**The links in this post are to the book’s StoryGraph page for reference. I do not receive any compensation for clicking these links!**
Book: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human
Author: Kimberly Lemming
Pages: 278
Source: Orbit, NetGalley
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Summary:
When a spirited young woman with a penchant for adventure finds herself locked away in a dragon’s tower, she realizes that fate has a peculiar sense of humor when it comes to her romantic prospects in this laugh-out-loud fantasy rom-com, perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Dragon’s Bride.
All children are told fairytales. Some are epic adventures with high stakes and exciting twists but others were tales of pitiful princesses trapped in boring towers pining for their prince charmings to come and rescue them. But one young woman always hated those stories. Why didn’t they get up and rescue themselves? Little did she know that her own fate would take a similarly ironic turn. Because now, here she is. Stuck. In a tower. Turns out, when a dragon holds you hostage, he doesn’t just let you get up and leave.
Who knew?
And just when she thinks she sees hope on the horizon, that hope is smashed to bits by—you guessed it—another damn dragon.
My Review:
I received a free advanced reader copy of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming in exchange for an honest review from Orbit Books via NetGalley. Thank you, Orbit!
Before I get into the review for this book, I’d like to issue a few warnings. First of all, do not read this review if you haven’t read the first two books! One of the character’s very existence is a spoiler of sorts, so just don’t do it (unless you’re like me and enjoy reading spoilers for things)! Second, read the content warnings at the beginning of this book. It is definitely not for kids. There are explicit sex scenes, kidnapping, etc. Take care of yourself, and only read if you are in the place to do so.
The first two books of the Mead Mishaps series follow Cin and Brie, respectfully. They are best friends from Boohail that both end up finding their one true mates, one with a shadow dragon and the other with a werewolf.
In That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human, however, the story follows Cherry. Now, if you’ve read the first two books, you know that Cherry is Cin’s younger sister. Cin and Cherry were exploring the nearby swamp one day when a strange creature came up out of the water and dragged Cherry under. Thus, Cin and the rest of her family have believed Cherry to be dead for the past several years. Fortunately, it turns out Cherry isn’t dead at all. Unfortunately, the creature that dragged her under the water works for a water dragon, and she’s been his captive ever since.
Cherry has tried everything to escape and make her way back to Boohail, and her family. Nothing has worked, though, and now she understands why all those damsels in distress in fairy tales didn’t just save themselves. Luckily, the dragon Dante is an old friend of the water dragon holding Cherry captive, and he’s decided to pay his old friend a visit now that all the demons have been freed. Which is how he meets Cherry, catches her scent, discovers she is his one true mate, and promptly rescues her via kidnapping back to his own castle.
The rest of the story follows Cherry’s efforts to escape yet another dragon kidnapping while dealing with her new mate-bond to said dragon. Cherry just wants to get back home, and Dante is her only ticket to get there. Dante knows next to nothing about Cherry, though. So, he doesn’t realize he’s already met her sister and their best friend, and Cherry isn’t telling him. Much of the book revolves around this general miscommunication, which was equal parts frustrating and suspenseful.
To be fair, it’s understandable why Cherry would be reluctant to tell Dante who her family is. She doesn’t want to lead any trouble to her family. Dante isn’t exactly shy about displaying his wealth and power, and Cherry doesn’t want him using that power to hurt the people she loves. So, she keeps the information from him for as long as possible. I kept wanting to see Cherry finally reunite with Cin and Brie, but thanks to her (understandable) stubbornness I had to wait until the end of the book.
Other than that slightly annoying trope, the book was a ton of fun. Saved a Human introduces a ton of new dragon lore and information about the world. It also explores the very realistic negative reaction some people have had to the demons being set loose. Through this reaction, Lemming explores the topics of racism and discrimination with the demons as a stand in for people of color.
The story also reveals that demons are not necessarily the most scary creatures in this world. I won’t say much more, but kittens aren’t always what they appear in this book. Also, Alexis the magical sword makes a reappearance, and she is very much mixed up in the kitten situation! Alexis is one of my favorite characters in these stories. She is hilarious, brash, and dangerous – the perfect mix for an enchanted object.
I have really enjoyed all three of the books in the Mead Mishaps series, and this one did a good job of wrapping things up with a happy ending. At some point, I plan to read the few short stories Kimberly Lemming has also written in this world. She does an amazing job of building this rich, imaginative world in between the steamy scenes, which still makes me a bit uncomfortable to read, but it won’t stop me from seeking out more. I hope Lemming writes more of these stories (Usha and Ambrose story when?), and I’ll read every one of them!
My Rating:
I gave That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming four out of five stars. It is equal parts charming, steamy, and hilarious while still managing to tackle some weighty topics. I loved how much it expanded the world and new tidbits of dragon lore. I also liked that it had a happy ending for the entire series while still leaving some other characters open if Lemming wants to revisit the series. Anyone looking for a good time should read this book!
Have you read any of the Mead Mishaps? What was your favorite? Would you read more if they’re written? Let me know in the comments!
Tea Rex Reads 