Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle

Dragons, danger, and a slow-burn romance with teeth

Realm of Thieves kicks off with a strong premise—illegal dragon egg theft, rival criminal syndicates, and a heroine with a past steeped in cult escape and survival. Karina Halle delivers immersive world-building right from the glossary and realm history, and I appreciated the thought put into setting the stage.

Brynla is sharp and driven, and while I liked her as a character, I wanted more of her background, especially her time with the Daughters of Silence. We get glimpses toward the end, but I wish it had been woven in earlier. Andor is conflicted, torn between family expectations and the growing pull he feels toward Brynla. His early fascination with her makes sense, given how long he’s been watching her from the shadows.

And yes, I loved that he calls her “lavender girl.”

The chemistry is there, the spice is well done, but I found myself wanting just a bit more build-up and friction. I didn’t always feel the emotional weight behind their connection.

Pacing lagged in the middle, and I was hoping for more conflict with the rival syndikats—but the final heist and some late twists reeled me back in. And shoutout to Lemi, the real star of the show (protect that dog at all costs).

This ends with a satisfying HEA and hints at more to come, and while I wanted a little more depth in parts, the world and characters kept me curious enough to continue with book two.

Pre-Order your copy here. You can also check out our list of other books we recommend if you love dragon romance here.