Interesting concepts and an intriguing twist on the fantasy creatures. An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

I am obsessed with this!!! I need the next book!!! I am completely absorbed into this story! 700 pages flew by like it was 100. The world build is fantastic and the storyline keeps you hooked. One of the best fantasy books I've read.
This is a 5 star read and a must if you like fantasy.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main characters were Saskia and Castor.

Saskia is a human and a thief. She live with other thieves. While trying to steeling from a person in the local market. Things don't go as plan. The person that she stole from finds her and chase her down.

Castor is a dragon shifter. He works at the castle. While shopping at the local market someone steels something very important to him and he wants it back. He asked questions and remember a smell that the person had. So he goes looking and finds that person. When he finds them he turns in to his dragon form and gets the item back. But not the money instead he tell her that she will have to do something for him later.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

I loved the narrative on racism, ego, and classism in the book and how it informed on the broader world without being dry in description. I appreciate the cunning and sass of the characters and the family dynamics going beyond blood.
I look forward to more from this author in this world they've created.

It took me forever to get through this story! I liked the characters and thought they were well written, but the book just moved a little too slowly for me to really get into it.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

FINALLY a book that has a realistic slow burn romance. “The Dragon’s Thief” by Ava Richardson restored my faith in YA Fantasy Romance. I loved how well-developed the main characters were and how complex their motivations were. Their struggles were relatable and engaging. The dynamic between Castor and Saskia was captivating as they slowly learned to trust each other despite their different motivations. The world building was immersive and drew me into the story from the first page. I loved the overarching plot of the book, and how Castor and Saskia worked together towards a common goal. However, I wish there was a clearer picture of Eirana. She felt like a one-dimensional villain whose only goal was to gain power. Thankfully, her minimal role in the book didn’t significantly affect the readability for me, but I hope for more character development in future books of the series. The narrative was well-paced, although there was a slight lag in the later chapters. If the following books in the series maintain a similar pace, it would be better to edit them down to maintain the pacing throughout.

This was such a great start to the series. The magic system was very well done and I loved the setting and world building. The romance was top tier!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. Tropes: slow burn romance, fantasy romance, dragons
This was a good book. The characters and the world building were good, and I liked the slow burn romance was good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This book was so good, but it took forever for me to read (over 800 pages)!. I am a very fast reader, but this booknreally needs to be split into two books!

I really became invested in the story and characters and totally enjoyed each twist and turn. I fell in live with both Saskia & Caster. I lived the world if the elves and dragons! I am looking fowmrward to book two!

Recommend

I love dragons and I love evil elves, so this was right up my street! It was easy to read, fast paced and the world building is excellent - I'm looking forward to the next book.

In a world full of humans, elves, and dragons, there is a clear hierarchy. Elves are on top, dragons fall somewhere in the middle, and humans are at the bottom of the heap. This is how it has been for many years, since the war between elves and dragons which saw the dragons lose their powers.

Castor has been working as a guard in the imperial palace for one hundred years, far longer than the average conscription time, when one day he witnesses something that could change the balance between elves and dragons forever. The trouble is, he has no way of getting to it.

Saskia and her tribe of misfits are thieves by necessity, stealing what they can to survive in a world against them. It’s not an ideal life, but they have carved out a life, and Saskia would do anything to protect it. However, when one of her own is in terrible danger, she will need to rely on more than her own skills in order to save them.

I really enjoyed this book, it was clear that the author is experienced as the world building was thorough and the plot line was engaging. Our main characters had a believable character arc and I enjoyed their banter and interactions. This is a clean, slow burn romance, which did get a bit frustrating at times with the duel POV - just kiss already! I also think it didn’t feel like an 800 page book, there were enough events evenly spaced out to keep the quest relevant and the stakes high. Definitely recommended to fantasy readers who are looking for something a lighter as a palate cleanser, and I look forward to reading more by the author!

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is the first book in a YA Shifter Fantasy that teams up a human street rat (aka thief) and a [hot] shape changing dragon with a hint of romance. The world building here is decent, with elves on top and humans on the bottom and the dragons as the conquered former lords of all the world. There is a basic mythology about how magic came into the world by way of a dead god that centers on a mountain from which the dragons get their power … so when the elves managed a sneak attack against the aggressive dragon expansion that hide the mountain from them, the dragons basically lost all magic except their ability to changed into a humanoid (a bit of a stretch, but easy to work with).

There is plenty of distain and prejudice against the short lived and fragile humans by both elves and dragons, but in an enemy of my enemy trope, we get a dream team that just might be able to upset the status quo … but that is for the series arc … here we have two parts, each and a plot conflict to resolve. The first is when the human thief’s sister is unfairly arrested and “disappeared.” Saskia needs the dragons help to rescue her and strikes a bargain that is the focus in part 2. Despite the growing, and somewhat innocent, attraction between the two conspirators, there is a good balance of tension and individuality between them that makes for an entertaining, if somewhat slow, story … picking up momentum toward the end to earn an extra star.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheDragonsThief #TheMagicofDelphire #NetGalley

Very different from other books I've read by Ava Richardson in that the elves are bad guys and the heroine is a thief. Saskia, a master pickpocket, unfortunately chooses the wrong pocket to pick, a dragon shifter! When he tracks her down she wants nothing to do with him but when her sister is accused of a ridiculous crime and put in prison by the elves, she strikes a deal with Castor, the dragon. If he will help her find and rescue her sister she will do what he wants, find out where a powerful artifact is in the Elven Palace. Thus begins a wild ride that kept me wondering how in the world they were going to get out of each predicament they get into.
Wonderful world building, looking forward to more about Delphire.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

This book takes you on a journey to a world ruled by elves, merciless in their ways. The Dragon Thief takes you along with Sakia a master thief training others to read marks and fend for themselves.
When Castor a little rough around the edges dragon shifter approaches her with a job she can’t help but say yes.
This was a fun read that kept me turning pages and wonder what would happen next! This books is firmly within the YA genre as there is minimal romance, but some well done tension between the main characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA fantasy read with a strong female lead and fun story line of thievery, mystery, and wonderful world building.
Be warned though, she’s a long one!

I really enjoyed the story and world building, but for me, I didn't feel a connection to the characters, which is very important for me when it comes to fantasy novels like this one. While I felt that the story flowed nicely and I wasn't getting stuck, I was never fully invested in what happened to the MCs either. Overall, a 3.5 fantasy read for me, and I'd give Ava Richardson's books another try because I did enjoy her writing!

A human thief unknowingly steals from a dragon. Their chance encounter sets off a series of events that threatens the very structure of society as they know it.

This book makes its nearly 600 pages seem short. The pacing and action are satisfying, and the world is vibrant and well-developed. The two main characters are likable and complex, and there are enough supporting characters to keep the story interesting without over-complicating the plot. I particularly liked the explanation and limitations of magic in this world, and thought it added a lot to the conflict of the story.

Where the book really shines is the characters and their interactions with each other. The platonic and familial relationships were given just as much care as the romance, which added a lot to the stakes and my emotional investment. Though this was my first time reading a book from this author, she has a hefty catalog of dragon-themed books and she has clearly honed her craft. As this is book 1 in a series, rest assured that I am eagerly waiting for book 2.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.

5/5 This is the type of book I would have randomly picked up at Barnes and Noble in high school and become obsessed with.

This story has it all. Epic fantasy, the right touch of romance, and a villain we can all rally against. This a solidly YA book and while there are some hints to romance, there's nothing explicit. The magic system of the world seems unique and I can't wait to learn more about it in the next book!

I would read anything with books (due to the fourth wing hype) and i really enjoyed this new take on dragons. Loved this!

3.75 Rounded to 4

This was such a good read. Having read a fair few dragon books now this one was a refreshing take.
The world building was great and I really enjoyed the authors writing style.
This book follows Saskia, a human and a thief in a world dominated by Elves and where Dragons are now considered second class to the Elves after being beaten in the war and stripped of their magic.
Saskia finds herself in trouble after she pickpockets the wrong Dragon and ends up having to work with Castor. Castor is a Dragon Shifter who works for the empress but desperately wants to see the Dragons back on top.
I enjoyed that this book was told from the two POV as it gives us a good insight into both characters.
I’m really looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.