This was one of those books that really took me some time to get into and really wrap my head around the world and the magic system that the author created. But after the first 100 pages or so I really started to enjoy it. I love books with/about dragons, so I knew I was going to enjoy this, and it definitely delivered. There are so many layers to this story, starting with all the different motivations of the different characters (and there are a few) and the conflicts that arise from the way the author set up this world and magic system, I am honestly in awe and I have no clue how all of these conflicts will be wrapped up in the next book. Needless to say I will be picking up the next one as soon as I can get my hands on it, because I need answeres. (and I need the two main characters to get back together, pleaseee :))

Arcady and Everen. Everen and Arcady. Dragons are long gone from the human world, trapped in another dimension and worshipped as gods, but Arcady, casts a spell and accidentally traps Everen in the human world and the only answer to an insoluble problem is for the two to bond. I started reading this but then got sidetracked and didn’t feel like going back to it. Not sure if that says something about the book, or about me. Sorry

I really enjoyed Dragonfall. L.R. Lam builds such a unique, immersive world where dragons aren’t just mythical beasts—they’re intelligent, vengeful, and deeply tied to the history and politics of the human world. The story grabbed me from the first page with Arcady’s desperate theft and the high-stakes consequences that follow. I loved the queer-norm representation and how the romance is so intertwined with the plot without ever feeling forced—it adds real depth to the characters. The tension between Arcady and Everen kept me turning pages, and the magic system felt fresh and dangerous, making every encounter unpredictable. Lam’s writing is vivid, intricate, and cinematic; I could picture the streets of Vatra, the court intrigues, and the dragons themselves as if I were there. Overall, it’s a thrilling, smart, and emotionally engaging fantasy that sticks with you long after finishing.

This one wasn't for me, but it was a well-paced book with exciting action, and I love dragon books. I just couldn't get into the author's writing style.

I think this was a great start to a series, and I really liked that the dragons were once seen as gods - I love a deep, rich, history in books. I will probably pick up the second.

Because is crazy with dragon books after The fourth wing, i read this book and it was interesting. I like it!

L.R. Lam as delivered a strong start to a new series. The use of the dragons, who were once seen as gods, was an interesting concept and I am curious to see how it unfolds in the remaining books.

Dragonfall has all the things a reader wants in a fantasy- great characters, world building, a little romance, and an underlying political/social conflict.

I am excited for more!

Sadly a DNF for me. I didn't like the writing style or the romance angle. It just dragged and after trying to read it for multiple years, I had to just decide it was not for me.

This took me literal years to finish.

📚 Book Review: Dragonfall by Elizabeth Lim 📚
🌟 Rating: ⭐⭐💫 (2.5/5)

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me.

Let’s start with the writing—technically solid, detailed, and at times immersive. I especially enjoyed the way Everen, the dragon protagonist, had a distinct way of describing the world. But as the book went on, the descriptions became more of a hindrance than a strength. Instead of adding depth to the world, they often felt like filler, making the story drag. There were glimpses of interesting lore and societal structures, but nothing ever felt fully fleshed out.

The worldbuilding tried to do a lot—introducing dragon gods, a gender-inclusive society, and various cultural elements—but it all felt surface-level. Instead of showing how these elements shaped the world and its people, they were just… mentioned. I wanted to see these ideas truly embedded in the fabric of the story, but they never went beyond the surface.

Then we have the characters—who, unfortunately, felt flat. There was plenty of action, yet the majority of the book was bogged down by internal monologues that all followed the same repetitive pattern: I don’t want to do this, but I have to. I hate doing this, but I have no choice. I have to do this because there’s no other way. This made the characters feel passive and lifeless, and as a result, I struggled to connect with any of them.

Which brings me to the romance—a major focus of the book, but one that didn’t work for me at all. The chemistry felt forced, the angst didn’t hit, and the relationship lacked emotional depth. I can see how this might appeal to readers who love a “forbidden” or fated love trope, but for me, it just wasn’t compelling enough to invest in.

There were also a few stylistic choices that didn’t quite land, like the occasional second-person POV and the first-person narration deliberately withholding information. The ending, too, felt abrupt and unsatisfying.

Overall, Dragonfall had all the ingredients for a compelling fantasy, but the execution didn’t quite live up to its potential. If you’re a die-hard fan of dragons and don’t mind a slow, introspective read, you might still enjoy it. But for me, it ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

First of all, DRAGONS. Second of all, enemies to bloody lovers. Third of all, queer rep. Yes please and thank you to all of that in every book I ever read in the fantasy genre. Okay, my love of dragons aside, the world building in this dang book was absolutely phenomenal, the banter was great, and the character development was chefs kiss.

If you are looking for a dragon book then this is the one for you. It is just full of wonderful dragons, a great cast of characters and I adore LR Lam's writing. Do pick it up if you want a good time and book 2 is out soon too.

While I was very hopeful about this book, it unfortunately fell flat for me. It perhaps comes down to my dislike for romance focused novels over a fantasy premise, which is what this shaped up to be. While I am sure this will appeal to plenty of readers, I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped to, but appreciate the publisher for allowing me access to an advanced copy and to the author for putting the effort into their craft.

Warm thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for a review.

Unfortunately, this book just did not hook me in. Very early on I was hoping to stick with it but the execution fell flat for me.

*Dragonfall* by L.R. Lam is an exciting and immersive fantasy that blends magic, political intrigue, and a deeply emotional journey. The story follows a young dragon who is thrust into a conflict that could reshape the fate of their world. Lam’s world-building is rich and imaginative, creating a vivid landscape filled with complex characters and a fascinating magic system. The protagonist’s internal struggles, personal growth, and relationships with others add emotional depth to the narrative. With high stakes, compelling characters, and a fast-paced plot, *Dragonfall* is a captivating read for fans of epic fantasy, magical creatures, and intricate, character-driven stories.

Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me. I think it will be appreciated by a lot of fantasy readers who love diversity, but the voice and style just wasn't working for me.

I just can’t bring myself to finish this one, which makes me so sad! I am curious about where the story is going to go and what Sorin’s role will be in it all (as so far her chapters have been scarce), so I will keep this book on my radar.

The story starts out really slow and starts to pick up a bit about a third of the way in. The world within “Dragonfall” is interesting, but there is somehow an odd mix of both info dumps and not enough info. There is a mixture of first, second, and third person writing, which just makes the story less cohesive for me. I wasn’t sure how I felt at first about Severin’s POV; Severin is recounting events as if he is speaking to another character, so he uses “you” quite a bit. I got used to it after a while, but it took a bit to acclimate to it. Arcadia and Severin both use first person and Sorin’s chapters are in third, which I don’t really get. I think I would’ve enjoyed it better if the story remained in first person throughout.

If you can push through the slow start and confusing/at times hard to keep track of worldbuilding, I would say to give this one a go. The concept is interesting and the world within the story is unlike any I have read before. I would definitely say this is the type of book where your whole focus needs to be on it. I’d also recommend highlighting/marking important worldbuilding info to refer back to later in case you get confused. Based on what I’ve read so far, I’d say a solid three stars!

Leider konnte mich das Buch überhaupt nicht fesseln und ich werde es nicht beenden...
Die Erklärungen am Anfang sind sehr langatmig und kompliziert, sodass ich direkt zu Anfang das Interesse verloren habe...

Dragonfall by L.R. Lam is a captivating read for fans of epic fantasy and LGBTQ+ romance, particularly those who enjoy complex, slow-burn relationships and the intricate dance between enemies-turned-lovers, as well as the rich world-building and mythical creatures that come alive in this exciting tale of magic, power, and forbidden love.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique story- I enjoyed this one! Arcady was a very cool main character, and they are also nonbinary, which I have not read so often in fantasy- much less fantasy romance. It was cool to see how that was explored in their society. Arcady has this enemies-to-lovers situation with Everen, a dragon who was called by Arcady and some ancient magic from his world to theirs, and remains in human form (well, nearly human) for most of the book.

For me, I mostly liked how unique this story was and I was curious about its history and how the dragon and human worlds might connect in the end. There was certainly also some suspense which kept me hooked. However I do wish that we had gotten to see more of the dragon's world rather than having Everen in the human world most of the time.

I am personally just not a fan of romance fantasy, however, and the romance part to me felt a bit off and I did not really see the connection between Arcady and Everen, but I could imagine that others who like romance more might really love this aspect of the storyline.

One small thing I enjoyed that some reviewers did not like was the use of second person in Everen's POV chapters. I can see that it might be confusing as the POV switches around, but I am a huge fan of second person writing and whenever I come across it I savor it because it does not happen too often, and this author does it well.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this unique queer fantasy!

I enjoyed some but not all the povs: one pov is a dragon/but it also has a human form. So fun. However some of the side characters povs wasn't as compelling and then the story felt very slow.

However I enjoyed the main povs, and the banter between the main characters Arcady and Everen. Also liked the use of pronouns. The characters are referred to they/them until otherwise is proclaimed. The plot was intriguing - you get all the good stuff, prophecies, conflicts, betrayal. I'm excited to read the next book.

I've seen other reviews taking about the writing style and how the author used different povs: first person, second person, third person etc (I’m not smart enough to understand what the author used HAHA). I find this very interesting. I felt something was different about the writing but couldn't explain what. And I think that is a testimony that the writing style worked well and I have nothing bad to say about the writing in this book.