Dragon Bound (A Novel of the Elder Races) [Mass Market Paperback]

Thea Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 3, 2011 | Series: A Novel of the Elder Races (Book 1)

View our feature on Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound.

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

Read Thea Harrison's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an outstanding blend of romantic suspense and urban fantasy with great storytelling and world building, extremely sensuous scenes that move the story arc along, and characters [listeners] will be reluctant to leave." ---Booklist Starred Review

--This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

About the Author

Thea Harrison is the pen name of author Teddy Harrison. She wrote her first book at age nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter. Thea holds graduate degrees in philanthropic studies and library information science and has worked as an activist for a nonprofit consumer rights organization, a receptionist, an office manager, and a director of development and research. She lives in northern California. An avid reader her whole life, Sophie Eastlake happily extends her love of books to her passion for narrating. She lives in New York, where she survives the subway grind with a book in her hand and drops in on every literary reading she can find, while on a never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee.

--This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; First Edition edition (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425241505
• ISBN-13: 978-0425241509
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (236 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thea Harrison resides in Colorado. She wrote her first book, a romance, when she was nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter.

She took a break from writing to collect a couple of graduate degrees and a grown child. Her graduate degrees are in Philanthropic Studies and Library Information Science, but her first love has always been writing fiction. She's back with her paranormal Elder Races series. You can check out her website at: www.theaharrison.com, and also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

175 of 180 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dragon Bound May 3, 2011

By A. Schreiner TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I read a lot of books. I read a lot of paranormal books. So when one comes into the Smexy household that is exciting, refreshing and just all around awesome, it is cause for celebration!

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison is the first book in the Elder Races series. Our hero, Dragos Cuelebre is of the Wyr, a group of powerful, ancient shapeshifters. Dragos more specifically is a rare dragon-shifter created around the time of the solar system - so yes, he is ancient to say the least. In present day he is head of the Wyr demesnes located in New York city. The other six demesnes, including Elven, Fae etc...reside in other parts of the United States. He is extremely powerful, wealthy and demands loyalty and obedience from everyone in his control. So when someone breaks into his hoard, something that has never happened before and steals from him, his anger as he takes to the sky in his dragon form can literally be felt and heard from everyone in the city.

Pia Giovanni is a half-breed - half human, half wyr. Raised by her mother who embedded in her mind to never tell anyone what her half-wyr side is, she has always been on the run. But now she has herself in a bit of a bind. She let her guard down with her ex-boyfriend Keith and revealed to him a bit about herself. Something she has never done with another before. Then Keith turned out to be a jerk and to cover his gambling debts, is now blackmailing her with this secret information about herself. He hands over to her a finding charm which with her special powers leads her directly into Dragos' hoard and demands that she steal something from Dragos to appease his "associates." She gets in and steals one of his pennies.

When Dragos discovers this theft, he makes it his mission to find who did this. But soon, they both realize there is a bigger player at stake. The Dark Fae King and Dragos have bad blood and a war is on the horizon.

When we first meet Dragos, he reminded me very much of Raphael from Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series. He is extremely powerful, intense, dark and just a bad ass. But Dragos soon comes into his own. He has been around since the beginning of time, yet some modern things still confuse him. Like slurpees and twizzlers. But don't let that trick you because he runs one of the biggest corporations in the world. Cuelebre Towers employees thousands of people and he rules with a strict hand. But his dragon side also rules his actions throughout this book - something Pia must come to terms with.

When Dragos finally tracks down Pia, his anger soon turns to fascination. He quickly discovers her sticky situation with being blackmailed and realizes a bigger player is calling the shots. He finds himself no longer bored, and very physically attracted to this half breed.

Pia is a really great heroine. Strong, outspoken, and stands up to the over-bearing Dragos. He is kind of a "caveman" when it comes to romance. He isn't suave, or charming. He expects her to follow his orders when it comes to her safety but also in the romance department. But as Pia comes to mean more to him, he wants to learn to be a better lover. I love how we are constantly reminded of how powerful and old he really is.

Pia is strong-willed and butts heads with him about this behavior on many occasions. But there is also humor and warmth in their relationship. Their romance is a quick one in this book - I believe the entire book takes place over about five days. Which I know seems crazy, but it is totally believable. Dragos has the "mine" concept from very early on, and Pia herself desperate not to be lonely in life, falls for him just as quickly.

The romance is very erotic, and just as intense as Dragos himself. I also adored the supporting characters. Rune, Dragos' "First" and best friend along with Dragos' other trusted friends guard Pia with their life, although they don't like her at first. But Dragos soon puts them in their place.

The writing is just superb. There are a few scenes where the action is violent and rough that just made my hair stand on end. Chapter seven holds my absolute favorite scene in the book. Dragos and Pia have been captured and Dragos knows he can't immediately get them out of harms way. For such a powerful, irate being having to tell this woman who he has started to have protective feelings for that she is going to get hurt, was really amazing to read. You can feel the fear coming off Pia. A brief moment from this chapter:

"Here's what I think is going to happen. They're going to separate us. They might hurt you." His grip tightened to the point of pain. "They won't kill you. They'll have seen I was tending to you in some way, so they'll want to use you as leverage to control me. Goblins have no interest in human women. They' won't rape you."

A spasm of trembling hit her, and then it was gone again and she was calm. "It's all right," she told him. "I'm all right. I'm glad you're telling me this."

"That's my good brave girl."

What follows is a terribly violent, emotionally filled chapter that just blew me away.

This world is really fantastic - exciting, very sexy and humorous. Fans of paranormal romance must read this book.

93 of 106 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Please don't hurt me - But this wasn't a good surprise for me May 11, 2011

By L. Christensen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been seeing a lot of people recommending this book as a fantastic read. I must say I wasn't that impressed.

The premise was good. The book opens with Pia Giovanni basically running for her life. Her ex boyfriend managed to blackmail her into stealing something from Dragos, a very powerful dragon. We find out during the course of the book that her mom told her to hide before she died, and taught her the means to do so.

I think my issue with the book had a lot to do with the characters' interactions. Dragos seemed alternately wooden in speech and mannerisms, then would randomly throw out cool-sounding slang. I never really got a handle on his personality.

Pia was the same way. In the opening chapters, she's depicted as a "good girl" who fell into a bad situation, and on several occasions there were long monologues on how she just felt so bad about having to hurt people to save herself. But then, like Dragos, she'd randomly start yelling, screaming, and generally throwing hissy fits.

The characterisations gave me whiplash, to the point that it was difficult to enjoy the pretty awesome plotline. I just didn't get a good feel for Pia and Dragos's motivations behind many of their actions.

Based on the other ratings, I was in the minority on this, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing World of the Elder Races May 3, 2011

By Carol Mathis

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I am so glad I read the first installment of Thea Harrison's new Elder Races series. The world she builds is believable and interesting, with magical creatures more-or-less openly living in political states that overlay the political boundaries of the US that we mere mortals inhabit.

Each area is controlled by one Elder Race. In New York City, the Wyr are lead by a dragon-shapeshifter s powerful, so demanding, so ancient, so enticing, that he puts other romantic heroes to shame. There is also a much lesser-known half-Wyr named Pia who cannot shapeshift, but who is smart, knows her own mind, and isn't easily lead astray by male machinations (well not usually). When these two characters meet, sparks fly in more ways than one.

The plot is mesmerizing, the romance breathtaking, and the outcome thrilling. I'm not going to say more because I don't want to take one moment of pleasure from readers. Harrison is one of the wittiest paranormal romance writers to come along in a very long time. If you enjoy the work of writers like JD Ward and Nalini Singh, you will love this stunning debut. Highly recommended!!