Book Reviews

Dragon Slayer (The Empty Crown 1) by Isabella Carter at Less Than Three Press

Genre Gay / Historical / Fantasy / Mythological Creatures / Romance
Reviewed by Christy Duke on 07-August-2013

Book Blurb

Ingram is a coward and weakling—at least according to his father, the king, and the royal court. He cannot use a sword, he faints at the sight of blood, and even his brilliant abilities as a strategist are not enough to overcome his failings. When his father loses a bet to the notorious Lord Mallory over the matter of a dragon slaying, he pays his debt by ordering Ingram to marry him.

Then his father reveals that he is putting Ingram to a greater purpose, giving Ingram one last chance to prove he is not worthless. All it requires is betraying his new husband.

 

Book Review

I am inspired by reading really good fantasy adventure so I was excited to read this story when I read the description. Not to mention there are dragons and a dragon slayer! Wow! This story was also filled with court intrigue, backstabbing, revenge, a two faced monarchy, and a love story. The writing was intense, crisp and clean with the storyline being unusual enough to really grasp my attention and dig in.

Ingram is the second son to the king, a brilliant strategist who can't use a sword and faints at the sight of blood. It's no surprise that his father calls him a coward and demeans him at every opportunity, but it's hopelessly sad when all Ingram wants is approval from his father. It doesn't keep him down, though, and Ingram works hard to ignore the hurt and pain but he is also a realist and recognizes the king's character flaws. I thought it was interesting that a prince who doesn't have much to do with court, is still one of the best at recognizing betrayal and lies even though Ingram is incapable of either behavior. Ingram is such a wonderfully good man that I couldn't help but adore him.

Lord Mallory is a mystery, which makes him even more attractive. He's an honorable man, who takes protecting his home and his people to be his main priority as lord, although for Ingram that attitude comes as a welcome change to what he's witnessed in the capital. Mallory is fighting hard to protect his people against bandits and even the so-called king's men at the encampment. I liked Mallory, very much. He was real and honest regardless of being a noble, with a true heart worthy of loving Ingram.

Now it stands for Ingram to figure out and decide whether the king, his father, is lying to him or if he can truly trust in this man he is married to. For the king wishes to gain control of Mallory's territory and the dragons that live there and it would seem he will stop at nothing including bullying and threatening disinheritance on Ingram if the king doesn't get it. Ingram is going to have to battle his own deepest fears in order to protect the man and people he's grown to love and both he and Mallory will have to wage their biggest fight yet against a creature of myth and legend. There are a lot of secrets that appear to have been hidden for many, many years and Ingram, with Mallory, is going to have to discover them in order to defeat the evil creeping across the land.

I adored this story and the very best part is I'm pretty sure there are going to be more books so I can't wait to read more about this world.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format ebook
Length Novel, 58000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date 19-June-2013
Price $4.99 ebook
Buy Link https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dragonslayer-1222719-143.html