Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book. Unfortunately, it was not one I was able to get into. As I did not get to the end of it, I have given it a midling star rating.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

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Dragon Dilemma
Supernatural Consultant Book 3
by Mell Eight

★★★★★
118 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: LGBT, Romance, Magic, Found Family
Triggers: off-page kidnap of child dragons, mentions of experimentation of child dragons
Genre: MM Romance, Urban Fantasy


Dragon Dilemma is the third book in the Supernatural Consultant series and takes place a year after the events of the previous book.

Dane and Mercury are still very much trying to find the leader of the group of government facilities that are capturing and experimenting on dragon children. Mercury is still working with Valerie at the FBSI, while trading parental duties with Dane. Together, they're learning what works best for their family. We do get to see, for the first time, that they have their struggles with this.

There are a few flashback/memories that show it hasn't always been an easy ride – that Dane has sometimes made the wrong choice as a parent, that their magical ability/power creates a discrepancy between them that sometimes leaves Mercury feeling left out or not as useful. I loved those little moments of realistic family life.

All the kits are still in full attendance, and all the usual characters are on page, with the exception of Dane and Mercury's work colleagues, as the events of this book takes place over a short period of time when they're both off work. So while Valerie isn't on page, she's mentioned, and the same goes for Daisy and Becky, Dane's work colleagues.

There are new characters included in this book, some of whom may be important in later stories. Three territory leaders appear: Henri, Jessica and William. They're a vampire, witch and unknown entity respectively, but Dane knows them all to a varying degree. As a territorial issue has arisen, they've come to consult with Dane – some more accusatory than consulting. They all have their secrets and problems, but William's is interesting as he's recently found two kit dragons and taken them in, introducing Aqua and Rios, two water dragons to the growing number of baby dragons caught up in the ring of government facilities, though it's not known whether they were victims or merely abandoned by their parents.

The biggest new addition to characters is Kendra, Dane's mother, who also goes by the moniker of the Isle Crone. She's highly interesting, with a snobby British sensibility, and has a rocky relationship with Dane, due to her stern nature and abrasive personality. Weirdly, she fits right in.

As before, I have to admit that of all the kits in the family, Nickel and Lumie are my favourites, although I do have a soft spot for Alloy as well. They're the main kits, who are most experienced, most interesting, and with the strongest abilities. I also really liked the progression of their abilities. With Alloy and Lumie being so young, there's so much scope for growth, and we're told that Alloy has the most unpredictable powers, with a few incidents mentioned in the past.

I found the story to be a great continuation of the previous two, adding new characters and events to the growing plot, while also staying true to the events and characterisation. The world-building is growing at a reasonable, logical rate, always adding more to the complex world and situation the characters have found themselves in. I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

I've immensely enjoyed all the books in this series and this was no exception. The mystery is enough to make you wonder while still being light enough to be a light read. Always looking forward to reading more of this series!

This was a wonderful third installment in the Supernatural Consultants series and a great return to the story of Mercury and Dane as they continue to try and create a safe and loving home for the rescued kits. It's not easy, they are inundated with uninvited guests with hidden agendas. All in all an enjoyable addition to the series, I can't wait to read book four which follows Nickel.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

Still loving this series, along with Mercury and Dane’s adorable kits. There wasn’t as much of a time-span between Dragon Dilemma and Dragon Deception as there was between the first two books, so the littlest dragons in the family are still just as mischievous. (FYI – Lumie is still my favorite ❤ )

Things seem to have calmed down a bit since readers last spent time with this family, but it’s still chaotic. Dane and Mercury have fallen into a natural routine and seem to have things in control, well at least as much control that’s possible with a house full of energetic, unpredictable kits. They’re definitely not in control enough to host a stay with Dane’s prim, proper, powerful and dangerous mother, but they have no choice when she shows up unannounced. The interactions between her and her son’s family were tense, yet priceless.

The other visitors were just as unpredictable and also came unannounced. Their agenda was uncertain, but they definitely had one. It was really hard to sort out the “bad guys” from the “good guys” in Dragon Dilemma and that alone kept the pages turning. This one was just as short as the previous books in the Supernatural Consultant series, but it definitely wasn’t lacking.

The next book in the series moves away from the relationship between Mercury and Dane, but focuses on Nickel. Dragon Detective is next and I can’t wait to spend more time with this lovable crew.

I love this series and I liked this book.
Even if it's engrossing and entertaining I found it sometimes a bit too slow.
It was great to meet again the characters and I appreciated the plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Dragon Dilemma is the third novella in a fantasy M/M series by Mell Eight. Originally published in 2016, this reformat/re-release is due out 20th July 2020 from NineStar Press, it's 107 pages and will be available in ebook format.

This installment sees the series progressing with more world building and magic systems, new characters, and still featuring a demigod paranormal investigator (Dane) and his partner bronze dragon dad Mercury + their non-traditional family unit. It's sweet and lightly humorous and full of romance. It's not erotica, there's no on-screen physical descriptions apart from a few passionate kisses and a lot of soulful longing (and the fact that they share a bedroom).

It's very light, the characters are anthropomorphic fantasy creatures, there are a whole bunch of young dragons whom foster dad Mercury has adopted/rescued from evil humans experimenting on them in an earlier book in the series. Just add magic and stir.

Very clean content, a few "damn"s, one "shit" and nothing worse.

The author writes clearly, readably, and well. It's above average for the genre (paranormal romance).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Dragon Dilemma is the third in a series, I have read the previous two. Dane, the extremely powerful son of a god, and Mercury, an extremely powerful dragon, are raising a group of dragon kits together (dragons can shift to human form). Dane and Mercury originally joined forces to stop a series of dangerous experiments being done on dragons, but quickly fell in love and are now a family with the younger dragons as their children.

In this entry in the series, Dane's mother, who is also extremely powerful, unexpectedly comes to visit, as do leaders of other supernatural territories. Someone is spreading lies and rumors in an attempt to cause dangerous conflict, which means readers get dramatic battles, mysteries, and protective family scenes.

This is a series I enjoy. It makes for fun, quick reading, with a good group of reoccurring characters. I would like to see more focus on Dane and Mercury's relationship, it is depicted as very strong, but we don't get a lot of scenes of just the two of them centered around their relationship and not around an ongoing emergency.

This is the third story in a series, and best enjoyed when read in series.

Dane, a demigod, and his husband Mercury, a precious dragon shifter, have been diligently assisting dragons in need for the past five years, while also raising their clutch of mis-matched and genetically-modified kits.

In this episode, Dane is startled to receive a letter from his mother, a very powerful witch in the UK, announcing she'll make a visit to her grandkits. Tomorrow. Except, he's used to his mother's machinations and isn't even surprised when she turns up incognito on the day her letter arrives. And her prejudice against dragons is immediately apparent--and quickly disarmed the more she interacts with the kits, who are extremely engaging.

Meanwhile, the supernatural beings that control the territories adjacent to Dane's are banging at his wards, convinced that Dane has been surreptitiously making strikes into their areas. It's a dicey situation, as they are prepared to fight and strip Dane of his power. Two of these beings aren't strong enough to do it, but the third, whose inclined to believe he was summoned on false pretenses, is immensely powerful. He's also intrigued by this dragon family, and the dragon village Dane and Mercury have cultivated in his territory. Turns out, someone was playing a long game, trying to wrest the kits from Dane and Mercury, and it's up to the kits and grandma to save the day.

I think the pacing got a little slow in the middle, with the mundane interactions of the kits and their quirky family taking center-stage. I like the kits, and I did understand why their behavior became so important, eventually. There is a nice bit of conflict leading up to the climax, and Dane's allies are growing in number and power, compared to his enemies, who continue to reveal themselves. One thing is for sure, Dane and Mercury are rock solid to their commitment to each other, their kits, and dragons in need.