USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde introduces the Royal Houses series with House of Dragons: the story of Kerrigan Argon, a half-Fae, half-human as she seeks her place in an unforgiving world filled with magic, mayhem, and romance. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and V.E. Schwab.Ten years ago, half-Fae, half human Kerrigan Argon was discreetly dropped off onto the steps of … off onto the steps of Draco Mountain with nothing but a note. Her life changes completely as she’s swept into the care of the House of Dragons—an elite training program for gifted Fae.
On the year of her seventeenth name day, each student will be chosen by one of the twelve tribes of Alandria to enter society.
Everyone is chosen, except Kerrigan.
So, she strikes a bargain with the Dragon Society: convince a tribe to select her or give up her birthright forever.
With the unlikeliest of allies—Fordham Ollivier, the cursed Fae prince, who escaped his dark throne—she has to chart her own destiny to reshape the world.
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HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS BOOK WAS THE MISSING PART OF MY SOUL? I meant really though guys. It was missing and I didn’t know and Kyla took it and put the words down on pages and it was beautiful and I was not ready for it to be over.
If you are an SJM fan this is for you. If you are a fantasy fan this is for you. If you aren’t a fantasy fan, this book is also likely for you.
This book was so full fo magic and mystery that it help me on my toes from the very start. Throw in some EPIC KICK BUTT HEROINES and a prince that was ALL THE YES, and I was absolutely and unequivocally hooked.
Plus, DRAGONS.
I am obsessed lately with novels that I find myself completely losing time in and this book delivered that in SpADES. I am hooked for sure.
This book s semi connected to the Affiliate Series but can be read as a standalone series with no issue.
I hadn’t heard of the authors that are compared to this book (but I did look on google and liked what I’d read) YA (Young Adult) books aren’t usually my thing, I’ve read a few, and they’ve been ok.
But I did like the back cover…..
Twelve Tribes of Alandria had been split into four groups. The Society rules over everyone.
Woodloch to the West, their magic is used for might (war)
Viland to the East, their magic is for the good of the people (medicine)
Moran to the South their magic is basically useless!!!
And Tosin the magic they wield is for everyday tasks (efficiency)
Kerrigan hopes that when she’s selected her life will finally be better. But that doesn’t happen! She can’t understand why, but Kerrigan isn’t going to let non selection stop her from getting what she wants.
Kerrigan has always had to fight for what she’s wanted. Being dumped as a baby was bad enough, but she’s half human, half Fae! The half breeds have been persecuted for as long as anyone can remember.
Fighting for money is the only way she can survive. But unlike most half breeds, Kerrigan can use all four elements of magic, she just doesn’t tell anyone.
Kerrigan also has visions, not many, but enough to worry her!
And she has an affinity with the dragons, she loves them and her, but she won’t miss cleaning them out!
I liked her band of friends, they all seemed to lend something to the the book. And I’m hoping we get to see more of them through the series.
Prince Fordham Ollivier, is not a nice person, he looks down on Kerrigan, and with the slur of her birth constantly on his tongue. I really don’t like him!
But with the hate/hate relationship between Kerrigan and Fordham, you know it’s going to change, and it does eventually….
That was a good read. The start of a series is always tricky, giving enough background without getting too bogged down, and leaving enough for future books.
There are a lot of characters (loved the pronunciation of the characters in the front of the book) I did feel just a little overwhelmed remembering who was who and what they did (notes were needed)
There are Red Masks (hate group who want half breeds and humans dead!)
Kerrigan is a fighter, I liked her spirit. Fordham is totally different from what I thought he’d be….
So without giving too much away, Kerrigan is facing choices at almost every turn. There are factions working to keep Kerrigan away from dragons. Her magic is unstable, but she’s working on that. Throw in dragons, danger, a few twists and the beginning of a love story and you have a pretty good read.
It also ends on a little cliffhanger, so I’m definitely interested in the next book.
I received this book for an honest review and all thoughts are my own
Game of Thrones meets The Hunger Games in this enthralling YA fantasy!
I loved every second of this book! The imagery was amazing, each chapter playing in my mind like a movie scene. The characters were complex. Flawed, yet relatable.
Kerrigan, a half fae girl abandoned by her father, Lord Kivrin must fight for her place in this world and a place among the Society if she is to have any kind of future. While fighting against the injustices and prejudices toward her kind and humans alike, she must also defeat a mysterious foe and decode her visions. Enter Prince Fordham of the House of Shadows. Mysterious, intense, and handsome. Kerrigan’s visions seem to revolve around him when he enters a tournament where members from various noble houses compete to become dragon riders. Through their adventures, investigations, and training, Kerrigan grows stronger, learning to hone her powers, powers she will need for the inevitable battle where she must fight for her life.
I received an arc for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
You never know until you try. That was my motto going in this book as it was my first book about Fae or Fae like. It also helps that K.A. Linde writes this book as I felt like I floated to a magical land that I never wanted to leave. A land that needed Kerrigan Argon, a heroine who wanted to do the right thing regardless of what the high Fae’s had thought and what rules had been set in place. It was time for a change, and Kerrigan was unknowingly changing the rules and lives of everyone.
“I’m half-Fae, Helly. Half. You can’t possibly understand how everyone treats me because of who I am. I can’t tell people about my abilities. I can’t show who I truly am. And even if I could, no one would accept me for it.”
Kerrigan Argon has lived at the House of Dragons since she was 12 years old. She was taken care of by Mistress Hellina, Helly, for most of her life. It is time she finds her proper place. Kerrigan has spent years sneaking out and going down to the Wastes to fight to earn respect. With her being half-Fae, not everyone is on board with her being around. Some don’t want Fae’s mixing with others. They want to keep the pure just that, pure. With the Dragon tournament coming, she is one of several Dragon Blessed kids chosen by a Society member and lives with them. Though when it comes time to get picked, something unexpected happens.
“Someone once told me that if you master your fear, you’ll do great things. So for most of my life, I’ve walked right into every fear I’ve had. I face them and embrace them. I don’t want to have any fears holding me back on my way to greatness.”
Prince Fordham Ollivier, Ford, of the House of Shadows has lived his life away after the Society banished his tribe. He is now back to fight in the competition for one of the five dragons up for grabs. The tournament is hard, and if it wasn’t for Kerrigan’s help, he may not have gotten as far as he would have without her help. Kerrigan was assigned to help him with anything he needs; having a half-fae assist him is not what he wanted. The House of Shadows has been known to get rid of anyone who isn’t pure Fae. He should not like or fall for Kerrigan, but he decides to help train her for her upcoming fight with the notorious Basem Nix. Will helping Kerrigan be his downfall?
“Where’s your sense of adventure, princeling?”
“Securely on the ground.”
“Are you afraid of heights?”
“Heights? No, falling from extreme heights – like off the back of a dragon, for instance….”
After the last tournament that happened five years ago where a human entered the game and won, riots occurred in the streets. The Red Masks were an anti-human and anti-half-fae no likey group. They went to the streets burning anything and everything in sight. Kerrigan had nightmares from what she experienced with them. If it hadn’t been for an unlikely person who saved and brought her back to health, she might not have been around to see this tournament. Will the Red Masks once again prevail to instill fear or will they once and for all be obliterated?
This book was everything, and even while I am typing this up now, I am already planning for a reread before it comes out. It was that freaking good. I love Kerrigan. I want to be her, but I don’t think I would have the courage to do what she does with as must gusto. I love her courage to do the right thing. I also fell in love with the broody Prince Ford. He grew on me, and I started rooting for him to win the tournament. Though to be honest, the workout that he had Kerrigan do would have taken me out. He had her run miles. I can run maybe a mile if I need to, but cardio isn’t my jam at all. I also wondered who was behind the Red Masks, as to who would have that much dislike with people just because they were different. Though you will have to read the book find out!
I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
4-1/2 Stars!
Okay I love this world. I don’t know how I’m going to wait an entire year for the next book! I have so many questions. That ending just leaves you wanting so much more. It does take a couple chapters to piece together the world & characters but after that you are hooked.
I need to know more about the House Of Shadows & Ford. Valia seems kinda suspicious. Kerrigan leaves me with a million questions. This book was so good, it sucks you into a world of magic & dragons. I love being transported to a different magical world with endless possibilities, danger, secrets & world changing characters!
I received an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
Wow – I have been misguided in the past. I have not enjoyed the fantasy genre previously but holy crap this one sucked me in from the opening pages and I literally never put it down. It made the trip out to dinner and it was with me everywhere I went today. Filled with mystery and mayhem, magic and imagination but it was not all just fluff. The strong heroine in Kerrigan and the wickedly shameless hero in Fordham Ollivier were both characters that were a perfect union with each other. Love and futures know no bounds!!