The King's Dragon

I actually really enjoyed this book - much to my surprise. I almost gave it a pass - even though I got it for free through Kindle Unlimited - because, judging from the tags and how it's shelved here on Goodreads, I thought it was going to be very different than it is.

What I was expecting was a romance story that was only barely fantasy and...I usually really don't care for those stories, because what often happens is the stories focus on romance and doesn't even attempt to flesh out a fantasy world and, as a fantasy reader, I am left disappointed.

This book, however, is a fantasy book with romance in it. In fact, I would say that the book would appeal much more to the LGBT+ fantasy crowd than the M/M romance crowd. (I do tend to enjoy both, but I have been desperately searching for some good LGBT+ fantasy, so this was awesome.)

We have six narrators (plus a surprise) and I actually really adore all six of them. (My favorites are probably Tristam and Gillian, but Hafgan is a total sweetheart.) I love that, unusual for a fantasy world, absolutely nothing seems to be made of the fact that several characters prefer their own gender. The world building is very interesting as well, with the use of dragons being inventive.

The only slight complaint I've got - and what knocked this down from a probable five star read - is that I wish nearly everyone hadn't been so obsessed with sex and romance and kissing. For me, that really wasn't what I wanted the book to focus on. (But it seldom is.)