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Sons of Rome #3
Dragon Slayer
In 1931, a golden-haired man in fine clothes appeared to a Siberian boy. An apparition in the snow. In 2018, he guided a pack of misfits to his prison. A man made of sharp smiles, and smoke, who they can hear, but can never touch. He calls himself a prince, but how much does anyone really know about Prince Valerian of Wallachia? Is he friend, or foe? Is he real at all? Val has spent the past 550 years as a prisoner, venturing where and when he can, dream-walking, using his powers of astral projection to escape the confines of his cell. His jailers call him “brother-killer,” and “traitor” – old rumors of the immortal realm carried forth by the sinister Ingraham Institute, a secret place hidden deep in the forest, bent on using the blood and powers of immortals to fight a gathering threat too terrible to reveal to the mortal world at large. Now, Val’s brother, the infamous Vlad Dracula, is awake, hellbent on stopping the boys’ wicked uncle, Romulus, once and for all. But first, the boys will have to come to terms with one another – and perhaps finally come to understand the tragedies that played out almost six centuries ago. In Book Three of the Sons of Rome Series, dream-walk to 15th century Romania, to a Wallachia besieged by the Ottoman Empire, and two immortal brothers fighting for their lives. Inspired by the true story of Vlad Dracula, and his family, Dragon Slayer travels from the palace at Tîrgovişte, to the Ottoman court, to the siege of Byzantium. A tale of brothers, and betrayal; of captivity, and revenge. The immortals of the world are gathering, and Vlad and Val, the original sons of Rome, stand poised to lead the charge against a timeless evil. If only they can keep from killing one another… **This story is not a standalone, and should be read after books one and two, White Wolf, and Red Rooster. Book four, Golden Eagle, expected fall of 2019.**
791 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2019
26 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 10, 2021
I wish this was an easy, uncomplicated, round-up to four star book but I struggled a bit with this one.
I was so excited to have more historical storytelling in this world, because it's been some of the bits I've loved the most, and Gilley gave me that.. and then more. And more. And more. Do you see that page count? This book is hella long. And I definitely feel like it did not need to be as long as it was. There is no doubt that history is one of this author's passions, or she's just incredibly committed to her plot, and her research alone and dedication to that time period? Definitely deserves recognition. I just wish it had all felt necessary to the plot, you know? Most, sure. All? For me, no.
I liked the beginning, I even like the reason for how and why we got thrown into the past, and for a while it was working for me. But there was a lot of information and time to slog through before we shifted gears back to the present, which I didn't think I would have anticipated as much as I did, but that's where this book really felt solid.
I think what surprised me was how.. soft some of these characters were. Val, in particular. I mean, if you've read the book, you know what I mean. I just want to hug him. Even Vlad the bloody Impaler had his moments. Though I'm not quite sure I bought some of the rationale regarding the latter's behaviour.. even with all (and I mean all) that backstory. It felt a little flimsy. Likewise, I feel like Val had the ability to do certain things to connect with his family during a specific and critical time and didn't and.. I also don't quite know why. So I feel like part of this was a little tough to get behind. Which is what adds to my mixed feelings, particularly considering the word count and everything we had to get through to circle back to where we ended up in book two.
So I'm happy this ended on a strong note otherwise I would be sad. We had quite a few surprises in the last 20% or so; things didn't go quite how I expected, and one of those surprises had me sitting straight up with what I'm sure was a dumfounded !!! look on my face. I caught the foreshadowing literally the paragraph before but I was still unprepared. And then we get that last chapter which leaves us hanging after another surprise kick to the face and boy oh boy if I didn't have book four already on my kindle.. that said, if we don't get some rewind time with the New York crew? Imma be mad.
So, yes, for all my whining about wanting more "in days gone by..", Gilley definitely heaped far too many helpings onto my plate. I am definitely soft over all these characters (honestly, it's kind of ridiculous how precious they all are..), and though it is obviously not a quick read, it's still worth it. I'm hoping book four knocks it out of the park, though!
3.5 stars
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I was so excited to have more historical storytelling in this world, because it's been some of the bits I've loved the most, and Gilley gave me that.. and then more. And more. And more. Do you see that page count? This book is hella long. And I definitely feel like it did not need to be as long as it was. There is no doubt that history is one of this author's passions, or she's just incredibly committed to her plot, and her research alone and dedication to that time period? Definitely deserves recognition. I just wish it had all felt necessary to the plot, you know? Most, sure. All? For me, no.
I liked the beginning, I even like the reason for how and why we got thrown into the past, and for a while it was working for me. But there was a lot of information and time to slog through before we shifted gears back to the present, which I didn't think I would have anticipated as much as I did, but that's where this book really felt solid.
I think what surprised me was how.. soft some of these characters were. Val, in particular. I mean, if you've read the book, you know what I mean. I just want to hug him. Even Vlad the bloody Impaler had his moments. Though I'm not quite sure I bought some of the rationale regarding the latter's behaviour.. even with all (and I mean all) that backstory. It felt a little flimsy. Likewise, I feel like Val had the ability to do certain things to connect with his family during a specific and critical time and didn't and.. I also don't quite know why. So I feel like part of this was a little tough to get behind. Which is what adds to my mixed feelings, particularly considering the word count and everything we had to get through to circle back to where we ended up in book two.
So I'm happy this ended on a strong note otherwise I would be sad. We had quite a few surprises in the last 20% or so; things didn't go quite how I expected, and one of those surprises had me sitting straight up with what I'm sure was a dumfounded !!! look on my face. I caught the foreshadowing literally the paragraph before but I was still unprepared. And then we get that last chapter which leaves us hanging after another surprise kick to the face and boy oh boy if I didn't have book four already on my kindle.. that said, if we don't get some rewind time with the New York crew? Imma be mad.
So, yes, for all my whining about wanting more "in days gone by..", Gilley definitely heaped far too many helpings onto my plate. I am definitely soft over all these characters (honestly, it's kind of ridiculous how precious they all are..), and though it is obviously not a quick read, it's still worth it. I'm hoping book four knocks it out of the park, though!
3.5 stars
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 27, 2021
4.5 rounded up to 5
I’m simply amazed by the amount of research that went into writing this book. And while I didn’t particularly care for Mia one way or another — she was a bit too… bland for Val, but then again maybe that’s just what he needed after such a tragic life — and parts of this book turned my stomach (CW: non-con, including child rape; slavery), this whole series is EPIC and deserves all the stars.
One thing that really bothered me, though, was Vlad’s attitude towards Val. And I’m super angry, because otherwise, Vlad’s a well-made character, and I’m curious how he’ll handle the clusterfuck that’s the whole situation with R (and his thing with Adela…), but I can’t forgive him for some of these things, and I don’t know if I can enjoy his story… Unless Gilley works her magic again and makes me change my mind?
In the meantime, FINALLY, Nikita and Sashka’s story! I missed my boys so much. ❤️
I’m simply amazed by the amount of research that went into writing this book. And while I didn’t particularly care for Mia one way or another — she was a bit too… bland for Val, but then again maybe that’s just what he needed after such a tragic life — and parts of this book turned my stomach (CW: non-con, including child rape; slavery), this whole series is EPIC and deserves all the stars.
One thing that really bothered me, though, was Vlad’s attitude towards Val. And I’m super angry, because otherwise, Vlad’s a well-made character, and I’m curious how he’ll handle the clusterfuck that’s the whole situation with R (and his thing with Adela…), but I can’t forgive him for some of these things, and I don’t know if I can enjoy his story… Unless Gilley works her magic again and makes me change my mind?
In the meantime, FINALLY, Nikita and Sashka’s story! I missed my boys so much. ❤️
April 26, 2020
I’m late to this series and there’s already tons of reviews so I’m keeping mine short.
This is the third book in this series. And the first one I’ve not been able to put down. It started slow with Val and Mia. But as soon as it moved to Vlad and Val I was hooked.
It’s gripping and addictive and I’m moving straight onto the next book now.
October 6, 2019
The epic story of Vlad Dracula, son of Vlad Dracul of Wallachia, also grandson of God Mars, co-founder of Rome…
« I was born in a violent age. More violent that this age, if you can believe it. Living forever wasn’t something we took for granted. It was easy to think that tomorrow might not come; to not want to put off the things we most wanted to do. It’s equally easy, sometimes, to stare into the yawning maw of endless time and feel defeated by the inevitable boredom. »
I’ve always have a soft spot for Vlad, and Lauren Gilley made his story – past and present – a fascinating journey through time and history, a breathtaking literary adventure, emotional and deeply atmospheric.
« Family is made of the people who love you. Who you love back. The people who help you, and hold you up, and accept you. I get to choose that. I get to choose you – to be on your side. Stop trying to convince me I shouldn’t. »
I truly loved it.
« I was born in a violent age. More violent that this age, if you can believe it. Living forever wasn’t something we took for granted. It was easy to think that tomorrow might not come; to not want to put off the things we most wanted to do. It’s equally easy, sometimes, to stare into the yawning maw of endless time and feel defeated by the inevitable boredom. »
I’ve always have a soft spot for Vlad, and Lauren Gilley made his story – past and present – a fascinating journey through time and history, a breathtaking literary adventure, emotional and deeply atmospheric.
« Family is made of the people who love you. Who you love back. The people who help you, and hold you up, and accept you. I get to choose that. I get to choose you – to be on your side. Stop trying to convince me I shouldn’t. »
I truly loved it.
June 22, 2019
Can I give it 10 stars?
God I love this author. She makes you fall in love with these characters, or at least question your first impressions, and then question your second ones. They are that complex. I really enjoyed the historical references and learning about who Val really is. I'm also looking forward to learning more about Vlad, or perhaps watching Vlad learn more about himself. This book is long. Which is fantastic. Great books can't be too long. The longer they go the more complex and deeper everything gets. Not confusing complex, but lost in their world complex. Like looking up and wondering why everything looks so different. Taking a moment to reset back into your own world. It's compelling, gripping, and vastly entertaining. This is a series I will read again. And there aren't many series I can say that about.
God I love this author. She makes you fall in love with these characters, or at least question your first impressions, and then question your second ones. They are that complex. I really enjoyed the historical references and learning about who Val really is. I'm also looking forward to learning more about Vlad, or perhaps watching Vlad learn more about himself. This book is long. Which is fantastic. Great books can't be too long. The longer they go the more complex and deeper everything gets. Not confusing complex, but lost in their world complex. Like looking up and wondering why everything looks so different. Taking a moment to reset back into your own world. It's compelling, gripping, and vastly entertaining. This is a series I will read again. And there aren't many series I can say that about.
May 6, 2019
This series is Gilley's life passion, and it shows.
If I asked you to list the qualities that make an author superb, I'm pretty sure Lauren Gilley would meet each criteria.
Beautiful, poetic writing? Check.
Thoughtful, engaging storytelling? Check.
Carefully crafted and developed characters? Check.
An intricate plot that always seems to pack surprises? Check.
You're guaranteed to get all of that when you pick up a Lauren Gilley book, regardless of the series. But a Sons of Rome book? You'll see her at her best. Unlikely heroes, beautifully flawed characters you just can't help but love, fantasy that feels real to its bones. This series has come to the forefront of my favorite reads, and I cannot wait to read more!
If I asked you to list the qualities that make an author superb, I'm pretty sure Lauren Gilley would meet each criteria.
Beautiful, poetic writing? Check.
Thoughtful, engaging storytelling? Check.
Carefully crafted and developed characters? Check.
An intricate plot that always seems to pack surprises? Check.
You're guaranteed to get all of that when you pick up a Lauren Gilley book, regardless of the series. But a Sons of Rome book? You'll see her at her best. Unlikely heroes, beautifully flawed characters you just can't help but love, fantasy that feels real to its bones. This series has come to the forefront of my favorite reads, and I cannot wait to read more!
June 17, 2019
Epic! Incredible! Heart wrenching! Gilley definitely did some research for this and it paid off!
In this Sons of Rome chapter, we get a deep dive into the lives of Vlad Dracul and his brother Radu (or Val - his preferred moniker). There were times when I hated Vlad - in the last book especially - but once you read this book, your opinion is turned upside down.
I’m anxiously awaiting the next book Golden Eagle. Gilley writes in the afterword about her experience putting this together - her passion is evident and appreciated! Bravo!!
In this Sons of Rome chapter, we get a deep dive into the lives of Vlad Dracul and his brother Radu (or Val - his preferred moniker). There were times when I hated Vlad - in the last book especially - but once you read this book, your opinion is turned upside down.
I’m anxiously awaiting the next book Golden Eagle. Gilley writes in the afterword about her experience putting this together - her passion is evident and appreciated! Bravo!!
July 6, 2019
I'm at a loss for words.
I will now patiently wait for the next installment of this genius series
Strengths: Too many to list
Weaknesses: Minor blips. Nothing obnoxious
I will now patiently wait for the next installment of this genius series
Strengths: Too many to list
Weaknesses: Minor blips. Nothing obnoxious
April 24, 2025
At this point my fave character across this very long series (because of the length of the books themselves, not the number) is Vlad.
I’ve always been drawn to the anti-hero, not so good looking, yet powerfully compelling ultra masculine and commanding types. Which Vlad is, more than anyone in this series.
Val is - meh. He suffered as a child concubine, boohoo. He thought his brother hated him, boo hoo. He got the girl, Mia. He’s pretty and everyone knows it. Meh. I don’t care about Val.
I wonder who Vlad might end up with - please let it not be Adele. I don’t think much of her. She’s not interesting enough. But I hope Vlad survives all of this.
The next book is supposed be centered around Nik and Sasha’s relationship now that they’re in bed together. But all I want to read about is Vlad…
I’ve always been drawn to the anti-hero, not so good looking, yet powerfully compelling ultra masculine and commanding types. Which Vlad is, more than anyone in this series.
Val is - meh. He suffered as a child concubine, boohoo. He thought his brother hated him, boo hoo. He got the girl, Mia. He’s pretty and everyone knows it. Meh. I don’t care about Val.
I wonder who Vlad might end up with - please let it not be Adele. I don’t think much of her. She’s not interesting enough. But I hope Vlad survives all of this.
The next book is supposed be centered around Nik and Sasha’s relationship now that they’re in bed together. But all I want to read about is Vlad…
May 3, 2019
I love this series so much!!!
I can’t wait for the next one.
I can’t wait for the next one.
May 31, 2019
My long-winded review was just eaten by an uncooperative browser. Suffice it to say that while I loved Red Rooster, I was engulfed by Dragon Slayer.
June 16, 2020
it took ya girl 3903 yrs to finish this book because she was thick af, but mainly, it took me such a long time to finish it because of my investment in the story and the characters. despite my nagging irritation w some of the things that went on in this book, i highkey was tempted to write more pages myself when i was close to finishing it just so it wouldn’t end (mostly prayers that adela/ vlad won’t be stale-bread ship number #34893 because the flavor on that ship..🤦♀️💦) let me tell yall that it’s been so long since i actually gave af about more than 3 things in a book i was reading.
🐉 the plot
so the majority of this book takes place in the past, giving the readers a microscopic look into val and vlad’s psyche, the pinpoint that made them the val and vlad that we know now, and their backgrounds. imo, it made sense why lauren gilley chose to spend a lot of time going back into the past and some aspects of this were done well, but out of all the parts in this book, i think the delving into the character’s past part is where i felt it dragged the most. there were a couple of factors that i think are the main reason why the flashbacks were the least interesting part and ya girl is gonna be annoying and talk about them in detail rn ‘cause i have a lot to say. let’s just say i’m not a fan of the “make-a-character-go-through-shit-every-2-mins and bat-people’s- heads-with-how-tragic-their-life-is” trope. val’s past was mostly bad shit after bad shit happening and i truly, truly, feel like there are 9044 ways you can depict a character’s backstory and showcase its bleakness. also, i get the fact that this is a way to garner sympathy from the audience and make us care about him, but making val get raped every 2 mins ain’t it. not everyone’s life is rainbows and unicorns and going into this book i fully knew it was going to be dark, but when the author constantly beats you with the head with how tragic the character’s life is and literally, makes them a magnet for misfortune i’m just gonna be desensitized to anything that happens to them at this point. what makes this even more annoying is the fact that val’s character really slaps, so miss lauren gilley giving him this trope, is honestly doing him dirty. i said this once and imma say it again: bad bitch characters that literally make shrewdness and guile an art form own me. that’s val. i want to see more of his manipulate-everyone bad bitch shenanigans.
moving on, another thing that i thought made me less engaged with the story or more specifically, the long-ass 500+ page flashback section was the fact that it was heavily politics-focused and i just felt a lot of the times the characters/ character dynamics took a backseat which, the focusing on politics part i get, because we are mostly following two princes, so inevitably, there’s going to be a lot of politicking and court-intrigue involved, but i just don’t understand why a lot of the times the characters had to take a backseat for something way less appealing, at least imo. a big reason why i read this series is the fact that the bone’s of this story are the characters and without them, i think it wouldn’t stand to be as good of a story as it currently is. also, some of the character-related things in this section were not done as well as they could have been like the relationship between cicero and vlad or val’s evolvement from being naive and innocent to being In The Know. i mean, this is the kind of thing i would maybe brush off if it was a short book and there was no room to develop or build up this kind of thing, but it’s literally an 800-page book and tbh this could’ve easily been avoided. with val it just seemed like he did a 180 i’m not gonna lie i just wish his development was written in a more believable way and tbh this makes me 10x bitter ‘cause i’m such a hoe for characters that start off as being soft and uwu, and then just become completely morally ambiguous. yall might think of val as being That anti hero character after that little description, but no, he’s actually still soft af but i love those little anti hero inklings that lauren gilley gave us w him. i def wanna see more of that. i had a similar problem w vlad and cicero’s relationship, it felt rushed and i’m honestly so confusion because cicero was literally here ever since vlad was born?? i personally just didn’t really see their attachment with e/o even though we were constantly told it’s there. i mean, i don’t think this would be a problem if cicero wasn’t gonna have an important role later on in the books, but he will from what i gathered from reading this book.
the last 200+ pages of the book?? amazing-showstopping-spectacular. this was the chunk that was the most interesting to read about ‘cause there were a lot of characters that were introduced that have the potential of being really interesting and just almost add a whole new layer to the book. there was also this element that made the book so addictive and tbh, idk if it’s because it read like one of those binge-worthy paranormal tv shows that i use to watch in the past or something else entirely, but yall don’t know how long it’s been since i’ve been semi-invested in something. that being said i did have a few problems with this section of the book mostly, ‘cause some of the decisions the characters made were whack af and i just didn’t understand the reasoning behind them, but i’m not gonna talk about that rn ‘cause spoilers and my urgent need for this review not to be 3933 yrs long.
🐉 characters:
we been knew how much i love bad bitch val so I'll move on with the characters that i actually haven't talked about...
vlad: starts fights w everyone. stubborn af. has the brawn and (sometimes) brains. i appreciate him. i love him. but my god were some of his decisions and actions nonsensical esp for someone who we’re told is very intelligent. there were a couple of times where i was confused with how he dealt w things, which made me less connected and attached to him as a character and i’d just like to preface this by saying: you don’t have to understand a character’s motives to be able to be attached to them. there are characters that are purposefully written this way, they’re supposed to make the reader question their actions + motives, they’re supposed to be the embodiment of a question mark. vlad is not that character. he’s as straightforward and blunt as an ox, bulldozing his way into things is how he usually deals with things. he never sugarcoats anything, never keeps someone guessing his next move for long (because usually, he would’ve already just done what he wanted to do straight away) there’s this (1) scene in particular that i think perfectly showcases how stupit he is and i’m not gonna lie, it still haunts me to this day, idk it doesn’t make sense to me & i just felt like the tension and hatred that vlad has towards his brother seems forced like find a better reason to hate ur brother pls. this one does not compute whatsoever. i’m glad that thing at the end happened tho, val is honestly a saint. i would’ve let my inner narcissistic self jump out and make him write an 8 page essay about why he would be dead without me and then make him write another 8-page essay about why he’s a dumb bitch who doesn’t deserve me, that’ll teach him. gist is i like my ugly son but just wish he wouldn’t be as much of a dumbass as he is…makes the reading experience better.
fulk: honestly wish he had another characteristic other than being a pushover. his whole pov just consists of him being walked all over by everyone, which would’ve been fine if he actually had other qualities and i personally don’t care if we root for those qualities or not just pls give us something 🤦♀️ he’s lucky his relationship w anna is cute af otherwise his character would’ve been an all-around flop. there’s also this thing that happened at the end of the book concerning him and tbh i just can’t seem to let it go because ??? it made me so confusion???
adela: think she could break the female-character-who-we-know-nothing-about-other-than-her-occupation cycle that, tbh, kinda seems to be a theme in this series, at least for me considering i value characters and any character that is remotely bland just immediately lessens my enjoyment of the story. the only characters i want to waste my time on are complex 3-dimensional ones, not variations of the same bland characters we see in every book. adela has potential, whether or not the author chooses to actually see that potential through or throw it away is up to her. another thing that i think has potential is adela’s relationship with vlad. don’t come @ me but i actually like love-triangles uwu so i’m lowkey hoping there’s one between adela/ vlad/ ?? that guy i’m forgetting the name of. anyway, the breadcrumbs that we got of adela/ vlad were cute af and i really want someone to bring the inner soft vlad, idc if he drags fulk for being soft, his time is next. he’s gonna be so whipped for adela yall the psychic jumped out.
eira: @ the 3 people that actually read this book yall are free to roast me if i spelled her name wrong she doesn’t deserve this kinda disrespect esp because she was legit the only bitch in this book who was consistent af and didn’t make me shake my head left and right at her stupidity, well, her and val.
🐉 relationships:
val + vlad: for the most part, i’m a hoe for sibling relationships so really even though some of the things when it comes to their relationship seem forced to me and didn’t really make a lot of cents, i still am a hoe for their dynamic and am excited to see the development between them. also, still waiting for vlad to write the 8-page apology letter but w/e.
val + vlad + eira: THE ONLY PURE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK 😭😭 like the fact that vlad and val are bad bitches but still call her mama and her being one of the few people they’re actually vulnerable with is something i, tbh, treasure, and despite the fact that we literally got a handful of scenes with the 3 of them together, their relationship was something that i really liked reading about and honestly, i think it’ll only get more fleshed-out because of the fact that eira might appear again and have a bigger, more integral role to play in the series, i think even lauren gilley mentioned this at one point.
anna + fulk: there’s so much more to them than i feel like what we’re being shown. i highkey want them to have their own book because the breadcrumbs we got of their pasts are so interesting.
🐉 overall:
despite my attachment to this series and it’s characters, i think i’m gonna give this book a 3.5. mainly, because of the nagging wyd moments and the lack of brain cells some characters. not gonna name any names.
🐉 the plot
so the majority of this book takes place in the past, giving the readers a microscopic look into val and vlad’s psyche, the pinpoint that made them the val and vlad that we know now, and their backgrounds. imo, it made sense why lauren gilley chose to spend a lot of time going back into the past and some aspects of this were done well, but out of all the parts in this book, i think the delving into the character’s past part is where i felt it dragged the most. there were a couple of factors that i think are the main reason why the flashbacks were the least interesting part and ya girl is gonna be annoying and talk about them in detail rn ‘cause i have a lot to say. let’s just say i’m not a fan of the “make-a-character-go-through-shit-every-2-mins and bat-people’s- heads-with-how-tragic-their-life-is” trope. val’s past was mostly bad shit after bad shit happening and i truly, truly, feel like there are 9044 ways you can depict a character’s backstory and showcase its bleakness. also, i get the fact that this is a way to garner sympathy from the audience and make us care about him, but making val get raped every 2 mins ain’t it. not everyone’s life is rainbows and unicorns and going into this book i fully knew it was going to be dark, but when the author constantly beats you with the head with how tragic the character’s life is and literally, makes them a magnet for misfortune i’m just gonna be desensitized to anything that happens to them at this point. what makes this even more annoying is the fact that val’s character really slaps, so miss lauren gilley giving him this trope, is honestly doing him dirty. i said this once and imma say it again: bad bitch characters that literally make shrewdness and guile an art form own me. that’s val. i want to see more of his manipulate-everyone bad bitch shenanigans.
moving on, another thing that i thought made me less engaged with the story or more specifically, the long-ass 500+ page flashback section was the fact that it was heavily politics-focused and i just felt a lot of the times the characters/ character dynamics took a backseat which, the focusing on politics part i get, because we are mostly following two princes, so inevitably, there’s going to be a lot of politicking and court-intrigue involved, but i just don’t understand why a lot of the times the characters had to take a backseat for something way less appealing, at least imo. a big reason why i read this series is the fact that the bone’s of this story are the characters and without them, i think it wouldn’t stand to be as good of a story as it currently is. also, some of the character-related things in this section were not done as well as they could have been like the relationship between cicero and vlad or val’s evolvement from being naive and innocent to being In The Know. i mean, this is the kind of thing i would maybe brush off if it was a short book and there was no room to develop or build up this kind of thing, but it’s literally an 800-page book and tbh this could’ve easily been avoided. with val it just seemed like he did a 180 i’m not gonna lie i just wish his development was written in a more believable way and tbh this makes me 10x bitter ‘cause i’m such a hoe for characters that start off as being soft and uwu, and then just become completely morally ambiguous. yall might think of val as being That anti hero character after that little description, but no, he’s actually still soft af but i love those little anti hero inklings that lauren gilley gave us w him. i def wanna see more of that. i had a similar problem w vlad and cicero’s relationship, it felt rushed and i’m honestly so confusion because cicero was literally here ever since vlad was born?? i personally just didn’t really see their attachment with e/o even though we were constantly told it’s there. i mean, i don’t think this would be a problem if cicero wasn’t gonna have an important role later on in the books, but he will from what i gathered from reading this book.
the last 200+ pages of the book?? amazing-showstopping-spectacular. this was the chunk that was the most interesting to read about ‘cause there were a lot of characters that were introduced that have the potential of being really interesting and just almost add a whole new layer to the book. there was also this element that made the book so addictive and tbh, idk if it’s because it read like one of those binge-worthy paranormal tv shows that i use to watch in the past or something else entirely, but yall don’t know how long it’s been since i’ve been semi-invested in something. that being said i did have a few problems with this section of the book mostly, ‘cause some of the decisions the characters made were whack af and i just didn’t understand the reasoning behind them, but i’m not gonna talk about that rn ‘cause spoilers and my urgent need for this review not to be 3933 yrs long.
🐉 characters:
we been knew how much i love bad bitch val so I'll move on with the characters that i actually haven't talked about...
vlad: starts fights w everyone. stubborn af. has the brawn and (sometimes) brains. i appreciate him. i love him. but my god were some of his decisions and actions nonsensical esp for someone who we’re told is very intelligent. there were a couple of times where i was confused with how he dealt w things, which made me less connected and attached to him as a character and i’d just like to preface this by saying: you don’t have to understand a character’s motives to be able to be attached to them. there are characters that are purposefully written this way, they’re supposed to make the reader question their actions + motives, they’re supposed to be the embodiment of a question mark. vlad is not that character. he’s as straightforward and blunt as an ox, bulldozing his way into things is how he usually deals with things. he never sugarcoats anything, never keeps someone guessing his next move for long (because usually, he would’ve already just done what he wanted to do straight away) there’s this (1) scene in particular that i think perfectly showcases how stupit he is and i’m not gonna lie, it still haunts me to this day, idk it doesn’t make sense to me & i just felt like the tension and hatred that vlad has towards his brother seems forced like find a better reason to hate ur brother pls. this one does not compute whatsoever. i’m glad that thing at the end happened tho, val is honestly a saint. i would’ve let my inner narcissistic self jump out and make him write an 8 page essay about why he would be dead without me and then make him write another 8-page essay about why he’s a dumb bitch who doesn’t deserve me, that’ll teach him. gist is i like my ugly son but just wish he wouldn’t be as much of a dumbass as he is…makes the reading experience better.
fulk: honestly wish he had another characteristic other than being a pushover. his whole pov just consists of him being walked all over by everyone, which would’ve been fine if he actually had other qualities and i personally don’t care if we root for those qualities or not just pls give us something 🤦♀️ he’s lucky his relationship w anna is cute af otherwise his character would’ve been an all-around flop. there’s also this thing that happened at the end of the book concerning him and tbh i just can’t seem to let it go because ??? it made me so confusion???
adela: think she could break the female-character-who-we-know-nothing-about-other-than-her-occupation cycle that, tbh, kinda seems to be a theme in this series, at least for me considering i value characters and any character that is remotely bland just immediately lessens my enjoyment of the story. the only characters i want to waste my time on are complex 3-dimensional ones, not variations of the same bland characters we see in every book. adela has potential, whether or not the author chooses to actually see that potential through or throw it away is up to her. another thing that i think has potential is adela’s relationship with vlad. don’t come @ me but i actually like love-triangles uwu so i’m lowkey hoping there’s one between adela/ vlad/ ?? that guy i’m forgetting the name of. anyway, the breadcrumbs that we got of adela/ vlad were cute af and i really want someone to bring the inner soft vlad, idc if he drags fulk for being soft, his time is next. he’s gonna be so whipped for adela yall the psychic jumped out.
eira: @ the 3 people that actually read this book yall are free to roast me if i spelled her name wrong she doesn’t deserve this kinda disrespect esp because she was legit the only bitch in this book who was consistent af and didn’t make me shake my head left and right at her stupidity, well, her and val.
🐉 relationships:
val + vlad: for the most part, i’m a hoe for sibling relationships so really even though some of the things when it comes to their relationship seem forced to me and didn’t really make a lot of cents, i still am a hoe for their dynamic and am excited to see the development between them. also, still waiting for vlad to write the 8-page apology letter but w/e.
val + vlad + eira: THE ONLY PURE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK 😭😭 like the fact that vlad and val are bad bitches but still call her mama and her being one of the few people they’re actually vulnerable with is something i, tbh, treasure, and despite the fact that we literally got a handful of scenes with the 3 of them together, their relationship was something that i really liked reading about and honestly, i think it’ll only get more fleshed-out because of the fact that eira might appear again and have a bigger, more integral role to play in the series, i think even lauren gilley mentioned this at one point.
anna + fulk: there’s so much more to them than i feel like what we’re being shown. i highkey want them to have their own book because the breadcrumbs we got of their pasts are so interesting.
🐉 overall:
despite my attachment to this series and it’s characters, i think i’m gonna give this book a 3.5. mainly, because of the nagging wyd moments and the lack of brain cells some characters. not gonna name any names.
August 3, 2021
3 stars
Oy, this book! Too long by about 300 pages, this third instalment in the Sons of Rome series was good in some parts and really bad in others. I did enjoy Vlad and Val’s backstory (btw: huge content warning for child sexual abuse) and finding out how Vlad ended up buried underground and Val imprisoned. I felt like we understood ‘Vlad The Impaler’ a little better, although he was a shit big brother and didn’t deserve Val’s mercy. I loved Val even more after reading this but his taste in women is crap.
As usual, female characters all get short shrift in this book but the award for the most useless character goes to the Bella Swan of the group, Mia. She’s pretty and boring, and I think her sole purpose is to ‘cleanse’ Val of his past? Thanks, I hate it. Seriously, though, let’s get some smart, kickass women in this series ffs.
The lack of editing really killed this book, though. There’s so many people who I don’t care about (Adele and Jake) and so much I feel like I’m still missing (Fulk and Anna are a complete mystery to me, even after three books) and I don’t foresee future books being shorter or edited tighter. But since I love Nik and Sasha, I’ll go ahead read book 4. Here’s hoping they get their HEA.
Oy, this book! Too long by about 300 pages, this third instalment in the Sons of Rome series was good in some parts and really bad in others. I did enjoy Vlad and Val’s backstory (btw: huge content warning for child sexual abuse) and finding out how Vlad ended up buried underground and Val imprisoned. I felt like we understood ‘Vlad The Impaler’ a little better, although he was a shit big brother and didn’t deserve Val’s mercy. I loved Val even more after reading this but his taste in women is crap.
As usual, female characters all get short shrift in this book but the award for the most useless character goes to the Bella Swan of the group, Mia. She’s pretty and boring, and I think her sole purpose is to ‘cleanse’ Val of his past? Thanks, I hate it. Seriously, though, let’s get some smart, kickass women in this series ffs.
The lack of editing really killed this book, though. There’s so many people who I don’t care about (Adele and Jake) and so much I feel like I’m still missing (Fulk and Anna are a complete mystery to me, even after three books) and I don’t foresee future books being shorter or edited tighter. But since I love Nik and Sasha, I’ll go ahead read book 4. Here’s hoping they get their HEA.
November 14, 2021
I really enjoy this series and especially enjoyed this entry in it.
In the last book we were introduced to Valerian and Vlad Dracul, but most of this book is their story. Their history and actions as young boys, born vampires, in the 15th century. While the author admits to certain liberties with their stories, pretty sure they weren’t really vampires, it’s still very interesting reading.
This series is huge, these books are novels. The author is building up to the big battle between good and bad immortals and I thoroughly enjoy her using historical figures like Romulus and Remus, Richard Lionheart, Robin of Locksley. She does a terrific job of “world building”, for much of this book we are in 15th century Eastern Europe. The first book was mostly in the post tsar Russia. This writer takes great pains to create a scene where you feel you are actually among the actions and scenes. She’s wildly talented. Relationships are slow builds and sad and sweet.
I don’t see this series ending anytime soon, but we don’t leave off on a cliffhanger, so you don’t HAVE to wait for them all to be published to begin reading. Paranormal, romance, and historical non and fiction all in one place!
In the last book we were introduced to Valerian and Vlad Dracul, but most of this book is their story. Their history and actions as young boys, born vampires, in the 15th century. While the author admits to certain liberties with their stories, pretty sure they weren’t really vampires, it’s still very interesting reading.
This series is huge, these books are novels. The author is building up to the big battle between good and bad immortals and I thoroughly enjoy her using historical figures like Romulus and Remus, Richard Lionheart, Robin of Locksley. She does a terrific job of “world building”, for much of this book we are in 15th century Eastern Europe. The first book was mostly in the post tsar Russia. This writer takes great pains to create a scene where you feel you are actually among the actions and scenes. She’s wildly talented. Relationships are slow builds and sad and sweet.
I don’t see this series ending anytime soon, but we don’t leave off on a cliffhanger, so you don’t HAVE to wait for them all to be published to begin reading. Paranormal, romance, and historical non and fiction all in one place!
November 2, 2019
I actually had to do a re-read before I could get thoughts together for a review. This author has taken on a giant task of bringing us not only a paranormal story, but one that speaks heavily about what a family is AND spans hundreds of years of history.
This book takes a step away from the current timeline. We do pop in and out but most of it is the tale of two young princes and how they came to be the men they currently are. We grow up with Val and Vlad during a time of unrest in Europe. There is lost of history and a ton of ground work laid for story lines to come.
I encourage you to pick up this series. It is a saga, so much of the story line continues on in each book. I have a feeling there won't be a resolve until the end of the series. But that is ok with me. The books are lengthy but is will feed every need you may have for historical/paranormal/romantic fiction. I simply cannot put into words how appreciative I am of the authors diligent work in making sure the history pops.
Fantastic series! I can't wait to get my hands on the next part of the story.
This book takes a step away from the current timeline. We do pop in and out but most of it is the tale of two young princes and how they came to be the men they currently are. We grow up with Val and Vlad during a time of unrest in Europe. There is lost of history and a ton of ground work laid for story lines to come.
I encourage you to pick up this series. It is a saga, so much of the story line continues on in each book. I have a feeling there won't be a resolve until the end of the series. But that is ok with me. The books are lengthy but is will feed every need you may have for historical/paranormal/romantic fiction. I simply cannot put into words how appreciative I am of the authors diligent work in making sure the history pops.
Fantastic series! I can't wait to get my hands on the next part of the story.
June 11, 2019
A history lesson
I love Lauren Gilley books and Mercy has always been my favorite but Vlad i love just as much. This book had me stopping and googling the real events and really learning about history. If you find Vlad the impailer to barbaric ,can you blame him. Looking forward to the next book but also want much more of VLAD.
I love Lauren Gilley books and Mercy has always been my favorite but Vlad i love just as much. This book had me stopping and googling the real events and really learning about history. If you find Vlad the impailer to barbaric ,can you blame him. Looking forward to the next book but also want much more of VLAD.
December 24, 2019
Amazing. Epic.
May 29, 2019
The best in the series...so far
I enjoyed this book better than the first two. Especially when we were in the past. I could have done less with the pedophilia and the rape. I like Vlad and Val. I would read the next book, only to continue their stories. Val, Vlad, Nik and Sasha are the only characters that interest me.
I enjoyed this book better than the first two. Especially when we were in the past. I could have done less with the pedophilia and the rape. I like Vlad and Val. I would read the next book, only to continue their stories. Val, Vlad, Nik and Sasha are the only characters that interest me.
July 16, 2020
3.5 stars
May 3, 2019
This book has ruined me for all others!! The detail & storytelling!! I felt like I was there. Can't wait for more!!!!
September 12, 2019
I don’t know how she does it again and again. Telling stories within stories and creating characters that we know how we feel about them. And then telling a different view of a story within and you find your self picking this character above all. When you were not even interested in his side. I’m rambling....
The layers upon layers of character development, mystery, progression and the depth that Lauren can build into her worlds is unparalleled in the fiction I read.
I find myself inspired to seek out knowledge of the “real life” models and find myself wanting to trace their steps on this Earth.
I find myself savoring chapter my chapter because I can literally feel the tension and vibration of movement in the story. I crave it but I’m not ready for it to end.
The Sons of Rome, my Chekists, the packs, the red roosters, the merry men and more have been my biggest surprise in 2019 and I’m sad to have not read them earlier. To have had them to enjoy. But I’m a bit relieved that Golden Eagle is coming in a mere matter of months.
Just enough time for some “lite” research reading and a re-read!!
The layers upon layers of character development, mystery, progression and the depth that Lauren can build into her worlds is unparalleled in the fiction I read.
I find myself inspired to seek out knowledge of the “real life” models and find myself wanting to trace their steps on this Earth.
I find myself savoring chapter my chapter because I can literally feel the tension and vibration of movement in the story. I crave it but I’m not ready for it to end.
The Sons of Rome, my Chekists, the packs, the red roosters, the merry men and more have been my biggest surprise in 2019 and I’m sad to have not read them earlier. To have had them to enjoy. But I’m a bit relieved that Golden Eagle is coming in a mere matter of months.
Just enough time for some “lite” research reading and a re-read!!
June 27, 2019
Amazing as always. Lauren Gilley really knows how to put a story together. She feeds the history buff in me. This book had me remembering my history classes in college. I remember about the Roman empire and a little about the Ottoman, however this made me want to go and research more (which I did a little bit). Not to say the book is filled with historical informtion. The information only adds a back drop for the story of Val and Vlad.
I still love Val and hearing his story i just wanto hug him. All that he had to got through. You'll get the story of him from he was little to "present book". You'll see that people had him all wrong. And I love his realationship between he and Mia and ow he first met her.
I don't hate Vlad like I did in the previous book. He went through so much himself, and to protect everyone he turned into "The Impaler". His relationship with his brother was just a misundrstanding.
Excellent read. Great writing. Amazing storytelling. Can't wait for the the next installment. There are some characters I'm wondering what happend to them. Wondering if they will make a return.
I absolutely loved reading this book it took so long because I didn't want it to end. If you want to go through all emotion and love a little para. Read it!!!!!
I still love Val and hearing his story i just wanto hug him. All that he had to got through. You'll get the story of him from he was little to "present book". You'll see that people had him all wrong. And I love his realationship between he and Mia and ow he first met her.
I don't hate Vlad like I did in the previous book. He went through so much himself, and to protect everyone he turned into "The Impaler". His relationship with his brother was just a misundrstanding.
Excellent read. Great writing. Amazing storytelling. Can't wait for the the next installment. There are some characters I'm wondering what happend to them. Wondering if they will make a return.
I absolutely loved reading this book it took so long because I didn't want it to end. If you want to go through all emotion and love a little para. Read it!!!!!
June 4, 2019
:::
Overall Rating :: 4 stars
Series :: Book three of the Sons of Rome series.
POV :: Alternating.
Cliffhanger :: Yes.
HEA ::
:::
I can't believe it took me almost a month to finish this book. That is not a testament to the writing. Quite the opposite in fact. This might be one of the best written books by Lauren Gilley, or any author I've read for that matter, to date. It's beautifully detailed. It's matter-of-fact. It's intricate. It's also almost lyrical in its execution. Dragon Slayer weaves a tapestry of intermingled characters and complex politics. It's about people. And human (or paranormal) nature. It's about so many things, almost least of all, about vampire and werewolves. I'm so lucky, as a reader, to be on this journey. I can't wait to see where Ms. Gilley takes me next.
Overall Rating :: 4 stars
Series :: Book three of the Sons of Rome series.
POV :: Alternating.
Cliffhanger :: Yes.
HEA ::
:::
I can't believe it took me almost a month to finish this book. That is not a testament to the writing. Quite the opposite in fact. This might be one of the best written books by Lauren Gilley, or any author I've read for that matter, to date. It's beautifully detailed. It's matter-of-fact. It's intricate. It's also almost lyrical in its execution. Dragon Slayer weaves a tapestry of intermingled characters and complex politics. It's about people. And human (or paranormal) nature. It's about so many things, almost least of all, about vampire and werewolves. I'm so lucky, as a reader, to be on this journey. I can't wait to see where Ms. Gilley takes me next.
June 9, 2019
Dragon Slayer is book 3 in the series. This book was amazing! It took me a long time to read, but not because I wasn’t enjoying it. It’s almost 800 pages and the content is not easy. It details a look back on Vlad and Val and how they got to be the vampires they are today. Their stories are heavy and emotional. They had much to endure and overcome, and their relationship with each other was often tumultuous. This book was filled with history and was important to the series. I’ve grown to love Vlad and can’t wait to see where his story goes from here. There were amazing surprises and twists involved that I am still thinking about. And the ending...epic!! ❤️
November 21, 2021
Lauren Gilley rises again!
Wow! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this 3rd book of the Sons of Rome series. If you're going to read this book I recommend you read the Afterword first. I was left with my mouth open a bit because I don't really know much of Romanian or Ottoman empire history. But to think that this event happened very closely as it was written here, surprised me. I always thought they were dark fairy tales.
So, I'm off into more darkness with the 4th book.
Wow! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this 3rd book of the Sons of Rome series. If you're going to read this book I recommend you read the Afterword first. I was left with my mouth open a bit because I don't really know much of Romanian or Ottoman empire history. But to think that this event happened very closely as it was written here, surprised me. I always thought they were dark fairy tales.
So, I'm off into more darkness with the 4th book.
July 11, 2021
Dear Ms Lauren Gilly,
I have nothing but praise for Dragon Slayer. Both Valerian and Vlad were beautifully protrayed here and how you connected their story to vampirism, warewolves, family, war... it was all woven so beautifully together that I have nothing but admiration.
My heart broke... so many times throughout this novel. I can see how it must have been hard for you to research Val/Radu and write this story. The utter cruelty he faced and lived with was horrible. It was so tough for me to read his and even Vlad's story for this reason as I got very very sad and soooo angry for the cruelty and injustice they endured.
I rooted so hard for Val and Mia. He deserved happiness and I want their HFN to be a nice and permanent HEA. I guess we will have to see in the next books what is to come.
Vlad.. I have many feels for. He honestly was a terrible brother upon their capture. I did not understand his logic for staying away and being so cruel to Val/Radu. I get that he couldnt entirely trust Val/Radu when he was still hostage but he was so cruel to him. He was angry for Val/Radu's circumstances yes, but he was also so cruel in his words and distrust. When he said that he would help Val and take care of him in the modern world, I was skeptical. In the end, he finally showed his love for his brother and I was glad for it.
Now I'm wondering what he is going to do about Romulus...
This book was the hardest, most wonderful read I have gotten my hands on.
Ms Lauren, the amount of time and love you have put in can be seen in every page and I... I am blown away! Great job!
Although I hope to look forward to happier moods in the next books. This book really killed my heart and I want to see all these characters happy. They deserve it and you do too :)
I have nothing but praise for Dragon Slayer. Both Valerian and Vlad were beautifully protrayed here and how you connected their story to vampirism, warewolves, family, war... it was all woven so beautifully together that I have nothing but admiration.
My heart broke... so many times throughout this novel. I can see how it must have been hard for you to research Val/Radu and write this story. The utter cruelty he faced and lived with was horrible. It was so tough for me to read his and even Vlad's story for this reason as I got very very sad and soooo angry for the cruelty and injustice they endured.
I rooted so hard for Val and Mia. He deserved happiness and I want their HFN to be a nice and permanent HEA. I guess we will have to see in the next books what is to come.
Vlad.. I have many feels for. He honestly was a terrible brother upon their capture. I did not understand his logic for staying away and being so cruel to Val/Radu. I get that he couldnt entirely trust Val/Radu when he was still hostage but he was so cruel to him. He was angry for Val/Radu's circumstances yes, but he was also so cruel in his words and distrust. When he said that he would help Val and take care of him in the modern world, I was skeptical. In the end, he finally showed his love for his brother and I was glad for it.
Now I'm wondering what he is going to do about Romulus...
This book was the hardest, most wonderful read I have gotten my hands on.
Ms Lauren, the amount of time and love you have put in can be seen in every page and I... I am blown away! Great job!
Although I hope to look forward to happier moods in the next books. This book really killed my heart and I want to see all these characters happy. They deserve it and you do too :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2020
2.5 the warning of the author should be at the beginning. I love Lauren Gilley, and this series has me guessing right and left. I know is a paranormal retells of history. I believe the author could have wrote something around the 350 pages to be the next installment on the series, and then announce that a shorth companion novella of 400 pages would be her indulgence of rewriting the Ottoman Empire book about raping children, WHICH I would have skipped.
Lauren you are the writer and you write about what you want, but you said you wanted to write about vlad tepes over and over again. I follow you on Facebook that's what you said. Nonetheless, you didn't write about vlad but about radu and his rapist sultan
I understand Lauren cried about the rape of children so much she needed to write about it, but it should have been my decision to read about it and I was plain and simple force to read 400 pages of abusing a boy in order to follow the story of vampires and werewolf, and I don't think that is fare. I want to read the paranormal story and I want to appreciate the history lesson, I understand how awful it was for Val to be raped for years, but 400 pages was to much.
I read for freedom, to imagine. I felt disgusting and I found no pleasure on reading that story. My e-reader says it was 700 pages, and 500 pages was rewriting history and 400 pages were about a boy being taken from his family, mistreated by his older brother, and then raped since he was 9 until he was 20 years old.
Now, I knew about the rape, and I knew this was about the brothers, but....the rewriting of the history of the Ottoman Empire frustrated me to death. Because you see... nothing happened, it was vicious circle narrated during 400 pages: Val gets raped, he goes and share the info with the emperor of Constantinople who does nothing and adds nothing to the story either, then Val goes to his brother Vlad, who blameshame him for being raped. Vlad says he's being cruel to protect Val, which it's a lie, because then Vlad goes and do something that gets his brother raped again.
THIS HAPPEND FOR 500 PAGES..... over and over and over and over again! And it adds nothing to the paranormal story, Romulus was mention on around 20 pages of all the book! He barely has an appearance. And he was the super villain and Vlad forgives him and not his brother who was raped at 9? It was just a really bad excuse of justification.
Lauren you are the writer and you write about what you want, but you said you wanted to write about vlad tepes over and over again. I follow you on Facebook that's what you said. Nonetheless, you didn't write about vlad but about radu and his rapist sultan
I understand Lauren cried about the rape of children so much she needed to write about it, but it should have been my decision to read about it and I was plain and simple force to read 400 pages of abusing a boy in order to follow the story of vampires and werewolf, and I don't think that is fare. I want to read the paranormal story and I want to appreciate the history lesson, I understand how awful it was for Val to be raped for years, but 400 pages was to much.
I read for freedom, to imagine. I felt disgusting and I found no pleasure on reading that story. My e-reader says it was 700 pages, and 500 pages was rewriting history and 400 pages were about a boy being taken from his family, mistreated by his older brother, and then raped since he was 9 until he was 20 years old.
Now, I knew about the rape, and I knew this was about the brothers, but....the rewriting of the history of the Ottoman Empire frustrated me to death. Because you see... nothing happened, it was vicious circle narrated during 400 pages: Val gets raped, he goes and share the info with the emperor of Constantinople who does nothing and adds nothing to the story either, then Val goes to his brother Vlad, who blameshame him for being raped. Vlad says he's being cruel to protect Val, which it's a lie, because then Vlad goes and do something that gets his brother raped again.
THIS HAPPEND FOR 500 PAGES..... over and over and over and over again! And it adds nothing to the paranormal story, Romulus was mention on around 20 pages of all the book! He barely has an appearance. And he was the super villain and Vlad forgives him and not his brother who was raped at 9? It was just a really bad excuse of justification.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2019
Masterpeice, as usual
I sat on this book for days without starting it. I had been so excited for it in the year leading up to it. But when it finally arrived on my Kindle I couldn't bring myself to start.
I knew going into this book, it would make me cry.
I knew going into this book it would take my heart.
I knew going into this book it would sing to my soul.
And it did.
I dragged out the reading for as long as I could, savouring the poetic masterpiece that is Val's story over several days. Characters that I despised going into this book, I found I could love. I will admit that from previous books I didnt care about Vlad and Val, but within Dragon Slayer the two multi faceted monsters were just brought to life and they wormed their way into my heart. God, I never realised how much I need to see Vlad happy. If I could read Dragon Slayer again for the first time, I would. And I would savour every little bit of it.
I sat on this book for days without starting it. I had been so excited for it in the year leading up to it. But when it finally arrived on my Kindle I couldn't bring myself to start.
I knew going into this book, it would make me cry.
I knew going into this book it would take my heart.
I knew going into this book it would sing to my soul.
And it did.
I dragged out the reading for as long as I could, savouring the poetic masterpiece that is Val's story over several days. Characters that I despised going into this book, I found I could love. I will admit that from previous books I didnt care about Vlad and Val, but within Dragon Slayer the two multi faceted monsters were just brought to life and they wormed their way into my heart. God, I never realised how much I need to see Vlad happy. If I could read Dragon Slayer again for the first time, I would. And I would savour every little bit of it.
March 25, 2020
This series just keeps getting better and better. I haven't connected with characters this much in a long time, and I'm not just talking about the main characters - the supporting characters just as much, if not more. It's crazy!! I am seriously in awe of this author's writing ability and style!
I despised Vlad at the end of book 2 and then I started reading book 3 and I completely understood him and by the end, he's right up there as my favorite character (of course I have about 6 or 7 favorite characters at this point because I can't choose and love so many).
This book, geez it gave me the feels. I can't stop thinking about it. The mother in me wants to wrap Vlad and Val up in my arms and never let them go. My heart aches. Have I mentioned the feels? And I absolutely adore the bonds and relationships between these characters. Mia and Val? Huge smile on my face and butterflies in my stomach. I'm dying for more Vlad now, and I'm super stoked to start book 4 after that ending!
I despised Vlad at the end of book 2 and then I started reading book 3 and I completely understood him and by the end, he's right up there as my favorite character (of course I have about 6 or 7 favorite characters at this point because I can't choose and love so many).
This book, geez it gave me the feels. I can't stop thinking about it. The mother in me wants to wrap Vlad and Val up in my arms and never let them go. My heart aches. Have I mentioned the feels? And I absolutely adore the bonds and relationships between these characters. Mia and Val? Huge smile on my face and butterflies in my stomach. I'm dying for more Vlad now, and I'm super stoked to start book 4 after that ending!
June 20, 2021
i started this book with the idea that i wouldn't finish it. in the previous two books, i didn't find myself overly attached to val as a character. however, upon rereading the second installment, val stuck out much more to me, and i found myself wanting to know his story. i praise lauren gilley often, and i've become very attached to her work. and dragon slayer is worth every star i've given it. val and vlad's reconciliation was beautifully done, as was both their origin stories. gilley's beautifully crafted both brothers and i'm so painfully excited to see how their stories end, especially with how they're now inextricably tangled with the stories of nikita and sasha, fulk and annabelle, rooster and ruby, and lanny and trina. that being said, i will undoubtedly ugly-cry when this series is over. i'm not ready for it. but i am wholly excited to read golden eagle and lionheart.
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