Title: The Ballad of Falling Dragons
Author: Sarah A. Parker
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: May 19, 2026
ISBN: 9780063497412
Synopsis:
Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor—a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the world will face its most devastating moonfall yet, forcing her to pick a path: Chase death. Or life. Desperate to save his kingdom from ruin, Kaan’s crown has never felt so heavy. His many larks to scattered friends and family remain unanswered, and time is running out.
As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past. Something … Other. Something with the knowledge to change it all.
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If I discount the fact that this book took me over a month to read, it’s a top tier series that continues to be captivating in its description, unique magic system, and heart-stopping moments. It’s slow going in the beginning as the author sets the stage for the heart-breaking second half the book. Death follows these characters wherever they go. It is ever present in their world as the sky hangs heavy with the lost dragons who have found their final resting place in the sky above. It chases these characters as vengeance reigns and everyone is out fighting for their survival.
This story begins to reveal secrets of the past as Raeve begins to understand more about who she is and what terrible tragedies she’s survived. As more of her memories are revealed to her, the pieces of her past begin to fall into place. What I wanted to see more of was the past between Raeve and Kaan—the life before Raeve’s memories were lost. She is so impossibly hard to get to know, keeping her vulnerabilities locked tight away, to the point where even she can’t access them. So, knowing more of their history would have ignited more of a spark between them and brought some heat to their romance. Through it all, Kaan is steady and constant in his devotion to Raeve, and he very much is a bright shining spot in this novel.
The plot itself brings the reader to beautifully descriptive parts of the world, exploring settings both new and old and keeping the reader guessing. Many of the secondary characters are also very realistically fleshed out, adding deeper and more robust storytelling elements and adding to the world’s engagement. The first half is a bit slow, and this arguable took me the most time to get through. It’s mostly context and some world building, so it does take a bit of time to get through. But the second half just flew by, packed with action, vicious antagonists, dragon battles, and sweeping magic. Once the action began, it didn’t stop, leaving us hanging until book three is released.
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 