When Des accidentally blood bonds with a dragon, the first hatched in like forever, she considers abandoning the creature, but destiny won't let her. Now she's on a quest with the dragon, Squid, and her toxic AF lover-turned ex-turned lover, Liv.

There were some things I like about this book. I liked the adventure. I liked the relationship between Des and Squid. There were other things I didn't like. I thought things moved way too fast, both in the story and between Des and Liv. There's not much romantic tension, and I'm not sure if the author meant it that way or what. Also, this book ends on a cliffhanger, something I personally don't like. You may like it, but it's not for me. Also, the chapters felt like they ended so abruptly. All in all, I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I enjoyed Katherine Littrell's narration.

This book was such a fun fantasy adventure! The story focuses around Des who somehow blood bonds with a baby dragon named Squid. For some reason everyone is after this baby dragon and as he grows bigger he becomes harder to conceal.

Her pesky ex who she is still in love with seems to keep getting in the way. While they do forgive and forget about some things, overall I didn't like Liv. She did some things that in my opinion aren't hard to get over no matter how much you love someone. I think my only issue was at times it was easy to drift off and get lost while listening to the audiobook.

The book ends in a spot that makes you impatient for the second book in the series. I can't wait to see how things play out in the sequel. Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and J.C. Rycroft for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

The work starts off quite slowly and never really picks up the pace. There’s definitely a lot of introspection, sorting through feelings, remembering, etc. from the protagonist near the beginning, which felt like a chore to wade through. They also weren’t the kind of details that made me feel connected to the character because they were repetitive and didn’t add much to the protagonist’s development. Then a lot of the rest of the work is made up of the character travelling between places, which was also not that entertaining.

There’s a lack of worldbuilding that left the story feeling like it was floating unattached to a strong setting aside some references to Australia. There are some very basic descriptions of immediate locations, but it never really extends beyond those in a meaningful way. I did enjoy the dragon, the little bit of lore we got relating to it, and how entertaining its personality was, but that was really the main positive of the work for me.

This was a fine read overall especially if you prefer light fantasies, but unfortunately it was missing several elements of strong fantasies that I prefer. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a fantasy book, with a little romance. Our main gal, Des, is so immediately likeable from the first page. She kind of stumbles upon her destiny and resists it at every turn, and is definitely a reluctant hero. Our small, but diverse cast of characters are all impeccably detailed and well-written. I really love them all. I will lay myself down for Twisty, and Squid’s facetiousness is just SO perfectly Australian!

Rycroft has built a stunning fantasy world that feels so familiar to me, being loosely based off of Australia. The references to packed red dirt, and wombats just immediately set the scene perfectly.

“I’d seen the skeleton of a wombat taller than a man once, in Pastira, the capital.”

If you like your fantasy with a side of political drama, impending doom, plot twists and a diverse cast - then The Blood-Born Dragon is for you!

Edited to add audio notes: Katherine Littrel has nailed it once again! Absolutely incredible performance!

Gather 'round, fantasy and adventure lovers, because The Blood-Born Dragon by J.C. Rycroft is a dazzling debut you won't want to miss! This sapphic epic delivers a whirlwind of bravery, love, danger, dragons, and a dash of deliciously complicated relationships. Des Mildue, a snarky and reluctant heroine, finds herself blood-tied to Squid, a dragon with time-bending powers, setting off a heart-pounding journey through the richly imagined Everlands. The banter between Des and Squid is pure gold, while the dynamic with her ex, Liz, brings all the spice of an enemies-to-lovers trope with a refreshing twist. Rycroft’s sharp prose, stunning worldbuilding, and seamless pacing keep the action rolling without sacrificing moments of emotional depth. While the opening chapters take their time to set the stage, once the story takes flight, it’s impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy with a sapphic edge, this book is an absolute must-read—especially if you have Kindle Unlimited!

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC for an honest review!

This was a surprise hit for me! I saw "dragon" in the title and requested it without bothering to even read the blurb. What I got was an entertaining fantasy adventure about a reluctant hero sellsword who accidentally bonds with a snarky baby dragon and has to escort it to meet a much older dragon, while evading everyone trying to capture it and use it for their own gain, including her double-crossing on-again, off-again ex girlfriend. I really liked the main character - she was out of her depth for most of the story, which made her relatable, but she always tried to do the right thing, even when it got her in huge trouble. Her relati0nship with the baby dragon was so much fun, and I loved their back-and-forth.

The narrator was excellent: great comedic timing, and the Australian accent was a breath of fresh air in a genre where they are a rarity. Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC!

J.C. Rycroft’s The Blood-Born Dragon plunges readers into a captivating world of dragons, royalty, and relentless ambition. The novel weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue and heartache as characters compete for control over a coveted dragon egg, only to discover it has already hatched. This twist sets the stage for a thrilling adventure marked by complex relationships and high-stakes power struggles.

The protagonist, Des, emerges as a deeply relatable and resilient character. Her emotional journey, particularly her tumultuous connection with someone she holds dear, resonates with raw authenticity. Rycroft portrays Des’s pain with vivid precision, drawing readers into her struggles and her strength. Each time she is let down, the heartbreak feels personal, a testament to Rycroft’s skill at crafting characters with depth and vulnerability.

Beyond its emotional core, the novel excels in world-building. The intricate dynamics of this realm—its customs, alliances, and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their desires—are revealed with care, creating a vibrant backdrop for the story. As the layers of this world unfold, readers are drawn into a realm where ambition often overshadows morality.

The Blood-Born Dragon is more than just a tale of dragons and royalty; it is a story about resilience, trust, and the unrelenting pursuit of one’s goals. Fans of fantasy rich with emotional depth and complex characters will find much to admire in Rycroft’s work. This book sets the foundation for what promises to be an enthralling series, leaving readers eager to uncover what lies ahead.

"The Blood-Born Dragon" is a thrilling start to a fantasy trilogy that brims with adventure, magic, and wit. The story introduces us to Des Mildue, a sharp-witted sellsword whose life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes blood-bound to Esquidamelion, the first dragon hatched in centuries. Their dynamic—Des’s dry humor paired with Squid’s snarky, regal attitude—creates a compelling partnership that propels the story forward.

With vivid world-building, an intriguing mystery, and a dash of sapphic romance, the plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. Katherine Littrell’s narration brings the characters to life, infusing them with personality and charm, especially Squid’s endearing sass.

Packed with heart-pounding action and emotional depth, this audiobook is perfect for fans of magical creatures, reluctant heroes, and immersive fantasy worlds. I can’t wait for the next installment in this gripping trilogy!

I did like this story and the idea of what this could have been. What really hurt this for me was the narrator. they were pretty monotone throughout the entire thing. There was no emotion/inflection in their voice at all. It seemed as if they did not care for what they were reading. For me, the pacing felt a bit slow. I felt as if, for a long while nothing was happening and there was not a lot of build up. Maybe reading the story would be a better option and I would gladly give that a try because this story/the idea was super interesting.

This was everything I love about fantasy! A smart mouth'd, snarky main character who takes no crap from anyone, except an ex lover, finds herself blood-tied to a dragon of all things!
A wonderful (but dangerous) quest ensues and we get to meet the ex-lover, an intelligent equine companion and some very nasty folks along the way. All to get the dragon Squid to where it needs to go.
There is betrayal, found family, love and a realization that some things are bigger than we are and mythical creatures still exist.
This is a sweeping story that encompasses all of Rascalin, even that small part of the map that says "here be dragons"
I loved the audiobook! The production and quality is second to none with Dreamscape Media! The Narrator Katherine Littrell was stunning with her Australian accent and ability to create voices for each character.
I can't wait to see this adventure continue in book 2 of the Everlands Cycle!

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from #NetGalley and #Dreamscape Media (Thank you!) but my opinion and review are my own thoughts.

The Blood-Born Dragon by J.C. Rycroft is a masterpiece of a dragon story! I can't believe I waited to read this for so long. Don't make my mistake and read this ASAP!

Our queer reluctant chosen one, Des, stumbles on a great dragon quest! I loved the twist and turns as the history of dragons unfolds. Squid is a perfect dragon and one of my favorites from all the dragon books I've read! The wit, laughs, and betrayal made the characters dynamic and interesting.

If you are familiar with fantasy or just testing the genre, this is a perfect book! I also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, which was fantastic! Katherine Littrell was an excellent narrator. 5/5 would recommend and I will be jumping into book 2 soon!

I absolutely loved The Blood Born Dragon! The voices of all the characters were distinct and compelling, making them easy to connect with. The development of the dragon was particularly captivating, and her trials were nothing short of amazing. This story beautifully captured the themes of love, loss, and finding love again, all while weaving in a gripping thread of betrayal. I’m beyond excited to see where the second book takes this incredible journey

The Blood-Born Dragon is a New Adult fantasy novel that provides the reader with a new enriching tale about a found dragon and a main character who struggles to help themself. Des has spent years trying to get over an ex and has floated through jobs and the world trying to find what they're meant to do. She finds a dragon that helps her explore both of their destinies. This was a good story with a well rounded character, however the story felt slow throughout the telling. This is a good book for those looking to read about someone finding themselves and their destiny.

Paranormal stories are among my favorites so when I came across The Blood-Born Dragon, I was excited to listen to the audiobook after reading the blurb for it and even more excited because this story written by a "new author" to me. I was hoping that I would love this story but the one thing that hurt this story drastically for me was the narrator. The story starts off with action and there is constant action throughout the story, there's twists and turns, surprises, betrayal, steamy scenes, fighting, dragons, conversations with people, horses, dragons and so much more, but it was all so boring. For me, there was no excitement or emotions in the narrator's voice at all, it was more like she was just reading the story, and it made the story boring, long and drawn out for me. Maybe if I had read the story, I would have enjoyed it more, but this audiobook just wasn't the one for me. The story ends with a heartbreaking cliffhanger ending with Des but even with that I'm not interested in listening to the second book in this series. With that being said, I would still recommend that readers give this story a try. Just because this audiobook wasn't the story for me doesn't mean that other listeners/readers won't enjoy this story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

✨Fantasy
🐉Dragons
✨Found Family
🐉Time Magic
✨Sapphic
🐉Enemies to Lovers
✨Bonded to a Dragon

I really loved this book! I loved how it was an epic tail. We went to different locations and settings. I also love the bond between the main character and the dragon. I love the idea of a blood bond with a dragon. I love all the lore that you get to read in this book.

The found family vibes in here were perfect. There is an enemies to lovers romance going on that I enjoyed. The battle scenes were detailed and very entertaining.

This book does a cliffhanger and I absolutely want to read the book. I am very excited to see where this is going.

This was one of my favorite audiobook lessons this year, just based on the narrator. The narrator did a phenomenal job. I will definitely read books that are narrated by this narrator more often just because I loved this one so much.