The Quiet Side by Casey Blair

I’ll be honest, when I first started the book, the dynamic between Kovan and Tasa felt a bit much. Their immediate intensity came off more like obsession than curiosity, which made it harder to ease into their connection. They’d flip from mutual admiration to sharp-edged conflict so fast it gave me whiplash. That emotional whiplash wasn’t always believable, but then again, relationships aren't always tidy.

That said, once I settled in, I found myself unexpectedly drawn to both of them. Kovan, with all his quiet strength and practical thinking, felt like the embodiment of control, except when it came to figuring out where he fit in the world. Watching him wrestle with the weight of other people’s expectations versus his own voice felt deeply personal. I’ve been there. It hit.

Then there's Tasa, stubborn, independent, almost allergic to vulnerability. She’s so used to surviving on her own that accepting help feels like weakness. And yet, it’s in that hardened exterior that we see her unravel, slowly, beautifully.

What really made their story shine for me wasn’t the drama or the romance, but the raw, almost painful way they saw the best in each other, while being completely blind to those same qualities in themselves. There’s something tender about that, something real. Watching them begin to unpack those old, self-inflicted wounds together was honestly my favorite part.

And I haven’t even mentioned the setting, dragons and cozy vibes? That combination is an absolute win. You get softness wrapped in scales and fire, and somehow, it works.

I’m seriously looking forward to the rest of the series. Will it stay safe and soft? Or are we headed for darker skies? Either way, I’m buckled in, I won’t be missing a page.