This is a collection of short fantasy stories. The anthology is a fun collection of M/M, F/M, shapeshifters, and a lot of adventures. I like the interpretations on the dragon romance. The book had the right amount of SPICE in my opinion and the characters could have more depth but it was a fun read and short so you can easily binge it in one day.

Thank you to Riverdale Avenue Books | Circlet for the eARC

Few of these short stories read like reputable fantasy authors allowing themselves to be sensual and aroused, while others read like queer fanfictions with a dragon kink and a dream. One of the authors of this dragon erotica short story collection went on to win a Hugo award for a novel, and I suspect it was the author of short story two. I would enjoy reading more of “The Last Whisper of Killitch.” The others are similar to one-shots on AO3. I am very impressed that this short story collection was initially published in the early 90s as it feels modern. With a better cover and better marketing, this anthology could very much appeal to Booktok and other horny contemporary audiences with a taste in fantasy, particularly those wanting to read more M/M fantasy pairings.

Seeing as most of these stories were M/M pairings or F/F, I would argue that the fabel of dragons living reclusively, cast from society, inspired these (majority male, at least in pen name) authors to write about gay relationships metaphorically. Especially about their sexual “depraved” desires and literal fantasies.

For the book to reach its intended audience, the cover should portray a man with a dragon.

The Terms of Our Alliance - 2 stars. At least it was short and inventive.
The Last Whisper of Killitch - 5 stars. Would read a longer version!
Domesticated - 3 stars. AO3 would eat this up
Little Jade Mountain - 3 stars… was this not just two men?
Outermost claw, front right foot - 2 stars. Strange, but go lesbians?
Demon spawn - 1 star, DNF… This was again humans, but very poor writing and violent
Gold for copper - 4 stars. This was again just human sex, but liked the writing
Sleeping with dragons - no rating. It was fine until it got racist.
Prince Lovely and the Three Dragons - 3 stars. Wholesome feverdream, if simply written.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital copy!

This is an OK, read, but not for me, sha.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you, Cecilia Tan, Cosmin Alexander.

Thank you NetGalley.

"Like A Breath of Flame" by Cecilia Tan and Cosmin Alexander offers a captivating blend of short stories that explore unique and imaginative romantic interactions with dragons. The anthology shines in its ability to weave together passion, fantasy, and adventure, making each tale feel fresh and engaging. The variety of scenarios and creative interpretations of dragon romance keep the collection intriguing. However, the heavy focus on male-on-male pairings in most of the stores and this may not appeal to all readers, especially those looking for a more diverse range of relationships. Still, for fans of dragon-themed romance and sensual fantasy, this book delivers an enchanting and evocative experience.

This book had a wide range of spice, content and length of stories! It's always hard to rate an anthology because there are 9 different stories, all with varying ratings. Although some had intricate stories, world building and character building, others seemed rushed. Overall, it was about what you would expect from dragon smut. I would recommend it to someone interested in the description, but it's a pretty niche book that could be read for fun!

This was my bad for not reading the whole description before requesting this.

I like dragons.
I like smut.
What could go wrong?
Apparently a lot, I didn’t mine the idea of this book I just thought it would me something different.

I was kindly allowed to ARC read this book for free from Net Galley and the Authors. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that it contains a series of very short stories, all being erotica involving dragons. Some of them were very hot and some of them just weren’t my thing. All of the short stories had really cool lore, even if only a small snippet about the dragon lore or history was involved. It is an enjoyable read and if you like dragon erotica you will likely enjoy this! For me personally, I would’ve liked a little more plot to go with the erotica. All in all, it was good.

IDK what to say. I cant defend myself on this one. I think I am a fan, but also I am so confused. Some were much better than others.

This was so much fun. I do not usually read anthologies but come on. Its DRAGONS! And I was really enjoyed every chapter.

Publishing date: 12.12.2024 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books for the ARC. My opinions are my own.


TLDR: The dragons are indeed in on the action

Thoughts, so many thoughts, none of them are family friendly. Neither is this book.

This kind of book is not for everyone, not at all. This is for the weirdos (affectionate) like me. Are you a little alternative? A little on the gay side? Do you have your monster f**ker permit? Then this will be up your alley.

The book features so many different scenarios, pairings (and groups), and ... positions ;--)
Lots of variety to be had. The spice itself varies from story to story, but one thing is consistent in every single one. There are dragons, and usually the dragon is part of the action. Love it. Also, there is so much gay action. A little surprising, but pleasantly so!

Personally I found the first story to be most interesting. Wish that concept was explored further.

I will give it three stars, the writing could vary, the quality of the story varied lots also, as is typical of a collection. Do recommend for the audience mentioned earlier!

Thank you to NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
These 9 stories of dragons were so unique and spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ each one had takes on dragons stories I definitely haven’t read before. I’d love for any of these short stories to become series. I have each story 3.5-4 rating. All were very enjoyable and the humor was top notch.

Overall it was good, the short stories left a lot to be desired. There were nine short stories overall and I’d say the spice level is about a three out of five, also a LOT of gay sex which is nice. Just based off the cover of the book though, I would’ve assumed it would have been more female driven than male driven.
In one of the short stories it mentions a “stone phallus” and let me just say, that thing would’ve been VERY unforgiving! Again, the mentioning of a “joy spot” didn’t appeal to myself as the reader.
The first short story though??? My goooooodness I wish their was more too it. “Present. Mount” oh lord that was good!
Thanks to Netgalley I was able to receive a free digital copy but I definitely am giving my honest review!

The Viking Sword
An Anglo-Saxon Mystery
Elizabeth Springer
Christmas time is usually a special time for newlyweds however Lord Edwin and Lady Molgiful’s Christmas may not go the way they expect. The setting is AD 879 at Wimborne in Dorset. Edwin is employed by King Alfred as an administrative official. A band of callous gamblers appear to be organizing in nearby Hampton. A man reports the theft of a treasure trove of silver. A precious artifact at Wimborne Abbey has disappeared. Someone burns down a warehouse with a year’s worth of food inside. A musician with a communication from Edwin’s brother vanishes. The skull of woman is recovered in a shallow grave in an isolated spot close to the river. Could anything else go wrong? Of course! On Christmas day a man is found in his locked bedchamber with a Viking Sword in him. Are the crimes connected…
Edwin and Molly attempt to bring back a little semblance of peace and holiday cheer.
I love this action-packed historical mystery. The main characters are fun. This is the second book in this series. A great read!
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

2.94/5 rounded up

The terms of our alliance - 2✨
The last whisper of Killitch - 3.5✨
Domesticated - 4.5✨
Little jade mountain - 2.5✨
Outermost claw, front right foot - 3✨
Demon spawn - 3.5✨
Gold for Copper - 3✨
Sleeping with Dragons - 2.5✨
Prince Lovely and the three dragons - 2✨

This is honestly quite a mixed bag of short stories in the genre of dragon spicy fantasy romance. Unfortunately, a lot of it did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Like a Breath of Flame is an engaging and unique anthology that offers a fresh, sensual take on dragon lore. Each story explores dragons through the lens of various cultures, weaving rich tapestries of mythology and tradition into compelling narratives. The diversity of perspectives, from dragons symbolizing wisdom to dragons evoking fear and desire, was engaging. However, it’s important to note that the anthology is entirely in the erotic category, with a mix of MF, MFD, MM, and MD pairings. The sensual dynamics between characters, both human and dragon, add layers of depth to the lore, making these stories not just about mythical creatures, but also about the complex relationships they form. My only minor critique would be that some stories feel a bit more polished than others, but overall, Like a Breath of Flame offers a one-of-a-kind experience for readers who enjoy both dragons and steamy romance.

Thank you to Riverdale Avenue Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. For lovers of all things dragons these stories are bound to draw you in. What a quick and exhilarating read. I appreciated the introduction to new authors and the stories were succinct, fast paced, and steamy. As Cosmin Alexander said, "Dream of dragons." Well this book offers ability to do just that and then some.

Like A Breath of Flame by Cecelia Tan and Cosmin Alexander is a perfect book for a spicy dragon smut reader.

✅ anthalogy
✅ dragon
✅ nine short story
✅ fully smut
✅ plenty of spicy scenes : explicit and intense (bxb, threesome, group, gxb, toys)

Deliciously steamy. I loved that it was a bunch of short stories that got right to the good stuff because who doesn’t fantasize about riding a dragon?

This was a strong anthology and was hooked from the first story, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed the romance and fantasy element that I was looking for. Each author wrote their story perfect and enjoyed the characters in this story.

Okay, so here’s the thing – when it comes to dragon romance and erotica, I tend to have a bit of a size kink. I mean, let’s be honest, unless you’re reading for the scales, claws, or tails (all of which is perfectly okay), we love dragons because they’re big . . . monstrously big. For that reasons, the stories in Like A Breath Of Flame that got me all hot and bothered were the ones that play with the idea of size.

The Terms of Our Alliance by KJ Kabza introduces us to the first man to become a dragon rider and takes the ‘riding’ in a direction I did not expect; The Last Whisper of Killitch by Julian Oliver-Fenn explores a pair of outcasts who embrace the danger of dragon pleasure; Outermost Claw, Front Right Foot by Steven Schwartz (my favorite by far) really plays with the size element, but not with the parts you might think; while Sleeping with Dragons by Kimber Camacho is a surprisingly sensuous story of size.

My one exception would be Prince Lovely and the Three Dragons by Nobilis Reed, which has an element of size in the background, but a human relationship at the forefront that’s inventive, magical, and has fun with gender roles.

If your tastes do run more towards shapeshifting encounters of equally sized individuals, Cecilia Tan & Cosmin Alexander have selected even more fantastic stories here. Call it fantasy erotica or romantasy with a queer kick, it’s a great read either way.