What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

G.A. Aiken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Only for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, 'Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us - the most loved of all dragons?' No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I am so chivalrous, I will brave the worst this land has to offer. So here I stand, waiting to broker an alliance with the one the Northlanders call The Beast. A being so fearful, the greatest warriors will only whisper its name. Yet I, Gwenvael, will courageously face down this terrifying...woman? It turns out the Beast, a.k.a. Dagmar Reinholdt, is a woman - one with steel-gray eyes and a shocking disregard for my good looks. Beneath her plain robes and prim spectacles lies a sensual creature waiting to be unleashed. Who better than a dragon to thaw out that icy demeanor? And who better than a beast to finally tame a mighty dragon's heart?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142010375X
• ISBN-13: 978-1420103755
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These Dragons Only Get Better!, September 1, 2009

By 

Amy C (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

If I knew what to say to make everyone go out and buy this series, I would say it. I love these characters. There's tons of humor, but it's not a lighthearted read. And the humor doesn't feel forced on you, like the author is trying to make it funny, it just is! It's all in the dialogue. The way the family of dragons treat each other and the humans that are lucky enough to have found their way into the horde treat them and are treated. It's a family structure like you've never seen before! Oh the violence! But what do you expect when they are all a bunch of dragons!

I would recommend the first two books be read before this one. There are several things that carried over from the previous books, but it's the characters you don't want to miss out on. Annwyl and Feargus from Dragon Actually and then Briec and Talaith from About a Dragon! And the secondary charcters from those two books, all played roles in What a Dragon Should Know.

What a Dragon Should Know made me laugh and even weepy-eyed. It was a well rounded story with a healthy dose of everything that makes a book a good one. Not a good one, but a great one--a memorable one. Awesome plot with unexpected twists and turns. Fantastic character development. And a wonderful romance.

There is no brooding male in What a Dragon Should Know. Oh no, just an arrogant and handsome dragon. But he does attempt to brood in order to woo his woman. Oh jeez, I am laughing just recalling one particular scene. I've never read a character quite like Gwenvael.

This book goes back and forth between Dagmar and Gwenvael and all the other characters from the previous two books, expanding their characters further. And at no time did I wish the story would just stay with the h/h. Oh no, I wanted all the other characters too. Because each of them have such a unique personality, well, they all seem to be a bit violent and snarky and just plain fun, that I wanted them just as much as the h/h.

I loved the first two books in the Dragon Kin series, but this third one totally had me captivated, but I don't think it would have had me so enthralled had I not already known the characters from the first two books. You're not just getting two characters. All of them seem to come to life, making their presence known and even anticipated.

What a Dragon Should Know has, without a doubt, earned a spot in my top ten books! Definitely a 5 star book!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Dragon Should Know ***** captivating read, September 3, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Toc "The ScaRlet PimperNell" (So Cal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've waited YEARS for this book. After reading all the Dragon Kin ebooks I could find, I started a search for more Shelly Laurenston AKA G.A. Aiken!! In an email to her web site I wrote a pitiful letter BEGGING her to write another Dragon Kin book.

Finally, she did and I couldn't be more pleased. Uh, I'm virtually (110%) sure she didn't write this one just for me. :)

Bear with me for a sec while I set the stage as these books should be read in order:

Dragon Actually, #1 in book versus short story series: Feargus the Destroyer, a wicked mean dragon shapeshifter lives in seclusion to avoid pestilent humans and more importantly, his wildly crazy family. Example: His father used to swing the baby dragons out the windows of his castle just to keep them prepared for surprises. (No animals/dragons were injured during these playtimes with Daddy). Fearghus has happily lived alone for centuries until the day he is awakened by a battle outside his cave. Furious to be disturbed, he storms out, flaming the soldiers and rescuing a warrior princess with the endearing name of Annwyl the Bloody. Their romance is hilarious with it's twists and turns. Recommended as a "Keeper".

About a Dragon, #2 is my favorite....the Frank Capra-like story of Briec the Mighty and his pathway to "feelings" for the misunderstood female assassin Talaith. You get to know more family members in this continuation...but AAD stands out. The love story of Briec and Talaith is so heartfelt. Trust me, you will laugh and cry..and come back to this one on a yearly basis.

What a Dragon Should Know, #3: This much-anticipated novel fleshes out the world our dragons live in. There is more generalized character/plot development as Gwenvael the Handsome slowly, yet believably shifts from playboy Prince to the faithful love of Dagmar. Gwenvael, in the prior two books is famous for screaming "I didn't touch her!" when he's rudely awakened from deep sleep. He's definitely a dragon stud until Dagmar comes along.

In this book, Annywl, now a reluctant Queen, is carrying half-dragon twins..a pregnancy no one believed possible. The narcissistic Gwenvael is given an important mission to travel far into the Northlands and meet with The Beast of Reinholdt Castle. The Beast asked for the meeting to give Annywl information that might save the twins lives. Gwenvael, in typical fashion, is surprised that no one in his family thinks he's the right emissary for the meeting. He knows he's going to be perfect for this ambassadors' role, .....right?

Gwenvael flies to the north, landing in front of Reinholdt castle and immediately infuriates the always plotting, politically-minded Dagmar AKA the Beast. Later, Gwenvael almost dies by Dagmars' hand when he almost "snacks" on one of the puppies living in the castle. How she eventually learns to love this big golden lug of a dragon is a miracle of hormone and good writing. And how Gwenvael learns to see himself through anothers' eyes is a tribute to strong women who wear glasses. LOL.

The humor in this book isn't as obvious as in the prior two but here it's subtle and pervasive. The dragons become more three-dimensional as the layers of dragon society are further expanded with an infusion of additional plot lines that could keep this series going for 2-3 more books. (HINT, HINT!)

This one is recommended as a "Keeper" because you will come back to it over and over ...just to laugh as Gwenvael shouts, "I didn't know she was married!!" or learn how he compensates for the loss of his tail tip. hehehe

Thanks Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken for another wonderful, sexy, funny and romantic book. And if these three books aren't enough, check out Shelly Laurenston's earlier anthologies for short stories about the Dragon Kin.

I apologize for the length of this review. I didn't know I had it in me.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A devious woman and a whiny dragon...., September 2, 2009

By 

Jessie Potts "Book Taster" (Terre d'Ange) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

What a dragon should know is the 3rd book in G.A. Aiken's dragon series. I love all the characters in her Dragon Kin world. The dragons are over the top and the heroines blood thirsty and brave. Gwenvael story though is the the one who made me laugh the most. My fiance kept asking me what was so funny as I roared and cracked up over his harmless 'flirting' with Dagmar's brother. Of all the dragon brood Gwenvael is the one I thought had the flattest character, now I find out that that's the persona he wants every one to see when in fact he's just a shameless, beautiful, handsome, gorgeous humble dragon..... Gwenvael has no shame, he cried in front of Dagmar and her father, simply to get what he wanted, and didn't care if he was called weeper or not! He didn't care if Dagmar thought he was a slut or a knight, he just kept the punch lines coming and the devious woman smiling.

Dagmar, at first, I must admit that I didn't think she'd make a good mate. I mean age old story: plain Jane meets handsome man, turns in to a sensual woman... blah. Oh no Dagmar kept her wits, her manipulative, devious mind and her ability to read situations and use them to her will. She was not steam rolled by this handsome dragon trying to get his tail in her pants, no she just held up two fingers and shushed him! Ah fond memories.

This book was a lot more in depth then her last two books. We really get a feel for the war going on, and the unquiet brewing. Annwyl is not herself, the twins are literally killing her and not even Rhiannon the Dragon witch queen can save her. Izzy, Talaith's daughter is growing more and more like Annwyl (in regards to battle and war) every day, war is coming, and the Elders of the dragon kin are demanding the twins be placed far away from everyone.

This is where Dagmar originally comes in, she knows of an attack that is going to take place in Annwyl's castle, and demands Gwenvael gets her legions of men to secure her father's own northern castle for the information. I won't reveal any more of the twists of the plot, but needless to say the blurb on the back does the novel no justice. That blurb takes place within the first few chapters, then things really get kicking! Read the other two books and you'll understand about Gwenvael's family dynamics as well as what type of person Annwyl use to be. You'll fall in love with Gwenvael and the way Dagmar knows just how to make him feel special... that Defiler!