Kella Mabaki, dragon slayer extraordinaire, devoted sister, and celebrity hero of Jeenobi, has become a nobody by choice.

I really loved this queer romantasy. Great world-building, intriguing characters, and a wonderful love story. Highly recommended!

I committed the cardinal sin of book reviewers. I picked up a new novel without realizing it was a sequel. For some books, this is a minor thing, and you pick up the plot and characters very quickly, but this was not really the case for Digging for Destiny. I struggled to catch up to things. The book felt kind of like an extended portion of a previous novel, than something that can stand on its own. This is not a deal breaker; after I got about halfway through the book, I was pretty much up to speed, but even then, there were moments when a character entered a scene without any sort of introduction, and it threw me off. So, I am not saying not to read the book. I am just saying your experience will be better if you pick the other one up first.

Digging for Destiny continues the story of Dragon Rider Litz and Former Dragon Slayer Kella. After the events in the first book the pair struggle to return to their former homes as things have changed for both of them. Kella, once the celebrity warrior, has become a common dock worker while Litz has moved from the battlefield to the world of court intrigue. They are reunited when Kella finds clues that might lead to the salvation of the dragons in her homeland. These clues lead her back to the capital and back to Litz. The reunion leads to upheaval for both of their lives all the while a variety of groups plot in the shadows to achieve their own goals.

The book has a very strong Empire Strikes Back feel to it. The heroes spend a lot of time on the run and we are not sure that things are going to turn out for the best. The story anchors itself with the romance between Kella and Litz. They reunite, but as time passes, they do not know where they stand, and their affection and desire are undeniable. Their own issues and communication struggles make it difficult for them to get back together. It’s the perfect mix for a fan of fraught romances. The other thing that Jenna Jarvis excels at is her world-building. The magic system and how she handles dragons in the book are fresh and were one of the biggest reasons that I will be running out to get the previous book.

All in all, it was a good read, and it gets a thumbs-up from this girl.

IT. KEEPS. GETTING. BETTER

Everything I craved after finishing the first book, Digging for Heaven, was given to me in this installment. Adventure? Character depth? Political intrigue? Yes to all and more! Plus, there are so many new characters that make the story so much fuller. This story is so full in every department it goes for.

Adventure? Oh, we're traveling places all right. After the dessert and Jeenobian adventure last book, it's Aelshia and the seas' time to shine. The missions and fights have never been more intense.

Political intrigue? We have consort rivalry, dragon politics, witch entanglements, secret staircases, and a brewing war. The climax is going to be epic.

Romance? It has lesbian angst, enemies-to-lovers tension, asexual musings, platonic soulmates, and more.

Atmosphere? Total vivid imagery. I personally would love to see the big fish migration as the dragons fill the skies, the library, and the majestic pirate ship sailing over the icy waters full of deadly creatures.

It's even better that the new characters tie so well with the existing ones and to the plot that's starting to go deeper. I am so intrigued at what Xoia and Jev's next moves will be that I need the next book out soon.

Well, that and because my brain will once again forget the details of what I've read in a few days. To be honest, I was confused in the beginning because I have forgotten how the first book ended. Don't judge, I read for the ✨ vibes. ✨ I can still remember asking myself, 'what war are we talking about?' 'wait, magic is banned? why?' 'they're fugitives for what?!' But it all turned out well. The memories started filling in with the help of the many callbacks from the first book. Truly, my brain is grateful.

I am amazed at the number of plotlines being intertwined in this story. Almost all of them, from world building to personal relationships, managed to pique my interest and that kept me so immersed in the story. The pacing of playful and serious conversations made the characters shine brighter.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading Young Adult (YA) fantasy about dragons, epic battles, and love a good LGBTQIA+ representations where the characters' sexual identities are not the cause of conflict.

I love Litz and kella so much. Ofcourse Loren is a top tier character. I am enjoying this series but im not loving it, i am going to read the third one when it comes out as i enjoy it enough to see what happens.

Nice sequel, although a little to slow for the first part. Book 1 got me with its super fast pacing, so it was hard to get into this one.
I enjoyed re-acquainting myself with the characters and i very much loved the dragons!
Bonus points for strong female characters and lgbt rep <3

LGBTQ+ rep fantasy PLUS dragons!
What's not to like? As this is a sequel, the characters are all the same (obviously!) and I enjoyed the way they evolved since Digging for Heaven (Book 1). I really liked the relationship between Kella and Litz and the spice between them is *chef's kiss*.

I recommend you read the first one in this series before you read book two. I didn’t and I regretted it as it took me quite a while to work out who was who, and what exactly was going on. I’m still a little hazy on where everyone is and how they relate to each other, but it’s a terrific tale so I was happy to keep reading. Plenty of dragons and a good fantasy world that’s complex enough to keep your interest. Nice hang at the end too, which has left me awaiting book three with interest.

I was a huge fan of Jenna Jarvis' book 1. The world building was magnificent. So I was particularly enthralled by the continuation of such creativeness in book 2. The building of the romance helped too.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Digging for Destiny
Author: Jenna Jarvis
Rating: 4 Stars

Just wow! That ending?! I need the next book TODAY.

Characters: 4/5
Since this is a sequel, the same characters in book one reappear. I love all of the main cast. Kella and Litz are made for each other, and that boat scene….HOT. Ker was my favorite in book 1, and I think he is still my favorite in this one. Sallvayn played less of a role in this book which made me a little sad, but the overall dynamic between Ker and the others was great. I love the potential demiromantic representation in this book, and we get to see more nonbinary characters YAY!

My only gripe is character descriptions. I want to know what they look like, not just “Litz is taller than everyone and Evlo is short with a long neck.” Especially since there isn’t any kind of world map to help picture the world this book takes place in, it’s hard to envision them in my head since no descriptions are given about any of these characters.

Plot: 5/5
So much is happening at once, and I love it. I love how the book is diving deep into personal feelings and relationships, while also bringing in complex politics and high stakes. I enjoyed the plot more in this book because it seemed like more happened. The plot is starting to get a little complex, and on multiple occasions, I had to search back through book 1 to be reminded who a particular character was (but that was probably my bad since my memory isn’t so good).

Worldbuilding: 4/5
Similar rating here as with the characters. The settings change frequently in this book, and I just feel like the descriptions can be a bit more lengthy to bring the world to life a little more. However, the worldbuilding was still pretty great. Each place in this world feels very distinct, and I love the added touch about the language barrier in some of the places.

Pacing: 3.5/5
The first half of the book was a little tough for me, not going to lie. Given how fast paced book 1 felt, I was expecting a similar pace in this book. It took me a little while to get back into the series, but once it started picking back up, it picked back up QUICK. The second half of the book flew by for me, and I was shocked when I reached the end. I kept flipping the pages hoping there was more to read but alas…

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, and I want to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't have a chance to read the first book, but I did think this was a great adventure that kept my attention from start to finish. I recommend.

Thank You NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.

This was a great sequel to an amazing story. The world building alone is worth the read. The continuing journey for our heroines is filled with danger and that lovely slow burn romance. A definite must read though I recommend re reading the first in the series before starting this one if its been awhile. Can't wait for book 3!

A sequel to 'Digging for Heaven'. I've been waiting for this book to find out what happened after. This is as good as the first one. The story kept my attention all the way through. Litz and Kella meet again. The war is still brewing and Litz and Kella hope they can prevent it. They are still trying to find a cure for the Jeenobian dragons. Jev is still searching for his wife and in his anger over her disappearance has taken unprecedented steps with regard to the dragons. Again this second book ends on a cliffhanger. I hope the next instalment is out soon!

All sorts of dragons and adventure
This is the second book in the Dragon Circle and Jenna Jarvis dazzled me again with her superb world building - when book one ended we knew that the dragons of Jeenobia are very different from those in Aelshia. Now surprise - we find out even more about them. And its getting even more intriguing.
Kella, the ex-dragon slayer, and Litz, dragon rider, collide again and continue their slow dance around each other. Mainly they are on a quest with lots of twists and turns and new developments. Definitely no rest neither for the wicked nor our heroes.
If you like high fantasy and dragons and strong female main characters this is a good read for you. BUT in my opinion you need to start with book one - even having read book one I found it difficult to re-enter this fantasy world since no effort is made to ease the reader into it. And I asked the author - this is series will encompass probably four books. So a heads-up: be prepared that this is not the last book in this series.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

A great adventure

Kella comes back into Litz’s life after becoming estranged from everything she’d known. Seeking answers about the dragon sickness sweeping the land, Kella is now determined to find answers but can’t do it alone.

An exciting continuation from Digging For Heaven, which I recommend reading before starting this one as it’ll provide all the understanding of Kella and Litz’s relationship. I loved the slight tension between them, despite Litz’s clearly not over all they’d shared. Again they find themselves on a dangerous adventure where they have to make sacrifices and be selfless if they are going to survive and save the land. A lot of exciting revelations about what was causing the dragon sickness and why came out, and I had not expected any of them.

On a journey that meant Kella and Litz had to work through their emotions but while doing that had to learn to trust one another again, meant they faced more challenges than I think either of them expected. There was just a touch of humor in there too, which at darker and heavier times, lightened the mood and gave hope they’d reaffirm their feelings for one another. I kept the faith they’d succeed, because their will to and supportive fellow adventures left no room for doubt.

Really enjoyed this and hope it’s not the last adventure and story for Kella and Litz.