Member Reviews
The Embraced #3, I love each book more and more. Each of the sisters, so far, have had their own style to fit there story. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days very much felt like I was reading a fairy tale, So I Married a Sorcerer felt like a old pirate romance to me. I don't have a point of reference for dragon fantasy, (only other dragon shifter modern romance) so I couldn't tell you if it had that feel to it, but I loved it; ancient curses, kidnapped Princess', mountain trolls, conspiracies to overthrow the King, dragons, a great HEA, what's not to love. I especially loved that there are actually eight rules for dating a dragon. It's just stuff that Silas makes up for Gwennore especially after she starts calling his dragon Puff, and he starts teasing her about liking Puff more than she likes him, but of course at the time she doesn't know that Silas and Puff are one in the same. Rule number one for dating a dragon when he takes you for a ride hold on tight and never let go. Rule number four: Never tell his secrets. Whenever he tells her a new rule it's always pertinent to the story at the time. Number five is my favorite, Beware of kissing a dragon, he won't burn you but he might make you melt, and Silas will make you melt.
It's been about three years since the events of the last book and Gwennore has put up with a lot of crap and discrimination from people in court, being elf hasn't helped her even if two of her sisters are Queens. The only reason she says is for the kids. One particularly beautiful day everyone is enjoying a birthday picnic celebration when Gwennore and Eviana, Luciana's little girl, are out picking flowers when out of nowhere a dragon grabs Eviana, without even thinking Gwennore jumps on the dragon and tries to free Eviana but she gets taken away too. Not long after another dragon shows up and catches Gwennore after she loses grip and falls off the first dragon. Gwennore realizes she can hear the dragons talking and can communicate with them also. Her dragon promises that everything will be alright. But it's not alright, when they reach Norveshka Gwennore discovers the Queen is dying and going crazy and the King isn't any better off. General Silas makes a deal with her that they will send Eviana home right way if Gwennore stays for a month and tries to cure the Queen. With the deal struck Gwennore strives to find out as much about the curse and the Queen's illness as possible.
Gwennore and Silas have such a witty rapport with each other. She tries so hard not to show she likes him and is utterly embarrassed when she learns that not only can he read her mind but two other people can also and she's been calling Silas General Gorgeous. Silas is enthralled with Gwennore and has no problem letting people think she's his mistress, Gwennore has a problem with it but it's not long before she lets her feeling be known. But she holds out, I'm proud of her, she holds out on succumbing to his smoldering kisses and hot looks until over half way through the book.
Silas for being the badass general and big bad dragon, he's such a sweetie; he's very protective of Gwennore and when he finds out that it's Eviana's birthday he has the cook bake her a cake. Gwennore really grows as a character growing up so isolated then spending time in court and being excluded and insulted she finally has the chance to come out of her shell and find out who she really is, and not to mention Silas finds out who she really is as in who her parents are... yep. On top of the curse the Chameleon is back and trying once again to overthrow the king only this time they find out more about who is behind it but as one question get answered five more pop up.
Overall, I am so loving this series and I really hope Sorcha is next because white and lavender equals royal elves *excited squeal*.
"KERRELYN SPARKS did it again!!!"
If you know the author and you are a fan, then you definitely know that she provide amazing sci-fi romances be it vampires, wolves, tigers and bears. And dragons. Oh my dragons. Plus elves! Yes, she makes great stories along this trope and she's my go-to author aside from being a one-click. I love every series this author creates and this one is one of them.
Let's start with her character, Gwennore. Her character have grown so much since the first time we met her and as the series progresses, she gains more confidence on herself as well as strength. She's learning a lot about her and her abilities. She has an ability to track down an illness and heal it all by herself.
But Gwennore ended up in the realms of the dragons one day bevause a young girl she was playing with was kidnapped by a dragon. Thrust into the world that is plagued with curse as old as time that involves the royal family, our Gwennie was left with a choice to trust a dragon, an enemy, to save the young girl.
Enter General Silas. Swoon-worthy, panty-melting, jaw-dropping, tongue-lolling Silas. He saved our Gwen and helps her.
I love the camaraderie and chemistry of both main characters. Even if they grew upnas sworn enemies they set it all side to help the kingdom of the dragons especially the royal family from being mad and poisoned.
Full of mystery and surprises, this has been a perfect installment to the series. Kerrelyn Sparks never fail to make a fun and amazing books. I love every heroes she creates and how she makes them different from every other heroes in this genre.
I recommend this book to EVERY SHIFTER fans out there. The author did not disappoint.
Gwennore has a talent. An Elf able to track down the cause of an illness and heal it, she’s a valuable asset to her people. When the kidnapping of a young girl thrusts Gwennore into the very heart of the realm of the dragons, she discovers not only a place of power and magic, but also a haunted land, plagued by an ancient curse that all but ensures extinction to the royal family. But when she meets the smoldering General Silas Dravenko, they strike a bargain—save the country from its cursed illness, and he will return the kidnapped girl. She’s been raised never to trust a dragon, but never did making a deal with the devil feel so good…
Silas has no way of curing the family he’s loyally served for years. But when a beautiful elf, long considered the enemy of the dragons, comes bursting into his world, Silas is awakened to passion and desire in a way he’s never felt before. But can he trust a sworn enemy to save the very existence he holds dear? And can their love survive those that threaten to tear them apart?
Review:
A little fun, a little sexy, a little action = a great book!
I liked this book as much if not more than the first two books and I really liked them.. This time around we have Gwennore who lets herself be kidnapped to protect her niece, who is taken by a dragon. I am going to try to give a spoiler free review, so things might sound a little vague...sorry.
Gwennore ends up in Norveshka where everything is not as it seems. Children are being stolen because the King and Queen cannot have any. There is a curse and poison. A populstion being ravaged by the plague. Dragons, trolls and shapeshifters. At the heart of the story is the slow building romance between Gwen and Silas. It is at times, sexy, sweet, and full of heart. A very well rounded and engaging story.
This story is a continuation of an ongoing story line, but they can totally be read as stand alone titles. For myself, I would read them in order to get the most of the. I am really enjoying this series and cannot wait for Sorcha's story.
4.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*
Right off the bat let me say that is IS a series you need to start at book 1 How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days to really appreciate the growing overarching plotline.
I am loving this series and this book, I was a fan of her previous vampire series Love At Stake, I found it entertaining but a bit silly in places and a naming convention that just drove me nuts.
How refreshing to see that this fantasy series is much more serious while maintaining an air of humor with very life threatening plots. Gwen is a trusting soul and she is not about to put a lot of trust into somebody that seems to have too many secrets that she feels he should have told her about but the overall question of what is killing the queens in realm of the dragons.
It is a good mystery and a great story and I would have loved to give it 5 Stars but a couple of plots holes and a reoccurring scenario that made me think it was a bit of a rushed ending dropped it 1 Star but I still love it and will be waiting anxiously for the next book, I assume there will be at least 2 more (5 sisters) and maybe a book to tie up everything but in any event I plan to get them all.
ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
Gwen has an unique talent.
She can find the cause of a illness and cure it.
Gwen is assigned to find a kidnapped gird.
She did not expect where her journey would lead her. ( or who )
Silas is almost losing hope of finding a cure to save his people.
When he meets Gwen, it seems that his prayers have been answered.
Will Gwen find a cure in time?
I loved the storytelling + the characters
The storytelling + the character's build were awesome!
Emotionally thrilling, heart pounding, action packed romantic adventure filled with danger, mystery and passion. Loved every exciting twist and turn.
Gwennore is sweet, loyal, brave, smart and an Elf with the ability to target and identify the source of any illness. Silas is a sexy, charming, strong and protective alpha male leader of his countries army and looking for a way to save his people from plague and madness. Their attraction is instant and undeniable, the banter is whitey and fun. Highly entertaining reading.
This was a really good book. It was very enjoyable, funny, full of action and romance. This is my first read of any work by Kerrelyn Sparks, but will not be my last.
I am starting this series at the third book but had no problem getting enmeshed in this world or keeping up with the story. I thought this book had a good flow and well written characters. I loved the bantering and funny interactions between Gwen and Silas I loved their chemistry and slow burn romance. I will be checking out the other books in this series and highly recommend this read.
Gwenmore is an elf although she really doesn't know much about her heritage. She has adopted sisters whom she loves and they are all protective of each other.
Silas is a dragon and sometimes he wishes he wasn't.
A curse is the issue.
Gwen is stolen by a dragon and all kinds of things happen.
Can Silas keep this woman once she knows what he is?
I have not read any other stories in this series but I do enjoy other books by this author and this book was no exception.
Downloaded through Netgalley to read for an honest review.
Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is book three in the Embraced Series and it is an extremely fun read. It starts off like you're stepping into a historical fiction novel then you discover there are elves, a whole other fantastical world, shifters, and DRAGONS!
This is the first book I've ever read from Kerrelyn Sparks. I received an email from Netgalley stating that this book was available to download. So, I downloaded it out of curiosity and enjoyed it immensely!
The characters are likeable and it's easy to become wrapped up in the story. I was fine reading this without the other two. I didn't even know it was apart of a series. It's lovely to accidentally stumble into a series when they're well written.
Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is breath of fresh air in today’s paranormal Romance, its humors, sexy and exciting!
I haven’t had this much fun reading a romance book in a long while! Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is my favorite out of the Embraced series so far, I loved both Gwennore and Silas and latterly devoured their story in a few hours and I didn’t want their story to end.
I love the story, characters and they way Sparks brought out Gwennore past into light. The only downside I could really see in the story was at times Silas could be a bit corny as he was joking with Gwennore, but I thought they were mostly funny how they all tied together. I just couldn’t believe it took Gewnnor so long to catch on who he really was.
I recommend Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon to any Kerrelyn Sparks lover and to anyone who loves dragons, elves and a magical world.
This is the first book I've read in The Embraced series but Ms. Sparks gives enough information about all the characters that I didn't feel lost while reading this book (although I do plan to go back and read the other two books).
Gwennore is an Elf who is living with her adopted sisters . She's dealt with prejudice all her life since the other people in the kingdoms do not care for Elves. She knows she needs to stand up for herself but she's always been a little afraid to do so. And then her niece is kidnapped by a dragon while another grabs her as well, to keep her from falling to her death. She doesn't know what's going on, she just knows she has to protect her niece. When the dragons drop both females onto the castle grounds in the kingdom of Norveshki, Gwennore has no idea just what kind of an adventure she is about to begin.
Silas is a general in the Norveshki military and part of The Cursed Clans. There's something seriously wrong happening in his kingdom and he feels helpless to do anything about it. When he meets Gwennore, and learns she has healing skills, he feels hope for the first time that maybe they can finally bring peace to Norveshki. And maybe, just maybe, he can convince Gwen she belongs with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. As a matter of fact, once I started reading, I didn't stop until I was done. Ms. Sparks has created an interesting and entertaining world full of wonderful characters, a little danger and suspense, lots of romance, and some smexy-times. I recommend this book (and, once I go back and read the first two books, I'm sure I'll recommend the whole series).
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way influenced my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book – it’s been awhile since I’ve read fantasy/romance and this story pulled me in right away. I did not read the first two novels in the series, but was able to enjoy this one as a standalone book. I received an ARC from NetGalley, which has not influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Received in exchange for a honest review.
Very imaginative and sexy. We get great banter, witty moments, tender moments and danger galore. We are also left with an ending that has you wanting more of the characters and to see if they will get the chameleon.
Silas has secrets. Can’t be helped but they do hold him back in some things. He is also a great guy. He is understanding and kind. Honest and smart. And he wants peace in his world. He wants violence to end and unity to be struck between the different people. He doesn’t believe one race is better than the other and he sees people for who they are and not what they are. He also cares very deeply for his people and wants to help them with what is happening to them. He wants to solve why they are getting sick and why the royals have gone mad and died over the centuries.
Gwen is one of the sweetest and gentlest elves you will meet. She is kind and rises above what others think of her to lend a hand and be there for others. She doesn’t see how beautiful or worthy she is. Silas sees it though and so do her sisters. So when Eviana is taken by a desperate dragon Silas is there to help. He saves them but also finds his match in Gwen.
We see him continuously help Gwen while she tries to figure out his angle. She is scared of his feelings and actions because of the fact that no one has ever seen her as beautiful or smart except those close to her. As their attraction grows we see their intimacy in talking and learning about one another grow as well. Silas does know how to push Gwen’s buttons. Gwen also meets new friends and family and sees that not everyone sees her as just a elf. We see her and Silas along with their friends race to find out what his hurting Silas’s people, who is behind what is happening to the royal family and why. We watch them unravel the mysteries and learn about one another as well in this entertaining and adventurous tale filled with love, acceptance, danger and family.
Dragons and Elves. Silas & Gwennore.
Gwennore (I hate that name, she shall henceforth be referred to as Gwen) is one of five “sisters” that have grown up on the Isle of Moon together. They are destined to bring peace to the kingdoms. During a party, Gwen and her niece are captured by dragons. The dragon’s country is having problems. The main problem is their children are dying and their population is dwindling. This prompts some to kidnap children from neighboring kingdoms. Gwen possesses talents that may help in diagnosing their problems. The kidnapped child is returned to her parents and Silas talks Gwen into staying in his country and helping the people solve their problems. Among their problems are poisoned objects, traitorous spies, and endless war
Gwen sometimes refers to Silas as Puff (as in the magic dragon) and General Gorgeous (for reasons). I didn’t like that Silas was not open and honest with Gwen. Gwen was bullied by others because she is different (she is an elf). I liked the banter between the characters. Example: “She thinks I’m full of shit.” Aleksi snorted. “You’re right. She is intelligent.”
3 Stars
The book was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
I received with thanks an ARC copy of Eight Simple Rule for Dating a Dragon (Embraced #3) from St Martins Press & Netgalley.
This is my true and honest review of Eight Simple Rule for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks. This was published on 27th March 2018
First, I adore this series and I have loved everyone. This time we are following Gwennore an Elf. Gwennore can detect illnesses and knows how to find a cure. She was raised on the Isle of the Moon with her 4 other adopted sisters.
We meet Gwennore five years after the events in So I Married a Sorcerer. She has been living with her adopted sister Queen Lucinda and her husband King Leo. She has been helping by looking after her sister’s twins. Her sister with help of her other adopted sister Queen Brigitta has been trying to set up Gwennore with every bachelor in their both of their kingdoms. This has not gone well with society due to Gwennore being an elf.
One day Gwennore gets fed up with all the gossip and the set-ups that she takes Eviana, one of Lucinda’s twins up to a hilltop and away from the crowds. Here Eviana gets kidnapped by a dragon from another kingdom. Gwennore rushes and jumps on the dragon to save Eviana. Here the adventure begins as another dragon saves Gwennore’s life.
Gwennore skills as a healer are soon noted and is asked to help. The kingdom is dire need of help as the curse has raked throughout their kingdom for hundreds of years. But Gwennore’s help is not wanted or well received due to her being an elf. The kingdom that she is now in has spent many years at war with Gwennore’s homeland. Only Silas Dravenko and a few others believe in her and her gift and they feel she is the one to break the curse.
This was always going to be a winner for me I love dragons in any shape or form. This series is rich and beautiful to read. I enjoyed reading about Gwen and her relationship with Silas. Silas is a great character full of flirty wit and charm. Cannot wait to read the next installment.
Great book for fantasy lovers and who enjoy tales about dragons, shifters, magic and good romance.
Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is a delightful fun read by Kerrelyn Sparks. It is third in this series that has such great characters that it is difficult to choose a favorite. Silas is certainly my favorite of the male lead characters. He is hero material whether in man or dragon form.
General Silas Dravenko is loyal, protective and an all-around good guy. This comes out even with the bargain that he strikes with elf healer, Gwennie. He can also be a flirty and playful which was the opposite of how I thought of him as a dragon general. Just goes to show the complexity of Ms. Sparks’ characters. He made the book for me, along with some of the other dragons of Norveshka. Gwennie was okay as the other lead but not my favorite of the sisters in this series. At times I found her to be too wishy-washy as well as reluctant without good reason.
Ancient curses, a creative fantasy world and romance are all part of Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon. The book is said to be a stand-alone but you will want to read the other two in the series along with this one.
5 Stars for Silas
4. Stars for Gwennie
4.5 Stars Overall
This is a third story in this cute series about fantasy paranormal world of dragons and magic. Despite having read just the first one, I did not have hard time following the story so it is definitely a great stand-alone book. An elf, dragon and search for the cure that has plagued a kindgom makes a good plotline. I couldn't put the book down for first half. The story slows down a little bit towards the latter h alf of the book. It is not a high heat romance, but has sweet interaction between the two characters. Since some of the plotline doesn't feel quite resolved, the story is a very minor cliffhanger, but it has a happy ending. Just wish there was a little more chemistry between the two characters, as in, make me believe in their romance more. The romance between them felt a little shallow or sudden and not quite complete.
I have loved Kerrelyn Sparks since I found her vampire series years ago. This one took me a bit to get into, but once I did, holy wow, she blew me away...again! I felt a little confused at the beginning, like there is more to the story? Maybe like this is a spin off of some other series? And it very well may be, I like to go into books blind sometimes, there was just A LOT of back history and information at the beginning.
I love dragon shifter stories, its a second favorite to vampires, and Sparks knows what she is doing! She writes with such emotion, you feel like you are there in the story.
This one unfolds and continues to grow the world and I can't wait to get more of it!
Wonderful fantasy/paranormal read. Gwennore is an Elf is with special healing and restorative powers but, she is totally unprepared for the world of dragons that she is forced into. Gen.. Silas Drevanko suddenly has to trust and work with an Elf in order to save his race. How can they trust each other when they are sworn enemies??!! Worse, what are they supposed to do about the very powerful feelings they are feeling toward each other? I did not want to put this book down!
***I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review. I have received no compensation and all conclusions are my own.***
I haven't read any other books in the series, but I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them. This was the case with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and characters. I loved how they interacted and how the story played out. There was drama and excitement and it really pulled you into the book.