S.D. Huston

A Curse of Scales and Feathers is the first book in the Brides of the Dragon Kings series of fantasy romance. Airi has always been different from those around her. Her mother treats her cruelly and she longs to be free. However, she is devoted to her younger sister. When her sister is threatened with enslavement over an accusation of theft, she agrees to take her place. Airi soon finds herself given to the Ice Dragon as a tribute. She is told she needs to agree to marry the Dragon King in order to save the kingdom but no one explains why.

Kalden, the Dragon King, has removed himself from his kingdom in despair, no longer able to abide the misery of the curse that has been laid on him and his brothers. Finally he has to accept the new bride offered to him. To his surprise she inspires him to start taking an interest in his kingdom and begin to help his subjects.

Before the two can find their way to each other, a threat to the kingdom may bring disaster on them all.

This fantasy romance uses fairy tale tropes quite successfully. There are elements of both Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast to the story. I enjoyed those aspects of the story. The novel takes a long time to build the relationship between Airi and Kalden. The world-building is also revealed slowly with some mysteries still remaining at the end of the book. I did find the first half of the book was a bit too slow for me. I think the author could have moved the relationship between Airi and Kalden as well as the other plot devices into the narrative a bit sooner. I did enjoy this novel and look forward to reading the next book in the series to find out more about this world. This is a slow-burn book with no explicit sexual content.… (más)

Don't underestimate a woman scorned. Slow burn between the main characters, but action packed for most of the storyline which will have you on the edge of your seat. Knowing the book is coming to a close and wondering how will the characters survive with so little time left. The first in the fantasy romance series of Brides of the Dragon Kings, there is no steam, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story. I loved both Kalden and Airi, along with the mysterious grouping of side characters. It does end in a HEA for Kalden and Airi, but leaves on a slight cliffhanger for the other brothers and the Snow Princess. This gave me some slight Beauty & the Beast vibes in some ways.

Never having read a book by this particular author, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the book hooked its talons into me and I found myself emerged in this wonderful vast land of fae, dragons and other magical creatures. I can certainly say I will be reading the rest of this series. Airi is such a strong, willful and loyal woman. Living a rough and poor life, she is beaten by her mother, forced into slavery, and then sent as the chosen sacrifice to the Ice Dragon. What she doesn't expect is to live a life without bruises as she tries to figure out Kalden, the curse, and what she is. The Snow Princess is quite the mastermind of evil. Upset by a lie, she cursed the four brothers to live an eternity of misery, while single handedly destroying a technologically robust city and numerous races. Only slightly more evil is Lord Galton, a man thirsty for so much power that he doesn't realize he is simply a puppet in a bigger play.

If you are a fan of fantasy romance, dragons, fae, and shifters, this book is worth the read. You won't be able to put it down. The characters are strong and resilient against all odds. Love and compassion can change a person and make a difference.… (más)