a spin-off series!

[Lady Lioness · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the most disappointing endings to a series ever. Evans teased out a mystery over ten books and then glossed over the reveal, off-screen. The whole climax to the series was summed up rather than seen, as everything happened, again, OFF-SCREEN. Bitterly disappointed.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a rollercoaster for all 10 books but it really did finish at a high note! I was not convinced it would be a satisfying end to how many stories led here but it kept the cozy casual vibe the entire time!

[Doug Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite cozy series

I’ve loved every second of this cozy mystery series. It’s so unique and refreshing. There is something so wholesome about Bev, the weary dragon Inn, and the other characters in pigs end. I highly recommendthis series.

[Lavada Haga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

I love this book and the Weary Dragon Inn series! This is the last book in this series and S. Usher Evans brought the stories together and ended the tale in a heartfelt climax. Loved it!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in tears!
This was the best cozy fantasy mystery series I’ve ever read! Period. Thank you Sush for an amazing journey!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter sweet that this series is now over. Looking forward to the spin off one though.

[Emily Lonsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed. But so sad to be leaving Bev and the Weary dragon behind its been a lovely journey through this cosy world.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute series. It maybe could’ve been six or seven books and not ten. There were a few spots where the series lagged but on the whole it was a good deal of fun.