Review: The Dragon’s Devotion (Chronicles of Tournai #5) by Antonia Aquilante

Corentin is a scholar with a secret—his magical Talent allows him to turn into a dragon, and he isn’t alone in that ability. Long ago, dragons were hunted fiercely, until they went into hiding, becoming things of legend. Corentin has traveled the world with one aim—to protect his people and keep their secret safe. Drawn to the principality of Tournai by news of someone close to discovering that secret, he hopes to avert suspicion. His attraction to the too-serious Bastien isn’t convenient for his purpose, but it isn’t something he can ignore either.

Lord Bastien, Earl of Ardesia, inherited his title unexpectedly when his parents were killed in a sailing accident along with the parents of his cousin, Prince Philip. Since then, Bastien has devoted his life to the obligations of his family and estate—so much so, that it has caused tension between him and his siblings. His world is further shaken when he receives an anonymous letter informing him that the tragic boating accident may, in fact, have been murder. Bastien throws himself into investigating whether the allegations are true and finding out who killed his parents.

As Corentin and Bastien become closer, the mystery of Bastien’s parents’ death draws him further into danger. Corentin feels compelled to protect Bastien, but the threat is closer than they know. Now, Corentin must decide whether preserving his secret—and potentially his people’s safety—is more important than saving the man he loves.

*While this book is the fifth in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

I’m a fan of this series and this world that Antonia Aquilante builds in a fantastical country named Tournai. From the first book to this one, I have been introduced to a magical world where people have talents such as magic or the ability to turn into an animal. So far we have only seen large cats and, of course, I adored being a witness to all of it. We’ve met Corentin from Etan and Tristan’s book and know a bit about him but we don’t know everything. When Master Savarin decides to question Master Corentin about his talents and what the marks on his back mean, we learn that this dark man with the violet eyes is a dragon.

“Once upon a time, dragons were plentiful in the world.”

I absolutely love dragons and Corentin did not disappoint but I am getting ahead of myself here.

Corentin as a respected faculty member of the university and colleague of Etan’s is invited to Etan and Tristan’s wedding. There he sees a young man who has captured his attention and one he decides he must meet. This man, Bastien is there with his three younger siblings and is the cousin of Prince Philip and Etan (Etan was Prince Philip’s cousin on his father’s side, while Bastien was Philip’s cousin on his mother’s.) We get bits of Bastien before the wedding, learning how his parents died in the same sailing accident as Philip’s parents and how he was thrust into the parenting role of his younger siblings. It’s not a position that Bastien despises it’s just one that doesn’t allow the young man to have a life outside of his family. That will all change when the violet eyes across the room lock with his and a conversational walk leads to a kiss that will have Bastien and Corentin soon seeking the other out whenever they can.

He’d done his best to drive Bastien insane with wanting, to drive the sadness from his eyes, and ended up utterly undone himself.

What this series gives in each book is a delicious slow burn romance and once again, we get is delivered delectably here with Bastien and Corentin. I adored how Corentin saw Bastien and was determined for him to know how desired he was and how the masses saw him. Bastien is humble, he has done what he needed to do to take care of his siblings, but it’s about time for Bastien to get someone who will show their devotion, loyalty and love to him and only him. I guess it’s a good things dragons like to hoard beautiful things, isn’t it?

Now there is more than the romance to this story. We have the folklore of what happened to the dragons and how badly Corentin wants to keep his talent a secret. We know that they royalty of Tournai can turn into large cats so it’s something they understand about secrecy. But there is also a mystery and it’s presented via Bastien when he shows Philip an anonymous note saying their parents deaths weren’t an accident…they were murdered. Thus begins the hunt for the truth of what happened to both sets of parents and the danger it brings to those involved. I will say the danger led to some pretty damn swoon worthy, risk everything for love moments that wrapped around my hopeless romantic heart like the warmest hug.

“There’s more to my Talent than that.”
“Just tell me.”
“I’m not sure how.” Corentin took a breath. “What do you know of dragons?”

I absolutely adore when Bastien gets to see Corentin as a dragon. With every book when a talent is revealed with shifting, it’s stunning and to see how Bastien reacted to Corentin changing was lovely. He was so caught up in all of it, the dragon’s smile the beauty of the scales that there was no hesitation to accept that the ginormous dragon in front of him was also the man he was coming to love.

As always the author blends every element of this story beautifully as she weaves us into the depths of the growing romance between Bastien and Corentin. The story flows off the page in with a lyrical symmetry that the reader just needs to breathe it all in and enjoy watching it happen. That is what I do with this series, I let the words transport me to a fantasy realm where all of this exists, where men turn into dragons and fly through the sky. Where courted earls get to do what their heart tells them and not martyr themselves to the obligation of family when the family wants only to see him happy. And where a man who can turn into a dragon, finds safety in sharing his secret with a lover, a friend and those within a trusted circle of extended family.

Yup. I loved this one but it’s no surprise.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.