High school is coming to an end for two friends: Dani and Lia. Dani might have to cope with losing a friend that has become as close as family to a faraway college. Even her foster family is not as close to her as Lia. However, Dani soon becomes aware of a bigger threat to their friendship through her friend's brother, Westen: Lia is being pursued by kidnappers and her life is in danger. It all starts when the lake Lia swims in explodes. But after this bizarre experience, more strange occurrences and revelations begin to unfold. Follow Dani's tumultuous journey as she fights for survival while dealing with biting hunger, villainous warlocks, strict dragons, and more daunting challenges in The Dragon Kin by Carolani Day.

The Dragon Kin is the type of book that makes you concerned about its characters as if they are actually real. Yes, it is that intense! The story felt like a game with the combination of the fast-paced plot and the first-person viewpoint. Dani is a curious and perceptive character who keeps finding out new things about her friends and their hidden world throughout the book. The fantasy world is brilliant as it includes some creative magical abilities and details, like clothes that are enchanted for shapeshifting and being able to hold another person's breath without having to touch them. I enjoyed the game-like fantasy world and would recommend Carolani Day's book for young adults who seek a fantasy with a well-developed world and themes of survival and friendship.

If you're a fan of young adult fantasy books such as Twilight, then you're bound to enjoy The Dragon Kin by Carolani Day. But instead of vampires or werewolves, you get warlocks and shapeshifting dragons. Dani is a high school senior who just wishes to join the same college as her best friend, Lia. However, life takes a drastic turn for Dani as she finds herself chased by warlocks who want to siphon the inherent magic she possesses. Dani is shocked to learn that Lia and her brother Westen are shapeshifting dragons who take the form of humans to mingle in society. After Westen saves Dani from the warlocks, he brings her to their ancestral Firehold in Alaska. But a hostile reception and the sudden disappearance of Lia tell Dani that she is not yet out of danger.

The Dragon Kin is an entertaining young adult novel that offers a fresh and unique take on fantasy involving dragons. Author Carolani Day keeps a steady pace to the plot and utilizes much of the page time developing the characters of Dani and Westen, and to a lesser extent, Lia. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Dani and Westen and found the evolution of their relationship dynamic particularly entertaining. I also found myself deeply intrigued by the lore of the dragons and the hierarchy of their royalty. The world feels authentic, and it is deftly revealed to the reader. Overall, I enjoyed The Dragon Kin, and I will recommend it to young adult fantasy lovers.