Saturday, July 6, 2019

Stroke the Flame (Her Elemental Dragons #1) by Elizabeth Briggs ~ Review

Stroke The Flame (Her Elemental Dragons, #1)Source: KindleUnlimited.

Stroke the Flame (Her Elemental Dragons #1) by Elizabeth Briggs


Four sexy dragon shifters. A huntress with a dark past. A bond that could save the world.

I’ve spent my entire life running from my past and staying out of trouble. That’s how I’ve kept alive ever since my parents were killed by the Black Dragon, who’s ruled the world under her oppressive talons for as long as anyone can remember.

But it’s hard to keep a low profile when four handsome strangers turn up in your village claiming you’re destined to save the world. According to them, they’ve been chosen by the gods to become elemental dragons—and I’m their mate.

Which means one day I’ll be the most powerful dragon of all, able to control all four elements. Assuming I can unlock my powers first…by getting intimate with each of my sexy mates.

Auric, the clever prince. Jasin, the cocky soldier. Slade, the protective blacksmith. Reven, the mysterious assassin. And me. We’re the only ones who can bring balance to the world and overthrow the Black Dragon—if she doesn’t tear us to shreds first.

STROKE THE FLAME is the first book in a new steamy reverse harem fantasy series.




I've been in a little bit of a reading slump lately. So of course I mentioned this when I was in DC for ALA, and one of my friends told me about a series she read that was reverse harem, with dragons, and a fully satisfying spectrum of love interests, and it was complete. Oh, and it was also on KU. I downloaded Stroke the Flame that night and started reading it. And now I can tell you that I am in the midst of binge reading the series, on book 3 now and having a great time.

What excited me the most about this book was the premise. Four men drawn to one woman so they can bond together, transform into dragons with magic powers, and ultimately take down the current ruling dragons? SIGN ME UP. I'm always head over heels for reverse harem, but throw in all the other aspects of this series and I was so easily hooked. And the execution did the premise total justice, thank goodness. I read Stroke the Flame more and more while I was in DC (which is a big deal since I rarely read when I travel/am away from home), until I finally had the time to sit down and finish it my first day home. 

The characters were also so great. The main character, Kira, is smart, capable, and realistic. And all the guys...well, as I said, there's a full spectrum of love interests here. The over-eager flirt. The charming virgin. The loyal man who was scorned by a past love. And the man with a dark past who doesn't want to be there and intends to find a way out. Each of these characters were fleshed out well and so interesting. I loved learning about them as individuals, but I REALLY loved  them all interacting. Finding out how to work together and become more than mere acquaintances. 

As a whole, I was satisfied with the book. That said, there were little things that took this from being perfect to instead being *nearly* perfect. Mostly these little things lie withing the pacing. While the fast pace of the book was great for holding my attention and maintaining my interest, there were some aspects that fell a little short because they were sped up. The most notable of these things is Kira's relationship with Jasin. Her feelings for him shifted faster than I thought her character warranted, especially considering how she was with the other men--Auric included.

That said, I am very much a fan of the slow burn nature the rest of the relationships are taking. I am here for every beautiful moment. And really, I just love these characters so I'm not even that mad about the Jasin thing. Just a little meh about that particular aspect of this first installment.

Overall, Stroke the Flame is a fun mix of magic and slow burn reverse harem romance. It was a nearly perfect read that was exactly what I needed right now. And as I mentioned in the beginning--this was the beginning of what is now a binge and I am having a great time!


4.5 stars - Magic, dragons, and reverse harem--a nearly perfect read!


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