DragonKing

The first two books in this trilogy were one of my favorite paranormal reads in 2023 - the world building, the bonds between dragons and riders, the original interpretation of dragon kin, the intensity and outstanding build up of the plot. I loved the relationship between Kirby, Harlen and Cai. Everything felt perfectly balanced.
So I had huge expectations for the final book. No, I was practically vibrating in my seat when I opened the final installment, anticipating an epic conclusion and a reveal of the puzzle about Cai, Harlen and Kirby's key roles - who is who and why the fate has chosen them; about the tylwyth and how they will fit in and help; about the internal conflict between the dragon riders and the betrayal of the Senedd.
And here comes the But. Unfortunately, this 3rd installment left me feeling like it lacked the intensity I was expecting. The conflict between the different fractions amongst the dragon riders was solved yes, but was somehow rushed and not satisfying. It felt like a temporary solution. The tylwyth were crammed at the end of the story and it felt like with or without them, it was the same result. And Cai's poor choices as a Dragon King ...I have always been on the fence about him as a character. Seeing the story from his POV was really interesting, but he wasn't the leader material the Dragons and the whole realm needed - driven, ruthless, resourceful and unpredictable. After his final decision, the chance for epic, unforgettable Grand finale that leaves you breathless, dizzy and amazed, just fizzled out.
Overall I enjoyed the story but it made me feel like there was a potential for further expansion and development which didn't happen.