Review: Dragon Marked by Jaymin Eve

Book Blurb:

There are supernatural prisons hidden across the globe. Contained within these fortresses are some of the deadliest criminals from the five supernatural races: vampire, shifter, fey, magic users and demi-fey.

Jessa Lebron, twenty-two, has spent her entire life in Stratford, Connecticut, one of the gateway towns adjoining these prisons which protect the fortified borders. She’s a wolf shifter, and her father leads the town council. She learns that much of her life has been hidden from her, secrets which threaten to tear apart her world. Especially the biggest secret of them all.

She is dragon marked.

Jessa only knows what she’s been told about the dragon marked, that they are dangerous and must be eliminated to prevent the rise of the dragon king, the powerful warmonger who had his head removed a thousand years ago. So now Jessa's on the biggest hit list of all. Dragon mark hunters are lethal and her only hope to evade detection is to keep the energy contained.

As more secrets unfold she finds herself locked up in Vanguard, the notorious American supernatural prison. Thankfully she’s not alone. Braxton, the dragon-shifter has her back. Together they must survive long enough to free themselves and the other dragon marked.

Because it’s time for the dragon marked to rise.

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre:Supernatural, Werewolves, Another-World, Vampires, Witches, Faeries--

Jessa thinks her future is exactly what she expects, to finish school with her 4 best friends, the Compass quadruplets, and become the alpha of her wolf pack when her father steps down. Little does she know that her world is thrown on its head when the mother who abandoned her comes back to town along with a sister she did not even know existed. On top of the personal drama, supernatural prisons have been broken into all over the world and nobody has any answers. Jessa must come to terms with her family and personal revelations as well as help the Compass Quads search for the hidden prison.

Squee! I loved this book. I knew I would after reading the first few pages and getting sucked into the characters as well as the world so quickly. The story is told from Jessa’s view and she is such a mixed bag of fun, love, jealously and complete and utter denial. I loved Jessa and her unrealistic expectations, her swag, total denial and commitment to her boys. The book was pretty serious in nature, yet Jessa’s eating habits were enough to keep me entertained in the face of danger. And this book was full of danger, be it the threat of the dragon marked, prison, being framed for crimes, murderous sneak attacks, or potentially being raped. A lot of dark things occurred in the story making it more a new adult, as well as the shifters need for sex. I would not classify this as a romance at all, more of an urban fantasy action story.

Speaking of romance, I am convinced I know who Jessa’s mate is (I really, really hope it is him because I love him and I am pretty sure Jessa does to!). It seems like everyone knows who her mate is, including said man, except for Jessa and everyone hints subtle and not so subtly about it that I just wanted to grab her and make her kiss him just so we could know the truth. I am a hopeless romantic and the two of them make the best match. Ever. Alas, it does not occur in this book, but I can’t wait to get my hands on the second one to see if it happens. And soon.

I said this was not a romance, yet I went off on a tangent about a potential mate, but that was such a tiny part of the story (but obviously one I focused on a tad too much). The world building was intense and unique, with creatures that have been seen before but with new twists and descriptions it made it into something I had not encountered. There were so many types of creatures, be it all kinds of animal shifter (including dragons!), vampires, magic users, fey creatures like mermaids and sirens. I loved the dynamic between the groups, as well as the characterizations for all the side characters. Everyone had their own personality to make them individuals and I felt like I knew everyone, especially Braxton, Max and Mischa. And the mystery that is Louis.

I am completely enamored with these characters and the plot. The ending had so many questions left that I am anxiously awaiting the next book (which I hope is soon!). I had not read a book by this author before but had her title First World on my wishlist, which has now been bumped up to my Need-To-Read-Soon list. This was so much angsty fun that I would recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal adventures with sexual tension.

I received this title from the author in exchange for my honest review.