She intended to kill him for revenge. What she didn't know, is that she suppressed his dragon instead, forming a blood bond so strong she couldn't resist him...
After her father and sister are brutally murdered by a dragon shifter, a mysterious spell book appears on Lyra’s doorstep, filled with magic designed to harm only dragons.
Blinded by grief and revenge, she casts a forbidden spell on Drocalyx, the crown prince of Azhareth… and flees to the mortal realm before she can witness the aftermath.
Three years later, Lyra is captured and forced to face the truth.
She didn’t kill the prince.
She suppressed his dragon and forged a blood bond so strong she could barely resist him.
Riddled with guilt and desperate for answers, Lyra agrees to reverse the spell, making a deadly enemy in the process. But breaking it requires a rare flower that blooms only once every ten years on a deadly mountain, and time is running out.
As enemies close in and the bond between them grows harder to fight, Lyra must decide what she’s willing to
Her freedom. Her vengeance. Or her heart.
Will they find the flower in time… or be forced to wait a decade and stay bound to a magic neither of them can escape?
Slow burn romantasy Forced proximity Dragon shifter Strong FMC Enemies to lovers Open door romance
⚠ This book contains explicit content and is intended for readers 18+.
When I tell you the first page had me drawn in Lyra saying their coming I was instantly like who’s coming … if you want a good stand alone to read about dragons , magic a epic fight scene not to mention brothers fighting over the thrown I recommend this book to get lost in . Cal and Lyra are adorable the ennemies to lovers duo to fated mates is the icing on the cake for this book their is some spice but not much so I give that a 3/5 wish their was more … Elora giving up three years of her life to be with Lyra in the mortal realm honestly had me sad but happy that Lyra had someone their with her . Elora even wanting to help Lyra sword and magic train to kill prince zyric
I received an advanced copy from the author and am leaving this review for free.
This story was non-stop action with twists and turns everywhere. Every time I thought i had it figured out, there was another spin.
The FMC, Lyra, suppresses her magic to hide after she kills the dragon prince, Cal, to avenge her father and sister. What she doesn't count on is the prince's survival. He tracks her down and brings her to the palace. He swears his innocence, but how can Lyra trust him after she saw his dragon murder her family? His brother, Zyric, is there to assist her and find out the truth, but can she really trust a dragon shifter?
What follows is a whirlwind story of betrayal that leaves Lyra questioning everything she thought she knew. Is Cal really the bad guy or was he set up? How does she know the truth or who she can trust?
This story was amazing! I adored the morally grey, conflicted hero and the fated mates tropes. The author wove a beautiful tale that left me sad and angry at one moment then with happiness and tears of joy a few sentences later. Anyone who can take me through the emotional gauntlet like that deserves 5 stars.
Enemies to found family was done so well here! I really enjoyed this story...it kept me on my toes and was fast paced and zipping all over the place constantly. The way Lyra tried to refuse the bond and the angst and tension between her and Cal because of it. The royal siblings had an interesting dynamic and I'd love to know more about their lives together. How the villain got the book, how he knew what to do with it, and the mystery behind all that wasn't explained so I would love to know more. But everything else was fun, action-packed, slow-burn then spicy and passionate. Some powerful friendships, some angry banter among Cal's group and Lyra, some isolated training scenes, and DRAGONS. This was a great story that kept me going until the end :)
Thank you to the author for an early reading copy, this review is given voluntarily.
Oh em gee!! This story was gripping from the start! The story had me wanting more and made it hard for me to put it down and adult. The chemistry between the characters was amazing, the story line was full of suspense, and the ending left my mouth open.
I love the banter Lyra has not only with Cal, but his guards as well. There were a few times where her sass and their attitude had me laughing out loud. The way they were protective of her towards the end made me choke up. She finally didn’t feel alone anymore. Her best friend Elora is great! Going to the mortal world with her for 3 years and then trying to train with her made me love her so much. The ending gave me satisfaction and happy everyone got what they deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book has been so amazing! I got it as an ARC reader and was not left disappointed. Sarah Reiss had so much detail that I was able to picture everything. It was so beautifully written that I need to dive into another book of hers. Lyra is a strong woman who has lived over a hundred years. She sought out revenge for the death of her sister and father. Exacting revenge did not end the way she hoped. Forced into hiding, she is faced with the terrifying reality that not only did she fail at taking down the man that murdered her family, but that maybe she was after the wrong person all along.
A Bond of Blood and Lies is a stand alone romantasy. From start to finish I enjoyed Lyra’s story. Lyra is a likable FMC who is strong, feisty, and determined.
I loved the bond that Lyra and Elora has. Elora giving up so much to help Lyra. Their unwavering friendship was refreshing to see.
If you love dragon shifters, banter, and tension this book is for you!
Thank you to the author Sarah L Reiss for the ARC!
Our story is about Lyra who has been on the run/ in hiding after killing the crowned prince. She saw him kill her father and sister while in his dragon form… or so she thought. When she is captured a few years later, things are not as they seem.
The story is a romantasy stand alone! I found myself interested in Lyra’s story from the beginning. Reading her story and watching all the truths unfold was entertaining. I enjoyed the pacing as well. I was never bored while reading. The support characters were just as good as the main characters and would love some spin offs. I loved the tension between the FMC and MMC! The spice wasn’t overwhelming or underwhelming, it was just right! The battle scenes had me holding my breath. Overall this was a great read!
🐉 ARC Reader Review - a Fun Stand Alone Romantasy🐉
A Bond of Blood and Lies is a romantasy that follows Lyra, a heroine driven by grief and vengeance. Believing the dragon shifter Prince Drocalyx murdered her father and sister, Lyra sets out to kill him—but instead, she suppresses his dragon. After fleeing to the mortal realm, she’s forced to confront the consequences of her actions three years later when he tracks her down. Now, the two must work together to undo the spell, and Lyra is left choosing between her freedom, her revenge, and her heart.
This is an easy, engaging read set in a fantasy world that quickly draws you in. Sarah L. Reiss wastes no time pulling readers into Lyra’s story. From the very beginning, Lyra is a protagonist you root for. She carries the same determined, resilient energy as heroines like Feyre or Violet—growing into her power while uncovering truths, training, and buried secrets.
Prince Drocalyx fits perfectly into the “morally gray” romantasy archetype. He’s brooding, intense, and driven by conflicting desires—wanting his dragon back while wrestling with what he’s willing to sacrifice. His friendship with characters like Cove, Reef, Malleon, and Silvarn adds depth and gives glimpses into his world beyond Lyra.
Princess Aurelia was another standout. She’s lively and intriguing, and while her story feels a bit incomplete, that’s understandable given her supporting role. Still, she’s a character I’d love to see explored further in a future story.
The friendship between Lyra and Elora is also a highlight. It’s refreshing to see strong female bonds, though I found myself wishing for more development—especially during their training scenes in the later chapters.
As a standalone, the story delivers a complete and satisfying conclusion, tying up its central threads in a way that feels fitting. My main critique is the pacing. While the book is engaging and fast-paced, some moments feel rushed. Expanding certain chapters with more detail could have added tension, suspense, and emotional impact.
Overall, this is a compelling romantasy with strong characters, a gripping plot, and plenty to enjoy—especially for fans of enemies-to-lovers and dragon shifters. #TouchHer #DragonShifters #Romantasy #EnemiesToLovers
Tropes first because this one?? OBSESSIVE, INTENSE, and DRAGON-FUELED CHAOS 👀🐉🔥
• enemies to lovers • dragon shifter romance 🐉 • blood bond / forced connection 🖤 • revenge → regret • “I tried to destroy you… now I can’t escape you” energy
Yeah… I was hooked IMMEDIATELY.
A Bond of Blood and Lies starts with revenge—and not the soft kind. She meant to destroy him… and somehow ends up bound to him instead?? Yeah… I was LOCKED IN 👀🔥
Lyra’s grief and anger feel real, and watching that shift into guilt, confusion, and something way more complicated?? So well done 🖤
And Drocalyx?? A literal dragon prince… bound to the woman who tried to kill him.
The tension there?? INSANE.
Because this isn’t just enemies to lovers—it’s forced proximity with a bond neither of them can ignore, and the closer they get?? The harder it is to fight 🔥
The stakes stay high the entire time too—danger, enemies closing in, and that ticking clock with the flower?? Yeah… no breathing room 👀
✨ This is a 5⭐ because: • the bond dynamic is addictive and intense • the enemies-to-lovers tension is STRONG • the world + magic feel immersive • it keeps you hooked from start to finish
✨ If you love: • dragon shifter romance 🐉 • slow burn with high tension • morally complex dynamics • magic, revenge, and emotional stakes
This one is dramatic, addictive, and impossible to put down 👀🔥
This book begins chaotic and continues to be chaotic. The FMC is in hiding for a crime she committed against the crown. They find her and she is surprised when she isn't being immediately punished. She doesn't know who to trust as everyone in the palace is treating her with undeserved kindness... Until they don't. One brother wants her abilities and the other needs her abilities. Who can she turn to after her failed attempt at revenge?
I love shifter books that can prioritize a good plot while entertaining non-standered shifter troupes. Our MMC isn't able to shift for a good portion of the book and it helps with focusing more on the characters' personalities. The shifter part plays well into the book without it being made front and center. It made the book more interesting and helped with connecting to the human nature portion of them.
There was a balanced amount of spice as well. I would give it two or three. This book does contain triggers so please check those before picking this one up. Mental health matters.
I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Received as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion—thank you, S.L. Reiss, for sending me one!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book had me gripping my kindle to see what happens next!! I’ve been trying to catch up on my readings in the fantasy/romantasy genre, and this book definitely was the perfect addition. It also just happened to be the first book I’ve read with a fated mates/lovers trope, and it definitely made me want to explore more books with a similar vibe!
Whenever a book has an enemies-to-lovers trope, I absolutely eat it up. Lyra and Cal’s dynamic was everything. Her strong need for vengeance only to be met with confusion and uncertainty when the truth slowly unfolds added perfectly to the trope. The tension between them was just so good 😪. Definitely wished there were more spice between them as their relationship grew stronger.
I loved that the side characters were more involved in the storyline. It made reading the book so much more enjoyable. Seeing how their attitudes changed towards Lyra was so 🥹🫶🏻. I feel like good books usually stunt their potential by having well-written character that aren’t woven into the storyline with the MCs. This book did a great job with that, and it made it feel much more satisfying!
I needed a change of pace to something more action packed, and boy, did this story deliver. This is the kind of book that doesn’t allow your mind to pick up on patterns and predict what happens next. Like others, I would confidently think to myself that I figured out how the story was going. Alas, I never was successful 😭. Nothing was what it seemed as the story took different paths that left me feeling an array of emotions.
The ending was also so sweet and left me wanting more. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
This was a fun and fast paced fantasy with dragon shifters, some spice and magic. Lyra has been on the run after thinking she murdered the crown prince. She finds out just how wrong she is when she is captured and brought back to unbind his dragon. I loved her. She was loyal and determined. She often went rogue and could be stubborn beyond reason but it somehow worked with her. Her friends and family got her through. I loved her connection with Drocalyx. They had great chemistry and I liked their banter. It almost made everything else with Zyric fade into the background. I also really liked Elora. Drocalyx’s guards/friends are cool and all but Elora literally went to the edge of civilization to help Lyra. Thats a bestie we all deserve. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
What an amazing book, great story development and characters which have left me eager for more and quietly hopeful that this turns into a series🤞 Action packed and riveting from the first chapter, this book kept me enthralled and turning pages quickly to find out what happened next😍
Lyra witnesses something that shakes her to her core and she seeks vengeance for this. Unfortunately, it’s been three years and she’s been hiding with a friend in the mortal realm, unaware if her vengeance succeeded or not. When she is forced to return home, it becomes clear what happened when she sought vengeance but also that not everything is as it seems.
Now Lyra has to come to grips with what she did and something uniquely unexpected😳 Can’t wait for more from this author🙌 I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
A Bond of Blood and Lies was a nice refreshing break from long series. I'm always nervous about a romansty standalone, but this one accomplished a lot in less than 400 pages. Not to mention, there's dragons (shifters) !!! After witnessing the brutal death of her sister and father, Lyra casts a spell to kill the dragon shifter that killed them. Only it doesn't kill him. It creates a blood bond between them BOTH.
I loved how Prince Drocalyx / Cal had a whole group of found family/ friends. I loved watching Lyra become part of that group. I'm secretly hoping Princess Lia gets a spin-off of her own with the twins.😄 I wish that the dreams between Lyra and Cal had been explored more.
Despite a slightly wobbly start, this ended up being a book I really enjoyed after ~30%. The story was engaging, the FMC was likeable yet quite reckless and immature at times, which made me scream at the book several times (meaning that I was quite invested,really!). By contrast, the MMC is a more stable and rational character, and essentially a cutie at heart who has it bad for her. Their intimate time together can melt your heart. I dare you to not feel the excitement when dragons are on page and you will find it difficult to not warm up to the prince's guards too. Overall, an enjoyable book that is worth your time.
This is a great stand alone book! The story features Lyra who tries to kill a fae (dragon shifter) but there is a twist. She has to rectify her mistake and in the process finds her mate. The story is fast paced and exciting. She has a friend Elora who assists her along the way. There are some interesting side characters too especially princess Aurelia (Lia) and the 4 fae guards. This would have been a 5 star read from the plot alone but there was some parts which felt rushed or glossed over towards the end. Overall an excellent romantacy book with a perfect ending.
I recieved the book as an arc, and I'm so glad I did. I like the fact that it's a standalone which gave me a break from the longer series I'm used to. I enjoyed the tension between Lyra and Cal, and I really enjoyed the plot and the world. The side characters were great, especially Cove and Princess Lia, and I loved the friendship between Lyra and Elora. The ending was sweet, and I liked how it was all wrapped up without any unanswered questions. Would I recommend A Bond of Blood and Lies? Absolutely I would!
I really enjoyed this! It's a beautifully crafted shifter romantasy with fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity.
The writing was well done, everything was fluid and easy to read, and the characters were so fun to read about! The world was well crafted and I enjoyed the magic and I really enjoyed all the dragons 😏.
A great standalone story for anyone who loves a good romantasy!
Man, what do I say about this book? When Sarah reached out about this book, I was super interested. Upon reading, I’m so glad that I gave it a chance. It was the perfect mix of fantasy, enemies to fated mates.
I’m really hoping she writes more to this story because I got hooked on the bond between Cal and Lyra. It proves that not everyone is what they seem at first, and the true strength that comes from grief. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read this wonderful story. ⚔️🐉
I received this as an arc read. And so thankful they trusted me with this gem. It was a very enjoyable weekend escape with characters who captivated me from the start. In the end it was a feel good story.
Ummm I literally couldn’t put this book down. I loved it so much and I’m already counting down to May 1st because I NEED the physical copy on my shelf 😭📚
This book was so good. Like, I can't take my mind off it. It was a long read, but I just finished it in 3 days, and I am so glad that I received an arc of this book.
Talking about the characters of the book, I am totally in love with Cal and Lyra. And also, the twins are my favorites, and especially Cove. The others are also my favorites. And the plot was overall good. And the tension between Lyra and Cal is also my favorite, and I also like Lia as well, as she was strong, and I like the bond between Elora and Lyra, and the ending was perfect, with a little revelation I didn't expect.
I also liked how Lyra got all the love and the people she truly deserved.