4+ stars

Ummm wow! This book took me completely by surprise. But each page, it builds and builds and gets better and better, until at the end I was a mess of emotions and in love. The vibes are a bit "The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea," but make it adult.

It starts with a bit of fairy tale-style story telling. We jump right into the action with the plot moving into the meat of things quickly. Sai seems in over his head and very well-intentioned. And we meet Jyn pretty early. To buy into this book, you have to buy into fated mates/soulmates. Because the history between these 2 souls finding their way back to each other does a lot of the work, but it's just so beautiful.

Sai and Jyn are fighting for their lives throughout most of the book, so that gives things a lot of tension and suspense. The last 40% had me in a chokehold as the danger built and our MCs fought for each other. I was seriously a mess at the end. I loved it though. There is quite a bit of bloody action too (and a few gross pages with a cannibal, so beware). We also get some very sweet intimate scenes.

Overall, definitely recommend this one. The gorgeous cover matches the inside!

Many thanks to NetGalley and SagaPress for the preview. All opinions are my own.

As someone that knows almost nothing about Chinese myths, I found The Last Dragon of the East to be captivating and endearing.

I wouldn’t say there was a ton of character development involved in the story, but there was enough depth and personality given to each person that they at least felt unique; I loved the relationship between Sai and Jyn, and I especially adored the way Sai’s sense of humor drove Jyn insane.

It should be mentioned, though, that book was a little darker than expected; parts were definitely gruesome and gory, especially in comparison to how light and humorous the rest of the book was. This wasn’t a bad thing, just unexpected.

Also, the cover to this is absolutely gorgeous. I love the artwork and the colors.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun fantasy debut! I loved the relationship between Jyn and Sai and was very pleased with the ending. Jyn's character could have been a bit more developed, but overall, both Sai and Jyn were compelling characters, and I really enjoyed the plot. The book was extremely fast-paced and kept me entertained throughout the entire story. I also loved the theme of reincarnation and the folk tale/mythology aspect of the story! Overall, I can't wait to read what Katrina Kwan writes next, and I thought this was a pretty solid fantasy/romantasy debut!

Absolutely stunning. A story about dragons, red threads of fate, AND written by a woman of color in a climate dominated primarily by white voices? Check, check, and check!

This book is equal parts romance and adventure, with just a tinge of the horrific to keep the reader on their toes. I am genuinely in awe of this sweeping tale. It's been a very long time since I read from a male's POV, especially where romantic fantasy is concerned. I love how lighthearted Sai was and the fact that he was just an Average Joe thrown into this overwhelming situation. I'd probably react exactly the way he did.

There were moments when I laughed, and plenty of times when I cried. Kwan masterfully weaves together two narratives together into one heart wrenching story about love throughout lifetimes. I don't personally believe in soulmates, but if anyone can convince me otherwise, it's this author.

I want to read more books like this. There was a scene where the characters were intimate, but it wasn't as abhorrent and in your face as some other romantic fantasy authors. I hate the trend that books have taken toward including spice everywhere, and I'm grateful that The Last Dragon of the East focussed more on the emotional connection. It was actually very poetic!

Katrina Kwan is my new instant-buy author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The concept for this story--that there is a red cord connecting Fated Mates together, whether they are totally human or magical dragons--is a good one, but the execution leaves something to be desired. Sai runs a modest teashop and takes care of his widowed mother who is in poor health. He supplements his income by matchmaking, which he can do because he is able to see the red cord that ties Fated Mates together. He has not attempted to find his own Fated Mate because his own cord is gray and frayed and he is not sure why but is afraid to find out.
The story opens when Sai buys an illegal dragon scale from a healer in an attempt to help his mother regain her health, but both he and the healer fall into the hands of the Emperor Rong's soldiers because of the sale. There's plenty of violence and action that follows, and Sai does find his Fated Mate, Jyn, and discovers why their cord is so frayed. But there is a cartoon-like quality to much of the action--characters gravely, almost fatally injured on one page, have totally recovered by the next with no repercussions at all. Most of the characters are pretty one-dimensional, and I found Sai to be rather annoying in his approach to almost everything. This is not a bad book, but it could have been much, much better.

This was fine. Love Asian threads of fate stories. However, the author has a habit of digging into reviews and putting those on blast for promotional purposes. So I'll just leave it at that for my review.

Ok well now I need this cdrama! This was right up my alley and I could see it so clearly.

Sai runs his family's teahouse but has a side business as a matchmaker. He's able to see the red thread connecting soulmates, so for a fee he'll help the villagers find theirs. He needs the money from his side business to pay for some valuable medication that could heal his mother. And then he's caught by the emperor who commands him to track down a dragon in the next country over. On his quest, Sai also meets a new friend who wants to kill the dragon to scavenge for parts. So Sai must decide if he'll help the hunter kill the dragon, give the dragon to the emperor, or do a ~secret third thing~. Oh, and as he continues his quest, he finds that his own Fated One thread, once frayed and gray, is slowly beginning to move and turn red again.

I was excited to find about 25% of the way through that this book was going in the direction I made a crazy guess.

This is a great book for anyone who enjoys cdrama romances with a human, spirits, and reincarnation. I loved watching Sai fall in love and flirt his way into his soulmate's hardened heart. This was nice! I had a good evening reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for this e-ARC.

this was such a great standalone fantasy. i feel like it’s been so long since i’ve read a good standalone in the genre, so this was perfect for that. i really enjoyed the premise and characters. kwan is a talented writer, the flow of her words was gorgeous. i had a few issues with the pacing of the book, but nothing too major. i would definitely recommend this to someone who is looking for an adult standalone fantasy, a good dragon book, or someone interested in stories about soulmates.

The cover, the writing, everything about this book was beautiful. The way Katrina writes this tale of Sai and his ability to see the red threads of fate had me captivated from the very start. Her writing is so easy to get addicted to, because she makes her characters likable, and it's so easy to form an attachment to them. And her worldbuilding amazed me. I need more of this story although I know it is over I just need so much more of this world.
I loved Sai's development throughout the story and him searching for the dragon as well as following his own red thread of fate. You may think this is a lighthearted story, but at times this story was dark, especially when you're given glimpses into the past. I loved how important family was to Sai also, and how no matter what he wanted to help his ailing mother.
There were some plot twists in this book that had me tearing up a little, and at one point I was full on sobbing. I was expecting some of what happened, but when it did happen the way it was written was more then I could possibly imagine.

Sai is an amazing 25 year old that has a special gift of being able to see people’s threads that link one another to their fated one. When his mom falls ill he finds the only cure is rare dragon scales so he sets out on a quest to find the elusive last dragon of the east. After tracking down the dragon he’s shocked to find his own weathered thread is tethered to the dragon. Spanning through lands and centuries this book takes you on an amazing journey of discovery and love Wonderful addition to the fantasy realm. 4.25 ⭐️

From the cover to the ending everything about this book is achingly beautiful. I love fantasy stories like this one where I can immerse myself and feel like I am right there with tithe characters. I loved Sai from the beginning with his gentle nature and hiis caring for his mother made me fall in love with him and toot for him along the way. I also really loved the authors take on the “red string of fate” myth. I’ve read a few books giving there spin on this myth but I particularly like this one the most. 100% recommend this book. I would have given it 6 stars if it was an option. The only negative is that I was sad when the boom was over I wished it could have been longer or even made into a duology.
Thank you #NetGalley and #sagapress for an early arc on this book

I cannot wait for this book to come out. I'm getting a physical copy as soon as I can I loved this book.
The romance really picked up in the last like 100ish pages, and the last chapter really hit.
I think if you read The Emperor And The Endless Palace and liked it you'd be into this.

A tale of dragons, fated romance and the power of love awaits you in this book.
You can tell the author put a lot of love and their own history into the crafting of this book. I for sure love when the author puts a piece of themselves into the story they write.
As far as the main characters go they were pretty easy to root for and connect with. My only complaint is with the other characters such as the big bad and the support characters. They were pretty much forgotten and when they did make an appearance they were pretty basic and forgettable.
The story was engaging in some aspects but slow in others. It wasn’t necessarily a bad story but it wasn’t my favorite aspect of this book. I found myself speeding through to get to the points of conflict and resolution.
What I did like was the sense of authors weaving of their mythology into the story and the dragons of course. I’m a sucker for a story with the dragons. Especially with the cover, absolutely breathtaking.
Overall a pretty solid book that falls in the middle of the pack with a three and half star rating. I would for sure recommend this book if you like:
Fated mates
Dragons
Resurrection
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in ARC form. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

It was so good!! I was rooting for the characters the whole time and the setting was so vivid. I love books that are inspired by East Asian cultures, they bring me back to my home in Asia.

This book was perfection! I love the build up of the entire plot, I loved the romance, I love the character growth and I love that the author didn't shy away from showing violent scenes. I will now be on the lookout for anything Katrina Kwan writes

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the copy of The Last Dragon of the East to review.

Sai, a man in his mid twenties, can see people threaded together by fate. He hopes to one day find his fated one, but with the responsibilities of running the tea shop his father left behind and caring for his sick mother, he has to put his dream on hold. When the emperor sends Sai on a quest to find the last living dragon he finds himself close to his fated one.
The concept of this book had so much potential, but it felt very predictable in the beginning. At times it felt like the author was telling us what was going to happen and then it actually happened on the next page (the scene where they went into battle is where I first felt this).
The character of Feng also had a lot of potential but I felt like she lacked depth and I would have preferred if the author described the accent and let the reader fill it in rather than writing in dialect.
I did enjoy the romance between the main characters and how we slowly saw Sai’s transition of who he is in this life to who he has been all along. I hope in the final version of this book we get to see a map of this world.

I loved this book! The Last Dragon of the East is Katrina Kwan's fantasy debut inspired by Chinese myths of ancient dragon gods and red threads.

Sai leads a quite life running his family's teahouse and taking care of his sick mother. On the side, Sai uses his ability to see red threads for matchmaking. Sai's existence is turned upside down when a pair of dragon scales works as a miraculous medicine for his mother and he must go on a hunt for the green dragon.

I was instantly enamoured by Sai's charisma as a matchmaker and dedication to his ailing mother. The first chapter of the book played out in my mind like a Disney movie, as did the rest of Sai's fantastical adventure.

It was nice having a male protagonist who's not all-powerful and perfect and surrounded by strong female characters. I also liked how Sai's fated person was not an enemies-to-lovers, but someone who wanted to keep her distance, even if it was from a place of pain and out of trying to protect her feelings. I love a story if fated love and love accross lifetimes. The blend of fantasy and myth was excellent. And while the story played out like a Disney movie for me, it was certainly not without it's strong, adult themes.

I would have liked a bit more about the story of the dragon gods, but perhaps that could be the subject of another book, and what was included in this book was enough for obtaining an understanding of the current events.

Recommended if you like fantasy, mythology, fated lovers, adventure, and strong female characters.

Note: Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of The Last Dragon of the East!

Rating: 4.25/5 Stars!

Summary: Sai has always always been able to see the red threads of fate that connect people to their Fated Ones, even his own. To make extra money outside taking care of his Father’s teahouse, Sai will take you to your Fated One. With the extra money he pays for a mythical medicine which will supposedly cure his mother- two shining, green dragon scales. Upon saving a woman from unwanted advances from several soldiers, Sai is taken prisoner, and for the dragon scale he’s found holding, catches the attention of the Emperor. If he wants to live, he must go to the Southern Kingdom and find the green dragon for the Emperor. Except, when he gets there, he finds that his unusually gray and frayed soul thread connects him to the green dragon. As Sai tries to unravel the mystery of their bond, he must work with a vengeful hunter, a sullen Fated One, and memories he shouldn’t have, all pointing back to the Emperor and an old tale he once thought was fiction.

Review: Katrina Kwan’s debut Adult Romantasy is an adventure rife with magic, love, myth, and battle. Kwan incorporates facets of Chinese mythology in interesting ways, creating a vibrant world that will remind you of the breathtaking traditional paintings inspired by the myths Kwan is working with. Since it is a standalone- I’m fairly certain- the plot does go rather quick, but never does it feel lacking.

Sai is such a relatable character, doing his best despite being ill-equipped when it comes to fighting, traveling, and keeping himself safe. The man is attacked like four times in the first half of the book, if nothing else, I have to respect his tenacity. The man is hard to kill. I love that, despite everything that happens to him and everything he learns, he never loses sight of his love for his mother, and his goal to make her healthy so she can live happily. Jyn, the female lead, is, in my opinion, really well-written. She’s deeply hurt by past events, and wants nothing more than to not be hurt again, but her love goes so deep that time after time she chooses the eventual pain again and again.

I will say I think the blue dragon in this story could have been discussed more by Jyn and Sai. I don't want to give away too much, but this part of the story fell a little bit flat, and I wish there could have been more.

Despite the above, this book is still so fun to read, and I was really rooting for both Sai and Jyn the entire time. It has a satisfying end, and I hope that they can have another chance with children.

If you love Chinese fantasy books, and kind of goofy protagonists, and strong, kick-ass women, this book is 100% for you. If you love dragons, this book is for you. If you love doomed lovers, this book is for you. I cannot recommend it enough if you’re looking for a standalone fantasy!

Once again, thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I would like to wish Katrina Kwan a most successful Adult debut! I will be keeping an eye out for any future releases from her!

I have never read a book thats the male MCs POV throughout and I had to restart like twice just to confirm it was a man 😂 this was an experience!
Now I will preface this by saying I don't know the first thing about Chinese mythology.
The emotions I felt reading this book. Wow wow wow. This wrecked me! I laughed, I was terrified, I cried. I felt the love between Sai and Jyn, the heartbreak of their son (the want to punch the emperor in the face). Love love love. 10 out of 10.

My goodness, Katrina Kwan KNOWS how to write a swoony romance. Every time Sai even looked at his Fated One, I kicked my feet and fell in love with her too!

This book is full of romance, heartache, pain, and some graphic violence. We have an ordinary guy, just trying to survive, take care of his ailing mother, and run his tea shop. After obtaining dragon scales from his local Dr, a supposed cure all, for his mother, he is thrown into chaos by the Emporer, who sends him to find the owner of the scales, the last dragon of the east. (Gasp, the name of the book)

From there, the story unfolds, and it goes way deeper than I imagined when I picked up this book. The writing is absolutely beautiful, I couldn't put it down.

3.75 stars, so close to 4, but there's a big chunk of the book, where literally nothing happens, and it draaaged. But other than that beautiful.

CW graphic violence, past self-harm, and thoughts of suicide.

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC!