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Their Dragon Rider #1
Court of Rivals
What happens when you’re the only female dragon rider surrounded by gorgeous, angry men? Nothing but trouble.
I’m nobody special. Just a healer in a small village. The only girl in a house full of rowdy boys. But then I stumble across an injured dragon, save his life, and everything changes.
My dragon decides that we’ll go to the dragon rider academy and become great warriors together. There's just one problem. All dragon riders are male, and all dragons are female. Considering I break their most basic rules just by existing, no one is exactly rolling out the welcome mat for me. Especially not the three darkly handsome princes who run the academy. They've decided a common-born woman could never handle a powerful male dragon, especially not without dishonoring everything they hold dear, so their solution is make my life hell until I quit.
Too bad they don't know me very well. I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not about to start now…
COURT OF RIVALS is a reverse harem bully romantasy. It's high heat, with a confident, sarcastic heroine and jealous and possessive alpha men.
I’m nobody special. Just a healer in a small village. The only girl in a house full of rowdy boys. But then I stumble across an injured dragon, save his life, and everything changes.
My dragon decides that we’ll go to the dragon rider academy and become great warriors together. There's just one problem. All dragon riders are male, and all dragons are female. Considering I break their most basic rules just by existing, no one is exactly rolling out the welcome mat for me. Especially not the three darkly handsome princes who run the academy. They've decided a common-born woman could never handle a powerful male dragon, especially not without dishonoring everything they hold dear, so their solution is make my life hell until I quit.
Too bad they don't know me very well. I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not about to start now…
COURT OF RIVALS is a reverse harem bully romantasy. It's high heat, with a confident, sarcastic heroine and jealous and possessive alpha men.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2025
1336 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Lacey Carter Andersen
313 books981 followersLacey Carter Andersen loves reading, writing, and drinking excessive amounts of coffee. She spends her days taking care of her husband, three kids, and three cats. But at night, everything changes! Her imagination runs wild with strong-willed characters, unique worlds, and exciting plots that she enthusiastically puts into stories.
Lacey has dozens of tales: science fiction romances, paranormal romances, short romances, reverse harem romances, and more. So, please feel free to dive into any of her worlds; she loves to have the company!
And you're welcome to reach out to her; she really enjoys hearing from her readers.
You can find her at:
Email: laceycarterandersen@gmail.com
Mailing List: www.eepurl.com/cVwDNP
Website: https://laceycarterandersen.net/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Lacey-Carter-Anderse...
Lacey has dozens of tales: science fiction romances, paranormal romances, short romances, reverse harem romances, and more. So, please feel free to dive into any of her worlds; she loves to have the company!
And you're welcome to reach out to her; she really enjoys hearing from her readers.
You can find her at:
Email: laceycarterandersen@gmail.com
Mailing List: www.eepurl.com/cVwDNP
Website: https://laceycarterandersen.net/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Lacey-Carter-Anderse...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
November 11, 2025
One of the guys keeps calling the heroine ‘cok sucker’ repeatedly throughout the book, somehow trying to make it both an insult and a pet name.
cringe level:expert
Oh and the other also gives her a black eye.
There is more but thats enough to get the point across I think.
cringe level:expert
Oh and the other also gives her a black eye.
There is more but thats enough to get the point across I think.
November 8, 2025
Interesting premise. I would have given it more stars but there was a shocking amount of misogynistic, sex negativity and almost every character had the mindset of victim blaming. I get that the author is setting up an enemies to lovers situation but don’t use concepts like ‘you can’t wear that outfit, I wouldn’t be able to control myself.’ No one should have to dress so that someone else won’t lose control. Each person is responsible for their actions. This is such an outdated mindset. It might have worked in the nineties but come on it’s 2025.
October 22, 2025
Ridiculous Tripe.
This book is stuck somewhere between a very young audience and a more mature one. The writing itself is extremely juvenile while certain aspects of the subject matter are anything but. Harper is the only female dragon rider in existence who must train with her male dragon at the academy. Interesting as there are no instructors, no classes and nothing that resembles a training ground for the kingdom’s elite “warriors.” It comes as no surprise when the man babies disguised as princes behave like spoiled toddlers and bully, intimidate and abuse the heroine. Typical, mundane, misogynistic nonsense. These guys are supposed to be the heroine’s love interests? How pathetic. This is a boring, unimaginative and poorly written book with zero points of interest. First time and last time I read anything by this author.
This book is stuck somewhere between a very young audience and a more mature one. The writing itself is extremely juvenile while certain aspects of the subject matter are anything but. Harper is the only female dragon rider in existence who must train with her male dragon at the academy. Interesting as there are no instructors, no classes and nothing that resembles a training ground for the kingdom’s elite “warriors.” It comes as no surprise when the man babies disguised as princes behave like spoiled toddlers and bully, intimidate and abuse the heroine. Typical, mundane, misogynistic nonsense. These guys are supposed to be the heroine’s love interests? How pathetic. This is a boring, unimaginative and poorly written book with zero points of interest. First time and last time I read anything by this author.
November 26, 2025
Awful writing
There’s no way this book is actually rated 4.5 stars. It reads like it was written by a middle schooler.
There’s no way this book is actually rated 4.5 stars. It reads like it was written by a middle schooler.
January 19, 2026
Wattpad
dnf-2026
January 20, 2026DNF 5% her best friend farts while wrestling her. I don’t need farts in my books. It’s simply not for me.
November 9, 2025
Extremely juvenile writing. The way all characters behave is extremely juvenile. None have either own voices/ personalities, all painted with the same juvenile brush. Events are not plausible, they’re odd scenarios made to fit the story… very badly.
January 11, 2026
At first, I was like "Dragons? Count me in." Then I read the reviews, and they all complained about the men acting like babies. I thought to myself, "It can't be THAT bad," so I decided to read it. It was, unfortunately, the worst decision of my life. No exaggerations here.
It reminded me of the book Eragon, which is about a boy who finds a dragon egg in the woods (very similar story except he was 15 and way more mature than any of these men.) This book is basically the same, but with opposite genders. The whole plot drew me in, since I really liked Eragon, but the “men” were unbelievable. I was like - What the fuck?? Why do they act like a bunch of immature 14-year-olds when they are over 30 years old (Some are already 40)? It pissed me off so bad because why are they so jealous of a girl who is actually worthy of being a dragon rider? DO THEY HATE HER OR DO THEY WANT HER like wdym they show desire with hate, and that's why they are sexist towards her??
I don't know what the author was thinking when she wrote this book. Because this book was so shockingly bad, I had to pause every 5 pages to reflect on what the fuck I was reading. Am I missing something here? Every male in this book was the same -toxic, sexist and immature, except for Harper’s dragon, Ebron. This could've been a decent read if the men were actually decent. You would think that their frontal lobes would be developed by now, but it seemed like none of the men in this book even managed to go past puberty. Talk about gentlemen, these men were absolute monkeys. When the book introduces the Harper's brothers and best friend, (MIND YOU THEY ARE 30-40 YEARS OLD!) my jaw actually dropped when I realised they farted on each other's faces bc what do you mean they fart on each other? It's actually so ridiculous that I started laughing because what is this? And they had the audacity to think they were alpha males.
I remember one scene (I might be wrong, but this is what I remember) where the FMC went to a bar, and she met another man, and she started talking to him, when suddenly one of the MMC stomped up to her like a whiny bitch and got mad bc he was talking to this man instead of him. Now this might sound like a scene that you would be giggling and kicking your feet in the air, but it is the exact opposite, bc the MMC's and other men in this story have done nothing but bully this poor woman bc she was a woman with the one of the last existing male dragons. Remember, girls and boys, nothing is worse than a man or woman who is jealous, sexist, and immature. (It goes both ways!) The males were pathetic, pitiful and poorly done.
Overall, I liked the plot, but I do think it was a little unoriginal. I couldn't stand any of the males, so I DNF the book. I don't recommend this book to ANYBODY unless you want immature 15-year-old boys as the love interests. (Which, frankly, I don't think anybody does.) I'm pretty sure all her books are like this bc I checked the reviews, so I don't recommend reading her books. One of the worst pieces of literature ever made.
It reminded me of the book Eragon, which is about a boy who finds a dragon egg in the woods (very similar story except he was 15 and way more mature than any of these men.) This book is basically the same, but with opposite genders. The whole plot drew me in, since I really liked Eragon, but the “men” were unbelievable. I was like - What the fuck?? Why do they act like a bunch of immature 14-year-olds when they are over 30 years old (Some are already 40)? It pissed me off so bad because why are they so jealous of a girl who is actually worthy of being a dragon rider? DO THEY HATE HER OR DO THEY WANT HER like wdym they show desire with hate, and that's why they are sexist towards her??
I don't know what the author was thinking when she wrote this book. Because this book was so shockingly bad, I had to pause every 5 pages to reflect on what the fuck I was reading. Am I missing something here? Every male in this book was the same -toxic, sexist and immature, except for Harper’s dragon, Ebron. This could've been a decent read if the men were actually decent. You would think that their frontal lobes would be developed by now, but it seemed like none of the men in this book even managed to go past puberty. Talk about gentlemen, these men were absolute monkeys. When the book introduces the Harper's brothers and best friend, (MIND YOU THEY ARE 30-40 YEARS OLD!) my jaw actually dropped when I realised they farted on each other's faces bc what do you mean they fart on each other? It's actually so ridiculous that I started laughing because what is this? And they had the audacity to think they were alpha males.
I remember one scene (I might be wrong, but this is what I remember) where the FMC went to a bar, and she met another man, and she started talking to him, when suddenly one of the MMC stomped up to her like a whiny bitch and got mad bc he was talking to this man instead of him. Now this might sound like a scene that you would be giggling and kicking your feet in the air, but it is the exact opposite, bc the MMC's and other men in this story have done nothing but bully this poor woman bc she was a woman with the one of the last existing male dragons. Remember, girls and boys, nothing is worse than a man or woman who is jealous, sexist, and immature. (It goes both ways!) The males were pathetic, pitiful and poorly done.
Overall, I liked the plot, but I do think it was a little unoriginal. I couldn't stand any of the males, so I DNF the book. I don't recommend this book to ANYBODY unless you want immature 15-year-old boys as the love interests. (Which, frankly, I don't think anybody does.) I'm pretty sure all her books are like this bc I checked the reviews, so I don't recommend reading her books. One of the worst pieces of literature ever made.
November 30, 2025
This book had a good plot, nice enough world building and a strong enough MC. And if this was simply an action book with dragons, then it would have scored higher.
Unfortunately, the Male love interests mess with the decency of this book. They are just too childish and misogynistic. And the whole dragon lust causing human lust was just lazy writing.
One thing that specifically irritated me is the descriptions. Who describes eye colour like that? And exactly what size are these dragons, because the image in my head is that they're large dog size, but then the riding doesn't make sense? Or are the females the size of horses? that means the male is ten times bigger than a horse...how does that work? And the harem building based off the dragons doesn't make sense. You're stepping on the edge of consent there, and it feels like "Is this real love or just expectation and magic?".
There is not enough detail in the world building.
BUT
The male dragon, Ebron, is amusing, so I may just read the next one simply for his dialogue.
Unfortunately, the Male love interests mess with the decency of this book. They are just too childish and misogynistic. And the whole dragon lust causing human lust was just lazy writing.
One thing that specifically irritated me is the descriptions. Who describes eye colour like that? And exactly what size are these dragons, because the image in my head is that they're large dog size, but then the riding doesn't make sense? Or are the females the size of horses? that means the male is ten times bigger than a horse...how does that work? And the harem building based off the dragons doesn't make sense. You're stepping on the edge of consent there, and it feels like "Is this real love or just expectation and magic?".
There is not enough detail in the world building.
BUT
The male dragon, Ebron, is amusing, so I may just read the next one simply for his dialogue.
February 20, 2026
juvenile writing. blah.
November 18, 2025
I love Harper’s inner conversations. Especially regarding her brothers and father’s … delicate natures 😉 She is no delicate flower, definitely made of tough stuff—one of the reasons Ebron chose her. And boy, are the princes but-hurt over that. ‘Court of Rivals’ is a great foundation to this new series. It gives us a fleshed out view of the characters, the dragons & their mating habits, the kingdom, and court politics. Can’t hardly wait for book 2!
MMC:
✨Gareth
✨Alaric
✨Lucien
FMC:
✨Harper
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Their Dragon Rider: Book 1
Tropes:
👉fantasy romance
👉reverse harem
👉possessive alpha mmc males
👉strong fmc
👉dragons
Triggers:
💥profanity
💥violence
💥bullying
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
MMC:
✨Gareth
✨Alaric
✨Lucien
FMC:
✨Harper
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Their Dragon Rider: Book 1
Tropes:
👉fantasy romance
👉reverse harem
👉possessive alpha mmc males
👉strong fmc
👉dragons
Triggers:
💥profanity
💥violence
💥bullying
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 29, 2025
Dragons nuff said
This one ends on a huge cliffhanger so just prepare yourself for it. An act of kindness saving/healing a dragon turns Harper’s world upside down. No longer will she be a healer in a small town. She’s off to Dragon Rider Academy to learn and prepare to fight. Unfortunately for her she’s an anomaly the only female rider, male dragon pair and no one likes the fact that their world view just got turned on its ear. But she’s determined and can give as good as she gets and finally feels as if she’s coming into her destiny. Then there’s some huge drama when the king drops a history lesson.
I really like Harper. She’s strong, fierce, brave and funny. I love how she never lets the jerks at the school dim her light. I think the world building is fascinating and I’m interested in learning more about the dragons and their enemies and how the wars started and why female riders are so special. The steam is building can’t wait to see how it develops. Very good beginning!
This one ends on a huge cliffhanger so just prepare yourself for it. An act of kindness saving/healing a dragon turns Harper’s world upside down. No longer will she be a healer in a small town. She’s off to Dragon Rider Academy to learn and prepare to fight. Unfortunately for her she’s an anomaly the only female rider, male dragon pair and no one likes the fact that their world view just got turned on its ear. But she’s determined and can give as good as she gets and finally feels as if she’s coming into her destiny. Then there’s some huge drama when the king drops a history lesson.
I really like Harper. She’s strong, fierce, brave and funny. I love how she never lets the jerks at the school dim her light. I think the world building is fascinating and I’m interested in learning more about the dragons and their enemies and how the wars started and why female riders are so special. The steam is building can’t wait to see how it develops. Very good beginning!
October 5, 2025
What men does this author know to make them write men like this in this book? lol all the men in this book acted like boys and obnoxious. Eating like pigs, farting, etc.
Everything happens really fast. Like too fast. Dragon saved, saying good bye to family then going to the academy. I would have liked that to flow a bit better.
It does get better when you get to the academy. I don’t normally like a bully to lover romance but I surprisingly don’t mind this one. I was getting into it and then bam, ending. I just need to know what freaking happens lol. I’m hoping for another potential love interest, I love that this author always surprises you with that sometimes in her books.
Oh I absolutely hate her nickname that they give her, i don’t mine vulgar statements but this is just meant for shock value and it does the story a disservice.
It’s not my fav series from this author but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I like this author a lot. I know there’s more to come with the second book. A great quick Romantasy read. I will be continuing this series.
Everything happens really fast. Like too fast. Dragon saved, saying good bye to family then going to the academy. I would have liked that to flow a bit better.
It does get better when you get to the academy. I don’t normally like a bully to lover romance but I surprisingly don’t mind this one. I was getting into it and then bam, ending. I just need to know what freaking happens lol. I’m hoping for another potential love interest, I love that this author always surprises you with that sometimes in her books.
Oh I absolutely hate her nickname that they give her, i don’t mine vulgar statements but this is just meant for shock value and it does the story a disservice.
It’s not my fav series from this author but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I like this author a lot. I know there’s more to come with the second book. A great quick Romantasy read. I will be continuing this series.
November 2, 2025
I'm not someone who typically goes for "bully romance" style novels, but I love a story where the FMC gives as good as she gets if not better.
Meet Harper, small town girl in a household of all boys. Everything changes when she crosses paths with a dragon under threat by a bone wyrm. A dead dragon that has been forever changed. She steps in and saves his life. In exchange, he deems her fit to be his rider. Well, cue a major shake-up where dragon riders are trained. It's always been men who are nobles on female dragons. And in swoops Harper. Yep, cue the chaos and all the drama.
There is some mild steamy, but nothing intense but you gotta know it's all delicious nonetheless. The three princes are complete jerks but I am absolutely cheering for Harper every step of the way.
Expect a cliffhanger ending that will leave you eager for book two. I can't wait to find out what happens next!!
Meet Harper, small town girl in a household of all boys. Everything changes when she crosses paths with a dragon under threat by a bone wyrm. A dead dragon that has been forever changed. She steps in and saves his life. In exchange, he deems her fit to be his rider. Well, cue a major shake-up where dragon riders are trained. It's always been men who are nobles on female dragons. And in swoops Harper. Yep, cue the chaos and all the drama.
There is some mild steamy, but nothing intense but you gotta know it's all delicious nonetheless. The three princes are complete jerks but I am absolutely cheering for Harper every step of the way.
Expect a cliffhanger ending that will leave you eager for book two. I can't wait to find out what happens next!!
February 3, 2026
Problematic in the extreme
I read alot. Like alot, alot. Plenty of dark romance, loads of bully themes and tons of urban fantasy. I have minimal triggers and I dont generally mind dub con/ non con as a trope.
None of those books were as offensive to me as the things in this one.
This book was the equivalent of a "nice" guy. Filled with misogyny, victim blaming, s!ut shaming and infinitely worse, it normalizes gr@pe culture.
You think I'm joking? I have receipts.
The FMC's guide, who is male:
"“It’s just that you’re really pretty. Beautiful. You know, hot. The men here see a whole lot of good-looking women, but you’re on another scale.” He seems to realize he’s rambling, while I stare at him, trying to decide if he’s being serious. “What I’m trying to say is that you might want to wear less… enticing outfits. The guys are going to have trouble controlling themselves as it is.” “So, I wear, what? A dress?” He winces his head and shakes it. “No, easy access. That’s all they’ll be thinking about.”"
NO. EASY. ACCESS. Seriously!?
One of the MMC's thoughts:
"If our laws were fair and good, Harper would never be allowed to wear such form-fitting clothes in front of a group of viral and aroused men. She’s a temptation. A villainous woman here to drive us wild."
S!ut shaming while doubling down on the boys will be boys mentality...
“Besides,” I say, “she’s a beautiful woman who he’s thrown in with a bunch of h0rny men. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the looks the guys are giving her. It’s going to cause problems when she starts being passed around. Understandably, the men are not going to want to share her.” I certainly wouldn’t want to. Not that I wouldn’t sleep with other women, of course, but I wouldn’t want her with other men. It’s a territorial thing that only a man would understand.
Oh, and let's not forget the sexual assault aspect!
"“You want to play dirty, c0ck $ucker? I can play dirty.” I feel him tug at the back of my neck and only have a second to realize what’s happening before my top falls down, and my breasts come free. The laughter dies, but I just stay frozen. I’m unsure of what to do. Shocked. “Cover yourself up,” he says, “and admit defeat.”"
I didnt even need to watch all those episodes of Law and Order SVU to realize this is not acceptable.
But wait! It gets worse because immediately after one of the MMC's does this and another one 'rescues' her from being stripped in front of a large group of men he says this,
“For f*€ks sake, Harper, you realize that we’re all ramped up because of our dragons, right? You realize how bad it’s gotten since you and your dragon came here, don’t you? The men are losing control, and having someone who looks like you around isn’t helping!”
And this,
“Now go put on something we can’t take off quite as easily. We might be royals, but fucking temptation like that could make any man do something dangerous.”
Victim blaming core right there.
Dark romance warns you about what youre going to read. It's in the title even. This series isn't marketed as such. And for the above to be in it is deeply problematic.
Let's end with this gem, from MMC 3
“You know, you’re much prettier when you smile.”
I read alot. Like alot, alot. Plenty of dark romance, loads of bully themes and tons of urban fantasy. I have minimal triggers and I dont generally mind dub con/ non con as a trope.
None of those books were as offensive to me as the things in this one.
This book was the equivalent of a "nice" guy. Filled with misogyny, victim blaming, s!ut shaming and infinitely worse, it normalizes gr@pe culture.
You think I'm joking? I have receipts.
The FMC's guide, who is male:
"“It’s just that you’re really pretty. Beautiful. You know, hot. The men here see a whole lot of good-looking women, but you’re on another scale.” He seems to realize he’s rambling, while I stare at him, trying to decide if he’s being serious. “What I’m trying to say is that you might want to wear less… enticing outfits. The guys are going to have trouble controlling themselves as it is.” “So, I wear, what? A dress?” He winces his head and shakes it. “No, easy access. That’s all they’ll be thinking about.”"
NO. EASY. ACCESS. Seriously!?
One of the MMC's thoughts:
"If our laws were fair and good, Harper would never be allowed to wear such form-fitting clothes in front of a group of viral and aroused men. She’s a temptation. A villainous woman here to drive us wild."
S!ut shaming while doubling down on the boys will be boys mentality...
“Besides,” I say, “she’s a beautiful woman who he’s thrown in with a bunch of h0rny men. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the looks the guys are giving her. It’s going to cause problems when she starts being passed around. Understandably, the men are not going to want to share her.” I certainly wouldn’t want to. Not that I wouldn’t sleep with other women, of course, but I wouldn’t want her with other men. It’s a territorial thing that only a man would understand.
Oh, and let's not forget the sexual assault aspect!
"“You want to play dirty, c0ck $ucker? I can play dirty.” I feel him tug at the back of my neck and only have a second to realize what’s happening before my top falls down, and my breasts come free. The laughter dies, but I just stay frozen. I’m unsure of what to do. Shocked. “Cover yourself up,” he says, “and admit defeat.”"
I didnt even need to watch all those episodes of Law and Order SVU to realize this is not acceptable.
But wait! It gets worse because immediately after one of the MMC's does this and another one 'rescues' her from being stripped in front of a large group of men he says this,
“For f*€ks sake, Harper, you realize that we’re all ramped up because of our dragons, right? You realize how bad it’s gotten since you and your dragon came here, don’t you? The men are losing control, and having someone who looks like you around isn’t helping!”
And this,
“Now go put on something we can’t take off quite as easily. We might be royals, but fucking temptation like that could make any man do something dangerous.”
Victim blaming core right there.
Dark romance warns you about what youre going to read. It's in the title even. This series isn't marketed as such. And for the above to be in it is deeply problematic.
Let's end with this gem, from MMC 3
“You know, you’re much prettier when you smile.”
March 28, 2026
Chapter 11 was it for me.
I fell in love with Harper’s parents from the get-go. Their willingness to end the engagement just like that… hand over heart! 🥹 Harper Nightborne… She’s a different breed. She’s brave, tolerant, athletic, tenacious, etc. Stormwrath Academy wasn’t ready! Roland is a coward. The princes need to get their s*** together… pronto! Such an easy read. The ending had me gasping.
“I will have no other rider. And I will kill for her.” - Ebron
I fell in love with Harper’s parents from the get-go. Their willingness to end the engagement just like that… hand over heart! 🥹 Harper Nightborne… She’s a different breed. She’s brave, tolerant, athletic, tenacious, etc. Stormwrath Academy wasn’t ready! Roland is a coward. The princes need to get their s*** together… pronto! Such an easy read. The ending had me gasping.
“I will have no other rider. And I will kill for her.” - Ebron
January 18, 2026
Omfg the end! The end!!!!!
Also, uh, I couldn't put down the book at all. I mean, we know how it will end. They will live happily ever after but in the meantime, they are totally smitten but being little bitch bullies.
This is delicious. Also, the FMC is amazing. The way she wins every verbal jabs and makes them her bitch. Amazing.
Also, uh, I couldn't put down the book at all. I mean, we know how it will end. They will live happily ever after but in the meantime, they are totally smitten but being little bitch bullies.
This is delicious. Also, the FMC is amazing. The way she wins every verbal jabs and makes them her bitch. Amazing.
October 19, 2025
You absolutely need to read this. If you love dragons, fierce fmc who knows how to give as good as she gets especially from not one but three princes who are pig headed as they try to get her to leave the dragon rider academy, because it's for males not females. This is just the first book and I can't wait to read more of this new series from this author.
December 28, 2025
misogyny in book form
November 4, 2025
In this paranormal fantasy, dragons are always female and riders are always male. Chauvinist much? But then Harper, a female healer in a small village, rescues a rare male dragon and lo and behold she becomes his person.
Ebron, the dragon, has an enormous ego to match his size, and he communicates telepathically with Harper much to the chagrin of the male dragon riders. Natch, the female dragons preen and flirt which p’s off Prince Gareth, Prince Lucien and Prince Alaric, the top of the heap riders.
Somehow the princely trio get the obnoxious idea to bully Harper into giving up her dragon. What ensues goes to show don’t mess with a woman and her dragon.
A battle in the skies results in a cliffhanger…
Ebron, the dragon, has an enormous ego to match his size, and he communicates telepathically with Harper much to the chagrin of the male dragon riders. Natch, the female dragons preen and flirt which p’s off Prince Gareth, Prince Lucien and Prince Alaric, the top of the heap riders.
Somehow the princely trio get the obnoxious idea to bully Harper into giving up her dragon. What ensues goes to show don’t mess with a woman and her dragon.
A battle in the skies results in a cliffhanger…
March 28, 2026
26/03
Ok I’m done with the waiting. You guys know I don’t start a series that isn’t complete because I HATE book hangovers, but life is short and the world is in a… weird place nowadays, sooo yeah, I’ll start this one. Mainly because I couldn’t find anything else that caught my attention too hahahaha.
This book has everything I like, dragons and RH, purrrrfect. Uh-oh, our girl is thirty??? Finally a book with some mature characters!!!
OMG her best friend Arthur???? Hahahahaha damn I did NOT see that coming. And I take back my comment about mature characters too hahahaha.
Bone wyrm… interesting. The world building of this book is actually really cool. So these wyrm are dragons raised from the dead, and the creatures that ride them are evil. Ok, I get it.
I love how matter-of-fact Ebron is. He’s like, “yeah you saved me, I’m bored and now I chose you, so we have to go to the all-male academy for dragon riders,” easy like that. Like it didn’t just turn Harper’s world upside down. Not to mention that there were NO male dragons letting anyone ride them in many lifetimes, because they’re too proud for that.
This book is also realistic about the mechanics of riding a dragon, which I love. Because if staying on a horse in full gallop without a saddle is already hard, imagine doing that in the air on a dragon??? Absolute nightmare. I LOVE IT.
Yeah, absolutely true. Animals are better than humans.
Ebron thinks everything will be unicorns and flowers when they arrive at the academy… but I have a suspicion it won’t. Why? Because they are different, and people hate anything that is different.
So we meet Gareth through his POV, and apparently our boys are brothers that hate each other because… well, that’s how their father raised them. Healthy family dynamic, clearly.
Woah… they’re princes.
And surprise, surprise, the bonds between dragon riders and their dragons aren’t even CLOSE to what Harper and Ebron have.
Gareth is an asshole. Seriously, the guy is insufferable. The riders at the academy don’t have a good bond with their dragons at all. I think it was Prince Alaric who said dragons are like cats, they don’t care about humans. Honestly? Accurate.
I’m actually surprised the king isn’t terrible. I was expecting another Gareth, but no, he’s… decent. Suspiciously decent, but I’ll take it.
I hope her best friend is part of her harem, because he’s funny, handsome, and doesn’t treat her like trash, which already puts him above most of the male population here.
I like Roland. He’s adorable when he blushes.
OMFG hahahaha I’m laughing so hard right now. Absolute cinema. I can’t believe she actually said that to Gareth. EPIC.
Harper is one of the sassiest FMCs I’ve seen in years. The guys try to be assholes with her? She just bulldozes right over them. THIS is what I call girl power.
Ok… Alaric is officially on my blacklist now.
This motherfucker hitting someone in the head with full force during training??? Absolutely NOT. Everyone who has ever trained any martial art knows that’s off-limits. But no, this idiot hits her full force in the face. ARE YOU SERIOUS???
And yes, he feels bad after. I was in his head. Doesn’t matter. Still an asshole.
And Harper… gods.
When she wakes up, she’s on the ground, surrounded by a bunch of men looking down on her, calling her unworthy. And it’s not just annoying, it’s actually scary. You can feel her unease. She was just knocked out, she’s vulnerable, and she’s surrounded by aggressive men shouting at her.
That situation? Not safe. Not even a little.
But you know what’s scarier?
Her dragon.
Ebron is PISSED. And honestly? Same.
Because how the hell do you think it’s ok to hurt her? Yeah Ebron, go off. Burn them. I support you.
What in the actual FUCK???
The book ended like that???
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE???
Fucking hell.
Ok I’m done with the waiting. You guys know I don’t start a series that isn’t complete because I HATE book hangovers, but life is short and the world is in a… weird place nowadays, sooo yeah, I’ll start this one. Mainly because I couldn’t find anything else that caught my attention too hahahaha.
This book has everything I like, dragons and RH, purrrrfect. Uh-oh, our girl is thirty??? Finally a book with some mature characters!!!
He gives me a look and lifts up a sad hand for help. I roll my eyes and grab his hand, planning to help him up. Instead, he yanks me down, pulling me down on top of him with my heavy bag on my back.
“Arthur!” I shout.
He’s laughing in glee. “You see everything coming, but not that, did you, Buttercup?”
As I try to get up, he wraps his legs around me and farts. It’s a fart that echoes around us. A fart that sends birds flying from all the trees.
“Arthur!” I scream, pounding my hands against his chest. “You’re disgusting!”
OMG her best friend Arthur???? Hahahahaha damn I did NOT see that coming. And I take back my comment about mature characters too hahahaha.
Bone wyrm… interesting. The world building of this book is actually really cool. So these wyrm are dragons raised from the dead, and the creatures that ride them are evil. Ok, I get it.
I love how matter-of-fact Ebron is. He’s like, “yeah you saved me, I’m bored and now I chose you, so we have to go to the all-male academy for dragon riders,” easy like that. Like it didn’t just turn Harper’s world upside down. Not to mention that there were NO male dragons letting anyone ride them in many lifetimes, because they’re too proud for that.
This book is also realistic about the mechanics of riding a dragon, which I love. Because if staying on a horse in full gallop without a saddle is already hard, imagine doing that in the air on a dragon??? Absolute nightmare. I LOVE IT.
“I like your company too. I just feel like you’re like a pet that I’ve spent my whole life bonded to.”
Don’t call me a pet.
I laugh. “Sorry, I just sometimes think you can get closer to animals than you can ever get to people, because they have such pure hearts. They don’t have any bad intentions, they just are who they are. That’s how you are to me.”
He makes the humming sound again as I continue to pet him. Alright, I will try not to be insulted by your referral of me as a pet, but only because you are correct about animals. Humans are inferior to most of animal kind.
Yeah, absolutely true. Animals are better than humans.
Ebron thinks everything will be unicorns and flowers when they arrive at the academy… but I have a suspicion it won’t. Why? Because they are different, and people hate anything that is different.
So we meet Gareth through his POV, and apparently our boys are brothers that hate each other because… well, that’s how their father raised them. Healthy family dynamic, clearly.
Woah… they’re princes.
And surprise, surprise, the bonds between dragon riders and their dragons aren’t even CLOSE to what Harper and Ebron have.
Gareth is an asshole. Seriously, the guy is insufferable. The riders at the academy don’t have a good bond with their dragons at all. I think it was Prince Alaric who said dragons are like cats, they don’t care about humans. Honestly? Accurate.
I’m actually surprised the king isn’t terrible. I was expecting another Gareth, but no, he’s… decent. Suspiciously decent, but I’ll take it.
I hope her best friend is part of her harem, because he’s funny, handsome, and doesn’t treat her like trash, which already puts him above most of the male population here.
I like Roland. He’s adorable when he blushes.
When you fail, I’m going to be right there waiting to take your dragon,” he says, and his words are a threatening growl.
I sigh dramatically. “You pillow princesses are all the same, just laying back, legs spread, waiting for something to be given to you.”
His mouth drops open.
“You keep staring like that and people will talk.”
OMFG hahahaha I’m laughing so hard right now. Absolute cinema. I can’t believe she actually said that to Gareth. EPIC.
Harper is one of the sassiest FMCs I’ve seen in years. The guys try to be assholes with her? She just bulldozes right over them. THIS is what I call girl power.
Ok… Alaric is officially on my blacklist now.
This motherfucker hitting someone in the head with full force during training??? Absolutely NOT. Everyone who has ever trained any martial art knows that’s off-limits. But no, this idiot hits her full force in the face. ARE YOU SERIOUS???
And yes, he feels bad after. I was in his head. Doesn’t matter. Still an asshole.
And Harper… gods.
When she wakes up, she’s on the ground, surrounded by a bunch of men looking down on her, calling her unworthy. And it’s not just annoying, it’s actually scary. You can feel her unease. She was just knocked out, she’s vulnerable, and she’s surrounded by aggressive men shouting at her.
That situation? Not safe. Not even a little.
But you know what’s scarier?
Her dragon.
Ebron is PISSED. And honestly? Same.
Because how the hell do you think it’s ok to hurt her? Yeah Ebron, go off. Burn them. I support you.
What in the actual FUCK???
The book ended like that???
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE???
Fucking hell.
October 13, 2025
If you love your fantasy fast-paced, filled with dragons, danger, and delicious tension, Court of Rivals will absolutely sink its claws into you.
From page one, I was hooked. Lacey Carter Andersen wastes no time throwing you into the chaos and I mean that in the best way possible. With a fierce, relatable heroine, sizzling enemies to lovers dynamics, and a world where dragons choose their riders (and possibly something much deeper), this book delivers on action, attitude, and addictive tension.
Harper is everything I want in a protagonist sassy, stubborn, and secretly soft. When she stumbles upon an injured dragon in the forest, her life takes a turn she never saw coming. Enter Ebron: a rare male dragon, arrogant as hell, and utterly devoted to Harper in a way that turns the entire kingdom upside down. Their bond? Pure gold. The banter, the bond, the back and forth… chef’s kiss.
And just when you think things can’t get more complicated, Harper enter the Academy where she's not only the only female dragon rider, but bonded to a male dragon, something that absolutely no one knows how to handle (or tolerate).
Cue the Princes.
Alaric, Gareth, and Lucien: three entitled, arrogant dragon riders with chips on their shoulders and secrets behind their sneers. Their mission? Make Harper miserable enough to quit. But Harper? She doesn’t back down. Watching her take on every insult, challenge, and sabotage attempt with grit and hilarious comebacks was SO satisfying.
This story isn’t just a slow burn reverse harem it’s a bully romance with teeth. There are power plays, steamy tension (hello, dragon rider bonds 👀), and just enough vulnerability beneath all that prince-y posturing to keep you desperately flipping pages. I’m especially invested in Gareth’s unraveling his internal struggle is written so well, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. (Also: Roland, step up! You know you want to.)
The dragon politics, academy tension, layered characters, and high stakes drama had me completely absorbed. And that cliffhanger? RUDE. In the best way. I'm already counting down the days for the next installment.
If you're into:
Bully/enemies to lovers vibes ✅
Dragons, academies, and magical bonds ✅
Sassy heroines who don’t quit ✅
Slow burn tension with groveling potential ✅
Action, angst, and addictive pacing ✅
...then Court of Rivals will devour you.
📌 As always, my reviews are 100% voluntary no monetary compensation involved. These thoughts are entirely my own, and yes, I’m still screaming over that ending.
From page one, I was hooked. Lacey Carter Andersen wastes no time throwing you into the chaos and I mean that in the best way possible. With a fierce, relatable heroine, sizzling enemies to lovers dynamics, and a world where dragons choose their riders (and possibly something much deeper), this book delivers on action, attitude, and addictive tension.
Harper is everything I want in a protagonist sassy, stubborn, and secretly soft. When she stumbles upon an injured dragon in the forest, her life takes a turn she never saw coming. Enter Ebron: a rare male dragon, arrogant as hell, and utterly devoted to Harper in a way that turns the entire kingdom upside down. Their bond? Pure gold. The banter, the bond, the back and forth… chef’s kiss.
And just when you think things can’t get more complicated, Harper enter the Academy where she's not only the only female dragon rider, but bonded to a male dragon, something that absolutely no one knows how to handle (or tolerate).
Cue the Princes.
Alaric, Gareth, and Lucien: three entitled, arrogant dragon riders with chips on their shoulders and secrets behind their sneers. Their mission? Make Harper miserable enough to quit. But Harper? She doesn’t back down. Watching her take on every insult, challenge, and sabotage attempt with grit and hilarious comebacks was SO satisfying.
This story isn’t just a slow burn reverse harem it’s a bully romance with teeth. There are power plays, steamy tension (hello, dragon rider bonds 👀), and just enough vulnerability beneath all that prince-y posturing to keep you desperately flipping pages. I’m especially invested in Gareth’s unraveling his internal struggle is written so well, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. (Also: Roland, step up! You know you want to.)
The dragon politics, academy tension, layered characters, and high stakes drama had me completely absorbed. And that cliffhanger? RUDE. In the best way. I'm already counting down the days for the next installment.
If you're into:
Bully/enemies to lovers vibes ✅
Dragons, academies, and magical bonds ✅
Sassy heroines who don’t quit ✅
Slow burn tension with groveling potential ✅
Action, angst, and addictive pacing ✅
...then Court of Rivals will devour you.
📌 As always, my reviews are 100% voluntary no monetary compensation involved. These thoughts are entirely my own, and yes, I’m still screaming over that ending.
March 9, 2026
Finished series ends in a HEA
3 books
RH no MM or FF
Bullying towards the fmc by her future mates except for one. I feel like it was pretty shitty. And at times I didn’t even want the characters to get together. It comes around but not until the later part of book 3. I would have liked to have seen more time where they are all together and happy and def needed more groveling. But. 🤷🏻♀️
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
KU
Dragon riders and academy but older adults. The academy is where they train bt battles on some island in between enemies.
All MMC’s are over 25.
Fmc bcs an accidental dragon rider. And it’s really cool too.
Low spice. Which is surprising for a RH. I honestly feel there could have been more. But if you want low spice RH, this is def a good book for ya. 🌶️🌶️
NO SPICE in book one
I feel like this story and plot was what I wanted from prior dragon rider books. Fourth wing? It’s dragging and I stopped it. This one was fast paced and MOVED. My exact type of plot and writing style. Get to the point.
No poorly written miscommunication tropes-well-nothing purposefully hidden-in that they tried to talk but at times it wasn’t understood but no avoiding talking. It will make sense when you read. But the plot keeps moving and doesn’t stop on one point and spin around to death.
Honestly. I like this author’s writing style. This book isn’t TELL TELL TELL the entire time. I loved that there was dialogue and movement. When authors circle the drain telling their readers everything-they lose me.
I saw reviews that some folks felt the way the characters acted was outdated or misogynistic but it’s a work of fiction set in a fictional world-the entire area is full of this thinking.
Why can’t an author write a book like that? It doesn’t mean she agrees with it ffs. ITS FUCKING MAKE BELIEVE.
I don’t get people-if you don’t like a book’s themes or characters-I respect that. Def review a book however you choose.
But an author can also write a work of fiction whoever they choose to. No you don’t have to like it but at the same time, they can write what they want.
And this world-was a world of only men-noble men-riding dragons. Of course they are going to be PIGS.
ANYWAYS. carry on.
I liked it. Yeah at times I wanted more from the story. But it was fast and readable and one of the better series I have read recently.
3 books
RH no MM or FF
Bullying towards the fmc by her future mates except for one. I feel like it was pretty shitty. And at times I didn’t even want the characters to get together. It comes around but not until the later part of book 3. I would have liked to have seen more time where they are all together and happy and def needed more groveling. But. 🤷🏻♀️
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
KU
Dragon riders and academy but older adults. The academy is where they train bt battles on some island in between enemies.
All MMC’s are over 25.
Fmc bcs an accidental dragon rider. And it’s really cool too.
Low spice. Which is surprising for a RH. I honestly feel there could have been more. But if you want low spice RH, this is def a good book for ya. 🌶️🌶️
NO SPICE in book one
I feel like this story and plot was what I wanted from prior dragon rider books. Fourth wing? It’s dragging and I stopped it. This one was fast paced and MOVED. My exact type of plot and writing style. Get to the point.
No poorly written miscommunication tropes-well-nothing purposefully hidden-in that they tried to talk but at times it wasn’t understood but no avoiding talking. It will make sense when you read. But the plot keeps moving and doesn’t stop on one point and spin around to death.
Honestly. I like this author’s writing style. This book isn’t TELL TELL TELL the entire time. I loved that there was dialogue and movement. When authors circle the drain telling their readers everything-they lose me.
I saw reviews that some folks felt the way the characters acted was outdated or misogynistic but it’s a work of fiction set in a fictional world-the entire area is full of this thinking.
Why can’t an author write a book like that? It doesn’t mean she agrees with it ffs. ITS FUCKING MAKE BELIEVE.
I don’t get people-if you don’t like a book’s themes or characters-I respect that. Def review a book however you choose.
But an author can also write a work of fiction whoever they choose to. No you don’t have to like it but at the same time, they can write what they want.
And this world-was a world of only men-noble men-riding dragons. Of course they are going to be PIGS.
ANYWAYS. carry on.
I liked it. Yeah at times I wanted more from the story. But it was fast and readable and one of the better series I have read recently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
Court of Rivals: Their Dragon Rider Book 1 by Lacey Cater Anderson is an exciting fantasy romance. Harper is a healer in a small village, even though she craves more she's satisfied with her lot in life. When she saves the life of a rare male dragon everything changes. He claims her as his rider and takes her to the dragon riders school. All the riders in the school are male, nobles, and have been training their whole lives, and they ride the much smaller female dragons. Needless to say she may have been welcomed by the king but his 3 sons and the other riders don't want her there and are determined to make her leave. Can she withstand their ire and show them a female peasant, from a small village can become a dragon rider or will jealousy and cruelty prove too much?
This book had a bit of a slow start for me but once it got going I didn't want to put it down. Harper is everything I think most women strive to be strong, determined, and resilient. The 3 princes Gareth,Lucian, and Alaric are very different and don't typically get along but seem to find common ground in their dislike of Harper. However they find themselves behaving in a manner they are not proud of. Disappointed to find their antics unable to dissuade Harper from pursuing being a dragon rider, things escalate. Even more disturbing is her relationship with Ebron, her dragon. I couldn't help but laugh as the men thought they could just take him from her, they found out quickly that was unlikely. I enjoyed it when they tried to push her to the back but their dragons would only follow, of course blaming her and not their inability to control their own dragons. This wouldn't be a romance if there was a little hate/love going on especially with Harper being beautiful. I absolutely loved how Harper stood up and had no shame throwing down in d!ck measuring contests often shocking the men. My only complaint was the absolutely unexpected cliffhanger the book ended on, there is no way anyone that reads this book will be unable to resist reading Book 2.
If you enjoy a reverse harem bully romantic fantasy with themes of rags to royalty, enemies to lovers, subverting gender roles, slow burn, and a little spice then Court of Rivals will hit perfect for you! It's a fairly short read and can easily be read in a day or two, the perfect uplifting story if you need to reset from a long, more serious or intense read.
This book had a bit of a slow start for me but once it got going I didn't want to put it down. Harper is everything I think most women strive to be strong, determined, and resilient. The 3 princes Gareth,Lucian, and Alaric are very different and don't typically get along but seem to find common ground in their dislike of Harper. However they find themselves behaving in a manner they are not proud of. Disappointed to find their antics unable to dissuade Harper from pursuing being a dragon rider, things escalate. Even more disturbing is her relationship with Ebron, her dragon. I couldn't help but laugh as the men thought they could just take him from her, they found out quickly that was unlikely. I enjoyed it when they tried to push her to the back but their dragons would only follow, of course blaming her and not their inability to control their own dragons. This wouldn't be a romance if there was a little hate/love going on especially with Harper being beautiful. I absolutely loved how Harper stood up and had no shame throwing down in d!ck measuring contests often shocking the men. My only complaint was the absolutely unexpected cliffhanger the book ended on, there is no way anyone that reads this book will be unable to resist reading Book 2.
If you enjoy a reverse harem bully romantic fantasy with themes of rags to royalty, enemies to lovers, subverting gender roles, slow burn, and a little spice then Court of Rivals will hit perfect for you! It's a fairly short read and can easily be read in a day or two, the perfect uplifting story if you need to reset from a long, more serious or intense read.
February 2, 2026
Court of Rivals: Their Dragon Rider Book 1 by Lacey Carter Anderson took me a minute to settle into — but once it found its footing? Ohhhh it soared.
I’ll be honest: the beginning felt a little slow and heavy with setup. There’s a lot of worldbuilding, court politics, and tension simmering under the surface, and at first I wasn’t totally sure where things were heading. But stick with it. Because once the story clicks into place, it really picks up speed and suddenly you’re flying through chapters like you’re on dragonback yourself.
And Harper? I loved her.
Watching her get thrown — basically against her will — into becoming a female dragon rider bonded to a male dragon was such a cool twist on the usual dragon rider trope. The dynamic isn’t just magical, it’s political and deeply personal. There’s this constant tension about what that bond means — power, vulnerability, expectations, and the way the world views her because of it. She’s not just learning to ride a dragon… she’s navigating a system that wasn’t built for her to succeed.
That struggle made her journey feel raw and earned instead of easy.
The court rivalry pieces added great stakes too — betrayals, shifting alliances, side-eye glances across rooms, all that delicious “who can you actually trust?” energy. Once the action ramps up, the pacing tightens and the story becomes seriously addictive.
And then…
That ending.
The cliffhanger is straight up rude in the best way possible. The kind that makes you stare at the last page like, “Excuse me? That’s it??” I immediately needed book two because there’s no way you can just drop a bomb like that and walk away.
Overall, this felt like a slow-burn fantasy romance that rewards your patience with strong character growth, unique dragon lore, and escalating tension. Not perfect pacing at the start, but absolutely worth pushing through.
If you like:
✨ dragon riders
✨ underdog heroines
✨ court politics and rival factions
✨ slow build into high stakes chaos
✨ endings that emotionally attack you
… this one’s for you.
Definitely continuing the series.
I’ll be honest: the beginning felt a little slow and heavy with setup. There’s a lot of worldbuilding, court politics, and tension simmering under the surface, and at first I wasn’t totally sure where things were heading. But stick with it. Because once the story clicks into place, it really picks up speed and suddenly you’re flying through chapters like you’re on dragonback yourself.
And Harper? I loved her.
Watching her get thrown — basically against her will — into becoming a female dragon rider bonded to a male dragon was such a cool twist on the usual dragon rider trope. The dynamic isn’t just magical, it’s political and deeply personal. There’s this constant tension about what that bond means — power, vulnerability, expectations, and the way the world views her because of it. She’s not just learning to ride a dragon… she’s navigating a system that wasn’t built for her to succeed.
That struggle made her journey feel raw and earned instead of easy.
The court rivalry pieces added great stakes too — betrayals, shifting alliances, side-eye glances across rooms, all that delicious “who can you actually trust?” energy. Once the action ramps up, the pacing tightens and the story becomes seriously addictive.
And then…
That ending.
The cliffhanger is straight up rude in the best way possible. The kind that makes you stare at the last page like, “Excuse me? That’s it??” I immediately needed book two because there’s no way you can just drop a bomb like that and walk away.
Overall, this felt like a slow-burn fantasy romance that rewards your patience with strong character growth, unique dragon lore, and escalating tension. Not perfect pacing at the start, but absolutely worth pushing through.
If you like:
✨ dragon riders
✨ underdog heroines
✨ court politics and rival factions
✨ slow build into high stakes chaos
✨ endings that emotionally attack you
… this one’s for you.
Definitely continuing the series.
April 5, 2026
The enemies to lovers trope can be so difficult for a writer to navigate successfully. When they get it right, the result can be a well-written, believable novel with characters you either see yourself in or you fall in love with.
That's not the case here. What little I did read of this first novel in the series left me angry and disgusted at the MMCs. Harper is the first female dragon rider in several generations. Ebron, a rare male dragon and "King of the Skies," chooses her after she saves his life in the wild. They set off together to the dragon academy so they can learn to defend their country against the enemy who attacked Ebron. Enter the 3 stereo-typically arrogant princes. All the male riders at the academy ride smaller female dragons - dragons who immediately set about ignoring their riders in favor of Ebron. In retaliation, all 3 princes lead the other riders in tormenting Harper. She lets their childish tantrums slide right off her back. But then, they start challenging her in the fighting rings and the obstacle course. Shoving her off a high staircase during the obstacle course and ripping her top off during a sparing match were bad enough, but one of the brothers gets so frustrated that he can't beat her fairly that he punches her in the face while sparing. Then he essentially tells her he did it for her own good so she can see how tough the enemy is. Thing is? It's a universally acknowledged consideration that none of the riders will "go for the face" in the sparing rings. And those sheeple who follow the princes all ignore that in favor of teaching Harper "a woman's place."
I know that many societies are inherently misogynistic. (ours, for example). But to see it so blatantly exalted on the page like that turned my stomach. The more I read, the less faith I had that these princes would ever be anything but spoiled baby-men. And knowing Harper was going to have to settle for them by the end of the series? Just revolting.
Don't count this author out, though. Read Surge of Fire instead. RH, paranormal dragon shifters. Harem builds. No OW drama. Strong, smart, FMC who grows and allows her men to grow throughout the 4-book series. She lifts other women up, too.
That's not the case here. What little I did read of this first novel in the series left me angry and disgusted at the MMCs. Harper is the first female dragon rider in several generations. Ebron, a rare male dragon and "King of the Skies," chooses her after she saves his life in the wild. They set off together to the dragon academy so they can learn to defend their country against the enemy who attacked Ebron. Enter the 3 stereo-typically arrogant princes. All the male riders at the academy ride smaller female dragons - dragons who immediately set about ignoring their riders in favor of Ebron. In retaliation, all 3 princes lead the other riders in tormenting Harper. She lets their childish tantrums slide right off her back. But then, they start challenging her in the fighting rings and the obstacle course. Shoving her off a high staircase during the obstacle course and ripping her top off during a sparing match were bad enough, but one of the brothers gets so frustrated that he can't beat her fairly that he punches her in the face while sparing. Then he essentially tells her he did it for her own good so she can see how tough the enemy is. Thing is? It's a universally acknowledged consideration that none of the riders will "go for the face" in the sparing rings. And those sheeple who follow the princes all ignore that in favor of teaching Harper "a woman's place."
I know that many societies are inherently misogynistic. (ours, for example). But to see it so blatantly exalted on the page like that turned my stomach. The more I read, the less faith I had that these princes would ever be anything but spoiled baby-men. And knowing Harper was going to have to settle for them by the end of the series? Just revolting.
Don't count this author out, though. Read Surge of Fire instead. RH, paranormal dragon shifters. Harem builds. No OW drama. Strong, smart, FMC who grows and allows her men to grow throughout the 4-book series. She lifts other women up, too.
November 22, 2025
Are you a fan of Iron Flame but you want all the main characters to be older and for the FMC to have more than one MMC? Then this series is for you!
Obviously the plot is different than Iron Flame but the similarities are dragons, dragon riders and an academy setting. Also, as indicated above it is an RH.
Harper who has been a peasant in a small village her entire life becomes bonded to one of the last few male dragons, Ebron. Ebron and Harper head off to the local academy only one hiccup gets in their way. All the dragon riders in recent memory are both male and nobility and aren't excited to have a female commoner attending the academy or riding a dragon.
With her unique background Harper gains the attention of three Princes, Alaric, Gareth and Lucien and they are determined to teach her that she does not deserve to attend the academy or have a dragon. They proceed to bully her while at the same time warring against their attraction to her. Even though Harper came from humble beginnings, she actually grew up with four brothers, had been trained in combat, and also is a trained healer. So despite all the men at the academy trying to run her off the girl has enough skills to hold her own.
Even though it is clearly going in the direction of RH this is a super slow burn and mostly relationship/character building.
KU Glitch note: From what I can tell this will be at least a three book series, Court of Rivals, Court of Fury and Court of Lust. As of November 22, 2025 the first two books are out. Court of Lust appears to be on schedule to come out in the beginning of January 2026. They are all available on Kindle Unlimited, however they have not been tied together the way you would normally see where you can view that it is a 3 book series and choose to read the next book in the series. You actually have to just search for each book separately.
Tropes: Dragons, Dragon Riders, RH, Light Bullying, Enemies to Lover, Slow Burn, Strong FMC
probably more that I can't think of...enjoy!
Obviously the plot is different than Iron Flame but the similarities are dragons, dragon riders and an academy setting. Also, as indicated above it is an RH.
Harper who has been a peasant in a small village her entire life becomes bonded to one of the last few male dragons, Ebron. Ebron and Harper head off to the local academy only one hiccup gets in their way. All the dragon riders in recent memory are both male and nobility and aren't excited to have a female commoner attending the academy or riding a dragon.
With her unique background Harper gains the attention of three Princes, Alaric, Gareth and Lucien and they are determined to teach her that she does not deserve to attend the academy or have a dragon. They proceed to bully her while at the same time warring against their attraction to her. Even though Harper came from humble beginnings, she actually grew up with four brothers, had been trained in combat, and also is a trained healer. So despite all the men at the academy trying to run her off the girl has enough skills to hold her own.
Even though it is clearly going in the direction of RH this is a super slow burn and mostly relationship/character building.
KU Glitch note: From what I can tell this will be at least a three book series, Court of Rivals, Court of Fury and Court of Lust. As of November 22, 2025 the first two books are out. Court of Lust appears to be on schedule to come out in the beginning of January 2026. They are all available on Kindle Unlimited, however they have not been tied together the way you would normally see where you can view that it is a 3 book series and choose to read the next book in the series. You actually have to just search for each book separately.
Tropes: Dragons, Dragon Riders, RH, Light Bullying, Enemies to Lover, Slow Burn, Strong FMC
probably more that I can't think of...enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
FIRST book in new series
RH
DRAGONS
Bully Romance
Our FMC, Harper, is happy with her life in Pennyvale. She’s a commoner, but she’s rich in spirit. She helps her mother with healing and has four older brothers and male bff. Fortunately for her, her “betrothal’ to Tesson (whom she despises) doesn’t last long.
One day Harper finds a dragon in need. After spending the night healing the male dragon, Ebron, he tells her that he chooses her as his rider. This is COMPLETELY unheard of since Harper is a commoner and a FEMALE. Because only men can be dragon riders… *cue eye roll*
Harper and Ebron make their way to Stormwrath Academy to begin training. Shockingly when they arrive, they’re met with not-so-surprising welcome. The Female dragons immediately start trying to flirt with Ebron (shocker, I know). But the men? Oh the men are pissed that the ONLY male dragon would not only choose a peasant, but a female one at that.
Cue our charming princes: Gareth, Lucien, and Alaric. Out of all the men, these three ventilated anlphaholes are the most upset at not getting their way. The king allowed Harper to stay and they’re envious that Ebron won’t be theirs. They do everything in their arsenal to try and prove Harper shouldn’t be there and bully her into quitting… but our girl has one strong backbone after being raised with four older brothers! All that bullying starts turning into something else when the three princes realize what a catch Harper is.
Harper soon discovers that when Ebron chooses his female harem, she will have to mate with the riders of them. She attempts to sway Ebron away from the princes dragons, but who knows how that’s going to pan out…. ;)
Just when things are getting good we come to a huge CLIFFHANGER!! During a training exercise gone terribly terribly wrong, Harp now finds herself at the mercy of the bone wyrms and their riders... the Hollowborn.
What happens next?! I’m ready for the next book!!!!
RH
DRAGONS
Bully Romance
Our FMC, Harper, is happy with her life in Pennyvale. She’s a commoner, but she’s rich in spirit. She helps her mother with healing and has four older brothers and male bff. Fortunately for her, her “betrothal’ to Tesson (whom she despises) doesn’t last long.
One day Harper finds a dragon in need. After spending the night healing the male dragon, Ebron, he tells her that he chooses her as his rider. This is COMPLETELY unheard of since Harper is a commoner and a FEMALE. Because only men can be dragon riders… *cue eye roll*
Harper and Ebron make their way to Stormwrath Academy to begin training. Shockingly when they arrive, they’re met with not-so-surprising welcome. The Female dragons immediately start trying to flirt with Ebron (shocker, I know). But the men? Oh the men are pissed that the ONLY male dragon would not only choose a peasant, but a female one at that.
Cue our charming princes: Gareth, Lucien, and Alaric. Out of all the men, these three ventilated anlphaholes are the most upset at not getting their way. The king allowed Harper to stay and they’re envious that Ebron won’t be theirs. They do everything in their arsenal to try and prove Harper shouldn’t be there and bully her into quitting… but our girl has one strong backbone after being raised with four older brothers! All that bullying starts turning into something else when the three princes realize what a catch Harper is.
Harper soon discovers that when Ebron chooses his female harem, she will have to mate with the riders of them. She attempts to sway Ebron away from the princes dragons, but who knows how that’s going to pan out…. ;)
Just when things are getting good we come to a huge CLIFFHANGER!! During a training exercise gone terribly terribly wrong, Harp now finds herself at the mercy of the bone wyrms and their riders... the Hollowborn.
What happens next?! I’m ready for the next book!!!!
December 15, 2025
Dragons and immaturity and misogyny, oh my.
I DNFed this at 59%, which, honestly, is way farther than I expected. Because at 3% we were witness to a four paragraph “farting” prank from a 30 year old man in a fantasy book about dragon riders, and I almost DNFed at that point.
But, I really like dragons and there’s simply not enough dragon RH in the world, so I pushed through. Only to find out that every man we met was “a 30yo man with a 14yo immaturity level.” The only human man who didn’t immediately make me roll my eyes was Harper’s fiancé who was absolutely a red flag, but at least he seemed like he had some maturity.
The fart joke at 3% wasn’t the last, and it seems tiny dicks and IBS is the only comedy at play. Add onto the fact that one of the MMCs has relegated Harper to being called “Cock Sucker” as if it were a pet name and it made me feel like I was witnessing a cringy prepubescent tantrum. One of the MMCs mentions multiple times that he is “God’s gift to women” and I’m honestly baffled how we, as readers, are supposed to think these “men” are even slightly attractive.
Harper thinks they’re attractive, because she mentions that often, but there’s no pull for the readers. I feel zero attraction. It’s as dry as a sahara around here and I’m not thirsty in the slightest. Props to Ebron because even though the ~very-rare-and-oh-so-spectacular-male-dragon~ was a true “gift to female dragons” he at least had some decency about it.
I am no stranger to enemies-to-lovers, nor am I against a world with gender-related strife. The issue with this story, is that the author chose to wrote these tropes in an unfortunately juvenile way. I didn’t hate the MMCs because of the “bad things” they did to Harper; I hated them because those “bad things” belonged in a book about high-school, not in a book about 30yo adults fighting in a war of life and death.
I DNFed this at 59%, which, honestly, is way farther than I expected. Because at 3% we were witness to a four paragraph “farting” prank from a 30 year old man in a fantasy book about dragon riders, and I almost DNFed at that point.
But, I really like dragons and there’s simply not enough dragon RH in the world, so I pushed through. Only to find out that every man we met was “a 30yo man with a 14yo immaturity level.” The only human man who didn’t immediately make me roll my eyes was Harper’s fiancé who was absolutely a red flag, but at least he seemed like he had some maturity.
The fart joke at 3% wasn’t the last, and it seems tiny dicks and IBS is the only comedy at play. Add onto the fact that one of the MMCs has relegated Harper to being called “Cock Sucker” as if it were a pet name and it made me feel like I was witnessing a cringy prepubescent tantrum. One of the MMCs mentions multiple times that he is “God’s gift to women” and I’m honestly baffled how we, as readers, are supposed to think these “men” are even slightly attractive.
Harper thinks they’re attractive, because she mentions that often, but there’s no pull for the readers. I feel zero attraction. It’s as dry as a sahara around here and I’m not thirsty in the slightest. Props to Ebron because even though the ~very-rare-and-oh-so-spectacular-male-dragon~ was a true “gift to female dragons” he at least had some decency about it.
I am no stranger to enemies-to-lovers, nor am I against a world with gender-related strife. The issue with this story, is that the author chose to wrote these tropes in an unfortunately juvenile way. I didn’t hate the MMCs because of the “bad things” they did to Harper; I hated them because those “bad things” belonged in a book about high-school, not in a book about 30yo adults fighting in a war of life and death.
January 4, 2026
This story had me gripped from the beginning. We have Harper, a healer, who finds herself tending to a hurt dragon while she is foraging for herbs. But not only does she try to heal him, but she also tries to protect him. The male dragon, Ebron, who has always been a lone dragon, chooses Harper as his rider and plans to take her to the Rider Academy, something she has never heard of before. There are only men who go to the Academy and are riders. But it's the dragon that chooses the rider, not the other way around.
From the get-go, the men don't take kindly to a woman coming to the Academy, especially with a male dragon and the biggest by far. The three princes are going to make her life a living hell, to make sure she quits the Academy, and also so they can claim Ebron as one of theirs. But Harper may be a mere woman, but she certainly puts the princes in their places, and Ebron shows their dragons that he is there to lead, not to follow, and all the female dragons are vying for his attention to become his mate, so they soon fall in line.
I never stopped smiling while reading this book. I loved the sassy, strong-willed, but gentle FMC, who would go toe-to-toe with the princes and not just fall at their feet like other women do. To prove that she can be just as strong and tactical as they are, and to prove to them that her dragon chose wisely.
The Princes soon realise that this woman has a hold on them, whether they want it or not. They may not like her but are drawn to her, and get possessive when anyone shows interest in her. She challenges them frustrates them in more ways than one! Will they ever let a commoner become one of them?
I loved this one so much, I've started reading the next in the series to continue the story, to see how it unfolds.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the get-go, the men don't take kindly to a woman coming to the Academy, especially with a male dragon and the biggest by far. The three princes are going to make her life a living hell, to make sure she quits the Academy, and also so they can claim Ebron as one of theirs. But Harper may be a mere woman, but she certainly puts the princes in their places, and Ebron shows their dragons that he is there to lead, not to follow, and all the female dragons are vying for his attention to become his mate, so they soon fall in line.
I never stopped smiling while reading this book. I loved the sassy, strong-willed, but gentle FMC, who would go toe-to-toe with the princes and not just fall at their feet like other women do. To prove that she can be just as strong and tactical as they are, and to prove to them that her dragon chose wisely.
The Princes soon realise that this woman has a hold on them, whether they want it or not. They may not like her but are drawn to her, and get possessive when anyone shows interest in her. She challenges them frustrates them in more ways than one! Will they ever let a commoner become one of them?
I loved this one so much, I've started reading the next in the series to continue the story, to see how it unfolds.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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