E.J. Ashwood has rudely caused me emotional trauma, but I would gladly come back for more. With this book, I won’t need to. Until the Dragons Fly is a standalone fantasy romance novel that I was lucky enough to read as a digital ARC. I want to take a moment to allow you to admire this beautiful cover of the book before I dive into why I loved it so much.
Until the Dragons Fly 
Author: E.J. Ashwood
Publisher: E.J. Ashwood
Published: July 16th 2026
Book Length: 529 Pages
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (4.5)
Buy the Book: Amazon,
*I received a n ARC copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.*
Even the once-fearsome dragons.
It’s been over a thousand years since the witch’s curse cast an everlasting magical veil over the land—a haze that will never dissipate and is poisoning nearly all life beneath it, little by little.
When Elysande, the elven princess, stumbles upon an ancient clue from the past, hope flickers for the first time in ages. Can she finally free the land from the suffocating mist that cloaks it, all while escaping the king’s notice?
Alone, she likely doesn’t stand a chance. But when unlikely allies band together after a misunderstanding or two—one involving a knife at her throat courtesy of a particularly mean dragon shifter—will they be able to break the curse once and for all?
One thing is understood upon by each of them.
They will die trying.
Ashwood has created not just a story that I was fully immersed in, but a world I was sad to leave behind when I turned the last page. I think that the strongest and my most favorite part of this story is the diverse characters. The FMC, Elysande, was strong and independent but not overly so. She gradually relied on those around her to help her in her quest. I love that Elysande is such a beautiful blend of independence and dependence. I think this is why I resonated with her character so much throughout the story. Then we have Daegan, the MMC. I have to say I thought he was going to be my favorite because I am always a sucker for a broody yet protective MMC…but in fact he was my second favorite. Daegan was pushed backward only due to the humor Raef brought. He was for sure the comic relief in the story. I mean he calls her Sand rather than Elle just to be different. That being said, every time it happened I internally giggled. Finally, we have Meela, the best friend of Elysande. I loved that we truly got to see their friendship more in depth as the story went on. In the beginning of the book, it felt a little superficial. There are other characters of course, but I can’t ruin it…you will have to just pick up the book yourself.
I was a little hesitant on this book as far as world-building is concerned, only because it is a standalone. I do think the world the author created is beautiful and I was intrigued. While we are given enough information to understand the plot and the basics of their past, I was left craving more. I wanted to know more about each race of beings, the land itself, even the magic system. Again, as you read there is nothing missing that would make it difficult to understand, it just leaves me wanting more. I would love a novella maybe with some of the history, ooo maybe a novella about how the curse came to be in the first place. This would allow the author to explain the world and factions in more detail. I think if these aspects were discussed in more detail, it would push my review to a solid 5 star. Nonetheless, I fell in love with this story and now require a trophy!
As far as pacing went, the beginning was slightly slow for me. However, it did pick up and move steadily as the story progressed later on. But can we talk about the romance for a minute? The banter and yearning!!! Ugh. I am a sucker for a broody MMC and yearning. There was spice in this book, but I wouldn’t say it was too spicy. This is for sure a fantasy romance and not romantasy novel. The spice is nice, but the romance is not the main plot line.
Overall, this debut novel was incredible! Be prepared to laugh so hard you have to mom cross (thanks Raef), sob for what feels like hours (E.J. Ashwood…that pain cut so deep), smile so hard your cheeks hurt, and of courses stare at a wall when you finish (it is a standalone). Take a chance on this debut Indie author and grab Until the Dragons Fly today.
P.S. You can also request this book at your local library!
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