Rating: 3 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Martus is a teenaged boy stealing to survive and feed/clothe his much younger sister, Elsaben. They live in an abandoned house on the edge of a town and one day, while at the market, Elsaben is taken by a filthy, rampaging dragon. Martus is beyond grief. His parents had died in a fire, from which he rescued baby Elsaben several years ago, and Elsaben is his only remaining family. Like his father, everyone Martus currently knows is vehemently anti-dragon, and so is he. His love for Elsaben is strong, and he vows to avenge her.
Then, she is returned. Elsban is carried by an enchanted horse that she claims Hal, the dragon, bade return her to her home. Afraid that the unquestionably scurrilous dragon will return and harm Elsaben, Martus strikes out on the horse for the return journey so that he can best the dragon and ensure Elsaben’s future safety.
Only, meeting Hal, Martus isn’t able to finish his mission. Hal is a young-looking man who seems distraught over his dragonish rampages. Like Martus, Hal’s parents both died when he was young and he has little control over his transformation. Exceeding Martus’ wildest expectations, Hal is a generous and conscientious host who even attempts to educate him and offers to help Elsaben learn magic. Martus has had little education as a result of his poverty, which means his magical skills are underdeveloped, and he’s less than able to educate Elsaben. Hal’s patience and kindness begin to change Martus’ anti-dragon ideas. After all, Hal is not bad, and he’s a dragon, so all dragons can’t be bad.
This is a really clean YA M/M fantasy. I had a few problems with the story—which may be fixed in a sequel—but I NEEDED to see Hal as a dragon after Martus had befriended him. My first preference is for a romance, and this story is not a romance. Martus repeatedly alludes to his sexual prowess, luring husbands to his bed, but the only physicality here is a single, closed-mouthed kiss at the end. That was disappointing. In many ways I was encouraged, feeling as if the story was building, only it didn’t pay-off on the promise. I wanted to see more magic on the page. More dragons. More Hal struggling to maintain his human-side. As it was, it was a neat little adventure that had dubious goals. Elsaben was home. Why strike out on a seemingly suicidal quest? I wondered.
I appreciated that Martus’ dragonphobic ideas were assuaged. I liked the setting, and I loved Martus’ love for Elsaben. I enjoyed how dedicated and doting Martus was of Elsaben, and how he became a fierce defender of Hal against men who could (and did) beat him senseless. Still, I felt the story was lacking in substance and action. The vast majority of the book was too sedate and had next-to-nil conflict, which affected the pacing of the story, for me. I am hopeful that we’ll see a sequel in which Hal will be displayed in his full dragony glory. A little bit of a romance between Hal and Martus would not go amiss. I want Martus to REALLY get to know Hal, and for their connection to be solid, even if there is no sex on the page. And more magic is a must.
A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for Genre Challenge Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win this week’s fabulous prize of all 12 books released in September, plus an audiobook, from Less Than Three Press, as well as our amazing grand prize sponsored by Riptide Publishing. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Genre Challenge Week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
Thanks for the review! The cover of this book has always intrigued me, but after reading your issues with it, I know I would have the same ones. I will put this in the “maybe” list pending a sequel.
I can only hope we’ll get a second chance with this fun and interesting world…
This is a possibility for me when I need less angst…I feel like I need more dragons in my books!
Needing a dragon was why I chose this one!
I want to start with saying: The cover is beautiful, and one I remember from web browsing a few months (?) back. And I definitely don’t mind YA, some of my favorite books are YA with LGBTQ themes. But when you say no romance, well then it’s not for me. As for the clean part, I can take that as long as theirs tension and attraction, but from your description it doesn’t sound as if there’s enough of that, and put together with this book being a genre I don’t take to easily I probably let it pass. Unless it’s sequel, if there will be one, changes the premise drawn here. Thanks for a great review!
My pleasure! I hope there’s a stronger romantic arc if a sequel comes out, as well. Any more dragon-time would also be welcome!
I’ll admit that the dragon aspect of this story interests me; however, from your review, it sounds as though that’s a bit lacking. I’m not averse to reading young adult novels, but since this isn’t too compelling, I’ll be passing. Thanks for your review.
I totally understand!
Great review, Veronica! I must recognise I love dragons, so this story seemed quite appealing to me, but the way you describe it there is little romance in it, and I need a bit of romance and physicality to keep me satisfied… Anyhow, it sounds like a cute story, and I’ll keep it in mind in case I’m in the mood for something not that intense.
Thank you for your review!
It was sweet with the brother-sister us against the world dynamic, but I, too, wanted more!
I’m going to give this one a pass. I’m not a huge fan of YA anyway. If there were more dragon or more magic, or more romance then I would give it a maybe. Thanks for your review!
I can relate. Fantasy is not my usual, so I stretched, and perhaps that’s why I was unsatisfied…
Thanks for your review! The cover of this book is beautiful. I do love dragon stories, but I would probably prefer more romance and more magic. I may give this one a try though especially if a sequel does come out.
I’m interested enough to read a sequel, if one is coming.
I’m not really looking for a “neat little adventure” right now but maybe later. I read all of the Nightrunner books and if I remember correctly there wasn’t a kiss until more than halfway through the second book. I was disappointed in that but it didn’t keep me from reading, and enjoying, them. I’ll keep this one in mind. Thanks.
Sounds good! I’m not averse to clean reads, and I like YA, but I think I needed a stronger emotional connection.
This cover has captured my eye a few times, and I like the idea of it. I read YA and adult, so I’m definitely not put off by that aspect. I have to say that having a dragon in a story, I would like a good dragon scene, otherwise what’s the point? Still, knowing what it’s like before reading it, I’m much more likely to give it a try with that mindset and hopefully enjoy it. It’s definitely still a contender for my reading time. Glad you shared it with us, Veronica!
I hope it appeals. It’s not poorly-written, I just wanted more.
A blurb makes me think of Beauty and the Beast and sounds very much like a story I would enjoy. Thanks for presenting the issues you came across in the book!
My pleasure! I hope you like it if you try it.
After reading about Kevin, the gay dragon, in Tj Klune’s epic The Lighting-Struck Heart, I might have been spoiled forever. I’m not sure anything else would compare.
I need to check that one out!
Not a fantasy fan so I’m going to skip this one. But thanks for the great review.
My pleasure!
I love the dragon aspect of this book! Dragons all day everyday over here! But I do see what you mean about the YA book being less romance focused, that can be a good thing for teen readers but a little disappointing to adult readers.
I think I was totally okay with there being a downplayed romance, but not a downplayed dragon!