SASSY'S REVIEW
❖I originally received the first five books in Raven Storm’s Rise of the Drakens series as ARCs directly from the author. After finishing those, I purchased the complete series Kindle edition to continue the story, and I’m glad I did!
What started as Wren’s journey from a lifetime of abuse and control into the hidden world of the drakens eventually became a much larger fantasy story involving ancient kingdoms, magical races, political conflicts, betrayals, shifting alliances, and the consequences of decisions made generations earlier. I enjoyed how the storyline expanded beyond the romance while continuing to explore themes of freedom, loyalty, family, and belonging.
Wren’s character development was one of my favorite parts of the earlier books. I appreciated that her trauma didn’t disappear simply because her circumstances changed. Watching her gradually find her confidence, question authority, and fight for her independence was satisfying. However, her impulsive decisions sometimes frustrated me. I love a stubborn, defiant heroine, but I wanted to see her become more strategic instead of repeatedly rushing into danger.
Her relationships with Benedict, Kieran, and Ronan were another highlight. Each brought something different to the story, and I enjoyed learning more about their personalities, vulnerabilities, and complicated pasts. Benedict particularly tested my patience with his controlling tendencies, although understanding his guilt and responsibilities gave his character more depth. Kieran became one of my favorites because of his steady, supportive personality, while Ronan’s storyline delivered some of the emotional relationship development I’d been wanting.
I also became unexpectedly invested in Veskor. His complicated history, questionable decisions, and moral ambiguity made him an interesting character. I appreciated that his past helped explain his behavior without automatically excusing it.
The worldbuilding was one of the series’ biggest strengths. Dark Haven initially caught my attention, but discovering more about Dorea, its history, magical races, political struggles, and competing interests made the storyline increasingly interesting. I particularly enjoyed that the conflicts weren’t always straightforward battles between good and evil. Characters had different motivations, and even those with good intentions sometimes made terrible decisions.
As the series progressed, I especially enjoyed the shift toward the consequences of war, rebuilding, forgiveness, leadership, and chosen family. The Lost Island and The Lost Nation stood out because they gave more attention to emotional growth and accountability. Those storylines made me care about the characters beyond whether they survived the next battle.
The romance and spice were enjoyable overall, although the balance varied between books. Some installments were considerably spicier than others, but I appreciated that the larger fantasy storyline remained an important part of the series. I especially enjoyed the moments when intimacy developed naturally alongside trust and emotional connection. There were a few times when longer spicy scenes interrupted the pacing, but overall, I thought the series offered a good mix of romance, character development, and fantasy.
My biggest issue with the series was its uneven pacing. Some books maintained a good balance between action, romance, worldbuilding, and character development, while others felt rushed or slowed by repetitive relationship conflicts. The expanding cast and multiple POVs occasionally made it difficult to stay invested in individual storylines. Several important revelations and emotional moments also deserved more time before the next conflict began.
What kept me reading was the larger story and the characters’ development. I enjoyed seeing how earlier choices influenced later events, how relationships changed, and how the focus gradually shifted from survival toward rebuilding a better future. The interconnected history and political complications gave the series more substance than I initially expected.
Would I recommend Rise of the Drakens? Absolutely! If you enjoy dragon fantasy, why-choose romance, protective and possessive love interests, stubborn heroines, morally gray characters, magical politics, found family, and complicated relationships, this series is worth checking out. Be sure to review the content warnings, particularly regarding abuse, trauma, violence, and consent-related themes.
My Final Verdict: Rise of the Drakens was an enjoyable fantasy romance series with interesting worldbuilding, memorable characters, plenty of spice, and a storyline that grew more complex as it progressed. While uneven pacing, repeated conflicts, and some rushed emotional developments kept it from being a five-star experience for me, I appreciated the character growth and the larger direction of the story.
For me, the strongest parts weren’t necessarily the battles or romance, but the moments when characters faced the consequences of their choices and genuinely had to change. A little tighter pacing and more emotional depth would have made the overall experience even better.
Final Series Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | Overall Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
-SASSY
"The promise of today, and the hope for tomorrow."