Becoming (The Dragon Heart Legacy, 2)

DragonHeart2

I admit I drug my feet on finishing this one...not because it wasn’t good (dare I say great?!) but I didn’t want it to end. It will take fortitude to wait for the conclusion without whining about it 😉

I’ve read most everything written by this author and most of it I love and reread. Time was these fantastic tales were presented in novella form as part of an anthology with three friends every holiday season. (Your mission, should you choose to accept it...search for Once Upon). Then they grew too big, and we are blessed with a trilogy where the fantastic breaks through into reality - pagan stones, secret islands, gods from other realms, ancient evils seeking place in the mundane.

The Dragon Heart Legacy brings us Breen Kelly and Marco Olsen, bffs since childhood. They accept and know each other deeply. And that love has sustained them through many challenges. It was Marco who encouraged Breen to start a blog, when she started her journey to learn more about her father. And it was Breen who said come with me as I learn. And so that context of knowing made the learning deeper for both.

In book 1, Awakening, Marco has to go back to the mundane of their known life, leaving Breen in Ireland. She has started writing in earnest, maintaining the daily blog while embarking on an adult novel with dark elements. And then the truly fantastical comes on the heels of a dog.

Breen learns of Talamha, and in recovering her earliest memories, finds more joy and challenge than she ever thought she could handle. But the greatest challenge is going back to her known life and seeing how what she’s learned has shaped her. Context is everything; and there is much that Marco doesn’t know. But Marco knows Breen, and when a stranger follows her to take her back, Marco won’t let her leave alone.

And so we come to Book 2, Becoming. Marco is dropped into Talamha, and the world takes on more color and depth as he meets the folk of Breen’s earliest life. Now he has the context for the fantastical that Breen was trying to prepare him for. And they both become more.

It’s a great book.

I read quite a few reviews before purchasing this series. While I have enjoyed her trilogies, they became very predictable...3 women, 3 men, dislike, then I love you. If you've read them, you know what I mean.

And yes, this one has some predictability, too. Who didn't guess that Shana would cross to the dark side? If you read a lot of fiction, you'll be able to guess at least some of what's going to happen in any book.

I liked the characters, and I didn't find this at all boring. I love that Breen's best friend is a gay, black man. And who knew? Gay people have sex, too. Insert an eye roll, there. I'm glad she didn't shy away from that. If your main (hetero) character has sex scenes written for them, why on earth would you not do the same for another key character when they are gay?

And yes, Marco is a key character. I'm delighted that's the case. I love the character, and he's key to Breen's development so he should be a big part of the storyline.

Culture has changed. Gay people no longer have to hide in the closet, and people use profanity as part of their normal conversation.

If you are uncomfortable with homosexuality and profanity--and paganism--you should stay away from this series. If you are like me (pagan, bi, use profanity, embrace other cultures, and love magical fiction), you should give these books a try.

I am American but a huge chunk of my tv and moving viewing is British programming. I know the meaning of the word bollocks in that culture, and it's deliberate here as part of the dog's character. I don't mind it at all.

This has turned out to be one of my favorite series by NR, and I look forward to the third installment.

We're back in Talamh!!! This book gives us a chance to really get a lay of the land and dive more into the fantasy world. I enjoyed getting to see Marco and Breen really start to build a life in Talamh, and step into their new normal. The magic and fantastical creatures were fun and exciting. A lot of it reminds me of the magic that I used to see in 90s/2000s shows, films, and books. The spells are cast in a more ritualistic way with structured poetry and ceremonial objects. And as with all Roberts' books (fantasy or not) the theme of finding some good - some light - amid the darkness is played heavily against the conflict. I was able to get through this by pairing my hardback with the audiobook. It was a life savor on those Irish words. I felt like I was able to grasp the sound and feel of the story better. I'm excited to see how the trilogy will end and what happens once they get rid of Odran once and for all. Sweet and easy fantasy read. Lots of heart and a dash of spice.