I was able to be nice and eloquent for book one, but for book 2 I'm having trouble coming up with phrases that aren't overused to the point of meaninglessness but I want them to mean something again. This is a beautiful follow-up, resolving everything I hoped would be resolved after the last book though I had the advantage of knowing this wouldn't be the end of the books in this setting. I can't wait to see what they do next with this world.

I’d heard of Kit Rocha for years before I finally jumped in during their Mercenary Librarians trilogy (and then glommed the backlist), and this duology is such a level up for them! The world is so amazing and the characters all grab my heart and attention! I love that in so many ways Queen of Dreams is a parallel, a mirror, to Consort of Fire in the romance is between Ash and Zanya while we watch Sachi coming into her power and confidence. I loved the way things are resolved in the world with the Betrayer, and cannot wait to see continuation of the universe as they continue grabbing with the ripple effects of the Empire. This is such an incredible book, romance, story with characters I find so hard to let go of. Just, so amazing and my heart is so happy after finishing!!

Vibes: FFM, grumpy/pretend grumpy/sunshine, coming to terms with oneself, dark/light

Heat Index: 8/10

Now that Sachi and Zanya know their true identities--the embodiments of Creation and Destruction, respectively--the challenge is staying alive and harnessing their abilities. What Sachi's dragon god husband Ash wants most is to protect both women; but as the Betrayer lures Sachi into his clutches, he must work with Zanya to harness her dangerous abilities so that they can rescue (and fully awaken) the woman they both love.

This is the direct sequel to Kit Rocha's Consort of Fire, which introduced Sachi and her handmaiden/assassin/longtime lover Zanya as she was forced to marry Ash. Who not only turned out to be great, actually, but more than willing to accept Sachi and Zanya's relationship. Actually, he embraced it, falling in love with Sachi and becoming quite intrigued with Zanya... who was equally intrigued with him, if conflicted because, you know, she was supposed to kill him after Sachi seduced him.

It was great to see these three as a united front this go around, even if Sachi did spend a lot of time physically apart from her lovers. At least they were on the same side! The world spun in these books is so interesting, and I'd be happy to read more of it. Ash and Zanya are both such compelling characters; though she's a lot angstier than he is (which is saying something, as Ash isn't without his angst) there's this teasing that they're two sides of the same coin, just as Sachi and Zanya are... Albeit in different ways. They're both monsters that really get each other.

Which is why, for all that I enjoyed this book, I was a bit disappointed with how Sachi-centric the triad remained. Don't get me wrong--I really do like Sachi. She's bratty and fun, and I love that a girly girl princess archetype was allowed to be spoiled and decadent and quite sexual... and loving and sweet and powerful. However, I would personally say that Sachi has the least going on in terms of personal growth in both books. And that's fine. Ash and Zanya just have a lot more conflict and darker temptations in terms of power, and more disturbing pasts. All of those things just make them naturally, more interesting to follow.

And to be clear--I don't expect these books to dial back Sachi and Zanya in favor of Zanya and Ash. Although I believe that these women love Ash and he loves them, Zanya and Sachi have known each other way longer. Their relationship is really the crux of these two books. I don't want to cast either woman aside and het up a fundamentally queer relationship.

However.... Sachi is literally physically separated from Zanya and Ash for a lot of this novel. And before she goes, Zanya is so conflicted about hurting Sachi during sex, what with the destructive powers that she doesn't have a hold on, that their sexual relationship has died down a good bit. And Sachi actually tells her, "Ash is super down to fuck you, and I totally think you should get yours". She TELLS Zanya to explore that relationship.

And... they get somewhat closer, I guess. There are teases. But while I do believe Ash and Zanya forge more of a bond, I never felt like the emotional or physical climax of their arc really occurred. Maybe that would feel more okay to me if there was this very clear, full-hearted three-person arc ONLY. But just as Ash and Sachi's relationship developed in the first book, and we've seen the heart of Sachi and Zanya's relationship throughout both... It felt important that we got to the third aspect. I just don't super think we did. I felt Ash's attraction Zanya growing into love, and Ash is in general a very caring character who is a bit more honest about his feelings. I felt Zanya TRUSTING him, but it fell short of the sense that she... got to the place that I think we were supposed to believe she got to at the end of the book.

Which frustrates me, as I do think this dynamic was begging to be explored, and was full of chemistry. We were left at the end of the last book with this idea that Ash knew that Zanya needed to be loved and held. I thought this book would explore that, and I especially felt like it would after Sachi was separated from the other two.

For me, it's less this need to explore Ash and Zanya on their own, and more this desire to see Zanya fully loved and adored on the same level that Sachi is. Additionally, it seemed to me that Sachi kind of got all this praise for being sooooo amazing throughout both books that... Again, I like Sachi! But it became a bit much. Like. I know.

It sounds like I'm just dogging this book out, but I promise that I liked it! I'm definitely going to read more of Kit Rocha. However, and this could be more of a personal preference thing than a right/wrong thing--when I read a triad romance, personally, I like to see all aspects developed. It just felt like Zanya and Ash's dynamic got the short end of the stick.

The Sex:

Obviously, this book was quite hot. There isn't as much actual sex on the page as there was in the last book... which again, kind of frustrated me, as I thought we would get more Zanya/Ash stuff... But the sex that's there is well-written and exciting. There's one scene towards the end that.... oof. It's memorable, and honestly worth the entire read, I'm not gonna lie.

Again--for all that I have my critiques, this is a good book, and if you liked Consort of Fire, you should obviously read it. We seemed to have reached the end for this triad, but I'd definitely read about more characters in the same world. And I want to check out other polyamorous romances by Kit Rocha; I'm curious about how they handle different dynamics. Either way, I'm reading more from them, and that's a win in itself.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An exciting continuation in the Bound to Fire and Steel series. I continued to love the polyamorous relationship and the sexual fluidity of many characters. The use of language is lovely. And towards the end, I was even moved to tears.

I will say that, for me, this one wasn't as propulsive as the first book. I felt it was a bit of a slow start. However, once I got into it, I was all in.

A fun fantasy romance with interesting characters and a very well-written epic battle scene.

Thank you for the ARC in return for an honest review, you made my month and I devoured it!

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The book picks up where the first one left off, and is exciting and amazing from the very start. The writing is fast paced, fun and vivid, and I absolutely adore the colourful diverse world the story takes place in. In this book we get to explore more of the world, and see more of the Empire especially, and it delivered everything I wanted and more.

The found family vibes of the main cast made me cry more than once, it feels so loving, accepting and sweet. They really feel like each other’s family and home, and that feeling oozes out of the pages. The feeling of acceptance of whatever you are, wherever you are in your journey - be it with your magic, your sexuality and gender expression, or your place in the world.

I'm so happy I started this series, and that the sequel delivered everything the first book promised to me. Kit Rocha has yet to let me down, and I'm here to stay!

4,75 stars and all of my love to these chaotic loving characters

Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha is a captivating blend of fantasy and romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are both complex and relatable. Rocha's storytelling is masterful, weaving together elements of magic, intrigue, and passion to create a truly unforgettable reading experience. If you're looking for a book that will sweep you away to another world, look no further than Queen of Dreams.

Spicy fantasy romance. Loved the worldbuilding and really enjoyed these characters. I didn't realize it was the 2nd book and though the intro gave us some background I wish I had read Consort of Fire first. I plan on remedying that right now. ;-)

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

This is the second book in the series

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

-mff romantasy
-gods and dragons
-hard ones and soft one
-adventure

I adored the first book in this series and was so excited to dive into book 2. It was great to see the development of Ash, Zanya and Sachi figure out their relationship as well as how that interplayed with the world of gods. There was a lot of advenutre and excitement, leaving me wondering what was going to happen next, and the spice was spicin. I really liked how things were resolved even as new questions arise for the next book. A great second book that has me clammoring for what's to come next.

This was a strong sequel in the Bound to Fire and Steel series, it had everything that I enjoyed from reading the first book. It improved on what I was looking for and enjoyed in the concept. The world was just as good and was invested in what was going on. The characters had that great feel going on and enjoyed reading this. Kit Rocha has a great writing style and it left me wanting to read more from them.

Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha is a captivating and thrilling fantasy novel that will transport readers to a world of magic, power, and ancient enemies. The book follows Ash, who waited for three thousand years to find a consort who could break the Betrayer's chains. Instead of one lover, he found two: Sachi and Zanya, the primordial powers that embody creation and destruction, reborn as humans. Now, his ancient enemy has returned to threaten everything he loves.

Zanya seethes with magic and restless energy, her command of the Endless Void a potent weapon in the coming war. But she must embrace the darkness within herself to harness her power, and the scars of the past are holding her back. Sachi's connection to the Dream deepens, leading her beyond the veil of reality and into the heart of the Betrayer's stronghold. Torn from her lovers, Sachi must use all her wit and cunning to survive the Betrayer's treacherous court.

Rochas does an excellent job of creating a rich and intricate world full of magic and ancient power struggles. The characters are complex, with well-drawn backstories that add depth to the story. The chemistry between Ash, Sachi, and Zanya is electric, and their love story is both heartwarming and passionate.

Overall, Queen of Dreams is an excellent read for fans of fantasy novels. It has everything you could want in a book - action, romance, magic, and complex characters - and leaves readers wanting more. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and captivating read.

Thank you so much for writing this story! Consort of Fire rewrote my brain chemistry. Both books had incredible characters, world building, pacing. My only complaint in book two is not taking the opportunity to grow Zanya/Ash’s physical connection while Sashi was away. There was a build up to that with the conversation between Sashi and Zanya where Sashi encourage Zanya to take comfort from Ash on her own.

The pacing of the high spice in book one made the lower spice in book two feel a bit jarring. Overall book one will forever be a favorite read of mine and book two didn’t quite meet the expectations I had for it but I have so my respect for the authors for telling this story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read Queen of Dreams early!

It's deeply gratifying to read a book by a writing team who clearly understands the craft of writing. Story structure, themes, motivations, etc. They know their characters, and they know the situations to put them in to give them the growth that they need. This story was a series of correct decisions and mindful writing. You can feel the intentionality.

As an erotic romance, Queen of Dreams shines. Sex is never superfluous. It never feels tacked on. Like a song in a musical, sex happens and the height of emotion and serves to either move the story or the characters forward.

Zanya and Sachi, in particular, feel like fully realized characters. Good at their core, but messy and not always reliable narrators of their own experiences. It gives them a life that I often find lacking in romance.

I love these characters and the world that has been built for them. ♥️

Tropes: Growly grumpy (x2) + bratty sunshine, found families (ofc), Queen of Darkness/Queen of Light, dragon shifter lol.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Queen of Dreams is a beyond worthy successor to Kit Rocha's spectacular Consort of Fire. The immersive worldbuilding takes us to new heights and new empires. The suspense between the embroiled lovers sizzles and the incendiary climax is not to be missed. Suspense, action, fantasy, romance - this series has it all. I loved Queen of Dreams and can't wait to see where the High Court of Dreamers takes us next!

What a great follow up to Consort of Fire! I wasn't sure where the authors were going to go after leaving off the first book on quite the cliffhanger, but they did not disappoint. The characters of Sachi, Zanya, and Ash were so easy to root for and fall in love with, and having them achieve all that they did during this part of the tale was immensely satisfying. If you are looking for a fantasy romance with some serious heat/steam, I would highly recommend this series!

I'm a big fan of Kit Rocha, and I loved the previous book in the series for its solid world-building. They continue to build the world here, with dragon Ash, shadow mommy (as opposed to the ubiquitous romantasy shadow daddy) Zanya, and dreamy Sachi. Loved that Sachi got to do some work here and show off everything she learned to defeat the big bad. I would have liked to have seen the triad work out more of the tension in their relationship, particularly between Ash and Zanya. I also think this series could have been longer than what I am expecting is a duology, at least for this triad.

I LOVED and massively appreciated the summary of the story so far at the beginning of the book, and the cheat sheet at the back would've been even more helpful at the front. All fantasy series should be doing this!

Thanks to Montlake for the ARC.

I was really impressed by both books in this series. The worldbuilding is solid, the magic system is cool, and the action scenes are intense. Rocha does a great job mixing fantasy and romance, which isn't easy, but she pulls it off here.

In "Queen of Dreams," we get more adventures with Zanya, Ash, and Sachielle. Though, I kinda wished Zanya and Ash had a deeper connection. Sachielle is the main focus for both of them, but Zanya and Ash's relationship could've been a bit more fleshed out.

Overall, these books wrap up nicely but leave room for more stories in the future. Rocha brings the heat with steamy scenes and builds on the world she created in the first book.

"Queen of Dreams" digs deeper into the characters and plot, and while I wanted more time with some characters and more exploration of the world, it's still a solid read.

In short, "Queen of Dreams" is a great addition to the series, blending romance and fantasy in a captivating way. I'm definitely looking forward to more from Rocha!

I was SO excited to find the ARC for this sequel on NetGalley, since Consort of Fire was one of my favorite fantasy reads of 2023!

If you like:
--- Dragon shifters (and other shifters)
--- Why choose
--- Alternate dimensions
--- High stakes/kingdoms at war
--- Lovers who would do anything for each other
Then you need this series!

We're back with Sachi, Zanya and Ash, as they're now forced to confront the danger facing the kingdom from the Betrayer. While Zanya and Ash fight on the battlefield, Sachi is trying to do what she can inside the world of the Everlasting Dream to find something or someone that can help them. And on top of that, Sachi and Zanya are both still trying to grasp full control of their powers of the Dream and the Void.

But Sachi soon finds herself at risk, and Ash and Zanya can't come to her rescue immediately. There is a ton of tension as these three figure out their roles, both in their relationship and in how they can help protect the kingdom and its people.

The sparks and spice between these three are JUST as intense as the first book, but there are a lot of forces working against them. The magic system is wild and it's kind of crazy how it all turned out, but I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

I thought this was fun! Kit Rocha is a talented writer and I'm always left wanting to read more of their stuff.

Feel a bit silly for not realising that this was book 2 in a series but have enjoyed reading it nonetheless. The book picks up straight away and throws you back into the series. The characters have well-formed relationships and seem very interesting. I did not finish this book - I'm keen to read it from the beginning.

3.5 stars!!

I was really impressed with the first book in this series and I am equally impressed with this one. The worldbuilding is done well, the magic is amazing and the action is great. The steamy scenes are long and intimate and leave little to the imagination. I think it's hard to mix fantasy and romance and have it done well, but I have to say, this one is a good mix.

While I do wish that Zanya and Ash were a little closer and had a more intimate relationship (not talking about sexual) I understand that Sachi will always be number one for Zanya and Ash. I do think she adds a lot to the relationship and they make it work well.

All in all I think this was a very satisfying conclusion to the series but could also be built upon in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Kit Rocha for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.