Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters and it was such a great end to the series. My only issue is that I felt like the battle scene was so important but it was kind of short and didn’t feel fast paced enough. I felt like since there was so much going on I’d want more details and feel like it’s a battle , but it felt more like a fight. I can’t wait to reread this series though, I’d recommend it!

The book Title is a solid giveaway on how the book ends so that makes little sense to me. The pacing was off. Narrators were fine.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book had a strange pacing—some parts felt overly drawn out, while others seemed rushed. The narration was a highlight, with the narrator skillfully giving each character a distinct voice, but that alone couldn’t make up for the issues with the story. The title felt somewhat misleading since it didn’t truly reflect the focus of the book.

While the plot had promise, the writing didn’t quite deliver. After the first book, it turned into one battle after another, lacking depth or meaningful progression. Though I was happy to see the characters get their resolutions, the journey there felt repetitive.

One of the most distracting aspects was how the author wrote dragon roars. Instead of a simple description, they were drawn out like "rooooooaaaarrrrrrr," which was easy to overlook at first but became frustrating when it happened frequently toward the end. It really took me out of the story.

The main female character also wasn’t particularly likable for me. She came across as irritating, which made it harder to stay engaged.

Overall, while the book had a decent foundation, it didn’t fully come together. It had potential, but the execution left much to be desired.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ah, The Dragon Queen, a tale of war, love, and some seriously high-stakes plotting. We’re plunged into a world where the war drums are already beating, and Talon (our dark, broody dragon hero) drops the ultimate heartbreak bombshell: He doesn’t expect to survive this war. Oof. Cue the emotional rollercoaster.

But that’s not the only heart-wrenching part! Our FMC is left to face the possibility of losing the very thing that healed her....the love she’s found in Talon.

To make matters even juicier, she volunteers to spy in a castle where things go from bad to beyond bad faster than a dragon can take flight. And when she discovers the true horrors that await the Southern Isles, well… let's just say the stage is set for an all-out war of the hearts and kingdoms.

🎧 Narration Review: Ramona Master & Michael Ferraiuolo
Ramona Master’s voice as the heroine really brought the emotional weight of the book to life. You can hear the vulnerability, the inner strength, and even the hesitations in her voice as she navigates her internal struggles. And when the big emotional moments hit? Oh, she nails it. The pain of love, the terror of war, and the rawness of her fears? Chef's kiss.

On the other hand, Michael Ferraiuolo’s portrayal of Talon, the brooding dragon hero, is the stuff of audiobook dreams. He gives Talon the right mix of stoic power and secret softness. His deep, gravelly voice gives the character a sense of authority, but there’s enough subtle emotion to make you melt. As the stakes get higher, his delivery becomes more intense and believe me, it had me clutching my headphones in suspense!

Together, their back-and-forth is absolutely magnetic, with the contrasting tones between the characters creating a fantastic dynamic. You’re pulled in, almost like you’re living the highs and lows with them.

What I Loved About the Story:

1. Talon’s complexity – Talk about a tortured soul! He’s not just a dragon; he’s a man with a past, a heart, and a deep fear of losing the love he’s finally found. The emotional rollercoaster he rides with the heroine, especially given the looming war, is truly heartbreaking.

2. The Southern Isles – The setting is absolutely immersive. The political intrigue, the dictatorship, the mystery surrounding the plague, everything combines to create this vivid, dangerous world. I was hooked on the fact that the protagonist is sneaking around as a maid to uncover the secrets of the island. The espionage aspect adds a lot of tension and excitement.

3. The slow-burn romance – It’s not insta-love, thank you very much! Their relationship builds layer by layer. The emotional push-and-pull between the two of them as they struggle with their personal fears and the world falling apart around them is believable and raw. Their connection feels earned, and that's something rare in fantasy novels.

4. Dragons, baby! – Yes, there are dragons. But not in the sense of ‘oh look, fire-breathing reptiles.’ The dragons in this world carry weight, both in physical presence and emotional depth. I’m not here to spoil, but just know that Talon’s backstory? Deeply tied to dragons in ways that go beyond typical fantasy lore.

What Could Be Better:

1. Pacing (a little sluggish at times) – While the world-building and character development are top-notch, there were a few moments where the pacing slowed down. There’s a lot of setting up in the beginning, which, although necessary, had me eagerly waiting for the plot to really take off.

2. Some tropes feel familiar – The “tragic past” and “warrior with a heart of gold” archetypes are certainly present, and while it works, at times, I wished the story took a few more risks with its character development.

3. The Villain could use a bit more depth – Barron is a classic villain, but I wanted to know more about him—his motives, his weaknesses, the reasons behind his cruelty. The story gave me glimpses, but I would’ve loved to dive a little deeper into his mind.

If you enjoy stories where love is tested by war and personal demons, where betrayal lurks at every turn, and where dragons aren’t just creatures but pivotal parts of the emotional and political landscape, then this audiobook will definitely capture your attention.

Series fantasy with dragons, Drama, action, revenge, twists, and romance.
Calista and her dragon love them.
Talon is the enemy but a great twists.
Enjoyed the series
Narrators were very good
Voluntarily reviewed.

The narrators were fantastic!

Story wise, there was a lot of drama. I enjoyed how actioned packed this was. There were so many turns and twists and I really liked this for the conclusion on the story arc. The world building was fantastic. I found the book title misleading as most of the story revolves around Talon and not Calista.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio ARC.

I have to say I loved the book. However, “dragon queen” I feel is a bit misleading since she doesn’t become queen until the end. The narrators were Wonderful and kept you engaged the entire time!

✨✨✨ NetGalley ALC ✨✨✨

Dark Romantasy
Dragons
Revenge plot

This was the perfect ending to this series! Loved it!

4⭐️
3🌶️

A gripping conclusion to the Death, blending action, romance, and political intrigue. The story follows Talon and Cassandra as they navigate danger in the Southern Isles, facing old enemies and forging a new future.

The pacing is well-balanced, with tense action sequences and emotional depth. Character development shines—Talon's redemption arc is compelling, and Cassandra's resilience makes her a strong protagonist. Their relationship adds emotional weight to the high-stakes plot.

The audiobook format enhances the experience, with excellent narration bringing the characters to life. While some story elements could have been more refined, this is a satisfying and engaging finale. A must-read for fans of the series!

Although I have loved this series, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of growth in Calista's character. With the book called The Dragon Queen, you think she'd shine in this one. She didn't. Her skills have not improved, there was nothing that she did that was outstanding, and even her ability with dragons seemed basic. I think her potential was not reached.

I do love the relationship with the dragons though. Khazmuda is just a beautifully written character. I can feel his emotions and I teared up a few times. And his part in the epilogue is so heartwarming, so adorable.

I thought this was the last one, but I see there is a fifth book about their daughter when she grows up and it sounds interesting. I hope her skills are more rounded than her mother's.

This was a pretty good book the audio was immersive and fun it had magic, mates, healing, and wars the romance was cute and I love anything with dragons

I had a lot of catch to do since I received this book as an audio ARC. This is was my first Penelope Barsetti book and it might be my one and only. Unfortunately, her writing style was jut not my favorite. And I found her MMC to be unbearingly annoying. This book and series is obviously a lot of people’s cup of tea. It just wasn’t mine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC.

This is the fourth book in The Death Series. It’s an exciting high fantasy series with enemies to lovers, dragons, rivals for the throne, amazing world building, gods and goddesses and even a dash of spice. Thank you for the advanced copy of the audiobook which was beautifully narrated. This was a very fun series for anyone looking for a true fantasy story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dragon Queen by Penelope Barsetti is a breathtaking continuation of the Death Series, filled with heartache, danger, and fierce love. Talon and the narrator’s journey gripped me from start to finish, and Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo’s narration brought every raw emotion to life. The twists kept me hooked, and the high stakes made it impossible to put down. This series has become one of my all-time favorites. Once I finish, I plan on diving into Penelope’s entire catalog — I need more of her incredible storytelling!

Like someone else also said, I jumped too fast and didn't realize this was book 4 in a series so I went into it without the background context. Even with that missing information it was a good book! It kept me on my toes with a lot of the turns! The writing style may not have been my favorite per-say but it was definitely an interesting book!

I really enjoyed this series!! Talon and Calista story ended perfectly. This book has the action and the romance that I just love. I am looking forward to the next book as well. I am so happy to be approved for this audio because had I not I wouldn’t have known about this series.

I enjoy this series, and I encourage readers to check the trigger warnings before starting, This book might be my new favourite in the series. The enemies to lovers trope has always been done well with this author, I am very grateful for the audiobook opportunity. I enjoyed this experience much more than reading the physical books and I highly recommend.


Pending Amazon review.

The Dragon Queen is the last in the series and I feel like it wrapped up the series. It had a good conclusion. I do feel like it was a little redundant and the series could have been finished sooner. I enjoyed the book and the spice in the series. I will say I did not feel like it had much to do with Calista being the Dragon Queen and was more about redemption for Talon. I loved the side characters and dragons as usual. Also, loved the narration. Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Holy wow! Dragon Queen by Penelope Barsetti is hands down the best series finale I’ve ever read. Barsetti doesn’t just deliver a story—she crafts an epic conclusion that ties up every single loose end into a perfect bow. It’s clear she poured her heart into making sure fans got the closure they deserved.

The action was riveting, the drama was heart-pounding, and don’t even get me started on the epilogues—they were everything I didn’t know I needed. I laughed, I cried, and I felt all the feels as Barsetti brought this unforgettable journey to a close. If you’ve been following this series, you’re in for an absolute treat. This finale cements Barsetti’s place as a master storyteller. Bravo!