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Dream Reaper
A broken healer. An unstable dragon shifter. An unspeakable evil.
After failing to heal her master, Ava Blodrhys is dragged from her home by a relentless foe desperate to escape his crimes. When she reluctantly allies with a traumatized shifter losing control of his dragon, she uncovers an even greater darkness stirring in the heart of the forest.
No one is safe from Jerrid Chrysalis if he cannot learn to control his fiery dragon. He is horrified when the girl he is forced to protect binds her life to his in a desperate attempt to control his demons, accidentally unleashing a power even more deadly than his inner monster.
As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated. If they don't break their bond, at least one of them will die. And if they do break it?
The world will burn in the fires of a vengeful shade.
If you love the swoony romance of Tara Grayce, the snarky banter of Stephanie Garber, and the shadow magic of Leigh Bardugo, you'll adore Dream Reaper.
You're sure to devour this enchanting YA fantasy romance!
After failing to heal her master, Ava Blodrhys is dragged from her home by a relentless foe desperate to escape his crimes. When she reluctantly allies with a traumatized shifter losing control of his dragon, she uncovers an even greater darkness stirring in the heart of the forest.
No one is safe from Jerrid Chrysalis if he cannot learn to control his fiery dragon. He is horrified when the girl he is forced to protect binds her life to his in a desperate attempt to control his demons, accidentally unleashing a power even more deadly than his inner monster.
As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated. If they don't break their bond, at least one of them will die. And if they do break it?
The world will burn in the fires of a vengeful shade.
If you love the swoony romance of Tara Grayce, the snarky banter of Stephanie Garber, and the shadow magic of Leigh Bardugo, you'll adore Dream Reaper.
You're sure to devour this enchanting YA fantasy romance!
386 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2026
About the author
Everly Haywood
12 books193 followersEverly Haywood imagines herself to be a shieldmaiden of great prowess…but you’re more likely to find her in a dusty library than on the battlefield slaying monsters from the underworld. She seeks to combine dark fantasy worlds with clean, sweet romance. She loves strong but sweet leading ladies and smoldering, tragic heroes, and if a dragon is thrown into the mix? That’s nearly perfection.
When she isn’t writing, Everly creates lovelies for her cover design business, homeschools her prissy Princess-in-the-Pea, and advocates for her special-needs Warrior Princess. She and her Knight in Shining Armor live in the country with their two daughters and their protective dog nanny.
Happy reading, and may your dragons fly true.
When she isn’t writing, Everly creates lovelies for her cover design business, homeschools her prissy Princess-in-the-Pea, and advocates for her special-needs Warrior Princess. She and her Knight in Shining Armor live in the country with their two daughters and their protective dog nanny.
Happy reading, and may your dragons fly true.
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October 1, 2026Can't leave an official review as part of the editing team, but I will say I enjoyed this immensely. Another wonderful book from Everly, for sure. The banter was great, and it was great to have another look at some really fun characters from earlier in the series. Already want to go back and read through the other books again. :)
October 17, 2026
Full review to come very soon! =D
July 13, 2026
Beware of spoilers
In exchange for an honest review, I was able to receive an ARC. There were many positives to the story first and foremost. For example, the world building was incredible. There was so much detail and care given to the entire land and what was going on at that time. This is the second book in a series, but it could be read as a standalone. However, I would probably recommend that readers read the stories in order to get a full sense of the history that shaped the events for this story. Although my review looks like a 3 star review, I would probably rate it closer to a 3.75. There are several positives, but there were also some negatives that I really feel brought my rating score down.
Pros:
World building and environment:
I would describe the exact environmental setting of this story it would be creepy forest core in all of the best ways possible. Instead of an enchanted woods feeling that I would normally expect with any story that involves elves and magic, the story set in this forest that is practically rotted from the inside out as it emanates darkness, decay, and evil. The suspense and uneasiness was palpable as a reader. As stated before, this story is the second in the series and so there is a lot of world building! By this point, there has been a shift in power and the new leadership is trying to establish change. This involves characters from the previous book and so I would recommend reading that book to get a better grasp of what is going on. With this in mind, it was amazing to get to explore a world where there are dragons, elves, and magic, and how that interacts with the human world. Although positive change is in the process of being made, this story really showed how there is still a lot of healing that needs to be done and problems that need to be resolved caused by actions made in the past. This is especially highlighted in moments that featured elf/human interactions, particularly in our main character, Ava and a human character named Brynja.
Jerrid and Dragon:
In terms of main characters, we have Ava, an elf healer, and Jerrid who is a dragon shifter. However, this story flips the shifter trope on its by making it so that Jerrid and Dragon operate as two chaotic entities who constantly fight each other for control, almost in a Jekyll and Hyde manner that is more humorous with Marvel’s venom vibes. Dragon is just a sassy king and I am here for it. He was so funny and I cackled when he would provide his (often times unwanted) commentary in Jerrid’s head, which led to funny instances where characters constantly thought that Jerrid was just talking to himself. Jerrid, himself, was a captivating MMC who I would genuinely describe as an extremely burnt marshmallow. He is tough on the outside, but extremely loyal and selfless on the inside. His fear, hurt, and insecurity with himself is relatable and saddening. The reader will further fall in love with our MMC with his devotion towards our FMC, Ava, which gains another layer when Dragon, aka the other half of his identity, begins to feel that same affection and devotion towards Ava or Meat Pasty as he lovingly calls her (trust me, the nickname grows on you). The dual personality/identity was a very interesting take on the shifter trope that I enjoyed for the most part. It was especially meaningful to see Jerrid slowly accept dragon, as another part of himself. At the end, seeing them become one was just beautiful and bittersweet. I loved the ending of the story! The latter end of the climax and the overall ending was just chefs kiss. This was a story where I definitely wanted to shake both of the main characters due to stubbornness, but it was meaningful to see two broken individuals grow together and build a relationship.
The bond with supporting characters:
As mentioned before, humans did not really have a positive relationship with elves. We especially get to see this with the character, Brynja, who is the leader of a camp that mostly consists of human girls and children. This group is living in the forest and has been through things to say the least, which has resulted in a hardened mentality and hostility towards elves. Our FMC is Ava and she is an elf healer. When she first arrives at this camp, she has met with immediate hostility despite not having directly anything to do with the hardships, they have faced. We see this, especially in her interactions with Brynja, the leader of this camp. However, a common enemy within the forest forces them to become allies and we see a shift in Ava‘s relationship with not only her but also with the rest of the camp. I feel this is important because we got to see the people and Ava slowly connect with each other and for them to no longer see each other as enemies, despite Ava being an elf.
Cons:
Ava’s savior complex and a bit of a rant lol:
I really wanted to like Ava and I sympathized with her quite a bit in the story, especially in the beginning. However, she has this complex where she feels she must constantly fix the MMC, which makes their relationship feel less genuine. She lectures him a fair amount on what he should be doing and what he needs to do and comes off as a bit of a know it all at times, even though most of her dragon shifter information is information passed from a human who was just repeating something she heard… Ava is eventually confronted on her need to fix people by Jerrid towards the end, approx. 80% into the book. Rather than helping Jerrid and Dragon connect over time, it just felt like she always had to directly insert herself between the two and I really mean it when I say directly. She literally fuses herself with dragon and Jerrid in some weird shared consciousness where she can now be part dragon shifter…
This leads me to two particular moments in this story that just rubbed me the wrong way. Huge spoilers, be warned.
At one point in the story, Dragon is forcefully separated from Jerrid continuing to reject that side of him. Dragon, transfers his consciousness into Ava and Ava now has Jerrid’s dragon shifting powers. However, a huge drawback of this is that Jerrid is still tethered to dragon in a way but cannot shift. With this in mind, he basically becomes a human puppet where whatever Ava does with her new dragon powers, his body is also forced to perform the same action. As Ava become stronger, Jerrid becomes weaker. This is important because Ava later on explains that she was unintentionally killing Jerrid as I guess she is basically an energy absorber of sorts where she takes energy from other people to give it to others? Jerrid is understandably upset about this and and then starts to question his worth as he feels that Ava and dragon could live without him as she was easily able to coexist with dragon and they would only need him as a fuel source. Now, I understand that Jerrid can be incredibly insecure, and that he kind of got himself in this situation by forsaking dragon in the first place. This was probably painful for dragon in a way, but he seemed more than fine when he was residing in Ava. Jerrid on the other hand was not as fine. Although he was now technically, human, his body was still tethered in a way to dragon and so he was forced to pretty much move around helplessly against his will as a human puppet while Ava and Dragon got to do whatever they wanted while they battled it out with this other bad guy. Then, to find out that Ava was inadvertently taking Jerrid’s life force just makes it feel worse (surprise! Ava has some family curse where she can literally absorb someone else’s magic and then give it to someone else such as dragon).
I will give Ava the benefit of the doubt as she did not really know that this would happen and dragon did technically initiate this whole situation. However, she finds herself in a similar situation again later in the plot, but this time she initiates the decision by claiming that she once again needs to bond with dragon but this time sharing dragons consciousness, this time at least. At the very least Jerrid isn’t not going to be a vulnerable human puppet again but he still feels very uncomfortable with this. Despite this primarily affecting him and his body in a way. He even clearly states (while feeling the physical toll on his body from all of this stretched consciousness/shifting ) that he cannot do anything when Ava and dragon team up against him.
Ava has a sense to kind of feel bad but then she literally guilt trips him with “sometimes we need help to realize what’s best for us” in other words doing what’s best for the greater good. 🫠
Mismatched words:
As I was reading, I noticed a couple words that were not used correctly. This happened throughout the entire book and could be easily remedied with a reread/re-editing.
Overall, I liked the general premise of the book and most of the elements in there. I am also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to access this ARC and to give it my honest opinion. The beginning and the end were absolutely wonderful. However, the issues outlined in the cons section above is what really knocked down my ranking of this book. Many of these cons really took place in the middle of the book.
In exchange for an honest review, I was able to receive an ARC. There were many positives to the story first and foremost. For example, the world building was incredible. There was so much detail and care given to the entire land and what was going on at that time. This is the second book in a series, but it could be read as a standalone. However, I would probably recommend that readers read the stories in order to get a full sense of the history that shaped the events for this story. Although my review looks like a 3 star review, I would probably rate it closer to a 3.75. There are several positives, but there were also some negatives that I really feel brought my rating score down.
Pros:
World building and environment:
I would describe the exact environmental setting of this story it would be creepy forest core in all of the best ways possible. Instead of an enchanted woods feeling that I would normally expect with any story that involves elves and magic, the story set in this forest that is practically rotted from the inside out as it emanates darkness, decay, and evil. The suspense and uneasiness was palpable as a reader. As stated before, this story is the second in the series and so there is a lot of world building! By this point, there has been a shift in power and the new leadership is trying to establish change. This involves characters from the previous book and so I would recommend reading that book to get a better grasp of what is going on. With this in mind, it was amazing to get to explore a world where there are dragons, elves, and magic, and how that interacts with the human world. Although positive change is in the process of being made, this story really showed how there is still a lot of healing that needs to be done and problems that need to be resolved caused by actions made in the past. This is especially highlighted in moments that featured elf/human interactions, particularly in our main character, Ava and a human character named Brynja.
Jerrid and Dragon:
In terms of main characters, we have Ava, an elf healer, and Jerrid who is a dragon shifter. However, this story flips the shifter trope on its by making it so that Jerrid and Dragon operate as two chaotic entities who constantly fight each other for control, almost in a Jekyll and Hyde manner that is more humorous with Marvel’s venom vibes. Dragon is just a sassy king and I am here for it. He was so funny and I cackled when he would provide his (often times unwanted) commentary in Jerrid’s head, which led to funny instances where characters constantly thought that Jerrid was just talking to himself. Jerrid, himself, was a captivating MMC who I would genuinely describe as an extremely burnt marshmallow. He is tough on the outside, but extremely loyal and selfless on the inside. His fear, hurt, and insecurity with himself is relatable and saddening. The reader will further fall in love with our MMC with his devotion towards our FMC, Ava, which gains another layer when Dragon, aka the other half of his identity, begins to feel that same affection and devotion towards Ava or Meat Pasty as he lovingly calls her (trust me, the nickname grows on you). The dual personality/identity was a very interesting take on the shifter trope that I enjoyed for the most part. It was especially meaningful to see Jerrid slowly accept dragon, as another part of himself. At the end, seeing them become one was just beautiful and bittersweet. I loved the ending of the story! The latter end of the climax and the overall ending was just chefs kiss. This was a story where I definitely wanted to shake both of the main characters due to stubbornness, but it was meaningful to see two broken individuals grow together and build a relationship.
The bond with supporting characters:
As mentioned before, humans did not really have a positive relationship with elves. We especially get to see this with the character, Brynja, who is the leader of a camp that mostly consists of human girls and children. This group is living in the forest and has been through things to say the least, which has resulted in a hardened mentality and hostility towards elves. Our FMC is Ava and she is an elf healer. When she first arrives at this camp, she has met with immediate hostility despite not having directly anything to do with the hardships, they have faced. We see this, especially in her interactions with Brynja, the leader of this camp. However, a common enemy within the forest forces them to become allies and we see a shift in Ava‘s relationship with not only her but also with the rest of the camp. I feel this is important because we got to see the people and Ava slowly connect with each other and for them to no longer see each other as enemies, despite Ava being an elf.
Cons:
Ava’s savior complex and a bit of a rant lol:
I really wanted to like Ava and I sympathized with her quite a bit in the story, especially in the beginning. However, she has this complex where she feels she must constantly fix the MMC, which makes their relationship feel less genuine. She lectures him a fair amount on what he should be doing and what he needs to do and comes off as a bit of a know it all at times, even though most of her dragon shifter information is information passed from a human who was just repeating something she heard… Ava is eventually confronted on her need to fix people by Jerrid towards the end, approx. 80% into the book. Rather than helping Jerrid and Dragon connect over time, it just felt like she always had to directly insert herself between the two and I really mean it when I say directly. She literally fuses herself with dragon and Jerrid in some weird shared consciousness where she can now be part dragon shifter…
This leads me to two particular moments in this story that just rubbed me the wrong way. Huge spoilers, be warned.
At one point in the story, Dragon is forcefully separated from Jerrid continuing to reject that side of him. Dragon, transfers his consciousness into Ava and Ava now has Jerrid’s dragon shifting powers. However, a huge drawback of this is that Jerrid is still tethered to dragon in a way but cannot shift. With this in mind, he basically becomes a human puppet where whatever Ava does with her new dragon powers, his body is also forced to perform the same action. As Ava become stronger, Jerrid becomes weaker. This is important because Ava later on explains that she was unintentionally killing Jerrid as I guess she is basically an energy absorber of sorts where she takes energy from other people to give it to others? Jerrid is understandably upset about this and and then starts to question his worth as he feels that Ava and dragon could live without him as she was easily able to coexist with dragon and they would only need him as a fuel source. Now, I understand that Jerrid can be incredibly insecure, and that he kind of got himself in this situation by forsaking dragon in the first place. This was probably painful for dragon in a way, but he seemed more than fine when he was residing in Ava. Jerrid on the other hand was not as fine. Although he was now technically, human, his body was still tethered in a way to dragon and so he was forced to pretty much move around helplessly against his will as a human puppet while Ava and Dragon got to do whatever they wanted while they battled it out with this other bad guy. Then, to find out that Ava was inadvertently taking Jerrid’s life force just makes it feel worse (surprise! Ava has some family curse where she can literally absorb someone else’s magic and then give it to someone else such as dragon).
I will give Ava the benefit of the doubt as she did not really know that this would happen and dragon did technically initiate this whole situation. However, she finds herself in a similar situation again later in the plot, but this time she initiates the decision by claiming that she once again needs to bond with dragon but this time sharing dragons consciousness, this time at least. At the very least Jerrid isn’t not going to be a vulnerable human puppet again but he still feels very uncomfortable with this. Despite this primarily affecting him and his body in a way. He even clearly states (while feeling the physical toll on his body from all of this stretched consciousness/shifting ) that he cannot do anything when Ava and dragon team up against him.
Ava has a sense to kind of feel bad but then she literally guilt trips him with “sometimes we need help to realize what’s best for us” in other words doing what’s best for the greater good. 🫠
Mismatched words:
As I was reading, I noticed a couple words that were not used correctly. This happened throughout the entire book and could be easily remedied with a reread/re-editing.
Overall, I liked the general premise of the book and most of the elements in there. I am also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to access this ARC and to give it my honest opinion. The beginning and the end were absolutely wonderful. However, the issues outlined in the cons section above is what really knocked down my ranking of this book. Many of these cons really took place in the middle of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2026
Love the banter and snark between Ava and Jerrid, and the dual POV. Both characters are broken. A lot of authors would have them fix each other as they fall in love. Ava does try to help Jerrid. The incredibly clever Everly Haywood knows they must fix themselves.
The story is gripping and fast paced. The enemy is impossible to defeat. I stayed up late to finish the book because I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is gripping and fast paced. The enemy is impossible to defeat. I stayed up late to finish the book because I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 13, 2026
Now I did listen to the first book on audio during the summer but I didn't review it as I know that book one will be newly edited and revised to set up the plot for this one which will be available on the first of October.
OH MY STARS this was a spectacular read and I was hooked from the first chapter. The action started pretty much from the get go and I was enamored by the two main characters, who kept me turning the pages even if at times I did want to knock some sense into Jerrid (loveable as he is.) It was an adrenaline rush of adventure that didn't let up for one single second, and I'll admit I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The humour was fantastic balancing out some of the darker moments in the story, and as it's Y/A there is no spice or bad language, though there are mentions of nakedness due to the MMC shifting but no details. However, it does tug on your heartstrings a bit and I'm not ashamed to say in a couple of places it did bring tears to my eyes, along with melting my heart at the romance. I've only read two in this series so far but the world building and this author has definitely got herself a new fan and from these two books alone I'll be hunting down more of her books.. Can't wait to get to book three.
Jerrid is a dragon rider tasked with finding a healer Ava who has been lost and to bring her home. Unfortunately he is also a unstable dragon shifter that has no control of his dragon. This made for some of the some of the best dialogue in the book because Dragon is hilarious and I loved him immediately. If course when Jerrid catches up with Ava, he realises that she wasn't lost she'd been taken and Jerrid discovers there are more dangerous things than Dragon. Oh hell yes I was smitten straight away by Jerrid because not only does he give that male protective vibe, he has vulnerability of not being comfortable in his own skin, which always draws me to my male characters. I adored his banter not only with Dragon but Ava who could hold her own against him. Yep loved everything about him.
Ava is a dark elf and healer, kidnapped by an enemy she knows to be used as a bargaining chip for his freedom. Like Jerrid she believes she's broken, her magic is weak, and all her life she's had to work harder and still thinks she fails at everything. But when she binds her life to the dragon shifter who is protecting her to help control his inner demons she accidentally creates a bigger problem and foe to fight than him. I loved Ava so much because she was just so relatable, she thinks she's a failure but what she doesn't see especially at first is how resilient she really is. She has an inner strength and determination to keep going even when things are the darkest, and has a heart that is so big she'll risk everything to help people she barely knows. And I absolutely adored the dynamics between her, Jerrid and Dragon. She was fantastic.
Yep I'm looking forward to getting to the next book in this series which has grabbed hold of my heart in a big way. So if you love a good swoony romance, snarky banter and broken souls finding themselves. This is for you. Highly recommend 😁
OH MY STARS this was a spectacular read and I was hooked from the first chapter. The action started pretty much from the get go and I was enamored by the two main characters, who kept me turning the pages even if at times I did want to knock some sense into Jerrid (loveable as he is.) It was an adrenaline rush of adventure that didn't let up for one single second, and I'll admit I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The humour was fantastic balancing out some of the darker moments in the story, and as it's Y/A there is no spice or bad language, though there are mentions of nakedness due to the MMC shifting but no details. However, it does tug on your heartstrings a bit and I'm not ashamed to say in a couple of places it did bring tears to my eyes, along with melting my heart at the romance. I've only read two in this series so far but the world building and this author has definitely got herself a new fan and from these two books alone I'll be hunting down more of her books.. Can't wait to get to book three.
Jerrid is a dragon rider tasked with finding a healer Ava who has been lost and to bring her home. Unfortunately he is also a unstable dragon shifter that has no control of his dragon. This made for some of the some of the best dialogue in the book because Dragon is hilarious and I loved him immediately. If course when Jerrid catches up with Ava, he realises that she wasn't lost she'd been taken and Jerrid discovers there are more dangerous things than Dragon. Oh hell yes I was smitten straight away by Jerrid because not only does he give that male protective vibe, he has vulnerability of not being comfortable in his own skin, which always draws me to my male characters. I adored his banter not only with Dragon but Ava who could hold her own against him. Yep loved everything about him.
Ava is a dark elf and healer, kidnapped by an enemy she knows to be used as a bargaining chip for his freedom. Like Jerrid she believes she's broken, her magic is weak, and all her life she's had to work harder and still thinks she fails at everything. But when she binds her life to the dragon shifter who is protecting her to help control his inner demons she accidentally creates a bigger problem and foe to fight than him. I loved Ava so much because she was just so relatable, she thinks she's a failure but what she doesn't see especially at first is how resilient she really is. She has an inner strength and determination to keep going even when things are the darkest, and has a heart that is so big she'll risk everything to help people she barely knows. And I absolutely adored the dynamics between her, Jerrid and Dragon. She was fantastic.
Yep I'm looking forward to getting to the next book in this series which has grabbed hold of my heart in a big way. So if you love a good swoony romance, snarky banter and broken souls finding themselves. This is for you. Highly recommend 😁
October 1, 2026
(Dream Reaper by Everly Haywood was released after Book 4 but fits into the story world after Book 1 of the series.)
Ava, a dark elf healer introduced in Peaceweaver, gets her own story in this book which made me happy. Haywood weaves some wonderful themes of love, acceptance, and the power of forgiveness in this new story.
I have enjoyed each of the other books in the series and this book did not disappoint. I was immediately sucked into the story and invested in Ava's life and struggles. A good balance between introspection and action by the two main characters, Ava and Jerrid, maintains a good pace to add tension while adding layers to the story.
Both Ava and Jerrid, must learn to conquer the feelings of worthlessness and shame that drive their decisions in order to overcome obstacles neither can win on their own.
They are worlds apart culturally but share similar insecurities and the desire to do what is right, no matter the cost. Both have prejudices against the other's culture but are forced to work together by their circumstances. Both sides distrust the other, but learn there are good and trustworthy beings on both sides.
Ava and Jerrid's relationship, complicated by the presence of Dragon, develops from barely tolerating each other to love by the end of the book but it feels like an organic progression because their feelings change as they begin to understand one another. I think this succeeds so well because they begin to understand themselves, their strengths and weaknesses.
Heavy moments are balanced with lighter banter. I loved the various humorous dialogues between Dragon and Ava, with him teasing and calling her "snackling" and "Meat Pasty".
Many poignant moments accompany key moments of self-revelation. The author doesn't shy away from examining the damaging fallout for human lives caused by the war and the treaty formed as a condition of peace. The fight scenes are not overly graphic but they are intense and you feel the depths of evil that threatens their world.
There are many wonderful characters introduced in this story and I'm hoping Haywood will give Brynja and Roar their own stories in the future.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys complex characters dumped into one life-threatening situation after another. Unlikely heroes beset by their own weaknesses, they eventually overcome each obstacle, but new dangers await.
Ava, a dark elf healer introduced in Peaceweaver, gets her own story in this book which made me happy. Haywood weaves some wonderful themes of love, acceptance, and the power of forgiveness in this new story.
I have enjoyed each of the other books in the series and this book did not disappoint. I was immediately sucked into the story and invested in Ava's life and struggles. A good balance between introspection and action by the two main characters, Ava and Jerrid, maintains a good pace to add tension while adding layers to the story.
Both Ava and Jerrid, must learn to conquer the feelings of worthlessness and shame that drive their decisions in order to overcome obstacles neither can win on their own.
They are worlds apart culturally but share similar insecurities and the desire to do what is right, no matter the cost. Both have prejudices against the other's culture but are forced to work together by their circumstances. Both sides distrust the other, but learn there are good and trustworthy beings on both sides.
Ava and Jerrid's relationship, complicated by the presence of Dragon, develops from barely tolerating each other to love by the end of the book but it feels like an organic progression because their feelings change as they begin to understand one another. I think this succeeds so well because they begin to understand themselves, their strengths and weaknesses.
Heavy moments are balanced with lighter banter. I loved the various humorous dialogues between Dragon and Ava, with him teasing and calling her "snackling" and "Meat Pasty".
Many poignant moments accompany key moments of self-revelation. The author doesn't shy away from examining the damaging fallout for human lives caused by the war and the treaty formed as a condition of peace. The fight scenes are not overly graphic but they are intense and you feel the depths of evil that threatens their world.
There are many wonderful characters introduced in this story and I'm hoping Haywood will give Brynja and Roar their own stories in the future.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys complex characters dumped into one life-threatening situation after another. Unlikely heroes beset by their own weaknesses, they eventually overcome each obstacle, but new dangers await.
August 15, 2026
First things first, this book is definitely a sequel, so make sure you read the first one. The plot won’t make nearly as much sense if not; however, in terms of being a sequel, it was quite fun to hear about a different perspective rather than continuing with the same characters from last time. It still feels like we get the a continuation of the story while also giving us a new story, complete with the background of Ava and Jerrid. I enjoyed how this book was a little less heavy on the world building/plot and more focused on the characters, since that’s usually the part I love the most. Boy oh boy, do we get a lot of character development here, and it is so well-written.
Ava and Jerrid both have past hurts and warring ideas on how to approach things, so it was nearly a constant battle to work together (and sometimes they failed in the process). But their past histories contribute to who they become, and it was so sweet to watch them fall for each other despite their efforts not to. I think it was the shared humor that got to them, honestly. 😂
And speaking of humor, I LOVED Dragon. Sorry, Jerrid, but Dragon was just so stinking FUN. You definitely get the fear factor with him because of his unpredictability and violent tendencies, he had plenty of character growth, too, which was fun to see. Him and Jerrid are quite the dysfunctional team, which was entertaining to read, albeit a bit frustrating at times. 😅 But it all worked out in the end, and I so appreciated how Dragon came to like Ava. 🥰 I’ve also never seen a shifter relationship like this before, so that was really fun. It kind of reminded me of Venom, only Dragon was more heroic than villainous I believe.
Overall, it was a fun read that delivered on all counts, although the first book is still my favorite. If you want an engaging, new fantasy series with lovable, flawed characters and sweet romance, you need to read this book. I did receive a copy so I can leave an honest review early, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ava and Jerrid both have past hurts and warring ideas on how to approach things, so it was nearly a constant battle to work together (and sometimes they failed in the process). But their past histories contribute to who they become, and it was so sweet to watch them fall for each other despite their efforts not to. I think it was the shared humor that got to them, honestly. 😂
And speaking of humor, I LOVED Dragon. Sorry, Jerrid, but Dragon was just so stinking FUN. You definitely get the fear factor with him because of his unpredictability and violent tendencies, he had plenty of character growth, too, which was fun to see. Him and Jerrid are quite the dysfunctional team, which was entertaining to read, albeit a bit frustrating at times. 😅 But it all worked out in the end, and I so appreciated how Dragon came to like Ava. 🥰 I’ve also never seen a shifter relationship like this before, so that was really fun. It kind of reminded me of Venom, only Dragon was more heroic than villainous I believe.
Overall, it was a fun read that delivered on all counts, although the first book is still my favorite. If you want an engaging, new fantasy series with lovable, flawed characters and sweet romance, you need to read this book. I did receive a copy so I can leave an honest review early, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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July 10, 2026I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
I hemmed and hawed over wether I wanted to give this book 4 or 5 stars, but ultimately decided on 5 stars because I rate books based on how much enjoyment I get out of them, and I did enjoy this book. It’s not my favorite from this series, but that’s okay.
I feel like the ending was the best part of this book. While it was sad, and perfectly leads into book 3 (which used to be book 2), it wraps things up nicely and I loved the development of both main characters and appreciate how this book dealt with learning to love and accept yourself before others can love and accept you.
Some downsides to this book (they were downsides for me at least) was how the middle of the story got a little murky and I didn’t always understand they why of what was going on. Both Main characters are stubborn and sometimes I just wanted to shake the nonsense out of them. There were also a few world building details that drove me crazy. The biggest one probably being the fact that there’s a village of human women (run-away brides) and somehow there’s also human children? Were these just supposed to represent the too-young girls taken for brides because that’s not how it came across. It drove me crazy the whole book because I kept wondering where these kids came from? Overall is this an important detail? No, probably not, but it drew me out of the story multiples times and will probably continue to drive me crazy (until I get swept up into my next read at least).
Overall, a fun read with some really funny moments. I enjoyed getting back into this world after a long wait (worth it though), and I can’t wait to read more from this series. I think I even want to reread the other books again, but will wait till the revised versions are out. So excited!
I hemmed and hawed over wether I wanted to give this book 4 or 5 stars, but ultimately decided on 5 stars because I rate books based on how much enjoyment I get out of them, and I did enjoy this book. It’s not my favorite from this series, but that’s okay.
I feel like the ending was the best part of this book. While it was sad, and perfectly leads into book 3 (which used to be book 2), it wraps things up nicely and I loved the development of both main characters and appreciate how this book dealt with learning to love and accept yourself before others can love and accept you.
Some downsides to this book (they were downsides for me at least) was how the middle of the story got a little murky and I didn’t always understand they why of what was going on. Both Main characters are stubborn and sometimes I just wanted to shake the nonsense out of them. There were also a few world building details that drove me crazy. The biggest one probably being the fact that there’s a village of human women (run-away brides) and somehow there’s also human children? Were these just supposed to represent the too-young girls taken for brides because that’s not how it came across. It drove me crazy the whole book because I kept wondering where these kids came from? Overall is this an important detail? No, probably not, but it drew me out of the story multiples times and will probably continue to drive me crazy (until I get swept up into my next read at least).
Overall, a fun read with some really funny moments. I enjoyed getting back into this world after a long wait (worth it though), and I can’t wait to read more from this series. I think I even want to reread the other books again, but will wait till the revised versions are out. So excited!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2026
Dream Reaper by Everly Haywood
As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated...
Wow, just wow!!!! If you like your fantasy romance packed with action, then this should be your next book! Literally, the whole thing felt like a climax; there was no good stopping point for real life to intrude! Clear your schedule before starting this one! Ava is our broken healer FMC, always trying to fix those around her. Jerrid is our dragon shifter, and he and Dragon never seem to be on the same side. Dragon is a bit overwhelming at first, but just wait, he definitely grows on you. Highly recommend this whole series! Which, by the way, is getting a bit of a makeover, which may make things a bit confusing. This book is now book 2, and the remaining books in the series slid over a spot (Grimkeeper is now 3, etc). Each book can be read as a standalone, but characters do make lots of reappearances.
Book 2 in Between Shade and Flame
Content: no spice or language, some fantasy violence, dark nightmare monsters, when shifting from dragon to man, Jerrid does end up unclothed, but it's always handled with no description
5 stars
ARC (all opinions are my own)
As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated...
Wow, just wow!!!! If you like your fantasy romance packed with action, then this should be your next book! Literally, the whole thing felt like a climax; there was no good stopping point for real life to intrude! Clear your schedule before starting this one! Ava is our broken healer FMC, always trying to fix those around her. Jerrid is our dragon shifter, and he and Dragon never seem to be on the same side. Dragon is a bit overwhelming at first, but just wait, he definitely grows on you. Highly recommend this whole series! Which, by the way, is getting a bit of a makeover, which may make things a bit confusing. This book is now book 2, and the remaining books in the series slid over a spot (Grimkeeper is now 3, etc). Each book can be read as a standalone, but characters do make lots of reappearances.
Book 2 in Between Shade and Flame
Content: no spice or language, some fantasy violence, dark nightmare monsters, when shifting from dragon to man, Jerrid does end up unclothed, but it's always handled with no description
5 stars
ARC (all opinions are my own)
August 14, 2026
What. An. Epic. Story. I've been a fan of Ms. Haywood for a while, but THIS was such a gripping addition to the Between Shade & Flame series. (This is book 2, in between newly re-released books 1 and 3.) Ava is a dark elf healer with fairly weak magic, and a talent for getting kidnapped. Jerrid is the human dragon rider that is sent to fetch her back. (Unsurprisingly...they fall in love. Heh.) After Talos kidnaps Ava, he quickly becomes the least of their worries as Ava discovers refugees, monsters she didn't know still existed, and an ancient evil that she *thought* they'd banished. My favorite quote was, ""She didn't want him to be noble - she wanted him to be alive."" This just sums up the whole vibe. There's a whole lot of last ditch efforts, noble sacrifices, endearing side characters, true love, and heartbreak.
🤬 - none
⚔️ - Monster attacks, kidnapping, threatening with pointy/sharp objects...honestly, quite violent. Not graphic.
🌶️ - I think there's a kiss or two in there somewhere.
🫣 - Disability rep (split personality disorder), nightmares, women and children in peril, death of characters, non-sexual nudity (shifters are naked after shifting back, but everyone's embarrassed and it's covered up quickly), love triangle? Kind of?
🤬 - none
⚔️ - Monster attacks, kidnapping, threatening with pointy/sharp objects...honestly, quite violent. Not graphic.
🌶️ - I think there's a kiss or two in there somewhere.
🫣 - Disability rep (split personality disorder), nightmares, women and children in peril, death of characters, non-sexual nudity (shifters are naked after shifting back, but everyone's embarrassed and it's covered up quickly), love triangle? Kind of?
August 21, 2026
This book, from the first line grabbed me by my throat and wouldn't let me go until I was done. It ruled my life until the last second.
I loved the back and forth between Dragon and Jerrid, the dynamic between them was so intense and full of emotion that came out rough. There was so much fear and misunderstanding between the two parts of himself. As someone with both ADHD and Autism, sometimes my brain feels at war, so though it is a different experience, I could relate to an extent.
I loved the dynamic between Jerrid and Ava, the struggle for connection passed their biases and cultures and how Dragon made it both harder and easier.
I loved how the fact that most of the human women who were forced to be a part of the Peace Brides were essentially breeding slaves and often abused. We saw, in the other books, the few who found good Elfman. But I also like how delicately Everly Haywood handled the reality, while it lay heavily as such a topic should, it didn't suffocate the rest of the plot. It was a hard balance to maintain, but I believe Everly handled it masterfully.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the back and forth between Dragon and Jerrid, the dynamic between them was so intense and full of emotion that came out rough. There was so much fear and misunderstanding between the two parts of himself. As someone with both ADHD and Autism, sometimes my brain feels at war, so though it is a different experience, I could relate to an extent.
I loved the dynamic between Jerrid and Ava, the struggle for connection passed their biases and cultures and how Dragon made it both harder and easier.
I loved how the fact that most of the human women who were forced to be a part of the Peace Brides were essentially breeding slaves and often abused. We saw, in the other books, the few who found good Elfman. But I also like how delicately Everly Haywood handled the reality, while it lay heavily as such a topic should, it didn't suffocate the rest of the plot. It was a hard balance to maintain, but I believe Everly handled it masterfully.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2026
Will Jerrid be able to keep Ava safe?
In our story, we have a dark elf healer who was kidnapped by a bad guy. We also have a human shifter who happens to be a dragon rider. Our shifter was ordered to save the girl from the evil kidnapper. This is the story of how these two met, fought not only the villain and the evil in the forest they ended up in, but each other as well. Of course, our hero is also fighting the dragon within him. I did enjoy this story. After all, elves, healer, dragons, what’s not to love? Add in romance, a battle to end all battles and everything required for a great book is contained within these pages. The world building is perfect, the characters all show signs of maturing and the plot kept me turning pages.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In our story, we have a dark elf healer who was kidnapped by a bad guy. We also have a human shifter who happens to be a dragon rider. Our shifter was ordered to save the girl from the evil kidnapper. This is the story of how these two met, fought not only the villain and the evil in the forest they ended up in, but each other as well. Of course, our hero is also fighting the dragon within him. I did enjoy this story. After all, elves, healer, dragons, what’s not to love? Add in romance, a battle to end all battles and everything required for a great book is contained within these pages. The world building is perfect, the characters all show signs of maturing and the plot kept me turning pages.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2026
The author recommends that you read the first book before reading this one, but you can read it as a stand-alone if you like. There are references to what happened in the previous book…but it’s fine on its own. The world building is amazing, and the characters are extremely well written. There’s suspenseful action from the very beginning, as well as some snarky banter that’s simply fun. It has a HFN ending, with a teaser for the next book…but I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger. Best of all, the next book is already available so you can binge read if you want.
The book is clean, with no bad language and just kisses.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book is clean, with no bad language and just kisses.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2026
Book 2 of Between Shade and Flame series. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.
'As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated. If they don't break their bond, at least one of them will die. And if they do break it?
The world will burn in the fires of a vengeful shade.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'As the nightmare in the Shadewood rises again, Ava and Jerrid must work together to fight a creature that can't be defeated. If they don't break their bond, at least one of them will die. And if they do break it?
The world will burn in the fires of a vengeful shade.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2026
It's not easy to balance dark subjects like stolen teenage brides, failing mental health, and terrifying shadow creatures with laugh out loud humor, but somehow Everly Haywood totally nailed it! Roar's childish recklessness and lack of filter combined with Dragon's blunt, honest commentary made this book such a fun read while also handling challenges like Jerrid's split personality and Ava's lack of self-confidence with sensitivity and hope. I was rooting for Jerrid and Ava right from the start, and I loved the way they supported and balanced each other as their swoony romance developed. And this series has the coolest magic system! Highly recommended for any reader looking for their next no spice romantasy adventure!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
September 3, 2026
Never give up!
I enjoyed how Everly Haywood told Jerrid and Ava's story. They start out so unsure of themselves but, because they keep standing up for the people who need their help, they find out that they are stronger than they think -- especially when they combine forces. Seeing how they learn that there must be a balance between control and letting go, and their stubborn determination not to give up, kept me reading, hoping against hope that they would defeat the smug darkness that was reaping their negative feelings in their dreams. I liked the continuity of seeing glimpses of characters from her other books too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed how Everly Haywood told Jerrid and Ava's story. They start out so unsure of themselves but, because they keep standing up for the people who need their help, they find out that they are stronger than they think -- especially when they combine forces. Seeing how they learn that there must be a balance between control and letting go, and their stubborn determination not to give up, kept me reading, hoping against hope that they would defeat the smug darkness that was reaping their negative feelings in their dreams. I liked the continuity of seeing glimpses of characters from her other books too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2026
Have a tissue handy, allowing at least two days for this dark, twisted, fast-paced. action-packed young adult paranormal, good-vs-evil, laugh-out-loud fantasy thriller in the land of Rhuin, featuring a dream reaper, abduction, betrayal, children, demons, dragons, fae, grief, humor, magic, rescue, mild romance, slavery, low self-esteem, a strange infatuation, a healer on a mission, doom to failure, myrk hounds, wrongness, female humans, a comforting entrapment, Peaceweavers, dire wolves, rats, gremlins, rootwyrms, shade wolves, harpies, nightmares, magic and blood, a nightmare creature, protection, curses, hope, survival, and living in the moment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2026
Dream Reaper by Everly Haywood is such an adventure!! Honestly, I think it was a bit too high stakes for the phase of life I’m in, but it was a well-written book and a fun story.
Ava and Jerrid (and Dragon) both had fun, endearing qualities and made me root for them to succeed, despite all the odds very much being against them. I loved both their characters arcs!! Seeing them grow was so rewarding and satisfying. There were also quite a few plot twists I didn’t see coming, which I enjoyed!
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes high-stakes adventure, clean fantasy romance, dragons, shifters, main characters that actually grow, and found family!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava and Jerrid (and Dragon) both had fun, endearing qualities and made me root for them to succeed, despite all the odds very much being against them. I loved both their characters arcs!! Seeing them grow was so rewarding and satisfying. There were also quite a few plot twists I didn’t see coming, which I enjoyed!
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes high-stakes adventure, clean fantasy romance, dragons, shifters, main characters that actually grow, and found family!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2026
This was an enjoyable read with dark elves, dragons, humans, a dragon shifter, a phoenix, and a "dark entity". It was very action packed. The banter between the two main characters was fun to read. The physical and emotional journey that Ava and Jerrid went through was rough but needed for the characters to grow.
Content Warnings:
These are trigger warnings that the author includes in the book: ♦️Disability Rep (split personality disorder)
♦️Nightmares
♦️Women and children in peril
♦️Death
♦️Non-sexual nudity mentioned (after a character shifts, he doesn’t have any clothes on, but he covers up as quickly as possible, and it’s a mortifying experience)
Content Warnings:
These are trigger warnings that the author includes in the book: ♦️Disability Rep (split personality disorder)
♦️Nightmares
♦️Women and children in peril
♦️Death
♦️Non-sexual nudity mentioned (after a character shifts, he doesn’t have any clothes on, but he covers up as quickly as possible, and it’s a mortifying experience)
August 26, 2026
This book was a good fantasy novel with a fun, sweet romance. I enjoyed the banter and the growth of all the characters and the world that was built.
I did think the ending was a little unbelievable lol just because they had flown to a kingdom and back and were exhausted on the way back to camp, fought a monster and defeated it, then immediately turned around and went back. Lol even with multiple stops that would’ve been impossible. But thats ok. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend this. I enjoyed the theme of working together instead of trying to fight and solve everything on your own.
I did think the ending was a little unbelievable lol just because they had flown to a kingdom and back and were exhausted on the way back to camp, fought a monster and defeated it, then immediately turned around and went back. Lol even with multiple stops that would’ve been impossible. But thats ok. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend this. I enjoyed the theme of working together instead of trying to fight and solve everything on your own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
This was a bit darker than PEACEWEAVER because of the battle between Jerrid and Dragon, but also between everyone and Shadow, who seems to keep growing stronger. If Jerrid can't accept that he is Dragon, the battle with Shadow may be lost.
Ava just seems lost in the middle trying to figure out her feelings for Jerrid and Dragon and realizing that they are one being; and her compassion for those around her, her desire to keep everyone safe while having a power that is just too weak to do that. If they are going to survive they all need to get together!
This is a clean read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava just seems lost in the middle trying to figure out her feelings for Jerrid and Dragon and realizing that they are one being; and her compassion for those around her, her desire to keep everyone safe while having a power that is just too weak to do that. If they are going to survive they all need to get together!
This is a clean read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 6, 2026
This book is second in the series and I highly recommend reading it after book 1 so you better understand the world. I really liked the characters, Ava (an elf) is so determined to be a healer even if she doesn't have a large amount of magic, Jerrod is a human/dragon shifter who has never accepted the dragon part of himself. 'Dragon' was hilarious especially in regards to his meat pasty. What started as a simple rescue mission soon became very complicated with runaway human brides and a seemingly undefeatable evil, out to kill and destroy. I received an ARC but this review is my own. I look forward to the next book in this series.
September 8, 2026
Split Personality Dragon, Elves, & Humans.
There is lots of page turning action in this book! Jerrid is a secret dragon shifter who has difficulty working with his dragon side, and who is sent to rescue Ava. Ava is one of the healers to the Prince who is kidnapped by Talos who is a traitor to his kingdom. Jerrid and Ava have many adventures, fight different kinds of monsters, and learn many things about themselves as well as some secrets about others. This story filled me with excitement, knuckle-biting worry, happiness, and sadness. It was a creative and intriguing fantasy. I received an ARC copy from the author.
There is lots of page turning action in this book! Jerrid is a secret dragon shifter who has difficulty working with his dragon side, and who is sent to rescue Ava. Ava is one of the healers to the Prince who is kidnapped by Talos who is a traitor to his kingdom. Jerrid and Ava have many adventures, fight different kinds of monsters, and learn many things about themselves as well as some secrets about others. This story filled me with excitement, knuckle-biting worry, happiness, and sadness. It was a creative and intriguing fantasy. I received an ARC copy from the author.
September 11, 2026
This was a wonderful wild ride that didn't fail to bring the reader along with it! I loved getting to see how Ava and Jerrid's story played out! The growth both characters made was well paced and realistic. The people they met along their journey were exciting to read about and I wanted to know them more! Roar is one of the best side characters in the book, I will leave it at that so there are no spoilers! I also enjoyed seeing Prince Hayrk and Persis again! The adventure continues, and I for one can't wait to see where the next book takes us! I did receive an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2026
This is a book about Ava, her escape in the woods from Talos, meeting Jerrid, who has his own problems as well.
Ava has to face her fears and believe in herself as she has people to protect. Jerrid has to protect Ava, and in doing that has to face his own fears too.
Lots of laughter and tears in this tale, and throw in a very powerful foe and you have a great adventure to be read. Wonderful secondary characters in there as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava has to face her fears and believe in herself as she has people to protect. Jerrid has to protect Ava, and in doing that has to face his own fears too.
Lots of laughter and tears in this tale, and throw in a very powerful foe and you have a great adventure to be read. Wonderful secondary characters in there as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2026
Received as an ARC, I am leaving my honest review. I quickly became immersed into this incredible journey of escaped brides, elf rescues, coming to accept bonds of a dragon despite the past, and fighting an incredibly strong nightmare entity, more like a curse. Giving into connections and bonds sure helps, strengthening the magic, fueling the power, turning the tides. Along the way a slowly building romance keeps things interesting while the action packed suspense keeps you glued to the pages. The epic ending only leaves you wanting more!.
September 14, 2026
Good fantasy story of elf , dragon shifter, and humans
This book kept me reading to always find out what’s next. The main characters were written well. Loved the rambunctious boy! I guess there was an enemies to found family trope, maybe more of a found community than family. The conclusion made sense, especially for Jerrid. I wish the book explained why he had Dragon inside him. And the “Meat Pasty” moniker was funny but a bit over done. I’ll read the next book to see how they fare next.
This book kept me reading to always find out what’s next. The main characters were written well. Loved the rambunctious boy! I guess there was an enemies to found family trope, maybe more of a found community than family. The conclusion made sense, especially for Jerrid. I wish the book explained why he had Dragon inside him. And the “Meat Pasty” moniker was funny but a bit over done. I’ll read the next book to see how they fare next.
July 2, 2026
I read this as an ARC.
What drew me to it was the promise of banter (which it definitely delivered!) and dragons (also delivered!). I thought both Jerrid and Ava were interesting characters and good choices as narrators. I found the story engaging and I definitely wanted to know more! It was a three point seven five star read for me! I’d recommend for anyone who enjoys: banter, dragons/dragon shifters, and uncertain heroes.
What drew me to it was the promise of banter (which it definitely delivered!) and dragons (also delivered!). I thought both Jerrid and Ava were interesting characters and good choices as narrators. I found the story engaging and I definitely wanted to know more! It was a three point seven five star read for me! I’d recommend for anyone who enjoys: banter, dragons/dragon shifters, and uncertain heroes.
July 7, 2026
Ava, healer elf with self-doubt and Jerrid, dragon shifter, always fighting for control with his dragon, together they're trying to help human runaways.
Then the horrid battle - light vs dark, good vs evil... I held my breath, was so afraid for prince, dragon and all others and had to read faster and faster!
Loved it and couldn't stop!
This is my voluntary opinion of a free ARC book.
Note: the story goes on because evil is still around!
Then the horrid battle - light vs dark, good vs evil... I held my breath, was so afraid for prince, dragon and all others and had to read faster and faster!
Loved it and couldn't stop!
This is my voluntary opinion of a free ARC book.
Note: the story goes on because evil is still around!
August 13, 2026
This is book 2 in the Shade and Flame series and it picks up almost immediately where Peaceweaver ends. Ava was taken by Talos, and Jerrid has gone after them to rescue her. We learn that Jerrid is a dragon shifter, not just a dragon rider. Ava and Jerrid/Dragon banter frequently, and the story moves at a good pace.
Most of Dream Reaper takes place in Shadewood Forest, which is full of shadows and danger. We get some more insight into the peace treaty that forces Haldorian (human) brides to come to Gelaira. There are also several foes to battle to survive Shadewood Forest.
Prince Haryk makes an appearance as well as several other characters from Peaceweaver. We also get several new side characters who are entertaining and integral to the plot. I enjoyed Ava and Jerrid's story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Grimkeeper!
Most of Dream Reaper takes place in Shadewood Forest, which is full of shadows and danger. We get some more insight into the peace treaty that forces Haldorian (human) brides to come to Gelaira. There are also several foes to battle to survive Shadewood Forest.
Prince Haryk makes an appearance as well as several other characters from Peaceweaver. We also get several new side characters who are entertaining and integral to the plot. I enjoyed Ava and Jerrid's story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Grimkeeper!
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