Blood Oath
Author: Raye Wagner & Kelly St. Clare
Spice Level: 
Release Year: 2017
There’s something about the Darkest Drae series that sticks with you, even after you’ve finished the final page and moved on to other worlds. For me, it’s the way the authors, Raye Wagner and Kelly St. Clare, blend brutality and beauty, darkness and hope, all in a fantasy landscape where dragons aren’t just window dressing—they’re the beating, fire-breathing heart of the narrative. I found myself both disturbed and fascinated by the rawness of Ryn’s journey, the relentless cruelty of her world, and the slow, almost agonizing evolution of her character. The series doesn’t shy away from pain or trauma, and at times, I found myself squirming at the sheer bleakness of her circumstances. Yet, that’s exactly what made her growth so satisfying. Watching Ryn transform from naive innocence to hard-won strength was a ride I wouldn’t trade for a dozen more sanitized, easy-bake heroines.
You, too, might find yourself unexpectedly invested in the relationships—especially the one between Ryn and Lord Irrik, the enigmatic dragon shifter. It’s not your typical romance. There’s a slow-burn tension, a push and pull that sometimes borders on excruciating, and the emotional stakes are as high as the physical ones. I oscillated between wanting to throttle Irrik for his coldness and swooning over his moments of vulnerability. The chemistry isn’t always front and center, but when it hits, it hits hard. The spice factor? I’d peg it at a 3.2—enough to make you blush, not enough to overshadow the plot, and always simmering just beneath the surface. The romance is as much about healing and trust as it is about heat, and that’s a rare thing in the romantasy genre.
What really elevates this series for me is the world-building. Fantasy with dragons is everywhere, but rarely do you get a setting that feels this lived-in, this dangerous, this unpredictable. The authors sprinkle just enough lore and history to keep you hungry, but never so much that you’re bogged down in exposition. There’s a sense of constant discovery, of secrets lurking just out of reach, and I loved the way each book peeled back new layers. The supporting cast is just as nuanced—some I adored, others I loathed, but all of them felt real, flawed, and essential to the journey. The second book, in particular, surprised me with how it deepened the relationships and raised the stakes, and by the end, I was emotionally wrung out in the best possible way.
Is this series flawless? Not at all. There are moments where the darkness threatens to overwhelm, and a twist or two that felt telegraphed. But honestly, I didn’t care. The emotional highs and lows, the snarky humor that surfaces at the bleakest moments, and the sheer audacity of the narrative kept me hooked. I’ve read plenty of dragon fantasies and romantasy sagas, but Darkest Drae earns its place as my #10 all-time favorite because it dares to go places others won’t, and it does so with style and heart. It’s a series I recommend to anyone who craves grit with their magic, steam with their scales, and a heroine who earns every ounce of her power.
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