I received this book from @netgalley and I have to say it was better than I expected!

This is a rags to riches story where a poor street rat gets claimed as a bastard to a wealthy lord who is without an heir. Iris has a heart of gold and she just wants to find a place to fit in. She was a well written character who struggled not only with belonging, but adjusting to a new life and managing the politics that go with her new position.

The looming war hovers over us with a presence that can not be ignored. It slowly builds throughout the book until it erupts in a fiery blaze. I did feel that it was over just a bit too quickly considering the way it loomed throughout the book, but the ending to the battle was ironic and just considering some of the plot points in the book.

This book lacks romance aside from brief looks and a quick nod to what could have been. I don’t know if it necessarily needed a romance storyline, but not having one didn’t take away my enjoyment of it.

The side characters are some of the best I have ever read. There is a stubborn maid, a brooding guard, a friendly handmaiden and a sassy spy. The spy was my favorite character and I loved every moment he was on the page.

The ending felt a bit rushed but it did provide a suitable wrap up of the story. The epilogue provides an all encompassing update on the remainder of Iris’ life and it ties everything up into a neat bow.

The way the author uses quick paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter to provide lore/world building was pretty smart! It gives you information without feeling like you’re getting info dumped.

Overall, it was a decent YA read. There are struggles, war, relationships, and a political web to get lost in. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a change in pace!

I give this book 4 stars. I was expecting more about it but it's just a personal theory of mine. It's such a great story. Loved how it was written.

Ten clans live on the island nation of Dorohin, with the power to shapeshift into reptilian titans. The Dragon clan rules all, but the jealous Ryu clan seeks after the emperor's throne which was once rightfully theirs.Caught in between them is Iris, an ordinary girl of a lesser clan. The Plague stole her mother from her, leaving her orphaned and homeless. However, in a moment of crisis, she discovers she is a half-Dragon shapeshifter known as a Wyvern. She is soon scooped up to become the heir of the childless Wyvern Lord Senbi, who defends the Dragon clan's border.Lord Senbi is under imminent threat from the zealous General Kenzo of the Ryu clan, and Iris is hardly welcome as an illegitimate child whose mother hails from lesser blood. To Iris, though, anything is better than a life on the streets. She will not only learn to master her Wyvern form, but she may turn out to be the missing piece needed to hold back the tide of war.Ten Dragon, Ryu, Wyvern, Quetzalcoatl, Amphithere, Cockatrice, Drake, Lindwurm, Hydra, Wyrm. This is a coming of age fantasy which will thrill and delight anyone who loves dragons and wants to see them in a fresh new world.

This was a really good, fresh and fun slow-burn fantasy. All of the classic tropes are here but done in a fairly fresh way. Keeping the ten different clans separated and remembering everything got a bit challenging at times, but not enough to lower my enjoyment of the book. A good 4 stars:)

I enjoyed the storyline. Iris is like orphan Annie meets Aladdin character. She is taken from humble beginnings and thrust into a world she never thought possible. Her character growth and acceptance of her circumstances make sense for the plot. It is easy to root for her, and you accept that she is a teenager coming into her own without feeling like she's being petulant or whiney. The dynamics of the shifter clans and the hierarchy are interesting and I liked the way they were explained at the start of each chapter. Some of the descriptive adjectives are a bit repetitive. It detracts from the flow of the book when it feels like you're reading the same sentences over again halfway down the page. There are still some spelling and grammar mistakes sprinkled throughout the book. I can't decide if I wanted more chapters about Kenzo, or less. Maybe more about him sprinkled through chapters in breaks and asides instead of the few dedicated chapters he had. I honestly thought he was going to be a bigger part of the story since he was the first character we were introduced to.