2.5 stars
★★

Trell is a healer with a unique ability and side kick dragon with the dream to travel, offering her abilities and seeking new ways of medicine. 

Trell is self-assured, compassionate and generous healer with an open-heart and steel spine. Although well intentioned, Gren misrepresents his circumstances in order to gain Trell's companionship. Gren's goals are noble but costly. Gren is a character I had a hard time liking, and rooting for. Pretending to have illness that labels him an outcast from society and is sus. 

The romance was very sweet and young. Trell has a certain naiveté that is a result of her time spent as a literal tree for a thousand years. I'm more interested in her being transformed into a tree than the aftermath. My favourite scenes were when Trell was communicating with the plants and with Torkel. Also the bells in Trell's hair sounded cool and I'm jealous. 

Torkel a dragon that shape shifts to human (as opposed to dragon) that is depicted as a towering Black man. I found him funny, interesting character that isn't dependant of Trell, but regard each other in a familial respect. He is very independent and continues to not consider the consequences for his actions. Interesting dichotomy of a 'wise' dragon acting like a teenager. 

Unfortunately, the plot takes a back seat to the romance and I wish Trell, her tree-talking abilities and the other dragons where explored more. 

This is a YA book recommended for 16+ and contains sexual scenes. 

TW: animal death, false imprisonment, blood, death.