The Price of Untimely Flirting

Thank you, Random House Children’s, for sending me an ARC of this book (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

…These days that test you to your core, they will refine you, beat out your weaknesses, and turn you into the best version of yourself that there is. —King Marrkul

I was actually quite hesitant to read this book. One of my trustworthy online friends gave it one star, so I wasn’t that excited when the publisher granted my request. However, the premise of the novel intrigued me; I really wanted to know why a princess would surrender herself to a dragon instead of marrying a so-called barbarian. The latter phenomenon hinted at a Feminist ideology that successfully drew me in like a moth to a flame.

Nearly every chapter of this book was so fun to read. The writing style was simple yet beautiful, the world-building was comprehensible, and the plot was delightfully fast-paced. As a bonus, the female protagonist had an ironically cute name: Sorrowlynn. Given all of these factors, I did not have a difficult time immersing myself in the story.

The magic system was another thumbs-up for me. I don’t want to spoil anyone, so let’s just say that the nature of Sorrowlynn’s magic is related to the title of this series (Transference). Compared to most of the heroines I had encountered in YA fantasy, Sorrowlynn was definitely special. She was physically weak, but her unique abilities made her a force to be reckoned with. I can hardly wait to read the sequel and see her become stronger.

Ultimately, my main problem with this book was the romance. Every time I updated my reading progress, I found myself complaining about Sorrowlynn and Golmarr’s constant flirting. Initially, I didn’t mind their coquettish banter, but I eventually found it annoying, if not sickeningly sweet. Looking back, approximately 33% of the dialogue was dedicated to proclamations of love and desire, regardless of time and circumstance. Seriously, the characters had time to flirt even when their lives were in grave danger. With that in mind, I was somehow able to understand why other readers did not enjoy this book.

All things considered, The Dragon’s Price met (and even exceeded) most of my expectations. I would highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a quick and entertaining fantasy book. If the sweetness of the characters gets to you, simply roll your eyes to relieve your stress. Trust me. It works.