Karina Halle trades her signature gothic horror for scales and syndikats in Realm of Thieves, the inaugural volume of her Thieves of Dragemor series. Known for her atmospheric supernatural romances like Blood Orange and the haunting Experiment in Terror series, Halle ventures into uncharted territory with this mafia-meets-dragons romantasy that feels both familiar and refreshingly innovative.
In this gritty world of Dragemor, dragons aren’t majestic companions or wise mentors—they’re apex predators confined to volcanic islands by ancient wards, their eggs harvested by desperate thieves for the magical substance called suen. It’s a premise that immediately sets Realm of Thieves apart from the crowded dragon fantasy market.
The Thief Who Stole More Than Just Eggs
Character Complexity at Its Finest
Brynla Aihr emerges as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent romantasy. A Freelander exile with distinctive lavender hair and a mysterious immunity to suen’s effects, she’s carved out a dangerous living stealing dragon eggs for House Dalgaard’s criminal empire. Halle masterfully crafts Brynla as someone shaped by trauma but not defined by it—her escape from the fanatical Daughters of Silence convent informs her distrust of authority while her parents’ rebel legacy fuels her independent streak.
The revelation that Brynla carries dragon blood provides a fascinating twist that explains her unique relationship with the beasts. Rather than falling into tired “chosen one” tropes, this heritage feels earned and integral to both the plot and her character development. When she faces the slangedrage—the legendary two-headed dragon—the moment resonates with mythic weight.
A Love Interest Worth the Hype
Andor Kolbeck defies the typical alpha male archetype that dominates romantasy. As the black sheep of his powerful syndikat family, he’s driven by a desperate need to prove himself while possessing enough emotional intelligence to recognize when his ambitions might cost him everything. His six-month surveillance of Brynla before their first meeting could easily veer into stalker territory, but Halle frames it as strategic admiration that transforms into genuine devotion.
The chemistry between Brynla and Andor crackles with tension born from mutual wariness evolving into trust. Their banter maintains the edge of two people who could easily kill each other while revealing vulnerabilities that make their eventual partnership feel inevitable yet hard-won.
World-Building That Breathes
The Syndikat System
Halle’s criminal underworld draws clear inspiration from organized crime families, complete with hierarchical structures, territorial disputes, and codes of honor. The three major houses—Kolbeck, Dalgaard, and Haugen—each control different aspects of the suen trade while maintaining distinct cultural identities across the realms of Norland, Sorland, and Vesland.
The author’s background in contemporary romance, particularly her cartel romance novels, serves her well here. The family dynamics within House Kolbeck feel authentically dysfunctional, with patriarch Torsten’s cold pragmatism contrasting sharply with uncle Kjell’s casual cruelty. These aren’t cartoonish villains but believable power brokers whose motivations stem from legitimate concerns about survival and supremacy.
Dragons as Forces of Nature
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength lies in its treatment of dragons as untameable natural disasters rather than mystical allies. The various species—from cat-sized blooddrages to massive deathdrages—function more like Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs than fantasy’s typical wise wyrms. This approach lends genuine danger to every expedition to the Midlands, where volcanic terrain and predatory wildlife create an atmosphere of constant threat.
The magical system surrounding suen amplifies existing human abilities rather than granting entirely new powers, creating a more grounded approach to fantasy elements. Andor’s enhanced strength and Steiner’s amplified intelligence feel like natural extensions of their personalities rather than arbitrary magical gifts.
Pacing and Plot Development
The Heist That Changes Everything
The novel’s structure benefits from Halle’s thriller background, building tension through carefully orchestrated reveals. The heist sequence at the Daughters of Silence convent showcases the author’s talent for suspenseful set pieces. Brynla’s infiltration of her former prison becomes both a literal mission and a psychological confrontation with her traumatic past.
The discovery that the convent’s servants have had their tongues removed adds a visceral horror that elevates the stakes beyond mere theft. This detail, while disturbing, effectively illustrates the depth of the Saints of Fire’s fanaticism and provides powerful motivation for Brynla’s quest for revenge.
Where the Momentum Falters
The middle act occasionally suffers from pacing issues as romantic development sometimes overshadows plot advancement. Several scenes at Stormglen, while important for character development, feel less urgent than the high-stakes opening and climactic heist. The novel’s length—over 400 pages—occasionally shows, particularly during planning sequences that could benefit from tighter editing.
The mythology surrounding the Reckoning of Flames prophecy and the history of Magni the Immortal sometimes feels underdeveloped, serving more as background than integral plot elements. Future installments will hopefully flesh out these intriguing concepts.
Romance That Feels Real
Beyond Instalove
Halle wisely avoids the instalove trap that plagues many romantasy novels. Brynla and Andor’s relationship develops through shared danger, mutual respect, and gradual vulnerability. Their physical attraction simmers beneath antagonistic verbal sparring, creating sexual tension that feels earned rather than manufactured.
The romance’s emotional peaks—particularly Brynla’s grief over her aunt Ellestra’s death and Andor’s willingness to defy his family—provide genuine stakes beyond the central heist plot. When Andor chooses Brynla over his father’s approval in the climactic confrontation, the moment carries weight because we’ve seen him struggle with family loyalty throughout the narrative.
Mature Themes and Consequences
The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring the cost of violence and trauma. Brynla’s first kill during the assassination attempt weighs on her psyche, while her aunt’s brutal murder provides motivation that goes beyond simple revenge fantasy. The author treats grief as an ongoing process rather than a plot device to be resolved, giving emotional depth to what could have been a straightforward adventure story.
Technical Craft and Writing Style
Adapting to a New Genre
Halle’s prose adapts well to fantasy’s demands while maintaining the psychological depth that characterizes her previous work. Her dual point-of-view structure allows readers intimate access to both protagonists’ internal struggles without sacrificing narrative momentum. The author’s experience with morally complex characters serves her well in creating sympathetic figures within a criminal organization.
Dialogue maintains authenticity across social strata, from the crude banter of Andor’s crew to the formal speech patterns of noble houses. The world’s slang and terminology—syndikats, suen, Soffers—integrates naturally without feeling forced or overwhelming.
Areas for Growth
Some exposition feels heavy-handed, particularly regarding the historical background of Dragemor and the dragon containment wards. The glossary and world-building appendices, while helpful, suggest that certain concepts might benefit from more organic integration into the narrative.
Action sequences, while generally well-crafted, occasionally lack the visceral immediacy that would elevate them from competent to memorable. The dragon encounters, in particular, could benefit from more sensory detail to fully realize their menace.
Comparison with Genre Contemporaries
Standing Out in a Crowded Field
In a market saturated with fae courts and dragon riders, Realm of Thieves carves out unique territory by grounding fantasy elements in criminal enterprise. The comparison to Six of Crows feels inevitable given the heist structure and morally ambiguous characters, but Halle’s work distinguishes itself through its mature examination of trauma and family dynamics.
The dragon-as-livestock approach recalls Robin Hobb’s Rain Wild Chronicles more than the romanticized partnerships found in Fourth Wing or Dragonriders of Pern. This choice creates space for genuine danger and unpredictability in human-dragon interactions.
Building on Strong Foundations
Readers familiar with Halle’s Dirty Angels series will recognize her talent for crafting complex criminal organizations and morally flexible protagonists. The transition from contemporary to fantasy settings showcases her versatility while maintaining the psychological complexity that defines her best work.
The Verdict: A Promising Start
What Works Exceptionally Well
Realm of Thieves succeeds most completely in its character development and world-building foundation. Brynla emerges as a protagonist worth following through multiple volumes, while Andor provides a compelling romantic foil without overwhelming her agency. The criminal underworld feels authentic and dangerous, populated by characters whose motivations extend beyond simple good-and-evil dynamics.
The romance develops organically through shared trauma and mutual respect, avoiding many of the genre’s common pitfalls. When Brynla and Andor’s relationship deepens, it feels like a natural progression rather than narrative convenience.
Room for Improvement
Pacing issues in the middle act and occasional exposition dumps prevent the novel from reaching its full potential. Some world-building elements feel underdeveloped, particularly the religious and historical aspects that drive the overarching conflict. The action sequences, while competent, lack the visceral impact that would elevate them to memorable status.
The Bigger Picture
As a series opener, Realm of Thieves establishes a solid foundation for future adventures. The ending provides satisfying resolution to the immediate conflict while setting up larger storylines involving the prophesied return of dragons and the ongoing syndikats war. Halle’s decision to focus on character development over explosive plot twists serves the long-term health of the series.
Final Thoughts
Realm of Thieves announces Karina Halle’s successful transition into romantasy with confidence and ambition. While not every element reaches its full potential, the novel’s strengths—particularly its complex characters and unique take on dragon fantasy—suggest a series worth following. Readers seeking mature fantasy romance with criminal intrigue and genuine emotional stakes will find much to appreciate in Brynla and Andor’s dangerous world.
For existing Halle fans, this represents an exciting evolution that maintains her psychological depth while exploring new mythological territory. New readers will discover an author capable of balancing romance, action, and character development within an immersive fantasy setting.
The foundation is solid, the characters are compelling, and the potential for future installments feels limitless. Realm of Thieves earns its place as a noteworthy entry in the romantasy pantheon.
For Readers Who Enjoyed
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – For the heist elements and morally complex characters
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – For large-scale dragon fantasy with political intrigue
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – For the magical abilities and corrupt power structures
- The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang – For the mature themes and consequences of violence
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – For complex character relationships (different genre but similar emotional depth)
