{3.5 stars}

Zarela and her family are performers, they stoke the flames of their culture with flamenco dancing and dragon fighting (think bull fighting). When her father is injured and can no longer fight as a Dragonador, Zarela decides to take over his mantle herself to save their family arena. Enter the handsome dragon hunter who is Zarela’s only chance. We see her fighting for her chance to prove herself the rightful heir to the family business.

I would say this one skews towards the younger side of YA, it’s quite clean with the exception of one scene and the world building is not too complex. Magic is mentioned here and there but is not a huge focus. I loved the glimpses of the Spanish based culture (dance, food, architecture) and the beauty of a family working together building their own legacy. And of course dragons, nice to see dragons be a bit fearsome once again. That said, the love story was a little forced and overly sweet for me. This reinforced my feeling that this one skewed younger, Zarela was certainly experiencing the gooey-ness of first love.

It’s a solid, action packed fantasy read that will help you escape for a few hours but it didn’t feel like one that will stick with me for a long time. It reminded me in a lot of ways of Adrienne Young’s The Last Legacy where the focus was on the family business and a young, headstrong girl’s role in it.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

So many of us fantasy lovers are constantly in search of a whimsical story that has dragons in it. Well, Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez is the book you’re looking for!

The story follows Zarela, the daughter of one of the most famous Dragonador families in Hispalia. After her mother was killed by a dragon, Zarela is content with sticking to Flamenco dancing as her mom did, but when her father is gravely injured by a dragon and her family name is disgraced, she has no choice but to start training to become a Dragonador herself. Enter dark and mysterious, Arturo, the dragon tamer who is adamantly against killing dragons, but who is also the only person somewhat willing to train Zarela. Zarela and Arturo need each other, but there is more to their story than they originally thought.

This book truly has everything you could ask for! To start with, the dragons are well-developed and interesting. I feel as though many fantasy novels with dragons just include them without really making them feel real, but Ibañez clearly put a lot of thought into the dragons in this novel. Not only are there different breeds, but the dragons have unique personalities. Similarly, Zarela’s feelings towards dragons develops throughout the book, which give them another interesting dimension.

In addition, I really enjoyed many of the characters in the novel. The main focus was obviously on Zarela and Arturo, but the supporting characters also felt well-developed, and didn’t outshine the main characters. I was happy to see that this book is a standalone, but after reading it, I would adore a companion novel with Lola, Zarela’s best friend, as the main character.

Furthermore, there is a component of mystery in the novel that really added a lot to the storyline. I won’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away, but the questions surrounding the dragon disaster when Zarela’s father is injured, really complemented the main storyline of Zarela training to become a Dragonador. The plot overall, was well-written and very detail-oriented. Ibañez’s writing was genuinely poetic throughout the entirety of the book!

All in all, I’m desperately hoping that one of the book boxes I’m subscribed to does a special edition of this phenomenal book! It is definitely one of two books that are in the running for my absolute favorite book this year!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Eighteen-year-old Zarela Zalvidar is a talented flamenco dancer and daughter of the most famous Dragonador in Hispalia. People come for miles to see her father fight in their arena, which will one day be hers.

But disaster strikes during their five hundredth anniversary show, and in the carnage, Zarela’s father is horribly injured. Facing punishment from the Dragon Guild, Zarela must keep the arena—her ancestral home and inheritance —safe from their greedy hands. She has no choice but to take her father’s place as the next Dragonador. When the infuriatingly handsome dragon hunter, Arturo Díaz de Montserrat, withholds his help, she refuses to take no for an answer.

But even if he agrees, there’s someone out to ruin the Zalvidar family, and Zarela will have to do whatever it takes in order to prevent the Dragon Guild from taking away her birthright.


My thoughts:
The premise of this story had me from the first line - I mean flamenco dancing and dragons? What is not to love?! And I really did want to love this one. I think it had the potential to be one of those amazing stories that stays with you long after you finish the last page. However, the execution fell a little flat and left me wishing for more. It was good, it was entertaining, but it just wasn’t quite all that I was hoping for. I didn’t grow attached to the characters until the middle of the book, which is when the story really felt like it came alive and I really became invested in what was happening. I wanted more romance, more dragons. The potential and framework were there, it just didn’t quite deliver in the way I was hoping. I love slow burn romances, I love rooting for the characters and that heart-rending do-they, don’t-they rollercoaster with the downhill rush as feelings are realized and conveyed. This was so close. It just felt like it needed just a little more. And the dragons, I loved the dragons and loved the direction Isabel was headed - I just wanted more.

Isabel writes beautiful prose - the world was richly imagined with its Spanish influence, and the descriptions of the food left me drooling. I loved Zarela’s relationship with her father - I loved seeing a healthy (albeit plagued with the usual problems) familial relationship depicted on the page. Too often, family is depicted as the root of all a character’s problems, so it was a nice change to see some healthy relationships come to the page.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It falls somewhere in the 3.5-4 star category for me.

Zarela Zalvidar, a young flamenco dancer, is the daughter of a famous Dragonador in Hispalia. The arena has been in her family for generations and one day, it’ll all be hers. Disaster threatens to wipe out her family's legacy on the day of a celebratory show. The Dragon Guild wants to take away her inheritance, but she will not let them without a fight. She’ll need the help of a famous dragon hunter, Arturo Díaz de Montserrat; otherwise, her world will burn.

I was excited to read Together We Burn this year! I fell in love with the cover and the premise of the story soon after. The author does a fantastic job world building and using descriptive prose; I felt like I could see the story come to life. I loved that this story included bits of magic and dragons; however, I wish we dived into those aspects more. It would have made the story less predictable and made the story more intriguing.

I liked the love interests, but a little more character development would have been nice to see. I liked the focus on Zarela. She’s a strong main character and admirable for how she speaks her mind and fights for her family. The romance in this story was also predictable and I wish it would had been more exciting. Although, I didn’t love this story; I did like it! It just needed more magic, dragons, and a twist to pick things up.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

It’s not often nowadays that you find a standalone fantasy that truly delivers. This one was not only enjoyable but had solid world building and great characters, leading to a well-developed story that was wholly likeable. Even though the romance was a bit predictable, I enjoyed it nonetheless and found the whole story to be enchanting and riveting from start to finish.

An enjoyable standalone fantasy.

Overall, this was a solid offering. Despite the subject matter not being of much interest, I requested this book as I’ve been impressed by the author’s previous works. Unfortunately, this didn’t have the same depth of worldbuilding as her first duology, though it was still interesting and well written. Personally, I found the second half, and especially the third act, to be much stronger than the beginning, to the point I wish it had been revised significantly. I think the first half could have been cut by almost half, so the rest of the book could have been fleshed out more.

The themes, as well as a variety of content, was more mature than in the author’s other works, positioning this more in an upper YA to NA crossover. Overall, I think fans of How to Train Your Dragon and Isabel’s other works will enjoy this. It was fun and romantic, though not a standout for me compared to other titles I’ve read this year.

I normally not a huge fan of standalones, but I quite enjoyed this one. The plot was interesting and I liked the inclusion of dragons. The one part of the plot was predictable, but overall a solid plot. I liked the characters and the side characters. Each one added something to be story. I even liked the epilogue which never happens.

My very first book by author Isabel Ibanez... And although I didn't end up loving it as much as I thought I would, I found Together We Burn to be quite enchanting.

I enjoyed the author's story-telling that pulls you in. Not gonna lie, my favorite part has to be the dragons. Because who doesn't love dragons?! One would be a fool not to! Having said that, it was disappointing how very little action there was to witness. The world building could have also used a bit more ironing out. (The magic system was barely given any thought.) Unfortunately- and it pains me to say this- I wasn't as invested in the romance. I did like the easy banter between Arturo and Zarela. Individually they're likable characters if a bit forgettable. And the "big reveal" in the end? Saw it coming a mile away. Honestly, I just found the villain to be irritating and unnecessary.

Not a bad book per se... just not something I would want to read again, unfortunately. But if you're looking for a Spanish-inspired fantasy read that's quick and predictable set in a world with dragons, then maybe give this one a try!

I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review.

This book was so interesting and well written! The world building was magical and beautiful! Zarela was a great main character and I loved the slow burn romance between her and Arturo! Also it had dragons which is awesome! It is definitely more of an upper YA almost NA which I am totally fine with! I can’t wait to read more books from Isabel!

Together We Burn will easily be one of my top reads of 2022. I am fully obsessed with everything about this story. Dragons, flamenco dancing, magic, mystery, romance… count me in! Isabel Ibañez has blown me away with this gorgeous upper YA/NA fantasy.

The world-building in this novel is absolutely impeccable and I am so hopeful that Ibañez will continue to write stories in this magical setting because there is so much more to explore and I was absolutely not ready to leave when this book ended! Between the dragons and the magic system, there is so much intrigue and wonder in this world that Ibañez has created. There are plenty of side characters I would love to spend more time with, so please consider this is my official request for a Lola and Guillermo book.

Zarela, our heroine, is fierce and lovable. I really enjoyed following her growth and watching her come into her own throughout the course of this story. We start off with a heroine who feels immense pressure to live up to her family name and continue her parents’ legacy and it was so satisfying watching her come to realize that her own path is just as valid and begin to build a legacy for herself while still honoring her heritage. The family elements of this story were very relatable and touching.

This book is fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I had a hard time putting it down because I was always dying to know what would happen next and uncover the mystery of who sabotaged Zarela’s family. I had my suspicions pretty early on and they ended up being pretty dead on, but that really didn’t dull my enjoyment of the story at all. I am older than the intended audience for the book so I would expect that, and I felt like the mystery was done really well with enough fun twists to keep it engaging for readers of all ages.

While I am sure there were some aspects of the story that could have been more fully fleshed out, I can’t think of any at the moment and all I want to do is sing this book’s praises. Fans of upper ya fantasy romance should pre-order this book immediately!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Isabel Ibañez thought, what if Spanish bull fighting was dragons instead? And so this lovely novel was born. The main character is the daughter of a famous dragon fighter, but after a life changing disaster in the families arena, Zarela is left trying to save her families business.

This story has dragons, drama, enemy to lovers romance and some twisty turns and made me gasp.

Isabel Ibañez writing is beautiful and captivating, she is a woman who knows her craft and does it well. The world building in this story is *chiefs kiss* really well done. With a sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases here and there this book has a rich culture that is hard not to fall into. I gave this story 4 starts instead of 5, because I felt it was a slow start. I did put it down a few times and pick it up later. Once I got to the midpoint however, I couldn’t put it down!

I really enjoyed this book-
It was about Dragon fighting in Spain, (many parallels to bull-fighting)
with some flamenco thrown in.

It had a very strong heroine, and a few twists along the way.
Also not everything was happy shiny in the ending and that felt more true than when everything gets wrapped up all perfect.

Great writing, and description, especially of the fashion and buildings.
I could truly see this as a movie or series
Brava!

Thanks for NetGalley for a free ARC, my opinions are my own.

Omg, this book was super cute! I thought this book was very unique and fun! I really enjoyed reading about dragons and world-building in it.

A flamenco dancer, a cranky caballero, AND dragons! There is nothing not to like!

Zarela watched as her mom died by the fire of a dragon. What follows are many unfortunate events where Zarela realizes she will have to fight the dragons in order to save her family name and legacy. Arturo enters in order to train her to fight dragons but he has secrets of his own.

Ibañez has such a way with words where you can see Zarela dancing and moving, you can see the destruction left behind by dragons. This book was wonderful and took me on an amazing adventure.

Together We Burn takes what we know as Spanish bull fighting and infuses it with magic, fire, dancing, death, and dragons. The result of that is nothing short of flaming flamenco fun!

At only eighteen, Zarela Zalvidar is a skilled flamenco dancer like her mother, who, after a tragic accident that severely injures her father, must find a way to save her ancestral home. The only way to do that is to take her father's place as Dragonador, which means battling dragons to the death in the arena.

With sabotage afoot so rife she can smell it, and with the Dragon Guild breathing down her neck, ready to strip her of her birthright, she asks dragon hunter, Arturo Díaz de Montserrat, for help with training. He's resistant at first - infuriatingly so - but Zarela can't afford to take no for an answer. She refuses to leave until he accepts.

So, grumpy though he is about it, they eventually team up. That's when the tension, the stakes, and the secrets start to build between them--burning all of Hispalia, as well as their hearts, like a fire. Can they work together? Will they be able to catch the saboteurs, stave off the radicals, save the family business, and douse the attraction that keeps sparking between them?

This book was so rich in Spanish culture and custom. I loved how lush and colorful the atmosphere was. I do think the world-building could have benefited from more depth, however, especially with regards to the magic system. I suppose I was hoping for something more elaborate, more intricate, than the broad flourishes that were sprinkled throughout. The big revelations weren't much of a surprise either, but that was fine with me. Zarela and Arturo's romance balanced that out with its enemies-to-lovers-like sizzle.

I only wish there were more dragons! Or more time with them, in any case.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Thanks to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This book releases on May 31, 2022.

A really fun and interesting fantasy-- dragon fighting, flamenco dancing, and romance? I was all in.

Thank you for Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel.

18-year-old Zerela Zalvidar has grown up to be part of her family's business, a respected Dragon arena business (think bullfighting, only with dragons). She is training to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a well-known flamenco dancer. When tragedy strikes, her father, a famous Dragonador who fights dragons in their arena, falls into a deep depression. Disaster again happens during a show, and Zerela is left to pick up the pieces and seeks to discover who is responsible. She enlists the help of her workers/friends and stubbornly recruits a reluctant Dragon tamer, Arturo, to help her with her quest to save the family business.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very entertained. It has a strong female protagonist and the plot moves along. I liked the world building although it clearly takes it from the bullfighting world (a tradition that I am against, but they do address this as part of the plot). I thought it was a fun read and really enjoyed it!

Beautifully written, this story had all my favorite things - a strong female lead, a dark broody love interest, tight-knit friendships, magic - and dragons 🐉

Though predictable at times, this book grabbed me from the beginning and never let go and left me feeling all the right things. It was a heartwarming tale I would definitely recommend.

| Together We Burn

🔥 “Are you ever going to kiss me, Arturo?” A ghost of a smile bends his mouth. “Trust you to not be coy.”🔥

Together We Burn is a beautiful story told with a touch of Spanish history that blends into fantasy with a sprinkle of romance.

At the very beginning I found myself wondering if I would like this one, with it’s “bull fighting” inspo turned “dragon fighting”, it had me overwhelmed with my feelings against it, but please give it a chance because it was well worth it!

Read it you love:
🔥enemies to lovers
🔥STRONG banter and attitude
🔥a young woman to defy all odds
🔥a bit of mystery (I figure it out 😎)
🔥flamenco dancers, beautiful dresses and music
🔥a bit of wizardry
🔥family bonds and legacies
🔥dragons of all shapes and sizes

I loved TWB so much that i’ve already pre-ordered my own copy.
I actually wished it was LONGER!!!

Rating:
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: This dragon might not be throwing flames everywhere, but you can feel the heat 🔥 (tasteful yet present)

This one was another of the hard to rate because there was a split between my own reading interests vs how well I thought the book was written. I read this as an arc from Netgalley which didn't influence my review in any way. While I did really enjoy the book I did have some quibbles about the world building and my own broken expectations.

I do however like Zarela, our point of view character very much as well as the surly dragon hunter Arturo Díaz de Montserrat but it was probably a 3.5 read for me because of some of Zarela's choices. SHe's a flamenco dancer, daughter of a Hispalia-famous flamenco dancer and a dragon fighter whose family dragon fighting lineage goes back centuries. Zarela lost her mother to a dragon a few years back and the story opens with a horrible accident in the dragon fighting ring (yes this is a bull fighting analogy) that nearly kills her father and disgraces the family. Learning Dad has squandered all their money, Zarela desperately tries to save their business and home even though it seems like someone has purposely ruined them and the dragon master couldn't care less because he hates her dad.

That's how Zarela meets Arturo, disgraced dragon fighter now hunter. From the first moment we meet him I thought this is going to be a more adult How To Train Your Dragons and I wasn't wrong. As I said I liked the characters but the story does in fact move on very predictable rails. He trains her to fight even though he doesn't want her to and he's very much Hiccup (movie Hiccup not the books) studying the dragons. You expect the love story and in spite of that it works.

What didn't work as well for me is Zarela knows someone did this and for a little while it looks like she's going to investigate who nearly murdered her father, did murder a bunch of people in the stands when all their dragons were released and killed one of their tamers but then she doesn't. She has two possibilities, an anti-dragonfighting protest group and the dragon master himself but it just fizzles out and that was disappointing. Even a line or two saying she had to choose between justice and training to save the business would have helped. I think it might have been to have the bittersweet ending but that still could have happened easily.

The world building fell over itself a few times. Hispalia is obviously Spanish speaking but we see no other countries so why are we lapsing in and out of Spanish (I suspect to remind us we're in Spain) this is generally something we see when people are speaking the native tongue of the country they're in and speak the language of where they are from. That was a little odd but no real big deal.

The thing that bothered me about the world building is we have all these different kinds of dragons with different powers and we hear Hispalia is the only country still capturing, tormenting, fighting and killing them. Unlike bulls, dragons at least make a little more sense in a ring because they can destroy swaths of the city and do. But if Hispalia is still the only country doing this, what is everyone else doing? Suffering and dying? Have they found a better way? I really wanted Arturo to mention this since this was such a big deal to him. And really if the dragons are this dangerous why are they not summarily killed. Why would you bring them to the heart of the city and store them in cages to fight in a ring where they can literally fly away if they get loose? I wanted a better explanation and didn't get it.

That said, I did enjoy it and rated it up a bit because I thought it was well written over all.