Dragonhart by Abbie Eaton is a captivating forced proximity fantasy romance story that was utterly amazing.
What a phenomenal debut!
This epic romantic fantasy
I really enjoyed the world building .
This was an extremely strong read, well-written, well-plotted, with characters I couldn’t get enough of.

I know that crafting a morally grey lead can be fraught, however, there is a fine line to be trod between devisive and just plain unlikeable. Arla (the protagonist of this novel) is sadly the latter.

Childish and frustrating, I immediately disliked her. These traits are perhaps understandable when you consider she is all of nineteen years old and still holds the title of King's-Sassy-Murderer-and
-General-Right-Hand.

Perhaps I've simply outgrown the suspension of disbelief this trope requires, or perhaps Eaton really didn't work hard enough on Arla to make her someone I could care about. Either way, it was a dnf for me at 15%.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK + One More Chapter for this ARC!

I can see how others might enjoy it because it's such an interesting premise with all my favourite tropes! Super easy and quick to read but alas, it couldn't keep my attention.

I felt things were more told than shown in terms of the main character's dynamics which would have really added depth to the story and their relationship. I was just not convinced nor invested in their connection.

Also, the world building was relatively shallow and not much was really explained about the magic or the dragons. Even the introduction to the friend group was skimmed over. There was also quite heavy-handed foreshadowing so none of the plot twists or reveals were that surprising or compelling.

Would not read again. Not necessarily a flop of a book, just was not for me unfortunately.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

This book was not for me and I wanted to like it so bad. Plot-wise, I wanted to continue the story but I had to dnf at 40%. Arla is not a great an enjoyable main character let alone tolerable. I can tell that her character growth will be great but unfortunately, she's a bit too insufferable. The story itself is really good and I think others would enjoy the series more than me!

I liked it.. but I didn’t love it.

This story follows Arla, the Kings personal assassin. She’s pretty brutal and impressive in her line of work that she seemingly loves. The only downside… She has to deal with Hark, an ambassador from a neighboring kingdom.

Think.. The Hating Game but with magic and dragons. Two “coworkers” being forced into dealing with each other even though they very clearly despise each other. Or.. do they?
The story unfolds as they are sent on an assignment alone together.

I feel as if this book had so much potential but just fell short on some of it. Arla was not my most favorite FMC. In fact, I found her annoying at some points and lacking growth.

I would’ve really loved to see more connection / relationship building between the FMC & MMC.

The story did pick up a bit around the middle point that kept me interested. There are a few good plot twists as well.

If you like enemies to lovers, fantasy without heavy world building, the one bed trope, and dragons.. This would probably be a good book for you!

Thank you Abbie Eaton, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, & One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Tropes:
❤️‍🔥Hate to love
⚔️Enemies to lovers
🔒Forced proximity
🔥FMC seeking revenge
🔪Knife to throat
🎭Hidden identity
🤺Training together
🥷Assassin



Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. Fans of Fourth Wing??? Sassy FMC??? Sign me up! FMC is an assassin that trained in the company of the King’s guard? Obsessed already.
I lovedthe world-building and the kingdoms, and the plot twists were good (I kinda saw through them though). I love the fact that she actually wants to kill Hark…. And their banter was so good! Read this book when it gets published!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.25 stars.

This story was fabulous, I really enjoyed the romantasy style story with a solid plot with political elements throughout. I found the story pulled on your heart strings one moment and had you livid the next, I adore the FMC with how deadly and brash she was with a heart of gold. I couldn’t stop reading this and I was initially drawn in with the intense banter between the FMC Arla and MMC Hark, it was fiery to say the least.

This is a true enemies to lovers fantasy with unique magic, political intrigue with myths and secrets woven into the heart of the story. I will 100% be reading any future books surrounding this world and it’s characters.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this eARC. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I found the main character to be a little insufferable and very petulant and pretentious. I found it hard to connect to the main character and for me that generally makes it hard to connect to the story overall. The story reads more like a YA novel than adult Romantasy. While this story was not for me, I’m sure that it will find its audience.

I was hoping this would scratch the itch that finishing Throne of Glass left but instead I felt wildly disappointed. The FMC, Arla, who is supposed to be an assassin ended up acting like a petulant child through the majority of the book. I think the author wrote her in a way that was meant to show her sarcasm and wit but really it read as pretentious.

Aside from her character grating on my nerves, I also feel like the world building and development was just not there. I needed more of a hook at the beginning- instead I felt like I was floundering until around 70%.

A book perfect for those entering their Romantasy Era.

Dragonhart follows Arla, assassin to the king and Hark, the ambassador to their enemy country. They must figure out how to work together on a task given tot them by the king. A hard ask considering they both hate each other.

I really enjoyed the writing in this story, it was definitely a book that flowed pretty well and was hard to put down. However,I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I was newer to the fantasy/romantasy genre, and hadn’t already read the books that I can only assume inspired this one. There were so many similarities in the plot to books I’ve already read, that it didn’t feel like it was really its own story. The hate to love happened so fast I was confused about how their feelings suddenly changed, and I wish there had been more growth between the characters and conversations between them that led to the change in feelings

. To me, the book reads more like a YA fantasy than an adult fantasy, but I do think it is a great book for someone to be introduced to this genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC!

I had high hopes of this because I LOVE dragon fantasy but this one felt off. I liked the MMC more than the FMC, who I found insufferable. She's the best at everything, she hates everyone, she's a loose cannon, she likes to hurt people, she doesn't care if people are starving because they are probably lazy, ugh. It felt like a very derivative Aelin and I just couldn't root for her.
There's a LOT of info dumping. Do I need to know 8 times in the first 5 chapters that her parents were killed? I had got the point by then. There's also a lot of smirking which is my pet peeve. Use a thesaurus please.
I think this author has some good world building, which I liked, and the focus out of the palace. But it's a weak story for me.

Thank you for letting me read and review this book on Netgalley.

I went into this book feeling very intrigued by the plot from the blurb of the book and I really enjoyed it. I would say there were a few areas where I wanted more detail and worldbuilding.

Things you can find in this book:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dragons
- Forced Proximity
- Political Intrigue
- An Assassin FMC
- Magic

This book was promoted to be like fourth wing level book and unfortunately this book just did not reach that for me.. at all. I rate based of how the book makes me feel. This book had too many point that just felt like it was not fully detailed enough or had enough time in the scene to really make the reader invested in what’s happening. I lost interest a couple times due to the flow of the book just not keeping up with what needed to be happening. The characters weren’t bad but the FMC just wasn’t for me. She didn’t seem like she lived up to the hype of this book either. I truthfully feel like this book needed more time not because it doesn’t have a good base but it wasn’t as refined and edited to a point where its fourth wing interest level. I think that was what was most disappointing to me was I went in expecting such amazing things and when that happens usually it has the negative effects. I’m not swearing off this author by any means. I just couldn’t connect well with this book

I love the way this one is set up. Arla is an assassin for one of the kingdoms at war, and she's been sent with Hark, of all people, on a diplomatic mission to discover why shipments are going missing.

The kingdoms are struggling to survive while their Kings revel in riches, and it makes Arla sick. She doesn't know how Hark can put up with this but she soon finds out more than she bargained for. Secrets, betrayal, and ancient magics that were thought to have disappeared ages ago will resurface and become known again. But what could that possibly have to do with Arla?

3.75 ⭐️

A fun romantasy read!

⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
⚔️ Forced Proximity
⚔️ Magic
⚔️ Dragons ( later in the story)
⚔️ Political intrigue

Arla is definitely an interesting character - she is a stabby FMC who wants revenge on the kingdom that killed her parents. She has a lot of inner struggles and insecurities. At times she got on my nerves with her cockiness and arrogance but I think she is written that way so we can see the growth and change in her as the story progresses.

I love the relationship between the FMC & MMC, even when they ‘hated’ each other. A slight slow burn but I loved reading as they came to the realisation about their feelings for each other (more so Arla as we read on we learn just how long he has had feelings for her). Seeing Arla open up despite the tough exterior that she portrays and her finally being able to let someone in, was beautiful.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I found it to be a light and enjoyable read. I think this book shows promise and hopefully we’ll get to see more romance, more magic and more dragons in the next book/s.

A solid romantasy with lost dragons, hidden magic and a tense enemies to lovers journey. I like a stabby female lead with a traumatic past and a man who isn't all he seems so, first and foremost, I was sold on the characters in this story. As for the plot, the romance and the general adventure, it delivered on all fronts and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Really wanted to like this book, had likable characters but story/plot was way too slow and didn’t really seem to go anywhere till the middle/end of book.

First off I want to state that I did not finish this book, however, I read enough that I feel can give a substantial review.

I really really wanted to love this book - dragons, enemies to lovers, badass assassin what more could you want?

Unfortunately, this story completely missed the mark which is a shame because it truly had potential. I was not invested in any of the characters or the plot, I did not feel the enemies to lovers connection at all, and the magic/dragons were not well developed. I was hoping it would pick up and I really tried to continue on but once I reached 65% I just couldn't finish it.

A heartfelt thank you to @abbieeatonauthor, @onemorechapterhc, and @harpercollinsuk for the generous gift of the e-book!

This debut novel is nothing short of captivating. We follow Arla, the personal assassin to the King of Hadalyn, who grapples with her shattered faith in the gods that have forsaken her. As vital shipments go missing and kingdoms teeter on the brink of collapse, she finds herself reluctantly allied with Hark, the arrogant ambassador from the very kingdom that destroyed her family. Their partnership leads to the unearthing of shocking truths that will forever alter Arla’s perception of her past and the world around her.

The characters are brilliantly crafted, drawing readers deep into their complex lives. The close-proximity storyline adds a tantalizing layer of tension, while the witty banter between Arla and Hark is sharp, filled with delightful sarcasm. Arla shines as a strong, determined, and fiercely independent character. I particularly enjoyed the dual perspectives; hearing both Arla’s and Hark’s thoughts enriched the narrative immensely.

The magic system and the intriguing presence of dragons piqued my interest, although a deeper exploration would have enhanced understanding. The story wraps up beautifully, providing satisfying closure, so I don’t anticipate a sequel.

If you love quick-witted dialogue, suspenseful secrets, and a formidable female lead, this book is a must-read.

The dragons come late but DAMNNNN do they make an entrance and change the entire story!!

Do you know what I love? A book with true enemies that unfold into lovers, with every turn of a page. Goddammit, this book was perfection.

I was already obsessed with the plot, right from the beginning. It was very high stakes, with an unapologetic female main character who quite literally is the definition of female rage. Sassy, confident and angry!!! Then came Harks POV and the obsession level shot up. He's so done with everything, fighting against everyone and swooooon.

There's too much for me to love, it's my new favourite book and I literally cannot wait for the next one!!!!