With a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody, men tend to either cower in fear at the sight of me, or salute. So it would be nice to find a man I can actually talk to, just the way I can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer. Then again, Fearghus is a dragon . . .

**Originally posted at GraveTells – a book blog no longer active.**

**I received this book for free in return for an honest review**

MY THOUGHTS

Shelly Laurenston tends to write humorously with a lot of heat and wit, and writing as G. A. Aiken does not appear to have changed that at all. The characters are vivid and feisty and I can’t get enough of them. The story is compelling as well, especially since the romance is so unexpected under the circumstances of war and difference of species. The family dynamics between Fearghus and his siblings are hilarious, while Annwyl’s are tragic, easily demonstrating depth in both the characters and the plot. I love the balance between human and dragon in Fearghus and between woman and warrior in Annwyl.

The ending is cute with a short and sweet battle and fun family showdown. Fearghus’s siblings are so obnoxious I laughed out loud. His parents are a fierce mystery, which we thankfully get to see more of in the two following novellas that are included in the book itself. The first is the story of Fearghus’s parents, and the second is about Fearghus’s uncle whom we meet in the first novella.

There’s a little kink with some light spanking and brief rope play, but nothing that would necessarily label this as BDSM. However, once you get into the novellas, that changes. Chains and Flames in particular involves, you guessed it, chains! It certainly grabs your attention right from the start. The story is such a tug of war and is such fun, though I still liked the primary tale in the book better. It was really nice to have the “rumors” mentioned in Fearghus’s story explained during his parent’s story. And I absolutely LOVE the ending – so funny!

Tale of Two Dragons starts off as a prequel to Chains and Flames, but ends after it. This novella was a ton of fun, complete with someone getting tied to a bed, and I enjoyed it more than the previous one. Addolgar is so laid back and Braith is endearing. They have a very funny story and sweet ending. The political machinations were a little murky for me, but still followable enough. The ending is all that counts anyway.

The book in its entirety leaves SO much room for sequels, prequels, and everything in between with all the siblings among the various characters.

Dragon Actually is an easy read that brings the world of dragon shifters to vibrant life. The writing is so fun, sexy, and addictive with such vivid characters that you’ll only be left wanting more. I’m officially a fan of the series after only the first installment!