I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read. A bit cliche in areas and any tension/drama/conflict was resolved a bit too quickly.

The world-building was good, and the fantasy world presented in the book was quite unique. And while I enjoyed the book, I felt like certain things were rushed a little and I felt that I was missing some character development.

However, this book has a little bit of everything, romance, magic, intrigue, and dragons set in a medieval time. It kept me hooked so I could find out what was going to happen. Arwen, the main female character of the story is focused on honor and friendship. There’re so many twists and turns through the story.

It was a good way to start the Kings of Avalier series. I recommend to everyone who likes a fantasy book with some twists.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

I'll admit I went into this with low expectations. While the synopsis intrigued me, there was something about it that made me think the writing quality may not be great. And that's exactly how I felt reading it. The story itself was decent, but it also didn't do much to separate itself from like books in the genre. Overall, I'd recommend passing on this one, unfortunately, Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

I really enjoyed the book I believe it had quite a bit of action which was great and I found it quite believable. The relationship between the king and Arwen and I was quite sad at the thought that they weren’t gonna be able to have kids together and get married and have a proper relationship And I was quite glad that it all came together in the end and they had two beautiful little girls and I’m quite excited to read the next three books in the series

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this story, but certain parts, particularly the beginning and setup, felt rushed. I wish there had been more content to support character development and to give the side characters more dimension. Because there wasn’t much opportunity to meet the townsfolk or exchange more than a few conversations with castle staff, I struggled to care about the plight of the kingdom and the magnitude of responsibility put on Drae.

Similarly, I liked the world-building and the lore that made this fantasy world unique, but wish there had been more. I suspect this will expand with each novel focusing on different kingdoms and their stories.

If you’re looking for a quick fantasy read to escape reality for an evening and don't want a debilitating book hangover, The Last Dragon King could fill that niche.

This book offers it all: romance, magic, and high-stakes intrigue. From the beginning this story kept me hooked and had me thinking about it long after I had finished it.

The world building is rich and immersive. The realm was vivid and enchanting. The dynamics of the magical war brewing in the background create a sense of urgency, elevating the stakes for our heroine.

The love story is heartwarming and heartwrenching! There was a delicate balance between the romance and the looming threat that overshadows Arwen and the Dragon King's connection. The tension had me on edge, flipping pages to find out what was going to happen.

I felt like the writing style was very smooth and easily transported me into the world that was created. The pacing was well-balanced with intense action and quiet scenes that allowed the character's qualities to shine through.

In conclusion, "The Last Dragon King" is a captivating fantasy novel that successfully blends magic, romance, and high-stakes drama. Leia Stone's ability to create compelling characters and a richly detailed world makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. The story's emotional depth, coupled with the looming magical war, ensures that readers will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in what promises to be an enthralling series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 14%

Give it a shot if you like:
-YA fantasy
-magic
-war
-fae
-dragons
-royals
-medieval times

I love all of these things, so I had high hopes for this one. And the cover and description drew me in. It almost seems like this book was kind of thrown together and rushed form the 3 chapters that I read. The writing wasn’t for me. Several phrases and words are repeated within the first 3 chapters. The storyline has a lot of potential, but I feel like it wasn’t executed correctly. It may be just a me thing. Lastly, I wasn’t connected to the characters and did not have any interest in continuing the story.

Thank you to Bloom Books, Leia Stone, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Exceptional read. I could not put it down and stayed up way too late missing out on sleep. I was enraptured by the story from page 1 through to the end. Fast paced, lots of action with s little angst snd a fabulous HEA. Romantasy at its best, enjoy!

Good Read. The last dragon king was a good read. I love Leia’s stories and this one did not disappoint. This book did feel short though and jumped forward in time a few times where I would have liked to be able to see the details of that event or timeline.

I read this book in a day! I couldn't put it down! I loved Arwen and her strong character - focused on honor, loyalty and friendship. So many twists and turns and truly heart wrenching at times - I found my heart pounding and wondering what I would do in Arwen's place. Great read - ready for the next in the Kings of Avalier series!

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book when I started it, but the more I got into it, the more intrigued I became. The dragon king needs an heir. Arwen likes her life as a hunter providing food for her family. So when she finds out she’s one of many eligible women to be chosen to marry the king, she’s less than thrilled. Who will the king choose? This book gave me all the feels. As the characters navigate the through the obstacles surrounding them, I wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out or if I’d like the outcome. But I was here for the ride.

This took me 3 days to read. That’s it. I could NOT put it down. It was so good. World building was great, adding details in the course of the story without spending several pages on it. Short chapters that moved SO FAST. By the time I got to the third chapter, so much had happened I couldn’t believe it was only the third chapter. The FMC had a full range of realistic emotions and while single POV, enough came out in the dialogue that we got a good feel for the MMC. I laughed, I cried, I grieved. And the art work. Oh my heart! The art work in the book is just beautiful! And that last chapter, from his POV...*chef’s kiss*. Give me more, I am completely invested!

*Spoilers*

I was captivated by the fantasy world and character development in this book. The world-building and character dynamics kept me thoroughly engaged until around the 85%, where a plot twist left me conflicted and disheartened. The idea that the king couldn't have an heir with his her due to a predestined tragic outcome felt disappointing and almost led me to dnf the book.

However, my determination to finish paid off immensely! The book took an unexpected turn, redeeming itself in the final stretch. The king's decision to defy the established norms and choose her, along with their willingness to embrace any potential challenges, was incredibly moving. The eventual outcome, with the birth of twins despite the foreseen difficulties, was a big surprise to their love and commitment.

Initially considering a 2-star rating due to my dissatisfaction with the plot development, my perception dramatically shifted by the story's conclusion. The resilience and love displayed by the characters compelled me to reconsider, ultimately awarding this book a solid 4-star rating.
Overal: 4 ⭐

This was a quick, fun read with an interesting premise. Although most of the worldbuilding was generic fantasy, there were some great little tweaks (which I won't detail here to avoid spoilering the plot) that I think were both inventive and tied nicely into the plot itself. I would have liked to see a lot more character development for the main characters and a few more emotional twists/turns to their romance, as well as fewer 1-dimensional secondary characters, which I think could still have been done without slowing the pace of the narrative. But overall I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom for the arc.

I have mixed feelings when it comes to this book. I think the plot line was a great concept but I felt like it needed to be a bit longer for the development. I just couldn't find a defining moment when the characters love clicked. Arwen just always felt like the last choice and strung around.

I did enjoy how much the dragon king was willing to go to drastic lengths for his people; how he'd put his feelings aside for them. Also, Arwen with her strong will and skills was great. I'm always a fan of a FMC who doesn't need a man.

I'm excited to read the rest of the books because I did like the concept of this book and have high hopes for the others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc. I really enjoyed the story/concept I just feel it was rushed. There was also plenty in here that was just unnecessary. I wish we saw more development in the characters and their relationships. Overall a quick and decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn to this book based on the cover, synopsis, and my interest in YA fantasy. However, I quickly realized this is not as "upper" YA as I thought. I'm not the target audience here, being in my twenties, and it felt too immature. Unfortunately I had to DNF. I would recommend this to teens interested in fantasy!

I simply devoured this book in one day due to its easy to follow plot and clever banter between our main characters. The presented plot: Infamous Dragon King in search of magic-wielding wife to supply an heir (after tragically losing his late wife and children) meets strong, independent, and beautiful Arwen - with a jilting secret of her own. Although I enjoyed this book, I did feel as though the overall storyline was rushed with quick solutions to grand problems. I felt some issues, if explored deeper, could have contributed to more development of, and connection to, our MC’s. The story and perspectives were often “told not showed”-making it difficult to envision a few scenes and environments in which important events took place, causing some disconnect. Overall, I thought this was a fun enjoyable read. I give this book a solid 3/5 stars ⭐️.

(arc review) The Last Dragon King - Leia Stone
Rating: 4 stars

My inability to put this book down reflects the fast paced and enjoyable story within. I got through this booked in around 3 hours, and caught myself genuinely laughing at the character interactions.

The world building was good without making it too wordy by over describing. There are also future novels stemming out of this world which will follow different characters met throughout the books. I’m intrigued to see where this series goes next.

The story moves at a quick pace which made it easy to read however at certain points the storyline felt slightly rushed. I think this comes from a place of wanting to know more about the characters and having their relationship develop slower.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Okay yes, I read a ton of romantasy and yes, dragons have been my weak spot since I was a small child. Neither of those are the reason I couldn't put this book down!

Most romantasy girlies can attest to how it can be so heavy, each series is a commitment, and there's no such thing as a quick read. This book contradicts every single one of those statements. It's got a solid plot without feeling like you're going ten rounds with Mike Tyson emotionally. It's a series of interconnected standalones so you can squeeze installments between other reads, and ultimately it feels like a lighter read without skimping on struggles. Yes, cozy fantasy is a whole thing, this has the vibes without actually being in the genre.

Arwen (yes that's actually her name) made me want to shake her sometimes, but that was half the fun. She's young and hasn't had the experiences or therapy many of us have, so she absolutely gets a pass. Drae had me screaming at my kindle, but I adored him by the end, the idiot.

In terms of spice, this is enchilada sauce, but strangely I found I didn't mind. It's not closed door but it's not detail-oriented, so don't pick this up looking for smut, but do pick it up if you need a romp away from the real world. I'm absolutely going to be reading the rest of this series!