Early Bird Review | A Destiny of Dragons

By Birdie

A Destiny of Dragons is the sequel to The Lightning Struck Heart.

The review may contain spoilers for book one.

Destiny of Dragons

About the Book: Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice Sam of Wilds got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Justin they will be best friends forever.

Life is good.

Until it’s not.

Because Vadoma, the leader of the Gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side.

And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv.

Ruv, who Vadoma says is Sam’s true cornerstone.

Tales of Verania #2
Destiny Fuck Yeah! #1
M/M Fantasy
Dreamspinner Press | June 30, 2017
amazon2 bn2

As much as I love TJ Klune’s novels, I was apprehensive when I started A Destiny of Dragons.  My feelings about Lightning Struck Heart were so conflicted.  I love TJ’s style and writing flare, but I’m just not a fan of over the top comedies.  Lightning Struck Heart is the only TJ Klune book I gave 3 stars to.  I felt like a Superfan Failure.  (Capitalized.  Which must make it true, because the boys from Verania say so.)  

I’ve now redeemed myself, as evident by my next sentence!  Ready?

A Destiny of Dragons was effing EPIC!

I’m always complaining about how I want to read more love stories where the romance isn’t also the conflict of the story.  It’s true Sam and Ryan’s story really developed in the first book, but there is still some major development in a sequel that causes an earthquake in the relationship.  It’s the whole, ‘will they make it’ moment.  In A Destiny of Dragons there is definitely a potential problem developing for Sam and Ryan, but it isn’t how much they love each other.  There’s so much respect and trust between them.  They’re equals and partners, and it’s beautiful!

And then, of course, there’s the awesome friendships.  Sam, Tiggy and Gary, come on!  They’re like the bestest trio of friends and I love all their faces!  I love how their group just keeps growing, and they just keep opening their arms and hooves for new family to smother.  All of them just enveloped Ryan and Kevin without hesitating.  Sam knows exactly what family is all about, and it’s not blood!  (Gotta say, I am just slightly weirded out about Gary and Kevin.  I think it’s the size difference… I mean, a unicorn (which is horse sized) and a dragon the size of a house.  How does that even work?!  Don’t answer that!)

I could sit here and continue naming every character, going on and on about why they’re wonderful and their relationships are perfection, instead I’ll just say what I loved most about A Destiny of Dragons was the compassion and understanding they all had for each other.  Sam was angry, and it was okay.  It didn’t mean he stopped loving, and stopped communicating.  It also meant the targets of his anger didn’t act like he was a jerk for feeling how he did.  That is a representation of the healthiest kind of relationship.  Compassion, kindness and understanding.

It was definitely the characters I loved most, but I also wouldn’t shake a stick at the plot.  The revelations were surprises I never saw coming, and yet when they arrived I was nodding my head going ‘a ha’, because it made so much sense.  Not to mention, dragons = cool!  I want more of those!  (Team ZERO!)

If you can’t tell, I’m excited!  A Destiny of Dragons was everything I love in a fantasy series, incredible depth plus so much humor and a cast of devoted and loyal characters, and I’m even more excited for Destiny Fuck Yeah! books 2 and three!  I’m already ready for more!

Thank you to Dreamspinner Press for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5-feathers

About Birdie

Don’t look for her in any bar, club, crazy raging party, or anywhere there may be a large gathering of strangers. She’s more likely to be found tucked into the corner of the couch watching one of her favorite shows, or preferably under a comforter with her current novel.

8 Responses

  3. 2017 Best of the Best | Part 1 – Birdie Bookworm

    […] There’s nothing better than fearing you’re going to dislike a book, and then being shocked when you absolutely adore it.  I adored A Destiny of Dragons.  It had everything I loved about the first one, and it had everything I’d missed.  Plus, it had no angst or unnecessary relationship drama.  Spectacular, Mr. Klune! (My Review) […]

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