Synopsis:
Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.
Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!
Review:
I was really excited to start Dating and Dragons and I adored book one. Sadly, this one wasn’t anywhere near as good. I do think it was an entertaining read, but it took me so long to get through and I just didn’t find it as compelling as book one.
One thing I will say is that the DND mechanics were much better this time. Yet again the party didn’t have a cleric though and that is wild to me, especially as they were fighting dragons at a low level. Not every party needs a cleric as other classes can heal but they had a druid and multiple fighters. Anyway, no more nit picking DND mechanics for this review.
My favourite character in the whole of Dating and Dragons has to be Sloane. “That’s good,” Sloane continues, “because they particularly love listening to your characters bicker. And flirt.” The others look a bit uncomfortable at that news, but Logan only laughs. “I guess we’ll have to keep it up, then.” They clocked Quinn and Logan so fast it’s actually ridiculous. Their reaction when everything blows up is actually hilarious. Also, they make cute hats, which made me love them instantly.
Quinn’s grandma also needs a shoutout because she was constantly meddling and just ridiculously eccentric. The pickleball scene was hilarious and I love that she wants to try playing DND because Quinn loves it. Grandmas really are the best.
I wanted to love Quinn and Logan but they were overly dramatic. Which makes sense for teens I suppose but they act like their ‘love’ is completely forbidden and everyone will hate them because of it. This happens almost instantly too. The reason why I loved book one was because their friendship grew before anything else. Dating and Dragons is very instalovey and they get pretty intense.
“Well, I’m happy to join the experiment, too, then; just tell me next time you’re going. It’ll give me another excuse to hang out with you.” I turn to him. “Are you looking for excuses?” “Always. I never want to avoid you, Quinn. But sometimes it feels like I need to, for both our sakes.” – The fact that they’re taking the ‘no dating within the group’ rule so seriously is a little funny. I’d understand the seriousness if it was their jobs but they’re teens doing a live stream with barely 20 viewers. You have to respect the dedication but it is a little crazy.
I feel like the writing of teen characters wasn’t done too well this time. The way Logan speaks about wanting Quinn feels way too hot and heavy for a YA book. “You’re addicting, Quinn. I talk to you for a minute, and it makes me want to talk for an hour. I touch you for a second…” He brings his other hand up so I’m perfectly positioned to kiss him. “And I’m going to want more.” Like this legit sounds like something you’d read in a billionaire romance or something. Honestly, I was not expecting this considering how cutesy the first book was.
On the opposite side of this is the really cringe YA stuff you expect to happen “He falls forward to his knees, his cloak getting caught on his boot.” – Logan and Quinn keep falling over in front of each other and I can’t help but cringe every time. I couldn’t think of anything worse than falling over in front of the person you like at 16. Imagine falling on your face one day and then telling someone if you touch them for even one second you’d want more. Actually wild.
This is not the review I was expecting to write for Dating and Dragons. After giving book one a perfect rating I wanted more from this. The drama felt too over the top even for a teen book. The stakes really weren’t that high so I don’t think this book needed as much drama as it had. Fingers crossed book three is much better!
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