I have read five chapters and I am going no further. There’s a lot that I don’t like about this, mostly summarized into one word: juvenile. Is the only flawed female type allowed brash and impatient, rude and foul-mouthed, violent and angry?

I swear a lot, but with purpose and with an eye to who I’m with and where I am. This is shock value. It’s “showing she doesn’t care” but there are so many better ways to do that. A king raising a child as an assassin would not allow said assassin to swear at him, to disrespect or malign him, whether verbally or gesturally. He has an assassin because he is abusing his power, and that abuse of power would extend to his personal servants, particularly those he sends out to perform illegal or violent acts. He must maintain power or find it turned against him. This just… doesn’t make sense. Not to mention everyone knows who she is. And that she’s this terrifying weapon at all of 19 (ha. Yeah right. We all know what idiots we were at that age.) yet is easily beaten by Hark?

There are too many plot holes with not a single redeeming character to root for in the first 5 chapters. I’m out. Some may feel otherwise — and maybe this is actually YA? 2 stars because the premise is interesting and I may be the wrong audience for this book.

📚 Book Review 📚
Dragonhart | Abbie Eaton
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Themes:

👑King’s Assassin
✨Fated Destiny
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🐉 Sassy Dragons
🔥Badass FMC
🥀Forced Partnership/ Proximity

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review


Arla Reinhart is the King’s Assasin, Hark Stappen is the ambassador to the kingdom that killed her parents. They’re forced to work together by both kings to solve a mystery, but there’s much bigger things going on Alra doesn’t know.

Gods, prophecies, dragons, assassins and of course enemies to lovers, this book has everything to make it amazing!

Whilst nothing can be compared to Throne of Glass, the FMC definitely reminded me of another assassin we all love 🖤

Add in political intrigue, high stakes romance, lost magics and of course DRAGONS! This debut novel was 🤌

Can’t wait to see where this story goes next


Overall: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Spice: 2/5

An enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy debut following Arla, a fierce assassin from the Kingdom of Hadalyn. When Arla is sent on a mission alongside the ambassador from the country responsible for her parents' deaths, she finds herself entangled in unexpected political intrigue. As the story unfolds, Arla is forced to question her long-held beliefs—and, more importantly, her growing feelings for her sworn enemy.
I really wanted to love this! Give me dragons, and I'm sold. Unfortunately, Arla's persistent prejudice and stubbornness ultimately let the story down. The author spends too much time repeating the same narrative of violence, the denial of magic, and hatred toward Kastonia, which dominates the majority of the book. At times, Arla feels a bit naïve, and her black-and-white worldview prevents the story from evolving sooner. I wish the book had delved deeper, as the final 20% of the story showed so much potential. That said, I believe the author has set up a compelling foundation for an exciting plot in future installments.

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a stunning debut novel! I could not put this down. A fantastic romantasy, well written and the whole world it was crafted in is just so well done. The enemies to lovers is so well structured, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the when not if, and it was worth the wait.

Arla, the FMC is a strong powerhouse of a character. The King's Assassin. Strong and stubborn, she is delightfully deadly.

Then there's the dragons! The dragons were just perfect, adding a beautiful layer to this fantasy. A wonderful read.

Arla is the type of person i strive to be. She is just so incredibly complex and also very stabby! The plot was honestly so much fun, and I really enjoyed all the characters and side characters we had throughout this gorgeous book. I mean, who doesn't like a stabby FMC who is also the king's assassin?? This book grabs your attention from the very first page and doesn't let you go until you finish it. I can't wait to see what else Abbie publishes!

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC!

This was STUNNING! The enemies to lovers, magic system, and the dragons??? perfection. I love the political turmoil we get throughout this book and just the plot was so intriguing and kept my attention the entire time! Arla was such an interesting character that I really liked due to her being so complex and just the depth of her character was amazing. Listen if a book has dragons then I will read it every single time.

It was also so shocking to hear that this is a debut! such a fantastic job and I can't wait to see what Abbie comes up with next. I also can't wait for everyone to read this so I can yap their ears off about how much I loved it!

Arla is a feisty badass MFC.
As the King’s assassin she is strong and fierce and it’s going to take a strong and fierce man to equal her.

This book was high fantasy at its peak. I love the romance I love the adventures, and who doesn’t love dragons?

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I really struggled with this book’s writing style- it had a really ‘young’ writing style as if it were meant for younger audiences (where it’ll often use simple language, phrases and metaphors) whilst dealing with some heavier, older topics, which as a personal preference isn’t really my thing.

Whilst I liked the idea of the plot, it all felt really repetitive, though it had a great enemies to lovers' storyline, that was genuinely really fantastically done, and one of the better ones I’ve read.

I do think it was a pretty well-done debut novel and should absolutely be applauded!

Where should I start??????? This book was so good I couldn't put it down for a second. This story is so good, a masterpiece! I rated it 5 stars and I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

oh. my. god. what. a. debut. dragonhart has everything—political intrigue, magic, adventure, and DRAGONS. i absolutely ravaged this book from start to finish. from the very first page, this book grabs you and doesn’t let go. we’re thrown into a world of danger, loyalty, and high-stakes romance that will have you completely hooked. (and trust me—I was.)

arla reinhart is a king’s assassin on a mission for vengeance—fierce, deadly, and absolutely unstoppable. (i couldn’t figure out if i wanted to date her or BE her.) but when she’s forced to team up with hark stappen, the sharp-witted ambassador from a rival kingdom, everything she thought she knew starts to unravel. the tension? electric. the enemies-to-lovers slow burn? perfection. the twists? jaw-dropping.

if you love stabby heroines, forced proximity, and dragons (so many dragons), dragonhart is the book you’ve been waiting for. i need the next one *yesterday*.

Wow — what a debut. An endless thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

(very) stabby fmc
political intrigue
enemies to lovers
forced proximity
two beds but i want to share yours
dragons

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if it has dragons I will read it, but this really has everything I look for in a fantasy. Stunning world-building, strong characters and an enemies to lovers romance that is going to change the world as they know it.

Arla Reinhart is a King’s Assassin, and she’s looking for vengeance.

Fiercely loyal, strong and determined, Arla is thrust into joining forces with Hark Stappen, the ambassador for the neighbouring kingdom, on a journey that will ultimately lead her into questioning everything she’s ever known and fought for - and hell hath no fury like Arla Reinhart scorned.

I absolutely loved Dragonhart by Abbie Eaton! From start to finish, it was a captivating read that had me hooked. The combination of dragons, magic, and adventure created an exciting and immersive world that was hard to put down. The characters felt real and their development was both emotional and thrilling. The pacing was perfect, and I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. Abbie Eaton’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making this book a must-read for fantasy lovers. Can't wait for more in the series!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

In "Dragonhart" by Abbie Eaton, we visit a world where the dragons and gods have vanished and kingdoms teeter on the brink of collapse, Arla Reinhart, the king's assassin, must reluctantly partner with her personal sworn enemy, the neighbouring kingdom's ambassador Hark Stappen. Their journey across both kingdoms unveils a shocking truth that challenges everything Arla believes.

Arla Reinhart is a complicated individual who works as the King's assassin. Her position in court allows readers to explore themes like loyalty, revenge, and doubts about faith. Her conflicting relationship with Hark Stappen introduces an enemies-to-lovers romance that goes deeper than just personal dislike; it also reflects long-standing conflicts between their nations.

Note: If you are challenged by the stereotypical 'strong' female fantasy protagonist who solves everything only through violence, the beginning of the book could give you the wrong impression. Arla isn't just an assassin, she is a more complex heroine despite all the tough situations she is put in.

This book is most interesting for its undercurrent of political and spiritual turmoil. With no dragons or gods around anymore, Arla is reluctant to believe in either even when many others still do. Arla faces questions about her past, her enemies, and her abandoned beliefs about the world that have shocking answers.

Dragonhart is ideal for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with enemies-to-lovers romance, complex heroines seeking vengeance, and richly developed worlds where lost magic and political intrigue intertwine.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Net Galley for the eARC.

A hell of a debut novel. Dragonhart is the kind of fantasy that had everything I need; enemies-to-lovers, a strong FMC seeking revenge, magic and DRAGONS.

“The dragons are gone, and the kingdoms are falling. Not even the gods can save them now...”

Yes, most fantasy novels have strong FMC’s, but how many of them are Assassins to the King? Arla Reinhart has fought to be the best at what she does, and now whilst serving her kingdom, feared by all, she is seeking revenge for the war that caused the death of her parents.

“She had killed and clawed and fought her way to where she was now.”

Set in a place where the old religion believed in magic, gods and dragons, Arla simply believes in right and wrong. The wrong being, the neighbouring kingdom who descended on her home years ago on a killing spree in search for the mythical dragons.

Hark Stappen, ambassador for the neighbouring kingdom, has been Arla’s enemy for years. For no other reason than the place he comes from. Happily avoiding each other through the palace for years has become the norm. That is until, the King needs them to work together.

This enemies-to-lovers tale is filled with twists and turns as the two travel on their mission, unearthing heart-breaking truths along the way.

Arla may be feared by all, but not by Stappen.

“She was wrath, and fury, and vengeance. She was blood, and fire, and truth, and she would never again be useless.”

Fans of Fourth Wing and When the Moon Hatched, this fantasy debut is the perfect addition to your TBR. Filled with mystery and tension, Reinhart and Stappen’s mission becomes the only way to save their kingdoms.

“Everybody has a little bit of magic inside them, Miss Reinhart, if only you knew where to look.”

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the early release of this arc in exchange for an honest review.