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Isle of Dragon Bones
Not yet published
Expected 22 Jan 27Ariel from The Little Mermaid meets retired Blackbeard, except she lost her memory, not her voice.
And there’s only one bed.
When a woman washes up on Ardenn’s isolated island with a slash across her neck, his first instinct is to finish the job someone else started.
His second is far more dangerous.
Save her.
Kelpie has no memory of who she is, where she came from, or why someone wanted her dead. But she knows one thing: she plans to survive, even if that means trusting the grumpy fisherman with too many secrets.
Ardenn wants her gone before she remembers what waits beneath the waves. If the truth surfaces, it could destroy him.
But the longer Kelpie stays, the harder she is to resist.
Caught between his growing attraction and his desperation to get her off his island, Ardenn must choose:
Kill her or keep her.
And Kelpie must decide whether returning to an unknown life is worth the risk, or if staying with a man who holds more mystery than her missing memories is the greater gamble.
Perfect for readers of L. J. Andrews’ The Ever King series and Assistant to the Villain, this spooky standalone rom-com romantasy is packed with forced proximity, forgotten pasts, treacherous secrets, and a love story with teeth.
There be no mermaids in this book…
But here, there be dragons.
And there’s only one bed.
When a woman washes up on Ardenn’s isolated island with a slash across her neck, his first instinct is to finish the job someone else started.
His second is far more dangerous.
Save her.
Kelpie has no memory of who she is, where she came from, or why someone wanted her dead. But she knows one thing: she plans to survive, even if that means trusting the grumpy fisherman with too many secrets.
Ardenn wants her gone before she remembers what waits beneath the waves. If the truth surfaces, it could destroy him.
But the longer Kelpie stays, the harder she is to resist.
Caught between his growing attraction and his desperation to get her off his island, Ardenn must choose:
Kill her or keep her.
And Kelpie must decide whether returning to an unknown life is worth the risk, or if staying with a man who holds more mystery than her missing memories is the greater gamble.
Perfect for readers of L. J. Andrews’ The Ever King series and Assistant to the Villain, this spooky standalone rom-com romantasy is packed with forced proximity, forgotten pasts, treacherous secrets, and a love story with teeth.
There be no mermaids in this book…
But here, there be dragons.
608 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 22, 2027
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm a newer fan on MA Frick and this one did not disappoint! While "Isle of Dragon Bones" exists in the same world as her Dragon Heart trilogy, this is a great standalone book. Reading the Dragon Heart trilogy gives you a greater insight into this world, but it is definitely not needed to understand the wonderful love story of Ardenn and Kelpie. This book contains no spoilers into the DH trilogy, so this is something you could read before, after, or in-between parts of that series. There are references, of course, but no spoilers. I loved the story of Kelpie and Ardenn. The chemistry is fantastic and a lower spice level makes it a great way to enter the romantasy genre or if you simply want more heart and less bodice ripping. As someone with an age gap in her own marriage, I can appreciate the dynamics of these characters. This book had me laughing because there were so many times I could see parts of my own relationship in these characters, though my life is a little less dramatic than Kelpie's. I loved this newest edition into the Draconian world, and I can't wait to see what is next up! (PS, you're going to want to adopt your own Captain Pusserwack!)
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September 2, 2026I received an advanced digital copy of this book for review.
I started reading yesterday at about 9:45 am, and I finished it today at about 3:15pm. I did not want to put it down!
I went into this not knowing anything of the world the author had created, though I believe there are other books within this world. Isle of Dragon Bones is said to be a stand alone tie-in.
I will try not to give any spoilers, so forgive my review for not doing justice to how well this novel was written and arranged.
The story is written in almost in 2 parts. The first half of the book is told from the perspectives of the primary characters, Kelpie and Ardenn. They each have their own motivations and complications, and watching them learn each other and themselves was a masterclass in building characters that draw you in and make you root for them (or yell at them) while keeping you on the hook for what comes next. There is mystery, subtlety, and a slowburn connection that is as endearing as it is enticing.
The second half of the book is told from the perspectives of the same characters after a major shift, and it brings more intrigue, and action, while really building out who these people are.
The resolution was amazing, as it wraps up the story without leaving the feeling of "Ok, thats done, time to move on."
I have to admit, I'm truly hoping there's more to come within this world, because I'd love to see what becomes of these two. And I'll definitely be reading other books by this author!!
I started reading yesterday at about 9:45 am, and I finished it today at about 3:15pm. I did not want to put it down!
I went into this not knowing anything of the world the author had created, though I believe there are other books within this world. Isle of Dragon Bones is said to be a stand alone tie-in.
I will try not to give any spoilers, so forgive my review for not doing justice to how well this novel was written and arranged.
The story is written in almost in 2 parts. The first half of the book is told from the perspectives of the primary characters, Kelpie and Ardenn. They each have their own motivations and complications, and watching them learn each other and themselves was a masterclass in building characters that draw you in and make you root for them (or yell at them) while keeping you on the hook for what comes next. There is mystery, subtlety, and a slowburn connection that is as endearing as it is enticing.
The second half of the book is told from the perspectives of the same characters after a major shift, and it brings more intrigue, and action, while really building out who these people are.
The resolution was amazing, as it wraps up the story without leaving the feeling of "Ok, thats done, time to move on."
I have to admit, I'm truly hoping there's more to come within this world, because I'd love to see what becomes of these two. And I'll definitely be reading other books by this author!!
September 7, 2026
Isle of Dragon Bones completely swept me away. Frick has a gift for writing settings that feel alive — I genuinely felt like I was on the island with the characters, experiencing every eerie moment and breathtaking discovery alongside them. The atmosphere is incredible.
The only thing that didn’t fully land for me was the ending, which wrapped up faster than I expected. After such a rich, immersive build‑up, I wanted a little more time in those final chapters. But honestly, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book overall. Frick’s style is engaging, cinematic, and addictive.
If you love lush settings, mysterious islands, and stories that pull you in from page one, this is absolutely worth reading.
The only thing that didn’t fully land for me was the ending, which wrapped up faster than I expected. After such a rich, immersive build‑up, I wanted a little more time in those final chapters. But honestly, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book overall. Frick’s style is engaging, cinematic, and addictive.
If you love lush settings, mysterious islands, and stories that pull you in from page one, this is absolutely worth reading.
September 8, 2026
【I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.】
Iʂʅҽ σϝ Dɾαɠσɳ Bσɳҽʂ is my first age gap romance that wasn't an immortal being x human, and the Little Mermaid x retired Blackbeard vibes really did it for me. The TRUE grumpy x sunshine, the slow-burn tension, the petty dry humor, the nautical atmosphere… all of it was delicious. 🤌
M.A. Frick dedicated this book to the lifeguard who once shamed her for not being able to swim and, honestly, shame on that lifeguard. Or… thank you? Because without their ignorance, we might not have gotten this version of Iʂʅҽ σϝ Dɾαɠσɳ Bσɳҽʂ.
Either way, she can swim now and so can her prose!
And now I need to add the Dragon's Heart Trilogy to my TBR!
⏱️𝑷𝑨𝑪𝑬: 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆
Isle of Dragon Bones is a book that starts slow — slow enough that, for a while, it almost feels as though you might be settling into a slice-of-life style story. Or, at least, as much of a slice-of-life story as one can expect when a beautiful young woman washes up on an utterly grumptastic man’s isolated island with life-threatening injuries, no memory of where she came from, and absolutely no idea how she ended up in the ocean in the first place.
The story takes its time establishing the island, our FMC (Kelpie) and MMC (Ardenn), and the strange little rhythm of their forced proximity. And while that slower pace didn't always work for me, M.A. Frick's writing style kept me thoroughly engaged. Frick has a real talent for creating atmosphere and a vividness to her prose that made even the quieter stretches feel alive.
Just look at these gems of lyrical atmospheric prose:
“She scratched at me like dust under an eyelid.”
“A flicker of lightning above a drought-ridden field, ready to set fire and consume everything.”
“...fingers trembling like grass in the wind…”
“...danger far worse than a rowboat tossed across angry water.”
And then there are the two incredibly distinct voices of Kelpie and Ardenn. Their internal voices, observations, and ways of interacting with the world don't blur together, which made spending so much time in their heads genuinely enjoyable ― though I will I admit I favored all those chapters spent in Ardenn’s head.
After the slower, more atmospheric opening, the story suddenly catches a much stronger current, picking up speed and introducing high-stakes tension — and the non-steamy kind we had been sitting with until that point. The acceleration doesn't feel like it comes out of nowhere either, but rather the early breadcrumbs of danger and mystery that were scattered throughout the first half of the story finally begin to pay their dues. So while the first half had me occasionally wondering when we were going to leave the harbor, once the narrative caught wind, it was much harder to put down.
🧠 𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑳𝑶𝑨𝑫: 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓
While there are certainly twists and reveals along the way, Isle of Dragon Bones is a relatively easy read. That being said, here is one particular reveal that I genuinely did not see coming and it completely reframed something I had been noticing during my reading up to that point.
I’m going to try to say this part as spoiler-free as possible. There was one thing about the differing POVs of Ardenn and Kelpie that absolutely nagged at me throughout the first part of the book… a glaring difference between their perspectives that occasionally distracted me from the story because I kept wondering why the way they described and experienced the world around them was so fundamentally different ― and I refused to write it off as men just being men.
In fact, I had literally just written down a “complaint” about it when I tapped to the next page on my Kindle… only to have that nagging question completely resolved with a HEFTY gut-punch that marked a pivotal shift in the narrative. Suddenly the thing that had been bothering me had literally been the whole point. That realization retroactively changed the way I looked at those earlier POV differences, and I really appreciated how Frick ultimately used that disconnect to make the narrative itself part of the mystery… and I fell right into its net.
💕𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑳 𝑻𝑶𝑳𝑳: 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒔
This book is FUNNY, and I genuinely think you need to have a soft spot for dry humor to fully appreciate just how nuanced Ardenn is.
Grumpy x sunshine is obviously an incredibly popular romantasy trope, but I honestly think this is the first time I've read a version that felt like a genuine grumpy x sunshine rather than what I sometimes think of as brooding emo coming-of-age male™.
Ardenn is a man who has LIVED. For better or worse. Mostly worse, if you ask him I’m sure. Ardenn feels like a man who has history, rather than simply a man with a tragic backstory. His dry observations and occasionally brutal responses aren't just there to make him seem brooding or intimidating — they feel like the natural product of a man who has already been through some shit and has come out the other side with veeeeeeeeery little patience for dramatics.
Unfortunate given just who Kelpie is, but yummy for readers as it results in great banter and tension.
But, backing up a second, Ardenn’s journey through the grumpy x sunshine dynamic felt so refreshingly different to me. Ardenn doesn't suddenly become a different person because Kelpie enters his life. His emotional arc is much more about what happens when someone who has spent a very long time surviving is given a reason to actually start living again. Maybe it's because I'm the same age as Ardenn — which means every single one of those “OLD MAN” jabs was a personal attack ― but I found something incredibly relatable in the emotional weight he carried throughout the narrative.
So thank you for the middle-aged-ISH emotional damage!
Which explains the leaning box of tissues rating; not because I felt like I needed a box to dab my tears (though what happens AFTER the big real I discussed in the previous section did make me want to throw my Kindle and yell), but because I felt so connected to the emotional journey of Mr. Grumptastic himself.
🌶️𝑺𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑬: 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒏𝒐
Holy YEARNING, Captain! We’ve got enough of it and sexual tension to sink the ship!
Isle of Dragon Bones is a narrative that fades to black just before intimacy sets sail ― but WOW oh WOW does the tension, yearning, and anticipation amp things up to a 20. There is a lot of buildup between these two, and Frick does a great job of really letting us just sit in the push-pull of Ardenn and Kelpie’s attraction. While we don't get the explicit open-door descriptions, there are comments, observations, and post-cabin-exploration thoughts (*ahem*) from both Kelpie and Ardenn that provide very clear visuals.
As someone who is very much a spice reader, I would absolutely have enjoyed getting more explicit detail between these two. But I also can't say I felt disappointed by the choice to fade to black. The tension itself is doing a LOT of work and really made me appreciate the anticipation itself.
And then there is the age gap. I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to feel about that going into the book. I don't necessarily have an issue with age-gap romances, but there is a particular point where the difference can start to feel uncomfortable to me depending on the characters and the dynamic. Outside of ancient fae and vampires obsessing over significantly younger ladies, I have not read much age gap romance ― which was partly what drew me to this story because I wanted to try something a little outside of my comfort zone.
Ardenn is absolutely called “old man” enough times to make sure we don't forget the age difference, but it never felt like the relationship itself was uncomfortable to me... And I think a big part of that is that Ardenn doesn't feel like an older man being paired with someone who hasn't yet lived. He's a fully realized adult with a lifetime of experiences behind him, and Kelpie is written with enough agency and emotional maturity (I said EMOTIONAL maturity, her maturity level overall felt questionable at times) that their dynamic never struck me as particularly imbalanced in the way I expected age gap romances to feel.
It probably also helped that Kelpie landed in a sort of sweet spot-ish age-wise for me personally (aka, she was not underaged), which made it much easier for me to settle into the pairing without getting distracted by the numbers.
So, no maritime emergency here! The age gap did not bother me at all and I was really rooting for these two the whole way!
Iʂʅҽ σϝ Dɾαɠσɳ Bσɳҽʂ is my first age gap romance that wasn't an immortal being x human, and the Little Mermaid x retired Blackbeard vibes really did it for me. The TRUE grumpy x sunshine, the slow-burn tension, the petty dry humor, the nautical atmosphere… all of it was delicious. 🤌
M.A. Frick dedicated this book to the lifeguard who once shamed her for not being able to swim and, honestly, shame on that lifeguard. Or… thank you? Because without their ignorance, we might not have gotten this version of Iʂʅҽ σϝ Dɾαɠσɳ Bσɳҽʂ.
Either way, she can swim now and so can her prose!
And now I need to add the Dragon's Heart Trilogy to my TBR!
⏱️𝑷𝑨𝑪𝑬: 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆
Isle of Dragon Bones is a book that starts slow — slow enough that, for a while, it almost feels as though you might be settling into a slice-of-life style story. Or, at least, as much of a slice-of-life story as one can expect when a beautiful young woman washes up on an utterly grumptastic man’s isolated island with life-threatening injuries, no memory of where she came from, and absolutely no idea how she ended up in the ocean in the first place.
The story takes its time establishing the island, our FMC (Kelpie) and MMC (Ardenn), and the strange little rhythm of their forced proximity. And while that slower pace didn't always work for me, M.A. Frick's writing style kept me thoroughly engaged. Frick has a real talent for creating atmosphere and a vividness to her prose that made even the quieter stretches feel alive.
Just look at these gems of lyrical atmospheric prose:
“She scratched at me like dust under an eyelid.”
“A flicker of lightning above a drought-ridden field, ready to set fire and consume everything.”
“...fingers trembling like grass in the wind…”
“...danger far worse than a rowboat tossed across angry water.”
And then there are the two incredibly distinct voices of Kelpie and Ardenn. Their internal voices, observations, and ways of interacting with the world don't blur together, which made spending so much time in their heads genuinely enjoyable ― though I will I admit I favored all those chapters spent in Ardenn’s head.
After the slower, more atmospheric opening, the story suddenly catches a much stronger current, picking up speed and introducing high-stakes tension — and the non-steamy kind we had been sitting with until that point. The acceleration doesn't feel like it comes out of nowhere either, but rather the early breadcrumbs of danger and mystery that were scattered throughout the first half of the story finally begin to pay their dues. So while the first half had me occasionally wondering when we were going to leave the harbor, once the narrative caught wind, it was much harder to put down.
🧠 𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑳𝑶𝑨𝑫: 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓
While there are certainly twists and reveals along the way, Isle of Dragon Bones is a relatively easy read. That being said, here is one particular reveal that I genuinely did not see coming and it completely reframed something I had been noticing during my reading up to that point.
I’m going to try to say this part as spoiler-free as possible. There was one thing about the differing POVs of Ardenn and Kelpie that absolutely nagged at me throughout the first part of the book… a glaring difference between their perspectives that occasionally distracted me from the story because I kept wondering why the way they described and experienced the world around them was so fundamentally different ― and I refused to write it off as men just being men.
In fact, I had literally just written down a “complaint” about it when I tapped to the next page on my Kindle… only to have that nagging question completely resolved with a HEFTY gut-punch that marked a pivotal shift in the narrative. Suddenly the thing that had been bothering me had literally been the whole point. That realization retroactively changed the way I looked at those earlier POV differences, and I really appreciated how Frick ultimately used that disconnect to make the narrative itself part of the mystery… and I fell right into its net.
💕𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑳 𝑻𝑶𝑳𝑳: 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒔
This book is FUNNY, and I genuinely think you need to have a soft spot for dry humor to fully appreciate just how nuanced Ardenn is.
Grumpy x sunshine is obviously an incredibly popular romantasy trope, but I honestly think this is the first time I've read a version that felt like a genuine grumpy x sunshine rather than what I sometimes think of as brooding emo coming-of-age male™.
Ardenn is a man who has LIVED. For better or worse. Mostly worse, if you ask him I’m sure. Ardenn feels like a man who has history, rather than simply a man with a tragic backstory. His dry observations and occasionally brutal responses aren't just there to make him seem brooding or intimidating — they feel like the natural product of a man who has already been through some shit and has come out the other side with veeeeeeeeery little patience for dramatics.
Unfortunate given just who Kelpie is, but yummy for readers as it results in great banter and tension.
But, backing up a second, Ardenn’s journey through the grumpy x sunshine dynamic felt so refreshingly different to me. Ardenn doesn't suddenly become a different person because Kelpie enters his life. His emotional arc is much more about what happens when someone who has spent a very long time surviving is given a reason to actually start living again. Maybe it's because I'm the same age as Ardenn — which means every single one of those “OLD MAN” jabs was a personal attack ― but I found something incredibly relatable in the emotional weight he carried throughout the narrative.
So thank you for the middle-aged-ISH emotional damage!
Which explains the leaning box of tissues rating; not because I felt like I needed a box to dab my tears (though what happens AFTER the big real I discussed in the previous section did make me want to throw my Kindle and yell), but because I felt so connected to the emotional journey of Mr. Grumptastic himself.
🌶️𝑺𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑬: 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒏𝒐
Holy YEARNING, Captain! We’ve got enough of it and sexual tension to sink the ship!
Isle of Dragon Bones is a narrative that fades to black just before intimacy sets sail ― but WOW oh WOW does the tension, yearning, and anticipation amp things up to a 20. There is a lot of buildup between these two, and Frick does a great job of really letting us just sit in the push-pull of Ardenn and Kelpie’s attraction. While we don't get the explicit open-door descriptions, there are comments, observations, and post-cabin-exploration thoughts (*ahem*) from both Kelpie and Ardenn that provide very clear visuals.
As someone who is very much a spice reader, I would absolutely have enjoyed getting more explicit detail between these two. But I also can't say I felt disappointed by the choice to fade to black. The tension itself is doing a LOT of work and really made me appreciate the anticipation itself.
And then there is the age gap. I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to feel about that going into the book. I don't necessarily have an issue with age-gap romances, but there is a particular point where the difference can start to feel uncomfortable to me depending on the characters and the dynamic. Outside of ancient fae and vampires obsessing over significantly younger ladies, I have not read much age gap romance ― which was partly what drew me to this story because I wanted to try something a little outside of my comfort zone.
Ardenn is absolutely called “old man” enough times to make sure we don't forget the age difference, but it never felt like the relationship itself was uncomfortable to me... And I think a big part of that is that Ardenn doesn't feel like an older man being paired with someone who hasn't yet lived. He's a fully realized adult with a lifetime of experiences behind him, and Kelpie is written with enough agency and emotional maturity (I said EMOTIONAL maturity, her maturity level overall felt questionable at times) that their dynamic never struck me as particularly imbalanced in the way I expected age gap romances to feel.
It probably also helped that Kelpie landed in a sort of sweet spot-ish age-wise for me personally (aka, she was not underaged), which made it much easier for me to settle into the pairing without getting distracted by the numbers.
So, no maritime emergency here! The age gap did not bother me at all and I was really rooting for these two the whole way!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I shouldn’t have liked this book.
There was very little magic. Very little dragons. Very little adventure.
So why couldn’t I put it down?
Why did I whine when I had to go to work and couldn’t read? Why did I take this book with me EVERYWHERE so that if I had even a free second, I could read?
What was it?!
Was it Ardenn, our MMC, who was basically a giant ball of grumpy who communicated mostly through grunts, and threats?
Was it Kelpie, our FMC, with her smart mouth and her apparent mission to do things specifically to get on Ardenn’s nerves? You never knew what she was going to say or do next, and honestly, I was here for it.
Was it the characters themselves? Because they were so well written that I was immediately invested in what happened to them. I cared about these people. I needed to know what happened next.
Or maybe it was the storyline.
A girl washes up on shore, injured and with absolutely no memory of what happened to her or who she is. She doesn’t even know her own name. And somehow, I was completely hooked.
And then there’s Captain Pusserwack.
I was genuinely sad when this story ended. Not because the ending was sad, and not because I have to wait for book two, because this is a standalone. I was sad because I simply did not want to say goodbye to these characters.
And honestly, I think that says everything.
Do yourself a huge favor and add this one to your TBR. And when you get it, IMMEDIATELY READ IT.
There was very little magic. Very little dragons. Very little adventure.
So why couldn’t I put it down?
Why did I whine when I had to go to work and couldn’t read? Why did I take this book with me EVERYWHERE so that if I had even a free second, I could read?
What was it?!
Was it Ardenn, our MMC, who was basically a giant ball of grumpy who communicated mostly through grunts, and threats?
Was it Kelpie, our FMC, with her smart mouth and her apparent mission to do things specifically to get on Ardenn’s nerves? You never knew what she was going to say or do next, and honestly, I was here for it.
Was it the characters themselves? Because they were so well written that I was immediately invested in what happened to them. I cared about these people. I needed to know what happened next.
Or maybe it was the storyline.
A girl washes up on shore, injured and with absolutely no memory of what happened to her or who she is. She doesn’t even know her own name. And somehow, I was completely hooked.
And then there’s Captain Pusserwack.
I was genuinely sad when this story ended. Not because the ending was sad, and not because I have to wait for book two, because this is a standalone. I was sad because I simply did not want to say goodbye to these characters.
And honestly, I think that says everything.
Do yourself a huge favor and add this one to your TBR. And when you get it, IMMEDIATELY READ IT.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review.
I had really high hopes for this one. It sounded so amazing and in theory, I think it could have been a lot better. I stopped about 25% through because it was very monotonous and nothing was happening. Major details seemed like afterthoughts that the author just threw in where ever. The writing style wasn’t my cup of tea, I guess.
I had really high hopes for this one. It sounded so amazing and in theory, I think it could have been a lot better. I stopped about 25% through because it was very monotonous and nothing was happening. Major details seemed like afterthoughts that the author just threw in where ever. The writing style wasn’t my cup of tea, I guess.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**advance reader copy review**
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed and was impressed the M A Frick's writing style and detail. While the world building was simple (which worked in this story as it was not the focus), I felt fully immersed. The story focuses on woman saved after an attempted murder. She arrives with no understanding of who she is or where she comes from, and especially not what happened to her. Ardenn is a grumpy hermit who lives in solitude, and the man that rescues Kelpie.
It was intriguing to read how their relationship developed, despite their secrets and apprehension. Since Kelpie has very few memories, we do learn about how Ardenn came to be in the situation he currently is. And how that has shaped him into who he is now. Because of the slower pacing, we as the reader were able to see the small concessions both Kelpie and Ardenn make has their relationship deepens. It is clear they are both hesitant and guarded, and the character traits that at first were grating became endearing.
I will say I felt the last 20% of the book was rushed. Everything just seemed to be revealed and unfolded all at once, jumping months at at time between chapters. While I don't mind having some pieces left unresolved, I still don't truly understand Nox and his motivations. The big reveal happened so quickly that it lost it's impact for me - dragon egg smuggling scheme noted at 98% and then the books is over. I just would have liked a bit more time spent into fleshing it out. Magic and dragon riding was thrown in, but with minimal explanations. I would have loved if the fantasy elements offered more to the story.
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed and was impressed the M A Frick's writing style and detail. While the world building was simple (which worked in this story as it was not the focus), I felt fully immersed. The story focuses on woman saved after an attempted murder. She arrives with no understanding of who she is or where she comes from, and especially not what happened to her. Ardenn is a grumpy hermit who lives in solitude, and the man that rescues Kelpie.
It was intriguing to read how their relationship developed, despite their secrets and apprehension. Since Kelpie has very few memories, we do learn about how Ardenn came to be in the situation he currently is. And how that has shaped him into who he is now. Because of the slower pacing, we as the reader were able to see the small concessions both Kelpie and Ardenn make has their relationship deepens. It is clear they are both hesitant and guarded, and the character traits that at first were grating became endearing.
I will say I felt the last 20% of the book was rushed. Everything just seemed to be revealed and unfolded all at once, jumping months at at time between chapters. While I don't mind having some pieces left unresolved, I still don't truly understand Nox and his motivations. The big reveal happened so quickly that it lost it's impact for me - dragon egg smuggling scheme noted at 98% and then the books is over. I just would have liked a bit more time spent into fleshing it out. Magic and dragon riding was thrown in, but with minimal explanations. I would have loved if the fantasy elements offered more to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2026
I truly enjoyed this book! Honestly, as a Romantasy, I was expected much more spice and I was a bit disappointed there was very little, but I loved the writing and the story overall. 5 stars for me!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of a free ARC received from the author.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book sat at a solid 2 stars for me for the biggest part of the book. More than half of the story was on Ardenn's island where there was a very "will they/won't they" -vibe. I think after a couple of times of them maybe almost kissing, but not doing it, it got quite old and repetitive. Between the 40-50% mark of the book I was so bored I contemplated dnf'ing.
Most of the action and story happens in the last part of the book, which I went through much quicker and eventually did enjoy the book.
Overall, I think it could've been quite a bit shorter. And Kelpie as a character just ground my gears for a big part of the book, as she acted as an annoying spoiled brat. I could not find it in me to like her character.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book sat at a solid 2 stars for me for the biggest part of the book. More than half of the story was on Ardenn's island where there was a very "will they/won't they" -vibe. I think after a couple of times of them maybe almost kissing, but not doing it, it got quite old and repetitive. Between the 40-50% mark of the book I was so bored I contemplated dnf'ing.
Most of the action and story happens in the last part of the book, which I went through much quicker and eventually did enjoy the book.
Overall, I think it could've been quite a bit shorter. And Kelpie as a character just ground my gears for a big part of the book, as she acted as an annoying spoiled brat. I could not find it in me to like her character.
September 22, 2026
Ardenn you slimy eellllll! I am beyond obsessed with kelpie (liriel) and mad ardenn! They were the perfect age gap couple. Also Beatrix and Adrian can get lost in the sea and never be found.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Big, BIG, thank you to M. A. Frick for letting me ARC read Isle of Dragon Bones! Below is my free, unbias opinion of the book!
If you love banter - get this book.
I haven't laughed so much through a book in a very long time.
I was constantly laughing. To the point my son was asking "what is so funny mom?" "what *are* you reading!?"
The take aways:
1. Kelpie is a feral, chaos gremlin and I absolutely ADORE her. I can easily see how people may not like her, but I personally like that she's absolute chaos and kinda unpredictable.
2. I found this novel to be like a train. It starts a bit slow but snags your attention - then builds momentum until you hit the end and it's hold on to your pants and keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times! You think the plot twist is obvious - NOPE. Frick *humbled* me in my "I know where this is going".
3. This is a fun, banter filled, sweet age-gap romance that will keep you laughing, and crying (not just from the laughter). Did I ugly cry? No. Did I cry from laughter? Yes. Did I silent tear shed over 10 chapters at 3 am? Yes, yes I did.
4. This does have some closed-door/off page/fade to black spice. You get the point but nothing besides the spicy kisses that (seriously Frick send me a man that kisses like Ardenn) will make you kick your feet.
5. It does have a few strings I wish would have been clarified - which I won't post here as it's spoilerish. It's not a big deal, honestly, but I would have liked to know. Maybe a line or two in the prologue.
Highly recommend. Incredibly fun read. Will 100000% be backing the kickstarter when it launches Oct 1. I look forward to re-reading this with the hardcover so I can annotate it!
If you love banter - get this book.
I haven't laughed so much through a book in a very long time.
I was constantly laughing. To the point my son was asking "what is so funny mom?" "what *are* you reading!?"
The take aways:
1. Kelpie is a feral, chaos gremlin and I absolutely ADORE her. I can easily see how people may not like her, but I personally like that she's absolute chaos and kinda unpredictable.
2. I found this novel to be like a train. It starts a bit slow but snags your attention - then builds momentum until you hit the end and it's hold on to your pants and keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times! You think the plot twist is obvious - NOPE. Frick *humbled* me in my "I know where this is going".
3. This is a fun, banter filled, sweet age-gap romance that will keep you laughing, and crying (not just from the laughter). Did I ugly cry? No. Did I cry from laughter? Yes. Did I silent tear shed over 10 chapters at 3 am? Yes, yes I did.
4. This does have some closed-door/off page/fade to black spice. You get the point but nothing besides the spicy kisses that (seriously Frick send me a man that kisses like Ardenn) will make you kick your feet.
5. It does have a few strings I wish would have been clarified - which I won't post here as it's spoilerish. It's not a big deal, honestly, but I would have liked to know. Maybe a line or two in the prologue.
Highly recommend. Incredibly fun read. Will 100000% be backing the kickstarter when it launches Oct 1. I look forward to re-reading this with the hardcover so I can annotate it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to M.A. Frick for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book (releasing January 22, 2027!)
Triggers
Amnesia
Violence
Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity (One Bed)
Grumpy MMC
Fiery MFC
Slow Burn
Age Gap
Spice
2/5
The sea looked calm. Soft. Deceptive. A sunning cat, inviting me near before sinking its claws into my skin, dragging me to a watery grave. - Kelpie
My island. And my woman. My lips twisted into an ironic smile. A woman bought with a spoon. - Ardenn
First - I would highly recommend reading The Dragon's Heart Trilogy before reading this. It helps understand the world a little bit better.
Holy biscuits. This was a ride. I loved it. The banter, the fiery-ness of Kelpie! And the spoon!! Oh! It was all so good! Can't forget Captain Pusserwack either!
I really enjoyed the story of Kelpie and Ardenn. The way he took care of Kelpie until he found out who she was, and even after saving her from a marriage that would have seen her killed (again). His love for her burned even after he turned her in to her family. He didn't know how she would fare or if they even wanted her back, but he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do for himself. I love that Kelpie baked bread and helped Ardenn sort his pearls because he couldn't. He may have thought she was too fiery for him, but she was just what he needed.
Amazing story.
Triggers
Amnesia
Violence
Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity (One Bed)
Grumpy MMC
Fiery MFC
Slow Burn
Age Gap
Spice
2/5
The sea looked calm. Soft. Deceptive. A sunning cat, inviting me near before sinking its claws into my skin, dragging me to a watery grave. - Kelpie
My island. And my woman. My lips twisted into an ironic smile. A woman bought with a spoon. - Ardenn
First - I would highly recommend reading The Dragon's Heart Trilogy before reading this. It helps understand the world a little bit better.
Holy biscuits. This was a ride. I loved it. The banter, the fiery-ness of Kelpie! And the spoon!! Oh! It was all so good! Can't forget Captain Pusserwack either!
I really enjoyed the story of Kelpie and Ardenn. The way he took care of Kelpie until he found out who she was, and even after saving her from a marriage that would have seen her killed (again). His love for her burned even after he turned her in to her family. He didn't know how she would fare or if they even wanted her back, but he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do for himself. I love that Kelpie baked bread and helped Ardenn sort his pearls because he couldn't. He may have thought she was too fiery for him, but she was just what he needed.
Amazing story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy received directly from the author. Here is my honest spoiler-free review.
I want to start this by saying this book is a stand alone that is in the world of another series by her called A Dragons Heart trilogy and i personally read the stand alone first as to see if it could actually stand on its own as many authors have claimed before and i will say she nailed it, i was not thrown off at any point and anything i needed to know she managed to get in without it feeling like a quick FYI situation and id recommend this book if you just want to dip your toes into her writing style before taking on a whole series. A beautiful slow burn where you meet and learn the characters before ANYTHING happens and it didnt feel forced. The book almost feels like a two parter, there is a definitive moment everything shifts and it becomes so enrapturing I honestly didnt ever wanna put it down! It gave just enough world building for you to understand your setting and hint at the outside world but not give you anything unnecessary, the characters like i said above are well developed before the introduction of the romance and even well before further characters and the story line itself takes off but dont get it twisted, what you learn early on does play into the story later. This was such a lovely read. It didn’t overwhelm you with information just what you needed EXACTLY when you needed it and that is a skill very few but amazing authors possess and she has it. I mean not many authors can make spoons romantic, I’m just saying. Definitely became a big fan right away and will be rushing for her other series the moment im paid. All a girl really needs is Dragons, Spoons, and the Captain 🧜♀️💙🐈🥄
I want to start this by saying this book is a stand alone that is in the world of another series by her called A Dragons Heart trilogy and i personally read the stand alone first as to see if it could actually stand on its own as many authors have claimed before and i will say she nailed it, i was not thrown off at any point and anything i needed to know she managed to get in without it feeling like a quick FYI situation and id recommend this book if you just want to dip your toes into her writing style before taking on a whole series. A beautiful slow burn where you meet and learn the characters before ANYTHING happens and it didnt feel forced. The book almost feels like a two parter, there is a definitive moment everything shifts and it becomes so enrapturing I honestly didnt ever wanna put it down! It gave just enough world building for you to understand your setting and hint at the outside world but not give you anything unnecessary, the characters like i said above are well developed before the introduction of the romance and even well before further characters and the story line itself takes off but dont get it twisted, what you learn early on does play into the story later. This was such a lovely read. It didn’t overwhelm you with information just what you needed EXACTLY when you needed it and that is a skill very few but amazing authors possess and she has it. I mean not many authors can make spoons romantic, I’m just saying. Definitely became a big fan right away and will be rushing for her other series the moment im paid. All a girl really needs is Dragons, Spoons, and the Captain 🧜♀️💙🐈🥄
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where to even begin... I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book, I saw it on TikTok and figured why not, I like books involving dragons. This story swept me off my feet into a whole world I couldn't even imagine.
Kelpie washes ashore of a private island to Ardenn, a man of secrets, loneliness and anger. Kelpie was cut and left for dead, but saved and nurtured by a brute of a man. As she learns his world and life, they fight the desire that quickly grows between them. She has no memory of her past and Ardenn fears who she might be and what destruction she could bring to the life he worked so hard to hide.
Eventually desire wins just for reality to settle in. Kelpie learns her real name is Liriel and she is the heir to the greatest house of the mainland. Ardenn quickly returns her and disappears trying to hide away yet again... Then he learns the truth of who tried to kill her and takes swift action to save her yet again and...
Well guess you just have to read it for yourself! You won't regret it!
Kelpie washes ashore of a private island to Ardenn, a man of secrets, loneliness and anger. Kelpie was cut and left for dead, but saved and nurtured by a brute of a man. As she learns his world and life, they fight the desire that quickly grows between them. She has no memory of her past and Ardenn fears who she might be and what destruction she could bring to the life he worked so hard to hide.
Eventually desire wins just for reality to settle in. Kelpie learns her real name is Liriel and she is the heir to the greatest house of the mainland. Ardenn quickly returns her and disappears trying to hide away yet again... Then he learns the truth of who tried to kill her and takes swift action to save her yet again and...
Well guess you just have to read it for yourself! You won't regret it!
October 13, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of Isle of Bones in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I seriously couldn’t put this book down! I would say it’s outside of my typical “type” of read with light magic and light dragons, but something just kept bringing me back. Though this is a standalone, I haven’t read the other connected books, and I still feel like I was able to fully appreciate this book (though now I HAVE to read the others).
This is a 5 star vibe read, but I have rated it as a 4.5 only because the last bit of the book felt a little rushed. It’s tough to fit everything we’d want to read in a standalone, but I could’ve used a bit more resolution at the end.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun mystery with lots of yearning. You won’t be disappointed!
I seriously couldn’t put this book down! I would say it’s outside of my typical “type” of read with light magic and light dragons, but something just kept bringing me back. Though this is a standalone, I haven’t read the other connected books, and I still feel like I was able to fully appreciate this book (though now I HAVE to read the others).
This is a 5 star vibe read, but I have rated it as a 4.5 only because the last bit of the book felt a little rushed. It’s tough to fit everything we’d want to read in a standalone, but I could’ve used a bit more resolution at the end.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun mystery with lots of yearning. You won’t be disappointed!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was blessed to be given this as an ARC, and could not put it down!
When describing the plot, it sounds generic; an injured woman found in the sea by a hermit ex-pirate. But it's just so much more than that! It had banter, some funny moments and I never thought I would spend half of a book obsessed with a spoon! The book takes an interesting turn at the 2/3 mark & it really picks up at the end! I really hope others love this book as much as I did. The book is written well, and no spice (a refreshing change; it made the book feel classy & refined, not naughty!)
When describing the plot, it sounds generic; an injured woman found in the sea by a hermit ex-pirate. But it's just so much more than that! It had banter, some funny moments and I never thought I would spend half of a book obsessed with a spoon! The book takes an interesting turn at the 2/3 mark & it really picks up at the end! I really hope others love this book as much as I did. The book is written well, and no spice (a refreshing change; it made the book feel classy & refined, not naughty!)
September 22, 2026
I just finished *Isle of Dragon Bones* and oh my gosh!! The banter was great. The build of the relationship was amazing. Seriously, I could rave about the book forever, but my number one love of this is THE SPOON!! It held so much for such a little spoon. Most of this book, I didn’t see what was coming next. I’m very audible while I read, and my husband and daughter are also reading it, and it was a struggle to keep my emotions in check. I cried, I laughed, I was surprised, and I gasped a few times. I will recommend this book to everyone!! I can’t wait to do a review with my husband.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advance Reader Copy Review: Instead of a little mermaid that lost her voice, a fiery kelpie lost her memories. A grumpy loner ex-pirate drags her up from the water. I love a good grumpy/sunshine, age gap, romantasy. It doesn’t go into the smut realm but that burn is still there. I wondered how it would all end and I like how it concluded. You get a glimpse into culture from The Dragon’s Heart Trilogy but this book also lends more depth to the trilogy, too. I need the hard copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy Review
This book completely captured my life for two days, it was absolutely freaking phenomenal. I LOVE Kelpie’s spitfire spirit that’s just jumps to life off the page. Ardenn’s story and gruff demeanor ties everything together so well. It was like being there every step of the way as if you lived and breathed in the story itself. I’d absolutely recommend this book!
This book completely captured my life for two days, it was absolutely freaking phenomenal. I LOVE Kelpie’s spitfire spirit that’s just jumps to life off the page. Ardenn’s story and gruff demeanor ties everything together so well. It was like being there every step of the way as if you lived and breathed in the story itself. I’d absolutely recommend this book!
Did Not Finish
September 21, 2026I recieved this book as an ARC.
DNF
While the premise seemed quite fun, I had to put it down after 10 pages.
The writing style was really not for me. It felt very repetitive. Specifically the tenses used; every action was described in the same way.
The main character was not my cup of tea either; I found her quite irritating.
I did try twice to get back into it, but it only cemented my thoughts that this was simply not for me.
One last thing that I want to mention is that the entire time I was reading, I was thinking "this reads like fanfiction". And I mean that in the most neutral way; it simply reminded me of the writing style used in fanfiction.
I never rate the books I DNF since it doesn't seem fair to me to give a low rating to a book I didn't read, so I will do the same with this one.
DNF
While the premise seemed quite fun, I had to put it down after 10 pages.
The writing style was really not for me. It felt very repetitive. Specifically the tenses used; every action was described in the same way.
The main character was not my cup of tea either; I found her quite irritating.
I did try twice to get back into it, but it only cemented my thoughts that this was simply not for me.
One last thing that I want to mention is that the entire time I was reading, I was thinking "this reads like fanfiction". And I mean that in the most neutral way; it simply reminded me of the writing style used in fanfiction.
I never rate the books I DNF since it doesn't seem fair to me to give a low rating to a book I didn't read, so I will do the same with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars
I seriously could not, and did not want to, put this book down! What made this story stand out so much was how honest and raw it felt.
Top-Tier Banter: The back-and-forth between the main characters kept me hooked from start to finish.
Masterful Development: Both the storyline and character development felt natural, keeping the pacing tight and engaging.
Low Spice, High Emotion: The romance was so well-written and honest. You could feel every bit of their dynamic without needing all the extra explicit scenes.
Compelling Dynamics: Even with a large age gap, the relationship felt genuine and I was completely cheering from my reading chair. I was deeply invested in where their story was headed and how everything would unfold.
This was a fantastic read with an approach to fantasy and romance that I would recommend to almost any reader.
I seriously could not, and did not want to, put this book down! What made this story stand out so much was how honest and raw it felt.
Top-Tier Banter: The back-and-forth between the main characters kept me hooked from start to finish.
Masterful Development: Both the storyline and character development felt natural, keeping the pacing tight and engaging.
Low Spice, High Emotion: The romance was so well-written and honest. You could feel every bit of their dynamic without needing all the extra explicit scenes.
Compelling Dynamics: Even with a large age gap, the relationship felt genuine and I was completely cheering from my reading chair. I was deeply invested in where their story was headed and how everything would unfold.
This was a fantastic read with an approach to fantasy and romance that I would recommend to almost any reader.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: The gasp I gasped at the end of chapter 60? Absolutely delicious!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I did enjoy this book...but it was a bit slow. Wish there was more excitement through out the book to keep my attention locked in.
I enjoyed the mystery of who did what! Would of loved more dragon connections than what was expressed. Overall it was a good read for vibes!
I enjoyed the mystery of who did what! Would of loved more dragon connections than what was expressed. Overall it was a good read for vibes!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was lucky enough to get this book as an ARC through Net Galley. The cover alone had me excited for this book, and the contents did not disappoint.
This book was a solid 4 1/2 stars for me, and it has a race of an ending the last 100 pages that had me saying “oh, shit, didn’t see that one coming” more than once.
Non-Spoilery things that make this book awesome:
1. It’s a stand alone
2. It hits not only forced proximity, one of my favorite tropes of all time but ALSO forbidden love, one bed, lost memories, AND has a solid “my wife” moment to boot.
3. Aside from the intentional nuggets that the author wants you to know, this plot was not predictable for me. It honestly could have gone in several directions right up until the end, and I loved that about it.
He is an ex-pirate who has scraped together a little semblance of peace for himself on an island off the mainland, making an “arrangement” with more unsavory folk just so he has something he can call his own.
And she washes up on his shore one day, basically dead. He nurses her back to life and when she wakes up she has no idea who she is, memory completely gone. And she. is. FIREY.— attitude to match her bright red hair.
What ensues is a push and pull between them, bickering and banter, eventually a shared understanding and eventually…something more? Until WHAM, time for her to go back to her real life.
The second half of the book has our main characters wrestling with what is and/or can never be between them and the different paths their lives should lead. The whole time I kept asking myself “how is this going to work out?!?”, but I loved the pacing in the second act and it made me appreciate the pacing we got in the first half even more.
I’ll leave you with this…you’ll never look at a spoon the same way again. NOT in a weird way, come on, get your mind out of the gutter.
…………
SPOILERY THINGS THAT MADE THIS BOOK AWESOME
DONT KEEP READING UNLESS YOU WANT SPOILERS
………..
1. Okay daddy Ardenn…I love an older man. Not old enough for it to be weird, just old enough for it to be hot. Especially given the circumstances.
2. I absolutely love that Liriel doesn’t get her memories back. I thought for a while there maybe there was some sort of spell in the works, but it was just good old fashioned permanent amnesia. This lets her become a whole new person.
3. At first, I thought the pacing in the first 60% was too slow. It felt like we would never get off the island. But then we got off the island, and I understood exactly why the author took her time letting these characters have that time together, to learn each other, to learn who they are with each other, for Kelpie to even learn who she was without her memory. The time was needed for the reader to be as invested in their non-future together as they each were.
4. I love a snappy pace, and the author did not mess around in that last 40%. We got what we needed and we moved on, but at the same time, it didn’t feel rushed.
5. I loved that we did not get a pregnancy trope. But that the possibility of one added to the emotional depth that these characters felt after separating.
5. The SPOON 🥄
6. The SPOON as a SHANK 🔪 giving Adrian the end he deserved (unexpectedly). I did not see that brutal end coming, but I relished in it all the same. What does that say about me?
7. Liriel’s family is actually awesome. Like, I would happily be part of that family. I immediately loved her brother and her brother’s DRAGON. Her mom is so understanding, yet firm. Her dad is fierce, but obviously loves her and believes in her and lets her choose in the end. I loved that I didn’t have an ounce of fear of betrayal from her family, and that proved to be true.
I would definitely recommend this standalone to any lover of fantasy romance! It was a pleasure to read.
This book was a solid 4 1/2 stars for me, and it has a race of an ending the last 100 pages that had me saying “oh, shit, didn’t see that one coming” more than once.
Non-Spoilery things that make this book awesome:
1. It’s a stand alone
2. It hits not only forced proximity, one of my favorite tropes of all time but ALSO forbidden love, one bed, lost memories, AND has a solid “my wife” moment to boot.
3. Aside from the intentional nuggets that the author wants you to know, this plot was not predictable for me. It honestly could have gone in several directions right up until the end, and I loved that about it.
He is an ex-pirate who has scraped together a little semblance of peace for himself on an island off the mainland, making an “arrangement” with more unsavory folk just so he has something he can call his own.
And she washes up on his shore one day, basically dead. He nurses her back to life and when she wakes up she has no idea who she is, memory completely gone. And she. is. FIREY.— attitude to match her bright red hair.
What ensues is a push and pull between them, bickering and banter, eventually a shared understanding and eventually…something more? Until WHAM, time for her to go back to her real life.
The second half of the book has our main characters wrestling with what is and/or can never be between them and the different paths their lives should lead. The whole time I kept asking myself “how is this going to work out?!?”, but I loved the pacing in the second act and it made me appreciate the pacing we got in the first half even more.
I’ll leave you with this…you’ll never look at a spoon the same way again. NOT in a weird way, come on, get your mind out of the gutter.
…………
SPOILERY THINGS THAT MADE THIS BOOK AWESOME
DONT KEEP READING UNLESS YOU WANT SPOILERS
………..
1. Okay daddy Ardenn…I love an older man. Not old enough for it to be weird, just old enough for it to be hot. Especially given the circumstances.
2. I absolutely love that Liriel doesn’t get her memories back. I thought for a while there maybe there was some sort of spell in the works, but it was just good old fashioned permanent amnesia. This lets her become a whole new person.
3. At first, I thought the pacing in the first 60% was too slow. It felt like we would never get off the island. But then we got off the island, and I understood exactly why the author took her time letting these characters have that time together, to learn each other, to learn who they are with each other, for Kelpie to even learn who she was without her memory. The time was needed for the reader to be as invested in their non-future together as they each were.
4. I love a snappy pace, and the author did not mess around in that last 40%. We got what we needed and we moved on, but at the same time, it didn’t feel rushed.
5. I loved that we did not get a pregnancy trope. But that the possibility of one added to the emotional depth that these characters felt after separating.
5. The SPOON 🥄
6. The SPOON as a SHANK 🔪 giving Adrian the end he deserved (unexpectedly). I did not see that brutal end coming, but I relished in it all the same. What does that say about me?
7. Liriel’s family is actually awesome. Like, I would happily be part of that family. I immediately loved her brother and her brother’s DRAGON. Her mom is so understanding, yet firm. Her dad is fierce, but obviously loves her and believes in her and lets her choose in the end. I loved that I didn’t have an ounce of fear of betrayal from her family, and that proved to be true.
I would definitely recommend this standalone to any lover of fantasy romance! It was a pleasure to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first M. A. Frick book and i love it!
Okay i know the email said the author prefer short reviews but! This book is deserving of a long review!
I CANNOT not write a long review about this. I'm sorry.
Pros:
■Good banter
■Dual PoV
■Good atmosphere
■Good mystery (tho it's a bit predictable... it's not the writing. It's me. I like reading crime/mystery books too so yeah)
■good fights
■good symbolisms
■good lore
■deep characters
■HEA
Cons:
■kelpie. She's unstable since she has amnesia. Sometimes she can be annoying, sometimes inconsistent, but her core personality is.. hmm let's just say sunshine + badassery.
■A bit drawn out at the start.. it really gets into that 'stuck in an island' vibe.. a lot of mundane actions and routines...
■the ending was too fast
■other characters are not so deep. (This is a 'main characters driven' story) - a but even then all characters + err the mysteries are awesome once you realize how they're connected.
~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite characters:
■Ardenn- really rough but also patient. Morally gray but respectful, caring and protective. He just want someone who wont judge him i guess.
■Marabel- just a wholesome person
■Zane and Naneki- reckless but protective
■Kellen- i think he's morally gray too but also protective and competent
O . O )
Nox is a good err... 'villain' too.
Pusserwack... err well I'm 50/50 with him but he seem to be durable lol. So good cat.
~~~~~~~~~~
The story is pretty much the book description but i think it was delivered well for the most part.
I felt the dread, the tension, the 'peace' , the love.. ehehe : 3
I kinda did not like Kelpie at the start. She demands respect from Ardenn but she does not respect him.
She called him a demanding brute when she's the one invading his home, depleting his provisions, meddling with everything without asking first. And she's a yapper, yapping to a loner ... she gets upset when he does not yap back... i know it's boring to be stuck with a hermit but god, gurl... respect his boundaries too.
Kelpie:"i had organized them by color snd he had sorted them by use"
- girl... he's a practical man and.. (we will find out later in the story that Ardenn has some issues)
Life in the island seem monotonous but steady.
The people in the mainland seemed like real people but yeah. They're not the focus.
I loved that Ardenn bought and gave her books.
I felt bad for Ardenn at the end.. oh my... but i can understand Kellen's perspective..
I do love the ending but yeah i think it was way fast paced than the rest.
I also loved these: Books. Spoon. Corset dress. (I mean you'll need context but yeah please go read the book)
~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite lines/dialogues/quotes:
"Piss in the woods like the beast you are"- Kelpie
'The waves lapped the sand like a dragon tongue licking flesh from bone'
Kelpie:"where's the pearl? I dont see it."
Ardenn:"maybe i can show you if you didnt steal all the light"
^(Oof. There's a lot of banter but this stuck with me)
"There are some things worse than dying"- Ardenn
"You're safe now"- Ardenn
'Wrong time. Wrong place. Two ruined souls stealing a fragment of happiness from where it should never have begun. And that was what we had'
'We were not fish. We were sharks'- L
"I want answers. I loathe ignorance"- Kellen
~~~~~~~~~~
I received an eARC from the author and this is a very volitional review.
~~~~~~~~~~
All things considered... i rate this 4.5 stars
Okay i know the email said the author prefer short reviews but! This book is deserving of a long review!
I CANNOT not write a long review about this. I'm sorry.
Pros:
■Good banter
■Dual PoV
■Good atmosphere
■Good mystery (tho it's a bit predictable... it's not the writing. It's me. I like reading crime/mystery books too so yeah)
■good fights
■good symbolisms
■good lore
■deep characters
■HEA
Cons:
■kelpie. She's unstable since she has amnesia. Sometimes she can be annoying, sometimes inconsistent, but her core personality is.. hmm let's just say sunshine + badassery.
■A bit drawn out at the start.. it really gets into that 'stuck in an island' vibe.. a lot of mundane actions and routines...
■the ending was too fast
■other characters are not so deep. (This is a 'main characters driven' story) - a but even then all characters + err the mysteries are awesome once you realize how they're connected.
~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite characters:
■Ardenn- really rough but also patient. Morally gray but respectful, caring and protective. He just want someone who wont judge him i guess.
■Marabel- just a wholesome person
■Zane and Naneki- reckless but protective
■Kellen- i think he's morally gray too but also protective and competent
O . O )
Nox is a good err... 'villain' too.
Pusserwack... err well I'm 50/50 with him but he seem to be durable lol. So good cat.
~~~~~~~~~~
The story is pretty much the book description but i think it was delivered well for the most part.
I felt the dread, the tension, the 'peace' , the love.. ehehe : 3
I kinda did not like Kelpie at the start. She demands respect from Ardenn but she does not respect him.
She called him a demanding brute when she's the one invading his home, depleting his provisions, meddling with everything without asking first. And she's a yapper, yapping to a loner ... she gets upset when he does not yap back... i know it's boring to be stuck with a hermit but god, gurl... respect his boundaries too.
Kelpie:"i had organized them by color snd he had sorted them by use"
- girl... he's a practical man and.. (we will find out later in the story that Ardenn has some issues)
Life in the island seem monotonous but steady.
The people in the mainland seemed like real people but yeah. They're not the focus.
I loved that Ardenn bought and gave her books.
I felt bad for Ardenn at the end.. oh my... but i can understand Kellen's perspective..
I do love the ending but yeah i think it was way fast paced than the rest.
I also loved these: Books. Spoon. Corset dress. (I mean you'll need context but yeah please go read the book)
~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite lines/dialogues/quotes:
"Piss in the woods like the beast you are"- Kelpie
'The waves lapped the sand like a dragon tongue licking flesh from bone'
Kelpie:"where's the pearl? I dont see it."
Ardenn:"maybe i can show you if you didnt steal all the light"
^(Oof. There's a lot of banter but this stuck with me)
"There are some things worse than dying"- Ardenn
"You're safe now"- Ardenn
'Wrong time. Wrong place. Two ruined souls stealing a fragment of happiness from where it should never have begun. And that was what we had'
'We were not fish. We were sharks'- L
"I want answers. I loathe ignorance"- Kellen
~~~~~~~~~~
I received an eARC from the author and this is a very volitional review.
~~~~~~~~~~
All things considered... i rate this 4.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced digital copy of this book for review.
This is a low/no spice stand alone novel set in the same world as her Dragon Heart's Trilogy (which I loved).
I'm going to try to keep this spoiler free, but there might be very slight spoilers.
There were a lot of great aspects of this book. The settings of the sea and the islands, the teeny tiny cabin, and the mainland. The slight tie in to the Draconia mainlands, and the dragons!
I really loved how you could SEE the MC's slooooowly thaw to each other. The initial irritation and the slow realization that they actually like each other.
When our MMC Ardenn first grudgingly takes on the task of rescuing the FMC he calls Kelpie, he is doing so very much against his better judgement. He's a former pirate (and more!), is set in his ways, and the last thing he needs is another person mucking up his life.
Kelpie is a true Wild Child. She's feral, feisty, gangly, and traumatized by the water. She has no idea what has happened to her, and honestly - I feel like she should have tried to care a bit more and asked more questions after someone tried to kill her.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"She wasn't hard on the eyes. But she was brutal on the ears."
"She was probably some well-taught lady of the night. Well-taught."
Some of the things I disliked:
- Kelpie. She honestly just annoyed me. She was feral and fluctuated between sweet/caring and destructive/mean. She was fesity and hot tempered (which was fine), but sometimes her stubborn actions were dangerous/stupid, and she was pretty mean and intrusive for someone who had just been nursed back to health and saved (multiple times) by the person she was fighting. She was uncoordinated (lots of flailing) and mischievious which doesn't really line up with what we find out about her/her family later. She was also pretty mouthy and rude for someone unwilling to get on the boat and go elsewhere.
- Ardenn keeping unnecessary secrets. Listen...I'm all for keeping your own secrets. But when he finds out secrets that relate to his unwanted guest, he should have been spilling the beans, if only to try and trigger her memory. And he has pretty much no good reason to keep THOSE secrets, which of COURSE causes major issues later. Surprise.
- WHY does he only have 1 of everything. What if things break?? Makes zero sense.
- Why so much bread??? They almost never had other food during the day. It was only always bread!! There were like 2 scenes with potatoes and seafood/rice - everything else was bread. What did he stock up on besides flour/sugar??
- How Kelpie gets home. Awful. In every way.
- Everyone is dense AF.
- Kellan and Zane. I love a protective man, but they just really didn't want to listen to literally anything and ended up causing pain to everyone.
- I wish there had been more of a resolution to her memory issue. There was some acceptance of "This is who I am now", which was good - but there's a lot of history and information about the people/world around her that she needs to relearn and that was not explored much.
Overall it was a good read. I liked a lot of the book, but there were those things that really kept me from loving it - but I'm sure others would not bother other readers.
Great for readers who love a slow burn, one bed, forced proximity - and want a fade to black option.
This is a low/no spice stand alone novel set in the same world as her Dragon Heart's Trilogy (which I loved).
I'm going to try to keep this spoiler free, but there might be very slight spoilers.
There were a lot of great aspects of this book. The settings of the sea and the islands, the teeny tiny cabin, and the mainland. The slight tie in to the Draconia mainlands, and the dragons!
I really loved how you could SEE the MC's slooooowly thaw to each other. The initial irritation and the slow realization that they actually like each other.
When our MMC Ardenn first grudgingly takes on the task of rescuing the FMC he calls Kelpie, he is doing so very much against his better judgement. He's a former pirate (and more!), is set in his ways, and the last thing he needs is another person mucking up his life.
Kelpie is a true Wild Child. She's feral, feisty, gangly, and traumatized by the water. She has no idea what has happened to her, and honestly - I feel like she should have tried to care a bit more and asked more questions after someone tried to kill her.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"She wasn't hard on the eyes. But she was brutal on the ears."
"She was probably some well-taught lady of the night. Well-taught."
Some of the things I disliked:
- Kelpie. She honestly just annoyed me. She was feral and fluctuated between sweet/caring and destructive/mean. She was fesity and hot tempered (which was fine), but sometimes her stubborn actions were dangerous/stupid, and she was pretty mean and intrusive for someone who had just been nursed back to health and saved (multiple times) by the person she was fighting. She was uncoordinated (lots of flailing) and mischievious which doesn't really line up with what we find out about her/her family later. She was also pretty mouthy and rude for someone unwilling to get on the boat and go elsewhere.
- Ardenn keeping unnecessary secrets. Listen...I'm all for keeping your own secrets. But when he finds out secrets that relate to his unwanted guest, he should have been spilling the beans, if only to try and trigger her memory. And he has pretty much no good reason to keep THOSE secrets, which of COURSE causes major issues later. Surprise.
- WHY does he only have 1 of everything. What if things break?? Makes zero sense.
- Why so much bread??? They almost never had other food during the day. It was only always bread!! There were like 2 scenes with potatoes and seafood/rice - everything else was bread. What did he stock up on besides flour/sugar??
- How Kelpie gets home. Awful. In every way.
- Everyone is dense AF.
- Kellan and Zane. I love a protective man, but they just really didn't want to listen to literally anything and ended up causing pain to everyone.
- I wish there had been more of a resolution to her memory issue. There was some acceptance of "This is who I am now", which was good - but there's a lot of history and information about the people/world around her that she needs to relearn and that was not explored much.
Overall it was a good read. I liked a lot of the book, but there were those things that really kept me from loving it - but I'm sure others would not bother other readers.
Great for readers who love a slow burn, one bed, forced proximity - and want a fade to black option.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2026
I was actively reading ACOTAR, Red Rising, Manacled, and A Renegade History of the US whenever I remembered I signed up as an arc reader for this book. Red Rising I was reading with my book club and needed to have both of these two books completed by the end of the month. Ok no problem- EXCEPT- I kept trying to force myself to read more of Red Rising whenever all I wanted to do was find out what happened next with Ardenn and Kelpie. Isle of Dragon Bones won out every single time.
I tend to be that reader that is mentally 10 chapters ahead trying to predict what direction this is going to go, and often end up spoiling it for myself in doing so. So while there were plenty of elements that felt predictable- like the villain and his accomplice. I loved the 80’s Overboard vibes I was getting from this book. I loved the painfully slow burn- and I usually get annoyed by that. But this felt natural to me, and unrushed. I loved Kelpie’s playfulness and bratty behaviors whenever left to her own devices. I loved grumpy Ardenn and the way she left his morality all over the place. He was a man with deep secrets and a bone deep desperation to finally be free, but she affected him in a way he just couldn’t understand- even before it was affection.
I’m a little confused and disappointed that there’s no real answer or resolution to her sleepwalking, what exactly happened the night of her abduction and attempted murder, or the blinding pains she experienced over triggered memories. The sleepwalking seemed like such a big deal on the island, then to find out she’d been doing it since she was a child. I feel like this should’ve or could’ve been explored more. What triggered the sleepwalking? Why was she pulled to the ocean? Why didn’t she sleepwalk whenever she was alone in the cabin? Why didn’t she sleepwalk anymore whenever she was returned home?
I liked the majority of how her memory loss was handled, but I wish in capturing the villain/accomplice Frick would’ve told what happened at the Vale estate the night of her abduction and attempted murder. To many details felt unfinished by the end. We found out how Zane felt and responded, how mom and dad reacted, and we know how Ardenn reacted to finding her. But that felt like such a big deal.
The only other thing I didn’t like about her memory loss was the pain she experienced when triggered just disappearing? I mean any time something remotely triggering was brought up she was sent into an agonizing state- needed slapped or burned to come to. Once they discovered her true name, she had to beg him not to say her name…but then she returns home and never experiences that pain again, even though her memory never returned. Also why did she lose her memory like that? Was it magic? Was it a trauma response?
I loved that she stood firm that she was Liriel today, not the version she was, and she is Kelpie. She was proud and strong, and I love that about her.
I tend to be that reader that is mentally 10 chapters ahead trying to predict what direction this is going to go, and often end up spoiling it for myself in doing so. So while there were plenty of elements that felt predictable- like the villain and his accomplice. I loved the 80’s Overboard vibes I was getting from this book. I loved the painfully slow burn- and I usually get annoyed by that. But this felt natural to me, and unrushed. I loved Kelpie’s playfulness and bratty behaviors whenever left to her own devices. I loved grumpy Ardenn and the way she left his morality all over the place. He was a man with deep secrets and a bone deep desperation to finally be free, but she affected him in a way he just couldn’t understand- even before it was affection.
I’m a little confused and disappointed that there’s no real answer or resolution to her sleepwalking, what exactly happened the night of her abduction and attempted murder, or the blinding pains she experienced over triggered memories. The sleepwalking seemed like such a big deal on the island, then to find out she’d been doing it since she was a child. I feel like this should’ve or could’ve been explored more. What triggered the sleepwalking? Why was she pulled to the ocean? Why didn’t she sleepwalk whenever she was alone in the cabin? Why didn’t she sleepwalk anymore whenever she was returned home?
I liked the majority of how her memory loss was handled, but I wish in capturing the villain/accomplice Frick would’ve told what happened at the Vale estate the night of her abduction and attempted murder. To many details felt unfinished by the end. We found out how Zane felt and responded, how mom and dad reacted, and we know how Ardenn reacted to finding her. But that felt like such a big deal.
The only other thing I didn’t like about her memory loss was the pain she experienced when triggered just disappearing? I mean any time something remotely triggering was brought up she was sent into an agonizing state- needed slapped or burned to come to. Once they discovered her true name, she had to beg him not to say her name…but then she returns home and never experiences that pain again, even though her memory never returned. Also why did she lose her memory like that? Was it magic? Was it a trauma response?
I loved that she stood firm that she was Liriel today, not the version she was, and she is Kelpie. She was proud and strong, and I love that about her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advanced reader copy sent by the Author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
What to expect:
◌ Amnesia
◌ Age Gap
◌ Forced proximity
◌ Banter
◌ Hate to Love
◌ Grumpy x Sunshine
◌ Slow Burn
◌ Tortured Hero
◌ Stubborn FMC
I really enjoyed this one. We get some amazing main characters that had me so invested, so much great banter, dragons, pirates, some fantastic plot twists and reveals and a slow burn romance with the perfect amount of yearning and tension.
We follow our FMC Kelpie, she washes up on our MMC Ardenn's isolated island with a slash across her neck. She has no memory of who she is, where she came from and who wanted to kill her. And Ardenn is struggling with his options to finish the job or save her. He has too many secrets to protect.
Kelpie is one fiery woman, she is determined, stubborn and funny. She is struggling with having no memories and not knowing who she is. She is constantly testing Ardenn, with her defiance and cheekiness. Especially when it came too Captain Pusserwack 🤭 IYKYK. I love that all her memories didn’t just magically just come back to her.
Ardenn, this man had lived a hard life. He is strong, brave, grumpy and set in his ways, and then Kelpie comes in and turns his life upside down. He is so used to being on his own, doing life the way he wants. This is a man with some epic secrets. I wanted this man to succeed!
Now the tension and yearning in this book was outstanding. I was hooked, watching these two navigate their feelings for each other 10/10. The, will they... won’t they… had me on the edge of my seat flipping pages like mad woman. I was so invested in their relationship.
There isn’t spice in this book, closed door fade to black, but the descriptions of the way this man kisses was enough for me. 🫠😍
The plot was interesting, the secrets Ardenn held added so much tension and mystery and suspense, so many things to discover throughout the book.
Loved the vibe of the island. Ardenn really had his own piece of paradise all to himself. It provided for him.
The treacherous sea and weather added so much apprehension to the voyages to the main land.
The way the Author writes is very immersive I could picture everything very easily.
Pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but I didn’t mind that, but once it picks up you don’t want to put it down.
There was some plot reveals I saw coming but some I didn’t and I loved that!
The bickering and banter between these two was AMAZING. Had me gigging and kicking my feet. 🤣 The bite scene … I’m dead! Soo good.
Loved the addition of the dragons, would have loved to see more of them.
Enjoyed the ending. Would I read another book with these two characters hell yeah!
Thank you so much to the Author for sending me an arc copy of your book 🩷
Kickstarter launching October 1st !!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
What to expect:
◌ Amnesia
◌ Age Gap
◌ Forced proximity
◌ Banter
◌ Hate to Love
◌ Grumpy x Sunshine
◌ Slow Burn
◌ Tortured Hero
◌ Stubborn FMC
I really enjoyed this one. We get some amazing main characters that had me so invested, so much great banter, dragons, pirates, some fantastic plot twists and reveals and a slow burn romance with the perfect amount of yearning and tension.
We follow our FMC Kelpie, she washes up on our MMC Ardenn's isolated island with a slash across her neck. She has no memory of who she is, where she came from and who wanted to kill her. And Ardenn is struggling with his options to finish the job or save her. He has too many secrets to protect.
Kelpie is one fiery woman, she is determined, stubborn and funny. She is struggling with having no memories and not knowing who she is. She is constantly testing Ardenn, with her defiance and cheekiness. Especially when it came too Captain Pusserwack 🤭 IYKYK. I love that all her memories didn’t just magically just come back to her.
Ardenn, this man had lived a hard life. He is strong, brave, grumpy and set in his ways, and then Kelpie comes in and turns his life upside down. He is so used to being on his own, doing life the way he wants. This is a man with some epic secrets. I wanted this man to succeed!
Now the tension and yearning in this book was outstanding. I was hooked, watching these two navigate their feelings for each other 10/10. The, will they... won’t they… had me on the edge of my seat flipping pages like mad woman. I was so invested in their relationship.
There isn’t spice in this book, closed door fade to black, but the descriptions of the way this man kisses was enough for me. 🫠😍
The plot was interesting, the secrets Ardenn held added so much tension and mystery and suspense, so many things to discover throughout the book.
Loved the vibe of the island. Ardenn really had his own piece of paradise all to himself. It provided for him.
The treacherous sea and weather added so much apprehension to the voyages to the main land.
The way the Author writes is very immersive I could picture everything very easily.
Pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but I didn’t mind that, but once it picks up you don’t want to put it down.
There was some plot reveals I saw coming but some I didn’t and I loved that!
The bickering and banter between these two was AMAZING. Had me gigging and kicking my feet. 🤣 The bite scene … I’m dead! Soo good.
Loved the addition of the dragons, would have loved to see more of them.
Enjoyed the ending. Would I read another book with these two characters hell yeah!
Thank you so much to the Author for sending me an arc copy of your book 🩷
Kickstarter launching October 1st !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So yes, I got this as a free ARC in exchange for an honest review (and the author even encouraged us to DNF if we weren’t feeling it). But you see, I was hooked from chapter one and these are my thoughts lol.
I read a lot of romance, so it’s pretty rare for a book to feel different, but this one really did. Ardenn is a complete ahole in the beginning, and normally that would give me the immediate ick, but Kelpie gives it right back to him and somehow their constant fighting and ridiculous little battles had me giggling instead. I loved watching him very, very slowly start to care about her when he very much did NOT want to.
I really loved Kelpie too. She had no idea who she was, but somehow she still had such a strong personality. She was carefree and stubborn and constantly giving Ardenn crap, which worked so well against how grumpy he was 😂 I loved that even without her memories, little pieces of who she was kept showing up anyway. And then there was the mystery of her past, the dragons, and all of Ardenn's secrets that kept me wanting to know more. I really liked how little things throughout the book ended up mattering later and everything eventually came together nicely.
My only real complaint with the romance is that I wish it hadn’t been closed door, but not because I needed a bunch of smut lol. After such a slow build between them, I felt like I missed some of the emotional intimacy that could have happened in those scenes. Sex in romance isn’t always about the spice for me. Sometimes those scenes are about the connection between the characters too, and I really wish we had gotten a little more of that with them.
The ending also felt a little quick to me after such a slow-building book. I loved where everyone ended up, but I really wish we’d gotten to spend a little more time there. In particular, I would have loved to actually watch Ardenn grow into his new life and relationships instead of jumping ahead and being told how much had changed. After everything we learned about him and how long he had spent basically alone, I really wanted to see him realize he had found a home and people who cared about him. I think I just wasn’t ready to leave them yet lol.
Overall, though, I really loved this. The banter, the slow burn, the mystery, the asshole fisherman, the cat, and somehow even a fricking spoon 😂 I genuinely did not want to put it down, and pretty much didn't until I was finished. Here's hoping we can see them again in any future books in this world 🙏
I read a lot of romance, so it’s pretty rare for a book to feel different, but this one really did. Ardenn is a complete ahole in the beginning, and normally that would give me the immediate ick, but Kelpie gives it right back to him and somehow their constant fighting and ridiculous little battles had me giggling instead. I loved watching him very, very slowly start to care about her when he very much did NOT want to.
I really loved Kelpie too. She had no idea who she was, but somehow she still had such a strong personality. She was carefree and stubborn and constantly giving Ardenn crap, which worked so well against how grumpy he was 😂 I loved that even without her memories, little pieces of who she was kept showing up anyway. And then there was the mystery of her past, the dragons, and all of Ardenn's secrets that kept me wanting to know more. I really liked how little things throughout the book ended up mattering later and everything eventually came together nicely.
My only real complaint with the romance is that I wish it hadn’t been closed door, but not because I needed a bunch of smut lol. After such a slow build between them, I felt like I missed some of the emotional intimacy that could have happened in those scenes. Sex in romance isn’t always about the spice for me. Sometimes those scenes are about the connection between the characters too, and I really wish we had gotten a little more of that with them.
The ending also felt a little quick to me after such a slow-building book. I loved where everyone ended up, but I really wish we’d gotten to spend a little more time there. In particular, I would have loved to actually watch Ardenn grow into his new life and relationships instead of jumping ahead and being told how much had changed. After everything we learned about him and how long he had spent basically alone, I really wanted to see him realize he had found a home and people who cared about him. I think I just wasn’t ready to leave them yet lol.
Overall, though, I really loved this. The banter, the slow burn, the mystery, the asshole fisherman, the cat, and somehow even a fricking spoon 😂 I genuinely did not want to put it down, and pretty much didn't until I was finished. Here's hoping we can see them again in any future books in this world 🙏
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free eARC from the author. I’m voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts and opinions.
I took my time reading Isle of Dragon Bones, but interestingly, that wasn't because I wasn't enjoying it. It sometimes took me longer than I expected to pick the book back up, particularly toward the beginning, but every time I actually sat down to read, I hated putting it down again. The earlier parts ultimately felt necessary to establish the story, and they still held my interest while I was reading them.
The mystery surrounding the FMC's past really drew me in. After surviving a traumatic event, she wakes with no memories of her life beforehand, and I quickly became invested in discovering what had happened to her, whether her memories would return, and what those answers might mean.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and MMC. He's older and initially reluctant to have much to do with her, despite being the one who finds her and stitches her up, ultimately saving her life. I'm already a fan of an age-gap romance, so discovering that trope was a definite plus for me! Even though their relationship develops over a relatively short timeframe, their attraction felt genuine, and I became genuinely invested in whether these two would actually get their HEA.
I went into this expecting a little more fantasy than I ultimately found. There is a dragon and some magic, but the fantasy elements remain fairly light in this particular story. This book is set in a world the author has explored in other books, so returning readers may come into it with more context for the dragons, magic, and wider world than I did. As a newcomer, though, I never felt like I needed that additional context to enjoy the story. For me, this read more like a romance with a central mystery set within a fantasy world. There was still enough fantasy to scratch that itch for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed what the book was.
I particularly enjoyed the author's prose and pacing. The writing felt easy to sink into and kept the story moving without making me feel rushed through the characters, romance, or mystery.
Overall, this was easily more than a four-star read for me, although it didn't quite give me that elusive five-star feeling. 4.5 stars feels just right. I really enjoyed my time with this story, and it has definitely left me interested in reading more from the author, especially more books set in this world.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of the book.
I took my time reading Isle of Dragon Bones, but interestingly, that wasn't because I wasn't enjoying it. It sometimes took me longer than I expected to pick the book back up, particularly toward the beginning, but every time I actually sat down to read, I hated putting it down again. The earlier parts ultimately felt necessary to establish the story, and they still held my interest while I was reading them.
The mystery surrounding the FMC's past really drew me in. After surviving a traumatic event, she wakes with no memories of her life beforehand, and I quickly became invested in discovering what had happened to her, whether her memories would return, and what those answers might mean.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and MMC. He's older and initially reluctant to have much to do with her, despite being the one who finds her and stitches her up, ultimately saving her life. I'm already a fan of an age-gap romance, so discovering that trope was a definite plus for me! Even though their relationship develops over a relatively short timeframe, their attraction felt genuine, and I became genuinely invested in whether these two would actually get their HEA.
I went into this expecting a little more fantasy than I ultimately found. There is a dragon and some magic, but the fantasy elements remain fairly light in this particular story. This book is set in a world the author has explored in other books, so returning readers may come into it with more context for the dragons, magic, and wider world than I did. As a newcomer, though, I never felt like I needed that additional context to enjoy the story. For me, this read more like a romance with a central mystery set within a fantasy world. There was still enough fantasy to scratch that itch for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed what the book was.
I particularly enjoyed the author's prose and pacing. The writing felt easy to sink into and kept the story moving without making me feel rushed through the characters, romance, or mystery.
Overall, this was easily more than a four-star read for me, although it didn't quite give me that elusive five-star feeling. 4.5 stars feels just right. I really enjoyed my time with this story, and it has definitely left me interested in reading more from the author, especially more books set in this world.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of the book.
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