Firstly I liked the writing voice in this one quite a bit. It's written from Rosie and Valtar's POV, mostly Rosie. It's a very grumpy/ sunshine and like the cover art suggests does have a bit of a rupunzel/ Eugene energy between them. Except Valtar is a Prince who's been held hostage along his twin brother and turned into a Dracori slave and assassin by the Dragon Queen for most of his life.
His current mission, to kill the newly discovered Dragon Princess Roselle and bring her mother her heart to consume.

Rosie did not grow up knowing she was a dragon princess, daughter of the world's most murderous, evil tyrant, who can only be overthrown by one of her own daughters if she has enough power to manifest her dragon power, and morph into a dragon and control the green hellfire.
Her mother Mhoryga, a Dragon Queen from another world, who sustains her magic by eating the hearts of her most powerful daughters, and she's been doing it for centuries.

One day she's pretty much hauled out by knights calling her Princess Roselle Pendracor, and in reality she's Rosie the apothecary's apprentice, saver of small bitey creatures, healer.
Now thrust into a competition with a bunch of princes all vying to win and be her Champion and future Husband, to lead her to the place where she can claim her full dragon powers if she survives it.
All she wants to do is escape all this, leave it behind and get out before some stupid overblown prince marries her.

But a shadowy, grumpy, looming assassin prince sort of gets in the way and he may not be able to kill her after all, it's rather frustrating for him.

I will definitely read the next book in this series, there's a ton more lore and action to be had and I like the dynamic between Rosie and Valtar. This is a very YA series, its gonna be a slow burn.

A fun lighthearted romance with magic. FMC is a happy sunny character and a MMC is an irritable grumpy mess. It is action packed with Rosie’s suitor having to battle for her hand in deadly trials. Quick wit and charm is a common theme throughout the book and the plot never stalled, leaving me wanting more. Can’t wait for the next book.

Honestly, the second I saw dragons and assassin, I hit request, and I don't regret it a bit. Rosie was the epitome of an awesome fantasy FMC, going from a normal life and being thrust into power, and growing so much in the process. Valtar is so broody and basically what I look for in every fantasy MMC lol, and I loved their enemies-to-lovers vibe which had just the right amount of chemistry and tension. I do wish the stakes had been raised a little sooner, but I am really invested in seeing more!

”I don't want to go anywhere. With anyone "

Rosie, also known as Dragon Princess, isn't sure exactly what she wants, but it definitely is NOT being forced to marry.

But here she is, royalty anyway. Time to make some alliances. And prove she's stronger than anyone believes. Especially herself.

I adore Rosie. She reminds me of Miri in The Princess Academy. And a more realistic Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. Just a reminder to let girls be whoever they want.

This book owned me. Dark magic, tension you can cut with a knife, and a slow-burn romance that builds like a storm—Sylvia Mercedes knows what she’s doing. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the world. Mysterious, moody, and completely addictive.

I loved this! I desperately need the next book in this series in my hands ! Please and thank you!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.

Thanks so much to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this novel! The premise and characters were so fun, and I enjoyed the new take on dragons. I'm always itching for a tournament-style fantasy novel, and this satisfied that urge. The author executed the tournament very well, and I loved the different characters. I also loved the "princess saves herself" aspect of this. A lot of fun!

I’m giving *The Seventh Champion* by Sylvia Mercedes a solid 4.5/5 stars—it’s a fast-paced, romantasy adventure that hits so many of my favorite tropes: a hidden royal, deadly trials, a slow-burn romance with a scarred assassin, and, of course, dragons. Rosie is a fantastic lead—thrust from a quiet apothecary life into royal chaos, she slowly grows into her power as the daughter of a Dragon Queen. Valtar, the brooding assassin sent to kill her (naturally), is exactly the kind of morally gray, emotionally wounded love interest I fall for every time, and their chemistry builds with just the right amount of tension. I also appreciated the balance of darker themes with lighter, fun moments (yes, there are fluffy magical creatures). The only reason I knocked off a star is that some world-building felt a bit thin—certain terms and political dynamics could’ve used more explanation—and the tournament-style plot is a little familiar. But honestly, this was such an enjoyable read with emotional depth, high stakes, and great character dynamics. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.

I dare you to read the first chapter and not continue! When I first received this book, I opened it to just read a little bit. That didn’t happen. I dug right into this book and never looked back!

My curiosity about Valtar was intense. The first chapter captivated me, but then the second chapter intrigued me. I had to understand Valtar’s back story.

I enjoyed Rosie. Her name gives away some of her personality. She has had a difficult life but she sees the good in people and tries to do the right thing. She's confident in her ability to figure out how do get out of the newest mess she has found herself. Her reaction to Valtar is romantic and cute. Not willing to admit that she cares for him, she tries to be opened minded about the other champions. There is little doubt where her heart is. I loved that. The character development for Rosie is interesting. Her personality is not where things happen. Mostly it's her dragon that does the developing.

Valtar kept surprising me. From that second chapter I kept thinking how he would react but no, he went a different way. There is dual POV but Valtar only has a handful of chapters to most of the story being from Rosie. As a result, I was always trying to figure out what that brooding, looming character was up to. The pain in his heart has been buried but Rosie keeps poking at that heart. It takes a long time for him to work through that pain and find a path forward. There is a great deal of character development for him. I was almost proud of him. Of course the ending had me questioning everything.

The only reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars is the times I was able to put it down. While the plot was brisk and dramatic, it also followed a path that was laid out from the beginning. It wasn't until the last third that the track was upset and I had no idea where things were going. The book needed a little more of that throughout the whole book. The beginning drew me in and the end was very satisfying. The middle needed a little more.

Well written with interesting characters and a good plot, don't miss this romantasy.

I’m going to be honest (and maybe a little mean) and say that both the writing and the characters are better than the book they’re in. The first chapter was instantly fun and foolish and filled with personality, and Rose’s personality continued to be the bright part of this book. She’s gentle, analytical, chaffing at the restrictions placed on her by the High King and his people — who, early on in the book she refers to as her kidnappers — and looking for any way out of this foreign underground lair where she’s told she’s a princess and going to be married to someone she’s never met, to go on a quest she never volunteered for, and to kill a giant evil dragon who happens to be her mother.

The plot is slow, getting tangled up in the challenges her suitors have to perform in — designed to kill off a suitor per challenge — and I hate to say it but the other candidates, other than Valtar, were so clearly nothing but cannon fodder from the beginning. Their lives were pointless, their deaths meaningless, and all they did was take up time. Valtar, himself, has an interesting motivation, but he quickly stops caring about that because he’s falling in love.

The romance was decent, going first to friends before lovers, and while there’s clearly an attraction between the pair, by the end of this first book they haven’t really done more than make out. I’m actually pleased with the slow burn, preferring a relationship to be based on more than just “he’s hot/she’s hot” before the couple has rough, violent, furniture destroying sex.

I’m not sure I’m interested enough in the story, though, to continue to book two, but I will be keeping an eye on the author because I really do enjoy their writing. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am not the target audience for this book. Our FMC and MMC were insufferable, with a lack of tension that felt forced and a plot that felt just as overdone as the romance. It can be loved and well-received by someone else, but the characters, pacing, and plot were off from the beginning. There wasn't enough meat to the story for me to be interested in picking up the second in this duology. I will recommend this book to those who want something a little more sweeping in romance and fantasy, though! It's like romantasy lite.

This is a great book. It was very easy to get into the story. The author did a wonderful job describing this world. There was a lot of twists and turns in the book that I enjoyed. A must read!!

Sylvia Mercedes delivers a gripping, atmospheric fantasy full of intrigue, slow-burn romance, and cursed destinies. From the very first page, the worldbuilding pulls you in with its gothic vibes and haunted woods, and the stakes never let up.
If you’re into dark fairytale vibes and romance where the stakes are literally life and death, The Seventh Champion is a worthy addition to your shelf.

A reluctant dragon princess, a brooding assassin prince, and a court full of secrets, this romantasy simmers with tension, magic, and betrayal.

The premise of The Seventh immediately hooked me: a healer with a soft heart is swept into a political marriage competition, only to discover she’s the long-lost daughter of the fearsome Dragon Queen: cue hidden identities, slow-burn tension, and magical mayhem.

Rosie Harpwood is a refreshingly grounded heroine. More interested in herbs than crowns and with a deep affection for fluffy animals, she’s not your typical chosen one, and that’s a good thing. Her dry wit, stubborn independence, and moral compass shine through, even as she’s thrust into dangerous trials and court intrigue. Her magic, rooted in healing and restoration, fits her character perfectly and contrasts nicely with the blood-soaked legacy she’s expected to inherit.

That said, the book doesn’t fully deliver on all its potential. While the setup is strong, the pacing can be uneven, especially in the middle third, where the trials and court politics blur together. Some side characters felt underdeveloped, and there were moments where the worldbuilding felt more told than shown. I also found myself wishing the stakes had been raised earlier and more consistently.

Once again, a cover that pulled me right in! She’s so pretty! This is my first read of anything from Sylvia Mercedes and she didn’t disappoint. The Seventh Champion, is the first installment of a romantasy duology, that follows Rosie, an apothecary’s apprentice who is suddenly swept into a new life…more like her true identity. Rosie isn’t just some orphaned commoner but the daughter of the Dragon Queen, a not so nice lady. She’s thrown into the middle of a deadly competition for her hand in marriage, as it is a great honor for whomever wins can wrangle the title. Along the way, she partners with Prince Valtar, a broody and secretive assassin disguised as one of Rosie’s suitors in order to get close to her…in order to kill her. But fear not, not all plans go accordingly.

You betcha we get grumpy-shine, um hello, look at that cover. One could also say, enemies to friends to lovers, if you know…you know. Ugh and let’s not forget the sappiest one of them all, the assassin who falls for his mark 😏, that’s an oldie but a goodie. One of my biggest pet peeves is bad world building, it ain’t an easy job so I take it very seriously with a little bit of slack since I know how immersed and soul sucking creating something so hefty can be but I think Sylvia did a fantastic job. Our heroine, Rosie, was perfect! She was the perfect mix of bubbly, smart and intriguing. The romance did feel a bit fast-paced early on in the book but I’m a sucker for that stuff but I do know that not everyone else is. I’m interested to see how Sylvia’s other books are since this one was great. I’m super thrilled to read the next book in the serious, so I know I’ll be on the look out for a release day after this cutie patootie.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.
4 stars!

I am hooked on this series.

I cannot wait to see what happens with Rosie and Valtar's story. You enter this story with Rosie's POV starting, and see how she adjusts to her new life, one day being a healer in training and the next discovering she is the long-lost Dragon Queen's daughter. The world-building is terrific, and it's even more enhanced with the dual POV when Valtar's side is introduced. The twists and turns throughout the story keep you engaged, but the banter and Rosie's 'I'm not backing down' way of thinking seal the deal.

I absolutely loved the way this book started—it grabbed my attention right away and threw me into a world that felt both magical and dangerous. The dual POVs added so much depth to the story, Rosie, a reluctant heir with a healer’s heart, and Valtar, the brooding assassin prince, made for such an intriguing and emotionally charged pairing. Their dynamic was everything I love in a slow burn, grumpy/sunshine romance.
I also really enjoyed this book’s take on dragons. Dragons here are deeply tied to magic, power, and identity in a way that felt fresh and interesting. Between the courtly intrigue, high stakes competition, and slow building romance, this one hit all the right notes for me. I'm so excited to continue the duology!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Book: The Seventh Champion
Series: Unknown Title, Book 1
Author: Sylvia Mercedes
Completed Series: No
# of Books in Series: Unknown
Genre: YA Romantasy
Format: eBook Arc

Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

First Thoughts/Summary:
I enjoyed the premise, so make sure to give it a fair shot. Go past 25%

Storyline/Plot:
I almost put this book down, and I’m glad I didn’t. The first chapter threw me for a loop. You are thrown into a situation with the main character, Rosie, and one of her “champions.” It was hard to get through because I had absolutely no Idea what was going on. I think a big part of it was that Rosie has ADHD tendencies, and my ADHD struggled to jump into that mindset. There is a lot of unknown with this book. For those who like that, will love this book, because you will be piecing together different puzzle pieces with Rosie, though you will have some easily answered questions mixed in, so you don’t go insane. At the end of the day, it was a really good read and I would recommend it!

Favorite Characters:
Valtar is my favorite. He is so obviously and rightfully broken. He seems to fight the fact that he has good parts to his bruised soul, and I love seeing him unwillingly show those precious light sides.

Spice:
You start the book thinking that it might be high on the spice level, but don’t let that opening scene fool you. It has Renaissance vibes where women are super proper in boned corsets and all of that jazz. So you mainly get kissing (and that’s semi-scandalous).

Triggers:
Fire trauma, betrayal, torture, kidnapping, being held against one’s will, loss of a sibling (distant), death

I love that this book came about from the initial kissing-a-stranger scene! I also love Charlie Bowater's art, and the cover illustration does a great job of capturing the feel of this story. 'The Seventh Champion' would be great for fans of 'Assistant to the Villain'; there's a distinct playful, humorous tone that's reminiscent of 'Tangled,' but it's contrasted with very sobering, grotesque details to set the story's high stakes.

I enjoyed that through the protagonist's inner dialogue, Mercedes acknowledged or rejected common expectations for the characters and plot. This book engages with the gray areas between 'good' and 'bad,' making it far more interesting than the premise at face value. However, there are several elements that are presented as the protagonist's shocking revelations that simply don't land because they were either revealed through another POV, or already presented as definitive or likely through the world building. The mysterious love interest as well is not mysterious so much as he is just kind of a guy (it unfortunately gave Edward Cullen to me). I also found the italicization of in-world terminology to be unnecessary, especially with the terminology's frequency.

While this story wasn't necessarily for me, I felt there was a lot to appreciate and fun to be had. Mercedes has set up part one of a story that could go a number of ways; while I didn't find the story itself surprising, I did appreciate the author view on this story's path.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc!

Okay, going into this book with no expectations I had a ton of fun jumping into this story and world. This book was hilarious, hooked me right from chapter 1 and really kept me engaged the entire book. The pacing was all over the place, but overall it kept me interested in it the entire time which was really nice!

This was a great romantasy that I could turn my brain off and just enjoy it!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!