Book picks similar to
Into the Shadows (Shadowlands Book 1) by Linda K. Hopkins


fantasy
dragons
something-problematic
dragons-and-dragons-shifters

The Complete Book of Beasts


Adam Blade - 2012
    Readers will gain secret knowledge, learn incredible facts, and study amazing color pictures. This unique book is a must-have for any Avantian hero.

The Banned and The Banished Saga, Books 1-5


James Clemens
    

House of Dragons


Jessica Cluess - 2020
    A liar, a soldier, a servant, a thief, and a murderer will answer it. Who will win?When the Emperor dies, the five royal houses of Etrusia attend the Call, where one of their own will be selected to compete for the throne. It is always the oldest child, the one who has been preparing for years to compete in the Trial. But this year is different. This year, these five outcasts will answer the call....THE LIAR: Emilia must hide her dark magic or be put to death.THE SOLDIER: Lucian is a warrior who has sworn to never lift a sword again.THE SERVANT: Vespir is a dragon trainer whose skills alone will keep her in the game.THE THIEF: Ajax knows that nothing is free--he must take what he wants.THE MURDERER: Hyperia was born to rule and will stop at nothing to take her throne.

Bound


Kate Sparkes - 2014
    She knows she should be content with what she has. If only she could banish the idea that there's more to life than marriage and children, or let go of the fascination with magic she's been forced to suppress since childhood.When Rowan unknowingly saves the life of one of her people’s most feared enemies, that simple act of compassion rips her from her sheltered life and throws her into a world of magic that’s more beautiful, more seductive, and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.Rowan might get everything she ever dreamed of—that is, if the one thing she's always wanted doesn't kill her first.

Lord of the Fading Lands


C.L. Wilson - 2007
    Once he loved with such passion his name was legend.Once, driven wild with grief over the murder of his beloved, the majestic Fey King Rain Tairen Soul had laid waste to the world before vanishing into the Fading Lands. Now, a thousand years later, a new threat draws him back into the world—and a new love reawakens the heart he thought long dead.Ellysetta, a woodcarver’s daughter, calls to Rain in a way no other ever had. Mysterious and magical, her soul beckons him with a compelling, seductive song—and no matter the cost, the wildness in his blood will not be denied. As an ancient, familiar evil regains its strength, causing centuries-old alliances to crumble and threatening doom for Rain and his people... he must claim his truemate to embrace the destiny woven for them both in the mists of time.

The Last Namsara


Kristen Ciccarelli - 2017
    But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

Magic Astray


Gregory L. Mahan - 2013
    But the elves turn out to be more dangerous than he bargained for, seeking to rip open the veil between Tallia and Llandra and unleash swarming hordes of unspeakable horrors. Even worse, Berry seems to be on their side!Determined to stop them, Randall races against time to find the one artifact that can save Tallia, or destroy it.

Northbane Shifters


Isabella Hunt - 2019
    Winfyre Ridge. Away from the horrors, wars, and darkness. A place to live free and prosper. To start over. If you can get there. WOLF's WAGER Reagan Grace fled from a city laid to waste. She’s trying to get what’s left of her family to that mountain haven by any means necessary. But after a thousand-mile trek, the last thing she expected was a chance encounter with a bored alpha shifter. One who claims her by a toss of the dice. Luke “Swift” Swiftlore could smell the secrets on Reagan a mile away. Hell only knows what risk he’s taking in letting this pretty refugee in. Now he has to keep her close and see if he can get her to cop to what she is. Good thing he’s a creative badboy. BLACK BEAR's DUE Laia Llary has been looking for her cousin Tristan for months. But when she gets to Winfyre, does she find him? No. She only finds trouble. A brawl, a black eye and a bear shifter. Exactly in that order. Garrett “Rett” Deacon knows he should throw Laia out on her ass, but he owes her cousin. With no alternative, he claims her as punishment. At least now he can both train and keep an eye on her. Although it’s hard to say who hates it more. TIGER's PREY Sierra the Sphinx is the best scout money can buy. She might even be a match for Tristan “Trickster” Llary of the Northbane. Except she didn’t stick around long enough after swindling him to find out. Too bad, the Tiger Alpha was a hell of a kisser. Only Sierra might have made a mistake. She didn’t bank on Tristan coming after her. The one and only night Tristan decides to kick back, he gets robbed. Now he’s hot on Sierra’s tail for three reasons. One, to get his possessions back. Two, because Sierra doesn’t realize what kind of danger she’s in – both from him and those that would kill for what she has. Three – he can’t get her out of his head. ICE BEAR's BID Kallen “Kal” Deacon is the second-in-command at Winfyre. The Northbane shifter would give his life to keep it safe. Or to protect its most important secret. So, he’s not happy when he’s sent to scout the southern border. He’s even less happy when he comes upon a black-market auction. Kal knows he should leave it alone but one demure and bumbling beauty changes his mind. Iris has no idea what to make of the surly Ice Bear shifter dragging her back to Winfyre. While he’s terrifying and powerful, she’s not afraid. She’s drawn to him. DRAGON's OATH Alexander "Xander" Bane understands he is now the reason Winfyre exists. His presence alone keeps most threats at bay. Something he takes no pride in – as its leader, he does what has to be done and that's the end of it. Even if it means he has to be alone for the rest of his life, his shifted form must remain a secret. A secret found out by accident by Tiani Elkhadi, who spies the dragon in the woods. After nearly years of precautions, Xander has no idea what he should do. As icy as his heart has become, he can’t bring himself to kill her in cold blood. With no other choice, he claims her. Only Xander has no idea he’s playing into enemy hands. That Tiani was sent there to destroy Winfyre from the inside. To make it an example. To start a new war. NOTE: This boxset contains ALL five books of the Northbane Shifters series.

Bartered to the Fae Lord


Rylee Winters - 2019
     But now things have just fallen to a whole new level of crappiness even she couldn’t imagine! Her dead-beat father has struck a bargain with a Fae lord and offered her up as his bride to save his own worthless skin. Unfortunately, she discovers once a deal is struck with one of the immortal folk, there’s no way out… Callum, the mysterious Fae lord, comes for her personally, spiriting her away to his cold, wintry realm. She’s given no choice but to marry him and remain his captive. But Elise isn’t about to give up––she’s concocting a plan to escape. Only she’s in danger of losing herself heart, body and soul, to this brooding, chiselled, Fae warrior before she can realize her plan. Meanwhile, war is brewing in the Kingdom, and Callum has been ordered to ready the army of troops in his garrison to march for battle. There are enemies in the shadows and conspiracies happening behind closed doors, and he and Elise will find themselves caught in the crossfire. Will Elise be able to find out Callum is her fated mate before war erupts around them and tears them apart? Or will she abandon him in his greatest moment of need, when she’s unexpectedly given a chance to return home? *Bartered to the Fae Lord is a standalone steamy paranormal romance with a HEA. Each book in the Fated Mates series will feature a different couple with a complete story.*

Flamecaster


Cinda Williams Chima - 2016
    The son of the queen of the Fells, Ash is forced into hiding after a series of murders throws the queendom into chaos. Now Ash is closer than he’s ever been to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. As a healer, can Ash use his powers not to save a life but to take it?A blood-based curse.Abandoned at birth, Jenna Bandelow was told the mysterious magemark on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard launches a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes that it has more to do with her role as a saboteur than any birth-based curse. Though Jenna doesn’t know why she’s being hunted, she knows that she can’t get caught.Destiny’s fiery hand.Eventually, Ash’s and Jenna’s paths will collide in Arden. Thrown together by chance and joined by their hatred of the king, they will come to rescue each other in ways they cannot yet imagine.Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series a generation later, this is a thrilling story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death.

Blood Oath


Raye Wagner - 2017
    Dragons. Intrigue. Romance. More than anything, I crave adventure. But in the disease ridden land of Verald, life is mapped out much like the well-established rings of our kingdom. At the very heart reigns our vicious king and Lord Irrik, an invincible dragon shifter, at his side. Their power poisons the land and the people, leading to a steadily mounting number of enemies. But change is coming. When the rebellion surges, the king strikes back. Captured by Lord Irrik, I'm suddenly embroiled in a deadly game. One where I'm desperate to understand the rules. Because I'm not only fighting for my life... but also a love that could be the very key to my freedom.

Armond


M. Guida - 2021
    

Getting Lucky: A Fake Fiance, Dragon Shifter Romance


Jacey Ward - 2019
    Patrick’s Day brings bad luck… “Marry me.” I thought I was dreaming when I heard Derek say the words to me. I’ve had a crush on my brother’s best friend forever, but I never thought he’d look twice at me. Even though I was almost done college now, I was still just Jason’s poor little sister. While he was born with a silver spoon, and the matching Ferrari. But now he wants to marry me? I mean, use me. At least he was honest, and told me straight up that he needs a wife in order to collect his trust fund. Talk about an astronomical hit to my ego. Derek could have any woman though – so why me? Derek Can she survive my dragon? She’s going to drive me crazy. Her beautiful smile, her witty humor… her never-ending, drop-dead gorgeous body. My proposal was the perfect solution – at the time. I need my trust fund to finance my tech research, and she needs…well, me. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll prove it to her. That is, if she can accept my fire-breathing, possessive nature. And if my clan doesn’t kill her first. I’ll trade my trust fund for her protection any day. But will she still have me after she finds out what kind of monster I become? And who the hell could have guessed that her secret would be even bigger than mine?

The Ruin of Kings


Jenn Lyons - 2019
    When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn't what the storybooks promised.Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins.Then again, maybe he's not the hero, for Kihrin is not destined to save the empire.He's destined to destroy it.

The Hunt


Frost Kay - 2020
    Driven by rage and an oath to avenge her mother's memory, Tempest throws herself into training.But becoming the first ever female assassin isn't enough. Now, she must obtain the heart of her kingdom's most feared enemy - the jester - a deadly shapeshifter hidden in a land twisted by myth and darkness.Revenge is never easy or cheap. Tempest is willing to sacrifice everything to see justice served. Even her own soul and freedom.Enter the world of the Twisted Kingdoms at your own risk where monsters wear pretty masks, good and evil are at war, and fairy tales don't exist. If you love fiery heroines, sexy villains, enemies-to-lovers romance, pulse-pounding action, mafia undertones, and dark fairy tales, you need to discover the new series readers are comparing to Holly Blacks's Cruel Prince and Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.