Review: Of Last Resort by Megan Derr

Of Last Resort (Princes of Blood #1) by Megan Derr
Less Than 3 Press
Novel: 235pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
In a kingdom ravaged by the beasts and terrors of an ancient war, the only hope against them is the army of mixed-blood beings known as the King's Legion: dragoons, shadowmarch, sorcerers, titans … and the Princes of the Blood, nigh-invincible warriors of fearsome magic and strength, their only weakness a need for pure human blood.

When his brother runs away, Raffé agrees to undergo the Blooding, but he is a pale imitation of his strong, capable brother. No one expects him to survive and become a Prince, merely to die to save the rest of his family and preserve honor.

But runaways and weaklings are the least of the kingdom’s concerns when an ancient evil returns with new tricks, and their only hope lies with knowledge long lost and a fierce bond forged in darkness …

Review
Megan Derr has done it again. This author writes M/M fantasy like no other; her world building is incredible and always leaves me anticipating for more. I want more all the time, and I want it now.

Raffe isn't beautiful, he isn’t extraordinary, he isn't gifted he’s the looked over mouse in his family. He's talented with number but no one seems blown away with his gifts. His family has found him a match and his life should most likely be pleasant but uneventful. That is until his brother runs out on a important commitment and Raffe has to step up and take his place though his courage could end up taking his life. Raffe is to go through the blooding and become a Prince of Blood, fierce warriors who protect the kingdom and Raffe has most certainly bitten off more than he can chew. His brother would have been oerfect because he had the training but Raffe knows ye will most likely perish and never become a Prince because after-all he is of no importance and certainly of no strength.

Raffe is convinced he will not live through the blooding, and since it will be his last night alive he wants to something that will make his last night the sweetest. Too bad his fiancé is a prude and leaves him high dry. Just when Raffe feels forsaken a sexy stranger offers him his night, and what a glorious night of lovemaking it was. If he is meant to leave the world then he will have treasured memory of the very first person who have ever made him feel wanted, treasured, and in some way loved. When Raffe survives the blooding no one is more surprised than him, because now he is recognized as powerful and he stands with the great.

He takes to his skills like duck to water and while he does have moments of doubt he feels powerful and for the first time he has a family that take notice of him people who finally see him. All thats missing is his sexy lover who gave him a night never to forget and Raffe longs for his touch once again. Yet, his love life had to wait because a terribly enemy is upon on them and everyone is in danger. While new to his skills, Raffe has to serve as if he were a veteran and act like he knows what he's doing. What he might not be able to deal with the losses and a task so great that it will break him and his demon heart.

Once again, with most Megan Derr book there is a lot that his happening and so many great characters fill the pages. I could literally write pages to review this book but I'll keep it simple. There is love and loss, dragons, zombies, angels, sexy time, and shockers. I applaud the skills it takes to weave such a book and skills it take to keep all that in line. While there is a lot of world building it never felt like too much and it was always entertaining. In my head I can just picture the grandeur of the fight scenes and just beautiful colours it would all make.

I really liked all the characters and Raffe's secret lover was surprise I was like "wait now" never saw that coming. I like that they are vampire like but not really vampire like if that makes sense. The princes drink blood and so on but I think they're a little cooler than vamps :D. I shed a few tears, I was shocked out of mind by the twist there, and I thought I pegged the bad guy but I was way off.

Overall, Of Last Resort is an epic fantasy at its best filled with so much awesome and colour it’s hard not to fall in love. A fan of Megan Derr will love this book and fans of fantasy books that consumes you. You remove the sexy time and this book is just as great, romance or no romance it’s all out entertainment. I am looking forward to more in this series and I can't even wait...

SideNote- I wonder if anyone won the bet about Raffe's secret lover. I'm pretty sure they all were wrong, right?

5 Pants Off

DarienMoya

Review: Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson

Reviewed by Fehu
Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 260pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
For a thousand years, since their defeat of the Shadow at Eyr, the dragons have slept under the mountains. Now their king, Tarnamell, has woken. Driven mad by loneliness, he hurls himself south until he finds and tries to claim the Alagard Desert. Unfortunately, the desert already has a guardian spirit, and he doesn't want to share. Amused by the cocky little desert spirit, Tarn retreats, planning to return in human form.

When his caravan enters the desert, however, Alagard is missing. Rumors fly of a dark power, and soon Tarn’s caravan encounters the living dead and an amnesiac mage called Gard.

Forced to take refuge in the Court of the Shells, a legendary fortress in the heart of the desert, Tarn, Gard, and their allies decide to seek out the Shadow before it destroys the desert. But to confront the Shadow, Tarn needs to gather his strength. A dragon's power depends on the love and loyalty of his human hoard, but Tarn's original hoard has been dead for centuries. Before he can face his most ancient enemy, he must win the trust of new followers and the heart of a cynical desert spirit.

Review
Fantastic world building and interesting characters that will draw you into their story! I loved the story, yes but there are a lot of fantasy books that focus too much on world building and too long, and I loved that that was not the case here. Even the few flashbacks were well built into the plot and didn't distract from the actual story.

In the beginning we a have a lone dragon who wakes up after a long, centuries long sleep, a form of recovery after the last great battle for the world against demon lords and Shadows. One could empathize with him from the first moment, he is alone in a new strange world and realises that his hoard, all people he loved, his lover, have died. All of his brothers still sleep, but he is the king of all dragons, the first and his sleep was somehow interrupted.

The atmosphere of the book was a bit melancholy and when Tarnamell reaches the desert the feeling changes. A desert should be a lonely, desolate place, but Tarn sees it as something warm and full of love. Alagard, the spirit of the after him named desert, is less happy about a dragon in his place. When Tarn couldn't convince Alagard to join his horde, he leaves the desert and moves to human cities. Tarn isn't happy about what he sees, the world has changed a lot, but the world has not been kind to the weak, no benign lord protects them and there is no clan to look after them. In a city he meets a female warrior of on the Myrtilis orden and he is hired to protect a caravan on their way through Alagard. The desert they find is lost in pain, their spirit god captured by and old enemy of Tarn's - Shadow, who has awakened and now tries to pull the world into death and chaos once more. Now Tarn has to fight again and this time without the love of his hoard, his lover, his brothers and sisters or his old allies.

It's a well written story and I liked that the author understood how to draw in the reader. A lot was shown and the relationship between Alagard and Tarn progressed slowly and in a believable pace. The story moved swiftly, not too slow and not too fast, which made it easy to follow and there was no time to get bored or get lost in description. Also the characters are quiet and interesting cast a dragon lord, a desert spirit, female warriors and two merchant /spies with an interesting past. Tarn is very powerful, but he is portrayed quite vulnerable and a bit lost in a new time, you can’t help, but to fall in love with him and the story.

A good story leaves you wanting more and I would love to read new adventures of Tarn or the historian who writes at the end. Rafe is also an interesting character or the other dragons that might wake up. But you do not need to fear it is a finished story and it is satisfying happy end.
For fans of David Edding, at least the story reminded me a bit of the worlds and adventures he created, just with a male romance twist.

Highly recommended for fantasy lovers!

5 Pants Off

Review: Melting the Ice Witch by Mell Eight

Reviewed by Fehu
Melting the Ice Witch (The Dragons Hoard #4) by Mell Eight
Less Than 3 Press
Short Story: 95pgs
4.25 Pants Off 

Blurb:
The Tribe of the White Dragon has lived in the frozen wastes of the north for thousands of years, slowly dying without their dragon to protect them from the inhospitable cold. In desperation they kidnap Kam, hoping to use him to breed witch power back into the Tribe. But Kam is not a witch and there is nothing he can do to save them—until he sees the white dragon encased in ice and all alone.




Review:
A perfect ending for an interesting series! The story doesn't begin where the previous book ends, but starts a bit earlier. The Ice Witch Lor has kidnapped a young man, who is said to be a witch and brought him to the Ice lands. Surprisingly Kam finds himself liking his new home much more than the village he lived in. He is included into the tribe and is actually useful. No one is harassing him, even after he admits that he won’t be the one to produce the witches the tribe needs to survive, since he likes guy and his handsome captor, Lor, in particular.

It's not before a blizzard that Kam actually finds out about his own unique abilities and about Lor's affections for him. Kam is an animal speaker and now he knows why he always is so sad when they go hunting. A white dragon sleeps in the caves and projects his loneliness and Kam can feel it and would love to help. Fortunately for him so would Tori, the cute young dragon from the previous book.

I absolutely adore Tori and well the tribe people did as well. It was such a cute scene when he asked for a puppy!!Ahem, anyway for all people who wanted to read more about Tori, this book will be a nice surprise. Also more details about the dragons are revealed, now we get to know why the Elderdragon has not left his home. I like that the story doesn't just end with an happily ever after there are still tensions. A new character is introduced at the end and I for one would like to read more about him and the Wizzard School they are building, but that might be a story for another series.

Should You Read It? It's always nice to see an author improve and a story unfold. I was skeptical after reading the first book, but this series has gotten better with every book and this one is a fabulous read. If you liked the previous books then this is a must! As a warning, one really should read the previous books; the second part of the story would be a bit more difficult to understand otherwise.

Review: Book #3 Stealing the Dragon