Exina's Reviews > Mate Hunt

2.5 stars

Though not perfect, it was pretty good and interesting until 70%:

- Interesting world-building,
- Great main character: the beautiful and feminine but kick-ass fighter Jory,
- A baby dragon pet,
- Promising conspiracies and conflicts,
- Extensive and seemingly complicated connections between the characters.

Far from perfect: the romance. And not just because it’s insta love – you know when insta-lust equals love and a lifetime relationship – let’s not go there, it’s a dragon-mating thing. I’m not opposed to insta-love in paranormal romances when it is executed plausibly.
But here I didn’t feel the chemistry and connection between the characters. Maybe a little between Jory and Val, but there is nothing between Jory and Rai. And all the overused endearments can’t substitute affection and intimacy.

Oh, and what about that political and social rivalry between Val and Rai mentioned at the beginning of the story? It is just dissolved in the fog of desire.

Val and Rai’s characters are not adequately drawn, and sometimes even Jory’s character is inconsistent.

There is an intrigue against Jory by his own family, but this storyline is very weak too.

And finally, just like Jory, I’m very unsatisfied with this divided ménage.

Too bad, because the base of the story is interesting, the mate-hunting workshop is a great idea and I really liked the black baby dragon, whose name was… oh boy… Precious.