DRAGON ACTUALLY [Dragon Actually ] BY Aiken, G. A.(Author)Mass Market Paperbo...

by G.A Aiken

Paperback, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Zebra Books (2008), 342 pages

Description

It's not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear-a lot-or else salute. It's true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother's soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man-the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer. Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly, and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe-a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fills her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn't get any stranger. She's wrong...… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jjmachshev

Ohhh eeee! Grab a glass of water and sit down with "Dragon Actually" by GA Aiken and you'll laugh out loud when you're not fanning yourself. This book actually contains two related stories. I'm tagging this as erotica because of the frank descriptions and plethora of sex in the book. And boy is it

good!

Annwyl the Bloody isn't really sure she likes her nickname. All she really wants to do is kill her brother the wacko, blood-thirsty king and get back to living without looking for a blade headed her way. She's become the leader as well as the heart and soul of the rebellion against her brother and killed more men than she can count. But it looks like her time has come when she's ambushed by a group of her brother's soldiers. Oh well, at least she'll go down fighting! Next thing she knows, she's in a bed, in a cave, and there's a dragon TALKING to her!

Fearghus the Destroyer likes his name. It means humans leave him alone. He's perfectly happy to sit quietly and read and -- what are those loud noises? HUMANS! OH well, he'll just step outside and give them a scare...maybe have some baked human for lunch! Just one left and it's a beautiful female!! She doesn't seem to be scared. How interesting...

I gobbled this one down in one sitting and now I'm just tapping my toes waiting for GA Aiken's next release, "About A Dragon" coming in December 2008. Aiken has done a great job of combining hot sex, humor, and the paranormal. The added bonus of the short story about Fearghus' parents is the icing on the cake. So get off your duff and go pick up "Dragon Actually" by GA Aiken. I absolutely loved it and I think you will too!

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LibraryThing member stmelo

This one was a surprise. Very funny, good to read and with a nice mix of romance and sensuality.

LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL

When Annwyl the Bloody is cornered and defeated she never thought her savior would turn out to be the much feared and believed to be mythological dragon, Fearghus the Destroyer. For his part Feargus had never had any opinion on humans, other than as a dinner course, but something about the vicious

warrior maiden drew him despite himself. Annwyl cannot believe the depth of her feelings for her dragon savior or her desire for the warrior Fearghus enlists to teach her battle skills. What she does know is she is determined to win the sibling war against her tyrant brother which will be much easier if she can convince Fearghus and his dragon clan to help her.

This was a different sort of a fantasy romance in that it also seemed to enjoy poking fun at itself. Much of the time it seemed to be over-the-top although that might have just been my perception when it was intending to be serious. Either way I enjoyed the light tone and humor. What I didn't like was the violence (there is a reason why she is called "Annwyl the Bloody") and the language during the love scenes which was very coarse.

The format was a little unusual for a mass market paperback being that the book seemed to be broken into three parts, the first two dealing with Annwyl and Fearghus and the third with Fearghus' parents. Since I often see this format in the trade paperbacks I read it didn't bother me much, it was just surprising.

Overall I liked the book despite my few complaints and am contemplating reading another of her dragon books in the future.

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LibraryThing member Catherine331

I saw this book in the bookstore and picked it up on a whim. I am so glad that I did. This book was hilarious! As I started reading it I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get into it. Annwyl's personality kind of rubbed me the wrong way at first. She grew on me eventually though.

I thought

Fearghus was pretty adorable. He tried so hard to be cranky and antisocial but couldn't get past the urge to hang out with Annwyl. I thought it was funny when he ended up being jealous of himself. He ended up shooting himself in the foot when he let his deception go on for so long. He couldn't figure out how to tell her without her flipping out.

I really liked the interaction with the rest of the dragons. The stories about the pranks Fearghus and his brothers played on each other were funny. I look forward to reading more about them in future books. I loved that Annwyl held her own when she came face to face with Fearghus's father. I wasn't sure how things would fall with her being the only human around a bunch of dragons. I definitely laughed at all the interactions that Annwyl had with Fearghus's mother. I loved when she asked Annwyl if she was jealous of her chain.

My score for this book doesn't reflect my opinion of the bonus short story featuring Fearghus's mother and father. I didn't know it was included so I don't think it's fair to lower my rating just because I didn't think it was very good. I didn't really find the dragon on a leash thing sexy but that wasn't my biggest gripe with the story. I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and flat because of the shortness of the story. There wasn't time to learn about the characters or start to care about them. It felt like every time I blinked they were at a new stage in their relationship. It was irritating. I think I'll stay away from books with short page counts in the future.

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LibraryThing member AngelLocke

HOLY SMOKES THIS WAS HOT!!! I don't even smoke and I think I need a cigarette! The story was good and the romance was scorching...I enjoyed it A LOT!!

LibraryThing member TheBooknerd

Fluffy but fun. This is a lighthearted romance with a surprising yet entertaining dose of violence, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. The characters, especially female lead Annwyl the Bloody, are dramatic in a funny way, and I found myself smiling often. It was a little silly and a lot sexy

-- a good combination. As an added pleasure, there were plenty of side characters introduced, leaving me interested in what the rest of this series may have to offer.

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LibraryThing member kw50197

A fun and amusing read with strong main characters.

LibraryThing member VirginiaGill

G.A. Aiken was an absolutely delight discovery. The depths of the characters and their relationships made the books interesting and highly entertaining. So enjoyed Dragon Actually that I ended up reading all four of the currently published books over the past week and am eagerly awaiting the next

release come September. If you love dragons, adventure, politics, spys, and great family tales don't miss these books.

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LibraryThing member Fidget78

(12 Mar 2012) Review upcoming on the Pure Textuality website.

LibraryThing member LadyIsis

This book has two stories in it. The first is very entraining. I love the world that Ms. Aiken has created and the creatures and characters that inhabit it. I think that dragons should be part of every world if they are all like the ones of Ms. Aiken imagination. There is lots of fighting and the

taking of enemy heads and there is an evil dragon to deal with as well. There is also a good deal of discovery by the two main characters which can be quite funny at times. The second story is how Fearghus' parents get together. It is also an amusing story and I am sure that most shape shifter fans will love it.

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LibraryThing member lauren.castan

It was ok. Racy romance smothered the actual story.

LibraryThing member Capnrandm

Much more accessible now that I started from the beginning, this is a cute origin story for Annwyl the Bloody and her fierce black dragon. After seeing Rhiannon and her grumpy husband, it was wonderful to read the story of their romance as well.

LibraryThing member aoibhealfae

This is the first book of The Dragon Kin series which consisted of the story Annwyl and Fearghus and also a novella prequel at the back about Fearghus's parent, then-Princess Rhiannon and Bercelak. There's also another story I read prior to this about Bercelak's parents which are directly

associated with the plot of secondary story. Its not really confusing when you actually read the books according to the series.

Before anyone could say anything about it, the book doesn't end with this one novel nor does their story ended by the sixth book. The story between Annwyl and her dragon were still a major factor through the subsequent books. 'Dragon Actually' is really just an introduction of the two character. As a rereading, I began to remember Annwyl before she claim the throne and her characterization as herself since she became a side character most of the time in the series and it doesn't help much when others narrating the story doesn't really understand how her mind work. (As most of the time, Annwyl was written as a crazy bitch with deadly mood swings)
Of course, this is a paranormal romance filled with explicit erotic things that might shock new readers into her books. If you look past to that, you'll see that this book is about a fight of freedom against oppressors, dragon politics, the on-going romance between two characters (which is not insta-love as many would associated with the genre) and decent amount of gore and humor. Because dragons like to eat people and I lost count on how many people got fried, eaten or turned into a mush in both stories.

Although I didn't burst into laughing fits by the rereading, but I do appreciate the humor in this book and since the story is continuous and you can get lost in the sequels, this book is a good refresher for the Dragon Kin series since by the end of the series, it have taken more darker path around the dragon politics than romance.

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LibraryThing member aoibhealfae

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LibraryThing member MoriahJovan

2.5 stars

Meh.

The saving grace of this book was the concept and the dragon family interaction. Other than that, it was like a middle-grade book got lost in the erotic romance section of the bookstore.

The characters had quirks--oh boy, did they have quirks--but quirks do not interesting characters

make. They needed depth to go along with their breadth.

It also needed the writing to be more sophisticated. The vocabulary, along with the characterization and plot, was appropriate for a middle-grade book.

The heroine was continually referred to as a girl. Her rage, which at the beginning was well justified, at the end made her simply childish (which was not explained away well enough by the sole line, "She was a wartime leader, not a peacetime one").

And the GIRL was leading (and had been leading for two years) an ever-increasing army and garnering financial support and allies of neighboring kingdoms. I grew VERY impatient with the fact that her army could not seem to function without her. She has a trusted officers' corps and they were timid without her leading them. That's a cheap way to point to the heroine's kick-ass awesomeness. An army who can't function under its second-in-command needs a new second-in-command. That, too, made her look childish and weak.

There were other problems of logic and structure, but I kept getting distracted by the writing.

So, yeah. Middle-grade. I'd let my kid read it except for the sex, which seemed kinda thrown in as an afterthought and...childish. For an adult, it was in no way as sophisticated as the concept promised or as it should have been written.

But the little dragon family was cute and I DID actually finish the book in one sitting, so SOMETHING kept me there. That something is why this is a 2.5-star instead of a 2 star (which is a "meh" in my grading system). I have to acknowledge that I kept reading.

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LibraryThing member sarams

I was thinking about 4 stars.. but 3 1/2 it is. 3 stars in my way of rating means that it IS readable, some good, some indifferent, nothing downright bad. A paranormal romance according to that "formula". And then the extra half a star for the dialogue, it IS funny.

LibraryThing member lizard_698959

This was a very cute and interesting Dragon shifter Book. The plot was good Annwyl is a bastard Princess warrior who’s brother is trying to kill her. Her brother has hated her since she was born and tried to kill her many times since childhood. When she got rescued by a rebel army she took charge

of them in hopes to get revenge on her brother and to finally see him dead. It never really says what time or place the setting is but to me it’s a mix of old England and other planet scify. Where ever they are located is a place where magic is abound and there are two sun’s so it is not earth. There is also no technology and there is mention of castles and dresses so that led me to assume old England especially since some of the names are Welch. It matters not the time or place because the story is great. The characters are interesting and funny. There is also a really cute short story in the end of the book about the Dragon’s parents which was quite funny also.

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LibraryThing member msralways

Fun, fast and enthralling read! You just can't go wrong with Shelly Laurenston. here we have a dragon shifter, which was my very first time reading about them and then we have Annwyl the Bloody being her incredibly entertaining self all the freaking time! Fearghus was awesome too and they made me

laugh so much, but then again, Laurenston's writing will do that to you. Pure magic!

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LibraryThing member SnowNSew

I finished this book. And, that is the best thing that I can say about it. I read the other rave reviews people had written. I read the sample before I purchased.

It appeared, to me, to be mostly smut. The vocabulary used was vulgar and made me cringe. The character development was extremely poor.

The driving point of the plot seemed to revolve around the bedroom. Had my sample lasted another 3 pages, I would not have purchased the book.

That being said, I did finish it. The dialog moved along at a fair clip and that is what kept me in the novel. I did find myself skipping large portions of it. While I do not mind a little sex in my fantasy, I do not enjoy a little fantasy with the sex. When the story was finished, I felt as if it just stopped. It did not come to a pleasing conclusion. I feel as if the story could have been so much more than it was had the author worked harder to develop her characters rather than their sexcapades. I felt extremely let down that there was not more there. In either story.

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LibraryThing member lexilewords

According to the author's note this was originally e-published in 2004 under the title "To Challenge a Dragon" (from Triskellion--which I'm sure many of us will curse for a long while yet for having interesting titles yet failing so bad), also you can purchase the e-book through Samhain Publishing,

but there's no difference between the print and ebook version.

First off--I came upon this series after reading the novella in Everlasting Bad Boys about Fearghus' ancestor Ailean (the Wicked...or Whore depending on who you ask). I really enjoyed that story and rushed to find out if there was more. There was! Three more books in fact (with, if I understand the old news bit correctly, at least another 2 more on the way!). My joy, see it manifest.

Dragon Actually, like its novella cousin, is full of humor, sexy times and fun involving characters. Its pseudo-medieval fantasy (think Dragonheart!) which I would not ordinarily enjoy as a romance. Except I can't get enough of this Dragon family. They're ridiculously funny. The pranks they pulled on each other (cutting off the tip of a younger brother's tail and playing catch? shaving all the hair off their youngest brother?) were obviously done in affection and Gwenvael (whose adventures are chronicled in the latest release, What A Dragon Should Know) has managed to bring sibling irritation to a whole new level.

I love every single one of them. Including their icy mother (whose novella is included in the book). The humans, with the exception of Annwyl kind of get the short stick--Annwyl's army all being filled with just, loyal and battle hardened soldiers and her brother employing only gutless, despicable slimeballs--in development, but I was okay with that. There isn't a whole lot of time spent around the humans, most of the story taking place while Annwyl recovers with Fearghus, but I did find her second in command, Brastias, to be interesting, especially in his interest of Fearghus' sister the Dragon Witch Morfyd.

Heifadd-hen (these names, they kill me to remember how to spell them), I would have liked to learn a bit more about. Mostly the magicks he was using. He wasn't a good guy, he was a downright evil as evil does guy. Everybody--human and dragon alike--were pawns for his amusement and agenda.

Annwyl's brother, demon-spawnLorcan was pretty one-dimensional as a villain. He pretty was either intensely angry or intensely scared. That rounded out the issues he had. Though there is talk about how cruel and tyrannical their father had been, there isn't much detail given other then he hated being disturbed. And liked to sleep around. And he scared Lorcan and Annwyl equally. He was amusing however, with his petulant rages and 'KILL HER KILL HER' screeches.

Also, I'm still not convinced that Annwyl isn't a crazy crazy person. She says and does things no SANE person would even think of committing when stoned, drunk and blindfolded. She honestly doesn't understand why people repeatedly say to her 'Annwyl don't get yourself killed' and 'Are you crazy?'.

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LibraryThing member fierce_bunny

B+

Super cute! Irreverent humor and strong characters.

LibraryThing member funstm

Dragon Actually

I adored this. Annwyl the Bloody is bloody fantastic. She's everything you want in your heroine. She's fierce and funny and ruthless. She's snarky and utterly unapologetic. Fearghus the Destroyer is her perfect match. The romance between them is hot and sweet and totally swoonworthy

but as in all the best romances, it begins with friendship. Annwyl falls in love with the dragon she thinks he is and is in nothing more than lust with the knight. And it's just perfection.

The plot of Lorcan and Annwyl's quest to rid the world of her brother is interesting and I love the addition of Fearghus' family. Morfyd is kind and funny and undoubtedly Annwyl's best girl friend. I loved the friendship between Annwyl and Morfyd. Plus Morfyd is so supportive of Fearghus and his desire to pursue a relationship with Annwyl. Gwenvael is amusing and so hard to deter. I mean how often does Annwyl have to hurt him for him to get the hint? And omg, Queen Rhiannon. Fearghus' mum is hysterical. She and Annwyl totally meet their match in each other - both of them are totally ruthless and harsh in their remarks. I loved it. She clearly loves her family and wants the best for them but I love that she's also actually impressed by Annwyl's reign.

I was giggling my way through this entire book. It was just so funny. I adored it. I loved it. It's an absolute favourite. 5 stars.

CHAINS AND FLAMES (in Dragon Actually)

Addiena has always hated her daughter Rhiannon. As a white dragon and full of magic, Rhiannon is a threat to her rule and Addiena will do anything to get rid of her. And so, sapping her magic and forcing her into her human form, Addiena gives her over to Bercelak, the commander of her armies and the most likeliest dragon to break her. But unfortunately for her - Bercelak has been in love with Rhiannon since he first saw her - and he'll do anything to keep her.

I really enjoyed this. Rhiannon is mean - but that's just how Bercelak likes her. For all this was a novella, there was a lot of depth. Part of that was the world building, the Dragon Kin world is full of life - with a tonne of characters and backstory and humour. Part of it was that Bercelak and Rhiannon really did seem to be well matched. Honestly, having a mum like Addiena - it's a surprise Rhiannon is even half as well adjusted as she is. I liked that she got to experience what being part of a family felt like and having the love of a partner who'll have your back. Fun, flirty read. 3.5 stars.

Family Tree: Ailean and Shalin are the parents of fifteen children including including Hew, Adain, Cai, Rhys, Baudwin (named after Shalin's father), Ghleanna (#0.4: Dragon on Top), Maelona, Caerwyn, Addolgar (#0.2: A Tale of Two Dragons) and Bercelak (Chains and Flames found at the back of #1: Dragon Actually).

Bercelak falls in love with Rhiannon - a white dragon who is the daughter of Addiena. Rhiannon and Bercelek have Fearghus (#1: Dragon Actually), Morfyd, Keita (#4: Last Dragon Standing), Eibhear (#6: How to Drive a Dragon Crazy), Briec (#2: About a Dragon) and Gwenvael (#3: What a Dragon Should Know).

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LibraryThing member TheYodamom

Sweet, sexy and lusty a tale of a blood thirsty warrior woman and the dragon that saves her then falls for her. The characters are humorous at times snarky and bold. The heroine fights to save her country from her evil brother, whom wants to kill her. The dragon, who is also one Hot man fights is

desire for her. It's been told before, many times, but the author does a decent job of making it fresh. The side character dragons are intriguing.

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LibraryThing member MynTop

Another novella, eventually I will get to the full books! Rhiannon & Bercelak are such a great couple. I enjoy the dynamic between them and how she's the only one who makes him smile. It's interesting watching Bercelak's family react to how he reacts around Rhiannon. I have to say I hated Addiena

even more in this book than I had previously. I'm happy with the way things worked out.

Merged review:

I really adored this story! I think that Annwyl is pretty bad ass, and I love how vulnerable the dragon in this story seems. He's strong of course, but vulnerable in an emotional way. I also really liked the secondary characters...especially Morfyn. Getting to see older versions of Rhiannon and Bercelak was great too. I'm anxious to read more about the "grandkids" of the original couple.

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LibraryThing member Debbie97462

Loved it! Cant wait to read the rest of the series.

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