Of Dragons and Lies

by Penelope Knayme

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Penelope lives on the east coast of North Carolina, where beach life meets spreadsheets. By day, she works as a tax accountant with a fondness for math and the order of operations. By night she is a dreamer, writer, and storyteller. She has dabbled in countless hobbies, cheerfully admitting to being “mediocre at best,” but writing is where she has truly found her passion.

At home, she shares life with her loving husband, two children, and their dog. While creating characters who live extraordinary lives on the page, she is glad to live an exceptionally ordinary one with her family. In her own words, she embraces the extraordinary through her stories, and The Last Petal marks the first step of that journey.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love fantasy romance with the bite of betrayal, this one is for you. This story is built on lies. Secrets. Betrayal. Power plays. And the kind of twists that make you question everyone. The vibe? Imagine the darker edge of the magical school atmosphere in Harry Potter, blended with the oppressive, capital-controlled tension of The Hunger Games, and then stir in a dragon bond that gave me just a hint of that addictive energy you get from Fourth Wing. But it still stands firmly on its own. The elemental magic system adds such a cool layer of strategy and identity, and the dragon shifter? Obsessed. I just can’t decide what form I like him best, dragon or male? And of course, the found family. The friendships feel real, protective and loyal. Loyal in that “I would burn the world down for you” way that makes fantasy hit so hard. This is book one in a series, and it absolutely does what a first book should: it sets the stage, plants the betrayals, builds emotional investment, and leaves you ready for more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you’re into:
🐉 Dragon shifters
🔥 Elemental magic
🖤 Lies & betrayal
⚔️ Dystopian political tension
🤝 Found family

Add this to your TBR. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

[Paul Castelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll say the key thing up front: If you’re a fantasy reader, Of Dragons and Lies is a must on your 2026 TBR.

Step into a wonderfully crafted high fantasy that blends dystopian and romantic elements into a story about Maelin, a girl who sees herself unremarkable. She doesn’t appear to have any innate magical ability — or at least hasn’t manifested any, unlike her peers who were likewise drafted to the Valkrenn. But things aren’t always as they may seem in Aluxia, especially not Maelin. Throughout this story, she discovers herself — who she truly is, what she’s truly capable of, why she’s the most consequential person in her realm.

This book had a grip on me. I couldn’t put it down and when I did I was always antsy to get back to it. Penelope Knayme spins a tale full of twists and turns. Of Dragons and Lies has a tendency to begin to feel familiar just before it catches you by surprise, challenging your assumptions based on other fantasy stories with similar settings and narrative elements. Just when you think you can guess what’s next, you get to release a thrilling, “What?!”

Overall, this is a satisfying story that will thankfully continue into a series. Pacing varies throughout, keeping the reader engaged through the slow burn. The magical system is simple, giving just enough without bogging the story down in unnecessary complexity. Combat is fast-paced and thrilling. High stakes political intrigue makes the story truly captivating. Finally, Kname’s character development and relationships drew me right in — especially the banter.

[Mountainmommareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want fantasy, betrayal, romance, dragon shifters, elemental magic, and love books like fourth wing, then you will love this book! The magic system is cool and this book is so easy to read.

[Cassie Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this book is a must read for 2026. It’s fantasy with elements of dystopian and romance. It has all the hallmarks of a book worth reading. It draws you in and has you reading well into the morning. Every single time you think you know what’s going on, something happens that has you screaming “what!?” in the best way possible. You’ll fall in love with the characters and the story. There is character development, suspense, banter, magic, self-discovery, and so many secrets. There is never a dull moment and the pacing makes it an easy read that has you yearning for next book already.

[Jane Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler-Free Thoughts on Of Dragons and Lies

This is the kind of book that quietly takes over your brain. No flashy chaos. No trying too hard. Just a steady, confident pull that makes you keep turning pages and thinking, okay… I see what you’re doing here.

The world feels lived-in, not dumped on you. The magic has rules (thank you), the stakes feel real, and the dragons actually matter—they’re not just decorative fantasy accessories. Everything has weight, which makes the tension hit harder.

What really got me, though, were the characters. Messy. Guarded. Making choices that feel human, not convenient. The emotional undercurrent is constant, and the slow burn is handled with patience instead of gimmicks. It trusts the reader—and I love when an author does that.

This isn’t a book you fly through and forget. It lingers. It makes you pause. It makes you suspicious of everyone (as you should be). And it absolutely earns its place in the romantasy conversation without copying what’s already out there.

If you like your fantasy smart, your romance restrained but intense, and your dragons with purpose—not vibes—put this on your list.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book to read in between reads that is quick, easy and not something you have to really think about, this is a great choice.

When I first started, I was drawn in.

Maelin is fiercely loyal, strong, and intelligent….for a Sine; a human with no magic. She is raised by strangers who become her family and allies when the world turns against her.

The magic is easy to understand and jump into but with creativity that is refreshing and stands on its own.

I just wanted more. More expansion on relationships and what’s going on. It seemed like everything happened really fast and sometimes I would have to flip back to previous chapters to get understanding.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see what happens to Maelin as she continues to understand who she is and what she can do.

My favorite quote:

“And I know I shouldn’t, but part of me wants him to be the one to unearth it because when he’s around, whatever is deep down sings for him.”

[Natalie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Dragons and Lies

This is the 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 book I’ve been waiting for.

There is something magical about going into a book a bit unknown…so I’m going to list the things I ❤️ about Of Dragons and Lies.

❤️ strong FMC
❤️ self-discovery
❤️ hot MMCs
❤️ secrets
❤️ witty dialogue
❤️ magic
❤️ powers
❤️ secrets
❤️ cheeky dragon
❤️ friendship
❤️ secrets

Maelin is all alone when Rainne discovers her at a train station when she is a young girl. Several years later she receives a summons by the government…but why? Why her?

The beauty and heartbreak of this tale are in the answers to the why.

Penelope Knayme has a gift for writing the most incredible supporting characters.

Thank you, thank you, @penelopeknayme.author for giving this book to the world!!

#bensonreadsbooks
#ofdragonsandlies

[Nathaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Dragons and Lies will have you in a chokehold and will not let go until you are on the last page wondering when book 2 will be out!!!
I absolutely devoured this book. The pacing was just right and that slow burn was amazing! Really kept you in that “when will they kiss” suspense! The banter was A+, banter all around, love it! And my favorite part, so many juicy secrets to uncover!!
This is a must read if you are into epic fantasies, filled with romance and adventure, uncovering secrets and most of all dragons!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki (MayhemBoundBookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
I want to start by thanking PK for the absolute privilege of early reading this book. I have struggled for months trying to find a fantasy that I really loved, and this one sits right up on the top with ToG, Child of Shivay, and The Poet Empress.
The character development was pristine, the world building was well thought-out, the relationships were riddled with nuance and intrigue, and the entire story just had me begging for more.
There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and some I saw coming and was happy to see pan out, but ultimately, this book has been on my mind non-stop since I closed the pages and I CANNOT WAIT for books 2 and 3 in this Unbound Saga trilogy.

[James B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope created an incredible world with this book. I have to say her prose shines in this book. I read The Last Petal and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can clearly see Knaymes story telling come to life in this novel.

The world she builds is deep and rich with lore. Her magic was simple and easy to understand which was wonderful not having to go back chapters to understand how worked.

This book had me turning pages and wishing I had read it after at least three of the 4 were out! 5 star read and a must read for 2026. I cannot wait to see what the next book brings to us readers!!!

[Samantha Terrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted in a fantasy. Penelope slow feeds you love, loss, corruption, betrayal, found family and badassery in this installment of the Unbound Saga. Once I dove in I had a hard time setting this one down. The last 100 pages had me on the edge of my seat, and the last paragraph had me begging for book 2.

[Kayla Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Dragons and Lies by absolutely consumed me. The lies, the betrayal, the female rage, the aching yearning, every emotion hit exactly where it needed to. I was completely pulled into the world, the elemental magic, and the layers of mystery woven throughout. And those twists! I did not see them coming. This story kept me on edge in the best way.

[TiasLifeUnfiltered · Rating 5 out of 5]

You think you know how the book is going to go and then half way through it the ball drops in a different directions. 3 chapters of so many different emotions and they just kept coming. Between the character/world building and the banter? Definitely going to recommend this book is added to your TBR! So ready for book 2!