"This second Dragon Kin novel is every bit as hot and hilarious as the first"
Briec the Mighty was a dragon through and through. Although
as lusty as any of his kin, if not more so, he'd
never really been interested in human women until his grumpy
loaner of an older brother Fearghus had claimed his
difficult and blood thirsty mate, Queen Annwyl of the
Garbhan Isles. Oh Briec didn't like that vicious harpy, not
one bit, but then again he'd never seen a smile like that on
his brother's face before he'd laid claim to her. Now Briec had no intention of getting caught up in anything
of a permanent nature but he was.....curious. In a nearby town
he spies a lovely peasant, Talaith, who tickles his fancies
and he decides she'd do nicely. The last thing he'd expected
was that she'd turn down his considerable charms. Bound in a loveless marriage for nearly half of her life,
under normal circumstances the tall and extremely gorgeous
knight would have been temptation itself, however Talaith
had much more important fish to fry. Talaith had been born a
Nolwenn witch in a far away land. The witches had great
power and each bore only one child, a daughter with whom to
pass down the tradition. They did not marry, and mated only
as necessary during specified rituals and to produce an heir
after a few hundred years had passed. But Talaith had done
the unthinkable and had fallen in love at the very young age
of sixteen. Her beloved had died in battle and her mother
had cast her out to teach her a valuable lesson. However there
was more to that story than Talaith was willing to share.
Yes, Talaith had a secret, a secret that found her beholden
to the dread goddess Arzhela. She'd become an unwilling pawn
in the war between the human and dragon gods but for the
noblest of reasons. But this was nothing she could share
with the arrogant knight. Talaith still remembered the pain
Arzhela had visited upon her the one time she'd tried to
confide in someone. So she told Briec that she was married
hoping honor would send him on his way. Observing the herbs that his intended prize had slipped in
her husband's drink, Briec is certain that she'd be much
happier with him and offers to make a light snack of the man
as a favor to her. Imagine his surprise when she turns him
down yet again with a righteous tongue lashing. Stymied for
the moment he decides to leave
her be, but in spite of himself he finds himself watching
for his chance. He gets it when she is dragged from her bed by the villagers
at the urging of her own husband, and is declared a witch,
to be hung and then burned. With the noose around her neck,
Talaith's only regret is that she would not be able to
fulfill her mission and save the one person who meant the
world to her. As the noose tightens around her neck she has
a brief hope when she spies the knight at the edge of the
crowd, but then he simply walks away into the wood. Then the
unthinkable happens as an enormous silver dragon emerges
from the same woods to drive back the crowd. To make a long
story short she is rescued by her knight in shining armor
but instead of depositing her in the next village he claims
her as his rightful prize and flies off with her with the
intention of enjoying her charms until he is sated. The gods however, both human and dragon, are not yet
finished with their pawn. Brutal storms arise forcing Briec
to abandon his plan to take Talaith to his cave and have his
way with her, in favor of his brother Gwenvael's which is
close by. They find both Gwenvael and his youngest brother
Eibhear in residence. Poor Talaith goes from ignorant bliss
with regard to dragons to captivity with three in a single
day. And at least one is intent on having his wicked way
with her. Good thing these dragons appear to love their women mean,
for as his brothers soon tell him, this one is going to
make his life a living hell. Oh the two battle furiously
that's for sure, in bed more often than not, but Talaith
knows it can't last. The night of the Dragon moon is at hand
and it is her mission to see that the will of the dragon
gods is thwarted once and for all. At any moment Arzhela
would call her and she would have to do her terrible duty,
or lose that which she held most dear. But Briec had become
dear to her as well and he would never understand why she
couldn't stay. Oh this is such fun, for Dragon Kin romances never occur in a
vacuum and the dragon god, Rhydderch Hael, is every bit as
crafty and manipulative as the human goddess Arzhela. He is
not above using even the mighty Fearghus and his fearsome
mate as pawns in this chess match. A love for Morfyd is
dangled before us and I think poor sweet Eibhear may have
met his
match as well. He's acquired a tormentor at the very least.
It would seem the ever smarmy Gwenvael is up next however,
and from the teaser he's not above some drastic manipulation
of his own to get what he wants. The white dragon queen did
not weigh in on Briec's romance but I'm willing to bet
she'll have something to say when her "favorite" finally
falls. I can't wait. This series could easily be called "Arrogant Dragons and the
Shrews who Love them". As you can guess the humor is rife,
but the sex is hot as only love with a fire breathing dragon
can be. If you love shapeshifters, hunky heroes,
irrepressible woman and a good hearty laugh, I highly
recommend the Dragon Kin series.
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted February 6, 2009
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