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Bad Dragon's Bride #1
The Dragon King’s Mate
ho’s more dangerous, her stalker or her king?
Ava
Dancing in a rowdy nightclub isn’t most girls’ career plan, but Ava makes it work. Bump, grind, flirt—easy as pie.
Her life shatters when she’s marked. A human that can have dragon shifter babies is a prize worth killing for, and her stalker is ready to be a dad.
When her apartment burns down, Ava learns a fun fact. Stalkers don’t like being rejected. And hers will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.
One man can help her.
Baz—King of the Seattle dragon shifters and definitely not a gangster. Despite the warnings to stay away from him, his protection is her only hope.
But Ava has a problem. Powerful and sexy as hell, Baz sets her soul on fire.
Literally.
Baz
Baz doesn’t have time to help humans. His sister has a target on her back, and family always comes first.
Everything changes when a dancer crashes into his lap, desperate for his protection.
Ava’s sweet scent and feisty temper drives his inner beast wild. The need to mate is irresistible, but his pretty, new roommate is already running from one dragon. Seducing her for himself is, at best, morally gray.
But Baz has always been a bad boy, and rules don’t apply to the king.
At first, having her in his penthouse is delicious torture. But the longer Ava is around, the more Baz starts to soften.
And when you’re king, being soft isn’t an option.
Ava
Dancing in a rowdy nightclub isn’t most girls’ career plan, but Ava makes it work. Bump, grind, flirt—easy as pie.
Her life shatters when she’s marked. A human that can have dragon shifter babies is a prize worth killing for, and her stalker is ready to be a dad.
When her apartment burns down, Ava learns a fun fact. Stalkers don’t like being rejected. And hers will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.
One man can help her.
Baz—King of the Seattle dragon shifters and definitely not a gangster. Despite the warnings to stay away from him, his protection is her only hope.
But Ava has a problem. Powerful and sexy as hell, Baz sets her soul on fire.
Literally.
Baz
Baz doesn’t have time to help humans. His sister has a target on her back, and family always comes first.
Everything changes when a dancer crashes into his lap, desperate for his protection.
Ava’s sweet scent and feisty temper drives his inner beast wild. The need to mate is irresistible, but his pretty, new roommate is already running from one dragon. Seducing her for himself is, at best, morally gray.
But Baz has always been a bad boy, and rules don’t apply to the king.
At first, having her in his penthouse is delicious torture. But the longer Ava is around, the more Baz starts to soften.
And when you’re king, being soft isn’t an option.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2022
698 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
November 13, 2023
A miracle made flesh. A human with a piece of dragon inside her. His princess, the only woman who made him burn. And she loved him. A big, mean bastard, who had to claw his way up from nothing.
5 stars!!
I absolutely loved this novel!! It had everything I love about shifter romance wrapped up so brilliantly by Harlow, and I just devoured every word. My favorite aspect of this story was definitely the dynamic and chemistry between Baz and his princess, Ava. Baz was my favorite type of alpha shifter--bad boy persona that softens for his fated mate--while Ava was a strong balance for her dragon.
One of my favorite aspect of the series and world that Harlow has created is the song that is created by the dragon and their human mate. I love how they sing for each other and how they react towards each other. Overall, this is one of my top shifter romances this year. I now consider Harlow Blaze one of my favorite shifter romance authors, and I cannot wait for Jay's book! ♡
Tropes: fated mates, witty banter, morally grey hero, heroine-in-danger, 'touch her and die' vibes, forced proximity, bodyguard hero, breeding kink, dirty talk, found family, STEAMY🔥
*ARC provided by author via Booksprout, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
February 18, 2024
Dangerous Dragon Shifter
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😊😘😟🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The Hero: Baz - He is a 7-foot-tall dragon shifter King, his territory spans to the outskirts of Seattle. Lately he had been handling a lot of stray dragon shifters who had been sneaking into his territory. He was not happy about it, especially since his territory was well marked. They all had been coming in for Ruby, his sister. Most dragons didn’t like to sleep with humans as it gave them a migraine because their inner beast wouldn’t accept anything but their own kind, so they were all coming after his sister whom he protected. Though dragon females were rare since most gave birth to boys. There are so few females that this might be the last generation of dragons.
The heroine: Ava - she just moved to Seattle five days ago and she had been in a rush ever since. She left her old life behind and was grateful to her friend Starla for getting her a job, even though it was at a strip club, which is far from her trophy wife upbringing. She promised herself she would never be that person again. She had the looks and big eyes which attracted the attention of many men at the club, and she had been dealing with a stalker already as well.
The Story: Baz was told about rumors that human women were turning up with mate marks. Though he didn’t believe the rumors. Until one night a hunger hit him, and he (and his inner beast) were led to a building in Seattle. When Ava feels like her stalker is getting closer and her fear takes over, she runs and immediately sits on the lap of a man she was drawn to. She knows immediately from the raw power radiating from him that he is a dragon shifter.
I like the fact that Ava doesn’t realize that she is marked as a dragon shifter mate until she interacts with Baz. Apparently, she is a small percentage of dragon shifter, and it will bring her more attention from the male dragon shifters than she ever imagined. Her stalker is one, and now knows that Ava is marked as does Baz. I also liked the fact that Baz is seen as more of a mob boss than a king in the city.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Jack Calihan and Sierra Kline. Sierra Kline has a soft yet feminine voice which is very pleasant. Jack Calihan has a raspy deep voice which works well for a dragon shifter. They both do a great job, and I liked the narration quite a bit.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😊😘😟🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The Hero: Baz - He is a 7-foot-tall dragon shifter King, his territory spans to the outskirts of Seattle. Lately he had been handling a lot of stray dragon shifters who had been sneaking into his territory. He was not happy about it, especially since his territory was well marked. They all had been coming in for Ruby, his sister. Most dragons didn’t like to sleep with humans as it gave them a migraine because their inner beast wouldn’t accept anything but their own kind, so they were all coming after his sister whom he protected. Though dragon females were rare since most gave birth to boys. There are so few females that this might be the last generation of dragons.
The heroine: Ava - she just moved to Seattle five days ago and she had been in a rush ever since. She left her old life behind and was grateful to her friend Starla for getting her a job, even though it was at a strip club, which is far from her trophy wife upbringing. She promised herself she would never be that person again. She had the looks and big eyes which attracted the attention of many men at the club, and she had been dealing with a stalker already as well.
The Story: Baz was told about rumors that human women were turning up with mate marks. Though he didn’t believe the rumors. Until one night a hunger hit him, and he (and his inner beast) were led to a building in Seattle. When Ava feels like her stalker is getting closer and her fear takes over, she runs and immediately sits on the lap of a man she was drawn to. She knows immediately from the raw power radiating from him that he is a dragon shifter.
I like the fact that Ava doesn’t realize that she is marked as a dragon shifter mate until she interacts with Baz. Apparently, she is a small percentage of dragon shifter, and it will bring her more attention from the male dragon shifters than she ever imagined. Her stalker is one, and now knows that Ava is marked as does Baz. I also liked the fact that Baz is seen as more of a mob boss than a king in the city.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Jack Calihan and Sierra Kline. Sierra Kline has a soft yet feminine voice which is very pleasant. Jack Calihan has a raspy deep voice which works well for a dragon shifter. They both do a great job, and I liked the narration quite a bit.
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February 6, 2024
when the nonhuman side of a shifter punishes the human side>>>
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES
Ava (?) | Basilides “Baz” (?)
FEATURES
∘ dragon shifter
∘ fated mates
∘ omegaverse lite (no knotting lol)
∘ mafia-esque (he owns the city basically)
REVIEW
Something was missing. It’s the annoying type of something that can’t be explained, the “spark” that just makes a reader click with a book.
I truly believe that if I read this at the right time, I would’ve loved it. It had all the perfect elements: the worldbuilding of the dragon shifters and their biology was thoughtful; every character, both main and side, was fun; and the stalker plot was well-paced.
Although I will say, the development of the relationship was confusing. Fated mates is usually accompanied by instalove, which I truly don’t mind, but we were expected to believe Ava and Baz had developed a deep emotional intimacy without seeing that type of devotion reflected in their inner-monologues. Baz was reluctant to enter a relationship and believe Ava was his mate even if he was obsessed with her. The pacing of it was a bit weird, but it was a small bump in an otherwise well-rounded novel.
It wasn’t a 5 star read for me, BUT it could be (and will be!) for others. The universe is has so much more to offer, and I would be open to revisiting it in the future. My obstacles with the novel have nothing to do with the writing and everything to do to me.
OW/OM DRAMA minor OM — Ava is encouraged to make Baz jealous so he makes up his mind faster; not really OM — Ava has a stalker who is obsessed with her
CHEATING none
THIRD ACT BREAKUP no
ENDING HEA — 9 months later epilogue
POV dual / third person
SPICE LEVEL 4 / 5
RATING 3 / 5
I received a free copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES
Ava (?) | Basilides “Baz” (?)
FEATURES
∘ dragon shifter
∘ fated mates
∘ omegaverse lite (no knotting lol)
∘ mafia-esque (he owns the city basically)
REVIEW
Something was missing. It’s the annoying type of something that can’t be explained, the “spark” that just makes a reader click with a book.
I truly believe that if I read this at the right time, I would’ve loved it. It had all the perfect elements: the worldbuilding of the dragon shifters and their biology was thoughtful; every character, both main and side, was fun; and the stalker plot was well-paced.
Although I will say, the development of the relationship was confusing. Fated mates is usually accompanied by instalove, which I truly don’t mind, but we were expected to believe Ava and Baz had developed a deep emotional intimacy without seeing that type of devotion reflected in their inner-monologues. Baz was reluctant to enter a relationship and believe Ava was his mate even if he was obsessed with her. The pacing of it was a bit weird, but it was a small bump in an otherwise well-rounded novel.
It wasn’t a 5 star read for me, BUT it could be (and will be!) for others. The universe is has so much more to offer, and I would be open to revisiting it in the future. My obstacles with the novel have nothing to do with the writing and everything to do to me.
OW/OM DRAMA minor OM — Ava is encouraged to make Baz jealous so he makes up his mind faster; not really OM — Ava has a stalker who is obsessed with her
CHEATING none
THIRD ACT BREAKUP no
ENDING HEA — 9 months later epilogue
POV dual / third person
SPICE LEVEL 4 / 5
RATING 3 / 5
I received a free copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5, 2022
Not a super fan of Insta love reads. In my opinion this would fall in that category.
I like a little trial and tribulations in my reads. I loved the synopsis and it sounded very interesting. However we moved pretty fast into a pretty serious meeting. Just needed a little hard to get action and there was not any 💔
Happy reading,
DD🥂
I like a little trial and tribulations in my reads. I loved the synopsis and it sounded very interesting. However we moved pretty fast into a pretty serious meeting. Just needed a little hard to get action and there was not any 💔
Happy reading,
DD🥂
March 13, 2022
Baz and Ava are so fun together. They meet at the club she works at but once Baz meets her, it's hard for him to just leave her alone because she's been dragon marked, which means she can mate with a dragon shifter if she finds one she likes. Since there are more male dragon shifters than females, the males will fight over the female humans who have been marked.
Ava seems to have a stalker as well so when her home burns down, Baz brings her back to her place where she'll be safe. But in keeping her safe, they spend a lot of time together and before Baz can sort his feelings out for her, his little sister let's the other male dragon's know that she's around. It's the kick in the pants that Baz needed in order to realize that he wants her for himself. But she's still in danger from her stalker and I liked watching as the stalker got closer and finally came out to get his prize, Ava.
Ava is no shrinking violet and she's smart. So when she finds herself in danger she acts smart until Baz can help. I really liked the ending and seeing how things turned out for them and knowing that there's yet another dragon marked female that's going to need help. I can't wait to find out who it is and who her Dragon will be.
Ava seems to have a stalker as well so when her home burns down, Baz brings her back to her place where she'll be safe. But in keeping her safe, they spend a lot of time together and before Baz can sort his feelings out for her, his little sister let's the other male dragon's know that she's around. It's the kick in the pants that Baz needed in order to realize that he wants her for himself. But she's still in danger from her stalker and I liked watching as the stalker got closer and finally came out to get his prize, Ava.
Ava is no shrinking violet and she's smart. So when she finds herself in danger she acts smart until Baz can help. I really liked the ending and seeing how things turned out for them and knowing that there's yet another dragon marked female that's going to need help. I can't wait to find out who it is and who her Dragon will be.
March 7, 2022
This the second book in the Bad Dragon's Bride series. This story is focused on The King of the Seattle Dragons Baz and his Mate Ava. Baz had his hands full with running the Seattle Eyrie of Dragons and keeping his sister safe being kidnapped since she is one of the last female dragons around. Being the biggest, baddest Dragon King around; Baz has no time for feeling and emotions. Baz knew that feelings and emotions made a Dragon weak and he wasn't weak by any measure. Boy was he proven wrong.
Ava running away from her past as a pampered, bougie Princess move to Seattle and took a job as a dancer. Unfortunately for Ava she has been marked. She has been marked as a human who could bore Dragon shifters babies which led to her having a very determined stalker who wants a baby. One night Ava's life changes for the better or worse depending on how you access the situation. Running for her life one night she made a rash decision and literally landed in Baz lap desperate for protection.
Baz has a lot on his plate and the last thing he wants to do is get involved with a human. Unfortunately for him this particular human speaks to his inner dragon. When Ava unknowingly began to Trill and Baz's dragon responds; he knows that Ava is a marked woman and his Dragon is ready to claim what's his. This was a cute story and quite funny because Ava just could not stop trilling to save her life. Her friend Starla kept telling her to cut it out because "Trilling" simply means "Come put a baby in me Daddy" LOL!!!
It took Baz a moment to come to terms with what was going on between him and Ava but one thing was for certain he would protect her come hell or high water. As Ava's stalker was closing in; Baz knew that he needed to tap into his newly developed Matebond if he had any chance of keeping Ava safe and out of harms way.
I hope the next story is focused on Baz's 2nd-In-Command Jay. A dragon shifter who can no longer shift. Jay's character was moody, sarcastic and fun and I would love to read about him regaining his ability to shift and finding a HEA himself.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava running away from her past as a pampered, bougie Princess move to Seattle and took a job as a dancer. Unfortunately for Ava she has been marked. She has been marked as a human who could bore Dragon shifters babies which led to her having a very determined stalker who wants a baby. One night Ava's life changes for the better or worse depending on how you access the situation. Running for her life one night she made a rash decision and literally landed in Baz lap desperate for protection.
Baz has a lot on his plate and the last thing he wants to do is get involved with a human. Unfortunately for him this particular human speaks to his inner dragon. When Ava unknowingly began to Trill and Baz's dragon responds; he knows that Ava is a marked woman and his Dragon is ready to claim what's his. This was a cute story and quite funny because Ava just could not stop trilling to save her life. Her friend Starla kept telling her to cut it out because "Trilling" simply means "Come put a baby in me Daddy" LOL!!!
It took Baz a moment to come to terms with what was going on between him and Ava but one thing was for certain he would protect her come hell or high water. As Ava's stalker was closing in; Baz knew that he needed to tap into his newly developed Matebond if he had any chance of keeping Ava safe and out of harms way.
I hope the next story is focused on Baz's 2nd-In-Command Jay. A dragon shifter who can no longer shift. Jay's character was moody, sarcastic and fun and I would love to read about him regaining his ability to shift and finding a HEA himself.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2022
This quick read was SO fun.
I really enjoyed the world building - we are thrown right into the action. It’s set a few decades after the shifters have gone public and dragon women are few and far between. Rumours are flying around about dragon-touched human women, which is making the men touchy and territorial. I loved that we are trusted to connect the dots while getting to know the characters.
Baz and Ava are delightful. They have so much chemistry and I genuinely laughed out loud more than once. Ava teetered on the edge of a powerless “poor little rich girl”, but was given enough self-awareness that it worked. Baz was battling with two halves of himself, but it was never overdone. Together, they were a winning combination. Loved them.
I’m looking forward to the other books in this series! I was looking for some school holiday escapism, and this absolutely delivered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed the world building - we are thrown right into the action. It’s set a few decades after the shifters have gone public and dragon women are few and far between. Rumours are flying around about dragon-touched human women, which is making the men touchy and territorial. I loved that we are trusted to connect the dots while getting to know the characters.
Baz and Ava are delightful. They have so much chemistry and I genuinely laughed out loud more than once. Ava teetered on the edge of a powerless “poor little rich girl”, but was given enough self-awareness that it worked. Baz was battling with two halves of himself, but it was never overdone. Together, they were a winning combination. Loved them.
I’m looking forward to the other books in this series! I was looking for some school holiday escapism, and this absolutely delivered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 16, 2022
Only 273 pages this short story is based around the Dragon King Baz and Ava, a human with a dragon spark inside of her. Baz takes it upon himself to protect Ava from a mystery man who has been stalking her since she came to the city. They have an instant connection that just grows as they spend more time together.
The premise of this book was so appealing and I loved the idea behind it as well as the happy ending. The characters were so relatable and I loved the relationship between the two MCs. I have read a lot of shifter romances so of course I liked this book straightaway.
Couple of things that were a miss for me is that it was in third person. Though it wasn’t horrendous, I usually don’t like books in third person but it was still readable. I would say that breaking it up into character specific chapters would have made it a lot easier to follow who’s train of thought it was. I also think some parts were a little fast at the start but the ending chapters made up for it.
Overall a good short read with some great ideas and writing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶���🌶/5
The premise of this book was so appealing and I loved the idea behind it as well as the happy ending. The characters were so relatable and I loved the relationship between the two MCs. I have read a lot of shifter romances so of course I liked this book straightaway.
Couple of things that were a miss for me is that it was in third person. Though it wasn’t horrendous, I usually don’t like books in third person but it was still readable. I would say that breaking it up into character specific chapters would have made it a lot easier to follow who’s train of thought it was. I also think some parts were a little fast at the start but the ending chapters made up for it.
Overall a good short read with some great ideas and writing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶���🌶/5
July 28, 2025
DNF @44%, although I've been considering it for ages.
The heroine seems to have a whole lot of hormones and no brain cells. She sticks out her little finger when she drinks (because she's a lady, apparently) and literally trills when she's turned on, which... okay?
The hero consists mainly of flexing biceps larger than her head (no thanks), rumbling noises, and telling us he's a bad boy.
And then there's the witchy "best friend", saving women from the tedium of trophy wifedom by bringing them to Seattle to work in a strip club. Or something, IDK.
I know you can't see my unimpressed face right now, but trust me, this is it.
The heroine seems to have a whole lot of hormones and no brain cells. She sticks out her little finger when she drinks (because she's a lady, apparently) and literally trills when she's turned on, which... okay?
The hero consists mainly of flexing biceps larger than her head (no thanks), rumbling noises, and telling us he's a bad boy.
And then there's the witchy "best friend", saving women from the tedium of trophy wifedom by bringing them to Seattle to work in a strip club. Or something, IDK.
I know you can't see my unimpressed face right now, but trust me, this is it.
December 9, 2022
If you pick this up expecting Dixon, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for something in the dragon-shifter fantasy romance genre, then you will be happily satisfied. A solid start to a series about the a world of shifters where the dragon-shifters in particular are practically without females BUT oh so lucky! There are human women who are able to fall in love and be mates to them.... you get the trope even if it doesn't really have a title except, maybe, female/mate scarcity?
The MC romance between the two in this book have palpable chemistry and walk you through the world building easily from the female MC being so very new to the dragon kings world.
I would recommend for fans of shifter romance who are, maybe, looking for a new series.
The MC romance between the two in this book have palpable chemistry and walk you through the world building easily from the female MC being so very new to the dragon kings world.
I would recommend for fans of shifter romance who are, maybe, looking for a new series.
March 11, 2022
Ava left her old life because she wanted to be her own person. She was never able to be who she wanted. She didn't want to be a dancer, but she will do what she has to to be her own person.
Baz is a dragon. He has to keep his city safe. Then he meets his other half. He knows he will protect her with everything he has.
This is the 1st book by Harlow Blaze I have read. I will be reading more from her.
I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
Joy. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Baz is a dragon. He has to keep his city safe. Then he meets his other half. He knows he will protect her with everything he has.
This is the 1st book by Harlow Blaze I have read. I will be reading more from her.
I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
Joy. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 26, 2023
This is my first book by this author and I was surprised at how much I loved her style, humour and wit.
This book was a great, fast read. The caharacter and relationship development happens pretty quickly, the plot is ok the back burner a little but omg what a fun ride.
I absolutely loved the banter between the dragons, Ruby was hilarious and I can’t wait to find out more about the witch.
Really looking forward to book two. Can’t wait to find out what Jay is hiding under those shirts 😉
This book was a great, fast read. The caharacter and relationship development happens pretty quickly, the plot is ok the back burner a little but omg what a fun ride.
I absolutely loved the banter between the dragons, Ruby was hilarious and I can’t wait to find out more about the witch.
Really looking forward to book two. Can’t wait to find out what Jay is hiding under those shirts 😉
October 7, 2022
The color of rubies
What an absolutely fantastic series starter! The story is packed full of action and danger, I mean the bad guys just keep coming out of the woodwork. So exciting! And the love story is enthralling. A dragon who never thought to hope for a love of his has fate drop right into his lap, and said fate is looking for her own HEA that is nothing like she was raised to wish for. Together they are an unstoppable force and I enjoyed the ups and downs of the journey to happiness. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
What an absolutely fantastic series starter! The story is packed full of action and danger, I mean the bad guys just keep coming out of the woodwork. So exciting! And the love story is enthralling. A dragon who never thought to hope for a love of his has fate drop right into his lap, and said fate is looking for her own HEA that is nothing like she was raised to wish for. Together they are an unstoppable force and I enjoyed the ups and downs of the journey to happiness. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
November 3, 2024
That's time I'll never have back. The dialogue was stiff, predictable, and cringe. Everything happens in the course of like... 72 hours?? Maybe?? I'm baffled by the ratings.
I think the author has a very fun idea and even the world building is interesting, but the execution felt like an execution tbh
I think the author has a very fun idea and even the world building is interesting, but the execution felt like an execution tbh
May 2, 2023
What an afternoon of fun with Ava and Baz. Totally enjoyed reading their steamy short romance and then the mating. Some dragon action too. Well written. Excited to have the next book waiting.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you Harlow
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you Harlow
February 4, 2023
From the very beginning Ava is headstrong and fierce. She is willing to do what it takes to keep control of her life. I really liked her character.
Baz is a gentle giant. He protects everything and everyone he loves and he will do anything to make sure that all is safe. His backstory was heartbreaking and amazing because of everything he has accomplished since then.
I like how the author was so detailed in explaining how the dragons hierarchy and relationships worked.
The spicy scenes were really good. They could have done less trilling. It got to be too much.
Baz is a gentle giant. He protects everything and everyone he loves and he will do anything to make sure that all is safe. His backstory was heartbreaking and amazing because of everything he has accomplished since then.
I like how the author was so detailed in explaining how the dragons hierarchy and relationships worked.
The spicy scenes were really good. They could have done less trilling. It got to be too much.
February 28, 2022
This book is actually quite funny. I love the friendship and banter between Baz and Jay. I’m curious about Starla and her background. Can’t wait to see who the new human, sparked female is. My only complaint is I was hoping to see Atlas. #Spoilers
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
This series has lot of potential and I will continue hoping it will get better.
The good
Whole storyline and the the idea behind the human women getting marks is really good and I want to read more, I wanna know more and I see such a good potential for this series to be great.
BUT
There is SO damn many mistakes, especially in plot.
So human women are getting the dragon mark what let's them to mate with dragons. Here's my issue. Ava, our h she has a stalker who knows she has dragon mark but she doesn't have the mark. It hasn't appeared. There is no indication thst she will have it. So how he knew? There is no explanation of that.
She works in a club as a exotic dancer. Let's be real, she's a stripper as she dances around the pole. But H is okay her working there before and then after he thinks she might be pregnant. What kind of a leader and alpha male is he? Or non alpha male.
And we have arrived to the H. We are told how feared, ruthless and dark he is. He's none of them whatsoever. Honestly, I feel he is not fit to rule at all. Jay seemed to be more respected and feared.
As scares the women were for the dragons, H pushing back didn't make any sense. His reasons were a weak man's thoughts. I would have bought h pushing back on their relationship development but H? Like, I wanted him as a leader to know what he wants and to try to get it.
🔸No ow/om drama
🔸 h has a stalker
🔸 True mates
🔸 Both experienced
🔸 H not a manwhore
🔸 Steam level medium
🔸 No cheating
The good
Whole storyline and the the idea behind the human women getting marks is really good and I want to read more, I wanna know more and I see such a good potential for this series to be great.
BUT
There is SO damn many mistakes, especially in plot.
So human women are getting the dragon mark what let's them to mate with dragons. Here's my issue. Ava, our h she has a stalker who knows she has dragon mark but she doesn't have the mark. It hasn't appeared. There is no indication thst she will have it. So how he knew? There is no explanation of that.
She works in a club as a exotic dancer. Let's be real, she's a stripper as she dances around the pole. But H is okay her working there before and then after he thinks she might be pregnant. What kind of a leader and alpha male is he? Or non alpha male.
And we have arrived to the H. We are told how feared, ruthless and dark he is. He's none of them whatsoever. Honestly, I feel he is not fit to rule at all. Jay seemed to be more respected and feared.
As scares the women were for the dragons, H pushing back didn't make any sense. His reasons were a weak man's thoughts. I would have bought h pushing back on their relationship development but H? Like, I wanted him as a leader to know what he wants and to try to get it.
🔸No ow/om drama
🔸 h has a stalker
🔸 True mates
🔸 Both experienced
🔸 H not a manwhore
🔸 Steam level medium
🔸 No cheating
June 1, 2022
This is book one of the Bad Dragon’s Bride series and the main characters are human Ava, who has escaped a life of privilege to end up dancing at her friend Starla’s club, and dragon shifter king of Seattle, Baz. Baz has a whole eyrie to control and look after, with a number of skyscrapers combining to create their nest. He has the whole of the penthouse floor as his home and he has a wayward teenage sister Ruby to protect. He came from poverty after his mother took the two of them and left their eyrie, to live in the human world. Baz did what he could to help with matters, no matter how illegal they might have been. He worked his way up to the position he has now and he is the biggest and strongest dragon shifter in the city, and has to work hard to keep any stray shifters away from his seventeen year old sister, as she is the only female dragon shifter in the eyrie and even in the city! Jay, his friend and most trusted is a dragon who can no longer shift, but has heard of human females suddenly becoming fated mates to dragon shifters. Baz thinks this is rubbish, as dragons don’t have fated mates at all. That is until he meets Ava!
Ava ran away from her wealthy upbringing and the forced choices of what she should be doing and who she should be with. Now she is dancing in a rowdy nightclub and is thankful for the chance her friend has given her. Another note is waiting for her, from some sort of stalker fan, and Starla sends her out the employee exit, to have a bit of fresh air before starting her shift to recover. She gets a weird sense of danger shortly after going out the door and soon sees a hooded man watching her from the door. She rushes across the yard and into the lap of Baz, who was sitting drinking with Jay. She finds a strange noise coming out of her throat which Baz responds to. The other man shouts out about having met her first and doesn’t seem happy. A strange mark has appeared on her chest and has left her marked as a human with dragon shifter blood, able to have babies with a dragon, making her a target to any dragon shifter in the city! Baz offers to escort her to the safety of her flat, but the stalker has gotten there ahead of them and set it ablaze. She needs protecting and Baz is the only one that can ensure her protection. He now has two females to protect and he can’t allow any other dragon in the eyrie know of her presence, especially as she will soon go into hear!
Luckily, Starla has a few wise words for Ava, as she herself is a witch and knows all about the paranormal beings in the city and how to deal with them. Ava hates to be beholding to a man, any man, for anything she needs, but she has nothing now her home was burnt down. She can’t resist the sexy and powerful dragon king, not seeing the scary side of him, but his protective side. Jay can’t believe the soft side of Baz that he is seeing, making fun of him and teasing him about fated mates. Baz worries that his feelings for Ava will see him challenged for his position, if anyone sees his softer side, instead of the severe and forceful façade he normally portrays. His inner dragon wants Ava and gets more insistent the more Baz tries to ignore the pull. He agrees to help trap her stalker and in the process falls for her and the need to mate with her is irresistible for them both. It is steamy in parts, but also deals with the danger her stalker can bring, the new phenomenon of human females suddenly becoming dragon marked and how desperate all the male dragon shifters (drakes) are. There is fated mate romance with steam, paranormal beings, witch magic and the biggest bad boy being taken down a peg or two as love hits. A fun read with one couple’s HEA ending and no doubt more to come, as other people meet these newly marked individuals that fate has placed in their path. I look forward to reading more in this series and see who gets together next. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Ava ran away from her wealthy upbringing and the forced choices of what she should be doing and who she should be with. Now she is dancing in a rowdy nightclub and is thankful for the chance her friend has given her. Another note is waiting for her, from some sort of stalker fan, and Starla sends her out the employee exit, to have a bit of fresh air before starting her shift to recover. She gets a weird sense of danger shortly after going out the door and soon sees a hooded man watching her from the door. She rushes across the yard and into the lap of Baz, who was sitting drinking with Jay. She finds a strange noise coming out of her throat which Baz responds to. The other man shouts out about having met her first and doesn’t seem happy. A strange mark has appeared on her chest and has left her marked as a human with dragon shifter blood, able to have babies with a dragon, making her a target to any dragon shifter in the city! Baz offers to escort her to the safety of her flat, but the stalker has gotten there ahead of them and set it ablaze. She needs protecting and Baz is the only one that can ensure her protection. He now has two females to protect and he can’t allow any other dragon in the eyrie know of her presence, especially as she will soon go into hear!
Luckily, Starla has a few wise words for Ava, as she herself is a witch and knows all about the paranormal beings in the city and how to deal with them. Ava hates to be beholding to a man, any man, for anything she needs, but she has nothing now her home was burnt down. She can’t resist the sexy and powerful dragon king, not seeing the scary side of him, but his protective side. Jay can’t believe the soft side of Baz that he is seeing, making fun of him and teasing him about fated mates. Baz worries that his feelings for Ava will see him challenged for his position, if anyone sees his softer side, instead of the severe and forceful façade he normally portrays. His inner dragon wants Ava and gets more insistent the more Baz tries to ignore the pull. He agrees to help trap her stalker and in the process falls for her and the need to mate with her is irresistible for them both. It is steamy in parts, but also deals with the danger her stalker can bring, the new phenomenon of human females suddenly becoming dragon marked and how desperate all the male dragon shifters (drakes) are. There is fated mate romance with steam, paranormal beings, witch magic and the biggest bad boy being taken down a peg or two as love hits. A fun read with one couple’s HEA ending and no doubt more to come, as other people meet these newly marked individuals that fate has placed in their path. I look forward to reading more in this series and see who gets together next. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
July 8, 2022
Baz is the head of the Seattle Eyrie of dragons, whose species is on the verge of extinction. Very few dragon-born women are left, and even fewer human-born women with dragon marks. One night while visiting a strip club, Baz meets a beauty in a golden tierra and feels an instant connection. She’s tiny but fierce. And she’s in trouble. His brain tells him he’s acting irrationally around the little human, but his dragon won’t let her go.
Ah! Love shifter romances. I like shifter books and seek them. Anything supernatural, mystical, unusual, or macabre. I don't know why. I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up and Angel too. Maybe it's the allure of the shifter having a physical manifestation of their inner beast compared to that inner beast that man has. Or perhaps it's because just about anything happens or can happen in these books. Plus, it doesn't hurt that shifter books tend to be just on the right side of that naughty kind of dark.
“The Dragon King’s Mate” didn’t disappoint. It contained all of the elements I love in a good shifter novel. Baz is the leader of his eyrie and has the weight of his clan resting on his shoulders because he’s worried about not only his sister's safety but the future of his species. Essentially the worries that every good leader has. He meets Ava, and after hearing the rumors that mates don’t exist, he shows some resistance to their sexual pull. It’s a refresher to see opposition from the male party of the story instead of the female party. They don’t just jump into each other’s lives and stay there.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the author's descriptions of the dragon species:
“When he exhaled, the air rumbled. His chest shook, sending vibrations rippling through her body. She’d never heard anything like it before, except for maybe the booming growl of an alligator. But somehow, she knew what it was. The powerful, masculine call of a male dragon.
Ava caught fire.
The resonant sound sank into her bones, filled her lungs, and set her blood ablaze. Fever gripped her, and Ava rested her forehead on Baz’s back. Her breath came in short gasps, and searing pain shot through a spot between her breasts, as if a brand sizzled against her sternum. But a second later, the pain vanished, leaving tingling pleasure behind.”
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves romance novels. I don’t believe the dragon lore aspect dilutes the storyline so that anyone can enjoy it. It was sizzling (pun intended!) and fun in all the right areas.
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy for free from Book Siren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ah! Love shifter romances. I like shifter books and seek them. Anything supernatural, mystical, unusual, or macabre. I don't know why. I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up and Angel too. Maybe it's the allure of the shifter having a physical manifestation of their inner beast compared to that inner beast that man has. Or perhaps it's because just about anything happens or can happen in these books. Plus, it doesn't hurt that shifter books tend to be just on the right side of that naughty kind of dark.
“The Dragon King’s Mate” didn’t disappoint. It contained all of the elements I love in a good shifter novel. Baz is the leader of his eyrie and has the weight of his clan resting on his shoulders because he’s worried about not only his sister's safety but the future of his species. Essentially the worries that every good leader has. He meets Ava, and after hearing the rumors that mates don’t exist, he shows some resistance to their sexual pull. It’s a refresher to see opposition from the male party of the story instead of the female party. They don’t just jump into each other’s lives and stay there.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the author's descriptions of the dragon species:
“When he exhaled, the air rumbled. His chest shook, sending vibrations rippling through her body. She’d never heard anything like it before, except for maybe the booming growl of an alligator. But somehow, she knew what it was. The powerful, masculine call of a male dragon.
Ava caught fire.
The resonant sound sank into her bones, filled her lungs, and set her blood ablaze. Fever gripped her, and Ava rested her forehead on Baz’s back. Her breath came in short gasps, and searing pain shot through a spot between her breasts, as if a brand sizzled against her sternum. But a second later, the pain vanished, leaving tingling pleasure behind.”
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves romance novels. I don’t believe the dragon lore aspect dilutes the storyline so that anyone can enjoy it. It was sizzling (pun intended!) and fun in all the right areas.
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy for free from Book Siren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 15, 2022
Harlow Blaze has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Ava and Baz. Ava has left her old life because she was tired of being put on display. She got a job as a dancer with her friend, Starla at her bar. Ava has a stalker and when she gets in, Starla comes to her with a note from the stalker. Starla tells her to go and take a break. She goes outside to the smoking area and this is where she meets Baz. They are talking and the staff door opens, and a figure stands there in a black hoodie, his face in shadows. When he sees Baz, he bellowed. The man points at Ava and said "You didn't even read it." The man was not happy about Ava being with Baz and said, " No, you can't have her, I saw her first." He stepped into the light and Ava saw he was holding a silver knife. Baz didn't seem worried about the man. They get in a fight, and Baz gets him up by his throat. Things happen and Starla comes out and she talks to Ava and then sends her home. Baz said that he would take her home. When they get to Ava's apartment, it is to see it on fire. Jay, Baz's second, goes into Ava's apartment and tries to get things he thinks is important to her and brings them to her. Ava has nowhere to go so Baz offers her a place to stay with him. For some reason, Ava feels safe with Baz and agrees to go with him. Baz and his dragon feel they need to protect Ava for some reason. Baz knows that he is going to have trouble when the rest of the dragons in his area find out about Ava. Ava and Baz get together and come up with a plan to draw out her stalker but things don't go the way they plan. Ava is at work and she goes to change when her stalker comes into her dressing room and makes he go with him. Baz has a strange feeling something is not right and when he gets back to the table, he asked Jay if he saw Ava. Jay said that she went to the bathroom. Baz waits a few minutes and she doesn't show back up, he gets a bad feeling. Then he feels something like fear and knows it is Ava and her mate bond. He goes to her dressing room and doesn't find her. He looks around and sees a trail and follows it. The trail leads him outside but then he lost the trail. Jay comes up to him and tells him he is sorry. Baz asked Jay what the guy would do and Jay tells him.
Will Baz get to Ave in time to save her?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Will Baz get to Ave in time to save her?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 3, 2022
3.5 stars
I love a good shifter story, especially when told with humor, and this book certainly fits the bill. The titular dragon king Baz isn't particularly looking for a mate for a couple of very valid reasons: Dragons don't have fated mates (just baby mamas), and there are next to zero female dragons to pursue. Rumors of human women capable of bearing dragon babies are circling, but Baz writes them off as rumor. No one is more surprised than him when a human female, Ava, shows up wearing a dragon mark.
So from there, we have the whole "she's mine, stay away" possessive thing going on, which is a good thing as Ava has both picked up a stalker and gotten all the males in Baz's eyrie worked up. Dealing with all that cray cray while processing budding feelings make up the bulk of the story. To keep things rolling, we get to enjoy the banter between our heroes and also meet a fun cast of secondary characters, some of whom will feature in future books of this series.
So where did it fall short for me? As much as I liked Ava, I wanted her character to be more fleshed out. We know she fled her previous life, a life where she was wealthy and was being courted by equally posh but nowhere near as nice men, all looking for a trophy wife. But we don't really see evidence of how bad it was for her; also, not once does her past pay a visit to her present, and I feel we needed that to truly buy that her past was not great. I also wanted her to have some sort of goals. Yes, she is newly on her own and there's nothing wrong with dancing in a club, but does she have outside interests? Does she have any career goals or hobbies to pass the time? Although Baz treats her with greater respect than other men she's known, and even though we're told it's not the same, it still feels like she's a bit of a trophy.
But overall, this book is a fun read, and I'll definitely read more in the series.
I received an ARC of this book for free from the author and BookSirens. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!
I love a good shifter story, especially when told with humor, and this book certainly fits the bill. The titular dragon king Baz isn't particularly looking for a mate for a couple of very valid reasons: Dragons don't have fated mates (just baby mamas), and there are next to zero female dragons to pursue. Rumors of human women capable of bearing dragon babies are circling, but Baz writes them off as rumor. No one is more surprised than him when a human female, Ava, shows up wearing a dragon mark.
So from there, we have the whole "she's mine, stay away" possessive thing going on, which is a good thing as Ava has both picked up a stalker and gotten all the males in Baz's eyrie worked up. Dealing with all that cray cray while processing budding feelings make up the bulk of the story. To keep things rolling, we get to enjoy the banter between our heroes and also meet a fun cast of secondary characters, some of whom will feature in future books of this series.
So where did it fall short for me? As much as I liked Ava, I wanted her character to be more fleshed out. We know she fled her previous life, a life where she was wealthy and was being courted by equally posh but nowhere near as nice men, all looking for a trophy wife. But we don't really see evidence of how bad it was for her; also, not once does her past pay a visit to her present, and I feel we needed that to truly buy that her past was not great. I also wanted her to have some sort of goals. Yes, she is newly on her own and there's nothing wrong with dancing in a club, but does she have outside interests? Does she have any career goals or hobbies to pass the time? Although Baz treats her with greater respect than other men she's known, and even though we're told it's not the same, it still feels like she's a bit of a trophy.
But overall, this book is a fun read, and I'll definitely read more in the series.
I received an ARC of this book for free from the author and BookSirens. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!
November 1, 2023
Freaking Amazing!
This book was so good! I couldn't stop reading this book, and honestly can't wait to read the second book. I'm starting it the second my review is finished. I had so much fun reading this book, it made me laugh, smile, gasp and get super fangirl like. It's not often that books make me want to go to the next one so quickly. I will definitely be buying this book for my library collection.
So i guess mini spoilers here.
Basically for anyone who is curious about if this book is worth it to you, it's about a girl named Ava who moved to Seattle from a tiny village that isn't really aware about shape shifters and the history of how they were created. Her only goal was to leave home and avoid becoming a trophy wife for her family.
Once in Seattle, she begins to learn some things about herself that she wasn't aware of before. Meeting Baz in the process.
Baz is a dragon king, or more like a dragon Mafia in my opinion. But without the drugs. Unwilling to believe in a rumor spreading around the city about his kind, his only job was to protect his sister and Seattle from rogue dragons who want his home.
Both are forced together by the will of fate, even as they actively avoid it. Or one does. Both learning just how quickly the bonds of nature have set out for them.
This is a very fast paced romance. The characters fall in love within about a week, maybe less. But with how they play the personalities and plot, it fits into the story. The only reason I didn't give this book a 5/5 ⭐ rating is mainly the beginning of the book, where they start it with Baz protecting his land. Then runs into Ava in the alley ways beside her job, at a table? I'm gonna be honest, the first 1-3 chapters had me lost and begging for help. But once you get past it to where Baz walks her home, the rest of the book is amazing.
I can't wait to read Jay, I'm crossing my fingers that the next book is about him and this new girl. I didn't even read the spoiler chapter because I don't want the surprise to be ruined.
Spice lvl: 🌶️🌶️
This book was so good! I couldn't stop reading this book, and honestly can't wait to read the second book. I'm starting it the second my review is finished. I had so much fun reading this book, it made me laugh, smile, gasp and get super fangirl like. It's not often that books make me want to go to the next one so quickly. I will definitely be buying this book for my library collection.
So i guess mini spoilers here.
Basically for anyone who is curious about if this book is worth it to you, it's about a girl named Ava who moved to Seattle from a tiny village that isn't really aware about shape shifters and the history of how they were created. Her only goal was to leave home and avoid becoming a trophy wife for her family.
Once in Seattle, she begins to learn some things about herself that she wasn't aware of before. Meeting Baz in the process.
Baz is a dragon king, or more like a dragon Mafia in my opinion. But without the drugs. Unwilling to believe in a rumor spreading around the city about his kind, his only job was to protect his sister and Seattle from rogue dragons who want his home.
Both are forced together by the will of fate, even as they actively avoid it. Or one does. Both learning just how quickly the bonds of nature have set out for them.
This is a very fast paced romance. The characters fall in love within about a week, maybe less. But with how they play the personalities and plot, it fits into the story. The only reason I didn't give this book a 5/5 ⭐ rating is mainly the beginning of the book, where they start it with Baz protecting his land. Then runs into Ava in the alley ways beside her job, at a table? I'm gonna be honest, the first 1-3 chapters had me lost and begging for help. But once you get past it to where Baz walks her home, the rest of the book is amazing.
I can't wait to read Jay, I'm crossing my fingers that the next book is about him and this new girl. I didn't even read the spoiler chapter because I don't want the surprise to be ruined.
Spice lvl: 🌶️🌶️
June 6, 2022
The Most Dragony Dragons
I have to say these have to be the most dragon-y dragons I have read in a shifter book. They are territorial, more than a little aggressive, and they collect and horde random stuff. Oh and they like shiny stuff. I really liked that about this book, that it was very much the traditional dragon archetype.
Ava is our heroine and I like her a lot. She sassy, especially with Baz, but she also has some insecurities. She isn’t someone who really cares about money, but rather making a way for herself on her own. She doesn’t want to be a possession, she wants to be a partner and be able to stand on her own. I also really thought that she handled the rapidly changing scenario really well, even in moments of panic. Especially given that she had a creepy stalker who is out to take her for his own.
Baz as a dragon was likable for me. I thought it was interesting that they went the route of having a shortage of women, and Baz already has a teenage girl dragon to take care of and now he has Ava to protect as well. He takes his job seriously when it comes to being king of the dragons. I also really liked how in this books dragons don’t really have fated mates like the other shifters, so basically his feelings he is experiencing with Ava is completely unexpected, throws him off his game, and leaves him really second guessing himself internally. And can I also say we never get to a point where Baz pushes Ava away because he doesn’t like the idea of mates, I’m glad that he is kind of an alpha hole, but not Ava.
I like the suspense in the book, and the stalker storyline. I thought it carried the book well and kept the pacing really nice. I liked the way the story wrapped up and I thought the author wrote the ending really well as well. Definitely an enjoyable read for me.
I have to say these have to be the most dragon-y dragons I have read in a shifter book. They are territorial, more than a little aggressive, and they collect and horde random stuff. Oh and they like shiny stuff. I really liked that about this book, that it was very much the traditional dragon archetype.
Ava is our heroine and I like her a lot. She sassy, especially with Baz, but she also has some insecurities. She isn’t someone who really cares about money, but rather making a way for herself on her own. She doesn’t want to be a possession, she wants to be a partner and be able to stand on her own. I also really thought that she handled the rapidly changing scenario really well, even in moments of panic. Especially given that she had a creepy stalker who is out to take her for his own.
Baz as a dragon was likable for me. I thought it was interesting that they went the route of having a shortage of women, and Baz already has a teenage girl dragon to take care of and now he has Ava to protect as well. He takes his job seriously when it comes to being king of the dragons. I also really liked how in this books dragons don’t really have fated mates like the other shifters, so basically his feelings he is experiencing with Ava is completely unexpected, throws him off his game, and leaves him really second guessing himself internally. And can I also say we never get to a point where Baz pushes Ava away because he doesn’t like the idea of mates, I’m glad that he is kind of an alpha hole, but not Ava.
I like the suspense in the book, and the stalker storyline. I thought it carried the book well and kept the pacing really nice. I liked the way the story wrapped up and I thought the author wrote the ending really well as well. Definitely an enjoyable read for me.
November 19, 2023
Harlow Blaze’s Fated Mates Shifter series is the perfect series to hop into if you are looking for burly men and feisty women fully dedicated to each other through rough trials and tears. The writing style was incredibly smooth and I cannot remember a moment where I had to reread a section in order to clarify possible confusion. Which is something that I truly appreciate in a book. I really enjoyed the growth that was shown by the male protagonist.
I have read many shifter series in my time.. Yet this was the first one that really put focus on dragon hoards/treasures. It was interesting to read the author’s take on what could be considered treasure and incorporate ones that would be thought of as non-traditional.
One aspect that was lacking for me throughout the story was the absolute lack of clarity regarding the female protagonist’s backstory. It is discussed that she was from a wealthy family and there was a man involved.. Something about being treated as a trophy and not an individual.. See.. despite the fact that I just finished this book, I cannot really recall much about her backstory. I would have appreciated a bit more clarification regarding where she came from, or even having some aspect incorporated into the storyline. The issue may be that it is glossed over and mentioned several times which leads the reader to thinking that her background means more than it actually does. I found myself anticipating the antagonist to have some link to her history. It almost felt like there was a tad bit of lacking in that department.
This series was a blast to dive into and I’m looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-Persae with Reading By Flashlight Reviews
I have read many shifter series in my time.. Yet this was the first one that really put focus on dragon hoards/treasures. It was interesting to read the author’s take on what could be considered treasure and incorporate ones that would be thought of as non-traditional.
One aspect that was lacking for me throughout the story was the absolute lack of clarity regarding the female protagonist’s backstory. It is discussed that she was from a wealthy family and there was a man involved.. Something about being treated as a trophy and not an individual.. See.. despite the fact that I just finished this book, I cannot really recall much about her backstory. I would have appreciated a bit more clarification regarding where she came from, or even having some aspect incorporated into the storyline. The issue may be that it is glossed over and mentioned several times which leads the reader to thinking that her background means more than it actually does. I found myself anticipating the antagonist to have some link to her history. It almost felt like there was a tad bit of lacking in that department.
This series was a blast to dive into and I’m looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-Persae with Reading By Flashlight Reviews
March 3, 2022
Well, the author's summary pretty much says it all. Female dragons are scarce. For some reason, most of the dragons born in recent years are male. Baz is the leader of the Seattle eyrie and it just so happens that one of these scarce females is his sister, Ruby. Baz can't believe his much time he spends getting rid of male interloper into his territory who came to try to steal his baby sister. Sheesh, she isn't even out of her teens. Baz knows how they feel about though, he would like to have a female of his own, too. His right-hand man, Jay, says there are rumors that certain human women are appearing that have a mark on their chests and who can trill to the male dragons in a mating song. Baz considers these rumors to be fairy tales. At least he does until he meets Ava...
Ava was raised to be the perfect wife of a rich man, but she has no desire to be a trophy wife and now she dances at a club owned by a friend. Quite a step down, but she doesn't really care. It is the persistent stalker that is scaring her. He keeps leaving her notes. Shiver. Then she runs into Baz in the alley behind the club and everything suddenly changes. A tattoo appears on her chest and she feels like their is some kind of presence inside her. Then there is the strange noise she can suddenly make that has Baz rumbling back to her...
Won't ruin it for you. Ruby is a hoot. Can't wait to read more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava was raised to be the perfect wife of a rich man, but she has no desire to be a trophy wife and now she dances at a club owned by a friend. Quite a step down, but she doesn't really care. It is the persistent stalker that is scaring her. He keeps leaving her notes. Shiver. Then she runs into Baz in the alley behind the club and everything suddenly changes. A tattoo appears on her chest and she feels like their is some kind of presence inside her. Then there is the strange noise she can suddenly make that has Baz rumbling back to her...
Won't ruin it for you. Ruby is a hoot. Can't wait to read more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 24, 2023
This fast-burn fated mates book was a hidden gem of entertainment. It had a good love story with a touching epilogue, an intriguing and suspenseful mystery, and an array of characters that were easy to root for. The plot was completely character driven, which made for a nice and easy story to get into for a few hours without having to worry about too many details. It had just the right amount of heat and despite it being a fast-burn, it had a steady lead up to the actual spice.
Though there was a decent amount of detailed world building going on, this book definitely focused more on its characters than explaining the intricacies of the world they live in. That’s not a bad thing, and it’s safe to assume the author will dive more into the details as the interconnected series continues.
Overall, this quick and easy fated mates book was a great introduction to this series, leaving lots of room for the author to expand on the interesting world of dragons and their mates.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
This book contains mentions of dragon groups abducting women for the chance to both be intimate with and have children with them (off page), mentions of dragon men attempting to abduct a child or get close to her as she grew older (off page), mentions of parental abuse in the form of being extremely controlling (off page), stalking ranging from writing threatening letters to abduction (on page), pregnancy towards the end of the book and in the epilogue (on page), and general violence (on page).
Though there was a decent amount of detailed world building going on, this book definitely focused more on its characters than explaining the intricacies of the world they live in. That’s not a bad thing, and it’s safe to assume the author will dive more into the details as the interconnected series continues.
Overall, this quick and easy fated mates book was a great introduction to this series, leaving lots of room for the author to expand on the interesting world of dragons and their mates.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
This book contains mentions of dragon groups abducting women for the chance to both be intimate with and have children with them (off page), mentions of dragon men attempting to abduct a child or get close to her as she grew older (off page), mentions of parental abuse in the form of being extremely controlling (off page), stalking ranging from writing threatening letters to abduction (on page), pregnancy towards the end of the book and in the epilogue (on page), and general violence (on page).
February 3, 2024
This series has lot of potential and I will continue hoping it will get better.
The good
Whole storyline and the the idea behind the human women getting marks is really good and I want to read more, I wanna know more and I see such a good potential for this series to be great.
BUT
There is SO damn many mistakes, especially in plot.
So human women are getting the dragon mark what let's them to mate with dragons. Here's my issue. Ava, our h she has a stalker who knows she has dragon mark but she doesn't have the mark. It hasn't appeared. There is no indication thst she will have it. So how he knew? There is no explanation of that.
She works in a club as a exotic dancer. Let's be real, she's a stripper as she dances around the pole. But H is okay her working there before and then after he thinks she might be pregnant. What kind of a leader and alpha male is he? Or non alpha male.
And we have arrived to the H. We are told how feared, ruthless and dark he is. He's none of them whatsoever. Honestly, I feel he is not fit to rule at all. Jay seemed to be more respected and feared.
As scares the women were for the dragons, H pushing back didn't make any sense. His reasons were a weak man's thoughts. I would have bought h pushing back on their relationship development but H? Like, I wanted him as a leader to know what he wants and to try to get it.
🔸No ow/om drama
🔸 h has a stalker
🔸 True mates
🔸 Both experienced
🔸 H not a manwhore
🔸 Steam level medium
🔸 No cheating
The good
Whole storyline and the the idea behind the human women getting marks is really good and I want to read more, I wanna know more and I see such a good potential for this series to be great.
BUT
There is SO damn many mistakes, especially in plot.
So human women are getting the dragon mark what let's them to mate with dragons. Here's my issue. Ava, our h she has a stalker who knows she has dragon mark but she doesn't have the mark. It hasn't appeared. There is no indication thst she will have it. So how he knew? There is no explanation of that.
She works in a club as a exotic dancer. Let's be real, she's a stripper as she dances around the pole. But H is okay her working there before and then after he thinks she might be pregnant. What kind of a leader and alpha male is he? Or non alpha male.
And we have arrived to the H. We are told how feared, ruthless and dark he is. He's none of them whatsoever. Honestly, I feel he is not fit to rule at all. Jay seemed to be more respected and feared.
As scares the women were for the dragons, H pushing back didn't make any sense. His reasons were a weak man's thoughts. I would have bought h pushing back on their relationship development but H? Like, I wanted him as a leader to know what he wants and to try to get it.
🔸No ow/om drama
🔸 h has a stalker
🔸 True mates
🔸 Both experienced
🔸 H not a manwhore
🔸 Steam level medium
🔸 No cheating
Read
November 30, 2022I DNF-ed at 3%. It wasn't about the writing, but I just felt exhausted by the initial fated mates rules:
- There are fated mates (shifter world BUT mates can be human)
- Shifters don't really feel sexual attraction to the opposite sex if they're not the same species of shifter but there are some (male dragon) shifters (who do have fated mates out in the world somewhere) who are so sexually frustrated that they're willing to hunt down and rape a minor because she happens to be one of the few known female dragon shifters in the world
- This is giving dystopian fantasy due to the lack of female dragon shifters being born
- Nature/magic seems to be making up for the genetic issues in dragon shifters with human women being born who are able to give birth to dragon shifters (can "breed" with dragon shifters), but they still have fated mates but other male dragon shifters can/will pursue them as well
I'm confused because the lack of sexual attraction coupled with fated mates should mean that it's easier for shifters (especially men) to wait until they find their fated mates, but it's apparently not because some shifters (some male dragon shifters) can't not wait to have sex.
For the record, I appreciated how the Dragon King of Seattle was protecting his sister, her childhood, and her choice and I shared his confusion and frustration regarding grown men trying to rape and/or entrap her (via pregnancy).
- There are fated mates (shifter world BUT mates can be human)
- Shifters don't really feel sexual attraction to the opposite sex if they're not the same species of shifter but there are some (male dragon) shifters (who do have fated mates out in the world somewhere) who are so sexually frustrated that they're willing to hunt down and rape a minor because she happens to be one of the few known female dragon shifters in the world
- This is giving dystopian fantasy due to the lack of female dragon shifters being born
- Nature/magic seems to be making up for the genetic issues in dragon shifters with human women being born who are able to give birth to dragon shifters (can "breed" with dragon shifters), but they still have fated mates but other male dragon shifters can/will pursue them as well
I'm confused because the lack of sexual attraction coupled with fated mates should mean that it's easier for shifters (especially men) to wait until they find their fated mates, but it's apparently not because some shifters (some male dragon shifters) can't not wait to have sex.
For the record, I appreciated how the Dragon King of Seattle was protecting his sister, her childhood, and her choice and I shared his confusion and frustration regarding grown men trying to rape and/or entrap her (via pregnancy).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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