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Dragon Ever After #1
Dragon Fairest
This Snow White is no damsel in distress. He's a dragon shifter on the run from the foster mother who wants him dead.
Jack has three unbreakable rules of survival:
One, never reveal his full dragon form.
Two, steer clear of magic users at all costs.
Three, always trust his instinct for trouble.
And there's no doubt a princess accused of cursing her own family is exactly the kind of trouble he should avoid.
Despite Jack's intention to keep Kynara at arm's length though, her intriguing mix of vulnerability and stubborn determination draws him like no one else ever has.
A fugitive from her own people, exhausted and alone for the first time in her life, Kyn is running out of options. Asking for aid from a band of shady treasure hunters is a risk, but she has nothing left to lose.
To save her family and her kingdom, she'll take any help she can get.
Even from handsome, irritating Jack who despises her magic yet throws himself into danger to defend her.
With the evil Grey Enchantress tightening her grip on the kingdom of Ardell, Jack and Kyn may have to sacrifice everything to stop her.
If you're looking for a clean fantasy romance featuring dragon-shifters, fierce princesses, adventure, magic and happily-ever-after, don't miss the entire Dragon Ever After series of re-imagined fairy tales.
Jack has three unbreakable rules of survival:
One, never reveal his full dragon form.
Two, steer clear of magic users at all costs.
Three, always trust his instinct for trouble.
And there's no doubt a princess accused of cursing her own family is exactly the kind of trouble he should avoid.
Despite Jack's intention to keep Kynara at arm's length though, her intriguing mix of vulnerability and stubborn determination draws him like no one else ever has.
A fugitive from her own people, exhausted and alone for the first time in her life, Kyn is running out of options. Asking for aid from a band of shady treasure hunters is a risk, but she has nothing left to lose.
To save her family and her kingdom, she'll take any help she can get.
Even from handsome, irritating Jack who despises her magic yet throws himself into danger to defend her.
With the evil Grey Enchantress tightening her grip on the kingdom of Ardell, Jack and Kyn may have to sacrifice everything to stop her.
If you're looking for a clean fantasy romance featuring dragon-shifters, fierce princesses, adventure, magic and happily-ever-after, don't miss the entire Dragon Ever After series of re-imagined fairy tales.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2018
425 people are currently reading
1124 people want to read
About the author
Amberlyn Holland
31 books64 followersAmberlyn grew up reading her older sister’s SFF collection and her mother’s category romances so it’s only natural her storytelling leans toward fantasy and paranormal romance.
She currently lives in Northern New York where her writing schedule, and life, revolve around the whims of her dog. When not catering to a demanding terrier or getting lost in books, she enjoys crafting, watching football and hockey, and hanging out with her husband.
If you want to keep up to date on new releases and special events, sign up for her newsletter.
She currently lives in Northern New York where her writing schedule, and life, revolve around the whims of her dog. When not catering to a demanding terrier or getting lost in books, she enjoys crafting, watching football and hockey, and hanging out with her husband.
If you want to keep up to date on new releases and special events, sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 8, 2021
This one ended up being just okay for me. While I liked the overall idea for the story and the main characters were likable, I just didn't feel all that connected to the story. It was easy to put down, but also easy to pick up and read for a bit until life called. I did find myself skimming a bit and wasn't as immersed into the story as I normally like.
I did like the Snow White retelling aspects, and the mixture of dragons and werewolfs. The setting was fun and I think those who are drawn to fairytale retellings will probably enjoy it.
Content
Romance: Kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild
I did like the Snow White retelling aspects, and the mixture of dragons and werewolfs. The setting was fun and I think those who are drawn to fairytale retellings will probably enjoy it.
Content
Romance: Kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild
September 14, 2021
Jack and his treasure-hunting mercenary team encounter a young woman on the run. They know what it like to have a price on their heads, so they hide her, agreeing to take her to the coast so she can escape to the neighboring kingdom called the Sea Clan. The girl on the run is Princess Kynara who, according to the queen, tried to take over the throne. But according to the princess, the evil grey enchantress Veila, escaped her magical prison, because Kynara had grown curious with magic and accidentally released her. Her brothers fell into the enchantress’s clutches, when they rescued Kyn and parents were enveloped in the deadly curse that Kynara unleashed to unsuccessfully drive back Veila. Jack knows he shouldn’t help Kynara since he had been successfully hiding from Veila all these years and Veila still wants his blood to make her even more powerful.
Did my summary sound confused? Probably not as much as I was reading the story. It does try to framework Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but the plot is so very tangled and overly complicated. I had picked up Book 2 before this since the Cinderella plotline on that one had me intrigued. But I realized I was missing the key scene of the downfall of the Ardell kingdom and what happened to the king and queen and why the brothers were on the run, etc and just who Jelverck was and who the grey enchantress was and who the baron was (I’m still not certain who he was). So, I picked up the prequel to see if the key scene was in that one. Wasn’t in that one either. That was a story of the first meeting of the king and queen as young people and a quick introduction to Veila and Jelverck, long before Kynara and her brothers were born. So, I was happy to pick this up, looking forward to seeing that key scene play out. Nope. It’s told by Kynara in her own words as something that happened shortly prior to the beginning of this book. We really needed to see that scene as it happened. And the character of Kynara is incredibly frustrating and irritating. For instance, her curiosity with magic was what lead to the fall of her kingdom. Does she shy away from magic? No. Does she realize she might need to actually learn more about magic before she touches it again? No. Does she learn anything from her mistake? No, because she’s convinced that it wasn’t the fault of the magic, or even her own fault. She’s actually insistent on continuing to use magic. When Jack tells her he hates magic, does she abstain from using it around him. No. She pointedly uses it on him. Does she feel any remorse about that later? No. It boggles the mind of just how ignorant and obtuse she is and how she doesn’t learn from her mistakes to grow as a character. What doesn’t work in this is the initial falling in love of the two main characters. There’s this scene where they were arguing, and then they suddenly kiss, awkwardly out of the blue, and then they’re in love. It’s like there’s a logic bridge missing here. Jack is a worthy hero. He’s reluctant at times, and yet protective, he wants to stay alive, and still do what’s right. He also wants to keep his secrets for his and the safety of everyone else, but he also wants to keep his friends close. But on the flip side, there were times I wanted to knock him over the head for why he was so centered on the girl when there was no real reason for him to be. Let’s address the group of dwarves, I mean werewolves. The problem is that there might have been too many to really flesh each of them out, which results in them being interchangeable without anything distinguishable between them or differing personalities to differentiate them, and as a whole I was uninterested in them since they seemed like standard PNR werewolves. So, I wasn’t tempted to try to seek out their individually starring books. I still love seeing Jelverck. His character has so much depth and emotion to him, and I’m rather dying to see him in a book of his own since he has the largest redemption arc and the longest way to come out of all of them, making him far more interesting than all of the brothers and wolves combined. When I reached the end of this book and it set up for one further down the road, I realized just how forcedly orchestrated it felt that there would be three unmarried princesses of a neighboring kingdom and three unattached princes in Ardell. Too convenient. And the tag line for the book lies. Our on the run princess is very much a damsel-in-distress.
Did my summary sound confused? Probably not as much as I was reading the story. It does try to framework Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but the plot is so very tangled and overly complicated. I had picked up Book 2 before this since the Cinderella plotline on that one had me intrigued. But I realized I was missing the key scene of the downfall of the Ardell kingdom and what happened to the king and queen and why the brothers were on the run, etc and just who Jelverck was and who the grey enchantress was and who the baron was (I’m still not certain who he was). So, I picked up the prequel to see if the key scene was in that one. Wasn’t in that one either. That was a story of the first meeting of the king and queen as young people and a quick introduction to Veila and Jelverck, long before Kynara and her brothers were born. So, I was happy to pick this up, looking forward to seeing that key scene play out. Nope. It’s told by Kynara in her own words as something that happened shortly prior to the beginning of this book. We really needed to see that scene as it happened. And the character of Kynara is incredibly frustrating and irritating. For instance, her curiosity with magic was what lead to the fall of her kingdom. Does she shy away from magic? No. Does she realize she might need to actually learn more about magic before she touches it again? No. Does she learn anything from her mistake? No, because she’s convinced that it wasn’t the fault of the magic, or even her own fault. She’s actually insistent on continuing to use magic. When Jack tells her he hates magic, does she abstain from using it around him. No. She pointedly uses it on him. Does she feel any remorse about that later? No. It boggles the mind of just how ignorant and obtuse she is and how she doesn’t learn from her mistakes to grow as a character. What doesn’t work in this is the initial falling in love of the two main characters. There’s this scene where they were arguing, and then they suddenly kiss, awkwardly out of the blue, and then they’re in love. It’s like there’s a logic bridge missing here. Jack is a worthy hero. He’s reluctant at times, and yet protective, he wants to stay alive, and still do what’s right. He also wants to keep his secrets for his and the safety of everyone else, but he also wants to keep his friends close. But on the flip side, there were times I wanted to knock him over the head for why he was so centered on the girl when there was no real reason for him to be. Let’s address the group of dwarves, I mean werewolves. The problem is that there might have been too many to really flesh each of them out, which results in them being interchangeable without anything distinguishable between them or differing personalities to differentiate them, and as a whole I was uninterested in them since they seemed like standard PNR werewolves. So, I wasn’t tempted to try to seek out their individually starring books. I still love seeing Jelverck. His character has so much depth and emotion to him, and I’m rather dying to see him in a book of his own since he has the largest redemption arc and the longest way to come out of all of them, making him far more interesting than all of the brothers and wolves combined. When I reached the end of this book and it set up for one further down the road, I realized just how forcedly orchestrated it felt that there would be three unmarried princesses of a neighboring kingdom and three unattached princes in Ardell. Too convenient. And the tag line for the book lies. Our on the run princess is very much a damsel-in-distress.
May 14, 2022
3 stars // read May 2022
At 3 stars, Dragon Fairest falls squarely into the “decent” category. The romance felt more obligatory than due to any chemistry between the characters. I’m not sure why this is marketed as a “Snow White” retelling, as the only real element from that is a Huntsman character. The writing also needed some editing; there were a decent amount of sentence fragments. While the story had some unique aspects, overall, it was average.
Content: blood is required for some magic; mentions of attempted ritual sacrifice; several curse words
At 3 stars, Dragon Fairest falls squarely into the “decent” category. The romance felt more obligatory than due to any chemistry between the characters. I’m not sure why this is marketed as a “Snow White” retelling, as the only real element from that is a Huntsman character. The writing also needed some editing; there were a decent amount of sentence fragments. While the story had some unique aspects, overall, it was average.
Content: blood is required for some magic; mentions of attempted ritual sacrifice; several curse words
January 8, 2021
Would have been a pretty good book, but unfortunately it needs an extensive clean up.
Filled with grammar mistakes, Dragon Fairest lurches to a jerking halt at least 30 times throughout the book because of added, missing, or strange words. There are tense issues sprinkled through every chapter and more than a dozen fragmented sentences that make the reader go "huh?"
Still, the story is good enough to keep reading and rather entertaining enough to keep one up at night. A good edit could turn this 3 star story into 4 or 5 stars.
For my clean readers: mild language, violence, ritual sacrifice, political upset, and some kissing for romance.
Filled with grammar mistakes, Dragon Fairest lurches to a jerking halt at least 30 times throughout the book because of added, missing, or strange words. There are tense issues sprinkled through every chapter and more than a dozen fragmented sentences that make the reader go "huh?"
Still, the story is good enough to keep reading and rather entertaining enough to keep one up at night. A good edit could turn this 3 star story into 4 or 5 stars.
For my clean readers: mild language, violence, ritual sacrifice, political upset, and some kissing for romance.
September 5, 2025
This book had lots of action and excitement, but was lacking depth and development.
The characters, the world, the relationships, they all had so much potential. But instead of develping them, the focus was on Jack and Kyn's attraction and on the battle scenes. The entire book was spent running from place to place, fighting villains and executing crazy risky plans because there was no choice. I wish they would've stopped to think before they acted, and helped me understand why they were doing it all with so much urgency.
If you enjoy runaway princesses, insta-love stories, and lots of danger, you'll probably enjoy this read
Similar alternatives:
Content:
Kissing, longing, danger and moments of peril
The characters, the world, the relationships, they all had so much potential. But instead of develping them, the focus was on Jack and Kyn's attraction and on the battle scenes. The entire book was spent running from place to place, fighting villains and executing crazy risky plans because there was no choice. I wish they would've stopped to think before they acted, and helped me understand why they were doing it all with so much urgency.
If you enjoy runaway princesses, insta-love stories, and lots of danger, you'll probably enjoy this read
Similar alternatives:
Content:
Kissing, longing, danger and moments of peril
October 20, 2021
Amberlyn Holland
Dragon Fairest (Dragon Ever After Book 1)
Jack and Kyn
Some different types of shifters in this very entertaining book. A rag tag group searching for hidden treasure and fighting evil in the kingdom. Plenty of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat!
Dragon Fairest (Dragon Ever After Book 1)
Jack and Kyn
Some different types of shifters in this very entertaining book. A rag tag group searching for hidden treasure and fighting evil in the kingdom. Plenty of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat!
June 28, 2021
Fun with some unexpected twists
August 4, 2025
DNF. The romance was too sudden, like in one chapter Jack hates her but then in the next suddenly he softens toward her? It was too unpredictable.
Also, the book reads like AI.
Content: Maybe clean? I didn't read through the whole book so I'm not sure. There are witches though, which I didn't like.
Also, the book reads like AI.
Content: Maybe clean? I didn't read through the whole book so I'm not sure. There are witches though, which I didn't like.
February 10, 2023
Content:
Language: None that I recall.
Violence: mild peril. But there's some evil there that may be triggering, specifically dealing with betrayal from a caretaker.
Sexual: mild. Some kisses, but nothing steamy.
This was about a 3.5, but I rounded up because it was fun enough to make me want to read the rest of the series and the side series. I'm honestly more interested in the wolves than the dragon brothers books. Sterling made me smile, and to know that it's a clean werewolf series awaiting has me so so happy.
At first I had to wonder who was Snow White in the retelling, the guy or the girl, though obviously it states in the summary that it's the guy. But there's a lot there that could've made the role interchangeable. Which was interesting, and kept me reading. Having Dragon shifters at all is always fun in a story, though not always well delivered. The book doesn't say much about what being a dragon shifter is about, it's all rather vague on the world-building part. The author focuses more on the fairy tale aspect and dragons are just there as a quirk really. But who doesn't like dragons?
The thing I didn't care for was the romance. And it's actually what took the book down from a 4 to 3.5 for me. Jack is pretty suspicious and freaked out at Kyn invading their group at first, and he lashes out at her. He's mean. And Kyn lashes back. We've got the very cliche trope of enemies to lovers written all over the plot right out the gate. It wasn't the worst delivery I've seen by a long shot, but it was jarring. Because there is a huge 180 in the protagonists with very little lead up or even a warning. Then it's all fine after that and no real struggle. Except for a brief weird moment at the end that felt oh so unnecessary.
A good plot needs conflict. But tension for the sake of tension belongs in soap operas where they revel in it.
Like I said, I very much enjoyed the wolf pack and the dynamic of found family there. I'm a sucker for that trope. And wolves. So while I'm not sure I'll pick up the rest of the Dragon shifter series (unless the completionist in me starts whining) I'm quite excited to read the Wolf shifter series and see how well those books were written. They come enough after this one for me to be excited to see some improvement from the author (having already read and heartily enjoyed her Curse of the Dark Kingdom books).
Language: None that I recall.
Violence: mild peril. But there's some evil there that may be triggering, specifically dealing with betrayal from a caretaker.
Sexual: mild. Some kisses, but nothing steamy.
This was about a 3.5, but I rounded up because it was fun enough to make me want to read the rest of the series and the side series. I'm honestly more interested in the wolves than the dragon brothers books. Sterling made me smile, and to know that it's a clean werewolf series awaiting has me so so happy.
At first I had to wonder who was Snow White in the retelling, the guy or the girl, though obviously it states in the summary that it's the guy. But there's a lot there that could've made the role interchangeable. Which was interesting, and kept me reading. Having Dragon shifters at all is always fun in a story, though not always well delivered. The book doesn't say much about what being a dragon shifter is about, it's all rather vague on the world-building part. The author focuses more on the fairy tale aspect and dragons are just there as a quirk really. But who doesn't like dragons?
The thing I didn't care for was the romance. And it's actually what took the book down from a 4 to 3.5 for me. Jack is pretty suspicious and freaked out at Kyn invading their group at first, and he lashes out at her. He's mean. And Kyn lashes back. We've got the very cliche trope of enemies to lovers written all over the plot right out the gate. It wasn't the worst delivery I've seen by a long shot, but it was jarring. Because there is a huge 180 in the protagonists with very little lead up or even a warning. Then it's all fine after that and no real struggle. Except for a brief weird moment at the end that felt oh so unnecessary.
A good plot needs conflict. But tension for the sake of tension belongs in soap operas where they revel in it.
Like I said, I very much enjoyed the wolf pack and the dynamic of found family there. I'm a sucker for that trope. And wolves. So while I'm not sure I'll pick up the rest of the Dragon shifter series (unless the completionist in me starts whining) I'm quite excited to read the Wolf shifter series and see how well those books were written. They come enough after this one for me to be excited to see some improvement from the author (having already read and heartily enjoyed her Curse of the Dark Kingdom books).
June 29, 2020
The bridge between two worlds.
I find it extraordinary the amount of information and complex details Ms Holland has woven within the fabric of the action, adventure and neverending magic inside the storylines of this adult fairytale.
This is book 1 in a new series though a great deal of the history of princess Kyra's world and what she understands happened before she was born, derives directly from another book written by Ms Holland, and it is those stories of myth, adventure, dragon magic and political intrigue that Kyra grows up hearing all about on her father's knee
It certainly is not necessary to read "Kiss the Dragon" to get an understanding of prior events because each book is written so it can be easily read as a standalone.
Two different families, are suddenly thrown together not realising their destinies are already tightly bound together, as they individually try to deal with secrets both are carrying, finding their lives and destinies seem to always be manipulated and twisted by the selfish acts of others.
Beautifully written while drawing you emotionally into the tangled web Jack and Kyra find themselves in, you easily find yourself experiencing the intense jumbled emotions these two are trying to fight and ignore as they try to work out how to stay one step ahead of the evil that is following them.
Political subterfuge, family bitterness and twists you don't see coming, will totally throw you when you realise how deeply others will go to achieve what they believe they deserve.
A superb adult fairytale, now I am hooked on this author so stalking her and her books is definitely on my agenda as I now have to grab.
Now I definitely must grab the next book in the series to quench my thirst.
I find it extraordinary the amount of information and complex details Ms Holland has woven within the fabric of the action, adventure and neverending magic inside the storylines of this adult fairytale.
This is book 1 in a new series though a great deal of the history of princess Kyra's world and what she understands happened before she was born, derives directly from another book written by Ms Holland, and it is those stories of myth, adventure, dragon magic and political intrigue that Kyra grows up hearing all about on her father's knee
It certainly is not necessary to read "Kiss the Dragon" to get an understanding of prior events because each book is written so it can be easily read as a standalone.
Two different families, are suddenly thrown together not realising their destinies are already tightly bound together, as they individually try to deal with secrets both are carrying, finding their lives and destinies seem to always be manipulated and twisted by the selfish acts of others.
Beautifully written while drawing you emotionally into the tangled web Jack and Kyra find themselves in, you easily find yourself experiencing the intense jumbled emotions these two are trying to fight and ignore as they try to work out how to stay one step ahead of the evil that is following them.
Political subterfuge, family bitterness and twists you don't see coming, will totally throw you when you realise how deeply others will go to achieve what they believe they deserve.
A superb adult fairytale, now I am hooked on this author so stalking her and her books is definitely on my agenda as I now have to grab.
Now I definitely must grab the next book in the series to quench my thirst.
December 10, 2020
I believe the 'Ever After' universe created by Ms Holland is absolutely perfect for a YA romance audience. They have strong plots and stand on their own while detailing a new generation of shifters who are ousting a corrupt establishment, incidentally discovering the bonds of friendship and non-explicit romance. They are a dose of hope greatly needed in all our lives, acceptable for any audience.
The story of Kynara is a follow-up to the book Kiss the Dragon, which is the story of how her parents, Riona of Ardell and Baird of the Sea Dragons, met and banished the Grey Enchantress. But Kynara has made a mess of everything. Trying to teach herself magic leads to terrible accidents and the return of the evil sorceress. Her three brothers are now mindless puppets of the Enchantress.
Escaping toward the sea and her kin there is where she meets Jack, who wants nobody to know that he is in exile from the very same evil Kyn has unleashed. He and the treasure hunting wolf shifters who took him in know soon enough who it is they are aiding; but none of them would wish being in the Enchantress' power on anyone.
Together, they stand a chance of survival-- and possibly more. The only way Kyn and Jack can help anyone is to embrace their abilities, not hide from them. Once things begin to go right they will continue to do so. Otherwise, all is lost.
The story of Kynara is a follow-up to the book Kiss the Dragon, which is the story of how her parents, Riona of Ardell and Baird of the Sea Dragons, met and banished the Grey Enchantress. But Kynara has made a mess of everything. Trying to teach herself magic leads to terrible accidents and the return of the evil sorceress. Her three brothers are now mindless puppets of the Enchantress.
Escaping toward the sea and her kin there is where she meets Jack, who wants nobody to know that he is in exile from the very same evil Kyn has unleashed. He and the treasure hunting wolf shifters who took him in know soon enough who it is they are aiding; but none of them would wish being in the Enchantress' power on anyone.
Together, they stand a chance of survival-- and possibly more. The only way Kyn and Jack can help anyone is to embrace their abilities, not hide from them. Once things begin to go right they will continue to do so. Otherwise, all is lost.
October 12, 2019
Snow White and Dragons
This is a fantasy retelling of Snow White, minus the seven dwarves, with a dragon twist. The heroine’s fascination with magic has unwittingly unleashed her evil great-aunt who subsequently plays havoc with all members of the royal family. This sends our princess heroine on the run, unsure of what to do next. She aligns with a group of treasure hunters who are also dragon shifters. The book looks at her attempting to get her family and her kingdom back to the way it ought to be. Along the way, she develops a deeper relationship with one of the dragon shifters.
I do enjoy retellings of the classic fairy tales, and I found this one to be mostly enjoyable. There were times I felt like something crucial was missing—like a key scene that would be a bridge between others—but the characters were enough to keep me interested and reading to see what would happen to them next. I know there are more books in the story, and they appear to be about the brothers of the princess as they each engage with a new heroine in another fairy tale retelling. This book is enough to make me want to check out the second book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
This is a fantasy retelling of Snow White, minus the seven dwarves, with a dragon twist. The heroine’s fascination with magic has unwittingly unleashed her evil great-aunt who subsequently plays havoc with all members of the royal family. This sends our princess heroine on the run, unsure of what to do next. She aligns with a group of treasure hunters who are also dragon shifters. The book looks at her attempting to get her family and her kingdom back to the way it ought to be. Along the way, she develops a deeper relationship with one of the dragon shifters.
I do enjoy retellings of the classic fairy tales, and I found this one to be mostly enjoyable. There were times I felt like something crucial was missing—like a key scene that would be a bridge between others—but the characters were enough to keep me interested and reading to see what would happen to them next. I know there are more books in the story, and they appear to be about the brothers of the princess as they each engage with a new heroine in another fairy tale retelling. This book is enough to make me want to check out the second book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
October 24, 2019
This book has everything I look for in a good book! There are dragons, wolf shifters, a wicked witch, a princess on the run, and lots of magic. It starts when our princess, Kyn, accidentally opens a portal to the wicked witch, allowing her access to the castle. Once the wicked witch has control of the castle Kyn becomes a fugitive. She pleas for Jack and his friends to help her get to her uncles clan on the coast. They build a wonderful friendship through all of the fighting, the captures and the magic. Jack and Kyn started out badly, but she didn't give up on her goal. I love her determination and refusal to give up. She knew she screwed up and she was determined to fix it. I carried this book with me everywhere I went. Even if I could only read one paragraph I could not put it down. I really look forward to Asher's story. I requested an advanced reader copy from Booksprout and am under no obligation to leave this review.
June 19, 2022
I picked this up thinking, eh, it might be okay. And it was better.
First, the cons. The editing annoyed me. Too many sentence fragments for sure. A few too many technical errors, which I could have ignored better if I wasn't suffering from the fragments. And frankly, the twists didn't surprise me. The only time I was a little surprised was when a pack of wolves showed up out of nowhere. (Cool!)
The good stuff. The prose was written well enough. The characters were fun. The plot, while pretty standard, at least avoided major holes and was assembled in a decently suspenseful order. I'm making this sound more lackluster than it was. Really, about a chapter in, I told myself, "This is better than I expected," and settled in for the ride.
Will it ever be one of my favorites? No. Do I feel like I wasted my time? Definitely not. It was fun, and really, some days that's all you need.
First, the cons. The editing annoyed me. Too many sentence fragments for sure. A few too many technical errors, which I could have ignored better if I wasn't suffering from the fragments. And frankly, the twists didn't surprise me. The only time I was a little surprised was when a pack of wolves showed up out of nowhere. (Cool!)
The good stuff. The prose was written well enough. The characters were fun. The plot, while pretty standard, at least avoided major holes and was assembled in a decently suspenseful order. I'm making this sound more lackluster than it was. Really, about a chapter in, I told myself, "This is better than I expected," and settled in for the ride.
Will it ever be one of my favorites? No. Do I feel like I wasted my time? Definitely not. It was fun, and really, some days that's all you need.
July 31, 2023
This was a interesting twist on the snow white story, with wolf shifters instead of the seven dwarfs and Jack as the snow white stand in (as a super rare white dragon) It took me a bit to clue into that, mostly because the evil queen and her supernatural hunter were more obviously after Kynara. I think I would have enjoyed some of the more clever aspects if I hadn't been so oblivious. It was a solid start to the series, with a satisfying romance, intriguing characters and very cool world building. The story did a good job wrapping up some important plot lines while leaving enough challenges to be overcome in the next book. I recommend this series for anyone who likes fairy tale retellings, especially ones with dragons!
July 23, 2024
At first, this absolutely sucked me in. I loved everything about it, until I got to about 55%. I feel like the author just gave up on some of the writing.
One aspect I can’t get behind is the fact that Kyn and Jack fall in love basically after 1 kiss. There’s no build up. No tension. The ending was very weak. I wanted to love this book like I did when I first picked it up.
Regarding the “snow white” aspect, I didn’t see any resemblance except that there are 7 outcasts, and a mirror they walk through. Other than that, I don’t see any resemblance at all. I would call this a Snow White retelling. (Or maybe I just don’t know Snow White as well as I think I do.)
All in all, I think I will still read the rest of the series. I did enjoy it, but not as much as I wanted to.
One aspect I can’t get behind is the fact that Kyn and Jack fall in love basically after 1 kiss. There’s no build up. No tension. The ending was very weak. I wanted to love this book like I did when I first picked it up.
Regarding the “snow white” aspect, I didn’t see any resemblance except that there are 7 outcasts, and a mirror they walk through. Other than that, I don’t see any resemblance at all. I would call this a Snow White retelling. (Or maybe I just don’t know Snow White as well as I think I do.)
All in all, I think I will still read the rest of the series. I did enjoy it, but not as much as I wanted to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2019
After fleeing the palace, pursued by the huntsman and bounty hunters, Kynara encounters 8 treasure hunters all with secrets and pursuers of their own. The story that follows has everything from magic, shape-shifters, evil queens and henchmen, dangerous secrets and locked dungeons. It is a very entertaining, quick moving, clean fantasy romance with good character building and relationships, without relying on insta-love or sex to fill the pages. This was complete tale of one couple, which concludes satisfactorily, but with an ongoing story which I look forward to reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 16, 2019
A princess and a rag tag of treasure hunters on the run. Princess Kynara is on the run from her great aunt Velia who has imprisoned the palace and taken over a ruler. But Velia was imprisoned in an enchanted mirror years ago for her crimes, and Kynara unwittingly frees her using magic. Now Kynara's three brothers are enslaved by Velia, and Kynara is on the run. She joins up with a group of treasure hunters who are also on the run. But the treasure hunters have magic and secrets also, and one of them has a connection to Velia. Can they forge a bond and defeat Velia, or will she find them and kill them?
February 7, 2020
This was a good story, but it wasn't an easy read. There was very little dialogue, and the narrative was incredibly dense. I didn't get a good feel for what was going on in the characters' heads because it was written in third person. Even though it seemed like Kynara and Jack had a touching romance, I just couldn't get a grasp of it. There was a lot of magic and shapeshifting into werewolves and dragons, and the world was very vivid. It's a good book if you like fantasy and are in the mood for a heavy read.
January 22, 2021
Awesome!
This book was pretty fantastic ! Full of magic and lore I've never before read! Very unique. I love reading books full of other worldly things but a lot of them feel familiar and reminiscent of other stories I've read. Like reading Beauty and the Beast a thousand times only slightly different each time. This book was completely new to me in all of its aspects. Even though it was meant as a retelling of snow white, and definitely works for that, it was a completely new story, not just a copy and paste like so many others. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
This book was pretty fantastic ! Full of magic and lore I've never before read! Very unique. I love reading books full of other worldly things but a lot of them feel familiar and reminiscent of other stories I've read. Like reading Beauty and the Beast a thousand times only slightly different each time. This book was completely new to me in all of its aspects. Even though it was meant as a retelling of snow white, and definitely works for that, it was a completely new story, not just a copy and paste like so many others. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
December 10, 2023
very unique story. i really like the side character’s quick wit and wish there was more of it.
I wish the main characters didn’t get quite so lost in their own world when they are surrounded by a group of people, i wish the background characters made themselves more known in those moments. However i loved the clever problem solving and seeing alliances change and understanding grow with more information. I like how moldable the main characters are. Intriguing, less predictable plot that keeps you on your toes. I enjoyed the book.
I wish the main characters didn’t get quite so lost in their own world when they are surrounded by a group of people, i wish the background characters made themselves more known in those moments. However i loved the clever problem solving and seeing alliances change and understanding grow with more information. I like how moldable the main characters are. Intriguing, less predictable plot that keeps you on your toes. I enjoyed the book.
March 10, 2024
Romantic Fantasy adventure
A very nice and quick Sunday read.
I liked the story and the adventure as well as the romance side.
Liked thebackground of the two main chacarter: Jacj and K, but especially the magic of the treasure huntere.
There was a bit confusion on time ( centuries and age) but maybe irs me. Also some quick solution in some parts while other dragged a bit longer but overall very enjoyable story.
Extra score that b2 is while the story continous it has a HEA for the main charaters in this story and continous with a different pair in b2.
A very nice and quick Sunday read.
I liked the story and the adventure as well as the romance side.
Liked thebackground of the two main chacarter: Jacj and K, but especially the magic of the treasure huntere.
There was a bit confusion on time ( centuries and age) but maybe irs me. Also some quick solution in some parts while other dragged a bit longer but overall very enjoyable story.
Extra score that b2 is while the story continous it has a HEA for the main charaters in this story and continous with a different pair in b2.
June 11, 2021
Great Beginning
“Dragon Fairest” sets the tone for this intensely suspenseful tale. Arie/Kyn and Jack must fight their way through the lies, suspension, betrayal, and violence to get to the truth and find freedom as they battle the evil Velia. “Dragon Fairest” is the perfect opener for this series and I look forward to book 2 to pick up where this cliffhanger left me.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
“Dragon Fairest” sets the tone for this intensely suspenseful tale. Arie/Kyn and Jack must fight their way through the lies, suspension, betrayal, and violence to get to the truth and find freedom as they battle the evil Velia. “Dragon Fairest” is the perfect opener for this series and I look forward to book 2 to pick up where this cliffhanger left me.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
April 7, 2023
good but not great
This didn’t feel like a Snow White retelling at all, except for the Huntsman.
Dragons, wolf shifters, magic, a princess on the run. The premise was there. But I didn’t feel the romantic attraction between the main characters at all - which isn’t bad unless the book is touted as a romance. And there are so many broken and partial sentences. Great for a book review, but annoying to read for an entire book.
This didn’t feel like a Snow White retelling at all, except for the Huntsman.
Dragons, wolf shifters, magic, a princess on the run. The premise was there. But I didn’t feel the romantic attraction between the main characters at all - which isn’t bad unless the book is touted as a romance. And there are so many broken and partial sentences. Great for a book review, but annoying to read for an entire book.
January 5, 2024
A Wonderful Tale!
I love how Amberlyn Holland weaves a fantasy tale. Her writing makes it so easy to really get into the story, picture the scenes and characters, and makes it hard for me to put the book down. I can’t wait to read more of this series, though there’s enough closure in the first story, it’s a little easier to be patient. If you enjoy clean fantasy with a lot of questing action, some romance, and dragons in the mix, you might want to check this out!
I love how Amberlyn Holland weaves a fantasy tale. Her writing makes it so easy to really get into the story, picture the scenes and characters, and makes it hard for me to put the book down. I can’t wait to read more of this series, though there’s enough closure in the first story, it’s a little easier to be patient. If you enjoy clean fantasy with a lot of questing action, some romance, and dragons in the mix, you might want to check this out!
January 9, 2024
Just the dragon/shifter fantasy I didn't realize I needed to read right now! Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story and hope, hope hoping that a future installment gives answers to some unanswered questions--like parentage of a certain dragon and the fate of a particular hunter.
There is a need for some copyedits--at least in this Kindle ebook version that I read. I noticed them but they were not enough to pull me out of the story.
There is a need for some copyedits--at least in this Kindle ebook version that I read. I noticed them but they were not enough to pull me out of the story.
February 29, 2024
Great read
Princess Kyn was fascinated by magic and accidentally allowed the evil grey enchantress to get back and when their magics collided part of the castle turned to glass including her parents. Fleeing for her life she meets Jack who had his own reasons for hating magic. Add in treasure hunters, wolf shifters plus dragon shifters and blood magic you have lots happening. I now need to read the next book to see if the grey enchantress can be beaten and the kingdom freed.
Princess Kyn was fascinated by magic and accidentally allowed the evil grey enchantress to get back and when their magics collided part of the castle turned to glass including her parents. Fleeing for her life she meets Jack who had his own reasons for hating magic. Add in treasure hunters, wolf shifters plus dragon shifters and blood magic you have lots happening. I now need to read the next book to see if the grey enchantress can be beaten and the kingdom freed.
April 7, 2024
I am slowly trying to clean up my TBR. This was an okay read for me. The relationship changes really quickly so you have to kind of go with the flow. This is supposed to be a Snow white retelling. It had some elements of the story but really I thought it more good vs. evil. However, one thing I couldn't quite figure out the girl in this story can turn into a dragon but yet never does it... Just an okay read for me.
October 5, 2019
This Snow White's no damsel in distress. He's a dragon shifter on the run. Despite Jack's intention to keep Kynara at arm's length, her intriguing mix of vulnerability and stubborn determination draws him like no one else ever has. Enjoyed Jack and Kynara's story. Very sweet.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 8, 2019
3.5
I don't have a lot to say about Dragon Fairest but it is a fun book with great potential to be even more enjoyable as the series progresses. Once Upon a Dragon (book two) sounds amazing and I'll be reading more from this author again in the future.
If you like fairy tales, dragons, and sweet romances, try this series.
I don't have a lot to say about Dragon Fairest but it is a fun book with great potential to be even more enjoyable as the series progresses. Once Upon a Dragon (book two) sounds amazing and I'll be reading more from this author again in the future.
If you like fairy tales, dragons, and sweet romances, try this series.
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