Reviewed by Mal
TITLE: Under Gorse and Stone
AUTHOR: Lily Morton
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 295 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 17, 2025
BLURB:
Cary Sutton isn’t surprised when his boyfriend walks out on him during a holiday in Cornwall at Christmas. It’s far from the first time that someone’s accused him of being cold—both inside and out. Cary’s spent his whole life feeling like he’s separated from the world by a sheet of glass. Nothing touches him. Nothing moves him.
Which is why it’s so strange to find himself drawn to a small Cornish beach and the man he meets there. Sigurd Arvesen is handsome and charming, but he also holds a secret—one that’s big enough to overturn Cary’s whole world.
Sigurd is a centuries-old dragon, and Cary is his mate.
Whisked into Sigurd’s magical world, Cary meets strange and wonderful creatures that he’s only ever read about in books. The mystical realm is both enchanting and dark, but even scarier are the warm feelings that Sigurd brings out in Cary.
What will happen when Christmas Eve dawns and Cary must go home?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a magical Christmas story about a lonely dragon and his one true love.
REVIEW:
Awwwww adorable magical tale. I am unexpectedly delighted. I expected fantasy going in but this story was marvellous. Told entirely from Cary’s PoV it’s a fantastical adventure in falling in love, finding your mate and generally all feel good things. There is a complete absence of angst here, just all the swoony swoon my heart could desire.
I love the way Lily Morton writes her characters and I loved Cary and Sigurd. Omg Sigurd, I melt. Hot hot hot. A Nordic Viking dragon with eons of honour and grace built in. A warrior with vast magic and a massive sentient library ahhh his house was delightful. I was smiling through this whole story. And not only because of Sigurd, Cary is delightful, sharp witty mostly unfazed and completely horny for the dragon 🤣
The banter humour and general vibe overall was sublime.
Cary has just been dumped, by an a$$ and through a series of fortunate (guided?) events stumbles into magical realms where all his favourite Cornish folklore come to life. I am blown away by the world building the myths and legends the stories that Lily Morton wove together to build this non stop magical adventure these two go on including a few quests with a dash of danger to boot.
They are fated but Sigurd has secrets, some he reveals and some he is holding onto. Expected Camelot and Merfolk, Krakens and Witches, Piskies and fairies, Ships of the dead and Giants and a whole lot more on this magical Lily Morton takes us on
Not to mention the swoon, Sigurd is the king if swoon. Perfect Holiday romance, I enjoyed it so much. Highly recommend giving it a go.
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
