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dearhaleynicole's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is my second or third monster romance series I've read so far (but my first from Katee Robert for monster romance, specifically – I've read some of her Dark Olympus series and loved that!), so I'm still learning a lot about the genre. By far, this was definitely the spiciest monster romance I've read yet. Especially since Sol, the dragon man MMC in the story, is more dragon than man in all the ways that count. Really enjoyed Sol & Briar's relationship overall for such a quick read. Demon bargains, mating frenzies and good good spice? Sign me up. I absolutely plan to read the other books in the series, probably just a little spaced out in between or else I might burn out on all the spiciness.
Fun note: I actually got to talk about this read during a book club meeting at my local indie and that was a fun time! I highly recommend talking with other bookish people (who probably enjoy smut as this read fits that bill) about this read because we all had a good time trying to work through the logistics of how some particular scenes went down 🤪
Fun note: I actually got to talk about this read during a book club meeting at my local indie and that was a fun time! I highly recommend talking with other bookish people (who probably enjoy smut as this read fits that bill) about this read because we all had a good time trying to work through the logistics of how some particular scenes went down 🤪
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Murder and Domestic abuse
jasbeingjas's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is my first monster romance and I knew if anyone could make me fall in love with the sub genre it’s Katee Robert! I loved Sol and Briar. This is easily my new favorite beauty and the beast retelling. All of the tropes worked together so well and I loved all the secondary characters too. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
hann_smc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
It was just boring. If it was longer I probably would have dnf'd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
0live_tr33's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Domestic abuse
nen_sewingwildoats's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Love these A Deal With A Demon novels. A quick, fun read at about 180 pages, and very spicy! Only complaint is that there were several grammatical and spelling mistakes that kind of take you out of the story, but it’s not too bad!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy
Read the content notes on author’s website! The domestic abuse is briefly mentioned, off-page. They don’t go into much detail about it. The murder is off-page as well, barely mentioned.gaymoonreader's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
nose_in_a_book's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
This book was delightful in so many ways but since this is the first in the series, let me talk about them as a whole first. The bodice ripper covers fits this series so well because all of them feel like opening a well-worn copy of a cozy fantasy that I find myself constantly wanting to re-read. For as comforting as each of these books are, they also take heavy topics like loss, rejection, and helplessness and makes them digestable without softening the truth of them. Each couple has growth they do together and seperately, forming these beautifully healthy partnerships that are not always a given in romance.
Outside of the relationships, the world and magic aren't focal points but they're never so vague that the systems feel under-developed. I, personally, prefer magic systems that are background characters rather than focal points so it worked great for me.
Now for The Dragon's Bride. I was on a cruise when I started reading this book and the first port we got to, I gleefully used expensive data to download every other book in the series so I could spend the rest of the cruise binging them by the pool. The couple in this book is baby girl to me. I would throw fists for anyone that hurt either of them. I like how Briar is both strong/assertive/self-reliant and sensitive/unsure/introverted depending on the scenario as that feels more truthful to how actual people are. I like that Sol is set on making space for her to be complex and healing. I like that their relationship progression feels genuine. Additionally, Robert's spice always hits the spot and that's no different in this one although don't look for DP in this one even though the dragon has two d's (try book two). It's a great intro to the series.
This book was delightful in so many ways but since this is the first in the series, let me talk about them as a whole first. The bodice ripper covers fits this series so well because all of them feel like opening a well-worn copy of a cozy fantasy that I find myself constantly wanting to re-read. For as comforting as each of these books are, they also take heavy topics like loss, rejection, and helplessness and makes them digestable without softening the truth of them. Each couple has growth they do together and seperately, forming these beautifully healthy partnerships that are not always a given in romance.
Outside of the relationships, the world and magic aren't focal points but they're never so vague that the systems feel under-developed. I, personally, prefer magic systems that are background characters rather than focal points so it worked great for me.
Now for The Dragon's Bride. I was on a cruise when I started reading this book and the first port we got to, I gleefully used expensive data to download every other book in the series so I could spend the rest of the cruise binging them by the pool. The couple in this book is baby girl to me. I would throw fists for anyone that hurt either of them. I like how Briar is both strong/assertive/self-reliant and sensitive/unsure/introverted depending on the scenario as that feels more truthful to how actual people are. I like that Sol is set on making space for her to be complex and healing. I like that their relationship progression feels genuine. Additionally, Robert's spice always hits the spot and that's no different in this one although don't look for DP in this one even though the dragon has two d's (try book two). It's a great intro to the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
macodi's review against another edition
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Murder
pantswithpockets's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
The fmc’s husband was abusive, so a chunk of the story revolves around her healing and processing that in her new relationship with a dragonvortensity's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
There wasn't really enough time in this book to make me care about either character especially given that a good chunk of the time is dedicated to the explicit scenes which were, I guess, fine.
The ending was not only meh but felt extremely rushed. I also really did not enjoy the overprotective/possessive male love interest thing going on here. I cannot tolerate that shit in real life, and it's only slightly less intolerable in fiction unless both characters are like that an equal amount, but this book was just so easy to read I kept pushing through despite that.
I don't love the writing style either though. The choice of first person perspective definitely wasn't helping, but overall this kind of just read like something I'd have to read from a classmate in a creative writing class but more explicit.
It was readable, is my main point.
The ending was not only meh but felt extremely rushed. I also really did not enjoy the overprotective/possessive male love interest thing going on here. I cannot tolerate that shit in real life, and it's only slightly less intolerable in fiction unless both characters are like that an equal amount, but this book was just so easy to read I kept pushing through despite that.
I don't love the writing style either though. The choice of first person perspective definitely wasn't helping, but overall this kind of just read like something I'd have to read from a classmate in a creative writing class but more explicit.
It was readable, is my main point.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse