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!

I enjoyed reading The Last Dragon King, it is a really good book and has good character development. I liked how it was easy to understand what I was reading, and kept me interested. It was a fast read for me, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I didn't want to put it down. I liked reading about Arwen and Drae's characters. It felt like I was a part of the story. I definitely recommend The Last Dragon King.

I enjoyed this story very much. YA is not my typical go-to, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

It focused less on building an extensive backstory for every character, which I appreciated in this short story. I enjoyed the back-and-forth banter between the main characters. It made the king come across as more down-to-earth than your typical "I'm above all of you" personality.

It was a very easy read and maybe a bit too easy. The level of conversations held made it a bit too juvenile. I understand it's YA, but with a king's prestige and education, one would think it would be present in how he spoke.

One area I wish was expanded more was her time in the palace training. You jump from discovering she is the lost dragon queen to immediate training to weeks, almost months later, and she can already wield magic and fire. Including some of these pieces would have helped show how their relationship grew.

Overall it's a great story. Keep it up!

Leia Stone's "The Last Dragon King" unfolds a captivating tale in a world where royal decree and dragon magic collide. The news of the Dragon King seeking a wife sets the stage for a whirlwind of excitement and tension in a small village. The royal guard's quest to find women with the magical prowess to bear an heir for the king injects an element of anticipation into the narrative.

The protagonist, a watered-down human with a modest ten percent dragon magic lineage, faces an unexpected twist when the magic sniffers insist she present herself as a potential wife. This premise introduces a unique blend of fantasy and romance, where the allure of Jade City and the royal court becomes both enchanting and perilous.

As the story unfolds, the tension escalates with a terrifying secret revealed by the protagonist's mother. The looming danger, coupled with the potential for romance, creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Stone expertly balances the elements of fantasy and romance, ensuring that the world-building enhances the love story rather than overshadowing it.

"The Last Dragon King" promises a standalone fantasy romance with a satisfying happily ever after (HEA), providing readers with the assurance of a fulfilling conclusion. Leila Stone's novel is a journey into a world where magic, romance, and danger intertwine, offering an escape for those seeking a tale that blends the enchanting with the thrilling.

Honestly. I have never read Leia Stone. I like this book. I don't know. It was enjoyable and good. I don't really have any overwhelming feelings about this book.

This was a quick read for me in between installments in a very long and intense series. Literally quick- I finished it in about 2 hours!
Some highlights:
-parts of this book made me chuckle aloud
-I enjoyed much of the banter between our two MC’s
-I’m a sucker for a good hidden/secret history trope
-This was easy to read, and overall enjoyable
-The ending provides a level of HEA while still Hinting at trouble to come- which is ideal for me at the beginning of a series!

Now for the aspects I enjoyed less:
-Although I enjoy many YA stories, the use of language read a little “too” YA for my taste. At times I felt it was overly simple, which was occasionally distracting from the deeper story.
-The story and plot points often felt rushed to me. I would have enjoyed certain occurrences, character development, and character relationships being more fleshed out.

All in all, this provides the palate cleanser I was looking for and I’m curious enough to pick up the next installment. 3.5/5 stars.

This review was based on an advanced copy of the book.

The Last Dragon King is the first novel in a series of books that each center around a different Kingdom within Avalier. Each Kingdom is run by a different magical creature, dragonkind, elves, fae, wolves and necros. They are all at war with the Queen of the human kingdom who has developed technology that is a threat to all the magical lands.
This first book centers around the Kingdom of the dragonkind. It is a fast and fun read. I grew to like the main characters and liked their romantic plot, even if it was all very predictable. It's a simple but very engaging story that I couldn't put down. The writing is simple and at times the inner dialogue of the narrator is a bit "modern" and awkward, but not enough to diminish the story.

Overall, it's not epic, it's not even that original, but it was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast and addicting read.

I absolutely loved this book! I can't believe I waited so long to read it. Leia has a way of writing a story so that you lose track of where you are. You truly feel like you are right there with the characters. I couldn't put this book down and I can't wait to finish the series.

Very fast paced and quick story of a young woman finding out she is more than she seems and that the man she loves could be out of reach. This story was super fast paced but didn’t leave any big holes in the plot or as a reader feel like there were any holes that left out missing information. I would have loved if this was a bit longer and that there could have been something accomplished besides the relationship between the MMC and MFC. It didn’t really have as much action or as much problematic situations happen that could setup for what comes next. I don’t think the next book in this series follows the same characters so I wonder if these characters are going to be revisited or if they won’t have that big of a part anymore. Overall this was okay and I hope the next books bring more to the table.

I had such high hopes for this one but sadly it didn't live up to the hype. The Last Dragon King was just an okay read for me. There were enjoyable moments but for the most part it was underwhelming. It was riddled with modern language when it was set in medieval times and the writing style didn't work for me either. Would I read the next in the series, yes because I've read other series where I wasn't a fan of the first book but loved the rest of the series.

This book captivated me from beginning to end. The characters were so vivid and well-developed that I found myself immersed in their world. The plot was charged with suspense, and the unexpected twists.
The author's writing style is engaging and gripping. Every page was a joy to read, and the atmosphere created through the descriptions made the story even more intense. The positive emotions evoked by the book made it an unforgettable reading experience.
The careful attention to detail and creative storytelling completely drew me into the narrative. The book exceeded my expectations, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of The Last Dragon King by Leia Stone. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC.

The Last Dragon King was a fun fantasy romance with magic, dragons, and a long-lost Queen. The romance between Arwan and the King was fun but predictable. They did add some romantic hurdles, but these trials all seemed quickly overcome. Which isn't bad, but I would not have minded those hurdles creating more character growth. All in all, this book was entertaining, but I don't feel the need to read the sequel right away. I give The Last Dragon King a solid 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

I didn't have very high expectations when it came to this book. Sure, I wanted to enjoy it, but I didn't expect anything super out of this world--and that's exactly what I got. This book is decent enough to read. I (like the rest of the world) have been into dragon-related novels these days, which is why I picked this up. To be honest, this book is very tropey (poor girl who gets to take care of her family turns out to be a lost heir to the throne; king falls in love with said girl), but that necessarily isn't a bad thing.

While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt like the plot and pacing were too quick. In my eyes, problems were resolved by the next chapter and there was little to no build up in relationships (friendships and romantic relationships). I would have appreciated seeing more page time between Arwen and the King, as well as Arwen and Joslyn. Even the training that Arwen goes through to become a solider for the king is skipped over and hardly addressed except through one flying scene. Arwen's personal development is hardly written about, though I do love her personality of not giving a shit about what other people think about her.

Additionally, for a YA book, the worldbuilding meets YA standards I suppose. It's very high level and doesn't go into many (if any) details, making it easy to read. However, I think some parts of the world could have been explored a little more, such as the war with the Nightfall Queen.

Overall, this book was okay.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book. I enjoyed reading it more than I thought I would. The pace felt a little slow but I liked the storyline and characters. I wished to have seen more connection between Drae and Arwen, but I still liked the book and I’m glad I read it
The story presents Arwen, a normal girl who gets selected to be a potential wife for the king. In this journey she finds a secret that could endanger her. This book has a happy ending and can also be read as a stand-alone. It is a little spicy in the end but it was an enjoyable story.

4.5 stars (

I loved this book the first time, and I will always continue to love Leia Stone's work.
The writing flows well.
The story is really good, with some sadness and tension with heartache and love.
Dragon shifting, forced proximity, arranged marriage, back-up wife with mixed feelings.
Loved the side characters too.

I have all 4 books in this series.
They are all standalones.
They are all really good reads.