Review: The Dragon God’s Sacrifice (The Dragons of Serai Book 4) by Amy Sumida

Rating: 2🌈

Spoilers Alert and trigger warnings.

Rarely have I seen a series tumble downhill this fast. While there were hints with the author’s treatment of the main character of Prince Thais by King Xa’din of Ha’tezan, issues within their relationship dynamics, I overlooked it in favor of the richness of the world building and series arc.

I shouldn’t have. The humiliation the King inflicted upon Thas, the pain and lies built into the relationship between them, brutality versus integrity and knowledge? I had problems with Thas ending up with the King when there was clearly a better, imo, bond for him.

But the author has an affinity for those elements because they appear here and in much more powerful forms and abusive details. And while Thas was a highly respected and intelligent philosopher, he was also taken advantage of and expected to become ok with choices that he made not knowing all the facts about.

But Sora? The man swapped out for Thas? So Thas could have his life? A complete innocent in every sense, virginal and someone whose life has been one of constant threats, struggles, being threatened by his siblings, and looked down upon by his father. A man almost forced onto his path, no matter how the author wants to spin this.

So yes, as created by the author, a totally pure soul is the one she uses for a narrative chew toy for a petty, oversexed, revenge filled God. Make that times two. With no notice for a reader for whom DA is a trigger.

Karadas,Dragon God of Water and the Moon, has his new companion in Sora, his Sacrifice, once he decides to accept him after an elaborate affair where he’s attended to and anointed by Thas just as Thas had to undergo. Yes Thas was humiliated then and tries to be kind now as Sora undergoes a similar ritual.

Does the reader feel like a voyeur? Yes because there a third person hiding there in the room, in someone’s head.

The lies have started. So does the manipulation. It’s an emotional, sexual, mental push you, pull you that’s so hard to read.

Sora quickly realizes he’s going to be hurt and when he runs and is brought back (yes this), knows he has no recourse. The pattern is set. Show him how to please Karadas sexually, then the God gets upset over something Sora in his innocence can’t understand, he’s punished, he’s hurt, his God apologizes … well you get it. This continues nonstop until the book is almost unreadable.

At 73% it’s still all about Karadas. He’s spent the majority of the book emotionally, mentally, and physically abusing Sora, a person who was a innocent in every aspect to the “relationship” to the extent we’d classify it as a case of severe domestic violence in a contemporary context, and he’s still got himself as the focus.

Here he is explaining to Sora how he’s feeling about treating Sora badly, after having a orgy, forcing Sora against his will to have sex, making Sora sick and angry so Sora fled the still ongoing sex scene:

“No. I watched them fuck each other. I touched them and let them touch me. I accepted masturbation from them, but I couldn’t stand more than that. Every time I got one of them beneath me, I saw your face, and I knew it would only bring me misery. So I took my giant form when I was with them. I didn’t want any of them attempting to take me into their bodies. It would have enraged me and that wouldn’t have been fair to them. I am ruined, Sora. Ruined for all but you.”

He’s not worried about how hurt Sora would feel. Yes , Sora has expressed himself about that. No he’s withholding his magnificence so they , quite unfairly to the men, can’t have sex with him.

True, he’s a god and like most omnipotent beings, a narcissistic personality. But narcissism alone doesn’t account for the fact he was extremely abusive , let alone for Sora’s well being, his rationale being it was for Sora’s benefit. That he planned it as a way to make Sora a better man. To bring out the real person

A textbook example of DA apology, btw. Karadas also repeatedly states his abusive behavior is unlike him, erratic, something he doesn’t understand, and won’t be repeated in the future.

How many flags are flying in this narrative? A boatload.

And it’s a put a ring on it and all is forgotten and apparently forgiven, even if he doesn’t sound very sincere.

It just get worse and worse. What a narrative dumpster fire.

So the next story will revolve around a rock star in our world but human (the lowest of the low in this universe) being magically delivered to the dragon universe. Yes, I think we can see what the author has in store for this poor man. It’s not going to be pretty.

So I’m quitting. Done.

Perhaps none of this bothers you. But it’s all a solid no for me, including not alerting readers to the elements of Domestic Violence with trigger warnings.

And I’m out.

The Dragons of Serai series:

✓ The Dragon King’s Assassin #1

✓ The Dragon Prince’s Necromancer #2

✓ The Dragon King’s Philosopher #3

✓ The Dragon God’s Sacrifice #4

◦ The Dragon King’s Rock Star #5

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The Dragon God’s Sacrifice: A Gay Fantasy Romance (The Dragons of Serai Book 4)

Can I survive loving a god?

For as long as I can remember, and even further back than that, the Dragons of Serai have worshiped a goddess and only her. But everything has changed. A god has risen. He has returned long-lost magic to my people and balanced the Fire within us. Those who could, made the journey to Ha’tezan, where the God’s temple was unearthed. I am fortunate enough to be one of those Dragons.

Shortly after my arrival, Karadas, the Dragon God of the Moon and Water, demanded a sacrifice—a man willing to give himself completely to our god and serve him in every way. Although the Sacrifice would be a servant to the God, he would hold a status even higher than that of a king. Dragons vied for the position, lining up every day at his temple to be considered. I did not go. I knew there was no chance of the God choosing me.

And yet, that’s exactly what happened.

Karadas chose me. I’m honored and overjoyed to be chosen. I know that serving him will bring me undreamed of pleasure. It will free me from my family and give me a chance at a new life. But I’m not a fool. I also know that his interest will wane, and he will eventually choose another. He’s my god, the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen and more powerful than anyone on Serai. I will surely fall in love with him. And he will, just as surely, destroy my heart. Pain is coming, a lot of it, but that’s nothing new for me. I will glory in the pleasure and not think about the agony that will come when I cease to be the Dragon God’s Sacrifice.