The Drakon King

by Terry J. Benton-Walker

Queer, Black, and sexy as hell, The Drakon King is romantasy at its best: A forbidden love story between princes in the court of a cruel king and an edge-of-your-seat tale of missing dragons, ruthless betrayals, and stolen hearts.

Two princes, born to a world at war.

Heir to a kingdom built on lies and stolen magic, Prince Reverie has one goal: avoid the crown. Raised by a cruel and violent king, Reverie’s real life begins after curfew―bottle service, masked revelries, top-shelf highs, and anonymous rooftop liaisons. But when his king plots to seize dwindling majikal resources from the Drakon King, Reverie hits his limit―he casts aside his royal obligations and gets the hell outta town. Better a free fugitive than a tortured captive.

Heir to a kingdom banished into the sky, Prince Xandreth has one goal: find a missing friend. His brother, the Drakon King, stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that their people keep going missing, so Xandreth takes it upon himself to hunt down answers.

A meeting that will change them both.

Having abandoned their kingdoms, both princes end up stranded in the dangerous and bewitching Wraithwood, and out of desperation, agree to help each other and then go their separate ways.

A love that will save their world.

But when a myth as old as the world―a bird on fire in the belly of a massive volcano―is whispered from Human lips to Drakon ears, Reverie and Xandreth are suddenly at the heart of a crisis so much bigger than a missing friend or even freedom.

If they can’t come together, the world itself may go up in flames.

Perfect for fans of Crescent City, When the Moon Hatched, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Fourth Wing, and the world of Blade Runner.

The hardcover edition includes a gorgeous two-page world map.

Expect:
- Black mlm romance
- Dragons
- Forced proximity
- Rivals to lovers
- Cinnamon roll mmc
- Epic worldbuilding
- Powerful witches
- Mechs and magical tech

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, Romantasy, LGBT, Adult, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[Coco]

Thank you Terry J. Benton-Walker, Bramble, & NetGalley for this ARC!
This story is packed with incredibly rich descriptions, immersive world-building, and the history of imaginary places that feel vivid enough to exist in the future. The action never lets up, I swear I needed my inhaler trying to keep up with all the running and nonstop chaos. My thumbs got a workout from how much of a page-turner this was. And for anyone with angry father issues… this book is for you, because we absolutely love to hate King Alton.

Prince Rev spends his nights getting high and hanging out with his best friend at the nightclub, where his ex-boyfriend, CJ, deals out of the bathroom. Rev only ended their relationship because he feared how his father would retaliate against CJ, but CJ is still hopelessly infatuated with Rev. I will be requesting a sequel for CJ when I meet the author at San Diego Comic Con because our thug dealer with a loverboy heart deserves happiness. I spent the entire book hoping he’d somehow get a second chance with Rev. Justice for CJ!

Rev finally reaches his breaking point after years of living under his father’s cruelty and tyrant ways. With CJ’s help he gets a new identity and boards a train to escape the kingdom. Unfortunately, his escape is derailed after a train worker he just hooked up with recognizes him and attempts to blackmail him while the train is stalled. Rev is distracted by his first dragon spotting outside of the train and impulsively jumps off to follow it.

He meets the dragon prince, Xandreth, along with a mage. This is no surprise as there is a foretelling of this, the three form a kindling bond to save their kinds and work together before it’s too late. As they uncover more secrets and darker conspiracies, their journey takes them across dangerous quests while learning to trust one another while ignoring other feelings surfacing.
Rev learns that far more people support his claim to the throne than he ever imagined. When the time is right he will go to war against his father the king, if his father doesn’t destroy them all first. King Alton is a very hard man to rid of who has done many bad things.

The incredible world-building with nonstop pacing and action. The imagination that created the drip pens, Oculus devices, and Alton’s skeleton body modification.
And then there’s the quote that has been living rent-free in my head ever since I scanned eyes across it, “My mind can’t focus on anything but Xandreth’s human ass, which is divinity personified. Two perfect round creamy, salted caramel hills covered in curly black hair.” . I never thought I’d find curly ass hair attractive until now so thank you Terry. Terry went all in with political fantasy, queer representation, nonstop action, family trauma, and amazing descriptions. Don’t miss the Bonus chapter after the author’s last word pages.


Notable Quotes:
“Sometimes you gotta dance with the devil if you wanna waltz with the gods.”

My mind can’t focus on anything but Xandreth’s Human ass, which is divinity personified. Two perfect round creamy, salted caramel hills covered in curly black hair.

…kisses me sensually on the lips, and says, “You are a Mage with that mouth.”

shorts that are seductively thin as the sigh of a mouse.

None of us are wholly light nor dark, good nor evil; however, the best among us understand and respect the balance and power of both.

“We may eventually forget the bad things that happened to us or the people who hurt us, but the lessons we learned remain. Your experiences have forever changed you—but you chose to let the change be into a better version of you...”

[Jordyn Sacks]

It took me a bit to get into this one but once I was in, I was IN. I really enjoyed the world building and history that is set out in this book because it sets up the rest of the book sooo nicely! The characters are so lovely and deal with a lot of sensitive topics that are written with such grace and care. I also love that this is a world where same sex couples are (seemingly?) the norm! The dynamic between the human Royal family will in fact, make your heart hurt because that mf Alton needs to be dealt with for all that he has done to my babies! Moving on… the relationship between Reverie and Xandreth is so sweet because they have both waited for their turn for somebody to truly see them and love them for who they are, even if they’re both a little bull-headed.
The beginning makes it seem like this book is on the spicier side but it is truly kind of a slow burn, which I loved because the timeline of their story makes sense!

[Brittney]

The Drakon King • Terry J. Benton-Walker

One phrase: human prince meets dragon prince magic 🐉🖤

This book ruined me in the best way.

The Drakon King is queer, Black, sexy, emotional romantasy with dragons, forced proximity, magical tech, powerful witches, missing people, political betrayal, and a love story between two princes that completely had my heart.

Reverie is the human crown prince of a kingdom built on lies and stolen magic, and he wants absolutely nothing to do with the crown. Raised by a cruel king, trapped by expectation, and desperate for freedom, his life does not truly feel like his own. He is messy, hurting, lonely, and carrying so much more than anyone around him seems willing to see.

And I felt all of it.

Then there is Xandreth, the Drakon prince searching for answers when his people begin disappearing. He is determined, protective, soft in the ways that matter, and exactly the kind of character I wanted to stay with forever.

When Reverie and Xandreth end up stranded together in the Wraithwood, their reluctant alliance turns into something so tender and meaningful. Their relationship felt natural, emotional, and deeply healing. They challenged each other, softened each other, and fit together in a way that made the romance feel unforgettable.

The worldbuilding was incredible too. The blend of fantasy, technology, magic, dragons, mechs, and political tension felt fresh and immersive without ever becoming overwhelming. Even with the length, I never felt bored or lost. I just wanted to keep living in this world.

And can we talk about this being a standalone fantasy?

A full, complete fantasy story in one book? Bless.

The emotional depth is what really got me, though. Reverie’s longing to be loved, his desire to escape, his pain, his growth, all of it was written so beautifully. When he hurt, I hurt. When he found happiness, I felt that too.

I finished this feeling completely attached and honestly unsure how I’m supposed to move on to another book.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🐉 dragon prince
👑 human prince
🖤 Black MLM romance
🌈 queer romantasy
⚔️ forced proximity
🔥 rivals to lovers
✨ fantasy plus technology
🧙 powerful witches
🤖 mechs and magical tech
💔 healing through love
🌑 missing dragons
💞 first love

📚 Read this if you like:
Crescent City, When the Moon Hatched, Fourth Wing, queer fantasy romance, dragons, magical technology, immersive worldbuilding, cinnamon roll heroes, and love stories that feel like survival and home at the same time.

This was emotional, fresh, romantic, immersive, and absolutely one of those worlds I did not want to leave.

#TheDrakonKing #TerryJBentonWalker #QueerRomantasy #FantasyRomance #BookReview @Tor @Bramble

[East of Reality]

This is an odd book that, for me rests in the grey area of “new adult.” The writing is much more in line with YA books — simple, clean, and with a very black and white morality — and graphic sex scenes and violence that would edge it to a slightly more adult work. I’ve read the first two books in the author’s Blood Debts series (which is why I grabbed this arc) and I don’t think the writing is quite as strong in this book.

The world building is much more dense with a world combining magic and science; dragons and mages and railguns; a drug using, sex positive prince who is doing his best poor little rich boy whining, and a genuinely traumatized young man suffering from a controlling and abusive parent, while also being aware of the spousal abuse between his father’s.

It’s also very much a book about black characters. Skin tones are shades of umber and bronze, hair is braided and in locks, and the religion and cultures — especially the expectations between the father and son relationship — feel like they come from a very real place. However, the father/son relationship is one of the weakest in this book, for me. Not because of Reverie, but because of his father.

Alton is a tyrant, and a clever one. His cruelty and grabs for power are logical and horrific. But he acts like a toddler, flailing and yelling and tantruming left, right, and center. He’s … well, mentally unhinged, and for me, somewhat undermines the brutality of his violence. It’s hard to read this book and take him seriously when I can’t help but ask myself if he’s meant to be comedic. It’s a small nitpick, and a personal one, because other readers may find him absolutely awful (which he is) but enjoy his portrayal more than I do.

Xandreth, the love interest, is a weaker character than Reverie. He feels very undeveloped, and rather than come across like an ancient dragon, he feels like a teenager … which makes Reverie feel more mature in comparison. Reverie grows, and his character arc is satisfying — especially since he keeps his emotions, showing tears, anger, fear and love in equal measure. He’s a delight to read about; I just wish I liked Xandreth more.

The pace is a bit slow, and if I’m honest the writing gets into the weeds a bit with more description than is needed, many plot points and themes get reinforced with the subtlety of a air raid siren, and I think it could easily have been fifty pages or so less and had a stronger focus on the story. But that’s just my opinion. I enjoyed this book, and hope you do, too.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Romantasy Ruined Me Cherice]

✨ ARC Review ✨

First, Terry J. Benton-Walker thank you so much for gifting us readers this ARC and taking the time to sign it. It truly means a lot, and I’m so grateful I got to experience this story early.

Tropes:
• Queer love
• Fantasy + technology
• First love
• Enemies to friends to lovers
• Healing through love

This story follows a human prince and a dragon prince who fall in love, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end. The fantasy elements were so refreshing, especially the way technology and magic were blended together.It felt new, immersive, and unlike anything I’ve read before. I won’t spoil anything, but the worldbuilding especially how the city functions is incredibly well done.

And can we talk about the fact that this is a standalone fantasy? That alone makes it a gem. Getting a full, complete story in one book is rare, and Terry truly delivered.

The journey with Reverie was everything. As the crown prince, he carries so much weight his internal struggles, his longing to be loved, and his desire to escape a life others might envy. The emotional depth in this book is powerful. Terry doesn’t just tell Reverie’s story he makes you feel it. When Reverie hurts, you hurt. When he finds moments of happiness, you feel that too. Honestly That level of emotional connection is not easy to achieve, but it was done beautifully here.

Then we meet Xanderth, the dragon prince and I absolutely loved him. The relationship between him and Reverie felt natural and deeply emotional. They complement each other so well, helping one another heal and grow. Their love story was tender, meaningful, and unforgettable.

The worldbuilding was detailed but never overwhelming. Even at 600+ pages in ARC format, I never felt bored or lost. Everything flowed, and I stayed fully engaged the entire time.

Verdit: Ruined...Ruined How am I’m supposed to move on to another book after living in this world for so long. I’m holding onto this ARC like my life depends on it.

You said you poured your heart into this story and it shows. I’m so grateful I got to read it, and I cannot wait to purchase my finished copy when it releases on 11/10/2026.

I absolutely loved it. 💖

[Megan DeRosa]

What a fun magical adventure!

I first want to thank Terry J. Benton-Walker for selecting me as an ARC reader! I am so grateful that I was able to get the opportunity to step into this new and exciting world!

When I first started reading this book, I honestly had no idea what to expect! I was taken by surprise at the wild adventure this book took me on. This story has quite the interesting and unique setting. I have never read a book about dragons, mages, and magic that also has futuristic elements to it. At first I was really unsure how I felt about it. It felt almost jarring because of how unfamiliar and new it felt. I also have never been super into futuristic things, but I will tell you, I ended up really loving this world! Terry did such a great job with the world building, explaining the mechanics of the tech and how the world and its people work. This strange new world felt ancient but also so futuristic which is a setting that I never thought could exist together, but Terry married it wonderfully.

The characters were also so beautifully crafted! It was so refreshing to read a story with a strong, sensitive, and loyal queer, black MMC! Reverie has my whole heart! I absolutely adore everything about him! His sensitivity, his creativity, his bleeding heart for others, and his wit! Terry does such an amazing job developing his characters because you can feel everything his characters feel jumping off the page at you. The only think I felt that I missed was that there were a couple characters that disappeared and I felt myself wanting to know what happened to them/where they were/what they were up to when I got to the end of the story.

The Princes relationship that develops did not go the way I thought it would and man did it have me in a choke hold! (I won't go too much into this for fear of spoiling things!) Terry pours these characters emotions out onto the pages and you can picture the challenges they go and grow through so vividly! This book is also SPICY! So get ready to blush and clutch your pearls in the best way!

Lastly, the many twists and action packed ending had me reeling and flying through the pages! It was not predictable AT ALL!

This is definitely a one of a kind story and you truly don’t want to miss out on it! 4.5 stars!

[Caleb Avendano]

First of all, I want to thank Terry J. Benton-Walker for blessing me with an early ARC of ‘The Drakon King’. I absolutely love his books. His storytelling is one of a kind. It’s filled with heart, rich world building, and incredible queer and diverse representation. ‘The Drakon King’ is no exception.

‘The Drakon King’ is a sci-fi fantasy set in a world of drakons, magic, and corrupt kingdoms. The story follows Prince Reverie, the son of a ruthless king, who desperately wants to escape the weight of the crown. Along the way, he meets Prince Xandreth, heir to the Drakon nation, who is searching for his missing friend. Although their kingdoms have been sworn enemies for generations, the two princes must work together to uncover the truth behind the disappearances of the drakons and save their kingdoms from the corruption growing within. What begins as an epic and heartbreaking adventure soon becomes something much more for the two princes.

Fantasy has always been a genre that intimidates me because I'm often worried I'll get lost in the world building or struggle to keep up with what's happening. But this book had me hooked from the very first page. It was adventurous, emotional, and surprisingly funny, with plenty of romantic tension and a few steamy moments that never felt excessive. Everything felt balanced and served the story well.

Reverie and Xandreth come from completely different worlds and carry their own emotional burdens, but together they complement each other perfectly. Their chemistry had me laughing one moment and blushing the next, and I loved watching their relationship develop throughout the story. They truly had some of the best banters I’ve read in a book.

Terry J. Benton-Walker delivers another beautifully told story about coming of age, discovering who you are despite the family you were born into, and finding love in the most unexpected places. It's a story that will make you laugh, break your heart, and leave you hopeful. Just because you were raised one way doesn't mean you have to stay that way. You can choose to grow, unlearn harmful beliefs, and become someone better.

[Brady]

Thank you Bramble and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I love fantasy and I am always on the lookout for good queer fantasy and Terry J Benton-Walker delivers wonderfully with this one! In Eldonia there are three groups of beings, humans, mages, and dragons (drakons). They live in harmony, or they did, until the human king decided that dragons and mages were hoarding magic and destroyed as many of them as they could, including the Drakon King and the King of Hearts (the leader of the mages). For centuries the dragons have been banished to the islands in the sky and the mages have all but disappeared. Now Prince Reverie, the human Prince, wants nothing to do with the throne or his father. The King is brutal, rules by force and fear, and is abusive to those he should love. The Prince seeks to escape and on his journey he meets Prince Xandreth, brother to the current Drakon King. Xandreth is searching for dragons that have gone missing over the last year. Reverie wants to leave but soon realizes he must help Xandreth. Together they’ll attempt to figure out what happened to the missing dragons but as they search for answers they soon learn the depravity that Reverie’s father has sunk into. He wants a war to end the dragons and mages once and for all. Can the two princes stop a war that’s sure to devastate all of Eldonia? And what happens when a dragon and a human fall in love? This is exciting, thrilling, sexy, spicy, queer, black, and charming! It’s got all the elements of a great fantasy with an epic forbidden romance mixed in! I also love that queer representation and relationships are the norm in the book, I honestly don’t recall a straight character/relationship (I’m sure they are in there)! I loved the world building, the magic system, the goddesses, the mix of magic and tech, and the action! This one unputdownable and gave me all the feels, including lots of frustration and anger at Reverie’s father! I heard this is standalone but I have unanswered questions and definitely some feelings about some characters at the end I don’t trust so I hope that maybe there will be more! Overall absolutely fantastic adult debut!

[Ciara]

It has taken me a long time to sit down and write this review, because every time I go to do it, I become emotional.

This book ruined me in the BEST way possible.

Ok so here it goes:

Dragon prince meets human prince. Black love at the core of it all.
Queer, Black, Romantasy, Dragons and Mages, Forced Proximity, Magical Technology, Mystery, Forced Proximity, Political Intrigue, Betrayal, and BLACK LOVE.
This is by far Terry's BEST work, and that is saying a lot from me because I love Blood Debts/Justice.
He wrote a love letter to the Black population, and specifically the Black boys who are a mess and just want someone to love them as they are. This story follows Reverie, the human crown prince, who is done with the facade. He just wants peace and to be himself and accepted as himself. He is messy, hurting, and lonely. Xandreth, the dragon prince, is searching for answers. He is peace itself and is determination and protection incarnate. When these two meet, it is with a wariness and a deep seated reluctance that they journey together. This turns into a tender and beautiful love story.

I was broken and I was put back together. This story clearly outlines what it means to be Black in a world that sees us as a commodity, instead of as individuals and living, breathing, human beings. Thank you Terry for putting EVERYTHING into this story. It was informative and truly heart wrenching. Even after waiting so long to write this review, I still wound up crying. Terry, you owe me a few therapy sessions!


This is a complete story, and I cannot thank the stars enough for that! I need multiple copies from multiple entities. Everyone should read this story. IMMEDIATELY. Especially if you want to understand what it means to be Black and to love while Black. The fantasy and world building alone are worth it, but the deep seated theme throughout this story of what it means to be Black in the world is truly the best part about it all.


Thank you to Terry, Netgalley, and the Publishers for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sneha Ahmad]

I really wanted to enjoy The Drakon King more than I did, because the concept sounded fun. Fantasy, sci-fi elements, dragons, mages — it had a lot of things that should have worked for me. And to be fair, the pacing was not bad. It was easy enough to keep reading and I did want to know where everything was going.

But unfortunately, I just could not connect with the story the way I hoped.

One of my biggest issues was that I could not really attach myself to any of the characters. I wanted to care about them, their relationships, their struggles, and their choices, but everything felt a little too surface-level for me. The relationships — whether romantic, family, or friendship — did not feel fully believable. Some moments felt rushed, some felt forced, and some just made me pause like… wait, why are we here suddenly?

The writing also felt a bit too immature for my personal taste. Some of the dialogue and slang pulled me out of the fantasy setting, especially because the world had dragons and mages, but then the language felt very modern in a way that did not fully blend with the atmosphere. The intimate moments also did not really work for me. Instead of feeling emotional or natural, they sometimes felt added just for the sake of being there.

There were also too many unnecessary elements that made the story feel crowded. A lot was happening, but not everything felt important. At the same time, there were still so many questions left unanswered, and I wish the book had spent more time developing the things that actually mattered instead of adding more and more pieces.

I think this book may work better for readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy with a more YA-feeling voice and do not mind modern slang in fantasy settings. For me, though, it just did not fully land.

I did not hate it, but I also did not love it. It was readable, but I finished it feeling more disconnected than satisfied.

[Andrew Hickey]

The Drakon King

Terry J. Benton-Walker

From the author of the Blood Debts series comes an adult fantasy novel tagged as queer, Black, and sexy as hell. All of those things are true but undersells a stand-out fantasy for the year.

Prince Reverie is done with his father, the human king, a heartless tyrant bent on bending the realm to his will and in an attempt to escape, crosses paths with the drakon prince Xandreth and the mage Ihlesandia. Xandreth is turned into a human in order to escape capture and the three band together to take down Reveries father and put an end to his plans. On their journey the two princes form bonds and feelings for each other in a slow burn romance.

The world building is sharp and things are given to the reader in a way that does not overwhelm. Merging together aspects of high fantasy with technology. Things are kept unique and a breeze to read and understand, escaping many of the pitfalls fantasy series create. The world is its own, using original mythology and magic to build its history and politics. The romance is not forced, allowing the characters to come into their feelings although readers coming from the Blood Debts series may be caught off guard by the amount of sex throughout the novel.

At over 500 pages The Drakon King is not a short novel but it captures the imagination and attention to the point where you may wish it was even longer. If the ending is any hint though those wishes might be granted in the future, leaving the door open for more to come and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for an eARC for review purposes.

[V]

I received an ARC of The Drakon King in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved the worldbuilding and the way the realm's history slowly unfolded throughout the story. We begin with the goddess Aja and her daughter creating the realm with Humans, Mages and Drakons living in peace. In the present time we learn that there was a devastating war that ultimately led to division between Humans, Mages and Drakons.

The current Human King, Alton, is despicable but his son Prince Reverie is his complete opposite. Reverie is kind, open-minded though he did come across as selfish. His desire to run away felt self-centered because he knew how terrible his father was but he seemed more focused on escaping his circumstances rather than helping his people.

However, the more I learned about Reverie, the more my perspective changed. I realized that he's not selfish, he's really just trying to survive. He's spent his entire life being abused, controlled and made to feel powerless. He turns to sex and drugs because they are something he can control while also letting him cope with the pain of his everyday life. Although he did not make choices I wanted him to make, I was able to give him grace knowing that this all came from his trauma. Meeting Prince Xandreth, the brother to the Drakon King, was such a pivotal moment to Reverie's story and the fate of the realm. Seeing how their relationship developed as they supported each other and helped one another heal felt so authentic and beautiful. I absolutely recommend this book to any romantasy fans.

[liv]

The Drakon King is a packed, ambitious adult romantasy with a black main character that will continuously throw things at you and keep you on your toes and that's what made me enjoy it as much as I did.

We follow runaway Prince Reverie when his path collides with Prince Xandreth's and they're forced to forge an uneasy alliance amidst chaotic scheming involving magic, prophecies by old Gods and disappearing dragons and also deal with their own (steamy) chemistry on top of that.

The beginning was a bit bumpy for me since there was a lot the author was setting up until the story could pick up and I had difficulty connecting with Prince Reverie because of it, but from about 25% onwards I was completely sold on the story and all the crazy politics and scheming we had behind the scenes.

This story was really enjoyable for me then since I love when there's so much layers to everything's happening with so many dynamics and characters with complex standings, even if they sounded very young at times, that you just have to read it and wait as they figure stuff out and you get to figure it out with them as well as you're not privy to anything else with a first person pov.

It's ultimately a book for readers that love fantasy with a lot of scheming and the classic dragons and mages and a dash of a futuristic (and queer normative) world. If that's your style, this is definitely for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Chaptersxchill]

The Drakon King was giving everything I wanted in a romantasy and then some. Dragons, princes, forbidden love, betrayal, tension, and a world so cool I wanted to move in immediately.

First of all, this worldbuilding ate. The mix of magic, royal drama, futuristic tech, and danger around every corner made this feel fresh and exciting the entire time. It had that kind of story where every chapter gives you something new.

Reverie and Xandreth? I was seated. Both of them had so much depth, pressure, and personal baggage, which made their connection hit even harder. Watching them figure out who they are outside of their kingdoms while slowly falling for each other was so good.

And the romance absolutely delivered. Forced proximity, rivals to lovers energy, tension for days, and that slow build where every little moment means something. I was eating it up.

This book also had action, twists, secrets, and betrayals that kept me locked in. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, something else happened.

What I loved most is that it felt fun, bold, and fresh while still giving all the fantasy drama and swoon worthy moments.

[Vince Dixon]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of The Drakon King by Terry J. Benton-Walker, and WOW. This book completely pulled me in from the very first page. It’s thrilling, emotional, sexy 🥵, and genuinely epic in scope. The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and the characters feel so alive that I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading.

Reverie is such a compelling protagonist, and the way Terry explores power, identity, desire, trauma, and love through him felt incredibly layered and human. The political tension, the dragons, the magic, the romance….all of it just works together so well. And the sex? Whew. SPICY. AND REAL! 🌶️

We Black queer men are so rarely seen in romantasy and just like in Blood Debts and Alex Wise, it is so validating seeing ourselves on the page in an industry where we’re shown time and time again that our existence is invalid. Thank you Terry, for the incredible work you do putting our stories on the forefront.

Huge thank you to Terry for the ARC. Fantasy readers, especially queer fantasy readers, are going to EAT this up.

[Amanda Bauer]

The Drakon King was such a fun fantasy read! The world building was one of my favorite parts. There’s enough detail to make the world feel rich and immersive without slowing down the story, and I really enjoyed getting to know more about the setting, its history, and the dynamics within it as everything unfolded.

The character development was also really well done. I loved watching the characters evolve individually while also seeing their relationships shift and develop throughout the story. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic brought plenty of tension, banter, and complicated feelings, which kept me invested in their relationship.

I also really appreciated how naturally the queer representation was woven into the story. The relationships and identities felt authentic and multidimensional rather than being treated like something that needed to be explained or made into the entire focus of the characters.

Overall, this was a solid 4-star read with great world building, strong character growth, queer representation, and a rivals-to-lovers romance that kept me turning the pages!

4 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

[Emboldened]

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to review this book before the release date.

I went into The Drakon King excited because I genuinely love this author’s other work, but unfortunately, this one was not the right fit for me. The book has no shortage of ideas: forbidden romance between two princes, dragons, missing people, royal conflict, magic, futuristic technology, and a dangerous journey through the Wraithwood. It is ambitious and clearly trying to create a big, detailed, genre-blending world. For me, though, there was simply too much happening at once. The spicy scenes, high-tech setting, fantasy elements, royal politics, and multiple plot threads competed for my attention instead of coming together naturally. The pacing itself was solid, and the story did keep moving, but I never found myself fully connecting with the characters or getting immersed in the world. I can appreciate the creativity behind this one, especially the blend of Black queer romance, dragons, magic, and sci-fi-inspired technology. But despite being a fan of the author, I just could not get into this particular story.

[Adam Sass]

The wait is over: Terry J. Benton-Walker’s lyrical, cutthroat voice has been unleashed in the literary world of adult romantasy, and not a single punch has been pulled. It’s a tale of two princes—one human, one ancient drakon-forced-to-become-human—but this is no warm and fuzzy yarn. It’s forty miles of rough road for these reluctant, hot-tempered lovers. To escape his tyrannical father, King Alton, Reverie embarks on an odyssey throughout his kingdom that’s both magical and high tech—and eerily similar to our increasingly fascist world. But it’s not all dark, thrilling trials. Along the way, Rev allies with Prince Xandreth, a moody, haughty, noble beast who transforms into a human to help Rev release the kingdom from his father’s iron grip. Lingering over the narrative is the stressful question of if they succeed, what road will Xan take when the dust settles: stay human and in love with Rev—or return heartbroken to his own people? It’s an intense, cathartic ride as white-hot as drakon breath. BRAVO, TERRY! This is truly a worthy heir to the best dark fantasy out there.

[Tiffanie Holton]

I received an ARC of The Drakon King in exchange for an honest review.

"Queer, Black, and sexy as hell, The Drakon King is a forbidden love story between princes in the court of a cruel king and an edge-of-your-seat tale of missing dragons, ruthless betrayals, and stolen hearts."

I was beyond excited to be able to review this book. Just reading it's tagline had me hooked!

I absolutely loved The Drakon King! From start to finish, the plot maintained a nice, steady momentum that kept me completely hooked, balancing highstakes fantasy with moments that were genuinely steamy.

The flow and pacing of this book were fantastic! Nothing felt rushed, yet the story moved seamlessly from one reveal to the next. What really set it apart for me were the characters. All of them are exceptionally well developed, with so much emotional depth and growth. You feel instantly pulled into their world, navigating the tension, magic, and political danger right alongside them.

An incredible, immersive romantasy debut. I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend it!

[Ameera khan]

First of all thank you Netgalley I was privileged enough to receive the ARC of this book.


Omg I did not imagine I would love an MM fantasy this much it literally blew my mind. Guys if you are skeptical about it because you have never read MM fantasy I promise you this is the best book to start.

The world building the storyline and the plot the way they were explained was perfect it didn’t even feel like info dumping.

And don’t even get me started on my babies Reverie and Xandreth (screaming) I loved them so much the emotional depth the baggage the romance was 100% giving. The rivals to lovers trope and forced proximity was perfectly executed in accordance to their characters.

I very much loved the futuristic setting and the workings of the court it was very entertaining and engaging.

And if you know me I am a sucker for dragons if it has dragons I am already sat. Anyways this was a very fun and easy read would 100% recommend

[Abigail Books Addiction]

Terry J. Benton-Walker never misses. I always love reading anything he writes because he knows exactly how to grab a reader’s attention from the very first page and hold it until the very end. That was exactly my experience with The Drakon King. Once I started reading, I literally could not stop. Every chapter left me on edge because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

This book is an action-packed fantasy ride from start to finish. The pacing is intense, the stakes keep getting higher, and there’s never really a moment to breathe. On top of all the thrilling fantasy elements, the family drama and messy personal relationships added so much depth to the story and made the characters feel real. And honestly… dragons? Say less. The dragons made everything even better.

If you love fantasy filled with nonstop action, emotional chaos, complicated relationships, and dragons, The Drakon King is absolutely worth the read.

[Hannah]

I went into The Drakon King by Terry J. Benton-Walker expecting a dramatic romantasy, and it largely delivers. The story follows two princes caught in a forbidden relationship inside a brutal royal court, layered with missing dragons, stolen magic, and constant political tension. The world blends classic fantasy elements with a more modern, indulgent court atmosphere, which keeps it feeling fresh even if some details aren’t fully explored.

The character development is good as both characters struggle between loyalty and survival. The pacing can feel uneven, with a strong start, a slower middle, and a more gripping finish, but the stakes and intrigue keep it engaging. The main characters are compelling, even if some of the supporting cast feel more like pieces in the larger political game. Worth picking up if you enjoy forbidden love and high-stakes intrigue.

[Kaylee]

Arc review, courtesy of NetGalley.

The Drakon King is a fun fantasy sci-fi adventure, with excellent pacing.

Although I did enjoy reading how everything played out,
I found the writing itself to be immature and very YA. The use of Gen Z slang in a fantasy with dragons and mages really took me out of the experience. The main character acts like a horny teenage boy, in a way that made many intimate moments feel forced for the sake of the audience and not very sexy.

The biggest issue for me was the relationships between all the characters, whether lovers, family, or friends nearly every single one felt unrealistic. They just didn’t make sense, there was too much information that was either conflicting, or lacking entirely, which didn’t allow for believability.

I would imagine this book might be a lot more intriguing to a younger audience. I think I am old now 😔

[Caitlin]

I received this book early through Netgalley. I absolutely loved this! Reverie is a prince and son of a tyrannical king. He runs away but ends up meeting Xandreth, the Drakon prince. They have to work together to save their kingdoms. Their relationship is well developed and had me giggling and kicking my feet! Reverie' character development is beautifully done. He grows so much as he works through his trauma and shame and fully accepts his worth!
The world building was great and unique. I loved the futuristic setting and the blend of technology and magic. The writing itself was beautiful and witty! Read this book!

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading)]

Sometimes all you need is one book to restore your faith in an entire genre. The Drakon King did this with romantasy for me. It definitely deserves the “queer, black, and sexy as hell” tagline.
I loved this book, it ranks high in my favorites books of the year, and definitely the top one of romantasies. The balance between romance and fantasy is perfect, with strong world building and characters that captivated me from page one. I immediately felt for Reverie and Xandreth has all my heart. The lore of the kingdom was also really interesting, I wanted to know more but I’m also satisfied with what we got.
There are some heavy themes in this book, so be sure to check the trigger warnings, but I really like how it was interwoven with the story, and the ending was beautiful(but I will definitely be thinking about THAT scene, why Terry, why?).
It’s not a short book, but I was so entranced I couldn’t stop reading and it’s action packed, we’re always doing something. The romance was sweet(and a little spicy too), I wanted a happy ending for them so bad it made me not want to put the book down because I needed to be sure Reverie would at least get that.
I’m pretty sure this was a standalone but I wouldn’t mind going back to this world.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor/Bramble for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Japhy Ryder]

I cannot even explain how much I loved this book. It felt like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old romantasy. The elements of scifi in the tech mixed in with the fantasy of dragons and magic can be a fine line but this book hit it. I loved the characters; they were so well developed and grew along the way. The plot and pacing were both great and the writing was beautiful. This is a MM romance; I received an ARC and it's out 11/10/2026! Don't miss it.

[Skylar Keeton]

This story follows a human prince and a dragon prince who fall in love, it was most definitely one of the better stories I've read with this similar concept. This book held my attention from the first page to the last!!
The way the author meshed technology and magic together on equal footing was a nice change cause normally it's one or the other but not this book, in this book it's a pretty even blend it's a refreshing change.

[BookishKB]

🐉👑 The Drakon King 👑🐉

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date. One of my favorites from the year!

🔥 What to Expect
• Black Queer Romance
• MM Romance
• Dragons
• Rivals to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Epic Worldbuilding
• Powerful Magic
• Mechs and magical tech
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Jessturnpages]

Terry has done it AGAIN! 🔥 The Drakon King was absolutely amazing. The details in this book made it feel more like I was watching a movie than reading a book—I was LOCKED IN!

I loved watching Xandreth and the prince’s relationship evolve throughout the story. And the prince’s father? Whew… that man is truly a piece of WORK! 😂

I cried, I laughed, I felt ALL the emotions. Terry took me on a whole journey with this one.

[Luu]

The worldbuilding was detailed but never overwhelming.
Even at 600+ pages in ARC format, I never felt bored or lost.
Everything flowed, and I stayed fully engaged the entire time.
The book is extremely addictive and shocking, it will become one of my favorite books of course its!! I hope to promote it a lot and join more people to read it. I totally love it, it's a solid 4.5/5