Lawson’s review of Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Book 1) by G. A. Aiken
Paranormal romance released by Zebra 1 Sep 08
This book was originally an eBook published in 2004 under the name To Challenge a Dragon and a short story called Chains and Flames. Both of these introduce an interesting world of dragons, sword wielding males and really bloodthirsty women. I thought I had some violent tendencies at times, but Annwyl the Bloody really takes the cake. Add in something called the Sibling War, some dragon politics and a large, boisterous family, and you’ve got a story.
The first time Annwyl is introduced, she’s about to die. She’s leading a rebel army to fight against her tyrannical brother and his malicious regime and she’s been struck one too many times by a sword. A dragon comes to her rescue, takes her to his lair and brings in a witch to heal her. Annwyl wakes to find a black dragon caring for her and when she is well enough, he asks a knight he knows to train her to help her fight and eventually kill her brother.
The dragon, named Fearghus the Destroyer, quickly falls for Annwyl and she comes to care for her dragon as well. But she’s in lust with the knight and torn between the two. Fearghus’ family starts to show up as well, and this of course, leads to complications. Time is running out for Annwyl, for her brother Lorcan is out to make sure she’s dead and her rebellion dies with her.
Annwyl is the most feared warrior in the land, mostly due to the fact that she’s mad at everyone. And she’s never been loved by anyone, so she really has nothing to help her calm her rage. And she’s a virgin, even though she’s been living with an army of men for the last few years because she’s really afraid of men because of her treatment at the hands of her father and brother. She likes the dragon well enough though, and isn’t afraid of him.
It’s rather funny really, because though Annwyl is written rather serious, other characters continually ask her if she’s crazy or tell her often that she’s rather odd. Which she is. Whether she’s likable or not as a character really doesn’t matter much as she’s just rather comical and a bit childish. Though that’s a good enough compliment for Fearghus, who is sarcastic, surly, but apparently a goodhearted dragon since he takes in Annwyl.
Along the way Fearghus’ family comes into play and they are an interesting bunch. Fearghus lives by himself and wants peace, which is understandable if one has brothers and sisters like his. The story Chains and Flames is how Fearghus’ parents fall in love, and gives some insight into perhaps why the children behave the way they do.
As creative as the dragon world is, it all gets to be too much. The tongue in cheek humor starts to get old, Annwyl doesn’t seem to grow at all until she gets smacked across the face or beat up or something, and the Fearghus just lets her do what she wants. The family is interesting in their banter, but it’s played up too much. Sure they’re funny and boisterous, but there’s only so much one could really take.
There are some cute moments there, and some different humor, but when it starts trying a bit too hard, it just makes it an average sort of read. Aiken has created a dragon world I’d visit again, but it may take a bit for me to want to pick up the next in the series, which doesn’t come out until December.
Grade: C
Summary:
It’s not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear-a lot-or else salute. It’s true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother’s soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.
Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly, and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe-a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fills her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn’t get any stranger.
She’s wrong…
[And just wait until you meet the rest of the family…]
Read an excerpt.
