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Tag: indie books

  • Book Review: ‘Dragon Blind’ by Dr Iman Christians

    Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Genre: Fantasy Romance/Romantasy

    Length: 411 pages

    Format Read: Paperback

    Published: 2025

    *Post includes affiliate links*

    ‘Dragon Blind’ by DR Iman is a beautiful story. One of the things I absolutely loved about this story was the main character’s independence. The main character Asha has become blind later in childhood, but that doesn’t drive her into a narrative of helplessness throughout the story for the situations she’s in. I love that about her. She also is not continually saved by the male main character in every event in the story, which I found to be well done. The prologue set that particular mood for this story rather quickly; from page one, in fact.

    The main male character Adriel is well done. He has emotions and leans more progressive than Asha’s family, but he has understandable shortcomings there as well; the overall culture wants to make decisions for Asha so Adriel’s driven in that direction, too. Fortunately, he really doesn’t get to “save” Asha every time; she mostly helps herself by way of her bond with dragons. In particular, Drakkar.

    If you like sassy dragons, you will love Drakkar. Drakkar is an excellent, sassy, helpful dragon friend that any woman would like to have by her side.

    I only had issue with one inconsistency; at the beginning, Adriel tells Asha that his kingdom takes care of and empowers individuals who have conditions such as blindness, but when she actually visits his kingdom, we don’t really find that to be the case. She is able to find books in the language she can read, but it is still very limited along with overall accessibility around the castle. I couldn’t tell if this was a story inconsistency or a way to show that the existing king was not as good as he should be, or even to show that Adriel was not as aware as he could be. If that is the case, my personal opinion would be that he can grow to improve in his awareness.

    Overall: 4 stars because this is a beautiful fantasy journey and story with wonderful characters and emotional depth. 2 spicy peppers in my opinion because there is a detailed open-door scene.

  • Book Review: “Daindreth’s Assassin” by Elisabeth Wheatley

    Stars: 4.5 out of 5

    Genre: Fantasy Romance

    Book Length: 276 pages

    Format Read: Paperback

    Published: 2021

    This book was highly enjoyable. I loved the slower pace and the enemies-to-lovers trope of the story. As this book also doesn’t contain sex scenes, the yearning is written excellently. To be fair, I would say the enemies-to-lovers trope is primarily at play at the beginning; they feel more like a friends-to-lovers couple as the story progresses. Friends-to-lovers is my favorite between the two tropes, so I was happy.

    The story’s pacing feels cozy until the action scenes begin; once we’re in a fight, the pace picks up appropriately, and the scene plays out in my mind clearly based on the description. This is perfect because I find I hate when a book’s action picks up too quickly and makes me go back to read like “wait, wait, WAIT, where are we? What happened??” I stayed immersed in this book from beginning to end.

    I enjoy Elisabeth’s writing as well because it clearly conveys the story and characters’ feelings, and it doesn’t have the shock factor written into it that some of the most popular authors lean on. The book is written for an adult audience, but without an abundance of cursing or crude jokes and comments. These things are in the writing, but not forced in for the sake of it; these moments fit the overall story or emotion for the moment.

    My Favorite Moments

    **Spoilers Ahead**

    Amira’s (second time) meeting Daindreth on pages 41-44, and specifically when he kissed her hand in greeting. Her sassing Thadred was also wonderful. I, too, choke to death all the time.

    Daindreth asking King Hyle for Amira’s hand in marriage on pages 48-50 was a top favorite moment. I felt just as confused as the rest of the room with the court.

    That moment is quickly followed by the fight between Amira’s stepmother and herself. The anger was palpable and satisfying. Queen Hyle never stood a chance. This results in what any good MMC does.

    Page 71 is one of the first moments that I really liked Daindreth. He betrays everyone’s feelings on this later, but he tries here and other times in the story.

    The meeting between Amira and the Empress sets the perfect tone for their whole relationship in the book.

    The whole of chapter 9. It’s an entire favorite.

    Page 141 – “Who did this?” Gets me every time.

    The kiss on page 176 and the resulting conversation with his possessiveness and yearning showing on 177-178 – gah! I have no words for how good it is.

    Chapter 17 made me mad in the best way. The betrayal.

    Finally, on page 233, my eyes couldn’t open any wider, and I might have cheered aloud. “The chokehold broke like a cut rope.”