Showing posts with label Dragon Kin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dragon Kin. Show all posts

Friday, September 16, 2011

Review: Supernatural by Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, Jacquelyn Frank & G.A. Aiken

Supernatural
by Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, Jacquelyn Frank and G.A. Aiken
(Lords of Deliverance # 1.5, Demonica #5.5, Guardians of Eternity # 7.5, Nightwalkers # 1.5, Dragon Kin # 4.5)
Paranormal Romance

This has been a highly anticipated anthology for me. Yeah, that's saying something considering I usually don't care much for short stories. But how often can I say 2 authors I love are in it and the other 2 are also supposed to be really good? My point exactly! I'll review them individually but just know that if for nothing else, I'd recommend this book for Ione and Aiken's stories!!

Vampire Fight Club by Larissa Ione

4.5 Feathers

I loved this story! Set in the Demonica/Lords of Deliverance worlds. We have cameos from our favorites from both series. Of course this story involves UGH because that's where Vladena originally works. After her brother comes into UGH pretty beaten up and dies they all start an investigation into where this all happened. As it turns out, there's a secret Fight Club, and no, it's not only vampires, there are plenty of shifters who fight in these underground events. That's what Vladena is, and her brother was. But she has a disadvantaged, she can't shift. And that is genetically a death sentence. She's almost come to terms with that. And now she wants revenge for the death of her brother.

Nathan is a vampire and leader of the Fight Club, but he's not the head honcho. He's someone else's puppet. And he has a lot of anger and resentment for things that were done to him that destroyed his soul. He's seen it all, nothing entices him anymore. Except when he sees Vladena, he wants her.

We get cameos from Eidolon, Shade, Wraith and even Con! As well as a BIG revelation at the end which I'm sure will play a part in the Lords of Deliverance series. See, Nathan is a day-walking vampire, and the key to that is who made him.

Darkness Eternal by Alexandra Ivy
3.5 Feathers

I'll be honest I have not read Guardians of Eternity, and this was actually my first read by Alexandra Ivy. I did like it, but I wasn't glued to the pages for it. Uriel is a vampire warrior and he hates jinns because one put a curse on him years ago during a battle and told him he would be his instrument in defeating his enemy. So he's lived thinking he can't be trusted around his own people in the event he will betray them.

Kata has actually been imprisoned by her sister and her mate, and when her sister finally dies and she believes herself to be free and able to search for her child. But Uriel is sent for her. And the attraction is immediate.

Except they are not home free yet, as it turns there's a trip into hell in their future. Along with some pretty hot sex.

This story was interesting, I liked the writing style, there was some romance, some steam, some action. I will definitely be reading more of her work soon.

Kane by Jacquelyn Frank
3 Feathers

OK... I have not read the Nightwalkers series but I have read Ms. Frank before, and I feel that in this story she did not get my interest. At all. I found myself even skimming through parts of it. *hangs head in shame*

Kane is one of the young ones, he is not 100 years old yet so he's still considered a child. They are not allowed to touch humans, but his desire for Corrine brings him to barely touch her one night. Just a soft caress. He is immediately forced to wipe her memory, he is punished and she is left alone. Except that touch started a change in her and she now needs to be close to him to live, and being forced apart for so long has made her very sick.

Now, having him shackled to a bed might not be a bad way to wake up, but she does have a lot to understand, and in a short period of time. They manage to do it mostly through his mind powers and her ability as his mate to read some of his thoughts.

Not bad... just mehhh

Dragon On Top by G.A. Aiken
4.5 Feathers

Oh the wonderful world of Ms. Aiken's writing! I am currently reading the Dragon Kin series but even though this is #4.5 it really could be read right after book 1 as this goes back in time not to the current set of brothers we are reading about, but their parents. In this case their aunt Ghleanna the Decimator.

She is the ultimate warrior chick, nobody mess with her. She knows she should need a mate that is as strong as her. But when she is tasked with escorting and protecting Bram, the smart and peacful dragon who writes up all the peace treaties that end her wars, she finds herself reconsidering that.

Ghleanna and Bram are just adorable, funny, sexy, hot and so damn entertaining! You can't help but love them! This story might just be my favorite in this anthology! 

Purchase from Amazon

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Review: Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Dragon Actually
by G.A. Aiken
(Dragon Kin # 1)
Paranormal Romance

Why did it take me sooo long to pick up this series? I know G.A. Aiken is Shelly Laurenston. And I LOVE HER! I think in a way it was the fact that I've never been big on dragons as the lead character in a paranormal romance. But whether it's the fact that I was wrong about dragons, or the fact that this series has a really interesting and fun storyline. Or that it was written by Ms. "Aiken". All I can say is that this book was excellent!

Somehow managing to mix incredibly hot shape-shifting dragons, historical war times, battles, intrigue and some hot tumbles between the hero and heroine, as well as a great supporting cast (yes, lots of them dragons as well) I am now officially hooked.

This book contains two stories, so I'll review them individually.

Dragon Actually - 4.5 Feathers

Oh Fearghus the Destroyer! He is a a dragon of roughly over 200 winters. He has lived most of this time alone in a way, having also little contact with his kin. He is awaken by a battle and a dying beautiful female, Annwyl the Bloody. She is a fierce warrior, leader of a sort of rebel group, with the purpose of killing her estranged brother.

When Fearghus finds her almost dying, all he can do is try and save her. He even calls his sister Morfyd, a healer, to tend to her during recovery.

Except Fearghus presents Annwyl with a human knight whom she thinks is different than his dragon form, and now he can't bring himself to tell her they are one an the same, mostly for fear of rejection.

Annwyl's relationship develops with both on separate levels. Her relationship with the dragon is on a deeper level and she comes to care for him, while the knight stirs things in her she didn't know even could, she was a virgin after all!

While recovering the knight helps train her so that she is prepared to defeat her brother. The dragon makes a promise to help her even going against his family, which will soon come to interfere.

There is a bit of a side storyline and sexual tension between Fearghus sister Morfyd and Brastias, first in command in Annwyl's army. I can't wait to read more about these two!

Chains and Flames - 3 Feathers

I'm sorry to say I really didn't enjoy this story. First of all, after the side story of Morfyd and Brastias, I was expecting to read THEIR story. Instead I get a bit of a prequel to Dragon Actually. How Fearghus father Bercelak comes to wed Princess Rhiannon, and why he has her chained to their bedchamber walls, and how come she likes it so much.

I actually liked the grumpy bastard! Bercelak was endearing, being in love with Princess Rhiannon for years, and now given the opportunity to finally have her.

Princess Rhiannon on the other hand? She was just a total bitch from the beginning! She thought everyone was beneath her, her disdain for humans, for family ties, for Bercelak himself!

I understand what she's gone through with her mother, and now the threat that her mother wants her dead. But this does not justify her actions.

And Bercelak at the end of the day was nothing but sweet to her!

Favorite Quote:
"You should be scared. I'm a dragon, Annwyl. A born hunter and killer. The most ancient of destroyers."
Annwyl burst out laughing.
"You are so cute when you try to look scary."
She tweaked his nose with her thumb and forefinger."