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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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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 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.
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
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
🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Tailwind
✒️ Olivia Hayward
💫💫💫💫
Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
How to Train Your Dragon, meets Fourth Wing and F1?
Yeah, I said it and it was good.
Lena had the chance to change the rules of Volitant Dragon Racing: she had the chance to be the first female rider. But a betrayal has seen her sidelined as a dragon keeper until the chance comes again. When the washed-up rider of Gottyk, her charge, is unable to race, Lena dons his helmet and changes the rules.
Overall, a good book. I would have liked more worldbuilding at the beginning but the jumping straight in did help raise the stakes on what a huge moment it was for Lena to race dragon. I was however confused about the political side of dragon racing with the sponsors being displayed on wings and the lore of how it all began.
📚 Tailwind
✒️ Olivia Hayward
💫💫💫💫
Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
How to Train Your Dragon, meets Fourth Wing and F1?
Yeah, I said it and it was good.
Lena had the chance to change the rules of Volitant Dragon Racing: she had the chance to be the first female rider. But a betrayal has seen her sidelined as a dragon keeper until the chance comes again. When the washed-up rider of Gottyk, her charge, is unable to race, Lena dons his helmet and changes the rules.
Overall, a good book. I would have liked more worldbuilding at the beginning but the jumping straight in did help raise the stakes on what a huge moment it was for Lena to race dragon. I was however confused about the political side of dragon racing with the sponsors being displayed on wings and the lore of how it all began.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews