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underwaterlily's review
4.0
When I requested an ARC of Between the Dragon King and His Wrath, I expected a steamy Dracula origin story. It is that, but I had no idea I'd be so invested in the story. It’s a tale of healing and redemption, through love. The hero and the heroine have a shared history that tugs my heartstrings. The setting is incredibly vivid (narrow, twisting castle passages, a firefly-lit lake, trees with bones hanging from their branches), and the touches of dark magic give the story a folkloric feel (I love the Sisters!). Barbara Russell’s vampires feel at once familiar and unique—the stuff of whispered, old world superstition.
As the cursed Dracul, Wlad is Beast-like, but he's sweet and gentle with the traumatized Annika. The way Annika processes sexual assault feels true and is handled with care. There is only one moment, toward the end, that gives me pause (hence four stars instead of five). I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves retellings and romance!
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ❤️
As the cursed Dracul, Wlad is Beast-like, but he's sweet and gentle with the traumatized Annika. The way Annika processes sexual assault feels true and is handled with care. There is only one moment, toward the end, that gives me pause (hence four stars instead of five). I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves retellings and romance!
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ❤️
whatyoutolkienabout's review
5.0
I was given a copy to review via Love Book Tours for a book tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #BetweenTheDragonKingAndHisWrath #BarbaraRussell #ZoolooBookTours #BookTourReview #Paranormal #ZooLoo #BookReview #gifted #ad
I have to say I was not sure about this one, I have not read a lot of romance but this was a great place to start. Between the Dragon King and His Wrath has a great mix of romance, action, and paranormal themes all wrapped in an historical setting. The main characters were a joy to read about and follow as their relationship blossomed.
We are introduced to Princess Annika who loves to dance, wear bright gowns and enjoy life. When visiting the neighbouring kingdom with her father she expects to make new friends and alliances not to meet Wlad, the former prince of the kingdom now slave. Determined to bargain for his freedom Annika and her father are beaten and shamed. Wlad’s lust for revenge is the only thing that keeps him going but when he met Annika he was given the most dangerous gift of all hope. Desperate to take his kingdom back when Annika departs he makes a pact with the witch sisters. For a sacrifice he will be granted supernatural power to gain what he wants.
Eight years past and Annika does not dance anymore, struggling with the trauma of trying to free Wlad but when she gets to meet King Wlad the Dracul who slaughtered his way back to his throne she hopes to meet the same young man she saw years before and tried to free.
Like I said normally I am not one for romance but this one did capture me rather quickly. Annika and Wlad are wonderful protagonists that you cannot help but get invested in. The plot itself is also interesting full of warring kingdoms and court intrigue along a budding romance. I particularly liked seeing how Wlad and Annika brought the best out of each other. The paranormal side was also interesting and well thought out as was the world building. Russell’s writing really does transport you to the kingdom of Walhack and you can easily picture of the setting. I found myself hooked after the first few chapters. If you love paranormal romance this is one you are bound to enjoy. I know I did!
I have to say I was not sure about this one, I have not read a lot of romance but this was a great place to start. Between the Dragon King and His Wrath has a great mix of romance, action, and paranormal themes all wrapped in an historical setting. The main characters were a joy to read about and follow as their relationship blossomed.
We are introduced to Princess Annika who loves to dance, wear bright gowns and enjoy life. When visiting the neighbouring kingdom with her father she expects to make new friends and alliances not to meet Wlad, the former prince of the kingdom now slave. Determined to bargain for his freedom Annika and her father are beaten and shamed. Wlad’s lust for revenge is the only thing that keeps him going but when he met Annika he was given the most dangerous gift of all hope. Desperate to take his kingdom back when Annika departs he makes a pact with the witch sisters. For a sacrifice he will be granted supernatural power to gain what he wants.
Eight years past and Annika does not dance anymore, struggling with the trauma of trying to free Wlad but when she gets to meet King Wlad the Dracul who slaughtered his way back to his throne she hopes to meet the same young man she saw years before and tried to free.
Like I said normally I am not one for romance but this one did capture me rather quickly. Annika and Wlad are wonderful protagonists that you cannot help but get invested in. The plot itself is also interesting full of warring kingdoms and court intrigue along a budding romance. I particularly liked seeing how Wlad and Annika brought the best out of each other. The paranormal side was also interesting and well thought out as was the world building. Russell’s writing really does transport you to the kingdom of Walhack and you can easily picture of the setting. I found myself hooked after the first few chapters. If you love paranormal romance this is one you are bound to enjoy. I know I did!
piperkitty's review
4.0
The beginning of this novel is rather dark. The reader feels the ominous tension with which the characters live their daily lives. Vlad and his brother are kept as enslaved people and abused. Annika and her father never get off Scot-free during their visit. This book was a touching story about defeating demons. Don't get me wrong, the characters were hot and cute, with the perfect mix of romance, action, and paranormal themes in a historical setting. DefiAnhor I'd read again. It's a fun read with some obvious character tropes and a touch of Darkness.
2sweet2kahill's review
3.0
A sweet fantasy romance read. Moving, warm and compelling. Dragon king and a lovely princess who both just want their own kind of freedom,.
Annika loves dancing, frilly gowns and enjoying her life but she can't help but feel like something is missing. When she meets Wlad, a prince being held captive she tries to save him, ending in her own injury and her fate being changed forever. When they meet again 8 years later, will they be able to resist the pull of fate?
Cinnamon roll hero, and loving heroine.
Annika loves dancing, frilly gowns and enjoying her life but she can't help but feel like something is missing. When she meets Wlad, a prince being held captive she tries to save him, ending in her own injury and her fate being changed forever. When they meet again 8 years later, will they be able to resist the pull of fate?
Cinnamon roll hero, and loving heroine.
piperkitty's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of this novel is rather dark. The reader feels the ominous tension with which the characters live their daily lives. Vlad and his brother are kept as enslaved people and abused. Annika and her father never get off Scot-free during their visit. This book was a touching story about defeating demons. Don't get me wrong, the characters were hot and cute, with the perfect mix of romance, action, and paranormal themes in a historical setting. DefiAnhor I'd read again. It's a fun read with some obvious character tropes and a touch of Darkness.
the_m_lor's review
I will come back to this one eventually. I just wasn't feeling it right now.
sarahlamagna's review
4.0
I am extremely appreciative to read an ARC of this novel as I'm always happy to read fantasy romances. This novel had some great things going for it:
- Strong female lead
- Tortured soul (but hot) leading man
- Guy falls first (IMO - this isn't explicitly put in there)
- Fun world building
The plot kept me engaged the entire time and I enjoyed seeing the building romance between Wlad and Annika. Definitely read the trigger warnings as there is off-screen sexual assault and it comes up again and again in the book.
I think I would've liked a bit more world building but I also love that this was a standalone fantasy romance. It seems that most fantasy romance books lately are a series and I get impatient waiting for the next book to come out.
- Strong female lead
- Tortured soul (but hot) leading man
- Guy falls first (IMO - this isn't explicitly put in there)
- Fun world building
The plot kept me engaged the entire time and I enjoyed seeing the building romance between Wlad and Annika. Definitely read the trigger warnings as there is off-screen sexual assault and it comes up again and again in the book.
I think I would've liked a bit more world building but I also love that this was a standalone fantasy romance. It seems that most fantasy romance books lately are a series and I get impatient waiting for the next book to come out.
nydhoggyr's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Princess Annika meets Wlad during a visit to Arges Castle, where Wlad, the former prince, is a slave in his own home after another king has killed his parents and taken over his kingdom. Annika stands up for the young Wlad, which leads to her and her father also becoming victims of the new king and sustaining lifelong trauma and injuries. Annika and Wlad meet again 7 years later in her kingdom, after Wlad lives with a curse he accepted in return for the strength to take back his kingdom and slaughter his enemies. The two are hardly the young and innocent individuals they each met years ago, but their attraction is still present.
This was a really interesting story to read. It is an intriguing re-imagining of Vlad the Impaler/Dracula, and while a rather overt adaptation it was not entirely predictable. In fact, I was really interested to see where it would go and what would become of these two damaged but well-intentioned souls.
This story has a tortured cinnamon roll hero (I didn't know I needed this in my life but now I do, give me more!), a strong FMC who stands up for what she believes in, and a pretty slow burn, with a paranormal twist.
While it is a slow burn, exploring the lore and world of these characters was more than satisfying and interesting, so I never felt a lack of interest in continuing the story.
I do wish that it would have felt more accurate to the time period it was set in (mid-15th century), because some of the language felt quite modern and some details were entirely lacking. I think it relied on having stated that the year was 1450 rather than describing things in such a way that you could have assumed it was around the 15th century. In addition, there were a few editorial mistakes regarding punctuation and spelling that could easily be remedied.
Trigger warnings, included in the description, include off-page sexual assault and some mild on-page violence.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really interesting story to read. It is an intriguing re-imagining of Vlad the Impaler/Dracula, and while a rather overt adaptation it was not entirely predictable. In fact, I was really interested to see where it would go and what would become of these two damaged but well-intentioned souls.
This story has a tortured cinnamon roll hero (I didn't know I needed this in my life but now I do, give me more!), a strong FMC who stands up for what she believes in, and a pretty slow burn, with a paranormal twist.
While it is a slow burn, exploring the lore and world of these characters was more than satisfying and interesting, so I never felt a lack of interest in continuing the story.
I do wish that it would have felt more accurate to the time period it was set in (mid-15th century), because some of the language felt quite modern and some details were entirely lacking. I think it relied on having stated that the year was 1450 rather than describing things in such a way that you could have assumed it was around the 15th century. In addition, there were a few editorial mistakes regarding punctuation and spelling that could easily be remedied.
Trigger warnings, included in the description, include off-page sexual assault and some mild on-page violence.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
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