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Grym Hollow #1
The Dragon's Rose
Rose Briar’s life is the furthest thing from a fairy tale.
In the wake of her parents’ death and her boyfriend’s infidelity, she has no future in Grym Hollow. So despite her sister’s ultimate betrayal, when her life hangs in the balance, Rose immediately sacrifices herself to The Guardian—the mysterious creature in charge of her small town. In exchange for her sister’s recovery, she must leave Grym Hollow and help end a war in the fantastical world of Mescos.
Oh, and become the dragon king’s wife.
Malix has never felt more hopeless watching his dragonkind fall to the sleeping spell, an ancient curse bestowed on them by the Nephilim. And with their enemies now awakening, his new human wife might be the only difference between their salvation or their doom.
If only they knew what that meant.
Though both are begrudging to accept the hand fate dealt them, neither can deny the growing bonds drawing them together day by day. And with the kingdom slowly crumbling beneath the war on the horizon, the strength and love they find in each other might be the only things that can save them.Book one in the Grym Hollow series. Each book follows one couple and ends in a happily-ever-after. The books can be read in any order, but reading in numerical order is best.
In the wake of her parents’ death and her boyfriend’s infidelity, she has no future in Grym Hollow. So despite her sister’s ultimate betrayal, when her life hangs in the balance, Rose immediately sacrifices herself to The Guardian—the mysterious creature in charge of her small town. In exchange for her sister’s recovery, she must leave Grym Hollow and help end a war in the fantastical world of Mescos.
Oh, and become the dragon king’s wife.
Malix has never felt more hopeless watching his dragonkind fall to the sleeping spell, an ancient curse bestowed on them by the Nephilim. And with their enemies now awakening, his new human wife might be the only difference between their salvation or their doom.
If only they knew what that meant.
Though both are begrudging to accept the hand fate dealt them, neither can deny the growing bonds drawing them together day by day. And with the kingdom slowly crumbling beneath the war on the horizon, the strength and love they find in each other might be the only things that can save them.Book one in the Grym Hollow series. Each book follows one couple and ends in a happily-ever-after. The books can be read in any order, but reading in numerical order is best.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2024
82 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Tati B. Alvarez
9 books204 followersTati B. Alvarez lives in Austin, Texas with her family. She spends most days lost in her own head, creating stories. When she is not writing, you can find her vacationing at Disney World.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
January 17, 2024
Malix is lucky to be surrounded by so many strong, loyal women, including Queen Rose, who are saving the kingdom. Female friendships can move mountains and it was so nice to read this, without any discord. The world needs such stories.
Rose has a tragic story and I wish her all the happiness in the world, I really enjoyed reading how she took this new chance at happiness and held on to it with both hands.
Thanks for trusting me with an ARC 🖤🖤🖤
Rose has a tragic story and I wish her all the happiness in the world, I really enjoyed reading how she took this new chance at happiness and held on to it with both hands.
Thanks for trusting me with an ARC 🖤🖤🖤
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December 10, 2023Nope.
Nope, I can't do it.
I would rather be eaten by the most vicious of dragons than finish this.
I am throwing in the towel at 50%.
I have only DNF'd one book before this. I told myself I would just push through and finish this, my happiness be damned. I was, however, driving my husband up the wall with my griping and decided to save our marriage (and my sanity).
This was an ARC that was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Keeping in mind that it was an ARC, I am not leaving any feedback regarding technical/grammatical aspects.
But I do want to explain what just didn't work (at least up to that 50% mark):
-The dual narrative. I usually love multiple POVs in a book. The trick is that each character should sound distinctive. Here we have Rose and Malix. While speaking, Malix usually sounds much different than Rose. His dialogue is appropriate to the kingdom in which he lives - kind of like medieval talk. His thoughts, however, almost directly mimic the way Rose's thoughts are written. He also uses the f-word an awful lot for someone who lives in a completely different world. I could (barely) tolerate it when Rose used it constantly, but with both of them f-bombing all over the place for no real reason, I was about to lose my mind. Note: The word itself does not bother me, but the repetitiveness use of it when it adds absolutely nothing does.
- We are told early in the book that because Rose drank some hocus pocus-y stuff, she can now communicate with the dragons. Rose and Malix can also now sense each other's thoughts even when they aren't projecting them to one another because their "link should be the strongest." Rose says she is "mortified by this invasion of privacy," which she SHOULD be. She didn't really need to worry, however, because this DOESN'T ACTUALLY SEEM TO WORK. They have no clue what the other is thinking/feeling.
She's looking at me for...what? Comfort? Permission? Our bond does not give me the answers I seek.
Guess your potion is bogus, dude.
-Rose has the personality of a sponge. She is supposed to be strong and independent, yet she becomes absolutely irate because the dragon king leaves her alone for a few days upon her arrival. GIRL. He is just giving you some space to adjust while he does some kingly kingdom saving stuff. Settle down. I guess I'm not being fair. She isn't irate ALL the time. There are moments where she is just horny. But then she remembers she was irate, and her lady parts quickly dry back up again. Add in that she's often snarky for no reason and has an unhealthy view of men, and I had zero respect for this woman.
The intensity in which he's staring at me makes me both afraid and a little aroused.
Yeah, no. That's not actually healthy, sweetheart.
-Malix/Dragon King is equally terrible. I had hope for his first couple of pages. He was a king intent on saving his kingdom. He cared about his people/dragons and worried about a curse and a looming invasion. A guy who cares about others? Attractive! But then...
Let me tell you something I DON'T find sexy. Violent tempers. Men who display violent tempers over absolutely nothing.
He whirls around so fast; I barely see him move. One moment he's next to me and the next he's across the table, grabbing Aeron by the neck. "One more fucking word out of you and it'll be your last."
This "masculine" sexy alpha display was over Aeron saying....wait for it...wait for it....
"My king-"
I will say that at least his ridiculous, impulsive behavior is well rounded. For example, EVERY touch makes him want to hump Rose. There is a moment when he puts his hand over hers to comfort her in the middle of a council meeting. A nice, comforting gesture, right?
And fuck if my dick doesn't harden at her touch.
Oh, for pete's sake.
I'm all for some sexy thoughts and hanky-panky, but it needs to be a bit believable. I do not believe that in the middle of this really important meeting, our strong dragon king gets a stiffy over touching a woman's hand. Unfortunately, this type of thing happens more than once. I am apparently supposed to believe that while his people/dragons are dropping like flies into a cursed sleep and an enemy is creeping across the (broken) warded borders, he thinks all that stuff can wait because sexy time is equally important.
-Every emotion comes out of nowhere. There is zero build up to anything. There is nothing to make me believe that these two really feel what they say they are feeling. When they are mad at each other? No real reason. When they are losing their minds with lust and their loins are burning with desire? No real reason. When they suddenly care for one another? No real reason.
There were a lot of things that COULD have worked here. Dragons. A human woman thrown into a dragon world and a dragon marriage in order to save her sister. A curse. A Nephilim invasion.
I read this for as long as I could tolerate it. Mayyyyyyybe it gets better. But I doubt it. Even if it does, I would recommend doing better relationship building early on so that readers want to finish it because they care about the characters and the relationship(s) between the characters.
As I didn't finish, I won't be rating this.
Nope, I can't do it.
I would rather be eaten by the most vicious of dragons than finish this.
I am throwing in the towel at 50%.
I have only DNF'd one book before this. I told myself I would just push through and finish this, my happiness be damned. I was, however, driving my husband up the wall with my griping and decided to save our marriage (and my sanity).
This was an ARC that was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Keeping in mind that it was an ARC, I am not leaving any feedback regarding technical/grammatical aspects.
But I do want to explain what just didn't work (at least up to that 50% mark):
-The dual narrative. I usually love multiple POVs in a book. The trick is that each character should sound distinctive. Here we have Rose and Malix. While speaking, Malix usually sounds much different than Rose. His dialogue is appropriate to the kingdom in which he lives - kind of like medieval talk. His thoughts, however, almost directly mimic the way Rose's thoughts are written. He also uses the f-word an awful lot for someone who lives in a completely different world. I could (barely) tolerate it when Rose used it constantly, but with both of them f-bombing all over the place for no real reason, I was about to lose my mind. Note: The word itself does not bother me, but the repetitiveness use of it when it adds absolutely nothing does.
- We are told early in the book that because Rose drank some hocus pocus-y stuff, she can now communicate with the dragons. Rose and Malix can also now sense each other's thoughts even when they aren't projecting them to one another because their "link should be the strongest." Rose says she is "mortified by this invasion of privacy," which she SHOULD be. She didn't really need to worry, however, because this DOESN'T ACTUALLY SEEM TO WORK. They have no clue what the other is thinking/feeling.
She's looking at me for...what? Comfort? Permission? Our bond does not give me the answers I seek.
Guess your potion is bogus, dude.
-Rose has the personality of a sponge. She is supposed to be strong and independent, yet she becomes absolutely irate because the dragon king leaves her alone for a few days upon her arrival. GIRL. He is just giving you some space to adjust while he does some kingly kingdom saving stuff. Settle down. I guess I'm not being fair. She isn't irate ALL the time. There are moments where she is just horny. But then she remembers she was irate, and her lady parts quickly dry back up again. Add in that she's often snarky for no reason and has an unhealthy view of men, and I had zero respect for this woman.
The intensity in which he's staring at me makes me both afraid and a little aroused.
Yeah, no. That's not actually healthy, sweetheart.
-Malix/Dragon King is equally terrible. I had hope for his first couple of pages. He was a king intent on saving his kingdom. He cared about his people/dragons and worried about a curse and a looming invasion. A guy who cares about others? Attractive! But then...
Let me tell you something I DON'T find sexy. Violent tempers. Men who display violent tempers over absolutely nothing.
He whirls around so fast; I barely see him move. One moment he's next to me and the next he's across the table, grabbing Aeron by the neck. "One more fucking word out of you and it'll be your last."
This "masculine" sexy alpha display was over Aeron saying....wait for it...wait for it....
"My king-"
I will say that at least his ridiculous, impulsive behavior is well rounded. For example, EVERY touch makes him want to hump Rose. There is a moment when he puts his hand over hers to comfort her in the middle of a council meeting. A nice, comforting gesture, right?
And fuck if my dick doesn't harden at her touch.
Oh, for pete's sake.
I'm all for some sexy thoughts and hanky-panky, but it needs to be a bit believable. I do not believe that in the middle of this really important meeting, our strong dragon king gets a stiffy over touching a woman's hand. Unfortunately, this type of thing happens more than once. I am apparently supposed to believe that while his people/dragons are dropping like flies into a cursed sleep and an enemy is creeping across the (broken) warded borders, he thinks all that stuff can wait because sexy time is equally important.
-Every emotion comes out of nowhere. There is zero build up to anything. There is nothing to make me believe that these two really feel what they say they are feeling. When they are mad at each other? No real reason. When they are losing their minds with lust and their loins are burning with desire? No real reason. When they suddenly care for one another? No real reason.
There were a lot of things that COULD have worked here. Dragons. A human woman thrown into a dragon world and a dragon marriage in order to save her sister. A curse. A Nephilim invasion.
I read this for as long as I could tolerate it. Mayyyyyyybe it gets better. But I doubt it. Even if it does, I would recommend doing better relationship building early on so that readers want to finish it because they care about the characters and the relationship(s) between the characters.
As I didn't finish, I won't be rating this.
February 12, 2024
This is a jump for me trying an adult dragon shifter. It has a great start. I was pulled into the story, which was fast-paced. Overall, it was good.
July 10, 2024
4.25 stars rounded up!
September 8, 2024
This dragon romance is the first book in a the Grym Hollow series, a set of fantasy romance stories where each book follows a different couple and ends with a HEA. In this book human Rose makes a deal to leave Grym Hollow and fulfill a need in the Dragon kingdom in exchange for her sister and niece’s health. Only after does Rose find out that means marrying the Dragon King in order to try to save the dragons. Tropes include arranged marriage, touch her and die, fated mates and a sassy FMC. This is a steamy novel with adult content.
The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationships, including the secondary characters. Heck, I even liked the portrayals of the bad guys. Rose is really thrust into this situation and has to adopt to survive, and ultimately thrive. Malix has to do much the same - having a wife wasn’t exactly in his current plans.
Also Lovely: I liked the plot and that it wasn’t just a backdrop to the romance. There were true stakes and tension, both within the dragon keel and with external forces. It really wove the romance into the plot nicely and felt cohesive.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames
Recommendation: After alpha reading another book in this series (shhhh), and having recently ARC read the second book in the series, I wanted to go back and re-read The Dragon’s Rose. I love how Rose and Malix’s relationship developed over the course of the book. If you need a quicker fantasy romance with wonderful romance development and the plot woven through it, I think you would like this book.
The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationships, including the secondary characters. Heck, I even liked the portrayals of the bad guys. Rose is really thrust into this situation and has to adopt to survive, and ultimately thrive. Malix has to do much the same - having a wife wasn’t exactly in his current plans.
Also Lovely: I liked the plot and that it wasn’t just a backdrop to the romance. There were true stakes and tension, both within the dragon keel and with external forces. It really wove the romance into the plot nicely and felt cohesive.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames
Recommendation: After alpha reading another book in this series (shhhh), and having recently ARC read the second book in the series, I wanted to go back and re-read The Dragon’s Rose. I love how Rose and Malix’s relationship developed over the course of the book. If you need a quicker fantasy romance with wonderful romance development and the plot woven through it, I think you would like this book.
November 16, 2023
I'd give this 3.5/5 ⭐️, but I'm more than happy to round it up because I was pleasantly surprised by how good the book was!
The story flows beautifully, and the world is very well-created. The characters were fantastic, and I truly loved Rose's strength and resilience.
Unfortunately, the romance aspect was slightly less refined because the author preferred to put more energy into Rose's abilities, the curse, and the war. We don't spend much time with Rose and Malix because he constantly has to leave to attend to his kingdom.
I'm rather curious about the Guardians's story. I'm also looking forward to the next couple of this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story flows beautifully, and the world is very well-created. The characters were fantastic, and I truly loved Rose's strength and resilience.
Unfortunately, the romance aspect was slightly less refined because the author preferred to put more energy into Rose's abilities, the curse, and the war. We don't spend much time with Rose and Malix because he constantly has to leave to attend to his kingdom.
I'm rather curious about the Guardians's story. I'm also looking forward to the next couple of this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 3, 2024
Rose Briar, a strong woman, has been betrayed by someone she loves. She signed a contract to leave her home town—the Grym Hollows—to save her sister from death. The love and sacrifice of a sister will always be worth it. That’s what Rose does. But little does she know, in Section 2, bullet 4 of the contract, that she will be the wife of a dragon king to help save its kingdom from the war. “How is being married supposed to help win a war? " Who is she to be the wife of a king?
Malix steps into being a king when his parents die when he is 10 years old. Since the Nephilim started the curse again, many dragons have taken advantage of their vulnerability, bringing them to the saddest sleep. Malix and his council are determined to save the others, to strengthen their borders, and to break the curse.
What happens if the curse is like a wildfire?
There's real beauty when mortality meets magic. I started to love romance fantasy, and I will probably read more of them. Of course, I'm looking forward to reading the next book. The Guardian's story adds another exciting element and mystery to the story.
It was an easy read, and the author weaved a wonderful and interesting story about dragons. Rose and Malix's love is deepened with so much trust. Their people deserve them as leaders.
Celebrating the year of the dragon with an e-arc of The Dragon’s Rose. This book definitely goes to my “every turn of the page is worth it.”.
Thank you, BookSirens. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Malix steps into being a king when his parents die when he is 10 years old. Since the Nephilim started the curse again, many dragons have taken advantage of their vulnerability, bringing them to the saddest sleep. Malix and his council are determined to save the others, to strengthen their borders, and to break the curse.
What happens if the curse is like a wildfire?
There's real beauty when mortality meets magic. I started to love romance fantasy, and I will probably read more of them. Of course, I'm looking forward to reading the next book. The Guardian's story adds another exciting element and mystery to the story.
It was an easy read, and the author weaved a wonderful and interesting story about dragons. Rose and Malix's love is deepened with so much trust. Their people deserve them as leaders.
Celebrating the year of the dragon with an e-arc of The Dragon’s Rose. This book definitely goes to my “every turn of the page is worth it.”.
Thank you, BookSirens. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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January 2, 2024I just don’t think this book is for me. At 5% in when the male MC said “I walk in my human skin, not because I prefer this version of myself, but because it’s a power play. Everything I do is a power play.” I knew. Just… vibes were off.
January 26, 2024
4 stars!! I really loved this story! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and it did not disappoint. This is book # 1, which is a standalone within a series, focusing on a different couple for each book. These are my favorites, especially if series are intimidating to you. I was so captivated that I had this book done in 1 day! Love love love it!
A human woman sent to a world of dragons after making a deal with the Gaurdian, and who unknowingly becomes the Dragon King's queen. A dragon king who can shift to human form, who agrees to marry a human in hopes of breaking a curse. A kingdom who relies on them both to find a way to save them all. Can love conquer all?
It was the perfect mix of fantasy and romance. A mix of found family, grumpy and sunshine, strangers to lovers, one bed, and forced proximity.
The storyline was fast-paced enough that it kept my interest peaked throughout but wasn't too fast that the plot was tough to follow.
I also love a good romantasy with a strong FMC, and this book did not disappoint.
This story certainly had some spicy scenes and adult content. A perfect amount of spice!
The only thing I would have enjoyed more is a bit more time of Malix and Rose together getting to know each other more. I loved their story so much, but it seemed a bit rushed. I would love to read more about the curse and the Gaurdian and how it all came to be! But maybe this is all discussed in the books going forward. I am looking forward to the next release!
Other than that, it was perfect! Such a great read!! I recommend this to anyone who loves a good romantasy, an easy and enjoyable read with action, love, spice, and dragons! So, so good!
A human woman sent to a world of dragons after making a deal with the Gaurdian, and who unknowingly becomes the Dragon King's queen. A dragon king who can shift to human form, who agrees to marry a human in hopes of breaking a curse. A kingdom who relies on them both to find a way to save them all. Can love conquer all?
It was the perfect mix of fantasy and romance. A mix of found family, grumpy and sunshine, strangers to lovers, one bed, and forced proximity.
The storyline was fast-paced enough that it kept my interest peaked throughout but wasn't too fast that the plot was tough to follow.
I also love a good romantasy with a strong FMC, and this book did not disappoint.
This story certainly had some spicy scenes and adult content. A perfect amount of spice!
The only thing I would have enjoyed more is a bit more time of Malix and Rose together getting to know each other more. I loved their story so much, but it seemed a bit rushed. I would love to read more about the curse and the Gaurdian and how it all came to be! But maybe this is all discussed in the books going forward. I am looking forward to the next release!
Other than that, it was perfect! Such a great read!! I recommend this to anyone who loves a good romantasy, an easy and enjoyable read with action, love, spice, and dragons! So, so good!
May 7, 2024
I devoured this book!
I was instantly hooked and finished it in 2 days, I just couldn't get enough! ❤️
I will definitely reread this because it was soo damn good! The writing was like nothing I've read before, you can get invested by the characters right from the beginning, just an overall amazing read 😍😍
Thank you Tati for sending me this ARC read, it was amazing! 😍❤️
I was instantly hooked and finished it in 2 days, I just couldn't get enough! ❤️
I will definitely reread this because it was soo damn good! The writing was like nothing I've read before, you can get invested by the characters right from the beginning, just an overall amazing read 😍😍
Thank you Tati for sending me this ARC read, it was amazing! 😍❤️
September 1, 2024
DNF @ 50%. I wanted SO MUCH to love this but I couldn't get through it. Rose is insufferable, the story is both bland and confusing and I had to fight to stay interested.
PLOT:
Rose is a human who signs a contract to save her niece. She ends up married to Malix, a dragon king trying to save his dying people. They get closer but dark forces are at play trying to tear them apart.
THOUGHTS:
- Rose is THE WORST, TSTL and a huge cow. Is that harsh, kinda, but I just could not stand her! She gets cheated on when her BF sleeps with and impregnates her SISTER and Rose literally puts her life on the line for her niece, to ensure her sister lives and her and the ex can give her niece a good life. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. why? Why would she do that? This guy wasted years of your life and your sister betrays you, but hey! Rose is all "I'm gonna sacrifice my existence for a baby that would probably be fine even if her mom passed".
- Next, she DOES NOT READ the contract. You're signing your life away to a super powerful being and you can't be bothered to read the damn thing? DUMB.
- Then we get to the part where she's brought to the dragon kingdom and she acts super huffy and "assertive". I know the author was trying for a "strong independent woman" vibe but it came off so badly. Rose comes across as whiny, cringy and standoffish. She doesn't try at all to acclimate and complains and bitches the WHOLE time (when she's not eye-f*cking Malix because of course he's hot). Her personality is either "I'm a strong woman" or "horny as heck" and there's nothing in between!
- WHERE IS THE ROMANCE? I kept reading thinking it would get better, maybe she's just having a tough time adjusting etc. but no. They barely have anything in common aside from lust and the banter is mind numbingly boring.
I tried.
I really did, I even skimmed a few chapters to see if it was getting interesting but it didn't.
The plot was confusing and boring at the same time. The romance is barely there and rose ruins the whole thing. Malix has the personality of a brick and is the standard "basic super hot male lead". The supporting characters are meh and everyone aside from Ender (who I thought was SUPER cool) was useless. The whole nephilim thing was lost on me and the smut was a let down.
Also,
THE MIND READING THING.
If they can hear each other's thoughts at all times how did half of the conflicts / issues even arise. Like did the author just forget they could do that half way through??
PLOT:
Rose is a human who signs a contract to save her niece. She ends up married to Malix, a dragon king trying to save his dying people. They get closer but dark forces are at play trying to tear them apart.
THOUGHTS:
- Rose is THE WORST, TSTL and a huge cow. Is that harsh, kinda, but I just could not stand her! She gets cheated on when her BF sleeps with and impregnates her SISTER and Rose literally puts her life on the line for her niece, to ensure her sister lives and her and the ex can give her niece a good life. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. why? Why would she do that? This guy wasted years of your life and your sister betrays you, but hey! Rose is all "I'm gonna sacrifice my existence for a baby that would probably be fine even if her mom passed".
- Next, she DOES NOT READ the contract. You're signing your life away to a super powerful being and you can't be bothered to read the damn thing? DUMB.
- Then we get to the part where she's brought to the dragon kingdom and she acts super huffy and "assertive". I know the author was trying for a "strong independent woman" vibe but it came off so badly. Rose comes across as whiny, cringy and standoffish. She doesn't try at all to acclimate and complains and bitches the WHOLE time (when she's not eye-f*cking Malix because of course he's hot). Her personality is either "I'm a strong woman" or "horny as heck" and there's nothing in between!
- WHERE IS THE ROMANCE? I kept reading thinking it would get better, maybe she's just having a tough time adjusting etc. but no. They barely have anything in common aside from lust and the banter is mind numbingly boring.
I tried.
I really did, I even skimmed a few chapters to see if it was getting interesting but it didn't.
The plot was confusing and boring at the same time. The romance is barely there and rose ruins the whole thing. Malix has the personality of a brick and is the standard "basic super hot male lead". The supporting characters are meh and everyone aside from Ender (who I thought was SUPER cool) was useless. The whole nephilim thing was lost on me and the smut was a let down.
Also,
THE MIND READING THING.
If they can hear each other's thoughts at all times how did half of the conflicts / issues even arise. Like did the author just forget they could do that half way through??
January 10, 2024
I enjoyed this quite a bit! I thought our characters were interesting and the world we're introduced to definitely caught my attention. I loved the different creatures/species we get to meet and I think this is a solid set up for a potentially fantastic series. I really want to learn more about the Guardian - don't leave us hanging!
I wished we'd gotten to see Rose and Malix spend more time together, as I felt like a lot of the character development happened outside of their scenes together (rather than having them grow together, which is usually what you want to see or expect in romance). They do spend a lot of time apart doing their own separate things, which kind of made the development of their relationship feel like it happened slightly too fast for me. I was like stop ignoring each other already!
All that said somehow their relationship speedrun didn't entirely bother me because I was just having such a good time reading this book. It's short and fun and sweet, so I was okay that it didn't dive too deep into every aspect of the world or of their relationship (they can figure it out later!). There's no part of the book that's slow and boring because the scenes are relatively short and move quickly from point to point. We spend time on things readers find interesting and less on things we just need to know (something I always appreciate. No info-dumping and hundreds of pages of setup here). We're told what we need to know and then we move on!
Overall I definitely enjoyed this and I'm excited to see how this author continues the series. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a short and fun fantasy-romance that doesn't take too much brain-power to understand (someone put this on a list for books to finish your Goodreads goal).
3.75 stars, rounded up
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you for the ARC!
I wished we'd gotten to see Rose and Malix spend more time together, as I felt like a lot of the character development happened outside of their scenes together (rather than having them grow together, which is usually what you want to see or expect in romance). They do spend a lot of time apart doing their own separate things, which kind of made the development of their relationship feel like it happened slightly too fast for me. I was like stop ignoring each other already!
All that said somehow their relationship speedrun didn't entirely bother me because I was just having such a good time reading this book. It's short and fun and sweet, so I was okay that it didn't dive too deep into every aspect of the world or of their relationship (they can figure it out later!). There's no part of the book that's slow and boring because the scenes are relatively short and move quickly from point to point. We spend time on things readers find interesting and less on things we just need to know (something I always appreciate. No info-dumping and hundreds of pages of setup here). We're told what we need to know and then we move on!
Overall I definitely enjoyed this and I'm excited to see how this author continues the series. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a short and fun fantasy-romance that doesn't take too much brain-power to understand (someone put this on a list for books to finish your Goodreads goal).
3.75 stars, rounded up
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you for the ARC!
November 30, 2023
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing a very early ARC copy of this book with me!!!!!
“If you threaten to kiss another male in my kingdom, you will watch as I rip him limb from limb. I’ll make you watch his undoing so it never happens again. Do you understand, little dragon?”
“Remove your hands from my wife or I’ll remove your hands from your body.”
This book was … AMAZING!!!
I loved reading every single page of it!!! It felt exactly like what I needed!!! In a dark fantasy romance book with dragon shifters and enemies to lovers and arranged marriage and mates and spicy scenes that will make you melt!!! Basically the best tropes ever!!!! Malix is the Dragon King and he is absolutely unhinged and possessive and brutal and obsessed with Rose and so overprotective but also so respectful !!!! It is insane!!! I loved every single one of his povs !!! And Rose … she is such a badass FMC !!! Loved her!!! Her obsession and her love for her husband is just as intense as his !!!! This book made me feel frustrated, excited, in love, giggling every time he said something, tensed (the tension between them was palpable), focused on the plot and the magical world Rose, as a human, finds herself in. And the side characters were absolutely wonderful !!! They contributed to make this book the so entertaining, funny, and addicting book it is!! Plus the epilogue definitely left us with such a cliffhanger !!!!! Can’t wait for the next one !!!
“I needed Malix in a way a lioness needed her lion.
Or like a dragoness needed her dragon.”
“You are my queen. You never beg. Only demand.”
“If you threaten to kiss another male in my kingdom, you will watch as I rip him limb from limb. I’ll make you watch his undoing so it never happens again. Do you understand, little dragon?”
“Remove your hands from my wife or I’ll remove your hands from your body.”
This book was … AMAZING!!!
I loved reading every single page of it!!! It felt exactly like what I needed!!! In a dark fantasy romance book with dragon shifters and enemies to lovers and arranged marriage and mates and spicy scenes that will make you melt!!! Basically the best tropes ever!!!! Malix is the Dragon King and he is absolutely unhinged and possessive and brutal and obsessed with Rose and so overprotective but also so respectful !!!! It is insane!!! I loved every single one of his povs !!! And Rose … she is such a badass FMC !!! Loved her!!! Her obsession and her love for her husband is just as intense as his !!!! This book made me feel frustrated, excited, in love, giggling every time he said something, tensed (the tension between them was palpable), focused on the plot and the magical world Rose, as a human, finds herself in. And the side characters were absolutely wonderful !!! They contributed to make this book the so entertaining, funny, and addicting book it is!! Plus the epilogue definitely left us with such a cliffhanger !!!!! Can’t wait for the next one !!!
“I needed Malix in a way a lioness needed her lion.
Or like a dragoness needed her dragon.”
“You are my queen. You never beg. Only demand.”
January 22, 2024
How to start.. Let's just say, I can't wait for the second book in this series! I loved every second with Rose and Malix. Tati did a wonderful job creating a world full of wonders with this book and I cannot wait to see how it will continue.
The wordbuilding was well done, the characters were put on page very nicely and throughout the story they got an good development in character. And the spice was hot! 🔥It was nice we got a little look in the characters of the next books and I am very curious about Ender.
If you like fairytales, loose retellings of Sleeping Beauty, Dragon shifters, magic, good spice and a wonderfull wordbuilding this is definitely a good book to read.
Thank you Tati B. Alvarez for the ARC to read and review, can't wait to read more of this series.
The wordbuilding was well done, the characters were put on page very nicely and throughout the story they got an good development in character. And the spice was hot! 🔥It was nice we got a little look in the characters of the next books and I am very curious about Ender.
If you like fairytales, loose retellings of Sleeping Beauty, Dragon shifters, magic, good spice and a wonderfull wordbuilding this is definitely a good book to read.
Thank you Tati B. Alvarez for the ARC to read and review, can't wait to read more of this series.
November 16, 2023
The Dragon’s Rose was a quick paced easy to understand read. The characters were likable, and I especially liked Rose’s friendship with Mira. Malix seemed like a great leader and friend, but his relationship with Rose was sweet when he finally gave in. The concept was all really great!
I would have given 5 stars if we got a little more work put into Malix and Rose’s love, and also a bit more of a look into her sister- either after she was healed or if she realized what Rose had done for her.
I received this book for free through Book Sirens, and this is my honest voluntary review 🖤
I would have given 5 stars if we got a little more work put into Malix and Rose’s love, and also a bit more of a look into her sister- either after she was healed or if she realized what Rose had done for her.
I received this book for free through Book Sirens, and this is my honest voluntary review 🖤
February 18, 2025
This book felt like reading plagiarism. This whole world set up is almost exactly the same as Katee Robert’s A Deal with a Demon series which predates this book by 2 years. Even down to the contract for human brides to monster kings, 3 out of the 5 kings are even the same, and it felt like a much worse version of The Dragon’s Bride. The book was the epitome of copy my homework but change it a little.
January 8, 2024
A different kind of fairytale. A human meets a dragon king. Rose is the kind of woman who will do everything for her loved ones. That's why I didn't expect how Rose's magic would save the kingdom from the Nephilim. Saving the kingdom means saving her king.
Every chapter is interesting. The Guardian, who is responsible for Rose's journey to meet Malix, says that in exchange for her sister's life, Rose leaves Grym Hollow. A town where she experienced life, from happiness to the saddest part.
When Rose's feet land on the kingdom, she sees how the curse affects every dragon. How will being the wife of the dragon king save the kingdom from the wave of curses?
Every chapter is interesting. The Guardian, who is responsible for Rose's journey to meet Malix, says that in exchange for her sister's life, Rose leaves Grym Hollow. A town where she experienced life, from happiness to the saddest part.
When Rose's feet land on the kingdom, she sees how the curse affects every dragon. How will being the wife of the dragon king save the kingdom from the wave of curses?
January 12, 2024
I loved the premise of this book!! What a unique concept, its outnof this world or really Roses' world. I was enamored by the territories this so-called "guardian" oversees. He is an interesting character, and I just know we will see more of him as the books continue. This was a faced paced, easy read, and I felt transported into the Dragons den. My only complaint is that I think this story could have been developed to be longer. I wanted certain moments of interaction lengthened with more detail. I WANTED MORE, but I am greedy that way. I wanted more world building, more development, and a touch of more romance between Rose and Malix. I love all things spicy, but I want more longing and angst between our main characters! Overall, I loved the relationships built and interactions with all the characters. I am here for Mr. King Dragon, Malix, and I can't wait to see where this dragon takes me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
This book was more than I expected, by far. After sacrificing herself to a new realm, for the healthy recovery of her little sister. Rose goes into her new life not knowing everything she signed up for. But she takes it , and makes it hers. She struggles at first to get her bearings but she does everything she can to help her new kingdom, to be the queen they deserve.
In my opinion she does it like a boss. The relationship that develops between her and her brand new husband, is delicious. You’re going to want to read it just for that.
“ You are my queen. You never beg. Only demand.”
In my opinion she does it like a boss. The relationship that develops between her and her brand new husband, is delicious. You’re going to want to read it just for that.
“ You are my queen. You never beg. Only demand.”
December 4, 2023
⋆˚☆˖° I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ⋆˚☆˖°
When Rose's sister nearly dies while giving birth, Rose strikes a deal with The Guardian to save her sister's life. However... her part of the deal requires her to marry the dragon king, Malix. As she doesn't have a choice if she wants her sister to live, Rose goes to another world and marries the dragon king. Once she marries him, she slowly learns the reason as to why she was chosen to marry the dragon king. A threat overshadows the dragon kingdom; she is the only one who can save everyone.
This was a 'fantasy' written for contemporary readers. As someone who picked up this book because it looked like a promising fantasy, I was very much let down. The plot was fine. It was simple and straight to the point, which helped make this book a very quick read. I enjoyed not being overwhelmed by an overload of information- but this book was very elementary. If not for the sexual content, and cursing, I would've handed this book to a middle school student. The writing simply wasn't engaging for me and felt very immature and childish.
Speaking of immature? Why were the main characters so juvenile and airheaded? I didn't like anyone but the Guardian (speaking of him, I feel so robbed that we didn't get his story, he seems to have a more interesting story than whatever this book was.) I wasn't able to sympathize with Malix, because he was such an average joe. I couldn't take his position as king seriously because he was childish, and he didn't command respect which left me in awe of him.
Rose was such an unrealistic character. She took everything that happened in stride and didn't have any struggles when she realized she had magical powers. Everything just came effortlessly to her, and I don't know, I don't like to read books in which the character easily gets what they want.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you prefer reading simple fantasy, or are a contemporary book reader.
When Rose's sister nearly dies while giving birth, Rose strikes a deal with The Guardian to save her sister's life. However... her part of the deal requires her to marry the dragon king, Malix. As she doesn't have a choice if she wants her sister to live, Rose goes to another world and marries the dragon king. Once she marries him, she slowly learns the reason as to why she was chosen to marry the dragon king. A threat overshadows the dragon kingdom; she is the only one who can save everyone.
This was a 'fantasy' written for contemporary readers. As someone who picked up this book because it looked like a promising fantasy, I was very much let down. The plot was fine. It was simple and straight to the point, which helped make this book a very quick read. I enjoyed not being overwhelmed by an overload of information- but this book was very elementary. If not for the sexual content, and cursing, I would've handed this book to a middle school student. The writing simply wasn't engaging for me and felt very immature and childish.
Speaking of immature? Why were the main characters so juvenile and airheaded? I didn't like anyone but the Guardian (speaking of him, I feel so robbed that we didn't get his story, he seems to have a more interesting story than whatever this book was.) I wasn't able to sympathize with Malix, because he was such an average joe. I couldn't take his position as king seriously because he was childish, and he didn't command respect which left me in awe of him.
Rose was such an unrealistic character. She took everything that happened in stride and didn't have any struggles when she realized she had magical powers. Everything just came effortlessly to her, and I don't know, I don't like to read books in which the character easily gets what they want.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you prefer reading simple fantasy, or are a contemporary book reader.
July 7, 2025
Good Steamy Romantasy
This was my first romantasy in a long while and it did not disappoint! I love the banter between Rose and Malix.
This was my first romantasy in a long while and it did not disappoint! I love the banter between Rose and Malix.
December 9, 2023
It's not exactly a Sleeping Beauty retelling but its a sleeping beauty retelling.
Rose's sister gave birth and is now dying so she made a deal with the guardian of Grym Hollow.
"You will make sure my sister makes a full recovery so she and Stefan can live their fairytale life. And, in exchange, I willingly accept to live in and help my new realm in whatever capacity I can.”
Personally I wouldn't have bothered because I don't like the sister but she's still her sister.
'“So what? You’re just going to let her die alone? Leave me alone with a baby to raise by myself? A child needs their mother!” If he wanted me to be the mother of his child, he wouldn’t have slept with my sister, but here we are.'
But we got a good love story out of this. Malix is Dragon King. His kingdom has been cursed where dragons are falling under a sleeping spell. Yep. Reverse sleeping curse. For generations the Queen of the kingdom have always been human. So Malix needs a human to marry in order to strengthen the magic of the kingdom and overcome the curse. Here comes Rose who is your average modern girl, personality wise.
"It doesn’t even look like anything in my modern world. I feel like I stepped through my TV into an episode of Game of Thrones."
“Don’t think I forgot about this whole husband thing. What the hell? That wasn’t part of our deal.” - Next time read the contract properly Rose.
"In exchange to save your sister, you will marry the dragon king and help him win his war against the Nephilim.”
“How is being married supposed to help win a war?” True loves kiss?
Malix is a cutie. Me likes him.
“With the bonding drink fresh on your lips, it is time to solidify the union between dragon and mortal with a kiss."
“I don’t think that is necessary.”
“My king, it is necessary to complete the bond.”
“It’s not—”
“If you don’t kiss me, I bet I can find someone here willing to do so.”
“What did you say?” Malix’s voice is formidably low, full of possession he’s not entitled to.
“I said, I’ll walk right out of this room and find another man to kiss—” I don’t get to finish my sentence before he brackets my neck and pulls me against his hard body. His lips claim mine in a domineering way, stealing an unexpected moan from my lips. Malix uses this as an opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue clashing with mine. He drinks me like a fine wine, savoring every last drop.
“It is done, my king. You’re married in the eyes of the gods and rulers before us.” “Then leave us,” Malix says, his voice still gruff.
“Wife,” he all but purrs. “If you threaten to kiss another male in my kingdom, you will watch as I rip him limb from limb. I’ll make you watch his undoing so it never happens again. Do you understand, little dragon?” Any snappy retort dies on my tongue and all I can do is nod. “Good girl,” he says and drops his hand from around my neck.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH
The Dragon's Rose is an easy read full of witty banter and cute fluffy but spicy moments.
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Smut: 🌶🌶🌶 Touch her and die vibes.
We turn to leave but Aeron shoots his hand out, something digs into my skin, and I gasp. I look down to see his hand half transformed into a claw and his hold on me tightens. “I’m sure you have a minute to spare. A queen should be available to her people.” “Aeron, drop your fucking hand.” Mina is at my side in an instant, trying to pry off Aeron’s hand but his hold doesn't loosen. “No, I don’t think I will. Not until we get to know each other. I’m not a scary man, Mrs. Briar."
He opens his mouth to say more, when a dark figure appears behind him. Anger rolls off of him in waves, his eyes dark, nearly black. It is a face I recognize, but not one I have seen since our wedding.
“Remove your hands off my wife or I’ll remove your hands from your body.”
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ Pretty much saw the plot coming. But still good.
Would I recommend? Yes because "nothing screams romance like legal documents and political bargains."
You know that moment in the story at the end when the girl is damsel in distress and guy plays hero? Yeah no. My girl Rose saved my man Malix and his entire kingdom might I add.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rose's sister gave birth and is now dying so she made a deal with the guardian of Grym Hollow.
"You will make sure my sister makes a full recovery so she and Stefan can live their fairytale life. And, in exchange, I willingly accept to live in and help my new realm in whatever capacity I can.”
Personally I wouldn't have bothered because I don't like the sister but she's still her sister.
'“So what? You’re just going to let her die alone? Leave me alone with a baby to raise by myself? A child needs their mother!” If he wanted me to be the mother of his child, he wouldn’t have slept with my sister, but here we are.'
But we got a good love story out of this. Malix is Dragon King. His kingdom has been cursed where dragons are falling under a sleeping spell. Yep. Reverse sleeping curse. For generations the Queen of the kingdom have always been human. So Malix needs a human to marry in order to strengthen the magic of the kingdom and overcome the curse. Here comes Rose who is your average modern girl, personality wise.
"It doesn’t even look like anything in my modern world. I feel like I stepped through my TV into an episode of Game of Thrones."
“Don’t think I forgot about this whole husband thing. What the hell? That wasn’t part of our deal.” - Next time read the contract properly Rose.
"In exchange to save your sister, you will marry the dragon king and help him win his war against the Nephilim.”
“How is being married supposed to help win a war?” True loves kiss?
Malix is a cutie. Me likes him.
“With the bonding drink fresh on your lips, it is time to solidify the union between dragon and mortal with a kiss."
“I don’t think that is necessary.”
“My king, it is necessary to complete the bond.”
“It’s not—”
“If you don’t kiss me, I bet I can find someone here willing to do so.”
“What did you say?” Malix’s voice is formidably low, full of possession he’s not entitled to.
“I said, I’ll walk right out of this room and find another man to kiss—” I don’t get to finish my sentence before he brackets my neck and pulls me against his hard body. His lips claim mine in a domineering way, stealing an unexpected moan from my lips. Malix uses this as an opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue clashing with mine. He drinks me like a fine wine, savoring every last drop.
“It is done, my king. You’re married in the eyes of the gods and rulers before us.” “Then leave us,” Malix says, his voice still gruff.
“Wife,” he all but purrs. “If you threaten to kiss another male in my kingdom, you will watch as I rip him limb from limb. I’ll make you watch his undoing so it never happens again. Do you understand, little dragon?” Any snappy retort dies on my tongue and all I can do is nod. “Good girl,” he says and drops his hand from around my neck.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH
The Dragon's Rose is an easy read full of witty banter and cute fluffy but spicy moments.
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Smut: 🌶🌶🌶 Touch her and die vibes.
We turn to leave but Aeron shoots his hand out, something digs into my skin, and I gasp. I look down to see his hand half transformed into a claw and his hold on me tightens. “I’m sure you have a minute to spare. A queen should be available to her people.” “Aeron, drop your fucking hand.” Mina is at my side in an instant, trying to pry off Aeron’s hand but his hold doesn't loosen. “No, I don’t think I will. Not until we get to know each other. I’m not a scary man, Mrs. Briar."
He opens his mouth to say more, when a dark figure appears behind him. Anger rolls off of him in waves, his eyes dark, nearly black. It is a face I recognize, but not one I have seen since our wedding.
“Remove your hands off my wife or I’ll remove your hands from your body.”
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ Pretty much saw the plot coming. But still good.
Would I recommend? Yes because "nothing screams romance like legal documents and political bargains."
You know that moment in the story at the end when the girl is damsel in distress and guy plays hero? Yeah no. My girl Rose saved my man Malix and his entire kingdom might I add.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 26, 2024
I would rate this 4.5 out of 5.
I want to thank BookSirens and Alvarez for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have never read a dragon shifter romance before, but what drew me to this one part of the description that I read online: "A reimagining of Sleeping Beauty where Philip is the Dragon." That alone sold me on reading this book and Alvarez's prose delivered.
Brief Summary: Rose starts the book having lost a lot but to avoid losing more she makes a deal with Grym Hollow's local Gaurdian. However, the deal she makes is more than she bargained for.
Malix needs help. Being King of the Dragon Keep is not all it's cracked up to be especially with a growing threat he cannot control. That doesn't mean he won't try even if it means going to an outsider for help. However, to get the help he seeks everything about him is about to be tested.
Thoughts: I was immediately engrossed in Rose and Malix's lives and relationship. The dynamic between them was so well written you could feel the heat coming off the page. And this book has a lot of heat and it's not just the dragon fire.
I appreciate that Alvarez made the characters believable even though this is a fantasy romance. The way that Rose has a range of emotions and questions about her surroundings makes her believable. There were also several instances throughout the book where I could feel Rose's feelings coming off the page, whether her compassion during a conversation or her fear.
One thing I did wish is that Rose would have had a bit more of an arc in the belief that she is a valuable member of a community. In the end, it felt like she was downplaying her role just as much as she did at the beginning of the book and that was a little frustrating because she had come a long way. That is what made this book less than a full five stars for me. I think that overall Malix's arc was clear and a little more rounded out. He blossomed throughout the book.
Alvarez highlighted how positive outcomes are accomplished with females in positions of power. Although many of the female characters in this book were side characters their positions on the council and how they supported and protected each other was beautiful.
I loved this book. It was a great story with good writing and I will be reading the sequels in this series. If you love fantasy romance novels I would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Death, Murder, Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
I want to thank BookSirens and Alvarez for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have never read a dragon shifter romance before, but what drew me to this one part of the description that I read online: "A reimagining of Sleeping Beauty where Philip is the Dragon." That alone sold me on reading this book and Alvarez's prose delivered.
Brief Summary: Rose starts the book having lost a lot but to avoid losing more she makes a deal with Grym Hollow's local Gaurdian. However, the deal she makes is more than she bargained for.
Malix needs help. Being King of the Dragon Keep is not all it's cracked up to be especially with a growing threat he cannot control. That doesn't mean he won't try even if it means going to an outsider for help. However, to get the help he seeks everything about him is about to be tested.
Thoughts: I was immediately engrossed in Rose and Malix's lives and relationship. The dynamic between them was so well written you could feel the heat coming off the page. And this book has a lot of heat and it's not just the dragon fire.
I appreciate that Alvarez made the characters believable even though this is a fantasy romance. The way that Rose has a range of emotions and questions about her surroundings makes her believable. There were also several instances throughout the book where I could feel Rose's feelings coming off the page, whether her compassion during a conversation or her fear.
One thing I did wish is that Rose would have had a bit more of an arc in the belief that she is a valuable member of a community. In the end, it felt like she was downplaying her role just as much as she did at the beginning of the book and that was a little frustrating because she had come a long way. That is what made this book less than a full five stars for me. I think that overall Malix's arc was clear and a little more rounded out. He blossomed throughout the book.
Alvarez highlighted how positive outcomes are accomplished with females in positions of power. Although many of the female characters in this book were side characters their positions on the council and how they supported and protected each other was beautiful.
I loved this book. It was a great story with good writing and I will be reading the sequels in this series. If you love fantasy romance novels I would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Death, Murder, Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
December 16, 2023
"The Dragon's Rose," the first installment in the Grym Hollow series by Tati B. Alvarez, plunges readers into a captivating world where reality and fantasy collide. Rose Briar's life has been far from a fairy tale, marked by tragedy and betrayal. Alvarez weaves a compelling narrative as Rose faces an unimaginable choice—sacrificing herself to The Guardian in exchange for her sister's recovery.
The plot takes an unexpected turn as Rose finds herself transported to the fantastical realm of Mescos, where an ancient curse has left the dragonkind in a perilous state. As the key to their salvation, Rose must navigate a complex world and accept her role as the dragon king's wife, setting the stage for a unique and enthralling story.
Alvarez skillfully develops the characters of Rose and Malix, infusing them with depth and complexity. Rose's resilience in the face of adversity and Malix's desperation to save his kind create a dynamic and engaging duo. The reluctant connection between the two protagonists evolves into a powerful and heartwarming bond, offering readers a satisfying emotional journey.
The world-building in "The Dragon's Rose" is vivid and immersive, painting a rich tapestry of Mescos and Grym Hollow. Alvarez masterfully combines elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unpredictable twists and turns. The looming war and the crumbling kingdom add urgency to the narrative, creating a sense of impending doom that heightens the stakes for our protagonists.
The Grym Hollow series promises a fresh take on fantasy romance, with each book focusing on a different couple and concluding with a happily-ever-after. Alvarez's decision to allow readers the flexibility to enjoy the books in any order adds to the accessibility of the series, although following the numerical sequence enhances the overall experience.
In "The Dragon's Rose," Tati B. Alvarez delivers a spellbinding tale that transports readers to a world where love and strength become the beacon of hope amidst chaos. With its well-crafted characters, intricate plot, and a perfect blend of fantasy elements, this book sets a promising foundation for the Grym Hollow series, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next enchanting installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot takes an unexpected turn as Rose finds herself transported to the fantastical realm of Mescos, where an ancient curse has left the dragonkind in a perilous state. As the key to their salvation, Rose must navigate a complex world and accept her role as the dragon king's wife, setting the stage for a unique and enthralling story.
Alvarez skillfully develops the characters of Rose and Malix, infusing them with depth and complexity. Rose's resilience in the face of adversity and Malix's desperation to save his kind create a dynamic and engaging duo. The reluctant connection between the two protagonists evolves into a powerful and heartwarming bond, offering readers a satisfying emotional journey.
The world-building in "The Dragon's Rose" is vivid and immersive, painting a rich tapestry of Mescos and Grym Hollow. Alvarez masterfully combines elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unpredictable twists and turns. The looming war and the crumbling kingdom add urgency to the narrative, creating a sense of impending doom that heightens the stakes for our protagonists.
The Grym Hollow series promises a fresh take on fantasy romance, with each book focusing on a different couple and concluding with a happily-ever-after. Alvarez's decision to allow readers the flexibility to enjoy the books in any order adds to the accessibility of the series, although following the numerical sequence enhances the overall experience.
In "The Dragon's Rose," Tati B. Alvarez delivers a spellbinding tale that transports readers to a world where love and strength become the beacon of hope amidst chaos. With its well-crafted characters, intricate plot, and a perfect blend of fantasy elements, this book sets a promising foundation for the Grym Hollow series, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next enchanting installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 7, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
And boy, I liked it!
I'll tell you why.
Overall premise: Rose basically sacrifices herself to save a sister who doesn't give two flying saucers about her. She obviously cares A LOT, makes a deal she doesn't understand all the details of, and gets married to a dude who turns into a dragon at will. Then, she works tirelessly (and partly under duress later) to save her new people and home. I mean, this is hard to beat in terms of dedication.
Magic: I'm a little iffy on this one because I feel the explanation is a smidge rushed - humans seem to possess magic to a degree but are unaware of it and can only use it in Mescor rather than their own world. They MIGHT have also at one point been part of the same world? I'm sure this will be expanded on eventually. Basically in this book, the magic is: dragons turn into human forms and back.
Main characters: Rose and Malix start off as a typical insta-lust couple, but they surprisingly develop well and A LOT over the course of 200 pages. Rose needed a second to grow on me but, she did.
Romace: starts insta-lusty but is actually believable as a romance through the story progress. What I also adore is there's never a misunderstanding or miscommunication that would break the couple apart.
Side characters: I love Mina and Vivia, but Caliban is also a standout, as are some others. The villain is easy to spot and I wonder why Malix didn't whoop ass earlier but, ah well.
World building: not the strongest, but I think this will expand as the series progresses. There IS a map of the world, but distances don't really convey much, and at some points it feels like the dragons fly a long while to a border, but then the next it's a quick jaunt back to Dragon's Keep (that also seems to be the everything of dragon lands sometimes?) So I'm hoping this gets worked on in follow-up books.
Overall, an entertaining and solid entry into this universe, introducing us to other rulers from the kingdoms and Ender, The Guardian, who I'm most intrigued by of all. So I'm DEFINITELY reading this further!
And boy, I liked it!
I'll tell you why.
Overall premise: Rose basically sacrifices herself to save a sister who doesn't give two flying saucers about her. She obviously cares A LOT, makes a deal she doesn't understand all the details of, and gets married to a dude who turns into a dragon at will. Then, she works tirelessly (and partly under duress later) to save her new people and home. I mean, this is hard to beat in terms of dedication.
Magic: I'm a little iffy on this one because I feel the explanation is a smidge rushed - humans seem to possess magic to a degree but are unaware of it and can only use it in Mescor rather than their own world. They MIGHT have also at one point been part of the same world? I'm sure this will be expanded on eventually. Basically in this book, the magic is: dragons turn into human forms and back.
Main characters: Rose and Malix start off as a typical insta-lust couple, but they surprisingly develop well and A LOT over the course of 200 pages. Rose needed a second to grow on me but, she did.
Romace: starts insta-lusty but is actually believable as a romance through the story progress. What I also adore is there's never a misunderstanding or miscommunication that would break the couple apart.
Side characters: I love Mina and Vivia, but Caliban is also a standout, as are some others. The villain is easy to spot and I wonder why Malix didn't whoop ass earlier but, ah well.
World building: not the strongest, but I think this will expand as the series progresses. There IS a map of the world, but distances don't really convey much, and at some points it feels like the dragons fly a long while to a border, but then the next it's a quick jaunt back to Dragon's Keep (that also seems to be the everything of dragon lands sometimes?) So I'm hoping this gets worked on in follow-up books.
Overall, an entertaining and solid entry into this universe, introducing us to other rulers from the kingdoms and Ender, The Guardian, who I'm most intrigued by of all. So I'm DEFINITELY reading this further!
December 2, 2023
I couldn't put this book down! I stayed up half the night reading and then finished it the next day!
4.5stars but I'll round up.
Rose has had a hard life, her parents died when she was 18, the town talks poorly of her, and her boyfriend cheated on Rose with her sister who is now pregnant. She wants a fresh start an so she makes a deal with the Guardian, go help another mythical world and never able to return to the mortal world again. Malix needs to strengthen his kingdoms wards and find a cure for this sleeping curse plaguing his people. All he knows is that mortal mate/wife can supposedly help.
The world building, characters, the curse, and magic are wonderfully written. I would this is fairly fast pace, I rarely got to a point when I thought I could put it down. I wanted to know what happened next the entire time.
I love the mated, touch her and die, strong FMC troupes but personally, the relationships between Rose and Malix seemed kinda bland. I feel like there wasn't anything really unique about their relationship, just the same general stuff: She's skeptical of him, he leaves her alone, they feel a sexual pull towards each other, someone touches and her and he goes full alpha, then they are lovey.
SLIGHT SPOILER: One other part didn't quite make sense to me was when Rose was healing the dragons. Malix told her to only do a couple a day to not drain her energy. But when someone forces her to heal like a hundred of them over the course of 48hrs, the only repercussion was that she slept for 24 hrs straight. I feel like there should have been more serious.
But other than that, the details of the world are amazing! The Curse and how Roses figures out how to wake the dragons, the history of the war and Nephilims, the annoying councilman, I loved it! I'm very excited to learn more about the Guardian and the other Kingdoms so I will definitely be reading the next book.
I recieved an ARC and this is my honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.
4.5stars but I'll round up.
Rose has had a hard life, her parents died when she was 18, the town talks poorly of her, and her boyfriend cheated on Rose with her sister who is now pregnant. She wants a fresh start an so she makes a deal with the Guardian, go help another mythical world and never able to return to the mortal world again. Malix needs to strengthen his kingdoms wards and find a cure for this sleeping curse plaguing his people. All he knows is that mortal mate/wife can supposedly help.
The world building, characters, the curse, and magic are wonderfully written. I would this is fairly fast pace, I rarely got to a point when I thought I could put it down. I wanted to know what happened next the entire time.
I love the mated, touch her and die, strong FMC troupes but personally, the relationships between Rose and Malix seemed kinda bland. I feel like there wasn't anything really unique about their relationship, just the same general stuff: She's skeptical of him, he leaves her alone, they feel a sexual pull towards each other, someone touches and her and he goes full alpha, then they are lovey.
SLIGHT SPOILER: One other part didn't quite make sense to me was when Rose was healing the dragons. Malix told her to only do a couple a day to not drain her energy. But when someone forces her to heal like a hundred of them over the course of 48hrs, the only repercussion was that she slept for 24 hrs straight. I feel like there should have been more serious.
But other than that, the details of the world are amazing! The Curse and how Roses figures out how to wake the dragons, the history of the war and Nephilims, the annoying councilman, I loved it! I'm very excited to learn more about the Guardian and the other Kingdoms so I will definitely be reading the next book.
I recieved an ARC and this is my honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.
December 26, 2023
The first in the Grim Hollow series, The Dragon’s Rose focuses on the couple of Rose and her fated husband, the Dragon King Malix.
The romance was a little more believable as there was time to flesh out the story and the characters.
I liked Malix’s personality better than Rose’s, even though I felt that more time was spent on her backstory. I wanted to know more about his life and what it was like living in his realm. It would have been great to elaborate on his past relationships and how that shaped his current perspective on them.
As for Rose, she reminds me of a lot of books I’ve been reading recently, where the female lead constantly berates the male lead and puts him in his place. She starts to get annoying in that aspect, but it tones down later in the story. I did enjoy that the two leads eventually learn how to work together.
As another reviewer mentioned, The Guardian was the most interesting character. I would read an installment in the series just on his backstory alone.
The world building and lore were enjoyable. I look forward to the introduction of the other kingdoms in future books.
This could have been your average fated and instant lovers trope that’s shallow, but there’s a solid story here that leaves room for branching out into additional stories for different characters and kingdoms.
The pacing story-wise was okay. The pacing of the romance felt rushed. I’m still having a hard time finding instant love between characters believable, but that’s just my personal opinion. I did enjoy reading the chapters from both the leads points of view.
It was a bit odd and disappointing when the moments of big conflict that had been building up for some time resolved rather quickly and fell flat for me. I also found it unbelievable how fast Rose was able to get her powers.
My initial rating was a 3.5 out of 5, but I rounded up to 4 just because of the potential of exploration of the other realms in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The romance was a little more believable as there was time to flesh out the story and the characters.
I liked Malix’s personality better than Rose’s, even though I felt that more time was spent on her backstory. I wanted to know more about his life and what it was like living in his realm. It would have been great to elaborate on his past relationships and how that shaped his current perspective on them.
As for Rose, she reminds me of a lot of books I’ve been reading recently, where the female lead constantly berates the male lead and puts him in his place. She starts to get annoying in that aspect, but it tones down later in the story. I did enjoy that the two leads eventually learn how to work together.
As another reviewer mentioned, The Guardian was the most interesting character. I would read an installment in the series just on his backstory alone.
The world building and lore were enjoyable. I look forward to the introduction of the other kingdoms in future books.
This could have been your average fated and instant lovers trope that’s shallow, but there’s a solid story here that leaves room for branching out into additional stories for different characters and kingdoms.
The pacing story-wise was okay. The pacing of the romance felt rushed. I’m still having a hard time finding instant love between characters believable, but that’s just my personal opinion. I did enjoy reading the chapters from both the leads points of view.
It was a bit odd and disappointing when the moments of big conflict that had been building up for some time resolved rather quickly and fell flat for me. I also found it unbelievable how fast Rose was able to get her powers.
My initial rating was a 3.5 out of 5, but I rounded up to 4 just because of the potential of exploration of the other realms in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 16, 2024
This was such an interesting story!! I did not want to put this book down at all! From the beginning to the end, this was such an interesting take on traveling to a different dimension. We have Rose who wants to escape from Grim Hollow for many reasons. The Guardian who offered a deal that she couldn't refuse and like most people she didn't read all the fine print. Which leads us to the story of how she makes it to the Dragon realm. Where we have King Malix who was willing to do whatever it takes to save his people from a curse that is slowyly spreading to the entire realm. These two almost instantly fell for each other. I loved that there wasn't any weird misunderstanding between them to cause a problem. The issue was something that was going to happen regardless and it pushed both of them to be more than either one of them thought they could be. We are also able to meet some of the other characters who are more than likely going to play an important role later on in the series. I really like interconnected series and it seems that this is going to be one of those. We also get to see a little bit of the reasoning behind what the Guardian is doing. I can't wait to get his story!! OOOO it's going to be so juicy!
The spice was definitely there. Malix and Rose are two beings who do not shy away from that aspect of their lives and I love that for them. However the scenes weren't that detailed. There was a little but there could have been so much more! I felt the heat between them leaping off the pages and I wanted a little bit more. I gave the spice a 3 out of 5. Overall I gave this book a 4 out of 5 because I can see how it is a nice set up book for the rest of this series. It kept me interested even though there were the predictable moments. It was still highly entertaining. I mean, can you really go wrong with a strong Dragon King who instantly fall for his human mate? I can't wait for more from this series and to see where Rose and Malix are by the end of the entire series.
The spice was definitely there. Malix and Rose are two beings who do not shy away from that aspect of their lives and I love that for them. However the scenes weren't that detailed. There was a little but there could have been so much more! I felt the heat between them leaping off the pages and I wanted a little bit more. I gave the spice a 3 out of 5. Overall I gave this book a 4 out of 5 because I can see how it is a nice set up book for the rest of this series. It kept me interested even though there were the predictable moments. It was still highly entertaining. I mean, can you really go wrong with a strong Dragon King who instantly fall for his human mate? I can't wait for more from this series and to see where Rose and Malix are by the end of the entire series.
January 11, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The Dragon's Rose was captivating. When I tell you I DID NOT want to put it down, I Didn't. So much so that I went and pre-ordered a physical copy. I loved and enjoyed it that much. It is a quick read. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (I did see some of the lower reviews-to each their own-minus the ones with freaking spoilers and NO SPOILER WARNING!).
First-you're immediately thrown into the drama. Just tea from the get go. I was like "dang" and kudos Rose. And then you get one of many plot twists. My heart raced, I teared up and sniffled, I laughed out loud. The s_e_xual tension was s_e_xually tensioning (trying to avoid flags). This is perfect for those that are not looking for a slow burn, because that fire was BURNING!!!
Just when you were like -naw this is going to happen-and then it doesn't!!! Like hold on-HOLD ON!!! Some of it will be very obvious (which I did not mind). And others I was the slow to realize what was happening and then I hurt. But sweet story-just know HEA.
Lets see we had:
-Chemistry
-Strong FMC
-Alpha MMC
-Mystical Realm
-HEA
-He falls first
-SPICY (I am here for it!!!)
-Good Girl (SWOON)
-Looking for Mate(s)/Fated
Let me just go do another re-read of it because I enjoyed it that much and cannot wait for the other stories in this series. Some notes with no additional context to avoid spoilers (video will be on instagram: MeseMatka24).
-"Just casually throws first Plot Twist LoL"
-"I know better than to read in bed but LOL!"
-"I'm dead"
-"I bet you do naughty naughty"
-"I don't think I'll live to the end of the book"
I received this as an ARC from Tati B. Alvarez and her PR Team (Kelsey) and leave this honest review voluntarily.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The Dragon's Rose was captivating. When I tell you I DID NOT want to put it down, I Didn't. So much so that I went and pre-ordered a physical copy. I loved and enjoyed it that much. It is a quick read. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (I did see some of the lower reviews-to each their own-minus the ones with freaking spoilers and NO SPOILER WARNING!).
First-you're immediately thrown into the drama. Just tea from the get go. I was like "dang" and kudos Rose. And then you get one of many plot twists. My heart raced, I teared up and sniffled, I laughed out loud. The s_e_xual tension was s_e_xually tensioning (trying to avoid flags). This is perfect for those that are not looking for a slow burn, because that fire was BURNING!!!
Just when you were like -naw this is going to happen-and then it doesn't!!! Like hold on-HOLD ON!!! Some of it will be very obvious (which I did not mind). And others I was the slow to realize what was happening and then I hurt. But sweet story-just know HEA.
Lets see we had:
-Chemistry
-Strong FMC
-Alpha MMC
-Mystical Realm
-HEA
-He falls first
-SPICY (I am here for it!!!)
-Good Girl (SWOON)
-Looking for Mate(s)/Fated
Let me just go do another re-read of it because I enjoyed it that much and cannot wait for the other stories in this series. Some notes with no additional context to avoid spoilers (video will be on instagram: MeseMatka24).
-"Just casually throws first Plot Twist LoL"
-"I know better than to read in bed but LOL!"
-"I'm dead"
-"I bet you do naughty naughty"
-"I don't think I'll live to the end of the book"
I received this as an ARC from Tati B. Alvarez and her PR Team (Kelsey) and leave this honest review voluntarily.
February 2, 2024
I really loved this story. I felt bad for Rose in the beginning, how she was betrayed by her sister and boyfriend, then for them to have a baby together. To save her sister from dying (due to complications with the delivery) she sells herself to a demon. In her contract she has to help the dragon King save his kingdom from the Nephilim ( magical giants), skipping over the part where she has to marry the king.
She doesn't know how she is to save the kingdom being a human but she does anyway. As soon as she meets Malix (the dragon king) they are married right away and then he leaves her to attend meetings with his council. It takes him a few days to actually talk to her. Then they discover (by accident) that she has the ability to awaken the dragons ( who have been cursed by the Nephilim). Slowly she is able to awaken a few dragons each day. Malix then leaves to meet with the other leaders of the land to let them know that they have to prepare for a fight with the Nephilim, while gone Rose is captured by one of the men from the council who forces her to wake several of the dragons in a short time span, which depletes her strength and energy. She is able to do it (YAY ROSE!) and Malix returns back to save her.
Then the curse strikes Malix and she is unable to wake him like she did not others. It falls into her hands to protect the kingdom, which she gets help from all the other dragons. The Nephilim end up breaking through their wards and there is a great fight among then and the dragons! Malix ends up wakening and helps Rose and the others. They end up defeating the Nephilim for now…
This was an awesome book and I look forward to reading the next book about the alpha wolf!
She doesn't know how she is to save the kingdom being a human but she does anyway. As soon as she meets Malix (the dragon king) they are married right away and then he leaves her to attend meetings with his council. It takes him a few days to actually talk to her. Then they discover (by accident) that she has the ability to awaken the dragons ( who have been cursed by the Nephilim). Slowly she is able to awaken a few dragons each day. Malix then leaves to meet with the other leaders of the land to let them know that they have to prepare for a fight with the Nephilim, while gone Rose is captured by one of the men from the council who forces her to wake several of the dragons in a short time span, which depletes her strength and energy. She is able to do it (YAY ROSE!) and Malix returns back to save her.
Then the curse strikes Malix and she is unable to wake him like she did not others. It falls into her hands to protect the kingdom, which she gets help from all the other dragons. The Nephilim end up breaking through their wards and there is a great fight among then and the dragons! Malix ends up wakening and helps Rose and the others. They end up defeating the Nephilim for now…
This was an awesome book and I look forward to reading the next book about the alpha wolf!
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