One thing I love about Devin Madson's books is her meal scenes. You can count on mountains of intrigue, double-speak, emotional struggles, and narrowed stares whenever our cast sits down for a nosh. These scenes have elevated the Reborn Empire series, and it rears its mighty head again in Between Dragons and Their Wrath. There are also many (many!) sex scenes, plant dysmorphia, something called an 'insult bride,' and freaking dragon riders with guns who chug psychedelic sludge before flying off into battle.

Just in case you're somehow still on the fence, Between Dragons and Their Wrath follows three first-person POVs in three different regions of the Shattered Kingdom. Tesha is a glass smith and a freedom fighter, smart and driven, who becomes entangled with high society politics that quickly veers into life-or-death levels of intrigue. Ashadi is a handsome, smooth-talking noble who was banished to an unforgiving land and must constantly patrol under extreme circumstances. Naili is a laundress who faces harsh work conditions that lead to tragic, unexpected outcomes, and must pivot into a dangerous world of treachery in order to right those who were wronged.

All three characters have strong and distinct voices, and each chapter was an engaging thrill. Madson continues to write long chapters which feel like self-contained short stories. There's a ton of plot development with each visit with our protagonists, as well as strong character development -- every character is flawed to the point where you just want to strangle them while slapping your forehead -- which makes the read all the more fun and rewarding. An excellent supporting cast adds various love interests, interesting foils, and enough magic to enrich the lore with mystery and promise.

This book is serious fun. Madson has once again crafted a thrilling, layered world that lured me in from its opening pages all the way through its 'Did you have to end it THERE?' finale. Don't miss this one.