I received a copy through Net Galley for review.

I did really enjoy this one, it's a solid read, about the red string of fate, and the connection of fate and soulmates.
Sai can see the red string of fate. Can see the lines of love that connect two people together. A son of a humble tea house, most people think he's a fraud. But that doesn't stop the curious from reaching out and paying him a modest sum, a few coins at most for his occasional help. While he can find everyone else's connected fate, he cannot find his own. The thread tied around his thumb is slack and grey.

To find your one love, your connected fate is a rare thing, for those two people to find each other. He could see it in his parents, their thread constantly taught connecting one another, but his mother's is black now, just a loop around her thumb since her husband has passed on.
But his mother is greatly ill, is all he has in this world. And he saves enough coin to receive a cure for his mother, two supposed dragon scales. But upon giving one to his mother, she revives, is well agin.

This catches the attention of the cruel Emperor. Who sends him on a wild chase to find and capture a dragon. A dragon that turns out to be very real, and very close to Sai's own heart, and past.
This sends Sai on the journey of his life, where he will eventually find out why his string of fate is grey, and how long his fated has waited for him. He will discover his future and his pasts.
This was a sweet, sad story of waiting for your love ones, and the lengths one will go through to be with them, to protect them, and your battered heart.

The last line made me cry happy tears 😭

I'm SO excited to have been able to read Katrina's fantasy debut. With the coming of fall/mid-autumn festival time, this was also the perfect time to read it (mood readers understand).

This story felt like it was two stories in one, in a good way though. It tells the grueling adventure Sai endures regarding his Fated One and then it also tells the mythological story of the dragons and their history. Katrina weaves these two stories together into one beautiful story of its own. And I'll say it here again: THE ENDING 🥹🥹🥹


Thank you Katrina, NetGalley, and Saga Press for the ARC!

This was a surprisingly fast-paced book, especially with how short it was! Overall a fun one and a solid debut. I never read the blurb so I was not expecting the POV to be a male character. Don't let the cover fool you! This book has some dark and gruesome parts as well as lighthearted.

What I liked: Sai was sweet and charming, I liked that he was not the typical "strong and battle ready man" main character. He was an enjoyable POV. The fate strings, the references to old stories, the love Sai clearly felt, the first 60% was my favorite, all the buildup and slowly getting questions answered. Sai use of nicknames that pestered Jyn were also funny. I liked that the roles were reversed with a (physically) weak MMC and a strong FMC. I loved the mythology element, the stories woven into the book about the dragons were great.

What didn't quite work for me: I think it would have benefitted from Jyn's POV. She was certainly the grumpy to Sai's sunshine, and while we learn why later in the book. It leaves her character a little one dimensional without hearing her POV. I feel like this book kicks the darkness up a notch in part 4, which was frankly unexpected. I read dark books but I wasn't prepared for it from this one. The ending is okay, but the lead up to the ending is a little icky to me - reminiscent of something from Twilight that has had a lot of discourse and criticism over the years. I know what the author was going for and trying not to be weird about it, but it still didn't sit well with me.

Solid 4-4.5 stars up until about 75% when it dropped to a generous 3.5.

Thank you Sagapress and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I love a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, so I had a lot of fun with Sai’s resolute good-nature in the face of Jyn’s seriousness - especially with all the cute nicknames he gave her. I was also really interested in the mythology woven into this story; I liked the interspersed snippets of the blue dragon and his love story, as well as the moment Sai begins putting two and two together after seeing the dragon tapestry.

Thank you to Net Galley and Saga Press for this ARC. I was really excited to read this because I enjoy Chinese fantasy and adventurous stories. Unfortunately, the characters lacked depth and felt very flat. The story itself was also not very interesting and honestly felt pretty cliched in a boring predictable way.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan is a mixed first and third person POV romantic fantasy using Chinese mythology. Sai is an aspiring matchmaker who can see the strings of fate but his own is gray. When Sai is given genuine dragon scales with miraculous healing abilities, he’s imprisoned and then sent out by the Emperor to find the source. But the one at the end of his thread has connections to the scales and Sai is going to have to make a choice between the love he has been waiting for and fulfilling the task given to him.

I was a big fan of Katrina Kwan’s contemporary romance so when I saw that she also had a fantasy coming out, I grabbed it as soon as I could. I love how she writes male characters having softer characteristics while also having harder ones. I also enjoy how she writes romantic relationships (I liked Jyn and Sai quite a bit here), so she has definitely found herself a fan in me this year.

Sai and Jyn take time to meet up, but when they finally get together, it is quite intense. Jyn tries to push Sai away and is very closed off while Sai is completely unashamed in his flirting and views her as the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. More than that, he is attracted to her stubbornness. I love a male lead who falls hard and fast and knows exactly who he wants while the female lead is pushing her feelings aside to either complete her goal or protect her love interest.

There are shorter chapters between chapters of the larger narrative, some of which are told more like a legend or fairy tale while others are more like snapshots of a previous life. I felt that added a lot of mystique as we don’t quite know exactly what the connection these shorter chapters have to the bigger picture until about the halfway point.

Content warning for brief depictions of torture

I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy with a mythology angle, readers looking for an Imperial China-inspired fantasy centered around dragons, and those looking for a male lead who is very pro-romance

This book was a delightful, quick read that really pulled me into a fascinating world with its unique lore and emotional story arc. The world-building was a huge standout for me—while it wasn’t as detailed in every spot as I might have liked, the universe it created was full of potential, and the mythological elements, like the red threads of fate, really made it feel fresh and different. The concept of fated mates added a romantic layer to the story, though it does lean into the “insta-love” trope, which might not be for everyone. That being said, the emotional depth, especially towards the end, made it all worthwhile.

One thing that stood out is how the story balances between lighter, whimsical moments and some surprisingly intense, even dark, turns. There are violent scenes that might catch you off guard if you’re expecting a fully cozy fantasy, but they add a sense of urgency and stakes to the adventure. The pacing was a bit uneven, though—I felt like the book could have been shorter, maybe even a novella. But I wasn’t mad about the extra length because the world was so interesting.

Overall, I’d say if you love mythology, particularly stories steeped in Chinese folklore, and enjoy the fated mates trope with a mix of romance and adventure, this book is worth a read. It’s emotional, sometimes a bit intense, but ultimately heartwarming. I can see a lot of readers, especially those who like fast-paced fantasy with a romantic twist, enjoying this one.

Thank you Saga Press Books for letting me read this arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book so quickly, I got hooked in and finished it in a few days. I was surprised when I saw it was an adult book because it did feel more of a YA in my opinion, which isn’t bad but I kept forgetting the characters were older.

I found it interesting and refreshing to see the story entirely through Sai’s eyes. I was a little sad we didn’t get more world building in the beginning, but understood why since we were learning alongside Sai. I was super curious though about the history and lore around the dragons and different characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katrina Kwan, and the publisher for allowing me access to e-Arc.

4.5 stars

I loved this so much! It was just a beautiful tale. I was immediately hooked on the story from page one. That doesn’t happen very often. It normally takes me a while before I get into a story. The great storytelling reminds me of Sue Lynn Tan’s. I highly recommend it!

The Last Dragon of the East is a fast paced, bittersweet crossover tale about a young man seeking a cure for his mother and finding much more than that.

I really loved Sai and very much enjoyed reading this from his point of view. His ability to see the red string of fate on others (and his own gray string) had me very intrigued. Sai's journey throughout this book was very surprising. At first I thought this story was going to be much more on the cozy side, but was pleasantly (well, sort of) surprised by the darker turns in Sai's quest. The highs were high and the lows were sub-level.

While I did enjoy all the characters I wish this book was more rounded out. I wanted to know more about Jyn, all the dragons, Feng, and even the Emperor. I would have also loved more about their world and even greater details about the fei and other creatures encountered. Though I can understand why it was not included since the story was restricted to Sai's point of view.

Overall I loved reading this story about Sai and his Fated One even if it broke my heart and mended it a bit in the end.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGallet for the eArc!

3.5 stars rounded up! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was, first and foremost, a very sweet read, despite some of the plot points it hits. It read like a grandmother telling me a story - yes some parts are dark, but there was never a moment that I feared that our hero wouldn't make it through.

And that is also where I found my issues with the novel. It's listed as Adult, but the writing felt extremely childish. Which isn't a bad thing at all in a fantastical journey such as this one, a story about a boy with a power, falling in love with a dragon. It fits the theme of the story and the tone stays even throughout. But it is not a tone that I personally look for in a novel.

I found myself mentally aging down the main characters (He's over 20!!! stop that!) to fit the feel of the novel.

All in all, a very cute light fantastical read! I fear that the parts that did not agree with me were more just a matter of personal taste more than anything else

5/5!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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✮⋆˙ Firstly, this cover is stunning. There is something about Asian mythology and folklore that is so beautiful and never fails to draw me in. This was no exception. I adored this.

✮⋆˙ Sai lives a quiet life, taking care of his A-ma and running their struggling family teahouse his father left behind. He has a special ability to see red threads between fated mates, and uses that as a side business. However, his own thread is a dull gray, frayed and seemingly deserted. After being arrested by the Emperor for possessing dragons scales, a cure for his mother, Sai finds himself on a journey he didn't sign up for, discovering the mystery of his own Fated Mate, and saving his A-ma.

What We Get:
🐲Fated mates.
🐲A bit of touch her and suffer.
🐲Chinese Mythology/Folklore.
🐲Romance w/ plenty of banter.
🐲Grumpy/Sunshine – she's the grumpy one.
🐲Dragons/mythological monsters.
🐲Older characters (he's 25).

✮⋆˙ This was a magical story. The romance was heartwarming, the banter was perfect and witty, and the atmosphere was mesmerizing. I easily fell in love with the characters, and their connection was passionate and glowing. The writing was beautiful, and I will happily be reading more of this authors works.

✮⋆˙ If you are up for a romantasy with fated mates, mythology, folklore, banter, world building, and one that will send you on a whirlwind of emotion, look no further.

(๑˘︶˘๑)

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Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Saga Press for granting my wish for this ARC request!!

This was a beautiful romance story about two lovers connected by the Red String Of Fate.

Sai is set on a quest by the emperor under threat of death and a young woman named Jyn. Although Jyn is initially irritated by his presence, the two of them are soon inevitably drawn to one another. I love their dynamics so much- with Sai being the sunshine boy Jyn being the grump!

I also really like how the book weaves in the story of the 3 dragons perfectly into the plot itself and it allowed the readers to slowly connect the thoughts of who the dragons and the emperor were. It was all very well written !

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others!

Enchanting and Thrilling! THE LAST DRAGON OF THE EAST weaves together mythology and romance into an epic quest to save one's family, appease an Emperor, and discover a love that lasts beyond lifetimes.

Katrina Kwan has written one of the best character arcs I've ever read. The home body Sai we first meet caring for his ailing mother is not the same young man by story's end. The Emperor charges Sai with finding the last mythical dragon in the kingdom thrusting him into an epic quest the likes of which he'd believe only to be legends. Beasts and battles, love and honor, sacrifice and destiny all shape Sai into a most beloved lead character.

Sai's world is steeped in myth and fantasy. This is not a fairytale - war is violent, flesh eating demons are putrid, and fairies are mischievous. There is a visceral nature to Kwan's prose that does not let you look away from the hardships Sai faces on his journey. As relief though, dragons are glorious, tea house proprietors are brave, and love finds a way.

This is also one of the best Soul Mate stories I've ever read. Sai and his fated mate broke and mended my fragile heart seven hundred times. Their connection may have been instant, but there was much work to do to build a trust worthy of their Red Thread of Fate. And yes, they suffered and sacrificed and fought for every moment of their peace.

THE LAST DRAGON OF THE EAST is for readers looking for both peril and passion along an epic quest.

Thank you Netgalley and S&S/Saga Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I grew up watching C-dramas, and have always been fascinated with the myth of the red threads of fate, the idea that we are connected by an invisible string to our soulmate. I guess it’s kind of like the concept of fated mates in western stories but unlike the aforementioned, the threads of fate is not so much a primal connection as it is an inevitable destiny. To get to read a story where the red thread myth was present and had such a significant role in the plot made me so happy. It reminded me of the romance and magic that pulled me in each and every time I watched a fantasy C-drama as a kid.

I’m usually not a fan of insta love, but it worked really well in this story for our main characters Sai and Jyn. Their quips and bantering were very cute, and both of them were such sweet and likable characters that I found myself rooting and caring for them fairly quickly. They were both kind souls who always tried to do the right thing, even if it ended up putting them at a disadvantage and in harms way.

Although I enjoyed this story quite a bit, I did have some issues with the pacing. It felt very off at times, like we were being whisked from scene to scene at a frantic gallop. Because of this, I felt like I was not given much time to savor the story; everything happened so quickly that it was hard to stay immerse in the story sometimes, as there was just so much condensed into a relatively short novel.

Overall I was impressed with this fantasy debut and am hoping Katrina will put out more books in this genre!

Sai is keeping the family teahouse running while taking care of his ailing mother. When he obtains forbidden
dragon scales from a doctor to treat his mother, the emperor sends Sai on a quest to find the last dragon.
If Sai fails, his mother's life will be in danger. During his quest, Sai faces many challenges. When he discovers .
the last dragon, past lives will be remembered and his life forever changed.
Charming story of fated mates.
#TheLostDradonoftheEast #SagaPress #NetGalley

At first the speed of which the book progressed made me not so sure about it but the characters and story had a clutch hold on me especially when there were unanswered questions with cryptic responses but it all came together to give me the most heartbreaking then sweet ending so thank you

Sai runs a failing tea house and cares for his ailing mother, he also has a not so secret-secret, he can see the red strings of fate. He uses this tiny bit of magic to run a matchmaking business - where all the profits go towards the purchase a magical cure for his mother. Much to his disbelief this cure is none other than dragon scales, and for the first time in a long time his mother is feeling better. He is soon thrust into a quest to find the last dragon of the east.

This was an absolutely phenomenal time until about the 50% mark until it became just a decent time. Overall it was a good time.

What I loved…
- vivid atmosphere and descriptions
- an unexpected bit of gore, just a touch
- “fated mates” - via the Red Strings of Fate
- a bit of mystery and intrigue
- really cool variety of monsters/creatures
- shapeshifting dragons
- QUEST! I love quests!
- he’s the sunshine and she’s the grump
- 25+ MCs


What I didn’t love…
- lost the plot for a bit around the 50% mark - I was left wondering when we were going to get back to our quest…
- While at first I loved the emotions being conveyed and the desired related to the red strings of fate, it seemed to morph into a whole lotta lust after a while and felt disingenuous.
- while the atmosphere was great the world building overall was lacking. There was so much about the world/empire that we didn’t know or understand and it felt hard to connect.

**3.75 stars, rounded up for Goodreads

Anyone who knows me knows I love mythology, especially Asian mythology(might be due to being South Asian myself, but idk lol). One story that tugs at my heart a bit more than the rest is the story of the red strings of fate, which I believe started in Chinese mythology and which I've now started to see more in books, which I absolutely love. This book used this myth for a good portion of the book, and it was so easy to dive in and speed through it!

Sai was a wonderful main character, and a rare male character which is something I haven't had the pleasure of reading much, but it was done so well here so I hope the author writes more books in male POV in the future. He was sunshine in human form, but burdened with so much trying to take care of a sick parent and trying to take care of the house and family in the best way he could. Fortunately, early on in the book something happens that triggers a series of events sending him on an adventure to find a long lost dragon, and from that point on the story really picked up. I also loved how his "power" was shown throughout the book and how easily it flowed through the book. The only complaints I had reading this was that I wish the fmc was a bit more fleshed out, and I wish the ending was a bit more developed, more so we could've gotten another few chapters to stay in the world, but mostly just because it felt a little cramped in the end and it had the potential to be spaced out a bit more. Overall, this was a super enjoyable read and I'll be looking out for more of the author's work in the future!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review is my own opinion and has in no way been influenced by the writer, publisher, or Netgalley.

The Last Dragon of the East was a quick and fun read with some unexpected darker elements. While I thought the darker parts really added to the story, I can see that it could be jarring to some readers as both the cover and the writing feels quite YA.

I was quickly endeared to the main character Sai and really liked that the book was from his perspective. I think the male first person POV also helps it to stand out compared to other romantasy books, which might be appealing for people who read a lot of books from that genre.

The story being centered around strings of fate was fun and made me able to forgive the instalove. I also found Sai and Jyn to be good together, I especially enjoyed their interactions in the beginning and Sai being desperate to get Jyn’s attention. By far my favorite part of the book was the interludes about the three dragons and discovering how Sai and Jyn’s lives were connected. In fact, I personally think that adding a bit more of this aspect could have improved the overall book. I also wished that the characters were a bit more fleshed out and the villain more than just your standard power-hungry one.

Without going into detailed spoilers, the way the one mlm relationship was portrayed made me feel very uncomfortable. I think it would have been different if there had been more than one prominently featured gay relationship, but as it was it left me uncomfortable and questioning why this was the representation the author chose to include.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC.