Romantasy writers could take a page from Kit Rocha's handbook on how to write sexy fantasy that feels different from most other romantasy books out there right now. I've been a Kit Rocha fan since the Beyond series, and here in Consort of Fire, their world-building is on-point as usual--the tour through the land is a great way to world-build. I'm intrigued by all the characters, though I felt that Sachi, as one of the main characters, isn't quite as developed as Zanya and Ash were. This one is relatively low-angst, but the potential for more is there in subsequent books. Will definitely be following this series!

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book the first of a new series.

It is full of fantasy and romance with plenty of adventure and Great characters.

I loved the three main leads they all gave something to the story and each other and I’m sure this will progress even more in the upcoming books.

There is plenty to enjoy if you like your romance with a touch of fantasy and dragons plenty of heated moments in this newly loving throuple then this is the book for you

Thank you Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

Love the adventure that Sachi needs to go on to take out the Dragon Lord.

Love all the characters especially the dragon lord who happens to be misjudged.

The interaction between Sachi and the Dragon Lord is adorable.

rating: 3.5/4 stars out of 5
spice: 4/5 hot hot hot
a fantasy romance with an emphasis on romance ;)
MFF, Poly romance

Due to an agreement between the moral ruler and the god known as the Dragon, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as the dragon's consort in exchange for his protection. This time though, the mortal king has sent his "heir" with a mission- to kill the dragon god. The reader follows the story through the tri-POV of the Dragon/Ash, Princess Sachille, and her handmaid Zanya. Sachi has been trained to seduce and Zanya to kill to fulfill their duty because if they don't, the consequences will be life ending. Their mission becomes complicated when feelings and desires get in the way and they begin to see that what they have been taught to believe about the Dragon and the High Court of gods that rule them, may not be true.

This may be one of the spiciest books I've read that didn't have to come with a page of trigger warnings (there are still some TW content like references to abuse etc) but the romance was written full of enthusiastic consent from all parties which is *chefs kiss*. This book has great poly representation as well as handling the MFF relationship and sexualities of all characters in a way that is respectful and feels authentic.

While there is a LOT of spicy scenes (not complaining) there are still effective fighting scenes (Zanya is a badass) and a conflict/story line that kept me reading and excited for other future installments of this series. I also enjoyed the magic/gods system which reminded me of tarot cards: "The Lover", "The Wolf", "The Huntress" etc.

My main criticism would be that if you have read the From Blood and Ash prequel A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the similarities are a little much. A princess groomed from childhood to seduce and kill a dangerous god named Ash... who basically runs from her the first time he sees her... all because of a deal made between the mortal king and the god... and she ends up being *redacted bc spoiler*. All that to say I still enjoyed reading it because there were plenty of unique elements and it is much spicier in my opinion.

And a last note because this was something I was worried about- no they don't do it while he's a dragon. :)

I've read Rocha's "Beyond" series and was really curious to read this as it seemed very different. It was. Yes, the setting is different, more like a "traditional" fantasy series. There is a huge cast of characters and a whole lot of world building going on. While I do love a larger cast and appreciate the world building, there was so much of it that it dragged the story down for me. The pacing was so slow unlike previous Rocha books. The actually story seemed weighed down by all the other elements. I am hoping the next installment with have more focus on the actual story.

Engrossing from the first page—Kit Rocha's world-building, as always, is top-notch. The tension and heat spark even before the characters' first encounter, and continue to build to intense levels. Can't wait to see more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: warlike situations (past), child abuse (physical and emotional, past), blackmail

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-FFM fantasy romance
-marriage of convenience
-but also I'm supposed to kill you
-opposites attract
-age gap
-slow burn

I had been seeing hype for this one and had to dive in. It was the perfect mix of world building, slow burn of amazing chemistry, and just twists and turns.

Sachi was raised for a marriage with the Dragon, but she's also been in love with Tanya since they were kids. Bound to the Dragon through a ceremony that allows them to feel what the other feels, she's there for a mission but can't help the feelings that build.

I want to be vague to keep the many twists and turns but the mythology aspects, the fantasy, the world building was effortless. I adored how this book was also about the boundless opportunities of dreams and just how quickly they can turn into nightmares.

But my favorite part was the romance. So many queer characters, but the beating heart of this book is Sachi, Zanya and Ash. How they tiptoed around each other but Ash saw what he wanted,re cognized there was no Sachi without Zanya and slowly won them over. The growing intimacy, the sexual tension, the sex so good it rocks the world around some. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Steam: 4

An amazing start for a very promising series.

The book centers around a polyamorous relationship between the three main characters: Sachielle, Zanya, and Ash/the Dragon.

What I liked most was that there was genuine care/affection, rather than solely lust, between the characters. Ash is incredibly respectful of Sachi and Zanya’s existing relationship and unlike many male romance protagonists, actually possesses the self-control to not think solely about his own desire. While Sachi and Ash have an immediate attraction and are then emotionally bonded, Zanya and Ash get together more slowly. I think this book strikes the perfect balance between instant-love and slow burn.

I also loved the side characters who consisted of members of the High Court, the immortal gods of the Everlasting Dream, and the Raven Guard, the personal guards of the Dragon and his consort. I hope we get more of their backstory, particularly of the Siren and the Wolf, in the next book.

I loved the poly representation and how the relationship dynamics were handled. Also, everyone always makes sure to receive enthusiastic consent.

Perhaps I am in the minority for readers of fantasy romances but I wish there was more happening outside of the relationship between the three main characters. The last chapter sets up the villain for the next book (and presumably the series) but we have gotten so little detail about him in the first book that it seems very rushed. Even though we are told that the villain has an extensive history with the High Court, this is never discussed or explored in any detail. Ash, who previously defeated this villain, almost never talks about his past outside of extremely sanitized fireside stories. The chapters in his POV are focused mostly on his interactions with and/or thoughts about Sachi and Zanya. This is a shame because he could/should have been the character setting up the actual plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Consort of Fire is another must-read book from Kit Rocha. Love the fantasy world they've built and can't wait to read more from this series. Highly recommend, especially for bisexual and polyamory rep.

Original and engaging plot? Check. Romance with warm fuzzies and tears? Check. LGBTQIA+ representation? Check. Polyamory? Check. Spice? Check check check.

When I read the plot description, I immediately wanted to read this book. The premise seemed to contain a formula that I had read before and had enjoyed. While there were some familiar plot points along the way, I was pleasantly surprised when new and refreshing twists and turns were introduced throughout the story. The mythology of the story, as well as the relationship dynamics between characters, really brought something new to the table.

I also enjoyed how the story introduced an important message that was also integral to the plot. "Darkness is simply darkness. Light is simply light. We need both, just like we need life and death. Creation and destruction." This quote, along with the context surrounding it, taught me something about the world and about myself. Not many fantasy books manage to do that.

My only complaint (and it's a small one!) is that I did not like the spice/plot ratio in the middle of the book. While the first and third act expertly balanced the two, the middle felt like a whole lot of spice without a lot of plot to progress the story. But that is purely personal preference and did not affect my overall enjoyment of the book.

4.5 stars.

This is my second attempt at a Kit Rocha book, and I think I need to accept they just aren't for me... which is sad because horny dragon book with polyamory sounded like lots of fun! Consort of Fire is such a high percentage sex scenes, at a certain point it feels like it's just one after another. Outside of the three central characters there isn't much to hold onto. All the main characters are so emotionally intelligent and respectful towards each other that there isn't much conflict or suspense to drive the narrative forward - the only question is how Sachi and Zanya will get out of the curse, and there are enough hints that the resolution isn't terribly satisfying in my opinion. The plot is really just them all getting to know and trust each other via lots of (well-written) sex.

I so wanted to love this book. But too slow, too predictable. The marketplace has shifted and a book like this would have been great a few years ago. But now, there is just such good material out there that this level of writing and plotting seems too obvious. Nothing felt fresh or unique.

This book felt very reminiscent of some younger YA novels that I read...except there is way more spice in this! The in depth world building took a while for me to get in to, but once I was in...I was IN! I am absolutely loving this theme of dragons in fantasy books lately, they add that extra layer of cozy fantasy for me. Props to Kit Rocha for tackling some a unique and often under developed relationship dynamic in this book, we get to meet LGBTQ+ characters along with a polyamorous relationship that fit so perfectly in this world that it didn't even seem "not the norm." I love seeing healthy depictions of different kinds of relationships. Plus we get to meet multiple strong, badass female characters! The banter in this book was also top notch, you truly get a bit of everything in this book, fantasy, spice, fun characters and interesting world building...I am so excited to continue with this series!

An amazing start to a new series from Kit Rocha. I'd been experiencing a bit of reader indecision and decided to crack this one open on vacation, and boy, did it deliver on the fantasy vibes I'd been wanting recently. More of a relationship-rooted story than anything, so if you want something a bit more reliant on interpersonal dynamics and the ties that bind three people together almost in spite of a greater purpose or mission, this definitely leans into that more than any political machinations. I won't drop any spoilers because I think it's so important to go into this story as in the dark as possible, but I had no idea where these characters would be headed and the reveals at the end left me absolutely GIDDY. Here for whatever these authors want to bring us next in this world, no question.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having loved the Beyond series and the blurb containing the word dragon (I mean who doesn’t love a dragon romance?) made this a must read for me.

There’s a lot here. A lot of characters and a ton of world building. More than I’d normally expect because the happy couple embark on a tour as soon as they’d bonded. So we get the descriptions of every area as well.
It’s a lot and the book really suffers under the weight of it all. I took a break early on and then returned to it. Hoping the fault was mine and I’d settle. I didn’t and continued to struggle.

There’s some great characters and an interesting story. But the weight of the rest was just too much for it. But then most of the reviews are glowing so maybe it’s just me?
I desperately wanted to love this but I felt like story was lost and I really wanted to know what happened.
But….
Then around the 80% mark I was intrigued and couldn’t put it down. It came into itself and I was hooked. Finally.
While I enjoyed the last part it wasn’t enough for me. Despite the characters, new world and dragon. I won’t be continuing on. And I’m gutted to be giving only 2*.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

Be still my queer little heart!!! This book had:

1. Not one, but TWO, badass female main characters who were both strong and compelling in very different ways
2. A polyamorous relationship written respectfully and beautifully
3. A male main character who is non-toxic, not jealous, sexy, and definitely written by women
4. DRAGON
5. GODS
6. SPICINESS 🌶️ (3/5)
7. Authors who lovingly call this book <i>Horny Dragon Book</i>

I loved <i>Horny Dragon Book</i> and I can’t wait for more <i>Horny Dragon Book</i>. I really enjoyed how the authors depicted the relationships in this story. I felt the story was more character-driven than plot-driven, but I’m excited to see where the story goes from here in the next book as there were some mysteries introduced towards the end that leave you curious for more. I’m a huge lover of the Found Family trope, so I would love to see the supporting characters be fleshed out in greater detail. This is a great start to a new series and I’ll be recommending it to others when it releases!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was soo good!! The plot was intriguing and interesting. But that cliffhanger was brutal. I can’t wait enough for the next instalment already!

Sachi and Zanya have been together in this life all the way back to a terrible incident in their childhood. Raised to overthrow a godlike being they have never been given the freedom to love each other or anyone else, always a tool in someone else's game. Their journey to the dragon's keep and into his heart also brings them the freedom to be themselves publicly for the first time. At times dark, spicy, and always engaging this book will grip from chapter 1 and keep you eagerly turning pages until the end where you will hope for a sequel announcement!
Definitely recommend!

I was primarily a fantasy reader in my teens and I've been primarily a romance reader in my adulthood. This book scratches both itches in the best possible way. And by "best possible" what I mean is "This is a Beyond book with dragons and living gods whose most godlike qualities are being incredibly emotionally competent."

If that doesn't sell you on this book, I don't know what will.

I was given an advance reader's copy but that doesn't influence my love of this book.

OH MY this was spicy!!!! in the absolute best way, this tackled polyamory while also delivering a compelling fantasy atmosphere and i was SO HERE FOR IT

i encourage every single one of you to go out and read this book and TRY not to fall in love with these lovely lil characters: spoiler alert, it’s impossible!