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avid_reader_96's review
3.0
Another well-written book by Bec McMaster. She truly is a master of the written word. There has only been one or two books by her that I found lacking. This wasn’t one of them. I enjoyed the slow build between Rurik and Freyja. My only complaint is that the information doled out about dreki was in a manner as if the reader should already know it. Perhaps a prologue that gave more information about dreki culture wouldn’t make me feel as if I’m missing some part of a backstory. Other than that, I loved it. I will be reading the next book.
eg_m's review
I generally enjoy this author's books, but this one just didn't work for me. The set-up of self-less heroine and bored but powerful hero (in this case a dragon) is a common one that I often enjoy. In this case, the characters and narrative line didn't capture my attention.
literary_steph's review
2.0
I was looking for a quick fantasy romance read and this hit the spot.
It took a short while to get into (mostly names and I’m not sure which European culture the author drew inspiration from but it needed some work) but once I got the hang of it this story was fast paced.
Freyja and Ruric have great chemistry, it’s a tale of mates and forbidden love that never gets old so if you don’t like these tropes consider this your warning.
There wasn’t too much world building, or character development or background story. I've read lots of books where it leans more on the passion and romance side, but I felt the reading level is too simplistic to be categorized as adult? Idk I just wasn't vibing with it for some reason.
It took a short while to get into (mostly names and I’m not sure which European culture the author drew inspiration from but it needed some work) but once I got the hang of it this story was fast paced.
Freyja and Ruric have great chemistry, it’s a tale of mates and forbidden love that never gets old so if you don’t like these tropes consider this your warning.
There wasn’t too much world building, or character development or background story. I've read lots of books where it leans more on the passion and romance side, but I felt the reading level is too simplistic to be categorized as adult? Idk I just wasn't vibing with it for some reason.
nemerith's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the Icelandic folklore and a heroine who did not need saving, but I struggled a little with the instalust-to-spice balance. The tension was great in this but the payoff was a little lacking? I will definitely be reading the next book in the series though, because I need to know what happens and I am loving the world this is set in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Xenophobia, and Bullying
qrb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jamsu's review
2.0
I had high hopes for Heart of Fire but I didn’t feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I didn’t understand heroine and there were so many unanswered questions like what is she?
mdalida's review
5.0
I wrote a review somewhere, but I can't find it. So I'll try to write from my memory of the book...
DRAGON SHIFTERS. ICELAND. SIZZLING SEX BUILD UP.
There. There ya go, all I've got from my memory 🤣
Honestly, I love all Bec Mcmaster books. I feel like every book is amazing and awesome. And then she has a book about dragons in Iceland?! It's beautiful and sensual. The heroine was badass in that she's living on the edge of desperation and will NOT. GIVE. IN. I loved her grit and determination and fierceness. It made me think of her as a female Viking Shield Maiden of old.
Rurik! One of my favorite kinds of heroes. Usually, I love love Beta heroes. But I also love these sneaky and playful heroes that latch onto the heroine because of some qualities of hers that everyone else either finds odd or off-putting. He reminds me of Rejar in Dara Joy's Rejar - like a big, sleepy, trickster cat that likes belly rubs, attention, and sleeping haha. He saw something beautiful about Freya and dove right in because he felt something instinctively. I like how he pursues her.
Learning all dragon lore and dragon courts was just COOL for the nerd in me who loves to look at mountains and think of what lurks beneath them:-)
I also have to say that this has some of the BEST sequel-bait evahhhhhhhh, and I'm not even mad it. Sometimes, I feel like a jealous reader because I get annoyed at having other people's stories in my romance when I just want to read about the main couple... but THIS ONE, wow, I am so excited for the next books after we finally piece it all together!
DRAGON SHIFTERS. ICELAND. SIZZLING SEX BUILD UP.
There. There ya go, all I've got from my memory 🤣
Honestly, I love all Bec Mcmaster books. I feel like every book is amazing and awesome. And then she has a book about dragons in Iceland?! It's beautiful and sensual. The heroine was badass in that she's living on the edge of desperation and will NOT. GIVE. IN. I loved her grit and determination and fierceness. It made me think of her as a female Viking Shield Maiden of old.
Rurik! One of my favorite kinds of heroes. Usually, I love love Beta heroes. But I also love these sneaky and playful heroes that latch onto the heroine because of some qualities of hers that everyone else either finds odd or off-putting. He reminds me of Rejar in Dara Joy's Rejar - like a big, sleepy, trickster cat that likes belly rubs, attention, and sleeping haha. He saw something beautiful about Freya and dove right in because he felt something instinctively. I like how he pursues her.
Learning all dragon lore and dragon courts was just COOL for the nerd in me who loves to look at mountains and think of what lurks beneath them:-)
I also have to say that this has some of the BEST sequel-bait evahhhhhhhh, and I'm not even mad it. Sometimes, I feel like a jealous reader because I get annoyed at having other people's stories in my romance when I just want to read about the main couple... but THIS ONE, wow, I am so excited for the next books after we finally piece it all together!
leabookjoy's review
4.0
French & English reviews
Une découverte sympa =D
J'avais des livres de cette auteure dans ma PAL depuis très très longtemps mais je n'avais pas encore eu le temps de les lire. Avec la RARE de Paris qui arrive (enfin en avril xD) et plusieurs lectures pas très concluantes, j'ai décidé d'essayer ce livre ... Et globalement, j'ai passé un bon moment =)
Les personnages étaient intéressants et très attachants (j'ai adoré Rurik et les passages de son point de vue !), la romance était très bien écrite (j'ai ADORE la façon dont Rurik courtise Freyja !! Et les scènes de sexe ... <3) et l'histoire m'a beaucoup intéressée (les intrigues avec la cour des dragons, le chasseur de dragons et sa femme disparue ...)
Ce n'est pas un coup de coeur parce que j'aurais voulu que l'univers soit plus développé (d'où viennent les pouvoirs de Freyja ?? Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé avec sa mère ??) et (mais c'est personnel), les dragons n'ont jamais été parmi mes favoris. Et je dois avouer que le deuxième tome ne me tente pas trop parce que si j'ai adoré le chasseur de dragon, j'ai des doutes sur sa "femme" et j'aurais préféré un deuxième tome avec Rurik et Freyja (mais peut-être que j'ai tort ... Je verrais =) )
Bref, pas un coup de coeur mais une lecture légère et agréable qui m'a donné envie de lire d'autres livres de l'auteure =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A nice discovery =D
I had this author's books in my TBR for a very, very long time, but I hadn't had time to read them yet. With the Paris RARE coming (well in April xD) and several not very conclusive reads, I decided to try this book ... And overall, I had a good time =)
The characters were interesting and very endearing (I loved Rurik and the passages from his point of view !), the romance was very well written (I LOVED the way Rurik courts Freyja !! and the sex scenes ... <3) and the story really interested me (the intrigues with the court of dragons, the dragon hunter and his missing wife ...)
It's not a favorite because I would have liked the universe to be more developed (where do Freyja's powers come from ?? What happened with her mother ??) and (but it's personal) dragons have never been a favorite of mine. And I must admit that the second book does not tempt me too much because if I loved the dragon hunter, I have doubts about his "wife" and I would have preferred a second book about Rurik and Freyja (but maybe I'm wrong ... I would see =))
In short, not a favorite but a light and pleasant reading that made me want to read other books by the author =)
Une découverte sympa =D
J'avais des livres de cette auteure dans ma PAL depuis très très longtemps mais je n'avais pas encore eu le temps de les lire. Avec la RARE de Paris qui arrive (enfin en avril xD) et plusieurs lectures pas très concluantes, j'ai décidé d'essayer ce livre ... Et globalement, j'ai passé un bon moment =)
Les personnages étaient intéressants et très attachants (j'ai adoré Rurik et les passages de son point de vue !), la romance était très bien écrite (j'ai ADORE la façon dont Rurik courtise Freyja !! Et les scènes de sexe ... <3) et l'histoire m'a beaucoup intéressée (les intrigues avec la cour des dragons, le chasseur de dragons et sa femme disparue ...)
Ce n'est pas un coup de coeur parce que j'aurais voulu que l'univers soit plus développé (d'où viennent les pouvoirs de Freyja ?? Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé avec sa mère ??) et (mais c'est personnel), les dragons n'ont jamais été parmi mes favoris. Et je dois avouer que le deuxième tome ne me tente pas trop parce que si j'ai adoré le chasseur de dragon, j'ai des doutes sur sa "femme" et j'aurais préféré un deuxième tome avec Rurik et Freyja (mais peut-être que j'ai tort ... Je verrais =) )
Bref, pas un coup de coeur mais une lecture légère et agréable qui m'a donné envie de lire d'autres livres de l'auteure =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A nice discovery =D
I had this author's books in my TBR for a very, very long time, but I hadn't had time to read them yet. With the Paris RARE coming (well in April xD) and several not very conclusive reads, I decided to try this book ... And overall, I had a good time =)
The characters were interesting and very endearing (I loved Rurik and the passages from his point of view !), the romance was very well written (I LOVED the way Rurik courts Freyja !! and the sex scenes ... <3) and the story really interested me (the intrigues with the court of dragons, the dragon hunter and his missing wife ...)
It's not a favorite because I would have liked the universe to be more developed (where do Freyja's powers come from ?? What happened with her mother ??) and (but it's personal) dragons have never been a favorite of mine. And I must admit that the second book does not tempt me too much because if I loved the dragon hunter, I have doubts about his "wife" and I would have preferred a second book about Rurik and Freyja (but maybe I'm wrong ... I would see =))
In short, not a favorite but a light and pleasant reading that made me want to read other books by the author =)