Until the Dragons Fly: A Dark Fantasy Standalone

by E.J. Ashwood

In a world shrouded beneath a dark haze, where beasts stalk the onyx night and luminescent plants color the darkness, ancient enemies must unite to break a deadly curse before it destroys them all.In Everrynd, a cursed kingdom of eternally gray days, strange vegetation, and mysterious beasts that stalk the onyx nights, the elves rule over all.

Even the once-fearsome dragons.

It’s been over a thousand years since the witch’s curse cast an everlasting magical veil over the land—a haze that will never dissipate and is poisoning nearly all life beneath it, little by little.

When Elysande, the elven princess, stumbles upon an ancient clue from the past, hope flickers for the first time in ages. Can she finally free the land from the suffocating mist that cloaks it, all while escaping the king’s notice?

Alone, she likely doesn’t stand a chance. But when unlikely allies band together after a misunderstanding or two—one involving a knife at her throat courtesy of a particularly mean dragon shifter—will they be able to break the curse once and for all?

One thing is understood upon by each of them.

They will die trying.

Genres: Magic

529 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 16, 2026

Reviews

[Ashley(burntedgesandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standalone dark fantasy? YES PLEASE. This does not happen enough, and I get that and love series but the long standalone, genius.
This book wasn't want I was expecting. And it was really fun! I enjoyed this book a lot. The world building was great! It built as you went along but you also learn about the world and what was happening to it. This book mainly focused on Fae and dragon shifters, there are other species that are normally in it but it was all very differently set. I think it all worked out very well.
I really liked that this was a quest/adventure type of book! Which are always so entertaining. E.J Ashwood Did a wonderful job of keeping it light and continuing but also bringing in that dark and dangerous! All the characters were very well written and flowed really well with this story.
Elysande: at the beginning I thought she was a little immature but as you get to know her you understand why she feels that way. I do think that she grows into herself and her personality. The book takes in all her ups and downs and you experience them with her! I love that she wasn't instantly good at fighting or using her powers but she was always willing to learn.
Daegan, he was 100% he falls first type of guy. I also enjoyed his growth throughout the book. I mean for a MMC he was the perfect type, and Dude was a dragon how could you go wrong? I really loved that he would literally do whatever he could for Elle.
Raef, oh Raef. I loved him so much! He was such the perfect best friend. I loved how he was always happy, always willing for the next exciting thing! I also really loved that he was so strong and steady throughout the whole book.
The ending... omg the ending. I can't even put it to words. it left me gasping, wondering if that was really the end? Satisfied but not? But I do think it was perfect for the book, 100% sad and devastating but still really good!
Also completely 100% did not see that coming, well one part not the other parts. But you need to read this to completely understand what my ramblings are about!

Thank you E.J Ashwood and her team for allowing to read this ARC early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Katrina Rathbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
This one was super close to being a five star read for me. It had all the elements I love about a good Romantasy: Enemies to lovers, found family, an unbreakable curse, the naive FMC who turns into a baddy, etc.
The pace dragged for a bit in the beginning, but picked up and kept me turning pages for the rest of the book. Then came the emotional damage. Ugh, excuse me?!?! One star deducted just for the heartbreak of that ending. In all seriousness, I saw it coming so I can’t say I was surprised by it, but it still hurt. Kept hoping I was just wrong.
I think in general I would have loved to have this broken up into a duet so the ending wouldn’t have felt as rushed, after waiting so long to get there. I wanted to savor it more.
I still enjoyed the journey, and the characters and each of their quirks was what made this book so enjoyable and worth the four stars for me. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that completely sucks you into its world? Like, you just can’t help but get lost in it? That’s what Until the Dragons Fly did for me.

Don’t let the time it took me to read fool you; life happened and I couldn’t read as much as I wanted to. But when I hit about 30% in my eARC, I think I read the last 70% in 2 days. It was so hard to put down until I couldn’t breathe and I had to for my own sanity.

Until the Dragons Fly is a dark fantasy about one elf princess and an unlikely band of allies who are on an epic quest to heal their cursed land. There is found family, banter, peril, yearning, magic, fighting, and a bit of spice that is totally on point! And let’s not talk about the emotional damage! This book made me laugh, want to throw my Kindle across the room, cry, yell, and sob. And yet, the worst thing about this book is that it’s a standalone! This is the second standalone I’ve read in 2026 that I wish wasn’t.


What have you done to me, E. J. Ashwood??? Until the Dragons Fly continues to consume my thoughts days after I finished reading. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC!

[Haley Bohme · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Until The Dragon’s Fly completely swept me away! I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to receive an ARC of this incredible story, and I genuinely never saw the ending coming, it left me absolutely shocked in the best possible way. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you turn the final page. 🐉💙📚

[CassiieeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

After careful consideration, I’d give this book a 3.75-star rating, rounded up to 4 stars because it was genuinely a difficult decision to make.
Overall, I found this book to be enchantingly fascinating and never wanted it to end. I finished this 688-page standalone novel in about 2 days.

!! Some spoilers ahead !!

Characters
• One of the strongest aspects of this book was its cast. Nearly every character introduced felt important to the story and had a meaningful role to play.
• Elysande was a wonderful balance of independent and dependent, which I think is difficult to write correctly. She was proactive and capable, often taking matters into her own hands, yet she gradually let others in when she trusted they shared her goals. Despite her reluctance, she remained inviting and inclusive rather than abrasive. Most importantly, she was not reduced to being a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued.
• Daegan, in my opinion, had an excellent character arc. His feelings for Elysande evolved naturally—from outright hatred due to her race and tolerance to reluctant trust and eventually love. The progression felt gradual and believable. We, as readers, were given the chance to fall in love with Daegan alongside Elysande.
• Meela… this might be a hot take, but I was not fond of her at first. She’s cold and distant, which is fine since no one wants a copy and paste of each character, but she didn’t really seem like a great friend to Elysande. At first. The more she and Elysande interacted, the more I began to see how close Elysande and Meela were and how accepting they were of each other’s contrasting personalities. I absolutely loved the scene where Meela opened up to Elysande about her trauma, and that was the moment I really fell in love with Meela’s character. And I LOVED that she and Raef had begun to form a bond.
• Raef was a fantastic source of comic relief, and I loved that it wasn’t his only purpose. He still expressed complexity and struggled with trauma much the same as the others yet valued the importance of humor in tough times. He could pull someone out of their spiraling thoughts without ever minimizing their pain.
• I do wish we had spent more time with Adrian early on. His role felt more like a plot conflict than an emotional gut punch; I wanted to understand why Elysande had grown fond of him over the years and feel what Elysande first felt for him. Strengthening both her feelings for him and his feelings for her would have made his betrayal far more devastating. Instead, we were given glimpses of her crush, his surface-level interest, and then Daegan quickly stepped into that role. The transition felt somewhat rushed.
• As for the Elf King (whose name I’ve forgotten because eff that guy), I have no complaints about how his character was written. However, I do wish we’d gotten to know him and his relationship with Elysande (his daughter) a bit better. I really wanted to know WHY the king didn’t want the curse to be broken outside of just wanting power. Usually there’s an underlying motive, such as anger or fear, and I wanted to hear from him about the curse and the state of the realm more.
• My thoughts on Taevis, Daegan’s father, are much the same as the king. I wanted to get to know him, his relationship with his son, and even his relationship with the other dragon shifters more.
• Gaethri and Rhydra, I felt, were an odd pairing that didn’t really make sense to me, and I wished we’d gotten a bit more of their backgrounds. I understand their importance to the plot, Gaethri more than Rhydra, and I don’t think they were unnecessary. However, the reveal about Rhydra’s parentage felt a bit underwhelming because it ultimately didn’t seem to have much impact on the story and she never got to fulfill her adamant vengeance against her father.
• Phaedra was the one character I felt was a bit unnecessary, and her betrayal felt more like an afterthought than intentional. I think there was a lot of potential to make that betrayal more shocking if there’d been time spent building a relationship between Elysande and Phaedra.
• Yara truly felt like an afterthought. She never became a conflict but was just there, seemingly, to make Elysande feel confusion and jealousy over her unexpected fondness of Daegan. She was there right before Meela’s party and then was never mentioned again.

World Building
• The world itself was absolutely fascinating.
• My only real complaint is that many of the descriptions felt somewhat vague. I desperately wanted more information about the beasts and how they came to exist. Surely, after years of studying and reading, Elysande would have encountered books detailing how the curse transformed the world over time.
• I was also a little confused about the different racial regions. Were they independent kingdoms with their own monarchies/laws? How were they situated in relation to one another? I found myself wanting a clearer understanding of the political and geographical landscape.
• The magic system was equally intriguing but somewhat underexplained. While the concept was compelling, there was little explanation of the mechanics behind the magic or the costs associated with using it.
• Overall, I loved the world; it just left me with wanting to know -more- about it.

The Writing
• My biggest criticism of the writing itself is that certain words and phrases occasionally felt too modern for the setting. Whenever they appeared, they pulled me out of the story and disrupted my immersion.
• Several events felt as though they were brushed aside when they could have served as valuable opportunities for character and relationship development. For example, Elysande was initially very determined to train with Adrian. However, she and Meela seemed to have only attended a single training session before the focus shifted almost entirely to reading about their elemental abilities and then putting that knowledge into practice. I would have liked to have seen more of these training sessions, not only to develop their skills but also to strengthen the character dynamics and relationships—this could have also been an excellent way to explain how magic works, since neither Elysande nor Meela has a full understanding either.

Final Thoughts
• Despite my criticisms, I genuinely loved this book. The plot kept me invested from beginning to end, and I’m sad that it's come to an end.
• Many of my criticisms stem from wanting more. More character depth, more geographical and ecological exploration, and more insight into the magic system.

* This book could have easily been developed into a duology to fully expand on the world, magic system, and building relationships and tension.

* This book will absolutely destroy you. I had anticipated many of the shocking and heartbreaking moments, so they didn’t hit me quite as hard. The ending, however, is an entirely different story. No matter how you think the book is going to end—even while you’re actively reading the ending—you’re probably wrong.

* I sincerely hope the author continues to write in this world, even if not directly related to this set of characters.

[Magg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ 1🌶️
OKAY EMOTIONAL DAMAGE?!?! It takes a lot to make me cry in a book, and this one had me SO close to shedding a tear. The ending made everything feel full-circle, and while the ending was unpredictable, it felt fitting to the world.
I think the writing style is effective yet a bit simple. It’s very conversational, and feels a bit disjointed at times when the FMC abruptly changes topics. Similarly, the beginning sets the scene in a way that feels cliche - where she immediately meets the MMC and has a different suitor and wants to train to defend herself all happening in the first 5% of the book.

TROPES
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Dragon Shifter x Elf
Love Triangle
Breaking a Curse
Star-Crossed Lovers
Standalone Epic Fantasy

THE WORLD
I feel like the worldbuilding is good here! I did want a tiny bit more from the beginning though just to clarify the magic system and the political structure, but overall it was good. Some of the species were unique (Dothronites, Sylocs, etc) while others were typical in fantasy (like werewolves, elves, and the dragon shifters). It felt like a good combination of species I’m familiar with and species I’m not familiar with.
I would call this an epic fantasy due to the quest and the path that had to be taken to succeed. I do feel like there were too many instances of “oh! This is convenient that exactly what I need is easy to get” in a way that made it feel too easy for me. I feel like this would have thrived as a duology where things were more challenging and laid out more.
Similarly, I found the world to be reasonably detailed, but I would have loved even more to set the scene. They travelled a bit and I would have liked more detail on the changes in scenery.

THE CHARACTERS
Our group of MCs was really fun, and I found all of them to have strong personalities. They all had their own backstories and I felt like they were all decently developed, even though there were six of them.
Surprisingly, I feel like out of the six, Elysande and Daegan had the least original backstories and were the least developed. I would have liked to see more of their originality come through.

THE ROMANCE
The banter was fun and I loved Elysande’s yearning! It was fun but didn’t detract from the main plot.
The spice was lackluster for me. It was a little bland and lacked detail to bring emotion into the story.

Thank you to E. J. Ashwood for the ARC!!

QUOTES:
*quotes are from an advanced readers copy. Please refer to the final publication for official quotes*

“To all those who feel like they can't fly, may you one day discover your wings.”

“Yes, some might think the world has peace. But is it peace if the majority of species are struggling to survive, the very essences of their beings threatened or already destroyed?”

“We are not simply the bad guys for sitting around passively while everyone else suffers, like I thought. We are the bad guys because we are still actively destroying other people and their lands.”

"You're a warrior."
Then she subtly dips her head.
"I can barely hold a sword," I scoff.
"There are many different kinds of warriors."

"I feel like I'm not even breathing air when you're near me. I'm just breathing you. And if I don't get enough, I'm slowly dying inside. I can never get enough,"

"Storms visit us all. What matters is whether we build shelters... or learn to dance in the rain."

“I don't need to see the fucking sky, because you're it. You're my sky, my stars, my moon, my sun. I don't need to see any of them to know that they don't compare to you. If I die gazing upon your face, then I'll die happy. Nothing else matters anymore. Everything I do now, I do it for you."

[Melissa Liming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much E.J. Ashwood for allowing me to read this eARC!

This book was a 4.75 rounded to a 5 for me!

"“I don't need to see the fucking sky, because you're it. You're my sky, my stars, my moon, my sun. I don't need to see any of them to know that they don't compare to you. If I die gazing upon your face, then I'll die happy. Nothing else matters anymore. Everything I do now, I do it for you."

This was an unexpected but great rollercoaster of a story. I wasn't prepared for the emotional damage I would suffer along the way, but it was all worth it. From the moment I downloaded this ARC on my Kindle I needed to know what happened next. I may or may not have picked it up in the middle of the night just to get a few more chapters in!

Until the Dragons Fly pulls you into a band of unlikely friends who are working together to try and break a curse that's been plaguing the world for far too long. Elysande has never seen the stars, the sun, nor the moon. She still finds beauty in the world around her, but she knows something must be done. A vast grey haze has covers the sky slowly killing the land and the living beneath it, but a prophecy must be fulfilled in order for it to break.

We are given a fantastic enemies-to-lovers that was a pleasure to watch evolve over the course of the book. I love how Daegan (our dragon shifter MMC ) showed Elysande (our water-wielding FMC) how much he cared about her both with his actions and his words. He's a bit possessive too, but you know what? I like that. The evolution of wanting someone dead just to turn around and burn the world down for them never fails to please me greatly.

Raef was my favorite character in this book. He reminded me of Carrion in Quicksilver, with well-timed humor and just the right attitude for what was happening around him no matter what. I wish I had a Raef in my life, honestly.

My very few and small critiques:

Worldbuilding:
• I felt myself wanting to know more about the kingdom itself. Other races were mentioned and areas were explored that sounded magical but not truly elaborated on. The beasts in the kingdom sounded fascinating as well, but again not a lot of time was spent on them.

Characters
• Rhydra: While I enjoy another female baddass in a book, who she turned out to be felt unnecessary to me.
• Yara: I felt like she didn't make as much of an impact as she could have in this story. I was waiting for something to boil up and over between her and Elysande, yet she just stopped being mentioned.

The Ending
• I could help but feeling the ending was a bit rushed. There were so many things that built up to the final moments, and I wanted so much more! There was also one death that happened off-page, and that was extremely underwhelming to me. I wanted that vengeance!

With that being said, this book was still a solid 4.75, and the above critiques didn't take away from the amazing time I had reading this story. I can say I would happily pick up another book from this author!

Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Great banter
• Found family
• Dragon shifters
• Possessive MMC
• Magic
• Elves
• Fairies
• Emotional damage

[Magpie's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Thank you E. J. Ashwood for the ARC. All opinions below are my own.***

This novel shattered my heart in the best way.

An epic romantasy standalone, E.J. Ashwood has created an immersive fantasy world full of dragon-shifters, elves, and many other mythological beings. Her characters are well-crafted and memorable; their journeys linger with the reader long after the story finishes. I read this entire novel in less than two days, finding myself so engrossed in the mysteries of the world and needing to know what happened next.

Until The Dragons Fly has all the elements of a five star, god-tier romantasy. We have a naïve FMC who grows over the course of her journey into a capable warrior who refuses to back down and allow innocents to be harmed. We have an enemies-to-lovers romance where the MMC is down bad for the FMC and shows that he cares through his actions instead of words. And then, sprinkled in is an unbreakable curse that threatens to consume the land unless the prophecy is fulfilled and a King who rules over all with an iron fist.

While others say that the pace drags in the beginning, I believe this adds to Elysande’s evolution, showing us the softness of her lifestyle before the excitement of adventure takes hold. Daegan’s evolution also occurs during this time, going from mortal enemy to reluctant ally trying to break the curse to a man who would burn the world down if it meant saving her.

Daegan and Elysande’s love story grows with the world around them, blooming like the glowing flowers that dot the dark landscape of Everrynd. From Elysande’s trust in one who should be her enemy to Daegan’s acts of service: making sure she’s safe, that she eats, that she sleeps, and more, their love story ranks with that of Xaden and Violet or the Guardian and Odessa. Their journey together tugs at the heartstrings and has the reader rooting for their success to the very end.

The side characters are as memorable as the main characters. Meela, with her no-nonsense attitude, balances Elysande’s softness and provides sage wisdom to her best friend and hope for the future. Raef, the eternal optimist and best friend to Daegan, following Daegan into the depths of darkness in order to save the world, even if it might cost him his life. Many more characters make up Until The Dragons Fly, but I’d recommend you read the novel to meet them yourself, as it is well worth it.

By the end of the novel, I was crying, wanting to throw my e-reader across the room. My husband asked me if I was okay, and all I could do was shake my head. E.J. Ashwood knows how to carve your heart from your chest and have you enjoy every brutal second of it.

Until The Dragons Fly is a wonderful standalone on par with Fourth Wing in both romance and emotional devastation. This book should have been on your TBR yesterday; it is that good.

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating is a 4.75 star but rounded up to a 5 star.

Until the Dragons Fly is a powerful entry into the world of epic romantasy by E.J. Ashwood that has firmly cemented itself in my thoughts long after the final page.

The story follows an elf princess and an unlikely band of allies on a quest to heal their cursed, dying land, hitting all the marks found in the genre: enemies-to-lovers, found family, a prophecy involving an unbreakable curse, and a naive heroine who transforms into a capable warrior.
​
The world-building is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Ashwood strikes a great balance between familiar fantasy races like werewolves, elves, and dragon-shifters, while introducing more unique species like the Dothronites and Sylocs.

The ensemble cast is remarkably well-balanced, and despite there being six main characters, each brings their own distinct personality and well-developed backstory to the journey.

The banter between the leads is fun, and I particularly enjoyed the FMC's internal yearning, as well as Daegan’s evolution from a reluctant ally to a protector who would burn the world down to keep her safe.
​
However, as much as I enjoyed the journey, I felt this story would have truly thrived as a duology. I would have loved more descriptive detail during the characters' travels to better set the scene, as some of the plot obstacles felt a bit convenient.

Additionally, while the emotional stakes of the romance are high, the physical intimacy felt a bit lackluster and could have used more detail to match the intensity of the rest of the story.
​
The writing style itself is effective, though it occasionally feels a bit conversational or disjointed when the FMC abruptly shifts topics.

That said, the emotional damage in this book is very real. E.J. Ashwood knows exactly how to carve your heart out, and while I may have deducted a star because the ending felt so rushed that I couldn't properly savor it, I still enjoyed every brutal second of the heartbreak.

It is a rare standalone that manages to be as immersive and emotionally devastating as the best series in the genre, and it left me thinking about the characters long after the final page.
​
It is an impressive work that will satisfy readers looking for high-stakes quests and characters you can truly root for.

As the quote goes: “To all those who feel like they can't fly, may you one day discover your wings.”

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gut-wrenching, character-driven fantasy.

Thank you so much to E.J. Ashwood for the opportunity to read the ARC.

[Tomié · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an eARC of Until the Dragons Fly. 

I don't think I can manage this review without spoilers so, consider this a warning. I have a lot of big feelings about this book. Some are good, others are not so good, some are bad. My overall rating is a 3.5 being rounded up to 4 here. 


Let's start with the good:

The world building was great executed well. Plot-wise, this story was refreshing and didn't feel overdone. The stakes were high. There were unpredictable twists in the story. The side characters are hilarious and loveably loyal. There were losses that gutted me. Elysande, the FMC, is a somewhat sheltered elven princess turned badass. Daegon, the MMC, is a cursed, red-flag, dragon-shifter, would-be-prince. I did love these two characters. They were devoted to their cause, they were loyal friends, and their character growth was admirable.


The not so good:

I was so excited for a Romantasy standalone, so I hate myself for saying this, but I wish this had been a duology. The book was nearly 700 pages and for the first 500, or so the pace was fast but it had my attention. I was genuinely invested in how the story was going to end. The last 200 (ish) pages felt like we were rushing to the conclusion/resolution. 

I would have loved more back story on events that lead up to the curse plaguing the land.


The bad (last chance for spoiler warning):

Most importantly, where was the justice for Meela?! Why was the king's death off page? I think we deserved some answers about Lemakis' lore. These were integral plot points.

Toward the beginning of the story, there was unexpected banter between the two main characters. I thought we might be headed toward a bully romance trope but then it didn't go that direction at all. So that scene was weirdly out of place. 

At times this felt like the author wrote a YA fantasy then decided to just age up the characters, in number only, so they could add explicit content and market to the adult-romantasy crowd. 

There was a lot of repetition as though the author didn't trust us to remember important details throughout the story. It wasted space when such a vast story was trying to be completed in one book. 

Sorry for the long review. I really did have a great time reading Until the Dragons Fly. It was emotional and enchanting. I would recommend it if you like:

-Romantasy
-Enemies to lovers (spice rating: 🌶🌶.5)
-A Red-flag MMC
-High-stakes trials
-Found family (immaculate side characters)
-Fast paced stories

[Allie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savored this book over several days and was rewarded with heartbreak. This is a stunning story about hope, betrayal, survival, loss, freedom, and tragedy, but above all, it is a story about love. Love for your people. Love for your homeland. Love for your family, your friends, yourself, and the path that shapes you. And, of course, love for the person who becomes your home.

Until the Dragons Fly is a devastatingly beautiful debut that has earned a permanent place in my heart.

Readers are taken alongside the main characters on their journey to free their world and its people from a curse. Throughout the story, characters from different species and walks of life come together, united by a shared purpose. We watch them grow individually and as a group throughout their journey. Although not everyone reaches their own goals, their sacrifices allow the others to carry their work forward. The romance, along with the other relationships, is both beautiful and tragic. While there are explicit open-door scenes, the story remains firmly plot-driven.

Beyond the characters, the worldbuilding is an integral part of the story. The curse has ravaged the land and claimed countless lives. The darkness has left devastation in its wake, allowing evil to thrive while corrupting much of what remains. Yet amid that darkness are pockets of breathtaking beauty, from glowing flowers to the haunting elegance of the cursed creatures.

Depression is woven throughout the novel and has a profound impact on the story. Sometimes we can be surrounded by stars and still feel our inner light fading. Sometimes we choose the darkness because the light hurts. Not everything is black and white, and not everyone gets a happily ever after, but every journey leaves its mark on someone else’s story.

Healing doesn’t erase suffering, and love doesn’t erase loss. Sometimes the light isn’t meant to dispel the darkness, only to guide us through it.

On a lighter note, there’s plenty of humor and banter woven throughout the story to balance its heavier moments. I also loved that the FMC’s favorite color is purple. It’s my favorite color too, and it doesn’t get nearly enough representation, so that little detail made me smile.

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this beautiful ARC. If anyone needs me, I’ll be recovering from the emotional damage and staring at a wall.

[Michelle Robichaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

firstly, thank you for letting me ARC read your book!

I will be honest, it took a bit for me to really get into it. but once I did I was invested. It was a good plot line, interesting characters, fantasy, slow burn, and turned out to capture my attention.

Tropes:

💘 Enemies to Lovers
🤣 friendly banter
🐉 dragon shifters
🧝🏻‍♀️ elves
🧚🏻‍♀️ fairies
🪄 magic
🗺️ epic quest
🫶🏻 found family
💔 emotional damage

Some of the Characters:

Raef: I like this guy! He seems like a I’ve got your back friend! He’s funny. Unpredictable. And his banter with everyone is great. He's sharp. And a dragon shifter 😏

Sir Greenwood: he’s gives me creepy stalker vibes 😂 he seems like the one who’s nice to your face and then stabs you in the back. I don’t like him lol.

Elysande; ooo this FMC is great! She’s sassy. Innocent. Smart. Outside the box thinker. Defiant. She’s got spunk and I love her desire to help those around her, it’s very relatable!

Meela: this chick! She’s that bad a$$ bestie we all pray to have! She’s hilarious! She has trauma and it’s still pushing! She’s so incredibly strong! And fire magic! Awesome!

Daegan- a broody MMC? Yes please. Know it all. Dragon shifter. Unruly hair. Can be incredibly thoughtful. Listens. Can be considerate. He’s totally swoon worthy.

Spice Level:
🌶️🌶️.25

Fav Quotes:

“Clouded by the drink and it makes it hard for you to think.”

“ I prefer cryptically honest.”

“ Adventurous is what I would call it. With a health dose of curiosity.”

“ I love you. Always.”- love this quote.. bc this is what we say in my house also.

“ I started this to save my people. And so many others. But I fell so deeply, madly, eternally in love with you that I would have run away with you in a heartbeat if you asked me to. I would have done anything you asked me to. But I couldn’t put that choice in your hands. So I suffered in silence, enjoying every minute with you I could. Every laugh, every cry, every flip of your hair, every whiff of that intoxicating seaside scent, every taste of you, every moan of pleasure. I spent countless nights laying in bed beside you until my eyes refused to stay open, just looking at your peaceful sleeping face. When we were apart, every single fucking day that I couldn’t get back to you tore me apart from the inside out. I knew what those days meant…”

[Casey McArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨This story is beautiful, lovely, heartbreakingly, beautiful.✨
⭐⭐⭐⭐🌶️🌶️🌶️

Fantasy world, with a deep dark curse that is killing off the land, and everyone in it, slowly.

Elysande, princess of the elves, finds a clue and ends up being the chosen, without her realizing, to be the one to break a curse. Her kind, the elves, and mainly her father, King Nerion, stand strong that the curse should not be broken as it allows them to be the strongest, with magic.

The longest hatred toward the elves is the dragon shifters, they are unable to fly to do the curse. And Elysande must become friends with Daegan and Raef in order to actually break the curse. Can they actually get along !?!?

This journey they go on brings many allys and foes, with battles along the way.

~* I fell in love with each main character*~

💜 Elysande - main FMC and narrator -elf princess
💙 Daegan - main MMC - broody, dragon shifter
♥️ Raef - sidekick main MMC - silly, sweet, dragon shifter, is Daegen's best friend.
💚 Meela - sidekick FMC - elf general's daughter - Elysande's best friend
💛Rhydra - ally / found family- is a mix of elf, skeldaryn, and other
🧡 Gaethri - ally- friend of Rhydra - dothronite
🩷 Kezra - ally- faerie -
♠️ Maethrel - warlock is better term then witch - I mention because he is important.

~* I want to start off by saying this is not a HEA for a romance.*~
Although there is still a good overall ending.
But do not let this deter you from reading.
There is totally an enemies to lovers, good banter, touch her and die, going on with a slow burn. And when it hits, it hits!

As much as I love this being one book, I could totally see this being drawn out into maybe two or three. Small series.
There is so much I would love to explore with each region, with each mythical being, and I want to see the life the characters had/have.

I'm trying to not give away too much, here. For I truly did love this book in the grand scheme of it all.
If you love adventure, found family, and an emotional ride kind of book, you will fall in love with this too.

Thank you, this has been an advance reader review.
#fantasy

[Sabina Graziano · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

**Initiates starring at a wall for 10 min after finishing**

This was an unique and interesting fantasy standalone. I don't feel like I've read a book like this before and I like that. I felt like the story had me very curious and I didn't want to put it down. I liked how it was an easy read for me. I liked that it flowed nicely and I got lost in the world. One minute I looked and I was at 32%. The next thing I know I'm hitting 88% and spiraling on how this was going to possibly end!

I liked how this world had elves, dragon shifters, and many more fantasy species that don't often get mentioned. We had elemental magic, high stakes, a quest, a curse, and forbidden romance! We also got fun banter, forced proximity, and found family! Some of my all time favorite tropes.

There were moments were the quest felt too easy, but then the rug gets pulled out from under you! I felt like I was on my toes and nervous at parts! My emotions were brought out a lot! I grew attached to a few of the characters, but not all. I knew right away that I wasn't going to like a specific character and my instincts were right! Elysande is a great FMC! She is realistic in the fact that she may not be the strongest, toughest, or deadliest, but she tries. She doesn't learn and become the best within a short time, she still struggles which is a nice change to see. She is smart and uses her knowledge to help her on her journey! She is also realistic in the way she handles blood and death. I like way she handles herself with Daegan, the broody dragon shifter! The way she admits that she doesn't like him but finds him attractive is so relatable! The tension that build between them is a rollercoaster!

I 100% was not prepared for how part 1 was going to end and for how this whole book was going to end! Between having my jaw dropped in shock or sad and filled with too many emotions, idk how I managed. I refused to stop! I had to know what happens! The ending was definitely not how many fantasy books typically end, but I appreciate it. I might be a bit broken afterwards, but I still enjoyed it. I will recommend it when asked for a standalone fantasy.

[Zulema Viurquiz Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to E.J. Ashwood for an ARC copy of the book.
4.5 / 5
It is available for preorder, and will release on July 16th!
I loved Until The Dragons Fly - it is a fantasy standalone with lots of adventure, emotional moments, romance, and a unique world.
The story began on a bit of a slow start, but it does give us an introduction to 3 of our main characters - Elysande, Daegon, and Raef. I must admit, first impressions of them was wrong. As I read more into the book, I got attached to them and to several other of the characters.
Our FMC is Elysande, an elf princess who is naive, bas been sheltered and is inexperienced. But I love this for her as I got to see her grow into the young lady she became by the end of the book. I do wish there was more of her past and upbringing. It was touched on here and there but I do wish we got more out of her backstory and her tamily.
Our MMC, Daegon.. Oh I did not think I would like him but I did. He ended up being one of my favorite characters. From him, we see that he is experienced and confident, but beneath it there is more that he hides and I love seeing those glimpses of him. And I also wished we got more of his background too! It was touched briefly but I do feel like there could have been more.

The idea of there being a curse across the lands, and it affecting each race in a different way made for a great plot. One thing I loved was that we were not just focused on the typical fantasy races seen often, there were a few groups created and I loved reading about them. The world itself was fresh and creative, I did wish we got more background to some locations as they became vital parts of the plot but it was still so so good.
There is a bit of spice throughout the book. But one thing I appreciated was that it did not override the plot and if spice is not your thing, I say you can skip around them.
Apart from the spice there was so much yearning, banger, emotional tension and growing relationships between the group of characters - and not all growing relationships was romantic, some of it was simply understanding the other.
Overall, this is a beautiful fantasy with memorable characters, growth, and an engaging world.

[Josie-Ana Edenshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to review this book because every coherent thought I had dissolved somewhere between screaming at my Kindle, kicking my feet, and sending approximately 8,000 live updates over the hours it took me to read this book.

This book reminded me why I love fantasy. The world is massive and yet never feels hollow, the lore is layered and intentional, and it often feels like we’re learning about the world alongside the FMC.

The whole cast of characters? OBSESSED.

I laughed with them, at them, cried with them, wanted to shake them, and became fiercely protective of them.

Elysande completely stole my heart. Her inner monologue is funny, heartbreaking, stubborn, hopeful, and painfully human. She feels like a real person trying to survive impossible circumstances. Her grit and determination aren’t something that simply exists within her; she has to find it, lose it, reclaim it, and hold onto it throughout the entire book.

And the relationships? Every single one felt important. The friendships, the found family, the loyalty, the grief, the love—none of it felt shallow or forced. I became deeply invested in these people and their futures.

What amazed me most is how much this book accomplishes at once. The world is intense. The lore is rich. The stakes are real. The emotional moments hit hard. The romance had me giggling one moment and emotionally compromised the next. Somehow E.J. Ashwood balances all of it while making it feel effortless.

I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud, gasped, yelled “NO,” or had to put my Kindle down and stare at a wall.

There are books I enjoy. There are books I love. And then there are books that remind me why I became a reader in the first place.

Thank you, E.J., for creating a world worth getting lost in, characters worth loving, and a story that left me completely satisfied while still desperate for more.

[Alcovia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book destroyed me, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

E.J. Ashwood did not hold back just because we loved a character. Even the side characters, who were genuinely great in their own right, were given stories worth grieving. I wasn't prepared for how attached I'd become to this entire cast.

The world is dark, haunting, and strangely beautiful. The story moves quickly, but somehow still gives you enough time to become emotionally invested in every single one of these people and where their journey leads.

Raef brings humor and light into the story when everything around him is growing darker. Meela is broody, sarcastic, and unexpectedly funny, but beneath all of that is a devastating backstory. Daegan loves his people and his friends with everything he has, and every decision he makes comes from a willingness to sacrifice himself for a better world, no matter the cost. Elysande begins as a sheltered princess, but she's one of those rare characters who refuses to ignore the suffering around her.

You can feel something devastating coming from early on, and Daegan and Elysande are the ones who ultimately broke me. I kept hoping E.J. Ashwood would throw us a bone and let these characters have the ending they deserved.

She didn't.

Their ending is the reason I had to physically put my Kindle down and remind myself to breathe. I was sobbing so hard I couldn't even see the screen.

It was unforgettable. The kind of story that lingers long after you've turned the final page. I finished it yesterday, and I still find myself tearing up whenever I think about these characters.

If you're looking for a romantasy that isn't afraid to break your heart while giving you characters you'll never forget, put this at the top of your TBR.

Thank you to E.J. Ashwood for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Snug Chapters Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ | Until the Dragons Fly
📣 ARC Review

I'm wrecked.

What the hell just happened? 😭🐉

I loved every single moment of this book. It became one of those stories I carried everywhere because I was constantly looking for another chance to read "just one more chapter."

Even the dedication had me emotional:

"To all those who feel like they can't fly, may you one day discover your wings." 🖤

One of my favorite things? This is a standalone fantasy. We get a complete story, satisfying character arcs, and (thank you, E.J. Ashwood) an epilogue that left me smiling instead of wondering what happened next.

Elysande's journey was everything I wanted. Watching her realize she was capable of so much more than the role she'd accepted for herself was incredibly satisfying. Every time the story challenged her, she rose to meet it. 👏🏻

And the characters...

Kezra. Meela. Raef.

Every single one brought something special to the story. The banter wasn't just between the main couple—it was woven through the entire cast, making them feel like a family worth fighting beside.

Speaking of banter...

"You're welcome, Princess."

"I didn't thank you, dick." 😂

Perfection.

At its heart, this story is about choosing the greater good, fighting for what's right even when the cost is unimaginable, and discovering that love has the power to reshape everything you thought you knew.

"Love can shift a person's entire priorities, throw their plans completely off course and change everything they thought they knew, everything they stood for..."

If you love dragons, slow-burn romance, unforgettable friendships, and standalone fantasy adventures that leave your heart completely full, don't sleep on this one.

#BookReview #UntilTheDragonsFly #DragonFantasy #StandaloneFantasy #FantasyBooks #SlowBurnRomance #BookTok #FantasyReader #BookRecommendations #CurrentlyReading #FiveStarRead

[JudyReadsFantasy Naude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t ready.
I wasn’t ready to leave your world. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters who somehow stopped feeling fictional and started feeling like friends. And I definitely wasn’t ready to discover that you were a standalone.

How rude. 😭

When I first opened this book, I expected dragons, magic, and adventure. What I didn’t expect was to become so emotionally invested that I’d catch myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t even reading.
I’d tell myself, “Just one more chapter.”
Five chapters later… I was still there and could not put the story away.
This story didn’t just take me on an adventure—it completely swept me away. I laughed out loud, held my breath during moments of pure tension, smiled at the friendships, melted over the romance, and yes… the spice was absolutely worth the wait. 🌶️
But what surprised me most was how much I cared.
I wanted these characters to win. I wanted them to find peace. I wanted them to have their happy moments after everything they’d been through. It’s been a long time since a fantasy made me feel so deeply connected to every step of the journey.
When I reached the final page, I didn’t immediately start another book. I just sat there.
Because sometimes finishing a story doesn’t feel like finishing a book.
It feels like saying goodbye to people you’ve grown to love.
Receiving an ARC of Until the Dragons Fly was such a privilege, and I’m incredibly grateful to E. J. Ashwood for trusting me with this story before its release.
If you’re looking for a fantasy that gives you breathtaking dragons, unforgettable characters, found family, slow-burn romance, spice, adventure, heartbreak, hope, and enough emotion to leave you staring at the wall after you’ve finished…
Read this book!
Just don’t blame me when you reach the last page and whisper…
”…I wasn’t ready.” ❤️🐉

[Bookdragon_enchantress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy - ARC
I believe I am the ideal reader/audience for Until the Dragons Fly. Beyond grateful that I was given the opportunity to ARC read for this author. Unsurprisingly I am giving it 5 stars. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Their world is cloaked in a never ending darkness thanks to a thousand year old curse. Elves have been given ultimate power during this curse. Making all others bow to them. They are by no means the strongest creatures but the curse has taken advantages away from the other creatures in order for the Elves to keep their power. The creatures grow resilient and restless as the curse slowly starts to kill them off. In this epic adventure, a group of unexpected misfits band together to save their world and bring back the sky. None of them have ever seen the sky.

The FMC is relatable, spunky, and naively admirable. A relatable heroine that even with magical gifts, the ability to wield water, and some minuscule training is still clumsy and relatable. At one point she runs straight into a tree right after battle. I loved that moment so much.

While the MMC is a spicy, hot headed, dragon who seems to only trust his cousin. He says the sweetest things to Elle, but only to her. The rest of the world he would burn to the ground the save his people.

Throughout this whole book I kept wondering how the heck this is a standalone book. Seriously; at 50% all the way to 90% I was questioning how the heck she was going to wrap it all up. With well placed time jumps the author was in fact able to contain this story to one book.

Lovable side characters
Plant side kicks
Secrets
Betrayal
Enemies to lovers
Pretend couples
Twists
Spice that is worth the wait!

Overall 5 ⭐️ will definitely read again

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: Do NOT finish this book late into the night, right before sleep, because YOU WILL NEED TIME TO PROCESS. Wow. What a whirlwind adventure! If you like questing, elemental magic, he falls hard (and HARDER), pining, dragon shifters, elves, and an incredible supporting cast (RAEF NEEDS HIS OWN BOOK!) then you most definitely *must* give this epic standalone a read.

The main FMC is secretive and wields water magic but she's kinda a soft princess which was refreshing for me to read. That doesn't mean she isn't a badass, fierce female lead though who knows how to *throwdown* with her water magic. She just also likes to indulge in pink wine and spend all day in the library. Can you blame her?

I saw the inspo for Daegon and can't get Anakin-era Hayden Christensen out of my head which made it all the more fun to read and visualize the story. He can't take his eyes of Elle for one reason or another and we love a man who pines.

Supporting cast was so easy to love! Meela gives the perfect blend of apathy, raunchiness, and mystery. Raef is a charming goofball, but also fierce and dangerous. Lots of other characters, but don't want to spoil all the fun for you :)

Aside from the characters, magic, adventure, and lore - I must callout how incredibly descriptive and immersive the author writes! They do such a great job at narrating the story through Elysande's POV - it's so effortless how her thoughts flow that even you don't realize we're on pink wine lol

I am not quite over the ending though so get ready to be (respectfully) harassed for an inter-connected standalone where I assume the main color will be RED...iykyk

Thanks so much to the author for the opportunity to read your INCREDIBLE romantasy before anyone else!

[Cappuccino Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Reader
I’m incredibly honored to have been selected to be an ARC reader for Until the Dragon Fly. Hopefully, this review does justice to this stellar book without spoilers. (still learning how to be a good ARC reader)

I don't even know where to start...this book destroyed me. I had just recovered from some gut-wrenching and devastating books; it's back to day 0 for me. I stared at the ceiling in silence for a while after the last page. I almost have no words to describe my feelings for this book. Carve out some time to take in what you read and mourn the losses when you read this book.

Standalones are usually a hit or miss for me, this one hit the mark and some! I feel some standalones' endings leave me with a feeling like there is the potential to be more; however, this one has an ending. When you get to the ending, you'll know what I mean.

This book is beautifully written. When I realized what the title truly meant, I was utterly destroyed. My personal preference of species to read about is fae. It was refreshing to read about elves, dragon shifters, actual fairies, and many other species. Most romantasies (well, the ones I've read), the FMC is very strong physically and mentally. Elysande is not (initially). She improves in both as her story advances. This adds another layer of depth for me. Elysande shows/inspires us to always continue improving and overcome obstacles, no matter how grand, to reach our end goal.

Reminds me of Flame and Thorns series, Heartstrings Duet, and Eating Woods Trilogy.
(micro)/Tropes: (that I love the most)
Enemies to lovers
Dragon Shifters
Unlikely allies
One horse
One bed
Spicy level 🌶️🌶️

[Alina Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review of Until the Dragons Fly:

This was my first ARC I ever read and I want to say I am so grateful for the opportunity and WHAT A BOOK TO START OFF MY ARC READING JOURNEY. This book had so much amazing world building and it was so unique and different. The ending is just so good. The author rips out your heart and stomps on it (in a good way?), we love a good heartbreak romantasy novel. It is funny, cute, intriguing and holds your interest all the way through. I mean I will say I read the last half of it in two days literally and this book is almost 700 pages. The author really knows how to get you to feel connected to the characters without you realizing just to rip your heart out later. Please go preorder it on Amazon for 99 cents or buy it when it comes out! You won’t regret this read! It is slow-paced because it is a standalone and the author goes in depth to make sure we really feel immersed in the story, so keep that in mind. Also, HE BRAIDS HER HAIR!!! 🥺🥺

Y’all also have no idea what the title means and I can’t wait for you guys to find out 😭😭😭

This book follows an elf princess as she is trying to research how to break a curse that has been on her land for a very long time and realizes her enemies are trying to do the same. Imagine if you couldn’t see the stars, the moon, the sun, and everything was gray ALL THE TIME LIKE MORE THAN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (it rains and is gray most of the year here), wouldn’t you try to break that curse too, especially if it was killing off different people?

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until the Dragons Fly gave me a lot of the romantasy elements I naturally gravitate toward: a found family that actually felt meaningful, banter that brought lightness in the right places, moments of real danger, a steady undercurrent of yearning, and just enough magic, fighting, and spice to keep me engaged. I also appreciated that the characters all felt like they had purpose within the story, rather than fading into the background. There were emotional beats that caught me off guard in the best way, and once the story picked up, I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next.

At the same time, I struggled to fully settle into the world. The world building felt underdeveloped, and the magic system wasn’t explained in enough depth for me to feel truly grounded in it. I also found myself wishing for more layered character dynamics; there were interesting threads woven in, but I wanted a deeper emotional complexity between them.

The pacing also felt uneven for me. The beginning took a while to find its rhythm, the middle became much more engaging, and then the ending felt rushed, with key moments that could have used more space to breathe. The writing itself was fine, but didn’t particularly stand out to me.

Overall, there’s a strong foundation here and moments I genuinely enjoyed, but it felt like the story needed more room to fully develop its world, magic, and relationships, almost like it could have benefited from being a duology.

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this fantasy story.

[Brekke Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author
Until the Dragons Fly by E.J. Ashwood

The world as they know it is slowly ending. There is a curse that has taken the light from the world and entire species are gone or soon will be.
The only species that seems to be thriving are the Elves. They rule over everyone and that has become a problem.
Elysande, also known as Elle, is the Elven princess, and has spent her life in the library searching for a cure to the curse or a way to undo the damage that has been inflicted. She may be naive to some but her adventurous spirit may save them all.
Daegan, a dragon shifter, hates Elle and all she represents. The dragon shifters have been invited to the Elven stronghold. Under the guise of peace, the Elven King is suspicious. The dragons have kept a low profile and not much is known about them except for the fact that they can’t fly. It is not even known if they can shift anymore.
By “accident” Daegan and his friend Raef follow Elle as she begins her journey to break the curse. They encounter a witch that helps them and tells them that they will not be successful without the help of strangers. The following, is the struggle for relics amongst the people who don’t want them to succeed.
They are caught, imprisoned, tortured, but they continue to fight. They are determined to end this curse. All species depend on them.
There are twist along the journey and include the deaths of their friends. There is a final twist of fate before the dragons fly that may be found heartbreaking, but it is called fate, right?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an advanced reader copy of

I was not prepared. This is a standalone romance fantasy and it had me pretty much sucked in from the beginning. The story itself is interesting with characters that are for the most part likable and diverse. The story focuses around an elf and dragon (set as enemies) working together with a group to break a curse from the past. It has lord of the rings vibes with the quest and band of characters. The main female character and first person POV drives me a bit bites with her spoiled whining but she grows on you. She has an interesting character arc. Daegan and Raef actually were my favorite. Raef was always the comic relief and brought such witty banter. What brought it down a star for me was the writing style. It comes off as young adult (not sure if that was the focus as there are some adult themes) and overly explains every thought and action. It comes off as distracting in my opinion. Also some of the conversation and interactions come off as high-school party versus 20 something old warrior. That being said it did not deter me from devouring the book at 2am and putting down my second book so I could solely focus on finishing this one. It did not stop me from laughing audibly at some of the one liners. And it did not stop me from being devastated and gasping at the end asking where are the rest of the pages. I kept looking not believing it came to an end. This was a vibe read that takes you for a tail spin and leaves you questioning everything you just read.

[Victoria Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read!

Warning: Emotional damage. Will make you cry.

This was an AMAZING fantasy standalone. Highly highly recommend!! This had so many amazing aspects: Enemies to lovers, cursed land, magic, found family, and it was all executed SO WELL.

I am so so so thankful that this was a standalone. If it had ended after Part 1, I would've thrown my phone in the garbage disposal and flipped the switch. The time jump made me GASP I was so shocked I had to take a breather.

The characters were all written so well and developed so beautifully. Writing the FMC to be so naive but still determined and not ignorant to the world around her and then seeing how her mentality changes as the book goes on is so hard to get right and this author did it right! The found family was amazing, I felt so much for the different characters, absolutely loved Raef. Meela's backstory made me understand her more which made me feel closer to her.

I absolutely loved the love story. The "enemies" part of enemies to lovers did not last very long, but I didn't mind it because there were so many other things going on. I could really feel the connection between them and I loved the way he cared for her.

Favorite quotes:
"Can you loathe someone and still find them hot at the same time?"

"If two souls could touch, ours would be meeting along the invisible tether of our shared gaze."

"He looks sad, but also grateful, serene, and most of all, he looks at me with so much love that I could never possibly doubt it."

Tropes:
🌊 Elemental magic
💜 Found family
🌫 Cursed land
🐲 Dragons

[Bridget Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟ARC REVIEW🌟

This review may contain spoilers.

It has been a long time (if ever) since a book ruined me this thoroughly. This one finished me. Several times. EJ Ashwood has devised our emotional devastation.

The characters in this book were so well written. The plot was on point. The spice was spicy, but didn’t overshadow the story.

Elysande (FMC) is very resilient elfish princess. She’s smart, strong (but not too strong), compassionate, and hard working. When things are terrible, she is not afraid to bed rot and wallow in the most relatable way possible. She finds her own way, rather than just becoming an entitled, idle princess, in a kingdom that is ruled by elves.

Daegan (MMC) is broody and mysterious in the most perfect way. He’s not your typical black haired shadow daddy, but rather a sandy/brown haired dragon shifter affected by a curse that stole powers from the lands and people in them. I found myself highlighting almost every quote that came out of his perfect mouth.

Meela and Raef are the best side characters. I fell for both of them instantly. Obsessed.

This book brings all of the emotional devastation, love triangles, epic quests, curses, shifters, elemental magic, and then some.

Words cannot describe how affected I was by this one. So I will just leave it at this.

Read this one. It’s a standalone. You will not regret it (but might cry for days).

Stars: 5/5
Spice: 3/5

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book cover really grabbed my attention and sparked my curiosity. E.J. is a new author to me and I really enjoyed the book.

Elysande, an elven princess, lives in a realm in a perpetual curse cast by a witch, leaving her land to suffer through endless, gray days. She is a strong character and approaches challenges head on with determination.

The king rules over the elves and dragon shifters, who can't shift. Elysande wants to find a way to reverse the curse, but needs to ally with an unlikely source.

The world building takes us into a realm of different creatures with a curse that needs to be broken. It felt like I was a part of the realm and in the story itself.

The characters truly felt like family, and I found myself eager to join them on their journey. I enjoyed the dynamics among all the characters, particularly between Elysande and Daegan. Raef provided fantastic comedic relief, adding a lighthearted touch to their close-knit relationships.

I experienced a whirlwind of emotions throughout the book, even feeling the urge to throw it at the author for certain events! Despite its gut-wrenching moments, I absolutely loved the story! It was so captivating, I couldn't put it down.

Thank you E.J. for the arc. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

“Storms visit us all. What matters is whether we build shelters… or learn to dance in the rain.”

[Books Past Midnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely wrecked me, in the best possible way.
This dark fantasy standalone left me staring at my bookshelves, wondering how I was supposed to move on to another book. The stakes are incredibly high from beginning to end, and the tension had me holding my breath more than once.
I loved that our FMC isn't the typical spoiled princess. She has a genuinely kind heart and is determined to save the world, even if she has to carry the burden alone. Then there's our MMC... who may have just earned a spot on my list of favorite book boyfriends. He's a cursed dragon shifter who can't fly, and she's the elven princess, practically his enemy. They're forced to trust each other to reach the same goal.
Watching their relationship develop was one of my favorite parts of the book. The slow-building attraction and chemistry between them felt so natural that I couldn't help but root for them. And the spice!!
Add in a curse, epic quest, found family, and plenty of emotional moments, and you have a fantasy that's hard to put down. Just be warned, this book doesn't shy away from heartbreak. Characters die, and you'll likely find yourself attached to more than just the main cast.
And that ending... I genuinely have no words. I'm still thinking about.
Thank you so much, E.J. Ashwood for this eARC!