Review: Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven ~ Smokin' Hot Book Blog

A dragon shapeshifter and a healer with power over the earth fight a corrupt empire in this thrilling and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

DRAGON UNLEASHED by GRACE DRAVEN

Series: The Fallen Empire #2

Publication date: June 9, 2020

Published by: Penguin/Ace

Genre: fantasy, romance

SYNOPSIS

Magic is outlawed in the Krael Empire and punishable by death. Born with the gift of earth magic, the free trader Halani keeps her dangerous secret closely guarded. When her uncle buys a mysterious artifact, a piece of bone belonging to a long-dead draga, Halani knows it's far more than what it seems.

Dragas haven't been seen for more than a century, and most believe them extinct. They're wrong. Dragas still walk among the denizens of the Empire, disguised as humans. Malachus is a draga living on borrowed time. The magic that has protected him will soon turn on him--unless he finds a key part of his heritage. He has tracked it to a group of free traders, among them a grave-robbing earth witch who fascinates him as much as she frustrates him with her many secrets.

Unbeknownst to both, the Empire's twisted empress searches for a draga of her own, to capture and kill as a trophy. As Malachus the hunter becomes the hunted, Halani must risk herself and all she loves to save him from the Empire's machinations and his own lethal birthright.

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Praise for The Fallen Empire series:

“Grace Draven’s exciting romantic fantasy features characters who are fresh and original. Their problems and triumphs will keep you reading into the night.”—Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Fierce and captivating, Phoenix Unbound is the story of a gladiator and a fire witch fighting for their freedom against an empire that wants them enslaved. With impossible odds, breathtaking battles, terrifying magic, and an unlikely love, this book is a must read. Grace Draven is a master of romantic heroic fantasy.”—Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Fabulous. Quite possibly Grace Draven’s best book yet. I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t want it to end!”—C.L. Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of The Sea King

“Must-read fantasy. . . . a wonderful story—full of romance, captivating characters and a fantasy world that’s beguiling and easily understood.”–USAToday.com

“Draven’s outdone herself with this magnetic heroine and a magical world readers will be eager to return to.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With exquisitely drawn characters and superb worldbuilding, Phoenix Unbound once again proves Grace Draven’s mastery of fantasy romance. This is exactly the kind of sweepingly romantic adventure story that I’ve been yearning for—and I can’t wait for more.”—Meljean Brook, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Seas Series

“A tale of heartbreak and triumph, Grace Draven’s Phoenix Unbound is truly exceptional. Be prepared to fall under the spell of these fierce, passionate characters and to root for them with all your heart.”—Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles

“Grace Draven is one of the finest romantic fantasy writers out there….Tense, gripping, and entirely believable, it hooked me from the first page.”—Thea Harrison, New York Times bestselling author

“Grace Draven weaves a spellbinding book that is impossible to forget….I can’t give this book enough praise. I came into it with stupidly high expectations, and it exceeded them all.”—Laura Thalassa, author of The Four Horsemen series

“Stunning! This book entices and mesmerizes to an astonishing degree. Like an intoxicating elixir, the more I read, the more I craved.”—Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author

“When it comes to fantasy romance, Draven is in a class by herself….A phenomenal start to what is sure to be an amazing series.”—RT Book Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm an author and Louisiana native living in Texas with my husband, three smalls and a big doofus dog. I have lived in Spain, hiked the Teton Mountains, honeymooned in Scotland, ridden in competition rodeo and am the great great granddaughter of a Nicaraguan president. I also hate doing laundry and refuse to iron anything.

I've loved storytelling since forever. I published my first short story with Amber Quill Press and have since written several other tales. A love of the bad boy in fiction always inspires me.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page

REVIEW

Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Book one in this series, Phoenix Unbound hit my all-time favorites list when I read it a couple of years ago. It's one of those rare books that's in a league above all others, almost untouchable. I loved it that much. Now you understand what the follow up had to live up to. There was a considerable wait for Dragon Unleashed (not that I'm complaining), but as usual, Grace Draven has delivered the goods. Make no mistake, even though I didn't rate this a full five stars, this was another quality fantasy in the world of the Fallen Empire.

This is the story of Halani, a healer in the traveling free trader caravan from the previous book. Halani and her family took in Gilene and Azarion when they were on their journey. Gilene suspected that the healer who took care of her was hiding some sort of magic, and she was correct. As an earth witch, gifted with the ability to draw power from the earth, she would be hunted down and killed by Krael forces if it became common knowledge. Empress Dalvila is a blood-thirsty, immoral ruler who sees anyone with magical powers as a threat. Those who are born with abilities do not practice out in the open for fear of the consequences. Although the Empire's capitol was hit hard in the previous book, they are not defeated yet by any means. There may be some surprise over who the antagonist is in this second installment.

Malachus is a four hundred year old Draga, an ancient dragon who is trapped in human form until he reunites with his mother-bond. If he does not reunite with the bone that holds the power to release his caged form, he will eventually die. Malachus has lived a long and lonely life hunting down the artifact that was stolen from the Sovatin monks who raised him. He's grown world weary and jaded towards humans and their weakness of character. His respect for most people has dwindled to almost nothing, making him avoid interactions whenever possible. So it's a rare thing when he makes friends with the woman shown to him in his lightning vision. The woman who may hold the key to reuniting him with what he seeks most.

Although Malachus is embittered, and lost his family through a cruel betrayal, right from the start you can sense a gentleness in his soul. He shows it through his care and concern for his horse, and the compassionate way he interacts with Halani's mother who has the mental capacity of a child. He becomes her protector and friend, gaining his good opinion for her forthwrite, pure heart. With Halani, he is torn on how to feel about her and approaches her with caution. Whether it's through their shared earth magic, or something more, he's drawn to her immediately, and he's never felt that for a human before. After being gravely injured, he's forced to stay and recuperate with the caravan, giving him a chance to learn more about the healer who kindles a new and unfamiliar passion. She seems to have the same fascination in her eyes, but they both know that his destiny is on another path.

He had grown as attached to Halani as Seydom claimed she was to him. His desire for her beat through every part of him. He wanted only to please her, but the one thing he couldn’t do—and she’d even asked in her own oblique way—was to stay with the free traders.

My one reasoning for detracting a little bit from my rating was because the first half was a little slow moving for my taste. The pace is quite different from the jam-packed action and excitement of book one. It was a slow and steady incline in the first half with the action finally settling in strong in the back end. You have a feeling of doom hanging over your head as you wait for Halani and Malachus to come face to face with those who are slyly setting a trap for them to walk into. It doesn't help that Halani doesn't come clean to Malachus about what her Uncle has done, even when she suspects that he is tied to it in some vital way. It allowed their enemies to get a strong plan in place, which wasn't without its frustrations.

Silence had weight. Sometimes it was a light thing, gossamer as a spider’s web and just as enduring. Other times, it raised the hair on one’s nape and made the heart beat a trebled rhythm. And sometimes it became a thing alive.

The romance between Halani and Malachus was slow burning, but infused with such tenderness you could feel it with every longing glance and soft touch. They both knew they were together on borrowed time, so they cherished every moment like it was their last. They didn't want to part with any regrets of lost time or opportunity. When their love was tested, both were willing sacrifice everything without hesitation, even their lives.

Malachus is a fractured man with a foot in two different worlds who must choose which one holds his future. Is his home in the safe harbor that calls to him, or is his safe harbor in the arms of the woman he loves? This was a fantastic addition to the series that I highly recommend. If you haven't explored the dark and dangerous land of the Fallen Empire yet, you're truly missing out.