I love this series

I just enjoy these books so much. They are upbeat, a little silly, but with a really good story! Amazing narrator as well!! Seriously, if you are having a bad day and just need some crazy, this is perfect! You can't not smile!

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optional heading is not optional

I finished this book in a single day, I could not stop listening. this review requires more words so I'm writing this.

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GAH

Holy. Balls.

This book is AMAZING. Like. So. Fucking. Amazing.

Queue disjointed review that is likely going to make no sense.

But first, a recap:

A Destiny of Dragons by TJ Klune is the second book in the Tales of Verania series and picks up a little more than a year after The Lightning-Struck Heart. The gang we’ve come to know and love so much in the Lightning-Struck Heart is still together, getting up to their usual hi jinks. Everything is going good… until it’s not.

One day, the castle has an unexpected arrival; Sam’s grandmother, the leader of the gypsy clan, Vadoma. She has arrived with a dire prophecy, written in the stars; a shadow man is rising and will consume the world. That is, unless Sam embraces a density written in the stars and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side.

Vadoma also brings a man named Ruv, a man she says is Sam’s true cornerstone.

When I say that I loved EVERYTHING about this book, I mean everything. EVERYTHING.

One of my biggest gripes about The Lightning-Struck Heart was the near oppressive amount of pining. It’s just not a trope I’m interested in, and the first book in this series had it in spades. Then the pining turned to LONGING, and I had a really tough time powering through the end of the book.

A Destiny of Dragon’s features one of my favourite bookish tropes of all time — established relationship. And oh my god, I am in LOVE with Sam and Ryan’s love. Klune writes a couple so well. SO. WELL. These two dumb boys fit together like they were made for each other (lol), and I have adored every single moment the two of them have shared throughout this novel.

Seriously. It was one of my favourite parts about the whole book.

Sam and Ryan love each other so much. They love each other the way I want to be loved one day, and it was endlessly endearing to read. The way they’re both so protective of one another made my heart melt. I also adored HOW in love they are. Because A Destiny of Dragon’s takes place a year after the first book, we get to see them as an established couple that have already worked out a lot of the kinks that new relationships have. By the time we reconnect with them, they’re a solid unit who attack the problems together — for the most part.

Did I mention how ridiculously protective they are of one another? Ugh, it’s SO good!!!

I was also overjoyed to see that, despite the opportunity to introduce a “love triangle”, Klune does no such thing. Ruv is introduced as a potential love interest (being another potential cornerstone for Sam), but it’s immediately shut down and the expectation is firmly set that Ruv and Sam will never have anything more than a platonic bond.

I loved that. I don’t know if I was expecting any different, but I’m really glad this didn’t go down the typical fantasy route and that HaveHeart prevailed.

While Sam and Ryan’s relationship regularly set my heart aflutter, it wasn’t the only relationship that I loved. Throughout the novel, we got to follow our band of misfits on a new quest, following Sam, Ryan, Gary, Tiggy and Kevin (and, later, Ruv), as they journeyed through the desert.

I will forever love this gang, even as it continues to grow. They’ve burrowed into a very special part of my heart, and I know they’re going to stay there for a long time. Like the children of Marsyas Island Orphanage, this rag-tag group of characters means the world to me in a way I can’t even put into words.

I didn’t grow up with very many friends, and I think seeing this close-knit group of people who would literally die and kill for one another is just… it’s very very sweet.

Speaking of things that are UNBEARABLY SWEET, can we take a second to talk about a teenage emo dragon??? LIKE WHAT??? I am regularly amazed by Klune’s brain, but Zero was one of my favourite things I have EVER read in a book.

I LOVE Zero. This baby dragon has taken ownership of my heart and I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back. I want to give him a hug that never ends. I want to bundle him and make sure the world name hurts him again! I just want him to have the best time ever forever because I love him so much!!!

Another reason that I rated this book five stars.when The Lighting-Struck Heart only got three is that, even though this book is still hilarious, it’s slightly more serious. There’s the subtlest shift in tone between the first and second books in this series, and I was a MUCH bigger fan of this one. While Sam is still absolutely ridiculous at all times, I didn’t find it as off-putting as I did with the previous novel.

I was super thankful for the more serious tone (and again, it’s the very slightest shift), because the first book had me a little worried.

Along with the more serious tone, A Destiny of Dragons also went on to further expand on the magical world of Verania. We got to see Morgan and Randal in a MUCH different light than we ever have before, which was a treat. Not only that, however, but we saw more of the particular flavour of magic that colours this world.

Now, while I did thoroughly enjoy this book, I do want to mention that the word “gypsy” is used A LOT. This is not a word I use in my personal vernacular, so it was pretty jarring to see it used SO often throughout this novel. I have heard that it’s addressed later in the series, so I’m really happy to hear that!

Before I wrap this review up, I do want to make another honourable mention to Michael Lesley who continues to do an AMAZING job narrating these novels. He brings these books to life in the most magical and mystical of ways, and his talent is ENDLESSLY apparent with this series.

A Destiny of Dragons was an easy five-star read. I enjoyed listening to it from start to finish, and not only because the narrator is amazing. This novel had an exciting storyline that kept me on the edge of my toes, constantly wanting to know more, more, more.

If you’re looking for a fantastical read that will keep you moving as you fall in love with each and every character, then A Destiny of Dragons is for you. If you’re reading The Lightning-Struck Heart and maybe not enjoying it (like I wasn’t), then I urge you to push through for this novel. It is an AMAZING continuation of this series, and it made me even more excited for what might come next!

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Narration is awesome!

The narrator changes voices for every character and each one has a pretty distinct voice. This gives more dimension to each character making this book so great!

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Awesome!

The second book in this series is fantastic and Michael Lesley’s narration is so fun.

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Perfect!!!

I love this series. Book 2 perfect addition to series Thank you TJ Klune.
Michael Lesley amazing!!!!
On to book 3.

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great

love this series,the narrator is great and the characters wonderful and lovable.I really enjoyed it.

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As expected

Just love all of tj's work and Michael's narration. this duo are always on my must buy list

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Another ridiculous wonder

I love this zany absurd adventure filled with loveable blundering idiots who absolutely steal your heart. It’s silly and light while still having a sense of urgency depth and stakes. With some really heart warming sections. And the performance from the voice actor was great as well. If you found yourself enjoying the authors wolf song series but need something to cut the sadness and trauma this is a great option while still engaging with a fantastic narrative.

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Entertaining but low on plot material

I feel like this could have been part of book one or three. Entertaining to listen to but it didn't move the plot along very much

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