Dances of Deception

The Dragon Songs Saga #3

by J.C. Kang

The world knows Kaiya as the Dragon Charmer.

After vanquishing the Last Dragon with the power of her voice, all she wants is to return to a quiet life of anonymity. Instead, the Emperor tasks her with an onerous task: negotiating with the aggressive Teleri Empire for the extradition of her cousin, who tried to murder the imperial family and usurp the Dragon Throne.

The mission reunites her with her childhood friend Tian, now an assassin-spy who loathes killing. He is no longer the adorable, gullible boy from her memories, any more than she is the adventurous, sweet girl from his. Instead of rekindling nostalgia for a youthful innocence they both yearn for, their reunion ignites a mutual hatred.

When the Teleri Empire breaks off negotiations, Tian must help Kaiya escape. Orcs, Ogres, and enemy soldiers stand between them and home, and their volatile relationship could get them captured… or killed.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dragons, Magic, Fiction, Mythology, Young Adult

550 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

JC Kang's unhealthy obsession with Fantasy and Sci-Fi began at an early age when his brother introduced him to The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, and Star Wars. As an adult, he combines his geek roots with his professional experiences as a Chinese Medicine doctor, martial arts instructor, and technical writer to pen epic fantasy stories.

To learn more about what goes on in his twisted mind, follow his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/LegendsOfTiv...

If you've read and enjoyed his works, keep up with his updates on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/37897...

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can anyone be trusted or will Kaiya need to rely on her inner growth to protect herself and those she loves? Will this be the end of her innocence about the realities of the world around her? She may be able to sing a dragon to sleep, but she is ill-prepared for what atrocities await her. DANCES OF DECEPTION by J.C. Kang takes us deeper into Kaiya’s troubled world where monsters lie in wait, and their viciousness and depravities know no bounds.

Princess Kaiya will be reunited with Tian as she is sent on a mission of peace with the warmongering Teleri Empire. The Tian she knew is gone, in his place is a man of powerful convictions and steely determination, an assassin without the heart to kill, a spy who misses nothing. The friendship they shared as children is sorely tested as the brutality of the world Kaiya is plunged into is as far from her comfort zone and delicate upbringing as could be imagined. Like a Phoenix, Kaiya will rise a sadder, but wiser young woman, who will give her life to keep her world safe. What she will endure will be far more heartrending than she could have ever dreamed of in her darkest nightmares and it is far too real to be prepared for. Heroes will die, new ones will emerge and the world will be forever changed as a long lost love is rekindled from the despair all around. Sometimes the sacrifices made never end, but they will always leave scars.

J.C. Kang’s world comes alive once again with scenes that jump off the pages and become real. Brilliant dialogue runs throughout as if this talented author lived each page himself. The feel of “otherness” still saturates each page as we traverse a world of both magnificence and malevolence.

Each addition to this epic series has built on its predecessor and only increases the magnetic pull for readers. I was moved to tears at one point, raging anger and sat in awe of the strength of these characters against all odds. Another hidden gem for me and I loved it!

I received this copy from J.C. Kang in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Series: The Dragon Songs Saga - Book 3
Publication Date: March 3, 2017
Publisher: J.C. Kang
Genre: Asian Epic Fantasy
Print Length: 726 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Aneta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entire series currently for 99c here:
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Songs-S...

***

"Hold the dragonfly with care," eight-year-old Princess Kaiya’s voice chimed in his head, quoting an old Hua proverb. "For even their fleeting lives have value."

Strong 4 stars.

This is a very good book. I've decided to read it as a standalone, as an experiment, and despite never having read the first 2 books in the series I never felt lost.


PROS:
+ well-written and well-structured, it's a big book (700+ pages) but it wasn't artificially bloated - everything felt like it was there for a reason
+ can successfully be read as a standalone (there is a cliffhanger of sorts and a set-up for the future installment but there is a resolution for the main story)
+ interesting non-Western setting
+ Kaiya is a well-written female character who feels realistic rather than a caricature: she is allowed to be feminine and strong at the same time, have positive relationships with other women, she also deals with menstruation and cramps on page
+ Tian's storyline especially was very-well structured, with the dragonfly parallels and the ending being neatly linked to the beginning
+ great romantic subplot, with a well-executed build-up which sets it apart from the instalove that happens so often in stories


CONS:
- the main storyline is enjoyable though not particularly memorable
- did not enjoy the villains in it, or their motivations (I am so very done with violence against women as a plot point, though to be fair it wasn't executed badly here)
- I didn't much care for Jie's story/chapters and just plain disliked Geros'
- thought I enjoyed Kaiya and Tian's story and characters a great deal, side characters weren't really developed
- a brief phase with a love triangle

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes words like “epic”, “imaginative” and “powerful” are bandied around too frequently. Other times, if anything, they’re an understatement. JC Kang’s The Dragon Songs Saga is an example of the latter. These books are ridiculously imaginative in the world-building and character-building by the author. Totally different (though I think I can see the Japanese heritage with its geisha, samurai, ninja assassins and cultural structure generally) but absolutely genuine from the biggest details to the tiniest. Add that to individual book plots and an overarching story arc that, well, that frankly blows my mind and makes epic an understatement. I had intended to read these books over the course of a week or so but they were so good, so addictive, that I ended up binge-reading them through the night. Not good physically (and I’m in a hospital right now and the nurses and physical therapists were very much not happy with me), but the enjoyment was soooo worthwhile to the spirit. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. This series definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the series is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend each of the books in it.

[TC Marques · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book in the dragon song saga. Loved it so much! I couldn’t put it down! What a great balance and what a great adventure.

[Jennifer (bunnyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to J.C. Kang once again for the ecopy!

Kaiya’s mission to negotiate her cousin’s extradition from the Teleri empire becomes more dangerous when the first Consul’s plans to destabilize the Nothori kingdoms, involves keeping Kaiya as hostage.

With the fragile truce falling apart, Tian, Kaiya’s childhood friend and spy, is tasked with getting her out of the country to safety.

**

Dances of Deception, the third book in this series, takes quite a turn from the gorgeous serene palace setting of the first two stories- the fanfare of the princess arrival in the Empire, with her palanquin, horses, foot soldiers and drummers- is probably the closest to that lavishness of palace life as we get in this book.

Not to say the palace was any less dangerous than the situations Kaiya finds herself in now, because Kaiya’s fortitude is severely tested in all areas of her being- mentally, physically, and spiritually, in this story.


*

I’m keeping this review a little vague; it’s hard to talk about a series and character growth without revealing things that made that happen.


I am team Kaiya all the way, and I hated everything she had to go through in this but I am proud of her for keeping her head on her shoulders and being strong, smart, and capable. I hope she can come through this ordeal while still being that caring person underneath and keeping those lessons close.
I hope Kaiya gets her happy ending because I’ll have to send letters if she doesn’t.


Tian’s long-awaited reunion with his childhood friend, Kaiya, might come as a shock to him with how much the last few years escapades, have taken that young naive girl and changed her into a strong capable woman. But first he has to open his eyes and quit only seeing what expects to see from her. And what he sees is a spoiled princess.

I liked Tian a lot when he was introduced way back in Songs of Insurrection. He was a favourite and I was glad of his reappearance in the series- especially since I had him pegged as first lead because of his love for Kaiya, and I hate being wrong. He peeved me off more than once this time around though, with his judgy attitude towards Kaiya, almost making me decide he wasn’t worth it. (No matter how much I like being right and that he looks a lot like Yang Yang from You Are My Glory on the book cover).

Tian was one of those characters that captivated me from the beginning because a mistake when he was younger had him banished from Cathay; changing his life’s path from prince to spy and assassin. I figured he was going to end up a main player at some point and I was curious to see how that would come about. I want to talk about him more but there’s some hefty spoilers that I am trying to avoid.


Jie, is another character I’ve loved a lot in previous books (and still do). She doesn’t get as much screen time but what she does have- is fun. I got a kick out her and Tian ribbing one another with chess moves. I do hope she can put aside her hurt feelings and be there for Kaiya because Kaiya is going to need some friends.

*

The story had so many memorable and stress inducing moments. Also, some crazy gorgeous fight scenes.

The scenes where the Imperial Guards are protecting Kaiya on the battleground are awesome- I used part of one in the quote (if you’re reading this on the blog).

I loved all the scenes where Kaiya’s gift of music was used in battle- incredibly tense, especially the drums use in one of the later scenes.

Also, the fight scene between her and Geros where she incapacitates him in each step of her warrior/dance. Beautiful scene and cool as hell!


*

So, it did take me awhile to settle into this one and get the surrounding players set in my head, the cast is large in these books, and it’s been a long time since I read Orchestra of Treacheries, but it evened out for me as the characters fell-away to our main players. I was able to roll with it without too much trouble up until that point.


Dances of Deception is also wider in the political maneuvering scale than the last book- which was rather singular focused by comparison- as a lot of the background politicking that we were getting in bits and pieces before, has moved into the foreground for this story.

I did enjoy the last book more just because I prefer a little narrower focussed story and this was so full. But this is a solid entry into the series and like the previous stories- it’s filled with cool magic, tense battles, and fun stuff like that. The losses are closer to home this time around too, as betrayals abound, long-time companions are lost, and friendships are tested. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series finishes.


Also. I’d like to close this by saying- Dear author, how could you end it like that?

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my most favourite book so far in this great epic fantasy series as we travel away from Kaiya's homeland across the sea into the north of Tevara to embark on some of the most gruelling experiences of Kaiya's life. The girl who had been so protected throughout her life in Cathay, as a princes of the realm deserved to be, is through the experiences and challenges which she faces, seen to mature into a beautiful and caring woman who takes on such unexpected roles and faces with courage the demands placed on her in the most horrific of situations. She has to learn how to cope with so much adversity, loss and pain and we see her change and even break down losing her cool exterior, showing emotions which would have been unacceptable back in Cathay. Her friend Tian is back in her life and they are tested to their limits in this amazing book which very often left me so scared for their lives, as they face such brutality at the hands of their enemies, however, they also come across new people who befriend them and who they learn to love and appreciate as family. There is so much going on in this book and it is such a page turner that it very often kept me up reading through the night and with such a dramatic ending it left me dying to read book 4 and see the end to this most awesome quartet. I really appreciate that J. C. Kang wrote and presented to us his readers the whole quartet at once rather than publishing a book at a time as it made the reading of the series much more powerful and no waiting, so a big well done to this amazing author who I am sure we are to see much more great works of his in the future!

[Shari Sakurai · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*

When Princess Kaiya is tasked with negotiating her treacherous cousin’s extradition, she finds her own life and freedom in danger at the hands of the Teleri Empire. Her reunion with her childhood friend Tian is cast into shadow by this new threat and that they are both not the same as they recall from their youth. Will Kaiya and Tian be able to mend their relationship and will Tian be able to keep the Princess safe from their enemies.

I really enjoyed the third instalment of The Dragon Songs saga. Plunged into a completely different world, Kaiya is out of her comfort zone and as a result you see her grow very much as a person. As strong willed as she is, she is also vulnerable, and this novel shows all sides of her. You also get to explore Tian’s character in further detail. Torn between duty and love, he also comes into his own as he protects Kaiya and also the village that has given them sanctuary.

The world building in Dances of Deception is incredible. Everything is so richly detailed but without being confusing for the reader. A great novel should transport you into the world that you are reading about, and this saga definitely does that. As a result, I was reluctant to put it down and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

[BELLE || of the || BOOKSHELVES · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ~ can't-come-back-to-reality amazing

*full review to come*

[Shomeret]

I promised J.C. Kang that I would read True Colors of Betrayal in January when he sent me a review copy. Well, I got to it a bit early. As usual, this is an honest review.

If Kaiya had continued to progress in the direction that she was headed at the end of The Dragon Charmer she would have been an even more formidable leader at the close of True Colors of Betrayal. Unfortunately, her momentum was disrupted by trauma. This is the fate of far too many women, but it isn't a natural stage of development. Kaiya was hijacked on her life journey. She was transformed into a survivor who would never see the world in the same way again.

There was a long chase sequence in this novel that I found rather uninteresting. It has always seemed to me that all chase sequences are the same. The only way they can diverge is by mode of transportation which doesn't really provide enough variety. The plot picked up for me after Kaiya stopped fleeing though the resolution was rather bleak.

I sincerely hope that Kaiya can fully recover from her victimization. Judging from the description of the fourth novel in the series, she has a rough row to hoe.

For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...

[Chavelis Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment of this series does leave a strange taste in your mouth at the end of it. While in the first book you have the tale of a young girl finding her voice, and in the second a young woman epically disarming a dragon with a song, this third book deviates from the usual that I was accustomed to by embracing a new arch in the story. The story takes a strange turn as Kaiya faces the dangers of hostile territory and struggles with evil kings and rulers. While she handles the situation in a very Kaiya fashion, the first half of the story progresses smoothly until sh*t hits the fan. The second half takes a very odd turn I started to wonder if the book I was reading was from even the same series. Yet, it does start to clear up around the end, and the epilogue held promise for the final installment in the series. I was left in a state of disappointment in the characters, but I still have hope for them to achieve a happy ending yet in the fifth book.

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a rocky start, this is a series that found it's footing in the second novel and has proceeded to go from strength to strength. Dances of Deception is an epic tale that never loses sight of the individual and personal stories and struggles of the characters it follows. From naïve and shallow princess, Kaiya has grown into a strong, capable and fiercely independent young woman. Re-united with her childhood friend Tian, Kaiya finds herself deep in enemy territory as she tries to negotiate the extradition of a traitor on the run. But the Telari Empire have other plans and Kaiya is instrumental to them... if they can catch her and keep her.

This is a far darker edged book than the previous ones. There is more violence and less intrigue. The Telari Empire is brutal and unforgiving, relying on conquest and rape to eventually rule the world. Kaiya's diplomatic mission quickly descends into fear, escape and an arduous journey that will cost the lives of several of her men and friends. Yet alongside this darkness, you have banter, friendships, hope and love. Despite the sprawling nature of the narrative, which opens the world up further in unexpected ways, the individual character arcs are very much the focus here.

In addition to the individual character arcs, I was impressed at how well the different nations and motives were fleshed out. It's hard to humanify a nation that has gang-rape as a fundamental part of their culture and expansion mechanisms, however even this is given background and rationalisation. Not necessarily good rationalisation, but Kang captures the disgust and horror of the situation along with why the Telari's themselves see it as necessary. Unsettling, but well written.

All in all, this is one of those books that caught me and refused to let me go. The battle of wills between Tian and Kaiya throughout the novel is very well depicted, showing two old friends who have changed more than either could have imagined in the time they've been apart. The characters as a whole were excellently drawn and the world-building is second to none.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Kaiya is well out of her comfort zone in this superb continuation of the Dragon Songs Saga. Sent to a foreign land to negotiate peace with the brutal Telerei Empire, Kaiya is reunited with her childhood friend, Tian, only to discover that life has changed them both so much they quickly develop a mutual dislike.
There is more romance in this novel, less intense intrigue (though there is still plenty), more brutality, personal loss and atrocities to deal with, through which the characters grow and develop. As usual, almost every person has their own agenda, and new storylines are woven into the mix, adding yet more depth and flavour to a saga worthy of that description.
I absolutely adore this author’s sumptuous descriptions, the rich language which evokes the glorious settings, and the pomp and ceremony of the intricately crafted cultures filling this world. This series is a rare gem, not to be missed by lovers of epic and high fantasy – you will delight in both the intricacies of the story, the complex but subtle magics on display, and the awesome, Asian-based world building.
I will admit, this story didn’t go quite where I expected it to go, but that’s not a bad thing, it’s nice to be surprised once in a while. I don’t want to give any spoilers, suffice it to say I had believed the characters involved to be so steeped in their own cultural restrictions that what happened, even in the unprecedented situation they found themselves in, required quite a conscious suspension of belief. On the other hand, it sets up the next book so well I can’t wait to read it!

[Georganne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tian is now the Trade Officer at the Cathayi Embassy at Iksuvius. Jie arrives by ship to deliver a message to the Ambassador that Princess Kaiya will be arriving in a month’s time to meet with the leader of the Teleri Empire to negotiate the extradition of Peng Kai-Long. Princess Kaiya arrives, and Tian soon discovers that this is not the same girl that he knew in his childhood. Kaiya had mixed feeling about Tian. She remembered their carefree childhood and hoped that he would be able to bring some of that feeling back into her disciplined life. Kaiya is attacked at the embassy and Tian notices Jie as a young woman for the first time rather than as a co-conspirator. When Kaiya meets with the First Consul Geros, things don’t go as planned. The First Consul will track her down. Kaiya is forced to flee the city with Tian, her Imperial Guards and a few others. She is deprived of all things that she knew as a royal, clothes, bed and shelter. She has to live off the land like all other travelers on her long journey home. They are attacked by the enemy and befriended by allies. Will they ever get home? A long, eventful trip that needs to be experienced by the reader to understand duty and honor to country.

[Mathew Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to call this series an Ancient Chinese Game of Thrones. I'm not kidding, not one bit. It has everything. I mean, everything 😉. Dragons, orcs, elves are just the very tip of the iceberg. And one book of this series is equal to two seasons of GoT. (in terms of the amount of content)
• Book 1 is when the author shows you a gun. Book 2 is when you realize he has an arsenal full of weapons. Book 3 is when you open the door and sees a nuclear bomb and, from what I have read so far, Book 4 is probably going to be when the bomb explodes. Quite frankly, I'm waiting for it to explode.😁 (sorry. Definitely not sorry.)
•I really don't want to spoil this and I think I have said more than enough to get your attention. It's definitely not easy to pick a favorite character but both Tian and the Princess Kaiya has grown a lot since they were introduced and you will root for them.
•Even though this is the third book in the series, for me personally, this is where the story got interesting. And I'm literally dying to know how this ends. I always hate when a series ends, no matter how good it is. But I really want to know this one's ending

[Bess · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion, this series is getting worse and worse. It is mentally exhausting to read. Not that the writing is poorly done, but the story is too long and there are too many characters to keep track of!
I didn't like this one at all. I feel like we keep going round and round, and we never make real progress. Plus, long gone seems the HEA. I read to escape, not to read about others' hardships. It was hardship after hardship with only sprinkles of sweet & endearing moments.
Kayia finally got Tian, only to lose him.
The language in this book and book 2 was a lot harsher than that of book 1.
Disclaimer: rape, war, some gore, harems, adult language, loss, spirit guides, grief, denial, magic, Phoenixes (bonus!), just too much loss and not enough happiness. I'm much more of the "let's read a fun dark fantasy" over gloom and doom.
As of right now, I'm trying to finish a lot of different series I've started over the years. However, I will not finish this at the moment. The last book will have to really tie up a LOT of loose ends, AND if there isn't an HEA, I might throw the books out a window! We deserve that much, putting up with everything we've gone through thus far in this series.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.C. Kang brings back his amazing cast in this third installment in the Dragon Songs Saga! Kaiya must fulfill her role of ambassador, but will unexpected romance change her path? What will become of Tian and Jie?

There are tons of action scenes and twists and turns in this third book. Readers will learn a bit more about Tian and Kaiya in their youth. Kaiya must do more than she ever thought possible to survive and with the help of Tian and Jie, she just might be able to make it back to her homeland. Foreign alliances work against her, but Kaiya is never one to back down from a fight.

Kang jam-packs this book with incredible story-telling. Fans of the first two books will be delighted in the scenes contained within and will be begging for more as they turn the last page. I recommend this book--and the series--to everyone who loves dragons, and those who love science fiction, fantasy, and action as well.

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dragon Songs books just get more and more exciting! Now, in this third book in the series, we have had time to become attached to the resourceful Kaiya and the dashing Jie, and in a fresh departure, we see Kaiya on a journey of personal development that's a major challenge to both protagonist and author. They both carry it off with grace and style, and although at times it had seemed this book must be the end of the series, a surprise ending reassures us of at least the possibility of more to come.

I was about to mourn the necessity of waiting for Mr Kang to produce another book, but I see there is already one more published, and it will be wonderful if I do not melt my keyboard in my haste to acquire it.

Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy, romance or historical fiction.

[Tomas Grizzly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staying at 85% as with the previous two books.
The most-gripping part, for me, was around the 30% mark, after which the story entered a calmer period, though it was obvious it won't last long.
From the 30% mark, the book turned more into an adventure while the first two books were powered by political plots, though those plots will likely return in full swing for the final, fourth book.
There were a few things that leave a few questions in the "why did X happen (or not) this way" which, I think, may have been addressed with just a few scenes from different PoVs that'd answer those questions. Then, this book is quite long already despite the majority of it focusing on Kayia's part of the plot, so I can understand it.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no possibility, there are only definite outcomes. Death, power games, danger, suspicion, helplessness, grief are thrown in your face. And it doesn’t stop coming. Whatever respite you find is dragged out from under you and the stakes and losses just keep mounting.

It’s fast paced, riddled with seemingly inescapable situations. It’s an action packed tear jerker that has your hopes rising and then breaks it. Has you disbelieving everything even though the words are right there in front of you.

Has you choking on sobs one minute and has you jumping with joy the next before plunging you into a state of uncertainty as to what will happen next.

Full review here: https://wp.me/pcuTG7-2E

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. Complete change of pace. Kaiya got dumped into this new world while trying to free her traitorous cousin. While she grew in book 2, her growth in this one is due to being forced into a new reality. She was completely out of her comfort zone and vulnerable in a way she wasn't before. I thought she would buckle. I really didn't think she could pick herself up and adapt. She proved me so wrong and I loved it! She grew leaps and bounds. She doesn't back down. She shows her vulnerabilities and her insecurities yet continues on. We get a bit more of Tians history and upbriging. While fighting his own demons, torn between his duty and love, he comes into his own while protecting Kaiya and the village. The world building again is *chefs kiss* Love this series and I'm not ready for it to end!

[Fiona Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Princess is sent as an emissary to the Northern Conference, but of course all is not as it seems. She arrives on the Golden Phoenix to great pomp and ceremony. She is quickly swept up in the events of the Teleri’s successful take over of the Provence, the First Consul Geros has decided that the Princess should be one of his wives and give him an heir with the right to the Hua Empires Throne. The Princess escapes but leaves him alive a decision she will come to regret. Her adventures to escape and reach Hua to warn them of the coming invasion are full of hardship, death and sacrifices. Will she arrive before the Teleri and will the Emperor relieve her. Off to read the next book

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can you say repetitive?
Princess in danger.
Princess taken or almost taken.
Princess escapes (With her womanhood still intact).
Princess on the run.
Princess in danger.
Princess taken or almost taken.
Princess escapes...

You get the picture.
You know what's going to happen before it happens.
While there was lots of action, and the story was well written with developed characters.
By the third cycle of repetition, I was over it.
By the fifth cycle of repetition, I was done.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I had the privilege of reading an early version of the first book that Dr. Kang sent me years ago. It was interesting. But wow! Dr. Kang's writing has developed awesomely! This book - the 3rd? - captivated me. And I have to say as a tribute to the one I read long ago, I found the main characters had stayed with me so were no strangers here. The main characters, the breathtaking action, the depth of "minor" characters - I look forward to reading the next. Bravo!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaiya is now known as the dragon charmer. She put down the last dragon. Kaiya just wants peace and quiet but that’s not to be. The Emperor has a big mission for her. Another great that can’t be put down.

[Risebuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. So much went on, yet so little. It's deserving of 5 stars but so much was not talked about and I didn't like that. The book could of easily had 200+ more pages had things been mentioned. Now I'm certain the last book is going to feel rushed.

[Kayci Hill · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Kaiya's power was irrelevant this book which was a little disappointing since she had come so far in book 2. But a huge charm to the series is her magical ability.

The threat of rape occurred too often for my tolerance. I read fantasy to escape the struggles of women in reality so it was rough to have SA as a reoccurrence in this book.

Other than that, I liked the story so much and loved the development of the characters and their relationships. I'm a sucker for romance.

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The expansion of the story to include the other races and empires makes for an excellent 3rd entry in the series.

[Hugs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured it! Loved it!

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never ending

As story continues it gets drawn out. A lot of repeats. That is a big turn off for me. It just doesn't flow.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*