The Viking Sword
An Anglo-Saxon Mystery
Elizabeth Springer
Christmas time is usually a special time for newlyweds however Lord Edwin and Lady Molgiful’s Christmas may not go the way they expect. The setting is AD 879 at Wimborne in Dorset. Edwin is employed by King Alfred as an administrative official. A band of callous gamblers appear to be organizing in nearby Hampton. A man reports the theft of a treasure trove of silver. A precious artifact at Wimborne Abbey has disappeared. Someone burns down a warehouse with a year’s worth of food inside. A musician with a communication from Edwin’s brother vanishes. The skull of woman is recovered in a shallow grave in an isolated spot close to the river. Could anything else go wrong? Of course! On Christmas day a man is found in his locked bedchamber with a Viking Sword in him. Are the crimes connected…
Edwin and Molly attempt to bring back a little semblance of peace and holiday cheer.
I love this action-packed historical mystery. The main characters are fun. This is the second book in this series. A great read!
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

Like a Breath of Flame is an engaging and unique anthology that offers a fresh, sensual take on dragon lore. Each story explores dragons through the lens of various cultures, weaving rich tapestries of mythology and tradition into compelling narratives. The diversity of perspectives, from dragons symbolizing wisdom to dragons evoking fear and desire, was engaging. However, it’s important to note that the anthology is entirely in the erotic category, with a mix of MF, MFD, MM, and MD pairings. The sensual dynamics between characters, both human and dragon, add layers of depth to the lore, making these stories not just about mythical creatures, but also about the complex relationships they form. My only minor critique would be that some stories feel a bit more polished than others, but overall, Like a Breath of Flame offers a one-of-a-kind experience for readers who enjoy both dragons and steamy romance.

Thank you to Riverdale Avenue Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. For lovers of all things dragons these stories are bound to draw you in. What a quick and exhilarating read. I appreciated the introduction to new authors and the stories were succinct, fast paced, and steamy. As Cosmin Alexander said, "Dream of dragons." Well this book offers ability to do just that and then some.

Like A Breath of Flame by Cecelia Tan and Cosmin Alexander is a perfect book for a spicy dragon smut reader.

✅ anthalogy
✅ dragon
✅ nine short story
✅ fully smut
✅ plenty of spicy scenes : explicit and intense (bxb, threesome, group, gxb, toys)

Deliciously steamy. I loved that it was a bunch of short stories that got right to the good stuff because who doesn’t fantasize about riding a dragon?

Okay, so here’s the thing – when it comes to dragon romance and erotica, I tend to have a bit of a size kink. I mean, let’s be honest, unless you’re reading for the scales, claws, or tails (all of which is perfectly okay), we love dragons because they’re big . . . monstrously big. For that reasons, the stories in Like A Breath Of Flame that got me all hot and bothered were the ones that play with the idea of size.

The Terms of Our Alliance by KJ Kabza introduces us to the first man to become a dragon rider and takes the ‘riding’ in a direction I did not expect; The Last Whisper of Killitch by Julian Oliver-Fenn explores a pair of outcasts who embrace the danger of dragon pleasure; Outermost Claw, Front Right Foot by Steven Schwartz (my favorite by far) really plays with the size element, but not with the parts you might think; while Sleeping with Dragons by Kimber Camacho is a surprisingly sensuous story of size.

My one exception would be Prince Lovely and the Three Dragons by Nobilis Reed, which has an element of size in the background, but a human relationship at the forefront that’s inventive, magical, and has fun with gender roles.

If your tastes do run more towards shapeshifting encounters of equally sized individuals, Cecilia Tan & Cosmin Alexander have selected even more fantastic stories here. Call it fantasy erotica or romantasy with a queer kick, it’s a great read either way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
These 9 stories of dragons were so unique and spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ each one had takes on dragons stories I definitely haven’t read before. I’d love for any of these short stories to become series. I have each story 3.5-4 rating. All were very enjoyable and the humor was top notch.

🔥 Like A Breath Of Flame 🔥
Erotica Anthology by 9 Authors
Edited by Cosmin Alexander & Cecelia Tan

4 Star Review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 Spiciness Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Like A Breath Of Flame is a Romantasy Dragons Erotica Anthology that was actually written and first released in 2012 before “Romantasy” was a thing. It was re-released in December 2024. There is a fun intro at the beginning explaining this and the history behind this book. At the end, there are updated mentions of each author and a brief introduction to them.

Woo Lordy. These stories are spicy. They’re all short stories that include dragons with the shortest being the very first story at only around 5 pages. It sets the tone for this anthology very well! You know the author is amazing when they gave you sucked in with only 5 pages 😂 The longest sits at 26 pages.

These stories are very much fantastical and magical. There are some pretty deep cultural aspects to most of them. All but two are MM stories, one is MF, & one is just different. I think it has some FF and MF and some group love going on.

For the most part, these stories are fun, easy reads. They are heavy in erotica and fantasy. I did enjoy the stories!

Happy Reading! ❤️‍🔥

If you like dragons and fantasy with some added spice, this is the book for you! This was a different kind of fantasy novel for me, but I was not disappointed!

Are you ever curious what relationships with dragons might look like, but not quite ready to commit to a full-length series? Like a Breath of Flame might be exactly what you’re looking for. This spicy collection of short stories explores different takes on dragon-human relationships in a fun, fast, and steamy format. It’s short, to the point, and a great entry point for anyone curious about dragon lore erotica.

So what makes this book great? It’s a collection of nine short stories, each one offering a different perspective on how dragons and humans connect. Some are told from the dragon’s POV, some follow humans falling in love with dragons, and others dive into dragon riders, where the ride might be more sensual than expected. One thing I really appreciated is that it’s an easy read. Even without a ton of time spent with each character, the stories feel satisfying and bring something new to the world of dragons.

Now, I’ll admit I’m not usually a short story person. A few of the stories left me wishing for more time with the characters or deeper development. But for what this book is fun, low-stakes, and spicy. It delivers on its premise and makes for a great break between heavier reads.

So at the end of the day, if you’re into dragons and want a fresh, approachable take on dragon romance, this is an easy and enjoyable way to explore the genre. It’s short, spicy, and there’s a little something in here for everyone.

I really enjoyed reading the book.
The stories are gripping and very different from the current romantasy. It was fascinating to read the stories and see other perspectives on dragons.
In addition, the stories were hot and very detailed.
Was a really good time.

I rounded up to 4 stars on NetGalley and Goodreads. My rating is 3.5 stars on Fable, just to make it known.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book when I started it because I purposely didn’t look into the blurb very much. I like to be surprised when it comes to the events taking place in the books I read. I’m especially glad I did that with this one.

I was pleasantly surprised by all the smut, especially from the dragons. I feel like there is so much variety in these stories about the dragons’ backstories and I think that’s what I enjoyed the most.

I have always loved dragons and the violence that is always inherent when dragons make an appearance. There are a couple of stories in here, I’m not naming them to avoid spoilers, that made me smile in this area.

I was almost sad when I finished this book, though I can’t tell you why. We get happy endings in every single story included in this anthology, which is also a very good thing, but I still feel kinda sad. lol Nothing wrong with that, though.

Yes, I’d recommend this book if you’re looking for a smut-heavy and smut-forward anthology filled with dragon cocks. No, I’m not even joking. lol That’s the best part, ain’t it? lol