Customer Reviews

Lucan (Pendragon Legacy)

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4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Begins on Earth, in the near future. Lucan Roarke has been searching for the legendary Holy Grail for what seems like forever. Lucan hopes that the Grail's mystical powers may be more truth than fable because Earth's people are becoming sterile. Unless a cure is found soon the human race will become extinct. When Lucan and his twin sister stumble into a hidden chamber, they find a star map showing the way to Avalon. Since Avalon is shown to reside across the galaxy on a moon named Pendragon, Lucan heads for the stars.

On Pendragon, the High Priestess is credited to have mystical healing powers. Though Cael is a healer and dragonshaper, she yearns for nothing more than to be treated like any other normal citizen. When she dragonshaped for the first time as a young girl, the Elders took her away to raise. They taught her all she would need to know about being able to morph into a dragon and control its primal nature. By law, any who touch a High Priestess is subject to the penalty of death.

When Cael is stuck in a dark conduit, Lucan is there to help set her free from the ductwork. His is the first living touch she has felt since her childhood. No one witnessed it, or her reaction to him, so Cael kept quiet for fear he would he executed simply for helping her. Lucan is the linguist in the Avalon Project. Those in the project have been trying to figure out the secrets of ancient glyphs to bring down Avalon's shields and open the way into the obelisk holding the Grail. But once the shields are down, the military immediately assassinates the team. Lucan and Cael's escape is pure luck, but Lucan is injured as they flee. To save him, Cael must break a High Priestess's sacred law. By doing so, Lucan's DNA will be forever altered. Then comes the news that they are accused of their team's deaths.

**** FOUR STARS! This is the first of a futuristic romance trilogy by an author who is known to please her readers. All three titles will be released by March 2010. Each title contains a main stand-alone tale, as well as a continuous running sub-plot that deals with a mutual enemy. The second book title is Rion (Pendragon Legacy), release date of late November 2009. The third is Jordan, release date of March 2010.

This first story is not only full of action and hot romance, but also sets the foundation for the next two stories. Fans of the King Arthur legends will be pleased to know that the tales are vital to this trilogy. I believe that mostly women will enjoy this story; however, if the men do not mind some hot love scenes then they will find themselves very satisfied. Susan Kearney writes addicting drama! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Synopsis:

Set at some future time when the Earth's survival is uncertain, Lucan is forced to travel to a distant planet of Pendragon in his search for King Arthur's Holy Grail. The Grail is the possible solution to the infertility problem that is facing mankind. If Lucan fails, his whole race faces extinction.

Lady Cael is the high priestess of Pendragon. Trained in her duties from a young age, Cael has been isolated since her family was forbidden to touch her at age five. She is equally revered and feared by her people because of her properties as a dragonshaper. It is forbidden to touch a dragonshaper. When she first meets Lucan, she is surprised that he is unafraid and treats her like a woman.

Lady Cael and Lucan narrowly escape the fire at the excavation site. Unsure of who sabotaged the search for the Holy Grail, Lady Cael and Lucan are forced into hiding. As they work together each with their own secrets, they fall deeply in love. When their secrets are revealed, Lady Cael and Lucan must work together to save those that they love and their threatened peoples.

Review:

This is the first Susan Kearney novel that I've read and the first in her new series The Pendragon Legacy. I loved Lucan. First, the characters draw you in. You find yourself sympathizing with Lady Cael from the start of the novel. She feels her isolation deeply but is committed to serving her family and her peopled as the High Priestess. You wish that she could have something beyond the Pendragon equivalent of the life of a vestal virgin. I admit to hoping that Lady Cael would indulge in a show of strength or black humor when faced with her jealous and mean spirited sisters. Lucan is a wonderful romantic lead: strong, a scholar of ancient languages, funny, fiercely protective of Lady Cael. I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, but Lucan reminded me of a mix of Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones with special powers.

Whether you're looking for a romantic read or a fun fantasy novel, I highly recommend Lucan. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next in the Pendragon Legacy. In the meantime, I'll look for Susan Kearney's older novels!

Publisher: Forever (September 5, 2009), 368 pages.
Courtesy of the publisher.

Love and science have something in common - some of the greatest successes come from perceived failures. This is exactly how Lucan Roarke and Lady Cael feel about each other and what is happening between them. Lucan is an archeologist from Earth who finds himself on a mysterious and magical planet where Cael is the High Priestess and ruler by birthright and a Dragonshaper by destiny. Being a Dragonshaper gives her ability to morph into a Dragon at will and makes her one of a kind in any universe. So how is it that these two have found each other, they are both searching for King Arthur's Holy Grail to cure family illness and stop the unnecessary suffering that comes with it. Both Lucan and Cael are on a mission that is greater than any goal ever achieved and there is only one thing that will slow the process down - love.

During the search and excavation in the area where the Holy Grail is assumed to be located the experiment goes terribly wrong and Lucan and Cael must go on the run of their lives. The government turns out to be corrupt and it comes after them for perceived crimes against humanity that they had no responsibility for. They find comfort in each other's arms and warmth in the depths of their hearts as they keep one step ahead of the devil on their heels trying to figure out who is friend and foe.

But when Cael reveals her dragon to Lucan and tells him that they shared her dragon blood will Lucan stick with her or let her go. The going gets tough and no one is sure who the real enemy is or who can be trusted when it seems everyone has an agenda and no one is on their side. But they find they do have someone to trust and rely upon if fate will give them a little push in the right direction. Yet what Lucan and Cael discover is that some experiences are worth the time and effort and the person sharing them with you is worth the danger of being hurt and losing your heart or maybe both your hearts!
Paranormal is a hot market right now and while everyone is following in standard writing this book takes you into a completely different realm that is most enjoyable. The dragon angle is unique and written in well with not too much complication or over-dramatic issues arising from the scenario. The characters are interesting and you truly believe that they are on the run of their lives and that if they don't trust one another than nothing is worth fighting for.

This is a very good book for light reading- finished it in a couple of hours- original story.....that's it....I really don't like reviews that are a detailed synopsis- Why buy the book?? PRAISE-will buy the next one

"I found myself becoming more and more involved and interested in this book. The characters are so diverse and so unique. They are unlike any other characters I have read before. Most of the characters are from the same planet or society and yet they are so different from those around them. Then you have the offworlders like Lucan and Rion, who are completely unlike any of the other characters. What I was not expecting was the depth and the intensity of the chemistry and sexual tension between Cael and Lucan. The sensuality swells between them and is practically pouring off the pages. While the sex scenes are plentiful, they do not take away anything from the book itself. And wow are those sex scenes hot. Lucan and Cael are both very primal and very strong people so the sex can be pretty wild, but it sure did leave a smile on my face. If you like futurist books this is by far one of the greatest I have read lately and I definitely recommend it. I can't wait for the next book in this series. " - Jacquelyn R. Ward

Author Susan Kearney is a native of New Jersey , writes full time and has sold books to the industries' top publishing houses. As an award-winning author, Kearney earned a Business Degree from the University of Michigan . Her knowledge and experience spans throughout the romance genre, and her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels- With Rion as part of this series coming in December 2009, and Jordan coming in March 2010. She resides in Tampa , Florida with her husband and children.

High Priestess and Healer of her people on Pendragon, Lady Cael, has always accepted her fate and destiny. Her calling and position doesn't allow for a life mate, nor can she be touched or it will break taboo and the will of Goddess. Both feared and respected equally, Cael has become accustomed to her life of solitude. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets and his forbidden touch is making her crave things that her birthright doesn't allow. Lucan has only one purpose for being on Pendragon- find the mythical Holy Grail and get back to Earth before it's too late. The fate of Earth's survival rests in his hands, so he cannot afford the immediate attraction he feels for Cael, nor the distraction. Soon they must join forces to defeat the army of Tribes, who want to find the Grail and use it for selfish purposes. When a warrant goes out for their arrest for murder, they must fight not only to find the Grail, but to survive long enough to use it.

This is a futuristic romance, and if I'm being honest, I did a rather large dramatic eye roll when I learned of the Grail as a plot line, with King Arthur traveling to this planet hundreds of years ago to keep it safe. However, I quickly reminded myself that this was a fictional/fantasy/futuristic book and the author's gifted writing makes you believe in the seemingly out-there story. That's what makes Kearney stand out in this rapidly evolving sub-genre of romance. With a great eye for detailed setting and quick-witted dialog, readers can revel in the fast-pace action and get hooked from cover to cover. Steamy, intense, and sometimes hilarious- I very much look forward to the two other books in this series and where she goes with it. Recommended!



Kelly Moran,

Author and Reviewer

Susan Kearney has written a stupendous book with Lucan. And I cannot wait to read the rest of her series! I was particularly attracted to the hero and heroine who really carried the story both were mature (emotionally) and a perfect match.

I was particularly impressed with Lucan, he is not really the typical alpha male. He respects Lady Cael and lets her make her own decisions. He is very cerebral but still a very hunky and resourceful guy who can take care of himself. I especially liked how Lucan knows that Cael is dangerous but he still sees her as a woman and is not afraid to claim her. This is why I feel he is strong enough to be a match for the fiery and strong heroine, which no one else on the planet dares to even touch. Plus there is also a lot of sexual chemistry between the 2! The only quibble I have is Lucan's long resistance to stay in a relationship with Cael even though I understand his concerns.

This is sure to be a fantastic series and the world building were enthralling. I will definitely be buying the next installment as soon as it comes out. If you love the paranormal and or futuristic romances you will love this book. But this book will probably be a little light for those who enjoy the edgy Urban fantasies genre.

New futuristic series from Susan Kearney. Hopefully as good as her first futuristic romances from a few years back.Lucan is book 1 in the Pendragon Legacy which has a few elements from the King Arthur stories weaved in. Readers are introduced to Cael the high priestess for her people and Lucan, an archeolgist type Indiana Jones.

On earth, humans are becoming sterile and finding it more difficult to carry pregnancies to full term. Lucan believes that he can fix or solve this problem if he can find the mystical Holy Grail relic. Instead he finds the love of his life in Cael, the high priestess, who has the power to shift into a dragon. I love that the characters are well developed and the story was not too heavy on world setting and excessive details and information.

This was a good 1st book and sucks you right into this futuristic setting while you wonder if Lucan will succeed and help Earth. I gave it 3 stars because the dialogue could have been better and the sex scenes were formula-ish. The next 2 installments will feature the characters Rion and Jordan while the search for the Grail continues. Eagerly waiting after getting a sneak peek at those excerpts :)

Lucan is an Archeologist with a passion for history, particularly that of the Holy Grail. He is on a quest to locate it not for the glory, but for the necessity of it. The human race is plagued by sterility and is threatened into extinction if he cannot find a way to allow babies to be born again. With the healing powers of the Holy Grail, he believes that it will solve all of their problems. With an ability to read ancient script, he travels to Pendragon where he believes the Grail to be hidden.

Lady Cael, the High Priestess of Pendragon, is an honored yet feared figure. She is bound by duty to live a life of solitude without love, without intimacy. However, after a chance encounter with Lucan Roarke, she finds herself irresitibly attracted to him. He too is drawn to her and flirts with her although he knows he shouldn't. She should be admonishing him for his audacity, but he makes her feel like a woman - a new experience for her.

Lucan is not the only one searching for the Holy Grail though. Both he and Lady Cael are part of a archeological team that want nothing more than to find the ancient artifact but all for different reasons. Lucan wants to use it to save his people; Lady Cael wants to use it to save her dying nephew; the military wants it for more selfish reasons.

The Holy Grail is protected by ancient magic which make it incredibly difficult to get to. One day, Lucan finds a way to weaken the shields and gets one step closer to it, but moments later a fire destroys the lab and kills most of the team members. After barely escaping alive, Lucan and Lady Cael are blamed for the fire and the resulting deaths so they must run away and come up with a plan to exonerate their names. Let the adventures begin...

This is a futuristic paranormal romance. I will be honest and say that at first I did a bit of the 'ol "eye roll" when I learned that the plot line is based on the belief that the legendary King Arthur hid the Holy Grail on Pendragon (a moon outside of Earth's galaxy) to keep it safe from his enemies. I reminded myself though that this is fictional/fantasy/futuristic book and if I could read about vampires, werewolves and ghosts, then I should really give this book a chance. And I'm glad I did :)

This book really surprised me. It turned out to have so many more elements to the story. Although there is a fair amount of 'bodice ripping' involved, there is also quite a bit of action, science, history, betrayal and suspense. I found Susan Kearney to be a very gifted writer who could make this far-fetched story seem almost believable. The story was fast paced, the main characters were endearing and you never stopped worrying about what could happen to them, the fate of their people and the fate of their own budding relationship.

Lucan & Cael both work in the same lab on Pendragon & are instantly attracted to one another. Both their worlds, Earth and Pendragon are in desperate situations. The one thing both of their worlds need is the Holy Grail. It could also be the one thing that could tear them apart.

Lucan is a non-stop, entertaining read. Filled with adventure and steamy scenes. Lucan and Cael sizzle. Ms. Kearney has done a wonderful job creating this new world. My favorite part of the story has been the dragon element. I think fans of the King Arthur legends will enjoy this new twist. This was my first time reading Susan Kearney's work, and I have to say I really enjoyed it.