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Fireblood Dragon #10
Dark Fire
Azar has taken over Fort Dallas. He rules with complete authority, and everyone bows down to him.
Everyone except one woman. Melina, the fort's medic. No matter what he offers, she refuses to give in. A good man would know to stop asking. Unfortunately for Melina, Azar is not a good man.
Everyone except one woman. Melina, the fort's medic. No matter what he offers, she refuses to give in. A good man would know to stop asking. Unfortunately for Melina, Azar is not a good man.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
474 people are currently reading
2638 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Dixon
161 books19.8k followersRuby Dixon is an author of Science Fiction Romance. She likes fated mates, baby-filled epilogues, and cinnamon roll heroes. She also likes to write biographies of herself in the third person, because it feels more important that way.
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews
March 4, 2022
"All your caring is rubbing off on me and I do not like it. It is breaking me apart by small fragments. I should like to go back to caring about nothing at all. My head was much quieter then."
accurate rating: 3.5 stars
Ultimately, this was not what I was expecting . . . and unfortunately not the pleasant surprise type. I came into this craving a yearning, back-and-forth villain romance, but Azar wasn't that villainous in here?? Perhaps I'd already forgotten most of what he'd done in the previous books and that gave me the papery portrait of a bad guy, but it was just mostly messily written in a lot of areas that unpleasantly surprised me because the rest of the series had been SO GOOD and I was SO READY for this book.
There was a lot of decent moments that I appreciated, but it also wasn't super steamy or sultry and this finale left me . . . feeling like a lot was still missing.
accurate rating: 3.5 stars
Ultimately, this was not what I was expecting . . . and unfortunately not the pleasant surprise type. I came into this craving a yearning, back-and-forth villain romance, but Azar wasn't that villainous in here?? Perhaps I'd already forgotten most of what he'd done in the previous books and that gave me the papery portrait of a bad guy, but it was just mostly messily written in a lot of areas that unpleasantly surprised me because the rest of the series had been SO GOOD and I was SO READY for this book.
There was a lot of decent moments that I appreciated, but it also wasn't super steamy or sultry and this finale left me . . . feeling like a lot was still missing.
March 3, 2022
I *think* this book will be a little divisive for the fans, but personally I really liked it.
The Bad:
- no slapping. (I thought Azar would get slapped so hard!! He deserved it!)
The Ugly
- actually there was a slap, but it was just Azar backhanding a random girl and we saw that scene before, in Fire in Her Dreams. Somehow the scene became even more dramatized than before
The Good
- I really liked the resolution of the series, because let's be honest here the overarching plot was a hot mess (Rift? Evil monsters? Magic babies? Panty Program? Yeah)
- Azar was a major piece of shit but got good, realistic plot development
- Meline did no doormatting
- there was a really cute book-reading sideplot
- Rachel from Fire in His Chaos played a role
- Azar's interaction with the magic babies
- The topic of Salorians enslaving Drakoni and how Melina would react to that was handled with more sensitivity than I expected
Elements that could have been handled better:
- more plot: Melina&Azar had to backpedal through quite a bit of plot together
- more background on the Rift
- more backgrounf on the Salorians
- more background on the world they came from (since Azar, like Liam, remembers everything, I would have appreciated some in-depth flashbacks)
Overall this was a decent villain romance, but not a very good Fantasy-Overlord-Showdown, if you know what I mean. Adjust your expectations going in!
--- pre-review ----
AZAR!! OMG, it's AZAR AND MELINA!!
I absolutely cannot wait for this, I'm so excited. My absolute favorite thing in Paranormal Romance is the villain's redemption and romance arc and I hope this will be an unapologetic ANGSTFEST with lots of fighting and crying and hopefully slapping. Azar deserves a beating or two! Also, he deserves to stew yearningly while being ignored.
YES!! This can only be good.
The Bad:
- no slapping. (I thought Azar would get slapped so hard!! He deserved it!)
The Ugly
- actually there was a slap, but it was just Azar backhanding a random girl and we saw that scene before, in Fire in Her Dreams. Somehow the scene became even more dramatized than before
The Good
- I really liked the resolution of the series, because let's be honest here the overarching plot was a hot mess (Rift? Evil monsters? Magic babies? Panty Program? Yeah)
- Azar was a major piece of shit but got good, realistic plot development
- Meline did no doormatting
- there was a really cute book-reading sideplot
- Rachel from Fire in His Chaos played a role
- Azar's interaction with the magic babies
- The topic of Salorians enslaving Drakoni and how Melina would react to that was handled with more sensitivity than I expected
Elements that could have been handled better:
- more plot: Melina&Azar had to backpedal through quite a bit of plot together
- more background on the Rift
- more backgrounf on the Salorians
- more background on the world they came from (since Azar, like Liam, remembers everything, I would have appreciated some in-depth flashbacks)
Overall this was a decent villain romance, but not a very good Fantasy-Overlord-Showdown, if you know what I mean. Adjust your expectations going in!
--- pre-review ----
AZAR!! OMG, it's AZAR AND MELINA!!
I absolutely cannot wait for this, I'm so excited. My absolute favorite thing in Paranormal Romance is the villain's redemption and romance arc and I hope this will be an unapologetic ANGSTFEST with lots of fighting and crying and hopefully slapping. Azar deserves a beating or two! Also, he deserves to stew yearningly while being ignored.
YES!! This can only be good.
June 23, 2023
Azar the antihero!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😠☺️😋🥰😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Melina - She lives in Fort Dallas and runs a clinic. This is in ‘The After’ which is what they call the time after the dragon apocalypse, when Dragons flew through a rift in the sky and started reigning fire on the earth. She treats a strange man named Azar, who seems not quite human. Before leaving he claims that she will be his consort when he returns to take over Fort Dallas.
The Hero: Azar - He is a Salorian, who are enemies to the Drakoni. The Salorians have the ability to control the minds of the Drakoni, so the abused that power and made the Drakoni their slaves. They also have delusions of grandeur and Azar is a prime example of that. He believes he is making things better for people when he takes control of dragons' minds (they were crazed anyway, so he thinks he is helping them), then uses those dragons to protect Fort Dallas.
The Story: Azar wants Melina for himself and will do anything to have her. He also sees this as doing her a favor after he takes Fort Dallas and becomes the new leader. Since he will give her things and make her life better. He feels the same way about his underwear program, where he feeds and gives shelter for women in exchange for their underwear (which he uses to attract crazed Drakoni males to mate with the women).
This story was better than I expected. Especially since Azar was such an awful character in previous books. Plus he basically pushed Melina into a relationship she didn’t want. However, the fact that he did really make things better in Fort Dallas, helped a lot, despite the ways he went about things, and we see things from his point of view and based on the civilization he grew up in, he turned out to be a lot more sympathetic than I thought he would be. Also Melina changed him quite a bit and the things he did for her and because of her made him likable. It was kind of funny how little he cared for anyone but her, though he did nice things on behalf of her.
This book is told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Ja’Air Bush and Jeremy York. Goodreads says Jillian Macie is one of the narrators and I like her a bit better than Ja’Air Bush, though Ja’Air does fit the character better. Jeremy York always does a great job and I like his voice.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😠☺️😋🥰😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Melina - She lives in Fort Dallas and runs a clinic. This is in ‘The After’ which is what they call the time after the dragon apocalypse, when Dragons flew through a rift in the sky and started reigning fire on the earth. She treats a strange man named Azar, who seems not quite human. Before leaving he claims that she will be his consort when he returns to take over Fort Dallas.
The Hero: Azar - He is a Salorian, who are enemies to the Drakoni. The Salorians have the ability to control the minds of the Drakoni, so the abused that power and made the Drakoni their slaves. They also have delusions of grandeur and Azar is a prime example of that. He believes he is making things better for people when he takes control of dragons' minds (they were crazed anyway, so he thinks he is helping them), then uses those dragons to protect Fort Dallas.
The Story: Azar wants Melina for himself and will do anything to have her. He also sees this as doing her a favor after he takes Fort Dallas and becomes the new leader. Since he will give her things and make her life better. He feels the same way about his underwear program, where he feeds and gives shelter for women in exchange for their underwear (which he uses to attract crazed Drakoni males to mate with the women).
This story was better than I expected. Especially since Azar was such an awful character in previous books. Plus he basically pushed Melina into a relationship she didn’t want. However, the fact that he did really make things better in Fort Dallas, helped a lot, despite the ways he went about things, and we see things from his point of view and based on the civilization he grew up in, he turned out to be a lot more sympathetic than I thought he would be. Also Melina changed him quite a bit and the things he did for her and because of her made him likable. It was kind of funny how little he cared for anyone but her, though he did nice things on behalf of her.
This book is told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Ja’Air Bush and Jeremy York. Goodreads says Jillian Macie is one of the narrators and I like her a bit better than Ja’Air Bush, though Ja’Air does fit the character better. Jeremy York always does a great job and I like his voice.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
March 26, 2022
I'm not sure if it was the book or my own mood, but this one didn't give me quite what I had hoped it would. I liked the characters, but the plot felt meandering and didn't fully deliver on the promise of the premise. From the author's note, it sounds like the door is open to revisit this version of earth at some point in the future, and I would definitely be interested in that. For now... I'd say it's a so/so ending to a series that went some interesting places
CW: noncon, dark romance
CW: noncon, dark romance
Want to read
April 18, 2021Super sad that the author says that this will be the last book. I love this series so I hope she does continue it in some way after this.
March 3, 2022
Was it entertaining?
All of Ruby Dixon’s books are entertaining. It’s actually kind of baffling how someone can write so much — especially long series — and still bang out a good, compelling plot each time. I didn’t really catalogue all the tropes in this one because I was so excited to get the conclusion to the series but I didn’t hate any of them — except the actual pregnancies. I don’t mind a breeding kink but actual babies make me cringe every time. I didn’t mind it as much because they’re so crucial to the story but this is my hill. 4/5
Was it enjoyable?
It…should have been. It really should have been fun to read and it was for the first half but somewhere towards the end of part 2, I started to hate it.
First of all, what an absolute fizzle of a climax. 10 books of build-up and angst for…3 pages of mild, mental banter and a fade to black moment? After all the angst about Azar’s “battle form” and should he or shouldn’t he with Melina? Are…are you kidding me?
Morally grey isn’t really quite effective enough to describe Azar but he’s consistent. If there’s one thing the MMC in this book is going to do, it’s preserve self and give Melina literally anything — even to the detriment of everyone else. And I respect that. I respect a protagonist with questionable but clearly defined morals, a feral streak, and a consistent character arc. What I don’t respect or understand is a FMC that’s fine with all of that until she gets called out on her complacency.
So much of this book (probably a good 70%) is spent making excuses for Azar’s militant and rigid (honestly cruel and vicious too) rule because he’s not human and he doesn’t have the same morality or cultural norms as his very human underlings. And Mel is overwhelmingly FINE with this. Oh sure, she rails against it for the first few chapters but she settled into her role quickly and without complaint once she got her box munched. I don’t have a problem with that honestly because post-apocalyptic world and all that. I respect and understand using your assets to improve your situation. But as soon as she’s forced to confront her part in the situation (and let’s be honest, she knew the milk wasn’t clean) it’s “I’m Black and I could never love a slave master.” Honestly that’s bullshit, it’s lazy, and it’s just bad character development.
As an avid fantasy and sci-fi romance reader, and a Black woman, I know how rare it is to read well-done Black (and POC) characters from white authors. But I would honestly prefer that they not do it at all if it’s going to be this sloppy. Mel being Black wasn’t part of her characterisation so much as it was a plot device and it felt wildly disappointing and disrespectful to me. She automatically expected Gwen to be her friend because they were both Black? She assumed Gary would take issue with her running the clinic because she’s a Black woman despite absolutely zero indication otherwise? (And honestly this was just such a weird fucking line in the first place since it literally never comes up again.)
Every part of this took me out of the fantasy. I had to force myself to suspend disbelief just to finish part 3 of the book. (Also why was this split into parts?) I’m so disappointed with how Mel’s identity was shoehorned into this at only the most convenient moments. Beyond that, she’s just an infuriatingly sanctimonious character when it suits her to be in a snit while maintaining her moral superiority over someone she admits has no context for or understanding of the cultural norms she insists Azar abide by. I hated so much about this and it devastated me. 0/5
Was it well-written?
As always, no notes. 5/5
Overall, it was — like everything by Ruby Dixon — wild from start to finish and technically sound but so fucking sloppy where it counts that it just destroyed the experience for me. 3/5 stars
All of Ruby Dixon’s books are entertaining. It’s actually kind of baffling how someone can write so much — especially long series — and still bang out a good, compelling plot each time. I didn’t really catalogue all the tropes in this one because I was so excited to get the conclusion to the series but I didn’t hate any of them — except the actual pregnancies. I don’t mind a breeding kink but actual babies make me cringe every time. I didn’t mind it as much because they’re so crucial to the story but this is my hill. 4/5
Was it enjoyable?
It…should have been. It really should have been fun to read and it was for the first half but somewhere towards the end of part 2, I started to hate it.
First of all, what an absolute fizzle of a climax. 10 books of build-up and angst for…3 pages of mild, mental banter and a fade to black moment? After all the angst about Azar’s “battle form” and should he or shouldn’t he with Melina? Are…are you kidding me?
Morally grey isn’t really quite effective enough to describe Azar but he’s consistent. If there’s one thing the MMC in this book is going to do, it’s preserve self and give Melina literally anything — even to the detriment of everyone else. And I respect that. I respect a protagonist with questionable but clearly defined morals, a feral streak, and a consistent character arc. What I don’t respect or understand is a FMC that’s fine with all of that until she gets called out on her complacency.
So much of this book (probably a good 70%) is spent making excuses for Azar’s militant and rigid (honestly cruel and vicious too) rule because he’s not human and he doesn’t have the same morality or cultural norms as his very human underlings. And Mel is overwhelmingly FINE with this. Oh sure, she rails against it for the first few chapters but she settled into her role quickly and without complaint once she got her box munched. I don’t have a problem with that honestly because post-apocalyptic world and all that. I respect and understand using your assets to improve your situation. But as soon as she’s forced to confront her part in the situation (and let’s be honest, she knew the milk wasn’t clean) it’s “I’m Black and I could never love a slave master.” Honestly that’s bullshit, it’s lazy, and it’s just bad character development.
As an avid fantasy and sci-fi romance reader, and a Black woman, I know how rare it is to read well-done Black (and POC) characters from white authors. But I would honestly prefer that they not do it at all if it’s going to be this sloppy. Mel being Black wasn’t part of her characterisation so much as it was a plot device and it felt wildly disappointing and disrespectful to me. She automatically expected Gwen to be her friend because they were both Black? She assumed Gary would take issue with her running the clinic because she’s a Black woman despite absolutely zero indication otherwise? (And honestly this was just such a weird fucking line in the first place since it literally never comes up again.)
Every part of this took me out of the fantasy. I had to force myself to suspend disbelief just to finish part 3 of the book. (Also why was this split into parts?) I’m so disappointed with how Mel’s identity was shoehorned into this at only the most convenient moments. Beyond that, she’s just an infuriatingly sanctimonious character when it suits her to be in a snit while maintaining her moral superiority over someone she admits has no context for or understanding of the cultural norms she insists Azar abide by. I hated so much about this and it devastated me. 0/5
Was it well-written?
As always, no notes. 5/5
Overall, it was — like everything by Ruby Dixon — wild from start to finish and technically sound but so fucking sloppy where it counts that it just destroyed the experience for me. 3/5 stars
June 24, 2022
lmao i have no idea how i feel about this book on so many different levels but i would say any scene between melina and azar was 10/10 and i'm obsessed with them, the book just got dragged down by the plot of this series being not my fav. i really wish ruby hadn't decided to do so many time jumps in the intiial parts of melina and azar's relationship and we'd seen more of them growing to care for one another but i get that she didn't want this book to be too long or weirdly paced.
in summary: azar and melina: 5 stars; story and other character stuff: 3.5 stars so i'm just gonna give it a four and hope ruby doesn't decide to revisit this series too soon because i think it's her weakest stuff and ipb/icehome and risda/corsairs are so so much better
pre-release eilidh:
to whoever gave this book a one star before release day: fuck off
in summary: azar and melina: 5 stars; story and other character stuff: 3.5 stars so i'm just gonna give it a four and hope ruby doesn't decide to revisit this series too soon because i think it's her weakest stuff and ipb/icehome and risda/corsairs are so so much better
pre-release eilidh:
to whoever gave this book a one star before release day: fuck off
March 3, 2022
2.5 stars
I KNOW, I KNOW I AM BEING HARSH.
With that out of the way... I was heading for the 3 stars and then noticed that I had already rated some of the other books in the series as 3 stars. And I think this book was less good.
It's frustrating. On the one hand, I gobbled it up. On the other hand... I just didn't love it at all. I was so excited for Azar's book. And I really liked Melina too. In fact, the first part of the book was really good. I was loving it.
And then it went downhill from there... First off: I don't like time-jumps in books. Especially when it is a time jump where the FMC and MMC were together during that time. I feel like it cuts off the flow; and I almost feel cheated. Cheated out of part of the romance, and the love story. This was a big, big problem I had with the book. Especially since there were quite a few, pretty significant time-jumps here. And that heavily impacted the romance for me.
Secondly, I feel let down by the plot. 9 books to set up this awful monster in the Rift and you resolve everything in literally a handful of pages? Come on... I expected more. It almost feels like Ruby gave up on the story. So, there we go. A lot of disappointment here.
Which is sad, because I really enjoyed this series overall.
I KNOW, I KNOW I AM BEING HARSH.
With that out of the way... I was heading for the 3 stars and then noticed that I had already rated some of the other books in the series as 3 stars. And I think this book was less good.
It's frustrating. On the one hand, I gobbled it up. On the other hand... I just didn't love it at all. I was so excited for Azar's book. And I really liked Melina too. In fact, the first part of the book was really good. I was loving it.
And then it went downhill from there... First off: I don't like time-jumps in books. Especially when it is a time jump where the FMC and MMC were together during that time. I feel like it cuts off the flow; and I almost feel cheated. Cheated out of part of the romance, and the love story. This was a big, big problem I had with the book. Especially since there were quite a few, pretty significant time-jumps here. And that heavily impacted the romance for me.
Secondly, I feel let down by the plot. 9 books to set up this awful monster in the Rift and you resolve everything in literally a handful of pages? Come on... I expected more. It almost feels like Ruby gave up on the story. So, there we go. A lot of disappointment here.
Which is sad, because I really enjoyed this series overall.
November 1, 2022
Dark Fire fue una absoluta decepcion. Es cierto que no esperaba ansiosa por este libro, Azar no me causaba ningun tipo de curiosidad, y no me hubiera molestado que este ultimo tomo hubiese tenido a otros protagonistas.
La trama es aburrida, no tiene nada de accion ni de misterio, todo es lineal y repetitivo. Los protagonistas tampoco son destacables, el nunca me gusto en las novelas anteriores y honestamente aqui tampoco se gano mi cariño pese al esfuerzo incesante de la autora por darle una faceta mas agradable, y de Melina tampoco puedo decir gran cosa, es un personaje soso y que no me desperto ningun tipo de emocion, si casi parecia mas preocupada por su pelo y sus vestidos que porque la hubieran " obligado " a ser la esposa de el lider del clan. No me gusto en lo absoluto estar en su cabeza, ademas, si la comparo con algunas de las otras protagonistas femeninas de esta saga pierde con creces.
Y no me hagan hablar del supuesto " amor " entre estos dos, forzado, irreal y con menos quimica que el agua y el aceite.
En cuanto al cierre de la trama generica debo mencionar que me dejo totalmente indiferente, despues de diez libros esperaba una explicacion mas detallada y una conclusion a la altura, no obstante, todo se soluciona en un par de paginas, rapido y corriendo.
Otro punto que me defraudo fue que no aparecieran los personajes de las historias anteriores, no hubo un cierre real para ellos y eso no me agrado.
En fin, un cierre de serie flojo, especialmente para una saga que empezo de forma tan potente e increible, realmente se merecia un final mas impresionante.
2 Estrellas!
March 1, 2022
2.5 stars....
Great resolution to the overall Rift problem. However, I really didn't like Melina. She was so utterly ungrateful and mean through most of the book. Yeah, Azar was an ass, but he did absolutely EVERYTHING Melina DEMANDED he do, and was never appreciative of what he had to sacrifice--including his own f**king pride. Azar changed for the better, Melina didn't.
Great resolution to the overall Rift problem. However, I really didn't like Melina. She was so utterly ungrateful and mean through most of the book. Yeah, Azar was an ass, but he did absolutely EVERYTHING Melina DEMANDED he do, and was never appreciative of what he had to sacrifice--including his own f**king pride. Azar changed for the better, Melina didn't.
June 2, 2022
I wasn't expecting to like this... and I didn't.
Racism
Comparing the plight of black people in america to the treatment of a fantasy race is SO tone deaf
Why was Margaret Atwood of all people included along with books about slavery. I see the intent but it feels... off.
I hated how it was like... Melinas responsibility to fix azar. Why is it a black womans responsibility to teach a white man to be better?
Inconsistencies
the main character, a nurse, says that the flu was "rarely ever deadly", which is just.... not true. seems like a pretty big oversight on the authors part.
I dont know why they didn't address the blood transfusion causing unbearable pain and burning the recipient from the inside. They make such a big deal about the differences in body temps, that it's weird that it was never mentioned during that scene. are we to assume she slept though being horrifically burned? if she did, that's a detail that needs to be mentioned so the reader knows the severity of her illness.
Ending
I hate how all the other couples were thrown under the bus for the sake of this book. Everyone else loses their mind connection but it’s fine because the couple starring in this book can talk to each other? And we’re just not going to address how devastating that’s gonna be for everyone else we've read about up till now?
Racism
Comparing the plight of black people in america to the treatment of a fantasy race is SO tone deaf
Why was Margaret Atwood of all people included along with books about slavery. I see the intent but it feels... off.
I hated how it was like... Melinas responsibility to fix azar. Why is it a black womans responsibility to teach a white man to be better?
Inconsistencies
the main character, a nurse, says that the flu was "rarely ever deadly", which is just.... not true. seems like a pretty big oversight on the authors part.
I dont know why they didn't address the blood transfusion causing unbearable pain and burning the recipient from the inside. They make such a big deal about the differences in body temps, that it's weird that it was never mentioned during that scene. are we to assume she slept though being horrifically burned? if she did, that's a detail that needs to be mentioned so the reader knows the severity of her illness.
Ending
I hate how all the other couples were thrown under the bus for the sake of this book. Everyone else loses their mind connection but it’s fine because the couple starring in this book can talk to each other? And we’re just not going to address how devastating that’s gonna be for everyone else we've read about up till now?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
This was gonna be a 3 stars or 2 stars, I swear.
Cause look, I was excited to listen to Azar and the heroine's story, since we got to meet them in the previous and I found them intriguing.
But unfortunately, even though I enjoyed some things in this one, like a heroine with decent backbone, and a hero obsessed since the beginning... all good things...
The author ended up doing something I have complained about before with other books.
A pet peeve of mine, if you will...
I absolutely can't stand when authors make conflicts about race in books when the heroine is black/poc.
There was no reason for this book to mention the hero reading Harriet Tubman and 12 Years a Slave..
That is preposterous. What is this? A PBS documentary?
I've listened to read 8 books in this series with Caucasian heroines and race/slavery was never a "thing."
But now thay we have a black heroine, suddenly slavery, and world history of race is suddenly something we need to discuss.
I am uncomfortable.
I do not read romance to hear about race relations and slavery.
These topics are not romantic, and authors have no problems excluding them when it's a white couple...
I am tired.
Cause look, I was excited to listen to Azar and the heroine's story, since we got to meet them in the previous and I found them intriguing.
But unfortunately, even though I enjoyed some things in this one, like a heroine with decent backbone, and a hero obsessed since the beginning... all good things...
The author ended up doing something I have complained about before with other books.
A pet peeve of mine, if you will...
I absolutely can't stand when authors make conflicts about race in books when the heroine is black/poc.
There was no reason for this book to mention the hero reading Harriet Tubman and 12 Years a Slave..
That is preposterous. What is this? A PBS documentary?
I've listened to read 8 books in this series with Caucasian heroines and race/slavery was never a "thing."
But now thay we have a black heroine, suddenly slavery, and world history of race is suddenly something we need to discuss.
I am uncomfortable.
I do not read romance to hear about race relations and slavery.
These topics are not romantic, and authors have no problems excluding them when it's a white couple...
I am tired.
March 3, 2022
I didn't like the way this series ended.
SPOILE SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Hero decides to take over Fort Dallas and rule. He tells heroine she will be his consort. She refuses. He tries bribing her. Finally he tells her she will be his consort and what does she want. So she wants her clinic and some dresses and food, etc.
Hero is a virgin. His race doesn't have sex unless they are chosen to breed and he wasn't.
Heroine is angry he is keeping 6 dragons as slaves. He had told her he was helping them stay in control of themselves.
The already born babies of the human mates and drakoni help him close the Rift. But in order to do it, he and all of the drakoni have to give up their ability to speak mind to mind. So mates can't talk t each other anymore, and the babies can't talk to each other or their fathers mind to mind anymore. It was so sad.
SPOILE SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Hero decides to take over Fort Dallas and rule. He tells heroine she will be his consort. She refuses. He tries bribing her. Finally he tells her she will be his consort and what does she want. So she wants her clinic and some dresses and food, etc.
Hero is a virgin. His race doesn't have sex unless they are chosen to breed and he wasn't.
Heroine is angry he is keeping 6 dragons as slaves. He had told her he was helping them stay in control of themselves.
The already born babies of the human mates and drakoni help him close the Rift. But in order to do it, he and all of the drakoni have to give up their ability to speak mind to mind. So mates can't talk t each other anymore, and the babies can't talk to each other or their fathers mind to mind anymore. It was so sad.
March 6, 2022
I really kept getting stuck on Melina referring to her clean, combed hair as 'good hair'. That's a really loaded topic for Black people and it didn't sit right with me. I was also super annoyed by the other women ganging up on Melina.
Read
December 21, 2022i hate the ending
February 5, 2023
No Book is perfect, but this one is close…
I was hooked from the first page. I loved Azar. I loved Melina. I loved that she held her own and took no crap. From ANYONE.
She was strong, but feminine, vulnerable and sweet! The way a strong heroine should be written. Thank you for such a well written character, Ruby. Azar was hawt, didn’t shy away from the ‘bad’ man that he was, but slowly embraced being vulnerable and learning to trust someone else.
‘Salorians do not have mates…’ I couldn’t wait for him to eat his word and because of how well the build up was, it was so satisfying. It felt like the perfect pairing of wine to a delectable meal.
I am a sucker for: good banter (there was plenty of that), character growth and development (which was well done and did a great service to both characters) and enemies to lovers. I know, I know! I’m basic, but it’s simply satisfying to read about characters who grow to live each other rather than an instalove. Makes for better reading.
Azar came in TELLING Melina she was his consort, completely unabashed and she gave as good as she got. Despite being in a weaker position, she stood her ground. EVERY TIME. It was IMPOSSIBLE to not love her character. The woman wasn’t afraid of doing what she needed to survive, and not apologise for it! And she didn’t shy away from her feminine side either. I was here for her wearing the heck out of her princess dresses and painting her nails pink… in an apocalypse, no less. And Azar- he was a piece of lovable work. I know he was the ‘villain’ (using this loosely) but this is a case in point of how you write a redeemable villain. One whose redemption you actively want to root for! And I rooted for him. The ENTIRE STEP OF THE WAY.
I didn’t care for the other Drakconi couples, not because they weren’t written well, they were; but because they threatened the relationship between the MCs. See how emotionally invested I became in them? Despite what Azar did to the dragons, I was still rooting for him to get his happy ending.
I liked the supporting characters too (not the ones that threatened my MCs relationship though). Daniels, Alma, the servant whose name I have forgotten, Gary. I liked them and what they brought to the story. It was well rounded and properly fleshed out.
Oh yeah, I HATED Emma! Could I understand her anger? No- lol, jk. I’m just being really biased. I could understand her anger. However, the fact that she just came out of the gate swinging animosity at my girl, Melina, nope. You’re on my hate list, Emma. Arguably, I have not read the rest of the books in this series - which probably would have made me more sympathetic to Emma and her reaction, but I’m honestly not sure it will change even if I read her story. Lol.
My one issue -and this is a me problem since I didn’t know this was a series and didn’t read the other books prior to this- was that I felt as though there were things I missed BECAUSE I started out reading this book. It would have been nice if I could have a had a bit of a backstory to how the world got to this point, but again, I can go read the other books in this series.
Overall, I liked the climax, the plot, the characters and the story. Phenomenal work.
I was hooked from the first page. I loved Azar. I loved Melina. I loved that she held her own and took no crap. From ANYONE.
She was strong, but feminine, vulnerable and sweet! The way a strong heroine should be written. Thank you for such a well written character, Ruby. Azar was hawt, didn’t shy away from the ‘bad’ man that he was, but slowly embraced being vulnerable and learning to trust someone else.
‘Salorians do not have mates…’ I couldn’t wait for him to eat his word and because of how well the build up was, it was so satisfying. It felt like the perfect pairing of wine to a delectable meal.
I am a sucker for: good banter (there was plenty of that), character growth and development (which was well done and did a great service to both characters) and enemies to lovers. I know, I know! I’m basic, but it’s simply satisfying to read about characters who grow to live each other rather than an instalove. Makes for better reading.
Azar came in TELLING Melina she was his consort, completely unabashed and she gave as good as she got. Despite being in a weaker position, she stood her ground. EVERY TIME. It was IMPOSSIBLE to not love her character. The woman wasn’t afraid of doing what she needed to survive, and not apologise for it! And she didn’t shy away from her feminine side either. I was here for her wearing the heck out of her princess dresses and painting her nails pink… in an apocalypse, no less. And Azar- he was a piece of lovable work. I know he was the ‘villain’ (using this loosely) but this is a case in point of how you write a redeemable villain. One whose redemption you actively want to root for! And I rooted for him. The ENTIRE STEP OF THE WAY.
I didn’t care for the other Drakconi couples, not because they weren’t written well, they were; but because they threatened the relationship between the MCs. See how emotionally invested I became in them? Despite what Azar did to the dragons, I was still rooting for him to get his happy ending.
I liked the supporting characters too (not the ones that threatened my MCs relationship though). Daniels, Alma, the servant whose name I have forgotten, Gary. I liked them and what they brought to the story. It was well rounded and properly fleshed out.
Oh yeah, I HATED Emma! Could I understand her anger? No- lol, jk. I’m just being really biased. I could understand her anger. However, the fact that she just came out of the gate swinging animosity at my girl, Melina, nope. You’re on my hate list, Emma. Arguably, I have not read the rest of the books in this series - which probably would have made me more sympathetic to Emma and her reaction, but I’m honestly not sure it will change even if I read her story. Lol.
My one issue -and this is a me problem since I didn’t know this was a series and didn’t read the other books prior to this- was that I felt as though there were things I missed BECAUSE I started out reading this book. It would have been nice if I could have a had a bit of a backstory to how the world got to this point, but again, I can go read the other books in this series.
Overall, I liked the climax, the plot, the characters and the story. Phenomenal work.
November 15, 2023
Dark Fire wraps up the drakoni series with an exciting resolution to closing the menacing rift that threats to be a second apocalypse for earth. But it feels like something was lost with the sacrifice to close off the threat.
Ruby Dixon really managed to transform Azar from ruthless villain to believable, complex hero, however, in doing so, the heroine, as the catalyst for change, came across as a little less likable. Melina was firm and loving but intractable in holding Azar to human standards. Melina even said many times that Azar was not a man but a drakoni. Watching him set about understanding and trying to rectify the harm he caused, it was Azar’s character that experienced the most emotional and personal development.
Still, this was a great albeit bittersweet conclusion to the series. I hope there will be future glimpses into seeing how humans, drakoni, and their offspring create a new world. Very well done!
Ruby Dixon really managed to transform Azar from ruthless villain to believable, complex hero, however, in doing so, the heroine, as the catalyst for change, came across as a little less likable. Melina was firm and loving but intractable in holding Azar to human standards. Melina even said many times that Azar was not a man but a drakoni. Watching him set about understanding and trying to rectify the harm he caused, it was Azar’s character that experienced the most emotional and personal development.
Still, this was a great albeit bittersweet conclusion to the series. I hope there will be future glimpses into seeing how humans, drakoni, and their offspring create a new world. Very well done!
May 11, 2023
Yikes on bikes.
A LOT to unpack here, but this is basically a slave master's redemption story. And who saves him? A black woman, he's basically holding hostage.
Yikes, Yikes, Yikes.
A LOT to unpack here, but this is basically a slave master's redemption story. And who saves him? A black woman, he's basically holding hostage.
Yikes, Yikes, Yikes.
March 2, 2022
Non non non nonnnnnn Ruby tu peux pas arrêter les dragons nonnn. Je pleure c’est fini putain 😭😭😭
En tout cas, c’était une superbe conclusion. Mélina présidente ! Mélina présidente !
En tout cas, c’était une superbe conclusion. Mélina présidente ! Mélina présidente !
March 19, 2022
unbelievable heroine
I didn’t like Melina & it especially bothered me that she was paired with the most high status hero. She felt like a prop to promote slavery guilt. Felt forced & unrealistic. I’d like to say more but I’d probably get banned for expressing my opinions.
I didn’t like Melina & it especially bothered me that she was paired with the most high status hero. She felt like a prop to promote slavery guilt. Felt forced & unrealistic. I’d like to say more but I’d probably get banned for expressing my opinions.
Read
March 6, 2022They did not just wrap the bug-spewing Rift shit up in like three paragraphs
March 23, 2022
This is the last book in the Fireblood Dragon series, which is a post-apocalyptic Earth set alien romance series. The villain of the series, Azar, is the hero in this one and this book is centered around his romance with a human woman named Melina. You have seen these two throughout the series and I have always been curious about their romance. This book tells the story of how they got together and how they fell in love with each other. At the same time, the world is experiencing a evil force from another world. Past couples in the series have to reluctantly come together to save the planet.
I thought that this was a great conclusion to the series! I wish we got to see more of the past couples though :( My favorite couple was not seen at all in this book sadly. But I thought Azar as a character was super interesting to read about. Ruby normally writes cinnamon roll heroes who can almost do no wrong. But Azar has done many wrongs. Melina was everything!! She was so strong & smart! I loved her character and thought that their pairing was very interesting :)
I hope Ruby revisits this world in future years!!:)
TW: Past Quid-Pro-Quo sexual arrangements, A man hitting a woman (non-spousal), slavery discussions, mind control, murder, pandemics
TROPES: aliens, caretaking scene, dragons, I hate everyone in the world but you, kindle unlimited, shifters, villains
I thought that this was a great conclusion to the series! I wish we got to see more of the past couples though :( My favorite couple was not seen at all in this book sadly. But I thought Azar as a character was super interesting to read about. Ruby normally writes cinnamon roll heroes who can almost do no wrong. But Azar has done many wrongs. Melina was everything!! She was so strong & smart! I loved her character and thought that their pairing was very interesting :)
I hope Ruby revisits this world in future years!!:)
TW: Past Quid-Pro-Quo sexual arrangements, A man hitting a woman (non-spousal), slavery discussions, mind control, murder, pandemics
TROPES: aliens, caretaking scene, dragons, I hate everyone in the world but you, kindle unlimited, shifters, villains
January 19, 2023
Probablemente lloré cien veces en este libro. Es absolutamente precioso y el cierre fue genial; Ruby por favor danos más sobre todos de esta serie mi corazón está llorando por tener que dejarlos ir. 😭💗
March 28, 2022
I have to start this review by saying that I have read only two books out of this installment: the first one and this one. I didn`t do it on purpose. I guess I was at the right time and place when the first book in the series was published. And fate made it that I would get back into this world with book 10.
This is a book for those that are a fan of a love interest who dabbles with the evil. Those that like the main love interest to be a bit tainted, a bit drawn in shades of gray.
We have the main character that is a saint. She is a doctor that does pro-bono work in a world that has been decimated by dragons and their uncontrolled madness. She has just brought to health one male specimen with long white hair and a stark aura around him. After he is healed he declares her his mate and states that the town they are living in will be his. She scoffs at him
Truth to his word, he immediately conquers the town/city without much effort (because he can control dragons).
The only one left to yield is she. And she does not give in easily. She makes him work for it.
Overall, the book is cute. There is a bit of dubious interaction between characters, in the way this mate thing is played out. At some times it may seem as if he really harms her by pushing it too much (but that should play into his image as a compromised character, as someone with unveiled intentions who can strike at any moment and who is commanding and mysterious):“A wave of nostalgia and depression hits me and I end up eating three pastries before closing the box again. I don't know what to do. I can say I'm not Azar's consort until I'm blue in the face, but if Azar says I am, what choice do I have?I'm a woman—I know men are always the ones that hold all the power.” I did not like the last part one bit. It grated on my scalp. I did not want the reminder of the real-life misogyny to be splayed in my face.
I am downplaying his performance as a bad guy because even the narrator`s voice intends for him to be strong and aloof on the surface, whilst in his depths, he should appear kind and welcoming. I mean, just look at this bit in which he worries himself over what she is preoccupied with it: “Her mouth purses, and then she nods at the door at the back of the clinic. "Let's talk in my office, please." I'd much rather she come home with me, so I can bathe her and rub her feet. I don't like how frazzled she looks today. How utterly defeated she seems. Melina is strong and capable. I don't like seeing her with a miserable expression on her face. It worries me. It makes me wonder how I can help. How I can make it better. ”
And this is just one example out of many. He arrives to be so sweet, at some point that he drowns you in his sugar coated words.
It was a fun and quick read. I will give it five stars because it made me relax. Even though I was not impressed by the world-building and neither am I a fan of the final part. Some things should not be undone.
March 4, 2022
This was a disappointment for me. I thought I was never going to get finished with this book. If this hadn’t been the finale for the series, I probably wouldn’t have finished the book. The first 1/2 moved so slow and just didn’t pull me in, that I thought a bunch of times of quitting altogether. I realize it was a tall order to make Azar a likable MMC, but I couldn’t really get past all of it (his behavior) from the rest of the series though. He’s definitely less awful in my mind in this book, but he also didn’t feel like the same character he was in the rest of the series, a too extreme difference. Melina is a selfish FMC that I really had a hard time appreciating or even liking in this book. I felt like there was a bit of disconnect from some happenings in the previous books. As to solving the rift issue, it felt rushed & sorta anti-climatic for me. It ended the series but left me struggling for a good series closure. I don’t regret reading the series but wish this had had a better closure for the series.
March 3, 2022
The ending was uncalled for
The ending had me upset, don't want to spoil anything but I think we can all agree it didn't need to be that way. Melina was, dare I say selfish, she's up there with Azar wrapped around her finger, eating better meals, better clothes and whatever else but then is surprised people are eating "rift bugs"....... For a good 70% of the book she let so much of his bull slide it seemed like as long as he ate her taco shed forgive him. I loved the babies and even though I have NEVER liked Azar or Melina i expected not to like them as much in this book, but this book was entertaining in its own way. WE BETTER GET A SPIN OFF!!
The ending had me upset, don't want to spoil anything but I think we can all agree it didn't need to be that way. Melina was, dare I say selfish, she's up there with Azar wrapped around her finger, eating better meals, better clothes and whatever else but then is surprised people are eating "rift bugs"....... For a good 70% of the book she let so much of his bull slide it seemed like as long as he ate her taco shed forgive him. I loved the babies and even though I have NEVER liked Azar or Melina i expected not to like them as much in this book, but this book was entertaining in its own way. WE BETTER GET A SPIN OFF!!
September 3, 2024
3.5 Closing the Rift Stars!
Well... what can I say? I'm a hard sell on a redemption story. But I think RD did the job here. It was a little bit long for my taste and a little bit anticlimactic after 10 books, but I still enjoyed it. Happy reading!
Well... what can I say? I'm a hard sell on a redemption story. But I think RD did the job here. It was a little bit long for my taste and a little bit anticlimactic after 10 books, but I still enjoyed it. Happy reading!
April 12, 2022
I had the best time binging this series the past few days. This is the final book in the series and a lot has been leading up to this book. We get a lot of time covered in this book as we go back to the meeting/beginning of Melina and Azar’s time together, seeing their POVs for quite a few of the events of the previous books. Azar has been the villain for the entirety of the series so getting his story was super fun! I really liked the complex dynamic between him and Melina, one of the human women who works as the healer/doctor/nurse. Their relationship dynamic was intriguing and they definitely had a slow burn for the physical side of their relationship. I liked how Melina saw Azar differently than everyone else, sometimes in a naive way but mostly in a way that allowed him to have his own HEA. It isn’t his instinct to be good or so good things, but I like how he tries for Melina and really wants to please her and make her comfortable, while also willing to listen to her and allow her to teach him.
For being the end of the series I was hoping we got to see more of the couples but we really don’t get much of others in this one. We do see/hear from all the babies as they play a part in the plot with the rift. This was just a fun series that I read exactly when I was wanting it and it just delivered.
For being the end of the series I was hoping we got to see more of the couples but we really don’t get much of others in this one. We do see/hear from all the babies as they play a part in the plot with the rift. This was just a fun series that I read exactly when I was wanting it and it just delivered.
May 19, 2022
So here's why i gave it 1 star. Because i don't see too many people talking about it. The romance despite slavery plot line was unnecessary and it was giving neo ned it was giving when our hands touch and i can't get behind it. Now i will say that with the CW at the beginning i was aware that it was present but i can't say i wasn't still upset about it . Now , azar getting his quid pro quo on was A LOT , but him reading books like harriet tubman, 12 years a slave etc was UNNECESSARY to say the least. And Melina being weak in the knees , despite him lying about ENSLAVING a race of dragons, SA her, keeping her prisoners and everything else, she left, not because all of that morally repugnant actions that would make anyone else who's not a romance novel heroine disgusted at the thought of being with someone who does even one of those things. But because she loved him despite that. The viewpoint of this Lovestory screams white guilt. You can say that I'm being dramatic, or starting something, but you can't say I'm wrong. If you as an author can't authentically write a story with the topic of slavery especially how it happened in America. You shouldn't
November 23, 2022
oh the way i absolutely hated this ending...like whAT??
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