I couldn't get past the first few chapters, I felt like the two MC"s being worlds apart did them no favors. Plot was a bi far fetched for me (even with dragons)

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher DAW for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, abuse, drug addiction, references to plague, injury, violence

Carrying on from the end of ‘Dragonfall’, ‘Emberclaw’ starts with Arcady about to achieve their dream- attending the university to seek the truth of their grandfather’s death, if under an entirely fake name- but it’s at a terrible price. Having once been bound to the dragon Everen, Arcady now assumes he is dead and their grief affects all aspects of their life, especially when it becomes clear they’ve only got enough money to last a year at university. When a series of long abandoned magical trials are reinstated, promising free tuition for anyone who can make it through alive, Arcady jumps at the chance- but every night their dreams are tormented by Everen and the love they’d just begun to accept. Once the only male of all dragons and the hope for the future of his kind, Everen is now a prisoner in the burning world of Vere Celene. Allowed out only because of his gifts for scrying the future, Everen is stripped of his title and he struggles to find his place among dragons who hate him. One of the only things keeping him going is dreams of Arcady and a belief that he needs to return to Arcady’s world to bring about a future where humanity and dragons once again live in harmony. Arcady and Everen must battle their way back to each other, past the numerous threats in their lives (including the rise of Sorin, an unassuming acolyte watching Arcady intently) to mend their bond- and save two worlds depending on them.

I loved the first book of this duology so much and I was so glad to be approved for a chance to read this one too. ‘Dragonfall’ is a truly unique take on dragons and soul bonds and ‘Emberclaw’ takes this further, even as Arcady and Everen are separated. I loved getting to see Arcady at university and developing their skills further, especially as they’re forced to associate with a wider range of people. Their relationship with Sorin especially, even if it was mostly a trick, was one of my favourite parts of ‘Emberclaw’. Everen has also come far from the spoiled (and a little entitled) prince of the first book and he really shines here after his time with Arcady, stepping up despite the dragons’ hatred for his previous actions. His relationship with his sister Cassia is so well written, they’re more alike than they realised and that works in their favour. Here Sorin finally gets to shine, we met her only briefly in ‘Dragonfall’; her crisis of faith, her blind loyalty and her own gradual journey swiftly made her into one of my favourite characters. L.R. Lam has created an incredible relationship in Arcady and Everen, their longing and hurt feelings were palpable through the page and you could feel the aching they had to be reunited- even with the things they both did earlier. Fate and prophecy might have dragged Arcady and Everen together but I kept reading because this is a gorgeous world, full of powerful characters, incredibly high stakes and the most unexpected relationships and connections. I would love more from this world, especially if it includes Sorin or Cassia.

I’ve been waiting to read this one ever since I was fully captivated by Dragonfall. Sometimes there’s a fear that the next book won’t do the justice needed but that was not the case here. I loved the writing style and story, and how the characters continued to grow and shape throughout the book. It was everything I needed in the conclusion to the series and I can’t wait to be able to pick up physical copies of these for my bookshelf.

A gripping and worthy follow up to the brilliant Dragonfall. It is worth the wait. I appreciated the recap at the beginning too - this should be standard for all fantasy novel series with long gaps in between publication dates as it makes it so much easier to dive back into the story. I loved the magical trials theme for Arcady which was exciting to read- and Everen's quest to return to Arcady's world in order to try and save his own people. It's an odd but compelling queer love story but with an added twist that it is between a human and a dragon. It is written so beautifully that in the end it is just a love story between two people who are trying to understand each other and find their way back to each other. I loved the Sorin sub-plot too - and felt every bit of her struggle to be free of her bonds - the end of her story felt very satisfying, In fact the resolution of Emberclaw was very satisfying - and left just enough open for a third installment if the author wished to tell Cassia's story! I will say no more in case I spoil the plot for others!

I was really excited for this installment to come out but sadly I didn’t live it as much as I did the first one. I was really excited for the aftermath after the dragons finally came down and sadly that did not live up to my expectations and it got a bit confusing from there for me.

Emberclaw was a great conclusion to this duology. I loved the dynamic and tension between Arcady and Everen. Sorin was definitely one of my favorite characters here, and I would love to read a spin off of her story. This book also got a lot more into the political and magical side of this world, and you could really tell how much thought went into the development of its integration into the story. The book ended on a really satisfying note, despite the couple of loose ends. I would totally read other books based on the Marricks or Cassia. All in all, I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and DAW for this ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the world of Dragon Scales in "Emberclaw." The dark academia setting was captivating, and the fast-paced plot kept me engaged despite some predictable elements. Arcady and Everen's reunion was a highlight, though I wouldn't have minded more romance. While some plot points felt convenient, the blend of magic, dragons, and political intrigue was undeniably entertaining. Though I wish it had been a trilogy to allow for more development, I ultimately found "Emberclaw" a satisfying conclusion, and I loved seeing the characters' fates resolved.

While Dragonfall took me a few tries to read in full, Emberclaw insttantly drew me in with the dark academic setting. Magic, dragons, assassins. The magical trials and mysteries enhanced the story even more. Arcady and Everen finding their way back to each had me cheering and smiling nonstop! I found the pacing a lot better this go. The author did great balancing deadly secrets, political intrigue and the academic stuff so effortlessly. The thing that was lacking was more about their relationship. Some of the plot was rather predictable but I still enjoyed it.

I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review. I have read Dragonfall, the first title. This second title follows Arcady and Averen through Arcady’s start of university - learning more complex magic. It took me a while to get into this sequel, but I am glad I did. By the second half I really couldn’t put it down. Some great characters feature and I would recommend this to fantasy readers who enjoy dragon stories with action, and a love story that isn’t overly heavy on the steam in the bedroom! :)

Sadly this one wasn’t for me, but I hope everyone else LOVES it! The writing is still excellent and I’d read the authors works again, but the story—for me—just wasn’t hitting the spot.

Unfortunately, this book was a bit disappointing. I love the first book in this duology; I recommend it literally all the time. Part of why I love it is that it is a highly unique fantasy novel. The dragon lore is something new and fresh, it institutes an intriguing queer- and disability-normative world, and it didn't feel overstuffed with tropes. This sequel doesn't really have any of that. Of course, the world has not changed, but we do learn more about it, most of which just feels pulled out of thin air and perhaps a little too convenient. The plot takes a turn toward contrived as it introduces what is fast becoming my least favorite trope, the deadly trials, purely for how overused and rarely innovative it is. The story is both slow, lingering in scenes I felt no connection to and taking far too long to get into the meat of the story, and too fast, as major character and relationship developments seem to just pop out of nowhere.

This book's saving grace is absolutely the characters I had already grown attached to. Even if it disappointed me, nothing could make me dislike Arcady and Everen. I was ecstatic to see them in contact again, and I liked that they got to properly flirt a little bit. The ending between them is incredibly sweet, so while this book left me feeling meh, I still ended it with a smile on my face. Sorin definitely grew on me this time around (though she is definitely a perpetrator of the sudden relationship development that is far too convenient).

I think convenience was just the rock weighing this story down. I believe it was initially supposed to be a trilogy, and I wish that were still true. A story of this scope being given so little space means that a lot of things just have to happen quickly and easily to save time, and it ends up making major developments feel rushed and unearned. I truly was looking forward immensely to the conclusion of this series, so it pains me to say this was a letdown. I don't regret reading it, and I did enjoy seeing the final fates of the characters I love, but I can't help but feel disappointed.

Book two of the Dragon Scales series came back with it's teeth and claws! Although I'm not surprised to see another fantastic book emerge from the talented writer that is L.R. Lam. The author has such skill in vivid descriptions that you cant help but belong to the world of Lumet! Emberclaw grabbed you from page one and took off with soaring wings!

Arcady and Everen have the best chemistry there was so much push and pull between these two that had me begging for more. Also..... STEP INTO TO THE SPOTLIGHT SORIN! I loved seeing Sorin bloom into such a unforgettable character. I enjoyed reading from every POV and couldn't wait to read more.


I am so sad and fulfilled with the ending of this one. There was plenty of conflict and yet so much resolution. I assumed it would end in a dun dun dunnnnnn cliffhanger fiasco but the author gave us a great stopping point should Lam ever decide to return. I sincerely hope we get to dive into this world again.

I wasn't able to get into this book. I think if I read it more in the fall then I would of devoured this book. I was so excited for it :(

3.75⭐

I enjoyed this final installment in the Dragon Scales duology more than the first! The plot was a lot more solid footing and I loved the school setting. The relationship grew a ton in this book and the character of Sorin really shined. I still think the overall "big bad" was not as strong as I wanted it to be.

Thank you to DAW Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Loved this story, the storytelling, and was happy to travel to this world and spent time with the characters there
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

L.R. Lam delivers an intense and satisfying conclusion to the Dragon Scales duology with Emberclaw. The stakes are higher, the emotions run deeper, and the story is impossible to put down.

Arcady and Everen’s broken bond drives the tension, and both characters grow in ways that feel real and earned. Arcady’s journey is full of surprises, while Everen’s struggle to find his place adds even more depth. Their romance is filled with longing and conflict, making every moment between them feel meaningful.

The world-building is rich without being overwhelming, and the pacing keeps things moving while letting the emotional moments land. With gripping storytelling and a powerful ending, Emberclaw is a must-read for fantasy fans.

I DNF'ed this unfortunately. this sort if carried on from the first book, which I overall enjoyed. I was excited to read the second one as I felt there was a good change at redemption, It just wasn't for me unfortunately.
1 star

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emberclaw
Author: L.R. Lam
Dragon Scales #2

Thank you so much Netgalley and DAW for this copy of Emberclaw! We actually read the first book, “Dragonfall” in my book club in 2023 when it first came out. I have to say, this book was sooooo much better then the first! We pick up back where the first book left off with our three main characters Everen, Arcady, and Sorin. Everen is facing challenges with the dragons, and Arcady finds themself entering a trial of magic at the arcane University if Vatra. I absolutely LOVED all of Arcadys chapters of this book. I loved the academia and Hogwarts vibes from the university. The Magic trials really made the book for me. The romance in this book was WAY more then in book 1 (which is also why I maybe loved this one more?). The book had a perfect balance of plot, romance, action.. it was perfection. Highly recommend you give this series a chance if you love dragons. The first book was definitely more slower paced but that is probably due to the world building needed to make this duology perfection.

Alright, listen up, dragon lovers and fantasy fiends—Emberclaw by L.R. Lam is here to shatter your emotions, set them on fire, and then lovingly stitch them back together (probably with dragon scales and sheer determination). This is the explosive, gut-wrenching, oh-my-gods-I-can’t-breathe conclusion to the Dragon Scales duology, and wow, does it deliver.

We dive back in with Arcady, our favorite disaster thief-turned-student, who’s infiltrating the prestigious University of Vatra under a fake identity. Their mission? Ace the arcane trials, clear their grandsire’s name, and, you know, not get exposed and arrested. Simple, right? Except there’s also a certain dragon lingering in their thoughts, complicating things in the most heart-wrenching way possible.

Meanwhile, Everen is not having a great time. Once the golden boy of dragonkind, he’s now persona non grata, stripped of his title, and stuck defending his home from wraith attacks. He’s also having cryptic visions of Arcady, making it painfully obvious that their fates are tangled tighter than a cursed prophecy.

L.R. Lam absolutely nails the pacing, balancing political intrigue, deadly secrets, and academic shenanigans with effortless precision. And can we talk about Soren? The assassin with layers of trauma and motives sharper than her knives? I loved her arc and the way it tied into the bigger picture. Also, the slow-burn romance between Arcady and Everen? Absolutely exquisite. It’s the kind of longing and tension that makes you want to scream into a pillow (in the best way).

The worldbuilding is chef’s kiss—rich, immersive, and full of deliciously dangerous magic. And that ending? That. Ending. Lam sticks the landing with a satisfying, emotionally charged finale that will leave you staring at the ceiling, contemplating your life choices.

If you loved Dragonfall, Emberclaw is going to ruin you in the best possible way. Dragons, deception, and devastatingly good storytelling—what more could you ask for?

3.5 rounded down
"We cannot ignore this. We tried, and even so, we found our way back to each other. Is it worth fighting the inevitable again, Arcady? There is a way, to mend the dragon and human worlds. There is a way to mend us, too."

I almost declined to review this arc because I had such a painful experience reading Dragonfall, but the other early reviewers convinced me to give it a shot.

Emberclaw begins immediately following Dragonfall. Everen is imprisoned in the dragon world and the dragons are fighting back against creatures slipping through to their realm while facing the very real possibility that they may die in this other realm.

meanwhile, in the human realm, Arcady has successfully enrolled into university and is beginning to take classes - but Sorin, under the direction of Magnes, also enrolls in the university with the mission of keeping an eye on Arcady. shortly after beginning their studies, Arcady learns that the university will be hosting a set of trials. the winner will have their tuition covered for as long as they wish to study there, and the follow up winners will have a portion of their tuition covered.

I expected the shift to being in a school setting to be jarring and a weird fit for the story, but it actually worked really well and, imo, helped ground the setting a lot more. it made me wish we would have gotten to experience that in the first book.

that said, the first book was written with plans of the series being a trilogy, where the second book was written with the plans of the series being a duology. since Emberclaw is now the end of the story, the pacing and the plot are required to move at a much faster pace to include all of the story the author was trying to tell. this is a bit of a whiplash from reading Dragonfall, but I think it makes the story work a lot better. I felt much more engaged in reading this book than I did Dragonfall. but I think this duology as a whole would have become a HIT if it had been planned as a duology from the jump and then if Dragonfallhad been written with that plan in mind.

things I loved in Emberclaw that I wish we would have at least started to explore in Dragonfall:
· Sorin’s character arc as her own person, not just a weird lackey for Magnes (her character development felt sudden, but I think it would have felt more natural if we had gotten to know her more a little earlier)
· the university setting/magic trials - this added a bit of a H*rry P*tter vibe to the story, meaning a familiarity and something easier to wrap your head around in this world with an extremely layered background/world building. it was fun to see Arcady interact with other students and I feel like this humanized them and made them a more three dimensional character.
· the friendship between Arcady, Everen, and Sorin. I genuinely think these three could have been one of the next great book trios of friends. when they started to trust each other, their interactions became one of my favorite parts of the story to read.

plot: ★★★★★ (4.5 rounded up)
the plot was definitely more cohesive in Emberclaw. it did feel a little wonky as we came to the end - a little rushed and a little too neat. not gonna lie, I’m not 100% certain that I fully understand Ammil’s motives but the vibes were great. I really enjoyed the added layer of the magic trials in the school.

writing: ★★★☆☆
it’s hard for me to review the writing bc OBVIOUSLY the author has a talented voice and fantastic imagination. the idea of the story will always be something I think is super cool. but the execution continued to struggle.

I still feel like I have just a surface level understanding of the plague. I “got” it a little more after this book, so this one did do a better job at adding context to the plague, but I still find myself scratching my head when I try to think about the why of it all. if pretty much all humans use some magic, why is it so horrible that some humans overuse it and get sick? it seems wild to me that they’re sick with the risk of dying and then if they recover they’re essentially ostracized from society like?? huh?

the gods with names that Sorin spoke of meant nothing to me bc who are these people??? I have such a weak grasp on the world building for this story it’s kind of depressing. same thought for other countries in this world. many are mentioned in passing, but not really touched on ever again.

I also understand we are forcing what was meant to be 3 books into one final book, but whew the last 25% was a doozy to read. I would have liked to see it reworked a bit to focus the story back in on our core group of characters, instead of looping in more new people (like the other “Eye” towards the end; can’t remember her name). it also felt like Larkin was just thrown to the side after the halfway point. like Arcady decided that they couldn’t be bothered to care about what she was doing or threatening anymore and Larkin was just fine with that? lmao.

pacing: ★★★★☆
the pacing was definitely a night/day difference compared to Dragonfall. I am EXTREMELY grateful for that because I was low key terrified to try and read this book. as mentioned previously, we are fitting A LOT of events into this book, so there really isn’t any time for the story to slow its pace down.

romance: ★★★★★ (4.5 rounded up)
we get a bond that allows our main couple to speak mind-to-mind and I fear I will always eat that up when it happens in books. I love it.

Everen and Arcady get to genuinely explore their relationship in this book. I LOVED them together. especially when Arcady stopped being weird and prickly ALL THE TIME. once they lowered their walls and let Everen in, they were sooo enjoyable to read.

characters: ★★★☆☆
I genuinely believe that not starting the Everen/Arcady/Sorin friendship sooner is the biggest mistake this series made. there was SO MUCH potential for hijinks and inside jokes and just fun in general. especially when you factor in Everen and Arcady being able to speak through their bond, like. I can easily picture Sorin threatening to stab them both in their sleep for doing that too many times while they’re around her.

for as much beef as I have with this series, I must say, Magnes/Ammil is a horrifying villain. my guy, you’re going to convince people your own kind do not exist, and then chill in your weird tower with all these random dragon body parts from a dragon you dismembered YOURSELF??? you are so scary, my friend. his diabolical-ness fizzled out for me towards the end, but he was still a good villain.

I liked that this book introduced more friends for Arcady. I think this made them an easier character to read; to be able to see them have friends and coexist with other people and build new relationships.

I am also happy that we got to see more sides to Everen and Arcady other than “snobby dragon prince” and “lowly prickly thief”. they felt like real characters in this story versus Dragonfall where they felt more like “placeholder” characters that didn’t get fleshed out enough.

over-all: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 rounded down)
overall, this book was lovely. it’s just so disappointing that it had to come after Dragonfall. I think it will be a difficult sell to get people to read Dragonfall just to experience this book. I think if the premise of this story sounds like it would be up your alley, it is worth it to read the duology. I wouldn’t pick it up if you don’t have the time to dedicate to it. I don’t think this is a duology that you can binge read in a weekend without glossing over details.

if the author ever has the opportunity to rework the series (maybe a graphic novel format?) I think they should 100% do it. the story is really cool and I think if it were presented/executed in a different way, a lot more people would eat it up.