At it's core, this story was a joy to physically read. Mika's writing style has a flourish that encapsulates environments and the fantastical details of the world and characters in such a wonderfully visualized way. It's easy to imagine oneself in the scene, and that is easily the strongest aspect of Blood of the Dragon.

The characters too were solid and had me invested in their wellbeing. I liked their interactions, especially our main girl throughout everything. The worldbuilding too was grand, and I really looked forward to learning more about dragon tamers, the fae, and how they all interacted.

My two biggest gripes though are these: the ending felt rushed, and a one or two notable aspects were never addressed in a meaningful way. It felt like this was a narrative that longed to be expanded into something grander, but it simply wasn't able to do to time or other restraints.

Still, I recommend giving this story a chance, sweetness, bitterness, and all