Dragon Court (An M/M Gay Fantasy Romance) by Jennifer Amriss Published by Magelight Press on May 3rd 2017
Genres: mm romance
Pages: 379
Format: ebook
Source: Goodreads
Goodreads
The Dragon King Returns.But his reign may be at an end.
Xastrian and Velithor return to the Dragon Highlands expecting a celebratory welcome. Instead, his assassin is still at large, and the court is in an uproar. Xastrian may lose his right to rule, if not his life.
A kingdom at war.
A long-exiled warrior race is invading through a rip in the veil between worlds, and the court lays the fault at Xastrian's feet. Faced with this new threat, the court wants to see a new elf on the throne.
A reluctant new co-ruler.
Velithor has kept away from crowds all his life, but his love for Xastrian is stronger. But when his father-in-law raises him as the new Dragon King, serving beside Xastrian, it might be too much. Especially when an old enemy emerges, this time with Velithor in his sights.
Reading Order
1. Mage of Legend 2. Lurir: Going Home (Short Story)- Free in Jennifer's Newsletter! 3. Dragon Court
*Dragon Court (An M/M Gay Fantasy Romance) (ARC) was graciously provided to me by the author, Jennifer Amriss, for an honest review.*
“Multi-Dimensional Love”
Immense and unparalleled excitement. Finding small things to do in order to extend this intense anticipation to become involved once again within the gorgeous and powerful world of dragons and elves is at the top of my to-do list. As I continue to sit on the edge of my seat, practically vibrating with excitement, all in anticipation of Dragon Court, the second highly-anticipated book of the Kal’brath Series, I recall the prior book in the series. A series that I have come to LOVE from Jennifer Amriss. I am so honored to be able to read the ARC of the second book, and, look forward to being with Xastrian and Velithor once again. I’m going to hold on to..anything..because I have a feeling it’s going to be a wild and bumpy ride. A ride that in my mind’s eye, will equate to being taken on a long and winding ride with..a dragon. I’m ready…see you after my ride…
Dragon Court, by Jennifer Amriss, is the continuation of Xastrian and Velithor’s story. I adore these special elves. I was first introduced to them in Mage of Legend, book #1. An equally gripping story of a Dragon King and a Hunter who find one another as a result of an unintentional yet costly mistake. A mistake that would prove to actually be both catastrophic yet necessary towards growth later on.
Velithor Adonel, is a majestically beautiful and complex yet incredibly powerful elf with white hair and blue eyes who’s soul is brighter than all of the brightest of days all rolled up into one. Velithor has such a pure and beautiful soul, he finds joy in everything new and beautiful. He loves with all of his absolute being and with that spreads his blanket of love over all animals, great and small. He also has this unique and innate ability, to indirectly influence many around him to open up and embrace him with love and support.
Xastrian Senuvesal, is a uniquely strong, beautiful, and caring elf with golden hair and eyes, who has the ability to calm and comfort dragons, as he is..the Dragon King. Through his accidental trip into another dimension, along with his deep-in-his-bones bonding with Velithor, he has turned into a more loving, gentle and somewhat timid soul, who is able to truly appreciate all that life has to offer.
As the name implies, Dragon Court is about dragons and the political doings of a different kind of society. But, that’s actually not all what this story is all about, despite what the title would have you into believing. It’s a story about the introduction of a powerful elf, Velithor, into a new place of residence and how he spreads his blanketed love over those who he holds close to him, both two legged and four. Throughout his initial time in his new city of Elhrovin, he is guided into a whole new way of living. And, that pained me. It seemed to me that he was being pushed into accepting a completely new way of life, one that debilitated him with fear. This hurt, that which I was experiencing, was soothed every time Velithor and Xastrian were able to be outside together in nature and with animals they have come to consider as family. Because that’s who Velithor is. He is of the forest, and he is one with nature. As the local seamstress shared with Velithor, as she helped him also with his new clothes, “these are only clothes and trinkets. They are not who or what you are. They do not dictate who, nor what, you are.” *contented sigh*
As I read this story, I frequently found myself right along with Xastrian and Velithor and their companions as they swooped and soared with their dragons as I equally felt the breeze all around me, as the massive winged beauties took to their airborne adventures. Ever been on a silent yet soothing roller coaster? This is what it feels like to be immersed in one of the numerous scenes which contained these amazing elves and their soul-mounts. A feast for the senses it was..
Unfortunately, the story isn’t all about soaring with massive winged-giants. Therefore..WOW. Give me a moment while my heart returns to its normal state. Ok. I’m better now. Somewhat. Not really. This is a MASSIVELY powerful story filled with nail-biting, heart-clenching and heart breaking scenes. Be prepared to be completely immersed in an almost sensory overloaded state of breath-taking beauty along with earth-shattering pain.
There were so many things going on in this story that was difficult for me to get a firm grasp and understand all of it. I found myself constantly switching from stress and fear, to feeling that my heart was going to burst from love and warmth and subtle laughter, to bawling my eyes out while trying to see the pages. I felt myself being pulled in many different directions, and, all at once. With the prior story, there was a central theme, a central main road, a direction, if you will, with numerous side roads that Xastrian and Velithor had to venture down for survival. This book was different. I didn’t feel there was a central road, necessarily, except many different roads trying to merge into one. All at once. There was Velithor trying to get acclimated with his new city with his wayward nerves, while trying to be able to successfully welcome new..four-legged family members, while trying to succeed in battle, while protecting his love Xastrian. While, while, while. Way to much.
As Xastrian and Velithor had bonded in the prior book, which in my mind meant that they were simply together. You know..together. But, alas, that was not the case. I wish I had known that at the time what it actually had meant. But, be that as it may, since they had bonded, and more than that of a matrimonial bond, throughout this story, everything that one had experienced the other had as well. Tenfold. I would not be surprised if Xastrian and Velithor both had developed ulcers each time something had occurred with the other. Gah..the power and ability to allow someone, who is your breath and your light, to proceed despite nagging vibes is..gah… Velithor is a source of light and life. He is love. He is comfort. Xastrian and Velithor have this deep-seated bond that shatters through the suffering of the other. Shatters. Hmm, what an important word.. I found myself also welcoming, with grabby hands, all of the calming and soothing times more and more as the story had reached its arc.
And then..one cannot forget that it’s a heart-shredding story also that both shocked and comforted me as well, and certainly not at the same time. And, not completely. And, very barely. It’s a story that I also understand. One that I believe is not for the faint of heart, and this is one of those times where I believe was, as mentioned earlier, way too much. It is one that also wasn’t clearly understood. To this reader, it screams pain. Clear and unadulterated pain.
During the countless hours that I have thought about this..this book, THIS BOOK, I have come to both love and also..not quite feel the need to scream out of my windows as a result of the greatness of it, it is still a book that has rendered me speechless. Yes, speechless. Both books have left me absolutely speechless especially while walking around my home, seemingly with smoke coming out of my ears while pondering how to put all of my thoughts logically all together when describing this book completely. There is an overall and different kind of vibe within this particular book, which includes the existence of editing issues, as compared to the prior one. It’s a lot, and it’s a heavy read all the while interspersed with some goose-pimply love.
While I still ADORE Velithor, and will forever bow down to his amazingness, as well as love Xastrian to pieces, and definitely love both of them together, this story has left me in pain and hurting. And, I haven’t felt this way about a story in a very long time. There were a couple of things left open, including some great secondary characters, that I am predicting will make future stories possible.
So, put on your protective goggles, and, place yourself on top of one of these stunning creatures, and take a ride with the Dragon King Xastrian and his hunter Velithor, as that will be the one ride you will not want to get off….:)
*star rating: 4 star rating: I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t perfect, but, I liked it.*
*adapted rating for book.
