The Blood-Born Dragon
The Everlands Cycle, Book 1
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The Blood-Born Dragon
Buy Now for $26.99
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Narrated by:
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Katherine Littrell
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By:
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J.C. Rycroft
About this listen
Winner of Queer Indie Awards 2023 Best Debut Novel. Shortlisted for Aurealis Awards 2023 Best Fantasy Novel.
A bond she didn’t choose.
A love she can’t escape.
A creature so powerful it bends the limits of time…
Smart, sassy, and sanguine. Des Mildue is a traveling sellsword in Rescalin, a dry and dusty kingdom full of rogues, opportunists, and thieves. She keeps her nose clean, brazens it out with a blade when she can’t, and keeps others at arm’s length where they can’t mess up her plans.
That is until a sword fight gone wrong leaves her tied by blood to the first dragon hatched in centuries. Suddenly, Des has to contend with a new voice in her head: haughty, willful Esquidamelion. Des wants to leave Squid by the roadside, but the blood bond has other ideas.
With half the world on their tail—including her beautiful, faithless ex Liv, who Des is definitely over—Des must search for answers for why so many are willing to kill, maim, and torture to get their hands on Squid. But she’s beginning to suspect her blood bond has tied her not only to a dragon but to a fight for Rescalin’s future.
…and no one else even knows it’s at risk.
If you like the kind of story that grabs you by the shirtfront and hauls you through mystery, magic, adventure, and betrayal with a side of sapphic romance, pick up The Blood-Born Dragon, the first in a new trilogy from author J.C. Rycroft.
©2024 J.C. Rycroft (P)2024 Dreamscape LoreDes is determined to put away her sword after a recent tragedy but is drawn into conflicts after she bonds with Squid, the first dragon born in centuries, and doesn't that have major ramifications! Des, a young homeless boy, Twisty, and Des' faithless ex, Liv, find themselves in several high energy chases, and caught up by intrigue that has repercussions for the future of their world.
The narration by Katherine Littrell is again very good. I loved the seductive tone of Liv's voice and the cheeky, youthful portrayal of Squid.
The fiery relationship between Des and Liv is alluded to in the prequel so it is fascinating to watch the two of them play off each other. Squid often refers to Liv as "the woman you love and hate" and that incendiary quality practically jumps off the page.
I loved the luxury of several scenes in the story. Des visits bath-houses and enjoys being oiled and massaged then just relaxing in the water. She also revels in owning a silk jacket and a pretty dress. I don't often see this type of pleasure acknowledged in fantasy, where a woman is working to hold her place in a man's world and such feminine things might be seen as weakness. Des can be very introspective too. The author's talent for blending philosophy and humour in her writing creates a rollicking style that ticks a lot of boxes for me.
JC Rycroft has crafted a pared back yet striking world. She has written a story that is both character and plot driven, which is an indication of the complex but clever construction of this narrative. The fight scenes are extraordinary! There are layers upon layers to this story so I was never bored as one person's issues overlap with those of small town crime which play into royal intrigues then international drama, working up to end-of-the-world scenarios. I found the pacing to be the perfect combination of sprint and trot to keep me interested, and was captivated by a strong cast of primary and secondary characters. It is an adventurous, engaging story made highly readable by the author's distinctive prose.
Highly entertaining sapphic fantasy
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