Customer Reviews

What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, Book 3)

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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!

I feel like the other reviewers did an good job, so I won't go into detail about the book. But it's excellent. I really don't understand how authors like Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon and JR Ward(better than some) make it when they write the same story, over and over again. Same structure, same characters, just different names and actually make it. What happened to real writing and real story telling. These books are absolutely fantastic...come on people get with it.

If you're looking for LOL moments, it doesn't get any better than this book.

The series is 5 star excellent and this is the best book of the three. I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars.

In the famous words of the Lady Dagmar, I am not lying! This book was awesome. If you liked gwenvael in the other two Dragon Kin books, you will absolutely love him now. Gwenvael the handsome has FINALLY met his match in the northlander noble Lady Dagmar. Their romance was more funny than steamy, but the plot was excellant as always, and Aiken still managed to squeeze in quite a few hot love scenes. Get this book today!

As the third born dragon son Gwenvael the Handsome knows his family thinks he is a fool though the women fall all over him. Thus he is taken aback when his seven months pregnant sister-in-law Queen Annwyl assigns him to a key mission. Because of her delicate condition, she cannot travel to negotiate a treaty with the Northlanders and the Beast; she orders him to go in her place; especially after his crack that she is big. Gwenvael would do anything for Annwyl, so he agrees. He revels in her confidence in him but accepts the mission mostly to escape her wrath and her husband his older brother Fearghus the Destroyer and his adopted sister Izzy the muscle queen before they beat his face into a bloody pulp for upsetting the pregnant queen.

He arrives at his destination only to learn that the most feared warrior in the world the Beast is a brilliant human female Dagmar Reinholdt, whose ingenious plots have protected her father the warlord Reinholdt and their people. An even bigger shock than learning who the Beast is (to Gwenvael the Handsome) is that Dagmar with her glasses and plain robes on seems to ignore his beauty; women jump his bones and scales not scorn him. Instead to his greatest shock, she appreciates his intelligence, a first for a dragon who lives by his charm and looks. As Gwenvael tries to win Dagmar's heart, treachery from within threatens both their families.

This is a super hysterical romantic fantasy starring a sly vainglorious dragon and a clever fraudulent human falling in love though she verbally rips off a few pounds of scales from his skin. Fans will laugh loudly at the gender war as Dagmar takes the handsome out of Gwenvael and Gwenvael takes the beast out of Dagmar. G.A. Aiken has written a tremendous irreverent tale that amusingly turns sexually changes Beauty and the Beast.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoy romance novels, but not into the whole "Dragon thing"....I thought!! This series of books are really great. They are funny beyond belief, Romantic(Caution as the sex scenes are very graphic), Action and the women are strong. The characters are carried out through all three books and I advise reading them in order however each book can stand on its own. I know others have wrote very inepth reviews and I can confirm that these books are worth the time, money and effort to read. I enjoy K. Cole "Hunger like no other" and G.Showalters Underlords series. So if you are a fan of those books then you would enjoy these. However if you are faint of heart at graphic love scenes then these are NOT the books for you.

A fabulous continuation to the previous books in the series - and Aiken does a magnificent job in seamlessly tying the previous characters and events and as you read WHAT A DRAGON SHOULD KNOW it makes you feel as if you haven't stop reading one book and commencing the next.

I am not going to get involved in providing a detailed narration on the plot as a lot of reviewers here have done a great job. Instead I will tell you why I loved this book with hopes that you will go and buy it or start reading the series.

First off - you have to have read the previous books in this series. If you don't - it is very difficult to follow the events as all of the previous characters take an active part in the whole book and the previous events take a huge role in the development and understanding on this novel.

Aiken continues to provide us a marvelous glimpse to the trial and tribulations of this family of dragons - who are united together in loyalty and deep abiding love for one another. The relationship of the family as a whole is superb - with hilarious repartee - as each member of the family banters and needles one another to create some uproarious situations as well as some deeply moving moments.

The narration is fabulous - superbly written with witty dialogue and repartee by the engaging and interesting protagonists - which every single one has a momentous role in the story. Even with the many humorous parts this is not a lighthearted read, as there are emotional moments that will make you almost weepy as you truly feel attached to this family of dragons and humans. Even though it is a mythical kingdom with mythical creatures - Aiken provides a brilliant portrayal of this family making it almost feel as if they are real -injecting a freshness of writing style and intensity that is rare in a writer.

This book was a truly engaging and memorable read - every aspect really amazing. Great plot, incredible characters, depth of emotion and humor and great, steamy sex. It is with high esteem that I recommend this book and the previous ones inh this series - which in my opinion is one of te best paranormal series to come out in a long time.

The reason I give this book a 3 1/2 and not a full 4 is because fantasy romance isn't always my cup of tea; I'm very picky about it. I'm not so much into dragons and the fantasy realm, but I bought this book because the blurb on the back of it suggested the hero and heroine spar a lot, and I like heroes and heroines who fight (but not to the point you wonder what they're doing together). I figured I'd give it a chance. I have not read the first two books in the series and, despite the author's recommendation to do so. If I'd liked it enough, I'd go back and get them.

Gwenvael is hilarious and oh-so-modest (smack some sarcasm over that last term), a Gold dragon, and beauty is his gift...well, along with his more private skills. Certainly not the type of guy you'd expect would fall for a plain-Jane-with-a-brain type of character, but once he meets Dagmar Reinholdt (aka "The Beast"), no other woman will do.

Despite my not being into dragons and fantasy to a great degree (there are exceptions, which is another reason I gave this one a chance), I find the Aiken to be a remarkable author with untiring wit and humor. I laughed so much, and I don't think any humorous romance I've read before was this funny. That prevented WHAT A DRAGON SHOULD KNOW from being a struggle to get through.

Some people might not like her frequent use of "curse words" and "swear words," and it did throw me a bit, being used to typical romances where fewer terms like those are used, but it didn't offend me. Still, I mention it, for those who would find it offensive.

Aiken's dragons are notoriously sexy, and she spins a scene like nobody's business. She fills the reader's head with vivid images and well-rounded characters. This is a woman who can write, and even though I wasn't into the fantasy world she so beautifully described, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her books to a fantasy romance lover.