I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Azure Kingdom by Michelle Dare hooked me from the first page! It is a sweet romance set in a medieval realm, featuring one of my favorite paranormal creatures — dragons. It’s been a year since Alison Wescot’s mother died, leaving her with her antique store, when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens a hidden room in her closet to another world. Lucas Azure is a prince and leader of the king’s elite guard when the girl from his dreams walks into the middle of his hunt.

Alison is easy to like. She’s independent, a bit lonely, and ready for adventure. After losing her mother over a year earlier, she finds a note and skeleton key back to her mother’s home realm. She packs a bag and in the middle of the night uses it to go to another world. Personally I was impressed by this. There’s no way I would use a key knowing it would take me somewhere like that and possibly strand me there. That took guts!

The novella’s only downfall was the insta-love. If there was a definition for insta-love, it could take the relationship between Alison and Lucas as an example. There was no build-up, getting to know you type thing with these two. It was just instant love/lust. Granted the book does start with Alison dreaming she is in the Azure Kingdom and Lucas is there as well. Supposedly these dreams have been happening for a year. I could see where she would instantly love and trust him if she’s been dreaming of him for a year!

Overall I really enjoyed this novella. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and creating a magnificent realm complete with backstory and history in a short novella. If you enjoy medieval stories, civil wars, and dragons, I would recommend you check out Michelle Dare’s installment of the Skeleton Key series.