TEST
Despite having recently inhaled the first two books in Thea Harrison’s new Moonshadow series, I think it’s necessary to preface this review with a few confessions/disclaimers: I truly don’t read a lot of PNR/fantasy, I’m only vaguely familiar with elves and Fae (who knew there was more than one kind and are they different?), and I assumed light = good and dark = bad. WRONG. There’s a steep learning curve with the genre and in Ms. Harrison’s books; the worldbuilding is extensive. If I hadn’t some familiarity with her writing, I’m certain I would have been completely lost and annoyed from the get-go with Dragon Bound. Thankfully, I was (sort of) up to speed on magical realms, wyrs, pucks, Dark Fae, Light Fae, shapeshifters… and more. But more importantly (DON’T LAUGH), I also understood that “Elder Races” didn’t refer to a competitive event (which I wasn’t too enthusiastic about), but a biological group. Oops! My bad.
When Dragon Bound opens, we meet Dragos Cuelebre – a Wyrkind Dragon and Elder who’s been around a very LONG time. Over the years, Dragos has amassed a fortune, a massive collection of antiquities (which he hides away in his lair), a hugely successful international business, and a penchant for taking revenge on anyone who messes with any of the above. Feared and respected, surrounded by a handpicked cadre of loyal employees/friends, there’s very little in life that surprises him anymore. But on this day, the unthinkable has occurred. Someone, somehow, got past his powerful cloaking and aversion spells and broke into his lair. The thief stole a rare U.S. minted 1962 copper penny, and left behind a note:
I’m sorry I had to take your penny. Here’s another to replace it.
Dragos is furious. Livid. But also amused. The note holds the trace of a smell from its owner and that smell… it’s a familiar, but elusive scent. It doesn’t matter. Enraged that someone slipped through his defenses, he directs all of his time, attention and vast resources to finding the thief.
Orphaned as a teenager, half-human and half-Wyr, Pia Giovanni has secrets. Big ones. Raised in virtual isolation in the non-magical world by a Wyr mother, Pia spent her childhood keeping her head down and hiding her magic. But one careless confession after a lifetime of careful discipline – to an ex-boyfriend she mistakenly loved and trusted – puts her life in jeopardy. After discovering Pia’s extraordinary magical powers, her ex, desperate and in debt, leverages the information for his own personal gain and blackmails Pia into stealing from Dragos. She succeeds, but Pia knows her life is forfeit if the dragon catches her. She flees (after ensuring her ex can never blackmail her again), and hopes her hideout in Charleston, North Carolina – deep in fae territory – will protect and hide her from Dragos.
Dragos finds her (it’s in the book blurb!), but for reasons he’s not quite sure he understands, decides to spare her life. He’s curious about Pia, her scent, and how she bypassed his protections and entered his lair…but she’s an enigma and he wants to figure her out. Something about Pia stirs a protective instinct in him – a feeling he’s never experienced before – and that, coupled with a surprise sexual attraction to her, convinces him to bring her back to New York. Pia is similarly drawn to Dragos; she fears him, but she also can’t stop her mind from turning to all the wicked, naughty things she’d like to do to him. While Dragos makes plans to return with her to his home in New York, Pia tries to plan for a future – away from her dragon captor.
Their fragile detente is shattered when Dragos and Pia find themselves on the run from Dragos’ old enemy, the Dark Fae King. When they wind up captives in his magical realm, the pair are forced to trust each other in order to escape. Pia is dragged into a decades old battle of good vs. evil, and the relationship she forges with Dragos while in captivity – and the magical power she reveals – binds them together long after their escape. Dragos is alternately fierce and tender as he safeguards Pia, the thief who’s slowly capturing his jaded heart; Pia slowly reveals there’s more – much more – to her than meets the eye, and that Dragos, even at his most fearsome, is worthy of her trust and affection.
Once Dragos and Pia return to New York City, it isn’t long before all that simmering attraction (and mutual lustful thoughts) combust into a passionate love affair. I liked their chemistry and playful relationship (and Ms. Harrison can write a smokin’ love scene), but somewhere along the way, the novel digresses from a compelling romantic fantasy thriller into a fairly standard, cheesy love affair. Dragos is the stereotypical uber-alpha who, despite his centuries of life experience, seems pathologically unable to navigate a normal dating relationship, or understand how and why he keeps screwing things up. His devotion to Pia – and confusion over his frequent missteps – is endearing, but frustrating. Pia, despite her sheltered childhood and limited exposure to magical creatures and their world, finds her footing quickly. Too quickly. She’s able to hold her own in combat training with Dragos’ griffon and harpie protectors, navigate tricky public relations issues, and forge positive relationships with the Fae – who seem to know who and what she might be – effortlessly. She just does. (Note to reader: I hate “suddenly awesome at everything” heroines). And even with though they frequently struggle to communicate, she falls hard for her sexy dragon lover. Hmmm. I liked the build-up, I liked the couple, but after the excellent start to the story, the romance is… ho hum.
As the relationship between Dragos and Pia heats up, Ms. Harrison introduces us to the predictable, cookie-cutter secondary characters (and a silly PR rep) that inhabit the Cuelebre world, while spinning two subplots – enemies intent on destroying Dragos, and the mystery of who and what Pia actually is. I was bored with the former (though it drives the narrative), and surprised by the latter. It’s a delightful surprise I didn’t expect, but loved! The ending – complete with its over-the-top plot twist – is predictable but satisfying.
Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K
Grade: B
Book Type: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 23/08/17
Publication Date: 05/2011
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I love romance novels - all kinds.
I love music - some kinds.
I have strong opinions about both and I like to share them.
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I do love this series as well. I have a question though. Ms. Harrison has released several short stories featuring Liam (or Peanut), Dragos and Pia’s firstborn. I believe that Pia is pregnant with a girl in the last of the Elder books, and she promises to be pretty special. However, I’ve heard nothing about any new Elder Races books. Does anyone know if there will be future releases, or is the author focused now on the Moonshadow offshoot series? I hate when things are left undone!
You misunderstood the theft of the penny. It’s not rare; it’s just a regular penny. The whole point is that Pia was forced to steal and chose something virtually worthless. Dragos isn’t upset because he lost something valuable (he knows it isn’t). He’s upset that someone would dare to steal from him!
I love this series, especially when Harrison stays with Dragos and Pia . _Dragon Bound_ made me laugh and smile, with never a dull moment. Loved, loved, loved it.
I just re-read the section to double check & I think this is simply a case of us interpreting the significance of the coin to the story differently.
It absolutely is a collectible coin meant for his coin collection. He hadn’t yet filed/classified/logged it. The significance of the theft of this particular item, relative to this story, is that Pia thought a missing penny wouldn’t be noticed right away (it was in a jar with other coins) & would buy her some time to run – which only proved how little she knew Dragos. The penny, compared to other items in his lair, was less valuable monetarily, but to Dragos that doesn’t signify. If it’s his he protects it – regardless of what IT is – and he doesn’t misplace anything….pennies, thieves….or, as this story play out, his lover.
Agree with Lynda. It was just a penny, which made if silly. Which at some point he does get.
But I see Em’s point. However, I never felt the penny was the point. It was that something was stolen. Anything.
Great review. While not a PNR fan, I loved this book. I’ve read a few in this series and have enjoyed them. I agree about how Dragos should have faired better in life and how Pia was suddenly too awesome.
I have to say I’m surprised you didn’t guess what she was. As soon as it became a thing she hid and wouldn’t talk about, I guess it had to be that. No idea why. I guess it was the most unlikely! LOL
Norma – IT NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME! But again, I never even knew there were Dark and Light Fae either so…it’s all new to me! I liked the surprise so I’m sort of glad I was clueless on this one.