December 1, 2008
Briec has battled dragons and men and wooedwomen. A dragon couldnt have a better life, but his brothers recent mating makes him wonder if maybe theres a bit more to be had. A brief encounter with a peasant woman, Talaith, convinces him that she should be the one. But Talaith has more pressing issues than entertaining a dragon, no matter how alluring: danger loomson the horizon, and she may be the only one to stop it. The second installment in Aikens trilogy (Dragon Actually, 2008) follows in the quirky, humorous tradition of Xena, offering a welcome high fantasy with modern sensibilities. Briec really is an arrogant son-of-a-dragon, and more amusing and lovable for it. He and Talaith walk the well-worn path of the bickering sweethearts who seem to love best when at their worst, and Aikens use of crudereferences insex scenes mayviolatereader comfort zones, but this tale should definitely please fans of sexy shape-shifters and epic sagas.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)