Review:  Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3) by AJ Sherwood, Jocelynn Drake

Rating:  3.5🌈

I’m not sure if Soar is the end of the Wings ‘N’ Wands series but it does read as if it is.  With all the previous couples and all the dragon clans and mages being present here in one role or another , it’s got the essence of a finale story.  Especially that epilogue and speech. 

So that’s how I will treat it.  I’ve enjoyed reading the three stories immensely, with Sam and Dimitri’s probably being my favorite (Ruins).  So it’s fitting that Soar concludes with a return to Sam’s story by way of his twin brother, Salem, a pediatric surgeon in the US. 

Salem’s  in Brazil for a celebration for his brother, Sam and Dimitri, meets ice dragon Gregori, and after a fabulous one night stand, finds himself with a fated mate he doesn’t want. 

There’s several aspects of the story I enjoyed and others I didn’t connect with as well.  It starts with the main characters and storyline.  If you consider Sam and Dimitri’s (my favorite) , the elements in Ruins are similar but Sam’s character is far more appealing.  Sam’s magical core is broken but Salem’s isn’t.  So while Sam and Dimitri’s relationship dynamic is reflective of the same snark and behavior that Salem and Gregori demonstrate to begin with, the issues they faced, the dangers and unknown terrain made their journey more complex, and their struggles more understandable in emotional terms.  

However , while many of us could understand not wanting to overturn our lives, jobs etc, it’s Sam’s continued conflicting and often abrasive or self-centered towards Gregori that’s the issue.  The authors made it an important part of his character, a factor that left me feeling less than invested in his life and journey.  The authors may have wanted to separate his character from his twin but it felt as though they went as far as they could in the opposite direction, sympathetically speaking.  He’s just not as relatable with his constant references to himself and his actions as being a “a-hole” or something in that sense. Not that he’s wrong as he’s written.  The narrative makes vague mentions as to some bad relationships in his past but the authors give no evidence of any, nothing to suggest that outright nastiness that’s been ongoing. 

Yes, no one wants to overturn their lives. So communication is key. Doesn’t happen.  Gregori is given more depth and better communication skills. He’s seen expanding his social circle and committing to the community. We get one well rounded character and one that needs more dimension to him. 

Same unbalanced aspects of the storyline and relationship occur when (spoiler alert) Gregori starts to feel ill. Why he does is a well written element of the book.

Again Salem’s responses doesn’t always match a physician’s  ethic.  Although, it was a narrative choice to have Salem choose to become a doctor/pediatric surgeon because of his competitive nature with his brother.  Salem is written as excellent doctor, however he began.

The comparisons do add up. For me, Sam’s a problematic factor throughout the book.  Right up almost to the end.  

There’s some thrilling scenes of flying dragons, additional dragon information about clans and physiology, and a grand reunion of all the dragons and mages we’ve gotten to know at the finish.  I adore that.

I don’t know if there’s going to be any further stories in this universe.  They’ve entered a new age.  I’m sure new characters will be coming out and asked to be heard. But probably not here. 

If you love dragons , instant fated mates, and fantasy love stories, check out the series as well as the fantastic series that started it, Scales ’N’ Spells .  Ruins remains my favorite of this series, as does its couple.  But read this for that ending and to see everyone once again.  Plus dragon twins! Adorable. 

Happy reading.

Cover by Katie Griffin.

Scales ’N’ Spells Series 

• Origin #1
• Breath #2
• Wish: A Novella #3
• Blood #4
• Embers #5

Wings ’N’ Wands :

• Dawn: A Prequel Novella (Ha Na and King Rodrigo)
• Ruins #1 – Sam and Dimitri’s book 
• Rise #2 – Vasily & Luka & Amura
• Soar #3 – Salem and Gregori

Buy link

        Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3)

    

blurb

Salem’s guide to making a dragon break up with him:

Step 1: Don’t sleep with him. (No, seriously, don’t.) And definitely don’t let him into your apartment, he won’t leave.

Step 2: Deny being mates and don’t fall in love with him.

…Step one and two failed. Gregori is too stubborn and irresistable.

Salem is currently taking suggestions that don’t involve giving in to his feelings.

(Please note, do not try making the dragon jealous. Jealousy sex is too much fun and cannot be resisted. This will backfire.)

Tags:

One-night stand, ha! just kidding, surgeons be stubborn, no seriously Salem is the king of stubborn, Gregori is stubborn too, how to woo a reluctant mage 101, idiots to lovers, idiots to still idiots, no change on that front, ice dragons can burn up the sheets, more dragon cuddles, broken magic, Brazil, medical magic, mate fog can be dangerous, Rodrigo despairs of his dragons, Ha Na is Very Disappointed, that scares everyone, Sam is ready to throat punch Salem, Russian food is magical, all the cameos, age of mages, Ravi and his twins haven’t burned down the world, yet, 3 a.m. is a perfectly valid time for naked bonding ceremonies

• Publication date: October 18, 2024
• Language: English
• Print length: 312 pages