The royal castle in Jade City feels a long way from Cinder Village – which is a hint of a Cinderella tale, as a hard-working, in this case, a much-loved young woman is required to join the hunt for a royal bride. THE LAST DRAGON KING needs an heir.
The Dragon King is a shapeshifter, and most folks have some degree of magic blood, whether dragon or elven. But the Cinder folks don’t have much to start with, and they’re not wealthy, just miners. However, the May Day celebrations are interrupted by the army in search of all the young women in the area. If any carry enough magic to produce an heir, they will be taken to Jade City. Arwen, a skilled huntress, only now learns from her frightened mother that she’s not who she thinks she is, and the seekers might find a sniff of magic.
Arwen and Drae, the king, are not going to have an easy time in this romance. Regina, the leader of the Royal Guard, is one of the strongest characters. Drae trusts this brave woman and she’s Arwen’s heroine. Even Regina can’t forestall plots, treachery and invasion. Zaphira, queen of Nightfall, has forsworn magic and wants to replace it with machinery. She’s not particular about who she kills. Throughout this tale, we see a few other kings – an Elven king particularly – whose aid will be needed by Drae as the series continues.
I especially enjoyed the shapeshifting to dragon form and the contrasts between Arwen’s proudly humble home and her new, perhaps temporary, fine rooms in the castle. Many sensuous details combine to build a good setting. Danger lurks and sometimes strikes with no warning. I’m looking forward to the rest of the Kings of Avalier series by Leia Stone. THE LAST DRAGON KING is suitable for mature young adults, especially girls, and adult fantasy lovers.
Woven with undeniable love and heartbreaking battles, The Last Dragon King is the first in USA Today bestselling author Leia Stone's Kings of Avalier series, an epic YA fantasy romance perfect for fans of Holly Black and Fourth Wing.
Eighteen-year-old Arwen Novakson has magic, but just barely. So, when the Dragon King announces his search for a wife, Arwen knows she won't be in the running, as the king needs someone who has enough dragon magic to produce a strong heir. But, much to her shock, when the magic sniffers visit her small village, they command her to present herself at the king's castle as a possible wife.
This should be a dream-come-true opportunity for Arwen, but before going, she learns a terrifying secret about the strength of her magic, and if the king ever discovered the truth, he would have every reason to kill Arwen himself. Protecting herself becomes more and more challenging as her magic and her feelings for the king grow. Especially as she must watch him court other women.
Arwen can't help but fall for the charming, empathetic Dragon King, but she knows being together would put everyone in danger—herself, the king, anyone with dragon magic. With a magical war brewing, Arwen must decide how much she is willing to risk and how much she is willing to sacrifice for love.
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