Reviews

Dream of Dragons by Aja James

lifeinthebooklane's review

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4.0

Overall I very much enjoyed this fantasy/PNR fusion, and despite initial concerns it does read as both a standalone and separate to the Pure/Dark Ones series. I did put this down for a few day, fairly early on, as I found the character of Erebus to be extremely irritating. I'm pleased to report that he did get less so as the story progressed, though that may equally have been because we saw less of him. He was an OTT camp mix of Julian Clary and John Inman's character (Mr Humphries) from Are You Being Served?


Since I had only reached the 11% mark, I picked this back up and actually went on to enjoy it. Whilst it didn't take itself too seriously, the author blended Arthurian and Welsh legends together, twisted them sideways and created quite a compelling story. It even, in part, explained why those tales are so blurred. It wasn't the most complex of world building, but it very much suited the story, setting and characters, so I've no complaints there.


What didn't work for me, hence temporarily setting it aside, was (a) it starting with a sex scene between two characters from a previous series and (b) Erebus. This is a spin off, in effect an entry point for new readers who have zero connection to Ere and Sorin, who care not one jot for them, so for us the sex scene felt clinical, a little crude and entirely unnecessary. It took far too long to meet and get to know the actual protagonists of this book, Rui and Wolfe - much longer than it's taken me to mention them!


Rui left me cold at first, but that's all part of her character arc and it didn't take long for me to absolutely adore this little firecracker. She was a beguiling and utterly believable mix of kick-ass warrior and naΓ―ve kitten-y dragon. She's definitely up there as a favourite heroine. Wolfe was so mean, moody and ruggedly gorgeous, I loved him from the first moment we met. Not only did I buy their developing relationship, I was fully invested in it - I may even have had a "must be hayfever" moment or two towards the end. Sigh. So good.


In summary I went from regretting requesting an arc of this (and the next one) to having found an author I want to read more of. If it hadn't been for that initial "gah!" of the first few chapters I probably would have given this 5 stars. I'm definitely looking forward to reading [b:Song of Dragons|57538788|Song of Dragons (Dragon Tails #2)|Aja James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616811567l/57538788._SX50_.jpg|89730228].



11% thoughts here -->
Spoiler
This is one that I am really struggling with, I will give it another try in a couple of days and see if that makes a difference.


This has all the elements of a good book but it just isn't hitting the mark for me personally, in particular I am struggling with the character of Ere, who I find incredibly annoying. I don't even know anything of significance about Sorin and I'm on the fence with Rui. Opening with a one sided sex scene between two characters I neither know nor currently care about didn't really provide the best of beginnings. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a smutty read but I at least like to have had the mental equivalent of a meal bought for me before diving into the action. Also, if this isn't the main couple of the story, why am I seeing so damn much of them instead of the ACTUAL protagonists?


My other main issue lies with the "confused" feel of the book. I was expecting a fantasy read, but the tone of this was more akin to PNR, particularly Ere's character when considering both his dialogue and inner monologue. I hadn't spotted the tiny line at the end of the synopsis which stated this is a spin-off from a previous series - my bad. However to my mind a spin off should not require the need to have read the previous series in order to fully appreciate and understand it.

ameserole's review

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5.0

I have received this ARC from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Honestly this gif explains the ENTIRE book so freaking well. I kept saying this phrase the whole time because this book was so much fun. I loved each and every page that I got. I also really adored getting to meet Rui and Wolfe. I shipped them so freaking hard, like so hard, that I wasn't surprised one bit by their little twists/reveals one bit.

Not sure if my detective cap was working today or not. Or maybe I was just really vibing with the clues in this one but I had opinions on what was going to happen and then I was so excited when it actually happened. So in other words.. I'm amazing and can predict things (in this book - only this one).

Other than enjoying the quest and romance, Ere and Sorin are back. Ere (aka Deadpool to my soul) was hilarious in this one. I loved his sass and all his references to his current life while in the past. He was definitely geeking out with the whole time travel thing and I was ready to by his hype friend.

In the end, I honestly love anything with dragons and I'm not sure what the next book will bring me but I'm so excited to dive into it. Also I will fight anyone and everyone for Wolfe. Including Rui. Sorry, not sorry.

laura_devouring_books_crumpets's review

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4.0

3.5



Sexy Time travelers trying to save the world and throw in some Dragons and a land of Myth you have an epic story

loverofromance's review

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adventurous challenging funny medium-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

4.5

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎.5
Cover:πŸ“”πŸ“”πŸ“”πŸ“”πŸ“”
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:πŸ¦ΈπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ¦ΈπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ¦ΈπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ¦ΈπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ¦ΈπŸ»β€β™€οΈ
Intimacy Level: πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯
Relationship Building: πŸ’’πŸ’’πŸ’’πŸ’’πŸ’’
Heart & Feels:πŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’ž
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
Page Turner Level:πŸ“–πŸ“–πŸ“–πŸ“–
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5


First Impressions
Dream of Dragons is the first book in the connecting series by Aja James. This is a series that I have been really eager for. There is something about dragons that just draws me in. As much as I adored the Pure/Dark Ones, one of my motivator's in reading it was to read this series. I will say that these two series are very different if this first book is any indication on what the rest of the series will be like. I really respected what was delivered in this installment. I am not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it went a different direction than I expected because even though I knew it would be different, it was a whole new shift from what she delivered on the Pure/Dark Ones.

First Line
Ere was having the most decadent dream.

Summary
Erubu, along with his mate Sorin, are to fulfill his obligation to the Jade Emperor in the promise he made him from the debt that he owes from the epic battle. They are summoned and called to a mission to go back through time to a time that is obscure in legends.....The Arthurian Court and their partner in crime is Rui, a treasure dragon. Their mission to find the Jewel of Dreams. On their road to finding the jewel, they run into a warrior, who is an infamous dragon hunter "Wolfe". There is an instant connection between Wolfe and Rui, and despite them being on opposing sides of the tournament to win the jewel, they build a powerful relationship, but their love is forbidden because there is no happy ever after on the horizon.

What I Loved
The dynamics within this story was complex and unique in what is delivered. We also get another perspective in how we are taken back into the past. This was a thrilling road trip adventure with a blend of time travel bonded into it. Also you add in some fabulous laughs and a forbidden theme to the romance, its going to be my catnip. The first element to the story that was beyond infectious was the humor. The dialogue from Ere especially, was *Chef's Kiss* he was simply lively and just lightens the mood of the more serious plot that is placed into this story. While this author has some great humor in previous books, there is something about Ere that just adds a unique element in an aspect that I haven't found before in her books.

The plot of the story kept me on edge all the way through. I was fascinated with the world building. I rarely see Arthurian themes in books (And I have read a TON of historical romance in my time of living) so to see the way the author implemented this element was so different. I always knew she could write some superb plots in her stories, but the way this plot is developed on the surface seems like its not super deep, but with chapter, the complexity in the plot on builds greater. This is what truly shows her talent in plot development, is writing such complex plots in manner of ways that you don't expect to be handled. And how the conflict in the end was resolved especially involving the romance had such a deep resonating feel to it and so satisfying.

So even though we have two couples in this story, there isn't much confusion. On the surface, it might seem to be baffling, but it really is a delightful mix in how James really delved these two couples together. Getting to see some fun interactions between Ere and Sorin became so endearing. I apparently didn't get enough of these two in Purity, because seeing these two after their proposed HEA was so poignant at times. We get to see how well they get on together after their story has happened and it only reaffirms why their story is so powerful. Then we have the romance between our MF pairing, Wolfe & Rui, who are simply delightful. They are both warriors and they don't clash in the way that you would expect such strong personalities would. Even though they have such alpha warrior like behaviors at times, they also are both lonely souls yearning for more in their lives. We see how they are able to fill the void they feel and the way in which they are able to connect but also build such a beautiful vibrant bond.

What I Struggled With
So as much as I loved this book, it was far from perfect. The pacing in the first half, felt a bit off. Not sure if it was just a "Me" aspect or what, or maybe it was the author's change in how she writes that added to the pacing element of the story. But I really struggled staying completely hooked into the story. But once we get to the second half, I didn't want to put it down!

Overall View
Dream of Dragons is a story that enthralls you with rich history, fascinating relationships, laughs and thrills, and with the right touch of mystery to have you searching for more!

Favorite Quote(s)
What she wasn’t ready for was being in love. Especially with a man like Wolfe. Her dragon-hunter nemesis. The one and only male she would ever love. The most precious treasure she would give everything for, that she had no choice but to leave behind.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Mythological Fantasy, Time-England-Camelot & Arthurian
Character Types: Warrior, Alpha Hero/Heroine
Themes: Kick Ass, Laughs & Giggles, Danger
Tropes:Forbidden Love, Forced Proximity, Road Trip Adventure

Book Perspective
Multi POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Blend

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Deborah Cooke
Abigail Owens
Jeffe Kennedy

Song This Book Inspires
Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes! But at minimum you will want to read Dark Purity first before this one.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. 

winterreader40's review

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4.0

3.5 stars
This is an Arthurian retelling, with dragons, phoenix's, time travel, magic and lots of sexy times.
This story starts of with a bang, literally, the opening scene is some hot guy on guy action, with who I thought were our main characters based on the synopsis, but Ere and Sorin tend to be more background supporting cast in this story even though it's technically about Ere repaying a debt he incurred when he was allowed a rebirth.
We mostly follow Rui(dragon in human form) and Wolfe(dragonslayer in the dark ages) who are incredibly attracted to each other, which confuses Rui who's never had these feelings before and worries Wolfe because he's a bastard and unworthy.
I don't often enjoy Arthurian retellings because I tend to find the plots very sluggish, but this was a fun, very sexy romp where Guinevere is the villain of the piece. I hope Ere and Sorin are more of the focus in the next book though, I like the contrast between the characters and would like to see more of the depth between the bonded mates.

I received this as an ARC through NetGalley and IBPA

chella1's review

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5.0

So I am not sure where to begin....but no ifs ands or buts I LOVE this book❀️❀️❀️. I have always felt that the first book in a series can be tedious or overwhelming for a reader because of the world building or just being introduced to a ton of characters, but this is not the case. Aja James has a stunning way to writing and creating these fantastic worlds and characters

bodebeabay's review

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4.0

4.5 Stars.
Quote from [b:Dream of Dragons|56338749|Dream of Dragons (Dragon Tails #1)|Aja James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608391402l/56338749._SY75_.jpg|87776045]
"ε±±ζ— ι™΅, ε€©εœ°εˆοΌŒδΉƒζ•’δΈŽε›η»
Til mountains crumble/ Til earth and sky collide/ Not til then will my love die."

Well, I am impressed. When I found out Ms. [a:Aja James|970774|Aja James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511880941p2/970774.jpg] was going to do a Dragon series, I was worried.
Why?
I read a lot of Dragon PNR and 99% of them 'Suck Eggs'.
They are without a doubt one of the hardest PNR type books to find a decent story in. So, my expectations were low. I actually did not expect to like it.
Color me 'Surprised'.

The world build and story line were well written. The two mc's, Rui and Wolfe, were fantastic characters. I loved them both. There is humor, lots of adult sexy steamy scenes, Butt Kicking scenes especially with Rui. I love a female mc that can really kick ass! And Rui has all the Kick Ass Moves! Tons of Action, Suspense, Mystery and Intrigue.

My only problems I have is I was left with a couple of questions in my head about Wolfe and the ending.
Spoiler1. How does who his father is effect him? He has some 'Abilities' but.... I felt there should be more about that.
2. The ending. I understand the 'Paradox' but, if the what the JE said is true
SpoilerDoesn't that therefore wipe out the stone? And create another paradox?
Or was the JE making Wolfe make a decision?


Overall, a great read and very well written. Looking forward to the next in the series.

thisreadergirl's review

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5.0

Wow wow wow!! Firstly thank you Netgalley and Aja James for a chance to read this. It is my first by the author and I went in blind. I am happy to say this that it did not disappoint. Aja James has created a world that absolutely rocks.

I don't know where to start and what to say. This is a page turner and has fabulous characters that will make you love, laugh, know what passion and friendship is. Now that we are talking about characters, Wolfe the hero has had a tough childhood. This has made him strong, smart, caring, loving, scarred and a monster slayer.
Rui, the heroine is badass. She is naive, thinks she has no sense of humor but is fearless and can kick anyone's butt. Rui is everything in a female character that you would want. I loved her.
Ere and Sorin are people who balance each other with Ere's quirkiness and Sorin's calm nature.
Going through author's profile I got to know that Ere and Sorin have their own story and I can't wait to read it.

The plot revolves around a quest which makes it intriguing. Aja James has given vivid descriptions that you will enjoy each phase. This book is filled with intense emotions, everything ranging from fight scenes to banter to character development, the author has written it magically in a different world and time.

I love dragons and know many of you do too. So this combination of dragons, magic, smut (lot of it) is waiting for you to be picked up. Having the ARC of second book Song of Dragons with me, I can't wait to start it. Go ahead, check this out and add it to your list.

mbooksbycandlelight's review

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3.0

This was a good book. The writing was nice and this was a quick read. I wasn’t a fan of the mix of fantastical/historical elements and modern references, and since they were mostly made by Ere I ended up not liking his character much. Sorin could have been better developed, he barely spoke, and his presence seemed like an afterthought. Rui character also felt a little inconsistent and he immediate attraction to Wolfe was a bit forced. But overall, I had fun while reading it. Wolfe and Rui were cute together and the plot, though a little predictable, was enjoyable.

I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

kaitlyns_literary_teahouse's review

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

As Rui, Ere, and Sorin set out on a quest to work on fulfilling Ere's deal to the Jade Emperor (to rescue Sorin in the previous series). It is a rough start, but Rui grows into her own as a treasure dragon and learns what it means to find her one true mate, while also dealing Ere's never ending chatter and lovey dovey-ness with Sorin. Overall it was a fantastic book and I definitely want to go back and read the first series when Ere rescues Sorin. Page 1 spoiler <Prologue opens up with Ere and Sorin having sex, I was expecting it to happen in the book just not on the first page!>
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