4.5 stars

Louisa Masters and Joel Leslie are always a hit for me! While Dragon Ever After in the new Here Be Dragons series is a spin-off of the Hidden Species series we still enjoy so much of the laugh-out-loud antics and craziness from that world. And who better to start that off than Percy, the old Lucifer, finally getting his HEA?

Honestly, I can't say enough good things. First, I unequivocally love dragons. Add in Louisa Master's world that entails dragons and their crazy hell hound type antics, and just sign me all the way up!

Just as a general housecleaning effort- I will say that you will be missing a lot of cues of this Hidden Species/Here Be Dragons world if you have not read the Hidden Species series first. You might be fairly lost on magic and demons, etc plus who the Lucifer is and why they are important. Plus, plus, the world where the dragons came from and how they came about being transplanted here is also obliquely significant. Just start with that series first. 1. You will NOT be disappointed (Demons Do It Better audiobook is one of my all-time favorite books) 2. It is really funny and pretty steamy 3. Just all the side connections of the characters really add to the overall world story.

From the onset of the book, the author's humor really just sets the pace. I love Percy and I was all the way here for his story. We briefly met Bran in the previous series and was happy we got to see more fully into the "dragon" world dynamics.

The overarching mystery plot was missing, so far, out of the Here Be Dragons series but I'm not mad at it. I am always wildly entertained by the author's books and Dragon Ever After was no exception.

Joel Leslie's narration on these two series has been absolute aces for me. As always he is one of my absolute go-to narrators. SO, IMHO, you simply cannot go wrong with his audiobooks. He could probably read the phone book and figure out a way to make it entertaining. His characters alone are worth the price of admission. I honestly cannot find anything critical or negative to write and I simply don't care to.

I absolutely cannot wait for Dustin to get his own story and am eagerly awaiting the audiobook later this summer (fingers crossed).

*I had the absolute privilege of getting an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley and I could not be more grateful. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this audiobook!

I adore paranormal romance, especially with dragon shifters, so when I saw "Dragons Ever After" was available to request on NG I was super excited, added bonus that Joel Leslie was the narrator as I love his narration! The romance between Brandt & Percy was super sweet and low-angst. I did find the plot sort of aimless at times but overall I had a lot of fun listening to this one!

I'm new to Louisa Masters' paranormal universe, and I didn't realize Dragon Ever After was a spin off. I had no trouble following along, though I might have enjoyed it more had I been familiar with the background of the story.

The romance is warm and fuzzy, the creatures in this paranormal world are interesting and creative, and it's a sweet, low-angst tale.

Joel Leslie performs the audio version, and I was just a little disappointed. I'd have liked to see a little more variety between the voices he used for the main characters. Mr. Leslie definitely makes the most of the humor running throughout this story though.

This Story is absolutely hilarious. I laughed so much and it felt amazing. When grown men go back to being teenagers you know they are in love.

Percy and Brandt book was such a sweet and funny, low angst, high steam, low drama book. It was a sort of slice of life story. Nothing big happens, there are some really cute parts and I loved all the previous characters appearing in this and how they all interacted together. And the ending was adorable.
The narration by Joel Leslie, as usual, was perfection.

Dnf. Could not stand the narrator and could not even finish the first chapter. Would be willing to give the book another shot if I ever come across it in person.

Loved Percy and Brandt's story. After spending so many years as The Lucifer, Percy finally got to let go and find his place. Hilariously funny, super sweet and hot as hell (there is no hell dontcha know!) Can't recommend this book enough, the author could write about every character in this world and I'd happily read it. Marvellous!

Edited to add: Listened to the audio, Joel Leslie did a fabulous job as usual, his characterisations with Louisa's humour worked really well. Will def be a re-listen for me.

I l ove dragons and the writer has a way of writing that makes you feel everything that is happening especially when one of the dragons falls out of the sky stupendous.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

Witty and touching story with a fantastic audio performance.

I didn’t realize that this book has characters from the Hidden Species series until after I started listening to it. I haven’t read that series but I still enjoyed this book. I’m guessing that the MCs in this book were only secondary characters in the previous series.

I enjoyed this story so much. Joel Leslie is one of my favorite audiobook performers – especially when it comes to romantic comedy. There were so many witty moments in this story that I found myself LOLing more than once.

There were also so many very touching moments, especially the epilogue. I can’t give any details because of spoilers. This really was a great story and I hope the next one will eventually be done in audio.

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request – by the publisher via NetGalley – but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.

I’m going to begin with I found Dragon Ever After by Louisa Masters on NetGalley as an audiobook being offered for review. The only blurb I have read is the one available on NG and the book is listed as Book #1 in the Here Be Dragons series. I loved the cover and the blurb sounded like it was going to be right up my alley.

Based off the fact that this was a book #1 in a series and I am new to author Louisa Masters, I assumed I wasn’t jumping into a established series. I could just chillax and just enjoy the world-building while getting to know the characters. You know, all that new, fresh, jazz that happens when you start at the beginning. But that’s not what happened. Little did I know this was a spin-off series. Does that play an important part? You betcha! I had no knowledge of the world Percy and Brandt came from, nor what their previous interactions or personalities were. Brandt is supposed to be the leader of his people. Percy was the former Lucifer but now he had retired from leading the Community of Species Government. Two grown adults that had an attraction to each other. Two adults. Hmmm.

So why did I feel I was reading about teenagers? I didn’t find them to be very adult or mature. To tell you the honest truth, I originally felt my issue with the book was the narrator. Maybe it was the way he was presenting the characters? Or, he was representing the story line as a comedy when it shouldn’t have been? Nope, the narrator was just fine, and I give him props. I just couldn’t put my finger on why this book was not working for me. Then it hit me, it was the characters themselves. Their actions, the way they thought and spoke, it’s just not what I wanted or expected from two characters of power and importance.

Come on…we are talking dragons! My initial impression of what I was going to read and what I did read…let’s just say I came in with high expectations that were not met. I expected serious and tough, instead I got silly, lighthearted fluff. Maybe this will work for others but not me. I won’t be continuing with the series.


Stars: 2
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book! I loved learning more about Percy and Brandt is adorable! This is one of my favorite book worlds to get lost in and I’m so excited for more of it! I was happy Percy finally stood up to his father! He was the Lucifer for f*ck sake! What else does his father expect?! Most of all I ❤️❤️ those damn dragons! They are hysterical, I wish I could get an invite to the tea trials! Bring on more dragon stories!! Joel Leslie is a master narrator. I love listening to him tell a story.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.

This was surprisingly cute, not quite what I expected as it appears to be part of a much larger collection of stories but I didn't have to much trouble getting into the groove and the narration was fabulous

Review of audiobook
Dragon Ever After
Here Be Dragons Series, Book 1
By: Louisa Masters
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Series: Here Be Dragons, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-15-22
Language: English
Publisher: Tantor Audio

The Here Be Dragons Series is set in the same universe as Louisa Masters' Hidden Species Series. The story starts several years after the events of the last book of the Hidden Species Series. Percy is relieved not to be in the middle of all the chaos and stress of the Community of Species Government. He also misses everything but especially his friends from CSG. Percy has been struggling to decide what he wants to be when he grows up, which has nothing whatsoever to do with age. He is at loose ends when a dragon fledgling crashes and destroys his shed. Brandt, the leader of the dragons, comes to retrieve the fledgling in the hopes of getting Percy interested. One conversation full of innuendo later, awkward with a teen in the room, and Brandt has invited Percy to visit him in the United States. Their relationship is sweet and hot.

Joel Leslie is one of my favorite narrators. Dragon Ever After is a good illustration of why. The voice that Mr. Leslie creates for Percy is great. He combines all the strength Percy has previously shown with the vulnerability of a man questioning if he is enough. Brandt, the leader of the Dragons and ten thousand years old, is someone who has control of his life. His voice is strong but playful. The playfulness that the narrator brings out not only in the main characters but the others is wonderful. For example, Alistair whining about anything he isn't a part of. I find it easy to recognize each character, not only the main couple because Mr. Leslie has given them unique voices.

I truly enjoyed this audiobook. I started it this morning while I had breakfast and continued listening to it until I finished it. It was a fun book and definitely kept me interested. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

​#DragonEverAfter #NetGalley #TantorAudio #LouisaMasters #JoelLeslie

Percy and Brandt were both great characters and there are some very amusing moments in this lighthearted romance. The world building was really good and quite different from other dragon shifter books I’ve read. I absolutely loved Percy’s character - he came across as very endearing and sweet, I was, however, rather disconcerted by Brandt and the teenager he came to collect having Welsh accents, despite being from America. I haven’t read previous books by this author, so maybe they are genuinely Welsh characters, but I personally found it off putting. For me, Brandt just didn’t come across as a credible, romantic, lead character with the comedic Welsh accent the narrator used.

I had a lot of fun with this book! I loved the humour and chaotic energy of the characters.

This is the first book I've read from this author and although this is the first in a series, I'm assuming that I've missed some of the world building and introductions to characters etc from another series because it didn't feel fully fleshed out. Having said that I was fully able to follow the goings on.

There wasn't a massive amount of plot and the romance pretty much occurred without any build (again perhaps I missed the first meeting?). But all in all I found it to be a fun romp and I'm definitely interested in reading more from this world!

This book was extremely intriguing and interesting to read. I love all things fantasy, romance, and happy endings, and with this book I feel like I got it all! The storyline featured Percy and Brandt, two characters who are just out here living their best lives and having the greatest of times.

Both characters are complex and funny, but it's the best seeing them become the best versions of themselves in this book! I absolutely fell in love with Percy and Brandt as I continued listening to this book.

There were lots of laughs, smiles, and all around happiness reading this books. If you're looking for something that's more light hearted and fun, this is definitely the book for you!

*I was kindly given the audiobook for review.*
TW: Pointless animal death that doesn’t add to the story.

Audiobook: I wasn’t a fan of Joel Leslie. His voice is just too theatrical for me. It would have been better to have 2 different narrators for Percy and Brandt. It would have made the voices distinguishable. I did have to stop it at 30% to switch to the ebook.

I don’t know what to say. There was a scene that really bothered me. (view spoiler)LM writes books on vampires, demons, dragons, hellbounds, ghosts, etc. but she draws the line at a snake? Make it make sense please. I could be biased since I’m a snake owner myself but I don’t appreciate the killing of any animal unless it’s essential to the story. This was definitely not.

I read the demon book and I remember highly enjoying it and laughing but this one was not it. It was boring for me. I almost called it quits after the 8 pages of tea. I’m sorry but what exactly was that supposed to bring to the story?

If you’re interested in Louisa Masters’ books, I recommend starting with Demons Do It Better. That one is filled with humor and fun to read.

Well, this book was fine. I listened to the audio, which is narrated by Joel Leslie, and he definitely made it significantly better. The range of accents that man is able to do is just incredible. All the stars go to Joel Leslie.
The book is about a shifter who shifts from biped to cat (he's not human) who falls in love with a dragon (through evolution dragons can shift into biped form as well).
It was very low angst, l0w drama.
Dragons have only been on earth for 3 years in this book, after their home world/dimension was destroyed. This led to them all being, I don't think naïve is the right word, but maybe? At one point the dragons are introduced to tea, which they've never had before, which then leads to them hosting the Tea Trials, which is basically just a tea tasting, with cake. There were some funny bits like this throughout the book.
Overall, it was fairly okay, and a bit silly, and yes, I will probably read the other books in the series, if I can easily obtain them.

I have wanted Percy's story from the moment we met him. But I was afraid as the main MC's story usually means that that is the end of the series. Not this time, it's actually the beginning of the spin-off. I was so excited to read this. We knew that his mate was going to be Brandt, because you could see the sparks fly between them when they met while helping the dragons & elves relocate to earth after all of the evilness in Hidden Species Series. While I don't really think you have to read that series before starting this one, I feel that you would get a better understanding who these characters are, and it makes for a fuller reading experience. Plus, it's a really awesome series. Percy was the former Lucifer, and not in the fire & brimstone way. He was the leader of the Community of Species Government. In the final book of the prior series, there was a transfer of power & now Percy is free to do what he wants. Except he doesn't know what he wants to do. Brandt is the wing leader of the dragons & just a free spirit. All of the dragons are so cool & just fun-loving beings. Percy goes on a walk about & is currently in Western Australia. One evening, a young dragon crashes into his shed, unbeknownst to his parents, he decided to sneak out & go flying. Well with all the things the dragons went through previously, Brandt is called in from the states to help with the search for the missing dragon. When Brandt & Percy see each other again, sparks are still flying between them. We then have Percy coming to a decision to take the chance with Brandt. I loved watching the dragons in the compound interacting with Percy, especially the young. Percy finally comes to realize, with some help from David & the gang, that he is the happiest when he is helping others. He has a very nurturing soul. His father was a real tool & I am glad we don't get a lot of page time with him. Percy & Brandt make such a sweet couple. I can't wait to see where this spin-off takes us. There are so many possibilities.

This audio bumped my review up to 5 stars. Hearing Joel Leslie read the Percy monologue of riding the naked dragon was everything. Also hearing Brandt pout and Dustin whine made the story more immersive.

The love story between Percy and Brandt was really sweet and believable. And the dragon way of making babies was cute as pie.

I am still upset about the time jump and epilogue.