Thea Harrison
Dragon Bound (Elder Races #1)
Berkley
ISBN-10: 0425241505
ISBN-13: 978-0425241509
Paranormal romance
May 3, 2011
Blurb via the author’s site:
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.
As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.
It’s been about a month now since I read and finished this one in two days – an actual feats of strength for this reader lately. I can’t remember prior to that the last time I read an entire book in two days. Dragon Bound has been a much-hyped/loved/enthused over book ever since ARCs of it began circulating. Since it’s actual release date, it’s been even more talked up. I’m happy to say it really, effortlessly it felt like, lived up to expectations.Yes, I was very skeptical that I’d like this book. Let’s face it, I’m betting all of us have been caught up in the love a lot of readers can have for a book or series, and we want to experience it, too. So we buy the books or we make trip to the library. And we end up just not getting it. Why all the hubbub? I love book hype – there’s almost nothing better than readers sharing their joy for a book. It’s what we all crave when we open a book and we want to play right along. Still, I’ve had to train myself over recent years that me going into a hyped book is a totally new experience, and I can’t pre-judge the book based on hype. There’s absolutely no guarantee I’ll like the book till the book and I have had out personal meet and greet. And that’s why reviewing books that are as popular as this one so hard. How would it be best for me to show that this book was so utterly awesome, and maybe it could be for you, too.
I’ll give you a short list.
1. It made me laugh. A lot. And not in a cheese-tastic kind of way. In a totally tickling my innate funny bone way.
2. Awesome characters that defy stereotypical roles that have become too much the run-of-the-mill norm in paranormal romance lately. Are you a little tired of the standard alpha male? Try this book’s lead guy on for size.
3. It brings the hotness. You know what I mean. Yes you do, don’t deny it. Maybe that needs to be a sticker or a button: Dragon Bound, It Brings the Hotness.
4. It’s an insanely fun book to read, it was the perfect escape for me at that time and I haven’t stopped thinking about or craving the next in the series since.
I feel like I should get a couple of quibbles off my chest before I go any further. I didn’t particularly care for some of the names in this one. In fact, I pretty much pfftttt-ed the hero’s name on Twitter, but was schooled that his name his great/awesome/fantastic, just like the book, by plenty who have gone before me. But for me, Dragos for a dragon shifter character was a little cheesy, and leaning a little toward that side of PNR that’s turned me off in the last year or so. The heroine’s name isn’t much better. Pia. I dunno, I really don’t have much to go on with that one except it didn’t appeal to me. I admit I worry about these kinds of things sometimes – you just never know what will pull you out of a story or strike a nerve to the point it distracts. Thankfully, both characters developed in ways that completely swept me away and soon enough their names weren’t that much of a distraction anymore. Plus, I admit – that’s more on me than anything. Soooo…pay no attention to the gripes behind curtain two?
I must need more books like this one lately because this has been one slow year for me and reading. The slowest yet. Again, that’s all on me, but that only makes a book like this one that much more fun. For so many of us, reading is an escape. I’d like to thank this book for allowing me to escape with Dragos and Pia and their very inordinate road to romantic bliss. None of the characters in this book are what they seem. Harrison takes the standard ideas of PNR characters and turns them into fresh, fun people that surprised me. I wasn’t expecting Dragos to be so…well, funny! I was fully expecting him to be another angst-ridden male who’s lived eons and is looking for the doormat of a woman who completes him with her magic hoo-ha. Yeah, I know, can we say jaded reader here? Look, I’ve loved some books like that, but in the last year I’ve been looking for a PNR that doesn’t fall into that category. This is it! There isn’t really that big a crowd of books you can point to that change things up, but Dragon Bound is leading the charge at this point, for me.
The worldbuilding is something readers will feel familiar with if they’ve been invested in the genre. Busy modern city life meets fae-ish realm meets fantasy character kitchen sink. Yes, there are a lot of different other types in this book, and that’s another aspect of PNRs that can quickly get old. The need to toss in just about every fae/were/magical/blood-sucking creature they can think of. But you know what? It works in this book! I think one reason is because this is a reality whereby humans know that others like Dragos and Pia exist. It can get tiring reading world after world where all these otherworldly folks exist and live amongst people, but the people are oblivious. Not to mention, the sheer different number of species can be daunting, but I never felt like the author lost control of her cast, be they small or big time page stars. Plus, the more outrageously fun the book became, the more it felt like: the more the merrier! Bring it, because I’m so ready for whatever’s next. The author does an excellent job of making everyone familiar for the reader, as well as her world’s rules and setup.
Dragos and Pia were, for lack of more unique terms (though no less true), an awesome couple. They were immediately set up with an amusing, and at times suspenseful, conflict, and that tension-loaded question I like to see vigorously exercised in romances – WILL they really end up together and HEA-ed?? – was very well played out. There’s lots of great action to keep the pace nice and snappy, and Pia ends up befriending or respecting (and they her as well) enough of the other character that there’s never a lack of engaging and fun dialogue, not to mention plenty of great main characters for ensuing books. I guess you could say that Pia is almost a mary sue type, although I can’t really say why, it would be a big ‘ole spoiler, but there are some books where this just doesn’t matter to me because, again, it is SO FUN. Well, and truthfully, the girl doesn’t exactly have an easy time of it and she gets in her fair share of scrapes, but she does so because she wants to be engaged in this story and causing things to happen, not merely waiting for a man to save her. And Dragos in turn, although he is all alpha and wants to protect her, grows to become the type of man who is more attractive because he gives Pia credit for being more than someone who needs to be placed in an ivory tower. While, yes, the girl needs to not do a couple of TSTL things, the events that ensue from those make up for it in terms of funny, actiony reading that just made me happy.
And, at the end of the day, if a book made me this happy, well, then that’s money and time well spent and that’s all that matters.
Plus they’re such a hot couple. Yes, the smex matters, and their smexy times are the best of smexy times. Long live the smexy times in this series.
Like the many that have said a lot more than me – this is a great PNR. It’s nothing heavy, but that’s just part of its charm and allure. I cannot wait to read the next book and the rest of anything else that arises in this series. I’m so on board, and I can’t remember the last time I was this psyched to gnaw on a PNR.
Rating: Five Scoops
Series order:
- Dragon Bound
- Storm’s Heart (August 2, 2011)
- Serpent’s Kiss (October 4, 2011)
- Oracle’s Moon (March 6, 2012)
February 21, 2012
May 1, 2012
May 1, 2012
February 28, 2012
April 3, 2012
April 3, 2012
May 8, 2012
February 28,2012
May 1,2012
July 3,2012
AMEN! That review is so spot on to my reaction as well. Loved, loved, LOVED it! Great review!!
Thanks, Leslee. :) I’m so glad you enjoyed this book, too. Bring on the next, August 2nd!
Loved it too! Mary Sue? Maybe a little. Stupid names? Sure. But Harrison handles the supernatural crock-pot almost as well as Kresley Cole. I can’t wait for the next two books (which come out within, like, a month of each other this fall.)
Given what we find out of her real nature , I’d say she’s very Mary Sue on that particular issue. Without saying what she is – being the purest, most special of all….others? Well, of course she is, because she’s the heroine, right? But the other facets that make this book so unique do win out.
And I love “supernatural crock-pot”!
I just finished this today and CANNOT agree more. It has everything I love about PNR without any stupidity. You love the characters for who they are. The romance is smart and hot. The jokes are funny as hell. It’s awesome. I’m an official life-long fan of this now.
Glad you read it and enjoyed it so much, John!
*The romance is smart and hot.*
THAT more than anything made this a win for me!
You said evrything I thought when I read this last month :) Loved it and even the ‘marysue-ness’ of Pia could be lived with. I liked the thoughts from inside Dragos head as he adjusted his reality to include mating and love too. I also liked how the book was original in its take on tropes and characters that are common to the point of being overused. That is writerly skill. I even loved Pia’s little dreams of the future littlie – something that could have been very plot-poppetish.
I also like reading your trade-mark take on this book too. Both you and Thea Harrison have a knack with wit that has an edge.
Merrian, wow, thank you so much for the very nice compliment! To be considered as humorous as Ms. Harrison makes me grin! :D
“I also liked how the book was original in its take on tropes and characters that are common to the point of being overused. That is writerly skill.”
Yes! Probably the best point of the book!
Loved this book. LOVED. I didn’t think I’d get all caught up in the hype either, but I’m glad I broke down and bought the ebook on release day. :D
<3,
-J
ME too! I debated buying it briefly, but I’m glad I went with it and got it. Come on, book 2! Not too long a wait, thank goodness.
SO glad I read this review. I picked it up the other day and really enjoyed it. Such a fun read, just what I needed at the time. What I really liked is that they tried to communicate with each other, even though one was used to keeping secrets and the other always got his way. I hate the manufactured tension you get when characters give each other the cold shoulder and thankfully that wasn’t the case in DRAGON BOUND.
You’ve pointed out one of my major pet peeves with romance! Yes, the cold shoulder/keeping secrets and stuff like that. It drives me insane! You’re so right, they really did communicate with one another well.
Am so looking forward to reading this :) And YAH for a communicating couple!
After reading this review (which is a hoot, btw…KM) and readers comments…I downloaded this book to my trusty Kindle…and began devouring the thing! I couldn’t put it down this weekend: the hubby cooked all meals for us…fed the animals….watered the yard…cleaned the pool…yada, yada, yada…
Because I couldn’t be distracted by extraneous activities outside of what was going on in this book with Dragos, Pia & Co…lol
I even read it while sitting on the sofa while the kids visited with him on Dad’s day. No griping allowed….I was present physically! Besides, he’s NOT my Dad : )
Heehee! That’s awesome, Flower! Good for you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book that much. That’s what I’m talkin’ about, girl!