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.

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.

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.