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Scales 'N' Spells #1
Origin
Cameron wants to make it clear that he did not go into the festival to find a dragon mate.
Germany is supposed to be an escape. With a new mechanical engineering degree, a new job looming, and a whole life planned out that isn’t his, Germany seems like the best place to find himself.
So how does he end up discovering his lost magic heritage, running from bad guys with a secret agenda, and being adopted by the not-so-extinct Fire Dragon clan?
Cameron blames tall, dark, and sexy Alric, king of the Fire dragons. His fated mate. Because of course he is, and mates are meant to take the blame, right?
It may take a hot second, but as Cameron learns more about the scarred Alric and the life he’s landed in, Cameron realizes that perhaps this is where he’s meant to be, magic and mates and kidnapping and all.
Turns out coming to Germany wasn’t an escape but his awakening.
Tags:
Not-so-extinct, Shifter dragons, mages, fated mates, secret clans, epic libraries, hurt/comfort, age gap, not that Alric cares, magical heritage, mechanical engineers being BAMF, grumpy dragon kings being protective of their cute mates, really the cuteness is downright criminal, we might need a firehose for these two, or not, sass, so much sass, Ravi and Cameron are no longer allowed to be alone together, for reasons, dragons hoarding, when you live long enough statistics will get you, bats named Cheryl, beheadings, no damsels in distress here, just very unhappy mages, with trigger fingers, anyone have life hacks on how to get rid of kidnappers, Cameron is open to suggestions
Germany is supposed to be an escape. With a new mechanical engineering degree, a new job looming, and a whole life planned out that isn’t his, Germany seems like the best place to find himself.
So how does he end up discovering his lost magic heritage, running from bad guys with a secret agenda, and being adopted by the not-so-extinct Fire Dragon clan?
Cameron blames tall, dark, and sexy Alric, king of the Fire dragons. His fated mate. Because of course he is, and mates are meant to take the blame, right?
It may take a hot second, but as Cameron learns more about the scarred Alric and the life he’s landed in, Cameron realizes that perhaps this is where he’s meant to be, magic and mates and kidnapping and all.
Turns out coming to Germany wasn’t an escape but his awakening.
Tags:
Not-so-extinct, Shifter dragons, mages, fated mates, secret clans, epic libraries, hurt/comfort, age gap, not that Alric cares, magical heritage, mechanical engineers being BAMF, grumpy dragon kings being protective of their cute mates, really the cuteness is downright criminal, we might need a firehose for these two, or not, sass, so much sass, Ravi and Cameron are no longer allowed to be alone together, for reasons, dragons hoarding, when you live long enough statistics will get you, bats named Cheryl, beheadings, no damsels in distress here, just very unhappy mages, with trigger fingers, anyone have life hacks on how to get rid of kidnappers, Cameron is open to suggestions
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
1207 people are currently reading
2620 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Sherwood
80 books1,988 followersAJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.
She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.
She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 513 reviews
February 10, 2021
I can't believe I'm giving another lukewarm review to this author. I have tried several of their books and never loved them. You would think I would learn my lesson, but honestly I just saw the title and "gay magic dragon shifters" and clicked the KU button without noticing the author. At this point it looks like I'm reading everything this author has written just to give crappy reviews. I'm not! I promise!
Yeah, let's just go with that.
This book has a lot of dragon shifters looking for their true mates. The mates have to be a mage, and our hero is one but doesn't know it. He ends up dating the dragon king before he learns anything about dragons or magic. You might say that sparks flew.
Yeah, baby!
The dragon king and his mage mate are both very likable characters, but unfortunately they have the emotional maturity of 13 year old emo kids. There is so much angst. Just, like, all of the angst bottled from the shoppers at Hot Topic when they ran out of Nightmare Before Christmas t-shirts during the holiday season. It was devastating, of course.
No. I definitely didn't say that, guy. How did you get in my house?
There are also a ton of side characters who have promise for future books. Cute and funny dragons. So, what's my problem? It was incredibly slow. Like a good 80% of the book is just day to day bullshit with nothing happening. At one point they go to town to get the main guy's visa application to stay in the country, and I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't particularly page-worthy. You know? I feel like it could have happened "off screen".
Exactly! We don't need to see everything.
But, hey, I'm not a writer, so creative license I guess. Maybe the author has a thing for bureaucracy. It happens. I think.
It just wasn't eventful enough for me. If I want the details on the boring and mundane daily life, I'll call my mother.
Yeah, let's just go with that.
This book has a lot of dragon shifters looking for their true mates. The mates have to be a mage, and our hero is one but doesn't know it. He ends up dating the dragon king before he learns anything about dragons or magic. You might say that sparks flew.
Yeah, baby!
The dragon king and his mage mate are both very likable characters, but unfortunately they have the emotional maturity of 13 year old emo kids. There is so much angst. Just, like, all of the angst bottled from the shoppers at Hot Topic when they ran out of Nightmare Before Christmas t-shirts during the holiday season. It was devastating, of course.
No. I definitely didn't say that, guy. How did you get in my house?
There are also a ton of side characters who have promise for future books. Cute and funny dragons. So, what's my problem? It was incredibly slow. Like a good 80% of the book is just day to day bullshit with nothing happening. At one point they go to town to get the main guy's visa application to stay in the country, and I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't particularly page-worthy. You know? I feel like it could have happened "off screen".
Exactly! We don't need to see everything.
But, hey, I'm not a writer, so creative license I guess. Maybe the author has a thing for bureaucracy. It happens. I think.
It just wasn't eventful enough for me. If I want the details on the boring and mundane daily life, I'll call my mother.
November 30, 2025
This book is free on Amazon (Canada) today (11/30/2025). 🙂
✅ Smut (M/M)
✅ Dragon shifters
✅ Characters
✅ Mages and magic
✅🆗 Romance
✅🆗 World-building
🆗 Pace
🆗 Plot
Cameron Parks is on a trip around Europe to celebrate getting his Master's degree in mechanical engineering, and also as a way to push back the moment he will need to “settle down” and start a job that does not really interest him. While attending a festival in honor of the long-extinct dragons in a little German town, he runs into a very sexy and charming local who takes the time to show him all the best places in the town and acts as his personal tour guide. Little does Cameron know that he is in the presence of the king of the fire dragons and that their meeting was no luck at all. The dragons smelled Cameron because of his mage heritage and we're looking for him because their survival depends on them having mages in their clan.
At first, Cameron refuses to believe he is a mage, even when he sees real dragons, and is forced to admit that magic still exists. He gets around it eventually, though, and I would even say that he accepts the whole "dragons are not really instinct" news quite well... Maybe a little too well... Besides that, he is smart, kind, and a little goofy, and overall very likable. I love how positive he always is and how he makes it his mission to brighten everyone's day by complimenting them or making them smile.
Alric is a very serious and selfless leader. Even though he is very clearly attracted to Cameron, he tries to keep his distance to make sure that Cameron gets a chance to meet everyone and connect with his real mate. He is willing to endure heartache over Cameron if it means he will be happy, especially if it means that the clan's dragons will be happy. He needs someone to remind him of his worth and that he is a beautiful person, and Cameron is just perfect for the job.
The secondary characters are funny and nice. I especially liked Cassie and her spitfire personality, and Ravi with his goofy side.
The world-building is well done, but not that developed. I like how the dragon clans are living hidden in our modern world, though. The writing is well done and compelling, and I like that we had an insight into Cameron and Alric’s heads. There is magic, action, sexy dragons, and smut, but the story dragged on. Not much happens except the daily interactions between Cameron, Alric, and the other dragons, and it does not make the plot advance or add any new information. It was mostly about Cameron and Alric trying to figure out how they were feeling. I was not exactly bored because Cameron and Alric’s interactions were cute (and sexy) and the characters were lovable, but not much was happening for a while. It does pick up near the end, though, but this book is more relationship-oriented than plot-oriented. There are a few times when the action happened off-page, and I just don't understand why.
I like the fact that dragons need mages to be able to procreate and survive, and that all dragons are pansexual to be able to accept their true mate whenever they find them. The concept of fated mates is nothing new, but I love the way the romance between Cameron and Alric was developed nonetheless. It was a little underdeveloped at times, and it sometimes felt as if they lacked some emotional maturity, but they were still very sweet, and I enjoyed reading their banter and teasing and all the sexual tension between them.
I liked this book enough to want to continue with Cameron and Alric's adventure; however, the next book focuses more on Baldewin, so I'm not in a rush to read it. I love Baldewin, but I am not that curious to know what happens to him, nor am I that invested in him finding a mate...
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✅ Smut (M/M)
✅ Dragon shifters
✅ Characters
✅ Mages and magic
✅🆗 Romance
✅🆗 World-building
🆗 Pace
🆗 Plot
Cameron Parks is on a trip around Europe to celebrate getting his Master's degree in mechanical engineering, and also as a way to push back the moment he will need to “settle down” and start a job that does not really interest him. While attending a festival in honor of the long-extinct dragons in a little German town, he runs into a very sexy and charming local who takes the time to show him all the best places in the town and acts as his personal tour guide. Little does Cameron know that he is in the presence of the king of the fire dragons and that their meeting was no luck at all. The dragons smelled Cameron because of his mage heritage and we're looking for him because their survival depends on them having mages in their clan.
“I’m firmly of the opinion that we, as human beings, don’t compliment each other enough. And it doesn’t lead to good things. Take you, for instance. You’re fucking yummy, but when’s the last time you heard that?”
At first, Cameron refuses to believe he is a mage, even when he sees real dragons, and is forced to admit that magic still exists. He gets around it eventually, though, and I would even say that he accepts the whole "dragons are not really instinct" news quite well... Maybe a little too well... Besides that, he is smart, kind, and a little goofy, and overall very likable. I love how positive he always is and how he makes it his mission to brighten everyone's day by complimenting them or making them smile.
“I hope you compliment Alric especially. He doesn’t think of himself as an attractive person.”
It was Cameron’s turn to stop dead. “Excuse me, what?! Okay, that’s just wrong. That’s a fucking crime against humanity. Alric’s so hot that my sister, who’s very gay, volunteered to call him Daddy.”
Alric is a very serious and selfless leader. Even though he is very clearly attracted to Cameron, he tries to keep his distance to make sure that Cameron gets a chance to meet everyone and connect with his real mate. He is willing to endure heartache over Cameron if it means he will be happy, especially if it means that the clan's dragons will be happy. He needs someone to remind him of his worth and that he is a beautiful person, and Cameron is just perfect for the job.
“Oh! Yes! Show me magic! Do a trick.”
Cameron narrowed his eyes as he walked back over to Alric. “It’s a spell. Not a trick. I’m not pulling a rabbit out of a hat.”
“Well, I’m gonna magically put my foot in your ass if you don’t get on with the magic,” Cassie snapped.
“Wait.” Cameron held up a hand. “Wait, you’re suggesting I jump off a cliff and freefall, and trust you to catch me? In dragon form?”
Ravi waggled his eyebrows outrageously.
“That is by far the stupidest thing I’ve heard suggested all year.” Cameron pointed toward the cliffs. “Let’s do it.”
The secondary characters are funny and nice. I especially liked Cassie and her spitfire personality, and Ravi with his goofy side.
The world-building is well done, but not that developed. I like how the dragon clans are living hidden in our modern world, though. The writing is well done and compelling, and I like that we had an insight into Cameron and Alric’s heads. There is magic, action, sexy dragons, and smut, but the story dragged on. Not much happens except the daily interactions between Cameron, Alric, and the other dragons, and it does not make the plot advance or add any new information. It was mostly about Cameron and Alric trying to figure out how they were feeling. I was not exactly bored because Cameron and Alric’s interactions were cute (and sexy) and the characters were lovable, but not much was happening for a while. It does pick up near the end, though, but this book is more relationship-oriented than plot-oriented. There are a few times when the action happened off-page, and I just don't understand why.
“I’m not sure if we know much at all. Alric is being very taciturn in regards to you. But we hope dearly that he chooses you. That you choose him. You’re incredibly good for him, Cameron. I’ve never seen him laugh with such open joy, not in five hundred years. And you have this knack for disarming him. Alric is normally as patient as the day is long, but when he does lose his temper, it burns hot. We’re not always sure how to calm him again. You seem to have figured out a method.”
Should he explain to her about the angry sex? Nah. “Yeah, that’s kind of still a work in progress.”
I like the fact that dragons need mages to be able to procreate and survive, and that all dragons are pansexual to be able to accept their true mate whenever they find them. The concept of fated mates is nothing new, but I love the way the romance between Cameron and Alric was developed nonetheless. It was a little underdeveloped at times, and it sometimes felt as if they lacked some emotional maturity, but they were still very sweet, and I enjoyed reading their banter and teasing and all the sexual tension between them.
I liked this book enough to want to continue with Cameron and Alric's adventure; however, the next book focuses more on Baldewin, so I'm not in a rush to read it. I love Baldewin, but I am not that curious to know what happens to him, nor am I that invested in him finding a mate...
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January 16, 2024
DNF 62%
I figured that dragon shifters would be a decent bet, but ... Ugh. Cutesy dialogue, avoidance, martyr bullshit...I just can't continue. Everyone talks like a teenager, from Cameron to his grandmother, to dragons that are centuries old. It was too much.
Also, I spent the first half of the story mentally yelling at the MCs to have a goddamn conversation, already! And all the oh noes, I can't pursue this human because someone else might want him bullshit was so tedious and on repeat for so long I wanted to smack a dragon upside the head.
And then there's Cameron, who relentlessly flirts with everyone and then wonders why Alric doesn't pick up on his interest. They've barely even kissed, so far, and I find myself not even invested in them finally getting smexy.
A shame, really. I was hoping I'd love this series.
I figured that dragon shifters would be a decent bet, but ... Ugh. Cutesy dialogue, avoidance, martyr bullshit...I just can't continue. Everyone talks like a teenager, from Cameron to his grandmother, to dragons that are centuries old. It was too much.
Also, I spent the first half of the story mentally yelling at the MCs to have a goddamn conversation, already! And all the oh noes, I can't pursue this human because someone else might want him bullshit was so tedious and on repeat for so long I wanted to smack a dragon upside the head.
And then there's Cameron, who relentlessly flirts with everyone and then wonders why Alric doesn't pick up on his interest. They've barely even kissed, so far, and I find myself not even invested in them finally getting smexy.
A shame, really. I was hoping I'd love this series.
December 18, 2025
Enthralling!
I absolutely love feel-good books, this one is amazing, the chemistry between the main characters is so cute and hot at the same time, the same mix I saw in the love scenes, steamy and sweet, filled with vulnerability, and that's the right combination to make this story one of my favourites, the plot is gripping, some parts I felt a little rushed, I would explored more of the action scenes but because this is a MM Romance I won't hold against it, the story is complete and I satisfied!
I also have this book on Audible, Joel Leslie gave an astounding performance, great acting, fulled committed, there were a couple issues that I've noticed:
In the final chapter, he spoke twice the same sentence, besides that he did a phenomenal job! He is one of my favourite narrators!
Congratulations to Katie Griffin, artdock and Martin Capek for the art and presentation of the cover, I loved it!
6🌟
I absolutely love feel-good books, this one is amazing, the chemistry between the main characters is so cute and hot at the same time, the same mix I saw in the love scenes, steamy and sweet, filled with vulnerability, and that's the right combination to make this story one of my favourites, the plot is gripping, some parts I felt a little rushed, I would explored more of the action scenes but because this is a MM Romance I won't hold against it, the story is complete and I satisfied!
I also have this book on Audible, Joel Leslie gave an astounding performance, great acting, fulled committed, there were a couple issues that I've noticed:
In the final chapter, he spoke twice the same sentence, besides that he did a phenomenal job! He is one of my favourite narrators!
Congratulations to Katie Griffin, artdock and Martin Capek for the art and presentation of the cover, I loved it!
6🌟
October 2, 2020
4.5*
A solid opener to this new urban fantasy/paranormal romance which lays down great foundations for the series.
I had a few questions at the end but I'm sure they'll go on to be answered in subsequent books and I'm definitely looking forward to finding out more.
One thing I will say, although this book was set in Germany, apart from the use of that language, there were also times it felt 'American'.
I'm not sure a many hundreds of years old European Dragon King would ever say "fuck that noise" tbh. It's a minor whinge though, I'm being picky, and I suspect it won't bother the vast majority of readers 😁
The rest of the narrative is a beautifully paced exploration of the culture and history of the world Cameron finds himself in when he 'bumps' into Alric at a festival celebrating the end of the Dragon War.
He knows dragons and mages once existed, but they're supposed to have been destroyed 500 years ago.
I really appreciated how the authors let the world building come out organically in dialogue and Cameron's observations. There weren't any big info dumps or long monologues.
The Fire Dragon Clan itself is full of really interesting characters who I'm hoping will be getting their stories told as the series progresses.
There's also a bit of an age gap (outside of the actual long lived dragon that is!) feeling to the romance between Alric and Cameron and it works well alongside the hurt/comfort and fated mates elements.
The bad guys are suitably megalomaniac and only a few clues are dropped as to where the series long arc is going. I have some theories already so I'm dying to see if any of those are true!
Alric and Cameron together are both sweet and steamy, although they both have a small stage of martyrdom where they deny their feelings because of alleged unworthiness which thankfully doesn't last long.
Overall this was a sit down and read in one go book and I enjoyed it a lot! It also has a soft note of irreverent humour throughout which I appreciated a great deal.
PS: On a side note, I absolutely love this cover, I very much appreciate that it's not a headless torso 😉
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
A solid opener to this new urban fantasy/paranormal romance which lays down great foundations for the series.
I had a few questions at the end but I'm sure they'll go on to be answered in subsequent books and I'm definitely looking forward to finding out more.
One thing I will say, although this book was set in Germany, apart from the use of that language, there were also times it felt 'American'.
I'm not sure a many hundreds of years old European Dragon King would ever say "fuck that noise" tbh. It's a minor whinge though, I'm being picky, and I suspect it won't bother the vast majority of readers 😁
The rest of the narrative is a beautifully paced exploration of the culture and history of the world Cameron finds himself in when he 'bumps' into Alric at a festival celebrating the end of the Dragon War.
He knows dragons and mages once existed, but they're supposed to have been destroyed 500 years ago.
I really appreciated how the authors let the world building come out organically in dialogue and Cameron's observations. There weren't any big info dumps or long monologues.
The Fire Dragon Clan itself is full of really interesting characters who I'm hoping will be getting their stories told as the series progresses.
There's also a bit of an age gap (outside of the actual long lived dragon that is!) feeling to the romance between Alric and Cameron and it works well alongside the hurt/comfort and fated mates elements.
The bad guys are suitably megalomaniac and only a few clues are dropped as to where the series long arc is going. I have some theories already so I'm dying to see if any of those are true!
Alric and Cameron together are both sweet and steamy, although they both have a small stage of martyrdom where they deny their feelings because of alleged unworthiness which thankfully doesn't last long.
Overall this was a sit down and read in one go book and I enjoyed it a lot! It also has a soft note of irreverent humour throughout which I appreciated a great deal.
PS: On a side note, I absolutely love this cover, I very much appreciate that it's not a headless torso 😉
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 8, 2020
A. J. Sherwood has been known for very sweet and positive paranormal romances, and we definitely get it here as well. The MCs are likable and easy to relate to. I hoped to like the story more but the everything moved so slowly. Nothing happened for about 70% of the book. And while it was fun and fascinating to read about everyday lives of dragons and mages, I needed something to happen. The relationship between Alric and Cameron started off absolutely endearing, just perfect, but soon reverted to a lot of repetitive monologues about their own insecurities despite the fact that both men reassured each other over and over again how perfect they are for each other.
There was a bit of suspense on several occasions but it lacked edge. And the absence of intrigue and any tribulations within the dragon clan itself made it so slow paced. Everyone was so nice, too nice in my opinion. Couple of grudges here and there would have livened up the narrative for me. While the background was mildly developed, it felt the book would have been better for me personally with more history and dragon traditions instead of same daily routines. It was well written, inclusive and held its fair share of positivity. For those who love sweet sweet slow paced romance with a hint of suspense, this will be perfect. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
There was a bit of suspense on several occasions but it lacked edge. And the absence of intrigue and any tribulations within the dragon clan itself made it so slow paced. Everyone was so nice, too nice in my opinion. Couple of grudges here and there would have livened up the narrative for me. While the background was mildly developed, it felt the book would have been better for me personally with more history and dragon traditions instead of same daily routines. It was well written, inclusive and held its fair share of positivity. For those who love sweet sweet slow paced romance with a hint of suspense, this will be perfect. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
nope
December 16, 2020DNF @17%
The writing...it was the writing.
The writing...it was the writing.
January 14, 2023
I am normally not one to write reviews, especially not on books who got less than 4 stars from me. But I had to comment on this, because the way the german language was used here was in equal parts annoying and ridiculous.
I am from Germany, and while reading I was more than once confused and irritated, okay sometimes I could only laugh (I haven’t read Liebling that often in a book for a long time, not even in a german one, and I haven’t heard it being used in normal day-to-day life since my grandma passed away - but okay these are dragons and they are old) but mostly I found it annoying, especially the switch in a sentence. Someone would speak with Alric in english but use a german title for him, for example. That was irritating as well as the incorrect use of the name in german for something, like Burgruine Fluhenstein. I understand the wish to use the correct name but for me it read like they did look into wikipedia but didn‘t research further.
To explain with the example of Fluhenstein: The name of the castle is Fluhenstein, so in german we would simply say Fluhenstein or Burg Fluhenstein. Burgruine simply means castle ruins, so when the sentences goes:
.... ruins of the Burgruine Fluhenstein
It says:
... ruins of the castle ruins Fluhenstein
I stumbled while reading this and also on some other parts.
And the book didn’t felt like it was set in Germany, not once. If they wouldn’t have given names of towns etc, I would have thought that it was set somewhere in America. And the dragons, which are native to the region, don‘t feel german. It doesn’t feel authentic in this regard.
The book wasn‘t bad, but it would have been better if it had been placed in an english speaking country or if the authors had done more research. Like this it just feels half-baked.
But if you ignore all of the above the book is an okayish read. It has fun moments and sexy moments and some action, some good old villains with a nefarious but unknown plan. The teasing and flirting was too much at some points.
The storyline wasn’t bad and the background information on the world history was enough to make it interesting (and understandable what happened) but not too much to make it a boring history lesson or was given in too many long monologues.
All in all I liked it well enough but I am at this point unsure if I ever read the following books.
I am from Germany, and while reading I was more than once confused and irritated, okay sometimes I could only laugh (I haven’t read Liebling that often in a book for a long time, not even in a german one, and I haven’t heard it being used in normal day-to-day life since my grandma passed away - but okay these are dragons and they are old) but mostly I found it annoying, especially the switch in a sentence. Someone would speak with Alric in english but use a german title for him, for example. That was irritating as well as the incorrect use of the name in german for something, like Burgruine Fluhenstein. I understand the wish to use the correct name but for me it read like they did look into wikipedia but didn‘t research further.
To explain with the example of Fluhenstein: The name of the castle is Fluhenstein, so in german we would simply say Fluhenstein or Burg Fluhenstein. Burgruine simply means castle ruins, so when the sentences goes:
.... ruins of the Burgruine Fluhenstein
It says:
... ruins of the castle ruins Fluhenstein
I stumbled while reading this and also on some other parts.
And the book didn’t felt like it was set in Germany, not once. If they wouldn’t have given names of towns etc, I would have thought that it was set somewhere in America. And the dragons, which are native to the region, don‘t feel german. It doesn’t feel authentic in this regard.
The book wasn‘t bad, but it would have been better if it had been placed in an english speaking country or if the authors had done more research. Like this it just feels half-baked.
But if you ignore all of the above the book is an okayish read. It has fun moments and sexy moments and some action, some good old villains with a nefarious but unknown plan. The teasing and flirting was too much at some points.
The storyline wasn’t bad and the background information on the world history was enough to make it interesting (and understandable what happened) but not too much to make it a boring history lesson or was given in too many long monologues.
All in all I liked it well enough but I am at this point unsure if I ever read the following books.
November 3, 2020
I wasn't going to write a review for this book but there were key things that really rubbed me raw. First and foremost, this is NOT urban fantasy. This is high fantasy with a dusting of urban fantasy elements that detract from the story.
As a disclaimer for the below. I have lived in Asia, love/loved/befriended gay Asian men of various nationalities (including Korean), understand the cultural undertones and speak an Asian language (badly).
Cameron is not Korean-American, Cameron is white-American point blank period. The references to Korean culture, traditions, language and overall sense is paltry, the kind you can get from Google in thirty minutes. The big red flag was seeing that big Kpop star's name in the book. By referencing a real person, the authors have grounded the story in reality, but Cameron and his entire family are not accurate representations of Korean-Americans in the least. The grandmother should have a thick Korean accent that is discernible through text plus only speaking in Korean to her grandchildren and should have a more traditional mindset. Keep in mind that before 1965 Korean-Americans were a rare breed, so the grandmother, whose age is not given, would have been born in South Korea, in a time of strife and the beginning of great change. Due to South Korea's rapid technological advancement, people forget that it is still very socially conservative which is unlikely to accept having gay children. Both Cameron and Cassie should be riddled with guilt for abandoning their parent's wishes/desires, far more than what is displayed and may not even be out to their family. Cameron also referenced German food the same way an American would. Most Asians I know who have been to Germany hated the food, they said it was bland and flavourless (ie not spicy enough). In short, nothing the Park/Noh family did or said referenced any deep or instinctual understanding of Korean culture which means, just the same as the genre, they are white characters with a dusting of Asian-esque features.
Upon reading another review, I discovered that the authors' knowledge of German culture, traditions and language were only marginally better. Therefore, these cultures were included more to be fetish/token set dressing than used with any real depth or meaning.
If you're planning to read an accurate urban fantasy that successfully blends the real world with fantasy, this is not the book for you. If instead, you want a light-hearted gay romance in an exotic place with exotic characters, enjoy.
As a disclaimer for the below. I have lived in Asia, love/loved/befriended gay Asian men of various nationalities (including Korean), understand the cultural undertones and speak an Asian language (badly).
Cameron is not Korean-American, Cameron is white-American point blank period. The references to Korean culture, traditions, language and overall sense is paltry, the kind you can get from Google in thirty minutes. The big red flag was seeing that big Kpop star's name in the book. By referencing a real person, the authors have grounded the story in reality, but Cameron and his entire family are not accurate representations of Korean-Americans in the least. The grandmother should have a thick Korean accent that is discernible through text plus only speaking in Korean to her grandchildren and should have a more traditional mindset. Keep in mind that before 1965 Korean-Americans were a rare breed, so the grandmother, whose age is not given, would have been born in South Korea, in a time of strife and the beginning of great change. Due to South Korea's rapid technological advancement, people forget that it is still very socially conservative which is unlikely to accept having gay children. Both Cameron and Cassie should be riddled with guilt for abandoning their parent's wishes/desires, far more than what is displayed and may not even be out to their family. Cameron also referenced German food the same way an American would. Most Asians I know who have been to Germany hated the food, they said it was bland and flavourless (ie not spicy enough). In short, nothing the Park/Noh family did or said referenced any deep or instinctual understanding of Korean culture which means, just the same as the genre, they are white characters with a dusting of Asian-esque features.
Upon reading another review, I discovered that the authors' knowledge of German culture, traditions and language were only marginally better. Therefore, these cultures were included more to be fetish/token set dressing than used with any real depth or meaning.
If you're planning to read an accurate urban fantasy that successfully blends the real world with fantasy, this is not the book for you. If instead, you want a light-hearted gay romance in an exotic place with exotic characters, enjoy.
dnf
October 14, 2020Pausing on this one. Not 100% giving up on it because of Drake, who I love, but I'm just not connecting with this and find myself wanting to be doing other things than reading this at the moment. So DNF on this for now.
February 12, 2022
Absolutely Incredible Beginning to a New Series!
Jocelyn Drake is somewhat new to me, while AJ Sherwood is fast becoming one of my favorite writers! The world building in this book just blew me away and the many characters feel completely real. This book made me feel like dragons are real and love conquers all!
Jocelyn Drake is somewhat new to me, while AJ Sherwood is fast becoming one of my favorite writers! The world building in this book just blew me away and the many characters feel completely real. This book made me feel like dragons are real and love conquers all!
November 18, 2020
This was a nice cute little read.
It started well and I was intrigued by the story of dragons and mages. Cameron and Alric are both likeable characters. I really wanted them together.
And that’s one of the problem.
It dragged at times. As these two confident capable men wade through insecurities. After a while I just wanted to bang their heads together.
This is a sweet book. Filled with super sweet characters. And while it wasn’t the book I’d hoped for. I’m curious enough to want to continue on. So I’ll be looking out for the next book
It started well and I was intrigued by the story of dragons and mages. Cameron and Alric are both likeable characters. I really wanted them together.
And that’s one of the problem.
It dragged at times. As these two confident capable men wade through insecurities. After a while I just wanted to bang their heads together.
This is a sweet book. Filled with super sweet characters. And while it wasn’t the book I’d hoped for. I’m curious enough to want to continue on. So I’ll be looking out for the next book
November 29, 2024
you know you're cooked when math is one of your best subjects but you're rereading a random series you read a year ago instead 💀
October 10, 2020
A story about dragons in Germany? Of course I had to read it and now that I did, did I like it? Did it reach my expectations? Hm, expectations are a fickle thing and rarely a good base for reading a new story.
So, what did we got? An alternate world just like the one we're living in but where dragons and magic existed until 500 years ago when a great war between dragons and mages lead to the extinction of both. Since then dragons became a thing of local folklore and magic a thing of fairytales. Unbeknown to the human world 2 dragon clans survived, one in Germany the other in Brazil. The surviving mage families went into hiding and mostly forgot their heritage during the centuries – except those mages mated to the dragons who are still part of the clan. The scenario gets a bit more complicated looking at the options dragons have for reproduction. Let's say dragons need magic mates. Might be a bit much but it explains why the clan sets everything in motion when suddenly a mage arrives near their castle for a folklore festival.
It's a nice start when the dragons (or let's call them what they really are: dragon-shifter) need to convince Cameron that dragons and magic are real and that he's the descendant of a well known magic family. The first is done by an overeager dragon, the second takes more time but a kidnap attempt is helping much because yes, there is another group who survived the war and has its own agenda that won't bode well for the dragons and their mates.
After that start though the story is a bit dragging. Of course there is the need for world creation, introduction of the characters and set up of some structures and concepts and I readily admit that the concept for magic is thought through and interesting. I'm even nearly inclined to call it a German approach to magic … but it somehow takes the magic out of magic. Same for the dragons who are mostly in their human form anyway and even the mate concept seems to be so un-magical that a lot of other human emotions are a stronger distraction and it can take a long time for the 2 guys to even recognize it. It's not that nothing happens in all those long pages and most of the characters are intriguing enough to read forward but it drags and there were time I'd like the authors to hurry up, to remind them there is a conflict to unfold, not only some martyr-bullshit (thank you Renée for that term) of the dragon king or some charming Cameron goofiness.
I could nag a bit more about the world building but I better make some space for a comment about the German setting: felt a bit like tourist folklore, only the Lederhosen were missing to make it complete. In that sense it was good that the human world is only necessary background noise … apropos noise: dear authors, please don't use Liebling that often. It's a nice word, a bit old-fashioned which makes it also charming but it's totally out of place in the heat of the moment ;)
So, what did we got? An alternate world just like the one we're living in but where dragons and magic existed until 500 years ago when a great war between dragons and mages lead to the extinction of both. Since then dragons became a thing of local folklore and magic a thing of fairytales. Unbeknown to the human world 2 dragon clans survived, one in Germany the other in Brazil. The surviving mage families went into hiding and mostly forgot their heritage during the centuries – except those mages mated to the dragons who are still part of the clan. The scenario gets a bit more complicated looking at the options dragons have for reproduction. Let's say dragons need magic mates. Might be a bit much but it explains why the clan sets everything in motion when suddenly a mage arrives near their castle for a folklore festival.
It's a nice start when the dragons (or let's call them what they really are: dragon-shifter) need to convince Cameron that dragons and magic are real and that he's the descendant of a well known magic family. The first is done by an overeager dragon, the second takes more time but a kidnap attempt is helping much because yes, there is another group who survived the war and has its own agenda that won't bode well for the dragons and their mates.
After that start though the story is a bit dragging. Of course there is the need for world creation, introduction of the characters and set up of some structures and concepts and I readily admit that the concept for magic is thought through and interesting. I'm even nearly inclined to call it a German approach to magic … but it somehow takes the magic out of magic. Same for the dragons who are mostly in their human form anyway and even the mate concept seems to be so un-magical that a lot of other human emotions are a stronger distraction and it can take a long time for the 2 guys to even recognize it. It's not that nothing happens in all those long pages and most of the characters are intriguing enough to read forward but it drags and there were time I'd like the authors to hurry up, to remind them there is a conflict to unfold, not only some martyr-bullshit (thank you Renée for that term) of the dragon king or some charming Cameron goofiness.
I could nag a bit more about the world building but I better make some space for a comment about the German setting: felt a bit like tourist folklore, only the Lederhosen were missing to make it complete. In that sense it was good that the human world is only necessary background noise … apropos noise: dear authors, please don't use Liebling that often. It's a nice word, a bit old-fashioned which makes it also charming but it's totally out of place in the heat of the moment ;)
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1636739475i%2F5520447._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 12, 2020
Origin was a pretty unique and super sweet read! The concept of fated mates wasn't a new one, but the way the authors developed the world-building and the history surrounding the dragon clans was so different from what I'd seen before in fantasy settings and it worked so well with the story.
The writing, in general, was compelling and the perspective shifts between Cameron and Alric were really well done. I did find that this was a bit too long, though? At around the halfway mark, the story started to drag a bit and I found myself getting bored. Things did pick up during the final half, but I had a hard time getting in the rhythm of the story again.
The relationship between Cameron and Alric was really sweet, if a bit underdeveloped, and I loved how they bickered and teased each other. They offered some lighthearted moments to the darker parts of the novel and it was really fun reading about them getting to know and falling in love with each other :D
The writing, in general, was compelling and the perspective shifts between Cameron and Alric were really well done. I did find that this was a bit too long, though? At around the halfway mark, the story started to drag a bit and I found myself getting bored. Things did pick up during the final half, but I had a hard time getting in the rhythm of the story again.
The relationship between Cameron and Alric was really sweet, if a bit underdeveloped, and I loved how they bickered and teased each other. They offered some lighthearted moments to the darker parts of the novel and it was really fun reading about them getting to know and falling in love with each other :D
August 8, 2021
Okay, so... I had major expectations: fantasy, dragons, magic. Maybe even funny. And a German setting - what's not to like?
Turns out for me quite a bit. I found most of the characters silly, and not in a good way. While I liked Alric well enough, I just did not like Cameron. At all. And Alric and Cameron both had a gigantic Mary Sue issue. Now, I'm aware that this is a very wide-spread problem and it always bugs the hell out of me. Characters that are gorgeous, powerful, smart, good leaders, wise beyond their years, kind, and the object(subject?) of universal love are, above all, one thing: incredibly boring. And unlikeable.
Maybe I'm just jealous because I am none - or at the most a very very small subset - of the above. Or maybe I'd rather read something about real characters with at least a little bit of depth to them.
Oh well.
Turns out for me quite a bit. I found most of the characters silly, and not in a good way. While I liked Alric well enough, I just did not like Cameron. At all. And Alric and Cameron both had a gigantic Mary Sue issue. Now, I'm aware that this is a very wide-spread problem and it always bugs the hell out of me. Characters that are gorgeous, powerful, smart, good leaders, wise beyond their years, kind, and the object(subject?) of universal love are, above all, one thing: incredibly boring. And unlikeable.
Maybe I'm just jealous because I am none - or at the most a very very small subset - of the above. Or maybe I'd rather read something about real characters with at least a little bit of depth to them.
Oh well.
February 5, 2021
I was so excited about this one..
but 500 year old dragons talking and bitchin' like teenagers? Na thanks, i'm good...
but 500 year old dragons talking and bitchin' like teenagers? Na thanks, i'm good...
February 6, 2023
Full review to come
October 2, 2020
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Origin is the start to a new mm paranormal romance series by authors A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake. A modern say fantasy series that takes place in a world where dragons are alive and magic still exists.
Cameron Park is on one last hurrah before joining the working world. He is pleased when he runs into a beautiful local who wants to show him all the best hidden gems. Little does he know he's being led by Alric Burkhard the king of the fire dragons and leader of the Burkhard clan. Immediately entranced with Cameron, Alric understands how important his new fascination is as a mage. Cameron is thrust into the world of dragons and mages, soon becoming the object of an evil clan's plan to destroy the dragon clans. As Cameron's magic grows more powerful and his attachment to Alric grows, he finds himself asking if he's willing to give up everything he knows for the life of a King's partner and important mage within the clan.
"I should have known the king of dragons would be a royal pain in the a**"
Cameron Park is a bit goofy but still charming and sweet. He is thrust into this world that he always thought was a fairy tale but his curiosity helps him except it. He is also such a positive figure within the clan as he constantly reminds them of how important positivity is and brightening their days with humor and compliments. Alric is a serious dragon with a very serious job. He is finally able to smile and enjoy his life with Cameron opening up feelings he had hidden away behind his responsibilities. He takes some time to get to know because he is constantly questioning how someone like Cameron could ever want to be with him. They have a bit of a slow burn romance where even though they are both smitten with each other, Alric doesn't want to selfishly claim Cameron as his own because he wants his clan to all have a chance at finding their mates first.
"I'm not sure whether to shake you for the stupidity or kiss you for being so protective of me."
I always struggle with first books in paranormal series there always seem to be so many information drops in order to set up the book universe. The pacing dragged while I read page after page waiting for something to move the story forward. World building aside, besides one or two story inconsistencies this was a well written co-author story. The characters made this story for me. Each dragon has its own personality giving them individuality and charm. I hope *fingers crossed* that each dragon will get a story finding their mate.
Origin is the start to a new mm paranormal romance series by authors A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake. A modern say fantasy series that takes place in a world where dragons are alive and magic still exists.
Cameron Park is on one last hurrah before joining the working world. He is pleased when he runs into a beautiful local who wants to show him all the best hidden gems. Little does he know he's being led by Alric Burkhard the king of the fire dragons and leader of the Burkhard clan. Immediately entranced with Cameron, Alric understands how important his new fascination is as a mage. Cameron is thrust into the world of dragons and mages, soon becoming the object of an evil clan's plan to destroy the dragon clans. As Cameron's magic grows more powerful and his attachment to Alric grows, he finds himself asking if he's willing to give up everything he knows for the life of a King's partner and important mage within the clan.
"I should have known the king of dragons would be a royal pain in the a**"
Cameron Park is a bit goofy but still charming and sweet. He is thrust into this world that he always thought was a fairy tale but his curiosity helps him except it. He is also such a positive figure within the clan as he constantly reminds them of how important positivity is and brightening their days with humor and compliments. Alric is a serious dragon with a very serious job. He is finally able to smile and enjoy his life with Cameron opening up feelings he had hidden away behind his responsibilities. He takes some time to get to know because he is constantly questioning how someone like Cameron could ever want to be with him. They have a bit of a slow burn romance where even though they are both smitten with each other, Alric doesn't want to selfishly claim Cameron as his own because he wants his clan to all have a chance at finding their mates first.
"I'm not sure whether to shake you for the stupidity or kiss you for being so protective of me."
I always struggle with first books in paranormal series there always seem to be so many information drops in order to set up the book universe. The pacing dragged while I read page after page waiting for something to move the story forward. World building aside, besides one or two story inconsistencies this was a well written co-author story. The characters made this story for me. Each dragon has its own personality giving them individuality and charm. I hope *fingers crossed* that each dragon will get a story finding their mate.
May 22, 2022
This book started out so well. The first couple of chapters hyped me up for an entertaining shifter story, and then it just... wasn't. It was just so ridiculous (not in a funny way) and frustrating and at times downright boring.
The setting is Germany but didn't feel like it at all -the only way you could tell we're not in the USA is the occasional of German phrases (and judging by the reviews, even that was not done properly). Following the dialogue felt like trying to follow a rubber ball ricocheting around an empty room. And if that wasn't enough, often there was one fact that was being reiterated in many different ways in the same paragraph.
The drama and insecurities of the MCs felt fabricated and totally unrelated to their actual characters. But even that would have been okay, if it wasn't going on and on and ON.
By ~80ish% I was so bored. Even when stuff FINALLY started to happen, it didn't manage to hold my attention, I just wanted it to end. The thing I wanted to see resolved most, aka the non-romantic part of the plot, was NOT resolved in this book, and that was the final straw - I definitely won't be continuing the series.
The setting is Germany but didn't feel like it at all -the only way you could tell we're not in the USA is the occasional of German phrases (and judging by the reviews, even that was not done properly). Following the dialogue felt like trying to follow a rubber ball ricocheting around an empty room. And if that wasn't enough, often there was one fact that was being reiterated in many different ways in the same paragraph.
The drama and insecurities of the MCs felt fabricated and totally unrelated to their actual characters. But even that would have been okay, if it wasn't going on and on and ON.
By ~80ish% I was so bored. Even when stuff FINALLY started to happen, it didn't manage to hold my attention, I just wanted it to end. The thing I wanted to see resolved most, aka the non-romantic part of the plot, was NOT resolved in this book, and that was the final straw - I definitely won't be continuing the series.
June 27, 2023
So overall I enjoyed the story in Origins, it just didn't completely hold my attention. The authors dump a whole load of info on us while establishing this world, and it kind of goes on and on and on... Plus, I'm really not a fan of this audiobook narrator, so that's a strike against it straight off.
An interesting dragon world, with magic and mages and baddies, and family drama. A huge scope, and there are at least three more books in this series. I'll probably pass tbh.
An interesting dragon world, with magic and mages and baddies, and family drama. A huge scope, and there are at least three more books in this series. I'll probably pass tbh.
dnf
October 14, 2020I only made it to chapter 3, so I'm not going to rate it. I could not get into the book. The characters were uncompelling and I felt no chemistry between them. I skimmed and the plot was utterly uninteresting. And the writing was wooden. It was a slug to read what I did and I decided that my time would be wasted trying to get through this book.
December 28, 2020
I was super excited for this book, mainly because I’m such a big fan of Drake’s, but also because I do love a good dragon romance. Sadly, this missed the mark for me. I’ll start with the big ones - REPETITION. So we read about a situation as it happened in the story. Then we read about again when they have a meeting about it. Then we hear it once more during a phone call, in full detail, right after said meeting. Why ??? I mean, was it necessary to write the whole thing out? Could it not have been better to just throw a “proceeded to tell him the events” kind of a catch all phrase ? LANGUAGE - good thing I watched Korean soap operas and someone taught me how to say “shit” and “I love you” in German, at least I didn’t have to stop reading while I went to google those things. That is a no-no for me. If you are going to use another language other than English, give me the translation right away so I don’t have to stop and look stuff up and interrupt the flow. INCONSISTENCIES - so for the majority of the book, Alric’s left arm is pretty much useless, we’re even told how he doesn’t even lift anything with it because of pain and lack of strength. Yet more than once, that’s thrown out the window and he’s grabbing AND holding Cam. I don’t even know where this one fits, is the spells for me. Apparently, ALL their spells end in “gev adi”. Why does this bother me so much ? I don’t know. I found it unoriginal maybe, like what does it even mean ? Then, there is the confrontation with the bad guys. It was so lackluster. From Cameron’s escape to the way it ended. It fell flat.
I really wish I had liked this book better, I really do. It took me a couple of days to finish it, when I usually can’t even imagine putting down a Drake book until I’m done. I can only hope the next one is better.
I really wish I had liked this book better, I really do. It took me a couple of days to finish it, when I usually can’t even imagine putting down a Drake book until I’m done. I can only hope the next one is better.
October 20, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Origin is the first book in A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake’s new Scales ‘n Spells series and I think it is off to a great start. I am a sucker for dragons and the world building here is really stellar. We learn that dragons and mages used to live and work together. But a huge war led to the near decimation of the dragons, leaving only two clans remaining, while the mages were also almost wiped out and ended up mostly scattered. It’s been 500 years, and while humans used to know about the existence of dragons and magic, now they believe they are all gone. So Cameron enters this world totally unaware that dragons exist, and no idea that he is a mage. It works well in that Cameron is sort of our guide as readers to this world, and we learn along with him. It is richly detailed and nicely developed and I think the authors do a great job building an expansive world without overwhelming the reader with information.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Origin is the first book in A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake’s new Scales ‘n Spells series and I think it is off to a great start. I am a sucker for dragons and the world building here is really stellar. We learn that dragons and mages used to live and work together. But a huge war led to the near decimation of the dragons, leaving only two clans remaining, while the mages were also almost wiped out and ended up mostly scattered. It’s been 500 years, and while humans used to know about the existence of dragons and magic, now they believe they are all gone. So Cameron enters this world totally unaware that dragons exist, and no idea that he is a mage. It works well in that Cameron is sort of our guide as readers to this world, and we learn along with him. It is richly detailed and nicely developed and I think the authors do a great job building an expansive world without overwhelming the reader with information.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
December 12, 2020
I love both of these authors and their writing in this book was top notch.
However, I expected more of a faster paced story and more excitement throughout the book. As it was, it started out great, tapered out (dragged a bit to be honest) for majority of the story and then ended on a bang.
I would've enjoyed this much more had the pacing been better done and the middle part of the story not dragged so much.I say this because I loved the characters and I wanted to see them do MORE but never got to till the events in the last 10% of the book which was a bummer.
Nonetheless I will get the next book and see what Baldewin gets up to!
However, I expected more of a faster paced story and more excitement throughout the book. As it was, it started out great, tapered out (dragged a bit to be honest) for majority of the story and then ended on a bang.
I would've enjoyed this much more had the pacing been better done and the middle part of the story not dragged so much.I say this because I loved the characters and I wanted to see them do MORE but never got to till the events in the last 10% of the book which was a bummer.
Nonetheless I will get the next book and see what Baldewin gets up to!
November 8, 2020
I really thought I would love this book. I mean, dragons and mages? Yes, please. So I'm so sad to say I didn't enjoy it especially much. I didn't like Cameron (pretty much all the characters made me feel meh), something about the writing bothered me, and it got kind of boring sometimes since I thought it was unnecessary long. So, unfortunately this book disappointed me.
March 16, 2021
I ShOuLd HaVe LiStEnEd To ThE rEvIeWs.
Most reviews I read started with "The starting was really good but..." and it turned out to be true. The starting was way more interesting than the rest of the book seriously. I got till the 24th chapter and then I just couldn't read anymore.
Most reviews I read started with "The starting was really good but..." and it turned out to be true. The starting was way more interesting than the rest of the book seriously. I got till the 24th chapter and then I just couldn't read anymore.
did-not-finish
May 21, 2025DNF at 41%.
This started off so cute and fun but the negative motivation plus the endless (and pointless) details about the most mundane things is boring the crap out of me.
This started off so cute and fun but the negative motivation plus the endless (and pointless) details about the most mundane things is boring the crap out of me.
December 12, 2020
DNF!
First who was learning about dragons in history class?! Idk about USA but lemme tell you we here in europe don't.
Second the clueless MC use terms of supernatural like he is a pro.
Dialog: superficial af
MC damsel in distress. As a gay man i say it again and more loudly this time: we are not women. We don't think like women. We don't feel like women. ( no offense ladies love you all, this was about gay man not you ladies).
3rd i had the feeling i missed some previous books bcs we dived directly in the paranormal without warnings. Spoiler alert: blurbs don't count as prologue, just saying.
So without hurting anyone Cameron is the typical american. He is how we see some of the tourist who came over ...kinda dumb, sory again. I stoped reading when he say something like: he is not here to be the saviour of the dragons. I laugheeed so hard like dude get over yourself ...!
The writing was bad. Very bad. We are not mind readers. Don't expect us to go with the flow without references or describing it previously. No! Baaaad writing!
I swear this author is a hit and miss for me or this was written by a ghostauthor but maaan it was bad!!
First who was learning about dragons in history class?! Idk about USA but lemme tell you we here in europe don't.
Second the clueless MC use terms of supernatural like he is a pro.
Dialog: superficial af
MC damsel in distress. As a gay man i say it again and more loudly this time: we are not women. We don't think like women. We don't feel like women. ( no offense ladies love you all, this was about gay man not you ladies).
3rd i had the feeling i missed some previous books bcs we dived directly in the paranormal without warnings. Spoiler alert: blurbs don't count as prologue, just saying.
So without hurting anyone Cameron is the typical american. He is how we see some of the tourist who came over ...kinda dumb, sory again. I stoped reading when he say something like: he is not here to be the saviour of the dragons. I laugheeed so hard like dude get over yourself ...!
The writing was bad. Very bad. We are not mind readers. Don't expect us to go with the flow without references or describing it previously. No! Baaaad writing!
I swear this author is a hit and miss for me or this was written by a ghostauthor but maaan it was bad!!
October 24, 2020
I love Sherwood's supernatural books! Have read them, listen to them. Her choice of narrator is spot on.
BUT, this was a huge disappointment for me. I was looking forward to read about dragons, what's not to like and Mage and don't forget the destiny of fated mates!! But the story went on & on & on.... snail pace. Way too many time I checked how many chapter to go for the story to end!! Atleast I finished it! this wasn't a book where I read it without able to keeping it down.
Sorry, for me this was below average but the world building was solid 5 or 4.5. So, will I follow the series? I'm not keen. If I don't have any other book lined up (rarely happens)..... a maybe.
BUT, this was a huge disappointment for me. I was looking forward to read about dragons, what's not to like and Mage and don't forget the destiny of fated mates!! But the story went on & on & on.... snail pace. Way too many time I checked how many chapter to go for the story to end!! Atleast I finished it! this wasn't a book where I read it without able to keeping it down.
Sorry, for me this was below average but the world building was solid 5 or 4.5. So, will I follow the series? I'm not keen. If I don't have any other book lined up (rarely happens)..... a maybe.
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