Of Scale and Blood

Drakkon Kin #2

by Keri Arthur

The drakkons have joined the battle, but do they have the power to help win the war?

Princess Bryn Silva is a Strega witch, gifted with the ability to raise fire and mind speak to animals. It is a gift that helped her win the trust of Kaia—a drakkon queen in the prime of her life.

But the drakkons’ only weapons are tooth and claws, and they are useless against an enemy mounted on armored birds, and who possess weapons capable of eating through scale and stone with equal ease. After an aerie is attacked, the drakkons agree to a desperate alliance and the drakkon kin—a force of Strega witches mounted on drakkon back—is formed.

Despite initial success, Bryn quickly realizes that a handful of kin will never defeat the sheer number of gilded riders amassing off Arleeon’s shores.

The drakkons needed a weapon. They needed fire…

But the gilded riders were not the only danger closing in on Esan, the fortress protecting the eastern gateway into Arleeon. The Mareritt, a warrior race and an ancient enemy, also move on them, armed with weapons eerily similar to those the gilded riders use.

Weapons capable of destroying Esan’s mighty walls.

But the biggest threat of all could be the dangerous secrets being held by Bryn’s husband, Damon Velez, heir to the throne of Zephrine and a man she hadn’t wanted to marry but might well be falling in love with.

A man whose magic could give the drakkons fire, or utterly destroy them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Romantasy

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

While not as strong as other series from this talented author, it is still engaging and fun to read. I do think the constant sex sessions and talk are a bit overdone when so much else is needed in the page space and gets overlooked. All those things that give depth and make an actual relationship and world are skimmed too much at times because of it.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, in this second book of the Drakkon Kin series, there was a lot going on, which is typical of this author’s awesome stories. Bryn Silva is recruiting more Strega witches with the ability to raise fire as drakkon riders, and has found more drakkons who are willing to be ridden, so they can fight against the gilded riders that are a danger to Arleeon and the drakkons as well. Her relationship with her new husband is hot and heavy, but she knows he’s not being totally truthful with her and is withholding information. They’ve determined the best way to fight their new enemies, is to find a way to share fire with the drakkons. Unfortunately, even if they can find a way to share fire, it is very risky for them all. An old enemy, the Mareritt, are threatening too, and they’re using weapons that are very similar to those the gilded riders are using. There was a lot of action, which I always enjoy, with the newest drakkon riders learning the best way to work with their new allies, and the younger drakkons learning how vulnerable they are to the weapons used against them, as they have quite a few run-ins with the gilded riders and also the Mareritt. The final battle was very intense, and heartbreaking as well, and there are some very important questions to be answered in the next story, which I will be impatiently waiting to read.

[Nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Keri’s ability to build a new world but this second book fell short after the first one. I enjoyed it but I feel like it could’ve been less back and forth on missions that didn’t really serve the overarching plot.

Regardless I’m looking forward to the next one.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo freaking good!! I'm lovin' this trilogy!

[Melanie Mcclure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing job!

This was a very strong 2nd book in the trilogy. From the first chapter, I was pulled in and engrossed in the amazing world. Although I don't like cliffhangers, the way this book ended has me dying for the final book!

[Kathy Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book ended too soon. It's so good. Keri Arthur delivers another great story. I was sucked into the story. Love the queen drakkon.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again these are among my favorite books!! Love everything she writes! Can’t wait for the next one to come out.

[mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved

This is a fast paced and I couldn’t put it down! The growing bond between Bryan and Kaia, along with the other riders and drakkons is something. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Kat Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love the series, so far, I really hate cliffhanger endings. This one was a doozy.