What do you think?
Rate this book
Fire and Valor #3
The Assassin's Dragon
In Atheldinas, everyone’s secrets have been uncovered. Tristram is a half-dragon, Nicholas is a villain scheming to take the throne from his cousin Roland, and eternally sharp Bet is nothing less than a hero.
The cost has been high, and now Tristram is forced to amass the armies of Llangard to save his king from Jarl Vidar, the mysterious figure who’s hellbent on tearing Llangard in two. To get his king back and defeat the impending Tornish invasion, Tris will need the help of not only all his Llangardian allies, but the dragons of the Mawrcraig Mountains. If he cannot bring his two peoples together, no other stands a chance.
But one last secret remains hidden in the harsh north, and uncovering it might be the undoing of all that Tristram and his allies have fought to protect.
The cost has been high, and now Tristram is forced to amass the armies of Llangard to save his king from Jarl Vidar, the mysterious figure who’s hellbent on tearing Llangard in two. To get his king back and defeat the impending Tornish invasion, Tris will need the help of not only all his Llangardian allies, but the dragons of the Mawrcraig Mountains. If he cannot bring his two peoples together, no other stands a chance.
But one last secret remains hidden in the harsh north, and uncovering it might be the undoing of all that Tristram and his allies have fought to protect.
302 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2020
68 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
W.M. Fawkes
59 books290 followersW.M. Fawkes is an author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romance. With coauthor Sam Burns, she writes feisty Greek gods, men, and monsters in the Lords of the Underworld series. She lives with her partner in a house owned by three halloween-hued felines that dabble regularly in shadow walking.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 18, 2024
✅ Characters and character development
✅ New alliances and friendships 💚
✅ Romance (M/M, F/F and M/F)
✅ Pace and action
✅ Plot
✅ Multiple POVs
✅ More dragons!!! 🐉🐉
✅ Magic
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: deaths and blood
_______________________
Second read: I flew through this series as fast as I did the first time I read it, and I enjoyed it just as much. This last book was so satisfying and it was everything I wanted and needed. It has a HEA ending, without being too cheesy.
_______________________
This book takes off where the previous one ended, with Roland missing, Tris and Bet trying to find a way to rescue him, and Gillian trying to deal with the new alliance with the dragons, while also needing to plan the defense of the kingdom with Tris. The new and fragile bonds and the human-dragon alliance that were formed in the second book are getting stronger as new threats appear, forcing humans and dragons to fight for their people, their clans, and their lands.
Tris and Bet are in the middle of everything, as always, as they now need to rescue King Roland and organize the kingdom's defenses against traitors and the enemy's army coming for them. Gillian and Maddox are also important in this book, and Gillian is a badass now! She learned to control her magic and gained a lot of confidence, and I love her character development.
I came to dearly love all the secondary characters in this series. Rihannon and Sidonie, Maddox, Gillian and Rhys, Hafgan and Bowen, Roland and Lady Elinor... They all have their strengths and their purpose, but they are also all sweet and kind, and impossible not to love.
As in the previous book, not all the characters are together, so there are many POVs and many plotlines, that will ultimately all converge together. Some parts had me at the edge of my seat and I was tempted to skim some pages because I just couldn't wait for everyone to finally be reunited! The non-stop action, plotting, and fast pace made it nearly impossible to put this book down once I started it.
Tris and Bet are growing closer and stronger together. They learned how to trust each other and rely on each other's strengths. I love them both, and I love them even more when they are together. They are such a kickass but cute couple. 🥰
Seeing them both care for Roland and create their little family warmed my heart so much. I had tears in my eyes when Roland called Bet "family" or during those mundane moments when the three of them would hug each other or when Roland would sneak into their bedroom so he wouldn't sleep alone. It was perfection.
I am not ready to tell them all goodbye yet, I am hoping for more novels or novellas set in this series. ❤️
1. The King’s Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Prince’s Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
✅ New alliances and friendships 💚
✅ Romance (M/M, F/F and M/F)
✅ Pace and action
✅ Plot
✅ Multiple POVs
✅ More dragons!!! 🐉🐉
✅ Magic
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: deaths and blood
_______________________
Second read: I flew through this series as fast as I did the first time I read it, and I enjoyed it just as much. This last book was so satisfying and it was everything I wanted and needed. It has a HEA ending, without being too cheesy.
_______________________
Roland Cavendish was having the worst year ever. First his grandfather died. Then his father was killed. Then Uncle Laurence tried to kill him too. When it didn’t seem it could get worse, his cousin Nicholas kidnapped him to give to a jarl as some kind of exotic pet.
This book takes off where the previous one ended, with Roland missing, Tris and Bet trying to find a way to rescue him, and Gillian trying to deal with the new alliance with the dragons, while also needing to plan the defense of the kingdom with Tris. The new and fragile bonds and the human-dragon alliance that were formed in the second book are getting stronger as new threats appear, forcing humans and dragons to fight for their people, their clans, and their lands.
Tris and Bet are in the middle of everything, as always, as they now need to rescue King Roland and organize the kingdom's defenses against traitors and the enemy's army coming for them. Gillian and Maddox are also important in this book, and Gillian is a badass now! She learned to control her magic and gained a lot of confidence, and I love her character development.
I came to dearly love all the secondary characters in this series. Rihannon and Sidonie, Maddox, Gillian and Rhys, Hafgan and Bowen, Roland and Lady Elinor... They all have their strengths and their purpose, but they are also all sweet and kind, and impossible not to love.
As in the previous book, not all the characters are together, so there are many POVs and many plotlines, that will ultimately all converge together. Some parts had me at the edge of my seat and I was tempted to skim some pages because I just couldn't wait for everyone to finally be reunited! The non-stop action, plotting, and fast pace made it nearly impossible to put this book down once I started it.
“You could break me, Tristram,” he muttered above Tristram’s swollen lips. Tris smiled.
“I know.” He lifted his strong legs and wrapped them around Bet’s waist to pull him in. “But I won’t.”
Tris and Bet are growing closer and stronger together. They learned how to trust each other and rely on each other's strengths. I love them both, and I love them even more when they are together. They are such a kickass but cute couple. 🥰
“You are not my hands, and you are not my shadow,” Roland whispered, staring up at him with wide, ardent blue eyes. “You are my family. And I cannot use you for this.”
Seeing them both care for Roland and create their little family warmed my heart so much. I had tears in my eyes when Roland called Bet "family" or during those mundane moments when the three of them would hug each other or when Roland would sneak into their bedroom so he wouldn't sleep alone. It was perfection.
“I love you,” Bet whispered. His fingers flexed to grip Tristram tight.
His lord turned toward him, his eyes shining, but only half as bright as his smile. “I love you too.”
I am not ready to tell them all goodbye yet, I am hoping for more novels or novellas set in this series. ❤️
1. The King’s Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Prince’s Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
December 20, 2020
4.5 Stars!
A seriously satisfying conclusion to this trilogy!
From the beginning there have been many obstacles that have endangered this realm but slowly, those who were once enemies are now becoming allies as the threat of one man is about to institute a diabolical plan to bring everyone to their knees.
Front and center always is Tris - half dragon, half human - and his assassin lover Bet. They are desperate to rescue Tris’s younger cousin Roland, from the enemy who’s determined to usurp Roland as the rightful future king. Tris and Bet’s relationship has grown leaps and bounds, respecting and supporting each other’s strengths, enhancing the other with their own. They have a daunting task ahead of them, and it’s going to take a lot of trust in others to pull this off.
Surrounding this conflict are the many threads that hang in the balance. Though this is not strictly just an MM obviously, I wasn’t bothered by the other pairings (which include a MF, FF, and another burgeoning MM). In fact, they all lent to the story showing that human/dragon and dragon/dragon alliances are desperately needed to have a chance at winning. It’s only inevitable that such intense interactions and conflict would naturally bring about equally combustible connections.
Again, this is a story that has several plot threads going where gradually they converge at the penultimate battle. Yes, there’s 5 main POV’s with several other infrequent voices (standouts are Roland, empathetic and wise beyond his 9 years and a captured dragon whose innocence and plight will tear at your heartstrings), but like with the previous books, they didn’t detract as each held my attention, each spurring the action along.
There’s a sense of kismet here where certain events are significant stepping stones to greatness as our heroes risk all to have it all. One small move can set off a spark to reach their awesome full potential, and where love, whether deeply rooted or newly blooming, can be a force of change in power, perspective, and deeds. Add in plenty of swoony romance and a good dose of smexy, this ends on a wholly satisfying win for everyone!
A truly great ensemble fantasy where a new world is reborn, filled with a ton of dragon love, knightly honor, magical battles, and destiny fulfilled!
A seriously satisfying conclusion to this trilogy!
From the beginning there have been many obstacles that have endangered this realm but slowly, those who were once enemies are now becoming allies as the threat of one man is about to institute a diabolical plan to bring everyone to their knees.
Front and center always is Tris - half dragon, half human - and his assassin lover Bet. They are desperate to rescue Tris’s younger cousin Roland, from the enemy who’s determined to usurp Roland as the rightful future king. Tris and Bet’s relationship has grown leaps and bounds, respecting and supporting each other’s strengths, enhancing the other with their own. They have a daunting task ahead of them, and it’s going to take a lot of trust in others to pull this off.
Surrounding this conflict are the many threads that hang in the balance. Though this is not strictly just an MM obviously, I wasn’t bothered by the other pairings (which include a MF, FF, and another burgeoning MM). In fact, they all lent to the story showing that human/dragon and dragon/dragon alliances are desperately needed to have a chance at winning. It’s only inevitable that such intense interactions and conflict would naturally bring about equally combustible connections.
Again, this is a story that has several plot threads going where gradually they converge at the penultimate battle. Yes, there’s 5 main POV’s with several other infrequent voices (standouts are Roland, empathetic and wise beyond his 9 years and a captured dragon whose innocence and plight will tear at your heartstrings), but like with the previous books, they didn’t detract as each held my attention, each spurring the action along.
There’s a sense of kismet here where certain events are significant stepping stones to greatness as our heroes risk all to have it all. One small move can set off a spark to reach their awesome full potential, and where love, whether deeply rooted or newly blooming, can be a force of change in power, perspective, and deeds. Add in plenty of swoony romance and a good dose of smexy, this ends on a wholly satisfying win for everyone!
A truly great ensemble fantasy where a new world is reborn, filled with a ton of dragon love, knightly honor, magical battles, and destiny fulfilled!
July 23, 2020
I need more stars!
***
Right, first things first. I am not ready to say goodbye to Tristram and Bet and all the rest of the cast of characters in the Fire and Valor Series, not by a long shot.
Things are wrapped up beautifully, all plot lines are given thoroughly satisfactory endings and I was only disappointed that I ran out of book!
I won't be revealing any spoilers but I just want to say that the major twist was one I didn't see coming for a long time until it all of a sudden pinged into view. A really clever idea and I loved how, once it was revealed, how all the hints and clues had been carefully laid down before that I could see with the benefit of hindsight.
Tris and Bet are solid, their relationship is firmly established and I loved how at first Bet was uncomfortable with the respect being shown when they were at Tristram's family home. There no-one knew of Bet the Assassin, the King's Shadow, he was just Tris' partner.
I've also really enjoyed the other two "main"relationships that have run paralleled to that of Tris and Bet. Here we see more of Sir Sidone and Rhiannon as well as the solidification of Maddox and Princess Gillian's love. We also get closure for Rhys and Tris' mother Elinor as well, which made me happy.
Dragonwise, yay! Lots of dragons, dragons becoming friends, dragons finding each other, dragons overcoming their hidebound arrogance and dragons realising working with the humans of Llangard is their only option for a long-term future.
Waverly and Sam individually are wonderful authors, but when they collaborate on high fantasy they take a lot of beating imho. This series has been a true delight for me.
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
***
Right, first things first. I am not ready to say goodbye to Tristram and Bet and all the rest of the cast of characters in the Fire and Valor Series, not by a long shot.
Things are wrapped up beautifully, all plot lines are given thoroughly satisfactory endings and I was only disappointed that I ran out of book!
I won't be revealing any spoilers but I just want to say that the major twist was one I didn't see coming for a long time until it all of a sudden pinged into view. A really clever idea and I loved how, once it was revealed, how all the hints and clues had been carefully laid down before that I could see with the benefit of hindsight.
Tris and Bet are solid, their relationship is firmly established and I loved how at first Bet was uncomfortable with the respect being shown when they were at Tristram's family home. There no-one knew of Bet the Assassin, the King's Shadow, he was just Tris' partner.
I've also really enjoyed the other two "main"relationships that have run paralleled to that of Tris and Bet. Here we see more of Sir Sidone and Rhiannon as well as the solidification of Maddox and Princess Gillian's love. We also get closure for Rhys and Tris' mother Elinor as well, which made me happy.
Dragonwise, yay! Lots of dragons, dragons becoming friends, dragons finding each other, dragons overcoming their hidebound arrogance and dragons realising working with the humans of Llangard is their only option for a long-term future.
Waverly and Sam individually are wonderful authors, but when they collaborate on high fantasy they take a lot of beating imho. This series has been a true delight for me.
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 12, 2021
Now that’s what I call a well-rounded HEA! Hard-won and oh so satisfying; sweet, but with no OTT fluffiness.
The book itself was pretty action-packed — the most out of these three, I think — but that didn’t overshadow the plot (or the amazing character development!), only added to it. I freely admit that detailed battle scenes usually bore me to death, but that never happened here, perhaps because of the multiple POVs? Whatever it was, it worked, and my attention was well and truly engaged.
I really enjoyed getting to know these wonderful characters, Tristram and Bet, Gillian and Maddox, Rhiannon and Sidonie, Hafgan and Bowen, and of course, Roland and his precious dragon. Their story will stay with me for a long time. I loved this series so much! ❤️
The book itself was pretty action-packed — the most out of these three, I think — but that didn’t overshadow the plot (or the amazing character development!), only added to it. I freely admit that detailed battle scenes usually bore me to death, but that never happened here, perhaps because of the multiple POVs? Whatever it was, it worked, and my attention was well and truly engaged.
I really enjoyed getting to know these wonderful characters, Tristram and Bet, Gillian and Maddox, Rhiannon and Sidonie, Hafgan and Bowen, and of course, Roland and his precious dragon. Their story will stay with me for a long time. I loved this series so much! ❤️
October 10, 2024
4.5 Stars
I just reread the whole series along with all the shorts that are included in the box set. Fucking love this world and the many characters we get to know over the course of the main books and then the shorts. I do so very hope we get Roland's story someday.
I just reread the whole series along with all the shorts that are included in the box set. Fucking love this world and the many characters we get to know over the course of the main books and then the shorts. I do so very hope we get Roland's story someday.
September 26, 2024
This series grew on me as I went along, and while I still have niggles about some things, I thoroughly enjoyed the last instalment of this saga.
Tris and Bet are getting more awesome in each book, with Tris embracing his whole self, and Bet learning to allow himself some good things in life.
Rhiannon and Sidonie are two hardass ladies I really cared for. Sidonie for her integrity and Rhiannon for her exuberance and genuine goodness. (Still chuckling at her habit of eating people, even if some cause serious indigestion!)
Gillian and Maddox are rather sweet together, and I'd have loved to have more of Bowen and Hafgan.
And then there is Roland.
To say he's a little star is an understatement. I wonder why the authors chose to make him that young. He's clever, wise and just, way beyond many adults. I loved the scene with Bet, when Roland declares Bet family. Very touching.
The finale and all the HEAs are satisfying and made me one happy bunny.
Tris and Bet are getting more awesome in each book, with Tris embracing his whole self, and Bet learning to allow himself some good things in life.
Rhiannon and Sidonie are two hardass ladies I really cared for. Sidonie for her integrity and Rhiannon for her exuberance and genuine goodness. (Still chuckling at her habit of eating people, even if some cause serious indigestion!)
Gillian and Maddox are rather sweet together, and I'd have loved to have more of Bowen and Hafgan.
And then there is Roland.
To say he's a little star is an understatement. I wonder why the authors chose to make him that young. He's clever, wise and just, way beyond many adults. I loved the scene with Bet, when Roland declares Bet family. Very touching.
The finale and all the HEAs are satisfying and made me one happy bunny.
July 1, 2021
What an intriguing and nail-biting ending to a freaking amazing series which I personally consider as real breathtaking and magical 5* !!
So sad the series is over, but happy to have read it all the same and discovered yet two new brillant authors !
These authors have created such a world of beauty and wonderful descriptions of all this different , noble and rather some”frightening” couples (dragons ,humans ,mages,half-dragons) that I got to know and love in these very original and captivating series . I won’t forget them easily .
So sad the series is over, but happy to have read it all the same and discovered yet two new brillant authors !
These authors have created such a world of beauty and wonderful descriptions of all this different , noble and rather some”frightening” couples (dragons ,humans ,mages,half-dragons) that I got to know and love in these very original and captivating series . I won’t forget them easily .
January 26, 2024
I will no longer grouse at the POVs because I kinda got used to it and I chose to finish it anyway. 😂 In this book, the storytelling got better since I am already familiar with every character speaking.
It was not epic but the ending was grand enough to make me feel satisfied. I had a hunch on their enemy BUT that twist with Roland at the end was unexpected. Didn't see that coming! I love a good surprise. 😊
Tria and Bet remained my favorite pair but the budding romances all around were good additions to the finale. ❤️
It was not epic but the ending was grand enough to make me feel satisfied. I had a hunch on their enemy BUT that twist with Roland at the end was unexpected. Didn't see that coming! I love a good surprise. 😊
Tria and Bet remained my favorite pair but the budding romances all around were good additions to the finale. ❤️
September 11, 2023
Ok, this was a great series. I was out searching for a something wolfy on my friend's shelves and I have no idea how I ended up here but I am not upset I did.
These books made me so anxious and there were a lot of different POVs (which I'm still not sure is my thing) but somehow it all came together and worked. It just felt like there were so many game pieces in play and like I said, just made me anxious.
But, I really enjoyed the series and the outcome. The world building was creative, the magic, the villains, all of it made for a very exciting series.
These books made me so anxious and there were a lot of different POVs (which I'm still not sure is my thing) but somehow it all came together and worked. It just felt like there were so many game pieces in play and like I said, just made me anxious.
But, I really enjoyed the series and the outcome. The world building was creative, the magic, the villains, all of it made for a very exciting series.
August 14, 2020
What a Series!
When I requested the ARC for this book and was granted, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to read the entire series like I'd been planning to for some time. I am so glad I did because the entire series, with this book being the final instalment, has blown me away.
There is something to be said for , great writing, proper world building and great characterisation and this book/series had it in spades. It'll lead you on a journey through pain, heartache, betrayal and self discovery but ultimately, it was a journey towards a well-deserved HEA for our characters. All the couples coming together in the aftermath of all that made me so happy I was positively giddy with excitement!
I read this well into the night and the only thing that prevented me from staying up all night reading was the early morning conference call I had this morning. Don't you just hate it when real life interrupts your reading? 🙄🙄🙄
My parting words are simple: GO GET THIS SERIES PEOPLE! GOOOOOO!
**eARC/Review Copy Graciously Provided by Author in exchange For an Honest, unbiased Review **
When I requested the ARC for this book and was granted, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to read the entire series like I'd been planning to for some time. I am so glad I did because the entire series, with this book being the final instalment, has blown me away.
There is something to be said for , great writing, proper world building and great characterisation and this book/series had it in spades. It'll lead you on a journey through pain, heartache, betrayal and self discovery but ultimately, it was a journey towards a well-deserved HEA for our characters. All the couples coming together in the aftermath of all that made me so happy I was positively giddy with excitement!
I read this well into the night and the only thing that prevented me from staying up all night reading was the early morning conference call I had this morning. Don't you just hate it when real life interrupts your reading? 🙄🙄🙄
My parting words are simple: GO GET THIS SERIES PEOPLE! GOOOOOO!
**eARC/Review Copy Graciously Provided by Author in exchange For an Honest, unbiased Review **
December 26, 2023
November 2023
This is a great read and I loved it
First review I loved all books in this series and this one is not different. The storyline is great and the relationships are well developed.
I am really sorry that this is the last book in this series. I would have loved to read more about Tris and Bet. These two are a great couple and I absolutely adored them
This is a great read and I loved it
First review I loved all books in this series and this one is not different. The storyline is great and the relationships are well developed.
I am really sorry that this is the last book in this series. I would have loved to read more about Tris and Bet. These two are a great couple and I absolutely adored them
August 27, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
The Assassin’s Dragon wraps up the Fire and Valor trilogy in wonderful fashion. The series is told as one long story broken into three books, so you definitely need to start at the beginning here to follow along with the action. As with the other books, the authors do an amazing job of building an engaging ensemble cast and letting them all tell the story. We get a wide range of POV characters, from our leads, Tristram and Bet, to Maddox, Gillian, Sidonie, Rhiannon, Roland, and more. As I have noted before, this could have been all muddled, but instead, all these narrators allow us as readers to really keep up with all the action. There are so many pieces in play here and people are in different locations and pursing a variety of goals. By getting in varying POVs, we can keep up with what is going on, as well as really get to know each of these characters. So I am constantly impressed with how well the authors manage such a large cast and use them to tell one flowing story, even as we jump from one to another as chapters change.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
The Assassin’s Dragon wraps up the Fire and Valor trilogy in wonderful fashion. The series is told as one long story broken into three books, so you definitely need to start at the beginning here to follow along with the action. As with the other books, the authors do an amazing job of building an engaging ensemble cast and letting them all tell the story. We get a wide range of POV characters, from our leads, Tristram and Bet, to Maddox, Gillian, Sidonie, Rhiannon, Roland, and more. As I have noted before, this could have been all muddled, but instead, all these narrators allow us as readers to really keep up with all the action. There are so many pieces in play here and people are in different locations and pursing a variety of goals. By getting in varying POVs, we can keep up with what is going on, as well as really get to know each of these characters. So I am constantly impressed with how well the authors manage such a large cast and use them to tell one flowing story, even as we jump from one to another as chapters change.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 3, 2020
Good
4 stars
Good completion to the series.
I enjoyed seeing all the characters work together to save their king and kingdom. Gillian came into her power and it was nice that she still didn’t have any desire to rule.
Roland was a great character and I really like the fact that he was the only one who put saving Dragon at the top of his priorities.
Watching Bet work out his place in the world now he was out of the shadows was also well done. His and Tris relationship progressed well.
Good series
4 stars
Good completion to the series.
I enjoyed seeing all the characters work together to save their king and kingdom. Gillian came into her power and it was nice that she still didn’t have any desire to rule.
Roland was a great character and I really like the fact that he was the only one who put saving Dragon at the top of his priorities.
Watching Bet work out his place in the world now he was out of the shadows was also well done. His and Tris relationship progressed well.
Good series
September 28, 2021
A nice conclusion to this series. The multi POVs kinda worked in the end, but I still wish they were way less. I loved Bet and Tristram and I wanted to see more of Hafgan and Bowen, the other couples were nice too. I really think that the epilogue needed to be years later and not just a few months to 1 year.
Ps= I really wanted to see Roland use magic, I think the young king could be way stronger than his aunt Gillian.
Ps= I really wanted to see Roland use magic, I think the young king could be way stronger than his aunt Gillian.
October 27, 2020
Dragons!, Magic and Love
I loved this entire series. It has the whole royalty intrigue with plots, murders, and betrayal. Action packed and wonderful characters come to life. This final book of the trilogy was amazing. Fantastic conclusion. I was really sorry to see it end but it was truly happily ever after. Would be interesting to read spin-off with Roland and Aderyn ;)
I loved this entire series. It has the whole royalty intrigue with plots, murders, and betrayal. Action packed and wonderful characters come to life. This final book of the trilogy was amazing. Fantastic conclusion. I was really sorry to see it end but it was truly happily ever after. Would be interesting to read spin-off with Roland and Aderyn ;)
August 10, 2020
Finishing this series is a little bittersweet. I dragged it out for just over two weeks because I wasn’t ready to see it come to a conclusion, and saying goodbye to the characters was just as hard as I thought it would be.
There’s so much that happens in this book that I don’t know that I can leave a thorough review without writing an essay, so I’m going to hit the highlights.
⊰Characters⊱
If I had to pick a favorite part of the book, it would come down to world-building and characters. A lot of love and consideration went into the creation of each character, and their character arcs were treated with obvious care. Relationships – both friendships and romantic relationships – were a big focal point, but each character also had individual growth and development.
⊰Relationships⊱
What can I even say about this section except that it was *chef’s kiss* phenomenal. Each relationship deserves to be talked about, so that’s what I’m going to do.
Tristram and Bet – It’s hard for me to pick a favorite relationship, but if I was forced to then it would be this one. I don’t want to rehash everything I’ve said in previous reviews, but this was such an emotionally packed couple. Their relationship is so tender despite everything that they’ve been through, and it kind of crushes my soul.
Sidonie and Rhiannon – Another one of the OG couples in this series. They didn’t get as much attention in this book, but they ended book two in a fairly solid place and this book was mainly wrap up for them. They still remain one of the cutest power couples in this series.
Maddox and Gillian – Both finally got what they deserved in this final book, and they have such a cute dynamic. The dragon kidnapping the princess and accidentally falling in love is literally to die for.
Rhys and Elinor – I was rooting for them so hard as soon as Rhys was introduced as Tristram’s father, and I’m so glad this book left them where it did. I wouldn’t mind a novella (or full-length novel) about their relationship before this series was released *hint hint*
Bowen and Hafgan – So cute I thought I was going to combust. I wish we had more page time with them, because their relationship was so stinking adorable. I’ve never been a big fan of age gap, but it was pulled off really well for them, and I would love more of their future together.
There are so many more non-romantic relationships in this book that deserve to be talked about – Tristram/Rhys/Maddox, Tristram/Roland/Bet, Rhiannon/Maddox, Tristram/Sidonie, and so many more – but in the interest of not writing an essay, I’ll just say that I love the non-romantic ties incorporated into the characters’ lives and that they were skillfully written.
Leaving the relationships in this book is honestly agony.
Basically, what I’m saying about all of these relationships is that there’s plenty of room to explore them more in future books. Please.
⊰Writing⊱
If I didn’t know this was written by two authors, I wouldn’t believe it. There are seamless transitions, and the story arcs pulled together nicely. The writing style feels authentic to the time period this book was set in, but wasn’t embellished to the point of ridiculousness.
⊰Plot and World-Building⊱
The plot of this book is one of the reasons that it made it on to my favorites shelf. The political intrigue was great, and the pace really kept the book moving.
I love the lore in this world, and I really wish that it had been explored more. There were a few things that I felt were kind of dropped and not explored further – like the elves and , but in general I thought the world-building was phenomenal. Despite dragon-shifters and magic being common in fantasy books, I think they were included in a unique way.
This is the one area where I have a small complaint with the book, however. I loved the plot and pacing, but I think this book suffered a bit from its length. The book does a lot in 302 pages, and at times it had to sacrifice some of the detailing around events to be able to pack it into such a small page count. It made some of the events seem a little too convenient, because some of the finer details and additional adversity that were probably faced weren’t able to be included.
I understand why the length is the way it is; the previous books in the series clocked in at 254 and 318 pages respectively, so going too much longer would have been almost like a bait and switch. But I think even 50 more pages would have been an enormous benefit.
⊰Overall⊱
When I finish the final book in a series, I tend to evaluate the series in its entirety, and this was such an incredible surprise from start to finish. I had no clue what I was getting into, and I can’t get this series out of my head.
There are so many amazing things about it, but it’s the characters that have burrowed into my heart and won’t come out. I’m honestly devastated that I won’t be able to go on any more adventures with them now that the series has concluded, but at least I’ll be able to revisit them as they exist in these books.
This series instantly became one of my favorites, and the final book was a fitting conclusion. I really can’t recommend this series enough.
There’s so much that happens in this book that I don’t know that I can leave a thorough review without writing an essay, so I’m going to hit the highlights.
⊰Characters⊱
If I had to pick a favorite part of the book, it would come down to world-building and characters. A lot of love and consideration went into the creation of each character, and their character arcs were treated with obvious care. Relationships – both friendships and romantic relationships – were a big focal point, but each character also had individual growth and development.
⊰Relationships⊱
What can I even say about this section except that it was *chef’s kiss* phenomenal. Each relationship deserves to be talked about, so that’s what I’m going to do.
Tristram and Bet – It’s hard for me to pick a favorite relationship, but if I was forced to then it would be this one. I don’t want to rehash everything I’ve said in previous reviews, but this was such an emotionally packed couple. Their relationship is so tender despite everything that they’ve been through, and it kind of crushes my soul.
Sidonie and Rhiannon – Another one of the OG couples in this series. They didn’t get as much attention in this book, but they ended book two in a fairly solid place and this book was mainly wrap up for them. They still remain one of the cutest power couples in this series.
Maddox and Gillian – Both finally got what they deserved in this final book, and they have such a cute dynamic. The dragon kidnapping the princess and accidentally falling in love is literally to die for.
Rhys and Elinor – I was rooting for them so hard as soon as Rhys was introduced as Tristram’s father, and I’m so glad this book left them where it did. I wouldn’t mind a novella (or full-length novel) about their relationship before this series was released *hint hint*
Bowen and Hafgan – So cute I thought I was going to combust. I wish we had more page time with them, because their relationship was so stinking adorable. I’ve never been a big fan of age gap, but it was pulled off really well for them, and I would love more of their future together.
There are so many more non-romantic relationships in this book that deserve to be talked about – Tristram/Rhys/Maddox, Tristram/Roland/Bet, Rhiannon/Maddox, Tristram/Sidonie, and so many more – but in the interest of not writing an essay, I’ll just say that I love the non-romantic ties incorporated into the characters’ lives and that they were skillfully written.
Leaving the relationships in this book is honestly agony.
Basically, what I’m saying about all of these relationships is that there’s plenty of room to explore them more in future books. Please.
⊰Writing⊱
If I didn’t know this was written by two authors, I wouldn’t believe it. There are seamless transitions, and the story arcs pulled together nicely. The writing style feels authentic to the time period this book was set in, but wasn’t embellished to the point of ridiculousness.
⊰Plot and World-Building⊱
The plot of this book is one of the reasons that it made it on to my favorites shelf. The political intrigue was great, and the pace really kept the book moving.
I love the lore in this world, and I really wish that it had been explored more. There were a few things that I felt were kind of dropped and not explored further – like the elves and , but in general I thought the world-building was phenomenal. Despite dragon-shifters and magic being common in fantasy books, I think they were included in a unique way.
This is the one area where I have a small complaint with the book, however. I loved the plot and pacing, but I think this book suffered a bit from its length. The book does a lot in 302 pages, and at times it had to sacrifice some of the detailing around events to be able to pack it into such a small page count. It made some of the events seem a little too convenient, because some of the finer details and additional adversity that were probably faced weren’t able to be included.
I understand why the length is the way it is; the previous books in the series clocked in at 254 and 318 pages respectively, so going too much longer would have been almost like a bait and switch. But I think even 50 more pages would have been an enormous benefit.
⊰Overall⊱
When I finish the final book in a series, I tend to evaluate the series in its entirety, and this was such an incredible surprise from start to finish. I had no clue what I was getting into, and I can’t get this series out of my head.
There are so many amazing things about it, but it’s the characters that have burrowed into my heart and won’t come out. I’m honestly devastated that I won’t be able to go on any more adventures with them now that the series has concluded, but at least I’ll be able to revisit them as they exist in these books.
This series instantly became one of my favorites, and the final book was a fitting conclusion. I really can’t recommend this series enough.
August 8, 2020
Wonderful conclusion with all the ends tied in a satisfactory way. A really enjoyable, exciting trilogy
November 20, 2022
The Assassin's Dragon in the final book in the Fire and Valor trilogy. It is a very fitting ending for an amazing series. Many secrets have been laid bare. There is one final secret to be revealed and it is a doozy. The dragons and humans have joined forces to defeat the evil Jarl Vidar. The honorable Bet (even though he doesn't think so) has been one of my favorite characters in the series. He continues to serve King Roland and Tristram with unfailing loyalty. Dragon, a character introduced in the second book, stole my heart as well. The romantic pairings were fairly well set by the beginning of this book and those relationships continued to develop. There is one relationship I would love to see in the future. Friendship or romance - it could go either way. There is something for everyone in the romance department: m/m, m/f and f/f. The authors did a great job with world building. The story is complex with a variety of creatures to learn about. Burns and Fawkes took this intricate story and brought all of the pieces together in a very satisfying conclusion. The characters are left in a place that you can tell will make them flourish. I cannot recommend this series highly enough!
I also highly recommend the audio book. The dual narrators do an incredible job at making the main characters' voices distinct. That is an amazing feat considering the large cast of characters.
I also highly recommend the audio book. The dual narrators do an incredible job at making the main characters' voices distinct. That is an amazing feat considering the large cast of characters.
December 16, 2020
The young king is missing, enemy armies are approaching, and only an alliance with the dragon clans can give Tristram the strength needed to defend Llangard against the coming onslaught.
Finally, we get to see all the characters come together for the epic, wonderfully satisfying conclusion to this amazing trilogy that neatly ties together the various subplots that have emerged and delivers perfect endings all around for the various couples that have found each other over the course of these three books. Discovering this excellent fantasy/romance trilogy was an absolute stroke of luck - loved every minute I spent reading it.
Finally, we get to see all the characters come together for the epic, wonderfully satisfying conclusion to this amazing trilogy that neatly ties together the various subplots that have emerged and delivers perfect endings all around for the various couples that have found each other over the course of these three books. Discovering this excellent fantasy/romance trilogy was an absolute stroke of luck - loved every minute I spent reading it.
October 1, 2021
It's amazing to see where we are now, at the start of book 3, from where we were at the very beginning. The Assassin's Dragon was everything I hoped it would be. The finale had a great battle for noble reasons, everyone coming together to do their part, a fascinating twist with the villain, and so many happily ever afters. I really loved the complexity and layers built into each and every part of this story. This will be one of those tales that will have me discovering new things every time I read/listen to it.
January 31, 2022
What a great ending to this trilogy! All the chapters were captivating and were heading to the same destination so they all entwined perfeclt and gave me the closure to all my babies. Gillian, Maddox, Bet, Tristram, Roland, Dragon, Bowen, Hafgan, Sidonie and Rhiannon...what a squad! Each one of them were special in a way and I'm going to miss everyone!
August 10, 2020
3.75 stars.
January 16, 2023
So much happens in this book! The action is about non-stop! There are several mysteries that are revealed in this story which I didn’t expect! Bet finally figures out his place in the Kingdom without being the Shadow. It is bitter sweet seeing people be nice to him and Bet not sure how to deal with it. Roland is showing signs of becoming a great king. He doesn’t believe in asking anyone to do something if he isn’t willing to do it as well. Watching Gillian come into her powers and figure out how to use them with the help of Maddox was lovely. I am hoping there are more books – I would love to know more about Athelston’s history. Love this universe!
September 1, 2021
In the previous book, our writers W. M. Fawkes and Sam Burns leave readers with a horrendously wretched cliffhanger. After barely surviving poisoning, the truly lovely young King Roland is captured by his twisted cousin Nicholas in a continued bid to gain the throne that started with the poisoning of King Edmund by his brother Laurence Cavendish in who is dead by the first book of the series. Courtesy of Bet Kyston, Laurence Cavendish is also dead but his son and wife Margaret continue to be a bane to Llandgard. With the complexity of the plot and the challenges for the novel's major players, readers will be delighted to know that the writers resolve the major conflict and several challenges for the series arc quite masterfully.
In 'The Assassin's Dragon: Fire and Valor Book 3', a confined unknown dragon witnesses the exchange between his master, a wickedly powerful mage named Vidar, and a Stone clan dragon named Bowen who are tasked with attacking the Sun clan for dragons. Deciding they will only capture the weak and the elderly for Vidar, the Stone clan's attack leaving the dragon queen of the Sun clan to understand the very real threat from the enemy and the circumstances that make it necessary for the Sun clan to join the folks at Llandgard. Hafgan is captured during the conflict and during his confinement, he discovers Dragon--an unnamed, unknown dragon who is also of the eradicated Wind clan. Hafgan also befriends Bowen of the Stone clan and using his exceptional negotiation skills, encourages both clans to band together in an effort to steal back the eggs that were stolen and held hostage by Vidar.
The rescuers discover not just Stone clan eggs but those from several others including four Wind clan eggs, much to Hafgan's ultimate joy. However, he is heartbroken that the speed needed to reclaim the dragon eggs meant leaving Dragon, Hafgan's brother, behind. The Stone clan queen solicits Hafgan's help in nurturing all the eggs but they must leave the dwellings to avoid retribution for the reclaimed dragon eggs. Making their way to the nearest 'safe' place, they found themselves beset by enemy forces comprised of especially effective mages. They wage a huge battle of resulting in a great loss of life, yet they do manage to save the Stone queen and all of the eggs.
Nicholas and Margaret Cavendish turn over young King Roland to Vidar and he finds himself caged next to Dragon who he befriends. He realizes Dragon's crate is impenetrable after he manages to break out of his own cage and he sadly leaves him with the same promise Hafgan has made to Dragon--you will be rescued. Bet is understandably upset he was unable to find young King Roland earlier in the novel and he sets out once again to find him this time with a young dragon left orphaned during the fighting. When cooking by the fire, the smell attracts the young King who was wandering about after breaking away from the cage at Vidar's compound. Finding his way safely into Bet's care, the young king goes back with Bet to rejoin Tristram and the others determined to fight Vidar's forces.
The enemy Vidar is actually the 'hero' from long ago who was instrumental in winning the human's freedom from draconic subjugation. He was later banished by his eldest son for his brutality and also his willingness to sacrifice the life of his youngest son in expectation of gaining immortality. His forces are composed of both mages and the monstrosities that were initially humans corrupted by the ingestion of dragon's blood. A celestial phenomenon that will occur at the time of the fighting will benefit the heroes by turning the mages into mindless monstrosities incapable of both rational thinking and logical behavior. Discovering that they will be fighting on two fronts including Llandgard, Sir Sidonie helps prepare every person capable of bearing arms to fight. The entire lot manages to thwart the threat coming at the kingdom which was lead by Margaret, Nicholas's mother and wife of Laurence Cavendish who Bet killed in the previous novel. She is captured and held in prison when the fighters are successful in defending Llandgard.
Rhys has the opportunity to fight the enemies with his sons Maddox and Tristram who plan to defeat Vidar's army at the pass. Nicholas is one of the first of the monstrosities they face after an initial charge by the foes but he is quite easily defeated. However, he doesn't represent the worse our heroes will face at the pass. Having broken away from Llandgard to join Tristram and the others, Gillian joins them to fight having grown in power because of her close association with dragons (especially Maddox) and the training she received training from Rhys (Maddox and Tristram's father) at the monastery mentioned in the preceding book. Her interpretation of historical documents makes her aware of the need for a Cavendish descendant to kill Vidar. Her strength and Bowen's help the dragons and men avoid pass avalanches cause by Vidar, leaving her too occupied to kill him. It will fall to young King Roland to kill the wicked mage who was unwisely riding astride a scared, tired, injured and very angry Dragon.
When he spies Dragon from afar with the wicked Vidar astride his back, young King Roland seeks to honor his promise to rescue Dragon. Roland breaks away from Bet who is left to track him down. Gillian calls out to the young king the need for him to kill Vidar. Wanting to offset Roland's obligation to commit murder, Bet's attempt to be the young king's proxy is unsuccessful and he nearly manages to get himself killed by the wicked mage. The situation makes it necessary for Roland to step up to his responsibility in eliminating Vidar, a deed facilitated by Dragon's anger. At an earlier time, Vidar took the feathered quill pen Roland gave to Dragon before leaving him caged while making his own escape--the one and ONLY thing Dragon owned. Young King Roland gave it to Dragon as a token of their friendship, a pledge to Dragon's value as a person, a promise for Dragon's release, and an assurance for Dragon's brighter future. (The feather gifting scene between King Roland and Dragon had me doing some ugly crying! The Wailing, soul-cleansing kind! Taking Dragon's feather! Wicked mage Vidar got far better than he deserved for that act alone!)
All ends well and very well in the current novel along with the entire Fire and Valor series with the following pairings: Hafgan of the newly revived Wind clan gets (and gets with) Bowden, leader of the Stone clan; Tristram's mother Elinor resumes a romance with his dragon father Rhys and both remain in Llandgard along with established pair Tristram and Bet; Maddox becomes the new leader of the Sun clan and Gillian decides she will follow him there to further unity between dragons and humans; Rhiannon and Sir Sidonie decide to leave Llandgard to rebuild the monastery so that the teaching of magical skills can resume. Given that Vidar was taught at the monastery centuries earlier, one would hope they will continue to use wisdom when selective their pupils!
There's a machine-level precision to the cohesion of the work with all the many elements coming together beautifully both within each book and throughout the series arc. The storylines are strong and plausible, giving readers an awesome experience free of the frustration that can come from writers using the fantasy genre to shortcut! The interconnection that exists for both the dragon and the human races to prevail is the persistent undercurrent running throughout the entire series. Incredible world-building, exponential character growth, excellent plot development, exemplary pacing, and flawless balance all contribute to making this one EPIC fantasy series. Awesome!
In 'The Assassin's Dragon: Fire and Valor Book 3', a confined unknown dragon witnesses the exchange between his master, a wickedly powerful mage named Vidar, and a Stone clan dragon named Bowen who are tasked with attacking the Sun clan for dragons. Deciding they will only capture the weak and the elderly for Vidar, the Stone clan's attack leaving the dragon queen of the Sun clan to understand the very real threat from the enemy and the circumstances that make it necessary for the Sun clan to join the folks at Llandgard. Hafgan is captured during the conflict and during his confinement, he discovers Dragon--an unnamed, unknown dragon who is also of the eradicated Wind clan. Hafgan also befriends Bowen of the Stone clan and using his exceptional negotiation skills, encourages both clans to band together in an effort to steal back the eggs that were stolen and held hostage by Vidar.
The rescuers discover not just Stone clan eggs but those from several others including four Wind clan eggs, much to Hafgan's ultimate joy. However, he is heartbroken that the speed needed to reclaim the dragon eggs meant leaving Dragon, Hafgan's brother, behind. The Stone clan queen solicits Hafgan's help in nurturing all the eggs but they must leave the dwellings to avoid retribution for the reclaimed dragon eggs. Making their way to the nearest 'safe' place, they found themselves beset by enemy forces comprised of especially effective mages. They wage a huge battle of resulting in a great loss of life, yet they do manage to save the Stone queen and all of the eggs.
Nicholas and Margaret Cavendish turn over young King Roland to Vidar and he finds himself caged next to Dragon who he befriends. He realizes Dragon's crate is impenetrable after he manages to break out of his own cage and he sadly leaves him with the same promise Hafgan has made to Dragon--you will be rescued. Bet is understandably upset he was unable to find young King Roland earlier in the novel and he sets out once again to find him this time with a young dragon left orphaned during the fighting. When cooking by the fire, the smell attracts the young King who was wandering about after breaking away from the cage at Vidar's compound. Finding his way safely into Bet's care, the young king goes back with Bet to rejoin Tristram and the others determined to fight Vidar's forces.
The enemy Vidar is actually the 'hero' from long ago who was instrumental in winning the human's freedom from draconic subjugation. He was later banished by his eldest son for his brutality and also his willingness to sacrifice the life of his youngest son in expectation of gaining immortality. His forces are composed of both mages and the monstrosities that were initially humans corrupted by the ingestion of dragon's blood. A celestial phenomenon that will occur at the time of the fighting will benefit the heroes by turning the mages into mindless monstrosities incapable of both rational thinking and logical behavior. Discovering that they will be fighting on two fronts including Llandgard, Sir Sidonie helps prepare every person capable of bearing arms to fight. The entire lot manages to thwart the threat coming at the kingdom which was lead by Margaret, Nicholas's mother and wife of Laurence Cavendish who Bet killed in the previous novel. She is captured and held in prison when the fighters are successful in defending Llandgard.
Rhys has the opportunity to fight the enemies with his sons Maddox and Tristram who plan to defeat Vidar's army at the pass. Nicholas is one of the first of the monstrosities they face after an initial charge by the foes but he is quite easily defeated. However, he doesn't represent the worse our heroes will face at the pass. Having broken away from Llandgard to join Tristram and the others, Gillian joins them to fight having grown in power because of her close association with dragons (especially Maddox) and the training she received training from Rhys (Maddox and Tristram's father) at the monastery mentioned in the preceding book. Her interpretation of historical documents makes her aware of the need for a Cavendish descendant to kill Vidar. Her strength and Bowen's help the dragons and men avoid pass avalanches cause by Vidar, leaving her too occupied to kill him. It will fall to young King Roland to kill the wicked mage who was unwisely riding astride a scared, tired, injured and very angry Dragon.
When he spies Dragon from afar with the wicked Vidar astride his back, young King Roland seeks to honor his promise to rescue Dragon. Roland breaks away from Bet who is left to track him down. Gillian calls out to the young king the need for him to kill Vidar. Wanting to offset Roland's obligation to commit murder, Bet's attempt to be the young king's proxy is unsuccessful and he nearly manages to get himself killed by the wicked mage. The situation makes it necessary for Roland to step up to his responsibility in eliminating Vidar, a deed facilitated by Dragon's anger. At an earlier time, Vidar took the feathered quill pen Roland gave to Dragon before leaving him caged while making his own escape--the one and ONLY thing Dragon owned. Young King Roland gave it to Dragon as a token of their friendship, a pledge to Dragon's value as a person, a promise for Dragon's release, and an assurance for Dragon's brighter future. (The feather gifting scene between King Roland and Dragon had me doing some ugly crying! The Wailing, soul-cleansing kind! Taking Dragon's feather! Wicked mage Vidar got far better than he deserved for that act alone!)
All ends well and very well in the current novel along with the entire Fire and Valor series with the following pairings: Hafgan of the newly revived Wind clan gets (and gets with) Bowden, leader of the Stone clan; Tristram's mother Elinor resumes a romance with his dragon father Rhys and both remain in Llandgard along with established pair Tristram and Bet; Maddox becomes the new leader of the Sun clan and Gillian decides she will follow him there to further unity between dragons and humans; Rhiannon and Sir Sidonie decide to leave Llandgard to rebuild the monastery so that the teaching of magical skills can resume. Given that Vidar was taught at the monastery centuries earlier, one would hope they will continue to use wisdom when selective their pupils!
There's a machine-level precision to the cohesion of the work with all the many elements coming together beautifully both within each book and throughout the series arc. The storylines are strong and plausible, giving readers an awesome experience free of the frustration that can come from writers using the fantasy genre to shortcut! The interconnection that exists for both the dragon and the human races to prevail is the persistent undercurrent running throughout the entire series. Incredible world-building, exponential character growth, excellent plot development, exemplary pacing, and flawless balance all contribute to making this one EPIC fantasy series. Awesome!
June 29, 2022
This story, while marketed as an m/m fantasy romance, also has m/f and f/f. So, it'll fit all your romance needs (the main romance, is of course, m/m).
I enjoyed this series, and everyone gets their HEA. I felt the last battle was rushed, as often seems to be the case, and the final conflict resolved too quickly, but it was a good story overall. Tristram and Bet were my favorites, of course, but it was nice to see the others come together, as well.
I would have liked to learn more about the elves, but perhaps Fawkes wanted them to remain mysterious. If there are anymore stories written in this world though, I hope to see some elves.
If you like fantasy, dragons, and m/m, I recommend this series.
I enjoyed this series, and everyone gets their HEA. I felt the last battle was rushed, as often seems to be the case, and the final conflict resolved too quickly, but it was a good story overall. Tristram and Bet were my favorites, of course, but it was nice to see the others come together, as well.
I would have liked to learn more about the elves, but perhaps Fawkes wanted them to remain mysterious. If there are anymore stories written in this world though, I hope to see some elves.
If you like fantasy, dragons, and m/m, I recommend this series.
September 27, 2020
Disappointed I didn’t enjoy this book as much as other reviewers did. I’ve read the other 2 in the trilogy and was hoping it would get better but I found myself drifting even further away from the story and characters. Finding myself skim reading or skipping over sections is not something I normally do! I felt that with so many points of view there wasn’t enough depth in each characters story, and the chapters chopped and changed too much to build suspense or for me to invest in them. Maybe more length would have helped, I just felt jarred out of the story each chapter change. I also found the lack of depth made the epic events of the novel seem pale and kind of anti-climatic. Not criticising, just sad it didn’t work for me.
May 23, 2022
The final instalment of a great series that I enjoyed immensely. This is how you end a good series with a bang! And elevate it to greatness. So I have just good things to say about this book: great characters, happy endings all around, evil villains that get their deserved comeuppance, and a plot that was neatly resolved, yet still made me wish for more. I had so many favourites among the cast of characters, but my super favourite was Dragon and may he and King Roland please please please pretty please have their own series???
I also judge a book's greatness by the size of the book hangover I have afterwards, and after this series, the hangover is humongous.
I also judge a book's greatness by the size of the book hangover I have afterwards, and after this series, the hangover is humongous.
December 30, 2022
Unfortunately the final book started sagging in the middle and a lot of obstacles were very easily and conveniently overcome. After all the tension and build up the final battle was anticlimactic and having a beginner mage defeat the main villain who was not only immortal, but was supposedly the most powerful mage of the land… well, that was disappointing.
Finally, too many romantic plot lines were very distracting. Combined with hopping around multiple POV’s, they made me dizzy.
Overall, the third book was a letdown. Oh well.
Finally, too many romantic plot lines were very distracting. Combined with hopping around multiple POV’s, they made me dizzy.
Overall, the third book was a letdown. Oh well.
August 29, 2021
Excellent
I loved this ensemble cast. All parts came together and I cheered for them. I loved the dragons and the humans who loved them.
I loved this ensemble cast. All parts came together and I cheered for them. I loved the dragons and the humans who loved them.
June 20, 2021
Rating (All ratings use a Scale of 1-5) = 4.5 stars for the series as a whole, and 5 starts for the final installment. The breadth, depth, and scope of these was amazing especially in comparison to other m/m books. What makes it a true 5 stars for me is that a year later I still remembered the characters and most of the plot lines from the first 2 books. I have no retention of 95% of what I read a month later much less a year. That is why I typically wait to start any series and read them back to back. I did not have to even skim the previous ones. Which I'm not sure that has ever happened.
Blurb = 4
My Genre Scale = 5
Odds if not your genre = 2, I do not think I would recommend for anyone not a fan of fantasy and dragons unless one is looking to branch out or in the mood for something different.
Development of: =
*World = 4.5
*Plot = 4.5
*Characters = 4
What stood out = The growth of Roland and Bet, "dragon", lots of other things, the writing, and authors that kept all the plot lines flowing smoothly.
Mood Type / Appeal to those looking for = An epic Fantasy and court intrigue
Warnings = Nothing unexpected or taken to far including the Battle scenes and prisoners.
HFN/HEA = most definitely
Series Notes = 3rd and I believe final
*Reading on? Would if it does continue
*Reading back to back? Surprisingly no
*Can be easily read without the previous? Absolutely not
Rating Notes = (SubPlots, thoughts, etc... )
I think I covered it all above. There were a lot of storylines, characters, and moving parts. I was never thrown out, confused, or lost. That is saying something!
--------------------
Since my mother had a major stroke (while we were in the starting stages of moving from GA to SC) , I really haven't been able to find the time or energy to review. I've also been doing a lot of rereading. I'm going to try and get back into the "swing" of things. Just maybe not at my usual pace
**************
Below is my philosophy on reviewing!
***************
1. I try to take into account and note common pet peeves often bemoaned by others.
2. "Brain candy' does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. (What is brain candy? Publishing industry 's version of pop music - Typically: formulaic, from a prolific author published often and quickly (like monthly), things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc..) It has its uses: to pass time whet tired, on the beach, etc... The problem comes when "brain candy" is unexpected or even disguised.
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read it; I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when reviewing:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2021) was a 3.64 average for 1527 books. Which considering, one should be better at picking out books the more one reads, I feel is an accurate average. I have over 795 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews