Fairy Bones & a Dragon's Eye

by Lexi Lopez

Genres: Dragons

245 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2026

Reviews

[Rebecca ~ readinginNZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

“My freedom. I need it more than air. And so long as the key to my freedom is linked to the damn eye, I am hopeless.”

✨ Fast paced
✨ Dragons
✨ Unique magic
✨ Rivals to lovers
✨ Found family
✨ Standalone

This was a quick and entertaining read following Nyia, a Burner who can extract magic from mythic creatures, and Darkthorne, the king’s procurer who ends up tangled in her hunt for the stolen dragon eye. Their dynamic has spark and a fun little push and pull, and the magic system with all the creatures is genuinely interesting.

“I liked finding the magic in something and granting it a new purpose, not stealing the life force from the living.”

The romance moves very fast considering Nyia has just lost her husband (even if he wasn’t a great person). I liked the chemistry but wished it had a bit more time to breathe.

The world has tons of mythical beings and lore which is exciting, although it sometimes felt like everything was being squeezed in at once.

“How did I get so lucky?… A true partner — someone who swore to protect me, someone who wants, needs my help as much as I need his.”

It is an easy read with good vibes and a cool concept. The ending comes together quickly and I found myself wanting a little more depth, but overall it was a solid, enjoyable standalone with characters I liked following.

Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Fairy Bones & a Dragon's Eye" is a quick fantasy read that follows Nyia, a Burner, who has the ability to extract magic and power from mythical creatures. When she finds her dead husband and realizes their priceless dragon's eye is missing, she sets out to find the man she thinks is responsible for her husband's death so she can find it. Things get complicated however, when the potential murderer turns out to not be all she expected.

Thanks to the author (via StoryOrigin) for the complimentary ARC of this book.

What to expect:
🐲Very fast paced, quick read
✨Widow FMC
🐲Dragons and mythical creatures
✨Unique magic
🐲Rivals to lovers
✨One horse
🐲Found family

My take:

While this book had tons of potential to be incredible with the unique magic system, it fell flat for me.

The entire thing felt like a first draft, and could absolutely have benefitted from a good developmental edit to find the places where the story and plot needed to be fleshed out more. As it stands, things moved so quickly that there wasn't enough backstory, or depth to anything, including the characters we're supposed to be rooting for, to really care about what happens at all. Plot holes, tense issues, continuity issues, and general choppy/abrupt transitions made this a hard read.

The romance between Raf and Nyia had literally no substance to it after their initial meeting, and even the spicy parts weren't really enjoyable as there was no chemistry between the characters. It felt gratuitous because there wasn't an emotional connection, and no lead up to make reader invested in the romance/relationship at all.

Important scenes are there and gone so quickly it's as if all aspects of the book are given the same weight - from describing Nyia getting dressed to go to the ball, to the deception of a "friend" giving away her prized item, or a fight scene where tensions should have been high, speeding by with the same lightning fast pace as their journey through the forest to Raf's home. There's really no rhyme or reason to why things happen or why various characters or events are introduced, and I think that's really where the book failed to pull me in. Everything is given the same importance, and readers don't get the chance to become involved and invested in the world and the story.

Another issue I had was the dialog. It was dry, not super believable and if you're looking for witty back and forth banter, look elsewhere. At best, it feels clunky and awkward.

I think the author has a great idea here, and with additional developmental edits and drafts, this could be a great book. As it stands now however, it feels very unfinished/unpolished, and is not a book I'll be recommending to friends.

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This follows Nyia whose husband she found murdered and their dragon eye stolen. She finds out Darkthorne is responsible and hunts him down to get her dragon eye back so that she can leave the island.

I feel as if this book was a bit of a mess. Or maybe it just wasn’t for me. I really struggled with this book.

I liked the magic system. It’s unique and interesting. The world sounds unique and interesting. It seems diverse with the Hispanic words sprinkled throughout, which I love, I just wish those were consistent since they didn’t really start popping up until the end of the book.

That being said, I couldn’t really explain to you about the magic system or the world. The magic wasn’t explained well. From what I gathered, without actually being explained until 85% into the book, that Nyia is a Burner. She burns magical items, such as a phoenix feather, that give her unique abilities. I think.

The world, I really couldn’t explain. I know we’re on an island, and there’s a veil between the island and the rest of the world? The island is where mythics live and humans can get to it when the veil opens? But the veil opens…at certain times….which could be years? That’s the gist of what I understood.

Then there’s the main characters who go from cold to hot to cold to hot so fast. One minute they’re hating each other the next they’re making out. The romance wasn’t vibing for me. There was no connection, it wasn’t believable for me. Nyia literally just came out of a bad relationship and I kept forgetting she had just been married because she didn’t act like it. I could tell I would have enjoyed this romance, but the way this book is written, it’s too fast paced for the romance to be believable.

And sadly, none of the characters I truly liked. I couldn’t connect with anyone. Although, I enjoyed Darkthorne and his crew. They had such a great connection, that I felt, and I loved the way they worked together.

I also felt as if all the tropes everyone loves and also hates were tossed into the book in the hopes that everyone would love and maybe even hate the book a bit and not pay attention to the fact that nothing really flowed well together.

I just seriously struggled so bad with reading this book. Especially when it seems everyone else has really enjoyed this book. So, it must just be me.

Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️

🦴 mythical fantasy world
🐉 widow FMC
🦴 secrets, lies and betrayals
🐉 cinnamon roll with secrets MMC
🦴 only one tent
🐉 found family

What a fun ride that was! I read this book is basically one sitting, and while it’s not overly long, there was a ton of story packed into under 250 pages. Each character was complex and multilayered, driven by motives that weren’t always clear. I liked both Nyia and Raf, and enjoyed their dynamic. The chemistry was there immediately, and they had some fun banter!

I don’t want to give too much away because much of this book was twists and turns, but it was a well written, fast paced story set in a uniquely rich fantasy world, featuring a strong heroine who speaks her mind, and a sexy hero steeped in secrets. The twists kept coming to very end, and this story definitely keeps you on your toes!


~~~


What didn’t quite work for me? The romance was slightly surface level, and Raf’s decisions regarding Nyia were a tad confusing to me. At times I thought they might be fated mates, and other times he seemed to only be using her. It gave me a bit of whiplash, and my only thought was if the author intended for us, the reader, to feel how Nyia felt in those interactions, then it was well done but could have been flushed out more. If she didn’t intend it, then I think the execution didn’t land quite as well as it could have.

The format I think would have worked better being dual POV throughout, alternating chapters in Raf or Nyia’s POV, instead of the entire first 60% from Nyia, and then we switch to Raf. I didn’t feel as connected to Raf because of this, constantly questioning his motives and wondering if he truly felt strongly for her or was love bombing her just to use her. I think if wed been allowed to be in his head the whole time it would help us see him as a layered complex character torn between desire and duty.

Also, this may be just me, but I didn’t love how every time Nyia asked him a totally reasonable important question for clarity about what was expected of her, he refused to answer and tried to seduce her instead 🥴 It made what should have been sexy and intimate into something feeling manipulative and smarmy.

I still really enjoyed the fast pacing, the twists and turns, and the magical world.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO SPOILER REVIEW

Received an ARC, but all thoughts are my own.

TLDR: It was good, but not great. This is available on KU and I absolutely recommend giving it a shot! It's better than a lot of work I read on KU, but it still lacks that extra something that could have made it a 5 star read. Despite that I will be following the author and look forward to her future work.

The prose are the opposite of purple, very straight forward, very fast paced. Which can be exactly what people look for! There's a few good quotes and some banter that was enjoyable. I do wish this had been a bit slower burn (no burner pun intended). I think a bit more exposition (especially early on, it really jumps into the thick of it from page 1), and more depth to a few integral scenes would have taken this to a 5 star read for me.

Despite being first person I had some trouble really connecting and liking the FMC. She had occasional moments of wit and charm, but overall some of the characters felt a bit flat. Sadly, the romance and MMC was not a big hit for me. But the book had a developed plot so I didn't need the romance to carry the story.

World building was great! I loved the magical system and the FMCs ability. I wish that had been developed deeper, it was the best part of this book for me.

Storyline. Okay this is a big one, I did NOT anticipate what would happen next. A lot of these self-published (shiieeet, even the trad published these days) I can pretty much guess where things are going 50 pages before they do. There's a lot of formulaic works out there right now. I greatly enjoyed reading something fresh for a change. Despite lots of old tropes here, this book felt new.

Ending? Satisfying. I love a stand alone novel that engages me, engrosses me, and leaves me with a happily ever after.

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairy Bones & a Dragon’s Eye by Lexi Lopez is a vibrant and engaging fantasy that completely pulled me in with its creativity and energy and I'm very gratful i was able to read this arc of the book through faro society influencer newsletter (comes out april 14th)

One of the standout elements is the magic system—it feels original and thoughtfully developed, and I loved the variety of mythological creatures woven into the story, which added so much depth and intrigue.

The world itself feels lush and vivid, and it’s easy to picture the environments and magical elements. That said, I did find myself wishing for just a bit more description at times to make the setting feel even more immersive. The pacing, however, is excellent—fast, action-packed, and consistently engaging, with no moments that feel slow or overly descriptive. It’s the kind of book you can easily binge in a few sittings.

The plot twist also genuinely caught me off guard in the best way and added an extra layer of excitement to the story.

The characters are fun, witty, and have great chemistry, especially through their banter. While I really enjoyed the main cast, I do wish we had gotten more insight into some of the side characters, as they felt like they had even more to offer. The romance isn’t a slow burn—which is usually my preference—but I still enjoyed it thanks to the playful dialogue and interactions.

I also loved the found family aspect, which added warmth and emotional depth, though I would have liked to see those relationships explored even more.

Overall, this is a fun, immersive, and highly entertaining read that kept me hooked from start to finish—I just wish it had been a bit longer and slightly more in depth.

[Josephine Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I wanna thank the author for letting me get an arc.

If you are looking for a story that mixes, dark magic, adventure, and a romance that actually feels earned, as well as many mythical creatures. Then you need to pick up this book. Release date: April 14th.

This book grabbed me from the very first page and didn't let go until the very end. The story follows a girl named nyia, a burner of mythics. In this world, there's unique types of magic. When her husband is found dead, she isn't exactly heartbroken, instead she is focused on finding the dragon eyes, a priceless treasure that is her only ticket to freedom.

The plot is incredibly fast paced, making it a perfect one sitting read.

The book follows a relationship between nyia and Rafael, a rivals to lovers and forced proximity vibe that keeps the tensions high. There's definitely some spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
But it's perfectly handled. It adds to the connection between the characters without taking away from the main plot.

There's a massive plot twist near the end that I genuinely did not see coming! It shifted everything I thought I knew about the story in the best way possible. As the book wrapped up I didn't want it to end I wanted more!

Final verdict: I loved the "found family" aspect of this book and the creative world building. It's a fun, immersive fantasy that is easy to read but stays with you long after you finish. I honestly thought it was incredibly well written from beginning to end.

[Jordan White · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was so impressed by the creativity of the magic system. To take it to the next level, I think more 'showing' regarding the mechanics of the magic—like the internal sensation of the FMC using her power—and how she is so powerful. I also saw so much potential in the character relationships; I just wanted more 'on-page' time for those bonds to grow organically so that their emotional shifts felt fully lived-in. There’s a great story here, and with a bit more room for the plot and prose to breathe, it could be truly powerful

I would have loved more 'on-page' time for the pivotal milestones to breathe, as the emotional payoffs are so high-stakes that I wanted to savor the journey toward them. This was especially true for the romance. the chemistry in the individual scenes was beautifully executed and full of the tropes I love, but I found myself wishing the timeline had been extended over months. Having that extra time for their connection to grow from the ground up would have made their eventual bond feel even more earned.

​Final Thoughts: If you’re looking for a fresh magic system and a whirlwind, high-intensity romance, this is a great pick. While I personally found myself wishing for a bit more depth and breathing room, the foundation of the world is incredibly solid.

[Tarnavska Oleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

Fairy Bones & a Dragon’s Eye by Lexi Lopez is a fast-paced romantasy that hooked me from the start. The story follows Nyia, a strong and determined heroine with a rare and dangerous magical ability, as she navigates loss, survival, and a high-stakes search for a powerful artifact.

What I really enjoyed was the unique magic system—it felt fresh and a little dark, which added depth to the world. The dynamic between Nyia and Rafael was another highlight: lots of tension, banter, and that classic enemies-to-lovers energy that keeps you turning pages.

The pacing is quick, which makes it an easy binge, though at times I wished certain moments—especially in the romance and worldbuilding—had a bit more space to develop. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.

If you’re into romantasy with morally grey characters, magical intrigue, and a touch of danger, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairy Bones & a Dragon’s Eye was such a fun and imaginative fantasy read. The title alone caught my attention, and the story delivers a magical world filled with mystery, adventure, and intriguing supernatural elements.

What I enjoyed most was the creativity of the world and the way the magical elements were woven into the story. The mix of fairies, dragons, and fantasy intrigue makes the setting feel vibrant and exciting.

The story also keeps a steady pace, revealing new pieces of the world and the characters along the way, which kept me curious about what would happen next.

This is a 5 ⭐ for me because:

• the fantasy world felt creative and immersive
• the magical elements made the story exciting
• the pacing kept me engaged
• the adventure and mystery made it hard to put down

Magical. Adventurous. Engaging.

Read this book if you like:

• fantasy adventures
• fairy and dragon lore
• magical worlds and creatures
• stories filled with mystery and imagination

[Meagan Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We need to talk."

"About you kidnapping me and feeding me to a monster?"

"Well, to be fair, you kidnapped me first. And you fed yourself to the monster."

The banter between the main characters made me chuckle (the spider scenes were hilarious).
The magic system was very unique and refreshing. Nyia, our FMC, is a burner of mythics. Each body part from a mythic provides a different type of magic. The story is very fast-paced and would be good for readers who want a quick, easy read.

I wish the main characters had a bit more development and the romance had more depth, but it was still an enjoyable read. The side characters were interesting, and I wish we got to know them more as well.

Tropes:
-one horse
-female rage
-rivals to lovers
-forced proximity
-standalone/HEA

I was not expecting the twist at the end!

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story by Lexi Lopez! I was swept up by the story right from the beginning all the way to the end. The story is fast paced and easily read in one sitting. The story has plenty of action, adventure, twists and turns, surprises you don't see coming, found family, magic and romance. The characters are all very well written with depth in their backgrounds. The two MC'S, Niya and Raphael, are at first enemies and quickly turn into lovers. Their chemistry sizzles on the page. They are engaging, A bit of snarkiness between them. The brilliant world that Lexi built into this story weaves beautifully and magically throughout the book. I absolutely love this book and I highly recommend it!

[Tabatha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possible spoilers….

I got this as an ARC read and I love fantasy so I was very intrigued to see this take on a new magical world. The world building is top notch in this book. You get twists and turns you never expected. You’ll think everything’s going one way then when all is revealed you’re dumbfounded as to how you never figured that out before that moment. If you love touch her and ☠️ vibes you’ll love this book. The spice is minimal but it’s not fade to black and goes very well with the way the book is written.

My absolute favorite part of this book is Rafael. Rafael is the MMC and the reason he is my favorite part is because he is a cinnamon roll but only for her, morally grey and TERRIFIED OF SPIDERS. And they have to ride spiders for transportation in one part of the book. You’re welcome! 😉

[Diamanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, people!
Dragon books hold a special place in my heart. So it was only natural that I would love this one too.
This is a quick read starring Nyia and Darkthorne.
The world building is great, although it changes quickly due to the few pages. This left the chemistry of the main characters a little behind, but it didn't bother me at all because I really liked her world and especially the way of thinking that was unlocked on each page.
Her writing causes an explosion of emotions, it is vivid, fast, enjoyable and pleasant. So much so that it made me immerse myself in her world and get carried away by an ocean of words and images that she gave birth to in my mind.

Thank you very much to the author and StoryOrigin for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Jocelyn Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying book. I struggled to like Nyia, not that she was a bad character or all. Her personality and I didn’t vibe well. Towards the end of the book she grew on me. I enjoyed Rafael a lot. I thought it is hilarious that he is terrified of spiders. I was confused with the whole premise of Burners in the beginning of the book, but once I understood I thought it was an interesting concept for the whole book. There was a fabulous little twist in the middle of the book and I was thoroughly satisfied that the story ended happily. Overall, I am happy with the book. I would recommend it if someone wanted a new take on a fantasy book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi Lopez, this story is truly beautiful. Nyia (love this name btw) and Raphael are two of my fav characters now!
In a world where everyone seems to be someone or something else, trust is hard and equally necessary when navigating it, especially for Nyia, who has every reason to be distrustful of others.
Raphael is quite a conundrum for her and I love the way she pushes back but also works hard at seeking the truth and fighting for her answers.
We love a girl that doesn't leave her destiny up to chance!
Please tell me we get to read more about them and this world!


I received an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy five stars for Fairy Bones & a Dragon's Eye. I've loved Lexi's work for years, and reading this adult novel was a fun change of pace. Just like her other books, there's plenty of well-rounded characters, descriptive scenes, and truths that unfold as the story goes on. We are not spoon fed; the reader is dropped into the narrative and learns as the pages turn. You may not like everyone, honestly hate them in some instances, and that's part of the fun. These characters feel real, and I appreciate that. I cannot wait for more from Lexi Lopez.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly provided with an advanced reader e-copy, and this is my honest review. Overall, this was a good standalone with an almost cozy underlying vibe. The magic system is unique with mythical creatures and magic wielders alike. The romance was a bit fast paced, but the chemistry between the MMC and FMC was great. I feel like this could have easily been a series with more depth to the story. I want to experience more of the island and its inhabitants. A quick but fun read that would work great to fill that need for Magic, banter, and just a touch of dragons.

[Michelle Brilz · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review via the Author and StoryOriginsApp. Thanks!!

I enjoyed this fantasy story! It’s a quick, fast-paced rear and quite entertaining.

There are a lot of mythical creatures and magic within the world which I enjoyed. I thought the magic system was pretty original and well thought out.

I did find some holes in the plot where I wish there’d been more detail, and more depth/story to some characters.

All in all, this is a great fantasy with magic and romance (though it’s not slow-burn) that I found quite an enjoyable read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairy Bones & a Dragon's Eye by Lexi Lopez is well written with entertaining, and charming characters. Fast paced and a quick, fun read. Filled with lies, secrets, betrayal, magic and romance. I enjoyed the MFC and the MMC, however, I felt the MMC was a bit manipulativem. It's a fun, quick read. Fans of adventure, romance, fantasy, and mythical creatures, will definitely enjoy FAIRY BONES AND DRAGON'S EYE.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am leaving an honest review, voluntarily.

Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewer: AprilR

[Julie Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I am not normally a fantasy reader, but I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in less than 12 hours. I loved Nyia and Rafael’s story. The plot, the spice, the length of the book, were all great. I think the reason I’m not normally a fantasy reader is the time it usually takes to build the worlds and the background of the story, but this one was the perfect amount of all of it. I loved it, and can’t wait for the next one!

[Chai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this😭all I can say is more more more!!! It was such a breeze to get through honestly. I feel like other romantasy can be hard to get through but this was just great. And don't get me started on Rafael!!!!💕 I was so happy to say a dragon shapeshifter as the love interest! Maybe I haven't read a lot of romantasy but this was a shock to me in the best way possible especially since I really only got to see this type of dynamic in manga !

[Rebecca A · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

This book had potential, but it felt incredibly underdeveloped. The pacing was rushed, the world building was almost nonexistent, and I never felt connected to the characters. I kept waiting for explanations about her upbringing, powers, and identity… but they never really came.

Is she only a burner? Is there more to her magic? The story hints at things without properly exploring them. Overall, I struggled to stay invested and found it difficult to finish.

[Laura Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. It was a fun and exciting story. The characters and magic were well thought out and the story was well paced. It was a fun read with a good mix of action, world building, and had some spice without sacrificing plot for spice. I would definitely recommend this one to those who enjoy the Romantasy and Fantasy genres.

[A Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting, fun and fast paced! There are a lot of different mythical creatures and the magical system was unique.

I liked the banter. And the writing. Fun book!

“Some might be inclined to think I am looking for trouble, though I very much am.”

“Well, to be fair, you kidnapped me first. And you fed yourself to the monster.”

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short and sweet, with a little bit of spice 👀 🥵 I do love stories that can be wrapped up in a bow. However, this book could easily have been stretched into a series. I love the characters, but they need more depth, more details of their lives and how their world came to be. It ends nicely, but could there be a book two? I hope so.

[Samantha Peirce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairy Bones & a Dragon’s Eye is a fun, fast-paced fantasy romance packed with magic, a rich variety of creatures, and an enemies-to-lovers romance you can’t help but root for. Nyia and Raf have sizzling chemistry, the spice is perfectly on point, and the found family vibes are downright fabulous!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexy romp replete with dragons, intrigue, and a unique magic system. A FMC who isn’t afraid to figure shit out and a MMC who has a personality beyond growling. I would definitely pick up another book in this world and will definitely pick up another from this author!

[Keelie Chant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I was very intrigued by the storyline and the different mythical creatures. I do hope the author writes a follow up to this, I would love to dive into the backgrounds of several different characters and their powers

[ImSuddenlySue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of loss, hope, and love.
Mythical and people come together to save their world and stop evil.

Nyia is calm, in trouble, and has a mission.
Rafael is dark, passionate and plans to save his people.

Together can the achieve both?