To be honest, I requested this before reading the first book because I wanted to read them in succession. Which I think is not the right way to do it. These books are incredibly neat and interesting the way that they're written, but because of that they're also a little heavy and dense. I did enjoy both books, but this one I did like significantly more than the first. I love an academia setting, and even though I think trials are overdone in general these days, this one felt fresh and exciting. I really liked Arcady, and the slow burn and tension she had with Everen was something sorely missing from a lot of fantasy these days! Overall this felt like a very new reading experience that I don't know how often I'll get the chance to experience in the future, and I thank you for that!

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher, DAW, in exchange for an honest review.

When I read Dragonfall, I fell in love with the universe, Lam's worldbuilding, and character development. So much so that I messaged her on Instagram and BEGGED her if I could read an ARC. I was directed to NetGalley, where I waited and waited and waited until I could request it. Emberclaw met and exceeded all of my heightened expectations that I had for this universe and characters.

Arcady finally gets to go to university, where she studies and investigates the Plaguebringer's true background. While being separated from Everen but in all-too-close proximity to Soren, who turns out to have quite the amazing character arc, this sequel takes quite the route of twists and turns we love in fantasy novels. I love L.R. Lam's take on dragon bonding, magic systems, and distributions of power in society. Even though the beginning was off to a slower start, I appreciated what I got to learn about the university, which was essential to Arcady's character development. We learn more about Cassia and Vere Celene as the dragon's land's health continues to diminish. I truly felt immersed in this novel, and I lowkey wish I could live it. What makes this story even more special is the multi-POV technique that Lam uses, but it's all to help immerse the reader in more. Arcady's is first person, Everen's uses first and second, while Sorin's is in third. Seeing these intentional techniques are rare nowadays, and I appreciated the intent and execution Lam put into Emberclaw. The story is beautiful, and I would love to see more about how dragons and humans interact after watching Arcady and Everen forge a beautiful, golden bond.

I really loved Dragonfall and feel so lucky to have gotten an advanced copy of EMBERCLAW. Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this one. The world Lam built is amazingly intricate. Magic, dragons, friendship, love… <3 Oh, and if you forgot what happened in the first book, there’s an excellent recap right at the beginning!

You all know I'm a sucker for a dragon book and this one was the perfect sequel to Dragonfall. Will be recommending to everyone I know

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for Emberclaw by L.R. Lam.

This felt completely different from Dragonfall. I thought this improved upon several areas from the last book. The pacing was much better and I got more accustomed to the author's writing style (with the multiple POV's). Arcady didn't annoy me as much in this book. I felt like they grew up a little as a result of the higher stakes. The characters were much more fun in this one. I loved watching the relationship develop between Arcady and Sorin. Honestly, Arcady and Sorin were more fun to read about then Arcady and Everen at times. In the first book, I also wasn't connected to Arcady's group (Kelwyn and the Marricks). But, I really liked their new "friend" group in this book with Willem, Edin, and Professor Hayden.

This also just had more of the things I find interesting in fantasy books. I have just never really been a fan of heist books so the first one just wasn't as interesting to me. I also felt like they kept alluding to Arcady's past betrayal in book 1, but never fully explored it so it fell flat. But, book 2 had a very different setting with the magical university and the trials that kept me more engaged.

The part I (still enjoyed but) found least interesting was Vere Celene. I think the dynamic between Everen, his mother, his sister, and the other dragons just didn't really do it for me. I enjoyed reading his relationships with humans rather than the other dragons (besides Magnus). I also felt like the mystery of Arcady's grand sire felt a little anticlimatic for me. It felt like that mission was forgotten about at times in this book and when it popped up at the end, it felt a little jarring. I think it could have been weaven through the story better instead of a few reminders being thrown in every few chapters.

Overall, vast improvement! 4 stars.

Ohh my god this book was amazing! From the storyline to the characters, I was never bored and always captivated reading this.
I'm so excited for Emberclaw to be out because i enjoyed it so much 😭🩷

It took a moment to get back into this world. But once I did, I loved it.

This world pulled me in again. And the characters only make it all so much better. Even the magic system is so intriguing. Not to mention all the lore and history.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fantasy read with an intriguing world and a romance you don't want to miss.

Includes:
Dragons
Divination
Secrets
Complicated feelings

What a great end to the duology! Sometimes I get nervous to read the second book with fear that it will not live up to the hype of the first book; however, I thought Emberclaw was even better than Dragonfall.

In this story, you follow Arcady's journey at the university, Sorin's assignment from Magnus, and Everen's struggles with his family. This book picks up right where you left off, and I absolutely love that there is a recap of Dragonfall at the beginning of the book so that you do not miss any key information. I enjoyed having more of Sorin's point of view, and I thought that Emberclaw was very fast-paced which kept me intrigued the entire time. Getting to see Arcady grow and progress in their friendships at the university was heartwarming, and you couldn't help for root for them to achieve a better life. I thought that the trials lead to a very complete conclusion to the end of the duology!

Beautiful finale to the Dragonfall series, continuing where we last left off with our heroes and expanding the story to an even wider view of the intriguing, twisting world.

Loves the adventures of this story and this world! No matter how many books with dragons I read, each are so fun and add an element that make them even more cool

Thank you, Daw Books, Netgalley, and of course L.R. Lam for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review with no spoilers!

Again, just like the first book, I really enjoyed it! I may have even enjoyed this book over the first. The storyline is so unique and such a breath of fresh air.

The good: I loved the academic setting that gives Harry Potter vibes and the trials in this one. Who doesn’t love when deadly trials involved?! I loved the continuation of Arcady, Sorin, and Everen’s perspective and what they were personally feeling and going through. I was fully invested in all the characters. Lam did an amazing job at making me care what happened to each of them, something good if I liked them or something bad if I didn’t like them. The slow burn romance was everything for me. The ending was great. This book was exactly what I wanted it to be.

The not so bad, but noticeable: There a lot of characters in these books, so as much as I like the use of they/them, when it is used for half of the characters it gets confusing, especially when I am trying to imagine and world build within my head. I think there needed to be a little more character description for some, as it just created a blank stick figure in my head. Which maybe it was done on purpose.

Overall, this book had me right at the beginning and there were no dull moments. Lam is so good at storytelling and worldbuilding. This is one of my favorite duologies (unless there may eventually be a third, wink wink nudge nudge). I still plan on buying this book when it comes out (I already have 2 versions of Dragonfall), and both Barnes and Noble special editions.

I want to thank the author again for this series. I know they mentioned there were some hard points during this journey and want to let them know I appreciate them and this series they shared with us. It was one of my favorites.

Jumping right in where Dragonfall ended, Emberclaw was an enjoyable completion to this duology. We get even deeper world building, an academia setting (which I LOVE), and in-depth character development. I found the magic and dragon lore to be attention grabbing and unique. If you’re looking for a fantastical adventure with beautiful relationships between species, a bit of heist excitement, and creative storytelling - than this is the book duo for you!

Emberclaw is the electrifying sequel to Dragonfall, and it doesn’t just live up to the prequel, it surpasses it in almost every way. Picking up where Dragonfall left off, this book dives deeper into the simmering tensions between humans and dragons, blending high-stakes action with moments of raw, emotional depth.

The story follows Aryen, the half-dragon rebel, as she grapples with her dual identity and the devastating fallout of her decisions in *Dragonfall*. Her journey this time feels more personal, filled with struggles for trust, belonging, and control over her growing powers. And let’s not forget Callen, the sharp-tongued thief whose loyalty to Aryen is as complicated as it is endearing. Together, they must face Emberclaw—a legendary dragon whose fiery wrath could either save or destroy their fractured world.

The writing shines in Emberclaw. Sentences like, “The air thrummed with the weight of ancient power, the kind that makes you feel small but alive,” and “Sometimes, the greatest acts of rebellion are the ones you never see coming,” capture the vivid magic of the world and the stakes of Aryen’s quest.

Compared to Dragonfall, Emberclaw takes the world-building to soaring new heights, exploring the intricacies of dragon lore and human greed with more depth. The pacing is tighter, with every chapter pulling you further into the story. However, some might miss the slow-burn charm of Aryen and Callen’s budding alliance in the first book, as this sequel is much more action-heavy.

If Dragonfall left you intrigued, Emberclaw will leave you breathless. With its twists, heartfelt moments, and an epic finale, it’s a sequel worth devouring.

**Rating: 4.5/5 stars**
A fiery and unforgettable follow-up that sets the stage for an even more explosive conclusion!

Imagine a heist, a magical university, a haunted past, and a moody dragon walk into a tavern—it’s chaos, it’s drama, it’s… complicated. This book had me rooting for Arcady, a scrappy mastermind with enough tricks up their sleeve to start a magician’s union, and Everen, the broodiest dragon trying to figure out life post-exile. The setup? Absolute gold. The execution? A little singed around the edges.

Arcady sneaking into the University? Iconic. Academic trials with magical danger? Chef’s kiss. Their endless scheming to prove their worth while dodging enemies? I was hooked. But then came Everen—our sad dragon boi who spends most of the book feeling things. Like, all the things. I was ready to roar, “Less brooding, more battling!” because when dragons are involved, I expect fire (literally and emotionally).

The worldbuilding was rich, and the stakes were sky-high, but the pacing left me flapping in circles. Just when I thought we’d get somewhere, it slowed down, and the magic of it all dimmed. Still, the tension between Arcady and Everen was the perfect sprinkle of angst, and I couldn’t help but root for them to stop dodging their feelings and do something epic together.

In the end, it wasn’t quite the dragon-sized adventure I hoped for, but it still had its shining scales. A solid read for those who love clever heists, magical school vibes, and a side of emotional dragon drama—but you’ll need patience to fly through the turbulence.

This duology series had me entranced since the first chapter of Dragonfall. Emberclaw delves deeper into the relationship between Arcady and Everen, as well as explaining more of Sorin's character and her conflicting morals. I loved reading through the trials and tribulations the protagonists go through as they learn to love themselves and one another. Their character development in this installment felt so real and intriguingly complicated. Not only were the characters given depth and emotional growth, but the world-building in Emberclaw was beautiful. The streets of Loc and Arcady's key shop were so beautifully detailed. The amount of work that was put into the physical world was equally as magnificent when reading about the different magic spells and sign language used throughout the book. The fantasy and magical realm mixed with non-conforming ideas of gender was so seamless that I almost forgot it was a problem in the real world. If it's not obvious, Emberclaw was a heart-wrenchingly beautiful conclusion to this series. I loved reading every line of it; these characters and the things that they represent mean so much to me and many others. Thank you for putting this out into the world.

Dragonfall was one of my favourite books that I read in 2024 so when I saw this was on Netgalley I was very excited to read it. It was so nice to be spending more time with these characters. Having the story contained in two books worked really well as the story didn't drag and (without being spoilery) the ending was superb. I'm so happy I discovered this series and would recommend these books to anyone who likes queer fantasy. What Lam does with dragons is new and interesting and having a non-binary main character and a queer romance in that setting just makes the books perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC.
When I first read Dragonfall, it immediately became a top favorite. However, its sequel, Emberclaw, unfortunately fell short of those expectations, landing on the other side of my personal rankings.
The elements I adored in Dragonfall—the rich world-building, an intriguing magic system, a queer-normative world, and, of course, my favorite character, Everen—are all still present. Yet something felt amiss in this conclusion.
One notable issue was the structure. Arcady’s academic journey and trials felt as though they belonged in the first book. Perhaps this is my bias from “traditional fantasy” narratives, where the protagonist starts at a magical institution, faces setbacks, and ventures into the wider world to confront a great evil. While it makes sense within the arc left off by Dragonfall, the execution in Emberclaw felt uneven and might have benefited from a different portrayal.
Additionally, the backstory of Loc proved challenging to follow. Much of it was packed into this book, where it felt more like catching up than building on the first instalment. I would have appreciated this depth in Dragonfall to allow for a more cohesive sequel.
Arcady’s chapters posed another challenge. While I enjoy romance as a complement to a story, these sections leaned heavily into what felt like an overabundance of "horny thoughts." While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, the intention of rebuilding a slow-burn romance from a fractured bond was undermined. Instead, it felt rushed and lacked the tension that captivated me in Dragonfall. By contrast, Everen’s perspective on their romance was far more compelling, especially his struggles with Arcady’s broken trust.
The villain, a crucial element in any fantasy with an overarching antagonist, left much to be desired. His motivations felt unconvincing, his arc repetitive, and his actions steadily diminished the stakes he initially set up. This lack of depth weakened the narrative’s tension.
On a brighter note, Sorin’s arc was a highlight. Her struggles were well-developed—arguably more so than those of the main characters. Her motivations were clear and layered, and her story concluded in a satisfying way that made her my favourite character in this installment.
As always, the author’s prose was exquisite, particularly in Everen’s chapters. This remains a standout strength and one of the reasons I still recommend this duology to fantasy readers.
Ultimately, Emberclaw didn’t deliver the conclusion I’d hoped for. That said, this series is still worth exploring for its fascinating world and captivating moments, and I will definitely be looking forward to more from this author in the future.

I was so excited to return to this world, and this sequel did NOT miss! So much of this book is an absolute vibe, with Arcady enrolling at university meaning there were new places to be and characters to meet. My standout character for this series is Sorin - really loved her character development. The plot really kept me guessing and there were twists and turns that I really enjoyed. If you liked Dragonfall be sure to pick this one up.

✨ ARC Book Review ✨

Emberclaw by L.R. Lam

STAR RATING: 5/5⭐️

REVIEW:

A beautiful ending to this story. There were plenty of ups and downs, the excitement was high, and the fear of Arcady and Everen not making it through was so, so real. I was hooked at the beginning, and kept going back to this book! The twists and turns kept me engaged and I absolutely was screaming for Arcady and Everen. The focus and determination of survival from these two is amazing.

PLATFORM: eBook/Kindle

EMBERCLAW was one of my most highly anticipated reads, and I'm so glad I got to read an arc. It successfully concludes Arcady and Everen's story, and I am completely obsessed. I can tell that the author wants to tell more stories in this world, and I really hope they get to! This world is so interesting and intriguing, and I would love to read more stories set in it. I loved this book!