Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Aa magical story about an exiled princess, a shape-shifting dragon, six enchanted cranes and an unspeakable curse. Shiori’amma, the sole princess of Kiata, among 6 brother and she has a secret. Forbidden magic flows through her veins. She manages to conceal it well, but on the morning of her engagement, things spiral out of control. At first, Shiori is glad that she has avoided the unwanted engagement and postponed the wedding, but in doing so, she draws the attention of her stepmother, Raikama. Raikama, who is also a sorceress, banishes the young princess and turns her brothers into cranes, warning Shiori that if she speaks of it, with every word she utters, one of her brothers will die. Alone, poor, and voiceless, Shiori sets out to find her brothers and uncovers a dark plot to seize the throne. Only she can save the kingdom, but to do so, she must rely solely on a paper bird, a capricious dragon, and the youth she had refused to marry. And she must embrace the magic she has spent her whole life being taught to suppress.

This has been on my electronic shelf for a very long time.  The cover first captured my interest and once I cracked it open it did not disappoint.  Character development, fantastical story and great supporting characters and a little romance thrown in for good measure - recipe for a good book.  It ends on a gateway for the second novel which I fully intend on picking up as well.

All that being said - would absolutely recommend.

The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

The tiny nation of Swansgaard is a lovely place with abundant natural resources, including the royal family, which has been blessed with twelve daughters and a son. As this boisterous baker's dozen approaches adulthood, the king and queen lovingly tell their daughters, "You must make your own fortune, for we cannot enrich you without impoverishing our people or leaving our lands defenseless, and that we will not do." Happily, the princesses of Swansgaard are eager to meet this challenge, for they yearn for adventures both near and far from home.

Clarice is an expert swordswoman and as the oldest is the first to depart. Disguising herself as Clarence, she signs on for a voyage to the New World. The captain is vile and blackhearted and the crew soon mutinies. Clarice becomes first mate - and finds her heart captured by the new captain, Dominick, who is, to his own surprise, increasingly attracted to Clarence.

I really liked this swashbuckling adventure!  It was equal parts exciting, coming of age and a little bit of growing attraction/romance.  I'm a little disappointed that this is the only book in the series as it appears Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory didn't write anymore but as a stand alone novel (there is a firm conclusion at the end of the book) it reads well.

If you like Pirates of the Caribbean I would recommend this book! 

The Dragon Lottery by Scott William Carter

Congrats on winning the lottery!  Your prize is to fight a black dragon to your death.  Most assuredly your death as no one has ever returned.  Fifty years this has been the case.  The cruel King Goodheart controls the dragon and controls the people.  And every summer a lottery is held and Lucky Greyblock - born in the 13 month on the 13 day and who is now 13 years old, has been VERY unlucky indeed.  Will he be able to discover his courage, turn everyone's luck around and at the same time change their fate?

Wow this was such a well written standalone book.  I cannot express how much I loved it.  The characters -  from Lucky himself to the evil king to the bully Lucky has to put up with were just perfectly developed.  It's a relatively quick read and just a really great escape.

Absolutely recommend!