Twilight of Embers

Dragons of Ember Hollow #1

by Tessa Hale

I’d always wondered what it would be like to have a family. I just never expected to find it with five mysterious strangers who have more secrets than I could ever imagine.
Getting a scholarship to Evergreen University and majoring in premed means I need to keep my head down and focus on my studies. But campus is full of distractions…
The football god with his golden retriever charm. The tortured one with his vicious tongue. The broken boy with his determined protectiveness. The merciless billionaire with a penchant for spoiling me. And the genius professor with his brilliant mind.
They make me feel like I belong for the first time since my parents were murdered. And when they touch me, my whole world sparks to flame.
But they have enemies. Those who would give anything to harm what they hold dear. And while they’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, sometimes falling in love will put you right in the line of fire…

Genres: Fantasy, Why Choose, Dragons, Romance, Paranormal, Romantasy, Shapeshifters

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2024

About the author

Author of love stories with magic, usually with more than one love interest. Constant daydreamer.

What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read already!? THIS BOOOOOOOK. Tessa Hale is one of my favorite why choose authors and this was SO GOOD. Hayden doesn’t know magic exists, but she shows up on campus to the college she’s going to and meets Knox, golden boy football player. He immediately knows she’s special. And the romance is with him and four others, including one of her professors (!!!!!) and a billionaire (!!!!!). And they’re all so protective and possessive and I was so in love. One of them also doesn’t let anyone touch him but her!?!?!

Each relationship was so unique and has time to develop individually with the heroine, and there’s enough action and suspense to keep me hooked. So much danger and intrigue and mystery that I know we’ll uncover as the series continues. And did I mention they’re dragon shifters!?!? Obsessed. And that ending??? I need book two right now!!!

This is perfect for fans of dragons, fated mates, and obsessive and possessive heroes. You neeeeed to grab this when it releases!!!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

These dragon shifters could set me on fire and I would say, ”thank you.” This is one of my all-time favourite books and I cannot wait for the rest of this series (and I’m claiming Knox as a new book boyfriend).

Tessa Hale has written an absolute masterpiece. Lovers of why-choose romance won’t hesitate to fall in love with this horde of sexy dragon-shifters. From page one, I was hooked and I found it impossible not to swoon over this romance. Full of pulse-pounding plot twists, delicious spice, and dragons, Twilight of Embers is a book EVERYONE needs to read.

Seriously, Knox had me melting the minute i met him on page. Not to say that i don’t love ALL the dragon men in Hayden’s horde…but Knox has a soft spot as my fave.

What i really loved was that every man was SO different. Which means there a little something for everyone ;) i DARE you not to fall for at least one of them!

I don’t want to give anything else away since the book isn’t out yet…but trust me when i say this needs to be at the TOP of your TBR pile.

I need to dive into Tessa’ backlist now because I’m OBSESSED. Didn’t know i needed dragon RH in my life, but clearly i do ;)

Side note: i listened to this is in audio and it ATE. Like for real. If you have the chance to listen to this audiobook you will NOT regret it. I’m itching to listen to it again.

[ms.Violetg Likes To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

"These kinds of bonds are rare for our kind. But it's why we all feel so drawn to each other. The Universe has destined it."

"You will always have a choice, Little Flame. But know that we were made to love you!

I recently devoured Twilight of Embers, book one in
the Dragons of Ember Hollows series by Tess Hale and oh my gods, it was amazing!

This is a new paranormal/ shifter romance series by an author I absolutely adore, and I was so very fortunate to receive an advanced listener & advanced read copy, with an incredible full cast!

I have loved all of Tessa Hale's series, but I can already tell that Dragons of Ember Hollows is going to be one of my favorites!

From the moment the story began I was immediately
invested in the plot and fell oh so hard for the characters. Hayden, our female main character is full of determination despite past traumas and I loved her perseverance. The relationships that slowly develop with each of the MMC's felt unique, genuine, and intimate, and at times, so full of steam!

✨Why Choose
✨Touch her and it ☠️
✨Dragon Shifters
✨Student/ Professor
✨Who did this to you?

The audiobook for Twilight of Embers has a full cast, and each narrator gave a phenomenal performance bringing these characters to life! Vanessa Moyen, Joe Arden, Jason Clarke, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, and Jacob Morgan.

I highly recommend this series to this who enjoy paranormal, shifter, fantasy, and why choose romances stories!

My most sincere and genuine thanks to Tessa Hale for the opportunity to receive an ALC & ARC for Twilight of Embers. I can not wait to continue on with their stories!

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twilight of Embers is the first book in Tessa Hale’s new Dragons of Ember Hollow trilogy and it was amazing! This is a paranormal, why choose, fated mates, dragon shifters romance and I loved it!

We see Hayden attending college and meeting Knox and his friends who are more like family. The minute Knox meets Hayden he knows she is something more and that she doesn’t even realize what she is herself. We see Hayden then meet Easton, Maddox, Cáel, and Cillian.

I loved how all the guys want to immediately take care of her and protect her. Know immediately feels she’s their mate, but they have to approach it carefully because she doesn’t even know about the world of dragon shifters. All the caretaking and trying to feed her, bringing her coats to keep warm, the need to have her close and safe was so sweet. I loved all of the heroes and how different they are! Sometimes other why choose books in the past make it hard to distinguish between all the characters, but that wasn’t the case here! All the heroes are broody in their own way and I liked her nickname of “Little Flame”. We have golden retriever vibes, “Mr. Grumpy Cat”, broken boy, a billionaire club owner, a professor (bit forbidden since she’s a student at the university).

This was just so much fun and with the cliffhanger of the first book I’m so excited to get to the rest of the series! Definitely my new fav read from Tessa Hale! I received an audio ALC and definitely recommend the narration! All thoughts in this review are my own. Twilight of Embers is out January 19, 2024!

[cha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear god this was so bad.

Everything happened so fast. I don't mind a fast-paced, quick read. But this one felt lazy. 8% in and we already got one of the heroes being all SHE'S MY GIRL!!!!!!!

The fmc was predictable. I literally knew what she would say and do before she did it. She was like a template fmc. She had no personality, no uniqueness, except the good ol' I've been alone for a long time and I'm fine with it now I'm in college and I'm gonna try to be ✨normal✨ bullshit that you've read probably a million times before.

She also had no sense of self-preservation. She got random, scary ass dudes who were basically strangers to her being all YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN! MUST PROTECT YOU! within SECONDS of meeting her without giving her any reasons as to why except ✨you're special to us✨ and she was like that's weird but okay, hugs and kisses!!

Because she was a lonely weak unprotected fmc and she was supposed to be HAPPY that scary badass hot dudes were into her at all.

But when the *not as hot* and *just as creepy* other professor did the same thing, (being obsessed with her for unknown reasons) THEN she got uncomfortable. GIRL not the selective caution.

And the trauma fucking dump. Never mind that she only met the dude yesterday but MY FAMILY WAS MURDERED! don't feel sorry for me I'm okay BUT I'VE NEVER HAD ANYONE BEFORE! I'M ALL ALONE but I'm not sad I just want to be normal I'VE NEVER HAD FRIENDS BECAUSE IT TOTALLY MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH ME BECAUSE MY FAMILY DIED!

And then the hero was like...... YOU'RE NOT ALONE! LET'S TRAUMA BOND!



*cues predictable "maybe there's a good thing despite all of these bad things" sadgirl advice from the fmc to make her look like she's not like other girls*

mmc: wow you're amazing you know that?
fmc: *shocked because to be a likable female love interest she has to be oblivious to all her good qualities until the hero praises her for it*

Let's also not forget the classic weak, was never trained fmc seeing the obviously highly trained MMCs fighting bad guys and the fmc just had to be like can't let them do this on their own! not when I can help! and then proceeded to get slashed two seconds after getting out of the car 🧍‍♀️

And OF COURSE the MMCs would be all like this is all my fault, I couldn't protect my mate, I wasn't strong enough, this was all on me no my dudes your mate is just a fucking dumbass.

And don't get me started on the dumbass MMCs. 3 out of 5 were so unhealthily obsessed with the fmc because she was their mate! Idk if you notice guys but she! was! their! mate! Not a spoiler because it was revealed in the first or second chapter and then they just didn't stop talking about it. SPECTACULAR!

The alpha of the group, the oldest, was also the dumbest!! Can't believe he was the lead. The only thing leading him was his dick and his so called ~alpha instinct~ you're 32 years old how about try getting to know your 19 year old ~mate~ before going around talking about making her cum?



The only heroes I could stand were the only two "keeping their distance" from the fmc and who seemed like "they hate her" and didn't want anything to do with her because "they have baggage". I think the baggage you're talking about here are their perfectly functioning brains, something that the other heroes obviously lack.

And for the love of god the whole "Mr Grumpy Cat" inside joke insult or whatever isn't the ✨funny and quirky✨ thing you think it is. This is not 2014. We left grumpy cat a decade ago. Move on.

[hailey🥀🦢✮˖°. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

this was terrible. give me 14 of them right now

[Darcey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, this was exactly what I signed up for, which was a classic Tessa Hale book ft. a naive heroine with a twisted past, a group of men immediately devoted to her (though some try to fight it, of course), and a dramatic plot where everyone is trying to kidnap said heroine. Was it an epic and shockingly unique story? No! But was it addictive, entertaining, and my fav kind of guilty pleasure read? Absolutely. So I’m happy!

(Lost a star for the mean girls - ugh please god can’t we move on from this trope and have some women supporting women.)

[Heathers_readss · Rating 2 out of 5]

So to start with, judging this book based off of its content, it is reasonably good. This is a fantasy romance / reverse haram and if you are into those genres it is arguably entertaining however somewhat lacking.

Judging it based on its obnoxiously obvious attempt to be a copy of the Bonds that tie series by J Bree, it is quite shockingly similar.

Similarities:
- 1 female bond to 5 male bonds.
- 2 brothers within the bond group (one of them very anti relationships / bonds.. traumatized and mean - nox)
- not to mention one of the characters is actually called Knox (nox…)
- dragon shifters and wolf shifters
- healers
- female bond is an orphan her parents where murdered due to people trying to find / capture her due to her abilities
- set in a school dominated by the 5 male bonds
- female bond finds work in a local coffee shop
- one of the male bonds is a professor at the school with a bedroom full of books (nox)
- one male bond is golden retriever / beloved at school / football quarterback (gabe)

Honestly the list could go on but I don’t feel like I need to say anymore. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more had it not so obviously been a copy of one of my favourite series, it’s hard to give it a non biased judgement because of that.

I didn’t vibe with the characters as much in this one. The girl is described as a teeny tiny 4 foot timid fragile little girl and the majority of the male bonds are described as these big huge scary giants and in my head I imagined them as just not attractive / appealing based on the descriptions. They also have a weird incesty vibe where they call each other brother a lot during spice scenes which just gave me the ick.

After writing this review I think I disliked this book a lot more than I previously realized 🤣🤣🤣. Will I read book 2 when it’s released in April? Probably not

[kendall ʚĭɞ]

if you gave this 5 stars i don’t trust u

[Dew · Rating 1 out of 5]

It would be nice if authors and publishers put warnings on books that have plots predicated on teenage girls in extreme and graphic sexual situations with adult men.

Otherwise, this books tropes it out with a fmc who is obviously an orphan, raised in foster care. According to fiction authors no children ever get adopted. Despite being present for the murder of her parents and being raised in foster care, the fmc is completely mentally and emotionally healthy without ever having gone to therapy. She is also spectacularly model-beautiful, and, unknowingly, the single most special woman in all of existence. Although she is incredibly attractive and intelligent with a quirky sense of humour, she has no friends and while she would never hate anyone is nevertheless hated by all other girls, so it makes perfect sense that 5 adult men simply jump right in.

[Tessa Hale]

✨TWILIGHT OF EMBERS IS AVAILABLE NOW✨

🔥 Fated mates
🔥 Powerful dragons
🔥 A heroine who doesn’t know what she is
🔥 An evil who will do anything to claim her as their own

This story is spicy, sweet, and filled with action, suspense, and of course, some epic dragons. I hope you absolutely love it!

Read or Listen Now!
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/TwlghtofEmbrsAmzn

Audio Narrated by Vanessa Moyen with Jason Clarke, Joe Arden, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, and Jacob Morgan: https://geni.us/TwlghtofEmbrsAudio

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this good? Not really. Will I continue? Absolutely.

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rule #1: When trying to remain undercover (so people don't find out that you are a dragon), do not growl at people. Maybe it's just me, but growling doesn't scream I am a sane human being. It's also quite cringey to imagine.

If I were the FMC, I would be questioning all this bizarre behaviour, but her blinders seem to be well and truly on.

I know this was a popular read, however, I didn't read reviews beforehand. I didn't want to spoil what fantasy aspects would be incorporated. Whether it be shifters, witches or whatnot.

It seems to be orientated just around dragon shifters and focuses heavily on the fated mate storyline.

So if you are not into Insta-love and you want to read this, you better get over it quickly 😅 For me, it was a bit much at times. All they wanted was to protect and care for her, but their relationship seemed to move at such a fast rate. If you're into the whole obsessed MMC, you are very much in luck with this book.

I like the authenticity of the FMC. She didn't care what people thought and never tried to change herself to be accepted. I will say she got over things very quickly, which I did disagree with at points.

I may read the next book because of the cliffhanger (it was something), but I'm hoping the nickname ‘little one’ will be scrubbed from the pages. I can do a lot of nicknames, I just can't do that one 🚩

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

incredible. the men had no personality besides insta love and protective and i still finished the book. insane though

[Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I needed in a book right now. After a convoluted series I tried to get through that hurt my brain, I needed something fun, fast-paced and simple. This story perfectly delivered. It was fast paced that’s for sure! Like basically in love in a week fast paced. Or how the FMC’s world gets turned upside down and it takes her two seconds before she’s accepted it all. But that also made for a really fun book without a single dull moment. I’m loving all of the characters. The guys were very hot and reasonably individual. The FMC was easy to like as well. These books are only 250 pages so I’m looking forward to flying through this series!

[pen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this had me in such a chokehold that i failed my geography test

[Valkyrie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Tessa Hale for saving me from this drought. I hadn't been able to read a book for MONTHS. And I just read this silly little thing in half a day.

I'm cured!!

[BookTrovert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too many details are missing, the characters were very basic with not a whole lot going on.

[Kaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio:
4.5-5 stars for Jason Clarke, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, Joel Arden, and Vanessa Moyen

Book: 1.5-2 stars

Sooo I think Tessa Hale is not for me, these characters are all surface level, and annoying. Wanted to see if it was just the last book I read or if it was Tessa Hale’s writing as a whole, and looks like it’s the writing haha!

Should have DNF’ed but didn’t have another book to read…all I know is I don’t care enough to continue this series, but know the audiobook was great, all the narrators were amazing

[Malene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 1 of a trilogy about dragons and Hayden discovering who she really is all because of five guys she meets The story was okay. I liked it but I would’ve liked more world building and depth to the story.
Hayden and her five dragon guys were great but I sadly wasn’t feeling any chemistry. It was all physical.
It ended on a cliffhanger and even though the story didn’t blow me away I’m still going to give book 2 a try. It shows potential.

[kiki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
i went through the whole book feeling like 12yo me prob read this on wattpad. like everything abt this gave wattpad vibes (& im rlly not trynna use wattpad in a derogatory way, i just dk how else to describe) like the descriptions, her meeting practically every mmc by bumping into their walls of concrete (chests), her outfits being science tees & beat up vans, eye colors being described every page…ok

i’m sad that there was absolutely no push back/hesitancy/survival skills from hayden😭bc she fr did not question why all these guys r attatched to her from day 1 & saying all these weird cryptic things around her😭

the smut was also idk it just felt random and rushed and yea idk just lowkey gross a little bit bc it always right happened after harper experienced smth traumatic

i couldn’t put this down tho & finished the whole thing in practically one sitting tho so i will give it that!😍😭also the short chapters were an absolute blessing it’s been so long since ive read anything w short chaps

[Kendall Ferrari]

DNF at 35% for now. While the audiobook cast is great, I’m not particularly enjoying the storyline and the why choose element of this book is a little over the top for me

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

SOOOO ADDICTING!! and i'm so glad gab told me to read this cuz i needed it so bad

IM OBSESSED!! ATE NO NOTES! getting book 2 rn cuz what even is that cliffhanger!??

loved all the characters sm. knox and caél were just the sweetest and cillian is just hot lol. maddox and easton need to pull their heads out of their ass and get their shit together. desperately need to know more about hayden's back story like stat.

byeeeeee reading book 2 now ~

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in Tessa Hale's new fated mates, why choose, dragon shifter romance trilogy Dragons of Ember Hallow and it was fabulous!
Like Tessa Hale's other books, this one was fast-paced and fun. Hayden is attending college and right when she starts she meets Knox. He can tell immediately that Hayden is his mate and that she is unaware of what she is. She then meets the rest of the guys Easton, Maddox, Killian, and Cael who with Knox are all a close chosen family.
The guys are so protective of Hayden: they take care of her, try to make sure she's eating, and even buy her a bunch of coats to keep her warmer. I love how different each of the guys are. One of my favorite things about why choose romances is how many different relationship tropes you get in one book. In this, we have a golden retriever sweetheart hero, a wealthy club owner (age gap), a damaged hero, the one she calls "Mr Grumpy Cat" and one of her professors (forbidden).
The cliffhanger at the end of this book killed me having to wait until April for book 2 will be so difficult. I had so much fun with this book it is probably my new favorite from Tessa. I listened to the audiobook and there is a different narrator for all the heroes all of whom happen to be my favorite male narrators! I highly recommend.

Tropes: paranormal, dragon shifters, fated mates, why choose, grumpy hero, age gap, professor/ student, damaged hero, book 1 in a series, cliffhanger ending

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Lyrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectular start to what will be another fantastic series! I'm always excited for a new story from Tessa Hale, but I think this one might be my favorite yet.

This is sexier, darker and more mature than Hale's previous books. I loved the characters, the world, the plot setup, the push and pull - everything. Can't wait for the next book!

[Bailee Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Hayden has essentially been alone her entire life ever since her parents were murdered when she was younger, so when she arrives at college and meets five men that just seem to want to be around her all the time, and she them, it's a huge change for her. Add to it that these men just so happen to be dragon shifters and all of them are her mates, making her a dragon shifter too? Things are changing quickly to say the least.

Why choose, shifters, fated mates and possessive men? It has it all. This was a fun, easy and entertaining read! It left on such a huge cliffhanger that I didn't expect, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

[Bookish Equestrian {hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ate this book up!

Review to come!

[Leni · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didin’t have high expectations when starting this book, but let me tell you how disappointed I was. The book is about an orphan girl who is mated to 5 men. Halfway through the book we get to know that they can shift into dragons. Like it wasn’t enough that they were mated they now have the urge to mark her and breed?!? And did I tell you they were MATED. Each one of them had no personality at all except for protecting her and they would get killed in real life because of their stupidity.Even the genius mega mind professor was acting so dumb and hard to get I wanted to cry. This whole story felt like it was a wattpad written by a 12-year old child. But let me recap the story real quick:
Hi, I’m a misunderstood orphan girl who has no friends and I feel so alone. Suddenly I found a boy who is interested in me and he’s the most handsome and tallest boy I’ve ever met. On the next day I met his twin brother and he doesn’t like me. Me so sad. In class later that day I saw my professor and he was so special, when he touched me it was electrifying, but he didin’t want me because I was his student(finally one of them used the organ in their head that’s called brain. I would definitely recommend them using it more often though)Then I saw this overprotective Viking guy and I’m so turned on but I’m guilty about having them tow guys at the same time, so I just have a threesome with them. And last but not least there is this horny billionaire guy and alpha of the group that is 13 years my senior and likes to tie me up but I like him anyway. 80% through the book I find out that I’m a dragon shifter too and moreover a female one(obviously) which are very rare and therefore hunted. So now I’m so confused I just make out with one of the men to forget everything that happend.
That’s basically the whole story in a nutshell. It’s a pity that you can’t give 0 stars on Goodreads, cause I would definitely.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author holds the record for the most frequent eye-roll-inducing writing that I've ever come across. And yet, despite trying at least three of her other series and hating each one, I keep hoping that the quality or at least her writing style will improve.

The guys in this series and the others by her are interchangeable, especially the one bitter guy that is ALWAYS present and resists the mating bond because of his super-duper tragic past. This time, though, there are TWO bitter guys! Wow! I can't wait to see which one uses the line "I don't need your pity" that is said at least once in every series that I've read by this author.

The heroine of each series is somewhat promising at first, but she quickly devolves into the same generic, horny chick that somehow fits perfectly with each of her love interests. Her personality might as well resemble a tumbleweed because I can't quite untangle what her specific traits are, aside from usually being an orphan. Here, we've got another nondescript horny orphan.

The sexual scenes are underwhelming and the last sexual scene of this book was off-putting to me personally because it very unexpectedly included voyeurism and exhibitionism in the sex club that one of the Heroes owns. Yuck. No information on whether he or the other Heroes have ever participated in this club, but I'm guessing yes, aside from one guy where it was specifically indicated by the hostess (?) that he never took part but he at least went to the club.

Because I like to torture myself and I'm curious, I'm going to try reading the second book but I've pretty much lost all hope for this author. I'd at least give this two stars for entertainment, but I can't honestly say that I experienced anything other than annoyance and frustration while reading this. I do not recommend this to anyone.