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Tailwind
Not yet published
Expected 3 Sep 26DRAGONS - MEET F1 RACING!
Pre-order this full-throttle, fiery debut set in a rich new world of dragon racing - filled with scorching heat, breakneck speeds and white-knuckle thrills.
Pre-order this full-throttle, fiery debut set in a rich new world of dragon racing - filled with scorching heat, breakneck speeds and white-knuckle thrills.
467 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 3, 2026
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August 22, 2026Formula 1 x dragons??? Best believe imma eat that shit upppp
Want to Read
July 23, 2026ohhhhh my Winged Game obsessed ass needs this rn!!!!!!
July 5, 2026
Tailwind is a fantastic read if you’re looking for dragons, thrilling action, and high-stakes competition without the backdrop of an all-out war. Think Formula One meets dragons—fast-paced aerial racing, daring sword fights, and edge-of-your-seat excitement.
At its heart is Lena, a dragon keeper and former junior racer with one ambitious dream: to become the first woman to compete at the highest level of a male-dominated sport. As she battles prejudice, fierce rivals, and the dangers of dragon racing, you’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way.
Will Lena break barriers and make history? You’ll have to read Tailwind to find out.
At its heart is Lena, a dragon keeper and former junior racer with one ambitious dream: to become the first woman to compete at the highest level of a male-dominated sport. As she battles prejudice, fierce rivals, and the dangers of dragon racing, you’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way.
Will Lena break barriers and make history? You’ll have to read Tailwind to find out.
August 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this story we follow Lena, a dragon keeper that always dreamed of riding dragons. However her career got cut short due to Theo her old best friend. One day her rider cannot compete so she secretly takes his place. Will she be able to finally become the rider she always dreamed of being?
This is only my second sports fantasy so I don’t know a lot about the subgenre, but this book was just not for me. I really liked the concept and the dragon riding aspect and I did enjoy those scenes. However the rest was okay. I could not connect with the characters, which was quite upsetting because I really love when MCs tend to have a personality like Lena’s, but I could not be invested in her story. Also the first half of this book was really slow for me and while I enjoyed the resolution to some of the conflicts I wish we could have gotten more. I don’t think this is a bad book, but it was just not the right book for me, so if you’re a fan of sports fantasy and dragon riding I would still recommend trying this one out.
In this story we follow Lena, a dragon keeper that always dreamed of riding dragons. However her career got cut short due to Theo her old best friend. One day her rider cannot compete so she secretly takes his place. Will she be able to finally become the rider she always dreamed of being?
This is only my second sports fantasy so I don’t know a lot about the subgenre, but this book was just not for me. I really liked the concept and the dragon riding aspect and I did enjoy those scenes. However the rest was okay. I could not connect with the characters, which was quite upsetting because I really love when MCs tend to have a personality like Lena’s, but I could not be invested in her story. Also the first half of this book was really slow for me and while I enjoyed the resolution to some of the conflicts I wish we could have gotten more. I don’t think this is a bad book, but it was just not the right book for me, so if you’re a fan of sports fantasy and dragon riding I would still recommend trying this one out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dragones, carreras y sueños imposibles: una historia que sorprende
Puntuación: 4.5 ⭐️
Muchas gracias a Penguin Random House y NetGalley por permitirme leer una copia adelantada de esta historia. Las opiniones que leerán son mías y solo mías.
Si soy completamente sincera, debo decir que no esperaba que este libro me gustara tanto. El ritmo es trepidante como las carreras de dragones que narra, pero lo que más me gustó fue la idea de sororidad, de seguir adelante cueste lo que cueste por alcanzar un sueño, y por la originalidad del deporte que describe.
El libro está dividido en 3 partes y cada una tiene un desarrollo claro. Para empezar, NO es un romance. Sí hay una pequeña subtrama romántica que seguro tomará más protagonismo en el próximo libro, pero en este no es ni de cerca lo más relevante. Para mí es, ante todo, el viaje de Lena, la protagonista, para sortear todos los obstáculos que aparecen entre ella y su sueño de correr en las competencia de carrera de dragones Volitant.
De manera individual, tal vez Lena no sea una protagonista diferente a las que podrían aparecer en los libros de fantasía. Al fin y al cabo, tiene cierto aire de "elegida" con un carácter fuerte y temperamental y gran capacidad física. Sin embargo, dado el contexto creo que es exactamente la mejor caracterización que pudo tener su personaje.
Los personajes secundarios no son meros añadidos. Si me preguntan, son los que realmente conducen la historia de Lena y ayudan a mostrar, más que decir, el conflicto principal: las mujeres que se atreven a soñar cosas "imposibles" en un mundo dominado por hombres. No puedo dejar de mencionar a Josie (yo le hubiera dado su propio POV porque me encantó), otra mujer con grandes aspiraciones. La presencia de Josie hace que Lena no sea "especial" en su interés de querer más, sino que remarca las limitaciones y los obstáculos, y pone en contexto las distintas formas en las que estos personajes femeninos luchan por encontrar su lugar. Creo que esto la autora lo hizo con toda intención, porque por mucho que Lena tenga amigos hombres, incluso amigos que realmente se preocupan por ella, es en Josie, un espíritu afín en sus motivaciones, donde realmente se siente comprendida, incluso aunque lidien de maneras distintas con los obstáculos.
También siento que la autora, con un conjunto de personajes pequeño, supo describir distintas posiciones con respecto al lugar de la mujer en el deporte. Bach, por un lado, intenta hacer todo en su poder para redimir su actitud pasiva del pasado. Elias observa todo con indiferencia desde un punto neutral. Theo, tan centrado en su carrera y su propia competitividad, que ni siquiera se daba cuenta del doble trabajo que tenía que hacer su amiga para lograr lo mismo que él.
El "romance" que pueda haber es en realidad una subtrama de crecimiento, perdón y volver a encontrar el camino a una amistad casi perdida. La autora supo balancear estas escenas entre carreras y sesiones de estrategias muy bien.
Y, por supuesto, el meollo de todo el libro: las carreras. Aquí tengo que aclarar que mi conocimiento de la Formula 1 es nulo, así que muchas cosas puede que sean triviales para un lector más entendido en ese deporte. Para mí, todo el mundo es muy original, aunque tal vez haya alguno elementos que necesitaran un poco más de explicación. La autora creo que supo trasladar muy bien la idea de carreras a alta velocidad en la tierra, a las carreras de dragones en el aire, dándole un aire épico con combates contra obstáculos. Además, me quedé muy satisfecha con las respuestas que da a las preguntas usuales de "por qué no se rompe el cuello si va cayendo en el aire" o "con esa velocidad, por qué no se cae" o "por qué ve u oye algo de lo que le rodea con el viento que debe estar enfrentando".
A todo ese mundo dentro de las carreras, se le añade un poco de lore referente a los dragones, a cómo se crían, los distintos tipos, y cómo uno u otro es mejor en las carreras. Incluso habla de la evolución del deporte, cosa que me fascinó.
Si no los he convencido con todos estos elementos, pues creo que deberían leerlo de todas formas. Ha sido una lectura llena de acción, dragones y amistades épicas que me hicieron pasar disfrutar en todo momento. Estoy ya ansiosa por el próximo libro.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragons, Races, and Impossible Dreams: A Surprising Story
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of this story. The opinions you’ll read here are mine and mine alone.
To be completely honest, I have to say I didn’t expect to like this book this much. The pace is as fast-paced as the dragon races it describes, but what I liked most was the idea of sisterhood—of pushing forward no matter what to achieve a dream—and the originality of the sport it depicts.
The book is divided into three parts, each with a clear narrative arc. I want to start by stressing out that it is NOT a romance. There is a small romantic subplot that will surely take center stage in the next book, but in this one, it’s not even close to being the most important part. For me, it’s, above all, the journey of Lena, the protagonist, as she overcomes all the obstacles that stand between her and her dream of competing in the Volitant dragon races.
On her own, Lena might not seem like a protagonist unlike any other in fantasy books. After all, she has a certain “chosen one” vibe, with a strong, temperamental personality and great physical ability. However, given the context, I think this is exactly the best characterization she could have had.
The supporting characters aren’t just window dressing. If you ask me, they’re the ones who really drive Lena’s story and help to show—rather than just state—the main conflict: women who dare to dream of “impossible” things in a male-dominated world. I can’t help but mention Josie (I would have given her her own POV because I loved her), another woman with big aspirations. Josie’s presence ensures that Lena isn’t “special” in her desire for more; rather, it highlights the limitations and obstacles and puts into context the different ways these female characters struggle to find their place. I think the author did this intentionally, because no matter how many male friends Lena has—even friends who genuinely care about her—it’s in Josie, a kindred spirit in her motivations, that she truly feels understood.
I also feel that the author, with a small cast of characters, managed to depict different perspectives on women’s place in sports. Bach, on the one hand, tries to do everything in his power to make up for his passive attitude in the past. Elias, on the other hand, observes everything with indifference from a neutral standpoint. Theo is so focused on his career and his own competitiveness that he didn’t even realize the extra effort his friend had to put in to achieve the same things he did.
Any “romance” that may be present is actually a subplot about personal growth, forgiveness, and rediscovering the path to a nearly lost friendship. The author did a great job of balancing these scenes with the races and strategy sessions.
And, of course, the heart of the entire book: the races. Here I have to clarify that my knowledge of Formula 1 is nonexistent, so many things may seem trivial to a reader more familiar with the sport. For me, the whole world feels very original, although there may be some elements that could use a little more explanation. I think the author did a great job of translating the concept of high-speed races on land into dragon races in the air, giving it an epic feel with battles against obstacles. I was also very satisfied with the answers she provides to common questions like “Why doesn’t the rider break their neck while falling through the air?” or “At that speed, why don’t they fall off?” or “How can they see or hear anything around them with all the wind they must be facing?”
On top of this whole world of racing, there’s a bit of lore about the dragons—how they’re raised, the different types, and which ones are best suited for racing. It even discusses the evolution of the sport, which I found fascinating.
If I haven't convinced you with all these points, well, I think you should read it anyway. It was a book full of action, dragons, and epic friendships that kept me entertained the whole time. I'm already looking forward to the next book.
Puntuación: 4.5 ⭐️
Muchas gracias a Penguin Random House y NetGalley por permitirme leer una copia adelantada de esta historia. Las opiniones que leerán son mías y solo mías.
Si soy completamente sincera, debo decir que no esperaba que este libro me gustara tanto. El ritmo es trepidante como las carreras de dragones que narra, pero lo que más me gustó fue la idea de sororidad, de seguir adelante cueste lo que cueste por alcanzar un sueño, y por la originalidad del deporte que describe.
El libro está dividido en 3 partes y cada una tiene un desarrollo claro. Para empezar, NO es un romance. Sí hay una pequeña subtrama romántica que seguro tomará más protagonismo en el próximo libro, pero en este no es ni de cerca lo más relevante. Para mí es, ante todo, el viaje de Lena, la protagonista, para sortear todos los obstáculos que aparecen entre ella y su sueño de correr en las competencia de carrera de dragones Volitant.
De manera individual, tal vez Lena no sea una protagonista diferente a las que podrían aparecer en los libros de fantasía. Al fin y al cabo, tiene cierto aire de "elegida" con un carácter fuerte y temperamental y gran capacidad física. Sin embargo, dado el contexto creo que es exactamente la mejor caracterización que pudo tener su personaje.
Los personajes secundarios no son meros añadidos. Si me preguntan, son los que realmente conducen la historia de Lena y ayudan a mostrar, más que decir, el conflicto principal: las mujeres que se atreven a soñar cosas "imposibles" en un mundo dominado por hombres. No puedo dejar de mencionar a Josie (yo le hubiera dado su propio POV porque me encantó), otra mujer con grandes aspiraciones. La presencia de Josie hace que Lena no sea "especial" en su interés de querer más, sino que remarca las limitaciones y los obstáculos, y pone en contexto las distintas formas en las que estos personajes femeninos luchan por encontrar su lugar. Creo que esto la autora lo hizo con toda intención, porque por mucho que Lena tenga amigos hombres, incluso amigos que realmente se preocupan por ella, es en Josie, un espíritu afín en sus motivaciones, donde realmente se siente comprendida, incluso aunque lidien de maneras distintas con los obstáculos.
También siento que la autora, con un conjunto de personajes pequeño, supo describir distintas posiciones con respecto al lugar de la mujer en el deporte. Bach, por un lado, intenta hacer todo en su poder para redimir su actitud pasiva del pasado. Elias observa todo con indiferencia desde un punto neutral. Theo, tan centrado en su carrera y su propia competitividad, que ni siquiera se daba cuenta del doble trabajo que tenía que hacer su amiga para lograr lo mismo que él.
El "romance" que pueda haber es en realidad una subtrama de crecimiento, perdón y volver a encontrar el camino a una amistad casi perdida. La autora supo balancear estas escenas entre carreras y sesiones de estrategias muy bien.
Y, por supuesto, el meollo de todo el libro: las carreras. Aquí tengo que aclarar que mi conocimiento de la Formula 1 es nulo, así que muchas cosas puede que sean triviales para un lector más entendido en ese deporte. Para mí, todo el mundo es muy original, aunque tal vez haya alguno elementos que necesitaran un poco más de explicación. La autora creo que supo trasladar muy bien la idea de carreras a alta velocidad en la tierra, a las carreras de dragones en el aire, dándole un aire épico con combates contra obstáculos. Además, me quedé muy satisfecha con las respuestas que da a las preguntas usuales de "por qué no se rompe el cuello si va cayendo en el aire" o "con esa velocidad, por qué no se cae" o "por qué ve u oye algo de lo que le rodea con el viento que debe estar enfrentando".
A todo ese mundo dentro de las carreras, se le añade un poco de lore referente a los dragones, a cómo se crían, los distintos tipos, y cómo uno u otro es mejor en las carreras. Incluso habla de la evolución del deporte, cosa que me fascinó.
Si no los he convencido con todos estos elementos, pues creo que deberían leerlo de todas formas. Ha sido una lectura llena de acción, dragones y amistades épicas que me hicieron pasar disfrutar en todo momento. Estoy ya ansiosa por el próximo libro.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragons, Races, and Impossible Dreams: A Surprising Story
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of this story. The opinions you’ll read here are mine and mine alone.
To be completely honest, I have to say I didn’t expect to like this book this much. The pace is as fast-paced as the dragon races it describes, but what I liked most was the idea of sisterhood—of pushing forward no matter what to achieve a dream—and the originality of the sport it depicts.
The book is divided into three parts, each with a clear narrative arc. I want to start by stressing out that it is NOT a romance. There is a small romantic subplot that will surely take center stage in the next book, but in this one, it’s not even close to being the most important part. For me, it’s, above all, the journey of Lena, the protagonist, as she overcomes all the obstacles that stand between her and her dream of competing in the Volitant dragon races.
On her own, Lena might not seem like a protagonist unlike any other in fantasy books. After all, she has a certain “chosen one” vibe, with a strong, temperamental personality and great physical ability. However, given the context, I think this is exactly the best characterization she could have had.
The supporting characters aren’t just window dressing. If you ask me, they’re the ones who really drive Lena’s story and help to show—rather than just state—the main conflict: women who dare to dream of “impossible” things in a male-dominated world. I can’t help but mention Josie (I would have given her her own POV because I loved her), another woman with big aspirations. Josie’s presence ensures that Lena isn’t “special” in her desire for more; rather, it highlights the limitations and obstacles and puts into context the different ways these female characters struggle to find their place. I think the author did this intentionally, because no matter how many male friends Lena has—even friends who genuinely care about her—it’s in Josie, a kindred spirit in her motivations, that she truly feels understood.
I also feel that the author, with a small cast of characters, managed to depict different perspectives on women’s place in sports. Bach, on the one hand, tries to do everything in his power to make up for his passive attitude in the past. Elias, on the other hand, observes everything with indifference from a neutral standpoint. Theo is so focused on his career and his own competitiveness that he didn’t even realize the extra effort his friend had to put in to achieve the same things he did.
Any “romance” that may be present is actually a subplot about personal growth, forgiveness, and rediscovering the path to a nearly lost friendship. The author did a great job of balancing these scenes with the races and strategy sessions.
And, of course, the heart of the entire book: the races. Here I have to clarify that my knowledge of Formula 1 is nonexistent, so many things may seem trivial to a reader more familiar with the sport. For me, the whole world feels very original, although there may be some elements that could use a little more explanation. I think the author did a great job of translating the concept of high-speed races on land into dragon races in the air, giving it an epic feel with battles against obstacles. I was also very satisfied with the answers she provides to common questions like “Why doesn’t the rider break their neck while falling through the air?” or “At that speed, why don’t they fall off?” or “How can they see or hear anything around them with all the wind they must be facing?”
On top of this whole world of racing, there’s a bit of lore about the dragons—how they’re raised, the different types, and which ones are best suited for racing. It even discusses the evolution of the sport, which I found fascinating.
If I haven't convinced you with all these points, well, I think you should read it anyway. It was a book full of action, dragons, and epic friendships that kept me entertained the whole time. I'm already looking forward to the next book.
August 21, 2026
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
A Formula 1 Inspired Romantic Fantasy perfect for readers looking for a sports anime vibe with an emphasis on strong, competitive friendships, hot romantic tension that escalates with the angst of their past, and heavy feminist themes softened by loveable dragons.
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.25 ⭐
1 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"We both know you only reach your potential when you're competing with me. But I'm not the same without you either."
"If you waste time after a loss, you're further away from the next win."
"Those young girls who saw you, they no longer have dreams - they have plans."
He was my dragon, he always had been, but now everyone else knew it too.
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When washed-up racer Thorne has an accident minutes before a race, it’s up to dragon keeper Lena to rekindle her racing career and ride in Thorne’s stead. Can she maintain her hidden identity and win for team Kiestral?
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🏁 Formula 1 Inspired
🪪 Hidden Identity
💘 Rivals to Lovers
2️⃣ Second Chance
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🫶 Found Family
🔗 Forced Proximity
🗣️ Feminine Rage
⚙️ Magitech
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
♀️ Misogyny
🩸 Mild Violence
❤️🩹 Substance Abuse
💨 Absent Parents
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Sports Anime Vibe
+ Cocky MMC that's Soft on the Inside
+ Romantic Chemistry and Hot Tension
+ Tender Second Chance Moments
+ Genuine Racer Friendships
+ Pet-Like Dragon Dynamics
+ Action-Packed Racing
+ Twisty Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Complex Worldbuilding
- Writing felt Clunky at the Start
- Slow Pacing in Beginning
- Love Interest Confusion
- Adult Novel with YA Tone
- Heavy Handed Feminism Themes
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
I couldn't wait to start this read - it felt right up my alley! And it was, though it took me a while to get there...
Admittedly, I did find it a little hard to get into at first though. While the opening scene is stunning, there's a lot of setup and backstory and technical terms that threw me initially. With the Magitech trope in a fantasy world there's a LOT of to learn quickly, though there is a glossary in the back to help.
Also, there's an air of mystery in the first few chapters that's trying to tease the reader. The main character keeps very obviously referring to something that happened in her past and then refusing to elaborate on it. It gets a little frustrating at times, and took me out of the story a bit from how clunky it felt.
I also was a little bit confused with who the love interest was supposed to be at first. The initial male introduction is Thorne, the grumpy misogynistic driver and who's dragon Lena looks after. He's incredibly harsh right off the bat and I was concerned he would be the MMC, with Theo (Lena's ex best friend) being in some sort of angsty triangle with them.
I'm pleased to tell you that that's not the case! All the romantic tension comes from Theo's betrayal 5 years ago and then being forced to work together in the tournament. Once I adjusted to this and the story settled into a more stable rhythm, I literally couldn't put this book down!
The book feels a little bit like a sports anime to me, with the same awkward moments, touching scenes, and competitiveness of the genre! I will say it does read a little YA as a result, which is initially a bit off-putting, but I soon settled in! I adored the friendships Lena starts to make with the other racers and keepers (Colly is so excitable and Quinn balances him perfectly!) and wanted more scenes with everyone together!
And Theo... he's the typical tough on the outside soft on the inside guy, which I love! His flirting and competitiveness with Lena was brilliant to read, especially how flustered he got when Lena flirted back! And their friendship coming to life after so long apart is beautiful to watch. When the tension finally snapped, I literally reread the scene several times (so hot!) and even with what happened after, I loved the unique approach!
I did think occasionally the feminist themes came on a bit strongly, but I also appreciated how it highlighted certain struggles in the sporting industry in general. And when they were on the track actually racing, it felt really well-done and I liked that Lena didn't just immediately blow past everyone. She had a lot to learn (still does!) and it shows.
Also, I know this is a long review, but I simply must talk about the dragons themselves! They act like pets in the best way, with Gottyk being like a dog and several others being cat-like in their behaviour! I loved the bond Lena had with her dragons, and the ending had me tearing up as a result! I can't wait to see more of them in the sequel.
I also can't wait to see how Lena and Theo navigate their dynamic (an amazing example of a slow burn series), and friendships with the other racers strengthen even more in the next book!
Thank you to Olivia Hayward and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A Formula 1 Inspired Romantic Fantasy perfect for readers looking for a sports anime vibe with an emphasis on strong, competitive friendships, hot romantic tension that escalates with the angst of their past, and heavy feminist themes softened by loveable dragons.
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.25 ⭐
1 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"We both know you only reach your potential when you're competing with me. But I'm not the same without you either."
"If you waste time after a loss, you're further away from the next win."
"Those young girls who saw you, they no longer have dreams - they have plans."
He was my dragon, he always had been, but now everyone else knew it too.
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When washed-up racer Thorne has an accident minutes before a race, it’s up to dragon keeper Lena to rekindle her racing career and ride in Thorne’s stead. Can she maintain her hidden identity and win for team Kiestral?
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🏁 Formula 1 Inspired
🪪 Hidden Identity
💘 Rivals to Lovers
2️⃣ Second Chance
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🫶 Found Family
🔗 Forced Proximity
🗣️ Feminine Rage
⚙️ Magitech
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
♀️ Misogyny
🩸 Mild Violence
❤️🩹 Substance Abuse
💨 Absent Parents
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Sports Anime Vibe
+ Cocky MMC that's Soft on the Inside
+ Romantic Chemistry and Hot Tension
+ Tender Second Chance Moments
+ Genuine Racer Friendships
+ Pet-Like Dragon Dynamics
+ Action-Packed Racing
+ Twisty Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Complex Worldbuilding
- Writing felt Clunky at the Start
- Slow Pacing in Beginning
- Love Interest Confusion
- Adult Novel with YA Tone
- Heavy Handed Feminism Themes
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
I couldn't wait to start this read - it felt right up my alley! And it was, though it took me a while to get there...
Admittedly, I did find it a little hard to get into at first though. While the opening scene is stunning, there's a lot of setup and backstory and technical terms that threw me initially. With the Magitech trope in a fantasy world there's a LOT of to learn quickly, though there is a glossary in the back to help.
Also, there's an air of mystery in the first few chapters that's trying to tease the reader. The main character keeps very obviously referring to something that happened in her past and then refusing to elaborate on it. It gets a little frustrating at times, and took me out of the story a bit from how clunky it felt.
I also was a little bit confused with who the love interest was supposed to be at first. The initial male introduction is Thorne, the grumpy misogynistic driver and who's dragon Lena looks after. He's incredibly harsh right off the bat and I was concerned he would be the MMC, with Theo (Lena's ex best friend) being in some sort of angsty triangle with them.
I'm pleased to tell you that that's not the case! All the romantic tension comes from Theo's betrayal 5 years ago and then being forced to work together in the tournament. Once I adjusted to this and the story settled into a more stable rhythm, I literally couldn't put this book down!
The book feels a little bit like a sports anime to me, with the same awkward moments, touching scenes, and competitiveness of the genre! I will say it does read a little YA as a result, which is initially a bit off-putting, but I soon settled in! I adored the friendships Lena starts to make with the other racers and keepers (Colly is so excitable and Quinn balances him perfectly!) and wanted more scenes with everyone together!
And Theo... he's the typical tough on the outside soft on the inside guy, which I love! His flirting and competitiveness with Lena was brilliant to read, especially how flustered he got when Lena flirted back! And their friendship coming to life after so long apart is beautiful to watch. When the tension finally snapped, I literally reread the scene several times (so hot!) and even with what happened after, I loved the unique approach!
I did think occasionally the feminist themes came on a bit strongly, but I also appreciated how it highlighted certain struggles in the sporting industry in general. And when they were on the track actually racing, it felt really well-done and I liked that Lena didn't just immediately blow past everyone. She had a lot to learn (still does!) and it shows.
Also, I know this is a long review, but I simply must talk about the dragons themselves! They act like pets in the best way, with Gottyk being like a dog and several others being cat-like in their behaviour! I loved the bond Lena had with her dragons, and the ending had me tearing up as a result! I can't wait to see more of them in the sequel.
I also can't wait to see how Lena and Theo navigate their dynamic (an amazing example of a slow burn series), and friendships with the other racers strengthen even more in the next book!
Thank you to Olivia Hayward and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2026
For a book with the premise of F1 but with dragons, I feel that the most important part would be the racing sequences, and Hayward thankfully writes scenes that are both incredibly vivid and thrilling. There were times where I could almost imagine what it would be like to be weightless in the air and I was always able to keep up with what was happening even when there was a lot going on at once. With the rest of the set up I thought I always had a pretty good idea of how the plot beats would hit but there was an unexpected turn at the halfway point for the story that did take it in a different that I really liked seeing and kept the story more interesting.
Lena, as a main character, felt fully realised. I appreciated she wasn't just the talent underdog who needed a chance but it went into how she had to learn how much harder pro-racing was the importance of a team behind her and her moving past her mistrust in other people. There were times when it did feel like she was a little too snappish in situations where she should have been smart enough to know better, but that's more of a nit pick than anything else.
Other than the dragon racing, the strongest element for me was the commentary on class and sexism in professional sports. I appreciate how it wasn't, we need one woman to be really good to prove them all wrong then its fine, its how this is a systemic issue where it doesn't matter how good women are men will always push them out and shut the door behind them. What was especially realistic to me a was the writing of Thorne's character as this misogynist bully who all the other men acknowledge his behaviour, apologise for it, but none of them ever step in or say anything about it. Then it falls to other women, ones who aren't in a safe position to do so, being the ones to do something about it.
Then, on the topic, I did struggle to like Theo as a love interest. Not getting into spoilers, but his remorse over what happened never came across as truly genuine for me, especially with how his apology actually ends up happening. I never got the idea he actually understood the gravity of what he had done when he was the reason Lena wasn't able to become a rider which as previously discussed was impossible for her otherwise when as a privilege wealthy man Theo would always have those opportunities handed to him. So it was difficult for me to come around on him to he a love interest who apparently has to be hand held through why what he did was wrong but then still not really get it then it the end it felt like it was almost brushed under the rug.
What made up for that was the female friendships. Yes there were also men Lena becomes friends with who help her but her friendship with Josie just felt special to me and how they always stay loyal to each other no matter what to contrast with her friendship with Theo see them always keep their word and have each others back is something I think is always important to see.
This was very strong as both a debut novel and first book in a series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next Dragon Rush instalment. If you're a fan of F1, or really just competing stories in general, dragons, and found family, you should 100% check this out.
Digital ARC provided by netgalley.
Lena, as a main character, felt fully realised. I appreciated she wasn't just the talent underdog who needed a chance but it went into how she had to learn how much harder pro-racing was the importance of a team behind her and her moving past her mistrust in other people. There were times when it did feel like she was a little too snappish in situations where she should have been smart enough to know better, but that's more of a nit pick than anything else.
Other than the dragon racing, the strongest element for me was the commentary on class and sexism in professional sports. I appreciate how it wasn't, we need one woman to be really good to prove them all wrong then its fine, its how this is a systemic issue where it doesn't matter how good women are men will always push them out and shut the door behind them. What was especially realistic to me a was the writing of Thorne's character as this misogynist bully who all the other men acknowledge his behaviour, apologise for it, but none of them ever step in or say anything about it. Then it falls to other women, ones who aren't in a safe position to do so, being the ones to do something about it.
Then, on the topic, I did struggle to like Theo as a love interest. Not getting into spoilers, but his remorse over what happened never came across as truly genuine for me, especially with how his apology actually ends up happening. I never got the idea he actually understood the gravity of what he had done when he was the reason Lena wasn't able to become a rider which as previously discussed was impossible for her otherwise when as a privilege wealthy man Theo would always have those opportunities handed to him. So it was difficult for me to come around on him to he a love interest who apparently has to be hand held through why what he did was wrong but then still not really get it then it the end it felt like it was almost brushed under the rug.
What made up for that was the female friendships. Yes there were also men Lena becomes friends with who help her but her friendship with Josie just felt special to me and how they always stay loyal to each other no matter what to contrast with her friendship with Theo see them always keep their word and have each others back is something I think is always important to see.
This was very strong as both a debut novel and first book in a series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next Dragon Rush instalment. If you're a fan of F1, or really just competing stories in general, dragons, and found family, you should 100% check this out.
Digital ARC provided by netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Micheal Joseph for providing a digital ARC in exchange for a review. This review contains my honest thoughts and personal opinions on the book.
Olivia Hayward’s Tailwind is a first in a series and an excellent alternative for readers who want dragons in a different environment from the classic fantasy or war-driven world. This book is very much F1 with dragons. From thrilling races to aerial combat, everything about this book is fast-paced and full of emotional stakes.
Lena Paldon dreams of being the first woman to race in Volitant, the highest level of professional dragon racing. As a result of betrayal five years prior when she was a junior racer, Lena was forced to give up her dream and become a dragon keeper in order to stay close to the sport she loves. When racer Huwin Thorne suddenly is unable to continue during the season, Lena seizes her opportunity and secretly races in his place. This is her one chance to fulfill her ambition and reignite her career or send what’s left of it crashing to oblivion. The catch? Lena needs a team of people to help her succeed, which means trusting the one person who stole her dream and betrayed her: Theo Vaspre.
I’m not overly familiar with Formula One, but thankfully my lack of previous knowledge did not hinder my enjoyment of this story. The world and technology was easy to get into and had enough detail without getting too bogged down. In some ways the book took the familiar structures of our world while shaping it with innovative ideas that made it still feel unique.
All of that aside, the true focus and stars of the story were the characters, dragons and racing.
Lena was easy to root for even if her stubborn and hot-headed nature often made her faults and failures glaringly obvious. However, it felt more relatable and balanced as a person, especially as a main character. She has to work extremely hard to achieve her goals which made all her wins feel earned. Her love for her dragons is as deep as her loyalty to those she trusts. Lena’s quick wit makes her interactions with other characters deeply amusing. The female friendships in this book were particularly well written in this book and something I really appreciated. Although there is a romance, it definitely is not the main focus in this story or a romance forward book.
The dragon races were written with heart-pounding excitement. On top of various environments and circuit challenges the aspect of aerial combat and obstacles made the races all that more engaging. It was more than just flying but a mix of strategy and rider-dragon synergy that makes or breaks each race. The rules, penalties, and social drama were seamlessly woven in alongside the tradition and history that made the sport not just a plotline, but an important cornerstone of this fictional world.
Everything considered, this was a fantastic debut and I’m excited to read more of Lena’s story in the future. Even though I will be picking up the eventual sequel I believe that Tailwind will also read well on its own if you’re not wanting to commit to a series at the moment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Micheal Joseph for providing a digital ARC in exchange for a review. This review contains my honest thoughts and personal opinions on the book.
Olivia Hayward’s Tailwind is a first in a series and an excellent alternative for readers who want dragons in a different environment from the classic fantasy or war-driven world. This book is very much F1 with dragons. From thrilling races to aerial combat, everything about this book is fast-paced and full of emotional stakes.
Lena Paldon dreams of being the first woman to race in Volitant, the highest level of professional dragon racing. As a result of betrayal five years prior when she was a junior racer, Lena was forced to give up her dream and become a dragon keeper in order to stay close to the sport she loves. When racer Huwin Thorne suddenly is unable to continue during the season, Lena seizes her opportunity and secretly races in his place. This is her one chance to fulfill her ambition and reignite her career or send what’s left of it crashing to oblivion. The catch? Lena needs a team of people to help her succeed, which means trusting the one person who stole her dream and betrayed her: Theo Vaspre.
I’m not overly familiar with Formula One, but thankfully my lack of previous knowledge did not hinder my enjoyment of this story. The world and technology was easy to get into and had enough detail without getting too bogged down. In some ways the book took the familiar structures of our world while shaping it with innovative ideas that made it still feel unique.
All of that aside, the true focus and stars of the story were the characters, dragons and racing.
Lena was easy to root for even if her stubborn and hot-headed nature often made her faults and failures glaringly obvious. However, it felt more relatable and balanced as a person, especially as a main character. She has to work extremely hard to achieve her goals which made all her wins feel earned. Her love for her dragons is as deep as her loyalty to those she trusts. Lena’s quick wit makes her interactions with other characters deeply amusing. The female friendships in this book were particularly well written in this book and something I really appreciated. Although there is a romance, it definitely is not the main focus in this story or a romance forward book.
The dragon races were written with heart-pounding excitement. On top of various environments and circuit challenges the aspect of aerial combat and obstacles made the races all that more engaging. It was more than just flying but a mix of strategy and rider-dragon synergy that makes or breaks each race. The rules, penalties, and social drama were seamlessly woven in alongside the tradition and history that made the sport not just a plotline, but an important cornerstone of this fictional world.
Everything considered, this was a fantastic debut and I’m excited to read more of Lena’s story in the future. Even though I will be picking up the eventual sequel I believe that Tailwind will also read well on its own if you’re not wanting to commit to a series at the moment.
June 10, 2026
𝑨 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂 🤩
Jokes aside, as a self-proclaimed slow reader I could NOT put this book down, @Olivia what did you put in this??! And it’s a debut WHAT
This book throws you in the middle of a fully fleshed out world and I was hooked from the first chapter! It’s exactly what I was looking for, a fun, fast-paced, high-stakes with character conflict fantasy with a slowburn romance and found family 🧡
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔
✨ F1-level Dragon Racing
✨ Slow burn
✨ Rivals to Lovers
✨ Secret / Mistaken Identity
✨ Found Family
You can immediately tell the writer’s love for the sport through the writing. The appreciation for the circuits, the teams, the suit as well as similarities in sport history and politics. If you love F1 and drive to survive as well as fantasy you will love this 🏁
The history and distinct personalities of the dragons were a highlight for me, I enjoyed learning about them and the relationship between Lena and her dragon so much. There was also a variety of characters, including antagonists, and as a sucker for a found family dynamic I adored that it was sprinkled in different parts of the book, not just in Lena’s relationships. I generally loved the side characters and hope we get to see more of them in the rest of the series.
Now the romance, a slowburn rivals-to-lovers is exactly what this is because we will have to wait until book 2 and I’m reeliiing !!! The setup for it is so good 🤩 the romance is definitely not as prominent as what I’m expecting in the rest of the series, there was a larger focus on Lena’s journey of becoming a rider and her experience as a woman 🧡 frankly this is exactly what I like in a book, the focus being on the characters journey with a slow buildup in romance.
I’d categorise it as more of a fantasy romance instead of a romantic fantasy, I kept wanting more but the slow is burning and I’m here for it. Also…he falls first…👀
And a special mention to the emphasis on the difficulties of having to try ten times harder and face ten times the obstacles as a woman to be able to achieve even a fraction of what men can in the industry (or any industry really).
Losing a star as I felt there was a lot of internal monologue with lots of telling us things instead of showing us. There were also certain repetitions of e.g. what the suits were capable of and their different features as well as being too descriptive in some cases and not enough in others.
Honestly, this is one of those books that I know I’ll be re-reading because I had so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and world building and cannot wait for books 2 and 3 🔥
Overall Tailwind is an unforgettable debut novel that bridges the gap between a beloved sport and fantasy.
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the e-ARC of Tailwind in exchange for an honest review.
#Tailwind #NetGalley
Jokes aside, as a self-proclaimed slow reader I could NOT put this book down, @Olivia what did you put in this??! And it’s a debut WHAT
This book throws you in the middle of a fully fleshed out world and I was hooked from the first chapter! It’s exactly what I was looking for, a fun, fast-paced, high-stakes with character conflict fantasy with a slowburn romance and found family 🧡
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔
✨ F1-level Dragon Racing
✨ Slow burn
✨ Rivals to Lovers
✨ Secret / Mistaken Identity
✨ Found Family
You can immediately tell the writer’s love for the sport through the writing. The appreciation for the circuits, the teams, the suit as well as similarities in sport history and politics. If you love F1 and drive to survive as well as fantasy you will love this 🏁
The history and distinct personalities of the dragons were a highlight for me, I enjoyed learning about them and the relationship between Lena and her dragon so much. There was also a variety of characters, including antagonists, and as a sucker for a found family dynamic I adored that it was sprinkled in different parts of the book, not just in Lena’s relationships. I generally loved the side characters and hope we get to see more of them in the rest of the series.
Now the romance, a slowburn rivals-to-lovers is exactly what this is because we will have to wait until book 2 and I’m reeliiing !!! The setup for it is so good 🤩 the romance is definitely not as prominent as what I’m expecting in the rest of the series, there was a larger focus on Lena’s journey of becoming a rider and her experience as a woman 🧡 frankly this is exactly what I like in a book, the focus being on the characters journey with a slow buildup in romance.
I’d categorise it as more of a fantasy romance instead of a romantic fantasy, I kept wanting more but the slow is burning and I’m here for it. Also…he falls first…👀
And a special mention to the emphasis on the difficulties of having to try ten times harder and face ten times the obstacles as a woman to be able to achieve even a fraction of what men can in the industry (or any industry really).
Losing a star as I felt there was a lot of internal monologue with lots of telling us things instead of showing us. There were also certain repetitions of e.g. what the suits were capable of and their different features as well as being too descriptive in some cases and not enough in others.
Honestly, this is one of those books that I know I’ll be re-reading because I had so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and world building and cannot wait for books 2 and 3 🔥
Overall Tailwind is an unforgettable debut novel that bridges the gap between a beloved sport and fantasy.
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the e-ARC of Tailwind in exchange for an honest review.
#Tailwind #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In full transparency, I requested this book on NetGalley because the cover was pretty. I skimmed the blurb with a bit of hesitation because it didn't exactly sound like something directly up my alley but I am not immune to judging a book by it's cover and again. The cover is absolutely gorgeous.
I think I made it through about the first two chapters before I had the realization that I was going to love this book. It had the perfect blend of voicey narration and fast-paced scenes that kept me waiting to see what might happen next. The characters were compelling in their own right but it was the racing scenes that really got me. It hit all the right points that I love about sports scenes and Volitant felt fully fleshed out instead of just F1 with dragons pasted in place.
With that being said, I loved the dragon characters. They weren't just racecars with scales and wings, Gottyk and all the other dragons felt distinct, especially considering the main character's affection for them. Lena felt like a character in her own right which is crazy to have as a bare minimum but I fear some books don't even do that for their "fmc"s so it was a breath of relief.
The worldbuilding was interesting if a bit left to the imagination, but as long as I went along with it everything was fine. As with most stuff in the book, I was having such a blast on the ride I didn't really poke too much as long as it contributed to the overall experience.
The cast of characters was varied and I especially appreciated Bach and Colly, I do think the friendships could have been a bit less instant but 1) that's picking nits and 2) I will excuse almost everything because of how much fun I had reading this book. I will die on almost any hill. Fight me.
The one thing that lost me was There were probably 2.5 paragraphs I wish weren't in the book because of how on the nose/awkward they were but out of 400 pages it was acceptable.
Anyway I am not a fantasy dragon romance girlie but I am a Tailwind girlie because of how much fun it was to read over the course of 24 hours, I will fight in the war for this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Who needs numbers when you've got wings?"
All I went off was the beautiful cover and dragon racing...and boy howdy was this a fun ride!
Let me be clear that I had no idea what "F1" was before going into this...but I actually really liked how it was applied. Hayward is an obvious car racing fan and how she re-imagined that in the form of dragon racing was extremely well done.
The action scenes were packed, detailed, and well described. I felt I was in the middle of the action.
The dragons each had distinct personalities and I especially enjoyed Lena and her dragon's bond. Even seeing the keeper duties and the usage of copper pellets for bedding was interesting!
The struggle of being a woman in a man's sport while also having to use what subterfuge you can to get a real chance was impactful. The constant push pull of the sport's expectations, Lena's will to make her dream come true, and lifting other women along with her hit so hard for me. And then the allyship of friends she made in the circuit that helped lift her up when she was fighting against the machine.
Perhaps the biggest flaw this book has is how "the betrayal" with her childhood friend was handled. They were as close as family (more so than her own, actually) and they never, not once, tried to confront how it went down? They just cold turkey stopped talking? I understand this is a slow burn and they needed a reason to hate each other but...honestly, I think it was treated too extreme. Not only extreme, but dragged on way too long.
Outside of that flaw, Thorne felt like a complete caricature...so you kinda just had to roll with his dialogue and how extreme he gets with her.
All-in-all, small nitpicks that don't take away much. I'm sad I can't preorder this yet!
Recommended for the dragon lovers and monster race fans!
Major thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
August 20, 2026-Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for a fair review-
I just want to preference this review by saying that I am definitely not the perfect audience member for this book, so you should probably take this review with a grain of salt. While I love dragons and anything fantasy, I am not an F1 fan and have honestly never watched a complete race in my life, despite genuinely trying to. As a total novice I would have liked more explanation of the world, the riders, and the overall formating of the races. While there is some information provided I do feel like a lot of this book banks on the idea that its readers are already familiar with the world of F1 and general car racing to automatically understand how everything works. I definitely came into this book with the impression of it being more of an urban fantasy than a sports driven story, and that is totally on me.
The first 20% of this book is very much a massive information dump, with names, companies, brands and terms being quickly thrown at the reader. I do think we could have done a better job of easing the reader into this world, (especially for those of us that aren't super F1/racing experienced). I definitely would have preferred the explanations being spread out more so readers can feel more comfortable and take their time getting used to this world and sport.
However as a woman who does enjoy nearly every other sport, this book does an excellent job at describing the barriers that not female athletes, but any woman who wants to work in sports has to overcome. There was a detail in here about how the only role that is socially acceptable for women to have is raising/taking care of the dragons, and I just thought that it was a really clever comparison to how women in sports are automatically assumed to be in supporting roles. I also loved the supporting cast in this, although the love interest fell a little flat for me.
Overall, this is a solid debut with a lot of room to grow. I think as Hayward keeps writing and improving she will explore a lot more of the world and some elements that were mentioned but not fully fleshed out.
(P.S.- I agree with another reviewer that she should write a book about illegal dragon drag racing).
I just want to preference this review by saying that I am definitely not the perfect audience member for this book, so you should probably take this review with a grain of salt. While I love dragons and anything fantasy, I am not an F1 fan and have honestly never watched a complete race in my life, despite genuinely trying to. As a total novice I would have liked more explanation of the world, the riders, and the overall formating of the races. While there is some information provided I do feel like a lot of this book banks on the idea that its readers are already familiar with the world of F1 and general car racing to automatically understand how everything works. I definitely came into this book with the impression of it being more of an urban fantasy than a sports driven story, and that is totally on me.
The first 20% of this book is very much a massive information dump, with names, companies, brands and terms being quickly thrown at the reader. I do think we could have done a better job of easing the reader into this world, (especially for those of us that aren't super F1/racing experienced). I definitely would have preferred the explanations being spread out more so readers can feel more comfortable and take their time getting used to this world and sport.
However as a woman who does enjoy nearly every other sport, this book does an excellent job at describing the barriers that not female athletes, but any woman who wants to work in sports has to overcome. There was a detail in here about how the only role that is socially acceptable for women to have is raising/taking care of the dragons, and I just thought that it was a really clever comparison to how women in sports are automatically assumed to be in supporting roles. I also loved the supporting cast in this, although the love interest fell a little flat for me.
Overall, this is a solid debut with a lot of room to grow. I think as Hayward keeps writing and improving she will explore a lot more of the world and some elements that were mentioned but not fully fleshed out.
(P.S.- I agree with another reviewer that she should write a book about illegal dragon drag racing).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really loved the concept of this because dragons + Formula 1 style racing is such a cool idea and I loved the dragon racing, the politics, the branding/logos on the dragons, the danger and stakes of the races. There are SO many genuinely cool components to this that I was intrigued by. But unfortunately, I just don’t think the execution was there.
This suffered a lot from telling instead of showing. I constantly felt like I was being told information instead of actually immersed in the world and story. We’re thrown into the action immediately with very little explanation, and for a large portion of the book I had no clue who was who, how the world worked, or what exactly was happening. Because of that, I struggled to connect to both the characters and the world itself.
I kept waiting for the worldbuilding to become more vivid and detailed because the foundation is SO interesting and not like something I have read before, at least the bare bones of it. I wanted more depth about the dragon racing itself, the political side of things, the culture, the stakes, and even the dragons themselves. There were so many moments where I could see the potential, but I felt like it was underdeveloped and because of that, I struggled to really care as much as I wanted to.
I also can’t ignore how similar this felt to Fourth Wing. I completely understand why authors are chasing that trend right now because it’s wildly popular, but this felt a little too familiar for me at times.
I do think the concept absolutely carries this book because dragon racing is such a fun and unique idea, but I really needed stronger execution, richer worldbuilding, and more immersive storytelling to fully love it. I do think those who love Fourth Wing or just those who love romantasy in general and maybe even those who love Formula 1 will probably like this but I feel like it was not for me, at least not the way I thought it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Hayward, and Penguin for the eARC of this book.
This suffered a lot from telling instead of showing. I constantly felt like I was being told information instead of actually immersed in the world and story. We’re thrown into the action immediately with very little explanation, and for a large portion of the book I had no clue who was who, how the world worked, or what exactly was happening. Because of that, I struggled to connect to both the characters and the world itself.
I kept waiting for the worldbuilding to become more vivid and detailed because the foundation is SO interesting and not like something I have read before, at least the bare bones of it. I wanted more depth about the dragon racing itself, the political side of things, the culture, the stakes, and even the dragons themselves. There were so many moments where I could see the potential, but I felt like it was underdeveloped and because of that, I struggled to really care as much as I wanted to.
I also can’t ignore how similar this felt to Fourth Wing. I completely understand why authors are chasing that trend right now because it’s wildly popular, but this felt a little too familiar for me at times.
I do think the concept absolutely carries this book because dragon racing is such a fun and unique idea, but I really needed stronger execution, richer worldbuilding, and more immersive storytelling to fully love it. I do think those who love Fourth Wing or just those who love romantasy in general and maybe even those who love Formula 1 will probably like this but I feel like it was not for me, at least not the way I thought it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Hayward, and Penguin for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read: June 15th - June 29th
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded down)
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The rating on this book is a bit misleading, because unlike a lot of 3 stars, I genuinely want to read on with this series. I am genuinely invested in Lena and her dragon racer journey, and I want her to stick it to all the jerks who think less of her. Her adoration for the sport and for dragons really shines through, and I have recently realized just how much I adore characters who really just adore what it is they do. Also, I genuinely enjoyed the characters, even the ones that just got a few moments to be all stoic and cool. Even the characters I hated, I was excited when they appeared, because I was so ready to see Lena face them and show them up.
So why 3.5 star rating? Because I genuinely debated DNF-ing this book at a point. I did not like the 'betrayal' plotline for a good chunk of the book. I understood that the incident that happens hurt Lena deeply, and I understand what Theo did was wrong, but the delivery of it was just very shallow. I think the writing in general has a tad of shallowness and simpleness to it in a way that makes it feel like young writing (as in the writer still has room to grow, not as in it is meant for young readers and therefore somehow bad). Though at times this style did read almost like a YA, mostly because the protagonist could read like a teen, so I'd be thrown real hard when very adult things were felt/said/thought/whatever.
All in all, this is far from a bad book, which is why I want to continue. But I can't bump it up to a four star when the handling of the betrayal in the earlier parts bothered me so much (I ended up liking its resolution) and when the writing fell a bit too flat. Fingers crossed I'll enjoy book two with the betrayal situation done and over with... Maybe possibly. I think there's still healing to come, but not the actual issue itself.
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded down)
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The rating on this book is a bit misleading, because unlike a lot of 3 stars, I genuinely want to read on with this series. I am genuinely invested in Lena and her dragon racer journey, and I want her to stick it to all the jerks who think less of her. Her adoration for the sport and for dragons really shines through, and I have recently realized just how much I adore characters who really just adore what it is they do. Also, I genuinely enjoyed the characters, even the ones that just got a few moments to be all stoic and cool. Even the characters I hated, I was excited when they appeared, because I was so ready to see Lena face them and show them up.
So why 3.5 star rating? Because I genuinely debated DNF-ing this book at a point. I did not like the 'betrayal' plotline for a good chunk of the book. I understood that the incident that happens hurt Lena deeply, and I understand what Theo did was wrong, but the delivery of it was just very shallow. I think the writing in general has a tad of shallowness and simpleness to it in a way that makes it feel like young writing (as in the writer still has room to grow, not as in it is meant for young readers and therefore somehow bad). Though at times this style did read almost like a YA, mostly because the protagonist could read like a teen, so I'd be thrown real hard when very adult things were felt/said/thought/whatever.
All in all, this is far from a bad book, which is why I want to continue. But I can't bump it up to a four star when the handling of the betrayal in the earlier parts bothered me so much (I ended up liking its resolution) and when the writing fell a bit too flat. Fingers crossed I'll enjoy book two with the betrayal situation done and over with... Maybe possibly. I think there's still healing to come, but not the actual issue itself.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So I did NOT expect to cry but here we are. I'm sitting with my feelings and a lot of regrets about starting this in public.
I've been lucky enough to know Olivia for a while now - agency sisters, which already made me predisposed to love this - but nothing could have prepared me for actually sitting down and reading it. I thought I knew what I was getting into: dragons, racing & a slow burn. It was so much more.
Let me start with the writing because it deserves its own moment. Olivia has this incredible ability to make you feel things without ever being heavy handed about it. the world building is woven in so naturally you don't even notice you're learning the rules, you're just… in it. On dragonback, cold air in your face, stomach dropping. and then there are lines that just HIT. Quiet little sentences that sneak up on you and by the time you realise what happened you're already crying on your sofa at 11pm on a Tuesday.
The racing sequences are genuinely some of the most thrilling writing I've read in ages. I don't even watch motorsport and I was stressed. I was INVESTED. I had opinions about strategy.
Lena is everything I want in a protagonist. funny and furious and so stubborn it's almost unreasonable except you understand every single decision she makes because Olivia builds her so carefully. You feel everything she's carrying before she even says it out loud. And Theo - okay I'm not going to say too much about Theo but I will say the slow burn is REAL and it is EARNED.
BUT... Even though the romance will make you hold your breath, it's the bond between a girl and her dragon that will break your heart.
Gottyk. I cannot talk about Gottyk without getting emotional again so I'll just say that the relationship between Lena and her dragon is the true centre of this book and it is so beautifully written that the ending did things to me I was absolutely not prepared for. I cried. Properly cried. The ugly kind.
Also Josie deserves her own series and I will be campaigning for that personally.
I am so proud of Olivia and so genuinely lucky to have her as my agency sister and my friend. this book is the real deal. It has everything - heart, humour, an absolutely devastating emotional gut punch disguised as a fantasy racing novel - and I think about it constantly.
Just read it. Clear your schedule, have snacks, maybe warn whoever you live with that you might be a bit of a mess by the end.
Worh every single second. Five stars, no notes, more please.
So I did NOT expect to cry but here we are. I'm sitting with my feelings and a lot of regrets about starting this in public.
I've been lucky enough to know Olivia for a while now - agency sisters, which already made me predisposed to love this - but nothing could have prepared me for actually sitting down and reading it. I thought I knew what I was getting into: dragons, racing & a slow burn. It was so much more.
Let me start with the writing because it deserves its own moment. Olivia has this incredible ability to make you feel things without ever being heavy handed about it. the world building is woven in so naturally you don't even notice you're learning the rules, you're just… in it. On dragonback, cold air in your face, stomach dropping. and then there are lines that just HIT. Quiet little sentences that sneak up on you and by the time you realise what happened you're already crying on your sofa at 11pm on a Tuesday.
The racing sequences are genuinely some of the most thrilling writing I've read in ages. I don't even watch motorsport and I was stressed. I was INVESTED. I had opinions about strategy.
Lena is everything I want in a protagonist. funny and furious and so stubborn it's almost unreasonable except you understand every single decision she makes because Olivia builds her so carefully. You feel everything she's carrying before she even says it out loud. And Theo - okay I'm not going to say too much about Theo but I will say the slow burn is REAL and it is EARNED.
BUT... Even though the romance will make you hold your breath, it's the bond between a girl and her dragon that will break your heart.
Gottyk. I cannot talk about Gottyk without getting emotional again so I'll just say that the relationship between Lena and her dragon is the true centre of this book and it is so beautifully written that the ending did things to me I was absolutely not prepared for. I cried. Properly cried. The ugly kind.
Also Josie deserves her own series and I will be campaigning for that personally.
I am so proud of Olivia and so genuinely lucky to have her as my agency sister and my friend. this book is the real deal. It has everything - heart, humour, an absolutely devastating emotional gut punch disguised as a fantasy racing novel - and I think about it constantly.
Just read it. Clear your schedule, have snacks, maybe warn whoever you live with that you might be a bit of a mess by the end.
Worh every single second. Five stars, no notes, more please.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
A very interesting premise but lacks a well developed prose and - unfortunately - falls short on execution.
Overall, I felt as if the writing was dry outside of the racing and action scenes. The author also has a habit of telling and not showing; the largest example of this is the continuous reminders that Lena is “tough” through inner monologues and dialogue rather than direct actions themselves. I felt as though I was being feed information rather than being organically exposed to it.
I also thought some characters - individually - were lacking in depth; I didn’t find myself attached to any of them outside of her dragon. That said, I still appreciated the relationships around the characters, more notably between Lena and her dragon/Josie/Bach. I did find the rivalry/former friend aspect with Theo compelling as well but felt the romance was lacking in depth and execution; if this turns into a series, I would like to see more development between the two that isn’t as surface-level as we were given.
Now with all of my criticisms out of the way, let me get more into the positives.
As I said previously, I appreciated the manner in which the race scenes were written; they were paced well, skipping around the repetitiveness that comes with track racing. The same applies to the other action-based scenes. I truly think the author hits their stride when writing these sort of scenes; the in-between is where I am seeing struggle with flow and syntax.
I also really like the world the author created and the overall concept behind Tailwind; between the F1 dragon races, possible illegal wyvern drag races (please expand on this if this continues), and Drake races (which I pictured as ostrich racing lol), I feel as though there is a lot of unique, refreshing elements for an audience to enjoy. The overall execution just needs refinement.
Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!
Hopefully, the first of many to come.
A very interesting premise but lacks a well developed prose and - unfortunately - falls short on execution.
Overall, I felt as if the writing was dry outside of the racing and action scenes. The author also has a habit of telling and not showing; the largest example of this is the continuous reminders that Lena is “tough” through inner monologues and dialogue rather than direct actions themselves. I felt as though I was being feed information rather than being organically exposed to it.
I also thought some characters - individually - were lacking in depth; I didn’t find myself attached to any of them outside of her dragon. That said, I still appreciated the relationships around the characters, more notably between Lena and her dragon/Josie/Bach. I did find the rivalry/former friend aspect with Theo compelling as well but felt the romance was lacking in depth and execution; if this turns into a series, I would like to see more development between the two that isn’t as surface-level as we were given.
Now with all of my criticisms out of the way, let me get more into the positives.
As I said previously, I appreciated the manner in which the race scenes were written; they were paced well, skipping around the repetitiveness that comes with track racing. The same applies to the other action-based scenes. I truly think the author hits their stride when writing these sort of scenes; the in-between is where I am seeing struggle with flow and syntax.
I also really like the world the author created and the overall concept behind Tailwind; between the F1 dragon races, possible illegal wyvern drag races (please expand on this if this continues), and Drake races (which I pictured as ostrich racing lol), I feel as though there is a lot of unique, refreshing elements for an audience to enjoy. The overall execution just needs refinement.
Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!
Hopefully, the first of many to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tailwind is a fun debut. I sped through this one once I was able to get past the first hundred or so pages. Lena, our main character, a hot-headed, impulsive dragon-keeper-turned-racer, is not unlike most female protagonists in modern fantasy novels. This doesn't discount the book at all, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking for the genre.
The dragons, (which, in my opinion, are the most important part)are written well, and funny enough described a bit like horses (fitting, given the racing genre) or some sort of other intelligent, domesticated animal. This was one beat that was strangely fascinating to me, and I hope it’s expanded on a bit more in future installments.
The races are fun and fast paced (though could be elaborated on a bit in some circumstances, and some of the best-written and most compelling parts of the entire book. The side-characters are believable; I especially liked Colly, but wish we would’ve gotten more from Quinn. The antagonists are, unfortunately, a bit bland. I wish I knew more about their motivations beyond...well, racing and money.
In general, actually, I wish we would’ve gotten more. I think Tailwind is suffering from a lack of prose. I completely understand the hesitance to overwrite, but there are some scenes that could’ve benefitted from elaboration and an addition of flowery language. Especially the finale. The ending felt far too abrupt to me, it could have dragged on for a couple more pages to build tension and I would’ve been just fine with it. Though I do think the final resolution was well-thought out and executed.
Overall, Tailwind is a fun, fast-paced book, but it has a few flaws keeping it from being a 5-star read for me. I think this would be great to pick up if you want an easily read fantasy to get back into reading or the genre, but for more seasoned readers it may fall short in a few places.
A sincere thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the chance to read this eARC.
The dragons, (which, in my opinion, are the most important part)are written well, and funny enough described a bit like horses (fitting, given the racing genre) or some sort of other intelligent, domesticated animal. This was one beat that was strangely fascinating to me, and I hope it’s expanded on a bit more in future installments.
The races are fun and fast paced (though could be elaborated on a bit in some circumstances, and some of the best-written and most compelling parts of the entire book. The side-characters are believable; I especially liked Colly, but wish we would’ve gotten more from Quinn. The antagonists are, unfortunately, a bit bland. I wish I knew more about their motivations beyond...well, racing and money.
In general, actually, I wish we would’ve gotten more. I think Tailwind is suffering from a lack of prose. I completely understand the hesitance to overwrite, but there are some scenes that could’ve benefitted from elaboration and an addition of flowery language. Especially the finale. The ending felt far too abrupt to me, it could have dragged on for a couple more pages to build tension and I would’ve been just fine with it. Though I do think the final resolution was well-thought out and executed.
Overall, Tailwind is a fun, fast-paced book, but it has a few flaws keeping it from being a 5-star read for me. I think this would be great to pick up if you want an easily read fantasy to get back into reading or the genre, but for more seasoned readers it may fall short in a few places.
A sincere thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the chance to read this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a sports-focused book about women breaking through in a male-dominated field, with a fantasy sport overlay. Plus a side plot of romance. And generally, it does this pretty well! I don’t care all that much for racing, but by the last race I was on the edge of my seat and shaking from the highs and lows of the race and its aftermath.
The start is a little clunky with all of the racing info thrown at you, but it picks up. There’s a lot of cool technology involved in the dragon racing, and the overall fantasy sport feels very fleshed out.
The FMC is fun to read. She’s self-aware of her faults, including her brashness and lack of brains, and acts within the bounds of her character even when I felt like shouting “no, don’t do that!”
The biggest flaw is how the relationship with Lena’s childhood friend is handled. They were as close as family, and her leaving after that last race 5 years ago without a word wasn’t enough to cause anyone to reach out to her? Even Theo’s family, who treated her like one of their own? And then when Lena finally starts talking to Theo again, he doesn’t ask or try to get her to talk about why she cut him out of her life up until this point. He actually never even asks! It takes until the end of the book for Lena to confront the subject. They’d been talking for months at this point, and it was really frustrating for the whole time that they never discussed the cause of the rift.
Also, she was a top-performing junior athlete 5 years ago, and thinks that none of the people from her past remember her. It doesn’t seem realistic, even if she’d removed herself from the public eye for the past 5 years.
Lena’s sister makes an occasional appearance, but I wish she’d been part of the plot more. Being the leader of an illegal wyvern street racing crew? How is that not worth expounding on??
The start is a little clunky with all of the racing info thrown at you, but it picks up. There’s a lot of cool technology involved in the dragon racing, and the overall fantasy sport feels very fleshed out.
The FMC is fun to read. She’s self-aware of her faults, including her brashness and lack of brains, and acts within the bounds of her character even when I felt like shouting “no, don’t do that!”
The biggest flaw is how the relationship with Lena’s childhood friend is handled. They were as close as family, and her leaving after that last race 5 years ago without a word wasn’t enough to cause anyone to reach out to her? Even Theo’s family, who treated her like one of their own? And then when Lena finally starts talking to Theo again, he doesn’t ask or try to get her to talk about why she cut him out of her life up until this point. He actually never even asks! It takes until the end of the book for Lena to confront the subject. They’d been talking for months at this point, and it was really frustrating for the whole time that they never discussed the cause of the rift.
Also, she was a top-performing junior athlete 5 years ago, and thinks that none of the people from her past remember her. It doesn’t seem realistic, even if she’d removed herself from the public eye for the past 5 years.
Lena’s sister makes an occasional appearance, but I wish she’d been part of the plot more. Being the leader of an illegal wyvern street racing crew? How is that not worth expounding on??
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is an absolutely adrenaline inducing wild ride. F1 meets dragon riding was so much fun! How this is a debut is beyond me. Olivia Hayward has written a wonderful story that gripped me from the opening line.
It had me and the edge of my seat during the races, and I felt everything alongside the FMC Lena! It isn't just the love of her dragon and the thrill of the racing that's swept me off my feet, but the entire world building, the society and the characters.
Lena has raced on Drakes and Wyverns, so she has the skill for racing but it's a personal betrayal and the misogynistic establishment in dragon racing that has barred her from a career in dragon racing. So when the rider she works under is incapacitated moments before a race it creates a unique opportunity for impersonation. Lena jumps at the chance to race again on the dragon she has cared for, since Gottyk hatched.
This story is what I didn't know I craved from a book with dragon riders. Besides the racing, there's the politics, the unfair establishment, and Lena having to claw her way to even the tiniest shred of acknowledgement that male riders get without a second thought.
I can't wait to see where Olivia Hayward takes the story next!
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication date 03.09.2026
4.25 stars
It had me and the edge of my seat during the races, and I felt everything alongside the FMC Lena! It isn't just the love of her dragon and the thrill of the racing that's swept me off my feet, but the entire world building, the society and the characters.
Lena has raced on Drakes and Wyverns, so she has the skill for racing but it's a personal betrayal and the misogynistic establishment in dragon racing that has barred her from a career in dragon racing. So when the rider she works under is incapacitated moments before a race it creates a unique opportunity for impersonation. Lena jumps at the chance to race again on the dragon she has cared for, since Gottyk hatched.
This story is what I didn't know I craved from a book with dragon riders. Besides the racing, there's the politics, the unfair establishment, and Lena having to claw her way to even the tiniest shred of acknowledgement that male riders get without a second thought.
I can't wait to see where Olivia Hayward takes the story next!
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication date 03.09.2026
4.25 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I dive into my review, I just want to take a moment to talk about the cover. Oh my gosh does this one have a gorgeous cover. I’m obsessed with the coloring, the way it’s laid out, and the art itself. Absolutely magnificent job there.
Now for the book itself, this was a struggle for me to get through. Not because I don’t frequently read sports romances. Not because the plot was slow or boring. Not because the romance was bad. The romance was absolutely incredible and the plot was quite exciting. In fact, you’re thrown directly into the action from page one and the pace stays up throughout the book.
What made me struggle was the telling and not showing. I found myself frequently lost because there were bits of information told to us that we were just supposed to understand and follow. There’s not explanation for why things are the way they are at times, and instead of being in the story while it happens, you hear about it instead. I’d much rather spend an extra 10 pages reading about what happened rather than trying to sort my way through being told the events.
I really hoped this one would be incredible because the idea itself is so cool. The rivals to lovers romance and the bond between our fmc and her dragon is everything. You can also really tell the author knows her way around F1 and used that knowledge to make thoughtful decisions. It was just the execution that didn’t quite work well.
Thank you so much to Michael Joseph, Random House, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now for the book itself, this was a struggle for me to get through. Not because I don’t frequently read sports romances. Not because the plot was slow or boring. Not because the romance was bad. The romance was absolutely incredible and the plot was quite exciting. In fact, you’re thrown directly into the action from page one and the pace stays up throughout the book.
What made me struggle was the telling and not showing. I found myself frequently lost because there were bits of information told to us that we were just supposed to understand and follow. There’s not explanation for why things are the way they are at times, and instead of being in the story while it happens, you hear about it instead. I’d much rather spend an extra 10 pages reading about what happened rather than trying to sort my way through being told the events.
I really hoped this one would be incredible because the idea itself is so cool. The rivals to lovers romance and the bond between our fmc and her dragon is everything. You can also really tell the author knows her way around F1 and used that knowledge to make thoughtful decisions. It was just the execution that didn’t quite work well.
Thank you so much to Michael Joseph, Random House, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 24, 2026Tailwind is an exhilarating fantasy debut that combines the intensity of competitive racing with the awe and spectacle of dragons, creating a reading experience that feels fast paced, immersive, and incredibly exciting. Olivia Hayward introduces a fresh and imaginative concept that immediately stands out through its energy, atmosphere, and high stakes storytelling.
What makes the novel especially compelling is the adrenaline fueled worldbuilding surrounding the dragon racing circuit. The speed, danger, and fierce competition create constant momentum throughout the story, while the fantasy elements add depth and scale to the experience. The blend of thrilling action and emotional investment gives the narrative a cinematic quality that keeps readers fully engaged.
Beyond the excitement, the story also explores ambition, pressure, determination, and the emotional intensity tied to competition. The balance between action driven sequences and character focused storytelling helps the world feel immersive and emotionally grounded. Olivia Hayward captures both spectacle and tension with confidence, making the novel feel vivid and unforgettable.
Bold, atmospheric, and packed with momentum, Tailwind is a highly entertaining fantasy adventure that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy dragon fantasy, high stakes competition, immersive worldbuilding, and fast paced storytelling.
What makes the novel especially compelling is the adrenaline fueled worldbuilding surrounding the dragon racing circuit. The speed, danger, and fierce competition create constant momentum throughout the story, while the fantasy elements add depth and scale to the experience. The blend of thrilling action and emotional investment gives the narrative a cinematic quality that keeps readers fully engaged.
Beyond the excitement, the story also explores ambition, pressure, determination, and the emotional intensity tied to competition. The balance between action driven sequences and character focused storytelling helps the world feel immersive and emotionally grounded. Olivia Hayward captures both spectacle and tension with confidence, making the novel feel vivid and unforgettable.
Bold, atmospheric, and packed with momentum, Tailwind is a highly entertaining fantasy adventure that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy dragon fantasy, high stakes competition, immersive worldbuilding, and fast paced storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
I got this one for the cover, if I'm honest, and the tagline "Dragons meets F1 racing" sealed the deal. Think pod racing meets Quidditch with a dash of Mario Kart, that's a bit derisive of what's actually a much richer book, but if that combo intrigues you at all, keep reading.
Tailwind follows Lena, a dragon racer who was snubbed and betrayed out of her shot at the sport, and now works as a dragon keeper, looking after her old racing dragon while someone else rides him, and poorly. Without spoiling anything, it builds into a genuinely good story about retribution and banding together against the odds, with a romance subplot woven through it, all set against a really well-realised dragon racing world.
I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it was. I figured the setting and premise would be doing most of the heavy lifting, but honestly this would've held up as a compelling story even if it had been street racing or chariot racing instead of dragons. The dragons and their personalities are a genuine bonus on top of an already solid plot.
It's shelved as fantasy and romance, but I wouldn't go in expecting the romance to be the main event. It's there, and it does real work deepening the characters and their relationships, but if you're after something steamy, this isn't really that, at least not yet. I suspect it'll take more of a front seat in future books.
Easy, fun read, and I'll be picking up anything else set in this universe.
Easy recommended.
I got this one for the cover, if I'm honest, and the tagline "Dragons meets F1 racing" sealed the deal. Think pod racing meets Quidditch with a dash of Mario Kart, that's a bit derisive of what's actually a much richer book, but if that combo intrigues you at all, keep reading.
Tailwind follows Lena, a dragon racer who was snubbed and betrayed out of her shot at the sport, and now works as a dragon keeper, looking after her old racing dragon while someone else rides him, and poorly. Without spoiling anything, it builds into a genuinely good story about retribution and banding together against the odds, with a romance subplot woven through it, all set against a really well-realised dragon racing world.
I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it was. I figured the setting and premise would be doing most of the heavy lifting, but honestly this would've held up as a compelling story even if it had been street racing or chariot racing instead of dragons. The dragons and their personalities are a genuine bonus on top of an already solid plot.
It's shelved as fantasy and romance, but I wouldn't go in expecting the romance to be the main event. It's there, and it does real work deepening the characters and their relationships, but if you're after something steamy, this isn't really that, at least not yet. I suspect it'll take more of a front seat in future books.
Easy, fun read, and I'll be picking up anything else set in this universe.
Easy recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Lena Paldon has always dreamed of racing in the elite league of Volitant dragon racing. She almost made it but her best friend and teammate at the time Theo screwed her over and she was left without options. There has never been a female in the top league and at this rate she won’t ever be the one to break through. She is working at the keeper for a dragon and rider. But the rider Thorne is abusive and washed out. When he ends up passed out after attacking Lena and the dragon defending her, she sees an opportunity to race in his stead and prove herself. She ends up racing in 3 races and does well but it all comes crashing down. Can she figure out a way to continue her dream, and finally cement her way into the sport she has always dreamed of being in.
This book was a lot of fun. I really loved Lena as a protagonist. She was real, strong, flawed, and determined. She stood for her beliefs and found a way forward without tearing anyone down. She never gave up and made sure to champion other women around her as well. She was principled and never sold out to be more palatable. The dragon racing and the politics in the sport were so thrilling. The small hint of romance set up a great slow burn romance to come. It was a really solid book and I am so excited to continue the story in the next book in this series.
Lena Paldon has always dreamed of racing in the elite league of Volitant dragon racing. She almost made it but her best friend and teammate at the time Theo screwed her over and she was left without options. There has never been a female in the top league and at this rate she won’t ever be the one to break through. She is working at the keeper for a dragon and rider. But the rider Thorne is abusive and washed out. When he ends up passed out after attacking Lena and the dragon defending her, she sees an opportunity to race in his stead and prove herself. She ends up racing in 3 races and does well but it all comes crashing down. Can she figure out a way to continue her dream, and finally cement her way into the sport she has always dreamed of being in.
This book was a lot of fun. I really loved Lena as a protagonist. She was real, strong, flawed, and determined. She stood for her beliefs and found a way forward without tearing anyone down. She never gave up and made sure to champion other women around her as well. She was principled and never sold out to be more palatable. The dragon racing and the politics in the sport were so thrilling. The small hint of romance set up a great slow burn romance to come. It was a really solid book and I am so excited to continue the story in the next book in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I love dragons and I love motorsports. So when I saw the ARC for Tailwind on NetGalley, I requested it immediately.
First of all, I enjoyed the lore around the racing and seeing how the author translated aspects of F1 into a fantasy setting. Understanding the references to F1 was actually really fun.
The ideas and the settings were great and the action during the races entertaining and not too repetitive. However I found the overall world building to be lacking.
The pacing of the plot was good but some parts of the story dragged a bit while others could have been more fleshed out.
Unfortunately the characters felt a bit generic and 2D. I really wanted to like Lena, she’s passionate, ambitious and tenacious, characteristics I usually love in an FMC. But I felt like there wasn’t much more depth to her. Also, despite her being an adult, at times she read quite young.
I also didn’t care much for the romance. The whole drama between Lena and Theo felt a bit forced and I would have wished for a more intense rivals-to-lovers transition. Also, in my opinion, there wasn’t much chemistry between those two.
So to sum up: I think the idea and basic plot are really cool and I love the creative spin on a sports romance. However the execution could have been stronger and the characters were suffering a bit from generic-romantasy-personality.
I definitely believe this series has potential though and I might continue it.
I love dragons and I love motorsports. So when I saw the ARC for Tailwind on NetGalley, I requested it immediately.
First of all, I enjoyed the lore around the racing and seeing how the author translated aspects of F1 into a fantasy setting. Understanding the references to F1 was actually really fun.
The ideas and the settings were great and the action during the races entertaining and not too repetitive. However I found the overall world building to be lacking.
The pacing of the plot was good but some parts of the story dragged a bit while others could have been more fleshed out.
Unfortunately the characters felt a bit generic and 2D. I really wanted to like Lena, she’s passionate, ambitious and tenacious, characteristics I usually love in an FMC. But I felt like there wasn’t much more depth to her. Also, despite her being an adult, at times she read quite young.
I also didn’t care much for the romance. The whole drama between Lena and Theo felt a bit forced and I would have wished for a more intense rivals-to-lovers transition. Also, in my opinion, there wasn’t much chemistry between those two.
So to sum up: I think the idea and basic plot are really cool and I love the creative spin on a sports romance. However the execution could have been stronger and the characters were suffering a bit from generic-romantasy-personality.
I definitely believe this series has potential though and I might continue it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***4.5 Star***
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Random House for this eArc!
All I knew going into this was it was a dragon racing book- sign me up! (and look at that cover)
I've never watched F1 but I LOVED this world/sport- it was like F1 x pod racing x dragons.
The races were high intense action sequences, the dragons were unique and had character and I loved them, and the relationships between the characters (both good and bad ones) felt so organic and well developed.
This book did so many less-popular (over saturated things/tropes) and I hadn't realized how much I needed them until now.
The story was so fast paced I couldn't put it down.
Some parts felt choppy BUT I think it kind of worked with the fast paced world AND it may also have been weird formatting of the eArc (like it a page breaker was missing/glitched).
There was a lot going on- in a good way.
(I don't think this is listed as a romantasy- but the romance sub plot was *chef's kiss* - just enough to fit the story and the characters/nothing forced)
The only thing keeping it from being a 5 star favorite read would be the tell not show writing.
In the moment it kept the pacing fast and I didn't mind it BUT I love this world and would have enjoyed a bit more immersion.
I was SO excited to see this is a series and cannot wait to come back for book 2.
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Random House for this eArc!
All I knew going into this was it was a dragon racing book- sign me up! (and look at that cover)
I've never watched F1 but I LOVED this world/sport- it was like F1 x pod racing x dragons.
The races were high intense action sequences, the dragons were unique and had character and I loved them, and the relationships between the characters (both good and bad ones) felt so organic and well developed.
This book did so many less-popular (over saturated things/tropes) and I hadn't realized how much I needed them until now.
The story was so fast paced I couldn't put it down.
Some parts felt choppy BUT I think it kind of worked with the fast paced world AND it may also have been weird formatting of the eArc (like it a page breaker was missing/glitched).
There was a lot going on- in a good way.
(I don't think this is listed as a romantasy- but the romance sub plot was *chef's kiss* - just enough to fit the story and the characters/nothing forced)
The only thing keeping it from being a 5 star favorite read would be the tell not show writing.
In the moment it kept the pacing fast and I didn't mind it BUT I love this world and would have enjoyed a bit more immersion.
I was SO excited to see this is a series and cannot wait to come back for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Adorable Dragons? Competitive camaraderie? Women fighting in a man's world? The only missing aspect is the next book out already, so I can get more!
This was auch an incredibly fun read with lovely characters. Lena took me a while to get used to, but the more the story progressed, the more I understood her (and the less I wanted to punch her for some actions). But aside from her, no one else needed any warming up. The characters were distinctly developed, with plenty of uniqueness in them.
The story itself was also well developed, though I do wish some scenes would have taken some more pages. For example (small spoiler), the training with different dragons. The training was supposed to focus on adaptability, yet I wish we'd seen more about the different ways of adapting she learned. That may only have been a personal wish about what I am curious about. As well as some more of how their unique world functions. The story worked perfectly well without those, I personally just am curious about them and think they may have added a little more depth.
I loved the way the races were written. It was told in a way that it was easy to mentally follow and reconstruct the scenes in my head. I am looking forward to reading about even more of them!
The book is amazing, and my criticism is mostly taste related. Therefore, I will give it 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was auch an incredibly fun read with lovely characters. Lena took me a while to get used to, but the more the story progressed, the more I understood her (and the less I wanted to punch her for some actions). But aside from her, no one else needed any warming up. The characters were distinctly developed, with plenty of uniqueness in them.
The story itself was also well developed, though I do wish some scenes would have taken some more pages. For example (small spoiler), the training with different dragons. The training was supposed to focus on adaptability, yet I wish we'd seen more about the different ways of adapting she learned. That may only have been a personal wish about what I am curious about. As well as some more of how their unique world functions. The story worked perfectly well without those, I personally just am curious about them and think they may have added a little more depth.
I loved the way the races were written. It was told in a way that it was easy to mentally follow and reconstruct the scenes in my head. I am looking forward to reading about even more of them!
The book is amazing, and my criticism is mostly taste related. Therefore, I will give it 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.
This is a fun fantasy sports book. The dragon racing is compared to F1 and I'm not entirely sold on that--parts of it are, but parts are certainly more like MarioKart and parts more like horse racing--but it is fun regardless. The romance is VERY light, which will be a pro for some people and a con for others, but it seems like it will be more prominent in future books. There are obviously dragons...but I would have actually liked more of them?
Anyway what this book REALLY is, is a "fight the patriarchy" book. Everything else is window dressing on that. And I liked it. Lena's characterization is a bit shallow to me, as her personality is pretty one-note in the "hotheaded jock" category, but there are a lot of good supporting characters. There is some family drama that never really felt like it was explained and isn't enough to really trail onwards into a second book. I do wonder how many books this will be. With some different editorial choices, this could have easily been a standalone book, but I can also see it working as a duology with how things end up here. I do fear it's going to get dragged out too long.
But it was a romp, with dragons, lots of different environments, some good friendships, and a villain who you really want to punch in the face. Fun times for sure.
This is a fun fantasy sports book. The dragon racing is compared to F1 and I'm not entirely sold on that--parts of it are, but parts are certainly more like MarioKart and parts more like horse racing--but it is fun regardless. The romance is VERY light, which will be a pro for some people and a con for others, but it seems like it will be more prominent in future books. There are obviously dragons...but I would have actually liked more of them?
Anyway what this book REALLY is, is a "fight the patriarchy" book. Everything else is window dressing on that. And I liked it. Lena's characterization is a bit shallow to me, as her personality is pretty one-note in the "hotheaded jock" category, but there are a lot of good supporting characters. There is some family drama that never really felt like it was explained and isn't enough to really trail onwards into a second book. I do wonder how many books this will be. With some different editorial choices, this could have easily been a standalone book, but I can also see it working as a duology with how things end up here. I do fear it's going to get dragged out too long.
But it was a romp, with dragons, lots of different environments, some good friendships, and a villain who you really want to punch in the face. Fun times for sure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
🐉⚔️📚
Tailwind is a very cozy, easy-to-read fantasy that combines lovable characters, an intriguing plot mixed with a little romance and action and, most importantly, a whole lot of inspirational quotes centered around feminism.
I could talk for hoursssss about all the things I adored in this book. I love how the characters are still easy to adore even though they have flaws, I love how things such as romance are still included but aren’t made into such a big thing that the initial message is forgotten and I especially love the clear message of women achieving their goals that was displayed throughout.
The worldbuilding was incredible and immersive, giving readers just the right amount of detail to fall in love with the world and its races and dragons just as much as the author did. I’m honestly so grateful I got to ARC read this and so angry that I did at the same time as I’m dyingggg for the next book.
If you love cosy, simple reads with amazing characters, dragons, competition, a sprinkle of love and feminism, this is absolutely for you! 🤍🤺
May Lena Paldon inspire us all 🙂↕️
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
🐉⚔️📚
Tailwind is a very cozy, easy-to-read fantasy that combines lovable characters, an intriguing plot mixed with a little romance and action and, most importantly, a whole lot of inspirational quotes centered around feminism.
I could talk for hoursssss about all the things I adored in this book. I love how the characters are still easy to adore even though they have flaws, I love how things such as romance are still included but aren’t made into such a big thing that the initial message is forgotten and I especially love the clear message of women achieving their goals that was displayed throughout.
The worldbuilding was incredible and immersive, giving readers just the right amount of detail to fall in love with the world and its races and dragons just as much as the author did. I’m honestly so grateful I got to ARC read this and so angry that I did at the same time as I’m dyingggg for the next book.
If you love cosy, simple reads with amazing characters, dragons, competition, a sprinkle of love and feminism, this is absolutely for you! 🤍🤺
May Lena Paldon inspire us all 🙂↕️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HOT TAKE: I liked this so much better than Fourth Wing!
Right off the bat, I was hooked. I loved the concept. I loved the main character; she was realistically flawed, and her motivations felt real. And I was immediately invested in the plot and was absolutely obsessed with how well the dragon-racing concept was integrated into the worldbuilding.
Like, I cannot explain how much more immersive this felt. Not only were the details and logistics of dragon racing laid out well, but it felt real. I absolutely loved the bond between the main character and her dragon. The fact that she raised her dragon from an egg, cares for him daily, and builds that bond feels so much more powerful than some “magic” bond that just happens. Hayward manages to make the dragons feel like their own characters, with depth and personality. Each dragon was different, and I loved them all.
I will have to knock out one star for the romance. Just not to my taste. It was fine, but I didn’t really care for the conflict. It felt a bit like a forced “miscommunication trope” just for the excuse to have the ‘enemies to lovers’ dynamic. But I did like how it balanced out in the end.
Overall, I loved this book so much. It was detailed and dynamic, while also balancing the character's emotions. Probably the best dragon rider book I’ve read. I had an absolute blast with it and would one-hundred percent recommend it.
Right off the bat, I was hooked. I loved the concept. I loved the main character; she was realistically flawed, and her motivations felt real. And I was immediately invested in the plot and was absolutely obsessed with how well the dragon-racing concept was integrated into the worldbuilding.
Like, I cannot explain how much more immersive this felt. Not only were the details and logistics of dragon racing laid out well, but it felt real. I absolutely loved the bond between the main character and her dragon. The fact that she raised her dragon from an egg, cares for him daily, and builds that bond feels so much more powerful than some “magic” bond that just happens. Hayward manages to make the dragons feel like their own characters, with depth and personality. Each dragon was different, and I loved them all.
I will have to knock out one star for the romance. Just not to my taste. It was fine, but I didn’t really care for the conflict. It felt a bit like a forced “miscommunication trope” just for the excuse to have the ‘enemies to lovers’ dynamic. But I did like how it balanced out in the end.
Overall, I loved this book so much. It was detailed and dynamic, while also balancing the character's emotions. Probably the best dragon rider book I’ve read. I had an absolute blast with it and would one-hundred percent recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
This was such a fun read! The cover was initially what caught my eye and I’m so glad it did because this being Formula 1 but with dragons is such a cool concept. The story is fast paced and immersive, especially during the high-stakes racing scenes, which were definitely my favorite parts. The dragons’ distinct personalities also really shined through Hayward’s writing. Although some scenes at the beginning felt awkward and pulled me out of the story a bit, I felt the story grew stronger with each chapter.
The details regarding the teams, race circuit, and dragons were really cool to read through too. You can immediately see the passion and attention to detail the author put into each of those aspects. Especially as a fan of F1 it was fun to make those connections between the book and real life! Lena is such an authentic and strong FMC with an amazing group of supporting characters. Adding a fantasy element to the very realistic obstacles women face in such a male dominated field, tied with the corporate corruption, is such a great way to highlight these topics in racing to a larger audience.
Overall, such a great debut novel and I’m excited to see where the rest of this series goes!
This was such a fun read! The cover was initially what caught my eye and I’m so glad it did because this being Formula 1 but with dragons is such a cool concept. The story is fast paced and immersive, especially during the high-stakes racing scenes, which were definitely my favorite parts. The dragons’ distinct personalities also really shined through Hayward’s writing. Although some scenes at the beginning felt awkward and pulled me out of the story a bit, I felt the story grew stronger with each chapter.
The details regarding the teams, race circuit, and dragons were really cool to read through too. You can immediately see the passion and attention to detail the author put into each of those aspects. Especially as a fan of F1 it was fun to make those connections between the book and real life! Lena is such an authentic and strong FMC with an amazing group of supporting characters. Adding a fantasy element to the very realistic obstacles women face in such a male dominated field, tied with the corporate corruption, is such a great way to highlight these topics in racing to a larger audience.
Overall, such a great debut novel and I’m excited to see where the rest of this series goes!
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