I adored this sequel!

I felt like this was the perfect follow up to Dragonfall. If you enjoyed the first one, you will LOVE this. The story continues to be wonderful and the pacing perfect. The writing itself is good with wonderful prose. I especially enjoyed the characters which continue to be well developed and feel real. I was fully invested all throughout and cannot wait for more from this author.

All in all, this was a highly enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys high fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this just as much as Dragonfall, if not more. I really liked going back into the world that Lam has created, with its different approach to gender and its queer-normative society. It’s just lovely to sink into a world in which all this stuff is just normal and not blinked at.

I also loved the plot of this one a lot. I thought when I started that maybe I would be bored by the magic competition angle, because I’ve read a lot of books with that sort of thing, but it felt unique and fresh. Especially, I think, because the magic competition ended up not being the focus of the book and the politics of the whole thing took centre stage by the end.

It was really exciting to see all the threads that have been teased throughout both books coming together and being resolved. The ending was definitely satisfying and it is just a great duology.

<i>Thank you Netgally for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.<i>

Overall rating: 4.5 Stars

I have to confess that I had a really hard time getting into the ARC. As it was an early edition and not the finalized version, it had some formating issues that made it hard to focus. Also: I did not reread the first book and had forgotten most of the important plot points that were immediately picked up by the sequel.

The good thing was: It had a summary of the first book (THANK YOU!).

But the difficulties meant I was not far into the book when it was released. So I did the next best thing that would guarantee that I would enjoy the book: Listen to the Audiobook. And let me tell you: what a great audiobook! I was immediatly sucked into the story.

The seperation of Arcady and Everen was something that I was sure I was not going to enjoy (I hate the trope of ending book 1 with a seperation and book 2 taking too long to bring them back together), but I was surprised that I did not mind it that much. Firstly, the seperation did not take as long as I thought it would (A win for me). Secondly, the characters that were newly introduced were just so engaging. They did not take much of the focus away from the overarching plotline but gave a much needed breather once in a while to the depressing start of the book.

Now to the main characters: I honestly cannot remember if Sorrin was even as much of a main character in book 1 (I seriously needed a reread), but I loved her in this one so much. I am always a sucker for lackeys of the villians realizing how bad of a character the villian is and helping the victims (also breaking free themself).

Everen and Arcady stay as my shaylas. I am so happy with the way their relationship changes over the time. First you have them broken apart and then they come back together but there is still the distrust and then BOOM! They are meant to be, yur honor. FATE SAYS SO!

Yeah please do yourself a favour and read this duology. It has badass characters, dragons, magic, overthrowing the government, deadly games and the best romance that you can ever get.

Banished dragons, false gods, murder, magic and of course, love. Arcady and Everen are separated between worlds, but their bond is still present and their connection leads to meeting in dreams and discovering Arcady must once again cast the spell to bring Everen into his world. Distrust and confusion is expected but Arcady is finally a scholar, learning the magic he could only ever dream of and hoping to find the secrets of his grandfather, the plague bringer. Sorin is brought in to watch acardy and in doing so realises he is not the danger she has been told of, but may just be the answer to her questions. The dragons have all but rejected Everen which only pushes him to return and make things right, but the vale is under attack, and the only thing they can all agree on is the dreamer must not be awoken, but things are never as simple as they sound.

The first book in the Dragon Scales duology by L. R. Lam didn’t resonate with me completely, however, the world-building, writing style and the ending of Dragonfall had me hooked. Emberclaw starts with Arcady and Everian separated, and their bond is broken. Arcady believes he’s dead, and does her best to focus on the dream life they worked so hard to achieve as a student at the University. Everian finds himself back with the dragons, thrown in prison by his mother the Queen. But fate is not done with them yet, and to save humans and dragons they must find their way back to each other.

I found the pacing of Emberclaw to be a lot better than the first book. Arcady’s start at the University and the structure of her new academic life help to keep the story flowing and interesting. The new characters introduced were great, as were their backstories and related sub-plots. Likewise, the addition of Sorin as a narrator gave that character more depth.

Everything comes together in this sequel, and I enjoyed it a lot. The new characters and Arcady’s growing relationships with them and Sorin lead to some wonderful scenes. Lam writes their growing friendships wonderfully, their camaraderie feels genuine and leads to some heartfelt conversations about serious topics.

The end of the Dragon Scales duology by L. R. Lam comes to a fantastic end, filled with drama and suspense. This is a duology fantasy fans do not want to miss!

Thank you for Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC of this book.

I knew I was going to be heartbroken going into this due to how Dragonfall ended but WHOA. The aching and longing (alongside Arcady's rightful upset over what happened in Dragonfall) was EXACTLY what I wanted out of this book and L. R. Lam absolutely delivered.

This book contains trials which is one of my favourite things, alongside learning more about the brilliant wolrlds and magic that goes alongside it. Everen and Cassia were brilliant characters, and I enjoyed having Cassia's POV so I didnt feel like I was missing anything when we moved from different locations on the map. The villian in this book was also fab, he wasn't your normal straight up EVIL EVIL which I loved. Sorin is also wonderful and I would love another book just to see what she does next.

This was an intricately woven story with a slow burn romance that spans both books in the duology that doesn't take away from the main plot of the book. I often wish I had more duologies to read but in this case, I do wish it was longer as I dont think i'm ready to leave these characters behind!

In this sequel to Dragonfall series, Lam continues to build on an already rich world. With characters driven by a series of overlapping and conflicting desires, Emberclaw delivers a satisfying conclusion to the complex web of story set up in book one. Highly recommend to fans of dragons, fantasy with a hint of romance, and queer-norm worlds!!

This was as amazing as book one, I loved getting to catch up with the characters and see where they were now. I adored the duo logy and i really hope the author may return to the world in the future.

Wow, what a follow on from Dragonfall.. I thoroughly enjoyed the books and read them back to back. Such an intriguing writing style, it took me a little while to get into but once I did I really enjoyed the plot, character build up and highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy !

This book has everything that is needed for a good fantasy, dragons, trials and fated lovers. It follows on from the cliffhanger at the end of book one.

Despite the broken bond between Everen and Aracady, fate still finds a way to push them together so that they can accomplish their individual goals.

I really enjoyed the character development from book one to book two and how you get to see how they overcome the difficulties.

It is a lovely duology that will have you shocked, excited and laughing.

The second book in the Dragonfall duology picks up months after the first, with Everen imprisoned for treason among the dragons and Arcady finally at university, determined to clear their grandsire’s name once and for all. But while they’ve both been moving forward in their own ways, the past is far from behind them.

From the start, we see how Arcady has changed. Losing Everen—and believing him dead—has left its mark. They try to focus on their goals, but in their dreams, their desires won’t stay buried. I loved their first reunion, even if it was only in a dream, because it brought back all the uncertainty, longing, and fear they hadn’t been ready to face. The way the author explores self-doubt and the fear of being enough (or not being enough) in love felt incredibly real and relatable.

That said, I wish the book had picked up speed a little faster. Since we already know most of the characters and the world isn’t expanding much, I would have liked the action to start sooner. I especially hoped Arcady and Everen’s real reunion would have come earlier—there was space to let their relationship develop a little more before the fast-paced final stretch. Once they do reunite, though, the story takes off, and the tension doesn’t let up until the end.

What I found most fascinating about this book was how past and present came crashing together in the final act. The entire duology is built on prophecies, but here, we finally see how they came to be—what created them, how they shaped the world, and what became of them. Seeing the threads of fate come together so powerfully made for a gripping conclusion.

That said, while I enjoyed the reunion between Arcady and Everen in the moment, looking back, it felt a bit shallow, as did the ending. I expected more introspection, especially since the story is told from both their perspectives. Instead, those crucial emotional moments were swept up in the rush of events. The theme of choice and consequence is even more central in Emberclaw than in Dragonfall—now that we understand the full stakes, every decision carries even more weight. However, once the immediate danger was over, so was the story. We get glimpses of the romance and what comes next, but only in broad strokes. I would have liked more time to sit with the aftermath.

Even so, I really enjoyed this duology. If you love intricate storytelling, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot, it’s well worth the read.

This is the second book in the Dragon Scales Series, which features an ancient danger, a broken bond, and the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance. Arcady and Everen, once inseparable, have been separated, their bond shattered by a tragic event. As I dive into this book, I've enjoyed reconnecting with a cast of characters I love—Arcady, Everen, Sorin, and especially Kelwyn!

Despite the epic battle to save both humans and dragonkind at the heart of this story, there's something earnest and wholesome about the characters. Their genuine desire to do what is right and their vulnerability evoke a nostalgic feeling in me. The dark academia vibes also enhance this sense; the camaraderie among the students feels sweet and comforting. I mean, who doesn't enjoy a book with dragons?

#DragonScales #FantasyBooks #DarkAcademia #BookReview #Dragons #EpicFantasy #YoungAdult #CharacterDevelopment #WholesomeReads #Nostalgia

"Fate is a headache"

The story starts shortly after Dragonfall ends. Everen is back in Vere Celene, where his mother is less than pleased with him after his defiance of her orders. Arcady, meanwhile, is about to trick their way into admittance to the university under a fake name and pursue her revenge. Sorin becomes a much more prominent part of the story in this book and I can't expand on that much more without spoilers, but i really enjoyed her character arc! A lot of this book takes place at university, and I guess I just really enjoy a good magic school :)

Much like the first book, the writing style is rich and detailed without being overwritten. The three main povs remain the same, and it switches between 1st, 2nd and 3rd person narration. It's unique and really well excite, but probably won't be to everyone's taste. It definitely is mine though...

I can't decide between 4 and 5 stars for this one, and am rounding up for 2 main reasons
- This book starts with a recap of book 1, something I really really wish all sequels did. Amazing.
- A planned trilogy turned into a duology because the story worked better that way after all. With a bunch of planned trilogies being unnecessarily extended into 5+ books recently, I respect this bucking of the trend. Also, this does work great as a duology!

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this title - all opinions are of course my own.

Arcady goes to University without knowing how they will pay for all their studies. An opportunity for a scholarship arises with the commencement of magical trials. If successful, they will be able to continue learning and the mission to absolve their grandsire. Meanwhile, in the dragon land, the Veil is weakening and Everen is needed, so he is released from his prison but stripped of his titles. There is danger of an ancient power awakening. Arcady & Everen must balance the two worlds or all will be lost.

First and foremost, we must applaud the author for starting the book with a recap of the previous installment in storymode.

The prose either sings lyrical — the stitching of sentences often artistic in wording — or flows companionable, even both depending on the POV. All of the POVs are unique in their expression. Everen's remains directed to Arcady, using the term you again. Except for our two beloved protagonists' POVs we have Sorin (I really like how she's brought into the story), but also Cassia and Magnes! Touched with earnestness, they are intimate and overflowing with each character's determination. They intertwine in a timely manner, presenting well-structured continuity, and without throwing us out of our immersion.

Both our leads have underdog status in this installment and need or want to prove themselves. Proving yourself is actually a shared theme for all the characters. The author bestows us with the experience of learning along with the characters while rich descriptions and truthful depiction of thoughts and emotions succeed in making us feel as if we are right there, in the thick of it. A dash of creatively finessed mythology, a sprinkle of image-inducing worldbuilding and a nice helping of romantic feelings coincide to season this story with epicness. There are delightfully humorous bits of course that usually have to do with Arcady.

I think a certain agenda should have been teased more and earlier. Also some of the magic, like in the lessons, was confusing and needed to be explained not to a greater extent but differently I guess, for sometimes they were longwinded. It was slower in parts than I would have liked, some things needed to be more concise.

Fate continues to be an important theme. Along with the importance of balance and how everything is connected. It also deals with legacy and the idea of home, of belonging somewhere, to something or someone.

I loved the progression of the story, amplifying with quiet power and always enthralling, turning in so many unexpected directions. It included undeniable thought-provoking phrases. The impossibility of their situation has you rooting for them all the more and you have no idea how it can be resolved but you know it will all come together in an explosive conclusion. This is the tale of an unshakeable bond, a captivating read with gorgeous writing, memorable characters and the unbelievable boon of dragon POVs.

When I requested this arc I had not read the first book in the series yet. I keep on saying I will no longer do that, but I also keep on thinking that I know very well which books and series I'm gonna like. Quite often I'm right about that. Sometimes I'm not. Although the first book in this series was unique and really well written and thought out, it turned out I wasn't in the mood for it. However, Hodderscape granted me this review copy and I really wanted to give this sequel a chance.

I actually ended up liking this sequel more than the previous book and that's mostly because this book is not as heavy on the world building. The world was introduced in the first book, the characters were introduced in the first book and now it was time to start playing. I really loved spending some time at the academy and I also really enjoyed seeing more of the world the dragons were inhabiting and fighting for.

However, after finishing the book there I'm still not convinced that this series was for me. I think that has partly to do with the focus of the book. Although there is a romance in this book, and although that romance is important for the plot, the romance doesn't feel really romantic. It's hard to explain, but the connection between the characters misses a certain...spark? The target audience of this book probably won't mind though. If you enjoyed the first book, you're probably not here for the romance anyway.

The finale of the book was quite satisfying, though, and I was really glad that the author didn't drag everything out longer than needed. I'm pretty sure that this world is big, and complicated and interesting, enough for more stories, but it's clear that these characters have survived the most important moment of their lives and it's time to leave them alone. If the author returns for this world, I'm not sure if I'll return too. Unless my reading mood drastically changes. You never know!

Emberclaw is everything I hoped for and more—a breathtaking conclusion to the Dragon Scales duology that had me on the edge of my seat. L.R. Lam masterfully weaves together high-stakes action, intricate worldbuilding, and a romance that aches with yearning. Arcady and Everen’s journey? The tension is palpable, the emotions raw, and the character growth? Absolutely stunning. And let’s talk about Sorin—her arc stole the show in ways I never expected.

If you love dragons, slow-burn romance, and stories that don’t shy away from exploring identity and destiny, this is a must-read!

I thank Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

I rate this book 5 stars!

I loved the first book, so obviously I had great expectations (pun intended!) for this one and L.R. Lam did a great job.

The worldbuilding, characters, dialogue, descriptions, writing style (you name it!), everything seemed tailored to my taste. It takes a bit for the story to warm up and become interesting, but it's worth it!

Emberclaw is the second book in the Dragon Scales fantasy duology. In the first book Dragonfall, we met Arcady, a human thief, and Everen, the last male dragon destined to save his kind. When Everen comes to the human world disguised as a man, the two meet and end up falling for one another despite the age-old conflict between humans and dragons. I thought that this was a strong fantasy book with a great final act when I first read it. In fact, the story ended so well that I wasn’t sure there would be another one, but I’m so glad we get to return to this world and that the characters have a chance to solve some of the lingering issues left over from the last book.

At the start of Emberclaw, Arcady and Everen are separated and have to face challenges on their own. Arcady has the chance to clear their grandsire’s name and enter the magical University of Vatra. On the other side of the Veil, Everen is trapped with and resented by dragonkind. Both are haunted by the loss of the other, but I do appreciate that they are given a chance to act on their own at the beginning. They are both strong characters with goals to achieve which becomes even more apparent in the sequel.

Nonetheless, I do prefer the characters working together. The angst that comes from separation and fighting to get to one another is powerful, but I missed their banter. So, I was anticipating their reunion a lot. And L. R. Lam didn’t disappoint!

This was a wonderful conclusion to the series, and I really hope that we get more fantasy books like this! Not only is it set in a queer-normative world, but it also explores ideas of gender and identity in a really powerful way. With one non-binary character using ‘them/them’ pronouns and one character who is literally a dragon that takes on a human form, the author really looks at interesting ideas of bodily fluidity.

If you like books like Forth Wing or Dragonflight which are about dragons but want a bit more depth to the story and more diverse characters, check this out!

It’s here! I’ve been waiting excitedly for this since I finished Dragonfall, I’ve been so impatient to find out what happened next. I do also have to admit I’d forgotten many details in the two years that have passed and wound up not having time to reread Dragonfall before picking this up - so I’m glad there was a short recap of the important bits at the front of this book.

While I do think it shows that this was intended to be a trilogy and became a duology instead - in many places I felt like the plot or or world building or both were kind of straining at the seams, wanting to expand more - I’d also be hard pressed to say anything is missing, or that the story is rushed. It isn’t. I do wish I could’ve had more time in this universe, but I did get everything I wanted at the end of Dragonfall so I have no complaints. I’m especially pleased by Sorin’s storyline! She really came into her own and I was so happy to get to spejd more time with her pov this time compared to Dragonfall. Or at least it felt that way.

Also ice days this before but it’s still true: L.R. Lam just continued to deliver books that are like tailor made for me. I don’t know what it is but their books just always click for me. I’m so happy.

I received an ARC through netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

Wow what an amazing sequel to Dragonfall! I couldn't put this book down and really enjoyed following Arcadi and Everen on their journey.

This book gave me Goblet of Fire vibes but with more mature characters and angst. I really enjoyed the introduction of new characters through the university setting and the development of Sorin.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy Magic, Dragons, Enemies to lovers, forbidden love and a good plot.

I'm really sad that it's over