Just imagine, Beauty and the Beast if Maurice was a power-hungry wizard and Gaston was a stand-up guy. Fortunately for you, this exists, in the form of the high-stakes fantasy novel,  Embergold by Rachelle Nelson. Embergold was published in March 2025 and has already left a lasting impression on what it means to infuse faith into the fairytale genre we know and love.

Gilde, the story’s protagonist, has lived in the marshes her entire life, hiding from the dragon hunting her father. Then, in classic fantasy fashion, her father sacrifices her to the dragon in exchange for his own life. The dragon does not eat her as expected but rather takes her in for reasons unknown to a frightened Gilde. As the weeks go by, Gilde finds an unlikely friend in the dragon, Wil. 

Gilde is first introduced to us as a frail, naive girl blindly trusting her father even after his gut-wrenching betrayal. As she lives alongside the dragon she becomes strong-willed and brave beyond measure.

Nelson’s writing will leave you laughing at the sarcastic quips passed between Wil and Gilde and then sobbing at the heartbreaking interactions between father and daughter. The romance is a sweet, slow burn masterfully demonstrating unconditional, sacrificial love. 

If this book was a drink, it would be Mexican hot chocolate; warm, comforting with a kick of adventure and danger. 

On a scale of one to five, this book is a six. Nelson creates a world you will never want to leave and characters you would hate to forget. If you are a fan of dragons, intricate magic systems, and faith-infused writing, you will love this book.