Reviewed by Anna Lynn
TITLE: Origin
SERIES: Scales ‘N’ Spells #1
AUTHOR: AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2020
LENGTH: 435 pages
BLURB:
Cameron wants to make it clear that he did not go into the festival to find a dragon mate.
Germany is supposed to be an escape. With a new mechanical engineering degree, a new job looming, and a whole life planned out that isn’t his, Germany seems like the best place to find himself.
So, how does he end up discovering his lost magic heritage, running from bad guys with a secret agenda, and being adopted by the not-so-extinct Fire Dragon clan?
Cameron blames tall, dark, and sexy Alric, King of the Fire Dragons. His fated mate. Because of course he is, and mates are meant to take the blame, right?
It may take a hot second, but as Cameron learns more about the scarred Alric and the life he’s landed in, Cameron realizes that perhaps this is where he’s meant to be, magic and mates and kidnapping and all.
Turns out coming to Germany wasn’t an escape but his awakening.
REVIEW:
As children, I think we all have heard stories about dragons and magic. We read about them in books and see them in movies. I, myself, believe (up until now actually, reminiscent of my childhood) that they really existed and just like dinosaurs, they just went extinct. In Asian culture, particularly in Chinese culture, dragons are believed to be magical creatures and that they possess luck and goodness! In pictures and in movies as well, they look magnificent and beautiful! Totally out-of-this-world in their beauty. And when you talk about dragons, magic would not be far behind.
Now, what do you do when you are believed to be a Mage but all your life you have never seen it or practiced it? Well, there might have been glimpses of it when you were very young but it was always done in secret and sometimes your great grandmother didn’t allow you to watch at all, like it was always done in secret? I think you yourself would be hard pressed to believe it, right? If it was me, I will definitely question the validity of that because I have never known that I was a Mage nor have I seen it being practiced around me.
The backpacking through Europe was supposedly Cameron’s reprieve before he starts his “boring” career in Mechanical Engineering. He met a beautiful, swoon-worthy older man who showed him the town, Sonthofen, and regaled him with the town’s history and lore. Stories about Dragons and Mages. And then something unexpected happened and now, he is being told that he is a Mage. When Alric (the beautiful, swoon-worthy older man) finally revealed that he is the King of the Fire Dragon Clan, Cam can’t decide if all the attention he got from Alric before the revelation was just because he was a Mage or did Alric truly paid attention to him? So when Cam was brought to the castle for his own protection, he can see for himself how true and wholly attentive Alric is, and he begins to see the King for who he truly is. Alric is a caring, loving and attentive King and that he is also a friend to everyone. The attention and care he bestows on Cam are from his heart and his desire for his clan and their happiness comes from a heart who is even willing to sacrifice his own happiness for them.
But darker magic can also be felt and the attempted kidnapping has unsettled the King and his clan. Will history repeat itself or will they be able to prevent it from happening for the second time. Mages are in very short supply since the Dragon War so it is most likely that there are other entities out there who also want Cameron for their own. What happens after is a race towards uncovering who has the audacity to do such a thing and go against the Fire Dragon King and the rest of his clan.
I am falling in love, AGAIN! This new series is something I never knew I needed! Ms. Sherwood and Ms. Drake have both created this whole new world of magnificent Dragons and fearless Mages wherein the characters each have their own strengths and weaknesses but together forge a formidable entity that you would not want to encounter. Cam’s strength and unwavering power towards the end is totally mind-blowing in its intensity! The tale is full of fun banter, snark, love of family and so much cuteness that you can’t help but swoon! I am eagerly anticipating the next book, thank you for creating yet another amazing world!
RATING: 
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