Review of The Dragon's Dove

Erin Dydek · Post by **Erin Dydek** » 24 Mar 2022, 06:33

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dragon's Dove" by Elle Brice.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Bargokk of the Drykans once soared the skies in his dragon form, but devastating mistakes have grounded him in guilt and shame. His self-imposed punishment of isolation has kept his relationships to a minimum, but his few friends hope that the broken man can find peace with himself and move on. What will it take to reignite the passion for life Bargokk once had?

Olivia of the Kain works hard in her father's butcher shop, saving her earnings to escape to adventure. Her first step into the unknown looks significantly different than she imagined. Taking up her sister's dare, Olivia asks Bargokk to come to the Ice Festival. As Olivia's life suddenly takes a new direction, she must fight the prejudices left behind by a centuries-old war. The Drykans and the Kain were once enemies, and Bargokk was the source of great fear and pain to her people. Will Olivia be able to spark a fire that keeps their love alive? Or will the obstacles in their path reduce her efforts to nothing more than a few smoldering embers? Read The Dragon's Dove by Elle Brie to find out.

I loved having the opportunity to read this fantastic fantasy romance novel. I appreciated how the author captured my attention and got me invested in this first installment of the Dreueth Origins series. The romance between Bargokk and Olivia involved family drama, social prejudices, insecurities, and miscommunications that made the development of the relationship feel more realistic and kept me fully engaged in the story. I also loved how well the author captured each character's emotions. I felt like I could genuinely sense the affection in how Bargokk looked at Olivia and acted toward her, yet he still made mistakes that gave the journey some harrowing ups and downs. Olivia, too, was sensitive to Bargokk's feelings and wanted to give him the security he needed to open his heart. Yet, she allowed fear and doubt to cast a shadow on her true feelings, which caused some heart-wrenching drama.

The book also had an excellent supporting cast that made this book feel complete. I especially appreciated Philmea, wife of Bargokk's best friend, and her ability to push Olivia and Bargokk in her motherly way. Philmea seemed to sense their needs and was able to encourage them, and she is just one example of the well-developed characters that made reading this book a pleasant experience. I also appreciated how the author built some foreshadowing for book two into this storyline. Brie created a curiosity for events to come that escalated as this first novel progressed. I was delighted with the conclusion of The Dragon's Dove and was eager to discover how the story continues in book two!

Only one thing slightly took away from my enjoyment of the story. There were a significant number of proofreading errors. Since there were more than ten, I give The Dragon's Dove three out of four stars.

I'd highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy romance novels. This book would be best suited to older teens and adults because it has a few sensual sex scenes and a bit of mild swearing. This book might be a perfect choice if you like passionate characters and whirlwind romance and you're looking to start a new series.

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The Dragon's Dove
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