For a title with Dragons in it, there is very little of them, and none of their wrath. What we have are three POVs, each more annoying than the last, stumbling through intensely dumb politicking, very jarring segues to horniness in the name of romance, and just a whole bunch of setup with zero actual plot movement. The audiobook narrators redeem the narrative by being making the world-building around the main characters engaging. But MAN, this was such a waste of an interesting premise that took way longer than it should have to set up

I started this on three different instances and still could not connect with it. It was painfully slow (and I love a slow build). The characters are not intriguing and the politics felt thin.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this, but the synopsis interested me and I enjoy political fantasy and dragons, so I was hopeful this would hit for me. I thought this was well written and the world itself was interesting, but I ultimately wasn’t actually all that invested in the plot or the characters. I found Between Dragons and Their Wrath easy to read and follow along, and while I think there was a lot that was well done here, I either wasn’t in the mood or this isn’t quite the book for me. I’m not entirely sure if it was my mood when I read or the actual book itself, and I’d be willing to try again, because I did think the exploration of themes was written well and there’s probably a lot to chew on if you’re into it. There’s a lot of interesting ideas and I appreciated the way Madson approached queer identities, so I’m hoping it was just my mood.

The audiobook was easy to follow along with and while sometimes the voices blended together a bit for me, I don’t think there was anything of note that took away from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

3.5/5 stars

This was a tough one to rate because there were parts I really enjoyed about this book and parts I really didn't. My biggest issue was how random and sudden the sex was in most places. There were times where it made sense - a couple that has drifted apart and is in a desperate situation makes out or spends one last night together, fine. But a spy is caught and as part of her "punishment" the person she's trying to steal from gives her an orgasm and uses her scream as the alert to the guards? I'll admit the spice was written well and it was indeed spicy, but it felt very jarring to me personally. And the amount of inner dialogue about "I want to touch them, be touched by them, take them and let them do whatever they want to me" from all 3 POVs was just.....it was unnecessary and distracting from what was a mostly interesting plot.

But overall, I did like the story and plan to continue the series when the next book is out. I will say, for a book with dragon in the name and a dragon on the cover....there were not many dragons.

I really enjoyed this story and found the narrator to be easy to stay engaged with as well.the plot was exiting and I loved seeing queer representation in the main characters!

I just finished listening to this audiobook and am in love with this amazing beautiful world. There are dragons, witches, strange beautiful powers, deep world-building, ruthless politics, insult brides 😅 and rebels and clans. This book has everything for everyone. The audiobook was brilliant. There are multiple POVs. I am invested in all of their stories now. Naili and her strange powers. Tesha with her secret Mission and Ahlsh with his no-nonsense personality. I need the next book now.

Tesha - wants to protect her city at all costs so she pretends to be a bride and gets close to the enemy. She is just a glass blowers daughter but she has done her training on being an upper class to take them down within. But slowly she is finding out it is not all black and white now she is questing herself.

Naili- a simple wash maid that now has powers that are slowly killing her and her fellow wash maids. She goes on the run when she faces off with the alchemist that is to be blamed. And she called in the underground group to take the alchemist down and to shed light on the illegal activity the alchemist is doing.

Ash- a fearsome dragon rider finds out a secrete and now is being banished and taken down for knowing the truth. Fighting against everything he vows to find out the truth and to set his dragon free.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced listener’s copy of this book!

I am currently pretty deep into my fantasy era and this, by the looks of the blurb, ticked all of the boxes. It’s high fantasy, lots of world building, multiple main characters and a lot of queer representation.

I struggled initially to understand what was going on and had to keep rewinding and relistening because I kept losing the thread, but after a while as I began to settle into the world, I found myself getting very invested in the characters. The voice acting and narration in this was very good, but I think the way the book throws you head first into the world without any kind of gentle introduction AND switches characters every chapter felt overwhelming to begin with.

Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re into queer high fantasy - but be ready to fully and completely concentrate or you will lose track of what’s going on and who is who!

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5 rounded up to 4)
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶🌶🌶

I really enjoyed the overall plot of this book, loved getting the three interconnected POVs, and couldn't get enough of the banter, dragons, and magic. I also adored the queer rep (both F/F and M/M), the slightly steamy scenes, and the secrets/ betrayals.

I did struggle a bit with understanding some things, especially the numbers in the news reports at the start of each chapter; I also felt like I missed some parts of the story, even though I re-listened when that happened and was still none the wiser. I feel as though some of these issues would have been resolved if I read the book instead of listening to it, but unfortunately it really detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

The narration was absolutely top tier! I loved all three narrators, enjoyed their ranges, and felt like I could easily pick which characters were speaking at any time.

I will definately be reading or listening to the next book because I need to know what happens.


𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: secrets, steamy romance, betrayal, magic, one bed, culture, queer rep in MCs, 3 POVs, dragons, banter.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Before I even talk about this book, I need to say that Orbit has been killing it with all of their releases this year! Its been back to back hits!

Now on to Between Dragons and Their Wrath. There were so many things I loved about this book; the queer normative world, political intrigue, romance story line, and a lot of sexual tension. There were a lot of moving parts but it never felt rushed or unorganized. Each character had a very different personality and I liked them all.

Can't wait for the next book in this series!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was fine. Nothing raised it above other dragon rider fantasy books but nothing really sunk it below it either. I do think there was way too much romance. Concentrating on one couple in book 1 and developing true connection and intimacy would have worked better IMO. The relationships just felt hollow. Entertaining but a numver of other similar books do it better.

**Book Review: *Between Dragons and Their Wrath* by Devin Madson**

*Between Dragons and Their Wrath* by Devin Madson is a gritty, immersive epic fantasy that dives into a world ravaged by war, dragon magic, and the complex struggles of power. Known for her masterful storytelling and intricate character work, Madson delivers a tale brimming with raw emotion, high-stakes action, and rich political intrigue.

The novel is set in a realm scarred by the destructive remnants of dragons, where nations are locked in brutal conflict over control and survival. At the heart of the story are two protagonists: Kasha, a young girl orphaned by war, and Tai, a disillusioned soldier seeking redemption. As their paths cross in the wake of the devastation left behind by dragons, they must navigate treacherous politics, personal vengeance, and the looming threat of a new dragon war.

Madson excels at crafting characters with depth and nuance. Kasha’s journey from a vulnerable orphan to a hardened survivor is compelling, with her sharp instincts and emotional complexity making her a standout protagonist. Tai, on the other hand, carries the weight of guilt and loss, and his moral struggles add layers to his character as he seeks to undo the damage he’s wrought in the name of war. Their individual arcs are gripping, but it’s their reluctant alliance and the tension between them that gives the story its emotional pulse.

The world-building in *Between Dragons and Their Wrath* is nothing short of breathtaking. Madson creates a brutal, war-torn landscape where the remnants of dragons linger like scars on the earth, and their magic has left an indelible mark on society. The lore surrounding the dragons is intricate and seamlessly woven into the larger narrative, adding a layer of mystery and awe to the world. The balance between politics, war, and dragon magic is perfectly handled, creating a world that feels both expansive and deeply personal.

Madson’s prose is sharp and vivid, with action sequences that are intense and visceral. The battles are brutal and unflinching, but it’s the emotional stakes that keep you hooked—every fight, every loss, and every choice weighs heavily on the characters. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, giving readers time to breathe between the chaos while building tension and intrigue as the plot unfolds.

At its core, *Between Dragons and Their Wrath* is a story about survival in the face of overwhelming odds, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Themes of loyalty, revenge, and the cost of war are explored with depth and maturity, making it a thought-provoking read as much as it is an action-packed one.

Devin Madson has crafted a dark, captivating epic that will leave you thinking long after the final page. *Between Dragons and Their Wrath* is perfect for readers who love character-driven fantasy, brutal world-building, and a narrative that doesn’t shy away from exploring the harsh realities of war. If you’re a fan of morally complex heroes, rich political drama, and the ever-present shadow of dragons, this novel is not to be missed.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the e-arc!
Between Dragons and Their Wrath is my first foray into Devin Madson's writing after hearing so much praise! I am always excited to see her more fantasy with dragon alchemy. In this book, we follow three people through an empire full of dragons and a looming Revolution. Each character brings so much to the table with alchemy, political schemes, and dragon riding. With three different perspectives and a ton of twists, this series is shaping up to be an incredibly interesting and exciting read. The characters were my favorite part a very diverse cast and really intriguing schemes. There was also a sub genre/plot with plant powers that I wasn't expecting but I'm not mad at.

Alchemy-based magic, dragons, political intrigue, forbidden love, mystery, action, diverse sexual situations. You got me at dragons!

As the story begins I was thinking swords & sorcery but <gasp> guns!

3 MCs. One kingdom is split into warring states.

How can a gun bypass dragon scales? A rider and a watcher mystery. m/m

Will a glass blower’s apprentice, spoils of war bride, be able to enter the royal family and poison without being caught? Love triangle. f/m

Why is a lowly laundress sprouting flowers thru her skin/hair like a garden? f/f

The story reallly heats up at the end and the three individual stories above converge rapidly.

There’s romance in each storyline. Cliffhanger! 😱

4.5 stars due to cliffhanger & I personalllly don’t super enjoy sex in my high fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley & Orbit! Bring on book two!! 😁

This is the start of an epic fantasy series that promise to be very detailed and intriguing. In book one we get three main characters with very separate story lines which eventually converge. In their stories there are spies, deception, political unrest, evil magicians, networks of thieves, and telepathically talking dragons.

The amount of world building that was necessary and the fact that there were three separate POVs and therefore three separate beginnings made the book feel like it started pretty slow, but as things got moving and the story lines converged it was hard to put this one down.

Rating: 4/5
I received an ARC audio for my honest opinion.

This book was very interesting, I had a lot going for it and I really enjoyed the plot even though I was a little confused on some parts and others I was dying to know more about their world/ like a little more background. I felt as though I was missing information, and I would find myself going back and rereading the pages to see if I missed something. I did love the plot, and I can see where it will be going now, and it was nice getting to know the characters more.

I thought the world building was done well, like I said I do wish that we could have gotten a little bit of the history first, but I loved that it has dragons, secrets, politics, mystery, spies and so much more. I did think that the book started off a little bit slow but no worries it does pick up, the pace of the book was a good mix of fast and slow in all the right places. I was able to get the audio book, and I loved that we had different narrators for each POV of the character. It helped me a lot with being able to know whose POV it was. I liked that it followed three main characters, but you will find some great side characters throughout the book as well. Oh, and one really sassy dragon that I loved, I do wish that we could have met some more dragons but hopefully in the next book.

There are spicy scenes in the book, and I won’t lie it just felt out of place. Like it was added in but not in the right place at all but maybe later one it will talk about why it was placed there… I don’t know. I know that she is just a horny character and thinks about sex all the time or sexy thoughts all the time. I liked Naili's story, but I felt that is really all I knew about her character at the start, but the more the story went I got to see a different side to her. I loved Tesha’s character the most. You will see the tension of the situation that she got herself into and all the scenes that had you wanting to scream at her to be careful was a lot of fun. Ashadi is a character that I didn’t really like at first, but the more that he would pop up in the book he started to grow on me.

I liked the ending but at the same time I have so many questions and I hope that they will be answered in book two.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review this book.

3.5-4 ⭐️ range

This is a ride. It took me a few chapters to get into it – I think I even asked another reader who was a bit ahead of me what was going on at one point. Three storylines that don’t feel related happen independently until they converge – this is intentional. Once I started to catch on, I was so happy I stuck with it. I loved the political aspects of this story. I also genuinely liked the MCs, Naili and Tesha more than Ash simply because we got more time with them. I’m looking forward to see where Madson takes this with book 2.

I’m grateful to the audiobook for having 3 narrators. I don’t think I would have successfully kept the POVs straight if one narrator had tackled this. The narration was good considering how heavy the world building is for book 1 from an epic fantasy author. Book 1s of fantasy series are hard to get readers to hold on simply because they usually take a LOT of brain power to sort through. This book is a good example of that.

Thank you to NetGalley, Devin Madson, Hachette Audio, and Orbit books for arc copies of this epic fantasy read.

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, laugh-out-loud funny at several parts—one of the best fantasy books I've read in ages with incredible ans fun characters.

Book Review
Between dragons and their Wrath by Devin Madsen
Audiobook: Narrators: Lauren Fortgang, Ron Butler, Soneela Nankani

Firstly, I must acknowledge I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review – thankyou Hachette.
Devin Madsen has a well deserved, stellar reputation as a writer of high fantasy, so I was very keen to review this audiobook. Unfortunately, whilst the book had many wonderful aspects, there were elements to the storytelling that frustrated me and made this book not entirely to my liking.
The story is told with three first person narrators. Tesha - a glassblower’s apprentice, Nalli - a laundry girl for an alchemist, and Ashadi - a Lord who serves as a dragon rider protecting the country. Listening to the novel, the first time the story switched between the female narrators, I was a little lost, but quickly realised what was going on and subsequent switches between narrators wasn’t a problem. This would not be an issue reading the book as each section is labelled with their names.
Madsen has created an original and interesting world where dragons have toughened glass scales and which abounds in detailed and intriguing back story and politics—all the makings of a great high fantasy.
However, each narrator has their own love interest. Now, this doesn’t sound like a bad thing; a lot of readers want some spice in their fantasy and there is good representation of the LGBTQ+ community. Yet the characters make unbelievable decisions, risking themselves for the sake of their libido, which makes the sex scenes (and there are MANY) often seem gratuitous. This is particularly true for the character of Nalli, who when we were first introduced to her seems attracted to virtually everybody she sees, and this drew my annoyance as being unrealistic. The number of sex scenes in the novel means that I’m not sure whether Madsen is trying to genre hop and produce something that is a mix of high fantasy and not quite romantasy and not quite erotica. Many readers are actually going to love this, but for me this slowed the pacing of the novel dramatically and as I read I kept wishing that the narrative would get back to the main political/scheming/the country is endangered plotline.
Listening to the book, there were times when certain phrases were repeated too often, which made me think that this was not the editor was not paying enough attention. Also, the relationship angst that each character went through became repetitive. Basically, for me, the love interest parts of the plot were too much too often.
The narration is superb –Soneela Nankani is one of my favourite narrators and I equally enjoyed the narration from Lauren Fortgang and Ron Butler.
Will I come back for round two in the next novel? Probably because I really enjoyed the other aspects of the novel a great deal. I loved the notion of dragons with toughened glass scales and the world history that was being fed gradually into the narrative was excellent.

3.5 stars