Customer Reviews

The Black Dragon (Dragon Series, Book 2)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Trapped in the human realm, all Malcolm, otherwise known as the Black Dragon, wanted was to go home to Dragonspace. Once he has returned home, all he can think about is going back to the mortal world and the woman who has somehow managed to worm her way into the heart of the Black Dragon, a being known for logic, not sentimentality.

When Saba is attacked by an evil White Dragon, it is the perfect opening to return to his beloved witch. Malcolm will stop at nothing to protect what is his, and even though she is no longer under the mark that enslaved her will to his, Saba most definitely belongs to Malcolm.

But the White Dragon may have found a way to destroy Malcolm, and it will take every ounce of power and strength Saba can muster to save the dragon who has captured her love so effortlessly.

In the first book of Allyson James' Dragon Series, Malcolm started out as a villain - or so he seemed. By the end of Dragon Heat, readers understood that Malcolm was not evil, he simply did not think the way other people do - or even other dragons for that matter. In fact, by the end of that book, you wanted to see more of this misunderstood dragon and the witch he left behind, Saba.

Which brings me to the present, standing and applauding Ms. James for delivering a compelling story that more than lives up to the expectations fans had for Malcolm's tale.

While we left the previous story with the understanding that Malcolm was much more than he initially seemed, Ms. James explores his character in much greater detail in the sequel, The Black Dragon. In this story, the reader knows unequivocally that Malcolm has never been a villain. He has only ever wanted to protect those under his care, not enslave them. He feels things very deeply, even if the peculiarities of the Black Dragon's personality cause him to express things in ways most people don't understand.

As with the first book in this series, the situation and characters in The Black Dragon lend themselves easily to humor throughout the story. Watching as the ever so logical Malcolm tries to woo the disbelieving Saba is both comical and heartwarming! He may not often know the most romantic way to say something, but he always gives Saba the truth, and he definitely shows how much he cares for her time and again.

After Malcolm enslaved Saba to his will in the previous story, it is completely understandable that Saba is doubtful concerning Malcolm's intentions and true feelings for her. That's what makes it even more fun to watch as she submits to his seductions, even as she thinks he is bound to leave her once again. Of course, it is easy for us practically omniscient readers to say it is fun, while poor Saba struggles to resist a dalliance that she is sure will break her heart in the end. Ah, but after reading those scorching hot love scenes with Malcolm, I daresay she has a bit of fun regardless!

The Black Dragon also allows us to revisit with Caleb and Lisa, the couple from Dragon Heat, as they figure prominently in the story for their friends, Malcolm and Saba. It was wonderful to see these characters again and glimpse their lives after the happy ever after started!

I stated in my review for Dragon Heat that this series is now on my pre-order list, and Allyson James only reinforced that with this story. The Black Dragon is truly a magical story that will leave the reader wanting to believe in dragons, witches and all manner of other mystical creatures.

Series Order:
Dragon Heat (Dragon Series, Book 1)
The Black Dragon (Dragon Series, Book 2)

What if dragons really existed?

Saba Watanabe knows dragons exist and just how dangerous they can be! Malcolm, a black dragon, left her eight months ago and she should have forgotten him by now (see DRAGON HEAT for more details on their first encounter). When a white dragon tries to put his dragon mark on her, she has no choice but to call Malcolm for help. The white dragon has a deadly plan in mind, and Saba and Malcolm will have to once again work together if they are to save all of dragonkind. Will Saba and Malcolm find love this second time around?

Malcolm and Saba really stole the show in DRAGON HEAT so it was good to see them finally get their own book! If you haven't read DRAGON HEAT yet, please note that THE BLACK DRAGON contains major spoilers for it and reveals the big secret from the first story. The relationship between Saba and Malcolm also first begins in DRAGON HEAT, so while THE BLACK DRAGON is a stand alone, the story is much better if you read the books in order.

This series only gets better and better! THE BLACK DRAGON goes deeper into the world of dragons and Dragonspace as Allyson James continues to show the true depth of the world she has created. However, it is not just the world itself that makes THE BLACK DRAGON so spectacular as the characters themselves are vibrantly alive. Saba and Malcolm are two of the most vividly drawn characters and their highly anticipated story delivers one powerful punch.

The relationship between Saba and Malcolm has easily evolved in THE BLACK DRAGON. In DRAGON HEAT, Saba was unwillingly bound to Malcolm, forced to obey him because of the dragon mark. I must admit that it is a little surprising to me that their story is so strong that this became a non-issue for me. In fact, part of what makes THE BLACK DRAGON so effective is that Saba and Malcolm are put on equal footing after Malcolm gets a little taste of his own medicine!

Allyson James vaults to the top with THE BLACK DRAGON. She has easily solidified herself amongst the best paranormal romance writers with this latest book. Highly recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I really wanted to love this book, it had all the great elements of a fantastic paranormal romance: Great powerful witch heroine Saba, Malcolm a gorgeous tall sexy man with the soul of a dragon, seriously evil dragon bad guy and a great supporting cast of allies including the happy pair Lisa and Caleb returning from James' previous book Dragon Heat (Dragon Series, Book 1).

I really did love Saba, in spite of the whole Stockholm syndrome thing, there was such a pathos to her love for Malcolm. Saba hasn't recovered from original loss that left a gaping hole in her life when Malcolm left her at the end of the last book. And now that he's back, Saba struggles with love that she can't deny but fears she will loose again. Author James does a great job of developing Saba's full heroine potential. Saba has come fully into her powers. She is no longer susceptible to enslavement by any of the dragons, Malcolm included, and she really steps up and plays a vital part in the stories battles.

In spite of the fact that I love it when bad guys go good and Malcolm was the villian in the previous book, I had a hard time feeling a connection to Malcolm. Unfortunately, keeping true to the character that James created for the Black Dragon that hides under Malcolm's gorgeous skin, Malcolm is so logical and detached that it keeps the relationship between Malcolm and Saba from being very romantic. They come together again and again and again and again in a frenzy of need, but that's just lust and it doesn't turn to something more vulnerable for Malcolm until well into the last part of the book.

So for me this was a near miss romance-wise, but there was alot of great action and if you read the previous book you'll probably want to read The Black Dragon to tie-up the series and get to see Lisa and Caleb one last time.

At only four years of age, Saba Watanabe saw a Baku. A Baku is a Japanese god of protection. It is six feet tall with the head of a lion, wickedly sharp teeth, a horse's body, bat-like wings, and a long, hairy tail. Even back then, her father knew she would be a wise woman some day.

Saba is now twenty-eight years old. She works in the San Francisco area for Technobabble (data programming). Saba had been a minion for a Black dragon named Malcolm. Malcolm, in human form, finished his eight-hundred-year exile about eight months ago and returned to Dragonspace. Until Malcolm left, Saba had been under Malcolm's thrall, with his dragon mark upon her. Now Saba is a strong witch. After Malcolm's departure, the first spell Saba learned was to resist a dragon mark. So when a White dragon entraps Saba on a train, trying to bind and enslave her with his own dragon mark, Saba is able to resist. Saba still has to call upon Malcom to rescue her from the White dragon.

Malcolm's attraction for Saba is still feverishly high. After temporarily chasing off the White dragon, Malcolm marks two men and appoints them as Saba's bodyguards. The Black dragon agrees to help track down Saba's dragon attacker, which is now terrorizing the Bay Area. Malcolm has a spell cast upon him to drain his strength. He needs Saba's help to remove the spell before he becomes too vulnerable. Yet to do so, they must locate a mysterious book hidden in the world of Dragonspace.

**** I learned a lot about Chinatown (and some of China's legendary history) as this story swept me away. Even though THE BLACK DRAGON (and DRAGON HEAT) obviously targets female fantasy fans, I believe men will be drawn to the series as well. There is more romance than most men would like, but the plot and action are so well done that men just may overlook the added romance scenes. This terrific book is perfect for reading on a cold and quiet evening in front of a warm fire place. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Allyson James' Dragon Series:

Dragon Heat

The Black Dragon

"The Black Dragon" begins with an exciting first chapter, then slows way down until about midway through the book where the pace picks up again. I really liked this story as a whole, but there were some parts in the first half of the book that had me literally falling asleep. As much as I loved the characters and the plot, it just didn't move in the beginning. I think it was the fact that so many things were retold from the first book, "Dragon Heat", for the sake of people who didn't read it. The fact that the romance is intense from start to finish kept me reading.

I was really glad to see many of the characters from "Dragon Heat" return for "The Black Dragon". Allyson James did a terrific job keeping all of them consistent in their personalities. "Dragon Heat's" main couple, Lisa and Caleb, play big roles in "The Black Dragon". Caleb is still funny and arrogant, Lisa is still calm and light- hearted. The main couple in "TBD", Saba and Malcolm, had big roles in "DH". Saba returns in this sequel with her down- to- earth outlook on life and her fierce loyalty to her friends. Malcolm remains dark, serious, extremely intelligent, and very protective.


Set in San Fransisco, the dragon series is about dragons who live in human form whenever they are among real humans. Long ago, dragons and people shared their worlds. Now that the humans have stopped believing in dragons, the dragons cannot change into their true form when nonbelievers are present. Malcolm, a Black Dragon, was exiled in the human world for 800 years. A year ago, Lisa who is a powerful Silver Dragon, helped Malcolm return to Dragonspace. After nearly a century of being trapped in the human world, Malcolm's soul soars as he reenters his home land.

Saba, a powerful human witch, is heart- broken because her true love Malcolm has returned to Dragonspace. Although she has been determined to move on and forget him, she continues to carry the dragon tears Malcolm gave her. Before leaving, he told Saba that if she ever needed him she could use the dragon tears to call him back to earth.

Alone in a train car, Saba is surprised by the appearance of a White Dragon. White Dragons are often called "Frosts" because of their cold cruel nature. When the White Dragon attacks Saba, she uses the tears to call Malcolm for help. After beating the White Dragon for harming Saba, Malcolm becomes determined to find out why the White Dragon wanted to overpower her. He also plans to reveal to Saba that he has realized she is meant to be his true mate for life.

The White Dragon, known in human form as Roland, is greedy for powerful magic. Using "The Book of All Dragons", he has the key to enslaving Malcolm. Roland is determined to capture Saba and use her powers for his own benefit. Malcolm and Saba must work together, with the help of Lisa and Caleb, to stop Roland from murdering humans in his quest for power. Throughout the battle, Malcolm's greatest concern is keeping "his Saba" safe.

If you enjoy changeling stories, with heroes who change between human and beast forms, here are some of my favorites:
Dragon Heat (Dragon Series, Book 1)
Lair of the Lion
A Hunger Like No Other (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 1)
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)
Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1)
Visions of Heat (Psy-Changelings, Book 2)
Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3)

Guess I'll be in the minority here but i found the hero to be a bit callous. Malcolm enslaves the heroine in a prior storyline, compells her to return him to his homeland and compells her to have oral sex with him. Of course she is in love with him and is understanding of why he did this to her Huh? What is romantic about that? Granted he saves her in the beginning of this book from the white dragon but I don't get how easily she forgives him. Within the first hundred pages she is ready to have sex with him. The author is actually a good writer and to be honest i was strangely compelled to continue reading this book. If you can get past the heroine's somewhat doormat qualities this is a good read. I just couldn't give it more than three stars because of the above.

I really liked it better than the first book, couldn't tell you why. Maybe because the hero & heroine seemed smarter?

First off let me say Malcom is so sexy! Okay now that I got that out on to the book. The books starts off with Saba being attacked by a white dragon which are the most heartless cruel of all the dragons. Basically Saba has to call Malcom for help and just like a true hero or dragon he appears. I don't want to give the whole book away but well here is a summary of what happens but I promise I will not give the book away. The white dragon who is the bad guy needs a powerful witch, Saba is a powerful witch, Malcom is the black dragon who protects her. Love scenes are really steamy. Really good story. I read it in one sitting which is basically how I read all my books but anyway back to the book. We get to see the heroine and hero from the previous book Dragon Heat too. This is a good continuation of the Dragon sereies although I am hoping for a White Dragon book in the future, yeah I know the White Dragons was the bad guy in this one but surley not all White Dragons are evil right?

I was so glad to see that a book was coming out for Malcolm. I love their story and loved this book even better than the first one. Can't wait to get the 3rd book.

I really have enjoyed reading this authors other books, but this one just left a sour feeling in my stomach. Why would someone "forgive" and fall in love with someone who has forced them to have oral sex with them. That's just way too sick to me. What were you thinking Allyson?