Rating: 3 1/2 stars
When I was sent an ARC of Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound (Elder Races #1), I put it to the side. I’m not into dragon shift-changing, paranormal because the few I’ve read in the past were lacking. I’m so glad I read more than a few reviews of Dragon Bound, because let me tell you, the book is awesome.
Thea Harrison will most likely be my favorite debut author of this year. She has taken the paranormal romance genre and fired it up. Dragons are the new “in” thing, especially alpha, smoldering, protective and possessive dragon men like Thea’s Dragos Cuelebre.
Pia Giovanni, half human, half wyr, is a woman on the edge. Due to the actions of her ex-boyfriend, she is blackmailed into stealing something from Dragos, the most powerful wyr in Manhattan, as well as the most dangerous creature on Earth. Pia takes something very small from Dragos’ hoard and because of that she’s marked for death.
Dragos’ lair has never been infiltrated before and when he finds out who did it, he’ll make them pay with their life. But, when he finds an apology written by the thief on a 7-11 store receipt, he breaks down in laughter, for the thief has stolen a penny and left one in its place. Now Dragos is more than intrigued to find the thief who made him laugh.
Pia is able to escape undetected, or so she thinks, but Dragos soon finds Pia despite the consequences of his actions. Instead of killing Pia, Dragos decides to claim her as his own, much like a possession he keeps in his hoard. Dragos refuses to let Pia out of his sight, but when Dragos is attacked by the Elves, Pia learns that her ex has been murdered and she may be next.
Dragon Bound makes for fun reading. It has adventure, humor and some of the best love scenes I’ve read this year. Dragos is your typical old-world-thinking, egotistical, brooding lord type (almost a bull in a china shop) who’s pushed off center by Pia.
However, there are also a few familiar tropes usually found in paranormal romance, mainly in the way Dragos is written, but overall this is one book that any paranormal romance enthusiast will want to get their hands on.
If you’re a fan of Ward, Feehan and Nalini, you’ll eat this book up. Thea Harrison has written one awesome paranormal, creating an incredible world, a hero to swoon over and a heroine who’s no flakey Mary Sue—and the love scenes are steamy.
Thea Harrison is an author to watch. She just may give many of her fellow paranormal romance authors a run for their money.
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Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (May 3, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0425241509