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Dragonshifters #1
Tears of the Dragon
Trapped in a world where females come 'in season' and male dragons battle to claim their mates, Khalia Peterson realizes very quickly that this can be a very dangerous world for a human, or at least half-human, female who knows no season. General Damien Bloodragon, sent to protect the hereditary queen of Atar, discovers it can be a very dangerous situation for him, as well, particularly since he's no more immune to Khalia's charms than the bulls he's trying to fight off of her. Rating: Contains violence and graphic sexual content.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
12 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Angelique Anjou
34 books90 followersAlso known as Kaitlyn O'Connor
Born on a bayou, Angelique Anjou’s roots are cajun, but she makes her home now in the foothills of the Smokies, where she lives with her husband and son. As a late blooming Trekkie, science fiction and fantasy are the tales she cut her teeth on, and the genres, next to romance, that are most dear to her heart.
Born on a bayou, Angelique Anjou’s roots are cajun, but she makes her home now in the foothills of the Smokies, where she lives with her husband and son. As a late blooming Trekkie, science fiction and fantasy are the tales she cut her teeth on, and the genres, next to romance, that are most dear to her heart.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 18, 2019
Khalia grew up an orphan on her own. She has always been on her own and nobody has ever loved her. But she is strong and can take care of herself... until a strange circumstance throws her into another world.
On Earth she hid her ability to shift into a huge woman, but in this world, she is a Queen.
A Queen of dragon shifters.
Damien is the nearest soldier to come to her aid when she arrives in his world. He knows instantly that this is the long lost Queen and must be protected until she can ascend the throne. He tries to keep his emotional distance but she is entirely too tempting.
The story has a similar feel to an Edgar Rice Burroughs story, but with more sex.
I think I would have liked it a lot better if I didn't feel like Damien only felt sexually drawn to her. ...until the very last page when he spouts ILYs.
Khalia was trapped in the palace and unsure of who to trust, including Damien, until near the end.
I was unsure of his heart. I think he was devoted, but it seemed more like it was his duty.
One of those books where everything comes together a the very end and there's no time to savour the love.
My heart broke for her because she really deserved to be loved by someone.
On Earth she hid her ability to shift into a huge woman, but in this world, she is a Queen.
A Queen of dragon shifters.
Damien is the nearest soldier to come to her aid when she arrives in his world. He knows instantly that this is the long lost Queen and must be protected until she can ascend the throne. He tries to keep his emotional distance but she is entirely too tempting.
The story has a similar feel to an Edgar Rice Burroughs story, but with more sex.
I think I would have liked it a lot better if I didn't feel like Damien only felt sexually drawn to her. ...until the very last page when he spouts ILYs.
Khalia was trapped in the palace and unsure of who to trust, including Damien, until near the end.
I was unsure of his heart. I think he was devoted, but it seemed more like it was his duty.
One of those books where everything comes together a the very end and there's no time to savour the love.
My heart broke for her because she really deserved to be loved by someone.
July 3, 2012
Loved this book! This author is so good at writing different heroines. Khalia is running away from two thugs when she dives into another dimension instead of water. Damien is the first person she meets who tells her she's a missing princess. She thinks he's crazy and wants to go home. You don't always get what you want - I mean initially want. Very sweet story. Loved the ending.
January 24, 2016
It's been 2 days since I read this and already I can barely remember what the heck happened. The ending was very satisfying, and the beginning of the book seemed like it would be promising... but the entire 80% middle portion was so-so. So a "meh" rating is in order. Still fun to read and not exasperating or annoying at all, just... forgettable I guess.
August 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It was not too long of a read but it was a good break from my normal books. Josie was an okay main character. She was very against everything in the beginning but softened up to everything fairly fast. Damien was what kept me interested. He always was trying to do his job but temptation can be a b****. Overall, 4.5/5.
July 30, 2021
It starts off ok and then it goes downhill. I am not sure why the author chose to make the heroine from the 1920s. Besides mentioning flappers a few times, she spoke like a person from our time. She goes to another planet I guess with shapeshifting humans and although they seem medieval, they have things from the future like hover cars??? The overall story was boring so I started skimming. The love scenes ended up making me roll my eyes and the abrupt ending was pretty dumb. Will not continue series.
November 15, 2023
Enjoyable but unfinished.
Aside from the fact that the heroine makes many questionable decisions (not mentioning her monthly cycle for instance) and the hero is very prone to abandoning her (in the forest, in her castle/prison...):
- What happened to her parents? Why dis they abandon her?
- Did the crime lord from the beginning of the book know about dragons?
- Why does everyone speak English?
- Why is there a mixture of advanced technology and medieval things?
- What's the Tear? Why does it only work in one place?
- Why is the Hero stupid enough to abandon the Heroine as soon as they arrive at the palace knowing full well everyone wants to kill/manipulate her?
- Why does the Hero know all the secret passages?
- Who are the other, impure people in the land?
- Why did the heroine do nothing about the kissing brother when she made a massive fuss about his imprisonment a week before?
- When did the heroine become a lady?
- Why did said proper lady abandon her prudish manners? By the first week she was OK walking in a thong in the forest.
The 3 stars are for the world development. The missing 2 stars are for the missing pieces of the story and the stupidity of the heroine and hero.
Aside from the fact that the heroine makes many questionable decisions (not mentioning her monthly cycle for instance) and the hero is very prone to abandoning her (in the forest, in her castle/prison...):
- What happened to her parents? Why dis they abandon her?
- Did the crime lord from the beginning of the book know about dragons?
- Why does everyone speak English?
- Why is there a mixture of advanced technology and medieval things?
- What's the Tear? Why does it only work in one place?
- Why is the Hero stupid enough to abandon the Heroine as soon as they arrive at the palace knowing full well everyone wants to kill/manipulate her?
- Why does the Hero know all the secret passages?
- Who are the other, impure people in the land?
- Why did the heroine do nothing about the kissing brother when she made a massive fuss about his imprisonment a week before?
- When did the heroine become a lady?
- Why did said proper lady abandon her prudish manners? By the first week she was OK walking in a thong in the forest.
The 3 stars are for the world development. The missing 2 stars are for the missing pieces of the story and the stupidity of the heroine and hero.
August 31, 2019
3.5*
I was really, really enjoying this book, got to the end and now I'm upset and annoyed. That ending was what I was expecting but it just happened so damn quick it left me feeling like a balloon that's been slowly inflated ready to pop but instead just deflates.
I feel rather cheated.
I was really, really enjoying this book, got to the end and now I'm upset and annoyed. That ending was what I was expecting but it just happened so damn quick it left me feeling like a balloon that's been slowly inflated ready to pop but instead just deflates.
I feel rather cheated.
December 31, 2024
How many times can you fit thr word "dame" on a page? Holy crap. This was a BADLY written piece, but oh so entertaining. Delightfully atrocious!
July 5, 2012
2 stars. This was barely ok. There was too much heroine stupidity in this for this to be truly enjoyable.
STORY BRIEF: Khalia Peterson was a normal woman living in the 1920s, when she manages to escape an attempt on her life by travelling to another dimension/world? to be the Queen of Dragonpeople. She must evade attempts on her life, from those who have more to gain from the present king, and place her trust in her champion- Damien Bloodragon.
MY THOUGHTS: There were too many unpursued story threads and plot holes which made the story lacking for me. The initial attempt on her life from the beginning is not explained, nor the true significance of the Dragon's tear (her necklace that her mother left her), the location of her real parents and the implications on her abilities because of her parentage, along with the flimsiness of the plot against her, or her ability to become a true queen.
Another major negative for me, is the fact that it is stated several times, how intelligent, strong and controlled Khalia is- but we never see evidence of this. She runs away from Damien multiple times, despite the fact that she has no certainty of getting back or adequate protections or preparations to do so. Thus, Damien is obliged to rescue her more than once, where she would have been safe had she stayed put. She cries alot (despite saying she never cries), constantly loses her temper (despite saying how controlled she is) while she should have done her best to adapt and learn about this new world as much as she can in order to survive.
The whole conspiracy, and her lack of participation in ruling the kingdom and foiling the conspiracy, also irks me. She falls to political machinations, where I would have appreciated a display of her intelligence to combat this. The ending does not satisfy me, and the way she "saves the day" to too convenient, and does not utilise her known skills to show the reader her ability to be a good Queen.
Lastly, I would have liked the secondary characters, such as Khalia's supporters to become Queen to be more fleshed out, as well as her detractors- it would have made the part of her struggle to become Queen (not that there really was much of one) more interesting. I might have been spoiled for this by watching 'Game of Thrones' though- the political machinations and fighting to gain the throne of Westereos show a much more interesting, and complex view to what it takes to gain and keep power, and has raised my expectations on reading or watching anything to do with power struggles.
IN CONCLUSION: A short bit of time travel fantasy fluff about becoming a Queen and her romance with her Champion without any of the nitty gritty of actually becoming a queen. Beware of heroine being TSTL.
For alternatives, try Kaitlyn O'Connor, which is another pen name of this author. The heroines are much improved, and many of her books have elements of fantasy or sci-fi. Warning- there are a fair few that is F/MMM- in other words- one female, multiple male partners.
STORY BRIEF: Khalia Peterson was a normal woman living in the 1920s, when she manages to escape an attempt on her life by travelling to another dimension/world? to be the Queen of Dragonpeople. She must evade attempts on her life, from those who have more to gain from the present king, and place her trust in her champion- Damien Bloodragon.
MY THOUGHTS: There were too many unpursued story threads and plot holes which made the story lacking for me. The initial attempt on her life from the beginning is not explained, nor the true significance of the Dragon's tear (her necklace that her mother left her), the location of her real parents and the implications on her abilities because of her parentage, along with the flimsiness of the plot against her, or her ability to become a true queen.
Another major negative for me, is the fact that it is stated several times, how intelligent, strong and controlled Khalia is- but we never see evidence of this. She runs away from Damien multiple times, despite the fact that she has no certainty of getting back or adequate protections or preparations to do so. Thus, Damien is obliged to rescue her more than once, where she would have been safe had she stayed put. She cries alot (despite saying she never cries), constantly loses her temper (despite saying how controlled she is) while she should have done her best to adapt and learn about this new world as much as she can in order to survive.
The whole conspiracy, and her lack of participation in ruling the kingdom and foiling the conspiracy, also irks me. She falls to political machinations, where I would have appreciated a display of her intelligence to combat this. The ending does not satisfy me, and the way she "saves the day" to too convenient, and does not utilise her known skills to show the reader her ability to be a good Queen.
Lastly, I would have liked the secondary characters, such as Khalia's supporters to become Queen to be more fleshed out, as well as her detractors- it would have made the part of her struggle to become Queen (not that there really was much of one) more interesting. I might have been spoiled for this by watching 'Game of Thrones' though- the political machinations and fighting to gain the throne of Westereos show a much more interesting, and complex view to what it takes to gain and keep power, and has raised my expectations on reading or watching anything to do with power struggles.
IN CONCLUSION: A short bit of time travel fantasy fluff about becoming a Queen and her romance with her Champion without any of the nitty gritty of actually becoming a queen. Beware of heroine being TSTL.
For alternatives, try Kaitlyn O'Connor, which is another pen name of this author. The heroines are much improved, and many of her books have elements of fantasy or sci-fi. Warning- there are a fair few that is F/MMM- in other words- one female, multiple male partners.
August 23, 2015
An interesting premise, but the world-building left much to be desired. Much of the stuff we "learn" about the world is Khalia's internal speculation. The plot against Khalia was not very well fleshed out or believable. The plot was pretty blah.
Even more disappointing, Damien and Khalia's relationship is not that great. He's insulting about her heritage while simultaneously saying he's not good enough even though he's a pure blood. How does that make sense? They fight a lot. I just didn't feel like they belonged together. More like he was the only available male around. Basically, he's the only one she talks to her first weeks there.
The ending was entirely too abrupt for my liking as well. Overall, this feels more like a rough draft than a published book with some good ideas that aren't fully fleshed out.
Even more disappointing, Damien and Khalia's relationship is not that great. He's insulting about her heritage while simultaneously saying he's not good enough even though he's a pure blood. How does that make sense? They fight a lot. I just didn't feel like they belonged together. More like he was the only available male around. Basically, he's the only one she talks to her first weeks there.
The ending was entirely too abrupt for my liking as well. Overall, this feels more like a rough draft than a published book with some good ideas that aren't fully fleshed out.
April 29, 2016
The story was interesting and the novel could have been great. The problem was that the author did not explore what the characters were doing while they were falling in love. There were scenes when the main character was sitting in a room obsessing about a man that she had not seen and when she sees him she obsesses about the limited amount of time she will have with him. Meanwhile, she is supposed to be a queen and starting to run her country. There were so many ways this story could have been given more depth.
I actually want to rate it 1 stars, but I am not b/c it hooked me enough to complete.
I actually want to rate it 1 stars, but I am not b/c it hooked me enough to complete.
February 15, 2010
Not bad, with the heroine being transported from 1920's America to a fantasy land with Dragons, and having to accept her role as a hereditary ruler of the kingdom. The ending did seem a little too abrupt, and lots of loose ends, but one hopes that some with be resolved in the next book.
March 7, 2011
Loved it! I really like the author's writing style. The story was very well done. Loved the ending, too.
1-must-pick-up-tbr
December 29, 2013Angelique Anjou - Tears of the Dragon (Dragonshifters, #1)
October 26, 2015
Unsatisfying ...
January 13, 2017
it was good but not as good as i thought. it was kind of slow but i liked the end very much anyway.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews