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.

This is a wild ride from start to finish. If you want some silly reading, I recommend this! I have a friend who loves dragons and I KNOW this is the perfect holiday gift for her

This anthology introduced me to so many new authors, I think it was the perfect blend to capture the range of dragons.