YA Silkpunk Sequel That Takes Us to the High Seas

 

Image copied from Goodreads

My end of June review is of a NetGalley read that wraps of this silkpunk YA fantasy duology by Amber Chen. One that weaves in steampunk elements with mythology and some early Asian Pacific history to create a truly engrossing and often heartbreaking series full of romance and longing, found family, intrigue, politics, and adventure.

I enjoyed this sequel to Of Jade and Dragons. In The Blood Phoenix, we switch from being in the skies with airships to exploring the depths of the ocean with mysterious submersibles. Unlike Of Jade and Dragons, this book is told from dual points of view as well. We not only get Ying's perspective, but we also have part of the narrative told from her sister Nian's perspective. The story opens two years after the events of the first novel, with Ying engaged to a young man on another island. But an attack on Ying's new island home send her back to Fei and back to Ye-Yang to help the High Commander figure out a way to defeat the pirates that have been causing problems for the nine isles and interfering with trade routes between them and the Jade Empire. At the same time, we learn through Nian how things have been going within Qianlei Palace with the new High Command and the remaining beiles, including Ye-Kan, the youngest beile and former guild mate of Ying's. It seems that Ye-Yang, has been training Nian in how to deal with court politics but in every other respect treats her more like a friend or a younger sister than a fiancée.

The aspects of this novel that I loved most were the steampunk elements that are further developed. Instead of focusing on airships we are at sea in this adventure. Fleets of pirate ships, along with mysterious underwater steam-powered submersibles, or what we would call submarines, are wreaking havoc on the Order of the Cobra's ships and airships, and on civilians who make their living at sea in some way from both the nine isles and the Empire. Without giving too much away, the descriptions of how these submersibles operate and how they look are amazing. The interactions with the pirates later in the story when Ying and friends set out to test their engineering inventions was also fun and engrossing. We get to see just how much broader the scope of engineering is in the wider world beyond the confines of Fei and the Engineering Guild. The new gadgets and inventions that Ying and her guild friends are exposed to are truly incredible. Chen's imaginative worldbuilding in this respect is first rate all the way. I also enjoyed the story that develops between Nian, Ye-Kan, and with the court politics the two have to navigate. I loved the character development of Nian. She is very different from Ying in many ways, but she is no less intelligent and brave. Getting to see new facets of an older and more mature Ye-Kan through Nian's eyes was also very entertaining. All of these aspects added dimension and drama to this world and to this sequel.

This novel was very different in terms of the overall story arc from the first one. Of Jade and Dragons is very much a coming-of-age story. But The Blood Phoenix explores a different theme, one of war, politics, and the complexities that come with both. It also delves into the consequences of realized ambitions whether they be for power, revenge or both. It does not shy away from the darker aspects of the guilt and uncertainties that Ying and Ye-Yang have been left with after making the choices they do in the first novel. All of the characters in The Blood Phoenix, even some of the secondary ones, are faced with challenges that are much less black and white than what they seemed in the first book. It is much harder for them to distinguish between who is good and who is evil. Though some characters remain team bad, the other characters that we assume are adversaries at the start of the story are much more complicated and more morally gray that we are at first, led to believe. This makes the twists and turns of the novel much harder to anticipate in terms of outcomes making the tension and stakes much higher. That being said, I did think that the pacing was a bit slower than the first book. However, with all of the threads of intrigue woven into this plot, I did not mind the slightly slower pace. However, unlike the first novel in this series, I gave this sequel 4 stars rather than five. My reason for doing so was the ending. I am not a fan of open-ended conclusions. Most of the the loose threads are very deftly wrapped up at the end of the story. However, while we are given slivers of hope for some characters in the resolution, their circumstances at the conclusion are still left very uncertain. I only hope that if the author writes any other stories set in this world we are given some hints about what transpired for some of these characters we are left to wonder about.

If you don't mind some story ending ambiguity and you enjoy stories with lots of fun and imaginative steampunk elements, I highly recommend this duology. I am definitely interested in reading more books by Amber Chen after finishing this series. Even though she was clear that for these characters this is the end, this world has lots of potential for series spinoffs or even another series duology with different characters set at some future date in this world.

For my first review in July I will be switching gears from YA and fantasy to adult regency romance. I will be reviewing the first in a regency rom-com series I've discovered by Beverley Watts. It came highly recommended to me by one of my sisters and I have thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in the Shackleford Sisters series. Both the cover and the blurb below for the first book were copied from Goodreads. 

In this funny romantic series, the Shackleford sisters descend on a Regency society that don’t know what’s hit them…

....Reverend Augustus Shackleford’s mission in life (aside from ensuring the collection box was suitably full every Sunday) was to secure advantageous marriages for each of his eight daughters. A tall order, given the fact that in the Reverend’s opinion they didn’t possess a single ladylike bone in the eight bodies they had between them. Quite where he would find a wealthy titled gentleman bottle headed enough to take any of them on remained a mystery and indeed was likely to test even his legendary resourcefulness.

....Grievously wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nicholas Sinclair was only recently returned to Blackmore after receiving news of his estranged father’s unexpected death. After an absence of twenty years, the new Duke was well aware it was his duty to marry and produce an heir as quickly as possible. However, tormented by recurring nightmares after his horrific experiences during the battle, Nicholas had no taste to brave the ton’s marriage mart in search of a docile obedient wife.

…..Never in his wildest dreams did Reverend Shackleford envisage receiving an offer for his eldest daughter from the newly appointed Duke of Blackmore. Of course, the Reverend was well aware he was fudging it a bit in describing Grace as respectful, meek or dutiful, nevertheless, he could never have imagined that his eldest daughter’s unruliness might end up ruining them all….

Enthralling YA Silkpunk

 

Image copied from Goodreads

So, I was excited to learn that I'd been approved to receive a free eARC for a young adult silkpunk fantasy. I'd never read a silkpunk fantasy before and the premise sounded action-packed and romantic. I didn't realize it at the time, but the eARC was actually the second book in a duology series. Not wanting to read the second and final installment without having read the first, I immediately looked up the first book at my local library, hoping they'd have a copy. To my relief they did. Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen was a fast-paced thrill ride that was reminiscent of Mulan but set in a steampunk ancient fantasy world reminiscent of ancient China. That is where the silkpunk comes into play. It is set in a time much earlier than most steampunk novels, but in spite of the society being less industrialized, there is still steam powered technology present in that world. We're talking airships, steam-powered, horseless carriages, among other devices and marvels.

The story follows main character Aihui Ying who is an unconventional daughter. One who dreams of someday being an engineer like her father. When her father is murdered, Ying decides to travel to the Engineers Guild in her homeland's capital. Disguised as her brother, she is determined to discover who killed her father and why. She also hopes to become a master engineer by winning the apprentice trials held by the Engineers Guild where her father was trained. However, Ying almost loses her life before even arriving at the capital city when she accidentally stumbles into the assassin who killed her father. Saved by a mysterious prince, Ying is amazed when Ye-Yang, the fourth in line to the Antaran throne, agrees to help her get into the guild trials by sponsoring her. She is further surprised that he is willing to do so even knowing she is a girl and not Aihui Min, the younger brother Ying is pretending to be. 

The push-pull between Ying and Ye-Yang in this novel is so romantic and tension filled. I was clutching my none existent pearls in so many of their scenes together, wondering would this be the moment they finally give in and kiss. I don't often get as swept up in the romance aspect of fantasy novels as I did when I was younger. But this one really got me in the feels. I also enjoyed the mystery of figuring out who killed Ying's father and why. There were some clues that I guessed right about early on. But I didn't see the full twist at the end coming at all, when Ying at last begins to understand the political machinations that have been in play from the beginning. It made me eager to read the next book in the series once I'd devoured this one. I think that if you are someone who enjoys a well-written young adult steampunk fantasy with complex romantic elements, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

I am halfway through the second book that I was pleased to receive as an eARC from NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group and Amber Chen. My next blog post will be a review of it shortly after its release date, which is June 17th. So far, I am loving it as much as the first book though the tone and arc for the story are much different than Of Jade and Dragons. The blurb and the cover for book two, The Blood Phoenix, are both copied from NetGalley. 

The sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, a thrilling and epic silkpunk fantasy inspired by the legendary Qing dynasty. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Xiran Jay Zhao.

Two years after Ying leaves the Engineer’s Guild and the ghost of her father’s unjust death behind, life seems to regain a semblance of normalcy. But the winds of unrest continue to stir within the Nine Isles, and the aftermath of a horrific pirate attack by the mysterious Blood Phoenix fleet forces Ying back into the tense political world of the new High Commander, Ye-yang. And soon, Ying, Ye-yang and her former friends from the guild must work together to find a way to outsmart the cunning pirates who terrorize the straits—and the elusive mastermind who’s controlling them.  

Meanwhile, Ying’s sister, Nian, now lives in the capital, awaiting the day she will finally marry the High Commander. While her relationship with Ye-yang remains distant, she finds company in her friendship with the fourteenth prince, Ye-kan, and discovers her unexpected affinity for governance and strategy. But the capital is more dangerous than she expects, and when a dark conspiracy arises, Nian and Ye-kan must unravel the mystery in time to prevent the High Command from collapsing from within. 

New dangers arise at every moment, threatening to tear the Nine Isles apart. In order to sail through this storm, Ying and her loved ones must make difficult choices amidst terrible betrayals. With the world on the brink of destruction, will they find a way to defeat their enemies and survive? And will it be worth the cost?

Beautiful MG Fantasy of Friendship, Growing Up, and Family

 

Image copied from Goodreads

So, I've been reading a lot of middle grade contemporary, and urban fantasy lately. I tend to immerse myself in whatever genre my current work-in-progress is as much as I can and this time has been no different. In keeping with the theme that has emerged for this month's reviews, in sticking with the middle grade genre of fiction, today's will be one I picked up at McKay's Books-Knoxville. One of my favorite brick-and-mortar, used bookstores and one of my absolute favorite places to go in Knoxville. A real shocker for those who know what a bookdragon I am, I know! The blurb on this lovely novel by Jodi Lynn Anderson sounded like a winner in terms of being a good one to read in the genre I'm working in right now, and I wasn't disappointed by The Memory Thief the first in Anderson's Thirteen Witches trilogy. 

This book was one I became instantly immersed in. The prologue is intriguing and heart-wrenching and leaves you wondering what will happen next. From there we switch from the perspective of main character and twelve-year-old Rosie Oakes, who lives with a mother who can barely function and doesn't seem to know who she is most days. As the cover blurb for Anderson's novel reveals, "...Rosie Oaks’s mom is missing whatever it is that makes mothers love their daughters." We're also introduced to Rosie's best friend Germ. Gotta love that nickname! The two have been inseparable since kindergarten. But lately, Germ has been pulling away and not a interested in the fairy tale-like stories Rosie loves to weave about heroines brave enough to break the evil curses placed on their loved ones. 

This conflict becomes a major theme that is explored in the story, that push-pull of early adolescence where you want to simultaneously cling to the familiar interests and beliefs of childhood while also being drawn to explore more grown-up interests. Rosie's observations of the changes in her friend magnify how growing into one's adolescent self comes hand-in-hand with developing crushes on classmates, caring about personal appearance and navigating self-expression through how we dress which also comes at the cost of our youthful confidence to some degree. No matter how Germ seems to fight it, she can't fully escape the fears and insecurities that come with caring about what others think and wanting to fit in socially. In the process, Rosie feels more and more as if she is being left behind, something that she fears due to the isolation she'd be left with because Germ is the only true friend or family Rosie feels she has. Anderson handles these themes with a deft hand while simultaneously incorporating the wonder of the strange fantasy elements in the story. 

In a fit of self-pity after Germ's less than enthusiastic response to her latest tale, Rosie decides to get rid of all her stories. In doing so, she unlocks an unknown power. A discovery that leads her to find a family journal that reveals the stories and secrets of Rosie's family legacy. It seems she is descended from a long line of witch hunters. It is through the journal that Rosie learns that one such witch has the power to steal important memories, and she's the reason Rosie's mom is the way she is. Despite the gulf that has been growing between them, Germ is loyal to Rosie throughout the upheaval that ensues from all of these discoveries. I truly loved that even though their friendship is tested, their bond stays strong and her friend is unquestioningly willing to follow Rosie on her quest to save her mom and restore her to herself. In stories of friendship like this one, it could've been all too easy to isolate Rosie even more. But while there is some uncertainty there at times, Germ never abandons her best friend. I love the importance of loyalty and friendship that is stressed through those story choices and I think its something that would deeply resonate with many pre-teen and early adolescent readers. 

All of this combined with the adventure, danger and the beautiful prose that emphasizes the power of stories, made this one of my favorite reads for 2025 so far. Anderson truly makes the reader think as Rosie ponders her own abilities and power as a storyteller with observations like this one, "I lean back and watch with awe as they lift off--hundreds of them, rising into the sky. It is a beautiful, triumphant and sad thing...It's comforting because it makes me feel like the broken things of the world have a place after all, and that they get put back together again somewhere else....Maybe stories make powerful things out of broken ones" (Anderson). I also loved quotes like this one. This really got me thinking about the power of imagination and creativity where Rosie is told, "It took a dream to make the first house. The first language" (Anderson). I could add more as there were so many wonderful observations about the power of stories throughout the book. But hopefully these will be enough to wet your appetite for more and want to read this novel for yourself. I am looking forward to reading the other two novels in this trilogy and to root Rosie and her best friend Germ on to stop the thirteen witches from spreading their darkness and mayhem over this beautiful fantasy world. If you click on the book's title, it will take you to bookshop.org to purchase your own copy for those interested. You can also choose an independent bookstore to support in your area with your purchase. 

I am not sure what reviews will be in store for next month. I have several to choose from. I also hope to have some links and announcements to reveal by the end of June for an author website and newsletter. So, stay tuned! Last, but certainly not least, I am beyond excited to announce that my mystery Intuition of Evil is under contract with Rowan Prose Publishing. It will be out as both an ebook and trade paperback novel in April of 2027. But in the meantime, I will have a cover reveal to show everyone this coming June 25th. Here is a little teaser for that below.

I truly can't wait for you to meet my character Emily Monroe and follow her in her adventures!

Heartbreaking and Important Historical Fiction

Image copied from Goodreads

So, I know I mentioned several genres for my review today and this book is none of those. But it is a very appropriate one to recommend, I think, for Mother's Day. All He Knew by Helen Frost follows the journey of Henry a boy who is struck deaf by illness at a very young age. As he approaches school age, his parents seek outside help for his education as the small town they live in cannot offer him the services he needs to learn to read and write in the local public school system. In the 1930s and 1940s when the story takes place, this was all too common. His mother takes Henry to a school for the deaf where they insist on testing him to see if he is teachable or not before admitting him. Something that seems counterproductive nowadays, but again something that was likely all too common then. Not understanding the test, Henry fails it and his parents are told he is unteachable and the best thing they can do for him is to institutionalize him at Riverview, a home for the feeble-minded. 

I knew going in from reading the blurb that this book would be a challenging read. Not because it is a particularly long book. It's not. It is a novel-in-verse, utilizing mostly free-verse forms of poetry and it is geared toward middle school aged or middle grade aged readers, those between 8-12 years old. For those reasons, it is not hard to follow or understand for an adult reader at all. The challenge comes in reading about a boy, who today would be seen as just as capable mentally as any other child, being treated as less than because his family is poor and he cannot hear. It is hard to face that only a couple of generations ago that this was all too common an occurrence. That parents like Henry's were told to put them in an institution where they were often neglected, abused and where they were not given a basic education of any kind. That is hard to face as a contemporary reader. It is hard to face because it seems there are some people today who still believe this is the best option for those with disabilities. It is a mistake of the past that we seem in danger of repeating. But in reading books like this one, young people are offered an important glimpse of what people like Henry are capable of and can see how resilience and determination can help them overcome their own seemingly insurmountable challenges. 

In the story, a conscientious objector (CO) during World War II by the name of Victor helps Henry and helps others see that he is not in fact unteachable at all. The ending offers readers hope that others like him were able to experience positive changes after the war. The author's note informs us that the person who inspired her to write this novel did not in fact, escape his circumstances. But that is not Henry's story and in passing on this recommendation for this beautifully written novel, I hope that it does not ever have to be the story of anyone with a disability, whether it be physical or mental, ever again. If you love historical fiction with a powerful and ultimately uplifting message, I urge you to read this book by Helen Frost and to pass it on to young readers as well. I also wish all who are mothers and all who mother, a beautiful, safe, and very happy Mother's Day!

 

Cozy Fantasy Meets British Bakeoff

Image copied from Bookshop.org

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is a delightful cozy fantasy! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I think the premise was perfect for this genre. If you like lighthearted fantasy and are familiar with the Great British Baking Show you will likely love this book. Arleta Starstone is a master baker living in a sleepy shire. Her only stumbling block for achieving her dreams of opening her own bakery someday is that she is a magicless human trying to make her way in a world full of magical beings. When her next-door neighbor secretly enters her in the kingdom's Baking Battle, Arleta is shocked to learn she's been issued an invitation to compete. But she is equally certain she'll be disqualified when the judges learn she is a magicless human.

The premise of a baking competition for much of the story, lends a familiarity to this fantastical setting where the other competitors are elves, dwarves and halflings, making this a perfect fit for a cozy fantasy. The stakes are still high for Arleta to succeed in order to fulfill her greatest dream. But during the baking scenes, hearing how she feels most at home while mixing up delicious pastries, cakes or cookies is relatable for anyone who either loves baking or loves watching baking on TV (which is totally me). I also loved the friends Arleta makes along the way and her love interest in the story, Theo. The worldbuilding is fun as well. Instead of baking in a tent, they are baking in a castle in a city of elves. I don't want to give too much away, but I truly loved all the fantastical beings depicted in the story and suspect there will be more books in the series from these secondary characters' point of view.

Some may be a bit turned off by Theo's instant enamorment of Arleta. But this is believably explained later in the book, in my opinion. Often in this trope one character already has a crush on the other for some reason. So, I wasn't surprised by this for Fellowship. I did get a little frustrated with Arleta towards the end of the story at her stubborn inability to accept Theo's affections, even when he continues to help her after the Baking Battle. But other than that, I found this novel to be as strong in its writing and characterization as "The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst or T. Kingfisher's "A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking." I look forward to reading more books by J. Penner set in Adenashire. She is one of my new favorite cozy fantasy authors.

As for my next review, stay tuned. I have several books I'm considering for May. But I have not settled on exactly which one will be next. So, my May 11th review will be a surprise. It will likely be a romance, or a YA fantasy, or an urban fantasy. It could also be a middle grade contemporary fantasy that I read recently that just had some incredibly beautiful prose and explored some important themes about the power of the written word and imagination. That one might be a definite review for next month. So, if you love any of those genres of fiction, one or all of them may be in my review line up for May and June. 
 

Unique Cinderella Retelling

 

Image copied from bookshop.org

A Reluctant Assassin by J.C. Morrows follows an unique premise in terms of this Cinderella retelling. As the logline implies the story revolves around the idea of what would happen if Cinderalla was sent to the ball to kill the prince. That and the cover alone had me intrigued enough to turn the page. Overall, I enjoyed the results but there were some things I think could have made this stand out as a fairy tale retelling even more.

So, what did I like about this book. First, it begins with an ominous setting where Kayden is chosen from among several young women for the mission the extremely dangerous and mercurial head of the Order of the Moonstone wants to set in motion. There is tension and mystery embedded in this opening scene that did make me want to keep reading. From there the story begins with a ball and we get duel points of view from here between the prince Dvarius and Kayden our would be Cinderella. Morrows stays true to the original Cinderella scenario here by making Kayden a mysterious contender for the prince's attention. She is posing as a noblewoman to seemingly have the opportunity to be selected as the next princess for the kingdom and eventually the queen. The characteristics that Morrows gives her character makes it easy to see why she stands out from this crowd of beautiful women and captivates Prince Dvarius. Only we as readers know that her mission is more nefarious than anyone realizes. Another thing I appreciated at the start of the book was the way that Morrows conveys that this is not some high fantasy setting but instead is a dystopian kingdom several hundred years after a devastating world war. She does this by having Kayden study a series of paintings that depict different points in history. This was a clever way of giving us information without bogging us down in exposition. I also was surprised by this. I was not expecting the kingdom of Aurelius to be the remnants of what used to be our world. Other positives about this novel were how the Christian tones of the story play out through Dvarius in a realistic way without being preachy or overwhelming the overall plot. That isn't always an easy thing for a Christian writer to do. The hints we get of Kayden's training as she navigates the palace early on were also fun to read about in terms of her character development. 

That brings me to some things I would have loved to see more of in the novel. While the bits of backstory concerning Kayden's training for her mission are well-balanced in that they don't bog us down in flashback sequences, I would have loved to have seen some of this in an opening chapter before she gets to the palace in real time rather than getting hints about it. This is of course a deliberate choice of the author. But I love a good training and spy montage. That's a personal preference on my part. However, the backstory for Kayden also could have been developed a bit more. Early in the story a certain phrase is given true weight and significance on the page, hinting at a traumatic past of some sort for Kayden. But we never get a full view of what this phrase brings to the fore for her. We only are told that it is a trigger of some kind. As a writer, if you are going to give something like that significance early on, I feel it needs to have some kind of pay off for the reader at some point in the book, even if it comes at the very end. I did not feel that was the case in this instance. Instead, it is noted by the characters, the phrase is then avoided and it sinks into insignificance from there. The other thing I think was a missed opportunity for the story was fully utilizing Kayden's talents throughout the story. We start off strong at the beginning, but from one tense moment on, her skills become buried under all the will they won't they push and pull of the romance. If she is as intent on completing her mission as we are led to believe, if the stakes are really that high for her if she fails, I would have liked to have seen this play out more by her doing more assassin, spy-like stuff like mapping out the castle and any secret passages it might have, sending and receiving more coded messages, getting to know the other women competing with her for the prince's attention. Could one of them be another plant from the order? How are they monitoring how Kayden is doing? This would have kept the stakes higher and the tension much tighter, in my opinion, as Kayden fights her growing attraction for Dvarius. While some of this is touched on, I didn't feel it was given as much prominence to the plot and character as it could have been.

That being said, the ending had me wanting to read more in the series to find out what will happen next and how the two main characters might eventually secure a happily-ever-after together. Based on the ratings I've seen of the other books in the series, they seem to just get better from here. If you'd like to pick up a copy to check this one out for yourself, you can click on the title link to be taken to bookshop.org. You may also find copies wherever books are sold.

In a couple of weeks, I'm thrilled to be able to review another cozy fantasy, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic  by J. Penner that I was gifted an ARC of from NetGalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest opinion. It was originally an indie published novel, but has been picked up by Sourcebooks and is set to have a custom print edition published April 15 wherever books are sold. I plan to get a print copy when it comes out. Below is a blurb and the cover of the novel both copied from bookshop.org.

Image copied from bookshop.org

She doesn't need to have magic in order to be magic...

In the heart of Adenashire, where elvish enchantments and dwarven delights rule, human baker Arleta Starstone works twice as hard at perfecting her unique blend of baking with apothecary herbs. So, when her orc neighbor (and biggest fan) secretly enters her creations into the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle, Arleta faces a dilemma. Being magicless, her participation in the competition could draw more scowls than smiles. And if Arleta wants to prove her talent and establish her culinary reputation, she'll need more than just her pastry craft to sweeten the odds.

Though Arleta may not yet believe in herself, she makes her way to Langheim--with the help of a very attractive woodland elf--and competes. While on a journey of mouthwatering pastries, self-discovery, heartwarming friendships, and potential romance, Arleta will have to decide whether winning the Baking Battle is the true prize after all. But win or lose, her adventure is only beginning...

Light Adventure Romantasy

Image copied from Bookshop.org

Fate of Dragons by Alisha Klapheke is the first in a four book series that also includes a novella. It's a romantasy adventure with dragons and elves and a chosen one trope. It is also a quick read for those who like shorter fantasies. It is marketed toward young adults, but I think it would fit squarely in the new adult category as the main character is in her early twenties when the series begins. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I'm glad I bought the omnibus set that includes all four novels and the novella. So, here is a review of what I loved and what I would have loved more of.

First, the worldbuilding for this novel is great. We open with Vahly scaling a cliff to gather a healing plant for one of the dragon kynd she lives with. All of the land dwelling beings left in the world seem to inhabit a single island and the sea folk are set on destroying it. The castle and caverns of the Lapis clan of dragon, who took Vahly in as a baby, is intriguing and well drawn. I don't think I've read a fantasy recently that depicted dragons as having a many leveled castle/cavern dwelling or a set hierarchy like the one in this book do. Most of the dragon books I've read have had the beings living in dwellings looking fully human and only dragoning out when they want to fly. Or the converse of that is dragons only as dragons and living in caves in the mountains or acting as flying steeds for humans. But Klapheke depicts them as a intelligent creatures who can shift to look more human, but still retain their dragon scales and qualities. They have a complex society with a matriarch as their head and distinct clans between the Lapis, the more scholarly clan, and the Jades, the more war-like clan of dragons. There are also a group of dragons that are referred to as oath breakers because they aren't attached to either clan. These rebel dragons are actually some of Vahly's closest friends because like her, they don't seem to quite fit in with the rest of society as they should. 

In addition to the worldbuilding and clan development for the dragons, I also found Vahly's characterization to be relatable and sympathetic. Vahly lives among the dragons because the matriarch of the Lapis dragon clan saved her right before the last human settlement on the island was flooded by the sea witch and her army. Amona, the Lapis matriarch, believes that a special mark that Vahly bears means that she is destined to be the last Earth Queen and will be the one who will stop the sea witch from flooding their island home and save the dragons and elves that remain. This belief sets up the source of conflict in the novel very well as Vahly has no magical powers whatsoever. Worse, she has no idea why or if there is a way to awaken any she might have lying dormant inside because there were no human records saved before the sea witch killed the last of the humans off. But the waters keep rising to ever more dangerous levels and time is of the essence for all land dwelling beings if they want to stop their home from being destroyed. One of Vahly's best friends of the oath breaker dragons, Nix has told Vahly that the Lapis clan might not have any human records in their library but they do have some recorded by the elves, a group the dragons dislike for some reason. This knowledge is what sets Vahly off on her quest to not only discover if any elves still exist in the Forest of Illumahrah, but also to see if they know of any human rituals that might help Vahly awaken her powers.Vahly feels her failure to be the savior everyone was counting on keenly. We also get a sense of the deep loneliness she feels as the last human growing up amongst dragons. As she interacts with them in the story, we learn that she is not widely accepted nor can she take it for granted that she will always be safe if she crosses a line with one of the dragons in her clan. Vahly has been raised to be all to aware of the fact that without Amona's protection she could easily become roasted meat for the other dragons who see her as a puny nuisance rather than the answer to their troubles. The interactions and Vahly's place in this world were different and very realistic in this way.

There were some things that I would have loved to see more in this novel, though. For one thing, I would have liked to have spent more time with Vahly in the realm of dragons, especially to see her interact with the ones she sees as friends. We do get to see her interact with Nix, a dragon cider house owner. We get to meet and have some limited interaction with some of the other oath breaker dragons. But I didn't feel we got nearly enough time with them or got to learn enough about them as characters to truly be able to connect with them. For this reason, when events unfold later in the story those events don't have quite the impact I think they could have if we'd spent more time with some of the secondary characters who aid her on her quest. I felt the same about the love interest in the story with the elf Arcturus that Vahly saves. In the blurb for the book, it hints that Arc might have some dark secrets of his own. But I didn't feel this conflict with him was as fully realized as it could be and I felt that the connection between him and Vahly was a bit rushed. I would have liked for them to have spent more time adventuring and getting to know one another in order for us in turn, to get to know Arc more to be able to connect with him fully.

All that being said, I do think Fate of Dragons is a fun read and I do plan to read the rest of the books in this series. As I mentioned earlier, the series is complete and there is even an omnibus available where you could purchase all the books in one. By clicking on the title link you can get your own copy of this novel on bookshop.org. Or if you'd like to check out what other books Alisha Klapheke has for sale, feel free to visit her website at alishaklapheke.com.

Next month I will be reviewing fun, fairy tale inspired adult fantasy A Reluctant Assassin by J.C. Morrows. It is a tale inspired by Cinderella, but what if Cinderella went to the ball not to meet the prince but to assassinate him. Check out the book cover and blurb below, both copied from bookshop.org.

Kayden never thought of herself as the Belle of the ball, much less that she would be unexpectedly thrust into the royal palace, surrounded by society darlings - all vying for the Prince's attention. But Kayden's intentions are far from innocent, as she has a mission to complete - to get close to the Prince... and kill him.

As she enters the palace under a false identity, Kayden must navigate the treacherous world of royalty and high society, all while hiding her true intentions. She may appear to be just another princess, but beneath the façade lies a cold-blooded killer waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Prince Dvarius is not prepared to take the crown just yet. He never wanted to rule, but due to his father's sudden death and an ancient law, he must find a bride before he can take his rightful place on the throne. And the one woman who catches his eye just might be the very same one who is plotting to end his life.

As Kayden and Dvarius' paths intersect, the tension between them grows, and they must navigate their conflicting desires and the deadly secrets they hold. Will Kayden carry out her mission, or will she succumb to the allure of the Prince? And will Dvarius be able to uncover the truth before it's too late?

For fans of The Selection and Throne of Glass this thrilling tale of love, betrayal, and royal intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Buy now and discover the dangerous world of A Reluctant Assassin in this unique Cinderella retelling.