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Fire and Valor #1
The King's Dragon
Lord Tristram Radcliffe has a secret—he is the only dragon at the king’s court in Llangard. It’s a secret he’s kept from the knights he’s fought beside, from the ladies who bat their lashes at him, and from his closest companion, Prince Reynold. If it were to get out, he’d be banished to the Mawrcraig Mountains along with the rest of his kind, but the kingdom of men is the only one he’s ever known, and his heart lives in the stone halls of those who’d count him an enemy.When the old king dies and Prince Reynold takes the throne, two visitors from the north throw Tristram into the middle of the ancient conflict between dragons and men. They put him on a collision course with the king’s shadow, Bet Kyston, a dangerous assassin who may want him dead or may want more of Tristram that he’d ever thought to give.With the eyes of dragons upon him and a threat from the north creeping toward the home he loves, Tristram must weigh his allegiances before his dual legacies tear him apart.
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2019
437 people are currently reading
1797 people want to read
About the author
W.M. Fawkes
59 books286 followersW.M. Fawkes is an author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romance. With coauthor Sam Burns, she writes feisty Greek gods, men, and monsters in the Lords of the Underworld series. She lives with her partner in a house owned by three halloween-hued felines that dabble regularly in shadow walking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
January 4, 2020
4.5 High Five Hearts!!
You guys…. you’ve got to check this out!
Don’t be fooled by that flashy cover thinking that this is light and whimsical because it’s not. This is fantasy at its best, and it’s set in a land and time where humans and dragons have a tentative peace that teeters on the edge of explosive consequences. However, the divide and animosity runs high, and the chance of a truce is nigh impossible despite a potential dangerous and common foe.
This is a world about a new king coming into ascension, one whose less than savory personality puts many on guard for he’s not the gentle beloved king his father was.
This features the king’s shadow Bet, who has only known struggle and pain, whose life was elevated and ultimately, saved by his highness. His loyalty is devout and steadfast, being the new king’s eyes, ears, and hands in all things necessary and not necessary regarding the king’s whims and needs.
This centers on the king’s cousin and best friend Tris, whose strength and goodness and honor shine brightly through. However, he’s hiding a very big secret. He's half dragon, which puts him in quite the precarious position as most in the kingdom of Llangard despise dragons out of the long established hatred when they once enslaved and ruled over humans - and that includes the king himself.
So get ready for a slow burn attraction between Tris and Bet. Two men with different ranks, on opposite ends of the social spectrum but each outcasts in their own right. Though they’ve noticed each other from afar, their paths rarely cross until one day they do. When Tris’s secret is exposed, each man and the many other characters have some very very difficult choices to make, all of which will have damning repercussions.
Overall, Fawkes and Burns have created something that’s quite impressive. It’s intricate, complex, boasting no less than 7 POV’s, all tied together ingeniously with a torturous build and reveal that keeps you on edge, where around the corner things can change in a flash and one’s status or life hangs in the balance. So many secrets abound in all sorts of ways involving assignations, alliances, promises, betrayals, magic, and dangerous longings all just waiting to be discovered.
If you like a Game of Thrones-esque type set up, a romance that is hard fought and not quite yet won, where the protagonists’ struggles are weighted, meaningful, and angsty, then this is for you, and I don't say that lightly.
Though this ends tentatively (and please don’t let that dissuade you) it has a concrete conclusion for this first installment and leaves the reader chomping at the bit for so much more! I just hate that I have to wait an interminable and unknown amount of time for the next book! Write faster please!
Thank you to the authors for a copy in exchange for a honest review
You guys…. you’ve got to check this out!
Don’t be fooled by that flashy cover thinking that this is light and whimsical because it’s not. This is fantasy at its best, and it’s set in a land and time where humans and dragons have a tentative peace that teeters on the edge of explosive consequences. However, the divide and animosity runs high, and the chance of a truce is nigh impossible despite a potential dangerous and common foe.
This is a world about a new king coming into ascension, one whose less than savory personality puts many on guard for he’s not the gentle beloved king his father was.
This features the king’s shadow Bet, who has only known struggle and pain, whose life was elevated and ultimately, saved by his highness. His loyalty is devout and steadfast, being the new king’s eyes, ears, and hands in all things necessary and not necessary regarding the king’s whims and needs.
This centers on the king’s cousin and best friend Tris, whose strength and goodness and honor shine brightly through. However, he’s hiding a very big secret. He's half dragon, which puts him in quite the precarious position as most in the kingdom of Llangard despise dragons out of the long established hatred when they once enslaved and ruled over humans - and that includes the king himself.
So get ready for a slow burn attraction between Tris and Bet. Two men with different ranks, on opposite ends of the social spectrum but each outcasts in their own right. Though they’ve noticed each other from afar, their paths rarely cross until one day they do. When Tris’s secret is exposed, each man and the many other characters have some very very difficult choices to make, all of which will have damning repercussions.
Overall, Fawkes and Burns have created something that’s quite impressive. It’s intricate, complex, boasting no less than 7 POV’s, all tied together ingeniously with a torturous build and reveal that keeps you on edge, where around the corner things can change in a flash and one’s status or life hangs in the balance. So many secrets abound in all sorts of ways involving assignations, alliances, promises, betrayals, magic, and dangerous longings all just waiting to be discovered.
If you like a Game of Thrones-esque type set up, a romance that is hard fought and not quite yet won, where the protagonists’ struggles are weighted, meaningful, and angsty, then this is for you, and I don't say that lightly.
Though this ends tentatively (and please don’t let that dissuade you) it has a concrete conclusion for this first installment and leaves the reader chomping at the bit for so much more! I just hate that I have to wait an interminable and unknown amount of time for the next book! Write faster please!
Thank you to the authors for a copy in exchange for a honest review
December 7, 2023
✅ Smut (M/M)
✅ Characters (some are morally grey)
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Politics
✅ MM and FF romance slowly building
✅(🆗) World building (well done, but not much detailed)
✅(🆗) 7 POVs
❗️❗️ Kinda mild cliffhanger
Lord Tristram Radcliffe has been living at the palace with his cousin Reynold, who just became King, for the past 15 years. He is loyal, brave, kind, and very honorable, but he also has a huge secret: he is a half-dragon. In a world where humans and dragons are not at war anymore, but still hate each other and share a fragile peace (as long as they are not in each other’s vicinity), his life would be forfeited if the King learned about Tris's true parentage. Especially since the King seems to have paranoia tendencies and is looking for deceit, treason, and scheming everywhere.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because this is the kind of story that you enjoy even more if you don't know what to expect.
Tris managed to remain pure and good at court, which says a lot about his character. He always has a kind word and is loved by (almost) everyone. Honestly, it's hard not to love him as a reader, he is interesting and struggles with his dragon heritage, and I can't wait to see him finally come to terms with this side of him. His friendship with Princess Gillian, the King’s sister was so sweet and heartwarming. Gillian is a pre, kindhearted soul, and I absolutely adored her and her unwavering support and love for Tris.
Now, my favorite; Bet Kyston.
He is the King's shadow and lives to serve his King, especially since he owes everything to Reynold. He is the assassin taking care of all the King's dirty businesses, the peasant boy who has become a killing machine, and everyone is either afraid of him, or despises him for being an honorless pet assassin… Well, everyone except the King, the young prince, and Tris. I love how gruff and ruthless Bet was, yet when he was with the young prince Roland, he was the sweetest and would let the prince lead him around simply to make him happy. It’s clear that Bet loves the young prince dearly, and I want more of those cute moments between them because the good in Bet, his honor, and kind heart shine during those times with Roland.
Romance-wise, I wouldn't say that there is a super-strong bond between Bet and Tris (yet), and I would have liked to feel a deeper connection between them as the story progressed, but I know it will come. What I can say for sure is that there is a lot of sexual tension and chemistry and it was goooooood. 🥵 They have some intense moments, but it's not insta-love between them at all, thankfully. Even though they are attracted to each other, they are still worlds apart, and they keep on pulling and pushing each other. Trying to resist their lust and growing feelings, but wanting to enjoy it at the same time while having to keep it a secret because the King would not approve of it. At all. But that's perfect because it means more angst and drama, and it forces the relationship to be a slow burn. 😈
Both men are strong characters and they complete each other well, even though they don't seem to realize it yet. I loved the scene where they had to fight each other, and I really hope that there are some scenes where they fight together against a common enemy in the next book because they are both expert swordsmen and would be a force to be reckoned with if they allied. The political aspect of the book was good but quite simple, and I am hoping for more action and fighting in the next books, especially considering how good Bet and Tris are with weapons... It seems like a waste of talent not to have them fight more enemies along the way.
The secondary characters are also interesting, but I have to say that 7 POVs is a lot. Some of them are great and help us better understand the characters, but others are not as relevant (but they were still interesting). It's not something bad about the book, but let's just say that it was not my favorite aspect of it. That being said, I enjoyed the multiple POVs more the second time around, it felt less overwhelming as I already knew the characters well.
The ending did feel a little abrupt, but that's a minor detail. Overall I really enjoyed this book and probably would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to sleep.
**I listened to the audiobook the second time around, and the narrators did a fantastic job. I was already in love with Greg Boudreaux, but Lessa Lamb was amazing too. Each character had a distinctive voice, and it was so easy to get absorbed into the book.
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✅ Characters (some are morally grey)
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Politics
✅ MM and FF romance slowly building
✅(🆗) World building (well done, but not much detailed)
✅(🆗) 7 POVs
❗️❗️ Kinda mild cliffhanger
Lord Tristram Radcliffe has been living at the palace with his cousin Reynold, who just became King, for the past 15 years. He is loyal, brave, kind, and very honorable, but he also has a huge secret: he is a half-dragon. In a world where humans and dragons are not at war anymore, but still hate each other and share a fragile peace (as long as they are not in each other’s vicinity), his life would be forfeited if the King learned about Tris's true parentage. Especially since the King seems to have paranoia tendencies and is looking for deceit, treason, and scheming everywhere.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because this is the kind of story that you enjoy even more if you don't know what to expect.
Tris managed to remain pure and good at court, which says a lot about his character. He always has a kind word and is loved by (almost) everyone. Honestly, it's hard not to love him as a reader, he is interesting and struggles with his dragon heritage, and I can't wait to see him finally come to terms with this side of him. His friendship with Princess Gillian, the King’s sister was so sweet and heartwarming. Gillian is a pre, kindhearted soul, and I absolutely adored her and her unwavering support and love for Tris.
He seemed perpetually angry, and seemed to particularly dislike Tris. On the other side, the man was beautiful beyond all, and no one seemed to notice it. Those shining dark curls and intense black eyes, the way his lips curled up in a combination of smile and sneer when he felt . . . emotions of whatever kind it was he felt.
Now, my favorite; Bet Kyston.
He is the King's shadow and lives to serve his King, especially since he owes everything to Reynold. He is the assassin taking care of all the King's dirty businesses, the peasant boy who has become a killing machine, and everyone is either afraid of him, or despises him for being an honorless pet assassin… Well, everyone except the King, the young prince, and Tris. I love how gruff and ruthless Bet was, yet when he was with the young prince Roland, he was the sweetest and would let the prince lead him around simply to make him happy. It’s clear that Bet loves the young prince dearly, and I want more of those cute moments between them because the good in Bet, his honor, and kind heart shine during those times with Roland.
Bet kissed like he fought: hard, fast, and with no intention of taking prisoners.
Romance-wise, I wouldn't say that there is a super-strong bond between Bet and Tris (yet), and I would have liked to feel a deeper connection between them as the story progressed, but I know it will come. What I can say for sure is that there is a lot of sexual tension and chemistry and it was goooooood. 🥵 They have some intense moments, but it's not insta-love between them at all, thankfully. Even though they are attracted to each other, they are still worlds apart, and they keep on pulling and pushing each other. Trying to resist their lust and growing feelings, but wanting to enjoy it at the same time while having to keep it a secret because the King would not approve of it. At all. But that's perfect because it means more angst and drama, and it forces the relationship to be a slow burn. 😈
All the fury that had made Tristram a wild opponent when he’d first come to court had been carefully honed. His style was born of hours of training, consideration, thought; Bet’s was all instinct and desperation. He knew what it felt like to get caught by a stronger opponent. The lesson had been beaten into him.
Both men are strong characters and they complete each other well, even though they don't seem to realize it yet. I loved the scene where they had to fight each other, and I really hope that there are some scenes where they fight together against a common enemy in the next book because they are both expert swordsmen and would be a force to be reckoned with if they allied. The political aspect of the book was good but quite simple, and I am hoping for more action and fighting in the next books, especially considering how good Bet and Tris are with weapons... It seems like a waste of talent not to have them fight more enemies along the way.
The secondary characters are also interesting, but I have to say that 7 POVs is a lot. Some of them are great and help us better understand the characters, but others are not as relevant (but they were still interesting). It's not something bad about the book, but let's just say that it was not my favorite aspect of it. That being said, I enjoyed the multiple POVs more the second time around, it felt less overwhelming as I already knew the characters well.
The ending did feel a little abrupt, but that's a minor detail. Overall I really enjoyed this book and probably would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to sleep.
**I listened to the audiobook the second time around, and the narrators did a fantastic job. I was already in love with Greg Boudreaux, but Lessa Lamb was amazing too. Each character had a distinctive voice, and it was so easy to get absorbed into the book.
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September 30, 2019
Okay .. so where do I begin ... 😅 First of all, this is not MM romance at all. This is a fantasy book which has LGBTQIA characters. And this is definitely bordering on epic fantasy. Secondly, I enjoyed this but this book isn’t without faults. There are just too many POVs in this book like tons and for like half of it, I found that I can’t really remember who’s who and when I finally get the hang of it, I found that many characters exhausting in a book. 😅 And another thing is that this ended very abruptly in my opinion. I know that this is the first book in the series and there are going to be more books. But still, we need at least some semblance of closure when a book ends and I didn’t really get that here.
I think this book is definitely more for people who love fantasy rather than MM romance junkies because you are not going to get it here. 🙂 Expansive world building with intriguing characters but I think this needs better editing to make the story a bit more clear and understandable. I enjoyed it. 😌
3.25 dragons, elves and halflings stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Disclaimer: An advanced review copy of this book was provided by the authors via LesCourt services for an honest and unbiased review.
I think this book is definitely more for people who love fantasy rather than MM romance junkies because you are not going to get it here. 🙂 Expansive world building with intriguing characters but I think this needs better editing to make the story a bit more clear and understandable. I enjoyed it. 😌
3.25 dragons, elves and halflings stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Disclaimer: An advanced review copy of this book was provided by the authors via LesCourt services for an honest and unbiased review.
November 28, 2022
The King’s Dragon by W.M. Fawkes and Sam Burns
Fire and Valor Book 1. High Fantasy with multiple lands in a kingdom and dragon shifters. Traces of romance beginnings that are expected to become more in subsequent books. Alternating chapters between six or more main characters.
Lord Tristen Radcliffe is a dragon in hiding. When the current King is killed and Prince Reynold takes the throne, the conflict between dragons and men escalates.
Kingdom politics and intrigue with danger and darkness. The new king is more a monster than those he’s imprisoned. Obviously my sympathy lies with the dragons here.
This ends without a cliffhanger though it is clearly not the end of the story. A great hook will want you to proceed directly into book 2.
Enthralling once you can keep all the POV’s separate and clear.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Lessa Lamb and Greg Boudreaux. They did a fantastic job, each with multiple character voices that were distinct for all the different POV’s. It was a bit slow in tempo so I listened to this at 1.5.
Fire and Valor Book 1. High Fantasy with multiple lands in a kingdom and dragon shifters. Traces of romance beginnings that are expected to become more in subsequent books. Alternating chapters between six or more main characters.
Lord Tristen Radcliffe is a dragon in hiding. When the current King is killed and Prince Reynold takes the throne, the conflict between dragons and men escalates.
Kingdom politics and intrigue with danger and darkness. The new king is more a monster than those he’s imprisoned. Obviously my sympathy lies with the dragons here.
This ends without a cliffhanger though it is clearly not the end of the story. A great hook will want you to proceed directly into book 2.
Enthralling once you can keep all the POV’s separate and clear.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Lessa Lamb and Greg Boudreaux. They did a fantastic job, each with multiple character voices that were distinct for all the different POV’s. It was a bit slow in tempo so I listened to this at 1.5.
August 24, 2020
Absolutely amazing!!!
I got completely swept up in the high fantasy world that Sam Burns and W.M Fawkes built.
It's difficult to talk about this series without giving things away, and honestly I kind of just jumped in when I saw Greg Boudreaux was narrating and it was High Fantasy. Didn't need much more of an incentive and I'm so happy I did. Fire and Valor superceeded my expectations.
Things to look forward to:
- Epic story of dragons, elves, mages and humans
- 4 beautiful love stories MM,MM, MF, FF
- imaginative and intricate world building
- Unlikely allies uniting against a common enemy
- Ruthless cruel villain
- Seamless multiple POV that allows you to see all sides of the story.
- Beautiful writing style
Now my absolute favorite part of this story is definitely the main romance between Lord Tristram Radcliffe and the King's assassin Bet Kyston. Absolutely perfect. From their steamy combustible hallway kisses to the slow progression of their relationship. The struggle Bet has to accept love when he's never known it before. Tristram, the formidable knight who turns into such a pliable shy man in love when Bet has his hands on him. Their love was absolutely perfect and filled me with so much hope and joy.
Epic is an understatement.
I won't say more because truly this is one of those times where it's best to jump in feet first. I'll say I couldn't put it down, I read all three books back to back before I could take a breath to write this review.
The POV switches will be a bit weird in the beginning but half way through the first book it does become second nature because the writers manages to make each character important to the reader. Though at first I totally kept a tally of the characters to keep track.
FABULOUS.
Highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of High Fantasy with a wonderful dose of romance!!
I got completely swept up in the high fantasy world that Sam Burns and W.M Fawkes built.
It's difficult to talk about this series without giving things away, and honestly I kind of just jumped in when I saw Greg Boudreaux was narrating and it was High Fantasy. Didn't need much more of an incentive and I'm so happy I did. Fire and Valor superceeded my expectations.
Things to look forward to:
- Epic story of dragons, elves, mages and humans
- 4 beautiful love stories MM,MM, MF, FF
- imaginative and intricate world building
- Unlikely allies uniting against a common enemy
- Ruthless cruel villain
- Seamless multiple POV that allows you to see all sides of the story.
- Beautiful writing style
Now my absolute favorite part of this story is definitely the main romance between Lord Tristram Radcliffe and the King's assassin Bet Kyston. Absolutely perfect. From their steamy combustible hallway kisses to the slow progression of their relationship. The struggle Bet has to accept love when he's never known it before. Tristram, the formidable knight who turns into such a pliable shy man in love when Bet has his hands on him. Their love was absolutely perfect and filled me with so much hope and joy.
Epic is an understatement.
I won't say more because truly this is one of those times where it's best to jump in feet first. I'll say I couldn't put it down, I read all three books back to back before I could take a breath to write this review.
The POV switches will be a bit weird in the beginning but half way through the first book it does become second nature because the writers manages to make each character important to the reader. Though at first I totally kept a tally of the characters to keep track.
FABULOUS.
Highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of High Fantasy with a wonderful dose of romance!!
September 6, 2019
Simmering with sexual and political tension, The King’s Dragon will pull you close, and won’t let go until its final pages. A wonderfully rich and compelling world.
Lord Tristram Radcliffe is a good man. Honorable to a fault. Loyal to his country and his cousin, the new king. But Tris is not what he seems.
Half-elf Bet Kyston, the king's pet assassin, has honor. But few would notice. Shunned at court and feared by all, he lives to serve his king.
Bet and Tris are worlds apart. But all that's about to change. Tensions rise as the new king begins to wield his new power in unexpected ways, testing both Tris and Bet's unyielding loyalty to breaking point. Dragons are stirring in the north. The crown is threatened. And among it all, Bet and Tris discover they're more alike than either could have imagined.
***
I loved this book. I loved Bet and Tris super-heated lustful exchanges that later turn into a wonderful push-and-pull between two strong characters. I loved that dragons have an OCD urge to hoard stuff, seen in Tris' compulsion to collecting shiny, pointy things. I LOVED that there's a strong and sweet FF relationship developing alongside that of the main characters.
I'm guessing this is the first in a series, because there's much that's NOT touched on, such as Bet's elven heritage and who exactly Tris' father is. I have questions! But I'm happy to wait until the next book. Until then, this can be read as a stand-alone, with a soft cliffhanger ending (the main plot is wrapped up but threads are left for subsequent books).
Well-written and well-edited, and if you're looking for hot elves and dragons (who isn't? ;) ) this book will hit the spot.
***
ARC by kind offer from the authors' PR people. I rarely accept ARCs (I don't have time to review the books I already own!) but the description of this one caught my eye.
Lord Tristram Radcliffe is a good man. Honorable to a fault. Loyal to his country and his cousin, the new king. But Tris is not what he seems.
Half-elf Bet Kyston, the king's pet assassin, has honor. But few would notice. Shunned at court and feared by all, he lives to serve his king.
Bet and Tris are worlds apart. But all that's about to change. Tensions rise as the new king begins to wield his new power in unexpected ways, testing both Tris and Bet's unyielding loyalty to breaking point. Dragons are stirring in the north. The crown is threatened. And among it all, Bet and Tris discover they're more alike than either could have imagined.
***
I loved this book. I loved Bet and Tris super-heated lustful exchanges that later turn into a wonderful push-and-pull between two strong characters. I loved that dragons have an OCD urge to hoard stuff, seen in Tris' compulsion to collecting shiny, pointy things. I LOVED that there's a strong and sweet FF relationship developing alongside that of the main characters.
I'm guessing this is the first in a series, because there's much that's NOT touched on, such as Bet's elven heritage and who exactly Tris' father is. I have questions! But I'm happy to wait until the next book. Until then, this can be read as a stand-alone, with a soft cliffhanger ending (the main plot is wrapped up but threads are left for subsequent books).
Well-written and well-edited, and if you're looking for hot elves and dragons (who isn't? ;) ) this book will hit the spot.
***
ARC by kind offer from the authors' PR people. I rarely accept ARCs (I don't have time to review the books I already own!) but the description of this one caught my eye.
September 14, 2019
Full review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop
***
I'm not sure where to start with this one. Is it utterly brilliant and absolutely jam-packed full of interesting characters, great world-building, slow-burn attraction and twists and turns? Oh Hell Yes.
Is it not what I was expecting at all based on the blurb and the first few chapters? Again absolutely yes.
Did that mean I read it all in one go and stayed up past my bedtime because I had to find out what was going to happen and where the narrative would end up? A very definite yes
Am I going to thump Waverly and Sam because of that last line in the book? Let's just say they're lucky there's an ocean between us 😂
So, to the book itself. It's intricately plotted, has multiple PoVs which work surprisingly well and it errs more on the side of fantasy with a side of romance than the other way round. I loved the intriguing take on dragons, I'm still not 100% sure who the bad guys are and I absolutely adore Bet and am fascinated by Tris.
The romance is integral to the plot but isn't the main thrust of the storytelling. Events occur because of the attraction between the two men, but they're not the driving factor. Characters are carefully woven throughout the action so that, while there is a focus on Bet and Tris, they're not the only pairings we get introduced to (and I absolutely love the building FF relationship which runs parallel to the main one).
There are some wonderfully mixed female characters in this, the scene-setting really does lay foundations down for the new realm and I was in two minds about how I felt over the fate of one of the major players (even if I did have a bit of a sneaky smirk at the end) as there were other elements in play I think which accounted for the rapid change in behaviour.
Superb start to what promises to be a really excellent and quite different fantasy tale.
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
***
I'm not sure where to start with this one. Is it utterly brilliant and absolutely jam-packed full of interesting characters, great world-building, slow-burn attraction and twists and turns? Oh Hell Yes.
Is it not what I was expecting at all based on the blurb and the first few chapters? Again absolutely yes.
Did that mean I read it all in one go and stayed up past my bedtime because I had to find out what was going to happen and where the narrative would end up? A very definite yes
Am I going to thump Waverly and Sam because of that last line in the book? Let's just say they're lucky there's an ocean between us 😂
So, to the book itself. It's intricately plotted, has multiple PoVs which work surprisingly well and it errs more on the side of fantasy with a side of romance than the other way round. I loved the intriguing take on dragons, I'm still not 100% sure who the bad guys are and I absolutely adore Bet and am fascinated by Tris.
The romance is integral to the plot but isn't the main thrust of the storytelling. Events occur because of the attraction between the two men, but they're not the driving factor. Characters are carefully woven throughout the action so that, while there is a focus on Bet and Tris, they're not the only pairings we get introduced to (and I absolutely love the building FF relationship which runs parallel to the main one).
There are some wonderfully mixed female characters in this, the scene-setting really does lay foundations down for the new realm and I was in two minds about how I felt over the fate of one of the major players (even if I did have a bit of a sneaky smirk at the end) as there were other elements in play I think which accounted for the rapid change in behaviour.
Superb start to what promises to be a really excellent and quite different fantasy tale.
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 9, 2021
Oh, my… Who knew this flashy cover was hiding such a great story? 😳
I’d added this book more than a year ago because the blurb caught my attention, but the cover just seemed so… YA? 🙊 that it put me off. I have nothing against the genre, occasionally, just don’t want it mixed in with my fantasy. Anyway, swayed by the high ratings and glowing reviews of some GR friends, I finally decided to give this book a chance, and I’m so glad I did!
The King’s Dragon had everything I love in fantasy books — amazing worldbuilding, dragons, courtly intrigue, honorable knights, secretly honorable assassins, misunderstood villains, treacherous bastards, grisly murder… throw in the delicious sexual tension and the growing feelings between Tristram and Bet, and I was in heaven. 😍
Some parts of the plot were a bit predictable, but I shan’t complain because it had no effect on my overall enjoyment of this book. I was so charmed by the side characters (most notably Gillian!) and their own budding relationships that even the frequent POV changes became something I looked forward to.
I recommend this book to all fans of fantasy, romance, and most of all, dragons!
I’d added this book more than a year ago because the blurb caught my attention, but the cover just seemed so… YA? 🙊 that it put me off. I have nothing against the genre, occasionally, just don’t want it mixed in with my fantasy. Anyway, swayed by the high ratings and glowing reviews of some GR friends, I finally decided to give this book a chance, and I’m so glad I did!
The King’s Dragon had everything I love in fantasy books — amazing worldbuilding, dragons, courtly intrigue, honorable knights, secretly honorable assassins, misunderstood villains, treacherous bastards, grisly murder… throw in the delicious sexual tension and the growing feelings between Tristram and Bet, and I was in heaven. 😍
Some parts of the plot were a bit predictable, but I shan’t complain because it had no effect on my overall enjoyment of this book. I was so charmed by the side characters (most notably Gillian!) and their own budding relationships that even the frequent POV changes became something I looked forward to.
I recommend this book to all fans of fantasy, romance, and most of all, dragons!
September 27, 2019
4.5 stars An amazingly written story, it’s intriguing and captivating.
Expanding widely, the world of the kingdom, elves, dragons, secrets, betrayal. Unstable people on certain positions takes this story to the next level.
Tris and Bet are surrounded with thick attraction, the tension was palpable.
With Tristram as a secret dragon and Bet half-elf, the combination seems odd, but they match more than on first sight. Bet is certain of the fact Tris is not for him. When everything turns crazy there are people who left behind bars.
Both Tris and Bet were stunningly put down, I saw their features clear before my eyes. Their attraction and attitude toward each other were strong and delicious. They are hot together, on a bed or against the wall of a dungeon, it doesn’t matter, together they are hot.
The story is told from many pov’s, it made it all more full and expanding.
I love this writing style, because of it the whole scene felt wonderful and easily to imagine.
The development was enough, for now, it’s the first of a series so of course there will be much more to discover. I’m rooting for Sidonie and Rhiannon.
The end wasn’t satisfying for me, I would have appreciated a bit more. I’m really looking forward to #2
Expanding widely, the world of the kingdom, elves, dragons, secrets, betrayal. Unstable people on certain positions takes this story to the next level.
Tris and Bet are surrounded with thick attraction, the tension was palpable.
With Tristram as a secret dragon and Bet half-elf, the combination seems odd, but they match more than on first sight. Bet is certain of the fact Tris is not for him. When everything turns crazy there are people who left behind bars.
Both Tris and Bet were stunningly put down, I saw their features clear before my eyes. Their attraction and attitude toward each other were strong and delicious. They are hot together, on a bed or against the wall of a dungeon, it doesn’t matter, together they are hot.
The story is told from many pov’s, it made it all more full and expanding.
I love this writing style, because of it the whole scene felt wonderful and easily to imagine.
The development was enough, for now, it’s the first of a series so of course there will be much more to discover. I’m rooting for Sidonie and Rhiannon.
The end wasn’t satisfying for me, I would have appreciated a bit more. I’m really looking forward to #2
October 24, 2019
If you're gonna have 5+ plus points of view in a fantasy story, it better be epic. This is like an outline of a much better book. It couldn't decide whether to be fantasy or romance and didn't quite succeed on either account - it threw all these plots and interesting characters out there that ended up fizzling because there was little build-up and not much pay-off. I would have enjoyed this if it had gone just a bit deeper - this was way too short to make so many viewpoints work, mainly with regard to giving depth to the characters and their arcs (especially the prince's arc could have been fascinating if time had been taken to slowly show the evolution of his character)... ugh frustrating. Also, I'm sorry but the
October 21, 2020
This is not going well. Too many characters, too many new names, too many POVs, too much politics. Just too much of everything and it's not even info dumps, it's just ... too much. In the first 5-6%.
I will try again. Soon-ish. -ish. Maybe. (Not really).
I will try again. Soon-ish. -ish. Maybe. (Not really).
June 22, 2021
The King’s Dragon is my first read by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns and was recommended by one of my GR-friends (thanks Claudie for this rec !!)
Honestly , there was hesitation at first ,because so many POV’s in a book always scare the hell out of me.
But I ‘m so glad I continued reading.
Omg ..what a page turning and stunning story ,
Still can’t believe what a fabulous fantasy world of dragons ,elves and mages these author’s have build up .
The major events of the plot are awesome with also plenty of surprises and twists and the action and fight scenes were fast paced and enthralling.
The characters (and there are a lot) are brilliantly written, the story flows with such beauty, even in the face of fight ,brutality and death.
Talking about characters ,the chemistry between Bet and Tristram is very palpable right from the start .
I must confess that Bet may have taken top rank on my list of favorite characters here .God, I love this character so much !
He’s got wit , is dark and broody and he has such a deep sadness to him that I just want to see him happy .
And now I can not wait to dive further into the appealing world these authors created and see what’s gonna happen further with all these interesting characters .
Honestly , there was hesitation at first ,because so many POV’s in a book always scare the hell out of me.
But I ‘m so glad I continued reading.
Omg ..what a page turning and stunning story ,
Still can’t believe what a fabulous fantasy world of dragons ,elves and mages these author’s have build up .
The major events of the plot are awesome with also plenty of surprises and twists and the action and fight scenes were fast paced and enthralling.
The characters (and there are a lot) are brilliantly written, the story flows with such beauty, even in the face of fight ,brutality and death.
Talking about characters ,the chemistry between Bet and Tristram is very palpable right from the start .
I must confess that Bet may have taken top rank on my list of favorite characters here .God, I love this character so much !
He’s got wit , is dark and broody and he has such a deep sadness to him that I just want to see him happy .
And now I can not wait to dive further into the appealing world these authors created and see what’s gonna happen further with all these interesting characters .
August 12, 2020
***4.5 Stars for That cliffhanger because WHYYYY 😩😩😩***
Sometimes I read a book so good it makes me do a happy wiggle while reading it because I get so excited about what I'm reading. This book. This book made me do a happy wiggle. Lol
First things first, for your own good, you better have the next book on hand before you start this book because it ends on a doozy of a cliffhanger, and make sure you do NOT read the blurb of the 2nd book because it has a big spoiler in it from this book! Do not say I did not warn you.
Moving on to my review, when I began reading, I was initially a bit apprehensive about the number of POVs the book had and thought it would mess up the flow of the story but I needn't have worried. Every single one of those POVs were necessary to the development of this fantastic story and looking back at it now, I wouldn't remove even one of them. They made the story richer and fuller which added so much to my enjoyment of the story.
Now to the storyline proper, I could wax poetic about the events in this book and every single major character in this book as well do pros and cons list, but doing so would spill more than I'll intend to. Just know that if you love fantasy/romance in any way or you are just in the mood for one, try this one out.
I strongly believe you will not be disappointed. *runs to the next book*
Sometimes I read a book so good it makes me do a happy wiggle while reading it because I get so excited about what I'm reading. This book. This book made me do a happy wiggle. Lol
First things first, for your own good, you better have the next book on hand before you start this book because it ends on a doozy of a cliffhanger, and make sure you do NOT read the blurb of the 2nd book because it has a big spoiler in it from this book! Do not say I did not warn you.
Moving on to my review, when I began reading, I was initially a bit apprehensive about the number of POVs the book had and thought it would mess up the flow of the story but I needn't have worried. Every single one of those POVs were necessary to the development of this fantastic story and looking back at it now, I wouldn't remove even one of them. They made the story richer and fuller which added so much to my enjoyment of the story.
Now to the storyline proper, I could wax poetic about the events in this book and every single major character in this book as well do pros and cons list, but doing so would spill more than I'll intend to. Just know that if you love fantasy/romance in any way or you are just in the mood for one, try this one out.
I strongly believe you will not be disappointed. *runs to the next book*
June 7, 2021
There seems to be too many POV and I agree is a great fantasy story. Cruel king, dragons and whatnot. But I'm actually just invested in Lord Tristram Radcliffe and the King's assassin, Bet Kyston. I kinda skim through the other POV until their name are mentioned. Hmm... There was this mutual desire and pining despite their difference in status. Not much romancing to sate my thirst, just some secret kissing and tryst while being wary of each other. I'll be reading the rest of the series to find out.
January 24, 2024
As I've said, the multiple POVs threw me off and so it's hard to rate something you're not familiar with. I found it hard to follow the story because I had to frequently check who's speaking and having that many speakers disrupted the flow and broke my focus more often than not. Sorry if that's just a me problem.
The plot and couple/s were okay and I look forward to Tris meeting more of his dragon kin. Tris is likeable with his noble and honorable ways and Bet who's morally gray, I have yet to like. His stance on the last chapters were promising though.
The plot and couple/s were okay and I look forward to Tris meeting more of his dragon kin. Tris is likeable with his noble and honorable ways and Bet who's morally gray, I have yet to like. His stance on the last chapters were promising though.
September 28, 2019
4.5*
Would be a full 5*, but there were a lot of different players in the game and once or twice I had to back track to see who we were talking about (Rhiannon's sidekick). Each chapter reads in a different characters POV, so it took me a minute. Once I had them all down though, it was smooth sailing.
I also wasn't sure about the ending, only because I reallllllly wanted Tris and Bet together right this instant!! But, it's a HFN, as it's book in a series.
I can't say it really ends on a cliffhanger, there is a little surprise, but I felt it was more of a continuation situation.
I have a really good feeling about a future alliance between humans and dragons and I hope they send Gillian to the Monks to learn about magic. I am also rooting for Sidonie and Rhiannon, I really likes those two. I also loved that fact the Sidonie was a woman,but was referred to as Sir Sidonie, Kings Knight.
I also loved the followed her own morals and wasn't just a sheep to an evil crown. Bet seemed to skirt that line as well.
I am very excited to see how this alliance and possible war might play out, there's so many great characters to follow. I'm also wondering who Tris' real dad is and why he was so familiar to Rhiannon's younger companion. (I'm sorry, his name's hard to spell, Hrafgard? ) I have so many questions!
Would be a full 5*, but there were a lot of different players in the game and once or twice I had to back track to see who we were talking about (Rhiannon's sidekick). Each chapter reads in a different characters POV, so it took me a minute. Once I had them all down though, it was smooth sailing.
I also wasn't sure about the ending, only because I reallllllly wanted Tris and Bet together right this instant!! But, it's a HFN, as it's book in a series.
I can't say it really ends on a cliffhanger, there is a little surprise, but I felt it was more of a continuation situation.
I have a really good feeling about a future alliance between humans and dragons and I hope they send Gillian to the Monks to learn about magic. I am also rooting for Sidonie and Rhiannon, I really likes those two. I also loved that fact the Sidonie was a woman,but was referred to as Sir Sidonie, Kings Knight.
I also loved the followed her own morals and wasn't just a sheep to an evil crown. Bet seemed to skirt that line as well.
I am very excited to see how this alliance and possible war might play out, there's so many great characters to follow. I'm also wondering who Tris' real dad is and why he was so familiar to Rhiannon's younger companion. (I'm sorry, his name's hard to spell, Hrafgard? ) I have so many questions!
December 25, 2020
3.5 stars for the series, upgraded to 4
When I started this series I hated that it had so manyPOVs. It was disruptive to be honest, I was invested in Tristam and Bet's story the most and any time any one else appeared it was annoying, especially in this book when you are still getting to know them.
As I've completed the series I must say that I grew to enjoy the other POVs as well, I liked seeing them make the decisions they made and get their own HEA .
When I started this series I hated that it had so manyPOVs. It was disruptive to be honest, I was invested in Tristam and Bet's story the most and any time any one else appeared it was annoying, especially in this book when you are still getting to know them.
As I've completed the series I must say that I grew to enjoy the other POVs as well, I liked seeing them make the decisions they made and get their own HEA .
October 5, 2022
I loved this book, it was exactly what I needed and now I'm moving on to the next one in this series...there were some points where this could have been better but still overall it was a pretty fun experience and I had a great time reading it :D
Now, coming on to the big question about whether you should read it: Well, if you're looking for a romance book this definitely isn't the right fit for you; because even though the book has a romance sub-plot, it's not the main focus of the story. And while there is some smut in this book, the relationship development is next to none. BUT if you want a dystopian fantasy with great characters? Give it a try, I promise you won't regret it XX
Now, coming on to the big question about whether you should read it: Well, if you're looking for a romance book this definitely isn't the right fit for you; because even though the book has a romance sub-plot, it's not the main focus of the story. And while there is some smut in this book, the relationship development is next to none. BUT if you want a dystopian fantasy with great characters? Give it a try, I promise you won't regret it XX
October 1, 2019
The King's Dragon!
Total Rating: 3.6 Stars out of 5
Rating Review Rollout:
(1) Blurb vs Story matchup: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(2) Character Development: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(3) Danger/Drama/Thrills/Chills: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(4) Editing/Proofreading: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(5) Entertainment Value: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(6) Feeling the Words: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(7) Flow of the Story: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(8) Keeps my Attention: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(9) MC Appeal: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(10) MC Backstory: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(11) MC Chemistry: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(12) MC Love Connection: N/A
(13) Plot Worthiness: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(14) Sexy Sex Scenes: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(15) Wrap Up of Loose Ends: N/A
Total Rating: 3.6 Stars out of 5
Rating Review Rollout:
(1) Blurb vs Story matchup: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(2) Character Development: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(3) Danger/Drama/Thrills/Chills: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(4) Editing/Proofreading: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(5) Entertainment Value: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(6) Feeling the Words: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(7) Flow of the Story: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(8) Keeps my Attention: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(9) MC Appeal: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(10) MC Backstory: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(11) MC Chemistry: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(12) MC Love Connection: N/A
(13) Plot Worthiness: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(14) Sexy Sex Scenes: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(15) Wrap Up of Loose Ends: N/A
September 30, 2019
3.5
The book is starting with the funeral of a well loved and respected king and everyone is awaiting the changes that are coming with the regency of his son.
On the outside the situation looks still prosperous and in its peacefulness maybe even a bit bland while underneath it's already tipping. On the one hand there is Llangard's northern neighbor, some viking like tribes with a not so secret hunger for the fertile lands and the country's wealth. In the past they were easily to be hold of but now it seems the different clans take a united stand. Then there is the unclosed situation with the dragons in the mountains between both countries. Once upon a time those dragons ruled over Llangard and had their people enslaved until the first king collect enough magic to conquer and drove the remaining dragons into the mountains. Unfortunately the magic got nearly lost since then and the new king has no magic at all anymore.
Llangard might be glad to know that the dragons have their own problems and they even decided to get in contact again to fight against a common enemy. So each party is taking the occasion to make its move without really showing their cards. What no one has on their plan is the new king himself and his slow turn into madness.
So how could I resist such a situation even less so knowing the authors are adding a troubled assassin half-elf pinning after the king's cousin who's a half-dragon in disguise and make a woman the highest ranking knight falling in love with the capricious dragoness. Aggression, angst, suppressed emotions, political machinations, a good world building and nicely written … everything there to suck me into the story, to keep me reading while forgetting the time, to make me feel but still … it didn't.
Curious how it evolves I remained aloof and I don't really know why. Was it the usage of 7 different narrators, so I really couldn't connect with one of them before on the next chapter I got another PoV? Was it because the king with his baby-Nero attitude never felt real or because all the characters while not at all one dimensional never made it into more than 2D? Maybe it was my displeasure with Tristram, the noble half-dragon, the loyal, naive, virgin and good-hearted epitome of knighthood who's only fault were his -understandable- cowardice regarding his heritage and his lusting after the half-elf? All I know is that I couldn't get into the flow and while I still intend to follow this series this first part left me surprisingly unsatisfied which mainly was the reason why it took so long to finish this book.
Oh, one more thing: I really loved the cover.
The book is starting with the funeral of a well loved and respected king and everyone is awaiting the changes that are coming with the regency of his son.
On the outside the situation looks still prosperous and in its peacefulness maybe even a bit bland while underneath it's already tipping. On the one hand there is Llangard's northern neighbor, some viking like tribes with a not so secret hunger for the fertile lands and the country's wealth. In the past they were easily to be hold of but now it seems the different clans take a united stand. Then there is the unclosed situation with the dragons in the mountains between both countries. Once upon a time those dragons ruled over Llangard and had their people enslaved until the first king collect enough magic to conquer and drove the remaining dragons into the mountains. Unfortunately the magic got nearly lost since then and the new king has no magic at all anymore.
Llangard might be glad to know that the dragons have their own problems and they even decided to get in contact again to fight against a common enemy. So each party is taking the occasion to make its move without really showing their cards. What no one has on their plan is the new king himself and his slow turn into madness.
So how could I resist such a situation even less so knowing the authors are adding a troubled assassin half-elf pinning after the king's cousin who's a half-dragon in disguise and make a woman the highest ranking knight falling in love with the capricious dragoness. Aggression, angst, suppressed emotions, political machinations, a good world building and nicely written … everything there to suck me into the story, to keep me reading while forgetting the time, to make me feel but still … it didn't.
Curious how it evolves I remained aloof and I don't really know why. Was it the usage of 7 different narrators, so I really couldn't connect with one of them before on the next chapter I got another PoV? Was it because the king with his baby-Nero attitude never felt real or because all the characters while not at all one dimensional never made it into more than 2D? Maybe it was my displeasure with Tristram, the noble half-dragon, the loyal, naive, virgin and good-hearted epitome of knighthood who's only fault were his -understandable- cowardice regarding his heritage and his lusting after the half-elf? All I know is that I couldn't get into the flow and while I still intend to follow this series this first part left me surprisingly unsatisfied which mainly was the reason why it took so long to finish this book.
Oh, one more thing: I really loved the cover.
July 1, 2022
4,5 stars
Don't let that cover deceive you, this book was fire!
I'll start by being honest, to my core, I'm a hater of multiple POVs.
In my experience, usually there is a POV I care more about than the others, and the general pace of the book suffers for it, because I simply don't care that much about some of those characters.
That did not happen with this book! I was so entertained the whole way through.
I loved EVERY SINGLE ONE on these characters. The fact that we got a m-m relationship as well as a f-f... I really wasn't expecting that and I freaking loved it!
Bet and Tristram gave me everything I love about a good old enemies to lovers romance, while Sidonie and Rhiannon gave me the sweetest relationship ever. My gay heart was living for it all.
In conclusion, I'm hooked for what's coming next!
Also, Rhiannon is a bad bitch, while still having the warmest heart of all, and I loved her for it.
SPOILERS AHEAD GIRL, PLEASE READ THE BOOK BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR SPOILER LOL
Anyways, be gay and overthrow totalitarian monarchies together.
Don't let that cover deceive you, this book was fire!
I'll start by being honest, to my core, I'm a hater of multiple POVs.
In my experience, usually there is a POV I care more about than the others, and the general pace of the book suffers for it, because I simply don't care that much about some of those characters.
That did not happen with this book! I was so entertained the whole way through.
I loved EVERY SINGLE ONE on these characters. The fact that we got a m-m relationship as well as a f-f... I really wasn't expecting that and I freaking loved it!
Bet and Tristram gave me everything I love about a good old enemies to lovers romance, while Sidonie and Rhiannon gave me the sweetest relationship ever. My gay heart was living for it all.
In conclusion, I'm hooked for what's coming next!
Also, Rhiannon is a bad bitch, while still having the warmest heart of all, and I loved her for it.
SPOILERS AHEAD GIRL, PLEASE READ THE BOOK BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR SPOILER LOL
Then, with one swift, smooth motion, she lowered her head and snatched Reynold up in her jaws.This was QUEEN behaviour. Would I have liked kind of a redemption arc for Reynold because he was clearly being manipulated? Maybe. Still ICONIC tho.
She wondered if he would give her the same look if she told him she’d pleasured more women in her life than he ever would. Not likely.She is the moment.
Instead, she cradled Sidonie against her. Like she was precious. Sidonie had never been precious to anyone before.Teach Sidonie how to be loved in book two, please and thank you.
Anyways, be gay and overthrow totalitarian monarchies together.
October 15, 2020
The biggest issue that keeps this book from a higher rating is the ENORMOUS amount, page after page after page, of narrative compared to the comparatively minute amount of dialogue. The ole "too much tell and not enough show". Many readers deal with this by skimming, which I certainly did. This story would have benefitted from much better world building, more backstory on the contemporary kingdoms, dragons, and elves, and better descriptions of the dragons to name just a few issues. The bones of the story are compelling, but the execution is a bit sophomoric. I don't know if I have the patience to slog through another book written in this same style.
April 27, 2024
3.5 stars. Not a fan of the multiple POVs.
May 16, 2022
Started a little slow but got addicting. I loved the two main characters and the little Roland. The change of point of views with different stories sometimes slowed my interest.
September 11, 2023
I'll review the series at the end.
What a freaking adventure!
What a freaking adventure!
September 26, 2019
This isn't bad, but it suffers a bit from being the first book in a series, and a slightly confused narrative PoV.
Fawkes sets up two intriguing premises in the first chapter or so: Tristram's a loyal servant whose master proves unworthy of his loyalty, and he's also (secretly) half a dragon, in a court where dragons are anathema. The other key plot strands (beautiful stranger tries to seduce the king, and the unwilling attraction of m/m opposites) are equally to my taste. The writing isn't bad, and insofar as there is actually a central relationship, I was intrigued to see how it might play out.
So it was a pity that these excellent ingredients just failed to gel. Partly it was down to that first-in-a-series thing, where we're suddenly & breathlessly knee-deep in world-building and new characters. That doesn't leave a lot of time for character development (especially with all the plot strands above), so almost everyone feels a bit 2-D.
Partly it's the result of Fawkes' decision to have seven (yes, SEVEN) PoV characters. It really doesn't work. If you watch Game of Thrones, you'll see that any one plot thread only occupies a few minutes of screen time, and within any given scene, the camera shot is never still for more than 7-seconds. The result is a sense of dislocation, and a lack of sympathy for any single character. GoT can compensate with an eight-series expansive canvas: this first volume of The King's Dragon can't and feels fragmented as a result.
I would certainly consider reading the next in the series, however, to see whether Fawkes could concentrate on one or two characters and reflect this potentially interesting world through a deeper engagement with them.
I received a copy of this book from the author via A Novel Take PR in exchange for my unbiased review.
Fawkes sets up two intriguing premises in the first chapter or so: Tristram's a loyal servant whose master proves unworthy of his loyalty, and he's also (secretly) half a dragon, in a court where dragons are anathema. The other key plot strands (beautiful stranger tries to seduce the king, and the unwilling attraction of m/m opposites) are equally to my taste. The writing isn't bad, and insofar as there is actually a central relationship, I was intrigued to see how it might play out.
So it was a pity that these excellent ingredients just failed to gel. Partly it was down to that first-in-a-series thing, where we're suddenly & breathlessly knee-deep in world-building and new characters. That doesn't leave a lot of time for character development (especially with all the plot strands above), so almost everyone feels a bit 2-D.
Partly it's the result of Fawkes' decision to have seven (yes, SEVEN) PoV characters. It really doesn't work. If you watch Game of Thrones, you'll see that any one plot thread only occupies a few minutes of screen time, and within any given scene, the camera shot is never still for more than 7-seconds. The result is a sense of dislocation, and a lack of sympathy for any single character. GoT can compensate with an eight-series expansive canvas: this first volume of The King's Dragon can't and feels fragmented as a result.
I would certainly consider reading the next in the series, however, to see whether Fawkes could concentrate on one or two characters and reflect this potentially interesting world through a deeper engagement with them.
I received a copy of this book from the author via A Novel Take PR in exchange for my unbiased review.
January 1, 2020
Starting out the year on a good note! Woo woo!
First off, there had better be a sequel following book, because WTF with that last line in the book? I don't know if "cliffhanger" really counts because the book pretty much felt complete but that last line!
Anyway, I do agree with many of the reviewers that there was a lot of head-hopping and that it might have been better to cut down on this some, but ultimately the head-hopping didn't bother me, maybe because I've read a lot of fantasy books where this is fairly common so I'm used to this sort of thing. I'm not saying it was or wasn't the best stylistic choice, it just didn't bother me.
I was pleased by the fact that a lot of the characters () were morally ambiguous in some way. I like it when characters aren't perfect and all good and their "flaws" aren't pretend flaws that aren't really flaws. It makes the story more engaging for me. Sometimes that can be hard to pull off (sometimes the characters end up being just bad and unlikeable), but I think this book did it well.
If there is an area that this book fell short in, I think it's that the relationship/romance didn't get as much development as it might have. Hopefully, if there is a sequel (give it to me!) we'll see more of that, and I definitely felt like the foundation of a relationship was there, but it wasn't as strong as I would have liked.
I'm also really hoping to see more of the dragon/human cultural differences.
Prince Roland felt kind of off for me though. He didn't feel like a child of his age at least a chunk of the time when we saw him.
First off, there had better be a sequel following book, because WTF with that last line in the book? I don't know if "cliffhanger" really counts because the book pretty much felt complete but that last line!
Anyway, I do agree with many of the reviewers that there was a lot of head-hopping and that it might have been better to cut down on this some, but ultimately the head-hopping didn't bother me, maybe because I've read a lot of fantasy books where this is fairly common so I'm used to this sort of thing. I'm not saying it was or wasn't the best stylistic choice, it just didn't bother me.
I was pleased by the fact that a lot of the characters () were morally ambiguous in some way. I like it when characters aren't perfect and all good and their "flaws" aren't pretend flaws that aren't really flaws. It makes the story more engaging for me. Sometimes that can be hard to pull off (sometimes the characters end up being just bad and unlikeable), but I think this book did it well.
If there is an area that this book fell short in, I think it's that the relationship/romance didn't get as much development as it might have. Hopefully, if there is a sequel (give it to me!) we'll see more of that, and I definitely felt like the foundation of a relationship was there, but it wasn't as strong as I would have liked.
I'm also really hoping to see more of the dragon/human cultural differences.
Prince Roland felt kind of off for me though. He didn't feel like a child of his age at least a chunk of the time when we saw him.
November 27, 2019
Hot mess. DNF 51%.
I couldn't get into this. It had ZERO romance or sex appeal. And it had so many different characters all giving their different POVs yet nothing was happening. It was boring and I didn't see the merit in over half the characters. Despite being about dragons it did NOT feel like the fantasy adventure I was hoping for.
I couldn't get into this. It had ZERO romance or sex appeal. And it had so many different characters all giving their different POVs yet nothing was happening. It was boring and I didn't see the merit in over half the characters. Despite being about dragons it did NOT feel like the fantasy adventure I was hoping for.
August 18, 2022
Well I wanted to love this but I didn’t, I just liked it! Some confusion because of the multiple POV and I hoped for more slow burn…it went slow when I wanted to go fast and fast when I wanted to go slow…hoping book two can satisfy more of my wishes! Let’s go!
ps: can’t wait for more of my new favorite morally gray character Bet <3
ps: can’t wait for more of my new favorite morally gray character Bet <3
October 29, 2020
best fantasy piece I've read in a LONG time!
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