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Luckless #3

Reckless

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Refugees have been streaming into the city of Forge from around the country. Monsters are coming down from the mountains and staking out new hunting grounds. Even as the dragons of Forge grow stronger and more numerous, the challenges they and their riders are facing are only increasing, and there's only one place to look for answers.

Chicago is the strongest remaining city in the Midwest, home to thousands of people and protected by powerful dragons � or at least, it was. By the time Evan Luck and his dragon, Ladon, arrive there, it's clear that something's gone terribly wrong. People are starving, dragons are dying, and nobody knows who’s behind it all.

It’s something they’ve never faced before—something they thought didn’t exist, yet that’s terrifyingly familiar. It's up to Evan and Ladon to stop it � or lose their city, their son, and their lives.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2022

22 people are currently reading
76 people want to read

About the author

Cari Z.

136Ìýbooks525Ìýfollowers
Cari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.

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5 stars
101 (40%)
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113 (44%)
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33 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,546 reviews547 followers
June 19, 2022
4 Stars

It’s no secret that I adored the first two books in this series!

Bridge post apocalyptic earth, who’s beleaguered and barely surviving the various monsters that have mysteriously invaded through a “rift� from another realm and add dragons who are bonded to their one and only human, and you’ve got a heady mix of intensity, action, and epic love.

Evan and his dragon shifter Lee, know something isn’t right. The scary creatures they battle for the right to exist on a daily basis have gotten more aggressive and dangerous. When answers must be sought in the one remaining landlocked city of Chicago, they leave their Denver home and son in desperate search for truth and a resolution.

Nothing is ever easy for these two and what they uncover is a conspiracy that is an interesting psychotic twist that has been many many years in the making.

I’m so relieved this conclusion wasn’t a long wait - a big thanks to Ms. Z! Can I please ask for further adventures of Jason and Raylan? They were sorely missed and who doesn't love a story about adorable dragons and their equally compelling rider? Cheers!
Profile Image for Rain.
2,340 reviews21 followers
July 16, 2022
“There’s a monster inside every dragon, and it’s been a long time since I set mine free.�

I loved this third in the series! (Not a standalone) It answered so many of my questions I had after reading book two. The love and heat between Evan and Lee is written so beautifully. Their intimacy and connection felt so real and honest.

“This is the heart of a dragon,� Lee murmured, leaning in close and biting Evan’s chin, then his lips, then the curve of his jaw as he thrust harder and faster. “Possession. We love fiercely and possessively. Only the best of us can share our hearts, and I’m not the best of us, Evan, because you’re my heart, and I can’t share you. I won’t.�

Evan and Lee set off for Chicago in this one. They're trying to piece together the mystery of where all these new monsters are coming from, and the weird energy they both feel emanating from Chicago. The action scenes, like in the previous books, were written very well.

I want so many more stories set in this world! I want to know more about Lee and his lost years, more about how the dragons bond, more about shape shifters, more about Jason and his little new dragon! I really hope this author continues to write more in this series. It's refreshing and unique.

Honestly my only complaint is that just like book two, in ends at 90% AND yet again has an excerpt from book one...
Profile Image for Kaity.
1,831 reviews25 followers
May 5, 2023
3.5 stars

this was a great way to end the trilogy of novellas. I wished for a dual POV but can't win them all. Michael Ferriauolo did an amazing job with the narrations, it was perfection.

i do wish that these stories were longer, but still for being around 120 pages there was a lot going on and it didn't feel too rushed.

too bad i finished these so fast, but they will definitely be go to rereads in the future haha
Profile Image for Len Evans Jr.
1,480 reviews221 followers
April 27, 2022
Loving this series!!!!

The author continues to make each installment of this series better and better! I ADORE Evan and Lee soooooo much! This last entry made me cry more than once but oh such joy by the end! Incredibly awesome entertainment!!!!
Profile Image for QuietlyKat.
648 reviews6 followers
January 15, 2023
Reckless was a satisfying conclusion to the Luckless series with the same strengths in world building and storytelling as the first two books. It also had the same weaknesses in as much as the romance is quite secondary if romance is what you want to be the focus. Those things said, even as the romance was secondary, the bonds between Evan and Lee were, at least in my mind, one of the story’s greatest strengths. For me, their love for and devotion to each other was deliciously palpable. And while I ordinarily might slightly side eye that kind of devotion because I’m a cynical bitch, I drank it up because this is PRN and the empathic bonds between Lee and Evan are extraordinary in multiple senses of the word. Plus, there’s more than just the psychological bonds, it’s hinted that their bonds may have become physical as well. I was into it.

My rating is slightly lower than for the first two book for a couple of minor reasons.

First, aside from the very beginning and very end of the story, Jason, Lee and Evan’s son isn’t really a part of the story. Lee and Evan had compelling reason to travel to Chicago and must leave Jason at home in Forge. I didn’t mind that, but Jason and his storylines were a big part of my attraction to and love of the series as a whole. I loved the relationship and bonds between the three as well as Jason’s character development regarding his empathic growth, bonds and needs. Though Cari Z has tentatively indicated Reckless is the final chapter in the series, I’d love to read more about Jason and see where his life and part dragon heritage go.

The other thing that dampened my enjoyment slightly had to do with the villains and the villainous part of the plot and the number of spoons I have on any given day. I generally don’t have the emotional energy to tolerate extremely evil villains, especially when they’re in positions of authority in the story. Not because I don’t believe it but because it’s so prevalent in real life. There’s so much evil, intolerance and lack of empathy in the world’s political and social systems. So while that evil rings very true and I’m sure it’s used intentionally for that reason, I generally read as a way to escape the world’s harshness and political viciousness. When those kinds of characters and that kind of abuse of power are the source of conflict in my fiction, I’m thrust back into real world evil and out of the emotional escapism and emotionally restorative power of reading.

Thankfully, the villains don’t dominate the story. Though the villainy does drive the plot, it was in a relatively understated way and the resolution was quite satisfying. So even though that aspect of the story slightly dampened my enjoyment, at some other time, when my drawer of emotional spoons is full, it may not have impacted my enjoyment at all.

Another KU that I am buying to add to my library permanently.

Unread books on my kindle: 82

ETA: and yeah, Evan is one of my favorite characters ever.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,132 reviews490 followers
April 29, 2022
In the end of , Evan and his dragon-husband, Lee, were heading to Chicago to find out what the big cities has been overwhelmed with monsters. In this final (?) book of the series, Evan and Lee find out what caused everything to be so wrong at Chicago.

I really like this series by Cari Z. ... I mean, DRAGONS, people! It is exciting to read. There's adventure, there are fights, there's love, and there's one poignant moment that serves as climax. I love Evan and Lee together, and I am happy enough with how they deal with the villain. Although, the identity of one of the villains is a bit predictable.

So yes, satisfying ending. Will there be more books? Not sure. It seems like a closure enough by the Epilogue chapter...
Profile Image for M'rella.
1,423 reviews174 followers
June 9, 2022
I absolutely love this series! Quick and exciting read, very well paced, not a dull moment!

Unfortunately, the series is too short. We need more! We need to know more about the rift and who was behind opening it and whether Lee's memory going to return and what happens next with his new family and humanity in general... and just moar of this universe!!!

5 stars.
Profile Image for Achim.
1,257 reviews80 followers
April 30, 2022
3.5
Seems I'm not easily satisfied these days or maybe like with the previous books of this series there is so much potential but Cari Z still decided that there is no need to dive deeper into the story and that a short story includes everything that's needed. Somehow it does - if you like to know how the story evolves in Chicago, get the mystery there solved quickly, have a heartbreak off-page and get an intressting but only skin-deep feeling about life in the dystopian city.

Don't get me wrong, I still like Luckless but after 2 books putting my curiosity and expectations on hold I'm a bit disgruntled.
Profile Image for Cari Z..
AuthorÌý136 books525 followers
Read
April 26, 2022
It's here at last! The final chapter (for now) in Evan and Lee's monstrous journey is complete. I'm really proud of how it all came together, and I hope you love it too. And heads up for audio for Book One, Luckless, coming soon!
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,525 reviews43 followers
April 27, 2022
Reckless takes place in a dystopian world. Evan is a fighter and blacksmith, ohh and he’s a dragon rider. Ladon is his dragon who is also Lee a human shapeshifter. The premise was great with a quick paced story line full of action. The world building was fantastic. The story starts out really exciting, it hooked me. They had a soul deep bond and connection with some seriously hot chemistry. I really loved all the secondary characters, some good some evil. I’m hoping for a spin off with Jason and Rayan. Overall, the story fantastic. It was well written, highly recommend.
Profile Image for Mstay.
859 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2022
Thrilling

This is such a fast moving series. Just like the two before it, this book had the perfect mix of length and action meaning that the character’s seem to never have much of a break as the action keeps coming.
Profile Image for Trix.
1,344 reviews114 followers
July 13, 2022
Found this better than the previous installment in the series. There were a lot of things happening. Yes, it was predictable that there was something off about Vincent and his bound dragon, Graeve. But I was surprised to find out Captain Zenal was actually one of the shapeshifting form Graeve could take and that Graeve was related somehow to Lee/Landon. This must mean another book will follow, to explain Lee's past (and prepare the way for Jason), right? Right??
As usual, plenty of fights. A bit more coitus than the previous books. I was a bit surprised by Evan forcing a bond with Graeve... that was never hinted before as being something empaths could do. So was it an Evan thing or what?
When is the next book coming out?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
8,658 reviews496 followers
July 5, 2022
A review.

4.5 stars


Reckless is the third in the Luckless series, following Luckless and Dauntless. This series must be read in order to fully appreciate both the story and the character development. This was a strong entry into the series and left me wanting future installments.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Luckless series so far and Reckless was no exception. I do hope the author has more planned for Lee and Evan, as I enjoy their relationship and want to see how it evolves from this point. I think equally interesting is Jason, Lee’s son, who takes a backseat in Reckless, but clearly has a story waiting giving his recent and powerful bonding. If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the books, then Reckless will prove to be a satisfying installment. And for new fans intrigued by the premise, start with Luckless and enjoy this series from the beginning.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety .
Profile Image for Joscelyn Smith.
2,174 reviews15 followers
June 1, 2022
Brilliant

A fantastic addition to this post-apocalyptic series. I can honestly say that I did not see that coming. I'm really hoping that this isn't the last I'll see of these wonderful characters.
Profile Image for Joscelin.
13 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2022
I've really enjoyed this series and look forward to more books! The only thing that I wish was that the books were a little bit longer (but that is my wish with most books that have lower page counts), as I feel like the story once they got to Chicago could have been fleshed out a little more. definitely felt impactful, though, even if the lead-up felt somewhat rushed.
Profile Image for Missy~.
920 reviews17 followers
April 30, 2022
Dragon shifters

This was book 3 in the dragon shifter story about Evan and Lee. Evidently go to Chicago to find out why the strange and crazy increase in monster attacks seems to have centralized in Chicago and some thing is changing, causing catastrophic destruction of Chicago. Once the evil in Chicago has been exposed and destroyed, Lee and Evan returned to Forge. But I hope this isn’t the end of the story we still have a lot of eggs to hatch in Chicago and Jason and his baby dragon for more adventures.
Profile Image for Anna.
AuthorÌý25 books690 followers
Read
November 11, 2024
Read this via audio book. A very satisfying ending to this trilogy of novellas! Once more, Michael F did a great job. Loved the world building here, and while I don't need another book, I do hope these characters are doing well.
2,624 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2025
fantastic story and series

Rating: 4.75🌈

“Evan Luck was a dragon rider with no dragon. Now he's got Lee, a rare and powerful dragon who can take the shape of a man or a dragon with equal ease. However, the fight to keep Lee's son Jason safe, as well as the city of Forge protected from the monsters that roam the Front Range, will test Evan and Lee's bond to the utmost, and send them on a quest that they might not come back from.�

Reckless is the finale story for Cari Z’s tremendous urban fantasy series, Luckless. And it’s been so great and so well written, that it’s short length and imaginative elements that have been left unexplored just make me more than a little frustrated with the author.

I want this to double in length or at the very least offer additional stories in the series.

This novel picks up from the surprising events of Dauntless, where Jason’s crisis came to a dramatic resolution with new characters arriving from the city of Chicago with devastating news.

Chicago has been spoken of as a veritable fortress city of multiple dragon pairs and a successful defense against the monsters. But the news brings a different reality.

It’s one that necessitates Evan and Lee leaving Forge and their son in search of answers about the increasingly complex and deadly monsters their city is facing and what happened in Chicago.

For a short story, this packs a shocking emotional punch. It’s got unexpected elements and a very powerful plot twist that, of course, is so great that this book could be twice it’s length and still not dive into this plot line’s full potential. It’s that intriguing.

Which brings me to the conclusion. It’s satisfying in a way yet not. With all the traumatic events that’s happened, it’s felt simplistic. Lovely, HFN, and heartfelt but missing something.

I truly wish Cari Z would revisit this series and universe and give it and us an update. So tremendous a world that this series and the characters deserve it.

Highly recommended!

Cover Art by Vivid Covers

Luckless series:
Luckless #1
Dauntless #2
Reckless #3
Profile Image for Dan.
2,885 reviews514 followers
June 15, 2023
Evan and Lee/Ladon are (finally) headed to Chicago.

And it’s dangerous; there are hostiles everywhere. Monster attacks are on the rise, both from the familiar monsters that the people (and dragons) have become accustomed to, and new ones—some that were believed to only be myths.

Evan is…not even 30. This whole time, from his bitching and moaning, he’s made it sound like he’s an old-ass man. Also, randomly changing the spelling of Juree to Jurie…weird.

Evan feels an acceptance in Chicago that’s entirely foreign to him.

The action is…not a strength in these books.

More middling in quality—and far less focused—than the first two books. Several instances of Miraculous Healing. The Interrupted Kiss plot device doesn’t do this novel any favors, either.

Graeve and Zenal…the villain drama…There sure is a lot of empathy.

The resolution of events in Chicago feels unsubstantial.

We’re left with a plethora of unanswered questions, from Lee’s past to Evan’s future. Dubious choice of POV for the Epilogue to Nowhere.
Profile Image for Cabert A.
158 reviews
January 2, 2025
What I liked: This was a really great and exciting ending to the series. Going in, I would have found it tough to predict what exactly was wrong with Chicago. I also appreciated how Lee and Evan had to deal with difficult topics like losing each other someday. In addition, there were more intense sex scenes here that made up a bit for the missing intimacy in the first book.

What I didn't like: I felt a bit unresolved about the ending. I understood what it had to do about Chicago, but i wanted to know more about humanity was going to end up winning against the Monsters. Possibly I'm asking for too much, though.

In summary: an excellent end to a great post-apocalyptic romance!
Profile Image for Michelle.
834 reviews4 followers
August 5, 2022
Lee and Evan leave to investigate the strange things happening in Chicago. I think that things happen too fast in these novellas and that each one could probably grow twice it's size, but taken all together, they do fill in some gaps and make a mostly put together full tale. This last part does close the open story arc of why the monsters are attacking more frequently and the Chicago mystery. At the same time, it opens the possibility of even more novellas as we finally learn a little of Lee's background, and it's not entirely what we may have thought it was. Decent mystery and a sense of foreboding that makes you suspicious of everyone.
201 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2023
good, quick read

I enjoyed this book. The third in the series. A love story tied in with a well thought out plot that carried through the books. I liked that there weren’t loose threads by the end of the series, nothing worse than having unanswered questions at the end of a book or series.

I will say, I guessed that the disappearing dragon was like Lee and that’s why no one knew where he lived. I didn’t guess anything else though.

Feel good romance but not super mushy and with strong characters. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Barbara.
357 reviews9 followers
April 23, 2023
This one took me longer than the others to get into, but once I did, it was a fast easy read.

I’m glad everything worked out.

I still really like Ladon/Lee with Evan. And I really like their dynamic with Jason.

I’m hoping the author gives us more books from this world, there’s still so much we don’t know, and even more questions now after this last book. And I’d also like to see Jason all grown with his dragon.

Overall, 3.75 stars for me from this one.
Profile Image for Legendary.
351 reviews3 followers
April 29, 2023
My favorite book in the series. The story was more interesting and I felt like more things happened here. I wish this series was longer because I enjoyed it a lot. This story could def be expanded on like
Profile Image for Shymsal.
967 reviews8 followers
December 7, 2023
Like I said in my "review" of the 2nd book in the series, there needs to be more of these. This is a good solid end to the particular story being told, but, there is so much more here to explore. I hope against hope that more will be forthcoming!
Profile Image for The Word Nerd Reviews Blog.
930 reviews58 followers
January 8, 2023

An epic conclusion to the trilogy!

Michael Ferraiuolo has done an amazing job on all three books, bringing all the characters to life and adding another level of emotion and suspense.

These books are not standalones and should be read in order.

Highly, Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Erica.
1,682 reviews38 followers
January 12, 2023
I enjoyed the heck out of this whole series. The one drawback of this installment is that the "bad guy" is so over-the-top obvious that it makes Evan and Lee seem pretty stupid. Still, great series. I'd love to have more.
Profile Image for Jenn (not Lily).
4,608 reviews28 followers
April 24, 2023
4.75 stars
Great conclusion, although I'd love a little more of this world and both Lee & Evan. I had a little bit of a clue about the underlying plot, but not for very long before the reveal. Excellent (and slightly horrifying) twist there -- good job, Evan!
Profile Image for Jude.
1,121 reviews3 followers
March 18, 2024
OMG!!! Loved this series and this final book does what every reader wants - We get a solid picture of what happens after the 'story' ends. All the needed layers and complexity, interesting characters, solid enduring love, and questions answered.
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