Cover Image: When a Dragon Falls

When a Dragon Falls

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Member Reviews

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. Kerrelyn Sparks is one of my favorite authors, but this story was just hard to get invested in. I didn't like it as well as the previous books in the series.

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When a Dragon Falls is book seven in the Embraced series and book four in the Embraced by Magic series. Unfortunately, I don't think this one can be read as a stand-alone due to the world building and character histories from the previous books. It's totally worth starting from the beginning with How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days. Trust me, you won't regret it. The entire series is fantastic!

This book focuses on Princess Lenushka. She's the heir to the Norveshka crown and the only female dragon shifter. The MMC is Bran, the new head of the Brotherhood and a raven shifter. When both of their brothers are taken, the pair must work together to save them.

When a Dragon Falls is filled with action, adventure, intrigue, and most importantly, romance. There are many characters from the previous books making an appearance in this one as well as new friends and new villains.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series! If you like fantasy and paranormal romance, I highly recommend giving it a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Thank you to Kerrelyn Sparks, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All right, I tried reading this twice in two different formats. Back in October I tried the eprint version and it kept putting me to sleep. So I waited for the audiobook to become available at the library and tried listening to that. I've reached 53% and I'm calling it. It's so boring. NOTHING is happening. They all just keep talking about what they plan to do or what they're waiting for. When they actually get to doing something, it's slow going or so bogged down in inner monologue that it still feels like nothing's happening. I don't dislike any of the characters, but none of them have much charm or charisma or personality. All I could think about while listening is how I couldn't wait to listen to something else. Not good. I've loved this series to date, but each new book gets more and more stale. I'm ready for something new.

I believe Sparks's husband has been very ill for a while, and the stress of that could be a factor. I wish them both well.

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I enjoy the writing of Kerrelyn Sparks. I love the main characters. I enjoy the story. I did find out that this story is the fourth story in a series. I was happy to say you can read this story without having to read the other ones.

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After When a Princess Proposes I had to wait for more than a year, for the next part of the Aerthlan next generation’s stories. And this time it’s Gwennore and Silas’ daughter Lennie who stars in the story. She is the first female dragon in it’s history. However, this has been kept secret, because her parents don’t want to have her targeted for this. Meaning that Lennie always has to prove herself: is she as tough as her brothers, can she be a good ruler as her dragon father, etc.. And worse of all: she needs to marry a dragon to ensure the next in line for the throne will be a dragon too.

Sadly, the only eligible dragons are totally not what Lennie wants in a man: conceited, condescending and arrogant are not traits that she wants. However, to serve her country she will do as everyone pleases.

But first, she will go after the Brotherhood, who has created so many problems and caused so many innocents to die. During her quest, she meets the Raven, one of the Brotherhoods spies. When she learns he was forced to help the Brotherhood, lest they would kill his brother, she understands his need for vengeance. So together, they try to track the Brotherhood.

Bran, the Raven, has many secrets. So he understands why he is not trusted by the people with him on the quest to find the Brotherhood. It usually doesn’t bother him, but for some reason he doesn’t like it how Lennie looks at him as if she can’t trust him. During their travels, a bond grows between Bran and Lennie. But still there are secrets between them. Will those secrets tear them apart when they are forced to make choices how to proceed? Or can they trust each other enough to fight the evil together?

Yet another wonderful story and I can’t wait for the other children to have their story told as well! Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

The total Embraced Series

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

So I Married a Sorcerer

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon

How to Love Your Elf

The Siren and the Deepblue Sea

When a Princess Proposes

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A thrilling adventure filled with romance, fights and romps. Looking forward to the next book. Loved getting to know Lenusha and Bran’s backstory.

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This was the first book in this series I had read. Unfortunately its the final book so it wraps up alot of storylines and references events I hadn't read before.

I tried to read the previous books from the library but wasn't drawn into them.

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Kerrelyn Sparks is an OG in paranormal romance and for good reason. I absolutely love this world she built and I'm so glad she continued in it!

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So fun to read more books in this series. Great to move on to the next generation. I'm looking forward to what happens next.

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I am a great fan of the Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks and I look forward to each new book.
While I have greatly enjoyed reading 'When a Dragon Falls,' I must admit that it didn't match the awesomeness of the original five. The passion between the characters didn't shine through, as much and the story too felt okayish in comparison with the previous books. I believe it is because I have loved the previous Embraced books so much that I felt that this had much more potential.
Overall, good but could have been better. Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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I've loved the Embraced books from the first book, so I was thrilled to return to Aerthlan. But be aware, though this book can be read on its own, to enjoy the full experience, the Embraced books are best read in order to grasp the nuances of the magic and understand the intricacies of the relationships.

Princess Lenuska of Norveshka (Lennie to her friends) is the only female dragon ever born. As heir to the throne, she’s constantly having to prove herself, especially to her fellow male soldiers. Worse, she feels penned in by the expectation she will need to marry a dragon. And she’s not happy with her choices.

Bran and his brother Zane are on a mission to destroy the Brotherhood of Light. They seek retribution from the leader, Master Greer, for the death of their brother and the terrible abuse of their sisters. But Master Greer, determined to take over all of Aerthlan, won’t give up easily. When he kidnaps Zane and Lennie’s brother, Pendras, Bran and Lennie find themselves working together to save their siblings, and end the Brotherhood once and for all.

With an intriguing mix of magic, shape shifters and wonderous creatures, this story has it all - action, adventure, humor, and a whole spectrum of emotion. The writing is at times lyrical and other times crisp and quick. I greatly enjoyed the relationship between Lennie and Bran. They are inexplicably drawn to each other from the beginning, but they are constantly jockeying for position. When it comes down to it, they compliment each other, blending their strengths to come out on top.

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Princess Lenushka will do anything for her people, even wed someone she doesn't love. Nothing matters more to her than holding her throne. The Brotherhood of the Sun must be destroyed and she is ready to fight to protect what is hers. Bran Morris has his own reasons for wanting the Brotherhood dead. He will help the princess in her fight bit must remain aloof when it comes to his inner thoughts on the woman. The two do their best to remain allies in the fight but soon realize that there is much more going on between them. Will the Brotherhood defeat the two or will they come together as one and put an end to the men who have caused so much trouble. Will a romance be able to blossom in all the turmoil?

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This was set up as be able to read as a stand-alone. I have not read any of this series and I was thoroughly lost. This was not a series for me.

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I always smile as I am reading these books by Kerrelyn Sparks. The antics of insta falling in love are hilarious whether they are acting on it or trying to resist. It makes for a fun read. Plus I love the magic of the shapeshifters and those that are Embraced. If you want a semi light hearted good guys beating the bad guys and falling in true love with a happy engagement in the end and only a few bumps and misunderstandings (which are usually quite amusing) standing in the way of a happy ending, then this series is for you. Lennie and Bran are sweet and it is laugh out loud funny when Bran takes the "special potion" that Sebastien makes for dealing with painful injuries.

A good fun book that to me can be read alone but the other books in the series are good too. And just add the the backstory of all those Embraced by Magic.

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It would appear this is the final book to the series. The original group of young ladies embraced with powers married royalty and had many children. These children are the heirs to the thrones in their own countries, have amazing powers and are battling the same evil. The Brotherhood wants to kill the royal families and take over the world. The last priest has captured three men, siblings of our main characters, and this ragtag group must battle it out to get them back. Bran, the raven, and Lenny, the dragon, have a sort of enemies to lovers thing going on. The entire story takes place while the group is on the road to locating the kidnapped men. It’s a long book, I often wished it would get to the good stuff sooner, but we needed to see how couples were tested. It closes out many questions and the storyline continues but it could be read separately from the others. I read an early copy and wrote my review voluntarily.

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The next generation of Embraced are starting to have their own adventures. Lennie is the first female dragon. Bran is the Raven, trained by the brotherhood to spy and take over the world, only he doesn’t believe in their cause and is working to make the world better and rid it of the brotherhood.
Lennie and Bran have evils to face and misunderstandings to correct before they find their way to true love.
All the supporting characters add enjoyment to the story. I’ve read the whole series and enjoy seeing how things go for the next generation.
Thanks to the author for persevering in the wake of life’s challenges to bring readers more stories in this unique world she created.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read the book.

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Lennie, a courageous female dragon shifter, fights against prejudice and political pressures, determined to prove her worth. Amidst the looming threat of the Brotherhood of the Sun, she crosses paths with Bran Morris, a former rogue seeking vengeance. Their connection, fraught with secrets and societal constraints, blossoms into a passionate love story. As they unite to combat evil, their relationship deepens, revealing the strength of trust and love. Kerrelyn Sparks skillfully weaves a tale of identity, loyalty, and overcoming barriers. The characters are beautifully fleshed out, their relationships intricate and engaging. The suspenseful story kept me on the edge of my seat, making it a seamless blend of romance, fantasy, and adventure. This story is a mesmerizing addition to the Embraced series, offering a richly woven narrative of magic, love, and bravery.

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Have you been reading the Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks? If not, you really should. When a Dragon Falls is the fourth book in this fun to read series and if you really wanted to, you could read it as a standalone novel. As per usual though, you really should read the first three books. There are so many side-splitting moments and background details that will make this book a better experience if you read them all.

This book is all about Princess Lenushka “Lennie” of Norveshka and Bran Morris (the Raven) and all of the highs and lows of a shifter courtship that nobody ever expected (or planned.) You will be entertained by every bit of this story, and I can't wait to hear how much you loved it.

As far as the mechanics of writing go, I think that Ms. Sparks is a really accomplished storyteller and is fabulous at the craft of worldbuilding. I also enjoy that she doesn't reveal every little detail of her fantasy world in the first book, but shows us the world of the Embraced as the stories unfold.

I loved reading this book, and I think you will too!

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Kerrelyn Sparks never disappointed me as her novels are always highly entertaining and compelling. This is a mix of humour, fantasy and romance: a well plotted story that kept me hooked
Can't wait to read the next story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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When a Dragon Falls by Kerrelyn Sparks, the fourth installment in the Embraced by Magic series, we meet the dragon Princess Lenushka of Norveshka. Captain in the army, she’s courageous, beautiful, heir to the throne and the first ever female dragon shifter. The book begins with the wedding day of Princess Roslyn, but when it is revealed her fiancé is a traitor, and the Kings and brothers of Lennie and Roslyn are also kidnapped, the two Princesses take off on a mission to destroy the Brotherhood of the Sun. Not only does the Brotherhood threaten to destroy all of Aerthlan, but they are believed to be behind the kidnappings.

The Raven is an evil creature, member of the Brotherhood, responsible for kidnapping Lennie’s aunt, Queen Luciana and her daughter Princess Eviana months prior, Lennie is out to seek revenge on the Raven. Bird shifter Bran Morris is the son of the leader of the Brotherhood. He is whipped every year when the two moons embraced, a punishment for being Embraced, yet used by the same priests for his abilities. When Master Greer kills Bran’s brother, Bran vows to kill Greer himself, although he is not sure he will be capable of going through with murder.

When the two Princesses find the Raven, they injure him thinking he is responsible for the recent kidnappings, but they will soon understand, they both seek the same thing. Greer has also kidnapped Bran’s younger brother, and when they agree to work together to rescue their family members, but soon Bran realizes Lennie is the soldier he fell in love with 5 months prior. She has been invading his dreams every day since, but he doesn’t know she is a dragon, and Lennie wants to keep her identity hidden, for her own safety.

This book is actually 7th in the Embraced series, but a change in publishers refers to this as the 4th. I recommend reading the books prior to this one so you will have a better understanding of who is who in all of Atherlan, trust me you won’t be disappointed! This book will also not disappoint you. The latest book takes us to the lives of the children of the Embraced Royalty. There are so many secrets, twists, struggles of good and evil, love and hate, you will fly through this book and be wanting more. I have to admit, I absolutely love the entire Embraced series. I don’t know how Ms Sparks continues to come up with these ideas, but please keep them coming! I look forward to the next installment!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Paperback and Kerrelyn Sparks for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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