A new romantasy-esque adventure that packs a punch from the start. Full of intrigue, drama, action and romance, this was a truly compelling read.

3/5 stars! The cover of this book was so pretty, and I was beyond excited to read about dragon, ancient magic, and forces of evil. It took a really long time to get into this story, without enough clear world-building to draw me in. Also, said to the tone of "more cowbell," there needed to be way more dragons. They played a very minor role in this story. It had a lot of promise, but fell flat.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

An amazing beginning to a new series where we’re introduced to interesting characters and a spectacular world of dragons, their riders, and a lot of political intrigue. It’s complex and exciting and wonderful all at once and if you also like yourself some queer romance, this might be a new favorite.

I liked the setting and the characters and I can’t wait for more books in the series.

Between Dragons and their Wrath is a compelling new fantasy with dragons, dragon riders and a huge amount of political intrigue.

We follow multiple characters across Learshapa and the other regions of a soon to be unified Celes Basin. The multi POV was expertly crafted with the intricate and interwoven stories tied together in an incredibly satisfying way. I felt the perspective of Tesha, Naili and Ashadi created such depth to the narrative and helped the reader gain clearer insight into the class systems in place. I felt the magic was unique and I can’t wait to delve even deeper into the mysteries we are starting to unravel. I think The Shattered Kingdom series is definitely one to watch.

This will greatly appeal to lovers of fantasy with a healthy dose of queer romance. I would highly recommend!

A phenomenal and breathtaking introduction into this new fantasy series! Packed with dragons and political complexity, it's been a while since an epic fantasy gave me this rush, but BETWEEN DRAGONS AND THEIR WRATH was a fantastic read. I loved the protagonists and the magic system and the worldbuilding and the power struggles here, and of course, the dragons did not disappoint and were in fact the crowning feature of this book. Can't wait for the second one to come out!

4.5 STARS

This book took me by surprise, because it is epic, and complex, and so full of amazing characters. We really have a lot of good between these pages, and if you are in search of a new epic story to follow, and you love politics well… I strongly suggest you give this one a try.
I have a feeling that my review will concentrate more on what it didn’t work for me, because there were some things that didn’t, but please keep in mind that I really had a blast with this book, and that I am recommending it to you.

First thing first, we have an interesting world here, with a complex political situation, and a lot of power unbalances. Truth be told, power unbalancing is the refrain that will keep you company during your reading time because it is one of the main themes of the book. And you would see it in the bigger picture and in the smaller one. Sometimes it is more in your face, sometimes is a tad more subtle, but it is ever present.
Anyway, I was speaking about the world. It is fascinating, and it is pretty vast but it is also quite… disjointed. I mean, we have dragons and monsters but it is almost like the dragons, and the characters who live and work with them, live in another world than all the rest of the people and characters.
When you read the chapters with the dragons, you learn that dragons and their riders are defending the borders from monsters and that the monsters are getting more vicious and more determined to break through. The situation on the front is quickly becoming unstable and untenable, and you can really feel the danger.
And yet, when you read the chapters of the people who live in the cities and not at the Citadel on the border, you don’t really see them worried about dragons and monsters. It is like it’s happening in two different worlds. Sure, people in the cities have a lot of different things to worry about, sure, but still… if you are in danger of being swarmed by monsters it should show, right? And from time to time you get mentions of dragons because the three MCs here are all linked, even if they don’t know each other, and so you get dragons mentioned here or there, especially when you read after the halfway point, but still… it seems more like things are happening in two different worlds.
And yeah, I wanted more dragons!!

Then we have the characters. The author creates some really amazing characters, bigger than life and so complex and deep. They made you want to know more about them, because they are so intriguing, and they fascinated me to no end. The problem here, if I can say so, is that these characters are not the main ones. Mind me, it’s not that the MCs are bad (and more on them in a second) but the secondary ones are simply better. Iberi and Voyle, for example, are just so good. (And okay, one of them is pretty creepy and I hope to not see him around much in the next book, but at the same time it is so well characterized!).
And let’s not forget about the alchemist. This character is the biggest disappointment in this book, for me, but, at the same time, it wasn’t disappointing at all! I can’t really say much here, because it will be a spoiler, but here we have a complex character who is interesting and fascinating, but not in the ways I hoped. I was hoping for a completely different storyline/character’s ARC here, and yet what I got is amazingly well done all the same.
And before talking about the MCs we have Mana. Mana is not properly one of the MCs, but he is almost there. And he is just so fascinating! You’ll meet him in Ash’s chapters, because he is a sort of companion, a sort of servant for him in the Citadel, and these two together are so good! I loved their banter, and their chapters were the most intriguing (for me, obviously. And this is not to say that the other POVs were boring, I am just saying that these were my favorite).
And now, the three MCs. I have already talked a bit about Ash, but we have two other MCs: Naili (and in her part of the story we have a little bit of body horror too, it is just low-key, but I think you can consider some of the things that happen in these chapters like “body horror”) and Tesha. She is my least favorite. It’s not that Tesha is a bad character but… but she always makes the wrong choice! It is so infuriating. Mind me, it’s not like she is without reasons, but still… it was maddening, especially as things progressed.
But still, all the characters in there are complex and they all feel alive. I may not be a fan of everyone (and we meet some really despicable characters, be warned!) but they all are small masterpieces!

This book is epic, it is big and things are not always like they appear. It is complex, fascinating, and captivating. I slowly became engrossed by it, and without realizing it, I was in love! Sure, there may have been some things that could have been done differently, but still… It is well worth your time.
Even if I have another complaint to make, this one is the first book, and it works as an introduction to this world and these characters, so keep this in mind, but I need to spend some words on the ending.
It is not an end!!! It is not really a cliffhanger, but… it does not end properly. And I get that this is just the first chapter in the trilogy, and that the story has just begun but still… it is not how I like my books!

Synopsis: A political struggle, a people and their culture being threatened. A strange magic surrounded by death and a rebel group who have their own plans. A dragon, its rider, and a strange presence in The Sands. Class, politics, power, race and gender collide as everyone fights for their own idea of what is just.

CW/TW: Violence/Death/Murder/Loss/Racism/Classism/Others may be present.

Rep: Queernormative | Queer cast of characters

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
3 Stars!

If you follow my blog then you probably know that I absolutely loved Devin Madson’s previous series that kicked off with We Ride The Storm. Though I have yet to complete this series, Madson ‘s writing had me enraptured and so I had to snatch up their newest book!

Between Dragons and their Wrath was an interesting one for me. Overall I thought it was a pretty decent read, Madson’s writing is a engaging and epic as ever. With a rich multiple POV that gives us numerous but vastly different perspectives of this world and its dark underbelly, there are a lot of compelling components to keep you engaged.

However, I found the my interest went through dips and peaks over the course of the book. The story itself is actually quite compelling, but I found my interest as mostly captured by only one of the multiple POV’s, making it difficult for me to maintain my connection to the plot, characters and overall story.

Despite this, I was absolutely intrigued by the plant/mould/life/decay magic that seemed to revolve around one of our main characters. I also love dragons, I mean who doesn’t! But I wanted … more I suppose. The eclectic mix of characters and the complexity of the plot, the wonder and intrigue of how these elements will come together does keep you interested and engaged.

Overall, this is a decent fantasy with a complex and twisty political plot that holds a lot of promise for future instalments.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley from Orbitbooks in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!*

I really enjoyed this read! Thank you NetGalley for sending me the arc! There are multiple POVs with characters that you grow to like and love! It has some LGBTQ representation throughout it. I have to say I loved the sassiness of the dragon and wanted her to feature more, which I think she will do in book 2! The magic system is interesting and I can’t wait to dive into that more as well, I’m looking forward to the next book 🥰

3.5 upped to 4
I liked it but not loved it as I wasn't in love with the storytelling that and the three POVs
I appreciated the world building and dragons.
Would like to read the next one as I'm curious about the next one
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such a good book! I'm right in my adult fantasy genre at the moment so being able to fly through this was great! I read it all in one day and the only thing I can say is if I took my time with it I may have even given it a 5 star but I just couldn't put it down
.
This felt just like Final Strife, that same level of almost new adult fantasy. Really accessible with just enough magic and dragons to keep anyone entertained without being confused! I loved seeing the overlap between the characters throughout the story, and I need the sequel!

Between Dragons and Their Wrath is a really ambitious book. The world building itself seems very intricate and complex, and I can really see the authors intention behind it. However, for me, the execution is what really lets this book down. Firstly, there is the world building, which, although is really extensive and interesting, and pretty unique sounding. I very much felt like I was getting thrown into the deep end with it and not really having a lot of time to be slowly introduced to the world and as a result, it kind of meant that I never really, truly understood the world and what was happening.

The three main protagonists of this book are all very different characters, but they all really have interesting personalities and distinctive voices that really add to the story. Even though I struggled to really understand what was happening around them in terms of where they were in their lives, both in actuality and emotionally, I really got invested in the characters themselves. However, what I will say is that they often made decisions that were questionable at best and poorly written at worst, where sometimes it felt like this decision was just made to further along the plot or to further along their relationship with another person.

The writing itself with all of the stories being told in first person perspective are for me quite challenging, and I just kept thinking that if the story had been told from 3rd perspective instead, and once again focusing on each of the characters, it would have been much easier to understand. Although I do see how maybe this was choice was done to help understand the emotional weight of the each of the character’s stories.

My opinions on the ending are very similar to what I have seen around which is the ending itself, is so very fast paced and the climax kind of just happens very quickly where you get this real sense of whiplash. Sometimes this works, like The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli by but the build up was there as well and you could see how it all been in place, which I didn’t really feel was told in this story as well. I feel like I got more whiplash from this and more confusion and even though it was a pretty impactful ending, I’m not sure if I would actually continue the rest of the series.

→ 3.5 stars

This was an incredibly gripping high fantasy full of political schemes, romance and dragons that I thoroughly enjoyed. The world-building was fantastic in this one and I really grew to love this world and it's characters.

While our three main protagonists don't cross paths I this one it was so interesting to see how they were connected and I think really helped with the world-building. We really get to know our characters in depth and learn their strengths and flaws. I really liked getting to know each of our characters and watching them grow and navigate the situations they find themselves in.

This book also deals with a lot of themes such as racism and colonialism which add a lot to this story and I found to be an interest element. Full of twists and intrigue, I'm excited to see how this story progresses in the next book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Between Dragons and Their Wrath is a captivating epic fantasy that weaves together dragons, magic, political intrigue, and forbidden romance. Set in a shattered empire, the story follows three characters whose destinies become entangled amidst revolution and turmoil. I found the start a little slow and the different characters a bit complicated but as the novel progressed I rapidly became hooked.

Madson’s world-building is imaginative, and her characters are both believable and morally complex. The novel’s pacing builds to a heart-pounding finale,

Dense and complicated opener to a fantasy trilogy

A new trilogy from the experienced hand of Madson, this opener reads as three novels rolled into one, with three separate protagonists in three different places as mysterious dragon-adjacent plots happen across a nation riven by class and ethnic divides. We follow glassmaker Tesha as she gets embroiled in the plots of princes and poisoners; dragon-rider Ashadi and his loyal aide Mana as their barracks come under increasing attack by mysterious monsters; and humble laundress Naili as she tries to get the bottom of a life-changing mystery.

One usually cardinal rule of a novel is to corral your action to a specific place, and in that, this novel fails, keeping all three protagonists in their respective locations throughout, far from each other, and never actually interacting. This weakens the novel by proliferating characters and plot, making one dusty ancient city like the next, reducing the tension by rehashing threatening conversations, backroom plotting, inevitable backstabbing and betrayal, and sex. There's an also a lack of specificity, in the dragons, in the places and people, and the names are, like so many fantasy novels, a mishmash of too many vowels. too much similarity.

Clearly this is the start of a trilogy, where the ending is an abrupt halt in all three stories, more like part 1 of a complicated 400,000 word novel.

A surfeit of ideas: three stars.

Set in a stunningly epic queer-normative world of wild sand seas, glass-scaled dragons, dangerous alchemy, and infectious plant magic, Between Dragons and Their Wrath is an intricately woven fantasy tale that offers spine-tingling levels of political, romantic and sexual tension in spades.

Through the eyes of three refreshingly diverse and distinctly unique protagonists, we are thrown headfirst into this complex world with all its dangerous schemes and deadly secrets. Tesha is a sharp-witted apprentice glass smith turned insult bride who becomes embroiled in high society politics, Ashadi is a noble turned dragonrider who can mentally bond with his snarky dragon by using psychedelics, and Naili is a laundress turned gang member whose inexplicable new magic starts growing plants out of her body; they might not know it yet, but their fates are intricately intertwined, and they will have to fight monsters both within and without to reach their destiny.

As you might expect, Between Dragons and Their Wrath is quite the ambitious story with a lot of moving pieces to keep track of, yet somehow Madson manages the madness masterfully. While I can see how the multi-POV first person narration might scare some people off, I personally found that intimately character-driven storytelling to be a perfect grounding force throughout this increasingly wild trainwreck of a story (and I say that in the most loving way possible).

Each character pops off the page with personality and has a very distinct voice, so even though I initially struggled a bit to get a firm grip on their place (both socially and geographically) in this world, I quickly felt deeply invested in the hot mess that they call their daily lives. Their virtues and vices are on full display, and they can be terribly unlikable and irrational at times, but that only made them more frustratingly relatable and loveable to me. And I think this might be an unpopular opinion, but Naili was my favourite from the start, even with her occasionally inappropriate lusty and horny thoughts; the mystery and intrigue in her storyline just instantly grabbed me by the throat, and I ultimately loved her journey of growth (literally, I guess?) throughout this novel.

That is not to say that the other characters pale in comparison to her, and I truly never found myself wishing to get back to a different perspective. Tesha’s perspective gave such an intriguing (outsider’s) look into the cutthroat Emoran high society, while Ashadi’s POV blew open the world in terms of history and lore, both of which I was deeply fascinated by. The way that Madson balances and interweaves these characters’ internal conflicts with the larger external conflicts was so masterfully done, and I really appreciated the subtly powerful exploration of themes of imperialism, colonisation, classism, generational trauma and cultural identity through their personal (back)stories.

Not to mention, as someone who isn’t opposed to some good (queer) romance mixed into their fantasy, I was absolutely eating up the forbidden romances, mutual yearning, electrifying tension, and surprisingly explicit spicy scenes that pop up in each of the three perspectives. Between Dragons and Their Wrath is not a fantasy romance in the traditional sense, but it sure offers more than just a pulse-pounding battle climax, if you know what I mean.

Though speaking of the climax, I do have to admit that the unsatisfyingly abrupt ending gave me a bit of a whiplash, ultimately leaving me with more questions than answers. For a large part of the story I didn’t mind that I felt like I was stumbling around in the dark a bit, because so were the characters themselves, but I can’t deny that I was hoping for more convergence and resolution by the end of this first instalment.

Nevertheless, I had an absolute blast with this story, and I have to admit that the cliffhanger would absolutely have made me dive straight into book 2 if that had been available. See, this might not be a terribly action-packed or fast-paced narrative, but it’s just got a dangerously addictive level of simmering tension that makes the pages simply fly by. Madson’s wild imagination combined with her emotionally engaging storytelling and effortlessly witty prose kept me engrossed the entire way through, and you better bet I will be adding her to my ‘must-read’ authors list from now on.

In a weird way, this book felt like an exciting mix of all the best elements of M.A. Carrick’s Rook and Rose series, Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, and Saara El-Arifi’s Ending Fire trilogy, while also being completely its own thing. If you are looking for a romantic political fantasy set in an undeniably cool and breathtakingly inventive world that continues to excite, delight, and freak you the fuck out with each new turn of the page, then I can’t recommend Between Dragons and Their Wrath highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Between Dragons and Their Wrath is scheduled for release on August 27th, 2024.

the most memorable thing about this is them using <i>demure</i>. the book itself wasn't very demure though. it had too little dragons but too much insta-love. nothing really happened in the book. it constantly felt like a bucket full of water, just waiting to overflow, but the final drop never came.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Oh this hit so hard. I’m not going to lie, it maybe took me a little long to get into: Between Dragons and their Wrath follows 3 separate POVs, characters who do not meet at all throughout the book, all three view points weaving together a fantastic, if slightly slow moving tale.

I say slow moving in a very positive way; this story takes it’s time to establish characters, to weave in lore and build a world so vivid that it’ll be a while before I forget about it.

I think I’m in love with Manna, one of the main character’s love interests. That’s not the point, but it feels important to me. There are quite a lot of characters; I liked how the story slowly revealed how these three main characters were connected to each other.

This book is quite clearly set-up, and it does leave off at a point where I’m quite desperate for more. The unique world, including the Dragons, have left me absolutely sold on this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for this eCopy to review

Between Dragons and Their Wrath is a captivating epic fantasy that weaves together dragons, magic, political intrigue, and forbidden romance. Set in a shattered empire, the story follows three characters whose destinies become entangled amidst revolution and turmoil. I found the start a little slow and the different characters a bit complicated but as the novel progressed I rapidly became hooked.

Tesha, a glassblower’s apprentice, becomes an insult bride after her city is conquered by the south. Positioned in the enemy’s court, she has the opportunity to sabotage them, but her heart leads her elsewhere.

Naili, a laundress working for an eccentric alchemist, discovers strange new powers awakening within her. Forced to work with a rebel group Naili faces a choice: keep her magic hidden or use it to change the world.

Ash, a dragon rider in the desolate Shield Mountains, protects cities from monsters in the Iipao sands. However, he learns information he is not meant to when his dragon is injured

Madson’s world-building is imaginative, and her characters are both believable and morally complex. The novel’s pacing builds to a heart-pounding finale,

Devin Madson's “Between Dragons and Their Wrath” is an enthralling dive into a richly constructed world of alchemical magic, political intrigue, and complex characters. Set against the backdrop of a fractured empire on the brink of revolution, the novel masterfully weaves together the stories of three protagonists, each navigating their own dangerous paths.

Tesha, a glassblower's apprentice turned tribute bride, finds herself thrust into the heart of political machinations. Her transformation from a pawn in a dangerous game to a key player is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Madson deftly explores Tesha’s internal conflict as she balances the demands of duty with the desires of her heart, creating a character that is as relatable as she is formidable.

Naili, the laundress with mysterious powers, offers a contrasting narrative, one grounded in survival and the desperate quest for power. The slow but inexorable development of her abilities is fascinating, and the creeping dread of what these abilities might cost her adds a layer of tension to her storyline. Her interactions with the city’s underground rulers highlight the novel's darker tones and add depth to the world-building.

Ashadi, the dragon rider, brings an element of high fantasy to the narrative, with his story set in the treacherous Shield Mountains. His struggle after his dragon’s glass scales are pierced is a heart-pounding tale of survival, as he becomes the hunted in a world where dragons are both revered and feared. Ashadi’s journey is not just a physical one, but also a deeply emotional exploration of loyalty, loss, and what it means to protect those you love.

Madson’s world-building is nothing short of spectacular. The Celes Basin is a living, breathing entity within the novel, with its diverse landscapes, cultures, and political factions intricately detailed. The integration of alchemical magic into the fabric of this world feels organic and adds a unique flavor to the story, setting it apart from other fantasy epics.

The pacing of *Between Dragons and Their Wrath* is well-executed, building from the personal struggles of the characters to the larger, more explosive conflicts that threaten to engulf the entire empire. Madson’s writing is vivid and evocative, drawing the reader into the heart of the action while maintaining a strong emotional core.

What truly sets this novel apart is its characters. Each of the three protagonists is fully realized, with distinct voices and motivations that drive the narrative forward. Their stories, while separate, are expertly interwoven, creating a tapestry of intrigue, danger, and unexpected alliances.

“Between Dragons and Their Wrath” is a triumph of epic fantasy, delivering on all fronts: complex characters, a richly detailed world, and a plot that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Devin Madson has crafted a novel that is not only a thrilling read but also an exploration of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. Fans of political fantasy, intricate world-building, and character-driven narratives will find much to love in this sweeping tale.

An epic fantasy with dragons, magic and the intertwining of individuals lives across an empire, Between Dragons and their Wrath has it all. From political intrigue amongst a looming rebellion to forbidden romance.

The world is epic filled with dragons and their riders, sharpshooters and magical materials, complete with high society that places a high value on appearance, money and class.

With revolution looming “Between Dragons and their Wrath” explores themes of anti-colonialism and what happens when a cultures history is eroded. How the control of text and what is taught to people can colour their beliefs and create a people who belief in a governments stance.