A Curse of Scales and Flame

Hey folks, just finished reading this gem and boy, was it a ride! I get why some might've expected more “high fantasy” from the title, but honestly? I found it super refreshing to dive into a fantasy world that's not too intense or complex. Plus, I'm a total softie for MM reads - throw in dragons, vampires and basilisks in an uncomplicated setting? Count me in!

Our main characters, Damien and Robby totally stole my heart. The romance between them was well-paced, not rushed at all. Damien is this brooding hot dragon shifter who adores both Robby and his family - what's not to love? And watching Robby grow throughout the story and gain confidence with the help of the Blackthorne family and his training was just amazing.

The world-building was subtle but effective - no headaches trying to make sense of everything! And the setup for book 2 focusing on Maddox at the end got me all excited!

Big shoutout to Max for giving me a chance to read this ARC!