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FEEL THE BURN
Dragon Kin #8
G.A. Aiken
Released Nov 24th, 2015
Zebra Imprint
War makes strange bedfellows.
I, Gaius Domitus, one-eyed rebel dragon king of the Provinces, know that better than most, since I have to fight off half my ungrateful family on a regular basis to keep law and order here in my lands. But I never expected to have to consort with a barbarian human woman.
Kachka is beautiful, if you like them fierce—and of course I do. But she keeps complaining about how spoiled and decadent I am, and how a feared Daughter of the Steppes has no time for foolish dragons. I think she likes my eye patch, though. It is quite dashing. With death always at our tails, we take our passion like we take our allies. As they say, love the barbarian you’re with…
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Elina’s
suggestion that they play a game was not helping Kachka’s current emotional
state. If anything, it just made her feel even more useless.
Elina
studied the game board with her one good eye, debating her next move.
This
was the life of the Shestakova sisters now.
Decadent.
Lazy. Spoiled. Sitting around. Playing board games like children.
It
amazed Kachka that adults played these games. Daughters of the Steppes had
their three-year-olds playing these games to help them understand the concept
of “divide, conquer, and destroy so that the next city or town over just gives
us what we ask for.”
So
for the two sisters to be playing these games again appalled Kachka on a
visceral level. How far she’d fallen back. Would it never get better?
Finally,
after much thought, Elina went to make her move . . . and her hand missed the
piece by a few inches. Although, based on Elina’s reaction, it might as well
have been a mile.
Kachka’s
sister growled, then she swiped her hand at the board . . . which she also
missed.
That’s
when the entire board went flying, her sister’s bellow of rage startling the
weak, delusional servants who worked for these rich, decadent royals.
sighed. “You were winning.”
“Shut
up!”
Kachka
leaned back in her chair. “Such whining. Like baby, you whine!”
“I am
still weak!”
“You
took down bear last week.”
“Took
me three shots!”
“That’s
not eye. That’s this life we now live.” She pointed at one of the dragons
walking by. “Decadent! Like that dragon.”
The
dragon stopped, placed a hand on his chest. “Me? Kachka, you love me!”
“I
love your beauty. I have no use for you personally. You represent all that we
hate.”
“Why
do you talk to him so?” Elina asked. “He cannot help that he is beautiful but
worthless.”
“I am
not
worthless!
I am Gwenvael the—”
“We
do not care, lizard!” Kachka barked.
“Do
not yell at him!”
“Do
not be so pathetic! So you miss eye! Get over it!”
That’s
when Elina kicked Kachka under the table. So Kachka kicked her back.
“Ow!”
“Whine!”
Elina
reached and grabbed Kachka by her leather buckskin shirt. That
Elina
could grip with no problem.
Kachka
punched her sister’s arm, but that only made Elina drag Kachka out of the
chair. Kachka gripped Elina by her shoulders, shoving her back against the
table.
“Stop
it! Both of you!” the dragon called out. “I have enough beauty to share with
everyone!”
Ignoring
the beautiful but useless dragon, Kachka drew back her arm to punch her sister,
but it was caught and held.
She
assumed it was the dragon, but when she looked, it was the queen who held her.
What worried her, though, was the look on the queen’s face. She stared at
Kachka as if she’d never seen her before.
“You,”
the queen said.
“What
about me?”
She
didn’t answer at first. Simply stared. Then, suddenly, she yanked Kachka off
her sister. “Come with me,” she ordered.
“No!”
Elina cried out, grabbing Kachka’s other arm. “Do not kill her!”
The
queen blinked. “What?”
“It
is all right, sister,” Kachka soothed. “I am ready for death.”
“What
are you two—?”
“Don’t
worry,” the beautiful dragon tossed in. “I’ll make sure you have a beautiful
funeral.”
“Gwenvael!”
Annwyl roared.
“Why
are you yelling at me? I didn’t do anything. It was the outsider!”
Annwyl
yanked Kachka from her sister’s grip. “She’ll be fine,” she snapped before
Elina could complain further.
“Do
not worry, sister,” Kachka said as the queen dragged her off. “I will go to my
death
bravely!”
I just love G.A.'s books. They are always highly entertaining. The one thing that I can always count on with her books is that they generally make me snort my drink if I happen to be stupid enough to read and drink at the same time. That proved true of this one as well. This is a continuing series and i'm not sure that it would translate well as a standalone read. Might be a tad bit confusing but that's all right because all of these book are fantastic and like lays chips you can't read just one.
My only issue was that the main couple's story was a little rushed more so than normal and the book was busier with all the side bits going on. This isn't a traditional romance more a fantasy with romantic elements and that worked for me.. But I must say I liked all the little side stories with all the normal crazies in her books. I liked seeing some of Gais backstory and would like to learn more about his sister and of course the Abominations. I am so looking forward to all their books and to see the resolution of this continuing story arc.
I can always count on G.A. or as who I think of as Shelly Laurenston which is her alter-ego and how she was first introduced to me long ago and far away lol to entertain and crack me up. I give this book 4 1/2 stars and I was given this via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Originally from Long Island, New York Times bestselling author
G.A. Aiken has resigned herself to West Coast living, which involves healthy
food, mostly sunny days, and lots of guys not wearing shirts when they really
should be. Writing as Shelly Laurenston, she is also the creator of the
wickedly funny Pride series for Brava. For more info about G.A. Aiken’s
